Chapter 26

Mu Beiwang did know exactly who it was, and even what had been said.

He hadn’t even had the chance to go ask for clarification before someone had taken the initiative to come to him and tell him everything his eldest brother had done yesterday.

It was precisely because of this that Mu Beiwang, in a fit of anger, had skipped class straight away and gone to confront Mu Beichen.

“I hadn’t even gone to ask anyone yet, but Xia Nan came to find me first and told me about what big brother did yesterday,” Mu Beiwang explained. “He heard it from his brother Xia Dong, who specifically asked him to pass the message to me.”

“Xia Dong said big brother went too far—completely disregarding Sister Chu Wei, an orphan.”

Mu Beiwang knew that Xia Dong was a soldier, and that when it came to the bullying of a soldier’s orphan, he would certainly be unable to tolerate it.

“Xia Dong told Xia Nan to tell you this?” Mu Junze raised his head, fixing his gaze on Mu Beiwang as he pressed further.

From Mu Beiwang’s answer, however, he was already almost certain of the truth.

After all, with just a little inquiry the facts could be known, and they really had no reason to lie about something like this.

“Yes,” Mu Beiwang nodded firmly. “I think Xia Dong couldn’t stand to see big brother bully Sister Chu Wei, so he asked Xia Nan to tell me, so I could pass it along to you.”

Mu Junze let out a long sigh, speaking earnestly to his son: “Bei Wang, this time you really were too impulsive.”

“This matter, you should have discussed with me and your mother first, instead of rushing off to hit your big brother without a word.”

There was a note of reproach in his tone.

Hearing his father’s words, Mu Beiwang slowly lowered his head and said softly, “I’m sorry, Dad. I know I was wrong, but if I had to do it again, I’d still make the same choice.”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of regret in his voice.

Mu Junze looked at his son. Knowing the depth of his feelings for Chu Wei, he didn’t blame him too harshly.

“It’s understandable. After all, back then, Chu Wei took a dog bite protecting you. Now that she’s been wronged, if you could stay calm about it, I’d be the one to feel chilled.”

He continued, “We’ll deal with your big brother. But if people found out you fought him because of Chu Wei, it could stir up unnecessary suspicion and misunderstanding.”

Mu Beiwang lowered his head further. He knew his father was right.

Still, when he heard his father mention Chu Wei, he couldn’t suppress the worry rising in his chest.

He raised his head, looked at his father, and asked with a trace of anxiety in his eyes, “Dad, do you really still plan to let Chu Wei be with big brother?”

Mu Junze opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

He was silent for a moment, then looked at Mu Beiwang and said slowly, “I don’t know.”

In truth, he had originally planned to dissolve the engagement between Mu Beichen and Xia Chu Wei.

But when he saw Xia Chu Wei block the whip for Mu Beichen without hesitation to protect him, his resolve began to waver.

“Chu Wei really likes your big brother,” Mu Junze said, his voice tinged with helplessness and conflict.

Thinking back to the moment Chu Wei blocked the whip for his brother, Mu Beiwang couldn’t help but feel a wave of frustration.

He simply couldn’t approve of them being together, so he said directly, “Better to end the pain quickly than let it drag on. Big brother’s heart isn’t with her at all—are you going to let her be wronged for a lifetime?”

“You think this is good for her now, but what about in the future? When you’re gone, she’ll have no one to rely on but big brother. And clearly, big brother is not someone she can rely on!”

Just then, a voice came from behind them—Mu Beichen’s. “Dad, the engagement stays. It won’t be canceled.”

Mu Junze and Mu Beiwang turned around quickly to see Mu Beichen walking toward them, clutching his shoulder.

Mu Junze’s eyes instantly reddened with anger as he roared, “You don’t want to cancel it? Then what about everything you’ve done before? Do you call that the actions of a fiancé? Can you say you’ve treated Chu Wei right?”

Looking at his eldest son staring worriedly at Chu Wei’s door, Mu Junze finally sighed. “Let’s see what Chu Wei says later. If she’s willing to give you another chance, then we won’t cancel it.”

“Mu Beichen, this is your last chance. If you dare hurt her again, I won’t spare you.”

He looked at his eldest son seriously. “Remember this: I am your father, but I am also Chu Wei’s father.”

From his father’s words, Mu Beichen understood he was being given another chance. “I understand, Dad.”

As for Chu Wei not wanting to be with him, the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. She liked him so much—how could she possibly agree to break the engagement?

“Dad,” Mu Beiwang said unhappily, “you know Chu Wei is softhearted. Who knows what scheme Mu Beichen is planning.”

Mu Junze shook his head at him. “We’ll listen to Chu Wei. With your mother and me here, we won’t let her be wronged.”

Inside the room, both Madam Mu and Xia Chu Wei had heard the conversation outside.

Madam Mu finished applying medicine to her and didn’t help her put her clothes back on, instead covering her with a thin blanket.

She gently wiped the tears from Chu Wei’s face, smoothed her hair, and looked at her with heartache. “Chu Wei, why are you so foolish? Mu Beichen has a thick hide—taking a few lashes won’t hurt him. But you’re a young girl—how can you take that kind of beating?”

“Do you really like him that much?”

In her heart, Madam Mu didn’t want the engagement to continue.

“Chu Wei, I treat you like my own daughter. Even if Beichen is my biological son, I still don’t think you should marry him.”

“If you marry a man who doesn’t have you in his heart, who’s thinking about someone else, you’ll be the one who suffers.”

“You’re a good girl, Chu Wei. I hope you’ll seriously consider whether you still want to be with Beichen.”

Chu Wei shook her head. “No need to consider, Auntie—the engagement should be canceled.”

“I blocked the whip for Beichen only because I didn’t want Uncle to keep beating him. I didn’t want their father-son relationship to sour because of me.”

Thinking of that shirt with lipstick on it, Chu Wei had completely lost heart.

Madam Mu froze for a moment, not expecting that even now Chu Wei was still thinking about keeping their father-son bond intact.

“Chu Wei, you’re such a good girl—it’s Beichen who doesn’t deserve you. Don’t worry, in the future Auntie will find you someone even better than him to be your husband.”

“It’s our Mu family’s loss that we couldn’t keep you.”

“But this will always be your family home, your safe harbor. Even after you marry in the future, you can come back anytime you want. This room—I’ll always keep it for you.” Madam Mu wiped the tears from her own face as she spoke.

“All these years, you’ve been wronged, Chu Wei. It’s your uncle and me who have failed to keep our promise to your parents—we didn’t take good enough care of you.”