This Is Not the Apocalypse 013

Because the facts were clear—first Fang Chengci hit someone and tried to flee, and then Fang Jianshu took the initiative to beat the victim, who didn't fight back at all and only tried to stop him—Fang Jianshu now not only had to pay compensation but also faced prison time.

Fang Chengci was released after spending a night at the police station, told to go home and have his mother get the money ready.

When Fang's Mother heard the news, her world collapsed. She knew something was wrong when she came back yesterday. After asking around, she learned that both her husband and son had been taken to the police station. She wanted to go see them but was too scared, waiting up until dawn.

"Money, money! Where is our family supposed to find so much money to pay them!" Fang's Mother burst into tears. Seeing Fang Chengci head straight to his room to sleep, she felt as if her brain had been struck by a club.

Fang Chengci had just drifted off to sleep when his mother smashed him across the face with a rolling pin.

He was completely stunned.

His parents had never hit him before!

"It's all your fault! It's all your fault! You still have the nerve to sleep? Huh? You still have the nerve to sleep!" Fang's Mother was on the verge of a breakdown. Looking at Fang Chengci now, her heart was filled with resentment. "I'll beat you to death!"

Terrified, Fang Chengci dodged in all directions. Seeing his mother acting so completely different from her usual self, he was scared out of his wits.

The son needed a beating, the husband needed saving, and most importantly, the compensation had to be paid.

Having finally gathered their bearings a little, the Fang family chose to sell their house. Fang Jianshu had it all figured out: after selling the house and paying the compensation, they could still buy a smaller place to live. Since Fang Zhiyi had left home anyway, they didn't need such a big place anymore.

However, neither he nor Fang's Mother expected that Fang Chengci would hold a grudge over his mother's severe beating. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he became dead set on getting revenge on his parents. Therefore, not long after they received the money from selling the house, he secretly swiped some cash a few times.

Later, taking advantage of the time Fang's Mother went to pick up Fang Jianshu upon his release, Fang Chengci gritted his teeth and absconded with all the remaining money.

Fang Jianshu and Fang's Mother returned to their rented apartment, only to find their precious youngest son missing.

"Don't mention him. If it weren't for him, would our family be in such a miserable state?" Fang's Mother was clearly still upset.

Fang Jianshu, however, had rationalized it: "Our son is still young. It's his nature to be playful. It's not incomprehensible that he was too scared to tell us after getting into trouble!"

Fang's Mother packed up their things and snapped, "And what about your eldest son?"

Fang Jianshu choked on his words for a moment, and it took him a long while to mutter, "That rebellious son!"

Just then, Fang's Mother discovered that the bank card was missing. She let out a scream, and Fang Jianshu joined her in a frantic search. In the end, they were forced to face reality: their beloved youngest son had stolen the money and run away!

Fang's Mother wanted to call the police, but Fang Jianshu stopped her.

"He just had a momentary lapse in judgment. Just wait, our son will be back soon."

This wait lasted for more than half a year.

From the initial hope and self-delusion to eventual numbness, the Fang parents gradually grew silent. Because of his time in the detention center, Fang Jianshu had lost his job. Now, both he and Fang's Mother worked day-labor jobs just to make ends meet.

Fang Chengci returned. He had squandered every last penny of the money. The favoritism and spoiling he had received since childhood left him with absolutely no sense of right and wrong. He made a few fair-weather friends, spent money recklessly here and there, and once he was broke, they quickly kicked him out.

Faced with Fang Chengci's return, Fang Jianshu was visibly excited. Fang's Mother, on the other hand, wore a face full of cold indifference. She had finally seen through this son, and through her husband as well.

Sure enough, upon returning, Fang Chengci immediately reverted to his old ways. He was either out playing around or lying at home. When he ran out of money, he would just hold out his hand. Fang Jianshu wasn't well-off and could only give him ten or twenty yuan at a time. Fang Chengci would snatch the money while complaining it wasn't enough, completely ignoring his aging father's graying hair.

In the afternoon, Fang Chengci rushed home in a frenzy, nearly breaking the door as he slammed it open.

"Dad, look! Look at this!" He held out his phone. Fang Jianshu squinted at the screen, while Fang's Mother remained sitting silently to the side.

"Wife! Wife!" Fang Jianshu also grew excited, calling out to her.

Only then did Fang's Mother slowly look over. For a split second, she felt her heart skip a beat.

"The province's largest trading company donates millions to charity! It is reported that the behind-the-scenes boss of this trading company is this young man surnamed Fang..." Below the text was a clear photo of Fang Zhiyi!

That night, a rare spark of vitality returned to the Fang household. They started taking turns calling Fang Zhiyi.

"Wait until I tell your brother to arrange a cushy job for you. You own half of that company too!" Fang Jianshu spoke with grand ambition, and Fang Chengci beamed with joy.

After several attempts, the call finally connected.

"Hello."

"Zhiyi, it's me, it's your dad!"

"Get lost! And I'm your grandpa!"

"He... he hung up?" Fang Jianshu froze, then dialed again.

"Are you done yet? Are you crazy?" Fang Zhiyi's impatient voice came through.

"Wait, wait, this isn't a scam! I really am your dad, I'm Fang Jianshu!" Fang Jianshu hastily stated his name.

There was silence on the other end for a moment.

Fang Jianshu quickly organized his thoughts, but just as he was about to speak...

"I know."

"?" Fang Jianshu's brain short-circuited, and then a long-absent wave of anger rushed to his head. "You rebellious son!"

"I have an agreement in my hands, an agreement severing our relationship! You hear me? I'm an orphan! If you call me again, you're going to be in trouble."

"Bring it on! You rebellious son, you think you're so great just because you have money? I will always be your dad! Your brother has a share in that company of yours too!"

Beside him, Fang Chengci chimed in, "Yeah! I have a share too!"

On the other end of the phone, Fang Zhiyi enunciated every word: "What I'm saying is, your precious son will get his legs broken by strangers. Do you understand?"

"You! Are you threatening me?" Although Fang Jianshu was furious, he had to admit the threat was very effective.

At this moment, Fang's Mother snatched the phone. "Zhiyi, it's Mom! Are you doing well?"

Being a woman, she knew very well what approach was more effective when dealing with a rebellious child like Fang Zhiyi.

"I'm doing great. My, has the sun risen from the west? You finally remembered to show me some motherly love?" Fang Zhiyi's tongue remained as venomous as ever. "I only talked about him and not you, right? The two of you just differ in your degrees of favoritism—one is a bit more severe, and the other has slightly milder symptoms!"

"How... how could you say that about your mother? Everyone at home really misses you right now. Your dad knows he was wrong too, so please come back."

Fang Jianshu blew his beard and glared, but Fang's Mother forced him back down with a sharp look.

The most important thing right now was to trick Fang Zhiyi into coming back.

"Come back for what? To alleviate your poverty? It's not completely out of the question. Have my brother break his own legs. Once he's a cripple, I'll definitely make a donation."

"You child!" Fang's Mother grew a bit anxious. "Mom and Dad only want what's best for you. Are there any parents in this world who don't love their own children?"