Chapter 25

When Mu Beichen heard his father’s words, he stood up, his face turning a few shades paler. His lips trembled slightly as he said, “Dad, that really was just a misunderstanding. I’m innocent with Xu Xueqing.”

Mu Junze had no interest in listening to his son’s explanation. The whip in his hand cut a fierce arc through the air, whistling as it came down hard on Mu Beichen.

Mu Beichen hadn’t expected his father to suddenly strike.
It was too late to dodge — an intense, burning pain seared across his back, as if his flesh had been torn open.

Mu Beiwan, watching from the side, was utterly dumbfounded. His eyes went wide in shock, and he instinctively scooted a few steps away, afraid that the merciless whip might accidentally lash him as well.

Mu’s mother let out a startled cry, running forward two steps, but in the end she stopped, not intervening.

Mu Bo-fu’s return home naturally caught Xia Chuwei’s attention. She had been about to tidy herself up and go downstairs when she heard Mu’s mother’s cry. She stood up and looked down from above.

When she saw the white shirt on Mu Beichen’s back, streaked with blood from the whipping, she covered her mouth in shock, her face full of disbelief.

“To this day, you’re still speaking up for her? Can you swear she didn’t know you were engaged? You’re not innocent, and neither is she,” Mu Junze said furiously.

“Chuwei is the only innocent one here. If the two of you truly had feelings for each other, why didn’t you tell us and end your engagement with Chuwei?”

“What were you afraid of? That I’d blame you and you wouldn’t dare speak up? Or that we wouldn’t agree to break off the engagement?”

“You’re wrong. If I had known you liked someone else, even if Chuwei liked you, I still wouldn’t let her marry you — because I can’t stand to see her wronged. She’s such a good girl, and you’re in no position to look down on her.”

“That’s not it! I didn’t—Dad, I’ve never wanted to end the engagement. I will marry Chuwei,” Mu Beichen denied. “I have nothing going on with Xu Xueqing.”

Mu Junze gave a cold laugh. “Even now you won’t admit it? And you still dare talk about marrying Chuwei?”

This time, Mu Junze didn’t hold back. He raised the whip again to strike.

Xia Chuwei, seeing this, quickly called out, “Uncle Mu, please don’t!”

Mu Junze ignored her and lashed down again, then turned to glance at her at the window. “Chuwei, close the window so it won’t bother you.”

Seeing he wasn’t going to stop, Chuwei didn’t even think about the window — she shook her head at him.

“Please don’t hit him anymore, Uncle Mu. I’ll break off the engagement with Beichen-ge,” she said, crying.

“Chuwei, this has nothing to do with you. I’m the one who didn’t teach him well,” Mu Junze said grimly.

He then raised his hand again, striking Mu Beichen hard without mercy.

Mu’s mother stood to the side. Although she was somewhat worried seeing her husband so harsh, she noticed he was avoiding vital areas and not hitting the arms, so she didn’t step in.

She thought, giving Mu Beichen a real lesson might be good, and simply turned away, not watching further.

Xia Chuwei stood on the stairs, anxious as she witnessed the scene.

Seeing Mu’s mother wasn’t stopping him, she hurriedly ran down — but in her haste, she tripped and fell to the floor, her knee slamming painfully into it, almost making her cry out.

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to get up.

One of her shoes had fallen off, but she didn’t care. She kept running downstairs.

Mu Junze was standing with his back to the front door, completely unaware that Chuwei was coming.

Seeing that he was still whipping Mu Beichen, she didn’t think twice — she rushed forward and threw herself between them.

Mu Junze saw her but had no time to pull back. With a sharp crack, the whip struck hard across Chuwei’s back.

“Ah!” Chuwei cried out in pain. The blow nearly knocked her out; the pain left her unable to speak.

She collapsed to her knees.

“Chuwei!” Mu Junze’s face changed instantly when he heard her scream. He tossed the whip aside and hurried to her, full of worry.

Mu’s mother and Mu Beiwan were also startled by Chuwei’s cry. They turned and were stunned to see her kneeling on the ground.

Mu Beichen also turned in shock. When he saw Chuwei, his eyes reddened in worry. “Why are you so foolish? Why would you run over here?”

Ignoring his own pain, he tried to stand and hold her, but Mu Junze kicked him away and went to support Chuwei himself.

“Manning, hurry over and check on Chuwei,” Mu Junze called urgently to his wife.

Mu’s mother quickly came over, supporting Chuwei inside. She glared at her husband. “Why weren’t you more careful?”

“I didn’t see her suddenly run over,” Mu Junze said, at a loss for words.

Mu Beichen tried to follow them in, but Mu Beiwan blocked the doorway. “Haven’t you hurt her enough already? If you really care about her, stay away.”

“Move aside,” Mu Beichen said, his eyes bloodshot.

“I’m not moving. Dad already told you to leave. Just go,” Mu Beiwan said, blocking the entrance.

Mu Beichen grabbed him by the collar. “Mu Beiwan, what are you trying to do? Will you only be happy if Chuwei and I can’t be together?”

“Yes,” Mu Beiwan didn’t deny it.

“I just don’t want to see her with you. You know exactly how you’ve treated her. Look at your friends — besides Zi’an-ge, who treats her with any respect? If you didn’t approve and enable them, would they dare?”

“They all say Chuwei isn’t worthy of you, that you and Xu Xueqing are a perfect pair. Have you ever spoken up for her once? Denied Xu Xueqing?”

“You haven’t,” Mu Beiwan said, looking at him with disappointment.

“When she was young, it was fine to tell people she was just your sister. But now she’s an adult, about to marry you — and you still say she’s only like a sister to you. Well, now she really is your sister, so why aren’t you happy?”

Taking advantage of Mu Beichen’s injuries, Mu Beiwan shoved him aside, closed the door, and kept him out.

He ran upstairs to where his father was pacing at the door in worry.

“Dad,” he said.

“Mm. Where is he?” Mu Junze asked, seeing only him come up.

“I locked him outside,” Mu Beiwan said without a hint of guilt. “Didn’t you just tell him to get out?”

“But he probably won’t have the guts to actually leave. You can go back down and beat him again if you want.” Leaning against the wall, Mu Beiwan spoke casually, though a flicker of worry crossed his eyes as he glanced at the closed door.

Mu Junze looked at his younger son. “Who was in that private room that day? Ask Zi’an and find out clearly. Tomorrow I’m going to visit each of their families one by one.”

“I know — you already know,” he said, meeting his father’s gaze.