By noon, Zhong Yun and his entourage had returned home. His mother had insisted they come back for a meal before they left on their journey.

Zhong Yun knew she was eager to meet her daughter-in-law soon.

Perhaps because Yun Qi was present, the car felt strangely quiet. Chen Yijia, usually so lively and mischievous, sat unnaturally still, affecting the poise of a gentlewoman. Chen Yi, typically talkative, was hesitant to speak, fearing she might offend this sister-in-law who seemed like an ethereal deity descended to earth.

Yun Qi’s nature was inherently cool and detached; she disliked unnecessary pleasantries.

This situation made Zhong Yun scratch his head; perhaps this was Yun Qi’s only flaw. The thought of how she would interact with his parents in the future brought a wave of worry. Would his parents be displeased with her?

If only Xiao Ruo were here, he thought with resignation. Xiao Ruo was equally beautiful, but her beauty lacked Yun Qi’s almost oppressive perfection. Moreover, Xiao Ruo was well-behaved, clever, gentle, and poised; she would surely win over his parents’ affection.

She was simply too conspicuous.

As he alighted from the car, Zhong Yun couldn't suppress the thought. The moment Yun Qi stepped out, she drew every eye nearby, regardless of age or gender.

Zhong Yun had intended to park right at the entrance, but two other cars were already occupying the limited space in the courtyard.

He slipped his arm around Yun Qi’s waist as they walked toward the door, effectively shielding her from the lingering gazes.

“A femme fatale,” Zhong Yun murmured in mock awe.

This earned him two glares. Not only did Chen Yijia pout, but Chen Yi also shot him a sharp look. “Little brother, what kind of language is that?”

Zhong Yun shrugged. He turned to Yun Qi with a helpless smile. “See? Now they are all siding with you. I won’t have an easy time at home anymore.”

Yun Qi covered her mouth and laughed. The stunning brilliance that erupted in that instant made the two nearby women momentarily stunned.

Chen Yi shook her head, thinking, Little brother is right. My sister-in-law is too beautiful.

I truly don’t know how my little brother managed to win her heart.

“Why are Second Aunt and Second Uncle here?” Zhong Yun asked, noticing the two cars in the yard.

“Mom asked them to come, to meet the sister-in-law,” Chen Yi replied.

“Oh.”

Second Aunt and Second Uncle were the siblings on his parents' side with whom they maintained the closest relationship.

As they approached the entrance, they could hear laughter and conversation from inside.

“Is that Aunt Yi and the others returning?” someone called out upon hearing the door open. A young woman came out to the entrance, only to freeze in surprise.

Zhong Yun recognized her as Li Ying, Second Aunt’s granddaughter, currently in university. She was very close with Chen Yijia and had visited several times since the winter break began.

The young girl was clearly taken aback by Yun Qi’s presence, managing only a stammer. Yun Qi offered her a slight smile before turning to Zhong Yun to make introductions.

Zhong Yun sighed; it seemed today was destined to shock the entire family. “This is Li Ying, your cousin-niece.”

“And this is your cousin-aunt-in-law,” he added, introducing Yun Qi.

“Cou-cousin-aunt-in-law,” Li Ying called out uncertainly, shuffling her feet.

Yun Qi pulled a beautifully wrapped box from her handbag as if by magic and presented it. “This is a gift.”

Li Ying blushed crimson, accepting it shyly. “Thank you, Cousin-Aunt-in-law.”

Seeing that the formalities were complete, Zhong Yun led Yun Qi into the house.

Behind them, Li Ying grabbed her younger cousin and whispered into her ear, “Little Yi, Cousin-Aunt-in-law is stunning, even prettier than Wen Yu.”

The little girl nodded emphatically in agreement.

Wen Yu was the actress playing Xiao Long Nu in the latest massively popular television adaptation of The Return of the Condor Heroes, whose cold elegance and near-perfect features had swiftly made her famous across the country, often hailed as the woman who most resembled Xiao Long Nu.

The moment Zhong Yun crossed the threshold, the cheerful chatter inside ceased abruptly.

“Dad, Mom, Second Aunt, Uncle, Aunt,” Zhong Yun called out the names of everyone in the living room sequentially. “Let me introduce you all; this is Yun Qi.”

Yun Qi followed Zhong Yun obediently, greeting each person and handing out the gifts she had prepared. Zhong Yun glanced at her handbag with surprise—she had been well-prepared.

Luo Yunqi’s breathtaking beauty delivered a profound shock to everyone in the room. A beauty that struck directly at the soul, assaulting the visual nerves in a manner impossible to forget.

It wasn’t until Yun Qi presented the gifts that they snapped back to reality and hastened to offer their thanks. Despite being the elders, they found themselves unconsciously adopting a more polite demeanor in Yun Qi’s presence.

Zhong Yun stroked his chin, harboring a slightly mischievous thought: was this what they called an overwhelming aura?

Because of Yun Qi’s presence, the atmosphere felt restrained; no one laughed loudly as they had before. Zhong Yun’s parents and their generation had grown up in the countryside; their education level was modest, and their speech could sometimes be rough, but now they were markedly subdued.

While preparations for dinner were underway, Mother Chen quietly pulled Zhong Yun aside into a room. “Xiao Jia, tell me, who exactly is she?” The elderly woman, steeped in tradition and understanding the potential chaos beauty can bring, couldn't help but inquire.

“Mom, she is your daughter-in-law. Don't worry. She might look hard to approach, but she is actually very good-natured, listens to me completely, and is very filial toward elders. She is a first-rate wife,” Zhong Yun said, resting his hands on his mother's shoulders while lavishing praise on Yun Qi.

Mother Chen looked into her son’s eyes, knowing she couldn't change his mind, and sighed softly. “As long as you like her.”

“Once you and Dad spend more time with her, you will definitely grow to like her too,” Zhong Yun assured her. He knew older people often held a natural apprehension toward those who were excessively beautiful.

The meal was rather subdued. Not only were the older relatives meticulously attentive to dining etiquette, but the younger generation also ate with noticeable decorum.

Yun Qi’s strong presence had completely stabilized the scene.

After dinner, they sat for a while before the guests took their leave. Not long after, the elders announced they were tired and retreated to their rooms to sleep.

“Yun, do they dislike me?”

Yun Qi murmured this, nestled in Zhong Yun’s arms.

They lay in bed, the light off, a news program playing softly at the lowest volume.

Zhong Yun found this amusing and kissed her smooth forehead. “Silly girl, how could they? They like you very much.”

She shook her head and whispered softly, “I know.”

“Be good, don’t overthink things. You are my wife. Dad and Mom were just a little overwhelmed; they never imagined their clumsy son could marry a celestial fairy,” Zhong Yun chuckled.

Yun Qi propped herself up on her elbow, her bright eyes fixed on him, a flicker of light dancing within them. “You are not clumsy.”

Zhong Yun was delighted; her moments of innocence were endearingly captivating. He kissed the tip of her nose. “Of course, I’m not clumsy, otherwise how could I have carried a fairy like you to bed?”

Yun Qi’s long lashes fluttered a few times, then she lowered her gaze slightly, murmuring, “If only Xiao Ruo were here, they would definitely love her.”

Zhong Yun’s face darkened momentarily. “If you say that again, I’ll have to punish you.”

A blush bloomed across Yun Qi’s face, making her even more radiant and captivating. She fidgeted coquettishly. “I don’t want to… ah!”

Zhong Yun flipped over, pinning her beneath him. He grabbed the remote and pressed a button, plunging the entire room into darkness. Only the sound of flushed, breathless panting remained…

“Where are we going?”

Sitting in the opulent stretch limousine, Mother Chen appeared somewhat unsettled. Even though her son was quite wealthy, she had never experienced such luxury in transportation.

“You’ll know when we arrive,” Zhong Yun replied with a mysterious smile.

Yun Qi had been with them for half a month now, enjoying a rare period of calm. However, Zhong Yun had not forgotten the tasks that needed attending to.

That morning, a lavish stretch limousine had pulled up outside their home. Zhong Yun ushered his parents into the car without revealing their destination.

Last night, Mother and Father Chen had mentioned taking them somewhere, but they hadn't anticipated traveling in such a vehicle, which only reinforced their awareness of their son’s extraordinary status.

“Playing mysterious games,” Father Chen snorted lightly. His relationship with his son had softened considerably after these weeks, but the old man still liked to throw in the occasional barb.

“Mom, Dad, Yun Qi just wanted to take you for a physical examination,” Yun Qi interjected, revealing the truth.

Zhong Yun cried out in protest. “This is so unfair! It’s only been a few days, and she’s already defected to your side.”

Yun Qi covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.

Mother Chen chuckled. “My daughter-in-law, of course, takes my side.” After half a month of living together, the elderly couple had accepted their overly beautiful daughter-in-law. In their eyes, although she was a bit pampered, she was still a good wife. Aside from her reserved nature, she had no truly unacceptable flaws.

“I am in perfectly good health; there’s no need for any examination,” Father Chen stated stiffly.

“Dad, it’s not that we think you’re unwell, but preventative check-ups never hurt,” Zhong Yun persuaded him earnestly.

“I said I’m not doing it, so I’m not doing it,” Father Chen insisted, reaching for the door handle.

“Dad…” Zhong Yun pleaded, his face drawn. His father had always been stubborn, and in old age, he was even harder to persuade. Otherwise, why had the old man been sulking and barely speaking to him for the past two months?

“Stop the car,” Father Chen commanded, tapping the door panel.

Just then, Yun Qi spoke softly. “Dad, Yun is only looking out for your well-being. Please go for the sake of his concern.”

Father Chen’s expression softened. He slowly withdrew his hand and looked out the window. “It’s because of Yun Qi’s insistence, then.”

“You certainly have more influence,” Zhong Yun praised him with a discreet thumbs-up.

His parents’ health had long been Zhong Yun’s deepest concern. Although he had administered various top-tier tonics to condition them, he wouldn't be truly at ease without a comprehensive examination.

However, he did not trust Earth’s medical technology; this time, he intended to use the advanced medical equipment he had brought with him for a thorough check-up on the couple.

Upon reaching the provincial capital, Zhong Yun guided his parents onto a plane, flying to Hong Kong. At a small airport in Hong Kong, they boarded a private jet registered under Yun Qi’s name.

“Another plane ride?” Mother Chen admitted to a lingering fear of flying.

“It’s fine, it won’t take long,” Zhong Yun assured her, helping her board. The luxurious interior astonished the elderly couple.

Shortly after takeoff, Father Chen, gazing at the expanse of ocean below, finally couldn't hold back. “Where exactly are we going?”

“To a small island. It should take about two hours to reach it.”