In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 98: The Abusive Dad (4)

After lunch, Qi Sheng applied medicine to the child again before heading to the office. Not long after, he received a call from the homeroom teacher, Wang Qing.

“Mr. Qi, is Yang Yang at home? I’ve prepared some study materials for him. Would it be convenient for me to come by this afternoon?”

Naturally, Qi Sheng had no objections. After agreeing, he thanked Wang Qing repeatedly, which caught her a bit off guard.

Qi Sheng seemed to have a much better attitude this time? Thinking that, Wang Qing chalked it up to him probably not having had a nap yet—Qi Sheng had always disliked people interfering in his family matters. How could he change so suddenly?

Still, she was satisfied with the outcome. Just as she hung up, her son Lin Xuan, who had been lounging in her office, rushed over. “Mom! When you go to see Yang Yang this afternoon, take me with you!”

“No way, you still have class.”

Lin Xuan protested, “It’s just a self-study period at the end. I can make it up tonight! Mom, Yang Yang needs me the most right now. You have to take me!”

Wang Qing laughed, “Why does Yang Yang need you the most? Stop fooling around and focus on your studies.”

Lin Xuan replied with righteous conviction, “I’m his best friend! Of course I’m the one he needs most. You don’t understand, but it doesn’t matter—I’m going no matter what!”

At first Wang Qing refused, but Lin Xuan’s drama skills were top-notch. Eventually, she had no choice but to agree to let him come along. “Yay! I even prepared a gift for Yang Yang. I’ll bring it with me.”

Wang Qing nodded. “You’re really well-prepared, huh? Carrying that Transformer around every day just for this moment.”

Lin Xuan grinned and said sympathetically, “Yang Yang doesn’t even have any toys, so I’m giving him my favorite Transformer. That way, he won’t feel sad anymore.”

Wang Qing thought back to her last home visit to Qi Yang’s house—a high-end 150-square-meter apartment in a prime city neighborhood. In a place like Hai City, where land is incredibly valuable, that kind of home meant they were at least a middle-class family. And yet, despite such conditions, Yang Yang didn’t even own a toy. Did the adults not care about the child’s basic needs?

She sighed, heart aching for Yang Yang, still stuck in a household plagued by domestic abuse. Looking at the study schedule and review materials she had prepared on her desk, she added some storybooks she had stashed in her drawer to bring to him as well.

When Qi Yang woke up from his nap, he remembered that his dad was going to take him to buy a phone and a computer that evening, and he couldn’t help feeling a little excited. Besides really wanting those things, he could tell his dad was truly changing. Since that night, his father hadn’t scolded him once—he’d been gentle the whole time and even personally cooked for him. And the food… it was so delicious! Thinking of lunch made Qi Yang drool a little.

He played on the bed for a bit before going to his desk. Seeing the soft cushion his father had thoughtfully placed on his chair, he couldn’t help but smile. Was his dad getting better because he was seeing a psychologist? Psychologists were amazing!

Hmm, he decided he would study hard and become a psychologist too!

At that moment, Qi Yang found a new life goal. Qi Sheng, completely unaware that the psychologist had taken all the credit for the changes, left home that afternoon feeling smug. As his son had seen him off at the door, he could’ve sworn he saw a glimmer of reluctance in his eyes.

Qi Yang studied diligently until after 4 p.m., and just as he was about to take a break and read a storybook, he heard a knock at the door. He was puzzled—who could it be at this hour?

Before he could think much of it, he heard Wang Qing’s voice and Lin Xuan’s loud shout.

He didn’t even need to check the peephole to know it was them. He opened the door swiftly, greeted Wang Qing politely, then turned happily to look at his little friend, Lin Xuan.

“Yang Yang! I came to see you! I missed you so much! And I brought you a gift!”

Lin Xuan burst in, shouting excitedly, and proudly held up the Transformer he had in his hand.

Qi Yang smiled and accepted it, but after touching it, he handed it back. “I can’t take this. It’s your favorite toy.”

Lin Xuan waved his hand carelessly. “It used to be my favorite. I’ve moved on now. I’m giving it to you, so just take it.”

Qi Yang hesitated, but seeing Lin Xuan truly didn’t seem to mind, he finally accepted it. It was the first gift he’d ever received, and he felt happy. He carefully put the Transformer away and went to pour drinks for the guests.

Wang Qing sat in the living room, listening to the boys chat. She didn’t correct her son’s improper phrasing—she was more focused on Qi Yang. Seeing that he looked lively and walked normally, she felt more at ease. But still worried, she asked, “Yang Yang, does it still hurt where you were hurt?”

Qi Yang felt a bit awkward, but he knew the teacher was concerned, so he answered honestly, “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s already healed.”

Neither of them said anything after that, but Lin Xuan suddenly burst out: “Don’t worry, Yang Yang! I’ve started learning Taekwondo. If he dares hit you again, I’ll come help you!”

Then, thinking about his current skill level, he added, “Even if I can’t beat him, my coach definitely can! My coach is super awesome—he’ll beat the big bad guy into the ground!”

In the past, Qi Yang might’ve giggled along with Lin Xuan’s fantasy. But now, hearing him say this made him feel a little uncomfortable.

“Xuan Xuan, my dad said he’ll never hit me again. He’s been really nice these past few days, and even cooked for me. Please don’t talk about him like that anymore.”

Lin Xuan was a bit frustrated to see his buddy suddenly no longer on the same side. He had the same “disappointed teacher” expression that Wang Qing often used on him and started lecturing Qi Yang: “Yang Yang, why are you switching sides all of a sudden? You can’t be won over just because he made you a few meals. He’s your dad—he’s supposed to cook for you. My dad cooks for me too, and he’s never hit me.”

Lin Xuan’s father was also a teacher at their school, and Qi Yang liked Mr. Lin very much. He had even once wished that his own dad could be as gentle as Mr. Lin.

“But my dad said he won’t hit me anymore. He really is changing.”

Seeing his friend still defending Qi Sheng, Lin Xuan got upset: “We’re supposed to defeat the big bad villain together, and now you’re just letting him off the hook after a couple sweet words? Did you forget how hard he used to hit you? Even this last time!”

As he spoke, Lin Xuan tried to lift Qi Yang’s shirt to check his injuries, but Qi Yang tightly held onto his clothes and wouldn’t let him.

“See? You don’t even dare let me see. Did he hit you really hard again? Yang Yang, you can’t go soft. We need to stand united!”

Lin Xuan was still trying to persuade his friend when Wang Qing finally intervened.

“Xuan Xuan, stop messing around. If Yang Yang’s dad really can change for the better, that’s the best outcome for him. You really think a little kid like you can defeat a grown-up?”

Lin Xuan grunted in frustration. This wasn’t how he imagined things would go at all. He was supposed to be the brave warrior, clad in armor and wielding a sword, saving little Yang Yang from the evil villain!

Qi Yang saw that his friend was angry and gently tugged on his hand to comfort him. “My dad really is getting better. He even promised to take me out tonight to buy a phone and a computer.”

“Really? He really promised to buy them for you?”

Qi Yang nodded earnestly. He still wanted to believe in Qi Sheng.

Lin Xuan perked up. “Great! When you get your phone, you have to add me as a friend. Then I’ll introduce my taekwondo coach to you—if your dad hits you again, you can come to us for help!”

“Oh, and you have to put the police hotline in the most visible place. If he dares to hit you again, you call the police!”

Qi Yang still wanted to believe Qi Sheng wouldn’t hit him anymore, but given the many broken promises before, he nodded and agreed just to be safe.

After the boys finished talking, Wang Qing finally took the learning materials out of her bag.

“Yang Yang, this is the learning schedule for each subject and the homework assignments. Even though you’re resting at home, you mustn’t fall behind.”

Qi Yang accepted them with both hands and sincerely thanked Wang Qing. When he saw there was a storybook in the middle, he thought she had accidentally included it.

“Yang Yang, don’t take it out. That book is a gift from me—to reward you for being such a brave boy.”

Wang Qing walked over to Qi Yang and looked at him earnestly. “Yang Yang, don’t lose heart. Things will slowly get better.”

Qi Yang’s eyes welled up, and he gave her a deep bow. The atmosphere was touching—until someone stepped in to ruin the moment.

“Yang Yang, take me to your room! I haven’t seen it yet!”

Qi Yang saw how excited his little buddy was and led him into the bedroom with the materials and book in hand.

Lin Xuan had been curious about Qi Yang’s room the whole time, but when he finally saw it, he was a little disappointed.

He frowned at the mostly empty room. Although it was much bigger than his, it felt so bare—no anime posters, no guitar or badminton racket like his own room, no computer on the desk, no toys on the bed. It just wasn’t fun.

“Yang Yang, next time I’ll bring you some anime posters. Your room is way too boring.”

Qi Yang shook his head. “No need, I don’t like those.” Actually, it wasn’t that he didn’t like them. He was just afraid Qi Sheng wouldn’t.

Lin Xuan thought Qi Yang truly didn’t like them, so he didn’t insist. Seeing the Transformer toy on the desk, he got excited again. “It’s okay—at least you’ve got my Bumblebee now.”

Qi Yang smiled and agreed. The two boys played for a while, and Wang Qing left when it was about time.

Not long after she left, Qi Sheng returned home. Seeing the glasses of water on the coffee table, he knew Ms. Wang had already visited.

When his son came over to help carry his briefcase, Qi Sheng smiled and ruffled his hair. “Yang Yang, go get ready. I’ll take you out to dinner, and then we’ll go buy a phone.”

Qi Yang was thrilled to hear that. Because of past disappointments, he had learned to never get his hopes up too soon. Only at this moment did he allow himself to feel excited about getting a phone.

The two went to the mall and had dinner on the lower level. Qi Sheng initially wanted the boy to order, but seeing him hesitate, he ordered himself.

“Yang Yang, I got sweet and sour pork and crucian carp tofu soup. Try them and see if you like them—Daddy knows how to cook both too.”

Seeing his son nod obediently, Qi Sheng added, “Yang Yang, remember what Daddy said. In the future, if you want something or like something, you have to say it out loud. Don’t make me guess all the time.”

Qi Yang noticed his dad looked a little serious and immediately sat up straight, nodding earnestly. His serious little face made Qi Sheng chuckle.

“No need to be nervous. Daddy just wants you to express yourself so I know how to take better care of you.”

Seeing his dad still in a good mood, Qi Yang relaxed again. He smiled and said okay—but when Qi Sheng wasn’t looking, he snuck a glance at him.

Can I really say what I want?