42 The Picture 1 (1/2)

”When I found the purse, they have already left but I asked the director about it. He said, he did ask the staff inside the room when he came across the purse and none of them remember seeing it in the room. It felt like it had just materialized there out of thin air, no one saw anything,” Joann explained.

”This is such a mystery but thankfully, you have it back, Sister Joann.”

Joann probably had imagined it but she could have sworn she saw relief flash across Qing Qing's eyes.

Before she could make any sense of it, the young woman clutched her lower stomach and her face turned into a painful grimace.

”Qing Qing, are you alright?” Joann asked in a concerned tone.

”I am fine, just a little stomachache, probably something I ate this morning. Sister Joann, do you mind keeping the seat open for me while I excuse myself?” Qing Qing asked.

Joann nodded. ”Of course not. I hope you are alright.”

Qing Qing stood up immediately and made a beeline towards the female bathroom. Before she walked through the door, she turned back to look at the room. Everything was in place. Joann was sitting next to Lee Mu, a seat away from everyone else. 'Perfection,' she thought as she walked into the bathroom.

Thankfully, the bathroom was empty or else she might need to chase people out or wandered off to the more secluded stairwell.

Qing Qing strode towards one of the cubicles and closed the door behind her. She listened to the noises outside and after making sure no one else had entered the bathroom, she fished the phone out from her pocket to make a call.

The call was answered after a few rings and sound of shuffling could be heard like the person on the other side of phone was moving through leaves and brushes.

”Is everything ready?” A husky voice asked.

”Yes, everyone is in their supposed location,” Qing Qing answered.

”Wonderful.”

As the voice was about to hang up, Qing Qing said, ”I hope you remember our deal. I have given you the picture you need, so you better commit to your end of the bargain.”

”Of course, it will definitely be the front page headline. However, I do not quite get it. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to your own fame if you are the one who is in the picture? Just imagine the publicity effect.”

”That is not your concern, I have my own reason,” Qing Qing warned with a stern voice.