Rebooting 60, let's go on a rampage with the orange cat!

Chapter 156 Breaking Through

At this moment, Wu Yutong was completely unaware that her husband, Chen Jun, had returned to look for her.

When she came out of the toilet in the alley, she saw a little boy who looked about seven or eight years old sneaking around the corner of the alley, staring intently at her.

Before Wu Yutong could react, the little boy quickly ran up to her, stuffed a crumpled piece of paper into her hand, and then ran away like a shot.

Wu Yutong unfolded the note with a puzzled look and immediately recognized Ma Jianqiang's handwriting.

The note simply read: "Same place, come quick."

Upon seeing these words, Wu Yutong's heart sank, as if she had been struck by a heavy alarm bell.

She couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed, thinking, "Hmph! I knew Ma Jianqiang wouldn't let me off so easily!"

However, despite being filled with anger and unease, Wu Yutong knew that she could not act rashly at this moment.

She stood there, lost in deep hesitation.

Should I go to the appointment or not?

If we don't go, given Ma Jianqiang's personality, he probably won't let it go easily; but if we do go, what if something unexpected happens?

Moreover, reporting the incident directly to the police is obviously not an option. After all, if things escalate, you will not only gain nothing, but you may also bring yourself a lot of unnecessary trouble and even ruin your reputation.

After much deliberation, Wu Yutong felt that the safest approach was to first calm Ma Jianqiang down and try to persuade him to leave the area as soon as possible to avoid causing further trouble.

In particular, this matter must not be allowed to reach the husband's family, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.

If one is unfortunately caught up in it, their marriage, upcoming graduation, and subsequent job search, among other important matters, could be greatly affected.

Only if Ma Jianqiang leaves here, and I myself move into Chen Jun's work unit's residential compound, will I have no further contact with his family.

Once this matter has died down, even if Ma Jianqiang comes back and finds out that she's married, what can he do to her?

She can't possibly stay unmarried forever and wait for him to become an old maid...

Thinking about all this, Wu Yutong felt more and more innocent. She had encountered Ma Jianqiang, a fool who was good for nothing and good for nothing. She hadn't promised him anything, but now she felt like she owed him something.

She felt extremely anxious, and fine beads of sweat began to appear on her forehead.

Without thinking twice, she rushed home, rummaged through drawers and cabinets to find the pocket money she had saved up, as well as the money and food coupons her husband Chen Jun had given her, and stuffed them all into her pockets.

Then, she quickly packed some food, took a deep breath, and resolutely stepped out of the house, ignoring her mother calling after her, "Xiaoyu, where are you going so late?"

Wu Yutong quickly replied, "I have something to do, I'll be back soon."

Then he walked quickly toward the so-called "old place" he had agreed to meet with Ma Jianqiang.

On the night of the second day of the Lunar New Year, as darkness fell and the city's hustle and bustle gradually subsided, only the occasional sound of firecrackers and fireworks in the distance broke the tranquility of the night.

As Wu Yutong walked on the bluestone path, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

The rain, fine as wandering silver threads, quietly weaves into the streets and alleys where the lights are still on.

Red lanterns hanging from the eaves cast warm glows in the rain and mist, gazing at the moon's shadow that appears and disappears on the horizon.

The clouds were as thin as gauze, occasionally lifted by the wind, letting in a few strands of clear, cool moonlight that shattered into shimmering silver spots on the bluestone slabs, as if someone had spilled a divine osmanthus wine, leaving the world with a touch of intoxicating moonlight.

The muffled thuds of firecrackers in the distance, mingled with the sound of rain, sank into the alleyway. Wu Yutong, however, had no heart to appreciate the poem written by the moonlight that night; her heart was chilled, a stark contrast to the warm and cozy atmosphere of the New Year.

The road became increasingly remote, and she would occasionally look back, always feeling as if someone was following her. However, on the road leading to the secluded kiln, only her lonely figure could be seen under the dim streetlights.

Wu Yutong looked around nervously, her heart pounding like a drum, her palms already sweating. A stray cat leaped across the empty rooftop next to her, and a piece of tile fell down with a jarring thud.

She was flustered and couldn't think of a way to talk to Ma Jianqiang in a way that would make him believe her and do what she wanted.

Ahead lay the dark, gaping kiln, from which eerie light occasionally flashed, causing Wu Yutong to hesitate.

A feeling of fear welled up inside her, and she stopped in her tracks.

Ma Jianqiang's figure emerged from the shadows, his eyes revealing undisguised anxiety and exhaustion.

"Why aren't you coming in? Are you scared?" Ma Jianqiang's voice sounded like it came from hell, sending chills down Wu Yutong's spine.

As Ma Jianqiang drew closer and closer, his imposing manner growing menacing, Wu Yutong felt a surge of fear. Her hands trembled slightly as she nervously handed the sweet cakes, carefully wrapped in oil paper, to the angry man before her.

She said softly, "You... how did you get into such a mess? You're making me so worried..."

Ma Jianqiang rudely snatched the biscuit, his eyes fixed on Wu Yutong, his gaze as fiery and sharp as two flames, as if trying to see through her eyes into her inner world.

His voice became hoarse with excitement as he questioned, "Why are your hands shaking? Are you so afraid of seeing me? And where have you been these past few days?"

I can't find you anywhere! What's worse, someone told me you brought a strange man home. Humph, what's going on? You have to explain yourself!

As he finished speaking, Ma Jianqiang's chest heaved violently, like an enraged beast about to erupt at any moment.

His voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with uncontrollable anger and deep incomprehension.

Wu Yutong suddenly lowered her head and burst into tears, choking out, "Brother Ma, I have my reasons, you have to believe me..."

Ma Jianqiang clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force.

Suddenly, he stretched out a pale hand and grabbed Wu Yutong's slender throat like an iron clamp.

At this moment, his already bloodshot eyes widened, burning with raging anger, as if he wanted to burn the woman in front of him, whom he both loved and hated, to ashes.

Why are you toying with my feelings like this? I would do anything for you! I even risked everything to get revenge on Shi Huai'an, just to give you a chance to vent your anger.

And what about you? You've been flirting with other men behind my back! Now that things have come to this, don't you have anything to say to me?

Ma Jianqiang roared through gritted teeth, each word like a bombshell exploding in Wu Yutong's ears.

Wu Yutong was being choked by Ma Jianqiang until she could barely breathe. She struggled desperately, her pretty face turning red and the veins on her forehead bulging.

She struggled to explain, "That...that was just a blind date arranged by my family. I didn't want to go at all! You know my family situation, don't you? It's one thing if others don't understand, but how dare you not believe me?"

As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, and her gaze revealed a hint of panic and guilt.

Wu Yutong used all her strength to try to pry open Ma Jianqiang's iron-like hand, but unfortunately, the other party's strength was too great, and her efforts were completely futile.

Seeing that she was about to suffocate, she could only shout at the top of her lungs, "Fine, if you can breathe, just kill me! But you'd better get out of here right now. The police are already searching for you. If you don't leave now, it will be too late!"

After speaking, Wu Yutong closed her big, watery eyes, her curved eyelashes fluttering slightly, making her look like an innocent little white rabbit, which was quite endearing.

When Ma Jianqiang saw the concern in her eyes, his tense arms relaxed instantly, and he slowly released his grip on Wu Yutong's neck.

Then, he gently rubbed the spot where he had pinched hard with his index finger, and said apologetically in a low voice, "I'm sorry, did I hurt you? I really didn't mean to do that, I was just so angry. I heard you're going to marry someone else, and I'm so jealous."

Wu Yutong forcefully pushed Ma Jianqiang's hand away, her beautiful eyes now red from crying.

She shakily reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag carefully wrapped in a handkerchief.

Unfold the handkerchief, and inside is a stack of crumpled banknotes.

She bit her lip, then handed the bag of money to Ma Jianqiang, her tone resolute yet tinged with sadness as she said:

"There's some money in here. Take it and get out of here as soon as you can. Go as far away as you can and never come back."

Ma Jianqiang's gaze fell on the bag of money, and a bitter smile, more painful than crying, involuntarily appeared on his lips.

He didn't reach out and take the money as Wu Yutong had expected. Instead, he stood motionless, staring at the other person with cold and desperate eyes, uttering icy words:

"What do you mean? You're letting me go alone? What am I doing this for? Don't you understand my heart? I've given you everything, given you my whole heart, and I didn't do it all for money?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yutong's hand holding the money began to tremble uncontrollably, and her voice became almost pleading:

"Jianqiang, I'm begging you, please leave! I really don't want to see you suffer any more misfortune or danger because of me..."

How could you possibly understand my heart?

"Why don't you come with me? Let's travel to the ends of the earth together, Xiaoyu!"

We could hide away in the deep mountains and forests, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world; or we could go to the vast Northwest, where no one knows us, and we could start a completely new life...

Ma Jianqiang's face turned bright red, and he said with extreme agitation, "I got the letter of introduction, and we're going far away."

As he spoke, he waved the few thin, blank letters of introduction in his hand, stamped with a red seal, as if they were keys to the door of freedom.

"Let's go quickly..."

However, before Ma Jianqiang could finish speaking, Wu Yutong hurriedly interrupted him: "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly go with you..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Wu Yutong felt her heart pounding, and a nameless sense of panic instantly surged into her heart.

Just then, a very familiar voice pierced the quiet of the night like a sharp sword: "Xiaoyu, what are you doing here?"

Wu Yutong looked up at the sound and saw a tall figure walking quickly toward them.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be her husband, Chen Jun!

At this moment, Chen Jun's eyes widened, his face filled with shock and anger.

He stared intently at the two people in front of him, and his anger burned even more fiercely when he saw Ma Jianqiang holding Wu Yutong's hand tightly.

Wu Yutong was so frightened by Chen Jun's sudden appearance that she trembled and involuntarily took several steps back.

Upon seeing this, Ma Jianqiang stepped forward without hesitation, opened his arms, and firmly protected Wu Yutong behind him.

At the same time, Ma Jianqiang and Chen Jun shouted almost in unison, "Who exactly is he—"

Chen Jun's unexpected appearance instantly put Ma Jianqiang on edge, and his eyes turned unusually fierce, like a ferocious beast that had been driven to the brink of despair and was ready to fight back at any moment.

"Who exactly is he? Wu Yutong! You have to explain this to me clearly and plainly today!"

Chen Jun roared again, the deafening roar sounding particularly abrupt in the quiet night, sending chills down one's spine.

Faced with their questioning, Wu Yutong trembled all over, and her voice became shaky:

"Brother Chen, please listen to me, please don't misunderstand! He's just my neighbor who lives next door, it's really not what you think..."

However, Chen Jun completely ignored her explanation and roared angrily, his eyes wide open:

"Enough! Stop making up these lies to fool me. I saw and heard everything that just happened. Are you trying to deny it? You're clearly planning to elope with this man!"

Wu Yutong was so frightened that her face turned pale. She shook her head like a rattle drum and waved her hands frantically: "No, no, no, how could this be? I never had such a thought, Brother Chen, you have to believe me, this is really a huge misunderstanding!"

Just then, Ma Jianqiang, who was standing to the side, could no longer contain his anger. He took a step forward, grabbed Wu Yutong's frail shoulders tightly, and shouted:

"What do you have to be afraid of him for? He's just a blind date. Let me tell you the truth, I'm Xiaoyu's real boyfriend, so I advise you to give up on him as soon as possible!"

If you're smart enough, you'd better get the hell out of here, or don't blame me for being rude. You'll regret it!