Chapter 18

Xiao followed them into the elevator. While she was in the elevator, no one else would be able to get on. Everyone looked at them with curious glances, but Xiao wasn't affected by it because she had gotten used to it.

To others, it looked like a young madame of a chaebol household was just flexing her influence. Before someone could take a photo with their cellphone, the bodyguards cleverly hid her behind them.

Did they know?

Xiao wondered.

That she didn't like this either… Even though she was walking around as if she owned the place, she wasn't even in charge of her own life. Even though it looked like she was being protected by a lot of people, she was actually being watched by them. Even though it seemed as though money would bring freedom, it was actually a restraint.

They won't know.

She was jealous of them. She wanted more than anything to live a common life like them. She wanted to be a lovable daughter of a family. She wanted to laugh, cry, express her anger, and love according to her will. She wanted to know what it was like to live in peace.

"This way."

The carpeted lounge was spacious. It didn't look any different from an apartment living room. The fact that it was a restroom was almost unbelievable.

On one side, there was a sofa and armchair. The other side had a line of vanity mirrors. Further inside was the bathroom. Since this space was only used by the elite ladies, everything was luxurious and clean. More importantly, no one was here.

Even Secretary Rong couldn't enter. When Xiao was inside, she quickly put her bag on the table and hung her jacket on the chair.

There were three stalls, and Xiao went into the last one. She opened the toilet lid and peered inside. There was a small, hidden bundle of tarp holding a cellphone inside. She quickly took it out and turned the phone on.

The screen went bright as a whirl of lights flashed. Xiao quickly looked around at the bathroom ceiling and walls before looking down at the screen. There was only one number saved in the phone. However, she couldn't call it. She quickly opened the messaging app and sent a text message.

「Hummingbird.」

A few second passed. When a reply still hadn't come, Xiao began to feel anxious.

「Speak.」

The reply was the same as always.

「What happened?」

「That's what I want to ask you.」

「What are you talking about? What could I know being inside here?」

「Huang was the one who changed their mind.」

「So why is that?」

「I don't know that either. Have you heard anything from Jun Shang?」

Heard something from her husband? Well, she did. He congratulated her for their 2-year anniversary.

「He didn't bring up the divorce.」

The reply was slow this time. The few seconds felt like eternity. Eventually, a text message popped up.

「 Jun Shang is the one who blocked it.」

What? Xiao's eyes widened as she stared at the message. What did this mean? Jun Shang blocked it? Before she could ask why, a different message popped up.

「Can you be more specific? Why was the deal made…?!」

「I don't know yet. Xiao, your husband knows something, doesn't he?」

He knows something? What could Jun Shang know? What mistake did she make? There was no way. She had left no evidence behind.

Xiao wanted to call instead. Sending text messages was too frustrating. The thought that Jun Shang knowing something made her feel suffocated.

「That's toyal nonsense! That!」

Xiao's fingers kept making typos. She forced herself to calm down. Being shocked wouldn't solve anything.

It was too late. The incident had happened. She had stolen the 500 billion won.

Huang and RJ's funds for the Tokyo project were now splintered into smaller portions around the world and were in the process of being laundered. After this, no one would know where the money came from, and they would pool it back together.

However, what Xiao had wanted wasn't just the 500 billion won. What she truly wanted was for Huang and RJ to break apart. She wanted them to trample on each other and start a war. She planned to sneak behind this chaebol brawl and throw them both off the cliff.

She had planned to send RJ the evidence of Huang's corruption and send Huang the evidence of RJ's corruption.

But now what?

Instead of fighting, they had struck a deal?

「I don't know either. Anyways, the situation has become like this. Thanks to Jun Shang. Figure out why your husband doing this. Find out what he really wants… 」

「I…」

She had only typed out this much when she heard the lounge door open. Xiao's body stiffened. She didn't think Secretary Rong would be this disrespectful.

"Secretary Rong?"

Welling up with rage, Xiao called out to Secretary Rong. However, when she heard the responding voice, she almost dropped the cellphone.

"YunXiao."

 Jun Shang!

She felt her heart shrivel up.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"I heard that you were here."

She couldn't believe it. Why did her husband come all the way over here? Even if the lounge looked like a normal sitting room, this was clearly the women's bathroom.

"This is disconcerting."

Xiao cooled her voice to return to its usual cold tone. She was still looking down at the text messages on the cellphone. If Jun Shang caught her like this now, it would truly be over.

"Sorry. I was too excited over this happy coincidence."

Inside the square stall, Xiao felt as if her throat was closing up. She glared at the bathroom door in front of her.