House of Aunts

Chapter 4

 "OK, the answer's not quite there, sweetie," Aunty Jinx said. We were in the living room after dinner, and I was sitting at the coffee table. Aunty Jinx was helping me with my Mathematics homework, and the question was incredibly difficult. She was trying her best, of course, but I could see that she was getting frustrated. Her brow furrowed, and she used a pen to try and figure out the answer.

I sighed. The both of us didn't know why my answer was wrong. It was also useless asking the other Aunties--Aunty Lotus, for example, would calculate everything in her head and give me the answer, which was no help, because I needed to show my work. Neither was Aunty Qin. She once threw the book at the wall in despair when she couldn't explain the answer to me.

"Ruyi," said Aunty Jinx, "Why don't you go for a toilet break?"

I did not need to be told twice and rushed to the washroom instead. After I relieved myself, I walked right back to the study table, where Aunty Jinx and Aunty Lotus were talking.

"Again? We already have the burglar alarm in place. What more do you want?" Aunty Jinx asked.

"I--I don't know. Something else."

"He's not here anymore, Lianyu," Aunty Jinx said. I was stunned. She only called Aunty Lotus by her real name when she was talking about something serious. And Aunty Jinx was never really serious. At least, not really.

"How do you know? What I saw this morning--"

"You're the paranoid one. I know you want her to be safe, but it's been almost ten years. Besides, I was the one who defeated him, remember?"

Huh? Defeated who?

"Besides, the little one is spying on us," Aunty Jinx said. "I can see you, Ruyi. I have eyes at the back of my head, remember?"

I groaned, and trudged towards my aunts. Aunty Jinx's arms were folded, but a playful smile was on her lips. Aunty Lotus looked distressed, and sighed.

"Were you afraid earlier this morning?" she asked me.

"Yes, but that was because you were scared, too," I said. "I really didn't see anything."

"There we go," Aunty Jinx said, "she didn't see anything, and we know that of all people, our darling Ruyi would be the one to see things."

"What does that mea--" I asked, but I was cut off.

"Lianyu, go rest," she commanded my aunt. "And you will give me some time so that I can figure out how to teach you to do this question!" my cheeky aunt ruffled my hair and I giggled. Then, she turned to the question. I giggled. In that moment, watching my aunt help me, I felt safe. I knew nothing would come to harm me.