Rebirth and Conquest

Chen Yan's peaceful days were interrupted by an uninvited guest: Chen Yan's mother, the woman who abandoned him here and never looked back, suddenly wrote to say she was coming back to celebrate Chen Yan's birthday.

Chen Yan's maternal grandmother was overjoyed, after all, she was her own daughter. No matter what she did, parents could not sever their longing for their children. However, Chen Yan felt no joy at all, because he knew that with his mother's arrival, his misfortune would also follow.

On this day, just as Chen Yan and his friends were about to have dinner, his mother returned. This was the first time Chen Yan had met his mother, Chen Lirong. Oh no, it should be said that in other people's eyes, it was the first time the mother and son had met. Chen Yan's mother was definitely beautiful enough to be someone's mistress. Coupled with her proper attire, she looked dazzlingly beautiful. Accompanying her was a little boy, Yan Haobo.

This was the first time Chen Yan had seen Yan Haobo in this life. He was only twelve years old at the time. They had come by car. For many people living in this small village, it was the first time they had ever seen a four-wheeled vehicle. Yan Haobo's arrival caused quite a stir. His clothes and demeanor exuded the air of a wealthy family. Compared to the village children, he was like a prince among a group of monkeys.

Although Chen Yan was prepared, her heart still clenched violently when she saw Yan Haobo. In her previous life, Chen Yan was most afraid of Yan Haobo. In Chen Yan's not-so-long life, she was affected by Yan Haobo for almost half of the time, and even in death, she was driven to jump off a building by him. Although Yan Haobo at this time looks like just a handsome and clever little boy, Chen Yan knows better than anyone how wicked he is at heart.

Chen Yan's maternal grandmother welcomed them into the house, pulled Chen Yan over and told her to call her "Mom," and then warmly entertained Yan Haobo, who was like a young master. The grandmother had lived in the countryside for most of her life and had never seen how children in the city were raised. She was a little overwhelmed by this boy who clearly did not come from an ordinary family. Fortunately, Yan Haobo seemed to be very well-mannered and did not cause them too much trouble.

Chen Lirong addressed Yan Haobo as "Second Young Master." Yes, she was like a servant in front of him. Yan Haobo called Chen Lirong "Secretary Chen." At this time, Chen Lirong's official identity was still that of the person who was keeping him. Moreover, she only managed to get this position after giving birth to two sons.

Chen Lirong said she would stay here for two days, while Yan Haobo came along because he was on summer vacation and wanted to visit the countryside. Actually, Chen Yan knew that Yan Haobo was just bored and wanted to see his father's two illegitimate sons who had been abandoned in the countryside, and also to tease them for some fun.

During dinner, Grandma prepared a large table of dishes. Chen Yan used to sit in the most comfortable chair, occupying the best spot. However, now that Yan Haobo was here, these two dishes could only be Yan Haobo's. Chen Yan took the initiative to sit on a corner of the table and quietly began to eat.

In fact, in his previous life, Chen Yan was just like this when facing Yan Haobo. At that time, although he was spoiled and selfish by his grandmother, he had grown up in the countryside. Yan Haobo's appearance completely intimidated him. Yan Haobo's nobility and difference were enough to make him admire and look up to him without daring to be presumptuous.

Chen Haoran sat down at the corner of the table with Chen Yan, also silently eating his rice. Chen Yan tried his best to minimize his presence, not wanting to attract Yan Haobo's attention, but it seemed impossible. Given Chen Yan's grandmother's doting on him, seeing Chen Yan sitting in the corner, she didn't say anything, but placed Chen Yan's favorite dish in front of him: "Xiao Yan, come and eat this, it's your favorite."

Chen Yan nodded and said "Mm," then picked up some food and started eating silently.

Yan Haobo, who was eating, acted as if he hadn't seen anything. After a while, he pointed to the dish in front of Chen Yan and said, "I like that dish." With just that one sentence, the dish was placed in front of Yan Haobo.

That night, Yan Haobo moved into Chen Yan's room. The room that Chen Yan had occupied for eight years was taken away easily for the first time. Chen Yan was moved to another room and squeezed into a bed with his younger brother and grandfather.

Even with this arrangement, Yan Haobo was still somewhat dissatisfied, complaining that the room without air conditioning was too hot. Of course, he was very tactful in his speech; he didn't rudely criticize or complain, but rather expressed his discomfort in a very subtle way. In Yan Haobo's eyes, he looked down on Chen Yan and the others, believing himself to be superior. However, people are strange like this; the more they face someone 'lower' than themselves, the more they want to show their refinement and manners, as if this would better demonstrate their superiority.

The next day, Chen Yan took Yan Haobo to the small hill at the entrance of the village because Yan Haobo said he wanted to see the countryside. By this time, no children were bothering Chen Yan anymore, and they could play freely there.

Yan Haobo walked along the fruit-tree-lined hillside like a master inspecting his property. The Chen brothers followed closely behind, like servants ready to serve him at any moment. Chen Haoran grabbed Chen Yan's trouser leg with one hand, pressing his whole body tightly against Chen Yan. Chen Haoran seemed more resistant to Yan Haobo, this uninvited guest, than Chen Yan. It's understandable; what kind of stranger suddenly arrives at someone's house, and this stranger makes everyone fawn over him, even Chen Yan, who is usually the boss in their family, is being trampled on. Although Chen Haoran is young, he knows that this stranger is not someone to be trifled with.

"Chen Yan, I want to eat that apple. Can you climb trees? Can you pick one for me?" Yan Haobo pointed to the apples on the tree, turned around and asked with a smile. He asked very politely, but Chen Yan knew that he couldn't refuse.

Chen Yan nodded and prepared to climb the tree to pick fruit for Yan Haobo. To be honest, Chen Yan couldn't climb trees. Unlike those children who were always running up and down, his grandmother spoiled him rotten. If he wanted to eat fruit, his grandmother would pick it for him. He didn't have to lift a finger.

Chen Yan struggled to climb the tree, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep going. Yan Haobo watched from below with a mocking smile in his eyes. He turned his head and saw Chen Haoran craning his neck, gazing longingly at the tree. He walked over and began to tease the somewhat silly-looking child: "Little Hao, look how high your brother has climbed the tree..."

When Chen Yan finally managed to pick the apple, his hands were covered in red marks from the rough bark. As soon as Chen Yan climbed down the tree, he saw Yan Haobo pinching Chen Haoran's little face, kneading and squeezing it like playing with clay. The child's skin was very delicate, and Chen Haoran grimaced as he was pinched, but he didn't utter a sound.

"I picked them," Chen Yan said as she walked over with the fruit. Yan Haobo then let go of her hand. As soon as Chen Haoran saw Chen Yan, he immediately ran over, hugged Chen Yan's leg, and pressed himself tightly against her body, looking at Yan Haobo with his big eyes, somewhat timidly.

After taking the fruit, Yan Haobo took only one bite before spitting it out, making a bitter face: "It's so sour, it tastes awful, I'm not eating it." He then casually threw the apple away.

After eating the fruit, Yan Haobo wanted to go to the river to catch fish. Of course, he wouldn't go into the water himself; he would make Chen Yan go in. The small river at the village entrance wasn't deep, and the water wasn't clear. Who knew what kind of strange things might be at the bottom? Chen Yan didn't dare to go barefoot, so she went in wearing shoes. Yan Haobo stood on the bank directing, "Go there, go there, come here, over here, no, no, over there..."

Chen Yan could only follow Yan Haobo's instructions and wander around in the water, but after touching things for a long time, she naturally couldn't find anything.

Yan Haobo only allowed Chen Yan to come up after his pants were completely soaked, and then he even sighed in a mocking manner, "What a pity, I didn't get to touch anything."

Chen Yan knew that Yan Haobo was deliberately trying to torment them and wouldn't stop until he was done playing around.

Besides these, Yan Haobo would also take out some rare treats to tease them. Like now, Yan Haobo held up a piece of imported chocolate to Chen Haoran's lips, let him take a bite, and then immediately pulled it back, then asked with a smile, "Is it delicious?"

Chen Haoran, a little kid, had never eaten anything like this before. Like a little puppy, he stuck out his tongue and followed the chocolate. Yan Haobo backed away, but Chen Haoran only had eyes for the chocolate. He stretched his neck and followed it, and then he tripped and fell flat on his face. Yan Haobo suppressed his laughter and watched Chen Haoran get up from the ground before giving him the chocolate.

Chen Haoran happily took the chocolate and ran towards Chen Yan, holding it up to him and saying in a soft voice, "Brother, candy."

The scene was exactly the same as in his previous life, but Chen Yan felt completely different. In his previous life, he liked Yan Haobo teasing Chen Haoran like this because he would eventually get those things. But now, watching it, Chen Yan felt it stung his eyes. Looking at the chocolate that Chen Haoran was still holding, Chen Yan forced a smile, just like in his previous life. Then he took the chocolate, broke it in half, put one half into Chen Haoran's mouth, and ate the other half himself.

When Yan Haobo couldn't find anything fun to do, he would throw a ball around in the yard and have Chen Yan and the others fetch it for him, then he would throw it again, and Chen Yan and the others would fetch it again...

Yan Haobo threw the ball all over the yard, and Chen Yan and the others had to run all over the yard. Chen Yan felt that this situation was very similar to an owner teasing their pet dog with a bone toy, throwing the bone out and letting the dog fetch it back.

Yan Haobo threw the ball very far this time. When Chen Yan ran over to pick it up, she inadvertently saw his mother, that beautiful woman, standing in a secluded spot watching them. Her eyes held a complex and unreadable emotion. Chen Yan pretended not to see her, picked up the ball, and ran back.

Chen Yan didn't want to guess what his mother was thinking or what her feelings were. Chen Yan could imagine that if this woman was so subservient in front of Yan Haobo, then how humble she must be in the Yan family, and how much humiliation she must have suffered. In fact, to outsiders, Chen Lirong might just be someone who sold her dignity for a comfortable life, but Chen Yan knew clearly that this woman had a restlessness that emanated from her bones, and a strong ambition that was even stronger than a man's. But the path is one's own choice, and no one else can control it.

Yan Haobo only stayed here for three days before returning home. After all, he was a city kid, and even though the people here were very accommodating to him, he still couldn't get used to living here.

When Yan Haobo left, Chen Lirong followed in their car. She said she came back to celebrate Chen Yan's birthday, but for the past three days, all her thoughts had been on Yan Haobo, and she hadn't mentioned the birthday celebration at all.

However, Chen Lirong's return home marked a turning point in Chen Yan's living standards in Xichao Village. Before leaving, she left a large sum of money for Chen Yan's grandmother. This money was not given by the man, but was her own. After being someone's mistress for more than eight years, Chen Lirong was finally able to change Chen Yan's life entirely on her own. From then on, she frequently sent money over, and the amounts kept increasing. This woman, who became increasingly powerful in her later life, could give them nothing but money.

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