Final Thoughts on In the Years When I Was a Father | Translation Complete + Review!

This story has 15 arcs in total, and every single one gave me something different to feel. Some made me laugh, some made me cry, and some just warmed my heart. It’s all thanks to our lead, Qi Sheng, who took on the role of a father again and again—changing lives one child at a time.

Let me quickly list out the arcs for anyone who’s curious or wants a little recap:

[On-screen visual: animated list appears]

1. The Playboy Dad
2. The Partial Dad
3. The Gangster Dad
4. Strict Father in Ancient Times
5. The Weak Dad
6. Movie Star Dad
7. The Runaway Dad
8. Phoenix Dad
9. The Abusive Dad
10. Cuckold Dad
11. The Hypocritical Stepfather
12. The Villain Boss’s Prodigal Father
13. Flirtatious Father of the Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role
14. The Ruthless Marshal Father
15. The Cool Dad in the Apocalypse

Pretty wild, right?

Each arc felt like a full little world of its own, but what I loved most was how Qi Sheng loved all his children—whether sons or daughters, regardless of what they did in their past lives. He treated them with care and gave them a chance to start over. And honestly, that message really hit me in the feels.

Now, I’ve gotta talk about the arc with the quintuplets. FIVE kids. That arc was just—wow. Watching him balance and raise five completely different personalities while giving each of them space to grow was amazing. Plus, there was a rebirth twist—one of the sons actually returned to his original time to help his brothers! That whole storyline was beautiful and hands-down one of my favorites.

Then there’s the prodigal father arc—oh my gosh. This one had me laughing non-stop. Qi Sheng seemed lazy and unbothered, but secretly? He was doing everything to raise his son right. It was sweet, funny, and full of surprise emotions. Honestly, the humor in that arc was so refreshing.

There weren’t as many daughter-centric arcs, and I do wish we had more of those, but the few we did get were touching. Like the Flirtatious Father of the Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role—that one had a softer, more protective vibe. Watching him handle that relationship with grace and patience was a joy.

Some arcs were pretty heavy, like The Abusive Dad arc. That one was hard to read at times, but Qi Sheng handled it with care. He took on a difficult past, faced the damage, and did everything he could to rebuild trust. It was emotional and painful, but also hopeful.

And then, of course, we had some cool and even intense arcs—like The Cool Dad in the Apocalypse. Qi Sheng being a dad in a post-apocalyptic world? Yes, please. The contrast between the harsh world and his gentle fatherly love was so moving.

I really appreciated how the author kept the emotional core strong across all these different settings. Whether Qi Sheng was a movie star, a soldier, a marshal, or even a gangster, he kept growing and loving. That kind of consistency in storytelling is rare and beautiful.

Now, as a translator, I have to say—this project was such a treat. The writing was emotional and fun, the pacing was great, and I really felt connected to the characters. Every time I sat down to translate, it felt like revisiting family.

To everyone who’s been reading along—thank you SO MUCH. Your support, comments, and encouragement made this journey even more special for me.

💖 If you enjoyed the translation and want to support future projects, feel free to buy me a coffee on Ko-fi! It helps me keep going and brings more translated gems your way. The link’s in the description below.

I’ve got something really exciting coming up soon, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

So… that’s it. The story of Qi Sheng—the father of many—is complete. He wasn’t perfect, but he tried. He loved. He gave his kids a chance to change. And maybe, that’s what made this story so special: the quiet, powerful reminder that love and effort can change lives.

Thanks for being on this journey with me. Until next time, keep reading, keep supporting, and keep believing in good stories.

See you in the next novel! Byeee~ 👋