Chapter 2 — The Awakening
A dull ache pulsed behind his eyes.
Li Feng stirred, his body heavy, his mind sluggish. The faint scent of disinfectant and old wood mixed in the air. For a moment, he thought he'd woken up in a hospital. But when his vision cleared, he realized the ceiling above wasn't painted white — it was carved with faint floral patterns, the kind used in old-money mansions trying to appear humble.
He blinked again. The room was spacious but not extravagant — neatly arranged shelves, a simple desk, a modest computer setup, the faint hum of an old air conditioner. A single window let in the weak morning light.
He frowned. This wasn't his apartment in MS City.
Then came the pain.
A sharp, splitting migraine tore through his skull. Images, voices, and memories that weren't his flooded his mind — scenes of family banquets, endless lectures about "responsibility" and "status," and the cold gaze of a man whose word ruled the entire Li family.
Li Zhonghai, patriarch of the Li family — one of the four great business clans in Longhai City.
And him… Li Feng, eldest son of Li Guohua, the second son of the patriarch.
His breath caught.
He'd seen these names before — faint recollections from a novel he'd read years ago. The plot, hazy but familiar, unfolded in his mind. Longhai city and it's four great business families. A capital city filled with absolutely powerful and mostly tyrannic families. The Li family of the four great business families in Longhai city.
And then the name Li Feng. A name that was more of a footnote, but still remembered nonetheless. He appeared in a flashback, the brother of one of the protagonist's love targets. A young man who died to save his beloved sister from the clutches of the tyrannic Zhou family of capital city.
"…I've transmigrated."
His own lips moved before his brain could stop them.
The words sounded absurd in the silence.
Li Feng clenched his jaw. Looking at his recent memories, it appears he's still 17 years old, 2 years before his death in the original novel. A week ago, the original had opposed the betrothal of his sister —quite strongly— and as a result, he'd been beaten half to death by his own uncles' men. A week later, still recovering from his injuries…
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. His head still throbbed faintly, but the dizziness was fading.
"So this is my new life…"
He rose from bed and caught sight of himself in the mirror.
The reflection wasn't jarring this time — same black hair, same eyes, but this body was younger, leaner, less weary. A faint bruise marked his cheek, the tail end of the beating that nearly killed the original.
He touched it gently. "Guess I've got your pain, too."
The sound of footsteps came from the hallway, followed by a knock.
"Feng-ge? You awake?"
A familiar voice — soft, cautious, and a little anxious.
He turned. "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Li Xue, his younger sister. Sixteen years old, with clear pale skin and bright, intelligent eyes. Her long black hair was tied back loosely, and though she wore a simple white blouse and jeans, her beauty was striking — the kind that could start wars in families like theirs.
She looked at him, relief flooding her face. "You're finally up… You scared me, you know? You were out cold for so long."
He smiled faintly. "A week, right?"
"Almost. The doctor said it was just exhaustion and bruising, but… I know it wasn't." Her expression darkened. "They went too far this time. Uncle Guotao even told Dad to keep quiet if he still wanted to stay in the family."
He could hear the bitterness under her calm tone. In the old Li Feng's memories, she'd always tried to protect her brother — though she was the one who truly needed protecting.
He reached out and patted her head gently. "It's fine. I'm still alive, aren't I?"
She blinked, a little surprised. The old Li Feng hadn't smiled much — his quietness often mistaken for resentment. But now, there was a strange calm in his eyes.
"Go get ready," she said softly after a pause. "Grandfather's having breakfast with everyone today. Dad's already downstairs. You should come too — he'll be upset if you skip again."
"Breakfast with the whole family?" Li Feng muttered.
"Yeah. Grandpa's in one of his moods again. Probably wants to talk about the company." She hesitated, then added in a whisper, "Just… try not to speak up this time, okay? Please?"
He nodded slowly, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
So the breakfast scene is happening today… meaning this is right before the events that set everything in motion.
He knew enough of the original story to remember what came next. The first stirrings of succession — the subtle struggle for the patriarch's approval. And in the midst of it, the slow tightening of the noose around his father's neck.
Li Feng turned to the window, staring at the sprawling estate beyond — dozens of villas scattered across green hills, the faint glint of black sedans lined in front of the main building. To anyone outside, this was paradise. To him, it looked like a gilded cage.
"Alright," he murmured, adjusting his collar. "Let's go see what kind of hell this family really is."
---
The morning sun greeted him as he stepped out of his room. The Li estate's second villa — the one assigned to his father's branch — was elegant but understated. Even the servants seemed fewer in number compared to the main house.
Downstairs, his father, Li Guohua, sat at the dining table reading a financial report. Broad-shouldered, early forties, dressed in a simple gray suit — the years of quiet struggle showed in the lines around his eyes.
He looked up, surprised. "Feng'er. You're up?"
Li Feng nodded. "Morning, Dad."
Guohua studied him for a moment, something flickering in his gaze — pride, worry, maybe both. "Good. We'll leave in ten minutes. Don't say anything unnecessary when we get there. Your grandfather doesn't need more reasons to make things hard."
"I understand."
As they stepped into the car, Li Feng caught sight of his father's calloused hands gripping the steering wheel — hands that had once built an entire company from scratch, only to have it stolen by family.
He turned to the window as the car rolled toward the main villa. The distant chatter of birds was drowned out by the hum of engines and the quiet murmur of servants preparing for the patriarch's breakfast.
The road stretched ahead like a coiled serpent, winding through the morning mist that clung to the hills. Sunlight spilled across the estate's gates — golden, yet cold — the kind of beauty that hid its cruelty well.
Li Feng watched in silence, his reflection faint in the glass, eyes steady but filled with resolve.
'I won't be a footnote in someone else's story. I will write my own story'.
---
Hello, Author here,
Thanks for reading — Leave a comment to tell me what you think about this chapter, and drop a Power Stone if you're enjoying Li Feng's story so far! Let's grow this story together.