Through the dark repair shop, Jin Chao glanced at Jiang Mu’s silhouette before pulling down the rolling door. His steady footsteps echoed through the space, stopping at the break room doorway. He watched as Jiang Mu stood up, emotions bringing a faint blush to her face. Still young after all – she couldn’t hide things from him. Just days ago, she had left with a grief-stricken expression, eyes full of sorrow, but now they shone with bright expectation.
Jin Chao stared at her silently for a moment before saying just two words: “As expected.”
Jiang Mu didn’t understand what he meant by “as expected,” but she sensed that Jin Chao wasn’t particularly surprised to find her at the shop waiting for him so late.
He wore a simple dark button-up short-sleeve shirt, different from his usual work clothes. This version of him looked clean and reserved, with a touch of mature elegance.
Without saying more, he turned to take a bottle of coconut milk from the corner refrigerator and handed it to Jiang Mu, then turned to make himself an extra-strong coffee.
Jiang Mu absently placed the coconut milk on the table and walked to his side, asking urgently, “What do you mean ‘as expected’? That person, Mr. Lu… the anti-smuggling officer, did he tell you he saw me?”
Jin Chao’s hand slowly paused as he stirred his coffee. He glanced up at her, his gaze steady as his lips parted: “You know too much.”
Jiang Mu gripped the edge of the table, her eyes downcast in a frightened expression: “Are you going to silence me?”
Jin Chao took a sip of coffee, his lips curving in an ambiguous smile, his eyes showing shifting lights as he gazed at her deeply: “What do you think we’re doing here?”
Jiang Mu tried to force a casual smile, but she couldn’t relax. She felt trapped in an enormous net, confused and tense.
Jin Chao set down his coffee, took the coconut milk, opened it, and handed it to her: “Sit down and let’s talk.”
Jiang Mu mechanically followed his instructions, pulling the chair behind her to sit in front of Jin Chao. She took a big drink of coconut milk, then screwed the cap back on and set it aside, fixing her gaze on him.
Jin Chao leaned against the table, holding his coffee and taking small sips while looking down. Finally, he raised his eyes and began speaking unhurriedly: “Since Jin Fengzi mentioned my situation to you, you should understand my circumstances. When I had been at Wan’s for over two years, Wan Shengbang would occasionally have me handle matters outside the auto shop.
He was a gambling man. At first, I thought he just enjoyed mahjong, at most visiting outside casinos. Later I learned he kept a group of young people and would periodically participate in underground gambling rings. They gambled with cars, with huge stakes – easily six figures.
Once when one of his drivers got into trouble and couldn’t race despite the deposit being paid, he had me fill in at the last minute. I always felt indebted to him, so I agreed. I won the race and earned him quite a bit of money. He wanted me to quit the shop and work for him exclusively in this capacity, offering significant compensation, but I refused.
After some time, he asked for my help again, promising it would be the last time he’d involve me in such matters after this race.
Since I was still working for him, I couldn’t refuse and agreed to help one last time. Unfortunately, our route was leaked at that time, and we ended up at the station. That’s when Officer Lu first approached me.
Though he didn’t say it directly, he wanted me to help them watch Wan Shengbang, to keep them informed of any developments. At the time, I didn’t know Officer Lu’s identity and thought he was just a regular police officer, perhaps investigating illegal racing. I gave him perfunctory responses but never actually contacted him.
It wasn’t until I later learned about Wan Shengbang setting me up to take the fall that I contacted Officer Lu again after leaving Wan’s.
That’s when I understood that they weren’t investigating Wan Shengbang or illegal racing at all, but using the illegal racing organization to track down the smuggling ring behind it.
Before this, they had already cracked various smuggling cases across the country, involving both luxury cars and imported parts. During their investigation, they found many cases had commonalities. Every time they thought they’d caught the mastermind, but after shutting down one operation, another would pop up elsewhere after some time. The people behind it were deeply hidden, even able to access corporate seals and documents from foreign companies to commit crimes.
Later they tracked the racing group and discovered many of their cars were illegally smuggled or used smuggled parts for modifications. That’s when they focused on the racing organization.
This time, though, they didn’t startle the snake in the grass. They mostly released people after fines were paid. They wanted to plant some people inside, to infiltrate through racing and track down the smuggling ring behind it.
But this alliance was very cautious – it was impossible to insert an outsider without reason. The anti-smuggling department had great difficulty infiltrating the organization until I contacted Officer Lu.”
Jin Chao lowered his eyes to take a sip of coffee. Jiang Mu’s expression was more serious than ever before, even more than when listening in class. Jin Chao’s words opened up a completely unfamiliar and frightening picture in her mind, one full of crime and danger, unlike anything she had ever known in her life.
She continued his thread: “So they chose you because you had raced for Old Man Wan before. The people in that organization, or alliance, knew you, and you had that compensation payment – everyone knew you needed money. It became natural for you to look for quick money after leaving Wan’s.”
Jin Chao’s lips curved slightly: “Not so dull after all. But it wasn’t just that. I had an opportunity that made me beyond suspicion. They would think I got involved at this time because of Wan Shengbang – that I wanted to work against him because we had fallen out. Even Wan Shengbang thought this, though it was partly true.”
Jiang Mu suddenly understood – she hadn’t thought of this angle. Jin Chao’s position was unique. He’d been involved with cars since high school, and all the underground players in Tonggang knew his name, some perhaps even quite well. They naturally knew his background thoroughly. Although he hadn’t been involved in that circle since getting out, the fallout with Old Man Wan created a perfect opportunity. No one would be suspicious.
But Jiang Mu noticed his wording: “Partly true? What’s the other part?”
Jin Chao lowered his eyelids, seeming to freeze completely. After a long while, he said in a low voice: “As a condition, Officer Lu promised that if we could crack this case, they would round up Wan Shengbang and his associates. Once they were caught, they promised to help clear my case.”
Jiang Mu felt a wave of heat burning inside her, her palms sweating. She felt transported back to that night when she went racing with Jin Chao, on that deserted hillside where she had kept urging him to do legitimate work and stop messing around. Jin Chao had just set his jaw and watched her quietly, never giving in.
She had never imagined that what he was fighting for wasn’t about making money at all, but about clearing his name and getting justice.
Jiang Mu’s current emotions were beyond description – excitement, shock, fear, perhaps all of these.
She stared at Jin Chao intently, asking: “Did Officer Lu contact you? Tell you about me following him?”
Jin Chao didn’t deny it. Jiang Mu pressed on: “Did he say anything to you?”
“Just gave me a heads up, told me to handle it.”
Jiang Mu’s fingers trembled, her voice unsteady: “Aren’t you worried about telling me now?”
Jin Chao kept his head down, his brow bone casting deep shadows, suddenly laughing: “Worried about what? That you’ll turn me in?”
“Of course I wouldn’t!” Jiang Mu almost cried out.
Jin Chao was surrounded by all sorts of people. Though they all acted like sworn brothers, those he could truly trust were few. Among them all, Jiang Mu was the most special. They weren’t blood-related, but Jin Chao knew that even if everyone else turned against him, this girl wouldn’t.
He looked up, the laughter still in his eyes as they roamed over her face. Jiang Mu had never known a man’s gaze alone could pierce one’s heart and consume one’s soul. Her heartbeat followed the temperature of his gaze, rising and falling.
She heard Jin Chao tell her: “On my way back, I was thinking about how to explain this, to let you focus on your exam first. As I got closer, I figured it out.”
His breath rising and falling, he bent down to tell her: “Even if I temporarily made up a lie to address your questions, I’d have to keep making up more reasons to maintain that lie. Rather than let this distract you, it’s better to tell you directly.
What happened before my college entrance exam might become my lifelong regret. If my situation ends up affecting you too, that regret might carry into my next life. Now, can you promise me you’ll go home and get some good sleep?”
Jiang Mu blinked slightly, staring at him without moving. After a few seconds, she suddenly asked: “Then you…”
Jin Chao raised his forehead quizzically: “What about me?”
“Did you go to those places to build connections with those people too?”
“What places?”
Jiang Mu’s eyes darted around as she pressed her lips together, head down. After a long while, she managed: “You’re not… clean anymore…”
Jin Chao coughed, finishing his coffee and setting down the cup before leaning forward. His eyes held a smile as the scent of coffee surrounded her from his lips: “How should I prove it?”
Jiang Mu’s mind was filled with that bewitching scent, her face quickly reddening as she lowered her head almost to the ground, whispering: “How would I know?”
Jin Chao, seeing her both angry and embarrassed, stopped teasing her. He checked his phone and reminded her: “It’s late.”
Jiang Mu suddenly raised her head in protest: “But I don’t want to leave yet. I have so many questions. Didn’t you just get back? Can’t I stay a little longer?”
Jin Chao lowered his eyelashes, his voice playful: “So eager to stay with me?”
Now Jiang Mu truly wanted to hide in shame. She turned away, saying: “Did you have to say it out loud? Don’t I get to save face?”
Jin Chao’s eyes curved in amusement as he straightened up and told her: “Come on, we can talk on the way.”
He took one of the shop’s cars to drive Jiang Mu back to Jin Qiang’s home. On the way, Jiang Mu’s emotions remained turbulent. She couldn’t help asking: “So what have you found out so far?”
Jin Chao’s eyebrows lifted slightly as he chided her: “Haven’t you considered that what you’re asking about might be classified information?”
Jiang Mu reflexively covered her mouth, looking both apprehensive and intensely curious.
Jin Chao kept his eyes on the road but seemed to notice her small gesture, letting out a slight laugh before saying: “This racing alliance has a ranking system that meticulously records everyone’s races, placements, and prize money. Officer Lu’s team suspects this ranking is linked to the profit groups. In such a large international smuggling case, people are working at the top, and locally there must be people taking deliveries. The people pulling the strings won’t easily release goods, and the racing organization is just a front, using racing to cultivate or observe suitable people to take on this business.
This involves complex risk classification. For example, some goods can be moved through local powers like Wan Shengbang, but riskier goods need to go through individual dealers. If discovered, it’s easier to distance themselves without sacrificing major local players. That’s why anti-smuggling operations often come up empty.
But not everyone has the psychological fortitude and courage for this business. Higher-ranked racers attract more attention because they share common traits: they’re bold, reckless, and need money.”
Jiang Mu became increasingly engrossed, unconsciously leaning closer to Jin Chao: “So that’s why you need to keep racing to build your record?”
Jin Chao glanced down at her: “I don’t have Wan Shengbang’s resources. For me, racing was the fastest way to get noticed. By New Year’s, their theory was confirmed when someone contacted me about moving a batch of goods. At first, they just stored them with me to test the waters. Once they arranged buyers, I handled the delivery. Gradually, the volume increased.”
Jiang Mu suddenly frowned as something occurred to her: “During New Year’s at Wuyin Temple, what did that man mean about you interfering with Western Port’s business?”
“That man is He Zhang, who handles this side of business for Wan Shengbang. His nephew Wan Dayong now works with him too. They’ve gotten greedy together. Because of a slip-up on Wan Shengbang’s end, someone approached me to try moving a batch before New Year’s. They didn’t expect things would go so smoothly through me, and now Wan Shengbang and I are openly fighting over Western Port’s territory.”
Jiang Mu recalled the day Wan Qing had sought her out: “So that time they were trying to sabotage your goods?”
Jin Chao sighed and lowered the window. The breeze drifted in as his voice seemed to scatter in the wind, sounding almost unreal to Jiang Mu.
“Losing that batch of goods hurt my credibility in the alliance, but everyone knows what happened. To wreck my car that thoroughly in such a short time, only someone in the business could manage that.
Once my conflict with Wan Shengbang started affecting the alliance business, a solution became necessary. From a broader profit perspective, they won’t let us keep fighting internally.”
Jiang Mu grew increasingly nervous: “What kind of solution?”
Jin Chao tapped the steering wheel: “The traditional way.”
Jiang Mu seemed to guess something, but the flood of information was overwhelming her, leaving her somewhat dazed. She heard Jin Chao continue: “Wan Shengbang’s side knows that once our issue comes to the surface, someone will step in to make us resolve it cleanly. The current issue is Western Port’s territory rights. I can only trace the upper-level connections if I secure these rights. So by convention, if we can’t reach a private agreement, the traditional solution is to settle it with cars. The loser can’t interfere with the other’s goods anymore. Those are the rules.”
Jiang Mu gradually understood: “No wonder they destroyed your car while ruining the goods. They’re cutting off your escape route?”
Jin Chao remained silent, just twisting his lips slightly. Everything was already clear without words.
Jiang Mu straightened up from the seat back and asked: “When? I mean, when will you settle things with his people?”
“Mid-month.”
“Can the car be fixed?”
Jin Chao fell silent, parking the car at the community entrance before turning to Jiang Mu: “We’re here.”
But Jiang Mu wouldn’t get out. She turned toward him, fixing him with an intense stare: “I promise I’ll focus on my exam, that this won’t affect me. But you have to tell me the truth. I need to know what we’re dealing with.”
Jin Chao turned to look at her urgent eyes, considered for half a minute and then got out to light a cigarette before telling her.
The car needed complete restoration, inside and out. The modifications required were extensive, and Flying Speed lacked the hardware capabilities for such modifications. Currently, all the larger repair shops in the Tonggang area have explicitly refused to take on the job. Setting up the equipment and tools would require a huge investment, and the last batch of destroyed goods had already cost Jin Chao heavily. Even if he could establish a shop capable of such modifications, he lacked both funds and time.
Then there were the modification parts themselves. Whether it was the V6 twin-turbo engine, second-generation wide-body kit, or parts for intake, turbo, full exhaust system, or suspension and shock absorbers – none could be sourced.
Wan Shengbang’s people had cut off his options in advance. Everyone in Tonggang’s business chain, from repair shops to parts dealers, was taking sides. Helping him meant cutting off Wan Shengbang’s income stream. Old Man Wan’s influence had dominated Tonggang for decades; no one dared challenge it lightly.
Jiang Mu never imagined the situation would be this dire. Getting out of the car, she asked: “Can’t you seek Officer Lu’s help? Get a car that can race?”
Jin Chao shook his head: “No, their cars are all confiscated. If one suddenly appeared on the market, the car’s origin would raise suspicions.”
Jiang Mu asked anxiously: “Is there no other way?”
Jin Chao just smoked quietly, his brow furrowed: “I’ve asked people to source parts from outside the area, but we still need to find a shop willing to do the work.”
Jiang Mu paced back and forth anxiously: “What if… I mean, what if it can’t be fixed? What then?”
Jin Chao turned his head to exhale smoke, replying: “Then I’ll just take any car I can find.”
Though Jiang Mu didn’t know much about cars, she had witnessed the speed of those racing cars. If Jin Chao took an unmodified factory car, it would be outperformed by those modified racing cars. Even with his superior skills and steady driving, he’d be at a disadvantage.
Jiang Mu stopped pacing and stood before him, worried: “Isn’t there any other solution? Do you have to go?”
Jin Chao countered: “What solution? Sit down for tea and negotiations with Wan Shengbang?”
A mocking smile curved his lips: “If it were just about business, sure, we could talk. But my goal isn’t to sell goods and make money. To settle this privately, either he compromises or I do. Do you think he could compromise? If he bows to me, he loses the prestige he’s built in Tonggang for decades. And if I bow to him, I carry this criminal record for life.”
Jin Chao ground out his cigarette viciously, lowering his gaze to fix Jiang Mu with an intense stare: “You think Wan Shengbang doesn’t have blood on his hands? Do you think their racing organization is clean? How many racing accidents have been written off as regular crashes?
Illegally imported cars might look new on the outside, but many internal parts are refurbished from wrecks. When accidents happen, no one takes responsibility.
The person who died in that incident involving me – Wan Dayong had switched out parts using this method. Should I just watch as more people fall victim to their dirty tricks?
I could look forward, not dwell on the past, but then I’d have to keep my head down forever, branded a killer by everyone who knows me. Even if I left Tonggang, this record would follow me like a shadow wherever I went. Never able to shake it off.
I lost my chance at college entrance exams, spent half a year in jail, and for four whole years after release, I’ve lived as neither human nor ghost. Should I keep living with my head down like this for the rest of my life?”
Fierce determination blazed in Jin Chao’s eyes as he told her word by word: “This is my only chance to clear my case.”
When she heard these words, Jiang Mu’s very soul trembled. She couldn’t utter another word.
After entering the residential complex, Jiang Mu’s mind was in chaos. This night felt unreal to her. She had been in Tonggang, by Jin Chao’s side, for over half a year now. He had always seemed like a diligent mechanic, managing his small auto shop day by day, with a few close brothers, occasionally drinking and eating skewers, living no differently from any ordinary person.
Yet tonight Jin Chao had shown his truest face, one Jiang Mu could never have imagined – beneath that seemingly indifferent exterior lay an unyielding determination, an identity she thought only existed in old Hong Kong dramas or blockbuster films.
Special, mysterious, dangerous – it all felt like a dream to Jiang Mu.
Instead of returning to Jin Qiang’s home immediately, she sat down at some exercise equipment downstairs. She needed to think carefully, to process what Jin Chao had told her.
Putting herself in his position, could she swallow such an injustice? Knowing she had been set up as a scapegoat, her future destroyed, working four years for the very perpetrator, dedicating herself loyally every day, facing that hypocritical, disgusting face, only to find the other party showed no remorse and continued to suppress her, even pushing her to the edge – what would she do?
In that instant, she seemed to understand Jin Chao’s desperate counterattack. He had no other way out. Even if he wanted to run his auto shop peacefully, Old Man Wan wouldn’t allow it. If coexistence had been possible, things wouldn’t have escalated over the past year and more. Business would be affected; Jin Chao would have no way to survive.
He wasn’t someone who would willingly let others step on him. The Jin Chao she knew had long harbored lofty ambitions. He wouldn’t let himself be buried in dust, wouldn’t resign himself to carrying a false charge. So this path was one he had to take, even with tigers ahead and wolves behind – he would walk it without hesitation.
Criminal record – those words Zhao Meijuan could barely speak, the topic Jin Qiang repeatedly avoided, the original sin Jiang Yinghan despised.
If the case could be overturned, would the obstacles between them also be resolved?
Jiang Mu felt her whole body burning, a great flame circling in her mind, making her blood boil.
…
After dropping off Jiang Mu, Jin Chao drove back to the auto shop. He had barely sat down for ten minutes when suddenly the shop’s rolling door rattled with knocking.
He frowned, turning to walk back to the repair shop. When he opened the rolling door, there stood Jiang Mu, breathing heavily. Jin Chao looked at her in surprise: “Didn’t I just take you home? Why are you back?”
Jiang Mu excitedly grabbed his sleeve, telling him: “I have an idea. Come with me somewhere.”