“Father Elder Brother Second Brother it was not me who hit the man!” Li Xixi cried her face flushed. “Sister is trying to make me take the blame for her. I did not do it!” She gasped for breath tears streaming down her red cheeks her whole body trembling. She was determined to see Li Chuxin sent to prison just as in the past even if Chuxin made it to Sijiucheng she would live a life worse than Xixi had endured.
Drawing Chuxin close so only she could hear Xixi whispered. “Sister you do not want to see your three brothers’ futures destroyed do you? Refuse to take the blame and I will drag them all down with me.”
Li Chuxin let out a cold laugh in her heart. “Li Xixi you are so certain I will sacrifice myself for them?”
“Of course.” Xixi said. “From the day you were brought back at six I saw the hunger in your eyes for family. You crave love you are sensitive. When you worked yourself to the bone to pay for Elder Brother’s schooling I knew I had you. A child who knew no warmth before six is desperate to cling to any scrap of affection. I knew you would throw yourself on the fire for their futures.”
“Someone as insecure and anxious as you would give your life for those brothers taking the blame is nothing to you.”
Li Chuxin felt a pang in her chest. Xixi was right. In her past life she had believed sacrificing herself would bring peace to the family and secure her brothers’ futures. She had thought it was worth it as long as they prospered. She had taken the blame and spent half a year in prison. Elder Brother had visited once then shamed her for being a convict calling her corrupted from childhood.
“Yes.” Chuxin said quietly. “In the past I would have given my life for them.” She remembered her final days of illness Elder Brother had pushed her to the ground screaming that Xixi had worked through the night to pay his tuition not her. Second Brother had beaten her until her ribs broke claiming Xixi’s life-saving favor had earned his military rank. Third Brother had kicked her in the stomach accusing her of stealing Xixi’s designs and money.
All her efforts had earned her nothing but labels: ungrateful convict schemer jealous.
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. “Li Xixi you would have succeeded once. But now…”
Xixi grinned confidently certain Chuxin would yield. “But now what? Do you dare hit me in front of everyone?” She leaned in tauntingly.
Li Chuxin raised her hand and struck Xixi across the face.
*Crack.* The sound echoed through the room.
Standing over the fallen Xixi she said firmly. “I have died once already. I will not be threatened by anyone again. I live only for myself now. You hit that old woman do not dare ask me to take your place.”
Xixi stared up in shock. The girl who had once been as docile as dough had slapped her in front of everyone. Something had slipped from her control. Tears streamed down her face—not faked this time the sting on her cheek was real.
“Why did you hit me?” she sobbed. “You hit her not me! You refuse to admit it and now you want me to go to prison for you! When I said no you struck me!”
Li Jianhan gritted his teeth against the pain in his side and grabbed Chuxin’s wrist. “Li Chuxin how far will your willfulness go? This is my fault for spoiling you. You have become so unruly you make mistakes and force your sister to pay for them.”
“My fourth sister just had a kidney transplant. She is still weak. Chuxin knows this yet she cruelly demands a sick woman take her blame. What else is she capable of?”
“I have failed as an elder brother. Today I will do what is right I will hand this criminal over to the police myself.”
Li Jianyong rushed to help Xixi up his heart aching at the sight of her swollen cheek. “Xixi does it hurt?” He felt as if the blow had landed on him.
Xixi sniffled. “Second Brother it hurts so much… my face burns.” She looked at Chuxin with tears in her eyes. “Do you hate me for something Sister? I am always your sister if you have grievances tell me. Why must you treat me like this?”
Her gentle words made everyone in the room see her as kind and forgiving while Chuxin seemed cruel and trouble-making.
Li Jianyong’s heart squeezed with pity. His precious Xixi was so good—she had suffered so much in silence. “Xixi I promise I will get justice for you. I will make her pay.”
He turned his gaze on Chuxin his eyes filled with rage. “Li Chuxin you dared to hit Li Xixi. Be ready for what comes next.”