Chapter 33 — Bitrthday Surprising

◽4 Hours Later◽
Music still filled the air as the evening lights flickered softly across the garden.The atmosphere had shifted — the early awkwardness replaced by laughter, elegance, and the faint rhythm of champagne glasses clinking.
Mika leaned closer, eyes drifting toward the main table.「Wow… she looks stunning.」 Her gaze slid to Nikolai. 「So when were you gonna tell us you manage 5-Star Glamor?」Nikolai, calm as always, lifted his glass and took a slow sip of juice.「I don’t manage them.」 He spoke plainly. 「I own the label they’re under — Nex Star. And Nex Talent Agency.」Mika’s jaw nearly dropped. 「Wha—wait, you own it?!」 She turned to Fujiwara and Itadori. 「Is this true?!」Itadori chuckled. 「Trust me, rookie. Once you realize how rich Nic actually is, you’ll start thinking everyone else here is broke.」Mika blinked, looking back at him, almost whispering to herself—【How much money can one person have…?】Nikolai sighed softly and set his glass down. 「Seems like it’s my turn to give a gift.」Mika’s eyes darted toward the mountain of expensive presents already piled high beside the stage. 「Senpai, you sure? The competition looks… intense.」He gave a faint smirk. 「Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.」
He stepped up onto the stage beside Minori, who was still beaming in her glittering dress.
「Hey.」Minori giggled. 「Hi again! So, what did you get me, manager?」Nikolai exhaled through his nose, unamused. 「I’m not your manager anymore. But here.」He handed her a small velvet box. Inside, a delicate hair ornament shimmered like liquid light.「You always said you wanted something to match your outfit. So… I made this.」Minori gasped, hands trembling slightly as she lifted it. 「This… this is the best gift ever. I mean it!」She slipped it into her hair, glowing with pure joy.「I try when I can,」 he said simply.From the audience, a sharp voice cut through the crowd.「Tsk. It’s just a piece of fabric.」
Heads turned. Ryota — the smirk on his face dripping with disdain.
Nikolai’s tone dropped to a cold, clinical flatness. 「Oh yeah?」
He reached into his coat. The click of metal echoed.Then — five gunshots.The sound tore through the music.Minori flinched ——but the bullets froze midair, six inches from her body.A ripple of blue energy shimmered around her like a glass bubble.The crowd gasped.
Nikolai lowered the pistol calmly. 「Forgot to mention… it has force-field technology.」
Shock rippled through the room — gasps, murmurs, disbelief.
Minori’s face puffed up with annoyance. 「I told you not to do stunts like that!」「Sorry,」 he replied evenly. 「Fastest way to prove it works.」【Even a nuke could hit her head-on and she’d be fine… but no need to mention that part.】
Rina and the other 5-Star Glamor girls hurried over, eyes wide.
「Boss man, that must’ve cost you a fortune!」「Didn’t,」 he said flatly. 「Made it myself.」He reached into his jacket again and handed out four more ornaments. 「One for each of you.」Hina gasped. 「You didn’t have to!」「You’re under my label,」 he replied. 「And your fans are… intense. These are for safety.」
The girls’ eyes welled up. They hugged him tightly.
「There’s no reason to cry,」 he muttered, arms slightly raised in awkward surrender.Hina sniffed. 「Shut up, you big softie.」Suki wiped her tears. 「But why’d you even make these?」Minori chimed in, curious. 「Yeah, what made you do it?」Nikolai shrugged, tone deadpan. 「Boredom. Too much free time lately.」Minori laughed. 「Fair enough.」Hidashi Tomora stepped forward, his expression cautious.「Nikolai… do you… well—」Minori cut in sharply. 「No, Grandpa. He won’t.」Hidashi frowned. 「But Minori, that technology could shape the future of our country’s defense—」Minori’s tone turned cold. 「If you don’t stop right now, I’ll tell him not to help you.」Nikolai sighed. 「She’s right. I don’t do forced weapons deals.」Hidashi’s gaze flickered. 【If that’s true… he might not support my campaign after all.】He cleared his throat. 「Understood.」「Thank you, Mr. Tomora.」 Nikolai’s voice softened slightly. 「If I give that kind of power to one country, others will demand it too. Refuse, and they’ll force me into a war. I’d rather not stack another kill streak in my twenties.」
The words hung heavy in the silence.
Ryota sneered. 「Lying again, huh? You and your fake war stories—」A sharp thud interrupted him — Shizuko standing on the table, fists clenched.「Stop bothering my Papa!」Ryota glared, disgust twisting his face. 「Shut up, you motherless brat.」
The air froze.
Shizuko’s expression darkened — her eyes glowed faintly, crimson anger building.「Papa… can I do it?」Nikolai’s voice dropped to a calm whisper. 「Expose him.」Shizuko grinned dangerously, turning to Ryota. 「 This coming from the man who kidnapped my mama?」「Expose him.」「The same man who’s hated my Papa since I was one?」「Expose him.」「The same man who forced my mama to have kids with him—」「Expose him.」「The same man who thought his genes were worth a damn—」「Expose him.」「The same man who wanted his kids to be as talented as me, but they aren’t!」「Expose him.」Shizuko smirked. 「Ryota, as a man, you have no luck. You’re a bird who thought he could soar, but your wings were clipped by your own ego. A useless schmuck. So shut up, ‘cause when it's about you—」「—we never give a fuck」Nikolai said flaty. 
Laughter burst across the tables — Hana’s included.
「Wow,」 Hana said between chuckles. 「You two have great synergy right now.」
Shizuko froze. 「Uh-oh…」Nikolai blinked. 「…Shit.」Hana smiled sweetly — that dangerous kind of calm before the storm.「Young lady, that outburst lacked etiquette and decorum.」Shizuko wilted. 「Sorry, Mama…」 She climbed down and sat quietly.「Better. Now, what were you going to say?」Shizuko pouted slightly. 「It’s that Ryota creep. He started it.」Hana exhaled. 「I understand. But still—you don’t act out like that.」Her gaze shifted to Nikolai. 「And you—why would you encourage it?」Nikolai sighed. 「No excuses. I was wrong.」Hana smiled faintly. 「Good. We’ll discuss this properly when we get home, alright?」「…Understood.」
———
Minori giggled. 「Ms. Allen, aren’t you being a little harsh on them?」Hana smiled politely. 「Not at all. When those two start tag-teaming, it’s bad news for whoever’s on the other end. It’s better to stop it before it starts.」Minori laughed softly. 「Fair point.」Then her eyes lit up. 「Hey, can we turn that whole ‘Expose Him’ bit into a song?」Nikolai smirked. 「Can y’all rap fast?」Minori nodded. 「Yup. And Suki’s still bitter about her breakup.」「Perfect,」 he said with a low chuckle. 「Then go ahead — I don't own the phrase anyway.」
◽Later — At Nikolai’s House◽
The city lights shimmered outside as the group settled in.
Miyeon stretched, letting out a small laugh. 「Despite everything that happened, that party was fun.」Jiyeon yawned. 「Maybe for you. That was enough socializing for a month.」Hana smiled wearily, watching Nikolai carry a sleeping Shizuko to her room. 「And Nic—」 she sighed, 「don’t encourage that behavior again.」Nikolai spoke quietly. 「You do realize that guy’s the one me and her hate most, right?」Hana nodded. 「I know. I hate his family too. But you don’t see me humiliating them right?.」He paused. 「So you’re saying I shouldn’t?」「No. I’m saying… he only cares about his public image. Not about what rich people whisper behind his back.」Nikolai smirked faintly. 「That's cruel. I like it.」Hana’s tone turned cool, though her eyes gleamed. 「He thought he could ridicule Shizuko and get away with it. He’ll learn otherwise.」Nikolai chuckled. 「If you weren’t pregnant, I’d get you pregnant for that.」She giggled softly. 「And who says Nikolai doesn’t have any desires?」He smiled tiredly. 「Your boyfriend JJ does.」Hana laughed. 「I can’t take this seriously.」「Neither can I.」 He adjusted Shizuko in his arms. 「Cheating on one version of me with another would be the dumbest thing we’ve ever done.」Hana laughed again, warmth returning to her face. 「Yeah. You’re right.」
The lights dimmed. The night settled.And in the quiet hum of the Samuels household —peace, for once, didn’t feel so far away