There was no need to wonder. The eldest brother who had always been fair was turning against Li Chuxin now. It could only mean Li Chuxin had crossed a line again. No doubt she had taken something of Xixi’s once more.
Li Xixi felt a surge of satisfaction. She glanced at Li Chuxin’s swollen face and curled her lips in quiet triumph.
In the next instant her expression softened completely as if she had become someone else.
“That pendant is my protector little sister. You only borrowed it to wear for a few days. I cannot bear to be without it.” Li Xixi spoke in a soft timid voice to Li Chuxin.
When Li Jianhan raised his hand he had struggled inside. It had pained him. After all this was the little sister he had watched grow up. She had been so well behaved as a child. She would bring him sweet mung bean soup when he finished his work. He could not remember when she had changed. She had become unreasonable. Everything had to be a contest with Xixi. She had to outdo her in every way. At first he had thought it was just petty squabbling between girls. Then he had seen it was more than that. Li Chuxin was consumed by jealousy. Whatever Xixi had she had to seize it for herself. She lied. She bullied Xixi. He had seen the marks on Xixi’s body with his own eyes. He had forgiven her again and again. And what had it got him? She had only grown more wilful more arrogant.
This time he would not yield. He would not step back. He would get that pendant back for Xixi. Xixi had been so generous as to lend her the lucky charm. And she had claimed it as her own. He saw the confusion in Chuxin’s eyes. There was hurt there as if she thought he had misunderstood her. He clenched his fist. Xixi was simple and kind. She would never lie. Chuxin on the other hand was deep and devious. She was the one who could not be trusted.
Li Chuxin bit her lip. Her body shook uncontrollably. Big brother had always been her role model her anchor. She had believed he was different. That he would see through every trick. But when she met his cold hateful gaze her heart ached and her knees trembled.
“I will not admit to something I have not done.” She said firmly. “I found that pendant. It is mine.” She knew Xixi had twisted the truth again. She had made it out to be her own as she had done so many times before. He had never struck her before. She remembered how Xixi had once claimed her watch was missing and insisted she had stolen it. She had not. Then Li Jianyong had found the watch in her room. She would never forget the disappointment in his eyes. The way everyone looked at her afterwards. She knew what it felt like to be wronged. Yet what she feared most was seeing her brothers look at her as if she were a stranger. The feeling of being cast out. Of being pushed aside. Big brother had told her then that if she would only apologise he would forgive her. He would let it go. Terrified of losing their love she had confessed to something she had not done. And then everything had changed. Once the label of thief had stuck it could never be washed away. They had never truly seen her as their sister again. No matter how much she gave no matter how she tried their judgement was already fixed. This time she would not confess to something she had not done.
Li Jianyong’s forehead throbbed with bulging veins. He was about to explode with anger. He fixed her with a hard stare. “Li Chuxin give Xixi back her pendant.” His knuckles turned white gripping his fist.
Li Xixi saw her second brother’s temper rising. A flicker of triumph crossed her face. She knew they would stand up for her. Li Chuxin had better hand it over. Otherwise she would not answer for what her dear second brother might do. Watching him brim with rage gave her a secret thrill. In this life all the glory belonged to her. The honour of her brothers their love it was all meant to be hers.
Li Chuxin saw the violence in his clenched hand. Old fear rose up within her. It was primal unvarnished terror. She forced herself to meet his gaze.
“Li Xixi dare you say this pendant truly belongs to you.” She looked straight at her.
Li Xixi’s heart skipped a beat. It was as if her innermost secret had been laid bare. Since when had Chuxin grown so sharp? Then she steadied herself. She had big brother and second brother on her side. She had nothing to fear.
“Little sister it truly means the world to me.” She said in a small pleading voice. “Please give it back. Just for two days. I will return it I promise.”
Her face was swollen. It must hurt terribly.
Li Chuxin understood. Xixi was the one pulling the strings. “You have no shame.” She said. “You claim what is mine as your own. I found it on the mountain. I would sooner throw it away than give it to you.” Her heart burned with hurt and defiance. She would not back down.
Li Jianyong could stand no more. He could not bear to see his gentle kind Xixi hurt. His hand struck Li Chuxin across the face with blinding speed. With his other hand he seized her by the collar and flung her against the wall. She slid to the floor. The impact tore through her. A sharp metallic taste filled her mouth. She spat blood onto the ground. Both cheeks throbbed fiery red. She tried to pull herself up and saw Li Xixi standing over her.
“Give me back my pendant and they will stop hitting you.”
“I never took it.” Li Chuxin gasped. “It is mine. It has always been mine.” She looked toward her eldest brother with a flicker of hope. He had always been fair. He had taught her to read. He had taught her right from wrong. “Big brother I did not do it. I never took it.”