After the Reborn Young Master Embraced a Life of Wellness – Chapter 55

When Xi Siyan dropped such a bombshell, everyone was stunned. Chen Mo initially thought that, once they processed it, he’d be flooded with doubts or questions.

But surprisingly, aside from Lao Gou, who cursed him relentlessly, no one else seemed too shocked.

As for Lao Gou, his scolding was more innocent and straightforward.

He attacked him sarcastically:
“I don’t know who told me, all righteously, ‘I’m gay and I have to date a man.’ I really thought you were unique, but you’re just like everyone else. So vulgar, so basic.”

Chen Mo, annoyed, snapped back, “Go away.”

“Be honest.” Lao Gou ignored his tone. “What’s it like?”

“What’s what like?” Chen Mo asked, confused.

“You know, dating the class monitor.”

“We’re not dating, just trying it out,” Chen Mo replied dryly.

“You’re such a scumbag, Mo.”

“Can you shut up?” Chen Mo’s forehead twitched.

“Nope.”

After finishing his shower, Chen Mo returned to the living room. The rain outside showed no signs of stopping. He sat cross-legged on the sofa, casually chatting with Lao Gou. Meanwhile, in the next room, Xi Siyan was on a phone call.

Distracted, Chen Mo scrolled through the group chat and realized the topic had already gone completely off track.

Surprised, he asked Lao Gou, “When you heard the news, did you have any particular reaction?”

“What do you think?” Lao Gou retorted reflexively, but then paused, understanding the deeper meaning of Chen Mo’s question. He replied seriously:

“Jokes aside, it’s true that everyone sees you as a brother now. No need to talk about the class monitor—you know him better than anyone. He acts like he treats everyone the same, but very few people can get him to open up. Social class determines distance. That’s just reality.

“But he’s obviously different when it comes to you. None of us are blind. Maybe no one would’ve connected the dots before, but since he admitted it himself, it all just… makes sense. And no matter whether you two date or break up, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re all friends, right?”

Chen Mo was silent for two seconds before responding slowly, “Don’t jinx me.”

He casually deflected Lao Gou’s remarks, but deep down, he felt a profound sense of gratitude.

They say youthful friendships are the simplest and most precious.

And this time, Chen Mo truly felt it.

However, Lao Gou quickly returned to his usual self.
“You think I want to jinx you? Dating someone like Xi Shen doesn’t come cheap, you know.”

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. “And what kind of person is Xi Siyan?”

Lao Gou hesitated for a long time before replying:
“Well… like I said before. The kind of person born with a halo, destined to live on a completely different level from ordinary people like us.”

Chen Mo sneered. “I, Chen Mo, don’t care what level he’s on. I chose this myself.”

Lao Gou chuckled. “Alright, fine. True love. Don’t say anything else; I get it. But you’re still a hypocrite for not telling me sooner.”

And there it was again—Lao Gou couldn’t get over the fact that he’d been kept in the dark and blindsided by the news.

At that moment, the door to the next room opened, and Xi Siyan walked out.

“What are you two talking about?” he asked.

“Just chatting,” Chen Mo replied, cutting off his conversation with Lao Gou. Turning to face him, he asked, “Who was that on the phone?”

“Qi Lin,” said Xi Siyan.

At the mention of Qi Lin, Chen Mo suddenly realized he hadn’t been active in the group chat earlier.

That was unusual for someone who was usually so loud and chaotic.

“What did he want?” Chen Mo asked.

“He had a fight with his family,” said Xi Siyan, rubbing his temples with a frown. “Apparently, he’s decided he wants to find a girlfriend.”

Chen Mo’s mouth fell open. “Huh?”

“He’ll be an adult soon, not a kid anymore. If he can’t even figure out how to handle something like this on his own, he’s wasted all these years,” said Xi Siyan, his tone flat. “But the timing is terrible. He’s clearly not in the right headspace.”

Chen Mo glanced at him skeptically. “You’re really just going to insult him like that? People in a bad mood look for comfort. It’s not unusual.”

There was no news from Qi Lin for the next two days.

By the time the weather cleared up in Suicheng, it coincided with Liao Tingting’s highly publicized singles party. She had invited nearly everyone in Suicheng’s second-generation elite circle.

Liao Tingting, the central figure in past messy love triangles—who had been the cause of many arguments between Sun Xiaoya and Yang Shule—personally extended an invitation to none other than Xi Siyan.

Whether it was an attempt to let go or flaunt her new relationship in front of her former crush, she at least appeared magnanimous.

As expected, Xi Siyan declined.

What Chen Mo didn’t expect was that a dinner invitation from Sun Xiaoya would turn out to be this infamous singles party.

And Chen Mo, oblivious to the context, accepted.

It wasn’t until he arrived at the venue that he realized the truth.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Chen Mo showed up in a casual black sweatshirt and jeans, feeling thoroughly out of place amidst a crowd of well-dressed partygoers, many of whom had even put on makeup.

Thinking it was a simple gathering for the experimental class, Chen Mo was caught off guard. He turned to Sun Xiaoya, asking, “I don’t even know most of these people. Why’d you bring me here?”

The party was held in a high-end restaurant, complete with premium steak and a luxurious ambiance.

Aside from Sun Xiaoya, there were only a handful of familiar faces—all wealthy second-generation elites of Suicheng.

Sun Xiaoya rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, refusing to let him leave. “Aren’t you also a rich second-generation? Let’s go. If Xi Siyan doesn’t show up, that’s his loss. Tingting’s new boyfriend is super rich, and he’s handsome too… kind of. Anyway, they might even get engaged in a year or two, so it won’t have anything to do with Xi Siyan anymore.”

Left with no choice, Chen Mo followed her into the main hall.

It was packed with young people, and Chen Mo couldn’t help but marvel when he finally saw Liao Tingting in person.

She was undeniably beautiful.

With long, flowing hair, fair skin, and an elegant demeanor, she perfectly embodied the image of a refined young lady from a wealthy family.

Sun Xiaoya pulled Chen Mo forward and introduced him.
“This is Chen Mo, my classmate and Xi Siyan’s friend. Liao Tingting is my sister. You’ve probably heard of him.”

Chen Mo gave a polite nod, and Liao Tingting responded with a gentle smile.

But before the pleasantries could continue, the man standing next to her suddenly spoke up.

“Chen Mo? You’re the Chen Mo from the Yang family, right?”

Chen Mo turned to look at him.

The man appeared to be in his early twenties. He had slicked-back hair and an air of pretentiousness. With two lifetimes of experience dealing with people, Chen Mo instantly disliked him.

Sure enough, the man didn’t wait for a response before adding, “I’ve met your eldest brother before. I also know your younger brother, Shu Le, right? I heard the Yang family’s been in a bit of trouble lately. You must have nerves of steel to stay unaffected through it all. Impressive.”

Chen Mo’s return to the Yang family had indeed thrown their household into chaos, yet he had managed to extricate himself entirely.

Liao Tingting’s expression soured as she tugged on her boyfriend’s sleeve. “Qin Kai, stop.”

So that’s his name—Qin Kai.

The Qin family had a respectable position in Suicheng, comparable to the Xi family. However, Chen Mo couldn’t recall anything noteworthy about Qin Kai. After all, in the later battles for dominance among Suicheng’s second-generation elite, this person was nowhere to be found.

Chen Mo gave Liao Tingting a faint smile to show he wasn’t offended. Then, turning to Qin Kai, he replied, “Really? I tend not to pay attention to rumors, but I’ve heard my grandfather mention the Qin family. It’s said that your family’s real power lies with the women, particularly Director Qin Shuhua. She’s a true hero among us. She’s your sister, right?”

As expected, Qin Kai’s face immediately darkened.

Chen Mo had rarely interacted with Suicheng’s second-generation social circles in this life. That was Yang Shule’s domain in the past. But that didn’t mean Chen Mo was clueless. On the contrary, he had done enough research during his years at the Yang Group.

Qin Kai’s elder sister, Qin Shuhua, was a prominent figure. But they did not share the same mother, and she was nearly 40 years old. Qin Kai himself was rumored to be an illegitimate child, raised under the guise of being the late-born son of his father’s legitimate wife.

Chen Mo wasn’t entirely sure of these details—they were just whispered secrets of wealthy families. But now, a slight provocation had confirmed his suspicions.

Even Sun Xiaoya, as carefree as she usually was, noticed that the atmosphere had taken a turn.

She quickly grabbed Chen Mo’s arm and whispered, “Let’s go over there.”

But Qin Kai, his pride wounded, wasn’t about to let things slide.

Suddenly, he raised his voice and called out, “Hey, everyone!”

Heads turned, and people began gathering around, curious.

Qin Kai took a step forward, placing a hand on Chen Mo’s shoulder with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Let me introduce you to someone—this is the second young master of the Yang family, Chen Mo! I’m sure you’ve all heard about the Yang family recently. Can you believe Chen Mo’s been in Suicheng for over a year without joining us? That’s on us for not welcoming him properly. So, how about we raise a toast to officially welcome him into the circle?”

The surrounding crowd responded enthusiastically, raising their glasses.

Chen Mo, however, remained unmoved. “I don’t drink,” he said plainly.

“You’re not giving us any respect, are you, Mr. Mo?” Qin Kai sneered.

At this, Liao Tingting’s face paled.

Sun Xiaoya hadn’t expected things to escalate like this, but she felt responsible for dragging Chen Mo into the situation. She quickly chimed in, “Qin Kai, Chen Mo really doesn’t drink. He has a bad stomach. He doesn’t even drink during our class gatherings.”

“Oh,” Qin Kai drawled mockingly. “A bad stomach? That’s so pitiful. Then you should drink even more—it’s called fighting poison with poison. Build up your tolerance, and you’ll be fine. After ten cups, one won’t even faze you.”

“It’s true, one cup isn’t much,” Chen Mo said.

Qin Kai smirked, thinking he had won.

But then Chen Mo brushed Qin Kai’s hand off his shoulder with a look of disdain and said coldly, “But I’ve been practicing health preservation for too long. I’m used to it.”

“Used to what?” Qin Kai frowned.

Chen Mo replied without a trace of humor, “I’m used to not arguing with trash.”

Chen Mo had no intention of ruining the party, especially on an occasion like this. But Qin Kai seemed hellbent on targeting him for reasons unknown.

It didn’t take long for Qin Kai’s true motive to come to light. His face twisted with anger as he spat, “Chen Mo, you were raised in the countryside, and yet you had the nerve to return and take your rightful place in the Yang family. You even pushed Yang Shule out and sent him abroad! Do you really think you’re better than anyone else? Let me tell you, it’s all just fate!”

The room fell silent.

No one voiced agreement, and even those who had been cheering moments ago seemed embarrassed by the absurdity of Qin Kai’s accusations.

But Chen Mo understood the root of it.

Qin Kai’s resentment stemmed from his own identity as an illegitimate child. He likely saw Yang Shule’s situation as a mirror of his own. In his mind, Chen Mo represented someone who had stolen what rightfully belonged to others.

To someone like Qin Kai, people like him were entitled to their positions, and anyone who challenged that was an intruder.

Even so, Qin Kai wasn’t ready to back down. He grabbed a large glass of red wine from the table and forced a smile.

“Let’s not take this too seriously. Consider this a joke. How about this—drink this glass, and we’ll call it a celebration for Tingting and me?”

Chen Mo glanced at Liao Tingting. Her pleading eyes reminded him of Su Qianran. One was gentle and reserved, the other fiery and unyielding, but both were trapped in similar situations, bound by family obligations they couldn’t escape.

Chen Mo didn’t reach for the glass. Nor did he throw it in Qin Kai’s face, even though he sorely wanted to.

“Go ahead, drink it,” Qin Kai insisted, pushing the glass forward.

But before Chen Mo could respond, someone grabbed Qin Kai’s wrist.

Chen Mo blinked in surprise at the sudden appearance of a familiar figure.

The newcomer firmly gripped Qin Kai’s arm, took the glass from his hand, and downed its contents in one go.

“You…” Qin Kai turned, livid, only for his anger to evaporate when he recognized who it was. His face twitched as he stammered, “Xi… Siyan.”

Compared to Qin Kai’s oily, ostentatious demeanor, Xi Siyan stood out as a stark contrast. He exuded a natural calmness and composure, the kind that didn’t need to be flaunted. At the same time, he carried the youthful clarity and energy of someone his age.

As soon as Xi Siyan appeared, Liao Tingting’s eyes were fixed on him, her expression betraying a mix of longing and heartbreak.

Setting the empty glass down, Xi Siyan turned to her and said, “Congratulations.”

The simple word made Liao Tingting’s eyes turn red. Meanwhile, Qin Kai’s face darkened further.

In Suicheng’s second-generation circles, Xi Siyan’s name carried weight.

Even though he rarely mingled, everyone knew who he was. His arrival caused the crowd around Qin Kai to thin out as people shifted toward Xi Siyan instead.

After a few polite exchanges, Xi Siyan made his intentions clear. “I’m just here to pick someone up. I won’t stay long.”

“Pick someone up?” someone asked. “Sun Xiaoya, maybe?”

But Xi Siyan shook his head and gestured toward another corner of the room.

Everyone turned to look and saw Chen Mo standing near a long table, seemingly debating which drink to choose.

“He’s here for Chen Mo?” someone whispered.

“I don’t know what’s up with Qin Kai tonight. He’s been picking on him nonstop,” another murmured.

“He’s lucky Chen Mo’s such a pushover. He didn’t even fight back.”

Hearing this, Xi Siyan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“He is lucky,” he said.

“Who? Chen Mo?”

“No,” Xi Siyan corrected, his voice low and cutting. “Qin Kai is the lucky one.”

His tone sent chills through the crowd.

Xi Siyan looked at Chen Mo with an expression that seemed to wrap him in a protective cocoon, his tone unintentionally soft as he explained, “He just respects other people’s territory and tolerates their circumstances.”

If not, Chen Mo would have likely started throwing punches long ago.

Xi Siyan had witnessed it more than once—when Chen Mo truly lost his temper, no one dared provoke him a second time.

About half an hour later, Chen Mo and Xi Siyan left the party together.

Their side-by-side departure drew countless stares and left a trail of whispered speculations in their wake.

Someone approached Sun Xiaoya, unable to resist asking, “Sister Ya, are Brother Yan and Chen Mo that close?”

Sun Xiaoya was already in a foul mood.

She snapped, “How would I know? Do I live under their bed? Why are you asking me?”

The unlucky questioner immediately shrank back, silenced by her scolding.

A few minutes later, Sun Xiaoya found her best friend Liao Tingting sitting alone in the lounge.

Tears streamed down the girl’s face, and her makeup was a mess.

When she saw Sun Xiaoya, she looked up, her voice trembling, “I’ll never have a chance with him again.”

Sun Xiaoya froze, caught off guard. “I thought… I thought you were starting to like Qin Kai?”

Liao Tingting shook her head, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

“My parents forced me into it. We need the Qin family’s influence,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “Xiaoya, why does growing up mean having to make so many sacrifices?”

The girl leaned against her best friend’s shoulder, letting her tears fall freely.

Sun Xiaoya clenched her fists and stood up, her tone resolute. “Wait here—I’ll go get him back for you.”

“No.” Liao Tingting stopped her, her sobs making her voice waver. “He came here tonight and gave me the clearest answer I could have hoped for. He already has someone he likes.”

Sun Xiaoya’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Who?! Tell me!”

Liao Tingting couldn’t help but laugh through her tears, shaking her head. “You’re the purest and simplest among all of us, Xiaoya. That’s why I envy you.”

Sun Xiaoya blinked in confusion, completely missing the point.

Her gaze wandered outside the lounge window and caught sight of the two figures below.

She watched as Xi Siyan grabbed Chen Mo’s hood and lightly shoved him into the back seat of the car.

For a moment, Sun Xiaoya froze, realization dawning on her.

What’s with everyone changing so much recently? she wondered.

Even someone as composed as Xi Siyan wasn’t the same anymore.

She frowned, recalling the past.

That guy—Xi Siyan—had always been picky about where people sat. From their childhood all the way to high school, no one ever shared the backseat with him. Whether it was her, Qi Lin, or anyone else, the most anyone could hope for was to sit in the front passenger seat beside him. If there were too many people? Tough luck—take a taxi.

But just now, she clearly saw him stop Chen Mo from getting into the front seat.

He had grabbed Chen Mo’s hoodie and firmly guided him into the backseat.

That double-standard dog! Sun Xiaoya cursed inwardly.

For the first time, she felt like she was seeing a side of Xi Siyan she’d never noticed before.