Yeri studied the dresses, then looked at her mother before taking out her phone. "Wait a moment, Mom. I might be able to fix this."
Minutes later, Yeri confirmed an appointment at a beauty lounge that afternoon.
"Did you just say Beauty Lounge?" Madam Zhi gasped.
Even at her age, she knew that establishment's home to the city's top makeup artists and hairstylists, even said to be fully booked for the next year.
Yeri scratched her nose awkwardly. She had to give credit to Shin Keir and the engagement planner.
She had simply called the artist assigned to her engagement styling and asked if he knew anyone available. To her surprise, he immediately declared that he was available, nearly shouting with excitement.
Indeed, just being related to Shin Keir could move mountains.
---
On the way to the banquet, Yeri chose to wear the black silk mermaid dress.
The fabric clung to her figure like flowing water, accentuating her curves with every step she took. Against her pale complexion, the dark silk created a striking contrast, lending her an almost ethereal presence. Her hair was styled into a simple, elegant updo, exposing her slender neck, and she adorned herself with the pink diamond jewelry Shin Keir had gifted her: subtle, refined, yet impossible to overlook.
Standing beside her, Madam Zhi looked dignified and graceful, though the faint lines of worry on her face betrayed her lingering unease from the past few days.
At the entrance of the Lin estate, security personnel stopped them politely.
"May I see your invitation, please?"
Madam Zhi nodded and opened her purse, taking out the invitation letter the butler had placed in the living room two days ago. She handed it over without suspicion.
However, the moment the security opened the envelope, his expression changed. It was empty.
Madam Zhi froze, while Yeri's gaze sharpened instantly.
"This… this isn't possible," Madam Zhi said, clearly flustered. "There must be some mistake. The invitation was here, how could it be empty?"
The security examined the envelope again, then looked up with thinly veiled skepticism. "Madam, without a valid invitation, I'm afraid we cannot allow you to enter."
Both Madam Zhi and Yeri were stunned. While Madam Zhi hurriedly tried to explain, panic creeping into her voice, Yeri's suspicion quietly bloomed.
After all, in the Zhi household, who else would be interested in that invitation?
The letter had been placed openly on the coffee table in the living room. Anyone could have seen it. Anyone could have taken it.
Yeri turned to the security calmly. "May I ask if there are any guests with the surname Zhi already inside?"
The security hesitated, then shook his head.
"I'm sorry, that information is private." His gaze lingered on them with thinly concealed contempt, clearly assuming they were trying to crash the banquet.
Yeri wasn't fazed, but she could not allow her mother to be humiliated like this.
Around them, luxury cars continued to arrive. Well-dressed elites stepped out one after another, murmuring softly as curious glances were cast in their direction.
The security began urging them to move aside, his voice growing firmer, drawing even more attention.
Madam Zhi's face flushed. She quickly took out her phone and tried calling her cousin, but the call wouldn't go through, likely busy entertaining guests inside.
Yeri clenched her fingers slightly. Anger simmered beneath her calm exterior. If Venice or Linda had taken that invitation, then she truly had underestimated their shamelessness.
Leniency, it seemed, had only emboldened them.
For a fleeting moment, Yeri considered contacting Eldest Young Master Lin directly. But she hesitated. They weren't close, and tonight was his birthday banquet, he would undoubtedly be occupied greeting guests.
Still, as the murmurs around them grew louder and her mother's composure began to waver, Yeri decided to make a call.
In situations like this, no matter how reluctant she was to rely on him, the one person capable of performing miracles with the mere flip of a finger was Shin Keir.
In fact, she hadn't even told him she would be attending this banquet.
Was Shin Keir here tonight as well?
Just as Yeri pressed her screen to make the call, a sudden commotion erupted at the entrance. A wave of excited murmurs, mostly from women, rippled through the crowd.
Yeri lifted her gaze.
A sleek red sports car had pulled up at the front. The door swung open, and Tristan stepped out, casually tossing his car keys to one of the security guards.
Dressed in a tailored blue suit, he stood tall and striking, his presence immediately commanding attention. If one looked closely, despite his formal attire, there was an unmistakable air of someone who had just come straight from work. Even so, he stood out effortlessly among the guests who had clearly spent the entire day preparing for the night.
Tristan smiled easily as he greeted a few familiar faces. As he moved forward, his gaze met Yeri's.
Yeri blinked.
Under normal circumstances, she would have pretended not to know him to avoid misunderstandings or unnecessary attention, but she didn't have the luxury to care about such things right now.
She stepped toward him, just as the security abruptly stopped her, nearly shoving her back, clearly assuming she was causing trouble.
"It's alright," Tristan said calmly. "I know her."
The security guard stiffened in surprise, then quickly nodded and stepped aside.
Tristan's lips curved into a teasing smile. "What are you doing outside? Waiting for someone special?"
Yeri didn't bother with pleasantries. She briefly explained the situation and asked if he could help her and her mother get inside.
Tristan had originally assumed Yeri was attending with Shin, but since he himself had come alone, it wasn't a big deal.
"Come on," he said casually.
Just like that, Yeri and Madam Zhi were ushered inside, much to Madam Zhi's astonishment and quiet curiosity.
This time, however, their entrance didn't go unnoticed.
With Tristan's fame and Yeri's striking appearance, the two instantly drew countless glances from the guests around them.
Curious, assessing, and speculative gazes followed their every step.
Yeri couldn't help but ask softly, "You didn't bring a date?"
Tristan shrugged. "I usually don't for private banquets. Half the time I crash from exhaustion, and the other half I end up drinking with friends afterward. Bringing a date would just be troublesome."
Yeri "..."
It seemed Tristan wasn't nearly as reckless with women as his public image suggested.
Madam Zhi soon spotted her cousin and a few close acquaintances. She exchanged a glance with Yeri, clearly intending to pull her along.
Yeri was just about to follow her mother like a well-behaved chick when, without warning, Tristan reached out and guided her toward another direction.
By the time she realized what was happening, they were already moving away from the familiar faces.
Yeri frowned slightly. "Brother Tristan?"
He smiled, eyes glinting with mischief. "Relax. Someone's been watching you since the moment you walked in."
As they moved deeper into the banquet hall, the atmosphere subtly shifted from polite pleasantries to quiet calculation.
Conversations overlapped in low tones, laughter was measured, and every smile carried intent. This was no mere birthday celebration; it was a battlefield disguised in crystal chandeliers and champagne flutes.
From a distance, Yeri immediately recognized Shin's circle of friends.
They stood out effortlessly, confident, unhurried, surrounded by guests who clearly wanted something from them. Some were accompanied by glamorous dates, others by business partners masquerading as friends.
Saeki, dressed in a sharp silver suit, was among them, animated as ever, enthusiastically discussing investments with several men clearly older and more cautious than him.
Although Yeri rarely attended social gatherings or banquets, she didn't falter. Born into the upper class, she carried herself with quiet elegance, greeting Shin's friends with composed courtesy.
"Sister-in-law, do you remember me?"
Daniel's eyes lit up the moment he spotted her.
Yeri's scalp prickled. Who was he again?
Before she could sort her thoughts or correct him another person chimed in, laughing, followed by yet another man enthusiastically introducing her to his date. The moment Daniel's words registered, the surrounding attention sharpened.
Several gazes snapped toward her. Some held thinly veiled contempt. Some flickered with interest. Others gleamed with gossip or subtle jealousy.
And a few assessed her merely as an accessory beside Tristan.
Yeri felt it instantly, the invisible weighing of her worth. She opened her mouth to clarify, but the opportunity slipped away as the conversation flowed onward, trapping her within a web of polite smiles and layered implications.
"So," Tristan asked casually, lifting his glass, "when is Shin coming?"
Yeri turned to him, slightly puzzled. "I'm not sure. I'm here as my mom's companion."
Tristan's mouth twitched. "Did you at least tell him?"
She shook her head. "It was a last-minute decision. It slipped my mind. Besides, I already confirmed in the group chat."
"The group chat?" Tristan repeated, then paused. He nodded slowly. "I saw your message. But in case you didn't know, Shin isn't in that group chat."
Yeri frowned. "…What?"
Tristan met her questioning gaze and shrugged. "Whenever someone adds him, he finds the notifications annoying and leaves immediately."
That was unfortunately entirely in character. Yeri exhaled softly, equal parts helpless and resigned.
"Just in case," Tristan added lightly, "you should let him know you're here."
Yeri nodded and pulled out her phone. After sending the message, from a distance, Yeri caught sight of a familiar figure.
So her suspicion had been right after all.
Venice stood near the center of the hall, dressed in a white gown that made her look like a delicate swan, pure, soft, and carefully curated. But what truly made Yeri's gaze narrow was the man standing beside her.
Nolan Zhi.
Yeri's lips curved faintly, not in amusement, but in disbelief.
So her scumbag uncle was here as well.
Did he receive an invitation himself, or were the two of them in cahoots?
After the scandal that had exploded online, he actually had the audacity to show his face in public.
Just how thick-skinned could a person be?
Then another thought crossed Yeri's mind.
…Did her uncle even know?
She glanced around discreetly. There was no sign of panic or embarrassment on her uncle's face, only the same smug composure he always wore.
Perhaps he hadn't seen the trending gossip yet. Or perhaps he believed it wouldn't touch him.