Chapter 51
After getting back in the car, Jin Chao asked Jiang Mu where they were headed. She pulled out her phone and navigated directly using the location. The address was on the west side of Tonggang, near the county town. She showed it to Jin Chao, and after giving it a quick glance, he began driving toward the destination.
At night, there were already a few cars on the roads in Tonggang, and Jin Chao drove fast. Strangely enough, on the day Jiang Mu first arrived in Tonggang, Jin Chao was also the one who picked her up. She recalled how nervous she had been during that first ride because of how fast he drove, even quietly gripping the car door. Jin Chao had just sneered and said, “What are you afraid of?”
Back then, of course, she didn’t know that the man before her was already a seasoned racer on the track, still puzzled as to why he drove so fast.
But now, even though Jin Chao was driving like a bullet, she didn’t feel the slightest bit afraid.
The farther they drove, the more desolate it became. Following the navigation, they entered an industrial zone. At night, the factory buildings stretched into the distance, dark and empty, with many processing plants clustered together. Just a few streets away stood another factory.
They circled around to the back entrance of a factory, which was next to a barren hill. There was only a single road leading in, with no streetlights on either side. Jin Chao turned on the high beams and drove in all the way, then flashed the headlights twice at the gatehouse.
An elderly security guard stepped out of the gatehouse and asked them what they were there for.
Jiang Mu made a call and handed the phone to the old man. The old man spoke a few words to the person on the other end, then hung up and immediately opened the electric gate for them. He said to Jin Chao, “Go in about 200 meters, then turn left toward Warehouse Zone, Gate 3.”
Jin Chao handed him a cigarette and said, “Thanks.” Then he hit the gas and drove into the factory area.
This was Jiang Mu’s first time visiting a factory in the dead of night. The massive compound was eerily silent, not a sound to be heard—almost like a haunted place. Unconsciously, she got goosebumps.
Jin Chao, on the other hand, was calm as ever. With hands on the wheel, he leaned forward to look for signs. When he spotted the arrow pointing toward the warehouse area, he turned in that direction. It was a cluster of interconnected large factory buildings, each side marked by a tightly shut steel door. Jiang Mu rolled down her window to look around too. It wasn’t until she saw a large circle painted on one of the doors ahead to the left, with the number “3” in the center, that she raised her hand and pointed. “It’s over there, right?”
Jin Chao drove the car up to the door marked “3” and honked twice before getting out. Jiang Mu followed, stepping out from the passenger side.
The two stood on either side of the car, looking toward the large steel door. Before long, a faint sound came from within, and then with the whirring of machinery, the heavy door began to rise. The car’s headlights shone directly into the warehouse, gradually revealing two figures behind the lifting door.
One of them was Pan Kai, and standing beside him was a dark-skinned man who looked to be around fifty.
As soon as he saw them, Pan Kai excitedly waved at Jiang Mu and said, “You’re fast! I just got here too.”
Then he looked at Jin Chao and greeted him respectfully, “Seventh Brother.”
Jin Chao gave him a nod, then turned his gaze to the middle-aged man. Pan Kai quickly introduced, “This is Master Ren Dongwei, the chief engineer at my dad’s factory. Jiang Jiang said you wanted to restore a car, maybe you can talk with Master Ren?”
A rare expression surfaced in Jin Chao’s eyes as he looked at Master Ren and said, “It’s been a long time, Uncle Ren.”
Both Pan Kai and Jiang Mu were a bit surprised. Master Ren pointed at him and said, “So you’re the ‘Seventh Brother’ Xiao Pan kept mentioning. Still as stubborn as ever, huh?”
Jin Chao gave a faint smile. “There’s always a way.”
Master Ren gestured toward the inside. “Let’s talk in there.”
Jiang Mu and Pan Kai didn’t follow them in. Master Ren and Jin Chao talked inside for over half an hour. Neither of them knew exactly what was discussed.
As Jiang Mu glanced out at the dark, sprawling factory grounds, she couldn’t help but remark, “Your family’s business is pretty big.”
Pan Kai rubbed the back of his neck, a bit sheepish. “It’s alright, I guess.”
Jiang Mu turned to look at him. “Then why are you always mooching pens off me?”
Pan Kai paused, then laughed. “I’ll pay you back before the college entrance exams. Promise!”
When Jin Chao finally came out, Jiang Mu and Pan Kai were sitting on the steps outside the warehouse door, chatting idly. He walked over, and as soon as Jiang Mu heard his footsteps, she stood up and asked, “How did the talk go?”
A hint of amusement flashed in Jin Chao’s eyes. Without warning, he reached out and pinched her cheek. The gesture stunned Jiang Mu for a second before she broke into a grin. Pan Kai glanced between the two of them, utterly baffled.
When Jin Chao drove her back, Jiang Mu finally learned that Master Ren was actually a well-known veteran technician in the Tonggang’s circles. Back when Jin Chao was into motorcycles, he had worked with him before, though it had been years since they last met.
Jin Chao didn’t say much else, only telling Jiang Mu not to worry about the rest and to focus on her exams. He could handle everything.
Yet, the very next day after school, Jiang Mu and Pan Kai showed up at the factory again. They had left Xiao Yang to hold things down at Speedy Auto Shop, and even Tie Gongji had come to help. Master Ren had also brought two assistants. By the time Jiang Mu and Pan Kai arrived, they had already cleared out a section of the warehouse and set up a temporary workspace just for working on the car.
When Jin Chao saw her, he waved her over. Jiang Mu came trotting over happily, and as he worked, he lectured her, “Do you know when your exam is?”
“Of course. Tomorrow morning at nine.”
Jin Chao shot her a sideways glance.
Jiang Mu grinned cheekily. “Well, I’ve got nothing better to do anyway. Remember what you always used to say? Big exam, big fun. Small exam, small fun. No exam, no fun? And now I’ve got a big exam coming up.”
In other words, if not now, when?
Jin Chao’s lips curled into a faint smile as he told her, “Go back after dinner.”
Jiang Mu pouted in silent protest, and when she turned around, she saw that Pan Kai, of all people, was actually sitting on the steps doing practice problems.
Jiang Mu was baffled. She looked at herself, she hadn’t even brought her schoolbag today. She walked over, bent down to take a look, and exclaimed, “The exam’s tomorrow and you’re still doing this? What’s the point of cramming now?”
Pan Kai muttered mysteriously, “You don’t get it. My memory’s terrible, studying too early is useless. Last-minute cramming is the way to go.”
Cramming for the college entrance exam last minute, seriously? But as Jiang Mu looked up at the vast stretch of factory buildings around her, she suddenly thought… Well, maybe it’s fine. If he flunks, there’s always the family business to fall back on.
She squatted down and asked, “Does your dad know they’re working on the car here?”
Pan Kai didn’t even look up. “Yeah, he knows.”
“What did you tell him?”
Pan Kai put down his pen, turned to her, and said, “Right after you called me, I went straight to my dad. Told him if this whole thing doesn’t get sorted, there’s no way I can do well on the college entrance exam.”
“…So you blackmailed your dad?”
Pan Kai grinned. “I’m his only son. He wouldn’t dare stress me out right now. What if I end up pulling his oxygen tube one day?”
“…”
He added, “About Seventh Brother…”
“You’d better just call him Brother Jiu. No one calls him that anymore.”
Pan Kai paused for a moment before continuing, “So after I told my dad about Brother Jiu’s situation, he made a couple of phone calls with this really serious look on his face. He stared at me for the longest time and I thought he was going to say no. Eventually, he agreed to lend us Master Ren and let him coordinate whatever tools and manpower we needed. They cleared out this space in the warehouse for us, and as far as he’s concerned, the rest is none of his business.”
Jiang Mu was genuinely moved. Pan Kai’s dad clearly knew about the situation between Jin Chao and Boss Wan. Despite the tense atmosphere in Tonggang, he was still willing to quietly provide them with technical support. Five words suddenly floated through her mind: a businessman with a conscience.
When it was dinnertime, a small white car pulled up in front of the warehouse. Jiang Mu, sharp-eyed as ever, spotted it first and ran out, calling out, “Brother San Lai, what are you doing here?”
San Lai was wearing a pair of flashy oversized sunglasses that practically swallowed his already small face. With dramatic flair, he took them off and hooked them onto his collar, exclaiming, “Aren’t you supposed to be taking the college entrance exams soon? Why are you still hanging around here?”
His gaze then landed on Pan Kai who was still doing practice problems on the steps. San Lai was speechless. He headed to the backseat and hauled out several large bags, calling out to Jiang Mu, “Come help me!”
She hurried over to help him unload everything from the car, then followed him to set up a table. Together, they began unpacking food containers from the bags, one by one.
San Lai called out to the others who were still working, “Wash up and eat! You can get back to it after dinner!”
Gotta say, San Lai really lived up to his role as head of logistics The meal he’d brought was incredibly lavish. As soon as he gave the word, everyone started putting down their tools and walking over.
Jin Chao washed his hands and stepped outside the warehouse, lighting a cigarette. The sky was gradually darkening. He took a few drags, then looked back at Pan Kai, who was still studying intently, and asked, “Can you even see?”
Pan Kai lifted his head proudly, blinking his small eyes as he replied, “20/20 vision. I’m good.”
“…” Jin Chao let out a low chuckle and turned away. The sunset glow on the horizon was fading fast, and his voice grew deep and distant. “I owe you one for this. I’ll pay it back someday.”
Pan Kai looked up in surprise, staring at Jin Chao, then glanced over at Jiang Mu, who was busy handing out chopsticks. Jin Chao reached over and turned Pan Kai’s head back firmly, lowering his eyelids as he warned, “I’m the one who owes you, not her. Quit eyeing her.”
Pan Kai chuckled awkwardly. “Wouldn’t dare. Wouldn’t dare.”
After dinner, San Lai like an overbearing mother drove the two kids home, nagging them the whole way about what they needed to prepare for the exams the next day. He even bragged about his own legendary college entrance exam experience, claiming he’d heard that the first person to rush out of the testing center would get on TV. So, back then, he’d deliberately worn running shoes to sprint out first, only to find absolutely nothing waiting outside. Instead, a crowd of parents swarmed him, bombarding him with questions and nearly tearing his clothes off in the process. So, he warned them seriously, never try to be the first out.
His advice and past experiences, of course, were pretty much useless to Jiang Mu and Pan Kai.
On exam day, Jin Qiang took special leave from work, and Zhao Meijuan had breakfast ready bright and early. During that one breakfast alone, she told Jiang Mu “Don’t be nervous” no fewer than three times. Jiang Mu didn’t feel all that nervous but Zhao Meijuan, who hadn’t even gone to high school herself, seemed way more anxious than she was.
As Jiang Mu was about to leave, Jin Xin ran up to her and stared at her. Jiang Mu bent down and asked, “What is it?”
Jin Xin handed her a tiny sticky note and said, “Look at it after you go downstairs.”
Jiang Mu held the small note in her hand as she headed out. Jin Qiang had already gone ahead to hail a cab. When she reached the bottom of the building, she opened the sticky note. On it was a little circle made of tiny hand-drawn hearts, and inside were two pencil-written words: You got this!
Her eyes immediately curved into a smile. She carefully tucked the note away and headed out of the neighborhood.
Her phone rang. When she pulled it out, she saw it was Jin Chao calling.
She answered, and he asked, “Are you on your way out?”
“Yeah, Dad’s already trying to get a cab. What about you?”
“Still here.”
“You didn’t go home last night?”
“Nope. I’m picking someone up today.”
Jiang Mu smiled and asked, “If I do well on the exam, do I get a reward?”
Jin Chao sounded like he was smiling too. “What kind of reward do you want?”
“Let me think about it.”
The phone was quiet for two seconds before Jin Chao’s deep, irresistibly warm voice came through the receiver, “Mu Mu, do your best.”
After hanging up, Jiang Mu stepped into the morning sunlight like a warrior heading into battle.
Only this time, she carried not just her own hopes, but also the faith Jin Chao had once lost.
……
Jin Chao did indeed have someone important to pick up today, which was Zhang Fan’s older brother, Zhang Guangyu. A week ago, Zhang Guangyu had already traveled through Hangzhou and Shanghai to gather all the parts Jin Chao needed. To avoid any delays with shipping, he took leave from work and carried everything personally back to Tonggang.
As soon as Jin Chao picked him up, they rushed back to the warehouse, and everyone jumped straight into the repair and modification work without wasting a second.
So, while Jiang Mu was fighting for her future in the exam room, Jin Chao was also fighting for the road ahead. Everyone was racing against time, no one dared to slow down.
The moment Jiang Mu walked out of the exam hall on the last day of the college entrance exam, she felt the burden of four years finally lift from her shoulders. A lightness she’d never experienced before swept over her.
Pan Kai spotted her from a distance and started shouting her name excitedly, bounding toward her like an overgrown puppy, yelling excitedly, “We’re free, we’re free! Let’s go, let’s celebrate tonight!”
For once, Jiang Mu didn’t find his energy annoying. She laughed along with him as they made their way out of the school gates only to spot Jin Chao, San Lai, and a stranger standing at the back of the crowd.
Even though the school gates were crowded with parents holding banners and bouquets, making for a very lively scene, Jiang Mu spotted them right away. It was hard not to as they were all tall, especially San Lai, who stood out even more in his bright red “Chinese” patriotic T-shirt. While everyone else held flowers, he was enthusiastically waving a tiny national flag, making it nearly impossible to ignore him. Jiang Mu seriously suspected he was just there hoping to catch the attention of any TV reporters.
She hadn’t expected Jin Chao to leave his work behind to come pick her up today. Just as she was about to push her way through the crowd toward them, she noticed someone beat her to it, Zhang Fan. He ran straight up to Zhang Guangyu and asked for his phone and a cigarette.
When Jiang Mu finally made it through, she learned that the unfamiliar young man was actually Zhang Fan’s older brother, the same person who had once given Jin Chao those technical blueprints.
She walked up to Jin Chao, smiling, and handed him her exam admission ticket. Jin Chao took it and examined it carefully, his eyes glimmering with quiet pride before he looked up and said, “Keep this safe. You’ll need it for university.”
Zhang Guangyu invited everyone to his place for a barbecue to celebrate, and after Pan Kai waved off his aunt, who had come to pick him up, to join the group.
With many parts of Tonggang under traffic restrictions today, the streets were filled with students and their families. None of them had driven, so the group walked in a boisterous procession toward Zhang Guangyu’s home. Along the way, they passed clusters of laughing crowds and students stopping to take commemorative photos. The whole street was alive with celebration.
Even Pan Kai and Zhang Fan had their arms slung over each other’s shoulders, loudly singing:
“I’m still that same young boy, not a single thing has changed…”
“Time is just a test, the faith in my heart hasn’t faded a bit,
This boy before your eyes still wears the same face as before.
No matter the hardships ahead, I won’t back down,
Say never never give up,
Like a fire, Wu oh oh…”
The lyrics were all off-key, making for a cringeworthy performance, especially with the “Wu oh oh” part being practically howled like a banshee. And yet, not a single person cared about looking cool.
San Lai was walking behind Jiang Mu, sneakily sticking his tiny flag into the back of her shirt collar. At first, Jiang Mu didn’t even notice it and walked for quite a while with the flag bobbing on the back of her head like she was part of a Sichuan opera troupe. It wasn’t until she ran into Yan Xiaoyi and the others, who pointed at her and burst into laughter that she finally caught her reflection in a shop window and saw what she looked like.
She immediately yanked the flag out and went chasing after San Lai with it, holding it like a weapon.
Meanwhile, Jin Chao and Zhang Guangyu walked at the very back, talking quietly about parts and technical stuff. Their eyes, though, were on the noisy bunch in front. Jiang Mu caught up to San Lai and started whacking him with the flag, even jumping to try and stuff it down his collar. Watching them, Jin Chao’s expression softened.
He would never return to this age, and he couldn’t go back to his own high school graduation.
But looking at Jiang Mu’s beaming smile, it felt like, just for a moment, he had walked through it all again with her. What had once been missing in his heart had, somehow, been filled in another way.
Zhang Guangyu’s home was in an old urban village, one of those self-built houses that later had a third floor added. The top floor had a rooftop terrace divided into sections, complete with tables and a proper grill setup. Strings of star-shaped fairy lights were draped all around, and when Jiang Mu reached the top, she let out an impressed “Whoa!”
Girls are naturally defenseless in places with this kind of atmosphere. Zhang Guangyu said the string lights were bought by his girlfriend last year on Taobao. They were solar-powered and would light up automatically at night. His girlfriend, who was also his high school deskmate, joined them later. Jin Chao and San Lai already knew her, and even Jin Fengzi showed up eventually.
To celebrate the kids finally escaping the hell of high school, Jin Fengzi made a dramatic entrance, dripping with sweat as he hauled two crates of booze up to the rooftop. When he handed a drink to Jiang Mu, she instinctively looked over at Jin Chao. But tonight, he didn’t stop her, just reminded her calmly, “Know your limits.”
But in Jin Fengzi’s dictionary, “know your limits” translated to “go wild.”, basically permission to drink freely. So, he launched into a fiery speech, stringing together every idiom and dramatic phrase he knew, speaking with such righteous fervor that it sounded like he was rallying troops instead of handing out beer.
Jin Chao and San Lai were used to this routine and completely ignored him, knowing full well that Jin Fengzi never started drinking until after his epic monologue. But the younger ones, hyped up by the energy and the occasion, were already downing their drinks like champs, drinking hard like that somehow made them feel they’d crossed the threshold from high school into adulthood.
Later, Zhang Guangyu’s girlfriend asked how they did on their exams and what universities they were planning to apply to.
Zhang Fan mentioned a vocational college that offered automotive repair, but he said he wasn’t sure if he’d get in. If not, he would go dig excavators for a company called Mou Xiang, though no one could tell if he was serious.
Pan Kai said he was planning to study philosophy. The moment those words left his mouth, the whole table went silent, everyone thought he must be drunk out of his mind.
Then the question turned to Jiang Mu. She lifted her eyes and glanced at Jin Chao. He was looking down, casually spinning the cap of his beer bottle, seeming nonchalant.
Jiang Mu lowered her gaze and answered, “I haven’t decided yet.”
Pan Kai got instantly worked up. “You still haven’t decided? I asked you two months ago and you said the same thing! You better start figuring it out. Once the scores are out, you’ll have to pick your major right away!”
Jiang Mu didn’t say anything, just sipped her beer quietly.
Not long after Jin Fengzi arrived, everyone got busy with the barbecue. Zhang Fan and Pan Kai fumbled with the charcoal for ages and still couldn’t get it lit. San Lai, watching them struggle, got so anxious he finally stepped in to take over.
Zhang Guangyu’s girlfriend put on some music, and Jin Fengzi, already swaying to the beat, casually asked, “Where’s Tie Gongji?”
Jin Chao replied calmly, “Had something at home, went back.”
Smoke from the grill drifted heavily in their direction. Jin Chao stood up and moved to the other side of the rooftop to smoke. Jiang Mu tried barbecuing for a bit but was soon coughing from the smoke. San Lai shooed her away, and when she returned and didn’t see Jin Chao, she walked around the partition to the other side of the terrace.
That side was more like a storage corner, with old pickle jars, toolboxes, and even a broken bathtub full of random stuff. Honestly, a surprisingly effective use of space.
And there was Jin Chao, sitting on the edge of the rooftop with a cigarette between his lips, phone in hand. One long leg was propped up on the bathtub, his posture effortlessly relaxed. The strong curve of his arms, the way his muscles tensed slightly as he leaned, every line of his frame exuding a rugged, effortless charm. The kind of presence that made people feel safe without even trying.
Jiang Mu found herself walking toward him, then stopped by his side, quietly leaning against the balcony rail. Jin Chao glanced sideways at her and said into the phone, “No rush on the airbag. I’ll take care of it tomorrow when I’m back. Yeah, I’m not coming over tonight. You should head home early too.”
Zhang Guangyu’s rooftop had a great view at night overlooking the patchwork of lights from the urban village, alive with the hum of everyday life. The summer breeze was cool and refreshing. Jiang Mu always got this weird heavy-eyelid feeling after drinking. Not exactly sleepy, just… comfortably sluggish.
Jin Chao hung up the phone and asked, “Had too much to drink?”
Jiang Mu straightened up immediately and said, “Absolutely not. I’m completely sober.”
His gaze deepened, the corners of his mouth curling slightly as he looked at her flushed cheeks. Then he heard her call out softly, “Brother.”
“Mm,” he responded, eyes not leaving her.
She swayed slightly, then asked, “Where do you think I should go to university?”
Jin Chao stubbed out his cigarette and lowered his head. “You should discuss that with your mom.”
“She wants me to go to Australia.”
His eyelashes fluttered just slightly. Jiang Mu leaned closer, looking up at him. “If I really go to Australia, I won’t be able to come back for a long time. Will you… miss me?”
Jin Chao lifted his gaze, sweeping over her features. He didn’t answer immediately, but his eyes shimmered, so bright, so vast like a galaxy stretching into forever. And yet, in this very moment, his whole universe was filled only with her.
Surrounded by the glittering lights, the tiny star-shaped bulbs casting a soft glow around them, Jiang Mu stared at him intently. Her gaze drifted from his striking brows down to the clean line of his lips. Maybe it was alcohol, but his mouth looked temptingly lush, a faint sheen making it impossible to resist.
Before she could second-guess herself, she rose up on tiptoe and kissed him.
The moment their lips touched, the sound of her heartbeat drowned out the whole world. The innocent, hesitant softness of her mouth against his was fleeting and yet it burned like wildfire.
His eyes widened, pupils burning with something unreadable as he stared down at Jiang Mu’s flustered, retreating expression. His breath was heavy when he gritted out, “Have you lost your mind?”
Jiang Mu’s chest was rising and falling rapidly. She did feel a little dizzy. Her head was floating, her whole body light like she was walking on clouds. But she refused to be scolded without fighting back. She mustered her courage, lifted her head again, and stole another kiss.
This time, as she pulled away, his arm suddenly tightened around her waist, yanking her flush against him. He bent his head, capturing her lips fully, and the moment his tongue slipped past her lips, Jiang Mu felt her heart stop.
She’d fallen asleep next to Jin Chao countless times as a child, but this kind of closeness was completely new. Overwhelming. Her knees nearly buckled.
The kiss was brief but searing. When Jin Chao finally broke away, he pressed his forehead to hers, his breath scorching as he murmured, “I’ve lost my mind too.”
Looking at her dazed eyes and flushed face glowing under the lights, he lost control again and leaned in, pressing his lips back onto hers, hungrier this time, more desperate, swallowing her soft whimpers. Just a few steps away, on the other side of the partition, music played lazily in the background. Pan Kai and the others were shouting and laughing, Jin Fengzi howling his lungs out in some off-key song.
Life was happening all around them. But here, in this small, hidden space, the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
The thrill of almost being caught sent a rush of adrenaline through Jiang Mu, making her curl deeper into Jin Chao’s arms. Her heart soared while her body melted. Jin Chao held her steady, one arm firm around her waist, his kisses hot and breath-stealing. She was gasping, lightheaded, and completely consumed by his fire.
His intoxicating scent, the way he kissed her, gentle yet relentless, sent tremors through her. All the longing she’d bottled up for so long erupted in the most primal way, and by the time he finally pulled back, her eyes were wet.
And then, San Lai’s voice boomed from the other side, “Mu Mu! Chicken wings are done! Where’d you go?”
Jiang Mu scrambled out of Jin Chao’s arms in shock, taking a sharp step back. She glanced at him in a panic, then turned and bolted away.
Jin Chao watched her retreating figure, his lips pressing together as if savoring the lingering warmth. Then he followed, rounding the partition just as San Lai thrust a skewer of chicken wings toward Jiang Mu. But when San Lai noticed her red-rimmed eyes, he froze and then immediately whipped his head around to glare at Jin Chao.
“Are you out of your damn mind? She just finished her exams, can’t you give her a break? What did you say to make her cry this time?”
Shoving the skewer into Jiang Mu’s hands, he added, “Ditch this brother of yours. All he does is bully you.”
Jiang Mu kept her head down, gripping the chicken skewer without saying a word.
Jin Chao remained silent in response, unable to refute, unable to offer even a single word in his defense.
Because if “bullying” was the accusation… well, he had kind of earned it.