"Mr. Liu, please don't take it seriously—kids talk nonsense all the time!"
Old Doug, Doug Changsheng, father of Doug Feng, rushed forward, grabbing his son's arm and trying to pull him into a bow. But Doug Feng just stood there, arms crossed, eyes cold as ice.
"I'm not saying sorry," he said flatly. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Old Doug's face turned red. "You—! The boss is right there!"
"So what?" Doug Feng raised an eyebrow. "He's covering for them. We all saw it. What, am I supposed to apologize for telling the truth?"
"You little brat—"
Before Liu Shunfa could erupt, the sound of sirens pierced the awkward silence. A patrol car rolled into the gravel lot, kicking up a cloud of dust. Two uniformed officers stepped out, cool and efficient.
Everyone straightened up like students caught cheating.
"Who called in the theft report?" one officer asked, clipboard in hand.
"That would be me," Doug Feng said, stepping forward with zero hesitation.
Liu Shunfa's eyes narrowed.
But before he could interrupt, Old Doug leapt in front of his son like a bodyguard on instinct.
"Officers! Officers, it's all a misunderstanding. Just a little mix-up with the trucks, nothing serious."
The older cop squinted. "You're Doug Changsheng?"
"Yes, sir. Been working here for three years now."
"The report says someone tried to frame you for stealing gravel. That right?"
Old Doug gave a forced laugh. "No, no! I mean, yes—but it's just a mistake! My boy's a bit hot-headed. Probably jumped to conclusions."
Doug Feng's jaw dropped.
He took a step forward. "Dad, are you serious right now? We caught them red-handed! Li Zuming loaded the gravel, Liu Hanming let him out—"
"Xiaofeng!" Old Doug barked. "Enough!"
His voice cracked like a whip. For a second, even the officers blinked in surprise.
Doug Feng froze, his heart pounding. His father wasn't just brushing it under the rug. He was actively lying to the police.
Why?
The answer came a moment later, when Liu Shunfa stepped forward with a lazy smile and a pair of cigarettes.
"Officers," he said smoothly, "thank you for coming. Just a small issue, nothing worth your time. The young man here must've gotten a little confused."
The cops didn't take the cigarettes—but they didn't push the issue either.
"No complainant, no charges. Just be careful next time."
And with that, they left.
Just like that.
The tension drained from the lot like water down a cracked sink. Liu Shunfa clapped Old Doug on the shoulder like they were war buddies.
"See? I told you, easy fix. Don't worry, I'll make sure your bonus gets a little bump this month."
Then he got in his car and drove off, with Liu Hanming trailing behind him.
Doug Feng stood there like a statue, fists clenched.
Li Zuming, the thief of the hour, had the audacity to grin and whistle as he jumped into his truck—now loaded to the brim with stolen gravel—and peeled out like a man late for a date.
Just. Like. That.
"Dad…" Doug Feng turned to his father, disbelief written all over his face. "You let them go."
Old Doug sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's get in the truck. We'll talk on the way."
Doug Feng climbed in stiffly, not saying a word as his father started the engine and pulled back onto the road.
For a while, the only sound was the low rumble of the engine and the rattle of loose tools in the glove box.
Finally, Old Doug spoke.
"Xiaofeng… You think I don't know they were setting me up?"
"Then why didn't you say anything?!"
"Because it wouldn't have changed a damn thing."
Old Doug's voice was low, tired. Not defeated—but seasoned, like wood worn smooth by rain.
"You think I've never seen dirt like this before? This world doesn't work on 'right' and 'wrong.' It works on who's got the connections, and who doesn't. I don't. That boss? He's connected. Liu Hanming? His cousin's in city council. Li Zuming? Nephew of the logistics manager. You think I can fight that with a complaint to two bored traffic cops?"
Doug Feng stayed silent.
"You remember what happened last winter?" Old Doug continued. "Worker in Section C fell off the scaffolding, broke his spine. Company said it was his fault. Paid him a thousand yuan, then blacklisted him from every job site in town. You think I want that to happen to us?"
"But if we don't fight back," Doug Feng said quietly, "they win."
"They already won. That's the point." Old Doug turned to look at his son. "This job pays 2,800 a month. Not much, but enough to keep you in school, your mom in meds, and food on the table. If I go out guns blazing, what do we eat?"
Doug Feng looked at his father, really looked at him—for the first time in two lifetimes.
The slouched posture wasn't laziness. It was exhaustion. The way he smiled at work wasn't submission—it was survival.
Back in his last life, Doug had hated how "useless" his father was. Always swallowing his pride. Always saying "yes, boss." But now he saw it for what it was: quiet endurance.
And it hit him like a truck.
In his past life, Old Doug had been blamed for a theft just like this, fired, and quietly spiraled downward. Doug Feng hadn't done a damn thing to stop it. Too busy resenting him.
Now he was back, with a second chance… and his father had still taken the fall.
Just so his son wouldn't have to.
"I'm sorry," Doug Feng whispered.
Old Doug blinked. "What?"
"I said I'm sorry. For not getting it before."
His father gave a small, tired smile. "It's alright. You're still young. Someday you'll have your own family. Then you'll understand."
Doug Feng looked out the window.
No. I understand now.
And I swear on my life, I'm not letting this happen again.
They drove in silence for a while, until Old Doug said, "Next time, just let me handle it, alright?"
Doug Feng didn't answer.
Instead, he opened his system panel in his mind.
[System: Real-Life Simulation Engine Booting…]
[Objective: Reverse your father's fate. Crush those who wronged him. Build an empire.]
A wicked grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
Next time?
There won't be a next time.
Not for Li Zuming. Not for Liu Hanming. Not even for Liu Shunfa.
Doug Feng was done playing nice.