“Matsumoto doesn’t look like someone who can do manual labor, and Kikukawa… will probably be in an even worse situation, perhaps even becoming…”

He deliberately dragged out the rest of his words, not actually uttering the vulgar word.

But Mai Lin Meijia has clearly already figured it out.

"Shut up!" she suddenly shouted, her face flushed with anger, no longer the nonchalant person she had been just moments before.

"Xiaoshao... Xiaoshao, she..."

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally made up her mind.

"Hey, call that rich woman... that woman surnamed Shimomura, I have something to say to her."

Yoruichi Toyama and Takagi exchanged a glance.

"So," Yoruichi Toyama replied slowly, "you admit that your target is Ms. Shimomura Shiho?"

"Nonsense!" Mai Linmei glared at him fiercely, like a wild beast arching its back to pounce on its prey. "You already know, right? She's the richest person on the whole bus. Who else would I rob if not her?"

"You people, police officers, consultants, you're all cut from the same cloth! You fawn over the rich, but you never give a kind look to those of us struggling to make a living!"

"Kozue... if Kozue were to inherit Shimomura Shiho's fortune, would you all wag your tails like dogs towards her?"

Hearing her sudden outburst, Detective Takagi was completely bewildered.

"What are you saying! That... Kikukawa Kozue, isn't she a hostess at your bar? What's her relationship with Shimomura Shiho? Why should she inherit her property?"

"Call that woman, Shimomura, over here!" Merlin Mika said defiantly. "I'll talk to her face to face!"

Takagi glanced at Yoruichi Toyama and, seeing that he didn't object, gave Nanjo, who had been taking notes, a wink, signaling her to go and ask Shimomura Shiho for help.

When the Shimomura mother and son arrived at the special ward, they were still in a special wheelchair, which was being pushed very carefully by the medical staff.

Mai Lin Meijia then let out a cold laugh.

“They really know how to enjoy life!” she drawled. “All the privileged classes in this world are the same!”

“Hey, you…” Shimomura Ima glared at her with considerable displeasure, but before he could finish speaking, his mother stopped him with a look.

Seemingly remembering the reprimand he had just received about "minding his place," he forcibly kept his mouth shut.

Shimomura Shiho then slowly began to speak.

"So, Mama Mai, is that right? I heard that's what other people call you."

"As a criminal who committed robbery on a bus, what else do you have to say to me?"

Although she was in a wheelchair, her gaze seemed to be looking down at Mai Lin Meijia on the hospital bed.

That gaze was like a thorn, causing Merlin Meijia to tremble violently.

"You...President Shimomura..."

When she spoke again, Mai Lin Meijia's tone became, for some reason, subdued and obedient.

"President Shimomura, you are amazing. You have such a big business, and you have more money than you can spend..."

"So, could you... please take care of Xiaoshao..."

"She doesn't need to inherit much of your wealth; she just wants to live like an ordinary person..."

She changed her previous arrogant and rascal attitude and spoke in a nice tone. However, not only Shimomura Shiho, but also Shimomura Ikuma, Takagi and Nanjo, who were listening in, all showed a puzzled expression.

Only Yoruichi Toyama, who knew the inside story, coldly watched this scene and let out a very short sigh.

"Wait a minute!" Shimomura Shiho raised a hand, interrupting Mika Muirin's rambling.

What exactly do you mean?

"Um... Xiaoshao, I just heard the police officer say that he's a waiter at your shop?"

Why should I take care of her?

"What right does she have to claim a share of my property?"

Every question was reasonable, and it was exactly what the others present wanted to ask.

Moreover, as she herself said, Shiho Shimura maintained her composure even when faced with such an unreasonable demand.

Perhaps it was precisely because she was so calm that Mai Lin Meijia suddenly screamed.

"Xiaoshao...she's your husband's daughter!"

"She's your son's sister!"

"Don't you have any compassion at all?"

While everyone stared in disbelief, Yoruichi Toyama let out a short, cold laugh.

It's strange that he would bring up this seemingly complicated kinship relationship.

But he believed that Merlin Meijia couldn't possibly keep this secret forever.

After all, she orchestrated this incident so that Kikukawa Kozue could inherit Shimomura Shiho's fortune.

After all... Mika Merlin, the person who appeared before everyone as the madam of a small bar, was none other than Kozue Kikukawa's biological mother.

...

Secrets are like a river that has burst its banks; once a breach is made, it is very difficult to stop it.

Having kept it bottled up for so long, Mai Lin Meijia finally began to pour out her secret.

Her real name is Sanae Kikukawa, but she changed it back to her maiden name because she divorced her husband a long time ago.

Kikukawa Kozue, her daughter, naturally took her surname as well.

Sanae Kikukawa works as a television producer, and her career continues to thrive even after her divorce.

However, an accident dragged her life into hell.

Her agency was involved in an accident during the production of a television program that resulted in the death of one of its artists.

Not only did they have to pay huge compensation, but the company's reputation also plummeted, bringing it to the brink of bankruptcy.

Desperate for money, Kikukawa Sanae resorted to fraud, but after being discovered, a fierce argument ensued, and she accidentally killed someone.

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