In the Wuyin Temple, there were two particularly crowded spots, the bell-ringing area and the pagoda where people pray for talismans. It was said that local business tycoons visit here at the start of the year to acquire a talisman to enshrine in the pagoda, believing it would ensure a prosperous year. The price of these talismans ranges from a few hundred to tens of thousands, with the belief that the higher the price, the higher the position of enshrinement in the pagoda. Wealthy people always seem to believe in this.
So, the area near the pagoda was especially crowded. Initially, the trio was walking together, but they got separated in the crowd. Jiang Mu, unfamiliar with the place, thought of calling them, but perhaps due to the overwhelming crowd, her phone had no signal. She stopped moving forward and kept looking around in the crowd, gradually getting a bit anxious.
Suddenly, an arm reached over her shoulder and pulled her out of the chaotic crowd. Startled, she turned around to find Jin Chao somehow standing behind her. Jiang Mu tried to speak, but amidst the noise, Jin Chao couldn’t hear her.
She then stood on her tiptoes and shouted, “Where’s Brother San Lai?”
Jin Chao shrugged, indicating he didn’t know. She shouted again, “What should we do? Should we look for him?”
Jin Chao pointed towards the bell-ringing area and then led her to join the queue. Afraid of getting separated again, Jiang Mu, without much thought, reached out and grabbed his fingertips. This was perhaps the boldest thing Jiang Mu had done in her eighteen years, actively holding a man’s hand in a bustling crowd. She wouldn’t have done it with anyone else, but with Jin Chao, she felt a bit more confident, though still somewhat embarrassed.
Feeling her soft palm, Jin Chao glanced back at her. Jiang Mu quickly turned her head away, avoiding his gaze and looking up at the lights of the tower.
So, Jin Chao withdrew his gaze and cleared a path ahead of them, while Jiang Mu gripped his fingertips tightly and followed him. Jin Chao was tall and well-built, and his line of sight could easily cross over most of the crowd to find the right direction, and almost no one could push past him. Jiang Mu felt very safe following behind him, not needing to look for a path, she just had to keep walking.
When they reached the bell-ringing area, they realized it was even more crowded. Jiang Mu was nearly pushed back by a big guy, and just as she was about to lose her grip on Jin Chao, he reached back and grabbed her hand in his palm. Taking advantage of his strength, Jiang Mu squeezed her way past the big guy and pressed herself tightly against Jin Chao’s back, fearing that someone might try to slip between them again.
Jin Chao turned around and pulled Jiang Mu and the warmth of his palm burned against her skin. She secretly glanced up at him, but Jin Zhao had already let go of her hand and was checking the queue.
The crowd was massive, and the noise was overwhelming, but Jiang Mu couldn’t suppress the fluttering in her heart. She stood on her tiptoes and asked him, “Have you ever rung the bell before?”
Jin Chao bent down to match her height and replied, “No.”
Jiang Mu had more to say, so Jin Chao stayed bent over. She leaned closer to his ear and asked, “You’ve lived in Tonggang for so long and never came here?”
Jin Chao lowered his head and said, “Look at this crowd. You’d lose a layer of skin just by coming once.”
Jiang Mu’s eyes curved into a smile as she pressed her cheek close to his and asked, “Did you come here because of me?”
Amidst the dazzling lights and the roaring cheers, they were swallowed by the crowd, insignificant and unnoticed. No one knew them, nor did anyone understand their relationship. The close whispers between them, like the murmurs of lovers, though Jiang Mu knew it was just to hear each other clearly, still made her heart race with every proximity. The thrill of something forbidden was masked by the festive atmosphere, making everything seem so natural.
Suddenly, someone behind them took a step back and bumped into Jiang Mu. She stumbled, and her soft lips brushed against Jin Chao’s cheek. The clear sensation and the clean, captivating scent of a man flooded Jiang Mu’s mind. Innocent and inexperienced with the opposite sex, Jiang Mu found Jin Chao’s natural attraction both dangerous and captivating.
She froze, her face flushed, feeling like a helpless little kitten, shrinking in front of him and suddenly quieting down. Jin Chao, noticing the crowd pushing back, raised his arm and placed it protectively on her back, pulling her half in front of him.
Jiang Mu wanted to see Jin Chao’s reaction. Slowly, ever so slowly, she lifted her head. Her bangs brushed against her cheek, making her face appear small, like the size of a palm. The colorful lights from the lanterns passed over her face, making her look radiant and adorable.
Jin Chao lowered his gaze to meet hers, his gaze steady and unwavering. He was always able to hide his emotions so well, making it hard for Jiang Mu to find even a hint of a crack. But when he focused on someone, the darkness in his pupils held a captivating power.
Jiang Mu gently blinked her eyelashes, melting into his gaze like falling into the vastness of the stars and the endless sea, unable to find a way out, and perhaps not even wanting to find one. She just wanted to stay submerged in it.
Jin Chao’s hand, which was resting on her back, subtly moved in a gentle caress. Jiang Mu couldn’t tell if he had intentionally pulled her closer or if she had unconsciously stepped forward, but she found herself leaning against his chest. She watched as he lowered his head, his gaze lingering on her lips for a few seconds. For a fleeting moment, Jiang Mu thought the ambiguous tension between them might finally come to light, but it didn’t. Instead, he simply lowered his head and said to her, “Wait for me on the steps. I’ll go ask how to pay.”
Jiang Mu lowered her eyes and nodded. She followed his instructions and climbed to the steps, watching him go to a small window not far away to pay before returning to her side. He handed her a ticket and Jiang Mu asked, “Aren’t you going to ring the bell?”
“No, I’ll take photos for you.” After saying that, he walked over to a stone pillar on the other side and waited for her.
Jiang Mu handed the ticket to the staff and walked to the large bell. She looked up at Jin Chao, who had taken out his phone and aimed it at her. She faced him and rang the bell three times. Her first strike was a wish for her parents’ health and happiness, the second for Jin Chao’s smooth journey ahead, and the third for their days together to be endless.
…
When they left the Wuyin Temple, they walked side by side.
Jin Chao said to her, “If San Lai can’t find us, he’ll probably go to the parking lot.”
Jiang Mu nodded. “Let’s go check there.”
On the way, Jiang Mu didn’t look at him, only keeping her head down to watch the shadow of her feet. They chatted intermittently as they made their way to the gravelly parking lot, neither of them bringing up the little moment they had shared in the crowd.
However, before they could find San Lai’s car, they unexpectedly ran into another group of people in the parking lot. The group was standing under a large tree, smoking. Some of them were holding bags, while others wore thick gold chains. Their appearance suggested they were not exactly a law-abiding type.
Jin Chao noticed them from a distance. He furrowed his brows slightly and changed direction, intending to lead Jiang Mu away from them. Unfortunately, someone in the group had already spotted him and called out, “Hey, Youjiu! Where are you going? Why are you acting so distant now? Acting like you didn’t see us. Aren’t you coming to wish Boss Wan a Happy New Year?”
Jiang Mu glanced over, and although she didn’t recognize any of the men, she spotted Xiao Qingshe standing among them, wearing high-heeled boots.
Jin Chao didn’t stop walking and continued forward. However, a few of the men swaggered over and blocked their path. Jin Chao slowly stopped, his eyes cold and sharp, his voice calm but without a hint of warmth, “Good dogs don’t block the way.”
A few of the young men immediately became angry upon hearing this. One of them cursed, “You don’t want to leave here alive, do you?”
Jin Chao’s hands were in his pockets, too lazy to argue with them. He raised his foot, picked up a stone from the gravel ground, and kicked it with precision and speed toward the man who had spoken. The stone hit him on the knee. He winced in pain, his knee buckling slightly as he almost fell to the ground from the reflexive pain. Enraged, the man was about to charge at Jin Chao, but before he could make a move, a hand came down on his shoulder, stopping him. He stepped aside, and from behind him, another group of people emerged.
At the forefront of this new group was a middle-aged man who seemed experienced and shrewd. Though not particularly tall, he had a round, prosperous face and carried a smile that didn’t reach his sharp, calculating eyes.
Xiao Qingshe also walked over and stood next to this middle-aged man. Though she didn’t look much like him, the resemblance in their expressions made it clear they were father and daughter.
Boss Wan put on a show of scolding his men, “You don’t know the rules. Youjiu is senior to you in terms of seniority. How can you speak to him like that?”
The young man clearly wasn’t happy about it but could only lower his head in silence, not daring to argue.
Xiao Qingshe crossed her arms and looked at Jin Chao, while Boss Wan raised his gaze to Jin Chao and said, “I was actually planning to get the old crew together on the fourth or fifth day of the New Year for a reunion. What a coincidence we ran into you here. How’ve you been recently?”
Jin Chao’s face showed no extra expression as he coldly replied, “Same as always.”
Boss Wan took a few steps closer to Jin Chao. His right-hand men immediately followed vigilantly, but Boss Wan waved them off, and they stopped in their tracks. He stepped in front of Jin Chao, stood still, and silently sized him up. He then raised his hand and patted Jin Chao’s arm, saying, “You’re looking stronger these days. When you first came to me, you were still a skinny kid.”
Though Boss Wan appeared to be making small talk, his words subtly hinted at how Jin Chao had been weak and alone when he first followed him, but now he had grown stronger and learned how to stand on his own. His words were soft yet carried a certain sharpness, and how one interpreted them depended on the listener.
This was the first time Jiang Mu had seen the legendary Boss Wan, and she immediately felt a warning bell go off in her heart. Although this man didn’t look like a bad person, the thought of the things he had done to Jin Chao made her feel that beneath his gentle expression was a smile laced with hidden intent.
Jin Chao, however, didn’t react much and simply responded indifferently, “People change. Since we’re not family or close friends, there’s no need for a reunion.”
Boss Wan, instead of getting angry when Jin Chao rejected his offer, actually started laughing. However, his laughter sent a chill down Jiang Mu’s spine.
While they were talking, another man in his thirties, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, took a few steps forward. His name was He Zhang, and he worked closely with Boss Wan on external matters, though he wasn’t involved in the car shop. He came straight up to Jin Chao and said, “You can skip the meal, but let’s get one thing straight. I heard you’re planning to dip into the West Gate business? You’ve got some big ambitions.”
Jin Chao slowly turned his gaze toward He Zhang, his expression unfazed as he replied, “Whether I get involved or not isn’t up to me alone, and it certainly isn’t up to you. It’s all about who has the ability.”
He Zhang scoffed, “You’ve got ability, huh? You’ve ruined Xiao Yong’s car and stepped on some people’s rankings. You’ve managed to catch the attention of the higher-ups in such a short amount of time. Are you planning to go head-to-head with Boss Wan and take over the West Gate business? Let me tell you, don’t be too naive. It’s not too late to back off now.”
Jin Chao ignored him and directly turned his head to look at Boss Wan. He lowered his head, gave a mocking laugh, and then raised his head again. The look in his eyes was sharp, almost cutting through the air. “You’re so confident that I’m targeting you? Why would I target you?”
His question left everyone visibly uncomfortable. Jin Zhao’s eyes locked onto a man in the crowd, who shrank back under his gaze. A hint of disdain appeared on Jin Chao’s lips. Jiang Mu couldn’t see the man clearly, but she could almost tell that the one hiding in the back, unwilling to come forward, was probably Boss Wan’s nephew, Wan Dayong.
Boss Wan’s face once again broke into a friendly, amiable smile as he addressed Jin Chao, “I’ve heard about the incident with the kids causing trouble at your place. Xiao Qing even argued with me about it for a few days. She’s always had your back. Now that you’re a boss yourself, you know that harmony brings wealth. When doing business, why aim for a lose-lose situation when you can make it a win-win?”
Jin Chao followed up on his question, “What kind of win-win situation are you talking about?”
Boss Wan chuckled, patting Jin Chao on the shoulder, “You know, I only have one precious daughter. If I’m willing to give her to you, then there’s no need for us to keep up the formalities, right?”
He Zhang’s expression changed immediately, and he quickly interjected, “Boss Wan, you…”
Wan Shengbang raised his hand to cut him off and continued speaking to Jin Chao. “Since you’re not willing to have a simple meal at my place, let me just put it out here today. If you want to take the car shop business, then go ahead. But if you’re thinking of meddling with the alliance, I advise you to think twice. Of course, I admire young people with ambition, but in my eyes, ambitious young people can only be divided into two categories: insiders and outsiders.”
Jin Chao lowered his gaze and said lightly, “What happens to insiders? And what happens to the outsiders?”
Wan Shengbang smiled and replied, “As good as I am to my daughter, I’ll treat my son-in-law the same way.”
Jiang Mu was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Wan Qing. Jin Chao glanced at her, and she heard Wan Shengbang continue, “On the other hand, if you’re an outsider, these young guys behind me are reckless. Whether they’ll let you walk away later is something I can’t control.”
As soon as Wan Shengbang finished speaking, his group of young men quickly surrounded them. Wan Qing, a step behind Wan Shengbang, silently shook her head at Jin Chao, signaling him not to push things.
Even Jiang Mu could feel the tension in the air, and she nervously swallowed, sensing the confrontation about to unfold.
Boss Wan’s offer was undeniably tempting. From a man’s perspective, Wan Qing, despite her bold personality, was indeed a stunning beauty. If Jin Chao were to give up his personal ambitions and choose to be with Wan Qing, he could not only win her heart but also gain a powerful partner in business.
If Jin Chao was carrying a massive debt, then what lay before him was a shortcut that many men could only dream of.
Whether he agreed to Boss Wan’s terms or used it as a temporary strategy to gain time and escape, it seemed like Jin Chao had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Jiang Mu understood this logic, but her chest tightened with each passing moment. She lowered her head, her eyes filled with turmoil, and she had never felt so deeply enveloped by a sense of helplessness.
Just then, a large hand firmly grasped hers, without hesitation, unwavering in its grip.
She suddenly looked up at Jin Chao. His profile remained calm and composed, yet the chaotic sense of helplessness in Jiang Mu’s heart suddenly found solid ground, taking root. The restless light in her eyes steadied instantly.
This subtle gesture didn’t go unnoticed by everyone present. It seemed to signal Jin Chao’s stance, and everyone’s gaze shifted toward Jiang Mu.
Wan Qing, never having been humiliated so publicly before. Without a word, she turned and drove away. Boss Wan, who had always believed that Jin Chao and Wan Qing had a bond after knowing each other for so long, didn’t expect him to act so decisively. Seeing his daughter hurt, the smile on Boss Wan’s face vanished entirely.
Jiang Mu sensed that the situation was taking a turn for the worse and instinctively moved closer to Jin Chao. She quickly counted the number of people on the other side while quietly assessing the terrain. She wondered, if a fight broke out, should she run to the left or the right? Could she get to the security booth near the entrance of the scenic area and call for help in under two minutes with a full sprint?
Tensions were rising, and it seemed like things were about to escalate. But at that critical moment, a man suddenly shouted loudly, “The Marriage Law of our country clearly prohibits arranged marriages, the buying and selling of marriages, and any interference with marital freedom. Is there no law anymore?”
Everyone turned to look. A man dressed in an expensive mink coat was standing on a tall concrete pillar. Perhaps due to the strong wind at that height, his red scarf, wrapped around his neck, fluttered in the breeze, making him look like a righteous elementary school kid wearing a red scarf, ready to take a stand for justice.