As a gesture of gratitude for buying their cake, the shop owner’s youngest son gave them a sparkler called “Night Pearl.” This type of firework was also common in the South, and Jiang Mu remembered playing with them as a child, though it had been quite a while since she’d last seen one.

She held the sparkler like a treasure. Seeing her eager anticipation, Jin Chao drove the car to the embankment beside the field.

Back before fireworks were completely banned, during New Year’s celebrations, Jin Chao would always take his New Year’s money and set off firecrackers with his classmates in front of their houses. The boys loved those loud firecrackers, while Jiang Mu was both scared and wanted to join in. She would always startle and hide behind him, but boys being mischievous, would deliberately throw snappers at her feet when they saw her fear. Jin Chao would then shout at his friends, “Don’t scare my sister! If you make her cry, you better know how to comfort her!”

Jiang Mu never dared to play with those snappers. Jin Chao would buy her sparklers meant for girls instead. Though she was brave enough to play with these silent fireworks, she never dared to light them herself.

Even now, nothing has changed. As soon as they got out of the car, Jiang Mu clutched the Night Pearl and urged Jin Chao to light it. He took out his lighter and lit it for her, watching from the corner of his eye as she held the sparkler tube with both hands, her expression both nervous and excited, a smile tugging at his lips.

During the waiting period, Jiang Mu was always quiet. Jin Chao knew it wasn’t because she had suddenly become well-behaved, but because the first spark would always startle her, so she remained focused in anticipation.

Sure enough, when the first colored spark shot out from the tube, Jiang Mu’s arms trembled in surprise. By the third and fourth spark, however, she had already adapted and turned to smile at Jin Chao.

Jin Chao’s eyes held scattered light as he looked back at her. “I thought you would give up.”

“What?”

After asking, Jiang Mu realized Jin Chao was talking about the guzheng. Remembering how she used to cry and fuss when practicing as a child, she laughed, “I thought I would give up too. When learning the level four finger-rolling technique, I almost quit because I couldn’t get it right. Then at level six, I kept making mistakes transitioning from the D key to the G key. Mom said if it was too difficult, she wouldn’t force me. I stopped for three months but then started practicing again on my own. After so many years of practice, I can finally play for you to hear…”

The small sparks shot into the night sky, exploding into a rainbow of colors, adding brilliant hues to the night. The light and shadows played across Jiang Mu’s fair and serene face, creating an almost ideal kind of beauty.

She gazed at the night sky while he gazed at her. She was still quite childlike, finding contentment in a simple sparkler. Her purity was the only sanctuary Jin Chao had encountered in his tumultuous 24 years of life.

During his days after leaving Suzhou, he often wondered: what if someone bullied Mu Mu? She was short and physically weak. Without him to back her up, she would only cry in secret when wronged.

He would occasionally think about what kind of life he wanted in the future. Though he had no concrete concept, her small figure would always appear in his thoughts. Now that she was truly by his side, everything felt so peaceful and smooth that it seemed almost unreal, like these fireworks rising into the night sky – brilliant but always feared to vanish into the vast darkness in the next moment.

When the sparks were gone, Jiang Mu still stood motionless with her arms raised for a long while, only lowering them after confirming no more sparks would emerge. Before she could turn around, she fell into Jin Chao’s embrace as he hugged her from behind, pulling her in front of him and presenting a black box before her eyes. His breath fell softly as he said, “Happy birthday.”

Jiang Mu stared at the understated yet luxurious box in front of her. Opening it, she found an elegant, bright silver Parker pen inside, with an arrow clip and three gold rings. The craftsmanship on the pen body was so exquisite it seemed like a work of art, making her reluctant to use it.

Jin Chao’s voice was slow and deep: “The previous one was too old. Use this new one from now on.”

He had given her two pens at two different stages of her life. The first accompanied her through her long academic journey, and the second came before she entered the highest institution of learning as an adult. This held immense significance for Jiang Mu.

She turned around in his embrace and looked up at him: “The pen I gave you last year was bought with money I earned from outside performances, not Mom’s money.”

She lowered her head, her voice gradually weakening: “But it seems like you won’t get to use it.”

“How do you know I won’t use it in the future?”

The night breeze stirred gently, and the stars sparkled.

Jiang Mu raised her head. His eyes reflected the magnificent fireworks – the most beautiful colors she had ever seen.

…

When they drove back to the garage entrance, San Lai was lazily sprawled on a lounge chair in front of the pet shop, enjoying the cool air. Seeing the two return, he lazily raised his eyelids and said sourly, “Are you even human? Out gallivanting until so late.”

Jiang Mu hugged the remaining Night Pearls and smiled at him, while Jin Chao carried the large package box that was so big it covered his face. San Lai asked curiously, “What’s that huge thing? A folding bed?”

“…”

Jiang Mu widened her eyes at him: “This is my gift for Jin Chao. What folding bed? Have you ever seen anyone give a folding bed as a birthday gift? Really…”

San Lai drawled: “You never know, you two could use a bed.”

Then, seeing the Night Pearls Jiang Mu was holding, he unceremoniously snatched them: “I’ll take these as compensation for my lonely suffering.”

Jiang Mu asked: “What do you want these for?”

San Lai stood up lazily and dropped a line: “None of your business. I’ll use them to charm girls.”

He then truly showed no courtesy by storing the Night Pearls in his car trunk.

Jiang Mu gave him a helpless look before following Jin Chao back to the garage.

In the break room, Jiang Mu watched Jin Chao expectantly as he put down his things and unwrapped his gift. Under the wrapping paper was a large LEGO set featuring a “China Aerospace” rocket. When assembled, it would become a large aerospace model complete with a launch center and ground control room.

This indeed caught Jin Chao’s interest. He pulled out the assembly instructions and studied them for quite a while before looking up with raised eyebrows: “Do you know how massive this project is? I suspect you’re trying to give me extra work.”

Jiang Mu smiled at the bags of scattered building blocks.

In the past, they often passed by a toy store after school and would press against the display window to look at the LEGO models inside. For them at that time, owning such a large set of toys was an extravagant thing. Although the project was enormous, Jiang Mu thought they would have plenty of time in the future. They could build it slowly when they had nothing else to do, and someday they would complete this grand project – though certainly not tonight.

Jin Chao put away the instructions and thoughtfully watched Lightning pacing around. He called the dog to the shelter and bathed it.

Jiang Mu asked curiously: “Why are you giving Lightning a bath so late at night?”

Jin Chao lowered his gaze as he wet Lightning’s fur, telling her: “Been busy lately, it needs a wash.”

Previously, Lightning always had its baths at San Lai’s shop, but after its near-death experience, it had become somewhat antisocial. Now only Jin Chao could get it to stand still for a bath; no one else could manage it.

Jiang Mu walked over and asked: “Your car is fixed, are you still going to the warehouse tomorrow?”

“No.”

Jiang Mu handed him Lightning’s bath gel: “Then why not wash it tomorrow?”

Jin Chao took the bath gel and said: “It’s too hot during the day. It’s cooler at night.”

Jiang Mu came to help, and Lightning raised its head, staring at her with large dark eyes, wanting to nuzzle her with its big ears. As Jiang Mu dodged around, Jin Chao laughed while rinsing the soap off Lightning, then handed her a large towel to help dry Lightning while he went to get the hair dryer.

However, as soon as Jin Chao left, Lightning began vigorously shaking the water off its body. Jiang Mu couldn’t dodge in time and ended up completely soaked, looking quite disheveled.

When Jin Chao returned, the towel was no longer on Lightning but rather being held up by Jiang Mu as she ran around the courtyard, with Lightning playfully following her and shaking water everywhere. The joyful scene brought a smile to Jin Chao’s features.

He called out to Lightning: “Alright, come here.”

Lightning obediently tucked its tail and returned to Jin Chao’s side, standing quietly to get its fur dried. Jiang Mu turned around and protested, “It’s clearly my dog, why does it only listen to you?”

Jin Chao held the hair dryer, slightly raising his eyelids: “Don’t you listen to me too? Like owner, like a pet.”

Jiang Mu found herself speechless.

After Lightning’s fur was dried, Jin Chao glanced up to see that Jiang Mu’s white dress was half soaked, the silhouette beneath faintly visible, though she hadn’t noticed. He lowered his gaze and said to her, “Mu Mu, go take a shower.”

Jiang Mu was still brushing Lightning’s fur when she looked up with a confused “Huh?”

Jin Chao kept his eyes lowered, not letting her notice any awkwardness, and simply said, “Take a shower and change into dry clothes, don’t catch a cold.”

Jiang Mu didn’t sense anything amiss and nodded, heading into the maintenance room. But as soon as she entered, she opened the window and called out to Jin Chao, “I don’t have any clothes to change into!”

Jin Chao went inside and opened the wardrobe to find clothes for her. She leaned against the wardrobe, chattering away: “Lightning’s intelligence must be about equal to a four or five-year-old, right? I feel like it understands everything you say. How did you train it? I never saw you training it. San Lai asked me the other day if we’re planning to have it neutered. What do you think about neutering? If we don’t, it could mate and have puppies in the future…”

Jin Chao couldn’t understand why she chose this moment to discuss Lightning’s mating and neutering. His gaze couldn’t help but fall on her – the wet white fabric revealed the alluring curves of her figure, and even the graceful lines of her waist were visible. Her voice, soft and melodious, floated through the space. The more innocent she appeared, the more forbidden the temptation became. Though he had already found clothes, his movements stopped. He pulled down the corner of his mouth in self-mockery – he wasn’t a saint after all and couldn’t pretend to be unaffected. His breath was warm but controlled as he called out, “Mu Mu.”

Jiang Mu fell silent, watching as he closed the wardrobe again, then turned and pulled her against the cabinet door. When his lips pressed against hers, her heartbeat nearly tore through her chest.

Her warmth, her softness, and her unconscious whimpers all made Jin Chao lose control. He had never kissed her like this before, with a breath that seemed to destroy everything, releasing his most authentic self that lay beneath his controlled and reserved exterior – wild and untamed, carrying the most primitive desire to possess.

Jiang Mu was caught in his intense emotions, growing increasingly dizzy, her body filled with an unbearable itch. She called out softly, “Brother…”

Jin Chao gently bit her lip, his breath scorching: “Don’t call me brother right now, it feels criminal.”

Jiang Mu could barely stand, clinging to his shoulders, her body as soft as if it had lost all bones. She responded inexperiencedly, her tone coquettish: “Chao Chao…”

But this call only made Jin Chao lose more control. Jiang Mu had never seen him like this before, with wildness in his eyes and desire in his bearing, his whole body radiating powerful energy. Her mind was foggy as she heard the sound of a zipper sliding down, her dress slipping from her shoulders, his calloused palms sliding across her soft skin, causing her to shiver.

Even in her innocence, she knew what Jin Chao wanted to do. She closed her eyes in fear, preparing herself to accept everything, but the falling clothes were pulled back up by Jin Chao as he reached behind her to zip up the dress again.

Jiang Mu opened her eyes in confusion to look at him. His eyes held restrained fire, but he just smiled faintly and said, “It’s not time yet.”

After speaking, he reopened the wardrobe, gave her the clothes, and went out.

Jiang Mu rushed into the bathroom, her face burning like a ripe apple. She stood there for a long while, unable to calm down. The previous scene kept flooding her mind. Perhaps due to her excited state, she accidentally caught her finger in the door as she hurried out, crying in pain: “Chao Chao.”

Jin Chao came in from outside, saw her short wet hair clinging to her cheeks and her pitiful expression, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

She pitifully raised her finger to complain: “Your door bullied me.”

Jin Chao held back a smile without speaking. Her current state reminded him of long-ago memories.

When Jiang Mu was in kindergarten, she would always hold back her tears whenever she fell outside, but as soon as she got home and saw him, she would start crying, insisting on climbing onto his lap to sob about her grievances. When Jin Chao attended military training during his middle school transition, he was away from home for several days. Jiang Mu had scraped her knee, and though it had scabbed over and was almost healed, afraid she wouldn’t get to show him before it healed completely, she drew a circle with a ballpoint pen every day after her bath to remember.

When Jin Chao returned from training, she acted as if nothing had happened for a long while, but when he asked why she had drawn a circle on her leg, huge teardrops suddenly began rolling down her face. After Jin Qiang told him what had happened, he couldn’t stop laughing for the longest time.

The little Jiang Mu then was exactly like she was now, asking somewhat angrily: “What are you laughing at?”

Jin Chao turned and walked to the bed, opening the drawer. His drawer items were very neatly organized, sorted into several metal boxes. Jiang Mu watched as he found two metal boxes and set them aside, reaching for a wooden box at the very back.

She was secretly alarmed and rushed over in one step to press down his hand, asking, “What are you doing?”

Jin Chao had already gripped the wooden box and was pulling it out. He turned his head and replied, “Looking for a band-aid.”

Jiang Mu said excitedly, “Don’t you keep medicine in the wardrobe drawer? Why are you looking here?”

Jin Chao’s eyes narrowed slightly: “Why look in the wardrobe when it’s right by the bed? Is there a problem?”

Jiang Mu had also grabbed the wooden box and was secretly trying to pull it towards herself, responding somewhat guiltily: “No problem, no problem at all. I’ll find it myself.”

However, Jin Chao watched her unusual behavior, his gaze slightly scrutinizing, his hand not budging an inch. Jiang Mu couldn’t pull it away and could only hear him say unhurriedly: “Didn’t you hurt your hand? You’re not afraid of pain anymore, wanting to look at yourself?”

Jiang Mu wiped the blood from her finger with a tissue and immediately widened her eyes, looking perfectly healthy as she replied: “It’s fine now, look, all better, no need for a band-aid.”

She held up her finger in front of Jin Chao, but her finger proved to be a traitor, beginning to bleed again right before his eyes.

Jin Chao glanced sideways and clicked his tongue, saying slowly: “Better put one on, I’m worried you’ll lose too much blood.”

Just as he was about to open the wooden box, Jiang Mu pounced on him.

She pounced, startling even Jin Chao. Afraid she might hurt herself, he didn’t dodge but used his body to protect her. She ended up bumping her head against his chest with a dull thud. The impact wasn’t light, and Jin Chao let out a muffled grunt, asking in surprise: “What’s in this box? Your family heirloom?”

As he spoke, his thumb flicked open the box. When the wooden box opened, the air froze for several seconds – among the band-aids, cotton swabs, and thermometer, the bright red box in the middle was too eye-catching to ignore.

Jiang Mu’s movements also froze as she stared straight at the small box. Jin Chao was silent for a moment before turning his head to look at her meaningfully: “Family heirloom?”

Jiang Mu quickly stepped back, so embarrassed she wished she could dig a hole and disappear into it.

Jin Chao took out the item, his eyes teasing as he said: “Hiding this in my bedside drawer, you are… something.”

Jiang Mu certainly couldn’t accept this praise and immediately retorted: “Didn’t you give this to me?”

Jin Chao furrowed his brows: “I gave this to you?”

Jiang Mu’s cheeks burned fiercely as she turned away and nodded.

Jin Chao said in bewilderment: “Why would I give you this?”

Jiang Mu turned back to glance at him shyly, her voice very small and soft: “How would I know…”

After speaking, she climbed onto the bed and covered herself completely with the thin blanket, not moving at all.

Jin Chao remained silent and motionless for a long while. Soon after, Jiang Mu felt the corner of the blanket being lifted as Jin Chao took out her hand and applied a band-aid.

Jiang Mu secretly pulled down the blanket corner to look at him. His gaze fell lightly on her, causing her heart to skip a beat. She pulled the blanket back up, leaving only her eyes exposed, and asked him: “What are you thinking about?”

Jin Chao just looked at her this way, a smile gradually spreading across his lips. He tossed the box onto the bedside table and stood up to leave, but Jiang Mu reached out to grab him.

Jin Chao stopped, his gaze warm: “You’re really not afraid I’ll do something to you.”

Jiang Mu was still afraid, but she didn’t let go. Jin Chao told her in a relaxed voice: “I’m going to take a shower.”