“Su Guoqiang!”
Song Yumei panted as she climbed to the top floor, only to hear Su Guoqiang pressuring his daughter to die.
She glanced around, grabbed the long wooden stick leaning in the corner, and struck Su Guoqiang several times on the back: “You heartless man! If anything happens to Mulan, I’ll kill you!”
After beating Su Guoqiang until he scurried away covering his head, she hurried toward her daughter, anxiously saying, “Mulan, don’t be afraid. Mom is back, and I’ll protect you.
I know you’ve been wronged. Come here, and we can talk things through slowly.”
Su Mulan wasn’t actually planning to commit suicide. The commotion today was mainly to let everyone know just how strained her relationship with Su Guoqiang had become.
She also knew that, for now, this wouldn’t have much impact on Su Guoqiang—at most, people would say he was biased.
But with this groundwork laid, once the secret about Su Huilan was exposed, things would become much more interesting.
So when Song Yumei reached out, Su Mulan stepped away from the edge of the rooftop and threw herself into her mother’s arms, crying, “Mom, why does Dad dislike me so much?
Am I adopted?
Maybe I’m not even his daughter. Maybe only Huilan is his daughter, so he dotes on her and wishes I were dead.”
Hearing this, Song Yumei shot Su Guoqiang a fierce glare.
Su Guoqiang snorted coldly. He wished Su Mulan would just die: “If you want to die, then— mmm—”
But before he could finish, someone covered his mouth: “Guoqiang, now’s not the time to argue with the child. Come on, let’s go to my place and sit for a while.”
Several men present half-pulled, half-dragged Su Guoqiang downstairs.
With Su Guoqiang gone, Song Yumei breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled at her daughter. “Mulan, of course you’re our biological child.
Don’t mind your father—he’s just sick in the head!
Come home with me and tell me about Zhao Zhenhua. Whatever you want to do about this, I’ll support you.”
Having achieved her goal, Su Mulan was led home by Song Yumei.
As soon as they entered, before Song Yumei could speak, Zhao Zhenhua’s parents, Zhao Shengli and Zhuang Chuntao, arrived.
Their faces were filled with unconcealed anxiety, clearly aware of Zhao Zhenhua’s situation.
Seeing them, Song Yumei wore an unfriendly expression. “If you’re here to plead for Zhao Zhenhua, don’t bother speaking.”
Zhuang Chuntao forced a smile and nudged Song Yumei into the house. “Yumei, Zhenhua was wrong in what he did. As his parents, we must apologize on his behalf. Let me talk to Mulan.”
Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Shengli squeezed in behind them.
Song Yumei didn’t forcefully push them out.
Regardless of how the police handled the case, the Zhao family owed her daughter an apology.
Whether her daughter accepted it was one thing, but the Zhao family needed to show their attitude.
Once inside, Zhuang Chuntao adopted a humble posture. “Mulan, Zhenhua lost his mind and did that terrible thing. Thankfully, you were lucky and nothing happened—that’s heaven’s blessing.”
As she spoke, she wiped away nonexistent tears from the corner of her eye and stepped forward to take Su Mulan’s hand, but Su Mulan sidestepped to avoid her.
A flicker of embarrassment and resentment crossed Zhuang Chuntao’s face before she forced an even more earnest smile. “Mulan, I know you’re angry right now.
But you and Zhenhua grew up together—there’s history there. You can’t really stand by and watch him go to jail.”
Mulan, you know Zhenhua’s temperament best. How would he dare to do anything illegal or against the rules?
I reckon he… he just likes you too much, and since you never gave him a clear answer, he got carried away and came up with this stupid idea. He wanted to stage a hero-saving-beauty scenario to make you agree to be with him.
For the sake of our families’ long-standing friendship, please talk to the police officers. Tell them this is just a misunderstanding and ask them to release Zhenhua first.
Don’t worry, we’ll definitely teach him a lesson and make him apologize to you properly!”
Su Mulan looked at Zhuang Chuntao’s groveling demeanor, but what flashed through her mind were the hardships she endured after marrying Zhao Zhenhua in her previous life.
When she got married, her reputation was already tarnished. Zhuang Chuntao never gave her a kind look, often making indirect criticisms that even dragged her mother into it.
Back then, Su Mulan felt guilty toward Zhao Zhenhua and endured all of Zhuang Chuntao’s pickiness. But now, she wished she could tear Zhao Zhenhua apart, and naturally, she had no intention of being polite to Zhuang Chuntao either.
Her voice was icy cold: “People used to say Auntie Zhuang had a silver tongue, capable of turning black into white. I never believed it until today.
What Zhao Zhenhua did was already despicable enough, but to use me as a shield makes it even worse!
If he were my son, I’d consider myself lucky not to have beaten him to death. I certainly wouldn’t have the nerve to plead for him.
But Auntie Zhuang, since you believe Zhao Zhenhua is innocent, just wait. I’m sure the police will clear his name.”
Zhuang Chuntao was left speechless, her face alternating between pale and flushed, a surge of rage boiling inside her.
If it weren’t for this little temptress stringing Zhenhua along without giving him a response, how could he have done such a foolish thing?
Now that Zhenhua was in trouble, not only did Su Mulan refuse to help, but she even dared to make sarcastic remarks. The fire in Zhuang Chuntao’s heart flared up instantly.
She suddenly raised her voice, pointing at Su Mulan’s nose and cursing: “Bah! Su Mulan, you little slut! I give you an inch, and you think you can take a mile!
Who are you calling despicable? Huh? Who are you saying is even worse?!
I think the worst one here is you!”
Zhuang Chuntao’s chest heaved violently, her spit nearly hitting Su Mulan’s face: “How dare you act all high and mighty here?
If it weren’t for you stringing our Zhenhua along all day, eating his food, using his things, treating him like a fool, would he have lost his head over you?
The money he spent on buying you snowflake cream, new clothes, taking you to movies and restaurants—it all adds up to enough to marry a wife!
You shameless vixen, sucking my son dry, and now you turn your back on him, even trying to send him to jail?
Let me tell you, I know exactly how much of Zhenhua’s salary was spent on you!
If you don’t get my son out, I won’t let this go.”
These words were practically shouted at the top of her lungs, and everyone in the hallway could hear them.
Song Yumei didn’t need to think to imagine what the people outside were thinking. If these words spread, her daughter’s reputation would be ruined.
Fuming, she nearly jumped up: “Zhuang Chuntao, stop talking nonsense! Who spent your son’s money?
You said you wanted to apologize for your son, and this is how you apologize?
Dare to spread rumors about my daughter, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to take action, but Su Mulan stopped her.
Su Mulan pushed open the window so everyone in the hallway could hear her clearly.
“Auntie Zhuang, with just a few words, you’re splashing dirty water all over me. Are you trying to drive me to my death so there’s no one left to testify?
If you say I spent Zhao Zhenhua’s money, then show me the evidence.”
I, Su Mulan, when and where did I ever accept anything from your son Zhao Zhenhua, or when did I ever go out to eat or watch movies with your son?”
Without waiting for Zhuang Chuntao to respond, she pointed at the people in the hallway and continued, “Every day, I am either at school or at home. All of my time can withstand close scrutiny—my teachers and classmates at school, the neighbors in the residential compound are all witnesses. My innocence can stand up to any test.
As for what you’ve said, if you can’t provide evidence, I will absolutely report it to the public security bureau and have them investigate this thoroughly!”