"Wow! Brother! You finally made a move. Congratulations!" Yie clapped while jumping happily.
"Argh!" Mari screamed in shock. "Since when we're you there? Why wasn't I able to sense you guys' presence?" She asked warily.
"With you guys being all lovey-dovey, you wouldn't sense us even if we stood behind you." Fancy snorted and said.
"Please don't tell mum and da about this yet." Mari pleaded.
"Big sis, don't be nervous. As your younger brother, I promise not to speak a word of this to our or his parents." Alex gave a rare promise.
"Thank you. You're the best brother ever. Mwah!" Mari said, hugging him while bombarding his cheeks with kisses.
"It's us three promising. Alex, why'd you personalise it?" Fancy said, nearly hitting him.
"At least, I have the courage to say it when you don't." He said and snorted childishly.
"Sister-in-law, we all promise not to tell anyone about this." Yie said on behalf of herself and Fancy, while Fancy kept chasing Alex around her and Mari.
"Thanks Yie." Mari said hugging her tightly.
"No problem." Yie said checking her phone for the notification. *Gasp!* She inhaled sharply as she saw the new account balance from her one and only brother. Looking up at him, she understood it was her way of addressing Mari that got her such amount. (Thanks) She mouthed.
"Ughh" Mari groaned in annoyance as her siblings were getting on her nerves. "You guys stop." She said reigning in her annoyance.
"I'm sorry sis! If I stop now, Alex'll win!" Fancy said still running round her.
"I said stop." Mari said releasing her aura causing all 3 of them including Adrien to kneel in pain.
"I'm sorry sis. I won't play too much anymore so please retract your aura. Please." Alex said heavy with discomfort.
"Sighhh. It's not that I don't want you to play but don't roam around me too much. It makes me dizzy and nauseous."
"Retract your aura Mari. Your hurting everyone." Adrien said still on his knees.
"I'm sorry." Mari said and retracted it as she sat on the sofa grass.
"Thanks." They all said.
"I'll cook for the 4 of you when we get back as an apology."
"Kay!" They all said happily with uplifted moods. The three children all ran into the lavender field to have fun.
Sitting by Mari on the grass, Adrien sighed. "Look at the sunset. It's so beautiful." He said.
"Yeah." Mari agreed watching the children.
***2 Hours Later***
"Alright. Yie, let's go!" Adrien called out. "Need any help there?" He asked Mari.
"Nah. Already used to it. Thanks though." She said flashing a quick smile at him. Before they, set off, she adjusted Alex on her back before carrying Fancy who was fast asleep.
"Alright." Adrien said returning her smile while princess carrying Yie.
"Thanks big brother." Yie mumbled as she went to sleep while Adrien and Mari chuckled quietly looking at each other.
"Let's go meet other. It's about time to go."
"You guys are back." Alya said running to them.
"Yeah. Shh! Keep it down. They're sleeping." She said pointing at the children.
"Oh. I was about to come look for you guys to go home anyway." Alya replied and Mari nodded in response.
"Good job taking care of them." Tang said to Mari and Adrien.
"Not a problem. Let's go. I'm tired." Mari said stretching.
"Right. It's been an eventful day." Henry agreed and jumped into Mari's car.
(Everyone got into the cars they came with and departed.)
***A day before the trip***
**In Ting and Tang's room**
"Do you really have to go?" Mari asked her parents sadly.
"Don't be childish now. You know we have to go to work like normal people." Her mother replied packing her clothes.
"Don't worry. We'd be back before you guys go back to school." Ting said sitting by her on the bed.
"Really?"
"Yeah. We promise" Ting replied patting her head gently while efficiently and effortlessly packing his clothes with his magic.
"Ok. I'll go now." She said, departing the room less burdened.
"Sigh." Ting sighed. "Our baby's all grown up now 17 years ago, around this time, we were buying baby clothes preparing for her delivery. And now, she's all grown up." He said, feeling melancholy.
"Time sure flies fast. Well probably miss her birthday next month." Tang said realizing the faulty date.
"Oh no. We have to make up for it one way or another! We can request a two day leave from our clients. I'm sure they'll understand. Besides, it's not like we'd go bankrupt if we don't fine them what them what they want. If they have a problem, it's their loss, not ours." Ting said in ignorance.
"How are you the chairman of the company and the king of a nation when you think like this?" Tang asked exasperated. "We do have something to lose! In fact it's many things. Starting from our reputation. If we lose our reputation now, when we reveal where royals to the public, they'll almost tear us to shreds. It'll also affect the children negatively in various ways! They'll think our children stand people up for no reason and even if we tell the public it was for Mari's birthday, they'd be like: {It's only one year. Can't they miss it and make it up later?} or {Is that a valid reason to stand people who you're working with up?} {Oh! I agree with the above statement and if the company bans all our accounts, we'll boycott them.} or {Yes! I agree x2. If they don't, I'll kowtow three times and eat shit!} And finally they all shout {Shut down TangNing Cooperation!} Then they start boycotting our products and our sticks start dropping drastically and then the government, rival companies and the public start discussion WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL about taking over every single one of our companies while living us to die on the streets! Don't be naive and think things over before they come out of your mouth!" Tang shouted admist unbridled rage.
**Meanwhile, 3 floors below.**
"Wow! Tang is really angry. The house'll explode at this rate." Kitara said and everyone knew she meant this literally.
"Meh. Dad probably said something wrong again. Just protect yourselves with your spiritual energy if you don't want to get yeeted off. I once got yeeted off when I was young, and it so wasn't funny. Even though mom paused for a 2 months and just got dad to kneel for three days straight to reflect on his wrongdoings cause of that incident, she forgot about it and started lashing out once more. At that time, all the frustrations from those two months came crashing down on her and even I wasn't spared from her fury." She finished, laughing at the recollection of those pleasant childhood memories.
"Your dad really is trying. However, it's just unexpected, unbelievable even that Ting is going through torture in his own home." Aang said.
"Where was I then?" Fancy asked.
"You were barely four months old." Mari replied.
"Then, what happened when I was born?" Alex asked curiously
"It was when you were born all hell broke lose. You became the very source of dad's problems." Mari chuckled, patting Alex's head.
"Oh. Am I supposed to feel bad now? Heh... Mom's done lashing out." He said
"Who'd you say was lashing?" Tang asked smiling while descending the stairs.
Shuddering, Alex ran to hide behind Emily and pleaded. "I'm sorry mom." He said meekly.
"Alright Tang. That's enough now. Your husband's there for you. Don't take it out on the kids." Emily said playfully, shielding Alex.
"Ting! Are you alright?!" Gabriel asked in horror, quite terrified as he ran to get the first aid kit.
"I'm fine. I can't believe she didn't spare my face." He said lamenting.
"Be grateful she spared you at all." Erica said in between chuckles.
"Oh gosh. The parents have got an early flight tomorrow by 5 and it's 2 right now. If they don't want to miss the flight, they have to go to sleep now. Goodnight guys."
"She's right Goodnight guys."Chloe said, waving them goodnight.
*Yawn!* "Goodnight guys I'm going to bed. Cya later." leaving, Henry blew a kiss as he left.
"Tch. Arrogant son of a b*tch." Mari swore under her breath for no reason.
"Oi! I didn't know you also swore?!" Turn warned in a low voice.
"Sorry, goodnight." She muttered, her pleasant mood ruined. She waved and left with everyone leaving Nancy, Gracie and the parents.
"Don't come back again if you fail to accomplish the mission in 6 months. You can come back next month for Mari's birthday if you're sure it's absolutely safe. But you need me not telling you to not come back if you sense any dangers." Nancy warned and left.
"She's said it all. Don't sleep late. Goodnight." Gracie said as she waved them bye.
"They care so much but act otherwise. How lovely." Sukka and Aang sighed.
"We should probably sleep now. Goodnight loves. Cya later. Mwah." Sukka said, turning to make his way to his room.
"Goodnight. Don't wake up late." They all said and departed one after the other.