Before they realized it, Qin Ruoyao and Mo Junlin had already spent two days at her parents’ home.
Today was their last day.
They would be leaving the next morning.
Although both families lived in the same city—one in the north and one in the south—and the drive only took about two hours, Qin Ruoyao still considered it a long-distance marriage.
Neither of them went anywhere that day.
Instead, they stayed home and spent time with family.
They played chess with Grandpa Qin, laughing every time he tried to take back a move after realizing he was losing.
In the afternoon, Qin Ruoyao accompanied her mother and sister-in-law to a beauty spa.
Meanwhile, Mo Junlin stayed behind to keep his father-in-law company.
“Miss Qin’s skin is incredible,” the beautician sighed while giving her a massage.
It truly was.
Fair with a healthy glow, smooth enough that her pores were almost invisible, and wonderfully elastic.
“Exactly,” Wu Yue chimed in from the next bed.
“My sister-in-law’s skin is enough to make any woman jealous.”
Qin Ruoyao rolled her eyes.
“As if you’re any worse.”
“What is there to envy?”
“You look great too.”
“Not bad, maybe.”
“But definitely not as good as yours.”
The two women chatted and joked back and forth.
After their massages, they moved on to the sauna.
Mother Qin went to rest first, leaving only the sisters-in-law together.
Dressed in sauna robes, they sat side by side sharing secrets.
Looking at Qin Ruoyao’s flawless figure, Wu Yue clicked her tongue in admiration.
“Xiaoyao, let me tell you something.”
“We women need to treat ourselves well.”
“If you want to keep a man’s attention, appearance and figure matter.”
“Look at all those mistresses and homewreckers out there.”
“Every one of them knows how to dress up.”
“So we need to take care of ourselves too.”
“Then we can stun our husbands all over again.”
She leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
“So…”
“How does my brother-in-law treat you?”
“Is he completely satisfied?”
“How many times a night?”
Qin Ruoyao’s face instantly turned red.
She shoved her away.
“What nonsense are you thinking about?”
“Go worry about your own husband.”
“And throw all those dirty thoughts out of your head.”
How satisfied Mo Junlin was with her was something she knew perfectly well.
Wu Yue laughed.
“Why are you embarrassed?”
“Married couples do these things.”
“Sometimes a little surprise can be important too.”
“A surprise?”
“What kind of surprise?”
Qin Ruoyao asked cautiously.
Wu Yue immediately leaned over and whispered into her ear.
By the time she finished, Qin Ruoyao looked ready to burst into flames.
“No.”
“Absolutely not.”
She waved both hands frantically.
Things were already exhausting enough.
Adding more ideas to the mix sounded dangerous.
Unfortunately, Wu Yue ignored her objections entirely and happily pulled out her phone to place an order.
While the women enjoyed a relaxed afternoon, the atmosphere in the study was far more serious.
Qin’s father sat across from Mo Junlin.
“My daughter grew up surrounded by kindness and sincerity.”
“Her heart is simple and pure.”
“I’ve never even had the heart to touch a single finger of hers.”
He paused.
“If one day she makes mistakes.”
“If one day you’ve reached the limit of your patience.”
“If you can no longer tolerate her…”
His voice became firm.
“Then don’t deceive her.”
“Don’t hurt her.”
“And please don’t ever hit her.”
“Tell me.”
“I’ll bring her home myself.”
His words carried the weight of years of fatherly love.
After all, he had treasured his daughter since birth.
Truthfully, he had never wanted her to marry so young.
He worried she wouldn’t understand the complexities of marriage.
He worried she might struggle fitting into another family.
He worried she might not know how to maintain a relationship.
Yet everyone in the family had approved of Mo Junlin.
Grandpa Qin especially.
After careful observation, they had concluded that he was upright, disciplined, and came from an excellent family.
Most importantly—
Qin Ruoyao herself loved him.
That had mattered most.
Mo Junlin understood exactly what the older man was trying to say.
“Please don’t worry, Dad.”
“I’ll take good care of Yaoyao.”
“I won’t let her suffer.”
“I’ll give her all the security and support she needs.”
His response was equally serious.
Then he added,
“People say a son-in-law is half a son.”
“You and Mom haven’t lost a daughter.”
“You’ve gained another son.”
“And Yaoyao and I will visit often.”
Qin’s father thought about it.
The two homes were only two hours apart.
Whenever they missed their daughter, they could easily visit.
His expression softened.
The more he looked at this son-in-law, the more satisfied he felt.
Then a mischievous thought occurred to him.
“How about this?”
“You go back to work tomorrow.”
“Leave Yaoyao here.”
“She doesn’t have anything urgent to do.”
“I’ll drive her back later.”
Mo Junlin froze.
Leave without his wife?
Impossible.
Since getting married, they hadn’t spent any meaningful time apart.
He immediately objected.
“That wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“We’ll return together.”
“And there’s no need to trouble you with the drive.”
“No, no.”
Qin’s father clicked his tongue.
“I was just saying.”
“Why are you so nervous?”
“As long as you don’t disappoint my daughter.”
The look of panic on his face made everyone laugh.
…
That evening, the entire family gathered for a reunion dinner.
Even Qin Ruoyao’s uncle arrived.
Qin Xiangsen served in the military and was usually stationed far away.
He had specifically come home this time to visit both his father and his niece’s husband.
At the wedding, only his wife and daughter had attended.
Now he finally had the opportunity to meet Mo Junlin personally.
Qin Xiangsen possessed the kind of sharp gaze that made most people uncomfortable.
When he stared at someone, they often couldn’t meet his eyes.
Mo Junlin wasn’t affected.
His own father could be equally intimidating.
He was used to it.
After a brief evaluation, Qin Xiangsen nodded.
That was enough.
He approved.
Whenever Uncle Qin returned home, little Qin Yuhang immediately became the best-behaved child in the world.
No running.
No shouting.
No mischief.
His aunt often complained that Qin Xiangsen shouldn’t wear military uniforms during family visits because he scared the children.
Even though he wasn’t wearing one now, the effect remained.
The fear had already taken root.
Qin Ruohan, however, was completely different.
She remained cheerful as ever.
Pulling little Qin Yuhang closer, she teased him.
“Why are you so afraid of your little granduncle?”
“He only catches bad guys.”
“He’s not coming after you.”
Then she smiled.
“And this time he even brought you a present.”
“Want to see it?”
Qin Yuhang’s eyes lit up immediately.
“What is it?”
Qin Ruohan opened a box.
Inside sat a tank model made entirely from bullet casings.
“Wow!”
Qin Yuhang’s eyes practically sparkled.
He loved it instantly.
Running over to Qin Xiangsen, he performed a very questionable military salute.
“Thank you, Little Granduncle!”
The entire room burst into laughter.
Warmth and happiness filled the house.
Qin Ruohan was seventeen and currently preparing for university entrance exams.
Ever since meeting Mo Junlin at the wedding, she had become one of his biggest fans.
In her opinion, none of the so-called campus heartthrobs at school could compare to her brother-in-law.
Even his friends were absurdly handsome.
And after receiving an extremely generous wedding gift from him, she had become one of his strongest supporters.
Only Grandpa Qin ranked higher.
Now she sat beside Qin Ruoyao and greeted them enthusiastically.
“Hi, Sister!”
“Hi, Brother-in-law!”
Mo Junlin smiled.
“Ruohan, your college entrance exams are next month, right?”
The girl’s face immediately filled with suffering.
She nodded dramatically.
The life of a senior high school student was difficult.
“Good luck.”
He encouraged her warmly.
She nodded and sighed again.
Qin Ruoyao pinched her cheek.
“Look at that expression.”
“The exams are almost here.”
“Focus on studying, alright?”
“Sure.”
Qin Ruohan narrowed her eyes.
“But does that mean there’s a reward involved?”
“What do you want?”
Qin Ruoyao asked.
“You’ll really give me whatever I want?”
The younger girl looked suspicious.
“That depends on your performance.”
Qin Ruoyao truly didn’t mind.
If she wanted a car or even a house, she could afford it.
The promise immediately revived Qin Ruohan.
Her eyes shone with determination.
“Just wait.”
“I’ll work hard.”
After this holiday, the battlefield known as the college entrance examination awaited her.
…
At nine o’clock the next morning, after an emotional round of farewells, Qin Ruoyao and Mo Junlin finally began their journey home.