Chapter 57
When Jin Chao came out of the bathroom, Jiang Mu was already curled up on the inner side of the bed. The room had gone dark, and his figure gradually approached. Jiang Mu didn’t dare look at him, only felt the mattress dip beside her as he lay down.
The bed was really small, just like the one in Jin Chao’s room from years ago. But back then, they were still kids, whereas now, Jiang Mu couldn’t ignore the fact that lying beside her was a grown man who made her heart race. Especially after what had just happened, she had become unusually sensitive.
She turned on her side, nestling against his arm, and asked softly, “Have you ever… used one?”
Jin Chao leaned back slightly against the headboard and asked, “Used what?”
“That.”
Neither of them spoke for a while. After a long pause, Jin Chao finally said, “With who?”
Jiang Mu buried her face against his firm arm and mumbled, “How would I know… San Lai said you were really popular back in school. He even said girls from other schools came looking for you.”
Jin Chao looked down, his thick lashes casting shadows over his deep, dark eyes. When he fixed his gaze on someone, his gaze carried an unusual tenderness. A soft light flickered in his eyes as he asked, “What kind of jealousy is that?”
Jiang Mu muttered, “I’m not jealous. It’s just… you seem like you know what you’re doing. I, on the other hand, don’t. Without any experience, I wouldn’t know anything at all.”
Jin Chao finally broke into full laughter. He gently pulled her up into his arms and whispered beside her ear, “Thanks for the compliment.”
Then he added, “I’m naturally talented. I thought you should’ve realized that when we were kids.”
Jiang Mu had to admit, Jin Chao was more talented than her in many things. Maybe smart people just picked things up faster, like when they once made paper cuttings for windows. It was both their first time, but while hers came out a mess, his looked like something out of a festival. But intimacy between a man and a woman wasn’t the same as paper cutting.
Seeing the dazed look in her eyes, Jin Chao gently brushed his chin against her forehead and said, “You don’t need to know anything. I’ll teach you, slowly.”
In the quiet of the night, where no one else was around, Jin Chao’s soft words by her ear felt like the sweetest lullaby.
Jin Chao was rational when it came to emotions. Even when faced with someone as bold and seductive as Wan Qing, he still weighed the pros and cons. Whether it was learning a trade or earning money at Wanji, he never intended to give up his freedom.
And yet, despite being so rational, that night on the rooftop, he had still lost control with Jiang Mu. The alcohol wasn’t enough to truly affect him, and by society’s standards, in the eyes of many, their sibling-like bond made the relationship even more taboo. Compared to Wan Qing or anyone else, Jiang Mu’s identity was undeniably more complicated. But he still made that choice. It wasn’t a decision made lightly.
Jiang Mu couldn’t help but wonder: if she and Jin Chao couldn’t make it work in the future, how would he face Jin Qiang? How would they interact then?
That was why Jin Chao had told her to wait until she was sober that night. Because, once they crossed that line, marriage would be the only path forward.
Jiang Mu smiled quietly. Jin Chao turned to glance at her snuggled against him and asked, “Aren’t you hot?”
Jiang Mu nodded. “A little.”
“And you’re still clinging to me?”
Jiang Mu tilted her head up. “Am I clinging to you?”
“…”
Jin Chao got up, brought the fan from the lounge into the room, turned it on low, then lay back down and pulled her into his arms again.
Jiang Mu rested her hand on Jin Chao’s waist. The breeze from the fan stirred the hem of his loose shirt. She looked up again and asked, “Is the race date confirmed yet?”
Jin Chao’s gaze was hidden beneath his lowered lashes, hard to read. He only replied, “Soon.”
“Is it just you racing against people from Boss Wan’s team?”
Jin Chao thought for a moment and said, “No, there are others. Races like this aren’t held often, so a lot of people sign up. The prize money is high too. My business with Wan Shengbang just happens to be something I’ll settle during the race.”
From the way Jin Chao spoke, Jiang Mu sensed the event might be on a pretty large scale. She couldn’t help asking, “What kind of race is it?”
“Mountain pass obstacle course.”
Jiang Mu’s heart skipped. “Obstacle course? Like, with actual obstacles on the road? Isn’t that really dangerous?”
Jin Chao looked at her worried little face and replied casually, “I can get the map and obstacle locations in advance. I’ll just avoid them when the time comes.”
Jiang Mu was surprised. “You can do that? How’d you get it?”
Jin Chao stared at her in silence for a moment before replying, “Officer Lu will give it to me.”
Jiang Mu immediately caught on. “You mean… there are others in that group helping Officer Lu and the police, not just you?”
Jin Chao let out a faint “mm.”
Jiang Mu felt both a thrill and some relief, at least Jin Chao wasn’t facing everything alone. But her curiosity was also piqued. “Then do you know those people? The ones helping from the shadows as your allies?”
Jin Chao laughed and echoed her words, “Helping from the shadows as allies? What kind of phrase is that? It’s not that mysterious. Just mutual benefit. Since Officer Lu came to me, he must’ve approached others too. They want to get a full picture of that smuggling ring. And if I’m going to be the one charging in upfront, someone has to be there to back me up. Everyone plays a different role. It’s a sensitive matter and we all still have to live and work here afterward. No one wants their involvement exposed.”
Jiang Mu finally understood. Back when Officer Lu and his team cracked down on the illegal street racing groups, they didn’t just approach Jin Chao. They reached out to others too. So now, in that alliance, there were multiple people working with the police. Each one provided different information, but to prevent betrayal, exposure, or damaging their reputation, they didn’t contact each other directly. Everything was coordinated and consolidated through Officer Lu.
Take Jin Chao’s upcoming race, for example. On the surface, it looked like a dangerous course, but someone had already secured the race information in advance. That way, Jin Chao could avoid unnecessary risks and had a better shot at winning compared to the others.
Since the anti-smuggling task force wanted to use Jin Chao to infiltrate higher circles, they would naturally protect him from behind the scenes. They wouldn’t let him fight alone. Once Jiang Mu pieced this together, her worries gradually eased.
Realizing the strategic layers involved made it feel kind of thrilling. She couldn’t resist asking, “So that means… you don’t actually know who in the alliance is helping you?”
Jin Chao paused for a moment before replying, “I can’t be sure.”
Can’t be sure probably meant he had a pretty good idea, but for the sake of everyone’s safety and interests, no one would say it out loud.
While the two of them chatted, at some point Jiang Mu’s hand had slipped under the hem of Jin Chao’s shirt, her fingers absentmindedly pressing and wandering across the skin of his lower abdomen, lifted by the breeze from the fan.
Eventually, Jin Chao could no longer ignore the sensation. He fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, “Are you treasure hunting on my abs?”
Jiang Mu responded seriously, “I’m just checking, why is it so hard here?”
Although she was talking about his abs, the word “hard” coming from her mouth felt more like a trigger. Jin Chao abruptly sat up, startling her. “What’s wrong?”
He sat at the edge of the bed with his back turned to her and said, “I’m going to have a smoke. You go to sleep first.”
With that, he stood up. When he reached for a cigarette on the nightstand, his eyes happened to catch that troublesome box and he grabbed that too on his way out.
A thin layer of moonlight blanketed the roof of the backyard shed. Jin Chao sat on the steps, a cigarette between his fingers, its embers glowing faintly as it burned, just like the fire raging inside him. He had always thought of himself as someone with self-control, especially when it came to women. It wasn’t until today that he realized that self-control only existed because he had never met a woman who made him lose it.
His life right now was like walking a tightrope. He had no certainty about what would happen after tomorrow. He couldn’t bear to let go of her, but he couldn’t bring himself to touch her either. There were too many considerations, each one capable of setting off a chain reaction.
He knew too well what remained when love was worn down by life. Jiang Yinghan and Jin Qiang were the most glaring examples: endless arguments, blame, and even turning into enemies who never spoke again.
He couldn’t let Mu Mu live that kind of life. She feared marriage but longed for family so deeply. He couldn’t let her be consumed by the grind and hardship of reality.
She was still so young, a girl of eighteen or nineteen, experiencing her first love, full of naïve passion, trusting him completely and without hesitation. But he couldn’t afford to be reckless, couldn’t take advantage of her innocence and impulsiveness in a moment of heat.
He had to admit, there was one thing San Lai had gotten right, he’d turned down too many offers when he didn’t care. But now that he’d finally met someone he truly wanted, karma had come knocking.
Jin Chao took a hard drag from his cigarette, staring at the glaring little red box in his hand. The frustration of wanting but not daring to reach for it gnawed at him. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the box into the trash.
He sat alone outside for a long time, letting the cool night air calm the heat in his chest. Fortunately, when he returned to the room, Jiang Mu was already asleep. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so peaceful and well-behaved. He leaned down to kiss her gently and pulled her into his arms.
…
Jiang Mu had finally fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning, exhausted from the night’s excitement. In her drowsy haze, she vaguely sensed Jin Chao getting up much earlier than usual. Sometime later, the sound of the rooster crowing roused her enough to drag herself out of bed. She washed up, tamed her wild bedhead into something presentable, then poked her head out the door and called toward the workshop, “I’m up!”
Yet, when Jin Chao came in later to get her for breakfast, he found her face down on the bed again, apparently having sacrificed comfort to preserve her freshly styled hair. Her face was half-buried in the pillow, and for a second, he worried she might suffocate herself.
Jin Chao pulled her up, and Jiang Mu swayed groggily, eyes still shut, like a wilted flower propped up by sheer willpower.
Normally, Jin Chao would’ve made an effort to wake her properly by getting her out of bed to eat before letting her sleep again. But today, he indulged her. He brought the food into the room, let her lean against his chest, and fed her directly, saying with a teasing smile, “Open your mouth. Don’t tell me you want me to do everything for you?”
Jiang Mu smiled with her eyes still closed and obediently opened her mouth.
Back when she was in kindergarten, Jin Chao had fed her countless times but being spoon-fed by him as an adult was a first. She genuinely enjoyed being pampered like this, as if she had returned to those childhood days when she could rely on him completely and without hesitation.
After filling her stomach, Jin Chao stood up and asked, “Still sleepy?”
Jiang Mu nodded, her eyes drowsy and blinking slowly. “If I don’t have anything to do, I can never seem to wake up properly.”
Jin Chao smirked. “Then go back to sleep.”
With that, he took the dishes out. At the folding table outside the garage entrance, Tie Gongji and San Lai were eating breakfast. Seeing Jin Chao step out with the empty bowls, San Lai clicked his tongue. “Go ahead, spoil her all you want. Just keep at it, turn her into a helpless princess, and see how you’ll suffer later.”
Jin Chao tossed the bowl onto the table and shot back, “None of your damn business.”
After Jin Chao left, Jiang Mu scrolled on her phone for a bit but barely five minutes later, her eyelids started drooping. She dropped the phone, rolled over, and fell back asleep.
She didn’t know how long she’d slept, but at some point, she was pulled gently into a warm and broad embrace. It felt steady and safe. Without opening her eyes, she nuzzled lazily into the familiar hold, letting out a soft, contented hum as his fingers brushed through her hair. The sensation was so soothing that she instinctively rubbed her cheek against his chest.
In her haze, she heard Jin Chao say softly, “Xiao Yang’s off today, so I’ve got to go out for a bit, something I need to take care of and might be back late. Sleep well, and if you wake up and decide to leave, remember to lock the door.”
Jiang Mu shook her head and clung to his waist, not letting him leave. Jin Chao lowered his head and kissed her hair, coaxing her gently, “Be good. I’ll take you out tomorrow, okay?”
Only then did Jiang Mu nod and let go. Before leaving, Jin Chao placed a soft, light kiss on her lips. He stood by the door and looked at her for a long moment before finally turning to go.
After Jin Chao left, Jiang Mu’s sleep became restless. She had a series of strange and bizarre dreams. In one, it was already the next day and Jin Chao had come to take her out. She wore a pretty little dress, and he drove that battle-scarred car of his, parking across the street and watching her silently. Jiang Mu shouted his name, but he remained unmoved. Instead, he stepped on the gas and sped away right before her eyes.
Panicked, she chased after him, and the scene suddenly shifted to the old neighborhood where they used to live. Jin Chao had become his younger self again, lighting Night Pearl fireworks for her. Suddenly bang! The fireworks exploded in his hand. Jiang Mu screamed in terror. Smoke billowed everywhere, and no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find him.
When she finally pushed through the thick fog, there he was and had changed back to his current form, standing on the same remote hillside where he’d once taken her after a street race. Below him was a jagged, chaotic cliffside. Jin Chao looked at her, stepping back little by little. Jiang Mu ran toward him in desperation, and just as her fingertips brushed the hem of his shirt, he tipped backward and fell off the cliff. She let out a scream and jolted upright from the bed.
When she opened her eyes, it was still daylight outside. A fine layer of sweat clung to her forehead, and her body was trembling slightly. She instinctively grabbed her phone, almost four o’clock. She had somehow slept for over three more hours.
Dazed, Jiang Mu walked into the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. When she looked up at the mirror, she saw her eyes were swollen from sleep, and her eyelid was twitching uncontrollably.
Walking out of the bathroom, everything in the room looked just as usual. But perhaps because the series of dreams she had just woken from was so bizarre and unsettling, Jiang Mu couldn’t shake a lingering sense of unease. Suddenly, a thought struck her. She climbed onto the bed and pushed open the window, the backyard outside was empty. The GTR that Jin Chao had driven back with her the night before was gone.
Jiang Mu dropped back onto the bed, looking dazed. Last night, Jin Chao had taken a taxi to pick her up from the outskirts and only brought the car back later in the evening. Technically, driving that car during the day in the city was risky, it shouldn’t have been on the road. So why was it suddenly gone?
Jiang Mu got out of bed again and put on her shoes. Hearing the sound, Lightning came trotting in from the lounge and circled her feet. Jiang Mu bent down and stroked his fur. He still smelled of shampoo from the bath he had the night before. But as she continued petting him, her hand slowed to a stop.
Tonggang summers were hot during the day, but after sunset, the evenings turned cool. The temperature difference between day and night was significant. Ever since Lightning had gone through that near-death experience, his body had become weaker. Jin Chao always chose sunny afternoons to bathe him, just to prevent him from catching a chill. But last night… why had he suddenly decided to give Lightning a bath so late?
The more Jiang Mu thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Were these all just coincidences? He had given her an unforgettable birthday, taken care of Lightning afterward, and given Xiao Yang the day off today… and then what? What was he off to do?
Jiang Mu stood frozen at the entrance to the lounge, her body stiffening. A terrifying thought suddenly began circling in her mind: That race. The decisive one that might be happening today.
Leaning against the doorframe, Jiang Mu pulled out her phone and called Jin Chao. It didn’t take long for him to answer. His voice came through the receiver, “You’re awake?”
The wind howled loudly on his end. Jiang Mu didn’t ask where he was. She just hummed in response, gripping the doorframe tightly with her fingers before speaking. “You said you’d take me out tomorrow, right?”
Time seemed to freeze for two long seconds, two seconds that felt like an entire century before Jin Chao’s voice came again, “I’ll try my best.”
Jiang Mu’s eyes reddened, but she didn’t let any of it show in her voice. She forced a light tone and said, “Then I’ll wait for you… You won’t break your promise, will you?”
Not waiting for his answer, she went on, “I hold grudges, you know. If you break your promise, I’ll never speak to you again.”
“Got it.” His voice was low and heavy as he said those three words.
After hanging up, Jiang Mu leaned against the doorframe, clutching the phone tightly in her hand. Maybe Jin Chao hadn’t told her anything because he was afraid that she’d react like this, frantic with worry, unable to sit still. She couldn’t go back to her dad’s place. That would only make her anxiety worse. Staying here, maybe, just maybe, she could wait for Jin Chao to come back.
She kept telling herself over and over again: It’ll be fine. It’s just a race. Jin Chao already knows the route and the obstacle placements. With his skill and mental focus, he’ll handle everything just fine. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be back before midnight.
Even though she kept trying to reassure herself, Jiang Mu couldn’t stop the anxious restlessness bubbling inside her. Needing to distract herself, Jiang Mu stepped out of the garage and raised the rolling shutter only to find San Lai lounging in a folding chair by the entrance, munching on sunflower seeds. He turned at the sound, eyebrows lifting when he saw her. “You’re still here?”
Jiang Mu replied absentmindedly, “Where else could I go?”
San Lai turned back to look at the stream of traffic and continued eating his seeds. Jiang Mu pulled up a chair and sat down beside the entrance of the garage. San Lai tossed her a bag of sunflower seeds. She caught it and started snacking as well.
Unusually quiet, San Lai didn’t say a word for a long time, just kept cracking seeds. Jiang Mu didn’t feel like chatting either, so she simply stared at the street and the people walking by. Lightning lay at her feet, never straying far. Every time a black car passed by, he’d lift his head and glance around.
The sky gradually darkened, and the streetlights began to glow one by one. Jiang Mu had cracked so many sunflower seeds that her mouth felt numb. She cleaned up the shells, threw them away, and went back inside for a drink of water, only to freeze at the sudden roar of an engine pulling up to Speedy Auto’s entrance. She dropped her water cup and ran out of the garage. A strange car had just pulled up. San Lai set down his sunflower seeds and stared at them too.
Soon, a man got out of the vehicle. When he saw Jiang Mu rushing out, he strode straight toward her.
Jiang Mu recognized him instantly, Liang Yanfeng, known as “Young Master Feng.” The same man who had made it to the final stretch alongside them during that high-stakes race.