Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 681 My Sister 16

The news of Yun Chu and Shen Bai's stable relationship was like a pebble thrown into the calm surface of Yun Family Lake, creating ripples of varying sizes.

The most obvious reaction to this ripple effect was not to the elders Yun Guohua and He Shi—who had an almost blind trust in Yun Chu's ability to judge people—but to her two younger sisters, Yun Si and Yun Xuan, whom she had once personally protected and mentored, and who were now completely different from what they used to be.

For them, the shock of the news that "the older sister is in a relationship" was far more than just joy.

It was a mixture of surprise, scrutiny, and a hint of... indescribable unease.

Yun Si (a rising star in finance): She struggled and learned in the simulation sandbox laid out by her older sister, and the trust and guidance she received made her regard her sister as a god.

How could my sister, who is so powerful, dazzling, and in control of everything, suddenly... be "privatized"?

She was used to her sister's calm gaze focusing solely on her career and their growth.

What makes that man named Shen Bai so capable of entering my sister's unfathomable heart?

Will Shen Bai influence my sister's judgment?

Will it distract my sister?

Will the energy that my sister devotes to them be diverted?

These concerns quickly swirled and fermented in YunSi's computationally savvy mind.

Yunxuan (tech upstart): The past estrangement has turned into a deep affection.

From being "expelled" to being lifted to the pinnacle of tech entrepreneurship, Yun Chu was not only an older sister to her, but also a savior. She was grateful for every bit of her sister's strictness and every investment she made.

When she learned that her sister was in a relationship, her first reaction was panic—would her sister do the same thing she did to her a few years ago, shifting her attention to someone else (her boyfriend)?

That Shen Bai…who knows if he's hiding something else? Will he take advantage of my sister? Is he worthy of my sister's seemingly cold but actually protective heart?

A subtle sense of competition and possessiveness quietly blossomed between the two sisters, whose relationship had never been particularly close. Their common goal was no longer each other, but the man who had suddenly entered the older sister's life—Shen Bai.

For the first time, the two tacitly formed a united front.

---

On a sunny weekend, the Yun family's old house was warm and cozy, and the atmosphere of a family gathering flowed gently amidst delicious food and casual conversation. But today's atmosphere was subtly tense, far more so than usual.

Yun Chu sat calmly in the main seat, seemingly unaware of the drama that was about to unfold.

During the brief pause in the conversation, Yun Si, who had been carefully observing her older sister, put down her chopsticks and spoke with an unusual, deliberately innocent tone:

"Sis, I heard you got a boyfriend? His name is Shen Bai, right? We've been hearing about him so much, we're all so curious! Since it's such a rare occasion, why don't you invite him over for a chat? Let us get to know him!" she said, glancing at Yunxuan beside her.

Yunxuan immediately received the signal, put down her juice glass, and replied, her voice trying to be gentle, but the scrutiny in her eyes was undisguised: "Yes, sister, you always bear it all alone, we all want to care for you more."

"What kind of person is this Mr. Shen? Today is a perfect day, why don't we invite him over? We can just chat like family." She emphasized the word "family."

He Shi, not understanding why, smiled and agreed: "Yes, yes, Chu Chu, call Xiao Shen over, we can have an extra pair of chopsticks today."

Yun Guohua nodded as well.

Yun Ji nodded, indicating he wanted to meet him.

Yun Chu's gaze swept lightly over her two suddenly unusually enthusiastic sisters, her face remaining expressionless as she simply nodded slightly: "Alright."

She immediately picked up her phone and dialed Shen Bai's number, saying succinctly, "It's me. There's a family gathering. Are you free to come over now?"

Shen Bai's gentle yet clear reply came from the other end of the phone: "Okay, I'm nearby, I'll be there in about half an hour."

During the half-hour wait, the air seemed to freeze. Yun Chu quietly drank her tea, Yun Guohua and He Shi chatted casually, Yun Ji drank his tea with a smile, and Yun Si and Yun Xuan exchanged glances several times, with undercurrents flowing between them.

---

Shen Bai arrived on time. He was tall and upright, with a calm demeanor. He was dressed in a low-key and appropriate manner, and presented He Shi with a perfectly chosen gift. His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant.

However, from the moment he stepped in, two pairs of eyes with the scanning ability of precision instruments locked onto him—from Yun Si and Yun Xuan.

The atmosphere at the table seemed harmonious.

They chatted about the weather, the economic situation (Yun Guohua tried to dominate), and recent interesting news. But as soon as the topic shifted slightly towards Yun Chu, or avoided Shen Bai's direction, the duo's "test" silently began:

Yun Si: "Mr. Shen, the recent fluctuations in the financial markets are quite interesting. What's your opinion on... uh, the blind expansion of some institutions? Which is more important, risk control or personal principles?"

Shen Bai put down his teacup, his expression open and honest: "Whether it's investing or doing business, respecting the rules is paramount, and adhering to the bottom line is fundamental. Expansion is the path, but sustainability is the goal." He skillfully avoided specific events, but the answer was clear.

Yunxuan immediately chimed in: "What if... your bottom line conflicts with someone you value, like your partner? Suppose she needs you to do something high-risk but that doesn't violate your bottom line?"

Shen Bai looked at Yun Chu with gentle eyes: "True respect means understanding and respecting the other party's path and principles. Conflict means that the understanding is not deep enough, not that a choice needs to be made."

Yun Si: "It seems like you've been working overtime for several days in a row lately? Sis, you can't push yourself like this, your body can't take it."

After speaking, she immediately turned her gaze to Shen Bai: "Mr. Shen, you must be very busy with work, right? Do you also feel a lot of pressure? What would you do in this situation?" (To assess whether Shen Bai understood Yun Chu's strength and whether he could provide support)

Shen Bai naturally chimed in: "Yun Chu's work pace and intensity are indeed far beyond that of ordinary people. Understanding her sense of responsibility is the prerequisite."

“My approach might be a bit clumsy, but it's about making sure I don't cause any trouble, providing her with space when she needs quiet, and being there for her whenever she needs support.”

Yunxuan: "I heard that it wasn't easy for Mr. Shen to start his own business? What if your own career reaches a critical point, and your sister also needs your full support? How will you balance that?" (Testing Shen Bai's ability to be independent and whether he will become a burden)

Shen Bai replied calmly, "Solving problems independently is an adult's duty. Her strength doesn't require me to support her specific career; it's more about mutual care on a spiritual level. If there's a conflict, I'll prioritize ensuring she has no worries, but the premise is that I will never become a burden to her."

Yun Si put down her dessert spoon, her smile as sweet as honey, but her words were laced with barbs: "Mr. Shen, my two younger sisters have always been well taken care of by our older sister, both from childhood and later."

"My sister is really important to us! So important that... we might be sad if someone affects her attention to us." (A direct assertion of dominance and dependence, while subtly threatening)

Shen Bai met her gaze without flinching, and instead smiled, his tone sincere and solemn: "I understand the importance of this feeling. Yun Chu... she protected you, shaped you, and the satisfaction she felt when she saw you grow was a precious part that no one and nothing could replace. I am very clear about this, and I cherish it very much."

This answer, like a gentle yet powerful shield, temporarily defused the additional question that Yunxuan was about to blurt out.

Throughout the meal, Yun Chu remained quiet, eating slowly and deliberately, occasionally glancing at her sister and then at Shen Bai, her deep eyes revealing no emotional fluctuations.

Only when Shen Bai uttered the phrase "an irreplaceable and precious part" did her eyelashes tremble almost imperceptibly.

Shen Bai's performance can be described as flawless.

He calmly handled all the seemingly casual but actually pointed questions, answering them sincerely yet principledly. Crucially, he accurately grasped his two younger sisters' core concern—Yun Chu's unshakeable position in their lives—and expressed full understanding, respect, and a willingness to protect this bond.

He didn't try to prove how worthy he was of Yun Chu, but instead showed enough maturity and clarity to recognize that the emotional connection between Yun Chu and her sisters was the foundation, and he made clear about his role and boundaries in this position.

After the dinner party ended and Shen Bai left, Yun Si and Yun Xuan stood under the porch light by the door and exchanged a glance.

Yun Si pouted: "...For now...I guess it's passable?"

Yunxuan snorted: "Hmph, quick reaction... but at least he knows what's good for him."

Although her tone was still not very pleasant, and there was still a hint of disappointment in her being "shared" with her older sister, the intense hostility and unease in her eyes had been largely melted away by Shen Bai's frank and cautious attitude.

For the first time, they clearly realized that the man their sister had found might not be a raider, but rather... someone trying to understand and integrate into this unique territory.