In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 87: The Runaway Dad (End)

Qi Yudong had lived a smooth and prosperous life in this world. For the first twenty years, he was a genuine super-rich second-generation heir. His parents spoiled him, and he shared a deep bond with his brothers—he had enjoyed all the good things life could offer.

The next ten years were his journey of entrepreneurship. Although he worked hard, it was thanks to his great father that he encountered very few setbacks.

Later, he inherited his father’s business, and step by step, Qi Yudong ascended to the throne of a true big shot. He became a solid winner in life, a shining example of someone reborn. But as his life approached its final moment, the biggest regret he had hidden in his heart was still something he couldn’t truly let go of.

He could never forget that he was Qi Yuxi. He couldn’t let go of the family from that poor world.

In that world, his grandparents were nearly seventy, suffering from old age illnesses that required them to take medicine daily without rest. Even so, they still insisted on riding a small tricycle every day to the market six or seven miles away to sell vegetables.

They had never enjoyed any happiness in their lives. They worked tirelessly to earn money and still lived frugally, all so they could save a little more for their grandchildren.

The brothers in that world weren’t as fortunate as him. They had never felt the love of their parents and had never experienced a carefree life.

He couldn’t help but worry. If his rebirth was due to an accident in the original world, what would become of his family, who already lived in such hardship?

His grandparents would have to endure another family tragedy, and what about his brothers?

First Treasure and Third Treasure had such good grades, but if they lost the money he sent back every month, would they have to give up on going to university? They could have had a much better life. Fourth Treasure, that fool, still had no skills and, in the other world, could have become an international superstar before he turned thirty.

And Fifth Treasure—he hadn’t found Fifth Treasure yet. He wasn’t even sure if that sickly, fragile little one was still alive. He wanted to find him as soon as possible and pamper him like their father had done in the other world, treating him like the carefree little prince he deserved to be.

At the moment of his death, Qi Yudong thought of so many things. And then, in what felt like the blink of an eye or an eternity, he suddenly opened his eyes again.

He was back!

Qi Yuxi had returned!

Qi Yuxi was both excited and unable to hold back his tears. After he calmed down in the bathroom, he realized that he was still barefoot.

He walked back to the dormitory, breathing in the unbearable stench of sweat and feet. Qi Yuxi couldn’t help but sigh. It was so easy to fall into luxury but so hard to return to a simple life. He hadn’t minded it before, but now he felt like he couldn’t stand even a second. Yet, no matter how hard it was to bear, he had to endure it. Gripping his resolve, Qi Yuxi realized just how delicate he had become. It was incredibly difficult to bear!

It was only six in the morning, and no one else in the dorm had woken up yet. Qi Yuxi took out his toiletries from under the bed and gave himself a thorough wash. By the time he returned to the dorm, a few of the others had sat up.

Chang Lin, the clinical supervisor, looked at Qi Yuxi strangely and asked, “Xiao Xi, why are you up so early today? From now on, there won’t be much work on the site. You should be resting properly. I saw you yesterday, you looked so pale from exhaustion, and I was worried you wouldn’t be able to get up today. But you’re young, so you recover quickly. Still, you’re young, don’t work yourself to the bone like this!”

Qi Yuxi replied, “I understand, Uncle Chang.”

“Uncle Chang, since there isn’t much work now, does the site really need so many people? My family called me a couple of days ago, asking me to come home. I was thinking of going back and taking a look.”

Chang Lin gave him an exasperated look and scolded, “What’s wrong with you, kid? The work’s not heavy right now, but the pay’s the same. Why would you go home now? Listen to me, stay a few more days—you can earn a little more.”

Qi Yuxi smiled and shook his head. “Uncle, I know your good intentions, but there’s indeed something at home. You’ve already taken great care of me, and leaving now won’t leave me at a loss.”

“Ah, you child…”

Chang Lin wanted to persuade him again, but seeing how determined Qi Yuxi was, he didn’t say more. “Alright then. I’ll talk to the foreman and have him settle your wages for this month.”

Qi Yuxi thanked him and continued resting on the bed.

When he was taking a shower earlier, he had already thought about his next steps. At that moment, when he had just woken up, he didn’t feel much, but once the hot water hit him, the fatigue from his body came rushing in. Though youth made recovery faster, he feared that if he kept working like this, his body might develop problems. It would be better to leave early. That small amount of money—he could easily earn more in the next few days by other means.

The people on the construction site were all quite decent, so after breakfast, the foreman settled his wages for the month. Qi Yuxi checked the balance on his phone—about eighty thousand, including his salary for the month and the savings he had been putting aside.

He thought about the current prices. Every meal would cost at least fifty or sixty, and even a simple piece of clothing would cost over two hundred. So, considering the inflation, that amount of money didn’t seem like much.

He didn’t plan on going straight home. After returning, his memories of this world gradually became clearer. He had spoken to his grandparents just a few days ago, so the most important thing now was earning money.

In that world, his grandparents, mother, and five brothers had the strongest father behind them. In this world, he needed to become the pillar of support for his family so that they could also enjoy the happiness he once had.

Having made up his mind, he first found a place to stay in the city and then went back to the mall to buy a high-performance computer. As he held the computer, Qi Yuxi couldn’t help but sigh. Without the “golden-legged” father, the butterfly effect, his smart brain hadn’t been developed yet. Although he found the computer somewhat outdated, the only thing to be happy about was that the coding skills that seemed poor in Third Treasure’s eyes could now be shown off here. Even though the smart brain couldn’t be developed, hiding his identity online was still no problem.

So, for the next few months, Qi Yuxi entered into a mode of making money. Having been a big shot in another world, his expertise was in finance. Though the world had changed, his vision remained sharp. In just a few months, after completing several projects, he had already attracted a group of people wanting to collaborate with him.

Xu Zheng: “Xifeng, we’re about to become partners. Let’s go out for a meal and meet up?”

Xifeng: “No, you’ve forgotten the condition for working with me— we won’t meet in person for five years.”

Xu Zheng, on the other side of the computer, saw the reply and thought to himself, “As expected. We’ve known each other for months, but this person is still so mysterious. He even had a few business friends try to probe him, and the condition was always the same: no meetings for five years. Despite this, he still doesn’t seem to be someone just anyone can collaborate with. True talent really does give people such an air.”

Qi Yuxi had no idea what Xu Zheng thought of him. He truly couldn’t reveal himself. No one would believe that the person who had stirred up so much trouble in the past few days was just a junior high school graduate working on a construction site not long ago.

Qi Yuxi was extremely efficient in making money. With his life secured, he finally felt ready to go home.

When Grandpa Qi and Grandma Qi heard he was coming back, they were incredibly excited. They prepared a big spread of delicious food and waited for him at the door. The three brothers were the same. It had been nearly a year since they’d seen him, and their biggest worry was Qi Yuxi, who had been away.

The five of them had prepared comforting words, but when they saw him, Grandma was left speechless.

Grandma had thought her grandson, having worked outside, would return looking thin and dark. But to her surprise, the person who showed up was not only fair and clean but also in great spirits. She couldn’t quite describe it, but she felt that her grandson was now different.

Both Grandpa and Grandma could feel the change, let alone the brothers who were like family to him.

After the meal, First Treasure and Third Treasure didn’t clean up the dishes as usual. Instead, they directly pulled Qi Yuxi into their room.

First Treasure’s face darkened as he asked, “Who are you?”

Fourth Treasure, not understanding what First Treasure meant, asked in return, “First Treasure, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

First Treasure glared at him and reminded him, “Don’t you think something’s different about him?”

Fourth Treasure scratched his messy yellow hair and hesitated before saying, “It does feel different, but why are we asking who he is? Isn’t he Second Treasure?”

Seeing that this brother couldn’t catch on, First Treasure didn’t bother with him anymore. Third Treasure, however, understood First Treasure’s intent and the two of them scrutinized Qi Yuxi, both worried and wary.

Qi Yuxi smiled. “Is the change that obvious?”

He knew just how obvious the change was. He hadn’t tried to disguise himself in front of his brothers, but seeing First Treasure and Third Treasure begin to suspect him upon the first glance, Qi Yuxi couldn’t help but marvel at how they truly were quintuplets. Of course, silly Fourth Treasure could be ignored.

Looking at the two brothers who were still staring at him without saying anything, Qi Yuxi raised his hand in surrender. “I really am Qi Yuxi, just… the Qi Yuxi from another world.”

Seeing they didn’t understand, Qi Yuxi began to slowly explain his life in the other world.

The whole reincarnation thing was strange, but he didn’t want to hide it from these few people. What he hated most was the father of this world, yet he had to be grateful to him because he had given him the most reliable brothers in this world.

Once he finished speaking, the room fell into silence. Qi Yuxi didn’t say anything more, waiting for his brothers to ask questions.

The first to break the silence was Fourth Treasure: “Second Treasure, have you been reading too many internet novels? How could reincarnation happen? I think you just had a dream.”

“But this is a pretty good dream! You’ve even glorified that terrible person. Who would’ve thought I could become an international superstar? Hahaha, I told you I was born with beauty and talent— I’m definitely the most promising!”

Qi Yuxi looked at Fourth Treasure, who was laughing foolishly, and couldn’t help but feel a bit exasperated. How had he never realized how stupid this brother was?

He silently pulled out his phone, opened the bank balance, and waved it in front of Fourth Treasure. “Here, take a look at this.”

Fourth Treasure scoffed and rolled his eyes. He took the phone and glanced at it, only to be shocked.

“Holy crap, one, two, three… seven zeros! Qi Yuxi, did you rob a bank?!”

Qi Yuxi glared at Fourth Treasure. “Keep your voice down,” he said, then took the phone back and handed it to First Treasure and Third Treasure.

No matter how mature First Treasure and Third Treasure were, they couldn’t stay calm when they saw the unimaginable amount of money. They stared at their brother, still calm in front of them, and it took a while for their emotions to settle.

Finally, First Treasure, who was more resolute, spoke up. “Is this really the money you’ve earned in the past few months?”

Qi Yuxi nodded.

“Is what you said earlier true?”

Qi Yuxi nodded again. “Otherwise, do you think with my abilities before, aside from doing hard labor, how could I have earned money?”

First Treasure sat in front of Qi Yuxi, looking at his brother— both familiar and unfamiliar. He asked, “Was that person really that good?”

Qi Yuxi, who had been calm just moments ago, became a little unsettled when First Treasure mentioned Qi Sheng. He took a deep breath, his eyes reddening as he looked at his expectant brothers and said, “Dad was great. He spoiled us, and he loved Mom. When we turned thirty, he handed over the family business to us, then took Mom to travel the world. Grandpa and Grandma were also very happy in that world. With him there, it was like heaven.”

Third Treasure softly murmured after hearing this, “That’s really nice.”

It took Fourth Treasure until now to react. He grabbed Qi Yuxi and, under Qi Yuxi’s glare, finally didn’t shout out, “So, everything you said just now is true?”

Fourth Treasure was envious to the point of bursting. “Your luck is too good. Why didn’t I get reincarnated…”

As soon as he said this, even First Treasure and Third Treasure looked at Qi Yuxi with red eyes. Qi Yuxi chuckled. “Don’t look at me like that. It wasn’t something I could decide. When I was reincarnated, I was pretty confused myself.”

His words clearly seemed like he was getting an advantage and playing coy, so he was met with a collective glare from all three brothers. After a bit of playful bickering, First Treasure finally asked, “What are you planning to do now?”

Qi Yuxi said, “First, let’s fix the house. Money isn’t a problem now. We’ll never let Grandpa and Grandma worry again.”

All the brothers agreed, and Qi Yuxi continued, “First Treasure and Third Treasure are smart and capable. Whatever you want to learn, go for it. Whatever university you want to get into, you can. In that world, one of you was a physicist and the other an expert in artificial intelligence. I believe you two can also make great achievements in this world.”

Fourth Treasure, hearing this, pouted and complained, “What about me? I can’t even become a big star.”

Qi Yuxi replied, “Why can’t you? If you want to, nothing’s impossible. You love singing, right? The art school tuition was too expensive before, but now I’m here, and you can learn whatever you want.”

Fourth Treasure’s eyes lit up at this, filled with expectation and even some fantasies.

Seeing him like this, Qi Yuxi had to remind him, “Becoming a star also depends on luck. Don’t set becoming an international superstar as your only goal. After all, there’s a difference between the two worlds.”

He then conveyed the same message to First Treasure and Third Treasure.

First Treasure smiled, “Don’t worry. We won’t dream unrealistic dreams. We’re different from them after all.”

Qi Yuxi was reassured upon hearing this. After discussing the three brothers, he thought of Fifth Treasure, and his expression darkened again.

“I’ll keep looking for Fifth Treasure. I refuse to believe it. He’s a living person, and with such a distinct face, we can’t not find him!”

Fourth Treasure, remembering Fifth Treasure, felt a pang of sadness and added, “I won’t stop my livestream either. Though I don’t have many fans, at least I have some influence. I hope Fifth Treasure sees it.”

Third Treasure kicked his foot and spoke with a heavy tone, “Do you think Fifth Treasure might not want to see us? Or maybe he…”

Qi Yuxi’s eyes reddened at the words and his tone grew serious. “He’s definitely living his own little life somewhere. Hmph, I don’t care whether he wants to see us or not. No matter what, I will find him!”

After talking about Fifth Treasure, Fourth Treasure stopped for a moment before grabbing Qi Yuxi’s phone and staring at the bank balance, grinning foolishly. “Hehehe, I’ve never seen so much money!”

Third Treasure saw him laughing foolishly and couldn’t help but look with him. In the end, even the usually steady First Treasure leaned over to look. The three of them stared at the long string of numbers, and suddenly, the mountain of pressure that had been on them for so long vanished. Their lives were no longer filled with gloom!

First Treasure stared for a while, his eyes feeling a little moist. He turned to Qi Yuxi, who was sitting nearby eating fruit, and teased, “So, you finally managed to seize the throne in that world?”

Qi Yuxi chuckled. “Well, there was an opportunity. I also got a chance to be the boss. It wasn’t easy, though. That day, I almost cried my voice out…”

He started saying it happily, but then suddenly choked up. Fourth Treasure, still staring at the phone, couldn’t help but turn to look at him.

“What’s wrong? Why the sad face?”

Qi Yuxi wiped his face, finally realizing what had happened. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Turns out, Dad knew I was reincarnated all along. I thought I hid it really well.”

Recalling everything, Qi Yuxi couldn’t help but mutter, “Since he knew, why did he still bully me like that!”

Third Treasure, seeing him like this, couldn’t resist kicking him lightly. “Enjoying the benefits and pretending to be innocent. At least you have a dad.”

Qi Yuxi laughed. “Having one means you all have one too.”

Third Treasure smirked. “Now that sounds about right.”

The night passed, and Qi Yuxi’s grand-parents suddenly realized that their second grandson had really made something of himself. Not only did he earn a lot of money, but he also knew how to be filial, which made the old couple very happy. The years of frustration they’d felt because their son had abandoned everything were finally fading away.

One year later, Qi Yuxi finally found Fifth Treasure, who was working as an apprentice in a small restaurant. Seeing his frail body going in and out, serving food and carrying trays, Qi Yuxi couldn’t hold back any longer. He snatched the tray from his hands and finished all the work for him. Afterward, he pulled his quiet little brother aside and said, “Fifth Treasure, I’m here to take you home!”

Oh my five cutie treasures. I wish you lifetime happiness in every world.