Cuizhen clutched the package and quietly slipped out.
Before they had taken more than a few steps, someone suddenly spoke up: "What are you doing?"
Cuizhen's body trembled violently, and her hands failed to protect her, causing the contents of the package to fall to the ground—several beautiful and precious pieces of jewelry.
Cuizhen timidly looked up and found it was her brother.
She crouched down, picked up the jewelry from the ground, put it back into the package, and pretended that nothing had happened, intending to go back to her room.
When she was little, her brother would always cover for her when she did something wrong and wouldn't tell their parents. Cuizhen was confident that he would do the same this time.
An Huaishou's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he blocked Cuizhen's path in the darkness.
His voice was firm and unwavering: "Zhen'er, you can't do this. Put the things back."
Cuizhen shook her head desperately: "No. These already belong to Zhen'er. Zhen'er has never had anything this good in her life. But An Yuan'er has so many."
She pleaded, "Brother, please help Zhen'er. An Yuan'er won't notice if it's a little less."
An Huaishou and Cuizhen grew up together, and Cuizhen had always been sensible. So, unless it was a matter of principle, An Huaishou would always cover for her when she got into trouble outside. But this time...
The darkness was somewhat oppressive, and An Huaishou remained silent for a moment, the atmosphere unbearable.
An Yuan'er listened to their whispered conversation, her heart pounding with anxiety. What would her brother do?
The silence lasted so long that An Yuan'er thought they had both gone back.
Another long sigh came from the darkness.
An turned and approached Cuizhen, whispering, "Zhen'er, I've realized that I was wrong all these years. I didn't teach you well. Even if we're poor, we can't lose our integrity."
"Stealing is wrong regardless of whether the other party needs it or not."
“Our Zhen’er is a good girl, and good girls are obedient, right?”
Even now, An Huaishou did not use the harshest or most hurtful words to reprimand her sister. Instead, she hoped to persuade her sister to correct her behavior through earnest words.
An Huai placed her hand on the package that Cui Zhen had stolen and coaxed, "Let's return the things together."
Cuizhen's face turned bright red with embarrassment. She still had a sense of shame for being discovered in her embarrassing situation by her beloved brother.
For a fleeting moment, she did think that her brother was right, and that she should return these things to An Yuan'er.
However, Cuizhen was driven mad with jealousy by her privileged birth, her likable personality, and her brother An Yuan'er.
Why is she so perfect in every way?
Cuizhen was furious. She forcefully slapped An Huishou's hand away and said fiercely, "Zhen'er, don't give it back. Zhen'er hates An Yuan'er. This girl is here to steal my brother from me. I'm going to take her things."
“Zhen’er, why would you think that way? Even if your brother has Yuan’er, your brother will never forget you, his little sister.”
Cuizhen cried, tears streaming down her face. "Brother is lying," she said. "I heard everything that day. After the wheat harvest, you're leaving. I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay with us forever. Can you please not leave?"
Cuizhen was young and unaware of how unreasonable her request was.
For An Huaishou, the An family mansion was his home. It was only natural for him to go back, and even Uncle Yan and Aunt Yan had no reason to keep him there.
After all, the Yan family raised An Huishou, and in terms of both affection and loyalty, An Chaoli has given them a lot in return over the years, so it can't be said that they have mistreated them.
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