At Wuyin Temple, two places drew the largest crowds: the bell-ringing area and the pagoda tablet sanctuary. Local business tycoons traditionally came on New Year’s Day to request pagoda tablets to be enshrined in the tower, believing they would bring prosperity throughout the year. The tablets ranged from hundreds to tens of thousands in yuan—the higher the price, supposedly the higher the placement, something wealthy people tended to believe in.
The area near the pagoda tower was particularly crowded, forcibly separating the three companions. Unfamiliar with the place, Jiang Mu thought to call them but found no signal on her phone, likely due to the crowd. She stopped moving forward, anxiously scanning the crowd for familiar faces.
Suddenly, an arm reached across her shoulder, pulling her from the chaotic flow of people. She jumped, turning to find Jin Chao somehow already behind her. She spoke, but the surrounding noise drowned out her words.
Rising to her tiptoes, she called out, “Where’s Brother San Lai?”
Jin Chao shrugged, indicating he didn’t know. She shouted again, “What should we do? Look for him?”
Jin Chao pointed toward the bell-ringing area and led her to the queue. Afraid of being separated again, Jiang Mu threw caution to the wind and reached for his hand, grasping his fingertips. This was perhaps the boldest thing she’d done in her eighteen years—reaching for a man’s hand in a crowded place. She couldn’t have done it with anyone else, but with Jin Chao, she found a bit of courage, despite her embarrassment.
Jin Chao felt her soft palm and glanced back at her. Jiang Mu quickly turned away, pretending to look at the pagoda lights.
He turned back to guide them forward, with her tightly holding his fingertips as she followed. His tall frame allowed him to see over most people to find their way, and few dared to bump into him. Jiang Mu felt secure behind him, simply following without worrying about navigation.
At the bell-ringing area, they found even larger crowds. When a burly man nearly pushed Jiang Mu backward, threatening to break her grip on Jin Chao, he turned his hand to firmly grasp hers. She used his strength to squeeze past the man and press close to Jin Chao’s back, afraid someone else might try to come between them.
Jin Chao turned and pulled her in front of him, still holding her hand, his palm warm against her skin. She snuck a glance up at him, but he had already released her hand to check the queue situation.
Despite the noise and crowds, Jiang Mu couldn’t contain her feelings. Rising to her toes, she asked, “Have you ever rung the bell before?”
Jin Chao bent down to accommodate her height, answering, “No.”
As she started to speak again, Jin Chao had to maintain his stooped position. She moved close to his ear, asking, “You’ve lived in Tonggang so long and never came?”
Jin Chao lowered his head, “Look at this crowd—visiting once would take a layer of skin off.”
Jiang Mu’s eyes crinkled as she pressed close to his face, “Did you come because of me?”
Under the brilliant lights and jubilant atmosphere, they were lost in the crowd, insignificant and unknown. No one recognized them or knew their relationship. Their whispered exchanges were like lovers’ murmurs, though Jiang Mu knew it was just to hear each other over the noise. Still, her heart raced with each close moment, the forbidden thrill masked by the festive atmosphere, making everything feel natural and right.
Someone behind suddenly stumbled backward into Jiang Mu, causing her to pitch forward, her soft lips brushing Jin Chao’s cheek. The clear sensation and his clean, intoxicating masculine scent struck her simultaneously. Inexperienced with men and relationships, she found Jin Chao’s natural magnetism both dangerous and fascinating.
She froze face burning red like a bewildered kitten, shrinking against him in the sudden silence. Jin Chao watched the crowd continuing to shift backward and raised his hand to protect her back, half-encircling her before him.
Jiang Mu wanted to see Jin Chao’s reaction. She raised her head gradually, her bangs sweeping across her cheeks, making her face appear tiny. The colorful lantern light played across her features, highlighting her radiant beauty.
Jin Chao’s lowered gaze met hers without hesitation or peculiarity. He always concealed his emotions well, leaving Jiang Mu unable to find any crack in his facade. Yet when he focused his attention on someone, his dark pupils held a mesmerizing power.
Jiang Mu blinked softly, melting into his gaze like falling into vast stars and endless seas, unable to find an escape—and perhaps not wanting to escape at all.
Jin Chao’s hand on her back moved slightly. Jiang Mu wasn’t sure if he had pushed her toward him or if she had moved on her own, but she found herself leaning against his chest, watching him lower his head, his gaze lingering on her lips for several seconds. For a moment, Jiang Mu thought their ambiguous relationship might be revealed, but it wasn’t to be. He simply bent down and said, “Wait for me on the steps. I’ll go ask about payment.”
Jiang Mu lowered her eyes and nodded, following his instructions to climb the steps. She watched him go to a nearby window to pay, then return to her side. He had bought only one ticket, which he handed to her. Jiang Mu asked, “Aren’t you going to ring it?”
“No, I’ll take photos for you,” he said, moving to wait by a stone pillar.
Jiang Mu gave her ticket to the staff member and approached the great bell. She looked up at Jin Chao, who raised his phone to capture the moment. Looking in his direction, she struck the bell three times: once for her parents’ health and happiness, once for Jin Chao’s smooth path ahead, and once for their future together, morning and night.
…
As they left Wuyin Temple, they walked side by side.
Jin Chao told her, “San Lai will probably go to the parking lot if he can’t find us.”
Jiang Mu nodded, “Let’s go check.”
Along the way, Jiang Mu avoided looking at him, keeping her eyes on the shadows at their feet. They made casual conversation as they walked toward the gravelly parking lot, neither mentioning their moment in the crowd.
Before finding San Lai’s car, they unexpectedly encountered another group in the parking lot. These men stood smoking under a large tree, some carrying bags, others wearing thick gold chains—their appearance suggesting they weren’t law-abiding citizens.
Jin Chao noticed the group from afar and frowned, starting to lead Jiang Mu on a detour. However, someone had already spotted him and called out, “Hey, Drinking King! Where’re you going? Why so distant now? Won’t you come to pay your New Year respects to Boss Wan?”
Jiang Mu glanced over—though she didn’t recognize any of the men, she saw Little Green Snake standing among them in high-heeled boots.
Jin Chao continued walking without pause, but several men sauntered over to block their path. He slowly stopped, his expression cold and severe, his voice steady and frigid: “Good dogs don’t block the road.”
The young men bristled at this. One immediately cursed, “You want to die here?”
Jin Chao kept his hands in his pockets, too dismissive to waste words. He kicked up a stone from the gravel and sent it flying at the speaker with deadly speed and accuracy. The stone struck the man’s knee, causing him to buckle in pain and nearly kneel reflexively. This only enraged him further, and he started advancing menacingly toward Jin Chao. However, a hand suddenly pressed on the young man’s shoulder, pushing him aside as another group emerged.
Leading them was a shrewd-looking middle-aged man. Though not particularly tall, he had a prosperous appearance, wearing a smile that didn’t reach his knife-sharp eyes.
Little Green Snake moved to stand beside this middle-aged man. Though they didn’t look particularly alike, their similar mannerisms revealed their father-daughter relationship.
Boss Wan made a show of scolding his men. “Where are your manners? Drinking King is your senior, how dare you speak to him that way?”
The young man was disgruntled but could only lower his head without protest.
Little Green Snake stood with folded arms, watching Jin Chao, as Boss Wan raised his gaze and said, “I was planning to gather all our old brothers around the fourth or fifth day of the New Year. What a coincidence running into you here. How have you been lately?”
Jin Chao’s face remained expressionless as he replied coldly, “Same as usual.”
Boss Wan took several steps toward Jin Chao. His right-hand men immediately followed, alert, but he waved them back. Standing before Jin Chao, he silently sized him up before patting his arm. “You’ve grown strong. I remember when you first came to me, you were just a skinny kid.”
Though Boss Wan’s words seemed casual, they carried a veiled reminder of how vulnerable Jin Chao had been when working for him, suggesting that his current independence was merely him spreading his wings. The meaning could be taken in various ways, depending on the listener.
This was Jiang Mu’s first time seeing the legendary Boss Wan, and internal alarms immediately began ringing. Though his appearance wasn’t particularly sinister, knowing what he’d done to Jin Chao made his gentle expression seem full of hidden barbs.
Jin Chao remained unmoved, responding flatly, “People change. There’s no need for gatherings between strangers.”
Far from being angered by Jin Chao’s rejection, Boss Wan smiled—though his smile sent chills down Jiang Mu’s spine.
At this point, a man around thirty stepped forward, cigarette dangling from his lips. This was He Zhang, who handled Boss Wan’s external affairs. Though he didn’t work at the auto shop, he was a longtime associate. He addressed Jin Chao directly: “You can skip the meal, but let’s be clear—I hear you’re planning to get involved in the West Gate business. Quite ambitious.”
Jin Chao slowly met He Zhang’s gaze, responding calmly, “Whether I get involved isn’t up to you or me. It’s about capability.”
He Zhang snorted, “You’re capable alright—wrecking Little Yong’s car, stepping on others’ rankings, getting noticed by the higher-ups so quickly. Planning to go against Boss Wan and take over West Gate’s territory? Let me tell you, don’t be naive. It’s not too late to back off.”
Jin Chao ignored him, turning instead to Boss Wan. He lowered his eyes with a cold laugh, then looked up with a razor-sharp gaze: “You’re so sure I’m targeting you? Why would I have any reason to?”
His words left everyone looking uncomfortable. Jin Chao’s gaze shot directly to a man in the crowd, who shrank back upon meeting his eyes. Jin Chao’s lips curled in contempt. Though Jiang Mu couldn’t see the man clearly, she could guess that the person hiding in the back was Boss Wan’s nephew, Wan Dayong.
Boss Wan’s pleasant expression returned as he addressed Jin Chao, “She argued with me about this for days recently. She still takes your side. You’re a boss yourself now—business is better when everyone profits. Why choose mutual loss?”
Jin Chao followed his lead, asking, “How do you propose we both profit?”
Boss Wan smiled, patting his shoulder, “You know I only have this one precious daughter. If I’m willing to give her to you, why should we speak as outsiders?”
He Zhang’s expression changed instantly. “Boss Wan, you—”
Wan Shengbang waved him to silence, continuing to Jin Chao, “Since you won’t join me for a meal, I’ll say this now—you’ve taken the auto shop business, fine. But if you’re thinking of moving on the alliance, I advise you to think carefully. I admire the ambition in young people, but ambitious youth come in two types here: family and outsiders.”
Jin Chao looked down indifferently, “And how do you treat family versus outsiders?”
Wan Shengbang smiled, “As good as I am to my daughter, I’ll be just as good to my son-in-law.”
Jiang Mu was startled, turning to look at Wan Qing. Jin Chao glanced sideways at Jiang Mu as Wan Shengbang continued, “But if you choose to be an outsider, what happens is beyond my control.”
As his words fell, his young followers closed in around them. Wan Qing, standing a step behind her father, silently shook her head at Jin Chao, warning him not to resist.
Even Jiang Mu could feel the tension in the air. She nervously swallowed hard.
Boss Wan’s offer was tempting. From a man’s perspective, though Wan Qing was bold in character, she was undeniably a rare beauty. Choosing to be with her would mean not only winning a beautiful woman but also business success.
With Jin Chao carrying enormous debt, this was a shortcut many men would dream of.
Whether to accept Boss Wan’s conditions or to pretend agreement to safely escape—it seemed Jin Chao had to nod either way.
Jiang Mu understood this logic, but her chest tightened painfully. She lowered her head, her eyes flickering with emotion. Never had she felt so powerless as in this moment.
Just then, a strong hand firmly grasped hers—unwavering and resolute.
She suddenly looked up at Jin Chao. His profile remained cool and composed, but Jiang Mu’s overwhelming sense of helplessness instantly found ground, and took root. The unease in her eyes steadied immediately.
This subtle gesture was noticed by everyone, seemingly declaring his stance. All eyes turned to Jiang Mu.
Wan Qing had never been so publicly humiliated. She turned and drove away immediately. Boss Wan, who had believed in Jin Chao and Wan Qing’s long relationship, hadn’t expected such a direct rejection. Seeing his daughter’s anger, his smile vanished completely.
Sensing danger, Jiang Mu instinctively moved closer to Jin Chao, counting their opponents while quietly assessing the terrain. If a fight broke out, should she run left? Or right? Could she sprint to the security booth at the scenic area entrance and get help within two minutes?
Just as tensions reached their peak, a man suddenly shouted, “The Marriage Law of our country prohibits arranged marriages, human trafficking, and other interference with marriage freedom! Is there no law anymore?”
Everyone turned to look. A man in an expensive fur coat stood atop a concrete post. Perhaps due to the stronger wind at that height, his red scarf fluttered dramatically—making him look like a justice-seeking elementary school student with a red neckerchief.