After Being Targeted by the Disabled Big Shot, It’s So Sweet [Rebirth] - Chapter 3

Wei Tinglan found looking at the younger versions of the Tao family quite novel.

In his previous life, he had been jealous, bitter, and deeply insecure. He rarely looked at them so openly. Seeing them now—the parents gentle and loving, the eldest brother handsome and protective, and Tao Chen cute and refined.

What a wonderful family, they were practically the template for a perfect household.

Wei Tinglan had no intention of ruining this portrait. He simply acted as if he hadn’t seen them and took two steps forward to press the elevator button.

The light blue hospital wristband on his wrist was glaringly obvious.

The Tao family all saw it and were momentarily stunned, but seeing Wei Tinglan acting so superciliously—not even greeting them—fury inevitably welled up.

Tao Xu said, “Wei Tinglan, what kind of attitude is this?”

Wei Tinglan tilted his head to look at him. “What kind of attitude does Big Brother want?”

His expression was calm and his words cold. He possessed an indescribable air of detached elegance that left Tao Xu momentarily dazed.

This isn’t right, Tao Xu thought.

Clearly, Wei Tinglan was usually covered in thorns, gloomy and stiff, completely out of place in the Tao family’s social circle. How did he suddenly become so… good-looking?

Furthermore, he used to be very respectful toward him as his elder brother, even somewhat fawning.

Why now…

Father Tao spoke in a heavy tone: “You didn’t even know to tell the family you were sick!”

Mother Tao looked at Wei Tinglan’s somewhat thin frame and pale complexion, feeling both heartache and resentment: “Tinglan, why didn’t you answer the phone? It’s been two days. Do you have any idea how worried we were?”

Tao Chen added, “Mom and Dad were very worried about you, and so was Big Brother. Come home, stop making a scene.”

The elevator went down and then up, but it didn’t stop on this floor.

Criticism and blame swept toward him like a suffocating, airtight net, carrying that familiar, choking force.

But how could a net from a past life catch a person in this one?

Wei Tinglan said to Tao Chen, “You, shut up. They were so ‘worried’ about me that they accompanied a fake like you to the hospital? Don’t act all innocent after getting all the benefits, it’s honestly nauseating.”

These words were extremely crude, making Tao Chen’s face turn bright red.

Tao Xu took a step forward to shield Tao Chen. “Wei Tinglan, we’ve given you enough face, haven’t we? Is this any way to talk to your younger brother?”

After their identities were verified, it was confirmed that Tao Chen was born a few days later than Wei Tinglan. Father Tao declared that Tao Chen was the youngest son of the family, and Wei Tinglan was ranked third.

The day before the pool incident, Mother Tao had a heart-to-heart with Wei Tinglan.

She said that Wei Tinglan was the older brother and should protect Tao Chen just like Tao Xu and Tao Yue did. She said Tao Chen was sensitive and kind and asked them to get along harmoniously.

Hearing Mother Tao’s blatant favoritism toward Tao Chen, Wei Tinglan talked back for the first time.

Mother Tao wept in sorrow, and Wei Tinglan was scolded by the others who rushed over upon hearing the news. After returning to his room, he felt stifled and stood by the window for a long time.

On that early autumn night, the chill had already begun to set in.

Wei Tinglan developed a fever because of it. He didn’t want to ask the Tao family for medicine, as if that would make him look fragile. But he felt too miserable, so he went to the poolside to bask in the sun.

Then, the twenty-four-year-old Wei Tinglan arrived.

The current atmosphere was very tense.

Father Tao, Mother Tao, and Tao Xu all looked at this ranting Wei Tinglan as if they were seeing a ghost.

Wei Tinglan grew up in an urban village and was used to fighting for survival. In the wealthy Tao household, he was stiff, reserved, and oppressed—a complete misfit.

But most of the time he remained silent. His face might look unpleasant, but he would never say such words.

Tao Chen covered his face and wept: “I’m not a fake, I didn’t want this either… I’ll move out immediately. Don’t fight with Mom and Dad. Please don’t fight. We are a family, we should be harmonious.”

Seeing him so sad, Mother Tao’s heart broke, and she hurried to comfort him.

Father Tao said decisively, “You are my son. I have raised you for seventeen years, no one can drive you away.”

Tao Xu also busied himself comforting Tao Chen.

Hearing Tao Chen call them “Dad, Mom, and Big Brother” over and over, Wei Tinglan casually pressed the elevator button and echoed indifferently, “Yes, yes, yes. Your Dad, Mom, Big Brother, and Big Sister. As for me… Uncle, Auntie, see you around?”

Father Tao cursed him as a bastard thing. But meeting Wei Tinglan’s gaze—which was so calm it bordered on apathy—his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The commotion wasn’t smal, people were peeking out to watch.

Tao Xu was currently in university and was a prominent figure on campus, he didn’t want to be watched like a monkey. He hissed at Wei Tinglan in a low voice, “Say whatever you have to say at home. Stop making a scene!”

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

It was like a chicken talking to a duck—a total lack of communication. Wei Tinglan didn’t feel like wasting his breath and simply said, “You guys take the next one.”

He looked up and froze.

What a coincidence.

In the elevator was the man who had been wearing casual clothes during their last meeting. Now, he was dressed in a formal suit—sharp, stern, and impeccably handsome.

It was truly a familiar and pleasant sight.

However, his own situation here was a complete mess.

Wei Tinglan couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. He hesitated for a moment but walked in anyway, standing beside the man’s wheelchair.

Tao Xu chased after him, but upon seeing the person in the elevator clearly, he froze violently and stepped back two paces. The indignant anger on his face instantly transformed into awe.

Father Tao walked over, and his expression changed as well.

Tao Chen didn’t recognize the man in the wheelchair, but he instinctively felt that this person was terrifying. Not because of his looks, but a terrifying quality where a single indifferent glance made the soles of his feet go cold.

Wan Yun, behind the wheelchair, held the open button and looked at Wei Tinglan.

Wei Tinglan had a very good impression of the smiling Wan Yun and said politely, “Thank you, but they aren’t coming in.”

With Wei Tinglan acting so oblivious to the stakes, Father Tao broke out in a cold sweat and said respectfully, “Mr. Wei, my apologies. The child at home is naughty and has disturbed you… Wei Tinglan, get out here right now!”

The Wei Chuan he knew was ruthless in his methods and cold in nature. He hated crowds and talkative people, and he maintained a ‘do not approach’ aura.

Wei Chuan ignored Father Tao and confirmed with Wei Tinglan: “They aren’t coming in?”

Though Wei Tinglan didn’t know why Father Tao acted like he’d seen a ghost, he knew fear had its benefits. He nodded: “Not coming in. They’re busy.”

Father Tao: “……”

Wan Yun withdrew his hand and said to Father Tao, “Then… President Tao, until we meet again.”

In the few seconds before the elevator doors closed, Father Tao watched helplessly as Wei Tinglan curiously sized up Wei Chuan and even asked: “Which ‘Wei’ is yours? My surname is also Wei.”

Father Tao’s vision went dark.

Tao Xu was also panicked. That was Wei Chuan—only a few years older than him, yet a person he and the entire Tao family could only look up to. Wei Tinglan was inviting disaster upon the house!

But there was nothing they could do now. He could only secretly plan to settle the score with Wei Tinglan once they got home.

Inside the elevator:

Wei Chuan: “The ‘Wei’ from the Wei and Jin Dynasties.”

Wei Tinglan felt a bit of regret: “I’m the ‘Wei’ that means ‘guard.’ Thank you for today, Mr. Wei.”

Wei Chuan glanced at the blue band on the youth’s wrist: “Are you recovered?”

Wei Tinglan: “Better than ever!”

He felt refreshed.

But in reality, the physical neglect of so many years, the oppression and internal friction of these past few months in the Tao family, plus the exhaustion from the illness—it wasn’t something that could be recovered in a short time.

In Wei Chuan’s eyes, the youth’s body was thin, his face pale, and his lip color was light—clearly, his vitality had been heavily damaged. Only his eyes were bright and familiar, quite likable.

Yet he had come to the hospital alone and was leaving alone…

Wei Chuan couldn’t help but say, “Go back and rest well.”

Wei Tinglan nodded and couldn’t help but add, “You too.”

He saw Father Tao’s fear toward this Mr. Wei.

The Tao family was not a small household in An City, so this Mr. Wei must be an incredibly powerful figure. It was good to be powerful, since his legs weren’t good, being powerful meant he wouldn’t be bullied.

Wei Tinglan had no intention of social climbing. Once Wei Chuan left the elevator, he said goodbye and left directly.

Wei Chuan watched the youth’s back: “The Tao family? The Tao family that has an engagement with Qinglin?”

He Qinglin was the son of Wei Chuan’s older sister.

Wan Yun knew that Wei Chuan was actually asking about Wei Tinglan.

He actually did know about this matter: “It is that Tao family. However, the Tao family’s young master was swapped at birth. Young Master Wei is the real Tao family child, and he was only found a few months ago.”

Before the hospital, he hadn’t seen Wei Tinglan, but he had heard the name. The real and fake young master story had been circulating widely.

He added: “The rumors say that although the child the Tao family raised isn’t their own blood, he is well-educated and refined. The one they found is gloomy and violent…”

Wei Chuan thought of the boy shrinking back outside the elevator.

That one should be the adopted son. He looked weak, but his eyes were shifty and timid. He was short, clearly not of the same mold as the tall Tao family members.

While the one beside him at the time was easy and natural, possessing great character.

Wan Yun heard Wei Chuan say: “Mistaking a pearl for a fish eye.”

He thought the same and couldn’t help but sigh: “Young Master Wei doesn’t seem to get along well with the Tao family. After what happened today, when he goes back… and he’s still sick.”

Back at the elevator, the Tao family had looked like they were out for blood, aggressive and imposing.

Their own child had been lost for over ten years; shouldn’t they treasure him now that he was back? Especially when he was sick. It was truly strange.

Wan Yun knew Wei Chuan didn’t like talkative people. Seeing his indifferent expression, he stopped speaking.

The wheelchair was pushed out of the building. Sunlight poured down, and the field of vision suddenly brightened.

Wei Chuan thought of the youth’s warm eyes.

Perhaps it was because the boy wasn’t afraid of him. That gaze was blatant—affectionate, cautious, and even aching for his legs. Perhaps it was a case of sympathy for one’s own kind.

He instructed: “Go handle something.”