Chapter 54
Soon after, two men arrived at the car shop looking for Jin Chao. Since it wasn’t convenient to talk in the repair area, Jin Chao planned to take them to the teahouse across the street. Before leaving, he returned to the break room and asked Jiang Mu, “Do you still have to go to school later?”
Jiang Mu glanced at the two men outside the shop and replied, “I have to go again tomorrow. Who are they?”
Jin Chao told her, “Real estate agents. Head home early. I still have to stop by Master Ren’s place after this. It might be very late.”
The men were still waiting at the door, so Jiang Mu didn’t have a chance to ask more. After Jin Chao left, she returned to Jin Qiang’s house.
Jiang Mu knew Jin Chao had been really busy lately. If the race was mid-month, he had very little time left. From parts to technology to equipment, everything had to be integrated. Even though she didn’t understand the technical side, she knew it wasn’t easy. It was already rare and precious that he managed to make time to see her.
But when you’re in love, even a single minute apart feels unbearable. Lying in bed that night, Jiang Mu closed her eyes and all she could see was Jin Chao. Strangely enough, back when they were separated for so long, she hadn’t felt this intensity. But now, even though they had just met that morning, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, as if they’d been apart for ages.
She pulled out her phone and sent him a string of messages: Chao Chao, Chao Chao, Chao Chao…
It was something she did just to amuse herself. But like a magic spell, half an hour later the front door of Jin Qiang’s house rang. Hearing the sound, Jiang Mu ran out of the room and Jin Chao appeared before her like magic. She stared at him, stunned. In a denim shirt and black pants, he stood neatly and confidently by the door, smiling at her. Uncontainable joy instantly lit up Jiang Mu’s face.
At the same time, Jin Qiang also heard the commotion and came out of the main room, asking in surprise, “What are you doing here this late?”
Jin Chao casually changed into slippers and said, “Didn’t you mention the phone signal was bad? I came to take a look.”
Jin Qiang replied, “Yeah, even loading the news takes forever. It’s charging in the room, give it a minute.”
Jin Chao twirled his keychain and said, “No rush. Let it charge for a bit.”
After saying that, he slipped the keys into his pocket and shot a glance at Jiang Mu before heading into the kitchen. Jiang Mu watched Jin Qiang walk back into his room, then picked up her water cup and followed Jin Chao into the kitchen.
Just as she reached the kitchen door, she saw Jin Chao’s tall figure leaning against the marble counter. Hearing her footsteps, he turned his head slightly, and as she stepped in, he lifted his foot to close the kitchen door behind her gently.
Trying to suppress a smile, Jiang Mu set her cup down beside him and asked, “Did you come all this way just to see me?”
A glimmer of amusement flickered in Jin Chao’s eyes. “What do you think?”
Jiang Mu turned her face away with a shy grin as if she’d fallen into a jar of honey, she couldn’t stop smiling.
Then, as if remembering something, she turned back to him and asked, “Oh right, those real estate agents who came by earlier… what were they here for?”
“I’m thinking of subleasing the car shop,” Jin Chao replied.
“What?” Jiang Mu was shocked.
“You’re not going to run the car shop anymore?”
Jin Chao lowered his gaze and said, “Originally, Speed Auto Repair Shop was co-owned by Tie Gongji and me. After what happened with his family, I paid him back his share after the New Year. Modifying cars cost a lot of money, and Guangyu took leave to come help me and I can’t make him front the costs too.”
Jiang Mu suddenly realized that Jin Chao was essentially betting everything he had on this move. Success or failure hinged on this one move, but for him, there was no room for failure, only success. Her expression grew serious as she asked, “How long will you keep it open?”
Jin Chao replied, “At most, till the end of the month at most.”
Then his gaze swept over her, bold and teasing, as he smirked, “You sure you want to keep talking about this? Didn’t you miss me?”
Jiang Mu feigned ignorance, “When did I say I missed you?”
Jin Chao grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close. “Then why did you call out my name so many times?”
In the cramped kitchen, with the door only loosely shut, Jin Qiang was fiddling with his phone in his room, and Zhao Meijuan’s footsteps echoed in the living room. Jiang Mu felt Jin Chao was being too bold, but his intense pull made it impossible to resist. She whispered, “I didn’t.”
Jin Chao gave a low “Mmm” before murmuring, “Then I missed you.”
His voice was low, murmuring softly at her ear, and Jiang Mu’s earlobes immediately burned hot. Jin Chao had never said anything like this before, no matter how close they were as kids, he had never crossed that line. Jiang Mu gradually began to feel what it was like to be treated seriously by him, as if he had poured all his tenderness into her, filling her heart to the brim.
Under his spell, Jiang Mu could no longer hear the movements in the living room. She melted into his arms, overwhelmed and excited. She had never been this reckless in her life.
Just as they shared a brief embrace, Jin Qiang called out while holding his phone, “That should be enough, right? Where’s Chao’er?”
Jin Chao let go of Jiang Mu, gently rubbed her face, and called out toward the living room, “Coming.”
Perhaps out of guilt, Jiang Mu stayed in the kitchen and drank half a glass of water before finally walking out. In the living room, Jin Chao was seated on the sofa helping Jin Qiang with his phone, while Jin Qiang, wearing his reading glasses, leaned in close to watch. Zhao Meijuan had gone to the bedroom to put Jin Xin to sleep.
Jiang Mu stood by the turtle tank that Jin Xin was raising, tapping on the glass as if playing with the turtle, but her eyes stayed fixed on Jin Chao the entire time.
While waiting for WeChat to finish clearing its cache, Jin Chao looked up and asked Jin Qiang, “Do you still have that Longjing tea from last time?”
Jin Qiang removed his reading glasses and said, “Yeah, I’ll brew you a cup.”
As he went to the dining table to make tea, Jin Chao finally looked up and met Jiang Mu’s gaze, his lips curving into a smile.
Under Jin Qiang’s nose, they didn’t even exchange a single word but the way they looked at each other was enough. An invisible current crackled in the air, teasing and intoxicating, leaving their hearts restless.
After fixing the phone, Jin Chao handed it back to Jin Qiang, who stood to the side fiddling with it. Jin Chao picked up his tea, drank it all in one go, then stood up and said he was leaving.
Jin Qiang told him to come back for dinner when he had time. Jin Chao casually replied that he would once he was done with his current work.
Jiang Mu returned to her room. When she heard the sound of the front door closing, a wave of disappointment washed over her again.
But then her phone lit up once more, and Jin Chao was calling. She hurried to answer, and his pleasant voice seemed to ring right in her ear, “Open the window.”
Jiang Mu ran to the window and pushed it open. Jin Chao was standing below, holding his phone and looking up at her. Beside him was a black SUV and she had no idea where he got it from, as she’d never seen it before. Then she heard him say, “I want to show you something.”
The front of the car faced the building, so Jiang Mu couldn’t see what was in the trunk. She thought Jin Chao was going to take something out and show her, so she waited eagerly. Instead, he simply reached out, then pulled his arm back and smiled at her.
The next second, a sky full of balloons suddenly soared from the trunk. A burst of color exploded into Jiang Mu’s eyes without warning, the stunning visual impact making her pupils light up. Countless balloons swept past her and ascended into the night sky, silently weaving the most romantic tale of the evening. And Jin Chao’s figure, standing amidst the vibrant hues of the night, became a scene forever imprinted in Jiang Mu’s mind.
The year Up was released, he left her. The trailer, with its scene of countless balloons soaring into the sky, had filled young Jiang Mu with longing. Jin Chao had promised to watch the movie with her when it came out, but he left Suzhou before that day ever came. Even though Jiang Mu later watched the movie many times alone, the person who had once promised to sit beside her was long gone.
She never imagined that years later, Jin Chao would reappear in her life with a sky full of balloons. As she gazed at the brilliant colors filling the air, Jiang Mu’s eyes grew warm with emotion.
He understood her regret and only he truly did.
…
That night, Jiang Mu went to sleep with a smile on her lips. People often say that everything in this world happens for a reason. At nine, she lost her beloved brother. At eighteen, fate returned to her a beloved man.
She had no more regrets.
The next morning, Jiang Mu went to school. Her classmates were like wild horses unleashed. Around this same time last year, Jiang Mu had been reeling from a disappointing college entrance exam and the anxiety of her mother moving abroad. But time flies, now, a year later, though the scene was the same, her heart was different. Compared to the uncertainty she once felt, she now carried a new sense of confidence about the future.
After class, Pan Kai asked where she was headed. Jiang Mu didn’t have any particular plans. After some quick discussion, the two grabbed KFC and then headed straight for Pan Kai’s family warehouse.
When she arrived at Warehouse No. 3, Jiang Mu saw Master Ren, Zhang Guangyu, and another man working but no sign of Jin Chao. She wandered around several times, and eventually couldn’t help but ask Zhang Guangyu. He pointed to the left.
After weaving through several rows of crates, Jiang Mu finally spotted Jin Chao, Tie Gongji, and another man debugging something on a circuit board. Not wanting to disturb him, Jiang Mu kept her distance and idly played on her phone.
When Jin Chao looked up, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a figure, her figure, which stood out strikingly in the all-male workshop. A light pink dress that fell just to the knees, soft folds around the waist outlining a graceful silhouette, and fresh, stylish short hair tucked neatly behind fair, delicate ears.
A smile tugged at Jin Chao’s lips. By the time Jiang Mu looked up, he had already turned back, though the smile lingered on his face. His hands, however, picked up speed without making a sound.
It was a lazy afternoon. Jiang Mu, for once, had nothing to do, and she just watched Jin Chao working, slowly understanding what Wan Qing once called “love at first sight.”
Jin Chao’s seriousness when immersed in his craft was incredibly captivating. He had calm, focused confidence as if the world was quietly under his control. Jiang Mu was mesmerized by watching him.
But the glances and smiles from the occasional passing worker made her feel a little self-conscious.
Jin Chao pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tossed it to the young guy working with him. “Take a smoke break,” he said casually.
Then he walked off to the other side. Jiang Mu was momentarily distracted, and when she looked back, Jin Chao was gone. She quickly stood up straight and took a few steps forward, craning her neck to look around, even Tie Gongji and the other workers had disappeared too.
Just as she was about to pull out her phone, Jiang Mu turned around and saw Jin Chao leaning casually a few steps away, watching her with an amused grin. She instantly knew he must have seen her flustered search just now. Huffing with frustration, she walked over and confronted him, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Jin Chao smiled wider and held out his hand in front of her. “I went to wash my hands. Came back and saw you wandering around like you lost your soul. Afraid you couldn’t find me?”
The more he teased, the more seriously she tried to act. “I was looking for Pan Kai.”
The words had barely left her mouth before Jin Chao grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a quiet corner away from the others. The light didn’t reach this spot well, and no one else was around. He leaned in and said in a low voice, “Say that again, and see what happens. Are you itchy for trouble?”
Jiang Mu tilted her head up and smiled.
Jin Chao asked, “You went to school this morning?”
She nodded. “Old Ma went over the mock exams with us.”
“How was it?”
With a proud glint in her eyes, she replied, “I think I can make it into a 211 university, no problem.”
Then, in a conspiratorial tone, she added, “Actually, when Pan Kai asked me what school I wanted to apply to last time, I already knew. I’ve had it planned out since half a year ago.”
Jin Chao raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued and waiting for her to continue.
Jiang Mu’s eyes sparkled as she told him, “Nanjing. The university I want to go to is in Nanjing. Have you ever been?”
Jin Chao shook his head. Truth be told, Jiang Mu hadn’t been either. It was so close to Suzhou, yet she had never visited.
This plan had been brewing in her heart for half a year, and she hadn’t told a single person, not even Jiang Yinghan. Jin Chao was the first to hear it. Excitement bubbled up inside her, painting her cheeks a lively pink as she stared at him intently. “I think my score should be good enough to get in. You said last night that the auto shop will only stay open until the end of the month. So… what are your plans after that?”
Jin Chao hesitated. “Not sure yet.”
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Mu asked tentatively, “Would you… want to come to Nanjing with me?”
Jin Chao looked at her silently. Then Jiang Mu, in one breath, poured out all the thoughts she’d been holding in and said, “I heard Nanjing is a really inclusive place. It’s a provincial capital, after all, there should be a lot of opportunities. If you still want to run an auto shop, we can figure it out together. If not… after I graduate, let’s open a coffee shop together, okay?”
To Jin Chao, the idea sounded overly idealistic. The economy in East China was booming, but that also meant high rents, costly equipment, and substantial staffing expenses. A boutique coffee shop, especially, would require a good deal of investment in decor alone. And in a fast-paced city, most people still preferred familiar chain coffee brands. They didn’t have the luxury of unlimited funds and turning a profit might be a struggle.
As all this calculated itself in Jin Chao’s head, he didn’t want to dampen her excitement. Instead, he smiled and asked, “Why a coffee shop?”
Jiang Mu’s mind drifted again to that layered, intoxicating kiss, her cheeks flushing crimson as he ducked her head shyly and murmured, “I just think… it’d be really nice to open a coffee shop with you at the foot of a mountain.”
In her mind, the scene was already vivid. She just didn’t know how to put it into words. To her, this was probably what happiness looked like.
Jin Chao’s gaze was like a hook, deep and unreadable, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. He reached out, lifted her up onto a stack of crates, and leaned in to meet her at eye level. His eyes were sharp and serious and said, “Give me a few more days. I’ll give you an answer.”
Jiang Mu stared at him intently. She knew Jin Chao had something weighing heavily on his heart, something he needed to resolve. He wouldn’t leave with her carrying baggage. He would only go with a clean slate. She didn’t say a word, just nodded.
Jin Chao wrapped his arms around her. The two fell silent, breath mingling closely. His gaze hovered at her lips. Jiang Mu felt like she was under a spell. He wasn’t even doing anything, just looking at her, and her heart melted into helpless mush.
Then, Jin Chao suddenly asked, “Is it hot out there?”
Jiang Mu lifted her head to answer, but before she could, his lips captured hers. He didn’t need an answer, he just needed her to look up. It was a light kiss, but it left Jiang Mu’s mind completely blank. He didn’t press further, just pulled away and hugged her close again.
“I just got together with you, but I can’t spend too much time with you right now. I’m worried I’ll lose control and mess up my work progression. Are you mad at me?”
Jiang Mu shook her head. How could she be mad? She knew how much he had on his plate. All she felt was tenderness.
Jin Chao gently rubbed the back of her head. “On the afternoon of the 15th, I’ll try to finish early and come pick you up.”
Still dazed, Jiang Mu hadn’t even responded when a loud voice rang out nearby, “Holy crap! Holy crap! HOLY CRAP! You guys… aren’t you supposed to be relatives?!”
Jin Chao and Jiang Mu turned their heads at the same time and there stood Pan Kai, jumping nearly three feet in the air, wearing a face of utter disbelief and existential crisis.