When Jin Chao came out of the bathroom, Jiang Mu was pressed against the inside of the bed. The room had darkened, and Jin Chao’s silhouette gradually approached. Jiang Mu dared not look at him, only feeling the bed sink as he lay down beside her.
The bed was truly small, similar to the one in Jin Chao’s room from before. But back then, they were children, and now Jiang Mu couldn’t ignore that beside her was an adult man who made her heart race. More importantly, after what had just happened, Jiang Mu had become extremely sensitive to his presence.
She turned to her side, nestling against his arm, and asked, “Have you ever used it?”
Jin Chao, half-leaning against the headboard, asked back, “Used what?”
“That thing.”
They both fell silent for a while before Jin Chao finally spoke: “With whom?”
Jiang Mu buried her face against his tense arm and murmured, “How would I know? San Lai said you were very popular in school, that even girls from other schools would come looking for you.”
Jin Chao lowered his head, his thick eyelashes shadowing eyes as dark as pools, particularly soulful when focused on someone, with a subtle light flowing within: “Are you feeling jealous over nothing?”
Jiang Mu muttered, “Not at all, it’s just that you seem so experienced, unlike me… I don’t know anything without experience.”
Jin Chao broke into a full smile, pulling her up slightly and whispering in her ear, “Thanks for the compliment.” Then added, “I’m naturally talented; I thought you would have realized that since childhood.”
Jiang Mu admitted that Jin Chao had more natural talent than her in many things. Perhaps smart people could learn anything quickly. Like when they cut window paper decorations together – it was the first time for both, but while she ruined hers, his turned out perfect. But intimacy between men and women wasn’t like cutting window decorations.
Seeing her blank expression, Jin Chao nuzzled her forehead with his chin and said, “You don’t need to know. I’ll teach you slowly in the future.”
On a private night, Jin Chao’s sweet words fell near her hair, becoming the most enchanting lullaby.
He was rational about relationships – even when faced with someone as attractive and forward as Wan Qing, he would still weigh the pros and cons. While Jin Chao worked at Wan’s garage to learn skills and earn money, he never intended to give up his freedom there.
Yet this rational man had still lost control with Jiang Mu on the rooftop that day. The small amount of alcohol couldn’t have affected him, and they had what many considered a taboo sibling relationship. Compared to Wan Qing or other women, Jiang Mu’s position was more awkward, but he had done it anyway. It wasn’t a simple decision. Jiang Mu even wondered, if things didn’t work out between her and Jin Chao in the future, how would he face Jin Qiang? How would they interact when they met?
That’s why that night he had wanted her to sober up first – it seemed once they took this step, marriage would be the only acceptable outcome.
Jiang Mu smiled, and Jin Chao glanced at her clinging to him, asking, “Aren’t you hot?”
Jiang Mu nodded: “A little.”
“Hot but still clingy?”
Jiang Mu looked up: “Am I clinging to anyone else?”
“…”
Jin Chao got up to bring the break room’s fan in, set it on low, then lay back down and pulled her back to his side.
Jiang Mu’s hand rested on Jin Chao’s waist as the fan rustled his loose clothing. She looked up again and asked, “Has the race time been confirmed?”
Jin Chao’s gaze remained hidden beneath his lowered lashes, barely visible as he replied, “Soon.”
“Is it just between you and Boss Wan’s people?”
Jin Chao responded thoughtfully: “No, there are others. These kinds of races are rarely organized, so there are quite a few participants, and the prize money is high. My business with Wan Shengbang will just be settled alongside the race.”
From Jin Chao’s tone, Jiang Mu sensed this was quite a large-scale event. She couldn’t help asking, “What kind of race is it?”
“A mountain road obstacle race.”
Jiang Mu exclaimed in alarm, “Obstacle race? Do you mean they’ll set up obstacles on the road? Isn’t that extremely dangerous?”
Jin Chao looked at her worried face and said lightly, “I can get the map and obstacle locations beforehand. Then it’s just a matter of avoiding them.”
Jiang Mu asked in surprise, “That’s allowed? How did you get that?”
Jin Chao stared at her silently for a moment before saying, “Officer Lu will give it to me.”
Jiang Mu immediately understood: “You mean there are others besides you working for Officer Lu in that organization?”
Jin Chao made an affirming sound.
While Jiang Mu found it exciting, she also felt somewhat relieved – at least Jin Chao wasn’t fighting alone. But her curiosity was also intensely aroused: “Do you know those people? The accomplices hiding in the shadows?”
Jin Chao laughed, repeating, “Accomplices hiding in the shadows? What kind of description is that? It’s not that mysterious – just mutual benefits. If Officer Lu approached me, they must have approached others too. To understand that smuggling group’s full hand, I’m at the front, but there needs to be people coordinating with me. Everyone has different uses. These matters are sensitive, and people still need to survive in this world – no one wants their past actions exposed.”
Jiang Mu finally understood. When Officer Lu’s team arrested that group of street racers, they hadn’t just contacted Jin Chao but others as well. So now in the alliance, besides Jin Chao, others were helping the police. Each person provided different information, but to prevent being betrayed, having their identity exposed, or affecting their future reputation, they didn’t contact each other directly. Instead, Officer Lu’s team integrated the information.
For instance, this race Jin Chao was entering seemed dangerous, but someone had already obtained the race information in advance. This way, Jin Chao could avoid unnecessary dangers and had better odds of winning than others.
Since the anti-smuggling team wanted to use Jin Chao to infiltrate the upper levels, they would naturally protect him covertly and not leave him fighting alone. Understanding this, Jiang Mu gradually felt more at ease.
Knowing the intricacies of the situation and finding it quite thrilling, she asked another question: “So you don’t know who in the alliance is helping you?”
Jin Chao pondered for a moment before replying, “Can’t be certain.”
His “can’t be certain” probably meant he had a good idea who it was, but for the benefit of both parties, such things were better left unspoken.
As they chatted, Jiang Mu’s hand had somehow slipped under the edge of Jin Chao’s clothes, staying at his wind-swept abdomen, pressing back and forth.
When Jin Chao could no longer ignore her touch, he fell silent for a moment before asking, “Are you searching for treasure in my stomach?”
Jiang Mu said seriously, “I’m just wondering why it’s so hard here?”
Although Jiang Mu was referring to his abs, the word “hard” coming from her mouth was like a command. Jin Chao suddenly sat up, startling her: “What’s wrong?”
He sat on the edge of the bed, facing away from her, and said, “I’m going to smoke a cigarette. You sleep first.”
As he stood up and reached for his cigarettes from the bedside table, he caught sight of that fateful box and took it with him.
The faint moonlight covered the shelter roof of the backyard. Jin Chao sat on the steps, a cigarette between his left fingers, the tobacco slowly burning. The fire in his heart was also burning fiercely. He had always thought of himself as a person with good self-control, especially when it came to women. Today he realized that was only because he hadn’t met a woman who made self-control difficult.
His life now hung on a tightrope. He had no absolute certainty about what would happen after tomorrow. Unable to bear letting her go, yet unwilling to touch her – too many concerns, where pulling one thread would affect everything else.
He understood all too well what remained after love’s polish wore off. Jiang Yinghan and Jin Qiang were the most realistic examples – endless arguments, grievances, even treating each other as enemies, never speaking again.
He couldn’t let Mu Mu live such a life. She was so afraid of marriage, yet so yearning for family. He couldn’t let her life drown in the rush and toil of daily existence.
She was still young after all – an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl in her first love, naive and passionate, trusting him unconditionally. But he couldn’t be careless and take advantage of her youthful impulses.
He had to admit San Lai had predicted one thing correctly – he had refused too many who threw themselves at him, and now when the one he truly wanted appeared, karma had come for him.
Jin Chao drew the smoke deep into his lungs, staring at the glaring little red box in his hand. The feeling of wanting but not having disturbed his peace. He raised his hand and threw the box into the trash.
Jin Chao sat alone for a long time, calming himself for a long time. Fortunately, when he returned to the room, Jiang Mu was already asleep, looking peaceful with her eyes closed. He bent down to kiss her and pulled her into his arms.
…
When Jiang Mu fell asleep it was already early morning. Perhaps because they had stayed up so late being wild, she was quite tired. In her drowsy state, she felt Jin Chao had gotten up very early. After some time, she heard Iron Rooster’s voice. She struggled to get up and wash, straightening her messy hair, then poked her head out to call to Jin Chao who was standing in the maintenance room: “I’m up!”
However, when Jin Chao came in to call her for food, he found her collapsed on the bed again, lying face-down with her face buried in the pillow to avoid messing up her hair.
Jin Chao was genuinely worried she might suffocate herself. He pulled her up, and Jiang Mu sat swaying on the bed with her eyes closed.
Usually, Jin Chao would find ways to wake her up completely, making her get out of bed to eat before sleeping again. But today he was particularly indulgent. He brought the food in and let her lean against his chest, bringing the food to her lips saying, “Open your mouth. You’re not going to make me help you eat too, are you?”
Jiang Mu smiled with her eyes closed and obediently opened her mouth.
Before her middle year of kindergarten, Jin Chao had often fed her, but this was the first time he’d fed her at this age. She thoroughly enjoyed being pampered by him, feeling as if she had truly returned to childhood when she could depend on him completely.
After filling Jiang Mu’s stomach, Jin Chao stood up and asked, “Still sleepy?”
Jiang Mu nodded, her eyes hazy as she blinked twice: “I usually can’t wake up properly when I have nothing to do.”
Jin Chao smiled: “Then keep sleeping.”
He took the dishes out, where Iron Rooster and San Lai were eating at the folding table by the garage entrance. Seeing Jin Chao come out with empty bowls, San Lai clicked his tongue: “Go ahead, spoil her. Keep spoiling her until she becomes completely dependent, then you’ll have something to worry about.”
Jin Chao dropped the bowls on the table and retorted: “None of your damn business.”
After Jin Chao left, Jiang Mu scrolled through her phone for a while, but within five minutes her eyelids were fighting to close. She dropped her phone, turned it over, and went back to sleep.
She wasn’t sure how long she slept before her body was drawn into a broad embrace, feeling secure and warm. Jiang Mu didn’t open her eyes, lazily burrowing into this familiar embrace, unconsciously making a small sound as her hair was stroked, comfortable enough to nuzzle her face against his chest.
In her drowsy state, Jin Chao told her: “Xiao Yang isn’t coming in today. I need to go out for something and might be back late. Sleep well, and if you go home when you wake up, remember to lock the door.”
Jiang Mu shook her head and held his waist, not letting him leave. Jin Chao bent down to kiss her hair, coaxing softly: “Be good. I’ll take you out tomorrow, okay?”
Only then did Jiang Mu nod and release him. Before leaving, Jin Chao left a light, gentle kiss on her lips, then stood at the door watching her for a good while before turning to leave.
After Jin Chao left, Jiang Mu’s sleep became restless. She had many strange dreams. In her dream, it was already the next day, and Jin Chao came to take her out. She wore a pretty dress, and Jin Chao came in his race car, stopping across the street to look at her. Jiang Mu called out to him, but Jin Chao remained unmoved, instead stepping on the gas and disappearing before her eyes. She frantically chased after him, and the scene suddenly changed to their old neighborhood. Jin Chao had become his childhood self, lighting a Night Pearl for her, when suddenly “Bang!” – the firework exploded in Jin Chao’s hand. Jiang Mu screamed in fear, but through the thick smoke, she couldn’t find Jin Chao’s figure. When she finally saw him through the layers of fog, he returned to his present self, standing on the wild slope where he had taken her after the street race. She ran towards him, but just as her fingertips touched the edge of his clothes, his body tilted backward and fell off the cliff. Jiang Mu screamed, jolting awake on the bed.
When she opened her eyes, it was still light outside. Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and her body was trembling slightly. She instinctively checked her phone – it was almost four o’clock; she had slept for over three more hours.
Jiang Mu walked unsteadily to the bathroom and washed her face. When she looked up, she saw her eyes were swollen from sleep in the mirror, her eyelids twitching irregularly.
Walking out of the bathroom, everything in the room seemed normal, but perhaps because of the succession of absurd dreams, Jiang Mu felt unsettled. She suddenly thought of something and climbed onto the bed to push open the window. The shelter yard was empty – the GTR that Jin Chao had driven back with her last night was gone.
Jiang Mu fell back onto the bed, dazed. Yesterday, Jin Chao had called a taxi to pick her up and take her to the suburbs, only driving the car back at night. Logically, during the day, this car would be risky to drive in the city and shouldn’t be on the road. So why was the car gone?
Jiang Mu got out of bed again and put on her shoes. Lightning heard the movement and came in from the break room to circle her feet. Jiang Mu bent down to pet it – it had just had a bath last night and still smelled of bath gel. But as she continued petting, her movements slowed.
Though Tonggang’s summers were hot during the day, the nights still had some coolness after sunset, with significant temperature differences between morning and night. Since Lightning’s incident, its constitution had weakened considerably. Jin Chao would always choose a sunny afternoon to give it a bath to prevent it from catching a cold. So why had he suddenly bathed Lightning so late last night?
The more Jiang Mu thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Was everything just a coincidence? He had given her an unforgettable birthday, come back to take care of Lightning, given Xiao Yang the day off, and then? What was he going to do?
Jiang Mu froze in the break room doorway as a terrible suspicion suddenly spiraled through her mind – that race, that decisive race, was very likely happening today.
She steadied herself against the doorframe and called Jin Chao. The call connected shortly, and Jin Chao’s voice came through the receiver: “Awake?”
It seemed very windy on his end. Jiang Mu didn’t ask where he was, just made a sound of agreement and gripped the doorframe tightly as she spoke: “You said you’d take me out tomorrow, right?”
Time froze for two seconds – two endless seconds that felt like an entire century – before Jin Chao’s voice sounded again: “I’ll try my best.”
Jiang Mu’s eyes reddened, but she didn’t let him hear anything unusual in her voice, saying casually: “Then I’ll wait for you… you won’t break your promise, will you?”
Without waiting for his answer, she continued: “I hold grudges, you know. If you break your promise, I’ll never speak to you again.”
“I know,” he replied, his voice heavy with those three words.
After hanging up, Jiang Mu leaned against the doorframe, clutching her phone tightly in her palm. Perhaps this was why Jin Chao hadn’t told her – afraid she’d be like this, worried to the point of madness, unable to rest for a moment. She couldn’t go back to her father’s house; that would only make her more anxious. Staying here, she might at least be able to wait for Jin Chao to finish.
She repeatedly told herself it would be fine, it was just a car race after all. Jin Chao already knew the route and obstacle locations. With his skills and mental fortitude, he could surely handle everything. Maybe he’d be back before midnight.
Despite these thoughts, her emotions remained uncontrollably anxious. Jiang Mu decided to walk out of the garage to find something to do. After opening the rolling door, she found San Lai reclining in a lounge chair by the entrance, cracking sunflower seeds. Hearing movement, he turned to see Jiang Mu and seemed surprised: “You haven’t left yet?”
Jiang Mu replied distractedly: “Where could I go?”
San Lai turned back to watch the flowing street traffic, continuing to crack seeds. Jiang Mu also brought out a chair to sit at the garage entrance. San Lai tossed her a bag of sunflower seeds, which she began to crack as well.
Contrary to his usual behavior, San Lai quietly cracked seeds, not saying a word for a long time. Jiang Mu wasn’t in the mood to chat either, so she simply watched the people coming and going on the street. Lightning lay at her feet, not moving an inch, raising its head to look whenever a black car passed by.
The sky gradually darkened, and the street lights began to come on one by one. Jiang Mu’s mouth had gone numb from cracking seeds. She cleaned up the shells and threw them away, going into the garage for a drink of water when suddenly she heard the sound of a car engine at the Flying Speed entrance. She dropped her water cup and rushed out of the garage. An unfamiliar car had stopped, and San Lai also put down his sunflower seeds to stare at it.
Soon a man got out of the car, and seeing Jiang Mu run out, he strode directly toward her. Jiang Mu instantly recognized him – Liang Yanfeng, Young Master Feng, the man who had raced with them to the end in that scramble race.