In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 117: Cuckold Dad (10)

After returning home, the first thing Qi Sheng did was head to the study and check up on the Kang family. So, father and son discovered the big changes in the Kang family at almost the same time. However, compared to Qi Yuancheng, who knew very little about the Kang family’s internal affairs, Qi Sheng immediately guessed the follow-up handling of Kang Chengzhi after seeing the equity changes.

Qi Sheng couldn’t help but furrow his brows. Kang Chengzhi really got let off the hook again? He snorted and didn’t care much. Although Kang Chengzhi hadn’t received legal punishment, their family being cast out of the Kang family over this matter meant that he no longer had the chance to sow discord. As for Kang Chengzhi trying to find a way back into the Kang family? Most likely, Xu Ruhuan and her maternal family would never allow that.

Just as he thought of Xu Ruhuan, Qi Sheng received an email from overseas.

Well, speak of the devil — it was a “friendly notice” from Xu Ruhuan herself.

The contents were simple, even including a scanned copy of the paternity test between Qi Yuancheng and Kang Hongxian. It plainly stated that Qi Yuancheng wasn’t his biological child, and he was just a fool raising another man’s son for free.

Qi Sheng immediately understood. Xu Ruhuan, restricted by the Kang family and unable to openly deal with Kang Chengzhi, had nowhere to vent her anger — and now she couldn’t bear to see their family doing well either.

Qi Sheng didn’t reply to Xu Ruhuan. He had to think about the next steps.

Right now, aside from the coincidence that led Kang Chengzhi to discover that Qi Yuanzhe wasn’t related to him either, the Kang couple still had their attention focused solely on their eldest son. Since Kang Chengzhi was in trouble himself, he probably didn’t have the energy to meddle in their affairs.

But even if Qi Sheng wanted to pretend nothing had happened now, that scheming couple from the Kang family likely wouldn’t let him live in peace. Qi Sheng wasn’t the kind of person who liked to be passive. Since things had already come to this point, he figured it was better to rip the band-aid off than to drag it out. He’d resolve the matter himself so his two sons wouldn’t have to bear the psychological burden. These past few days, watching them nervously trying to please him had left a bitter taste in his mouth — especially the eldest son’s quiet unease, which Qi Sheng could clearly feel.

Thinking of Zhong Jin again, Qi Sheng finally felt some fighting spirit rise within him. She had harmed both families by her mistakes — he wasn’t going to let her off lightly. Even if it was for the sake of the children, at the very least, she needed to leave the house with nothing. As evening approached, Qi Yuancheng was preparing dinner with his younger brother when he saw his father walk out of the study with a dark expression.

Qi Yuancheng instinctively sensed trouble and steadied his voice with effort: “Dad, is something wrong?”

Qi Sheng didn’t look at his eldest son. He walked straight into the bedroom he shared with Zhong Jin. At this moment, Zhong Jin, having been rejected by her son earlier, had recovered her mood considerably and was happily mixing and matching outfits in the walk-in closet. Seeing Qi Sheng enter, she asked naturally, “Honey, do you think this outfit looks good on me?”

Qi Sheng was almost amused by her current attitude. At a time like this, the woman was still dreaming her sweet dreams.

He strode forward, snatched the clothes she was matching, and threw them to the ground, his face dark as he glared at her. “Tell me honestly — is Xiaocheng really my son?”

Zhong Jin was stunned for a moment. She’d wanted to hide it a while longer, but before she could speak, Qi Sheng said coldly, “If you don’t tell the truth, fine. Should I go get a paternity test right now? But don’t blame me then for not saving your face!”

Qi Sheng’s fierce questioning made Zhong Jin flustered at first, but then she remembered that her eldest son was about to be acknowledged by the Kang family. She didn’t care about the Qi family anymore.

She wasn’t used to the man who always spoke gently to her suddenly losing his temper. But she didn’t feel much guilt facing Qi Sheng. Soon she would be the mother of a legitimate heir to a wealthy family — she had no reason to yield to Qi Sheng now.

Zhong Jin didn’t speak. She didn’t pick up the clothes on the floor either. Instead, she calmly walked to the vanity, sat on the chair, and stared straight at Qi Sheng with her neck stiff: “And what if he isn’t? What are you going to do?”

Qi Sheng: “……”

Qi Sheng was floored by her attitude. He thought to himself, good thing I’m not the original version of me, or else I’d have collapsed in rage by now — or worse, done something irrational. He knew exactly what she was thinking: now that her eldest son might be officially accepted into the Kang family, she was already getting cocky?

Qi Sheng raged, “So he really isn’t?! Ha, Zhong Jin, you’ve really outdone yourself. We’re getting divorced tomorrow. And don’t even think about taking a single thing from this house!”

This time, perhaps because she felt more secure, Zhong Jin didn’t panic or cling like she had in the past. She looked at Qi Sheng with a hint of sorrow. “Qi Sheng, we’ve been husband and wife for so many years. You watched Xiaocheng grow up. Do you really have to be so heartless?”

Qi Sheng felt a very strong urge to curse. Damn it, he could now confirm that this woman had really lost her grip on reality. Did she really expect him to be grateful instead of heartless right now? Grateful that she gave him the opportunity to raise a young master from a wealthy family?

Qi Sheng realized that there was no need to waste any more words on Zhong Jin. He stormed out of the bedroom and slammed the door in fury, not even sparing a glance at the two sons waiting outside, and went straight into the study.

The two boys were trembling and tearful as they looked at him, but Qi Sheng was still in a rage and had no room to comfort them now. He shut the study door and began drafting the divorce agreement.

The matter of assets was easy to handle—Zhong Jin would leave the marriage with nothing. The issue that troubled him for a moment was custody of the elder son. Right now, the thing Zhong Jin likely cared about the most was custody of Qi Yuancheng. Qi Sheng didn’t really have a justifiable reason to fight her for that. However, considering his elder son would turn 18 in just a year, Qi Sheng decided to let her have her way for now.

The divorce agreement was quickly printed. When he returned to the bedroom, both sons were there.

It seemed they had just had a quarrel with Zhong Jin—Qi Yuancheng’s neck and face were both red. Qi Sheng gave them a quick glance before turning his gaze to Zhong Jin. “Sign this agreement.”

Only now, when faced with the stark black-and-white terms of leaving with nothing, did Zhong Jin start to feel some resentment. She looked at Qi Sheng, then turned to Qi Yuancheng and said after a moment’s pause, “We’ve been together for so many years, and you’re really going to be this heartless? You’re really giving up on Xiao Chen?”

She had long been frustrated with her elder son being so obsessed with Qi Sheng. So she decided to use this opportunity to wake him up and drive a wedge between father and son. After all, her son would soon return to the Kang family. Kang Hongxian was the father he should be paying attention to.

Qi Sheng was furious at her manipulative thoughts. Before he could speak, Qi Yuancheng—his eyes already red from the moment Qi Sheng walked in—suddenly dropped to his knees with a loud thud in front of him.

Hearing his knees hit the floor made Qi Sheng’s heart ache for a moment. But he had to maintain the image of someone cruelly betrayed; he hardened his heart, kept a cold face, and didn’t look at the boy.

Then came the sound of the child’s painful pleading, followed by the younger son kneeling and begging alongside him. Qi Sheng’s heart softened from their pleas, but Zhong Jin saw her son like this and knew she couldn’t waste any more time. She had to get him out of this house fast.

So Zhong Jin signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and then mocked Qi Yuancheng: “Why are you begging him? He’s not your dad. Maybe he’s wishing you were dead right now. Get up already—don’t dirty his precious floor!”

With that, she picked up her bag and prepared to leave. She’d made up her mind—her son needed to wake up and face reality. Otherwise, even if she gave it her all, who knew whether they’d be accepted into the Kang family?

Seeing her son still kneeling with his head down and silent, Zhong Jin mocked again, “Still not leaving? Are you waiting for him to throw you out?”

Qi Sheng frowned and shot a glare at the noisy Zhong Jin. Not wanting to see the boys still kneeling, he said to Qi Yuancheng, “Xiao Chen, get up now.”

Since learning that his father knew the truth, Qi Yuancheng knew he no longer had any place in this home. His pleading had been a last flicker of hope. Now, hearing Qi Sheng’s voice, he thought his father was finally telling him to leave.

He stood up, looked at Qi Sheng, and saw that he still refused to meet his eyes. With a hoarse voice, he said, “Dad, take care of yourself.” Then he turned and left the house without even packing his things.

Seeing this, Zhong Jin immediately slung her bag over her shoulder, ready to follow him out. But Qi Sheng, still angry and thinking of her earlier manipulative remarks, coldly said, “Take only your ID. Leave everything else behind!”

Zhong Jin hadn’t expected Qi Sheng to be this ruthless. She glared at him in fury, let out a couple of bitter laughs, and angrily opened her bag, pulled out her documents, and threw the bag aside with a hateful voice: “Qi Sheng, you’re really heartless!”

Qi Sheng rolled his eyes, then looked at his younger son still kneeling on the floor. “What are you still kneeling for? Your brother left without taking anything. Go help him pack his things.”

The moment Qi Yuanze heard that, his tear-swollen eyes lit up with hope. He jumped up and almost ran to his brother’s bedroom.

Meanwhile, outside the Qi household, mother and son were on their way out. Zhong Jin, noticing her son’s particularly downcast mood, decided to switch to a softer approach.

“Xiao Chen, you saw it yourself. That’s the ‘loving’ father you had. Now that he knows you’re not his biological son, he flipped on you immediately. Look how heartless he was to me, completely ignoring whether we lived or died!”

“Xiao Chen, Mom can only count on you now. I know you’re feeling sad, but there’s no blood relation—why keep expecting anything from him? You saw it just now—he discarded over ten years of affection just like that. You’re the only fool still thinking he cares about you.”

“Son, wake up. Do you think your dad remembers you when he’s being so heartless? He didn’t let me take a single cent with me. It’s almost night, and he’s planning to let us mother and son sleep on the streets? Regret it now? When I said we should transfer some money, you were still stupidly siding with him!”

In fact, Zhong Jin had a card hidden in her coat pocket. It was something she’d secretly prepared during this time. Though not much money was on it, it was enough to cover their expenses for a while. However, she didn’t intend to reveal it yet—she wanted her son to taste the bitterness of being kicked out and left helpless. Only then would he realize that going back to the Kang family was the right choice.

Seeing her son still unmoved by her words, Zhong Jin pressed harder: “If you won’t think for yourself or for me, at least think of your little brother. Your dad still doesn’t know the truth about his identity. What if someone who can’t stand to see us well spills it one day? Then your little brother will be kicked out too. How will you support him?”

“Xiao Chen, think carefully—who doesn’t want to see us doing well? It must have something to do with the Kang family. Your biological father’s son had an accident and became a vegetable, so the heir position is empty now. As the only healthy child of your biological father, they must not want you back—that’s why they stirred up trouble behind the scenes. Son, even if you don’t care for Kang Hongxian, for the sake of getting revenge on the Kang family for destroying our family, you must return to the Kang family!”

Qi Yuancheng stopped in his tracks and looked at the woman beside him who wouldn’t stop talking. He asked coldly, “Do you still have more to say?”

Seeing her son finally react, Zhong Jin immediately said, “Son, everything I’m doing is for your own good. If you could give just half the effort you gave to Qi Sheng to win over your biological father, with how outstanding you are, and since Kang Hongxian has no son now, do you think he won’t accept you? Once you become the heir of the Kang family, would you still worry about Xiao Ze’s future? Qi Sheng might even come groveling to you.”

Qi Yuancheng’s eyes lit up slightly. Always watching her son closely, Zhong Jin thought she had gotten through to him and wanted to say more—until she saw him bypass her and walk toward someone coming down the road. Zhong Jin was confused and looked up, only to see the younger son running toward them with a backpack.

Zhong Jin misunderstood at first and raised her eyebrows at the younger son, saying, “What, did Qi Sheng find out about your identity already? Did he kick you out too?”

Qi Yuanzhe glared at Zhong Jin and ignored her. He looked at his brother, who was full of anticipation, and said with heartache, “Brother, Dad told me to pack this for you. Don’t lose hope—he still cares about you. Once his anger subsides, I’ll sound him out again.”

Qi Yuancheng’s eyes lit up, though he still seemed unsure. “Dad really told you to pack this?”

Qi Yuanzhe nodded hard. “Yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have been allowed out. Brother, you must take good care of yourself out there. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

Zhong Jin couldn’t stand seeing Qi Yuancheng still thinking about Qi Sheng. She cut in at the right time, “You can’t even protect yourself, and you’re still thinking about your brother? Qi Sheng only seems less heartless toward you two because he still thinks you’re his biological sons. Once he finds out the truth in a few days, do you think he’ll still care?”

She then turned to Qi Yuancheng and said, “Xiao Chen, before your little brother gets kicked out too, you’d better figure out your next steps. Otherwise, the three of us will be out on the streets with nothing to eat!”

Qi Yuancheng ignored her. After sending off his brother, he picked up his backpack, glanced at Zhong Jin, and said, “Since you’ve thought things through so clearly, I assume you’ve already made plans. I don’t want to see you for the time being—don’t come looking for me.”

Then he left without looking back, ignoring Zhong Jin’s shouting and chasing. Furious, she tore off her broken-heeled shoes, and watching her son’s distant back, she cursed angrily, “Stubborn fool—you’ll regret it tomorrow!”

After shaking Zhong Jin off, Qi Yuancheng didn’t go far. He opened his backpack to check—documents, phone, laptop, and a few changes of clothes. Still holding onto a sliver of hope, he eagerly pulled out his phone and went to a nearby hotel to try paying with it. Once the room was successfully booked, the gloom on his face finally lifted a little: Dad hadn’t canceled his credit card!

Thinking of this, Qi Yuancheng felt a bit relieved. Dad hadn’t been as heartless toward him as he was toward Mom—did that mean Dad still cared about him?

Lying on the hotel bed, Qi Yuancheng couldn’t help but fantasize. He didn’t actually care about money—given his abilities, earning a living and supporting his younger brother in comfort was not difficult. What he really cared about was his father’s attitude.

But remembering what Zhong Jin had said, he began to worry—if Dad found out Xiao Ze wasn’t his biological son either, would he still be this soft-hearted?

At that thought, Qi Yuancheng’s hatred toward Zhong Jin deepened even more. Staring at the hotel ceiling, he felt a chill in his heart as he thought about that woman obsessed with the Kang family. If she liked it so much, let her chase it on her own. Anyway, she was still young enough not to need his support. Whatever she wanted to do—he didn’t want to care anymore.