My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

The young woman next to him chuckled and chimed in, "Even if they figure it out, it's okay. It's not like these things are shameful." She paused, her eyes crinkling into crescents, "Young man, come here. I'm a little curious, why did you buy so many? Are they for your girlfriend?"

Su Ming stammered, unable to speak. He grabbed the plastic bag, turned, and walked out, saying, "Never mind! I'll pay over there!"

After saying that, he ran to another cashier as if he were fleeing.

Behind him came the sound of two women laughing so hard they were bent over.

Fortunately, the new cashier was a middle-aged woman with a serious expression. She picked up a sanitary napkin, scanned the code with a "beep beep," and announced a number without expression: "Thirty-seven yuan and sixty cents."

Su Ming felt like he had been granted a pardon. He quickly paid the money, stuffed the items into a plastic bag, and ran away without looking back.

At the entrance of the shopping mall, Qiu Tong was waiting for him under a streetlamp. When she saw Su Ming jogging over with a bag in his hand, she straightened up, about to speak, when suddenly her brows furrowed and she clutched her stomach.

"Oh my god..." she said with a pained expression, "We've arrived ahead of schedule."

Su Ming ran up to her, handed her the bag, and panted, "I...I got it."

Qiu Tong took the bag, but instead of looking at it, she turned around and faced away from him, saying, "Oh no, it looks like I've gotten my leggings dirty."

She turned her head to the side: "Could you check if my pants are dirty?"

Su Ming was taken aback and subconsciously looked down.

Under the dim streetlights, there was indeed a small dark stain on Qiu Tong's black leggings, spreading across the fabric.

It is red.

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked away, his voice tight: "Um...it's really dirty."

Qiu Tong sighed helplessly, "We came early, but there's nothing we can do. We can't even buy everything we need. Let's go back now."

She gathered her bag, picked up the bag of sanitary napkins, and walked quickly toward the intersection. Su Ming followed closely behind her.

Just as the two reached the foot of the overpass, several figures chased after them.

"stop!"

A loud shout came from behind.

Su Ming's heart tightened, and he turned around abruptly.

Under the dim streetlights, seven or eight figures were walking briskly towards them. Leading them was a thin, middle-aged man with a sinister smile on his face. Behind him, five or six young men were carrying something gleaming—it was...

A machete.

The blade reflected a chilling light under the streetlights.

Su Ming's pupils suddenly contracted.

He recognized the thin, middle-aged man as the same Hunanese man who had set up a gambling den under the overpass last night, won a hundred yuan from him, and then beaten to a pulp in the alley.

"Damn it, I finally caught you!" The middle-aged man grinned maliciously, approaching step by step. "Kid, you got away last night, let's see where you can run now!"

The people behind him dispersed and formed a semi-circle around him.

Su Ming felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Without thinking, he grabbed Qiu Tong's wrist, his voice trembling with tension: "Sister-in-law, let's go!"

He grabbed her and turned to run.

I heard a jumble of footsteps and shouts behind me.

"Don't run! Stop!"

"Kill him!"

The wind whistled in their ears as Su Ming pulled Qiu Tong along as they ran. She was wearing high heels, so she couldn't run fast and stumbled. Su Ming could feel her hand trembling slightly in his palm, but her steps didn't falter.

The overpass was very long, seemingly without end.

The pursuers were getting closer and closer.

Su Ming had no idea what tonight would bring.

But he knew he would never let those people touch a single hair on his cousin's wife's head.

Su Ming grabbed Qiu Tong's hand and ran forward as fast as he could.

Footsteps followed closely behind, and shouts grew louder. He could hear his own heartbeat, Qiu Tong's rapid breathing, and the occasional metallic clang of the machetes clashing in their hands.

"Stop! Don't run!"

"Damn it, grab that kid!"

Su Ming didn't dare look back, but gripped Qiu Tong's wrist tightly and pulled her along as they ran. She was wearing high heels and almost fell several times, but each time she staggered back to her feet thanks to his pulling.

The shadows under the overpass were long, and the light from the streetlights swept across their faces in segments.

As I ran across the middle of the bridge, a figure suddenly darted out from the front—it was one of their accomplices, flanking me from the other side!

Su Ming's pupils contracted.

There were obstacles blocking their way ahead and pursuers behind.

He and Qiu Tong were surrounded in the middle of the overpass.

"Run, why aren't you running anymore?" The middle-aged man's voice came from behind, laced with a smug grin. He approached, panting heavily, the machete in his hand gleaming coldly under the streetlight. "Kid, weren't you pretty tough last night? Four of you couldn't beat you. Six today, is that enough?"

The young men behind him dispersed, forming an arc around him. The man blocking their path in front, also carrying a knife, pressed forward step by step.

Qiu Tong's hand trembled slightly in Su Ming's palm. She didn't speak, but simply gripped his hand tightly in return.

Su Ming didn't look at her or say anything.

He quickly scanned his surroundings—six men, six knives, attacking from both sides. The bridge was wide and offered no cover. Cars were flowing below; jumping would mean certain death or serious injury.

There is no escape route.

However, it's not entirely without flaws.

His gaze fell on the young man blocking his way. The man was short and thin, his hand holding the knife trembling slightly. His face was pale, his eyes darting around, and he dared not look directly at Su Ming. He was clearly a novice, never having actually killed anyone before.

Su Ming took a deep breath.

He suddenly moved.

Not backwards, nor to the sides, but straight forward, charging toward the thinnest and most timid young man!

"Su Ming!" Qiu Tong exclaimed, "What are you doing?"

The young man clearly hadn't expected Su Ming to attack first. In his panic, he raised his knife, but his hand trembled even more violently. The blade traced a hesitant arc in the air.

Su Ming did not dodge.

He turned to the side, taking the blow with his shoulder. He had already realized that his opponent didn't really intend to cut him; at most, it would just cause a scratch.

"laugh!"

The fabric tore, leaving a shallow cut on her skin, and warm blood flowed down her arm. However,

But at the same time, he had already bumped into the young man's arms.

"Ah!" The man screamed as he was thrown into the air by Su Ming's tremendous impact, flying two or three meters before crashing into the railing of the overpass with a "bang".

The machete slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a clatter.

The man clutched his back, curled up in pain, and howled.

The breach has been created.

Without a moment's hesitation, Su Ming grabbed Qiu Tong's hand and rushed out through the gap.

"Chase him!" the middle-aged man roared.

But it was too late.

Su Ming and Qiu Tong rushed off the overpass and crossed the road.

Just then, a large truck roared past, its bright headlights forcing the pursuers to stop in front of the zebra crossing.

"Damn it!" The middle-aged man stomped his foot in exasperation, watching helplessly as the truck slowly drove by, then another one came, and another...

When the traffic finally cleared up, Su Ming and Qiu Tong had already disappeared into the night.

Su Ming dragged Qiu Tong and ran wildly.

He didn't know how long he had been running, how many streets he had crossed, or how many turns he had made. The wound on his shoulder throbbed with pain, and blood trickled down his arm, staining his shirt sleeve red. But he dared not stop.

Qiu Tong staggered behind him.

She was wearing high heels, and the frantic run had exhausted her. As she ran, her foot suddenly slipped.

"what!"

Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

Su Ming stopped abruptly and turned around: "Sister-in-law!"

"Oh my god, this is bad..." Qiu Tong clutched her ankle, her face pale. "I sprained my ankle..."

She tried to stand up, but as soon as she exerted force, she gasped in pain and fell back down.

The faint sounds of shouts and curses coming from behind could be heard. The group hadn't given up yet.