Still caught in her thoughts, Lucia didn't notice the shift in atmosphere. Others had begun to pick up on how the staff and even the manager treated the young, beautiful server with respect.
Even Shin Keir, who usually couldn't be bothered with petty drama and would've scolded everyone for wasting his time, looked unusually interested in the commotion.
"Are your eyes just for decoration?" Shin's voice cut through the room like a blade. His gaze swept over his people. "The meeting is already delayed, and you're still standing here chirping. Remove this woman from my sight."
Lucia stared at him, stunned. She looked as if her lover had just betrayed her in the most dramatic way possible.
This time, Secretary Yun didn't hesitate. With the help of another employee, he gently but firmly urged Lucia toward the exit.
"Wait," Shin said suddenly, as if remembering something. "Give her a cooling patch."
He recalled this café was part of the Zhi family's business, he wouldn't allow rumors or incidents to tarnish its name.
But Lucia misunderstood completely. Her tears transformed into glistening joy as she accepted the patch like it was a diamond.
"Thank you, CEO Keir!" she breathed, clutching it to her chest.
She somehow managed to ignore everything harsh he'd said to her, including the fact that she'd essentially been fired.
She did it. She caught Shin Keir's attention!
Of course, she didn't leave without shooting one last venomous glare at Yeri.
After Lucia left, Yeri realized she hadn't even gotten the chance to speak, let alone defend herself. Shin Keir's sudden presence had completely thrown her off and now that the troublemaker was gone, anger surged through her.
She was not the type to let herself be bullied without fighting back.
Looking around at the people still watching her, she clenched her fists. She didn't want to leave a bad impression that could reflect poorly on the café or the business it represented.
Squaring her shoulders, Yeri turned to Shin and said, voice steady with righteous indignation, "Sir, I didn't push that woman. Whatever she accused me of—it isn't true. This café has advanced CCTV. We can review the footage, and I'll make sure you get a copy. Also, please allow me to compensate you and your team for the trouble."
Shin's mouth twitched at the word Sir.
Sir? Really? She sure knew how to piss him off.
When it was just the two of them, she called him young master and now in public, she was suddenly more formal and distant?
He hated it.
Without a word, Shin stepped closer and patted her head. Yeri wasn't expecting it and couldn't dodge in time.
With a faint smirk, he said, "The daughter of Zhi Corporation and sister of a friend doesn't need to apologize. I know you didn't do it. Why would you do something that could damage your family's business, right?"
If she can't be his girlfriend in public, a friend should be alright, right?
"…Daughter of Zhi Corporation?"
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd especially from the KGG employees.
Zhi Corporation might not be on the same scale as KGG, but it was still a major player, with café branches all across the country.
The girl they had just dismissed as a lowly server… was actually the heiress of Zhi Corporation?!
Wait a minute—if their boss knew her, then they had completely misunderstood the situation.
So that's why Shin Keir had approached her earlier. They already knew each other.
And judging by his attitude, so unlike his usual cold and overbearing demeanor, he seemed to get along quite well with the Zhi heiress.
Shin looked at her once more, as if considering something, then said, "Go get it treated."
He was going to ask for another cup of brewed coffee but with her scalded leg, forget it.
Yeri nodded and gave a polite smile to those around her before slipping into the employee lounge.
Not a moment later, her phone buzzed.
[Shin: My meeting won't take long. Wait for me.]
Yeri groaned under her breath. "What is he up to this time?"
---
Up on the second floor of the café, the meeting finally resumed without further disruption. The atmosphere had settled, and everyone focused on the remaining agenda points.
As the discussion neared its conclusion, Secretary Yun looked around and asked, "Are there any questions or concerns before we end for the day?"
There was a brief pause, then someone hesitantly raised their hand.
"I was wondering… was there any other serious reason Ms. Lucia Hera was dismissed, aside from the incident we witnessed earlier?"
The room quieted.
Shin had originally planned to make the announcement tomorrow, but since the topic had conveniently come up, better to let them know now.
Besides, this could serve as a subtle warning especially to those who were all too eager to play the upright hero without considering both sides of the story.
This wasn't just about defending Yeri.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see who was really manipulating the situation. Yeri hadn't even spoken a word in her defense.
If the people working this closely with him were so gullible and easily manipulated, then today would serve as a much-needed wake-up call.
Otherwise, how could he trust them with actual corporate responsibilities if they couldn't even read the room properly?
Secretary Yun glanced subtly at Shin Keir, who gave a barely perceptible nod. With that silent permission, he spoke with the solemnity of a judge delivering a verdict. "The matter about Ms. hera, I notified the IT department hours ago, and I was told the report for today's meeting had already been finalized yesterday. It only needed to be handed in this morning. However, the person originally assigned to submit it suddenly called in sick. The task was then entrusted to Miss Hera, a junior technician."
"Despite being fully aware of the meeting schedule and receiving two follow-up calls, she left the file sitting on her desk all morning and made no move to submit it. And yet, despite not being informed that the meeting venue had changed, she somehow arrived here promptly."
After Secretary Yun finished, the room fell silent. Faces turned pale with realization.
The man who had spoken up in defense of Lucia lowered his head in shame, sweat breaking out cold on his skin.
Shin swept his cold gaze across the room, his voice laced with disdain. "KGG is a business, not a playground for fools. I initially requested a re-evaluation of the IT department alone. But from what I've seen today, it seems the entire main branch is overdue for one."
"It was already questionable to entrust such a crucial corporate report to a junior technician. Yet she came here not to work, but to stir up trouble, completely disregarding the company's reputation."
Some employees still looked confused, wondering why Lucia Hera had deliberately delayed submitting the report.
But the quick-witted among them immediately understood—she had done it on purpose, hoping to get Shin Keir's attention.
The meeting ended shortly afterward, leaving the employees in a state of unease and troubled reflection.
This seemingly random incident became the trigger for hell to descend within KGG's main headquarters in the weeks to come.
---
By the time they exited the café, night had already fallen. The streets glimmered with streetlights and glowing signs, and the air had cooled with the breeze of early evening.
Shin didn't wait for polite farewells. The moment they stepped outside, he was already heading toward his office building, practically sprinting.
Minutes later, a sleek blue Bugatti pulled up in front of a convenience store, just across from Café Zhillion.
Yeri stood outside with a small plastic bag in hand, squinting at the car. The luxury vehicle idled like a purring beast under the streetlights. She couldn't help thinking that Shin's garage must be overflowing with cars worth more than her entire block.
He probably picked one depending on his mood or the weather.
Although Shin had already messaged her earlier to say he'd come pick her up, she still glanced around warily, double-checking before tapping gently on the tinted window.
The passenger door popped open.
Seeing Shin Keir in the driver's seat, she immediately slipped inside, tugging the door shut behind her. The last thing she needed was anyone recognizing him and starting another scene.
Shin gave her a brief once-over, then nodded at the plastic bag in her lap. "What did you buy? You know you shouldn't eat junk food this late."
Yeri barely resisted rolling her eyes. 'If someone hadn't made me wait, I'd be halfway through a proper dinner by now.'
"It's just a sandwich," she said flatly. "The rest isn't even food. Just some cooling patches and a drink."
Shin nodded and glanced at his watch. Just 7:00 p.m.
He pulled the car smoothly onto the road. "Are you hungry? How's your leg?"
"It's not bad," she said. "The patch helped cool it down."
But Shin's jaw tensed slightly at her answer. Without warning, he veered off and pulled over to the side of a quieter road.
Yeri blinked in confusion. "What's the matter?"
Shin unbuckled his seatbelt and turned toward her. "Let me see your leg."
Yeri stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"I saw how red your skin was earlier," he said, tone firm. "What if it leaves a scar?"
"It's my skin. I think I'd know if it's serious."
She folded her arms protectively, unsure whether to be flattered or annoyed.
Shin gave her a look that could only be described as the one parents gave to stubborn children. "If you won't show me, we're going straight to the hospital to have it checked. Just in case."
Yeri paled. "The hospital? It's not even that bad!"
She didn't like hospitals. She'd spent enough time in them for almost half a lifetime.
"Also, I'm hungry," Yeri pouted, her voice edging toward a pitiful whine.
Shin's brow twitched. He looked like a man caught between a rock and a guilt trip. After all, he had made her wait.
"Fine," he sighed, sounding both resigned and mildly defeated. "We'll eat first. But after that, I want to make sure your leg is really alright."