Chapter 2: Rebirth

In the dark, damp, and cold basement, a thin young woman lay on the ground. She was trembling all over, and her brows were deeply furrowed. It seemed like she was having a nightmare.

Before she woke up, the sound of the iron door opening in the silent basement echoed in the basement. The door opened, and bright light from outside shone into the dark basement, slightly illuminating it. Soon, footsteps sounded, and three people walked down the stairs and arrived in the basement.

The middle-aged man who led the way was carrying a bucket of water. A gorgeous middle-aged woman and a slender young woman followed him. When the three of them stood not far from the thin young woman, the middle-aged man raised the bucket and splashed the water out.

Splash!

When the cold water splashed on her thin body, the thin young woman suddenly opened her eyes. She gasped, and her eyes seemed to lose focus. After a few seconds, her eyes returned to clarity, full of surprise.

She looked around and thought, 'Am I not dead? Why am I still alive after self-destruction? Where is this place?'

Soon, she calmed down and found herself lying on the cold, dirty floor with her limbs tied. Before she could figure out what was going on around her, she heard the sound she hated most.

"Yao Ran, are you awake?"

Yao Ran raised her eyes and saw her father, Lan Guanghui, looking at her with a gentle smile. When her eyes fell on his face covered with a gentle smile, Yao Ran's eyes turned cold. The hatred in her heart burst out, and she wanted to tear him apart.

Seeing that Yao Ran didn't speak, Lan Guanghui's mistress, Chen Meilin, touched his arm gently and said coquettishly, "Husband, we can't waste any more time with her. President Su is still waiting for our news."

Standing behind her parents, Lan Lifei nodded and said, "Mother is right. Father, we can't let President Su wait too long. Otherwise, the contract–"

"Enough." Before Lan Lifei could finish her words, Lan Guanghui sternly interrupted her.

Lan Lifei knew that she had said too much, so she closed her mouth and looked at Yao Ran with disdain and hatred. After a few seconds of silence, Lan Guanghui smiled at Yao Ran.

His voice was gentle and full of love when he said, "Ran Ran, you are only twenty years old and have only gone to high school. You were raised by an old farmer. You don't understand business management, and you cannot deal with those old foxes in the company."

Although his voice was very gentle, every word was full of ridicule and contempt for Yao Ran. Seeing her just staring at him, Lan Guanghui looked at his second daughter thoughtfully. After a moment of silence, he continued to persuade her.

"By handing the company over to me, you not only save the Yao Group from destruction but also fulfill your filial piety to me. Am I right, Ran Ran?"

In the past, as long as he showed a little bit of gentleness, Yao Ran would agree to any of his requests. Even this villa was bought for him with her money.

Yao Ran looked at her father coldly for a while and chuckled. Lan Guanghui didn't know which of his words made Yao Ran laugh. He frowned slightly, a little unhappy for Yao Ran's disobedience, but quickly concealed his emotions.

Lan Guanghui's smile disappeared, replaced by disappointment. He looked at Yao Ran, sighed, and shook his head.

Seeing the change in his expression, Yao Ran sneered and thought, 'I was so blind before that I couldn't see his deliberate manipulation and greed.'

After waiting for a while, Yao Ran still did not respond. Lan Guanghui knew that she was still stubborn and refused to give him what he wanted because of his father-in-law's will.

If he had known about the will, he would have bribed the lawyer to change the will, and there would have been less trouble. Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret, and he can only persuade his stupid daughter to hand over the company and the Yao family.

Lan Guanghui smiled at Yao Ran and said gently, "I will give you more time to think about it. However, I hope that when I come to see you next time, you can give me the answer I want."

After saying that, he turned around, and the gentle expression on his face disappeared without a trace. Chen Meilin glanced at Yao Ran, rolled her eyes with disdain, and followed Lan Guanghui out of the basement.

Seeing her father and mother leaving, Lan Lifei walked up to Yao Ran. Standing in front of Yao Ran, Lan Lifei looked at her condescendingly, feeling a sense of satisfaction in her heart.

After a moment of silence, she chuckled, "Yao Ran, ah, Yao Ran. In the end, you can only stay under my feet and be trampled by me. You are from the Yao family, but look at what you are experiencing now. Don't you still need to beg us to spare your life?"

Yao Ran was too lazy to talk to Lan Lifei and ignored her completely. When Lan Lifei saw this, she became angry and gritted her teeth.

In the past, whenever she frowned, Yao Ran would apologize to her and ask for her forgiveness. How dare Yao Ran ignore her now?

If her father hadn't forbidden her from hitting Yao Ran, she really wanted to ruin Yao Ran's face. Whenever she sees that face, Lan Lifei will be reminded that she is just an illegitimate daughter, not the real Miss Yao.

"You'd better know what's best for you and sign the shares and properties transfer document. Otherwise, I have a lot of ways to make you do it!"