Chapter 6

Chapter 6

At that moment, I couldn’t care about anything else. I jumped up from the sofa, grabbed the bag tightly, and shouted, “Stop, thief! Stop, thief!”

The door lock had already been picked.

But I held onto the bag and wouldn’t let go. The thief, furious, pulled out a dagger and slashed my arm.

Pain!

Blood gushed out instantly.

Still, I refused to let go.

The thief, enraged, tried to stab me.

Luckily, the master bedroom door opened just then. Uncle came roaring out, “How dare you hurt my niece! I’ll kill you!”

The thief released the bag and fled.

Uncle and Brother Jiawu chased after him, shouting loudly. Brother Jiawen pulled me up, trembling, tore off a pillowcase to press against my wound, and then went to the sideboard to rummage for the first-aid kit.

Aunt also hurried out.

Seeing my arm covered in blood, she flew into a rage. “Are you out of your mind? He had a knife, and you still fought him?”

“Do you think your life is too long? Want to die sooner?”

I hadn’t had time to feel scared earlier, but now I couldn’t control my trembling.

I handed the bag I’d been clutching to Aunt, forcing a fawning smile. “Aunt, look-is the money all there?”

Aunt froze.

She unzipped the bag and glanced inside. “It’s all here.”

I went limp. “Good.”

The wages had been delayed for so long and only just paid three months’. If it had been lost, I couldn’t imagine how upset Uncle and Aunt would be.

Aunt scolded me fiercely. “Next time, don’t be so stupid. Can flesh block a knife? If that guy had been ruthless, you’d be dead now!”

She took the first-aid kit Brother Jiawen handed over and bandaged my wound. Downstairs, there was a commotion.

In the family compound, everyone had worked together and caught the thief.

Brother Jiawen went down to see the excitement.

I walked to the window with Aunt and saw him squeeze into the innermost circle, giving the thief two hard kicks.

Soon after, the police arrived and took the bruised and swollen thief away, then asked Uncle and the others who had helped catch him to go give statements.

People were still chatting excitedly downstairs. Aunt called for Brother Jiawen and Brother Jiawu to come back and sleep.

My wound was bandaged, and I was about to curl up on the sofa again.

Aunt grabbed me. “Who knows when your uncle will be back. Sleep with me tonight.”

Aunt’s bed had a spring mattress, very soft.

I had a wonderful dream. I dreamed I turned into a pea princess, sleeping on a bed as soft as a cloud.

The maid asked, “Where’s the pea?”

I rolled from left to right, then right to left.

Using every inch of my skin to feel.

I just couldn’t find that tiny lump.

I was drenched in sweat from anxiety, and then suddenly jolted awake.

The morning sunlight shone on my thin, dark legs.

Oh.

So this princess was a fake after all.

Aunt had already made breakfast.

Brother Jiawen finished his fried egg but still wanted more.

I quickly pushed my plate over. “I’m full, big brother. Here, you can have this.”

He took it without hesitation.

Uncle scolded him, “Your Second Sister got a scare last night, and you’re still taking her egg.”

With his mouth full of fried egg, he mumbled, “I’m not taking it for free. Tonight, let Sis stay in my room. Jiawu and I will share a room.”