In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 90: Phoenix Dad (3)

The girl who greeted them was named Lin Lin — the same beauty whom Qi Sheng had just broken up with the night before.

Lin Lin was undeniably beautiful. Even in the entertainment industry, where handsome men and pretty women were common, she stood out. Though her acting skills were average and she didn’t have any notable talent, her looks and figure were more than enough. With just one idol drama under her belt, she quickly rose to fame as a popular young starlet, a testament to the public’s approval of her appearance.

The original Qi Sheng had been captivated by Lin Lin’s stunning appearance during a business banquet. Despite having seen countless beautiful women and having no intention of committing to any one of them, he had the sudden idea of keeping her as a long-term mistress. Later, when Lin Lin discovered the internal strife within the Qi family and secretly became pregnant with his child, he tacitly allowed it.

Lin Lin had never met Qi Ningrui before. Though she had heard that Qi Sheng had a son about her age, she assumed he was still abroad. So when she saw Qi Sheng dining with a young man, she naturally thought he was a business associate or subordinate. Normally, Lin Lin was quite tactful and wouldn’t interrupt him during a meal. But Qi Sheng had broken up with her abruptly the day before and had his secretary inform her today that they were no longer associated in any way.

Lin Lin wasn’t willing to let go of her relationship with Qi Sheng so easily. What bothered her most was not understanding why someone who had seemed so fond of her suddenly turned cold. She had gained many valuable resources through him and wasn’t willing to be dismissed so carelessly. Although the secretary assured her that the previously promised resources would still be provided, she couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied.

Lin Lin was actually quite satisfied with Qi Sheng as a benefactor. Though he was a bit older, he treated her well, was generous, and didn’t have any strange habits. That’s why she was eager to patch things up.

Knowing Qi Sheng liked her face and figure, Lin Lin put a lot of effort into her appearance that day. She chose a green dress that best highlighted her curves — youthful with a hint of sexiness — just the way he used to like it.

She came in confident, with a smile that struck the perfect balance of charm and grace. But after just a single greeting, both men at the table looked visibly displeased.

Lin Lin might not have much real skill, but she could read people well. She immediately sensed something was wrong and tried to salvage the situation with a few more words. But before she could speak, the young man across the table beat her to it.

“Dad, I have something to take care of. I’ll head out first.” Qi Ningrui glanced at the stunning girl, and his first reaction was disgust. He had completely lost his appetite. With a dark expression, he spoke, then left without waiting for Qi Sheng to respond.

If today hadn’t gone smoothly, he might not have been able to control his emotions. Thankfully, he managed to keep it together this time.

But self-control aside, his heart was still heavy. His father was now openly keeping a mistress, thoroughly disgracing his mother. And as her son, he couldn’t even stand up for her. Instead, he had to pretend not to care and keep acting like the obedient, well-mannered son.

The faint glimmer of hope Qi Ningrui had felt toward his father earlier had now vanished without a trace. If there were an emotional progress bar, his hatred and resentment toward Qi Sheng would be at full capacity—and then some.

Qi Ningrui left so decisively that Qi Sheng didn’t even have time to call him back. Still, he was slightly surprised that his son merely left with a cold face instead of causing a scene. After all, in the original story, the former Qi Sheng had been quite fond of Lin Lin and even allowed her to accompany him for lunch near the company.

Back then, Qi Ningrui had been about to visit the company and caught his father having lunch with his mistress. Thinking of his mother all alone at home, sad and aggrieved, he had lashed out in anger. The restaurant had been crowded, including several acquaintances of the father and son, making the scene quite embarrassing. It had even become a juicy piece of gossip in upper-class circles.

Now that his son hadn’t made a scene, Qi Sheng was glad to have saved face. But looking at the panic-stricken beauty before him, he didn’t feel the least bit appreciative — just exhausted and disinclined to speak.

His silence only made Lin Lin more anxious. If not for the setting, she might have clung to his leg and started crying.

Though Lin Lin had been in the entertainment industry for years and knew that some powerful men did keep mistresses, they often hated it when these relationships affected their public image. This time, she hadn’t just gone public — she had interrupted a father-son meal. And even if she couldn’t read Qi Sheng’s expression, his silence terrified her.

“President Qi, I… I didn’t know—”

“This is the first time. Let’s part on good terms.”

Qi Sheng didn’t scold Lin Lin. He had no interest in making things difficult for a young woman. Even if she had been scheming, it still took two to tango. If the original Qi Sheng hadn’t gotten involved with her, none of this would have happened. But letting her off easy didn’t mean he wouldn’t give a warning. Otherwise, he could forget about earning any points with his son.

Lin Lin only wanted Qi Sheng to let her off the hook this time. Seeing his cold expression and indifference, she no longer dared to hope for anything more. Hearing that he wouldn’t pursue the matter, she quickly apologized and practically ran out in her ten-centimeter heels.

Once she was gone, Qi Sheng sighed. One problem resolved — but his son’s goodwill had dropped to rock bottom again. He had a headache. The road ahead was long and hard.

He no longer held any hope for a harmonious family reunion in this world. The original host had been too much of a scumbag and had completely broken Ning Man’s heart. All Qi Sheng could do now was raise their son well and make up to Ning Man little by little. Remembering the original’s ten years of reckless behavior, Qi Sheng decided to craft the image of a reformed playboy — someone who had finally grown up. Once his son was well-established and the company shares handed over, he could start living a more laid-back, Zen lifestyle.

With that decision made, Qi Sheng felt much better. He had planned to head back to the original host’s nearby residence, but just then, his phone rang — a call from a business associate.

“President Qi, there’s a small gathering over on South Street tonight — just me, Old Liu, and Old Zhang. Want to come hang out?”

The man on the phone was named Wei Song, the head of an entertainment agency. He was well-known for his wild lifestyle, especially in matters involving women. Lin Lin had originally been a “gift” he intended to present to the circle, and after she clung to Qi Sheng, Wei Song had gained some benefits himself. Always wanting to maintain a good relationship with Qi Sheng, Wei Song had, upon receiving Lin Lin’s plea for help that morning, not only tried to help her win back Qi Sheng but also made backup plans.

Based on his extensive experience in the world of nightlife, Wei Song guessed that Qi Sheng had grown tired of Lin Lin. So, he specifically organized a gathering today, planning to introduce a few new fresh beauties to Qi Sheng. This time, Wei Song went all out—not only did he prepare some gorgeous women, but he also included two young and handsome men.

Qi Sheng had no idea that the gathering was basically a spider’s web filled with beauties and pretty boys. Since he had decided to adopt the persona of a reformed playboy, he thought it was best to start by cutting ties with these hedonistic friends.

So he said, “Not today. I’m not in the mood.”

Wei Song asked, “What’s the matter, President Qi? Anything I can help with?”

Qi Sheng replied, “Nothing. You all have fun. I have something to take care of—hanging up now.”

Though he didn’t explain, Qi Sheng knew that those who watched him closely would quickly piece things together. Even though Qi Ningrui hadn’t caused a scene today, the more observant bystanders likely noticed something. And sure enough, not long after he ended the call, Wei Song—who had access to all kinds of information channels—had already found out what had happened that evening.

Wei Song commented, “Looks like things won’t be smooth for Old Qi for a while.”

Everyone present knew Qi Sheng’s rise to power. President Zhang laughed and said, “So what? Back when that kid from the Qi family was making a fuss, didn’t President Qi ignore it completely and just send the boy overseas? He was gone for seven years, and I never saw Qi Sheng show even a hint of softness.”

President Liu added, “Can’t say for sure. He only has one son, after all. How ruthless can he really be? And the kid didn’t even throw a tantrum today—seems like he’s starting to see things clearly.”

Wei Song chuckled, “One son? Come on, President Qi is still in his prime. Who knows, in a few years, he might have more!”

The others raised their eyebrows. Whatever they really thought about Qi Sheng, they kept it to themselves. Some of them disdained the fact that he built his success off his wife’s family and later treated Ning Man so heartlessly. But in the business world where profit was king, Qi Sheng held too many valuable resources. None of them would risk offending him for someone irrelevant.

Like Wei Song and the others, there were plenty of people gossiping about Qi Sheng, but it all stayed within their private circles. Increasingly, the attention turned to what the future held for the Qi family, the Ning family, and Lemon E-commerce.

While the men discussed profits and business strategies, the women had more time to “sympathize” with Ning Man.

Wealthy Lady A said, “I used to be jealous of Ning Man. Thought she lived so freely and elegantly. Looking at it now, business marriages aren’t so bad. At least they’re mutually beneficial—neither side really loses.”

Wealthy Lady B added, “Ning Man was naive. No matter how much you love someone, you shouldn’t give them everything without thinking. If it were me, I’d hold on tight to all the shares and assets in my name. These men—once they lose control, there’s no telling what nonsense they’ll pull.”

Wealthy Lady C said, “You’re right. But still, Qi Sheng only has one son. Won’t everything eventually return to Ning Man’s hands? What’s he being so ruthless for?”

Wealthy Lady A replied, “Don’t be so sure. These days, there are plenty of vixens scheming to rise in the ranks. Who knows—maybe in a few years, Qi Ningrui will have a bunch of younger brothers. If Qi Sheng really wants to cut Ning’s side out of the picture completely, it’s hard to say if Qi Ningrui will even have a right to inherit anything.”

After hearing that analysis, all the wealthy women present felt uneasy. Whether they were watching the drama unfold or genuinely sympathizing with Ning Man, they all agreed on one thing: Qi Sheng was the ultimate scumbag.

Qi Sheng, who had already been a “male god” in several worlds, had no idea that not only was his favorability rating with his wife and son at rock bottom, but he had also become the universally acknowledged #1 scumbag among the city’s upper-class ladies. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t be surprised. He might just comfort himself with the thought that after playing a male god for so long, it was time for a change—why not try being a human disaster for once?

In the days that followed, Qi Ningrui, whether deliberately or not, barely contacted Qi Sheng and kept himself busy familiarizing with the company’s operations.

Since his son wasn’t seeking him out, Qi Sheng didn’t want to shamelessly pester him either. He could only occasionally ask Gao Xin for updates on his son’s work, which also conveniently signaled how much he valued the boy.

Gao Xin, being frequently mentioned by the big boss, couldn’t help but grow curious. From the way President Qi was acting, was Qi Ningrui really going to be the future heir?

With that signal received, Gao Xin, wanting to build a good relationship with the future power holder, put even more effort into mentoring Qi Ningrui—indirectly making his progress in the company even smoother.

That day, there was a grand auction gala in Haishi. Qi Sheng, missing his kid whom he hadn’t seen in days, eagerly went over to strike up a conversation.

“Son, tonight’s auction will have a wide variety of items. Interested in coming along?”

Qi Ningrui instinctively didn’t want to spend time with Qi Sheng. But he also knew that outright refusal would only worsen their relationship. He wasn’t yet disciplined enough to fully control his emotions, and his recent distance had been to avoid slipping up and revealing too much.

Now that the man had made the effort to be friendly, he had no choice but to accept. “Okay, Dad. Give me a moment—I’ll be ready soon.”

Qi Sheng, seeing his son respond positively, immediately and unceremoniously pulled up a chair and sat beside him to watch him work.

Qi Ningrui: …

If this had been before, he might not have thought much of it—after all, this man had sat this close to tutor him on homework many times. But their relationship was no longer what it once was, and the sudden closeness now made him feel uncomfortable.

Still, he kept a straight face, only picking up the pace of his work.

Qi Sheng didn’t care if his son was awkward. Determined to earn his favorability points, he even seriously reviewed his son’s project plan. “This is a good idea, but I suggest you tie it in with some local market research. Here and here—these areas can still be developed further.”

When it came to work, Qi Ningrui didn’t slack. Hearing the advice, he genuinely considered it. He had already grasped most of the business basics, so with Qi Sheng’s pointers, he immediately realized several areas that could be improved. Being able to perfect the project plan lifted his spirits, and the two ended up discussing the overall proposal in detail for quite some time.

Qi Ningrui listened carefully to Qi Sheng’s explanations. Watching the man’s focused and patient demeanor, he suddenly recalled the times they used to spend together.

For a brief moment, Qi Ningrui was dazed.

If only this person had never changed…