Jui woke up one, and felt like crap. She was sad and defeated over her break-up, and most importantly, afraid. Afraid that she'd have to tell the public and her members what she went through as a kid and a teen. Jui's life before debut was not pretty, and she prefered not to talk about, and Xander was the only one who knew the truth. WayV had also left yesterday, and Lucas competely ignored her when they wished them fair well at the airport.
"Jui?" A soft voice brought her out of her trance.
Doyoung was standing in the door.
"Yeah?" She said, weakly smiling.
"Breakfast is ready, and.... Kyunghi noona called and said that the company has called us there for a meeting in 2 hours. About... what happened." He said looking at her with worry.
"Okay. Just let me get changed." She said, not looking at him.
Doyoung simply nodded and closed the door to Ten and Jui's shared room before heading back to the kitchen with a sigh.
"How is she doing?" Taeyong asked, upon seing Doyoung enter the kitchen.
"She's trying to be calm and happy, but I can tell that she's hurting. I could also sense fear in her eyes." Doyoung said, setting the table.
Taeyong sighed. "That's what I'm worried about. Jui likes to keep things private, and it's obvious as she didn't even tell us about Xander-ssi, nor does she ever talk about her family. I'm worried that what ever Jui is trying to keep private because it's something she'd rather say, she will be forced to tell the public by the company. She's already not doing well enough, plus with the breakup, I fear for her life."
"There's something that's worrying me as well." Jaehyun said, entering the kitchen.
"What is it?" Taeyong said, looking away from the eggs he was finishing.
"Lucas and Jui." He said sighing. "Those two are getting in way to many fights recently. Jui doesn't like sharing whats happening to her because she's selfless, and Lucas well...."
"He express himself and gets fed up when people don't tell him what's wrong with them." Doyoung finished.
"And recently Lucas has seemed to be lashing out on Jui a lot." Johnny said, coming into the kitchen.
"I hope that whatever happens, we'll all still be able to be together." Taeyong said, letting out a sigh before serving the food onto the plates.
"Morning oppas." Jui said, coming into the kitchen.
Jui walked into the kitchen/dining room in a long red sweater, jeans, and her black hair pulled into a ponytail.
"Morning Jui." The others replied back.
::
The remaining members of NCT that weren't in China all were sitting a conference room. All of them were nervous. But Jui was on a different level. Her eyes were filled with fear, and she was shaking slightly. Her skin had paled and she had both of her fists clenched on her lap.
"Jui." The CEO spoke.
"Yes, sir?" Jui replied, but her voice was no longer bright and cheery, it was dull and very very quiet.
"Explain your dating rumour, and be completely honest about it."
Jui paused for a bit before replying.
"I'm not dating Xander. I was out and about with him because he is my cousin. We were holding hands and such because I kept getting anxious because of the large crowds." Jui finally answered.
"And why has no one know of you being related to him? He has a different last name as well, and there is no family ties listed for you nor him." The CEO spoke, raising an eyebrow.
"Because he was kicked out." Jui suddenly spoke up.
"I beg your pardon."
"He was kicked out of the family and moved to Korea. He's the reason I ended up in Korea in the first place. He changed his last name when he got here, so he could sever all ties between him and our family. I'm technically still under my parents control but I broke all contact between them and I don't count them as family." Jui said, still not daring to look the CEO in the eye.
The members were shocked. Jui never spoke about her family, and now she was telling the CEO practically everything.
"And why did you leave?"
The CEO was met with a long silence before Jui eventually spoke up.
"They kept me locked up. They banned anything related to music besides classical. I rarely got chances to have fun. I was riducled and nit-picked by everyone in the family because I was the heir, but I was female. My mother and my aunts constantly checked my weight and made me watch my eating, so I could be the perfect wife in the future."
At the word wife, the room tensed up.
"Wife?" The CEO questioned.
"My parents wanted a male, not a female, and they only were able to have one kid. I was the heir by birthright, but they gave Xander the title of heir. Xander left, and they realized that I would have to be the heir. So they made me heir, but they had a different plan." Jui paused before continuing. "I would be heir, marry another rich young male. And my husband through marriage would become heir, until our kid, a boy, would be born and they would become the heir. I didn't want to follow that, so I rebelled. Even though contact with ex-members of the family is completely forbidden by family rules, I managed to get back in contact with Xander, through mailing letters, as he had texted me his address before my phone was confiscated. I took my phone back, and broke into my savings, and left the house at the dead of night in early September of 2012. I got a cab to the airport, and flew to Korea. Xander had paid for my plane ticket, and he met me at the airport. I lived at his house until I joined SM, and I've been hanging out with him in secret for the past 7 years."
"And my I ask what family you come from that such strict rules." The CEO questioned.
"The Ji Tech Corporation."
A few people raised their eyebrows and their eyes widened.
"You come from the family that runs the Ji Tech Corp. ?"
"I'm the daughter of the current head, Ji Dong Min."
"And has your family attempted to have you brought back home?"
"Yes. The male that I called security on just outside of the building was one my other cousins. My parents recently moved to France for their company. They've sent some of my relatives, tried to bribe some of my friends, and blackmailed me."
"Blackmail?" The CEO suddenly looked surprised.
"The photos of Xander and I were taken by one of only other family members I trust. And they broke that trust."
"And who might that be?" The CEO said, clasping his hands togetger.
"Ji Han Woo, he's Ji Hansol's brother." Jui said.
"Former SM Trainee Ji Hansol is one of your cousins?"
"Yes. His parents were estranged from the family, and they were raised outside of Canada. Hanwoo did it because his parents kicked him out and he needed money badly. He's also the temporary heir currently." Jui said.
"Okay. That is all we need to know. We will have a statement posted in a tiny bit."
"May I ask something?"
"Yes, what is it."
"What will the statement say?" Jui said, finally raising her head, to look at the CEO with her fear-filled eyes.
"Only that the rumours are false because Xander is your cousin."
"Please don't reveal anything else that I said today." Jui suddenly spoke up.
"Very well, you do know that eventually the public will find out, or your family will take more drastic measures." The CEO said as the members started to file out.
Jui mearly nodded.
"You are dismissed."
Jui left, and once she left the room, she was engulfed in a hug.
"We're sorry for getting mad at you." Jeno said.
"You're forgiven."
"We love you."