“Su Mulan, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Su Guoqiang suddenly burst in, cutting off Auntie Yuan mid-sentence.
He looked at Su Mulan as if she were his mortal enemy, his expression seeming as though he wished he could devour her alive.
“The police haven’t even finished investigating yet, and here you are spreading rumors and ruining Zhenhua’s reputation. What has Zhenhua ever done to wrong you that you’d harm him like this? Hurry up and come with me to the police station to withdraw the case!”
With that, he grabbed Su Mulan’s arm and tried to drag her out. Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought he was Zhao Zhenhua’s father.
The neighbors who heard this couldn’t help but mutter to themselves: What kind of father acts like this in this world? Recalling the Su family’s argument from the night before, they began to look at Su Guoqiang with suspicion. Is Old Su out of his mind?
Auntie Yuan was the first to step in, grabbing Su Mulan’s other arm. “Guoqiang, the police have already confirmed it—it was that scoundrel Zhao Zhenhua who tried to harm Mulan! You’re Mulan’s own father. Instead of protecting her, you keep defending Zhao Zhenhua. What kind of logic is that?”
Su Mulan, who had been teary-eyed, could no longer hold back her tears when she saw Auntie Yuan standing up for her. Large teardrops rolled down her cheeks as she struggled desperately. “Let go of me! You’re not my father! Someone tried to ruin me, and instead of supporting me, you want me to withdraw the case. I’ve never seen a father as heartless as you in this whole world!”
Hearing this, everyone felt even more sympathy for Su Mulan.
But Su Guoqiang didn’t notice the changing looks in people’s eyes. He was still stunned by what Auntie Yuan had said. “The police have really confirmed it?”
Seeing Su Guoqiang’s dazed expression, Auntie Yuan softened her tone. “Yes, the thug confessed—it was Zhao Zhenhua who sent him to harm Mulan. Zhao Zhenhua has already been taken away by the police. Look at you—you must have been deceived by that scoundrel Zhao Zhenhua, and you ended up hurting your own daughter’s feelings. Hurry up and explain things to Mulan, apologize to her properly.”
Auntie Yuan wanted to mediate, but Su Guoqiang didn’t even hear the rest of her words. The moment he heard that Zhao Zhenhua had been taken away by the police, he panicked. Would that kid say something he shouldn’t? Thinking of certain possibilities, Su Guoqiang reached for Su Mulan again, his tone even harsher than before. “We’re all neighbors here. You can’t just stand by and watch Zhenhua go to jail. Besides, he’s always been so good to you. This time, he must have just made a mistake in the heat of the moment. You have to give him a chance to make amends. Come on, hurry up and come with me to the police station! Just tell them you and Zhenhua are engaged, and you two had a lovers’ quarrel, so Zhenhua sent someone to scare you.”
Everyone present was stunned. No one expected Su Guoqiang to say such a thing.
Su Mulan hadn’t expected it either—that Su Guoqiang would publicly say something so foolish, handing her leverage on a silver platter. She took two steps back, looking as if she’d been struck by lightning, swaying unsteadily. Just as Su Guoqiang was about to grab her, she swung her hands violently, landing two resounding slaps on his face.
Before anyone could react, she turned and ran toward the staircase.
Su Guoqiang’s dislike for Su Mulan, fueled by those two slaps, reached its peak. He quickly chased after her, cursing loudly. “You wretched girl, how dare you hit your own father? You’ve gone too far! I’m telling you, this matter isn’t up to you to decide.”
“You think hiding at home will help? Even if you hide at the ends of the earth, it won’t make a difference!”
The Su family lived on the second floor, but Su Mulan didn’t stop there—she kept running upward.
Auntie Yuan watched Su Mulan’s behavior and felt a terrible premonition. Slapping her thigh, she exclaimed, “Oh no! Mulan might do something foolish. Hurry, let’s go check on her!”
With that, she quickly chased after her.
The onlookers on the balcony also panicked upon hearing this and rushed toward the rooftop.
By the time the group caught up, Su Mulan was already standing at the edge of the rooftop.
Seeing this, many people felt their hearts leap into their throats.
Auntie Yuan anxiously shouted, “Mulan, what are you doing? Come back right now!”
Su Mulan took a small step forward. “Auntie Yuan, I just can’t understand why I have a father like this.
When I rank first in exams, he says I’m too competitive.
When I help others, he says I’m showing off.
When I wear a skirt, he says I’m shameless.
When I play with the younger kids in the compound, he says I’m forming cliques.
Now that I’ve been bullied, he says I deserve it, and he even wants me to lie to the police.
He can see all the good in Zhao Zhenhua, but he never notices any of my strengths.
I’m so heartbroken. I don’t want to live anymore.”
Her movement startled many, causing them to cry out in alarm.
“Mulan, some people are just like that—they never know how to speak kindly, even though they have a mouth. I’m sure your father cares about you deep down.”
After saying this, Auntie Yuan quickly nudged the person beside her and whispered, “Guoqiang, say something gentle. Let’s coax Mulan down first.”
“Coax her? How old is she? Making such a fuss over a trivial matter. If she has the guts, let her jump. I’d even praise her for having backbone!”
Su Guoqiang looked at his stubborn yet fragile eldest daughter standing at the rooftop edge, a flicker of madness flashing in his eyes.
If Mulan really jumped, it was only the fifth floor—at worst, she’d end up half-crippled.
But whether injured or disabled, she wouldn’t be able to repeat her studies, and Huilan would be safe.
What if she actually died…
Well, it wouldn’t be his fault as a father. It would just be Mulan’s bad luck.
Hearing this, Auntie Yuan felt like killing someone. She shoved Su Guoqiang aside. “If you don’t know how to talk, then shut your trap!”
Then, she forced a smile and looked at Su Mulan. “Dear, don’t listen to your father’s nonsense. He’s just angry and talking recklessly…”
“Auntie, I’m not the only daughter in our family. How my father treats Huilan, I’ve seen it all, and I’m sure you all know it too.”
Su Mulan wiped her tears, her voice trembling with sobs but clear enough to be heard across the entire rooftop. “When Huilan had a fever, he stayed up all night with her.
When Huilan wanted a new dress, he bought it without a second thought.
Even if Huilan just coughs once, he gets all worried.
He knows how to be a good father—he just doesn’t want to be good to me.
So when I had a high fever of 40 degrees and went to the hospital for an IV, he called me spoiled.
My schoolbag has been used for five years and is falling apart, but when I wanted a new one, he said I was vain.
We’re both his daughters. Why?”
She grew more agitated as she spoke, leaning further outward, which drew gasps from the crowd below.
“How dare you compare yourself to Huilan?”
Su Guoqiang, humiliated and exposed in public, pointed at Su Mulan and scolded, “Huilan is your younger sister, and she’s not in good health. Shouldn’t you, as the older sister, give way to her?”
Besides, Huilan is obedient, sensible, and filial—who wouldn’t like her?
Unlike you, always stirring up trouble, with a heart smaller than a sesame seed, holding onto old grudges just waiting to settle scores with me.
Su Mulan, I’ll say it again: if you have the guts, jump!
If not, get down from there and stop making a fool of yourself.
Putting on such an act—who do you think you’re fooling?