Jiang Mu woke up suddenly from her bed in the morning, the first thing that came to her mind was, “Oh no, it’s already bright outside, I’m definitely going to be late for school.” As she hurriedly finished washing up and rushed out of the bathroom, she realized she didn’t have her backpack and that today seemed to be Sunday.
She sighed with relief for a moment, but then she thought of something, and her heart sank again. She quickly put on Jin Chao’s coat and dashed out. When she reached the maintenance room, she saw Jin Chao standing at the entrance of the repair shop with a man. He casually handed the man a cigarette, and Jiang Mu heard the man ask, “When?”
Jin Chao’s voice sounded a bit serious, “In a few days. You’d better not come around here too often.”
Jiang Mu slowed down as she was walking out. Just then, Xiao Yang returned from the restroom, and the man changed his tone, asking Jin Chao, “Boss, how much?”
Jin Chao waved his hand, “Just take it. No charge.”
The man nodded at Xiao Yang, “Thanks for your trouble.”
Xiao Yang smiled back, “Just a little air, it’s nothing. Come back if you have any issues next time.”
“Alright.” After that, the man stood by the car and finished his cigarette.
Jiang Mu walked out of the maintenance room and saw San Lai squatting at the entrance of the pet store, holding a big bowl and slurping noodles. His eyes were constantly glancing over at the man talking to Jin Chao. Jiang Mu couldn’t help but glance at the man again.
The man was about forty years old, with a wide forehead and an eagle-hooked nose. He wore a dark blue down jacket and old-fashioned leather boots, looking quite sharp. Even though his back was turned to Jiang Mu, when she was observing him, the man’s alertness was high. He immediately turned his gaze and looked straight at Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu turned her head and asked, “Who is that man?”
San Lai slowly withdrew his gaze, then replied at a leisurely pace, “Just a customer.”
Jiang Mu took out her phone and said to San Lai, “Send me the address of the veterinary hospital, I’m going to the hospital now. By the way, what happened later yesterday?”
San Lai put the big bowl aside and started looking for the location to send to Jiang Mu, while also telling her what happened after he returned to Wushi Village. It turned out that Xishi had indeed formed an unbreakable bond with Da Guang. She wouldn’t bite anyone else but kept staring at Da Guang, but since this dog belonged to San Lai, no one dared to do anything. So, they just tied it up with a rope and threw it into the yard.
When San Lai rushed back, Da Guang’s pants were torn by Xishi, and he was standing in the yard, cursing with his bare butt. There were dog bite marks on his buttocks, and he kept saying that his rabies vaccine antibodies would last for six months, so it was good that it was him getting bitten.
As for the battle, Jiang Mu hadn’t seen it, but according to San Lai’s account, the four men were all weaklings. They fought for a long time but none of them managed to knock anyone down. If he had been there, he said, not to mention anything else, he could’ve made Da Guang kneel and sing the national anthem in no time.
Jiang Mu had already figured out San Lai’s way of chatting. No matter what the topic was, he would find a way, use all his effort, stretch his imagination to praise himself, and somehow make it sound natural.
But from his words, she could tell that although the four men had fought, there didn’t seem to be any serious consequences. When he arrived, the police were already there, and later the four of them went to the police station. Although stealing dogs was illegal, it didn’t constitute a criminal act, so they were given administrative punishment. The people from Wanji would come today to discuss compensation.
When Jiang Mu thought about the people from Wanji coming, she felt uneasy. Just the thought of seeing them made her feel irritated.
After San Lai sent the location to Jiang Mu, he raised his eyes and said to her, “I heard Xiao Bian injured you yesterday? Don’t worry, his good days are over.”
“What do you mean?”
San Lai continued to lift his big bowl and told her, “Your Brother Chao gave the order. This morning, Jin Fengzi had Boss Wan move Xiao Bian to his side. Do you know why Old Jin is called Jin Fengzi?”
Jiang Mu shook her head in confusion.
San Lai laughed and said, “Because he’s crazy, hahaha…”
Because San Lai’s laughter was so contagious, it caught the attention of Jin Chao, who was still busy. Jiang Mu could feel a strange sense of guilt when Jin Chao looked at her.
She vaguely remembered doing something embarrassing last night, like locking herself in the bathroom and throwing up for a long time, trying to keep Jin Chao from hearing it and even asking him to leave. Then she inexplicably fed him food. Although these actions didn’t seem like something a normal person would do, she had been drinking, so people who get drunk often do embarrassing things. It probably wasn’t a big deal.
But for some reason, she felt like Jin Chao was looking at her differently this morning. There was a sense of scrutiny, probe, and something hard to define in his gaze. He kept glancing at her for no apparent reason, making her feel uneasy like she had unknowingly done something shameful.
So, she hurriedly told Jin Chao, “I’m going to the veterinary hospital to see Lightning, I’ll return your clothes later.”
After saying that, she didn’t even look at him and went to the roadside to hail a cab. Jin Chao continued to stare at her back and asked, “Can you walk with your leg?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
After saying that, she quickly disappeared. When she arrived at the hospital and saw Lightning’s miserable condition, her mood sank again. Lightning was still lying there with its eyes closed, receiving IV fluids. Jiang Mu called its name twice, and its eyelids twitched, but that was all. It wasn’t good at all. Thinking of how lively it had been before, Jiang Mu felt very sad. But all she could do now was hope that the hospital would do its best to save it; there was nothing else she could do.
Lightning needed to stay in the hospital, so Jiang Mu went back to Jin Qiang’s house to change her clothes. Jin Qiang had just gotten home from his night shift, and after Jiang Mu got drunk the day before, Jin Chao had talked to Jin Qiang.
However, when Jin Qiang saw Jiang Mu returning in Jin Chao’s jacket, he hesitated for a moment before saying to her, “Your mom called me yesterday. She said she’ll be arriving in Tonggang on Saturday. I was planning to invite her over for a meal, but it seems like she’s bringing that foreign old man with her, and she’s unwilling to come. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. If she doesn’t come, then so be it. But lately, try not to go to Xiao Chao’s place too much.”
Jiang Mu, who had been about to enter the house, suddenly turned around and looked at Jin Qiang. “Why?”
She asked the word with a particularly serious expression. Jin Qiang awkwardly responded, “Well, the holidays are coming up soon, so you should focus on schoolwork.”
Jiang Mu gave Jin Qiang a glance, nodded, and said nothing as she entered the house.
She changed out of Jin Chao’s jacket, folded it neatly, and put it in a bag. After writing some notes and reading for a while, in the evening, Jiang Mu took the jacket and left the house. However, this time, she didn’t directly tell Jin Qiang where she was going, only mentioning that she would be back later.
When she arrived at the car shop, a familiar red sports car was already parked outside. Sure enough, people from Wanji had come for negotiations, but Jiang Mu didn’t expect that the person who came would be Xiao Qingshe.
She suddenly remembered the conversation she had with San Lai.
“Youjiu can’t be with her.”
“Why?”
“She’s Boss Wan’s daughter.”
At that time, Jiang Mu couldn’t understand it. But now, seeing Wan Qing again, she suddenly realized what San Lai had meant.
She walked over and directly handed the bag to Jin Chao. She heard Xiao Qingshe say to him, “Youjiu, can you say something? How do you want to settle this?”
Jin Chao only took the bag from Jiang Mu’s hands and, in a cold voice, replied, “The dog isn’t mine. Ask her how to settle it.”
There were two or three men standing at the door, unfamiliar to Jiang Mu but likely employees of Boss Wan.
After hearing Jin Chao’s words, Xiao Qingshe’s expression stiffened for a moment. She didn’t even glance at Jiang Mu but stared at Jin Chao and said, “You need to show some attitude. Do you want Xiao Bian and the others to come over and apologize, or should I just kick them out? It’s all up to you.”
Jin Chao slowly turned to face her. “Oh? Just my word? Then have your dad come in person.”
Wan Qing’s face immediately changed. She looked at Jin Chao and said, “He’s my dad, you can’t…”
“Not possible,” Jin Chao interrupted, not giving her a chance to continue.
Jiang Mu stood between Jin Chao and Wan Qing, clearly feeling the tension in the air, the invisible clash of energy between the two.
San Lai walked over and pulled Jiang Mu aside, saying to her, “Give me a hand.”
Jiang Mu kept glancing back at the entrance of the car shop, where the atmosphere was still tense. Xishi, covered in foam, obediently stood in the sink. Jiang Mu took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves, and began massaging Xishi while asking San Lai, “Wan Qing… does she like Jin Chao a lot?”
San Lai sneered, “It’s more than just liking. She might as well be sticking a ‘marry me’ sign on her face.”
Hearing this from San Lai, Jiang Mu finally understood. Wan Qing and Jin Chao knew each other through Wanji. Jin Chao was good-looking, hard-working, and quick-witted. It wasn’t long before Wan Qing took notice of him and began visiting him frequently.
Some of the younger workers jokingly called Jin Chao the “future son-in-law” of the Wan family, saying that soon all the Wanji enterprises in Tonggang would be at his disposal.
San Lai continued talking, “Women are strange. Back in school days, Youjiu acted all high and mighty, cold and dismissive to other women, yet still had a whole bunch of them flocking to them. What’s that about?”
Jiang Mu didn’t have an answer because, in her eyes, Jin Chao wasn’t arrogant. He just didn’t like getting too close to others. People who had been through many separations often unconsciously kept a distance from others. She herself was like that.
So, she asked, “Have Jin Chao and Wan Qing… ever been together?”
San Lai remained silent for a long while, only speaking once he finished rinsing the foam off Xishi, “I don’t know.”
“…”
“Youjiu‘s younger sister, oh, the other sister you know, Wan Qing introduced her to an old Chinese medicine doctor. The treatment worked well, and after that, her condition was under control and didn’t worsen. Afterward, Youjiu treated her better, probably to thank her. They had dinner a few times, but whether they were together or not, it’s hard to say. Anyway, after that incident, there was no possibility of them continuing their relationship. It’s the thing Jin Fengzi mentioned to you.”
Jiang Mu wasn’t sure whether it was after Wan Qing and Jin Chao got together and he discovered that issue and broke up with her, or whether they almost got together and then had a fallout. Either way, judging by Wan Qing’s reaction earlier, she seemed unable to accept it. Jiang Mu had already sensed something during their last encounter, but this time, the feeling was even stronger.
Jiang Mu wiped her hands clean and left San Lai’s shop. As she reached the door, she realized Wan Qing was still there. Seeing Jiang Mu come out, she immediately asked, “Since Youjiu said to resolve this with you, name your price.”
Jiang Mu felt a surge of anger, not just because of the incident with Xishi, but also because of the irreparable damage Wanji’s people had caused to Jin Chao. Though it might not have much to do with Wan Qing, she couldn’t bring herself to be friendly toward her. She gave Wan Qing a cold glance and replied, “Do you think money can solve everything? Then tell me, how much is your life worth, Sister Qing?”
Xiao Yang and Tie Gongji were likely preparing to clock out, each of them eating an apple while watching the scene outside. Jin Chao, however, paid no attention to them, crouching down to handle some items at the entrance of the repair shop.
Jiang Mu didn’t give Wan Qing a chance to reply and directly turned to Xiao Yang, asking, “Do you have any more apples? I want one too.”
Xiao Yang quickly grabbed an apple, washed it, and tossed it to her. Jiang Mu caught it and took a bite, only to find it was soft, not crunchy. She walked a few steps forward and stood in front of Jin Chao. He turned his gaze away, and Jiang Mu directly handed him the apple. “It’s soft, I don’t want it.”
Jin Chao’s eyes narrowed, a hint of curiosity in them. What happened last night when Jiang Mu was drunk could be excused, but now it was clear she was sober and fully aware of what she was doing.
Still, he bent down and took a bite from the apple she had eaten. His indulgence left Wan Qing stunned. Jiang Mu turned around and lifted her gaze, her expression blank, and said coldly to Wan Qing, “I’ll have the hospital send the bill directly to you.”
Wan Qing glanced at Jin Chao one more time but didn’t linger. She left with the people from Wanji.
Jiang Mu stood by the repair shop until she saw the car disappear from sight. Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, “Pretty confident, huh? Why do you think I’d eat something you’ve already eaten?”
Jiang Mu didn’t look back, her eyes slightly shifting as she replied, “Do you still want to continue being tangled up by her?”
After speaking, she turned and looked up at him. The neon lights and the evening glow intertwined, casting a brilliant hue on her face. Her eyes, clear and deep like the night sky filled with stars, sparkled with sincerity. It was like the rising sun, bright and open, showing him the version of himself he once knew. A smile finally appeared at the corner of Jin Chao’s lips.