Chapter 74
Witnessing the scars left by Jin Chao’s past trauma struck a heavy blow to Jiang Mu’s heart. It should have been an unbearably painful moment, yet Jin Chao effortlessly dissolved her sorrow this way, filling her eyes and heart with nothing but him, temporarily setting aside the grief.
From childhood, Jiang Mu had always felt that Jin Chao was more mature than her. Most of the time, he appeared calm and composed in front of her; she had never seen this impulsive side of him. Yet now, his eyes burned with an intoxicating warmth, intense enough to melt her into liquid.
How it began, Jiang Mu wasn’t quite sure, and even by the end, her consciousness was still hazy. Wrapped in the blanket, too embarrassed to come out, she felt a strange shyness, especially whenever she recalled the tenderness brimming in Jin Chao’s gaze just moments ago; her whole body burned all over.
Legally speaking, even if they had married on the spot, it would have been perfectly legal. But after all, they had grown up together. She had seen his mischievous younger self, and he had seen her silly, innocent childhood. Once, they had treated each other with the purity of siblings. Though their feelings had shifted over the years, now that they had truly crossed that line, Jiang Mu couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of shame.
Jin Chao’s feelings were somewhat different. After all, he had watched Jiang Mu since the day she was born, so tiny when she came into the world, with arms and hands so frail it seemed uncertain whether she would survive. When they were young, even a slight grip on her wrist would leave a red mark. So, no matter how wild or reckless he was outside, once home, he always treated her with care, afraid he might accidentally hurt her while playing.
Of course, he had made her cry before, teasing her deliberately when they were young, finding amusement in her tears. But he had never made her cry like this. Watching Jiang Mu curled into a small ball beneath the blanket, guilt welled up inside him. Heart aching, he pulled her into his arms, stroking her back as he asked softly, “Does it still hurt?”
Jiang Mu, too shy to meet his gaze, buried her face in his chest. Her body still trembled slightly as she stammered, “Just… a little. It’s fine, I don’t really know…”
She nuzzled her face against his chest, breathing in his captivating masculine scent, an indescribable fragrance that she found utterly intoxicating. In a soft voice, she asked, “Are you tired?”
Jin Chao remained silent for a long moment before finally replying, “After finishing a long-distance run, do you feel tired?”
Jiang Mu nodded against his chest. “Yes, tired.”
“But what if you won first place? Would you still feel tired then?”
Probably only excitement and thrill would remain. That was likely what Jin Chao meant to convey. Jiang Mu buried her face even deeper into his chest.
Jin Chao lowered his head and murmured to her, “What are you hiding from?”
Jiang Mu mumbled vaguely, “Just let me hide for a little while.”
A smile spread to the corners of Jin Chao’s eyes. “You’ve already given yourself to me, and now you’re still too shy to look at me?”
His teasing only made Jiang Mu feel even more embarrassed. Jin Chao knew she couldn’t adjust to their newfound intimacy all at once; it would take time. His thumb gently stroked her smooth back, sending tingling waves through Jiang Mu’s heart. She was willing to give herself completely to him, wholeheartedly, because she knew that in this world, only this man would never let her down. She could entrust herself to him without hesitation.
Soon, Jiang Mu fell silent and didn’t move again. When Jin Chao shifted slightly to look at her, her long eyelashes were already shut. She had fallen asleep peacefully against his chest, so well-behaved and unbothered by whether she could breathe properly. Her rosy lips still glistened faintly, and he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss them softly. Jiang Mu murmured unconsciously in her sleep, her soft, long hair spilling across the pillow beside him.
It reminded him of the delicate corolla of a flower he once saw outside a hospital years ago—fragile, tender, and stirring a deep softness in his heart. But she seemed utterly exhausted, so he reluctantly let her be. For a while, he simply watched her quietly, his eyes filled with a love as deep and dark as ink. Finally, he tucked the blankets snugly around her and turned off the light.
Jiang Mu slept soundly through the night, without a single dream, and woke feeling deeply rested. Her body, however, ached as if she had climbed a mountain twice over, and her legs were weak and sore. As she stirred in the spacious, soft bed, she half-believed she was in a hotel room during a business trip, comfortably rolling over until she realized something was off; she wasn’t wearing any clothes.
Her eyes flew open. She froze for a long moment before remembering that Jin Chao had brought her home. Scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind, catching her off guard even in recollection. Blushing fiercely, she slid back under the covers, letting the warmth in her cheeks settle before peeking out again. Jin Chao wasn’t in the room, but his pillow still carried his distinct, comforting scent.
Jiang Mu had never considered herself particularly sensitive to smells, yet there was something about Jin Chao’s scent that captivated her completely. Whether it was the sunny, sweaty fragrance of his youth or the mature, magnetic aura he carried now, it had always held an irresistible pull on her, corresponding to every stage of her life.
She rolled over to his side of the bed, lingering there. Strangely, when she lived alone, she would get up almost immediately without any desire to laze around. But now, on her very first day back with Jin Chao, that familiar laziness crept back into her bones. Amused by her own change, she threw off the covers and decisively got out of bed.
The moment she stepped out of bed, Jiang Mu noticed the clothes she had worn yesterday were neatly folded and placed on the bedside table. She picked them up casually; they carried a soft, pleasant fragrance. She had no idea what time Jin Chao had woken up, but he had even washed and dried her clothes for her.
When she entered the bathroom, she found the toiletries already arranged neatly on the clean counter. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she noticed faint red marks beginning below her collarbone. As she pulled aside her collar, the traces grew more pronounced the further down she looked. Last night had been a blur. The first time she had faced Jin Chao so completely, her mind was hazy and overwhelmed. Only now did she recall how he had kissed and caressed her. A blush spread all the way to the tips of her ears, her eyes still filled with lingering shyness, and her heart felt as though it were soaked in honey.
After lingering for a while, Jiang Mu stepped out to find Jin Chao no longer in the living room. On the table, breakfast had been left for her: milk, fried eggs, millet porridge, and a plate of freshly peeled red grapefruit.
Jiang Mu’s heart brimmed with an indescribable happiness, though mixed with a touch of guilt. She should have gotten up earlier to make breakfast—yet now it was Jin Chao taking care of her instead. She thought to herself that she couldn’t let this continue in the future.
At first, she assumed Jin Chao had gone out to walk the dog. But Lightning seemed to have heard her movements and came bounding out of the study, tail wagging. Carrying her glass of milk, Jiang Mu walked to the study door, pushed it open, and saw Jin Chao seated at a fitness machine, doing back stretches.
Jiang Mu’s heart brimmed with an indescribable happiness, though mixed with a touch of guilt. She should have gotten up earlier to make breakfast, yet now it was Jin Chao taking care of her instead. She thought to herself that she couldn’t let this continue in the future.
At first, she assumed Jin Chao had gone out to walk the dog. But Lightning seemed to have heard her movements and came trotting happily out of the study, tail wagging. Carrying her glass of milk, Jiang Mu walked to the study door, pushed it open, and saw Jin Chao seated at a fitness machine, doing back stretches.
He wore a fitted black workout shirt, his back to her. With each stretch, the muscles along his back shifted into a perfect inverted triangle. His waist and abdomen were taut and lean, giving his upper body a striking sense of power. Leaning against the doorframe, Jiang Mu watched the scene with a soft smile, sipping her milk.
Though Jin Chao hadn’t turned around, he seemed to sense her presence. He stopped, turned, and walked toward her. A light sheen of sweat clung to his body, and as he came closer, a strong masculine energy enveloped her. Jiang Mu felt as though she had fallen under his spell, so much so that even the scent of his sweat seemed intoxicating beyond reason.
Holding her glass of milk in one hand, she looked up at him with a smile. He leaned in, pressing her lightly against the doorframe, towering over her as he captured her delicate, feminine posture. His breath, hot and urgent, fanned across her as he murmured, “So, my tormenting little enchantress is awake?”
Jiang Mu felt embarrassed again. After all, her frame was small, and it had been her first time facing something like this. She wasn’t used to any of it; the more nervous she grew, the more restrained she became. Last night, Jin Chao had held back for her sake, unwilling to push too hard, but it left him suffering instead. She had even stopped him midway, tormenting him nearly to the point of burning up from within.
Seeing her lost in thought, Jin Chao captured her lips, still carrying the faint taste of milk. Greedily, he tangled with her tongue in tender entanglement. So early in the morning, Jiang Mu was already kissed until her lashes grew damp, her heart surging wildly, her knees nearly giving out beneath her.
Sweat clung to Jin Chao’s body. He didn’t touch her, only caged her in with his frame, lowering his head with searing breath to ask, “So, do you want to rest at home today, or start moving your things over?”
Jiang Mu’s eyes softened as she replied, “My rent hasn’t expired yet. There’s still more than two months left, and I don’t feel like going through the trouble of subletting. I’ll just move when it’s up. Or… I could go back and grab a few clothes first?”
Jin Chao clicked his tongue, pulled his phone from his pocket, and a moment later, Jiang Mu heard the sound of money arriving. She fished out her own phone, only to see that Jin Chao had transferred her an amount equal to half a year’s salary. Staring up at him in confusion, she asked, “Why did you send me money?”
Putting his phone away, Jin Chao lowered his gaze. “Consider buying out those two months. Now, can you move in?”
Jiang Mu bit back a smile. Jin Chao told her, “Go eat your breakfast. If it’s cold, heat it up. I’m going to shower.”
After finishing breakfast, Jiang Mu carried the dishes into the kitchen. When Jin Chao came out of the shower and stepped into the living room, he glanced toward the small, busy figure in the kitchen. He paused for a few seconds, having grown accustomed to a solitary and quiet life, the presence of a woman in his kitchen suddenly filled the home with a warm, lived-in atmosphere.
The corners of his lips lifted as he walked toward her. There weren’t many dishes, and Jiang Mu had planned to wash them herself, but before she could finish, a pair of arms circled around her from behind. He took the dishes from her hands and rinsed them himself.
Held within his embrace, Jiang Mu watched his long fingers washing the bowls. That long-forgotten feeling of being doted on made her eyes curve into a smile. His breath brushed over her as he asked, “What made you decide to learn to drive?”
Jiang Mu hesitated for a moment. For the sake of his pride, she couldn’t say it was so she could conveniently drive him around in the future. He wouldn’t even let her handle something as small as washing dishes—if she told him the real reason, she worried he might overthink it.
So she casually replied, “It’s just practical. Another skill never hurts.”
Jin Chao said nothing. Jiang Mu turned in his arms and hugged him. He finished washing the dishes, dried them, and put them away. Clinging to him like a koala, Jiang Mu didn’t let go until his hands were free. Once his hands were free, Jin Chao simply lifted her off the ground and carried her toward the living room.
Clutching his shoulders, Jiang Mu said, “Put me down, don’t tire yourself out.”
A roguish glint flashed in Jin Chao’s eyes. “With your little weight, carrying you is like nothing at all.”
Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang. He answered briefly, saying he’d be right down.
Puzzled, Jiang Mu asked who he had arranged to meet. Jin Chao slipped on a jacket, took her hand, and led her out the door, explaining, “I’ve asked someone to help you move.”
Downstairs, a business van was already parked. Jiang Mu saw a young man, about twenty-something, clean-cut and scholarly-looking, waiting by the vehicle. When he saw Jin Chao bringing Jiang Mu down, he joked, “Boss, does working on the weekend count for overtime?”
Jin Chao replied with an easy laugh, “Of course.”
Noticing his good mood, the man’s curious gaze lingered on Jiang Mu’s face. Suddenly, she seemed familiar to him. He stared for quite a while before his pupils contracted sharply in recognition. “Isn’t this…?”
But Jin Chao silenced him with a hard look, cutting him off flatly. “Shut up. Get in the car.”
The man immediately turned and opened the door for him. Jin Chao shifted slightly, motioning for Jiang Mu to get in first.