After the Reborn Young Master Embraced a Life of Wellness – Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – Rebirth: The Young Master Returns to High School

The street next to Suicheng No. 1 Middle School always had the heaviest traffic flow on Friday afternoons.

Especially the illegal internet café at the corner of the street, aptly named Blue Spider, which consistently attracted third-rate students from nearby schools who weren’t focused on their studies. They came here to play games or to sneak in secret rendezvous with their partners.

But today, the atmosphere was a little different.

Everyone in the café seemed to be paying attention, intentionally or otherwise, to one specific corner.

Seven or eight delinquent boys were gathered there, some sitting, some standing, forming a tight circle. At the center of their group, leaning against the wall, was a lone figure who seemed to have been there for quite some time.

“Brother Rui, do you think anything serious will happen?” a skinny boy asked, leaning one foot against the wall.

The boy called Brother Rui was engrossed in a game on his phone. He glanced up impatiently and replied, “What’s going to happen? I didn’t pack bricks in my schoolbag, did I? This kid’s scrawny, probably sick or something.”

Someone else chimed in, “Why don’t we just let it go for today? After all, he’s the Yang family’s biological son.”

“So what if he’s their biological son? Does the Yang family even need a son like him?” Brother Rui scoffed, as if hearing a joke. He put away his phone and sneered, “This guy thinks being the Yang family’s blood relative gives him the right to compete with Yang Shule for everything. Even wears the same clothes as Yang Shule. Speaks Mandarin like a damn peasant and acts all high and mighty. I heard he was the top student in his high school. People from the countryside are built different, huh? Really inspiring. You guys should learn from him when you’ve got nothing better to do. Got it?”

Another boy echoed mockingly, “What’s there to learn? How to be unsociable like him? How to be a smartass? Or how to act like ignorance is a personality trait?”

“Hahahahaha…”

The group of boys burst into laughter, their jeering echoing through the internet café.

When Chen Mo woke up, his head throbbed with a dull pain.

The cacophony of voices around him sounded distant, muffled as though separated by a thick fog. He could only catch fragments of their conversation—phrases like Yang Shule, switched at birth, and school.

For a moment, he thought he was dead, that perhaps he’d gone to hell. Otherwise, why would he find himself reliving these memories of high school?

Many years ago, Yang Shule’s biological mother, Li Yunru, had gone into labor unexpectedly while working in the city. Poor health and a husband addicted to gambling and prone to domestic violence had driven her to a desperate decision: she wanted to give her child away to someone else for foster care.

In the end, she didn’t give her baby away. Instead, she made a horrifying choice—she switched her child.

Li Yunru secretly brought Chen Mo back to a destitute mountain village called Yuhuai Village, located 300 kilometers east of Suicheng. From the moment Chen Mo was born, her husband, Chen Jianli, suspected her of infidelity because the child bore no resemblance to him.

The beatings and abuse that followed were relentless.

Chen Mo’s childhood was steeped in darkness. Most of his memories revolved around the cramped, musty woodshed where he was locked up as punishment. He was treated like livestock, always hungry and malnourished. He vividly remembered the searing pain of cigarette butts being pressed into his skin, the bruises left by fists and kicks, and the occasional moments of meager warmth when Li Yunru held him close to her chest in secret.

Eventually, he began to fight back.

At first, it was small acts of rebellion, then gradually, he grew strong enough to make Chen Jianli suffer in return. By the time Chen Mo could stand up to him in a full-blown fight, he was only in his first year of high school. Terrified, Chen Jianli began calling him a “psychopath” and started avoiding him altogether. Meanwhile, Li Yunru began making frequent trips to the city, staying for several days at a time before returning home. Whenever Chen Mo asked about her absences, she would evade the question.

The truth, as it always does, eventually came to light.

It happened just two months after Chen Mo’s seventeenth birthday.

That day, torrential rain poured from the sky.

Li Yunru knelt in the mud, clutching Chen Mo’s sleeve as she wept and begged, “It’s my fault, all my fault. It has nothing to do with the child. Chen Mo, I’m begging you, please don’t take it out on him.”

Chen Mo stared at her, overwhelmed by confusion. He heard himself ask, “What about me? What am I?”

The Yang family had filed a lawsuit against Li Yunru.

For Chen Mo, this was supposed to be his “step toward heaven.”

The Yang family was one of the most prominent and affluent families in Suicheng. For a boy from a poor mountain village, entering their household should have been like ascending to the heavens. And in some ways, it was. He began wearing branded clothes and shoes he couldn’t even name. A chauffeur drove him wherever he needed to go, and servants meticulously took care of his daily needs.

But no one taught him how to navigate the vast gulf between social classes.

No one told him that the emotional pain of trying to fit into this new world would far outweigh the physical suffering he’d endured in the past. The servants, under the guise of “equal treatment,” meticulously copied everything about Yang Shule’s lifestyle for him—his clothes, his food, his schedule. But this so-called fairness was nothing more than humiliation in disguise. His biological family, whom he’d once yearned for, turned out to be just as biased and cold as the family he’d left behind.

His barren world became overgrown with weeds.

Sometimes, he would ask himself: Why?

Why was he the one abandoned for seventeen years? Why was everyone so concerned about Yang Shule instead of him? Why did he have to fight so hard for even a shred of acknowledgment?

And during that fight, every word spoken to him by those around him was like pouring oil on an already raging fire.

“Chen Mo, can’t you just get along with Shule?”

“Shule’s reputation will suffer if people find out about this. Don’t tell anyone you were switched at birth—just say it was a mistake.”

“Yang Shule has always been an excellent student and has won so many awards. He didn’t accuse you of cheating, and he even tried to smooth things over for you! What about you?”

“It’s been years, Chen Mo. Years! And you still can’t tolerate him?”

“Work at the grassroots level for three years before joining the company.”

“You’re so competitive and ruthless—do you really think the Yang family will ever let you take charge?”

“To me, Yang Zhi, I’ve only ever had one younger brother, and it will never be you.”

“How could the Yang family have a son like you? Get out!”

“Chen Mo… Chen Mo…”

The years of studying tirelessly, pushing himself beyond his limits to appear effortless, all became a joke in the end.

Years later, Yang Shule was firmly established as the Yang family’s second son—heir in all but blood. He was the “adopted” child who was more like a biological son.

And Chen Mo? He was nothing.

After failing his college entrance exams, he spent years clawing his way up the corporate ladder, battling his eldest brother for power. But in the end, he lost. He turned against his parents, was abandoned by his friends, and fell victim to the Yang family’s enemies. He died alone, at the bottom of an abandoned building in the suburbs.

His final sight was the endless gray of a concrete ceiling, stretching out like the bleak backdrop of his entire life.

Did he regret it?

No.

The only thing he regretted was realizing, far too late, that he had spent his entire life chasing the approval of others.

Approval from his parents. Recognition from the world. A sense of meaning.

For what?

The only person he truly owed an apology to was himself.

“Hey, he’s awake!”

A sharp kick landed on Chen Mo’s shoulder, jolting him further out of his haze. As his senses returned, he heard someone sneering above him, “Get up. Stop pretending to be dead. Who do you think you’re trying to scare?”

The sound of rustling clothes and murmurs filled the air.

From a distance, someone curiously asked, “What’s going on over there?”

Another voice replied with disdain, “What else? It’s just bullying. Chen Mo’s about to get beaten up by Li Rui and his gang.”

“Isn’t his family super rich? He’s supposed to be the golden child now that they’ve found him.”

“So what if they’re rich? The richer the family, the messier their lives are. The more complicated things get, the more they have to learn to kiss up to others.”

“I heard Li Rui and his gang called him out multiple times, but he just ignored them. His personality is so weird, totally different from the one who was taken by mistake. No wonder he’s their target.”

“Come on, since when does starting trouble make you right?”

Chen Mo coughed.

At first, it was a weak, shallow cough, but it quickly escalated into a violent fit, as if he were about to cough his lungs out. His chest heaved painfully, and the sound echoed through the room.

Propping himself up with trembling hands, Chen Mo leaned against the wall and took a moment to assess his surroundings. His gaze shifted from the shabby internet café to his own school uniform and the thin, bony hands that supported him on the floor.

It was all too real.

So real that it took him several minutes to accept the shocking fact: this wasn’t a dream. He really had gone back in time.

“What the hell? Are you infected with some kind of disease?” Li Rui, the leader of the group, frowned in disgust as he stared at Chen Mo like he was looking at something contagious.

Chen Mo instantly recognized him. Li Rui.

It wasn’t because they were close. Far from it. Chen Mo remembered him so vividly because the moment he transferred to Suicheng No. 1 Middle School, most of the bullying he endured had been led by none other than Li Rui.

Li Rui, the school bully of Suicheng No. 1 Middle School, and the only son of the Li family, owners of Huiyuan Real Estate.

Back then, the bullying started small—sand poured into his water cup, dead cockroaches stuffed into his clothes. But it escalated quickly. Chen Mo was once locked in the equipment room overnight by Li Rui and his gang. Another time, he was beaten so badly during a one-on-ten fight that he ended up in the hospital. His family, instead of supporting him, accused him of causing trouble at school.

Chen Mo was not someone who forgot grudges.

Years later, Huiyuan Real Estate went bankrupt. The once-arrogant Li Rui had come crawling back to him, humbly seeking help under the guise of “old classmates.” By then, Chen Mo had climbed his way to the position of Vice President of the Yang Group. He wore tailored suits, conducted multi-million-dollar business negotiations in fluent English, and navigated high-stakes corporate battles with ease.

But behind the polished exterior, Chen Mo knew he had rotted to the core.

Money and power were the only things he had left to hold onto.

Back then, everyone in Suicheng knew that the biological son the Yang family had found was nothing short of a mad dog.

And now? At seventeen again, staring at Li Rui and his gang, who once seemed so daunting, they were nothing more than fleas and ants in his eyes.

“I’m talking to you!” Li Rui took a step forward, lifting his foot to kick Chen Mo again.

But this time, Chen Mo caught him mid-motion.

The boy who had been coughing uncontrollably just moments ago now braced himself against the ground and slowly stood up.

Chen Mo’s hair fell over his eyebrows, partially obscuring his pale face. His cheeks, flushed red from the earlier coughing fit, gradually regained their normal color—though his complexion was still ghostly pale. Dusting off the hem of his school uniform, he looked up at Li Rui and said in a calm, deliberate tone, “No. I’m not sick. I just ate low-quality milk powder as a child, which damaged my immune system. My respiratory tract, spleen, and stomach are all a mess. Did I explain it clearly enough for you?”

The internet café, usually noisy and chaotic, fell eerily silent.

Chen Mo’s slightly hoarse voice, though soft, carried clearly across the room, each word distinct and unwavering.

Li Rui’s expression darkened.

He took two aggressive steps forward, grabbed Chen Mo by the collar, and slammed him against a nearby computer desk. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “How dare you act so cocky right now? Do you even know why I’m messing with you today?”

“I know.” Chen Mo met his gaze without flinching. “You like Yang Shule, don’t you?”

The words landed like a bombshell. Li Rui’s eyes widened in shock, a flicker of panic flashing through them.

Chen Mo continued, his tone soft but cutting, “You like him but don’t have the guts to pursue him. So you start with me, hoping to gain his attention and approval. Li Rui… it’s kind of pathetic, don’t you think?”

“You’re looking for death!” Li Rui roared.

The tension snapped, and the two of them lunged at each other.

Li Rui, taller and stronger, swung his fist, but before it could land, Chen Mo grabbed a mechanical keyboard from the desk and smashed it over his head.

Thud!

The sound was loud, the motion seamless.

Before Li Rui’s lackeys could react, Chen Mo grabbed Li Rui by the neck with his free hand. Ignoring the blood trickling down Li Rui’s temple, Chen Mo leaned in close and whispered into his ear, “You know the word ‘homosexual’ will ruin your reputation in school, don’t you? So, do you want me to share another little secret? Like how your father—the great Li family patriarch—is actually a ‘Phoenix Man’ who married up and has at least three or five male lovers on the side?”

Li Rui froze, his face turning as red as a cooked lobster. His breath came in shallow gasps as Chen Mo tightened his grip.

“You hate homosexuals, but you’re a coward who can’t even admit you like men yourself, right?” Chen Mo’s voice was soft, but his words were razor-sharp.

Li Rui stammered, trembling, “H-how do you know?”

Chen Mo smirked. “The Yang family has wealth and connections. Do you think your family’s dirty little secrets are any big deal?”

“What do you want?”

The tables had turned so abruptly that Li Rui could only stammer helplessly.

Chen Mo released him with a casual shove and glanced around at the group. His voice was cold and steady as he said, “Take your lackeys and get out.”

The fight was over, but Chen Mo felt no satisfaction. Using his knowledge of the future had made it too easy, too predictable.

Bending down, he picked up his schoolbag from the floor and walked toward the front desk, ignoring the stunned stares of Li Rui and his gang.

“Turn on a machine for me. Three hours,” Chen Mo said, knocking lightly on the counter.

The girl at the front desk, still shaken, quickly nodded. “O-okay.”

As she activated the computer for him, she couldn’t help but sneak glances at him. The rumors didn’t seem to match the person in front of her. Though thin, he wasn’t frail. His school uniform hung casually over his shoulders, torn slightly from the scuffle, but it didn’t make him look shabby. Instead, his sharp features and calm demeanor gave him an air of quiet authority. Only the paleness of his face hinted at any vulnerability, making him seem strangely distant and unapproachable.

Chen Mo’s gaze drifted to the shelf next to the counter. He casually grabbed a pack of Yuxi cigarettes and a lighter, placing them on the glass counter. “How much in total?”

“Uh… forty-eight dollars and fifty cents,” the girl replied nervously.

Chen Mo pulled out a sleek black wallet, thick with crisp red bills. Raising an eyebrow, he handed over a note without waiting for change. “Keep it.”

The girl hesitated, blushing for reasons she couldn’t explain. “That’s too much…”

Chen Mo ignored her and asked, “What food do you have here?”

“Instant noodles,” she replied quickly. “Pickled pepper, spicy, or pickled cabbage and mushroom?”

“Nothing else?”

“Uh… no.”

Just then, Li Rui and his gang shuffled past the counter, their bruised pride written all over their faces. As he passed, Li Rui deliberately bumped Chen Mo’s shoulder and growled, “Chen Mo. I’ll remember this. Just you wait.”

The glass door opened and slammed shut behind them. The girl at the counter looked at Chen Mo worriedly. “Shouldn’t you tell a teacher? What if they come after you again?”

Chen Mo smiled faintly, pocketing the cigarettes and lighter. “It’s fine.”

“Do you still want noodles?” she asked timidly.

“No.” Chen Mo turned and walked toward the back of the café, leaving her with a parting comment. “I’m eating healthy these days. No fast food.”

The girl watched as he tore open the cigarette pack, neatly pocketed the wrapper, and lit a cigarette with practiced ease. For some reason, she couldn’t help but wonder: Is this really for health?