Li Jianhan confronted Li Xixi. “Xixi what is the meaning of this?”
“Give me a satisfactory explanation.” He had heard it with his own ears. Li Xixi herself had said this jade pendant was her life treasure the one that brought her good fortune.
He had just been questioning their fifth sister and Li Xixi had stood right there watching the whole thing.
Why lie?
Could there be some hidden reason?
“That is right Xixi could there be something you are not telling us?” Li Jianyong was falling apart. “Just now your elder brother and I stood up for you and disciplined Fifth Sister right before your eyes. You claimed this pendant was yours that Li Chuxin had stolen it from you. We hurt Chuxin on your behalf.” He shook his head frantically unable to tell who was telling the truth anymore. “No Xixi is not that kind of person. You are so innocent and kind you must have had a reason right?”
Li Xixi now faced pressure from both brothers. Her eldest brother who had always been gentle with her looked at her with unmistakable disappointment in his eyes.
Her second brother’s gaze held sheer disbelief.
Li Xixi clutched the hem of her dress tightly her heart thrumming with fear and unease.
She turned tear filled resentful eyes toward Li Chuxin and stared hard at her this foolish soft hearted little sister this doormat who had always sacrificed herself for everyone else’s sake.
When had she gotten so clever?
To corner her like this Her gaze locked onto the jade pendant in the box. Right now her only goal was getting back what belonged to her.
It was hers.
“Sister I admit it now so should not the pendant be returned to me?” Li Xixi smoothed the malice from her expression and spoke in a hurt trembling voice.
Li Chuxin saw the shock and confusion in her elder brothers’ eyes and felt nothing at all. In her past life those same brothers had trampled her heart until it was nothing but mud.
Their disappointment now was only the beginning.
Had not Li Xixi claimed she was the one who had saved the senior leader earning her second brother his recognition?
Next time he made a mistake without her to speak up for him what would Li Xixi have to offer? She did not even know who had truly been saved yet she had taken full credit for Chuxin’s deed.
She saw through their favoritism completely now.
They had turned on her struck her kicked her down just moments ago for Li Xixi’s sake. Had they listened when she had said the pendant was hers? Never.
And look now they had heard Li Xixi confess it was not hers at all.
All they felt was mild disappointment. Before long they would side with Li Xixi again. They always would.
When Li Xixi cried they would turn and blame her instead.
In her past life she had grieved and worn herself out over their unfairness convinced the fault lay with her.
Not anymore. She would stop carrying it all inside and she would make them carry their share.
She would never confess to something she had not done.
If Li Xixi wanted what was hers she would pay the price.
Her gaze drifted to the man who had spoken up for her by the window. He had a face of unruly striking arrogance a bold knowing smile playing on his lips and a beauty mark beneath his eye that made him look devastatingly handsome.
She frowned slightly. Had he called her poor little thing?
She glanced down at her hospital gown stained with blood at the bruises blooming purple and blue across her exposed arms left there by Li Jianyong’s blows and grip.
Her eyes darkened.
It was him Huo Qiyuan. The third son of the Huo family whom her mother had married into in Sijiucheng.
What was he doing here?
In her past life he had been the one to come take Li Xixi to the Huo family.
Poor little thing how fitting. Beaten and cast aside by her own brothers she certainly looked the part.
Had he arrived already? She remembered he was supposed to collect Li Xixi half a month later.
Why was he early?
She met his gaze calmly and handed over the box holding the jade pendant offering it to Li Xixi.
A flash of shame crossed Li Xixi’s face her theft was laid bare. She noticed Huo Qiyuan watching her. The third son of the Huo family moody hot tempered unpredictable. When she had gone to their home he had always looked down on her mocking her with cutting remarks. The whole family was nothing but bad luck.
In her past life she had barely enjoyed a moment of comfort before they were all sent down to labor in the northwest.
Back in the Li family she had never had to work the fields Chuxin and the others had always done it.
She had imagined the Huo family a golden nest with the father’s high rank promising an easy life.
Instead they had all been sent to eat sand in the Gobi.
Meanwhile her brothers the ones she had dismissed as unpromising had all risen to great heights the eldest a respected scholar and school founder the second a decorated military leader the third a powerhouse in business. And Li Chuxin had been their precious treasure clothed and fed far better than Li Xixi ever was in the desert.
Not this life.
She would never go to the Huo family. She would stay here stand by her brothers help them build their fortunes and secure her place as their one and only beloved sister.
Still Huo Qiyuan’s stinging words rankled. She snatched the box quickly. “Sir this is our family matter. If you think ill of me say so but why bring my brothers into it?”
“This pendant means everything to me.”
She tucked it carefully into her clothing clutching it as if someone might snatch it away. If only Chuxin knew the pendant’s true secret the hidden space within it she would be kicking herself for giving it away.
“Eldest brother second brother I will explain everything properly when we return. Please believe me I truly had no choice.” She sobbed tears spilling over.
Li Jianhan and Li Jianyong’s hearts ached seeing her cry.
“Of course we believe you Xixi. We know you must have had your reasons.”
“Yes our Xixi is so good. You would not do this without cause.”
“Thank you for understanding.” Li Xixi lowered her eyes a quiet triumphant smile hidden beneath her tears. What does it matter how much you have given them Chuxin? You still can not win.