Rebirth and Conquest

A turmoil in the entertainment industry led to the complete downfall of the Xi family, even forcing the former chairman of the Xi Group to step back. Originally, Xi Yichen's father had retired to the sidelines, handing over all company affairs to Xi Yichen. However, with such a major upheaval, Chairman Xi had no choice but to personally seek help from his long-cultivated network of connections. But in this world, there are always more people who add to one's success than those who offer help in times of need, especially given the Xi family's predicament; who would dare to get involved in such a mess?

When the Xi family was at its peak, many relatives and friends came to rely on them. Now that the Xi family is in trouble, they all run away faster than rabbits.

Chairman Xi personally visited the Qi and Yan families, hoping they could lend a hand. The three families had some relationship over the years. However, the Qi family was currently embroiled in internal strife and couldn't even manage their own affairs, let alone help the Xi family. The Yan family did lend a hand, but not in the name of the Yan Corporation. Instead, Yan Haobo personally intervened to fend off many creditors who had already come knocking on their door, giving them some breathing room. However, even with more time, the Xi family probably still wouldn't be able to pay off all their debts.

The Xi family also has many small companies under its umbrella, which are now being sold off or acquired by other companies to raise money to pay off debts. In the end, all that will remain is an empty shell of the Xi family and a pile of debts that have not yet been paid off.

Logically, the Xi Group should have filed for bankruptcy liquidation by now, but they haven't done so, instead dragging it out in a state of limbo. Perhaps the Xi family doesn't want this once-glorious group to disappear in such a pathetic way.

On this day, Chen Yan went to a place, namely the 'Jiangting Villa' where Xi Yichen lived.

When I returned, the villa was still the same villa, but it had lost all its former glory. All the furniture and decorations inside had been removed, leaving only a bare shell. Every day, people would come here to cause trouble, either to demand debts or to hurl insults.

Moreover, this villa no longer belongs to Xi Yichen; it was purchased by Hua Fengchen. When Hua Fengchen took possession of the house, Xi Yichen refused to leave, saying he wanted to see Chen Yan. So Hua Fengchen notified Chen Yan.

The living room was empty except for a sofa set, which sat alone in the middle.

Xi Yichen was squatting next to the sofa. His suit hadn't been washed for days, his hair was messy, and he had a stubble beard, looking as disheveled as a beggar.

Hearing footsteps at the door, Xi Yichen raised his head, revealing his eyes, which were bloodshot.

Chen Yan walked in from outside. She wasn't surprised or strange about Xi Yichen's appearance. She simply asked calmly, "I heard you wanted to see me?" As she spoke, Chen Yan walked to the sofa next to Xi Yichen and sat down.

Xi Yichen stared straight at Chen Yan, as if he had forgotten how to speak. The exhaustion of the past few days had left him somewhat numb. After listening to Chen Yan's words, he finally spoke woodenly, his voice hoarse like sandpaper: "We made a bet last time. You said if my movie could break 100 million, you would lose."

"So, does that mean I've won?" Chen Yan interjected.

"The Xi family is completely finished. You've won," Xi Yichen said, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "Actually, the Xi family's downfall is also related to me. I underestimated you time and time again, which led to our utter defeat. However, I don't care anymore." Xi Yichen paused here, then said somewhat indifferently, "Everyone in the family has been sent abroad. Only I am here, so I have nothing to worry about."

It is said that Xi Yichen's father has fallen ill from anger and has been sent abroad for treatment. Of course, the Xi family is not able to go abroad now, so the Yan family helped send him away. The medical expenses were also paid by the Yan family. It is possible that he will have to rely on the Yan family for his future life.

"I just want to say one thing to you right now." Xi Yichen looked at Chen Yan and suddenly smiled. "Guess what I want to say to you?"

Chen Yan did not answer, but simply looked at Xi Yichen calmly.

"I want to say, I love you." Xi Yichen stared straight at Chen Yan, his blood-red eyes flashing like a wild beast pushed to the edge. "I've realized that I love you even more now, hahahaha." Xi Yichen laughed maniacally, tears streaming down his face. "You know what? You've driven me to the point of Stockholm syndrome. I'm a masochist. The more you treat me like this, the more I love you. The more you torment me, the more I can't let you go."

Looking at Xi Yichen like this, Chen Yan's eyes flickered, but she still didn't say anything.

Xi Yichen abruptly stopped laughing, his tone filled with resentment, and said viciously, "I love you, but I also want to kill you and go to hell with you."

“You don’t have that ability,” Chen Yan said calmly.

As soon as Chen Yan finished speaking, Xi Yichen suddenly sprang up, moving so fast that Chen Yan didn't even have time to react before being tackled onto the sofa.

Xi Yichen kissed Chen Yan's lips fiercely, but the impact was so intense that Chen Yan's lips felt a sharp pain. Moreover, what Xi Yichen did could hardly be called a kiss; it was more like an animal biting and tearing at its prey.

After Chen Yan reacted, she pushed Xi Yichen away and threw him to the ground.

Chen Yan stood up and looked down at Xi Yichen, who was sitting on the ground. Her eyes were full of coldness, and her lips, which were wet with tears, had been bitten until they were red.

Xi Yichen raised his head, panting heavily as he looked at Chen Yan, laughing somewhat neurotically: "Haha, did you not expect me to do this? Did you think I was going to kill you, or strangle you?"

Chen Yan wiped her mouth with her finger, stared coldly at Xi Yichen for a while, and finally said, "If you want to stay here, then stay here. This house is yours." After saying this, Chen Yan turned and left.

"You can't bear to part with me either! You've fallen in love with me too! Hahahaha." Xi Yichen shouted loudly at Chen Yan's back, but Chen Yan had already walked away.

After leaving the villa, Chen Yan got into Zhou Linli's car. On the way back, Chen Yan had a cold face.

"What's wrong? Did that guy attack you again?" Zhou Linli couldn't help but ask, then said resentfully, "I told you I should go in and teach him a lesson for you."

Chen Yan turned to look at Zhou Linli in the mirror. What was wrong with this kid's brain? Did he look like he needed help? Chen Yan wanted to say something, but the words that came out were: "Nothing, let's go back to the company."

As soon as he returned to the company and sat down in his office, his secretary called the internal line, saying that someone named Lu Mengli wanted to see him and asking if Chen Yan could meet him.

Chen Yan replied, "Let him in."

Not long after, Lu Mengli was brought in by his secretary.

Upon meeting Chen Yan, Lu Mengli asked directly, "Do you still stand by what you said last time? I've thought it over and I'm willing to work for your company."

Looking at Lu Mengli standing in front of her, who had completely lost his former 'backbone', Chen Yan smiled disdainfully and asked indifferently, "Why are you willing to come now? Weren't you supposed to be loyal to the Xi family?"

Lu Mengli didn't mind at all and said frankly, "The Xi family is gone, so naturally I have no one to be loyal to. I still have a few people under me, and I don't want them to go down with me. No other company dares to hire them, and only you can give them a way out." After a pause, he added, "Besides, I still have parents and siblings to support, and I can't be without a job."

"You're quite loyal," Chen Yan said casually.

Lu Mengli smiled and looked up at Chen Yan. "I don't care about loyalty. If Chairman Chen agrees to one condition, I will work for you wholeheartedly from now on, how about that?"

"tell me the story."

“You sent my parents and siblings abroad, and I no longer have the means to do so.”

"You haven't done anything for me yet, and you're already asking for my conditions. Don't you think that's unreasonable?" Chen Yan asked with a smile.

Lu Mengli shrugged. "I've heard that Chairman Chen is very fond of talent. I wouldn't dare say I have any talent, but at least in the entertainment industry, I can do something for you."

“You’re right, but what use is someone who hates me?” Chen Yan said, her expression turning indifferent. “Go back.”

"You?" Lu Mengli looked at Chen Yan in disbelief. "You don't want me anymore?"

“The most important thing when hiring an employee is whether they can work wholeheartedly for me, and you may not be able to do that.” Chen Yan curled the corners of her lips. “Alright, you can go back now. If I want you someday in the future, I will let you know.”

“Alright,” Lu Mengli lowered his head and gave a wry smile, “Then I’ll wait for your news.”

Lu Mengli turned to leave, but as soon as she opened the door, she saw Wen Mu about to walk in.

When Wen Mu saw Lu Mengli, he was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Mr. Lu? What are you doing here?"

"It's nothing, I'm leaving now." Lu Mengli replied perfunctorily and left in a hurry.

Wen Mu walked over to Chen Yan: "You and him?"

"He came to me asking to be taken in, but I told him to leave," Chen Yan said calmly.

"Oh," Wen Mu responded softly, and walked to Chen Yan's side with his head down.

"What?" Chen Yan looked up at Wen Mu, reached out and pinched Wen Mu's chin to lift it up, and asked, "Do you also want to say that I am ruthless? Do you want to join them in accusing me?"

"No, no," Wen Mu quickly denied, somewhat flustered. "No matter what, I'm always on your side. Don't doubt me."

Chen Yan laughed upon hearing this, and pulled Wen Mu into her arms, placing him on her lap. "That's good." She then kissed Wen Mu on the lips.

Wen Mu blushed from the kiss and lowered his eyes to ask, "Are you hungry? Do you want to get something to eat? I've been so busy these past few days."

"We'll eat later," Chen Yan said, lifting Wen Mu's face and adding, "Go see Lu Mengli in a couple of days and tell him I want him. Also, help him send his parents and siblings abroad, and then let him work at the newspaper for now."

"Why don't you go by yourself?" Wen Mu couldn't help but look up at Chen Yan and ask, "He would be grateful to you that way."

“It’s come to this point, he won’t be grateful to me no matter what I do,” Chen Yan said with a smile. “So I don’t need his gratitude, it’s enough that he’s afraid of me.”

"Okay, okay."

...