In the Years When I Was a Father-Chapter 114: Cuckold Dad (7)

Kang Chengzhi might seem like he’s usually careless and even a bit foolish when dealing with important matters, but in this moment of life and death, he displayed his greatest wit.
“Aunt, I’m as upset about Chengyi’s accident as you are, so when I heard that Uncle has an illegitimate child, I deliberately caused trouble for him. I just wanted to vent Chengyi’s frustrations, really, there’s no other meaning behind it.”
“I know you’re heartbroken right now, and I don’t blame you for saying that. But Chengyi is still lying in bed. You can’t start suspecting your own family just because of a few words from others.”
People who are used to doing bad things always think that others’ thoughts aren’t clean either, so after Kang Chengzhi immediately denied it, he started to suspect someone was deliberately sowing discord.
He glanced around the hall, looking at the third-generation members of the second and third branches, and immediately thought they were the ones causing trouble.
Kang Chengzhi’s gaze made Kang Chengyu roll her eyes involuntarily. She had never liked this guy, and now that he had done something wrong, he was trying to pin it on them?
At this moment, the atmosphere in the Kang family’s old estate’s living room was serious. Although Kang Chengzhi was lying on the floor, arguing loudly, the young members of the third generation didn’t dare speak. The two heads of the family sitting at the main seats had expressions as dark as thunder, and the younger generation didn’t want to get involved.
Kang Chengzhi’s mother had some understanding of her husband and son’s ambitions. When Xu Ruhuan spoke earlier, she had felt a little guilty, but upon hearing that it was only her son teaching a lesson to an illegitimate child, she immediately became displeased.
“Big Sister-in-law, I can understand that you’re upset right now, but what is this nonsense about taking it out on my son? He taught that outsider a lesson for Chengyi. Now you’ve had him tied up—isn’t this too much for our family?”
Xu Ruhuan glared at her sister-in-law, then shot an angry look at Kang Chengzhi. She was about to present the evidence when she heard her husband’s voice.
“Xiao Zhi, your uncle is giving you another chance. If you come clean now, I will let it go, but if you continue lying, don’t blame me for not being merciful in the end!”
Kang Chengzhi couldn’t help but shrink back upon hearing this. He wasn’t used to Kang Hongxian speaking to him with such a stern expression. In the past, Kang Hongxian had treated him better than his own son, Kang Chengyi. He had gotten used to his uncle’s gentle and patient nature. Now, facing his criticism, Kang Chengzhi realized maybe his uncle wasn’t as simple as he had thought.
Intimidated by Kang Hongxian’s demeanor, Kang Chengzhi was momentarily afraid and began recalling every detail of the incident involving Kang Chengyi’s accident.
Because of Kang Hongxian’s favoritism and trust, Kang Chengzhi had once accidentally discovered Qi Yuancheng’s existence when he visited his uncle’s study. His first reaction was: Uncle has an illegitimate child?
After learning this, his feelings were mixed. On one hand, he felt uncomfortable because he didn’t think his uncle was the type of person who would do such a thing. On the other hand, there was a voice in his head telling him, You were right. He’s exactly that kind of person!
Yes, Kang Hongxian was a hypocrite!
At that moment, Kang Chengzhi couldn’t help but think back to the past of the Kang family.
Back then, the legitimate heir of the Kang family was his grandfather, who was also the eldest brother of his uncle Kang Hongxian’s father. It was said that the brothers of the previous generation had a very good relationship. His grandfather was known for his great abilities and held much prestige within the Kang family. Unfortunately, due to an accident, his grandfather died while trying to save his uncle’s father.
His grandfather’s death not only caused his father to lose his own father but also changed his position within the Kang family. The eldest son, who should have been the future family head, eventually became an orphan particularly favored by the second branch.
Later on, the position of the family head passed from his second uncle to his uncle, but his father was never mentioned as a potential heir to the Kang family. Eventually, Kang Chengyi became the core of the third generation of the Kang family, while he himself was seen as nothing more than Kang Chengyi’s cousin and follower in the eyes of many other aristocratic families.
After learning about the past, Kang Chengzhi’s subtle jealousy toward Kang Chengyi began to grow. All the praise and attention directed at Kang Chengyi should have been his. Everything the second uncle and his uncle took from their family was rightfully his!
He couldn’t stand Kang Chengyi’s arrogant demeanor, and upon discovering the secret his uncle had deliberately hidden, he was excited to find the perfect way to strike at Kang Chengyi.
So, on the day of the accident, Kang Chengyi, who was supposed to go on a trip with his classmates, was instead taken to a small villa in the suburbs by Kang Chengzhi.
“Xiao Zhi, what’s going on? Why are you acting so mysterious? Give me back my phone, I haven’t told my classmates that I’m leaving yet.”
Kang Chengzhi casually tossed the phone onto the sofa, pretending to be angry, “What are you still thinking about your classmates at a time like this! Uncle is about to become someone else’s father, and you’re still so oblivious!”
Kang Chengyi furrowed his brows, “Xiao Zhi, what do you mean? Don’t say nonsense!”
Kang Chengzhi replied, “What nonsense? I saw it with my own eyes in Uncle’s study. Look, this is a photo I secretly took—a paternity test between Uncle and a child.”
Upon hearing this, Kang Chengyi instinctively didn’t believe him. He took the phone and glanced at Kang Chengzhi suspiciously, but soon, the calm and composed person he had always known was no longer there.
“Xiao Zhi, are you sure this was from my dad’s study?”
Kang Chengzhi nodded, “Yes, I saw it in Uncle’s study. I also secretly overheard him on the phone. The way he spoke—I couldn’t believe it. I always thought we were Uncle’s favorite children, but after hearing that conversation, I realized how big the gap really is.”
He saw Kang Chengyi’s hand tremble slightly and, suppressing his glee, continued to exaggerate the story, “I also heard Uncle say he was going to bring that person back, and that Kang family will belong to him in the future. Chengyi, how could Uncle be so biased?”
Kang Chengyi didn’t believe it, “My dad isn’t like that, Xiao Zhi, did you hear wrong?”
“It’s not a mistake. I heard it with my own ears. Chengyi, don’t be foolish and keep trusting Uncle. Otherwise, when the Kang family falls into someone else’s hands, you’ll still be in the dark.”
Kang Chengyi still didn’t believe it and grabbed his phone, heading outside.
“Chengyi, you’re not going to confront Uncle, are you? Are you crazy? If you go now and make things clear, what if Uncle thinks the time is right and decides to bring that outsider back?”
“Don’t act impulsively. We need to sit down and talk about this. Now Uncle’s heart is all with that outsider; you can’t just go and clash with him!”
The more Kang Chengzhi spoke, the angrier Kang Chengyi became. In the end, Kang Chengzhi couldn’t stop him. He watched as the angry person drove off, leaving the villa complex, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Yesterday, he had already set up obstacles on the road. He had been careful to avoid them, but he wasn’t sure if Kang Chengyi could avoid them. Even if he avoided one, there were several more waiting for him.
It was because of a car accident that caused his grandfather’s death and their family’s loss of everything. Now, this new accident should be the moment for them to take back the Kang family.
Kang Chengzhi carefully recalled the obstacles he had personally set up, and even checked the weather forecast in advance. Those days were predicted to have heavy rain, leaving no trace behind. In fact, no one would even know that Kang Chengyi’s last contact was with him.
He then forced himself to calm down and said, “Uncle, what exactly do you want me to explain? I know I shouldn’t have caused trouble for that outsider, but you can’t just take it out on me. I’ve grown up under your care, what’s that outsider even worth?”
The last bit of hope Kang Hongxian had for Kang Chengzhi disappeared after Kang Chengzhi’s repeated denials. He had given this child opportunities, pampered him for so many years, only to find that he was an ungrateful wretch.
Xu Ruhuan had been worried that her husband might soften due to the Kang family’s past. Over the years, whether it was her in-laws or her husband, they had always been protective of this family of three. Even just now, despite knowing that the person in front of them had harmed their son, they still wanted to give him another chance!
How could Xu Ruhuan tolerate letting the person who harmed her son go free? She wasn’t planning to waste any more time with these people. She needed to act swiftly before her husband softened again, or else they would let him off lightly once more.
Xu Ruhuan opened her phone and clicked on a document—it was an audio file, a conversation that took place before Kang Chengyi’s accident.
“Xiao Zhi, what’s going on? You’re acting all mysterious…”
The recording played out, sentence by sentence, in the spacious living room of the Kang family. The conversation between Kang Chengzhi and Kang Chengyi was transmitted to everyone in the room through the phone’s speakers.
Xu Ruhuan waited until the recording finished before reluctantly turning off the phone. She looked at the person lying on the ground and hissed, “Kang Chengzhi, what else do you have to say? Did you say these things?”
As soon as the recording started, Kang Chengzhi was stunned—what? Where did this recording come from? This was Kang Chengyi’s own house, and the surveillance cameras in his room had been turned off the day before. He had checked every corner carefully. How could there still be recording equipment?
He widened his eyes in disbelief, but the voices in the recording were definitely his and Kang Chengyi’s, and the conversation was exactly the same. Why was this happening?
Kang Chengzhi carefully glanced at Kang Hongxian, only to see that he had already closed his eyes. At that moment, he truly felt fear. “Uncle, listen to me—”
Unfortunately, Xu Ruhuan interrupted him: “You said you didn’t see Chengyi that day? Then how do you explain this recording?”
Kang Hongfei, seeing the situation, immediately tried to defend his son. “Sister-in-law, Xiao Zhi might have been afraid that those words would upset Chengyi, so he didn’t dare to speak them out loud. He was just thinking of Chengyi when—”
“I have never contacted that child outside. Kang Chengzhi, where did you hear that conversation?!” Kang Hongxian interrupted Kang Hongfei’s words. He looked at the bound person on the ground with disappointment. One sentence was enough to shut down any defense they might have had.
Kang Chengzhi’s guilt was now undeniable. He had fabricated a story to provoke Kang Chengyi. While it was still unclear if Kang Chengyi’s car accident had been manipulated, no one was naive enough to believe Kang Chengzhi was just trying to upset him. Only Kang Chengzhi believed no one would reveal these words. That was why he dared to openly sow discord between the father and son of the Kang family.
Kang Hongfei and his wife were completely panicked. They never expected their son to be involved in Kang Chengyi’s accident. The two of them, terrified, rushed to beg Kang Hongxian for mercy, but Xu Ruhuan, who was furious with them, had no intention of letting them off easily.
At this moment, the Kang family was in chaos, while Qi Sheng, who had provided a small piece of evidence, quietly took credit for the victory in silence.
This time, Kang Chengzhi had indeed been very careful, but who could have predicted that Qi Sheng, with his unmatched technical skills and knowledge of all the previous events, had perfectly synthesized the conversation into an audio recording? This helped the Kang family quickly uncover the real culprit behind everything.
After completing this, Qi Sheng returned to his work as usual. He couldn’t care less about Kang Chengzhi’s schemes against the Kang family, but if he tried to drag his son into it as a scapegoat, then he wouldn’t hesitate to take action.
Enjoying his mood, Qi Sheng left work early and drove home. This time, he returned earlier than usual. His eldest and youngest sons were still busy in the kitchen.
After several days of practice, their cooking skills had greatly improved. At least, Qi Yancheng no longer had to cook the same dish twice.
Upon seeing him return, Qi Yuanzhe, who had been helping in the kitchen, immediately ran out. “Dad, you’re back early today.”
“Are you watching TV? I’ll get you a glass of water.” The child quickly turned on the TV, adjusted the channel, and then went to the water dispenser to fill a cup of water. He placed the cup within reach of Qi Sheng and sweetly said, “Dad, you can watch TV, dinner will be ready soon.”
Qi Sheng enjoyed his son’s attentive service and casually asked, “Do you need help?”
“No need, my brother and I can handle it,” the child replied, and then ran back into the kitchen.
Qi Sheng, who had been forced to become a ‘useless’ person once he got home, wasn’t surprised to hear this. The two children were so scheming, using sweet words to corrode him!