Chapter 73
That evening, Jiang Mu still attended Gu Zhijie’s dinner gathering. But this time, she wasn’t alone; she brought Jin Chao along. The restaurant was nestled at the foot of the mountain, not far from where they lived.
This marked Jin Chao’s first step into Jiang Mu’s social circle, and it was also the first time Jiang Mu had brought a man to dine with them. The moment they arrived, everyone’s eyes turned toward Jin Chao.
Jin Chao, however, remained completely at ease, greeting everyone with a warm smile. Gu Zhijie stood up and waved them over. “Come, take the seats inside.”
As Jin Chao removed his coat and hung it in the corner of the private room, Gu Zhijie seized the chance to tease Jiang Mu. “No wonder you weren’t interested in Thomas. With an ex-boyfriend this handsome, who would be?”
Jiang Mu corrected him without missing a beat. “Current boyfriend.”
Gu Zhijie was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. He turned to Jin Chao, who was just approaching, and said, “You should be treating us to this meal. You’ve stolen the woman countless men in our department dreamed of.”
Jiang Mu glanced back and met Jin Chao’s smiling eyes, suddenly feeling a little shy.
Jin Chao took his seat beside her and replied in all seriousness, “It’s only right that I treat everyone. Order freely. Don’t be polite with me.”
His words drew laughter from the group, and they raised their glasses in congratulations, eagerly asking when they’d get to toast at the wedding.
Gu Zhijie stepped in to lighten the mood. “When I ran into them this afternoon, they weren’t even officially together. Now you’re all already asking for wedding sweets? Isn’t that a bit too soon?”
He then lifted his glass and turned to Jiang Mu and Jin Chao. “So, when’s the wedding?”
Jiang Mu cried out, “I’m thin-skinned, have mercy on me.”
Jin Chao raised his glass with a modest smile. “I’ll do my best to make it sooner.”
Jiang Mu tugged at Jin Chao and whispered to him, “Are you really okay to drink? Take it easy.”
Jin Zhao, however, looked to be in a good mood. Lowering his gaze, he replied, “Today is special.”
Those four words made Jiang Mu’s heart feel as if it were resting on soft clouds, weightless and tender.
From across the table, Zhang Yu from their group asked, “Xiao Jiang, when are you taking the first driving test?”
Jiang Mu replied, “Already passed, I’m practicing for the second one now.”
Zhang Yu exclaimed, “You’re moving fast! You still have time to practice driving these days?”
“I make time.”
Jin Chao glanced sideways at her. Jiang Mu noticed he hadn’t eaten much and suddenly remembered something, asking, “Wait, you can’t eat hotpot, can you?”
Jin Chao gave a helpless smile. “Looks like I really scared you last time. It’s fine, I’m not that restricted.”
Even so, Jiang Mu still murmured softly, “I’ll make you something else just for you after this.”
Later, when the conversation turned to work matters, Jin Chao simply listened quietly. From time to time, he helped Jiang Mu peel a shrimp or dip some meat for her. Having run a car service in his earlier years, he had encountered all kinds of people, so he could also chat a little with Jiang Mu’s colleagues. Everyone left with a good impression of him.
As the meal was wrapping up, he got up and stepped outside. When Gu Zhijie went to settle the bill, he discovered that Jin Chao had already paid in advance. Patting Jin Chao on the shoulder, he said, “I was just joking with you earlier, and you actually went and paid the bill.”
He then turned to Jiang Mu and said, “Your boyfriend is far too polite. Next time, I’ll treat you both myself.”
After saying their goodbyes, Jiang Mu and Jin Chao headed back. She hadn’t dressed very warmly today. The afternoon had been pleasant, the temperature just right, the weather fine, but who would have thought that by the time they stepped out of the restaurant that night, the wind would pick up and a fine drizzle would start falling. The chill made her shiver. Jin Chao simply opened his coat and wrapped her entirely in his embrace. His body heat instantly enveloped her, so warm that Jiang Mu squinted her eyes, lifted her head, and beamed up at him. “Chao Chao.”
He lowered his gaze, his eyes tender and lingering. “Hmm?”
Tiny raindrops fell into Jiang Mu’s eyes, making her blink uncomfortably. Jin Chao went further, tucking even her head inside his coat. Now she was warm, shielded from the rain, but she couldn’t see the road. All she could glimpse through the hem of his coat were their synchronized steps.
Laughing, Jiang Mu asked aloud, “Looks like I can only follow your lead now. You’re not going to sell me off, are you?”
“Possibly,” he replied.
By the time Jin Chao finally let her out of his coat, they were already home. She hadn’t gotten much rain on her at all, but his short hair was beaded with droplets, and his coat was soaked through.
Footsteps sounded behind her. Jin Chao saw the open bedroom door and stopped in the doorway. When Jiang Mu turned back, his thick lashes were slightly lowered, the line of his profile extending down to his jaw, smooth and strikingly handsome.
Jiang Mu’s eyes grew misty as she asked, “How long did it take you to build this?”
Jin Chao hesitated for a moment, then recalled, “Altogether, both times… quite a long while.”
“Both times?”
Jin Chao brushed past it casually. “It fell apart once during transport. After I moved here and rebuilt it, the instruction manual was gone, so the second time was tougher.”
But he never mentioned the first time. That was when Jiang Mu had just gone abroad, and he himself couldn’t even stand, relying on a wheelchair every day, with no expectation for tomorrow, not knowing what the future awaited him.
That Lego set had carried him through those long and unbearable days. Aside from that single goal, his life had felt like a stagnant pool of dead water.
He no longer knew exactly how long it had taken to complete. Sometimes he built until he forgot to eat or sleep, sometimes he stayed awake the entire night. But when that rocket, engraved with the words “China Aerospace”, finally stood tall on the launch pad, it was dawn. As the morning sun rose, he gazed at the finished model before him. As if he could see Jiang Mu, years later, stepping into that very field.
That was the first time he had ever so fiercely longed to stand again. And from that moment on, he began to harbor ambition for the future.
Jiang Mu walked up to the glass display, reaching out to touch the tiny pieces. She remembered once promising they would build this model together. Back then, she had thought they had endless time, that they could take it slowly. Who would have imagined that what she believed to be forever would vanish in the blink of an eye?
In the reflection of the glass door, Jin Chao’s figure appeared. From behind, he wrapped her in his arms. The fresh scent of soap and warm breath from his shower drifted down, slipping into the collar of her shirt as he asked, “Who’s Thomas?”
Looking at his profile hovering by her hair in the reflection, Jiang Mu answered proudly, “The famous prodigy of our department. He’s half Australian, half French.”
Jin Chao’s arms gradually tightened, though his voice was calm and teasing. “He’s been chasing you?”
Jiang Mu nodded honestly. “I already told you, there are plenty of people chasing me. Did you really think I was joking?”
Jin Chao caught her chin and turned her face toward him, his breath heavy. “You dare to say that to me?”
Jiang Mu lifted her eyes at him provocatively. “Weren’t you the one who told me to get out there and meet more men? I was only following your advice, you know how obedient I am. All these years, I’ve practically become a seasoned expert in the battlefield of romance by now.”
A storm swirled deep within Jin Chao’s dark eyes. He pinched her chin lightly. “You don’t need to share that with me, thanks.”
Glancing sidelong at the model, Jiang Mu said, “I was the one who gave you this, and it’s been allowed to stay here, so why can’t I?”
Jin Chao’s arm tightened around her waist, his voice dropping lower, rich and magnetic. “I’ll help you move in tomorrow.”
In his arms, Jiang Mu turned around and lifted her head. “Alright then, I’ll head back first. See you tomorrow.”
A smile flickered in Jin Chao’s eyes. Though his words were casual, “Take care, I won’t see you out.”
But his hand was still locked firmly around her waist, leaving her unable to move an inch. Jiang Mu realized that even though his body wasn’t what it once had been, as long as he willed it, he could still so easily hold her captive before him, leaving her nowhere to escape.
His palm pressed with just a little more force, and she fell completely into his embrace. He lowered his head to brush against the tip of her nose, lightly tasting her lips before claiming them fully. The faint, intoxicating fragrance of him surrounded her. Jiang Mu’s thoughts went hazy as she responded willingly.
Jin Chao tightened his embrace, lifting her effortlessly off the ground before laying her down on the large bed behind them. Their heartbeats seemed to sync and collide. A mesmerizing curve touched the corner of his lips as he murmured, “Still think you can walk away now?”
This time, Jiang Mu found herself at a loss. She wanted to prove she wasn’t someone who could be so easily bewitched, but her body refused to move. Fortunately, she wasn’t fighting this battle alone, and her palm suddenly felt damp. Startled, she turned her head to see Lightning sitting by the bed, licking her hand, who knew how long it had been watching.
Even though it was just a dog, it was still a dog with some sense of propriety. Being stared at so intently, Jiang Mu’s cheeks flushed red. She scrambled out from under Jin Chao and said, “I didn’t bring any clothes with me.”
Jin Chao pulled a set of cotton pajamas from the wardrobe and handed them to her, then leaned lazily against the cabinet door, his eyes brushing over her like a tease. The way he looked at her set her whole body on fire.
Normally, he was a man of few words, almost aloof, but when he smiled, her heart quivered uncontrollably. Flustered, she hurried out of the room and into the bathroom.
Jiang Mu was no longer a little girl. She knew exactly what it meant for Jin Chao to keep her here tonight. Unlike the hesitation and fear of years ago, she was now steadier, even a little eager.
What hadn’t changed was how easily he could still make her heart race like a startled deer.
When Jiang Mu finished her shower and came back out, Jin Chao was reclining against the headboard, looking at his tablet. As soon as she entered, he set it aside, his gaze sweeping over her with calm depth. “Planning to stand there all night?”
Though the autumn nights were cold, Jin Chao’s home had central heating, so it wasn’t chilly at all. The pajama pants were far too long, so Jiang Mu hadn’t worn them. She came out dressed only in his shirt, the oversized sleeves dangling like an opera costume as she swung them about. Her fair, alluring legs were right there in plain view before him.
Still, she wasn’t as carefree as when she was younger. Back then, she would have just crawled straight into his bed without a second thought. Now, she felt she should at least maintain a little reserve; taking the initiative to climb onto his bed would be far too embarrassing.
So, she put on a straight face and said, “Should I sleep on the couch then?”
Jin Chao didn’t answer. The corners of his mouth curved slightly as he silently watched her little act. Jiang Mu pretended to head toward the door, and when she saw he made no move to stop her, she even tossed her hair and glanced sideways at him, feigning indifference.
From behind came Jin Chao’s voice, not calling her, but Lightning.
Lightning scampered over eagerly, lifted its head, and Jin Chao slowly gave two words, “Close the door.”
Very dutifully, Lightning jumped up, hooked the door handle with its paw, and pulled the door shut, managing to close itself outside in the process.
Facing the closed door, Jiang Mu’s lips curled in a quick smile before she pressed them back down. She turned to look at Jin Chao, who patted the spot beside him.
Jiang Mu climbed onto the bed, her slender legs carrying her onto the bed. As she drew near, her eyes landed on the prosthetic standing by his bedside. Her expression faltered. This was the first time she had ever seen his artificial limb with her own eyes. Seeing it was different from merely hearing about it, the feeling hit far more directly.
Her gaze lingered, but Jin Chao had already pulled her into his arms, flipping the blanket over her to wrap her up.
Lying beside him, Jiang Mu felt uneasy and slid lower and lower under the covers, until her whole body sank deep into them. Then Jin Chao scooped her back up in one swift motion. Meeting his dark, gleaming eyes, she asked tentatively, “Can I… take a look?”
Jin Chao furrowed his brow slightly. “It’s not pretty.”
“Then are you planning to wear pants in front of me for the rest of your life?”
A subtle shift passed through Jin Chao’s eyes before he turned his head away. Jiang Mu slid under the covers again, carefully rolling up the left leg of his pants. When she realized it wasn’t quite working, she began, with some difficulty, trying to remove his pajama bottoms instead. Just as her hand reached his waist, Jin Chao caught her wrist.
He looked down and asked, “What are you doing?”
Jiang Mu replied, somewhat flustered, “I just want to see. Could you… cooperate a little?”
Jin Chao gazed at her with a deep, unreadable expression and asked, “Can’t you just behave?”
She answered obediently, “No.”
Jin Chao looked away and undid the waistband himself. Jiang Mu slid down again, her form creating a small mound under the covers. She didn’t want Jin Chao to see her expression, as this was the first time she was directly facing the part of him that had been amputated. It was awkward for both of them, so she buried herself completely under the blanket.
In her memory, Jin Chao had a pair of perfectly proportioned, long legs. She could still picture him from years ago, wearing grimy cargo pants, leaning against a car and smoking, his left leg casually propped on a stool, an image of rugged, capable ease that had left a deep impression on her.
But when Jiang Mu saw his scars with her own eyes, it was as if she were reliving the trauma alongside him. She couldn’t bear to look any longer. Curling up against him, her chest ached with sorrow, and for a long time she didn’t emerge from beneath the blanket.
As she lowered her head, strands of her hair brushed against Jin Chao’s leg, the soft strands sending a shiver through him. Though he kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling, fighting to restrain the turmoil within. Yet every breath she took under the covers, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, brushed against his skin, driving him to distraction.
Jiang Mu’s attention was entirely on his left leg, completely unaware of anything amiss. Still lost in grief, she was suddenly pulled upward into Jin Chao’s arms. Before she could process what was happening, his figure pressed down over her.
She didn’t notice when the lights had dimmed, but in the warm, amber glow, Jin Chao kissed her slowly, each kiss gentle yet deliberate, easing her sadness and melting her heartache. The atmosphere grew thick with tension. His teasing, edged with dominance, was like a spark setting her aflame. Dizzy, overwhelmed, her cheeks burned scarlet as she gasped for breath, lips trembling like tempting cherries.
Jin Chao’s dark eyes burned with a hint of crimson as he brushed his thumb over her lips and murmured, “Care to give me a lesson, oh love expert?”
The earlier teasing had been just a game, but faced with the real thing, Jiang Mu was completely flustered. Through the oversized shirt, his burning hand pressed against her, kneading softly, and her defenses collapsed. In moments, Jiang Mu was utterly overwhelmed, her entire body arching sensitively at his touch.
Sensing her inexperience, Jin Chao slowed his movements. He leaned closer, meeting her eyes that shimmered as if on the verge of tears, and whispered tenderly, “Mu Mu, look at me.”
Jiang Mu tried to open her eyes, but it felt impossible. She was dazed, as if drunk, too weak to resist. She fluttered her lashes once, and in Jin Chao’s gaze burned a heat that seared straight to her heart. He asked, “Didn’t you say you’d dated plenty of men?”
A restless, tingling warmth spread through Jiang Mu’s chest, leaving her utterly unraveled. “Yes, I said I dated many men, but even if someone so much as touched my hand, I felt guilty toward you…”
Jin Chao’s smile spread, pulling her wholly into his embrace. “Silly girl.”
Jiang Mu asked timidly, “Um… will you get tired? Do you want me to… take over?”
Jin Chao raised an eyebrow, tugging off the ill-fitting, obstructive pajama shirt she wore. When she lay completely bare before him, his eyes were already dark with unrestrained desire.
Seeing her curled up nervously, he gently moved her hands away from where she tried to cover herself and grinned recklessly. “Do you even know how?”
Jiang Mu’s hands were pinned above her pillow. His gaze roamed over her without restraint. She shyly turned her head aside, biting the lips he had kissed into softness, and whispered, “I could… try to figure it out.”
This girl he had known since birth, grown up alongside, someone he had once cherished too much to even touch lightly, was now beneath him, breathtakingly beautiful. The surge of possessiveness in him broke all control. His voice came out low and hoarse as he told her, “For something like this, it’s my first time too. There’s no reason to let a woman take the lead.”
With those words, Jiang Mu felt as if her body no longer belonged to her. In a haze, it was like being laid over flames, every sense overwhelmed, the later moments blurring into confusion.
It wasn’t until a sharp, tearing sensation pierced through her that she grew restless, instinctively curling up and trying to pull away. Jin Chao held her waist firmly, murmuring her name again and again, “Mu Mu… relax… good girl…”