The Morning After
Qiū Huà Bǐ woke up still confused.
He sat on the edge of the guest bed, rubbing his face, replaying last night in his head.
So let me get this straight…
Two people kneel.
Drink liquor.
Say some sentences.
Bow to wooden tablets.
And now they're family.
He walked into the kitchen where Yè Yī was making tea.
Qiū Huà Bǐ leaned against the counter.
"So… what happens now?"
Yè Yī didn't look up.
"Now what?"
"You two did the oath thing."
"And?"
Qiū Huà Bǐ stared at him.
"And?! That's it?!"
Yè Yī poured tea calmly.
"It's not supposed to change how we act."
"That seems like a design flaw," Qiū Huà Bǐ muttered.
At that moment Violet walked in.
Simple clothes. Dark jeans. Light jacket.
Qiū Huà Bǐ noticed something immediately.
She looked like she was about to leave.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Church," Violet said.
Qiū Huà Bǐ blinked.
"…Church."
"Yes."
He looked at Yè Yī.
Yè Yī shrugged.
"We're driving her."
That made Qiū Huà Bǐ stare even harder.
"You two did a sworn sibling ritual with ancestral tablets last night… and now we're going to church?"
Violet picked up a cup of tea.
"I didn't say you had to come."
Qiū Huà Bǐ sighed.
"I didn't say I wasn't coming."
He pointed at her.
"You just keep becoming harder to understand."
Violet took a sip.
"That sounds like your problem."
The Church
The building wasn't big.
Plain walls. Wooden pews. Cross above the altar.
No dramatic architecture.
Just quiet.
People greeted Violet when she entered.
Not like a stranger.
Like someone who had been coming for a while.
Qiū Huà Bǐ leaned toward Yè Yī and whispered.
"She comes here regularly?"
"Sometimes."
"And you?"
"No."
Qiū Huà Bǐ nodded.
"Good. I was worried I'd missed a chapter."
They sat in the back row.
Violet sat forward, attentive.
Hands folded.
No show.
Just listening.
Qiū Huà Bǐ leaned back, arms crossed.
Alright. Let's see what this is about.
The Sermon
The pastor opened a worn Bible.
"No long introduction today," he said.
"Let's read first."
He turned pages.
Then read clearly.
John 8:32
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
The room stayed quiet.
Qiū Huà Bǐ shifted slightly.
Truth again.
He glanced sideways at Yè Yī.
Yè Yī was staring forward.
Still.
The pastor continued.
"Many people think truth always feels good," he said.
"But scripture doesn't say that."
He flipped pages again.
John 16:33
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
The pastor looked up.
"Truth often brings trouble first. Freedom comes later."
Qiū Huà Bǐ's eyebrow lifted slightly.
That's… not bad actually.
Then another passage.
Ephesians 4:25
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
The pastor nodded toward the congregation.
"Truth is not just about facts," he said.
"It's about relationship. If we belong to one body, then deception hurts everyone."
Yè Yī's eyes lowered slightly.
Speak truthfully.
He remembered Violet's words from the night before.
Closure… or truth.
The pastor turned another page.
Romans 12:10
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Qiū Huà Bǐ blinked.
Devoted to one another.
He leaned toward Yè Yī.
"…Did we accidentally attend a sermon about sibling loyalty?"
Yè Yī didn't answer.
He was still looking forward.
The pastor continued.
"One more verse."
He turned to the Old Testament.
Proverbs 17:17
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity."
That line sat in the room.
Heavy.
Qiū Huà Bǐ slowly leaned back again.
"…Okay," he muttered quietly.
"That one landed."
After the Service
People began standing and greeting each other.
Violet remained seated for a moment longer.
Quiet.
Then she stood.
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked at her.
"You know," he said, "I still don't understand you."
Violet looked mildly amused.
"That's consistent."
He gestured toward the altar.
"You bow to ancestors one night… then sit in church the next morning like it's normal."
"It is normal," she said.
"For who?"
"For me."
Qiū Huà Bǐ rubbed his chin.
"You don't see a contradiction?"
"No."
He stared at her for a moment.
Then he looked at Yè Yī.
"You?"
Yè Yī shrugged.
"I don't believe in it."
"But you still came."
Yè Yī nodded toward Violet.
"She asked."
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked between them again.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"I swear," he muttered.
"I understand international finance, black market supply chains, and three different encryption protocols…"
He pointed at Violet.
"…but you? You make zero sense."
Violet adjusted her jacket.
"Yet you're still here."
Qiū Huà Bǐ sighed.
"Yeah."
Then he smirked.
"Maybe that's my sermon."
Yè Yī almost smiled.
And as they stepped outside the church doors, sunlight hit the street.
Quiet.
Ordinary.
But somewhere under the surface, the threads connecting all three of them had tightened slightly.
Whether they understood them or not. 😎