With my eyelids half-closed, I quietly snuck a glance at Aunt Walker's expression—she was staring into the water, her brows slightly furrowed.

So embarrassing!

I was overwhelmed with shame and, like covering my ears while stealing a bell, squeezed my eyes shut and played dead.

After about fifteen minutes, Grandma Walker finally said, “All done. Just wring them out and hang them up to dry. I’m going to the greenhouse to buy some vegetables.”

Creak—the sound of the door opening and closing.

I let out a huge sigh of relief, afraid to see anything I shouldn’t, and kept my eyes closed. “Aunt Walker, how’s it going?”

“Do me a favor and keep your eyes closed a bit longer, let me get dressed.”

“Okay. Oh, right, before I came in, my mom said she wanted to wash her hair. Um, if possible, could you hurry up a little?”

“Mm.”

A dozen seconds later, there was suddenly a loud bang in the room.

I thought Aunt Walker had bumped into something and asked, “What happened?”

“Brought you some underwear and socks, time to change into new ones. Mm, why didn’t you lock the door when you took a shower?”

Startled, I snapped my eyes open. The closest to me was Emily Walker, both hands behind her back fumbling with her bra clasp. She seemed startled too, bent over and frozen in place. On the right side of the screen, I could vaguely see my mom’s arm as she reached back to close the door: “I told you, from now on our family’s bath bucket is the one by the door. Why are you still using the innermost one? Remember next time, that one’s for little Walker and her mom.”

I—I—damn!

Even someone as good-tempered as me couldn’t help but curse!

When it rains, it pours!

I racked my brains, trying to come up with the shortest, fastest way to explain things to my mom.

I was still thinking when suddenly everything went black!

Splash!

In an instant, a huge weight pressed down on me, making my blood surge—I almost fainted!

Dazed, I opened my eyes and saw a scene I’d never forget for the rest of my life.

Aunt Walker had jumped into the bucket too.

MY GOD!!

“Huh, why are there clothes all over the place?” My mom pushed aside the screen and walked toward me. “And they’re still wet.”

Squeezed into the same bucket with me, Emily Walker made a shushing gesture, her breath reeking of alcohol as she exhaled onto my chest. She shifted, trying to sink herself deeper into the water to keep my mom from seeing her hair. My heart was pounding, my face turning pale.

I had no idea if Aunt Walker’s emergency move was the right one, but since she’d jumped in, I had no choice.

“I’m talking to you! Cat got your tongue?”

The wooden bucket creaked under the strain from both sides. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and forced a smile: “Oh, it was like that when I came in. Maybe Aunt Walker was doing laundry earlier.” Seeing my mom getting closer, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the edge of the bucket to cover Emily Walker’s head.

Mom glanced around. “Eh? Why are there high heels here?”

I tried to stay calm. “Mom, could you wash your hair later? I’m not done showering yet.”

Mom tossed my underwear onto the pine chest and grunted, “Then hurry up. Call me when you’re done.”

Maybe remembering something, she suddenly turned back at the door and looked at my bucket, her expression changing. Following her gaze, I glanced over—oh no, behind the bath bucket, there was a Emily Walker’s bra hanging!

I had no idea what my mom was thinking at that moment.

After a moment, she looked at me sternly: “Let me be clear—Walker is a lot older than you. Don’t get any funny ideas about her, or I’ll tan your hide, you hear me?”

I’m innocent!

This is like mud stuck to your pants—whether it’s poop or not, it looks like it.

The bucket was still creaking.

Afraid my mom would notice something, I quickly swore, “I really didn’t! Aunt Walker is your colleague! No matter how much of a jerk I am, no matter how shameless, no matter how much of a beast, I could never with Aunt Walker…”

Suddenly!

CRACK—a loud crash!

Water splashed everywhere!

In just a few blinks, the bucket that had been shielding me and Aunt Walker shattered into pieces, leaving only the bare base and a few splintered wooden slats.

And then…

Me, my mom, and Emily Walker—the three of us stared at each other in shock!

Chapter 15 [Bickering!]

Over twenty minutes later.

Dressed and with my hair dried, I was on the verge of collapse as I patted my forehead, took a couple of steps forward, and stomped viciously on the shattered bucket. Shoddy product—nearly killed me. As I carefully chose my words, I hesitated again and again before pushing open the south room door and stepping out. The yard was lively. Dad was sitting on a stone stool, fists clenched, looking very grim. Just as I was about to explain, Mom, holding the broom she used to sweep the bed, darted over and started whacking my butt.

“You little bastard! If I don’t beat you to death today, I’m not surnamed Cui! You’ve really gone too far this time!”

Clutching my butt, I ran around the yard: “Mom! It’s not like that! Listen to me! Just listen to me first!”

Mom was as furious as could be, shouting, “You even let that vixen seduce you into the same bath bucket! What else is there to say!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” I hurried behind Dad, tugging at the back of his white shirt. “Dad, please talk to Mom! It’s really not what she thinks!”