By the time the two finished paying their respects to the God of Wealth and then the Buddha, the afternoon sun was blazing overhead.
"Brother, carry me." On the way down the mountain, Ye Xunzhi held out her arms and called for help.
Ye Chuyan was speechless. "So now you're not being devout anymore?"
"How am I not?" Ye Xunzhi argued. "On the way up, the God of Wealth already saw my determination and perseverance. Now we're going down. Such a great deity certainly wouldn't hold it against me."
Ye Chuyan said, "Heh. Steadfast faith on the way here, stumbling steps on the way out."
"Chuyan?" A low female voice came from behind them.
Both siblings turned. The woman had sharp, short, wavy hair, gold earrings that gleamed in the sunlight, and fiery red lips. Dressed in a sleek, long camel-colored trench coat, she had a towering presence.
Ye Chuyan instinctively straightened at the sight of her. "Aunt Qiao."
[Big Brother's mom!]
Ye Xunzhi snapped upright in an instant. With both hands in her pockets, Qiao Man approached in black knee-high boots.
"It really is you. I thought I'd mistaken someone else for you. Back from your mission?"
Qiao Man was the quintessential career woman, and a woman who had dealt with the brothers since they were little. She radiated authority, and in that instant, the childhood fear of being under her thumb surged up.
She was one of only two people Ye Chuyan dared not act up around.
Ye Chuyan said, "Yes, I just got back. I brought my sister out for some fun."
[Nice job diverting the trouble. Fourth Brother, the beads from your abacus are practically flying into my face.]
Ye Chuyan thought, *My dear little sister, what nonsense are you imagining? : )*
Qiao Man's gaze