"Oh my god, my head hurts so much!" Li Wenxuan struggled to get up. Last night, he stayed up all night in his department binge-watching a popular K-drama from the neighboring country, "Reborn Rich." After several hours of non-stop viewing, he finally finished episode 14, nearing the finale.
"No! This isn't my home?! Where is this?" Li Wenxuan stood up, a bit curious and surprised, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. He reached out to touch something, "What the… why are my hands smaller?!" Li Wenxuan panicked a little. He had just seen a pair of tender hands. Could these be his?
Li Wenxuan nervously walked to the mirror in the room and was drawn to the reflection. A boy in a small suit stood before the mirror, with dark hair and a hint of handsomeness already showing on his youthful face. It was clear he would grow into a handsome young man!
"Daojun, come out for breakfast! Mom has already made it for you!" A soft female voice rang out from the living room. Li Wenxuan, curious, walked out and saw a gentle, tall beauty waving at him. He instinctively walked over, "Huh? Isn't this woman Li Hai Ren, the male lead's mother in 'Reborn Rich'?" Then he immediately thought, this beautiful woman just called him Daojun? Could he have transmigrated into the drama and become the male lead, Chen Daojun?!
While Chen Daojun (hereafter, Chen Daojun refers to the protagonist) was in a daze, Chen Runji, who was watching the news on the sofa, also walked over and patted his shoulder. "Our Daojun is an early riser! Your brother is still sleeping in! Come, let's eat first, don't mind him!"
"Okay." Chen Daojun, who had come back to his senses, obediently followed Chen Runji to the dining table and started eating breakfast. "Oh, by the way, today is Dad's birthday. We should wake Hengjun up early later," Chen Runji said to his wife, remembering the important event of the day while drinking the breakfast she had carefully prepared.
"Got it, dear," Li Hai Ren said with a smile, nodding.
…
Although he had seen the Sunyang Chen Family's extremely luxurious estate in the TV series, Chen Daojun was still immensely shocked after seeing it with his own eyes. As an ordinary worker in his previous life, he had never seen such a lavish residence.
"Mom, today is Dad's 60th birthday. I've come to wish him a happy birthday," Chen Runji said to a somewhat short elderly woman, bringing his wife and children.
Soon, Chen Daojun's mind recalled information about all the Sunyang Chen Family members. The founder of Sunyang Group was his grandfather, Chen Yangji. Now 60 years old, he had 3 sons and 1 daughter.
The eldest son, Chen Yongji, was the Vice Chairman of Sunyang Group and Chen Yangji's designated successor to the group. He had a son named Chen Xingjun, who was also Chen Daojun's cousin.
The second son, Chen Dongji, managed Sunyang Fire Insurance Company and was quite dissatisfied with the family's primogeniture system.
The third daughter, Chen Huarong, managed Sunyang Department Store. She had an arrogant personality, and her husband was a Prosecutor.
The youngest son, Chen Runji, who was the protagonist's father, was an illegitimate son of the Chen Family. Because he defied Chen Yangji by pursuing film art and marrying an actress, he was cast out of the Chen Family and stripped of his inheritance rights.
"Is this the old lady who appears kind but is ruthless behind the scenes?" Chen Daojun stood by, curiously observing the smiling old woman in front of him. She was Li Biyu, the wife of Chairman Chen Yangji.
"Long time no see, Runji. These must be Daojun and Hengjun. You've grown so much in just a few months! Come, let Grandma have a look," Li Biyu said with a smile, looking at the two young boys in front of her, appearing approachable.
"Hello, Grandma!" Chen Daojun respectfully bowed to Li Biyu. Chen Hengjun, seeing this, also followed suit with a bow.
Although Chen Daojun had memories of the next 30 years, he had no other advantages. Moreover, he was only 8 years old now. If he rashly turned against the Chen Family, he might be "accidentally deceased" before reaching adulthood. He had to be cautious.
…
Chen Daojun did not play with the other children but went to the lakeside, quietly observing the vast estate, where various delicacies were laid out on the dining table. He couldn't help but feel envious. The lives of the rich were truly desirable!
Since he had come here, he absolutely could not waste this opportunity to be reborn. As long as he seized the opportunities well, Black Monday in 1987, the oil crisis in 1990, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Asian financial crisis in 1997… as long as he could earn his first pot of gold, he would quickly accumulate wealth from these opportunities and build a conglomerate even larger than Sunyang Group; it would only be a matter of time!
Just as Lei Jun, the future CEO, said, "As long as you seize the moment and stand at the forefront, even a pig can fly!"
There was also the shrewd and beautiful sister-in-law in the drama, and the infatuated Prosecutor. He had coveted them for a long time. Reborn, he wouldn't be so foolish as to only choose one Prosecutor. Wouldn't a capable and beautiful wife like the sister-in-law be better? And those Korean girl groups that would become popular across Asia and even the world in the future. He wanted to experience the joys of a rich chaebol from his previous life!
The nearest opportunity was Black Monday in mid-to-late October 1987, when global stock markets, led by the Dow Jones Industrial Average in New York, plummeted across the board, causing panic in financial markets and leading to the economic recession of the late 1980s.
There were less than three short months until October, but he only had a paltry 50,000 korean won in his pocket. What good was that?! He had to find a way to make money first!
…
In the living room on the first floor of Jeongsimjae, Chen Yangji's children successively presented precious gifts to the birthday boy. As Chen Yangji's illegitimate son, Chen Runji
actually presented a packaged film reel, which instantly made Chen Yangji's face turn ugly!
"Runji, today is Dad's birthday. Why would you give such a shabby gift?" The second brother, Chen Dongji, mocked.
"I don't agree with Second Uncle's words!" Chen Daojun stood up and said. Everyone else was stunned by the little boy's actions. One should know that the authoritative Chairman Chen Yangji of the Sunyang Chen Family was right there. Who would dare to speak so presumptuously?
"You little brat! Where do you get off speaking here?" Chen Dongji also didn't expect that this youngest son of the fourth brother would be so bold as to contradict him in front of so many people.
"Dongji, shut up! Let him continue. I want to see what he can come up with," Chen Yangji, sitting in the main seat, suddenly spoke. "Daojun, then tell me, what's so special about this gift?"
"This film reel is the original reel of 'Star Wars,' the most popular movie in the United States two years ago. Dad believes it has investment value. In the future, 'Star Wars' is likely to form a very large movie IP, and this original reel will also appreciate in value, possibly even reaching several million usd, which is why he gave it to Grandpa as a gift," Chen Daojun carefully chose his words and then answered seriously.
Chen Daojun's words made Chen Yangji pause, then burst into laughter. Everyone else was also amused by Chen Daojun's "naive" words. How could a mere film reel be worth several million usd? Who would buy it?
"A mere film reel worth several million usd? That's just wishful thinking!"
"Runji, you should teach Daojun more to be honest and not always fantasize. He's so young and already knows how to lie!"
…
Facing the adults' mockery, Chen Daojun showed no panic. He calmly said, "Grandpa once said that truly valuable things are investments in the future! Dad's gift is exactly that, so please, Grandpa, you must accept it!"
Chen Yangji stared at Chen Daojun for a while, and a silent, terrifying aura gradually spread through the living room. Everyone unconsciously looked at him, afraid he would get angry.
"Hahaha! This child is very smart!" Chen Yangji's cold face suddenly showed a rare smile. Seeing this, the others also smiled along.
Chen Daojun, seeing the situation, immediately added, "I also heard Grandma say that Grandpa is very impressive and that we should take Grandpa as our role model to succeed!"
Li Biyu was a little surprised by Chen Daojun's sudden show of favor. She hadn't met this child many times and couldn't remember if she had said such words. But she didn't think much of it and said with a smile, "Daojun is indeed a smart child. Since this film reel is Runji's heartfelt gesture, then you should accept it."
Chen Yangji nodded and had a servant put away the film reel.