Jiang Mu spent three days on her business trip to Pucheng. Before leaving, she noticed her colleagues buying crisp pears to take home to their families. She felt she should buy something too, but when it came to family, Jin Chao was all she had in Nanjing.

So after buying them, she took a photo of the pears and sent it to Jin Chao, saying: “I’m coming back today, brought you some crisp pears.”

But after a while, Jin Chao replied: “I’m not in Nanjing.”

Disappointed, Jiang Mu didn’t reply to his message for the entire journey.

After dropping her luggage at her rental apartment, that evening Jiang Mu took the pears to Oon. All three staff members were there, and the business was good. When Xiao Ke saw her, she immediately smiled: “You were on a business trip, right?”

Lightning rushed out from the changing room, and Jiang Mu crouched down to embrace it fully, telling Xiao Ke: “Just got home.”

Then she brought the pears to the counter to share with them, saying: “These were originally for your boss, but since he’s not here, make sure you finish them for him.”

Gu Tao also came over: “What’s the treat?”

Jiang Mu told him: “One Oon coffee, please.”

Just as she took out her phone to scan the payment code, Manager Fang blocked the QR code, telling her: “The boss said not to charge you when you come.”

Jiang Mu paused, then smiled and put away her phone, not bothering with formalities.

Lightning circled her, and Manager Fang asked: “You and the boss know each other well, right? No wonder Meng Dan recognized you.”

Jiang Mu said: “Of course I know him. This is my dog.”

All three staff members looked surprised, but seeing how Lightning fawned over her, they had to believe it. After all, Lightning was peculiar and usually ignored even them.

Jiang Mu sat on the high stool and tapped the counter, asking: “Let me ask you something – is your boss married? Does he have a girlfriend?”

Xiao Ke looked bewildered, glancing at Gu Tao, and then at the manager. Gu Tao said: “I don’t know, don’t look at me.”

Manager Fang also didn’t dare speak carelessly, replying: “The boss is usually busy. We don’t know much about his personal life.”

Seeing she couldn’t get any answers, Jiang Mu changed tack: “Why does he travel so much? Is it for work, or is his workplace somewhere else?”

Gu Tao casually responded: “The boss doesn’t work full-time anywhere. His health wouldn’t allow for a nine-to-five job.”

Jiang Mu looked up confused: “What’s wrong with his health?”

Manager Fang secretly nudged Gu Tao while putting cups in the sink. Gu Tao startled, looked up at Jiang Mu and explained: “Just meant that with managing the coffee shop and frequently going to school, taking on a full-time job would be too much for anyone’s health.”

Jiang Mu nodded. Since she wasn’t paying, she felt awkward having them serve her coffee, so she helped herself. She found that corner behind the pillar from last time and sat down, then beckoned to Lightning, who immediately ran over and lay quietly beside her.

Jiang Mu took out her phone and bent down to take a photo from above, capturing the coffee, herself, and Lightning. She sent the photo to Jin Chao saying: Thanks for the free coffee.

Jin Chao told her: I’ll be back tomorrow.

Jiang Mu put away her phone, content.

After sitting for a while, Lightning accompanied her out of the courtyard, but unlike before, it continued following her step by step even after she left, leaving Xiao Ke who had chased after them in a difficult position.

Jiang Mu simply told her: “I’m taking it home. When your boss returns tomorrow, tell him to come to my place to get it.”

With that, Jiang Mu left with Lightning, who truly followed her. Xiao Ke hurried back to the shop and had Gu Tao call the boss. After a brief conversation, Gu Tao hung up, and Xiao Ke asked worriedly: “What did the boss say?”

Gu Tao turned and told her: “The boss just said he knows.”

Xiao Ke finally relaxed.

Since she had returned from her business trip the previous evening, Jiang Mu had the morning off the next day. She took Lightning for a walk, went to the institute in the afternoon, and bought some groceries to cook dinner in the evening. As she cooked, Lightning lay in the kitchen keeping her company. While waiting for the sauce to reduce on low heat, Jiang Mu stared at the stove, wondering if this was how Jin Chao usually spent his time.

But at least he had Lightning for company – she had no one. This thought made her unhappy again.

The source of her unhappiness sent her a message at seven o’clock, asking for her address. So Jiang Mu sent Jin Chao both the residential complex name and unit number.

Forty minutes later he arrived but didn’t come up, just telling her: Here, waiting downstairs.

Jiang Mu took Lightning down and saw Jin Chao standing by the ginkgo tree below. Perhaps because he had just returned from his trip, he was dressed formally – a dark long-sleeved shirt with meticulously buttoned cuffs and collar. Golden ginkgo leaves covered the ground at his feet, and the dim streetlight cast his tall, straight figure in relief.

Strangely, though Jiang Mu had met so many people over the years – handsome ones, those from good families, scholarly ones – none had made her heart flutter like this. Sometimes she even wondered if her heart had aged to the point where it wouldn’t beat for anyone anymore. Yet upon seeing Jin Chao, that uncontrollable nervousness and palpitation made her understand – there would be no one else. Only this man before her had the power to easily stir her heartstrings.

Jiang Mu walked toward him in soft flats and casual wear. She had saved a few pears for him after all – they were very sweet. Worried about carrying too much weight, she hadn’t bought many and had barely eaten any herself. She handed him the bag, and Jin Chao took it. Jiang Mu asked: “Have you had dinner?”

He told her: “Ate on the way back.”

Jiang Mu asked: “Didn’t I give you the unit number? Why didn’t you come up?”

Jin Chao couldn’t help but look up at the building but said nothing. Jiang Mu narrowed her eyes and said: “He’s not home.”

Jin Chao silently surveyed the residential complex. Though clean and tidy, it was built in the early 2000s and was almost 20 years old. Many units were rented out, and the residents were a mixed bunch.

He looked back at her and spoke: “You’re living at his place?”

Jiang Mu shook her head: “He doesn’t own a place. We’re renting here.”

Jin Chao’s gaze settled on her face, his eyes somewhat dark: “Weren’t you saying you’re getting married at year’s end? No plans to buy a house?”

Jiang Mu replied matter-of-factly: “Ah, we can’t afford it. His monthly salary is just over 4,000 yuan, and after insurance and housing fund deductions, there’s not much left. I’m still an intern now, but after I become permanent, I’ll live frugally and save up to help him buy a house.”

Jin Chao’s brows drew together almost imperceptibly as he stared at her. Jiang Mu turned and said to him: “I just finished dinner, perfect timing for a walk while I see you off.”

So they walked along the path outside the complex. Tall phoenix trees lined both sides of the road, their shadows dappled in the streetlight. Jiang Mu led Lightning while Jin Chao carried the pears. They walked slowly, maintaining a careful distance of about one person’s width between them as if deliberately preserving some boundary.

Jiang Mu asked him: “Didn’t San Lai say Lightning was lost? Why was it with you?”

Jin Chao was silent for a moment, then said: “You had just settled abroad, maybe they thought it would be troublesome for you, so they brought it to me.”

“Weren’t you worried about the trouble?”

Jin Chao replied flatly: “It was fine.”

Lightning walked obediently in front of them, looking back at them every few steps. Jiang Mu said in a cool voice: “Who was it that wouldn’t let me keep it back then?”

Jin Chao’s expression softened, but he remained silent. Jiang Mu glanced at him from the corner of her eye, the corners of her own eyes curving slightly.

Though she hadn’t been here long and many places were still unfamiliar, with Jin Chao walking beside her, she suddenly felt as if she had lived in this city for ages. This inexplicable sense of security filled her heart.

But then, remembering something, Jiang Mu deliberately said in a sour tone: “You’ve got quite the nerve, keeping your ex-girlfriend’s dog, opening a coffee shop with your ex-girlfriend’s name, coming out late at night to walk dogs with your ex-girlfriend – your wife doesn’t mind?”

Jin Chao gave her a silent look. Jiang Mu met his gaze: “Did I say something wrong? Am I not your ex-girlfriend?”

Jin Chao looked away and asked in return: “Then doesn’t your boyfriend mind? Coming out late at night to walk with another man.”

Jiang Mu replied naturally: “He doesn’t mind. Of course, he wouldn’t mind. He often goes out singing with girls – did I say anything about that?”

Jin Chao’s brows furrowed slightly as he asked: “How does he treat you?”

Jiang Mu told him: “Just so-so. Last week we had a big fight about changing phones.”

Jin Chao raised his eyebrows, and Jiang Mu continued: “I’ve had my phone for over two years and wanted to change it, but he said since I don’t play games and just use it for chatting and browsing, I don’t need a better phone. He spent the money on equipment instead.”

Jin Chao clenched his jaw, remained silent for a moment, then asked: “So what do you see in him?”

Jiang Mu let out a long sigh, exhaling the hardships and helplessness of life, the heartache, and uncertainty, and answered: “Well, I’ve reached the age for marriage, might as well find someone to make do with.”

Some children on skateboards whizzed past Jiang Mu, and she dodged toward Jin Chao, her arm brushing against him. The electric sensation startled her into looking up at him. Jin Chao stopped walking and moved her to the inside of the path, his deep gaze looking down at her intently, making her face burn.

People occasionally walked past on the street, and cars drove by. Jin Chao didn’t continue walking but just looked at her seriously, his voice low: “Don’t joke with me like this again.”

If Jiang Mu’s previous fabrications had been smooth, her final words about “making do” completely exposed her. Growing up affected by Jiang Ying Han and Jin Qiang’s failed marriage, she was destined to never settle in marriage – this Jin Chao knew for certain.

He took the dog leash from her hand and said: “Go back now, no need to see me off.”

Jiang Mu watched his retreating figure and pursed her lips, calling out unhappily: “What makes you think I’m joking? Why must I be joking? Why can’t I say that?”

Jin Chao stopped and turned around, looking at her across the few steps between them. Jiang Mu lifted her chin defiantly: “Say something!”

Jin Chao’s deep gaze fell on her as he spoke: “It hurts me to hear it.”

Even after Jiang Mu returned to her rental apartment and collapsed onto the sofa, those six words still echoed in her mind, to the point where she completely overlooked that he had taken Lightning with him.

That entire evening, Jiang Mu felt like she had returned to her teenage years, her heart fluttering from just one sentence from Jin Chao – one moment grinning foolishly, the next wearing an expression of deep grievance. It wasn’t until bedtime that she realized he had taken Lightning away without any explanation – it was her dog after all!

So she sent him a message: How dare you take my dog away again?

After a few minutes, Jin Chao sent back a smiling emoji. Since she had to work the next day and couldn’t take care of the dog anyway, she had to let it slide for now.

…

Autumn in Nanjing could feel like winter arriving in an instant. The night before, Jiang Mu had been wearing short sleeves at home, but the next day before leaving work, a strange wind suddenly picked up. Jiang Mu stuck her head out of the office to feel it and sneezed from the cold.

A colleague posted in the work group chat that according to the latest weather bureau notice, a cold front would bring severe storms over the next two days, warning everyone to be careful during their commutes.

On her way home, Jiang Mu thought about forwarding this message to Jin Chao to remind him to dress warmly, but then wondered what their relationship was – here she was showing concern while he remained lukewarm.

But unexpectedly, just as she got home, a message came from Jin Chao: Rain and temperature drop tomorrow, remember to dress warmly and bring an umbrella.

Jiang Mu held her phone, suppressing her slightly upturned lips, deliberately not replying to his message.

Over the next few days, her team got a new assignment, and her work suddenly became busy. She didn’t even have time to visit Oon and even attended a conference in Shanghai with the researcher.

While in Shanghai, she unexpectedly received a call from Jin Chao, but she was working and couldn’t answer, so she declined it. It wasn’t until she returned to her hotel in the evening that she called him back.

When the call connected, Jin Chao asked: “Where are you?”

Jiang Mu deliberately teased: “Not telling you.”

Jin Chao’s steady breathing came through the phone. Jiang Mu stayed silent too, standing by the hotel window looking at the night view of the Huangpu River, until he spoke: “Do you have time to meet? I have something for you.”

Jiang Mu replied: “No time.”

Jin Chao patiently asked without rushing: “What would it take for you to have time?”

Jiang Mu looked at her reflection in the glass, gradually smiling: “Go hiking with me this weekend.”

But Jin Chao fell silent on the phone, not speaking for a long while.

Jiang Mu’s smile faded: “If you don’t want to, forget it. You never fulfilled your promise to take me out anyway, and when San Lai said we’d all go hiking in summer, that never happened either. I remember it all.”

Jin Chao seemed to sigh softly, asking: “Will hiking make you feel better?”

“Even though it won’t, does that mean you won’t go?”

After a long moment, Jin Chao answered solemnly: “Alright, hiking this weekend.”