Why would he go this far for her? No... was it even for her at all? Or did he have another reason hidden beneath that calm expression of his?
In the end, all Yeri could utter was another quiet question.
"Why?"
Xian looked at her intently before stepping closer and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Do you really not know?" he asked softly. "I know it was my fault for leaving. I thought you'd always be there when I came back. Do you have any idea how shocked I was when I found out you were in a relationship with that man?"
Yeri remained silent.
"Yeri, it's not too late," Xian continued. "Don't marry him, okay? If he truly loved you, he would never have let you get hurt. Not even once. He wouldn't have allowed these people to harass you and drag your reputation through the mud."
"He's not my guardian," Yeri replied firmly. "I don't expect him to follow me around twenty-four hours a day. Besides, it's not like he doesn't care. He was dealing with things in his own way. He had his reasons and strategies."
Xian stared at her as though she had said something absurd.
"You're actually letting him manipulate you? Or are you saying this because you're afraid of offending him?"
"Stop." Yeri pulled his hands off her shoulders and took a step back. "Brother Book, what made you think I'd always be waiting for you?"
Xian froze.
"Even if I had been, I would only ever see you as an older brother, just like Brother Jj. So this has nothing to do with anyone else. You taking revenge on those people isn't for my sake. That's entirely your own choice. Your own satisfaction."
"And what are you going to do?" he challenged. "Yeri, you're too kind. Your version of revenge is pretending not to see anything. Otherwise, your cousin Venice wouldn't have been able to target you again and again."
A flicker of frustration crossed Yeri's face. "So in your eyes, I'll always be some helpless, weak person who needs other people to step in and save me?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Then did you ever stop to ask me?" she shot back. "Did you ever ask whether what you're doing is actually good for me? Whether it's what I wanted? You made those decisions on your own. You acted according to your own beliefs, and now you expect me to be grateful for it?"
"Even if I truly needed help," she continued, "it wouldn't be your turn to decide what that help should look like. I have parents. I have family. I have friends I can rely on."
Xian shook his head. "Don't misunderstand. I don't expect anything from you, and I certainly don't expect you to be grateful. In fact, I never intended for you to find out. If I ever made a mistake, I wanted you to be far away from any suspicion or scrutiny."
Yeri frowned. In the end, they had simply circled back to the same question.
Why?
More specifically...
"Why do you like me?"
After all, even if Xian was a few years older than her, he had still been a child back then. Had he really been thinking about such things while they were spending time together as kids?
The thought alone made her instinctively take another step back.
Xian seemed to understand what she was thinking.
Slowly, he began talking about his childhood. The pressure of growing up in the Song family.
The constant disappointment from the adults around him.
Most of all, his father's disdain because he showed no interest in politics unlike his older brother, Xavier.
Everyone thought he was a failure. Everyone believed there was something wrong with him because of his unusual fascination with insects, reptiles, and other creatures most people avoided.
His grandfather had assumed a change of environment would fix him, so he moved with him into a different neighborhood, and that was how they ended up living next door to the Zhi family.
Although Yeri disliked insects, she had never looked at him with disgust. Instead, she had looked at his collection with curiosity, and fascination.
Listening to him now, Yeri finally began to understand.
Perhaps Xian's attachment to her had never truly been romantic in the beginning. It was camaraderie.
A boy deemed a failure for refusing to walk the path his family had chosen for him, while she was a girl who could never live an ordinary life because of her health.
Two children who felt out of place. Two people who were somehow flawed. Yet that sense of understanding had evolved into something deeper for him.
The problem was that while they had lost contact, Xian's image of her had remained frozen in time.
In his mind, she was still that fragile girl next door. Someone who would quietly remain where she was.
Then suddenly, there was Shin Keir. Not only had Shin entered her life, but Yeri had actually dared to be with him.
Perhaps that was what Xian could never accept.
Shin Keir was like a star at the center of an entirely different galaxy. Someone powerful, influential, and far removed from the world they had once shared.
A force that should never have crossed paths with her. Like a quiet lake somehow merging with the vast ocean.
The more Yeri thought about it, the more complicated her feelings became.
Finally, she looked up at him. "Listen to me, I am not your responsibility."
Xian stiffened.
"You don't have any obligation to protect me, and you certainly don't get to decide whether I need revenge. You making decisions on my behalf is no different from your family making decisions for you without asking what you wanted."
Xian's pupils contracted. For the first time since the conversation began, genuine anxiety flickered across his face.
"Isn't that exactly the thing you've always hated? We're not some kind of mistake," Yeri said quietly. "We're not oddities or dysfunctional parts of society. If you're in the wrong place, then you move to the right one. If you're surrounded by people who don't understand you, then you find people who do."
She gestured around the room.
"Isn't that what you've already done? You found your own place and I believe I'm doing the same thing."
A long silence followed.
"And what if he isn't the right person?" Xian finally asked, concern lingering in his voice.
Yeri shrugged.
"Why are you so certain he isn't? Just because you think he isn't protecting me?" she continued. "Besides, there are no endless what ifs in life. You either choose to do something or you don't. And if it turns out to be a mistake, then it's my responsibility to deal with the consequences and fix it."
For a moment, Xian looked genuinely conflicted. As though he was reconsidering everything he had believed.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
His expression softened into a smile. "That must be the food delivery."
Yeri released a quiet sigh and followed him out of the basement.
She wasn't naïve enough to think a single conversation would completely change his mind.
Still, perhaps she had at least given him something to think about.
----
Meanwhile, at KGG Headquarters.
Inside the CEO's office, Shin stared at his phone.
The call failed once again. Yeri wasn't answering.
An hour had already passed since the end of office hours. He might as well go find her and have dinner together.
Just as he was about to stand, the office door swung open.
Secretary Yun stepped inside. "Boss, Young Master Felan is here to see you."
Shin narrowed his eyes.
Even before Secretary Yun finished speaking, he had already noticed the figure standing behind Tristan.
"Would either of you like some tea or refreshments?" Secretary Yun asked politely, completely oblivious to the existence accompanying Tristan.
"No."
"Not necessary."
After receiving their answer, Secretary Yun excused himself and closed the door.
The moment they were alone, Tristan grinned.
"Surprised?"
Shin's gaze shifted to the unfamiliar visitor.
Long golden hair flowed down the man's back. Intricate white and gold robes shimmered faintly beneath the office lights, making him look less like a person and more like a divine statue that had stepped out of an ancient painting.
"I greet the great Emperor Hexion Richt Svade. This one is in awe of your transformation. The reports were true. You have completely integrated into this world. Truly impressive."
"I highly doubt you're here for sightseeing," Shin replied flatly. "What do you want?"
The knight straightened. "This one has come to investigate unusual fluctuations caused by dimensional cracks."
Shin glanced toward Tristan.
"I already told him about the time the demon prince discovered this realm and destroyed an island," Tristan said casually. "But that dimensional crack was sealed long ago. There shouldn't be anything left."
The knight frowned. "What we traced was recent."
"If there were demons wandering around, don't you think the Emperor would already know?" Tristan countered.
The knight nodded, though not entirely convinced.
As a foreign existence, he couldn't remain in the realm for long. After a brief farewell, his figure dissolved into countless streaks of golden light and vanished.
Tristan immediately sprawled onto the sofa comfortably.
"Anyway," he said, "remember that pink diamond ring you wanted me to investigate? The knight mentioned that centuries ago, they captured a demon who slipped through one of the dimensional cracks. It was eliminated shortly afterward. Looks like that ring was just one of the remnants left behind."
Shin wasn't particularly interested in the ring anymore. The knight's sudden appearance bothered him far more.
"Are you sure there aren't any dimensional issues?" he asked, tapping his finger lightly against the desk.
Tristan thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"Pretty sure. Have you used your abilities recently? They can sense traces of that kind of power. Maybe they picked up on something and misunderstood it."
"No."
Shin rose from his chair and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sunset painted the city in shades of gold and crimson.
After a moment, he decided it wasn't worth wasting energy on. As long as those people stayed away from him and Yeri, he couldn't care less.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Yeri's number again.
Behind him, Tristan suddenly chuckled, waving his phone with an expression that suggested trouble.
"What?"
"Calin Ricci really knows how to make a mess," Tristan said with amusement. "This time, she's going all in with her retaliation."