Chapter 94: Night market tragedy
She didn’t need a degree in passive-aggression to know Venice was doing this on purpose.
Still, Yeri wasn’t in the mood to argue. She didn’t want to create drama in front of Jj and ruin the atmosphere. The weather was nice, the food was great, and for once, she was relaxed.
While Yeri nibbled contentedly on her pork, Venice cleared her throat and shifted her tone.
"Actually, I invited both of you tonight not just to unwind," she began, placing her straw in the milk tea with a dramatic sigh. "It’s also because... I think you two might understand my situation better than anyone else."
Jj: "..."
Yeri: "..."
Venice’s eyes began to glisten as she continued, "It’s about Dad... He’s cheating on Mom. With soone younger."
How ironic, Yeri thought dryly, keeping her expression neutral. She wasn’t shocked. In fact, she’d already heard about it in passing from her parents.
Her uncle, the man who had once wrecked his first marriage to be with Venice’s mother, was now cheating again. Shocking.
The only surprise was that Venice was surprised.
Yeri glanced at Jj, who looked equally uncomfortable. Neither of them said anything as Venice’s voice cracked and she covered her face, tears beginning to fall.
"I should’ve known," Venice sobbed. "He always made excuses about not marrying Mom. Said it wasn’t the right ti. Said we weren’t ready. But the truth is... he never intended to marry her at all."
She sniffled, trembling. "Is it because I’m not a son? Is that it?"
Jj sighed deeply and reached over to pat her on the back, unsure what else to do.
Yeri’s lips thinned into a line. She wasn’t close to Venice, but even she had to admit the situation sucked.
"He didn’t even apologize," Venice continued bitterly. "Even after Mom caught him with the other woman. You know what he said? He said... he’s done his part. That I’m an adult now, and he’s given Mom enough. That he’s not supporting us anymore."
A heavy silence fell.
For a mont, all that could be heard was the distant sound of buskers playing a soft lody, the low chatter of people walking past, and Venice’s quiet sobs.
Yeri remained quiet, eyes fixed on her skewer as she took another bite. It was genuinely delicious, and she tried to focus on that instead. She had her own grudges against Venice, but she wasn’t the type to kick soone while they were already down.
"Yeri, I know I haven’t exactly been nice to you, but... I don’t really have anyone else to turn to," Venice said at last, her voice hesitant. "Could you please ask Uncle Klaus to help
with my studies?"
Yeri blinked, caught off guard. So this was the real reason Venice had suddenly invited her out to roam the night market.
She took a deep breath and finally nodded. "I’ll talk to my dad about it," she said simply. There was no point in making it harder than it already was.
A desperate person backed into a corner could do anything, and Venice...
Without her scumbag uncle’s support, Venice’s dream of marrying into wealth and joining high society was slipping through her fingers.
What if she really started setting her sights on Jj?
Still, asking for help with her education wasn’t exactly a cri, at least, not yet. As long as she didn’t cross the line, Yeri could let it go.
The three continued walking through the vibrant night market, passing stalls glowing under yellow lanterns. Yeri had already devoured barbecued at skewers, grilled seafood, fruit slices on sticks, and a handful of international snacks.
"Don’t eat too much. What if you get a stomachache?" Jj warned, glancing at her pile of food wrappers.
Yeri just nodded while chewing a bite of sticky rice cake. "Try this one. It’s so good with lted cheese," she mumbled, handing him a bite.
Jj shook his head, half exasperated, half amused. At least she was enjoying herself.
Then Venice suddenly spoke in a quiet voice, "Jj... by any chance, do you have any contact with Young Master Jie?"
Jj looked confused. "Young Master Jie? How would soone like
have a connection with him?"
Venice frowned, clearly not buying it. "Didn’t he co to Yeri’s debut party? I rember it was because of you."
Jj’s lips twitched. He had forgotten. At that ti, they had pretended to know Saeki Jie to help cover up Shin and Yeri’s relationship.
"I also rember you asking about him at the party," Yeri added casually, her tone unreadable.
Venice flinched slightly and offered a stiff, awkward smile.
Back then, after they’d all gone to Yeri’s hotel room to check for the intruder, Venice had seen Saeki Jie’s business card on the table and stolen it. She had tried contacting him afterward.
At first, he seed mildly interested but once she hinted at wanting to join his entertainnt agency, his attitude turned cold. He didn’t offer her a shortcut or any special treatnt.
She had done everything to catch his attention like "accidental" etings, forced conversations, suggestive remarks but in the end, he blocked her number.
Could it be because she didn’t belong in his world?
Venice snapped out of her thoughts when Jj said, "Sorry, Venice. I’m really not close with him. Barely an acquaintance. Why? Do you need sothing from him?"
Before she could answer, Yeri cut in teasingly, "The one brother Jj’s really close with is Young Master Keir."
"Really?" Venice’s eyes lit up with curiosity.
She rembered what her mother once said: Why aim for the general when you could shoot for the emperor?
Jj saw that gleam in her eyes and shot Yeri a warning look.
But before he could say anything, a loud, bloodcurdling scream echoed from sowhere nearby.
"What was that?"?"
More screams followed—terrified, panicked, and then the sound of people running.
Jj’s expression darkened. He imdiately sensed sothing was wrong. "Let’s head back. Now—"
Before he could finish, a wave of people ca rushing toward them, eyes wide with horror. So were crying. Others were pushing and shoving to escape.
Venice scread and instinctively grabbed Jj’s arm in fear. Jj yanked a man from the running crowd and shouted, "What’s going on?!"
Before the man could respond, the sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the night.
"So lunatic’s shooting people!" the stranger cried, shaking free and sprinting off.
Chaos erupted instantly.
The once-lively night market beca a stampede. People pushed and trampled over each other, stalls toppled over, food spilled everywhere. Screams filled the air, mingling with the shouts of vendors and crying children.
"Run!" Jj ordered, pulling Yeri’s hand as they bolted toward the direction of their school.
Venice, in a full panic, clung to Jj’s back like she expected him to transform into a motorbike and carry her to safety.
"Venice! You’re choking !" Jj yelled, struggling to breathe while shielding Yeri from the crowd.
"It’s fine! Carry her—I can run!" Yeri shouted over the chaos.
But before they could escape, another scream erupted behind them.
"He’s coming this way!"
The people behind them surged forward, panicked, shoving everyone in front of them to get away.
Venice lost her footing and fell. Soone stepped on her ankle, and she let out a bone-chilling scream.
"I’ll carry her! Yeri, go ahead and run!" Jj shouted.
But Yeri hesitated. Venice, in her fear, had latched onto Yeri’s leg like a lifeline, refusing to let go.
"Venice, let go—Yeri needs to get out first—"
"Why is it always her first?!" Venice scread, her voice shrill and trembling. "Is it because she’s sick? Or because she’s the legitimate daughter and I’m just the outsider?!"
Jj stared at her, stunned. Even now, at a ti like this, was she competing and comparing herself to Yeri?
"What are you even saying right now?! Stop this and get on my back!"
Bang!
All three froze.
This shot wasn’t far. It was right behind them.
A man holding a child collapsed onto the pavent.
Yeri felt sothing wet hit her cheek. She reached up and looked at her hand—blood.
"Daddy! Daddy!" the little girl, no more than ten years old, wailed as she shook her wounded father.
Venice scread again, louder this ti, crawling backward while sobbing and shaking. Her ankle twisted, she couldn’t even stand.
Jj clenched his fists. He had a black belt, but what good was that against a man with a gun?
He kept shouting at Venice to climb on, but she was frozen in fear, completely losing her grip on reality. Her screams grew louder, echoing through the night like a siren, drawing unwanted attention.
Yeri didn’t hesitate. She dashed forward and scooped up the crying girl in her arms.
But just as she turned, she felt a hard shove from behind. She stumbled and nearly dropped the child.
Jj’s eyes widened. "Yeri!"
Venice had pushed her. Yeri stumbled forward, toward the direction of the gunman.
Jj imdiately lunged for her, grabbing her wrist, dragging her back.
But it was too late, a figure walking steadily toward them, gun raised, eyes wild with madness.
---
Shin pulled up at the back gate of the school.
He was supposed to et Yeri earlier, but everything with Hadi had delayed his plans.
He thought about waiting until tomorrow, but then his people inford him she had gone to the night market with her cousins, Jj and Venice.
He smiled to himself. Maybe he could surprise her. The crowd would provide good cover. Besides, Jj knew about them.
He put on a mask and a black cap, just like last ti, and got out of the car. He’d texted Yeri earlier, but she hadn’t replied.
Now he was about to call when Rig, one of his n called him instead.
Shin frowned slightly but answered.
The voice on the other end was frantic, nearly unintelligible. "Boss—... couldn’t reach—shooting—lost Miss—"
"What?" Shin snapped. There was too much noise from Rig’s end like he was in a warzone. "Say it again."
Gunshots. Screams. Sirens.
Shin suddenly felt a bad premonition as his heart began to race.
He started walking faster, then sprinting towards the sumr night market.
Soon people were running past him, pale-faced, injured, terrified. So were crying. Others were bloody and dazed.
Police sirens echoed from all direction, louder. Then another shot.
He stopped a panicked student. "What’s happening?!"
The student tried to run, but when Shin grabbed his arm and fixed him with a cold glare, the boy stamred, "I—I don’t know! They all started running so I just—"
Shin let him go and grabbed another person.
"So madman with a gun—he’s shooting at random!" the man gasped.
Shin felt true, bone-deep fear gripped his chest.
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