In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 42: The Gangster Dad (6)



Qi Wei’s fantasy drama was adapted from the popular male-oriented web novel Stars, and it was a carefully chosen project by Qi Sheng, who had gone through a stack of online novels before making his final decision.

Although many fantasy dramas follow similar tropes, quality trumps quantity when it comes to adaptations. Qi Sheng wanted to use this series to cement his son’s place in the entertainment industry. After arranging for Lin Tao to acquire the rights to the novel, he also had Cheng keep a close eye on the production. As a result, everyone on the Stars crew, from the director down to the staff, approached the project with extreme caution and dedication during filming.

Still, Qi Sheng wasn’t completely at ease. After the final cut was done, he even stepped in remotely under the guise of a “special effects consultant hired by Director Bai” to guide the post-production special effects.

When the series finally aired, the reception it received more than met Qi Sheng’s expectations and honored the hard work of the entire crew.


SnailShell: “Thought it would be another ‘cringe’ drama, but it totally blew my mind. Begging the production team to adapt more of my favorite web novels!”

WatermelonPeelLovesMelons: “Can’t stop watching! Holy crap, this drama has taken fantasy series to new heights!!!”

User008: “Eh, it’s just okay… I mean, I only rewatch each episode seven or eight times.”


The show became a celebration for homebodies and book fans alike. Tired of TV dramas centered around overpowered female leads, these viewers had long been hoping their favorite male-centered web novels would be brought to the screen.

But sadly, past adaptations had often been a disaster—painfully bad, wasting the potential of beloved IPs.

So when the promotional campaign for Stars began, just as fans had predicted, the numb audience didn’t hold much hope. Even new fans of Qi Wei groaned internally when they found out he was starring in a fantasy drama. But loyal fans are still loyal. Even with low expectations, they gritted their teeth and decided to support the drama for the sake of the numbers. Sure, they thought it might suck, but their idol looked so good in the posters—enduring it for his face was worth it!


“Come on, it won’t kill you to watch with me. It’s based on a novel you like, remember?”

Zhang Qianqian, a loyal fan of Qi Wei, felt it was her duty to boost ratings for her idol. But why suffer alone when watching it together and complaining along the way would be more fun? She wasn’t happy with the way her boyfriend was glaring at the TV with disdain—tonight, she was dragging him along, no matter what.

After being worn down by both torture and temptation, her boyfriend sat in front of the TV with a look of despair, already planning to hop online later to anonymously rant about Qi Changwei and this garbage drama.

Unfortunately for him…

“I want an apple. Go wash one for me,” Zhang Qianqian said, eyes glued to the screen, wanting one because her idol was eating an apple in the show.

“Shh! Don’t talk!”

She was stunned. Turning to her boyfriend, she noticed something strange—he was even more absorbed than she was. Just as she was about to tease him and remind him to get the apple, he pulled her into his arms and said domineeringly, “Later. I’ll wash it during the ad break.”

Zhang Qianqian: ……

Well, for my idol’s sake, I’ll let it slide this time.


Scenes like this became increasingly common. The first two episodes of Stars gained attention mostly thanks to aggressive promotion and the actors’ fanbases. But by the third day, word of mouth exploded.

Stars instantly became a fantasy drama legend. From visual effects to costumes to acting, everything earned praise. Even the soundtrack was hailed as iconic.

Thanks to this drama, Qi Wei skyrocketed to become one of the hottest male stars. Unlike most actors his age, whose fans are mainly female, this male-lead fantasy series attracted a huge number of male fans and web novel readers as well.

Qi Wei became truly popular, and unlike many other young stars, his fanbase was broad—his male fans even rivaled his female ones in number.

This made many of his peers green with envy. Some, unable to stomach his success, tried digging up dirt to smear his reputation. But they were destined to be disappointed.

Qi Wei’s background had been well-hidden. The only real point critics latched onto was that his humble origins and rapid success must mean he had powerful connections. But since Stars aired, more and more people acknowledged his talent and strength on their own merit.

Hilarious! Those talentless, workless traffic stars still get endless resources, but when our Wei—who’s handsome and a great actor—gets good opportunities, people start trying to smear him?

Among the people trying to slander Qi Wei, once they realized they couldn’t dig up any real dirt, some unscrupulous types started twisting facts, spreading rumors about him acting like a diva, sleeping around, or overusing stunt doubles—one smear post after another.

Qi Sheng monitored his son’s online reputation closely. When he saw baseless slander like that, he never hesitated—he’d hop on his alt account and go after those marketing accounts with full force.

The PR team at Xingyu also acted quickly. By the time Qi Wei even heard about any of the slander, those marketing accounts had already been cleaned up.

But Qi Sheng wasn’t about to let it go at that. He traced the slander back layer by layer through the internet and found the original instigator. The very next day, that person’s own dirt was splashed all over the web—so bad they couldn’t wash it clean no matter what they tried.

After a few rounds of this, even people who didn’t know Qi Wei’s background got the message: this was someone you did not mess with. And those who did know the inside story could only marvel at how much Mr. Bai protected and valued him.

Qi Wei’s career in the entertainment industry grew smoother by the day. Maybe it was because of the hardships he endured growing up, or maybe because he wasn’t sure how long his mysterious backer would continue to support him—whatever the case, no matter who he worked with—whether it was eager newcomers, friendly peers, or senior actors—Qi Wei always maintained a respectful, proper attitude. He worked diligently and meticulously, leaving no room for mistakes.

Sometimes Qi Sheng felt a pang of heartache watching how mature and cautious his son had become. If he could, he would’ve preferred to let his son live freely, without a care in the world. But some parts of his own identity… he would never be able to tell his son.

As Stars reached the end of its broadcast run, Qi Wei had already joined a new production—the first feature film of his career.

This movie was being directed personally by the renowned domestic director Xu, who was also writing the script himself. As the current undisputed box office heavyweight, the film had already attracted major buzz before shooting even began.

Unlike his previous rise in television, where he started with supporting roles, this time Qi Wei was cast directly as the male lead in Director Xu’s film.

When he first got the script, even Xue Yuan was a bit stunned.

He knew Mr. Bai was determined to support Qi Wei, but he had never seen anyone go to this extent for someone with no apparent connection, and with no clear expectation of return.

At the time, Xue Yuan couldn’t help but ask, “Do you remember anything about your mother?”

Qi Wei, completely confused, stared blankly for a long moment before realizing what he meant—only after reading the script and learning more about the production did it click.

“Brother Yuan, don’t overthink it. My mom was just a regular person.”

After his son joined the crew, Qi Sheng turned into a full-blown homebody, only leaving the house to go to the gym. Otherwise, he spent his time managing investments or dissecting character dynamics online, always cheering Qi Wei on.

After editing and uploading his latest video, Qi Sheng decided to go out for a meal and a stroll. But when he reached the entrance of the residential complex, he spotted some unexpected visitors.

“Brother Qiang, are you sure that Qi Changwei is really that bastard Qi Sheng’s kid? The guy’s a huge star now—no matter how you look at it, he doesn’t seem like he came from someone like Qi Sheng.” A bald man dressed flashily, cigarette dangling from his mouth, said this with a sneer.

The one called Brother Qiang was fat and greasy, with rolls of flesh on his face and a pair of pitch-black sunglasses. He didn’t look like someone you’d want to cross.

Brother Qiang had been waiting around for days with no sign of Qi Sheng. He was starting to think that tip-off had been fake.

From what he remembered about Qi Sheng, if the guy had come into money, he’d be showing it off big time. No way would he just quietly hole up at home.

“I’ve seen that kid a few times,” Brother Qiang said irritably. “Even with makeup on TV, I’d recognize him anywhere. He’s definitely Qi Sheng’s son.”

“Back then that old bastard disappeared without a word—I thought he skipped town to dodge debts. Who’d have thought he’d get so lucky? His son’s a damn celebrity now. Hmph! Ungrateful piece of trash. I ‘helped’ him out back in the day, and now he’s all high and mighty, won’t even show his face. Just wait till I get my hands on him—I’ll make sure he remembers who he owes.”

The bald guy looked a bit uncertain after hearing that and said, “His kid’s a huge celebrity now. I’ve seen him on TV—just attending an event, he brings several bodyguards. Can the few of us really handle that? What if they turn the tables on us instead?”

Brother Qiang glanced back at him with a smirk and said smugly, “You think I’m stupid? This ain’t the time for brute force. I’ve figured it out—someone’s trying to use us to smear Qi Sheng’s son. Otherwise, why would they suddenly give me info about Qi Sheng?”

Confidently wiping the sweat off his forehead, Brother Qiang continued, “Qi Sheng’s loaded now. We didn’t come all this way for nothing—gotta ‘have some fun’ with him to make it worth our travel expenses! The old bastard was a gambling addict back in the day, and now that he’s got money, who knows how arrogant he’s gotten? Our good days are just around the corner!”

Then, he snapped at the bald guy, “Keep your eyes open. The moment he steps out, surround him! It’s been a while since he’s caught up with us old buddies.”

Brother Qiang was growing impatient, but the thought of the carefree, lavish life waiting ahead kept him grinding it out. That damn security guard was actually being pretty strict, too.

After hearing Brother Qiang’s little theory, the bald guy felt a surge of confidence. He started daydreaming about luxury cars, pretty women, and burning money like it was nothing. Even though he was exhausted, he kept at it with gritted teeth.

Qi Sheng hadn’t expected his old gang of shady friends to come knocking on his door. He snuck out to check the other exit—sure enough, people were waiting there too. They came prepared.

He chuckled, unfazed, and pulled out his phone to call Xue Yuan. As his son’s manager, the guy ought to be good for something.

After answering the call, Xue Yuan cursed Qi Sheng a few times in his head before reluctantly making arrangements to deal with it. After all, he’d been swimming in the murky waters of the entertainment industry for nearly twenty years—without a tough edge, he wouldn’t be where he was now as Star Universe’s Director of Talent.

By the time Qi Sheng got bored and went to visit his son on set, Brother Qiang and his crew had already been run out of Yang City, hounded by debt collectors from loan sharks.

“Son, didn’t your old man handle that like a pro this time?”

Lying sprawled across the hotel sofa, Qi Sheng proudly recounted the whole incident to Qi Wei.

Qi Wei, putting on a face mask, looked at his old man being completely unkempt on the couch and finally let out a relieved sigh.

“I’ve got quite a bit of money now. Once I’m back, let’s buy a house first. If you’re really that bored, maybe go explore the city a bit.”

After that suspense drama aired, endorsement deals had started trickling in. Once Stars aired, even some top-tier brands had come knocking.

Now, tallying up his earnings, he had enough to buy a big house in Yang City. Just thinking about it got Qi Wei excited.

Qi Sheng perked up at the idea too. Father and son huddled together and started planning in detail—from the layout to the neighborhood.

“We need a separate movie room—so the visual experience will be amazing when you watch films.”

“And a gym! Gotta be able to run and work out at home.”

“And a big kitchen! Your dad’s a great cook now. When you’re home, I’ll make meals for you every day.”

Qi Wei watched his dad getting all fired up over the new house, planning everything with him in mind, and he smiled in satisfaction. Who would’ve thought this man, pushing fifty, was finally acting like a proper father?

Qi Sheng didn’t want to cause any extra trouble for his son, so he didn’t stay long on set. After wandering around the film studio area for a bit, he headed back. With him overseeing things, he was determined to pick a place his son would love!

The house purchase and renovations took around half a year. By the end of the year, Qi Wei was busy promoting his film, and Qi Sheng, with nothing better to do, noticed the new house was almost done. So while his son was away, he quietly moved everything over.

“Heh, wait a few days till you’re back—it’s gonna blow your mind!”

Since finishing the movie, Qi Wei hadn’t had a break. Endorsements, events, press conferences—he was spinning. The house purchase and renovations had been entirely left to his dad.

Qi Wei was curious and said, “Just turn the camera around, I wanna take a peek.”

But Qi Sheng, determined to keep it a surprise, firmly refused. “Relax, your dad’s got this. Everything was done according to your preferences. Be good, and go back to work.”

Qi Wei sighed as the video call was abruptly cut off. In his heart, he raged against his dad’s teasing secrecy—but then obediently went back to work.

It wasn’t until the eighth day of the Lunar New Year that he finally returned to Yang City.

“…Why do you look like you’ve gained weight?”

Qi Sheng came to the airport to pick up his son and, seeing his still roundish face, couldn’t help but say in surprise, “You’ve gained some weight.”

Qi Wei touched his face, feeling a bit helpless. “Every time there’s a promotional stop, the organizers always insist on having a proper gathering. As the male lead in this film, I couldn’t refuse. I had to drink when they offered, and had to eat with them when they asked. After going through all that, I really did gain a bit of weight.”

“If you don’t like it, just refuse next time. No one can make you do anything,” Qi Sheng advised.

Qi Wei smiled without replying, thinking his father didn’t understand the complexity of the situation. But he still reassured him, “It’s alright. I can handle my alcohol, and Director Xu has been taking care of me. This time, there were just too many drinking events. But in this industry, who doesn’t have to socialize?”

Qi Sheng saw that his son didn’t seem weary, so he nodded in approval, silently agreeing with him.

When they arrived at the new house, Qi Wei put down his things and curiously opened every room, surprised that his father had actually managed to arrange everything so well.

Seeing his son so happy, Qi Sheng urged him, “Go check out your bedroom! I personally designed it!”

Qi Wei felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity, and when he saw the carefully decorated bedroom, he couldn’t help but feel moved. “Dad, I didn’t expect you to know me so well.”

Qi Wei truly didn’t expect that his father would remember so many of the things he cared about, even some childhood wishes that he had long forgotten.

But before he could fully be touched, he heard his father say, “To get the design just right, your dad almost cracked his brain trying to figure it out!”

Qi Wei rolled his eyes, and the brief wave of emotion was immediately swept away.

“Alright, enough with the tour. Come eat. Luckily, I had the foresight to avoid making too many high-calorie dishes,” Qi Sheng said.

Qi Wei’s comedy movie had a decent box office performance. While it was mainly due to Director Xu’s backing, his acting had been noteworthy, and it was a satisfactory debut for him on the big screen.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Qi Sheng rushed to the cinema for the early show. Thinking back to his son’s performance, he couldn’t help but praise him, “As expected, you’re my son. The movie was great. The people sitting next to me at the theater even complimented you on your performance. They said you didn’t resemble Lin Chen at all.”

Lin Chen was the male lead in the fantasy drama Stars, and Qi Wei had become a top-tier star because of that role. He’d always worried that audiences might start associating him with Lin Chen in future roles. Hearing his dad’s words now, he felt a bit more at ease.

“Yeah, I should thank Mr. Bai for the opportunity. Director Xu’s movie is completely different from Lin Chen’s character, so I could really let loose with this role.”

Qi Wei was genuinely happy. He wanted the world to know that Stars wasn’t the peak of his career and that his future still had so much more to offer!

At 28, Qi Wei had already become a well-regarded actor in the eyes of the audience, known for both his talent and his looks. Three classic TV dramas had earned him the title of Best Actor three years ago, and his movie achievements were also impressive. He didn’t carry the burden of an idol persona and had diligently worked on his acting skills. Just a few days ago, he had won the prestigious Golden Ox Award for Best Actor for his role in a historical drama.

Qi Sheng carefully polished his newly won trophy, looking at his son with pride. He couldn’t help but say, “You’ve achieved so much at such a young age. Son, I’m so proud of you!”

Qi Wei didn’t respond verbally, but the smile on his face spoke volumes about how happy he was at that moment.

Seeing his son in such a good mood, Qi Sheng thought for a moment and then said, “You’ve been working so hard these past few years. Son, how about we take a proper break for a while?”

When Qi Wei heard this, it seemed to remind him of something. The smile on his face faded a little, and he nodded, “Yeah, it’s time to rest for a bit.”

Qi Sheng looked at his son’s expression, unsure of why he wasn’t happy despite his impressive achievements. After all these years of hard work, shouldn’t Qi Wei be thrilled with the results?

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