Rebirth Counterattack with Space

"Are you annoying or what, talking about a girlfriend? She’s already been engaged and has a fiancé."

Duan Muhong lost his temper at Fan Jiayi. It had been fine until she asked; her question was like harshly stepping on his sore spot. How could he not beat his chest and stamp his feet, feeling heartbroken and upset?

"Don’t panic, baby..." Seeing her younger son getting angry, Fan Jiayi immediately became flustered and hurried to sooth him with a gentle voice.

"I’ve told you not to call me baby." Duan Muhong’s temper flared even more when he saw his mother coddling him like this, and without thinking, he grabbed the glass teacup from the coffee table and fiercely smashed it to the ground with a "snap".

The cup shattered on the floor, the crisp sound drawing particular attention—

"What happened?"

Duan Cangsong and his elder son Duan Mufeng, who were discussing matters in the study, came out upon hearing the noise and saw the living room floor covered with broken glass.

Duan Cangsong’s face hardened instantly, while Duan Mufeng also frowned as he glanced at his mother and brother.

"..." Duan Muhong shrank behind Fan Jiayi, his temper flew off, and he didn’t dare to make more trouble, nor did he have the courage to open his mouth or look his father in the eye.

"It was me. I accidentally dropped the cup," Fan Jiayi said, soothingly patting her younger son, taking the blame onto herself naturally.

Duan Cangsong glanced at his clearly guilty younger son and then at his wife, who was protecting him like a hen with her chick, feeling incredibly suffocated, "...A doting mother tends to spoil her children."

He left the room with a flick of his sleeve and returned to the study; even after sitting back down, his hands were still shaking with anger. He’d communicated countless times privately with his wife about her indulgence of their younger son, but she continued to behave stubbornly, doing whatever she pleased.

"Father, things will get better once the brother graduates from B University and gets assigned to a job," Duan Mufeng sat down and consoled his father.

He too had very little respect for his brother’s demeanor, lacking any real masculine vigor. Fortunately, he had grown up with his grandfather and father. Otherwise, he shuddered at the thought of being raised like his brother; the mere idea was horrifying...

"Ah, let’s not talk about him. If only he had half of what you have, that would be enough. Anyway, as long as he doesn’t bring trouble to the family, that’s all I ask. I have no expectations of him," Duan Cangsong massaged his forehead, unaware of the fleeting look of delight on his elder son’s face.

No wonder Duan Mufeng was pleased; this was the first time his father openly expressed giving up on his brother. It’s not that he was selfish, but in families like theirs, brotherly love wasn’t a luxury they could afford. That brother, although blood-related, must understand that resources at home were finite, especially since their family’s fortunes had been declining year after year since their grandfather passed away.

The grandfather had died too early, and the proper succession of the family’s power hadn’t been smoothly transitioned. What resources and connections they had were dwindling; to waste any of it on someone as useless as his brother was simply squandering...

In the living room, Fan Jiayi held the frightened, pale-faced Duan Muhong in her arms, softly comforting him like a child, while resenting her husband and elder son in her heart.

Why did they have to come out and scare the child?

The elder son too, could have at least held back his father. That son was a waste; raised by his grandparents from a young age, he never gave her the recognition as a mother she deserved.

Luckily she still has her younger son, who is affectionate. Although sometimes he is a bit hot-tempered and willful, most of the time, he still centers around her.

And what child doesn’t throw a little tantrum now and then, which can be easily soothed away?

"Darling..."

Remembering that her younger son didn’t like being called "baby" anymore, Fan Jiayi halted mid-sentence and promptly corrected herself, "Muhong, don’t rush it. The girl from your class isn’t worthy of you anyway. Since she is already betrothed, we’ll just find someone else. There are so many beautiful girls at B University, and you’re the best among them. As long as you like someone, isn’t it just a matter of snapping your fingers? We can’t let this upset us, right?"

"But I only like Lu Yun. I don’t care for anyone else." Duan Muhong was no longer angry, his eyes reddening as he almost cried while hugging his mother.

His mother was always the kindest to him. His father looked so scary earlier, and if he had known that he was the one who smashed the cup, who knows how furiously he would have punished him?

His mother was the best, always choosing to forgive him in the shortest time, even when he was wrong, protecting him all his life from childhood up until now.

"Silly boy, there’s plenty of fish in the sea. There are so many beautiful girls out there; how many have you seen? No matter how good Lu Yun is, her family is not suitable for ours. People like us must choose a Yue family that can aid you in the future," she said while caressing her son’s head, confident in persuading him.

Seeing her younger son willing to communicate, Fan Jiayi couldn’t resist pouring out her heartfelt counsel, "Your brother is taking over the family business, and you’re meant to pursue politics. For someone on the political path, your future is vast. Someday, when you look back, she’ll regret missing out on you."

"But I don’t like politics." Duan Muhong shook his head vigorously, his stubbornness unwavering, "I don’t want a match that’s suitable in social status; I only like Lu Yun."

"My silly son, how can you expect others to look up to you if you don’t enter politics? Why do you think people hold you in high esteem in your circle of friends? Isn’t it because your father is rich? But having money alone is not enough. I can’t make you understand now, but when you experience it yourself in the future, you’ll know," she replied tenderly.

Fan Jiayi laughed as she stroked her younger son’s head. This son always listened to her the most, and she was confident she could sway him, "Thirty years ago it was see the father, respect the son; thirty years later it will be see the son, respect the father. Son, could your mother possibly harm you?"

"But..." Duan Muhong, recalling the words he blurted out yesterday – "My dad is Duan Cangsong." – suddenly wasn’t sure anymore.

Indeed, even if he was unwilling to admit it, being called "Second Young Master Duan" in his circle of friends was all thanks to his father’s influence, but one day, his father would step down, and his elder brother, Duan Mufeng, would take over the family enterprise. If at that point he didn’t follow his family’s wishes to enter politics, would people still respect him on account of his father when he steps down, or would they continue to respect him because of his elder brother?

If he compared himself to his elder brother and found too great a disparity, could he really bear it?

Lu Yun’s fiancé was just a minor researcher at some institute and still dared to look down on him. If he became a nobody in the future, wouldn’t that make them even more smug, feeling superior to him?

No, he must make Lu Yun regret it one day, regret that she didn’t choose him today.

A determined glint appeared in Duan Muhong’s eyes; he had to become stronger.

The change in Duan Muhong did not escape Fan Jiayi’s observant eyes. She was delighted in her heart, immensely reassured. Her younger son had finally grown up.