Translator: Lynn
Li Weidu’s father, a man driven by his romantic impulses, married three times in total.
Li Weidu’s mother was the first wife. The second wife, whose marriage with him was brief, bore another son. Now in his early twenties, this son has unfortunately grown into a libertine, inheriting none of his father’s good qualities but all his flaws. He spends his days squandering money and chasing after women, much to the dismay of the entire family.
The third wife is Aunt Bai, whom Li Weidu now affectionately calls “Mom.” She has a daughter, said to be a gifted dominatrix in elementary school, who was placed in a special class in junior high. Busy with research projects from a young age, she only comes home once or twice a year.
“With Weidu’s father having so many lovers outside, there may be other children I don’t know about,” Aunt Bai would often confide in Ji Kai, wiping away her tears. The grievances she had suffered over the years seemed to pour out of her like a flood when she spoke of them, leading to repeated apologies and regret.
“I’m so sorry. I really shouldn’t have told you so much behind Weidu’s back.”
From the perspective of a former wife, Ji Kai felt it was completely understandable. If not for the car accident right after his own divorce, which had erased all his nostalgia and grievances, and being moved by Li Weidu’s care, he would likely still be cursing Zhu Ling for being heartless while munching on kebabs with friends.
Compared to Zhu Ling’s secretive affair, Mr. Li’s blatant romantic escapades were astonishing. A large black-and-white photo of Li Weidu’s biological mother hung prominently in the mansion. The last time Ji Kai looked at it, he almost believed in Mr. Li’s supposed nostalgia.
However, during his marriage to Li Weidu’s mother, Mr. Li continuously cheated on her with the “only woman he had ever loved.” His notorious deeds included, but were not limited to, holding hands with an old lover on his wedding night, moving out to live with this lover just three months after marriage, stealing his son’s boyfriend’s mother, and having his mistresses fight amongst themselves.
“That man can’t live without women. He won’t let go of any pretty woman. The type of woman who willingly crawls into his bed? He welcomes them all. Just like Ye Yin’s mother, he even bought her a bag worth tens of thousands.”
“That woman has been his mistress to this day, always stirring up trouble. Is she the reason he wants to divorce me? If I lose to such a shameless woman, ugh… I might as well just die.”
However, the truth was even more unacceptable than Aunt Bai expected.
One day, Li Weidu received a phone call and lost his temper so much that he smashed his phone.
“Look at you, getting angry and breaking things. Also, you scared Guo Maomao!”
Ji Kai thought he was angry at his subordinates and tried to calm him down. But Li Weidu, feeling extremely wronged, exclaimed, “Yes, the hedgehog is more important than me!” and stormed out.
Ji Kai had never seen such a fight before, so he quickly stopped him, using all his strength to press him down on the sofa and soothe him.
The call had been from his father, informing him of his remarriage.
“He couldn’t choose anyone else and decided to be with that woman? He said she was young back then, but now she realizes her mistakes and wants to change. He expects me to attend the wedding and give my blessing?!”
Li’s father was planning to remarry his former second wife, the woman who had abused Li Weidu and beaten him until he was covered in injuries.
Aunt Bai was devastated: “For over ten years, that woman has slandered me as her mistress. But Weidu’s father and I only met after they divorced. She was the one who destroyed their family!”
“But what can I do? A person with a heart of snakes and scorpions, yet with a particularly beautiful, innocent face.”
“Weidu’s father once told me that as long as a beauty like her doesn’t commit murder, a man won’t care about her past! As long as she looks good, nothing else matters! Is the world really so superficial?”
Ji Kai thought people really need to be grateful sometimes. Fate, even if it brings bad experiences, also hones you and provides necessary growth, giving you the strength and resilience to face future challenges.
For instance, during the three years of his marriage to Zhu Ling, Ji Kai became accustomed to the constant squabbles among Zhu Ling’s relatives during every holiday.
Over time, this experience naturally toughened his resolve and sharpened his calm demeanor. Thus, when faced with the drama of “the patriarch of a wealthy family inviting you for tea,” he could maintain his composure.
One day, Ji Kai found himself sipping coffee on the sofa in a small teahouse, listening to Li Weidu’s father. As an associate professor in the Department of Law, he was quite adept at conversing with educated individuals. Li’s father, a well-known figure on the rich list who saw himself as “noble,” was no exception. Despite his airs, there was an element of pretense to him.
Li’s father wasn’t as volatile as Ji Kai’s poor relatives, who would erupt into anger and spew harsh words at the drop of a hat. Instead, he first attempted to brainwash Ji Kai about the woman he planned to marry, waxing lyrical about recognizing and correcting his mistakes. Ji Kai remained silent, refraining from commenting. Then, Li’s father tried to persuade Ji Kai to talk to Li Weidu, but Ji Kai ignored this, maintaining basic respect as the other was an elder. Noticing Ji Kai’s indifference, Li’s father shifted tactics, reminiscing about Li Weidu’s childhood.
Now, Ji Kai listened attentively.
“Really… only nineteen years old? Starting his own company at such a young age!”
As he stirred his coffee, Ji Kai felt a growing sense of admiration. He had previously assumed Li Weidu was just another privileged heir, but learning about his entrepreneurial spirit at a young age made him appreciate him more.
Li’s father, with his chiseled features, looked grim and unsmiling.
“What’s the point of success? What kind of small company makes a little money from a lousy game? He didn’t focus on his studies when he should have. He refused to pursue a doctorate with his uncle or join me in real estate. I, Li Changji, have a son who’s unwilling to inherit the family business. Every time someone mentions his ‘success,’ it feels like they’re mocking me!”
Ji Kai found this amusing. Really, the father wants his son to inherit hundreds of millions, but the son is uninterested. The woes of the wealthy are indeed unique.
“Uncle, don’t think that way. Weidu’s company is quite profitable, and doesn’t he have younger siblings? Since he likes programming and can support himself while being happy, isn’t that enough?”
A cold glint flashed in Li’s father’s eyes. “The so-called ability to support himself is only because I’ve been lenient.”
“If I used my resources to crush his company, it wouldn’t survive. He’d have to come home. Or, Professor Ji, are you planning to support him on your meager salary?”
Ji Kai considered this. If it came to it, they could live in a small house, shop at the market, and still find happiness.
“Professor Ji, you should advise him. Don’t force me to that point. I’m acting in his best interest. He’s young and rebellious now, but once he reaches my level, he’ll understand what true success means.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Ji Kai switched to “Brother Kai will reason with you” mode: “Uncle, everyone wants different things. Your definition of success might not be what Weidu wants.”
From Ji Kai’s observations, managing Prosperity Technology Company alone is enough to give Li Weidu headaches. Since they started dating, they’ve enjoyed a sweet home life, filled with cute moments, playful antics, grocery shopping, and cooking. However, whenever Li Weidu has to work overtime, he ends up exhausted and miserable.
If you handed over a business empire to him, do you think he’d manage it successfully, or would it all come crashing down in seconds?
Li’s father scoffed, “These ‘different wants’ are just excuses for those who can’t succeed. Everyone in this world wants to be in control, no exceptions!”
“No, uncle, that’s what we call ‘single value thinking.'”
Ji Kai called over the waiter. “Excuse me, I’d like a grilled durian with cheese, snail with rice wine, a charcoal-grilled egg, and fried silkworm chrysalis.” He smiled broadly, “Uncle, let me treat you.”
Li’s father was speechless.
“I particularly enjoy these dishes, but you might not. See, that’s what I mean by different preferences.”
“…”
“Since you’ve looked into me, you know I was born in a small southern city. My family was working-class, just getting by. My parents were simple, uneducated people.”
“When I did well in school, my mother was proud and always urged me to study hard, hoping I’d be the first in our family to go to college.”
“But I became fascinated with carpentry when I was eight or nine. I once told my dad I didn’t want to go to college; I wanted to be a carpenter.”
“That night, my parents discussed it all night. The next day, they told me that while carpentry doesn’t pay much, if it made me happy, they’d support me.”
Li’s father sneered, “Isn’t it irresponsible to support such a decision as a parent?”
“But uncle, isn’t that what family is about? Even if we don’t always understand each other, we still respect each other’s choices and love unconditionally. If our closest family doesn’t support us, who will?”
Li’s father’s face darkened. “I’ve tolerated his preference for men. Why can’t he just obey the family’s wishes and stop embarrassing me?”
“Tolerate, embarrassment…”
Ji Kai poked at the grilled durian. The aroma of the charcoal-grilled cheese filled the air. Li’s father’s face grew darker.
“But Weidu is just living his own life. He doesn’t owe you anything, right?”
“He doesn’t owe me? He lived a luxurious life with me that other kids could only dream of. He owes me! Even if I was obligated to raise him until he was eighteen, I supported him through college. That’s a favor!”
“But you also hurt him. The family’s shadow from his childhood left him unable to sleep well for years. Even now, he occasionally wakes up from nightmares.”
As the one who held him to sleep every night, Ji Kai felt heartbroken knowing that Li Weidu might have to endure this pain for many years, or even a lifetime. The perpetrator, however, seemed oblivious to his own wrongdoing.
“That’s because he’s fragile,” Li’s father said with a raised eyebrow. “I have other sons and daughters, and none of them have mental issues like him!”
Ji Kai sighed, recalling the information he had read: “He left home at thirteen to start his own business, worked as an apprentice for six or seven years, and made his first fortune at twenty. His investments rarely failed, earning him a reputation for precise vision and decisive actions. He made the rich list at thirty-eight.”
“It’s hard for people like you to admit any wrongdoing. But over the past twenty years, the relationship between father and son has deteriorated. If this were a business, wouldn’t you think to cut your losses and change strategies?”
“So why do you maintain such a tough attitude toward Weidu? You’d rather keep hurting him than admit your mistakes, insisting that ‘it’s all for his own good.’ Why can’t you treat him as an equal, someone you can respect and communicate with?”
“My father was an ordinary man and didn’t provide me with a lavish life. But he understood me and treated me not just as a son, but as a friend. I love and respect him deeply to this day.”
Li’s father was silent for a long time before finally saying, “You’re still too young. In a few years, you’ll understand my intentions!”
Ji Kai, feeling weary from the conversation, looked up and saw a familiar figure at the stairwell.
Li Weidu had hurried over from the company, looking disheveled with black-rimmed glasses. Ji Kai found him endearingly gentle and cute in this state.
“Ji Kai, he didn’t do anything to you, did he?”
Li Weidu nervously checked him over, touching his hands and face, and hugged him. Ji Kai reassured him, “I’m okay. We just had a full and friendly exchange of opinions about life perspectives with your dad.”
“Let’s go!”
As they held hands, Li’s father, who had been ignored, finally spoke up: “Weidu, I haven’t seen you for a year. I asked you to come home for the New Year, but you didn’t. Now, when you meet your biological father, you turn a blind eye?”
Reluctantly, Li Weidu turned back: “If you need anything in the future, call me directly. Please don’t go through him again.”
Li’s father retorted angrily, “If you’re not filial, I’ll consider you not my son. How about chatting with my future son-in-law?”
Ji Kai: “…”
Li Weidu: “…”
# I am lazy and like to relax, but what do I do when my quasi-father-in-law calls me his ‘son-in-law’? Urgently seeking advice.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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