Chapter 28


    Bruce and I eventually parted on bad terms. But this time, I wasn''t as anxious.


    Though Bruce was known for his ruthless and decisive nature, Cindy had be his weak spot.


    After a dreamless night, I woke up to several unread messages on my phone. They were from Lilian


    We had be friends at Dous’ birthday party.


    "Nancy, are you really dating Dous?” she asked, eager for gossip. It seemed that she had seen the post too.


    I repeated the same exnation I had given Cindy the previous day to Lilian, and asked, "Could you help me clear things up with our ssmates?"


    Lilian was pretty nice about it and agreed right away.


    But I was still worried about how this would affect Dous, so I called him.


    "Is this the reason you called me so early in the morning?" Dous asked nonchntly. "Nancy, do you really think I''m that petty?”


    “Dous, I..."


    "Besides, it''s an honor to be rumored to be with you,” he interrupted. His voice was warm andforting, like the midday sun in autumn.


    "I have to go, but you take care." I hurriedly hung up.


    Of course, I wasn''t trying to dodge Dous. I realized that it was my uncle''s second day in Joddesdon, so I decided to pay him a visit.


    His address was in a typical residential area in the eastern part of Joddesdon.


    When I arrived at the workers’ dormitory with some fruits, his colleagues told me that he had already left for his morning shift patrolling the


    commercial streets


    I politely distributed some snacks to everyone and then headed to the street to look for him.


    Before I walked far, I heard my uncle''s intermittent voice. I was startled and quickly rushed toward him.


    I saw a middle-aged woman with dark blonde hair and red lipstick. She was dressed in a Chanel-style outfit and pointed at my uncle usingly.


    "When did our neighborhood get so low? Are we hiring security or inviting a thief into our midst?"


    My uncle, who was always honest and pure, nervously sped his hands together. He apologized to the woman while stammering, "I just... thought


    no one wanted it... I''m not a thief.”


    He had a darkplexion and sweat trickled down his forehead as his eyes filled with worry and fear.


    “Uncle.”


    Upon hearing my voice, my uncle turned to me. A fleeting smile crossed his honest face, but he quickly lowered his head again, looking embarrassed.


    My uncle was born with a speech impediment. Perhaps to avoid embarrassing me, he scratched his head, looking like he had done something wrong.


    I stood in front of him and asked the woman, "Ma''am, is there some misunderstanding?”


    The woman raised her chin arrogantly and said, "Who are you to this thief?"


    Her words drew the attention of several passersby.


    "Ma''am, do you have any evidence that my uncle is a thief?” I asked seriously, ncing at the cardboard boxes by her feet.


    The woman prebably didn''t expect


    me to standup to her. So, she


    pointed atime and said, "So he''s not


    admitting it, huh? My cardboard <>


    boxeg were sitting nicely by the.


    door.and he just took them without


    saying a word. Isn''t that stéaling?’


    Suddenly, I udderstood what might


    have napoened My uncle had been


    an honestand hardworking man his


    whole Ii life; always enduring = >


    mistreatr ment wherever he went. It


    was\mpossible for him to do


    something as petty as stealing.


    I looked around at the nearby snack


    shop and said "Ma''am, this is a


    commercial''street. The disposal of


    cardboafd boxes is under the <


    management of the property. My


    uncle Works here, so it''s his duty to


    maintain the cleanliness ofthe


    streets. As for your inaof theft...”


    I paused for a moment, then continued, "Ma''am, who would steal something in broad daylight in front of everyone?"


    The middle-aged woman was at a loss for words. She stomped her feet and said, "He took the boxes without a word, isn’t that stealing?"


    I turned to my uncle and asked patiently, "Is that what happened?”


    My uncle looked at me and shook his head, exining, “I... asked the shop staff..."


    The woman had nothing more to say.


    The crowd that had gathered was also getting tired of the scene. Then, someone spoke up, "They''re just a few cardboard boxes. It''s not a big deal."


    "Yeah, the security guard is just doing his job. Let''s not make a fuss.”


    The woman grew angrier with each passing word and waved her hands dismissively. She said, “Alright, alright, it''s not a big deal. Off you go!"


    Her gesture was like shooing away beggars. I felt terrible seeing my humble uncle trying not to cause trouble.


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