"Oh, you're defending him now?"
Yeri raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Just a reminder, Young Master Keir—we only just confirmed our relationship. My business last night has nothing to do with you. And besides, we met by pure coincidence."
Shin knew he was being unreasonable, but the irritation bubbling in his chest was something he couldn't suppress—or explain.
Coincidence? He would've preferred it if she had planned it. At least then he wouldn't have to imagine her ending up in someone else's bed.
"So you never intended to sleep with him?" he asked stiffly.
Yeri sighed and tamped down her growing annoyance. "No. Like you, I only met him last night."
She had a nagging feeling that Shin wouldn't rest until he got some kind of assurance—and while he claimed this whole relationship was just about "compensation," he was acting far too possessive for it to be purely business.
But let's be real—he's rich, ridiculously attractive, and CEO of a mega conglomerate. Women probably hurl themselves at him on the daily. There was no way a guy like him would seriously fall for someone like her, whom he probably saw as nothing more than a drunken, shameless woman.
Give it a month, two tops, and he'd get bored.
"You asked about compensation," she said, switching topics with a bright smile. "What do I get?"
Shin's lips curled into a smirk, his mood lifting. "What do you want?"
"Shopping allowance!" Yeri beamed, her eyes lighting up like a kid who just saw a candy store.
Shin blinked. That's it? He expected her to be craftier. Why not ask for an apartment if they were dating in secret? Or at least something that would let them spend time together? She clearly wasn't thinking big enough.
But Yeri, oblivious to his inner monologue, was more than satisfied. If he thought she was materialistic, so be it—he already had a low opinion of her anyway.
"Well… if it's not too much," she added playfully, "maybe a birthday present too?"
Shin frowned, almost offended. "Of course, I'm not that stingy."
He patted his suit for a card but came up empty, so he quickly rang up Secretary Yun.
Moments later, Secretary Yun entered, handed over the card like a secret agent delivering classified intel, nodded politely to Yeri, and exited in silence.
"Here." Shin handed her a sleek black card. "PIN's all zeroes."
He had so many of these high-tier cards from various banks that he'd lost count. Until now, he'd never bothered to use a single one.
"Thanks!" Yeri chirped, clutching the card with delight.
In their country, black cards were status symbols. Only first-tier elites owned them. Her family, solidly third-tier, had platinum cards—but this… this was on a whole other level.
"Uhm... What's the spending limit on this?" she asked, cautiously.
"There isn't one." Shin shrugged. "If you're buying something worth over a million—say, a property—the bank will just email me for confirmation."
Yeri nearly dropped the card. "No limit?!"
She'd always believed every card had a cap. And now this guy was casually suggesting she buy real estate?
"Technically, all cards have limits," Shin explained patiently. "But there are... exceptions. Like when someone owns part of the bank."
In truth, he had influence over multiple national banks—but revealing that would only scare her off.
"Oh." Yeri stared at the card as if it were made of plutonium. Heavy. Intimidating. And potentially life-altering.
Shin tried not to laugh at her expression, settling for a small smile. She really was young—easily impressed and adorably cautious. He'd have to find subtler ways to spoil her.
---
2:00 p.m. – Back Gate of the University
As Yeri reached for the car door, Shin grabbed her wrist.
"Remember, no fooling around."
Yeri gave him her most insincere smile. "Please, don't flatter yourself. You're the only one I've been with."
He frowned, unsure if she was lying or being sarcastic, but let her go. He watched her until she disappeared past the gate.
"When's Zahn Neri returning to the country?" Shin asked.
"Next year, I believe. He's still on his medical mission," Secretary Yun replied.
Zahn Neri—a genius doctor from one of the four noble families. They didn't get along, so why bring him up now?
Shin didn't explain. He simply gazed out the window, lost in thought.
He hadn't meant to ask Yeri out. It had just... slipped out. As if his body feared he'd regret it if he didn't. Still, it was his responsibility now. She seemed too naive to be left on her own—especially around sketchy guys.
"Secretary Yun, do you have a girlfriend?"
Yun choked slightly but answered, "Ahem... Not yet, Boss. Why?"
Shin smirked smugly. "Can you recommend a birthday gift for a girl?"
Secretary Yun was struck speechless. Wait… is the boss in a relationship?!
Still, if this made Shin less terrifying, maybe it was worth it.
"Well, Boss… how about jewelry? Add some chocolates, a bouquet, maybe something in her favorite color? It's more thoughtful that way."
Shin's proud grin faltered. "So complicated?"
"Boss, you can't half-ass this. Miss Zhi is young and stunning—I'm sure plenty of guys are after her. Women like sincerity."
Shin huffed. He was short on sincerity, but never on admirers. Still, maybe sincerity was trending?
"You don't even have a girlfriend. How do you know this stuff?"
'Because I don't treat women like ghosts,' Secretary Yun wanted to say. But instead, he diplomatically suggested they consult Tristan Felan, the resident playboy.
---
[Dormitory]
Yeri clutched both the black card and the restaurant's VIP card like sacred relics. She'd barely stepped into her room when—
BANG!
A flying shoe almost took her head off.
"NINA GEUN, ARE YOU INSANE?!"
Nina stood with fire in her eyes. "I'm insane?! You disappeared last night and I nearly called the cops!"
Yeri blinked. "Why didn't you?"
Nina stomped inside like a woman wronged and threw herself on the couch. "Don't act clueless! Brother Jj must've found you, right? You two are heartless! I was running around like a maniac looking for you!"
Brother Jj? Her cousin? Yeri was lost but kept her poker face.
"Just tell me what happened. I passed out."
Nina scoffed but relented. "Liam came back saying some lunatic beat him up and took you away—"
"Liam?" Yeri frowned. Who keeps adding characters to this story?!
Nina gave her a look like she was hopeless. "The guy who bought you cocktails, you dumbass!"
"So he's the 'big cockroach,' huh?"
Yeri finally nodded with an amused sigh. "Alright, go on."
"Anyway! Do you know how freaked out I was?! I asked the staff, but they looked at me like I was the problem. One even said, 'Maybe your wasted friend should blame herself!'"
The wasted friend: "…"
"Luckily, the security relented when I mentioned Grandpa. They let me check the CCTV, and I saw Brother Jj carrying you off the dance floor. And that was it! You should've told me he'd be there—I was worried for nothing!" Nina grumbled, crossing her arms like a betrayed mother hen.
Yeri blinked. Nina's grandpa was the Minister of Finance—but the real bombshell? She thought Shin Keir was her cousin Jj?!
Sure, Jj Zhi was tall and decent-looking, but no one would confuse him for that man. Maybe Nina was just as drunk. Or maybe she needed glasses. Or more carrots.
Eat more carrots, woman.
Still, relief washed over Yeri. At least she didn't have to cook up a cover story for her disappearing act last night.
"By the way, are you seriously considering dating Liam? I mean, he's cute, sure—but last night, he was sniveling like a kicked puppy to his friends. I asked him to help me look for you, and he just whined the whole time! If Jj could slap him down that easily, imagine what happens when life throws actual problems at you. What if you get blackmailed or falsely accused?" Nina ranted, still on full best-friend mode.
"Hm... Yeah, you're right. I won't contact him again," Yeri said absentmindedly, though her mind was miles away.
After hearing Shin Keir's vague explanation and now Nina's retelling, it all clicked—he definitely found her on purpose. So much for being "forced."
He lied through those cold, perfect teeth of his!
"You good?" Nina nudged her arm, frowning.
"I still have a hangover..." Yeri groaned, flopping back against the couch. And a sudden urge to swipe that black card out of spite.
They chatted for a bit longer, and Yeri offered to treat Nina to a meal as a peace offering. After Nina left, she cleaned up the dorm room despite being half-asleep.
The dorms themselves were a hierarchy in disguise—shared rooms, doubles, singles.
Guess which one screamed "my parents can burn money for fun?"
Yeri started off sharing a room with three other girls. Big mistake. They were loud, messy, and allergic to quiet hours. Meanwhile, they called her stuck-up and rumored she had some contagious disease.
Worried she'd get bullied again, her parents upgraded her to a private room.
Her 40 sqm solo suite had a comfy double bed, a mini kitchen, a study corner, a small lounge, and a bathroom with a bathtub. It was cozy. Quiet. Blissful.
After cleaning, she finally took a hot bath and collapsed into bed... only to wince.
Ouch! Right. That.
Delayed post-intercourse body betrayal. Fantastic.
With no one to scream at, she just cursed Shin Keir under her breath.