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Seeing her like this, Lu Jiangting realized he had said the wrong thing.
His tone softened as he reached out to touch her face.
“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. You’re just pushing me too hard, and I really don’t know what to do.”
Lin Yuyao pushed his hand away, refusing his touch.
“Yuyao, don’t be like this. We have a long life ahead of us.”
He took her hand, pulling her into his embrace, and kicked the door shut with his foot.
Lin Yuyao’s expression changed dramatically. “What are you doing?”
Lu Jiangting said, “We’ve been married for so long, and we haven’t consummated our marriage. Yuyao…”
He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her onto the bed.
Lin Yuyao struggled desperately, but their strength was too unequal, and she could not push him away. In her panic, she grabbed a pair of scissors from the low table beside the bed. Just as she was about to stab him, her door was suddenly kicked open.
Hearing the noise, Lu Jiangting halted his actions and quickly got off the bed, turning to look at the person at the door.
Lin Yuyao seized the opportunity to escape, rushing out and hiding behind the person at the door.
Fu Huayi trembled with anger, glaring fiercely at Lu Jiangting inside the room.
The light in the room was dim.
A small light bulb on the ceiling cast a weak glow, barely illuminating the expressions of those inside.
Lu Jiangting was shocked and angry. “Ah Yi, what do you mean by this?”
Fu Huayi responded coldly, “What kind of behavior is it to go against a woman’s will? Do I need to remind you?”
Lu Jiangting replied icily, “She’s my wife.”
“Even if she’s your wife, it doesn’t matter. If she doesn’t want it, it doesn’t count.”
Lu Jiangting’s face darkened. “Aren’t you meddling too much?”
Fu Huayi pressed his lips tightly together, staring hard at him.
Lu Jiangting glanced at Lin Yuyao, who was tearful and hiding behind Fu Huayi. The sight stung him. Clearly, he was her husband, yet she was seeking protection from someone else?
He was the one who should be protecting her.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Jiangting extended his arm toward her. “Yuyao, come here.”
Lin Yuyao shook her head, staying behind Fu Huayi.
Lu Jiangting stepped forward to grab her, but Fu Huayi blocked him with his arm.
He was already angry, and his strength was not small.
When he swung his arm, it felt like a provocation to Lu Jiangting.
Suppressing his anger, Lu Jiangting said, “Fu Huayi, we’ve been classmates and comrades for years. After all this time, do you have to meddle in my family matters?”
Fu Huayi replied coldly, “It’s true we’ve been classmates and comrades, but that doesn’t make us friends. I, Fu Huayi, don’t consider you a friend.”
Lu Jiangting’s expression changed drastically. “Are you determined to go against me?”
“And if I am?”
The two locked eyes, the tension palpable.
For a moment, the small rental room was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
One second, two seconds… about half a minute passed, and they continued to glare at each other.
Just as Lin Yuyao was about to say something to ease the atmosphere, for some reason, they suddenly started to fight. She didn’t even see who struck first; perhaps they both moved at once. Their fists connected with flesh, though the sounds were muted—each strike resulted in muffled groans.
But it sounded painful.
The small room couldn’t accommodate their movements, and her few belongings were knocked around haphazardly.
In the end, Fu Huayi managed to pin Lu Jiangting to the ground.
Lu Jiangting’s face was pressed hard against the floor as he growled in anger, “Fu Huayi!”
Fu Huayi ignored him and turned to Lin Yuyao, asking, “What do you want to do?”
Lin Yuyao sniffled, her voice tinged with tears as she said, “Please take him away.”
Seeing her bright eyes filled with unshed tears, Fu Huayi nearly lost control and rushed to her.
In the end, he restrained himself.
He nodded at her and twisted Lu Jiangting’s arm, causing him to yelp in pain.
With Lu Jiangting in a compromised position, Fu Huayi led him out.
As they stepped outside, he reminded her, “Make sure to close the doors and windows.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Lu Jiangting was seething with anger and jealousy.
Lin Yuyao was his wife, yet she spoke to Fu Huayi so kindly while treating him with disdain.
After Fu Huayi took Lu Jiangting away, Lin Yuyao was about to close the door when she spotted two curious heads peeking from the neighboring apartment.
They were her neighbors, two young girls.
Lin Yuyao awkwardly smiled at them.
The two exchanged whispers before beginning to push each other, seemingly wanting to talk to her but hesitating.
Finally, Lin Yuyao spoke up, “Why don’t you come over and sit for a bit?”
They eagerly nodded and followed her into her apartment.
The room was still in disarray from the earlier fight.
Lin Yuyao sighed inwardly, resigned, as she began to tidy up while saying, “Sorry, I don’t even have a place for you to sit.”
“It’s fine; we can just stand for a while.”
Then the two girls began to introduce themselves.
“My name is Li Hong, and I work at a clothing factory nearby.”
“We work together; I’m Zhang Qianqian.”
After they introduced themselves, Lin Yuyao said, “My name is Lin Yuyao.”
She didn’t mention her job.
Zhang Qianqian asked, “Lin Yuyao, what a lovely name. By the way, which factory do you work at?”
Lin Yuyao replied, “I just arrived yesterday and haven’t found a job yet.”
“Oh, really? Would you like to work at our factory? We’re hiring.”
Lin Yuyao had important matters to attend to and hadn’t considered finding a job yet.
“I just got here; I want to look around first.”
“Oh, that’s fine too.”
They chatted with her for a long time but didn’t get to the point. They were probably too embarrassed to ask. The girl was truly beautiful, the kind that made other girls envious. Then, they witnessed two men in military uniforms fighting over her. Their curiosity was overwhelming, but they didn’t know how to broach the subject.
Lin Yuyao guessed that they wanted to hear the gossip.
Knowing she would be living here for a while, she thought it was best to befriend her neighbors; she might need their help later. Besides, with Lu Jiangting causing so much trouble, they would probably find out sooner or later.
It was a headache.
A single girl living alone wasn’t safe in this era.
Since she didn’t know them well, she decided to mention that she wasn’t alone.
Lin Yuyao thought for a moment and said, “I came here with my husband. He wants me to join him at the military base.”
She didn’t want to say anymore.
Seeing she wasn’t going to elaborate; the two girls didn’t press further.
After all, they had just met.
“Oh, that’s why you’re not in a hurry to find a job. You must be going to the military compound soon, right?”
Lin Yuyao lowered her head and didn’t reply.
The two girls didn’t ask any more questions.
After a few more pleasantries, they said, “It’s getting late, and we have to work tomorrow. We’ll go now.”
“Okay.”
“Yuyao, if you need any help, just ask. We’ve been working here for over a year and know this area quite well.” The both of them smiled and headed out of her room.