Rebirth and Conquest

The next day, Chen Yan went to the headquarters of Haoran Group and looked at his office, which would be where he would be working from now on. Chen Yan's office was on the top floor of the building, occupying an entire floor. It not only had a workspace but also a lounge and restroom. This had been prepared for Chen Yan long ago, but Chen Yan had never worked here before.

Di Wenjin followed Chen Yan into the office. As soon as Chen Yan entered, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Needless to say, the office was very spacious, and the design and layout were definitely well thought out. The simple and elegant style was quite fitting for the position of chairman.

"Should I have them bring up all the company's business to you so you can take a look yourself?" Di Wenjin asked Chen Yan.

“No need,” Chen Yan said, walking to her desk. “Mr. Di, you should handle the company matters. I might not be able to do them any better than you.” Chen Yan sat down in the chair, then looked at Di Wenjin, who had stopped standing, and asked, “By the way, how’s our new product research going?”

"It's already done. As soon as Yan's product is released, we'll definitely be able to catch up immediately."

"Okay," Chen Yan nodded. "That's good."

"Also, Mr. Chen, I've arranged a car and a driver for you. They've already arrived. Would you like to take a look?"

"Really?" Chen Yan smiled. Di Wenjin and the others knew that he couldn't drive, which was indeed inconvenient for him in many situations. "Then let him in."

Di Wenjin walked to the door and instructed his secretary, who had followed him, to bring the driver up.

Not long after, the secretary led someone in. "Chairman Chen, the person has been brought."

Chen Yan looked up at the doorway, but upon seeing it, she couldn't help but pause in surprise.

“Actually, this was someone Minghui arranged,” Di Wenjin explained. “Minghui said that this Mr. Zhou is from your hometown, and you should be satisfied, so I had someone keep him.”

Chen Yan couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips. The person the secretary brought in was indeed his fellow villager, because this person was Zhou Linli, the one he had fought with when he was a child.

"Okay, let's go with him," Chen Yan said. "I'm all done here, you guys go ahead and get busy."

"Yes," Di Wenjin replied, and then left with his secretary.

After Di Wenjin left, Chen Yan leaned back in her chair and began to watch Zhou Linli with great interest.

Zhou Linli stood very close to the door, his head hanging down as soon as he entered, looking very reserved.

Chen Yan had seen Zhou Linli when he went back to his hometown last time, but he didn't look at him closely then. Now he realized that Zhou Linli had grown so tall. Zhou Linli was taller than his peers when he was a child, so he was always regarded as the leader of the group of children. Now he was much stronger. With his tall and burly figure, he looked more like a bodyguard than a driver. Zhou Linli had a very short buzz cut. Perhaps because he often did rough work outside, his skin was almost tanned to a dark reddish-black.

"Raise your head," Chen Yan said with a half-smile. "Why are you keeping your head down?"

Zhou Linli seemed to tremble slightly, then quickly bowed and said, "Hello, Chairman."

Chen Yan was almost choked by Zhou Linli's action. Was this really Zhou Linli? The Zhou Linli he knew when he was a child was not like this at all. Back then, Zhou Linli had scolded him a lot and often caused him trouble. Every time he saw him, he would put on an expression of extreme contempt, with an arrogant attitude that made it seem like his nostrils were pointing to the sky. But now, how come he seemed so simple and silly, and his attitude towards him was so good that Chen Yan could hardly believe it.

"Zhou Linli, don't you recognize me?" Chen Yan asked. "How did you end up here?"

Zhou Linli glanced at Chen Yan briefly, then looked down again. "I know it's you. I saw you when you came home last time and called out to you, but you ignored me." After a pause, he added, "I didn't expect you to have become so capable."

Zhou Linli's tone even seemed to carry a hint of resentment, which Chen Yan found quite strange. It had only been a few years since they last met, yet Zhou Linli's attitude towards her was completely different. "Zhou Linli, you and I used to fight a lot when we were kids, didn't you? Why are you still willing to come here? Aren't you afraid I'll retaliate against you?"

Zhou Linli remained silent this time, as if he didn't know what to say or was somewhat troubled. Chen Yan also remained silent, waiting for Zhou Linli to speak, but in the end, Zhou Linli only managed to utter one sentence: "You pay high wages, so I'm willing to drive for you."

Chen Yan originally wanted to tease Zhou Linli as a small act of revenge against her former 'enemy'. This was the first time in years that Chen Yan had developed a mischievous interest in teasing someone. However, seeing Zhou Linli's honest and sincere appearance, Chen Yan immediately abandoned the idea and said, "Alright, if you want to come, then come. Don't just stand there. Find a place to sit. If you're thirsty, go get some water yourself."

After Chen Yan finished speaking, Zhou Linli finally moved. He strode over to the water dispenser, filled a glass with water, but instead of drinking it himself, he brought it to Chen Yan.

After Zhou Linli walked over, Chen Yan couldn't help but look up at him. Zhou Linli was standing next to him, bending down to put a cup on his table. When Chen Yan looked at him like that, Zhou Linli paused for a moment, and his face seemed to turn a little red. However, since his complexion was dark, it wasn't very noticeable.

"Where are you going later? I'll take you there," Zhou Linli asked, though it was just to make conversation and cover up his embarrassment at being stared at by Chen Yan.

Chen Yan almost sighed and covered his forehead. He withdrew his gaze from Zhou Linli and said, "Okay, let's go then. We'll go to the magazine office. Do you know where it is?"

"I know," Zhou Linli said, immediately looking relieved. "Boss Di told me about all the places you might go."

Chen Yan and Zhou Linli went downstairs together and went to the underground parking garage to drive away. However, just as the two of them reached the garage and were about to get into the car, someone suddenly rushed out from the side and bumped into Chen Yan.

The sudden turn of events caught Chen Yan completely off guard, and before she could react, someone grabbed her by the collar.

"Chen Yan, I've finally waited for you!" The man grabbed Chen Yan's collar and said in a vicious tone.

Only then did Chen Yan realize that the person grabbing him was Xi Yichen. Xi Yichen's eyes were red, and his eyes were almost touching Chen Yan's face as he stared at him. "You're really ruthless, Chen Yan. You've been lying to me for so long. You've been having a good time playing with me, haven't you? I'm going to strangle you to death today..."

Xi Yichen looked somewhat crazed, and as he spoke, he grabbed Chen Yan's neck with one hand.

Xi Yichen has been having a really tough time lately. He has been undergoing treatment, and a man's manhood is his lifeline. Having it ruined was a major blow to him, and the fact that it hasn't been cured has made him increasingly anxious.

When Xi Yichen heard that Chen Yan was the chairman of Haoran Group, his long-suppressed emotions finally erupted. Without thinking, he bought a plane ticket and flew back from abroad. As soon as he returned, he came here to intercept Chen Yan.

Chen Yan frowned as Xi Yichen gripped him tightly. At this moment, Chen Yan reacted, grabbed Xi Yichen's hand that was choking him, pulled it off sharply, and quickly twisted it behind his back.

Zhou Linli, who was originally standing on the other side of the car, ran over, grabbed Xi Yichen's arm, pulled him away from Chen Yan, and asked with a worried look, "Chen Yan, are you alright?"

Chen Yan's face was grim, and she coldly replied, "I'm fine."

"Damn it, let me go! I won't let you get away with this, Chen Yan..." Xi Yichen said angrily, trying to break free from Zhou Linli. Zhou Linli quickly restrained him with force. Zhou Linli's muscular build was far superior to Xi Yichen's thin frame. With his brute strength, he held Xi Yichen down so he couldn't get close to Chen Yan.

Chen Yan walked over and kicked Xi Yichen hard in the stomach, making him swallow his words. Chen Yan coldly watched Xi Yichen bend over and cough incessantly, then said, "Xi Yichen, your current situation is the result of your own actions, and has nothing to do with me."

"You, you're really something, cough cough... cold-blooded and heartless, and I even treated you like this—" Xi Yichen said between coughs, his eyes filled with grief and indignation.

"Don't try to take advantage of me." Chen Yan interrupted Xi Yichen with disgust. "You should think about how to cure yourself. Otherwise, if you really become an androgynous thing, it won't be good for your reputation, Young Master Xi." After saying this, Chen Yan looked at Zhou Linli and said, "Let him go."

Zhou Linli released his grip on Xi Yichen's hand and casually tossed him aside.

Xi Yichen lay on the ground, unable to get up for a moment, looking quite disheveled.

Chen Yan and Zhou Linli ignored Xi Yichen and got into their car, leaving the area.

After getting into the car, Zhou Linli couldn't help but ask Chen Yan, "Chen Yan, do you and that person have some kind of grudge?"

Chen Yan, who had been sitting in the back seat with her eyes closed, opened them and said indifferently, "It's nothing. Don't ask me about my affairs again."

Zhou Linli was a little embarrassed and said, "Oh, I see."

"Let's not go to the magazine office, let's go home."

"Oh"

After a while, Chen Yan suddenly asked again, "By the way, where do you live? Do you have a place to stay?"

"Yes, it's a place that Boss Di found for me."

"Okay, stay at his place for now. I'll arrange a place for you to stay after I move in a few days."

...