Let us silently give thanks for heaven's gift

"I, I don't even know what you're talking about. I'm just here to shop."

At this point, Wei Yang certainly couldn't admit it, but she quickly came to her senses. Ye Xunzhi was no longer the pampered heiress she used to be. Why was she so afraid of her?

With that thought, Wei Yang grew haughty.

"That's right. Does your family own this mall or something? Is there a problem with me holding up my phone and taking a few pictures here? Don't force me to get physical."

Ye Xunzhi raised an eyebrow. Actually, Wei Yang was one of the few classmates she remembered fairly well.

Because this girl was incredibly contradictory: she had once wanted to suck up to her, yet hated her too.

In short, she [admired the strong] and [hated the strong]. Self-centered, she blamed heaven, earth, and her parents-everyone but herself-and felt the entire world treated her unfairly.

Because she believed she was outstanding enough; other people simply started too far ahead. If everyone had been on the same starting line from birth, she would definitely have been the best.

The considerable commotion outside finally drew attention from the nearby shop.

Ye Yunhuai came out and saw Ye Xunzhi standing by a corner not far away. He frowned and walked over, finally spotting the two people around the corner.

"What's going on here?"

Hearing his voice, Wei Yang initially wanted to impatiently chase him away and tell him to mind his own business.

But the instant she got a clear look at Ye Yunhuai's face, her expression changed.

"President Ye, what brings you here?"

Her voice instantly softened too.

"Were we disturbing you? Sorry, we're just classmates fooling around."

Wei Yang remembered seeing the young man's tall, straight figure when she had once attended a banquet with her father. Ye Yunhuai, president of the Ye Group-in Magic City, he could practically be called heaven itself.

Anyone who saw him had to steer clear of his edge. A faint blush tinged her cheeks, and even her voice grew coy.

"I'm so very sorry. If possible, I'd like to make amends and thank you for helping me out at that cocktail party. I was surrounded by a group of boys, and luckily you appeared. I wonder if you still remember my name. I'm Wei Yang."

Your Majesty~ Do you still remember me? I'm Xia Yuhe from the shores of Daming Lake~~

Ye Yunhuai's perfect control over his expression nearly crumbled at that winding, lilting "Your Majesty," which sounded like it came from the chief eunuch.

He fought the urge to turn his head and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I don't remember. I was probably just passing by."

"How could that be? You even handed me champagne yourself! I was wearing a black-and-white dress."

"Are you sure I didn't mistake you for a server?"

Wei Yang stared blankly. "Huh?"

"Stop saying 'huh.' We haven't settled our business yet."

Ye Xunzhi couldn't be bothered to waste words on her, but unexpectedly, Wei Yang-who had been looking down her nose at everyone just moments earlier-suddenly changed her expression, her voice turning weak and pitiful.

"Xunzhi, please don't make things difficult for me. I really didn't do anything just now. Just let me go."

After saying that, she squeezed her eyes hard, trying to produce a couple of crocodile tears. Unfortunately, her acting wasn't up to scratch, and she failed.

Wow, she really is shameless. Lies just roll right off her tongue. She was clearly threatening me a moment ago. If I weren't trying to preserve my gentle, ladylike image in my eldest brother's eyes, I'd expose this little brat right here.

But whatever. You think you're the only one who can switch faces? Let me tell you, I'm no angel either!

"Big brother."

Under Wei Yang's shocked gaze, Ye Xunzhi tugged on Ye Yunhuai's sleeve. Like a cat that had lost a fight outside and come back to drag its litter-box cleaner along for revenge, she said pitifully,

"She violated my image rights without permission. Let's call the police."

"You can't!"

Wei Yang looked at Ye Xunzhi in disbelief. All she had done was record a video, and this girl actually wanted to send her to the police station!

And Ye Xunzhi was actually Ye Yunhuai's younger sister? How was that possible? Ye Yunhuai immediately frowned.

"Image rights?"

Wei Yang opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to defend herself, but alarm bells were already ringing inside her.

She knew she couldn't keep arguing at a time like this. A wise person knew when to yield; she couldn't fight someone far stronger than herself. Backing down was the best solution now.

Reluctantly, Wei Yang lowered her head. "I probably accidentally caught Xunzhi in the shot while filming the scenery just now."

She took her phone from her bag and played the video of Ye Xunzhi pouring out the coffee in front of them both.

Once it finished, she looked expectantly at Ye Yunhuai, hoping he would show disappointment. If she was going to suffer, Ye Xunzhi shouldn't get off easily either.

Ye Yunhuai said, "Why did you pour coffee onto the floor?"

Ye Xunzhi said, "Because that server mocked me for being unsophisticated and said we were nouveau riche, putting on a show we couldn't afford. I don't want to wrong myself just to make someone else happy."

Ye Yunhuai said, "Well done."

"..."

Wei Yang nearly choked. Ye Xunzhi turned back with a cold smile, having no intention of sparing her feelings.

"Let's call the police after all. I believe in the power of the police."

"Ye Xunzhi!"

Wei Yang hadn't expected everything to circle back to square one. She had to abandon her original plan to spread the video and could only try to contain the matter.

"Can't I just delete the video? Be a little magnanimous and forgive me, okay?"

Was she trying to guilt-trip her? His little sister might not be able to handle that. Protective of her, Ye Yunhuai prepared to speak.

Trying to guilt-trip me? Too bad I have no morals, so there's nothing to hold hostage.

Ye Yunhuai: "..."

Ye Xunzhi stood at the very front now, radiating towering gangster swagger.

"Your WeChat can be deleted, the video can be deleted, the audio can be deleted. But what about your face? Can that be slapped?"

Her mouth was faster than her brain. As soon as Ye Xunzhi finished speaking, she realized something was wrong.

Oops, I lost control just now. Big brother won't mind, will he?

Ye Xunzhi quietly glanced sideways. Ye Yunhuai immediately turned his head, pretending not to care at all.

Wei Yang hadn't expected her to disregard all the usual rules. Furious, she demanded, "Then how exactly do you want to settle this?"

"We don't have to call the police."

Wei Yang's eyes lit up.

"Then pay compensation. A flat five hundred thousand."

"Five hundred thousand? Why don't you just rob someone!"

Wei Yang's expression changed drastically. It wasn't that she couldn't afford five hundred thousand, but spending it like this would keep her from sleeping soundly at night.

"Did I force you to record me?" Ye Xunzhi shrugged.

"Otherwise, we'll handle it at the police station. I can sue you through the courts too. Also, after paying, you'll be responsible for handling the aftermath."

"If the video gets out and negatively affects me, you'll have to bear the corresponding consequences as well."

Wei Yang had never faced anything like this. Her face reddened with anger. Her family had come into wealth relatively recently-the sort commonly called nouveau riche.

She was just about to throw caution to the wind when Ye Xunzhi changed tack. "Of course, I can also sell you some information about that dear online friend of yours."

The fury Wei Yang had been about to unleash stopped dead halfway. Her expression changed. "How do you know? Could it be you?!"

"No, it's not." Ye Xunzhi gave her a mysterious smile.

"But I do know a little inside gossip. How about it? Want to buy this information from me? No charge if it isn't true."

Hearing that, Wei Yang couldn't help putting Ye Xunzhi's earlier attempt to extort five hundred thousand from her out of her mind.

All she could think about was that Ye Xunzhi actually knew this information. This online friend was something of an obsession for Wei Yang. She had known him for three years.

Over those three years, they had talked about everything, but he stubbornly refused to meet her. Wei Yang had tried investigating him, but failed.

She asked suspiciously, "You really know who he is?"

Ye Xunzhi didn't answer. Instead, she took out her phone and opened the payment screen. "WeChat or Alipay, customer?"

"You damned swindler." After paying while cursing, Wei Yang gritted her teeth and completely deleted the video in front of Ye Xunzhi.

"Tell me already!"

"He's your younger brother."

"Impossible!"

"Why is it impossible? Three years ago, he was fishing for girls online and ended up catching his own sister. He didn't realize it at first, but later discovered the truth through things you said."

"But you spent generously, so he kept it hidden. Haven't you ever wondered why he always appeared when you needed him? Why he could quickly buy and send you gifts you wanted before you even mentioned them, being your most attentive source of warmth?"

"Doesn't he often ask you questions? And ask you for money from time to time?"

Ye Xunzhi leaned closer and whispered like a devil, "Think about it. Were there clues to all of this?"

Wei Yang's expression shifted again and again. Just then, her younger brother returned from the restroom and called out,

"Sis, why do you have so much stuff? Is there anything you've been wanting lately?"

Wei Yang fell silent, then slowly turned her head and charged at him. "You little bastard! I'll tear you apart!"

Watching the siblings grappling over there, Ye Xunzhi remarked with a smile,

"What a loving sister and respectful brother. Such peace and prosperity."

Ye Yunhuai: "..."

As far as making a disastrous deal with Ye Xunzhi and buying a bellyful of anger went, this was utterly devastating.

As expected of his little sister.

When they entered the clothing store, Ye Xunzhi ran straight toward the menswear section without hesitation.

Holding her newly acquired card, Ye Xunzhi boldly slapped it down in front of her eldest brother.

"Big brother, go pick out whatever clothes you like. I'm in a good mood today, so I'm paying for you! Shop without worry. Round it off, and this is basically free!"

Let us silently give thanks for heaven's gift. Running into an idiot while shopping may ruin your mood, but if they're willing to cough up money, it's not entirely unacceptable.

In all his years, this was the first time Ye Yunhuai had experienced this sort of closeness from family. It was something neither the old man nor that bunch of brats could give him.

Amused, he rubbed Ye Xunzhi's head and didn't stand on ceremony. "Thank you, then."

Ye Xunzhi, who felt proud rather than ashamed of buying her eldest brother clothes with money she had scammed out of someone else, replied,

"Mm-hmm~"