Overdo

We drove back to Wuchi overnight, arriving only at daybreak. As soon as we turned onto the private road, I grew frightened. He comforted me, "We've agreed on what to say, right? As long as we tell the same story, they won't know what we did." I nodded, trying hard to steady my breathing. The car rounded the bend, and we could already see the lights illuminating the first perimeter wall. Once past the sentry post, the brightly lit mansion came into view. The fact that all the lights were still on at this hour undoubtedly meant something major had happened. I knew that something was my absence all night.

I was on the verge of tears. Mu Shiyang patted my back and whispered, "Don't be afraid. We're fighting with our backs to the river." I straightened my posture with effort and took a deep breath. The car finally pulled to a stop in front of the house. Director Liang personally opened the car door, letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of me. "Young Miss."

I nodded, got out of the car, and walked into the living room with Mu Shiyang. I swallowed hard. Father stood in the living room with his hands behind his back, his face completely expressionless. Uncle Lei stood behind him, along with Director Shi, Secretary You, Grandfather Mu, Uncle He... They were all staring intently at the two of us, especially Father. His gaze was like a knife, as if he wanted to carve transparent holes through me. I heard Mu Shiyang murmur softly, "Sir." Father glared at him fiercely—I had never seen Father look so ferocious before. The veins on his forehead bulged prominently, looking terrifying under the light. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! You two are just fine!" He stared at Mu Shiyang as if he wanted to kill him with his eyes. "You're really something, aren't you?"

I shivered. Father's voice finally erupted like a thunderclap, "Nannan! Come upstairs with me!"

Panicked, I looked around for an ally. But Uncle Lei didn't dare help me because Mu Shiyang was his nephew. Uncle He had just started to say, "Sir..." when Father glared at him fiercely, and he didn't dare say anything more. Father turned and went upstairs, and I had no choice but to drag my feet and follow. I stole a glance at Mu Shiyang; he winked at me, encouraging me.

Father entered the study, and I slowly followed him in. Father asked, "Tell me yourself, where did you run off to?"

"Now, now, why such anger between father and daughter? Dr. Cheng said your blood pressure is high and you should avoid getting upset." A soft voice sounded behind me. I turned abruptly—it was her! She was still wearing a cheongsam, made of dark blue patterned fabric, with a deep blue gemstone brooch pinned at the collar. She walked over gracefully, still with that same smiling face. "The Young Miss has returned."

I turned my head back. Father's expression darkened further. "Why didn't you knock before entering? Don't you know the rules?"

She looked somewhat resentful, glanced at me again, and said with a smile, "Nannan, was the street fun? How could you have so much fun that you forgot to come home? Spending the night out with a man, tsk tsk..."This was truly adding insult to injury and pouring oil on the fire. Father’s gaze cut through me like a knife, sending chills down my spine. He glared at me fiercely before turning to her with a cold expression. "Get out. My daughter is none of your concern." Her pride was deeply wounded, especially with me present, and her humiliation quickly turned to rage. Her voice rose to a piercing shriek, "Murong Qingyi, I won’t stand for this! Don’t try to intimidate me with your posturing! I came here with good intentions to care for your precious daughter, and you bite the hand that feeds you—"

That sent Father over the edge, but instead of shouting, he laughed—a laugh that made my blood run cold. I knew it was a sign he had reached the peak of his fury, and once he erupted, it would be a storm of monumental force. Sure enough, in his anger, he even slipped into the Suzhou dialect, "You fool! Don’t play the idiot with things you don’t understand!"

"How don’t I understand?" she retorted defiantly, though she avoided meeting his eyes. "Tell me!"

Father snorted contemptuously but said nothing. Emboldened, she shot me a glance and sneered sarcastically, "Of course, I’m no match for her in every way—not as pretty, not as cunning, not as skilled at seduction. But at least I haven’t borne you a bastard—"

Before she could finish, Father slapped her hard across the face, the blow swelling one side instantly. Stunned, it took her a moment to burst into tears. Trembling with rage, Father roared, "Get out of here! Get as far away as you can! If I ever hear such words again, I’ll skin you alive, and then your tennis coach too!"

She trembled in terror, unable to utter a single word in her defense. I had never seen Father so merciless. I believed he meant every word, and a shudder ran through me. What she had said about my mother… No! It couldn’t be true! There must be more to the story!

She stormed out, the slam of the door startling me violently. I looked up to see Father’s terrifying expression. Suddenly, he snatched the ruler from the desk. "Today, I’ll beat some sense into you, you foolish child!" I froze in fear, and by the time I reacted, the ruler had already struck me—a searing pain spreading through my body. Sobbing, I raised my hands to shield myself, but he only grew angrier. "Foolish child! Do you think you’re grown? How dare you ditch your attendants and go out to play? Are my words just wind in your ears?" I wept helplessly as two more blows landed. I didn’t dare defend myself, but my silence seemed to fuel his rage, and his strikes grew heavier. "I’ll beat you to death! Better that than have you shame me! Running off with a man overnight! Who taught you such vulgar behavior at your age?"

His words pierced my heart like daggers, and the ruler’s blows burned with fiery pain. Overwhelmed, I finally retorted through my tears, "Just kill me, then!"

Enraged, he shouted, "You think I won’t?! Life would be so much quieter without you! I’d be overjoyed to be rid of a disgrace like you!" His roars echoed through the room. I heard Secretary You knocking at the door, calling, "Sir! Sir!" Father bellowed, "Who dares to come in?!"Secretary You, sensing the situation was turning dire, came in after all. He rushed over in alarm, trying to restrain Father. But Father, like an enraged lion, shoved him aside in an instant. Secretary You ran out again, and Father seized me, landing several heavy blows. Then Secretary You, Uncle He, Uncle Lei, Grandfather Mu, and the others all surged into the room. Father only struck harder. Several uncles rushed forward and held Father back, shouting, "Sir! Sir! Stop hitting him!" Father struggled and roared, "Today, I will beat this wretched creature to death!"

I was crying so hard I could barely breathe, overwhelmed with agony, and screamed shrilly, "Let him beat me to death! After all, I'm just as despicable as my mother! And anyway, I'm not his son!"

The room suddenly fell silent. Everyone stared at me wide-eyed. Father’s face turned deathly pale, his lips trembling as he pointed a finger at me—his hand actually shaking slightly. "You…"

He collapsed backward! The room instantly descended into chaos. Uncle Lei’s face was frighteningly pale as he hurriedly undid the buttons at Father’s collar. Secretary You stamped his feet and yelled, "Someone, quick!" Director Shi grabbed the telephone and shouted, "Hurry! Get me Dr. Cheng!"

The attendants all rushed in. I was also terrified and dazed, wanting to go over and check on Father, but they stopped me and forcibly escorted me out of the study, taking me back to my own room. I could hear the sounds of cars, voices, and urgent footsteps in the courtyard, all blending into a chaotic mess. My doctor arrived quickly and tended to my wounds. I asked him, "What about Father? What about Father?" He shook his head and said, "I don’t know. Dr. Cheng is already here." I cried, demanding to see Father, struggling to get out of bed. The doctor panicked, and the nurses held me down. I heard the doctor call out, "Administer a sedative!" I cried and screamed as they held me down for the injection. Everything before my eyes grew blurry. Sobbing, I finally fell asleep.