Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 673 My Sister 8

Yun Si remained silent for a moment. Zhou Hui's adoptive father, Zhou Chenghai... She had a vague impression of him; she seemed to have heard rumors about him "hanging out" once or twice when she was a child. Now it seemed that those rumors might not have been unfounded.

"There's no need to investigate further," Yun Si said calmly. She saw a slight hint of surprise flash in A-Cheng's eyes.

She explained, “The deterrent has been achieved. They know we are prepared, and they know we are on a completely different level. They should be more panicked than we are right now.”

She paused, her voice carrying a hint of coldness and understanding that seemed out of place with her youthful appearance: "When the other party realizes that they can't reach you even if they jump, the most likely outcome is that they will either retreat."

"Either...do something more extreme but more easily exposed in the face of immense fear. Just keep an eye on things, no need to rush to kill them."

Acheng and Xiaopeng exchanged a glance, both seeing the approval in each other's eyes. The Third Miss was indeed growing at an astonishing pace, already able to assess situations from a political and strategic perspective.

"Understood," Acheng replied.

The vehicle drove smoothly toward the airport. Yun Si leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. Before her eyes appeared the innocent smiling faces of the children at the welfare home, the loving gaze of the old director, and... Zhou Hui's face, which froze instantly in the sunlight, filled with fear and embarrassment.

The chill of betrayal lingered, and the dark corners of human nature made her heart tremble. But compared to her initial bewilderment and unease, she now felt a strange peace and a sense of strength.

My sister is right.

The world is not simply black and white, but one needs sufficient power to remain safely in the light.

This seemingly heartwarming journey home ultimately became a silent test and a declaration of strength. She responded to the malicious provocations with a gentle smile and nipped the budding danger in the bud with absolute power.

The plane took off, once again leaving Jinshui City and her complicated, intertwined past far behind.

Looking through the porthole at the countless lights gradually twinkling like stars, Yun Si's eyes were clear and resolute. She knew she had a long road ahead, but this time, she was no longer merely someone to be protected.

She is trying to understand the rules and learn to use her power, in order to protect everything she cherishes and to... stand tall and not be afraid of the cold.

She picked up her phone and saw a message from Yun Chu: "Where are you? How are you?" Yun Si's lips curled into a warm smile. She tapped her finger lightly and, for the first time, proactively replied with a message that contained a lot of information:

[Sister, we've arrived at Jinshui Welfare Home. The sun is shining brightly, and the children are very happy. There are some familiar sights at the entrance, but the two older brothers' new appearances have made them disappear. I'd like to visit the director again next time. Everything is fine, don't worry.]

Inside the Yun family mansion in Shenzhen, Yun Chu looked at the text message from her younger sister on the screen—a message laced with coded language yet conveying a calm sentiment. Her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. She picked up her teacup, a deep, gratified smile slowly curving her lips. Very good.

The little chick has finally begun to flap its wings.

She returned home safely, and more importantly, she learned to read between the lines and to wield power. This time, without his intervention, she still skillfully resolved the crisis.

***

The aroma of the New Year's Eve dinner, mingled with laughter, filled the banquet hall of the Yun family's old residence. Under the crystal chandelier, long dining tables covered with brocade tablecloths stood end to end.

Yun Chu sat on the left side of the main seat, her demeanor as composed as ever.

Yun Si sat opposite her, her face no longer showing the naivety and bewilderment of the past, her eyes bright and confident, already showing the early bloom of a college student.

Over two years, with the family's approval, careful guidance, and her own hard work, she truly integrated into the family and found her own place in the world.

Sitting next to Yun Chu was Yun Xuan, who had just returned from graduating abroad.

Two years had passed since I last saw her, and it seemed that the impetuousness and sharpness in her had been worn away by the years spent abroad. There was a hint of unease and a stubborn desire to prove herself between her brows.

She wore light makeup and a carefully chosen cashmere dress, trying her best to blend into the long-awaited atmosphere of family reunion. However, deep in her eyes, the lingering awe for her elder sister Yun Chu and a hint of barely perceptible flattery had not completely disappeared.

The atmosphere at the table was filled with laughter and conversation. He Shi was busy serving food to the two children, while Yun Guohua inquired about their recent situations with concern.

When it was Yunxuan's turn, she put down her chopsticks, her voice carrying a deliberately calm tone, yet unable to conceal a hint of anticipation: "Dad, Mom, Sister, Sisi... This time I'm back, I want to start my own business."

The air fell silent for a moment. All eyes turned gently to her.

“Great!” Yun Guohua spoke first with a smile, encouragingly. “It’s good that young people have ambition. Have you decided on a direction?”

Yunxuan immediately sat up straighter and poured out her project idea, which she had been working on for months: "I want to create a high-end niche beauty brand, focusing on all-natural and customized products... The young female market is very enthusiastic about this right now, and online channels are also well-established..."

She spoke with great enthusiasm, describing the brand concept, target customer group, and initial packaging design ideas. She even took out her phone to show some product images that she thought were very stylish.

However, the smile on Yun Guohua's face gradually faded, replaced by the worried seriousness typical of an elder.

When Yunxuan finished speaking and looked at him expectantly, he hesitated for a moment and then said tactfully, "Xuanxuan, starting a business is not an easy thing."

“Your idea sounds good, but the beauty industry is too crowded right now. International brands and emerging domestic brands are competing fiercely. Doing high-end customization means that research and development, quality control, and brand building all require extremely deep experience and a lot of financial investment.”

“As a completely new brand starting from scratch, positioning itself at such a high-end level… Dad is worried about its survival and market acceptance.” He put down his wine glass, speaking earnestly, “It’s not that Dad doesn’t support you, it’s just that this direction… isn’t it a bit too risky?”

Yunxuan's eyes dimmed noticeably, her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her clothes, and she looked at He Shi for help.

He Shi quickly tried to smooth things over: "Hey, let's enjoy the New Year first since we just got back. We can think about starting a business later..."

"Hmm," Yunxuan lowered her head and responded softly, trying to hide her disappointment. Her father's disapproval seemed like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Even the delicacies on the table seemed to have lost their flavor.

Yunxuan felt a pang of sadness. After all, she wasn't the Yun family's biological daughter. If Yunxiang wanted to do it, he would have invested directly.

---

The New Year's Eve dinner ended in a peaceful yet subtly harmonious atmosphere.

Yun Guohua went back to his study to handle a few emails. Not long after, there was a careful knock on the study door. It was Yun Xuan.

“Dad…” she walked in, looking a bit like she was mustering her courage. “What you said earlier makes sense… but I really want to try.”

She bit her lip and pleaded in a low voice, "Dad, could you... could you give me some start-up capital? Even if it's not much, just let me make a product line to test the waters, okay? Once I get the samples and achieve some initial success, maybe I can convince others..."