Chapter 28: Wishing My Father to Become a Dragon, Part 13

Shen Lanzhou, still simmering with jealousy, sought revenge on Qin Zhan. Just before the college entrance exams, he deliberately instigated some local thugs to cause trouble for Qin Zhan, resulting in an injured hand that ultimately affected his performance. In the second half of Qin Zhan’s sophomore year, Yang Xiufen lost her job but kept up a cheerful façade, hiding the truth from her son as she went out every day searching for work.

Instead of finding employment, she was deceived by so-called at-home handicraft jobs that promised easy money. She spent what savings they had on materials, putting in long hours with no returns—now saddled with useless supplies. Their already impoverished household fell into even greater hardship. Yang Xiufen, filled with self-reproach for being duped, had wasted part of the money set aside for her child’s education. The weight of it all left her so dispirited that she fell gravely ill.

Refusing to spend money on doctors or medicine, she hid her condition from Qin Zhan and dragged her sick body through the city, collecting cardboard boxes and bottle caps. When she looked for work, her pallor deterred potential employers, who feared she’d fall ill in their shops and bring them trouble; no one was willing to hire her. Yang Xiufen kept everything hidden, terrified her troubles would affect Qin Zhan’s college entrance exams.

Yet, in the end, Qin Zhan still missed his chance to take the exams because of Shen Lanzhou’s revenge. The teachers regretted it, consoling him with the prospect of repeating a year and trying again.

But Yang Xiufen’s strength finally gave out. Only then did Qin Zhan discover how ill his mother had become. The money Yang Xiufen had scrimped and saved for his university expenses was instead withdrawn to pay for her treatment. Under these circumstances, retaking the exams was out of the question; even if he scored well enough, he had no means to afford tuition or living expenses. Even with student loans, he couldn’t attend university—there would be no one left to care for his ailing mother.

But these events no longer had any bearing on the main storyline. The feelings between the protagonists were finally laid bare—they both chose to repeat a year, promising to gain admission to a good university together, becoming better people for each other.

As for the vanished male supporting character, his purpose—to drive the romance between the leads—had been fulfilled. His continued presence was irrelevant. In the end, the once-promising Qin Zhan was left without a future.

Yang Xiufen, a simple, uneducated mother with little worldly knowledge, believed she had become a burden. In her despair, she attempted to end her own life to spare her son further hardship. Qin Zhan almost became an orphan. Even someone as mature and uncomplaining as Qin Zhan, who had never resented his circumstances, couldn’t help but question why he’d been born into this world and what his purpose truly was.

Of course, that was the fate of the Qin Zhan who followed the original plot—not the present one.

With Qin Ye now in his life, Qin Zhan could never fall to such a fate. Yang Xiufen now went for regular hospital check-ups and received medicine; her work was no longer taxing. The club members, all young and lively, conscientiously kept the place clean after Qin Ye’s reminders, making Yang Xiufen’s cleaning duties manageable.

As for meals, Qin Ye let the club kids pick any restaurant they wanted; they would call and have the food delivered. If anyone asked, it was “the old man’s decision.” Yang Xiufen’s plan to save on a cook’s wages by doing more herself was thwarted.

After meals, Qin Ye would often take her out for a stroll in the square. With small gifts and reminders from Qin Ye, the already enthusiastic ladies of the square dance group warmly embraced Yang Xiufen, drawing her into their circle. Soon, Yang Xiufen not only got along splendidly with her new friends but also became enamored with square dancing, no longer feeling idle or restless.

Whenever she had free time, she would join her friends downtown at the small plaza for dancing, enjoying herself more than she ever had.

There were no worries about Qin Zhan’s studies—he was disciplined and sensible. Qin Ye’s insistence on picking him up and dropping him off each day was more about letting the boy feel the deep love of a father.

At this moment, Qin Ye and Old Master Shen stood together by the window, looking through the glass at the study group inside—one with an expression of pride and satisfaction, the other stern and grim.

The principal knew Qin Ye well; Old Master Shen had donated a whole new building to the school, and Qin Ye had taken over the cafeteria. He hired top chefs and rigorously inspected the quality of fruits and vegetables, striving to serve delicious, nutritious, and affordable meals.

All this, of course, was for Qin Zhan—knowing he was frugal to a fault and would never spend money on himself, Qin Ye improved his diet at the source.

To encounter not one but two such influential parents, the principal displayed the utmost humility.

“This is the parent of our top student this year,” he said, using the introduction as an opportunity to avoid Old Master Shen’s dark expression.

The pressure was immense. The building was already under construction, and if all went well, the next batch of students would learn in brand-new classrooms. Yet the person in question showed no improvement—still as hopeless as ever.

Although the old man hadn’t demanded that his grandson be made a model student in exchange for the building, only requesting Shen Lanzhou’s transfer, his intention was simply for the boy to experience a more studious environment instead of strutting about in a prestigious school and causing trouble.

But the principal, having accepted such a gift and failed to deliver results, felt deeply uneasy—standing before Old Master Shen, he seemed to shrink.

Realizing how his dour expression was affecting things, Old Master Shen quickly pushed thoughts of his wayward grandson aside and turned his attention to Qin Ye.

Meeting Qin Ye’s gaze, Old Master Shen felt a chill run through him—it was as if he were facing an equal, perhaps even a superior, in power and presence. In terms of aura alone, he realized he was no match for Qin Ye.

Because of this, he didn’t take Qin Ye for an ordinary man, and, making a concerted effort in conversation, a cordial atmosphere quickly developed between them.

The principal, seeing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Ah, next time, he mustn’t allow himself to be swayed so easily. A building is a fine thing, but accepting it weighs heavily on the conscience.

And yet, a child’s education isn’t solely the school’s responsibility—parents must do their part as well. Shen Lanzhou was utterly unmanageable; teachers couldn’t teach him, discipline was futile, and when called in, his guardians showed no fear—almost daring the school to keep calling, ready to hand over their numbers.

How could a school manage such a thorny student?

Meanwhile, Qin Ye and Old Master Shen were getting along so well, it was as if they wished they’d met a decade earlier. Qin Ye warmly invited the old man to his home for a meal, and Old Master Shen agreed without hesitation.

Qin Ye’s plan had come together perfectly—the old man he had once fabricated was now standing right here. This thought made his smile all the more sincere.

Even with a lifetime of experience, Old Master Shen saw nothing but genuine warmth. Sincerity is the ultimate weapon; the old man was truly moved.

Fate is strange—sometimes, a first meeting feels like reuniting with an old friend worthy of trust. With Qin Ye’s son being the school’s top student, Old Master Shen agreed at once.

When Shen Lanzhou finally emerged from the classroom at a snail’s pace, he saw his grandfather gazing right past him, full of approval for Qin Zhan, who exited alongside him.

The second-ranked student was a bespectacled girl, reserved but polite, who greeted her elders before leaving.

Ruan Jiaojiao’s eyes were red—she was aggrieved from quarreling with Shen Lanzhou.

No matter how slowly Shen Lanzhou moved, the classroom was only so large; he would have to reach the door eventually. After stepping out, he thought long and hard—he didn’t want to ruin his reputation at a new school by having his robust grandfather chase him around with a cane in front of everyone.

So, Shen Lanzhou obediently approached and bowed his head. “Grandpa,” he said.

“Mm,” Old Master Shen replied flatly, acknowledging the greeting.

Qin Zhan also came forward. “Dad,” he called, his face breaking into a smile.

Qin Ye turned and affectionately ruffled his eldest son’s hair. The boy looked exasperated—he wanted to protest that he was too old for such childish gestures, but feared his sentimental father might burst into tears then and there, so he restrained himself.

His own son—truly, the more he looked, the more pleasing he found him.

Retracting his hand, Qin Ye introduced Old Master Shen. “Tuan Tuan, this is Old Master Shen.”

Hearing this, Qin Zhan earnestly and gratefully echoed Shen Lanzhou’s greeting, calling the old man “Grandpa.”

Qin Ye was speechless—he should have said “Uncle,” not “Grandpa.” Now, he’d just demoted his own father a generation and given the old man the upper hand.

Qin Zhan, composed and unflinching, with clear eyes and a noble bearing, made Old Master Shen feel as if he were looking at a rare and precious jade, his satisfaction growing. He longed to reach into his pocket for a big red envelope to reward this fine young man—but of course, who carries red envelopes everywhere? His hand came up empty.

The old man coughed. “I didn’t bring a gift this time. Next time, Grandpa will make it up to you.”

“There’s no need,” Qin Zhan replied sincerely. “Your presence is the best gift of all.”

Old Master Shen’s satisfaction deepened. At his age, he made friends without concern for status or position. Besides, with Qin Ye’s commanding presence, he was hardly ordinary, and his son was exceptionally outstanding.

This inevitably reminded Old Master Shen of himself. He had built the Shen family fortune from nothing, yet his children were disappointments—his daughter, hopelessly romantic and manipulated by a so-called “phoenix man,” continued to defend him even after infidelity, always at odds with her father for that man’s sake. His son, having ruined his health with dissipation, fathered Shen Lanzhou and then was left without heirs.

Once he understood the value of descendants, he began to spoil his grandson. The once bright and clever child had been indulged into his current state.

Old Master Shen had suffered greatly to gain his own education, striving to provide the best possible environment for his descendants. Yet, they spurned his efforts, resisting their studies at every turn.

At his age, the only source of disappointment left was the mess his children and grandchildren had made of their lives.