After the Reborn Young Master Embraced a Life of Wellness – Chapter 6

Chapter 6 – Class Reunion Tensions and a Poolside Confrontation

The next morning, before Chen Mo had even gotten out of bed, he could already hear the commotion outside.

The Yang family had gone all out to host what was supposed to be a “small” class reunion. But perhaps because Yang Congxian, the family patriarch, had visited the day before, the Yang couple had left the house early that morning, leaving the preparations entirely to the staff.

By 9 a.m., several cars were already parked outside the villa.

Those who could befriend Yang Shule were generally from wealthy families, but his popularity extended beyond the elite. Many of the invited classmates were from ordinary families, and they couldn’t help but marvel as they stepped into the villa.

The sight of the wide array of fresh juices and desserts, the enormous crystal chandelier hanging in the living room, the butler waiting attentively, and the servants bustling in and out left them in awe.

“Shule, are you feeling better?”

A group of five or six boys surrounded Yang Shule, their concern evident as they walked with him.

“Don’t worry, we’ve divided up all the class notes for the past few weeks and made extra copies for you. We brought them over today.”

“Yeah, it’s been so boring without you at school.”

“When you’re back, let’s plan a movie night together! Oh, and there’s a new escape room that just opened in the south of the city. You’re so smart—you have to come with us and lead the way.”

Today, Yang Shule had dressed especially carefully.

He wore a tailored suit with a bow tie, his hair styled meticulously, making him look as formal as he did every year on his birthday.

Hearing the warm concern from his classmates, the anxiety that had been weighing on him finally eased, and a smile appeared on his face.

Before today, he had been worried.

He feared that no one would show up, that they would look down on him, or worse, that they would gossip behind his back. But the truth was clear now—his upbringing, education, and the endless resources his parents had poured into him hadn’t been in vain.

Even though some of his wealthier classmates had followed him because of his family’s influence, his parents’ love for him was real. He still bore the Yang surname, he was still living in this villa, and that was all that mattered.

Though he had declared in front of Chen Mo that he didn’t need “charity” and threatened to leave the family in anger, deep down, it had all been fear—fear that his parents would stop loving him and that he would lose everything in a single day.

His hostility toward Chen Mo was poorly concealed.

What can Chen Mo even achieve in a family like the Yang family? he thought with disdain. Let him fight and compete. On a day like today, if he causes trouble, he’ll only make himself the target of public criticism.

Yang Shule glanced around but didn’t see Chen Mo anywhere. Satisfied, he turned back to his classmates and said, “I’m almost fully recovered. I’ll be back at school soon.”

“That’s great!” said Qi Li, a boy with a baby face whose family owned a catering business. Though his family wasn’t as wealthy as the Yangs, he seemed to be particularly close to Yang Shule. Looking around the villa in admiration, he added, “Shule, your parents are so good to you. By the way, should we go say hello to your uncle and aunt?”

Yang Shule’s face stiffened for a moment.

He couldn’t possibly admit that the parents who had supposedly stayed home to help him entertain his classmates were actually out today.

Forcing a casual tone, he replied, “My parents said they didn’t want to make everyone feel uncomfortable by joining a kids’ party. They’re busy with work at home, so they’re not here today.”

“Oh, that’s fine.” Qi Li didn’t seem to notice anything amiss and quickly changed the subject. “What about your elder brother?”

Yang Shule inwardly rolled his eyes.

He had always been disdainful of Qi Li’s constant curiosity about his older brother.

Qi Li had visited the Yang villa several times, and each time, he seemed eager to inquire about Yang Zhi, even though Yang Zhi’s private life was well-known. He had no say in his marriage, and he already had a steady male partner—how could he possibly have anything to do with a high school boy?

But Yang Shule kept his expression neutral and said, “My elder brother isn’t here either.”

“Really?” Qi Li looked momentarily disappointed but quickly perked up again. “Your brother is amazing. Last time we had a party, he even paid for everyone. He told us to look out for you—what a great brother! You’re lucky to have him.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Yang Shule couldn’t help but feel a little proud and made no attempt to deny it.

More and more people began to arrive, and the entrance grew livelier by the minute.

Yang Shule stood outside, glancing toward the gate every so often, as if waiting for someone.

The few classmates standing closest to him exchanged knowing smiles.

“Waiting for the squad leader?” Qi Li teased.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Yang Shule replied, though his tone lacked conviction. “The Xi family and ours just have some business dealings. Ah Yan and I only met a few times when we were younger. Last year during Chinese New Year, our families found out we were in the same class. You know how I tend to get sick during seasonal changes, so my parents asked him to look after me at school.”

“Oh~ Ah Yan,” someone said playfully, drawing out the nickname. “Has anyone at school ever called him that?”

Yang Shule pretended to hit them. “His family calls him that. I’m not the only one.”

“Yeah, it’s a family nickname,” someone joked.

“Ah Yan, Ah Yan,” another chimed in. “That’s Xi Siyan. He’s so tall, I feel like I can’t even breathe when he walks past me.”

“It’s not that bad,” someone else said. “The students in the experimental class often ask him for help with their questions. And the boys and girls on the basketball and track teams all say he’s nice.”

“Sure, he’s nice, but you haven’t seen his cold side. When he’s sitting on the podium during self-study, the class feels like a cemetery—it’s so quiet.”

“Shule isn’t afraid of him, though, right?”

In truth, Yang Shule did feel some pressure around Xi Siyan.

Although Xi Siyan had never been cold to him, their relationship wasn’t as close as people imagined.

Yang Shule worked tirelessly to ensure he stayed in the top three of their grade, just so his name would appear on the honor roll alongside Xi Siyan’s. He frequently asked him questions after class and had even used the excuse of a busy driver to hitch rides with the Xi family twice.

Even the simplest replies to his long holiday greetings were enough to make his heart race.

“Is he coming today?” someone asked.

“He is,” Yang Shule replied, his smile finally looking genuine. “When I invited him, he said he had to bring me a competition registration form from our class teacher, so he’d stop by.”

“You’re great at physics,” one classmate said. “You’ll definitely get selected for this year’s competition.”

“Then you and the squad leader will have to train together, right?”

The entrance was buzzing with activity, the air filled with excitement and chatter.

Teenage boys and girls were scattered across the villa in groups, chatting about everything under the sun. The girls discussed fashionable nail polishes, pop songs, and the latest idol dramas, while the boys talked about e-sports, their favorite games, and how one of their dorm mates was punished by the supervisor last week for not washing his smelly socks.

Despite the lively atmosphere, everyone who came today had a lingering curiosity.

After all, the Yang family had recently made headlines, and the drama surrounding the real and fake young masters was still a hot topic.

However, because Chen Mo had yet to show up, everyone tacitly avoided bringing it up. No one was foolish enough to stir up trouble in front of the host of the class reunion.

On the hollow balcony of the second floor, Chen Mo leaned lazily against the railing, observing the commotion below. He glanced at the person beside him and asked, “Why don’t you go down?”

Gou Yiyang, holding a drink in his hand, shrugged as he looked at the scene downstairs. “If you, the center of all the gossip, don’t go, what’s the point? And if I go, what’s the point?”

Chen Mo chuckled and clinked his drink can against Gou’s. “You’re so blunt it’s hard to dislike you.”

“Same here,” Gou replied with a smirk. “Before I ran into you at the Internet cafe, I thought you were just some troublemaker.”

“Oh? A troublemaker?”

“Well, not exactly,” Gou said, raising an eyebrow. “But some people described you as this wild, unruly rural bully who would tear the Yang family apart. But honestly, you’re just too lazy. So lazy you don’t even have the energy to start a fight, my friend.”

Chen Mo laughed openly at that.

“I used to have energy,” he said, his tone casual but reflective.

Back then, his diligence had been misplaced. As a teenager, the Yang family had been like an unshakable giant in his eyes, so he had no choice but to push himself to his limits. Later, as he grew older, he wanted to make those who once looked down on him look up to him, so he worked tirelessly to climb the ladder of success.

But as he learned, sitting at the top didn’t necessarily mean life was comfortable.

Chen Mo turned slightly, resting his arm on the wooden railing as he gazed at the lively crowd below. “Now, I like this life better. I have endless money to spend, I don’t need to work too hard, and I’ll never starve. It’s boring, sure, but I can sit back and watch other people’s passionate youth unfold.”

As he finished speaking, more people arrived at the villa.

Xi Siyan walked in, wearing a simple black and white sports suit with sneakers. His clean and refreshing appearance stood out, as if he were just passing by casually.

A group of boys who seemed close to him immediately gathered around, chatting and laughing. The unique vitality of teenage boys seemed to radiate from him, drawing everyone’s attention.

In the hall, the chatter died down as boys and girls alike turned to watch him enter.

Chen Mo noticed a figure trailing closely behind Xi Siyan, tugging lightly at his sleeve. Xi stopped, lowered his head slightly, and exchanged a few words with the person. His accommodating demeanor seemed natural, but it caught Chen Mo’s attention.

Feeling bored, Chen Mo turned back to Gou Yiyang and said, “I need to wake myself up. I was woken up way too early. Want to come along?”

Five minutes later, Gou Yiyang stood by the large swimming pool, looking visibly annoyed. “Why don’t we play games instead of swimming? Do you even know how to ask for a landlubber’s opinion?”

“Games hurt your eyes,” Chen Mo replied flatly. He grabbed a small yellow duck-shaped swim ring nearby and tossed it at Gou. “If you don’t exercise now, you’ll really have a ‘swimming ring’ by the time you’re thirty—and it’ll be flesh-colored.”

“Get lost! I’ll still be a handsome guy at thirty.”

Chen Mo sneered, taking a bath towel from a recliner and tossing it aside. Then, without hesitation, he raised his hands and began unbuttoning his shirt.

When Gou glanced at him, his jaw nearly dropped. “Holy shit, you’re so pale! And your legs… they’re unreal. I didn’t notice it when you were dressed, but now I’m starting to feel inadequate.”

“Keep acting,” Chen Mo said indifferently.

In truth, Gou’s exaggerated reactions were harmless. Chen Mo knew the man was a pure straight guy who just liked to talk.

Chen Mo’s body was lean but toned, with a thin layer of muscle from years of hardship. However, as Gou got closer, his gaze fell on the scars scattered across Chen Mo’s back, legs, and feet.

There were long, jagged scars that looked like the result of deep cuts, as well as smaller burns and wounds. Some had faded into shallow marks, but they were still striking.

Gou opened his mouth, staring in silence.

Chen Mo, noticing his gaze, glanced at the scars and said casually, “What’s so strange about that? My adoptive father was a gambler. When he drank, he’d beat anyone, especially me. These scars are just part of the deal. He stopped after I broke one of his hands.”

“Did your biological parents know about this?” Gou asked, his voice subdued.

“They heard a little from the police.” Chen Mo threw his shirt onto a nearby stool and began stretching his wrists and ankles.

“Fuck, what a beast,” Gou muttered.

Chen Mo didn’t know if Gou was cursing his adoptive father or the Yang family, but it didn’t matter.

Scars heal eventually. People who haven’t seen their own blood dripping or endured the itchy pain of a wound scabbing over might easily forget it.

For Chen Mo, not caring about it was either because he had moved on or because he was simply too numb to face it.

Either way, it didn’t matter anymore.

“Let’s get in the water,” Chen Mo said. “I told the servants not to let anyone else in.”

The tranquility of the pool was real tranquility.

Chen Mo dived into the water, his swimming strokes precise and practiced. His movements were clean, cutting through the water with ease.

Gou, however, remained a landlubber. He awkwardly held onto the childish swim ring, hesitant to join in.

Chen Mo had barely swum two laps when a sharp pain shot through his knee.

The lingering knee issue wasn’t as bad this year, but the sudden cold water had triggered it. For safety, he decided to stop and head for the shore.

Just as he climbed out of the pool, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

“Why can’t we go in?”

“Shule, it’s so hot today. Can’t we use the pool? It’s perfect for swimming.”

Chen Mo heard Yang Shule’s voice next, questioning the servant.

The servant, clearly flustered, replied in a low voice, “Master Mo is inside.”

Yang Shule’s face turned ugly. With so many people watching, he felt humiliated.

“Open the door!” he ordered.

The servant hesitated, trembling.

“I said open it!” Yang Shule shouted, his face red with anger.

Finally, the servant pushed the door open.

As the crowd looked on, the door slowly revealed the scene inside.

Chen Mo emerged from the water, droplets cascading down his body as he stood on the pool’s edge.

Bending slightly, he looked up with a bored expression, his voice cold and slow:

“Anyone who dares to step through this door today… better be ready to face me.”