Addicted to you-Chapter 83: Swear it

Early the next morning~

The air was barely warm when a crisp, official statement from Zhi Corporation went live on all major platforms, accompanied by their official legal seal.

"Regarding recent claims by a Miss Lucia Hera, the incident has been reviewed and fully investigated. After thorough evaluation, including on-site surveillance footage and audio confirmation, we find no wrongdoing on the part of our café staff. Zhi Corporation prioritizes integrity and transparency, and we will not tolerate defamation toward our employees or brands."

Attached to the statement was a brief but damning video clip. It showed Lucia approaching the café server with exaggerated sweetness, attempting to coax the visibly confused young woman into handing over a tray. Her tone though laced with charm carried a subtle, commanding edge. The server, however, remained polite but firm in her refusal.

Then came the twist. As Shin Keir appeared in the background, Lucia seemed to notice and, in one dramatic motion, yanked the tray toward herself. Her high-pitched shriek echoed as she fell backward, clutching her hand and sobbing that she had been burned.

The backlash was immediate.

Netizens, who just a day ago had rallied behind Lucia with hashtags like #JusticeForLucia and #BoycottZhillion, were suddenly choking on their own indignation.

@sunset_salami: "OMG! So the server was innocent? Damn that livestreamer. She actually had the guts to twist black and white."

@matchabitcha: "The server didn’t even defend herself while Lucia was already going fast and furious. How shameless can you be?"

@hyperbunni: "I’m still confused! Maybe there’s more to this. I want to see more. Don’t just cut the footage!"

@bagboys_original: "The person above, are you Lucia’s simp?? It’s clearly her who wanted to serve Shin Keir. She even pushed that girl aside!"

@camgeek_nox: "I don’t care what’s going on, but what camera is Café Zhillion using?? I need that quality for my home security!"

But the conversation didn’t stop at Lucia.

As the video circulated and viewers paused every frame like analysts in a crime lab, new waves of comments shifted toward a different name entirely—KGG Corporation, the very company where Lucia had been fired from prior to this outburst.

@strawberrydebt: "Wait, but why was she fired from KGG? That’s the part I don’t get. This doesn’t explain everything."

@justicepls: "And what about the countless employees KGG fired this month alone? Where’s the transparency?"

@skintofu: "I don’t believe Lucia wasn’t aware of the cameras. Some people are just desperate for fame. I think this wasn’t about the incident, she was using us as a stepping stone for her to get famous. Checked her profile and her followers tripled overnight."

Despite the growing calls for an explanation, Lucia remained silent. No new livestream. No statement.

Meanwhile, KGG was being pulled into its own storm, as more former employees came forward, accusing the corporation of wrongful dismissal and toxic work culture.

It didn’t take long for the gossip forums, business insiders, and even mainstream news outlets to catch wind of the whole fiasco.

Yeri, still in her pajamas and holding a warm cup of milk, stared wide-eyed at the trending hashtags.

#LuciaHera

#ApologizeToZhillion

#KGGExposeNext?

#Whowastheserver

She nearly dropped her phone when she saw a comment accompanied by a zoomed-in screenshot of her back.

"That server has a beautiful back, can someone identify her? I want to send flowers."

Yeri groaned. Maybe it was time to ask her dad if she could be transferred to a different café branch.

Just then, a new thought crossed her mind, Shin Keir hadn’t messaged her yesterday. Was he too busy handling the fallout from this scandal?

Out of courtesy, she sent him a message.

[Yeri: Are you okay?]

To her shock, he immediately called. She jumped in her seat and quickly declined the call.

[Yeri: I’m home, can’t answer your call.]

[Shin: Your father saw the surveillance?]

[Yeri: Yeah, the company already released a clarification.]

[Shin: Did he ask about us?]

Yeri frowned, thinking hard before responding.

[Yeri: Brother Jj was here too. He handled it.]

[Shin: Oh? How?]

Yeri stared at the screen, feeling a cold sense of dread settle in her stomach.

No. No, no, no. Under no circumstances could Shin Keir find out about Jj’s nonsense claim that she had a crush on him!

[Yeri: I just said we got acquainted through my brother, that’s all.]

[Shin: Oh?]

She glared at her phone. "Oh? That’s it? ’Oh?’ Can’t he type a normal reply like a regular human? What’s with the cryptic monosyllables? Does he have finger arthritis?"

Then her phone buzzed again.

[Shin: I don’t believe your father bought such a lame excuse.]

Yeri: "..."

That’s it. She understood now. What unsettled her most about Shin Keir wasn’t just his CEO aura or intense stares, it was the fact that, like her father, he was a dangerously sharp analyst. A walking lie detector.

Was that a CEO trait or something they taught at business school?

Without a second thought, she rushed to Jj’s room, knocked three times, then barged in without waiting.

Jj had just gotten out of the shower, hair damp and a robe loosely tied. He scowled. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Sorry, sorry, but this is important!" Yeri gave him her most sheepish smile. "Brother Jj, please remember, under no circumstances are you allowed to tell Young Master Keir I have a crush on him. That was a joke. A lie. A huge misunderstanding. So just... forget it ever happened, okay?"

Jj stared. "..."

"There were only three of us last night. Dad’s not going to go around telling Shin Keir anything ridiculous, and you, especially you, need to keep your mouth shut. Even if he bribes you, blackmails you, or threatens to toss you off a cliff or feed you to the sharks, don’t say a word. Got it?"

Jj gave her a long, slow look. "Why do I feel like you’re the one planning to throw me off a cliff and feed me to sharks? If you silent me and Dad, no one will know."

Yeri gave him a pleading look. "I’m serious!"

"So you burst into my room just for that? Will it really kill you if he finds out?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

Jj sighed dramatically. "It’s just a crush. Don’t you like him? Or are you dating him with zero feelings?"

Yeri froze. Right. Jj knew of her relationship with Shin Keir, but not how or why it started.

"Crush and like are different," she mumbled.

Jj rubbed his temple, officially lost. He wasn’t nosy with other people’s relationships even if it was his sister but he just couldn’t follow her brain circuit.

"You’re exhausting."

"Swear it," she demanded.

"Okay. Fine. I swear," he muttered, raising a hand.

Yeri beamed and turned to leave, then paused as Jj’s phone buzzed with a new message.

She unintentionally glanced at the screen and her eyes widened.

’Shin Keir: ...’

"You—you’re texting each other?!" She asked accusingly.

Jj gave her a baffled look. "Uh, yeah? How do you think he asked me to deliver those boxed lunches? Carrier pigeon? Telepathy?"

Then he touched her forehead, concerned. "Are you alright? Did you even sleep last night? I think you need to have your brain check."

Yeri "..."

She stomped her foot in frustration. "What did he say? Let me see!"

Jj held the phone out of reach. "Are you jealous?"

Yeri pouted, then glared. "Read it out loud!"

"I don’t think so, young lady," he smirked. "Shouldn’t you be getting ready for school?"

She narrowed her eyes. "You said something, didn’t you? You told him something!"

Jj grinned, raising the phone even higher. "Must be hard living with a ticking nuclear secret. You’re so paranoid."

"I am not! I’m just worried he got you fooled to share things you weren’t supposed to say... he’s a capitalist, you have no idea how cunning he is." Yeri protested, then lunged to grab the phone.

Her jump fell short. Jj was taller and smugger.

"This is suspicious!" she whined. "How odd it is that Young Master Keir is sending you a message at this time? Hurry up and give me your phone, just let me read it or better yet, let me reply to him instead!"

But then a low, deliberate throat-clear echoed from the hallway.

Both of them froze.

Standing at the doorway was Father Zhi, arms crossed and face stern.

"What are you two doing, arguing so early in the morning?"

Jj: "..."

Yeri: "..."

"Yeri Jewel Zhi," he said, voice firm, "I thought we discussed this last night. Your studies are your top priority. Or were you lying when you said you admired Shin Keir purely for his intellect? What do you intend to reply to him?"

Eh? Oh no. It seems her father thought she was trying to reach out to Shin Keir through her brother, but most importantly, he used her fullname. That was a bad sign.

Not only was he upset but he was giving her a warning.

Yeri swallowed hard. When it came to her education and character development, her father had always been strict and principled. He never spoiled her, not even once.

"No, Dad... this is a misunderstanding," Yeri mumbled.

Jj stepped in as well, nodding. "Yeah, Dad. It wasn’t like that. Besides, how could I possibly have Young Master Keir’s personal contact info? I was just teasing her."

Father Zhi said nothing more. He simply told them both to get ready for school and come down for breakfast.

Yeri shot Jj a suspicious look before turning and heading back to her room.

Once alone, Jj tapped open the message on his phone.

[Shin Keir: Did she get in trouble with your parents?]

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