In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 171: The Cool Dad in the Apocalypse (1)

It was the back-to-school season in September, already entering the autumnal equinox, but instead of cooling down, the weather grew even hotter. The blazing sun overhead seemed to have forgotten to move south this year, hanging high over the capital city as if to make its presence impossible to ignore.

Qi Lei, who had just entered his third year of junior high, listened absentmindedly to the teacher’s uninspired lecture at the podium. Irritated, he tugged at his collar, feeling inexplicably stifled by the sweltering weather outside.

His deskmate, unable to sleep while slumped over the desk, noticed his frustration and raised an eyebrow, suggesting, “Brother Lei, wanna ditch class? Old Song’s totally off today. Listening to him drone on is driving me crazy!”

Qi Lei wholeheartedly agreed—he was already annoyed by the monotonous, chant-like voice of the teacher. But he glanced outside at the blazing heat and snapped, “Ditch class? In this weather? We’d roast out there!”

“Not wandering outside—we could hit the internet café. This kind of weather is perfect for chilling in air conditioning and playing a few rounds of games. Look, neither the teacher nor our classmates are on their game today. What’s the point of staying? Total waste of youth!”

Qi Lei didn’t feel like looking at anyone, but after noticing the increasingly weak air conditioning in the classroom, the idea of the café’s strong AC was tempting.

“Alright, let’s go. Call Qiangzi and Fengzi.”

Zhao Xiaofei, his deskmate, gave a thumbs up and began calling out to the other two.

And so, ten minutes before the bell in Class 2, Grade 9, four students in the last row suddenly vanished.

Teacher Song, who was still lecturing, saw the four students—including the high-performing Qi Lei—sneak out under his very nose. He sighed inwardly, then glanced at the clock on the back wall. He too couldn’t wait for the class to end. This heat was downright unnatural.

And the abnormal weather had lasted for more than twenty days, becoming increasingly obvious since the beginning of September.

The four boys rushed to the nearest internet café. The blast of cool air that greeted them sent shivers down their spines.

“Damn, that’s refreshing!”

“Way better than the classroom. That old air conditioner’s been blowing hot air since forever!”

Two of them grumbled as they searched for connected seats, but there weren’t even single open spots, let alone a cluster.

Zhao Xiaofei felt a pang of despair. “Boss, got any seats left?”

The four were regulars and members at this café, so the owner knew them well. Hearing Zhao’s question, he shrugged. “Nope. You guys are late today. I’ve got a few couches upstairs—if you don’t feel like heading back out, go chill there and play on your phones.”

Frustrated by the news, the four hesitated. They wanted to leave, but having just sweated buckets on the way from school, they were reluctant to step out of the cool air.

Crazy—aka Wang Feng—suggested, “Why don’t we head up and play a few rounds of mobile games? How about some Honor of Kings?”

Qi Lei glanced at the scorching weather outside and agreed. “Let’s go. It’s cooler upstairs anyway.”

The second floor of the café had a resting area for overnight gamers. At night, tired players would lie there to nap, but during the day, it was usually empty.

Unfortunately, today wasn’t one of those days. A few people were lying on the sofas—and they just happened to be their sworn enemies.

“Well, well. What a small world. You jerks from Second High invading our First High turf—got a screw loose?”

The few guys lounging with eyes half-shut didn’t even need to look up to know who had arrived.

“Xie Wenqiang, will it kill you to speak like a human? Get lost. Not in the mood to argue.”

“You think I want to argue? Don’t flatter yourself!”

Though their words were harsh, neither side made a move—it was simply too damn hot. Fighting felt like it might make them explode.

Both sides settled separately, glaring daggers but refraining from action. But the uneasy peace didn’t last. A boy and girl who arrived moments later threw the whole room into chaos.

The boy was Xu Guangkai, leader of Xie Wenqiang’s group, and the girl was Su Xue—Qi Lei’s half-sister by their mother.

The two walked in hand-in-hand. When Su Xue saw Qi Lei, she reflexively pulled her hand back, casting a guilty glance his way. But Xu Guangkai, noticing everything, yanked her hand right back.

Qi Lei’s brows furrowed as he stared at their clasped hands.

Su Xue met his gaze briefly before lowering her head in silence.

Zhao Xiaofei looked at the couple, then at Qi Lei’s grim face, trying to guess what he was thinking.

His own sister getting together with a sworn enemy—wouldn’t that make anyone furious?

Zhao Xiaofei exchanged glances with the other two and silently prepared for a brawl. He couldn’t help but mutter internally—was Su Xue out of her mind? Of all people to date, she chose the school bully from Second High? That’s just asking for trouble!

Zhao Xiaofei dissed Xu Guangkai thoroughly in his head, conveniently forgetting he had school bully tendencies himself.

Qi Lei stepped forward and asked coldly, staring at the timid girl, “Did he force you?”

Su Xue hesitated, then shook her head slightly and whispered, “I did it willingly.”

But there wasn’t an ounce of sincerity in her voice. Qi Lei understood immediately. He glanced at the smug-looking Xu Guangkai, and without another word, swung his fist.

In mere minutes, the second floor descended into total chaos.

Tables overturned, chairs flew, even a few computers on the floor weren’t spared. The café owner brought in backup to break up the fight, but even that wasn’t enough to stop these raging teens.

In the end, no one knew which thoughtful classmate had called the police, but it wasn’t until the police officers arrived that the fight was finally broken up.

So, when Qi Sheng woke up again, he received a call from the local police station.

Changle Street Police Station.

Wearing sky-high heels, a luxury brand bag slung over her shoulder, and practically dressed in money, Yang Ning was warmly chatting with Xu Guangkai.

“Xiao Kai, are you hurt? I know about you and Xiao Xue—don’t worry, Auntie supports you two being together.”

Yang Ning, Su Xue’s mother and also Qi Lei’s biological mother, was now eagerly looking at Xu Guangkai as if she wanted to become his girlfriend herself and shower him with affection.

Qi Lei, whose cheek was scratched from the earlier fight with Xu Guangkai, stood coldly on the side, watching the woman across from him.

Su Xue kept her head down. After glancing at Yang Ning, she softly asked Qi Lei, “Brother, are you okay?”

Qi Lei withdrew his gaze from Yang Ning and replied indifferently, “I’m fine.”

He was feeling rather irritated at the moment—especially after seeing the vain, materialistic Yang Ning. He was itching to give Xu Guangkai another beating, but unfortunately, they were in a police station and he could hardly protect himself right now.

Glancing at the timid Su Xue only made him more annoyed. “Focus on your studies when you go back. Don’t listen to that woman’s nonsense!”

Su Xue just kept her head down without responding. Seeing this, Qi Lei couldn’t be bothered to say anything more to her.

Yang Ning looked at Qi Lei but didn’t say a word, simply taking Su Xue and leaving the police station. Xu Guangkai was also picked up shortly afterward, leaving only Qi Sheng to arrive the latest.

Qi Lei didn’t seem surprised by this. He quietly stood in the corner, staring at the ceiling and calculating how many days he’d be stuck in bed this time.

Qi Sheng arrived at Changle Street Police Station while the boy was deep in thought. The station was quite far from their home, and with today’s heavy traffic, it took him over two hours to get there.

After a brief conversation and signing some paperwork with the police, Qi Sheng looked at the silent teenager standing in the corner and said blandly, “Let’s go.”

Qi Lei glanced at his expressionless father, unable to guess what he was thinking, but obediently followed him outside.

Once out of the station, Qi Lei took the initiative to apologize: “Sorry to trouble you to come all this way.”

Qi Sheng gave him a look and replied in the same flat tone, “Get in the car.”

Qi Lei originally wanted to refuse, suspecting his father was planning to take him somewhere quiet to beat him up. But then he thought better of it and complied.

Even on the drive back to the Qi household, Qi Lei remained puzzled—what exactly was this man up to today?

By the time they got home, it was already close to 7 PM. Yet the sky still showed no sign of dusk or nightfall.

Qi Sheng’s current wife, Tian Yue, came out of the kitchen upon hearing the door open. Seeing the teenager following behind her husband, she froze for a moment before regaining composure when Qi Lei greeted her.

“Oh, Xiao Lei, you’re here? Come sit down, dinner’s almost ready.”

Qi Lei didn’t sit. He glanced at his silent father and stood quietly in the living room, equally silent.

Qi Sheng gave the boy a quick look but didn’t push him. “Sit down.”

Qi Lei didn’t object either. He quietly sat and ate, saying nothing and not refusing anything either, which made Qi Hang, who had just emerged from his room after finishing homework, quite curious.

Dinner was eaten in heavy silence. Tian Yue and Qi Hang both felt instinctively uneasy.

Trying to ease the awkwardness, Tian Yue said, “Xiao Lei, since you’re back, why don’t you stay the night? I’ll go make up a bed for you.”

Qi Lei glanced at his still calm father and shook his head. “No need, Auntie. I’ll head back to school in a bit.”

“That school’s pretty far, and tomorrow’s the weekend. No rush to get back.”

“It’s okay, the subway’s fast. I also need to go back to my hometown to visit my grandparents tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Tian Yue didn’t push further. Qi Sheng looked at the boy still eating with his head down and said, “Just stay the night. I have to go back to the old house tomorrow too—we can go together.”

Qi Lei didn’t refuse this time. While continuing to eat, he thought to himself that something was definitely odd about this man today.

Since he could remember, his father rarely visited him. Raised by his grandparents, Qi Lei had always thought he was like other kids whose parents worked in distant cities—just another “left-behind” child.

It wasn’t until he learned one day that his father had remarried and had a new child that he realized how different he was from other kids.

Qi Lei continued living with his grandparents, who fortunately adored him. Since he was the only one by their side, they gave him all their love and raised him with care, providing a happy and comfortable life.

Things changed when he started fourth grade and his grandparents wanted him to attend school in the city. Slowly, young Qi Lei began to leave their protective wing and enter the unfamiliar world.

He eventually learned the truth: his parents were divorced because his mother had betrayed his father, and he had become an unwanted burden to both sides.

Qi Lei had protested, resented, and rebelled. But all he got in return was his father’s indifference and frequent beatings. Over time, he accepted reality. With the love and support of his grandparents, he gradually stopped expecting anything more.

If it weren’t for the fear of worrying his grandparents, he wouldn’t even have listed Qi Sheng as an emergency contact this time.

After dinner, Qi Lei hesitated about whether to help with the dishes. This wasn’t really his home, and helping out felt too intimate.

Fortunately, his hesitation didn’t last long—Qi Sheng called him over to talk.

“Focus on your studies. Stop skipping class and wandering off.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be going back to the old house to fix it up for a while. If you want to come home, give me a call. I’ll pick you up.”

“No need. It’s easy to get home from school—the shuttle runs every day.”

“Take my car. That’ll make your grandparents happier.”

“Okay.”

After this brief exchange, father and son had nothing more to say.

The original version of Qi Sheng had never cared about this son from his ex-wife. For him to bring the boy home today was already very unusual. Normally, being dragged into a police station by this disliked child would have earned Qi Lei a brutal scolding—if not a beating—and nothing more.

Thinking about the original character, Qi Sheng looked at the quiet teenager and sighed internally.

Punishing a child for his mother’s mistakes… It was a cruel way to live.

With no more words between them, Qi Sheng remembered the boy would be staying the night, so he went into the study.

The Qi family home had three bedrooms and two living areas. But none of the bedrooms belonged to Qi Lei. There was the master bedroom for the couple, a secondary bedroom for Qi Hang, and a study. This family of three seemed perfectly complete, and Qi Lei—was just the extra.

Looking around the neat bookshelves, the desk, and the cozy reading chair in the study, then thinking of the single bed, toys, and instruments in Qi Hang’s room, Qi Sheng couldn’t help cursing his former self again.

That man… really was heartless.