The mansion's front doors opened with a soft click, and Yeri stepped into the marbled foyer, her heels echoing faintly against the pristine floor. The faint scent of roses clung to her coat—courtesy of Shin's bouquet—but it was quickly overpowered by hints of sandalwood and lavender drifting from deeper within the house.
All the lights were on.
She blinked. That was odd.
Usually, the house welcomed her with silence. Her mother preferred a minimalist, serene atmosphere—no glaring lights, no background chatter, and definitely no unexpected visitors.
So the sound of laughter from the sitting room immediately set off alarm bells in her mind.
"My princess!" her mother's delighted voice called just as Yeri rounded the corner.
And there it was—the source of her unease.
On the pristine cream sofa, lounging as if it were their ancestral throne, sat Aunt Linda and her daughter, Venice. Yeri halted mid-step. A headache bloomed behind her eyes.
"Oh darling, you're back!" Madam Zhi swept over with open arms and a warm smile, her elegant bun perfectly intact despite the enthusiasm.
"Hi, Mom," Yeri greeted, returning the hug, though her eyes flicked warily toward the couch.
Venice turned at the sound of her voice, her glossy curls bouncing with practiced elegance. "Yeri!" she trilled, as if shocked the rightful owner of the house had dared show up. "You look tired, as always. Poor thing—school must be so hard on your health."
Yeri offered a tight smile. "I'm doing well now."
Venice laughed, the sound brittle like cheap crystal. "Oh, if you say so."
Aunt Linda rose with the theatrical flair of a woman expecting cameras to follow her every move. Clasping her hands together, she exclaimed, "My goodness, look how thin you've gotten, Yeri! Are they feeding you properly at that school? I told your mother not to push you so hard. Is she really taking proper care of you?"
Madam Zhi stiffened slightly. "What are you implying? Everyone in this house knows our princess is always the top priority."
Linda gave a meaningful smile. "Don't take it the wrong way, I'm only concerned about her wellbeing."
"I'm a student, Aunt Linda. It's kind of expected," Yeri replied flatly, brushing past them to set her bag on the nearest armchair.
Madam Zhi chose not to linger on the comment and sat beside Yeri with a cheerful tone. "I asked you to come home tonight in case you want to make changes to the debut party plan. Your gown was delivered today—try it on later."
Ah, so that was the reason for her to be back tonight. She'd almost forgotten.
"Thank you, Mom! But you're doing so much already, I feel bad," Yeri said sweetly, snuggling up to her.
"Nonsense. This is what mothers are for." Madam Zhi patted her shoulder and said in an awkward tone. "Anyway, your aunt and cousin came early."
"I see," Yeri said coolly, already calculating how many days she'd have to endure under the same roof as Venice.
Debut party or not, these two always found a way to worm into the main house, usually to parade their presence in front of her father.
Technically, Venice wasn't even her legal cousin. Aunt Linda was her uncle's mistress. After his legal wife divorced him for being a cheating scumbag, he never married Linda. Neither of them had the Zhi surname.
Yeri bit back a smirk. She wondered how they'd react if they found out Uncle was already off gallivanting with a new mistress—still chasing his dream of a son. Pathetic.
Venice smoothed her skirt, her voice coated in syrup. "I thought you wouldn't have a debut party. I heard your condition worsened months ago, but you survived. That's good. Just be careful with all that medication—you don't want to push your body too far for temporary results."
Madam Zhi's expression darkened, but Yeri squeezed her hand gently—a silent message: I've got this.
"How kind of you," Yeri replied, calm and crisp. "But don't worry. The doctors at Neri Medical Hospital don't take patient care lightly."
Venice's polished nails dug slightly into her thigh, hidden by the folds of her designer skirt. Her thoughts turned bitter. 'Is she bragging? Her family throws money at her treatment while I...'
If Yeri could hear her thoughts, she would've definitely given her a thumbs up.
"But why does the party sound... underwhelming?" Venice added, tone dripping with false concern. "No media presence? No coverage?"
Yeri shrugged. "I'm not looking for a performance. Just a quiet evening."
"Still," Aunt Linda chimed in with a condescending smile, "you shouldn't be too quiet, dear. You're coming of age. You only get one chance to make a grand impression—especially given your... circumstances."
She waved vaguely, as if Yeri's fragile health or sheltered lifestyle were some unfortunate stain on the family name.
Venice chimed in without missing a beat. "I think Uncle Klaus is just being cautious. If Yeri suddenly relapses, a lavish party could become a PR nightmare."
"Oh dear, I hadn't thought of that!" Linda said with mock horror, hand to her chest.
Yeri could practically hear the gears turning in their heads. They weren't convinced she was better. That much was clear.
But of course, it wasn't about her health.
So far, the Zhi Corporation had not named an official heir. While her brother Jj worked with the company occasionally, his passion lay in engineering—and their father wasn't one to force ambitions onto his children. That left a gaping power vacuum. Her uncle had been circling like a vulture, hoping to sink his claws into the company.
If he seized control, Linda and Venice would reap the rewards.
Before another backhanded comment could fly, Madam Zhi clapped her hands lightly. "Let's not make this a competition. The debut party reflects my husband's and daughter's wishes. We've always preferred private affairs. I won't change that just to satisfy outsiders."
Aunt Linda's smile wavered. Outsiders? How dare she. In her heart, she saw Zenia, Yeri's stepmother, as an equal at best. If Yeri's biological mother hadn't passed away, Zenia would have no chance even after meeting Klaus Zhi and would have never stepped foot into the Zhi household.
"For once, it wouldn't hurt to have a grand party," Venice said sweetly, crossing her legs with practiced grace. "I'm just so excited to help Yeri shine on her special night. Finally."
"You're so considerate," Yeri replied with a bored smile. "Come to think of it, wasn't your debut party just a small dinner? I couldn't attend because of the situation at the time. If there's another chance, I'd love to help you be the star."
Venice's smile faltered.
Two years ago, that dinner had been a low-key, forgettable event held during her father's messy divorce with his legal wife. With finances frozen, their identity under wraps and no money to flaunt, it had been one of her lowest points.
"Yeri, must you remind my daughter of that?" Aunt Linda exclaimed, her voice shaking with crocodile tears. "I may deserve contempt, but my daughter is innocent!"
Madam Zhi raised a brow. "What on earth are you talking about?"
Yeri offered an angelic smile. "Auntie misunderstood. When I said 'because of the situation,' I meant my health."
Aunt Linda stiffened, her skepticism barely hidden. "Well, you two should get along... after all, you're almost the same age. I've failed as a mother. I couldn't give Venice what most kids have, and now I just wish she could attend a better college."
"Didn't she already pass the college entrance exam? I thought Venice got into her preferred university," Madam Zhi asked, brows slightly furrowed.
Aunt Linda shook her head. "She did, but the education there doesn't compare to SC University. Isn't Jj studying at SC, too? It would be wonderful if Venice could transfer there. As cousins, they could look after each other—especially Yeri. Venice could keep an eye on her, make sure she's not getting bullied."
Yeri raised an eyebrow. So that's what this was about. No wonder these two showed up early—they were here to ask her father to help Venice get into SC University.
She highly doubted Venice's interest was in education. SC was the country's top elite university, overflowing with wealthy heirs from powerful families and business dynasties.
A perfect fishing ground for someone like Venice.
And who was going to pay for that tuition? No way was she letting her dad cover it.
"Did you talk to Nolan about this?" Madam Zhi asked smoothly. "If he agrees, then why not?"
Nolan—Yeri's uncle—was the last person who'd pay a cent for his daughter. The man was obsessed with having a son, and after losing the divorce case, he'd already found a new mistress to try again. Spending money on Venice? Not a chance.
Aunt Linda pursed her lips. She must've already asked him and been turned down—why else would she come here?
"What about him?" Linda snapped. "He's not the CEO of Zhi Corporation. He has fewer connections. Since Klaus helped Jj get into SC, it wouldn't be too much to ask the same for Venice, right?"
Yeri's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Dad didn't help my brother get in with connections. Jj earned his place with top grades and a scholarship. And even if he hadn't, it's only natural for Dad to support him—he's his son."
A beat of silence followed. Yeri's voice had a quiet finality to it.
She felt the heat rise in her chest. Jj may not be her father's biological child, but he carried the Zhi name. He was family. To even compare him to Venice was insulting.
Aunt Linda looked ready to snap back, but Venice gently touched her arm, stopping her with a subtle shake of the head.
Venice offered a thin, cold smile. "Mom just wants the best for me, don't mind her. Anyway, Yeri, I really love your dress and bag. Aren't those from this season's new collection?"
Yeri merely nodded. They were indeed part of the latest drop—items she'd bought with Shin Keir's black card.
Not that her mother would question it. She'd never been restricted when it came to shopping. Besides, the more extravagant purchases were safely stashed away at her dorm.
As the night settled, Yeri changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, her fluffy dog, Carpet, curling up beside her.
Just as she was drifting into sleep, a knock tapped at her door.
She sighed, got up, and opened it—only to see Venice standing there, smiling sweetly.
Yeri rolled her eyes and slammed the door shut again, locking it without a word.
Why bother playing nice when it was just the two of them?
She wasn't a fool—Venice was probably fishing for free things, hoping to charm her way into a favor. But Yeri didn't owe her anything.
They didn't like each other, and the feeling was mutual.
Outside, Venice stood frozen for a moment before stomping her foot in frustration.