Jiang Mu followed Jin Chao through one dim alley after another, emerging right across from the auto shop. She hadn't realized the affiliated high school was so close to the shop, though she'd never be able to retrace the route herself.
San Lai had hung a lantern outside his shop, where he sat drinking with another man. Only when Jiang Mu drew closer did she recognize the man drinking with San Lai as Jin Fengzi. Spotting Jin Chao bringing Jiang Mu back, Jin Fengzi grinned at her: "Wondered where you'd gone. So you were picking up this little beauty from school?"
Jin Chao delivered a sharp slap to the back of his neck. "You come alone?"
Jin Fengzi chuckled, shrinking away. "Nope. Guess who I came with?"
He wore a sly expression, but Jin Chao ignored him, taking Jiang Mu's backpack inside instead. San Lai called to Jiang Mu: "Hungry? Grab some food before hitting the books."
Jiang Mu eyed the assortment of marinated dishes on the table—they looked quite appetizing. She hadn't eaten much local food since arriving, so she told San Lai: "Let me wash my hands first."
Jin Fengzi glanced back at Jiang Mu and leaned toward San Lai. "She living here now?"
San Lai raised his glass with a knowing smile, neither confirming nor denying.
Just as Jiang Mu turned on the faucet, a flashy matte red sports car pulled up by the curb. Out stepped a woman with fiery red hair and a micro-miniskirt.
Jiang Mu glanced over before focusing on scrubbing her hands clean under the running water. When she looked up again after turning off the faucet, the redhead was already standing right in front of her, eyelids raised as she gave Jiang Mu a head-to-toe appraisal. With a flippant tone, she remarked: "So you're the little hottie they've been talking about? How'd you latch onto You Jiu?"
Jiang Mu shook water from her hands. "We're not like that. Who are you?"
The woman wore dramatic false eyelashes and heavy makeup, her striking phoenix eyes radiating an undeniable gangster vibe. She casually handed a paper bag to Jiang Mu. "Take a guess? Hold this."
Baffled, Jiang Mu accepted the bag and stood aside. The redhead began washing her hands, her short top riding up as she bent over to reveal a seductive tattoo coiled around her waist—a slender green dragon.
A name suddenly occurred to Jiang Mu, and she blurted out: "Are you Little Green Snake?"
The redhead shut off the water and glanced at Jiang Mu from the corner of her eye. "Little Green Snake? This here's a dragon, sweetheart."
"Dragon," she repeated, making a clawing gesture at Jiang Mu. Jiang Mu's eyes widened as she stumbled backward, clutching the bag tightly while staring at the woman with horrified fascination. The short hair framing her soft cheeks made her look like a startled, adorable rabbit.
Little Green Snake burst into hearty laughter at her reaction, throwing an arm around Jiang Mu's shoulders and hooking a finger under her chin. "You're a cute one. I'm Wan Qing. And you?"
Her whirlwind of enthusiasm left Jiang Mu flustered. Stiffly, she replied: "Jiang Mu."
"Little Jiang, what's your deal with You Jiu?"
Jiang Mu stared at her, utterly bewildered. This Wan Qing was mercurial—she suddenly hauled Jiang Mu toward the auto shop entrance, pinned her against the wall, and leaned in with a threatening glare. "Out with it."She stood half a head taller than Jiang Mu, and when her face hardened, she looked like a female bully. Jiang Mu stared at her fake eyelashes that resembled palm-leaf fans, twitched her face, and replied, "He's my brother."
Wan Qing looked astonished: "Brother? Cousin or what? How come I didn't know he had a sister like you? Are you from out of town?"
"Sort of."
As soon as she finished speaking, Jin Chao's voice came from the repair shop, cold and sharp: "If you scare her again, get the hell away from here."
Wan Qing's expression immediately did a 180-degree turn. She pulled Jiang Mu into a hug again and shouted back at Jin Chao, "Can't I joke around with our little sister? Why so fierce?"
After saying that, she snatched the paper bag from Jiang Mu's hand and said affectionately, "Come on, let's go eat some pig trotters and ignore him."
Jiang Mu watched this sister's unpredictable mood swings and desperately wanted to keep her distance. However, Wan Qing acted as if they were close, deliberately placing two chairs together and making Jiang Mu sit beside her.
San Lai brought out a pot with the lid on. After setting it down, he asked Jiang Mu, "Do you know what's inside?"
Jiang Mu leaned over and sniffed. The aroma of chicken wafted over, and she smiled. "Did you really make chicken soup?"
San Lai removed the lid and told her, "You Jiu bought the chicken this morning, and I made the soup. Would I joke about something like that?"
Jin Chao also came out. Wan Qing patted the empty chair beside her and said to him, "Come have a drink."
Jin Chao walked over to the chair, lifted it with one hand, and moved it to the opposite side. Wan Qing rolled her eyes at him, leaned over to Jiang Mu, and said, "If your brother keeps acting like this, he'll never find a wife."
Jiang Mu pursed her lips and said nothing, glancing at Jin Chao. His expression was indifferent as he uncaringly opened a bottle of beer.
Wan Qing took a large pig trotter from the paper bag and placed it on the plate in front of Jiang Mu. "This place has the best flavor. Try it."
Jiang Mu stared at the huge pig trotter in front of her, unsure where to start. It wasn't that she had any image to uphold, but sitting by the street, gnawing on a large pig trotter without a care in front of strangers—well, she had never done anything like that in her eighteen years of life.
In contrast, Wan Qing beside her was already gnawing away. Her unrestrained manner actually made Jiang Mu admire her from the bottom of her heart. She had no idea how this sister could open her mouth so wide.
Noticing Jiang Mu watching her, Wan Qing asked, "Why are you staring at me? Eat! Don't know how to gnaw?"
Jiang Mu mumbled, "Later, later."
Across from them, Jin Fengzi went straight for the chicken, very conscientiously picking up a large drumstick. But as soon as the drumstick left the pot, Jin Chao's chopsticks struck it. Jin Fengzi's hand trembled, and the drumstick fell back into the pot. He looked at Jin Chao in confusion and asked, "What's the matter?"
San Lai clicked his tongue and interjected, "Did I spend two hours stewing this for you? Are you planning to take the college entrance exam too?"
Jin Fengzi belatedly looked at Jin Chao, who was leaning back in his chair, staring back at him. Wan Qing gnawed on her pig trotter while watching them. The table fell silent. Suddenly, Jin Fengzi had an epiphany. He stood up, scooped up the drumstick again, and personally placed it in front of Jiang Mu, saying, "Little sister, you first."
Jiang Mu, feeling somewhat flattered, said, "Thank you."
Only then did Jin Chao withdraw his gaze and continue drinking. But Wan Qing's eyes remained fixed on Jin Chao.The chicken leg was stewed until extremely tender, falling off the bone with a poke of the chopsticks, and each bite was pure satisfaction. Jiang Mu ate with relish while San Lai watched her with an affectionate, almost motherly smile, casually scooping a bowl of chicken soup for her to cool beside her.
Jin Fengzi remarked, "After Da Guang went back yesterday, he rushed to get a rabies vaccine. I called Xiangzi to the back and gave him a talking-to."
Only then did Jiang Mu realize that Jin Fengzi was actually from Ten Thousand Records Car Shop.
Jin Chao clinked his beer bottle against Jin Fengzi's and said, "No need."
After speaking, he glanced at Wan Qing and changed the subject, chatting with Jin Fengzi about a mutual customer who wanted to trade in their car. Casually, he pulled out a black object from somewhere—Jiang Mu didn’t even see how he did it—and a sharp little knife popped out from one end of the black handle.
Jin Chao asked San Lai for a wet wipe and, while chatting idly with Jin Fengzi, began meticulously cleaning the small knife.
Jiang Mu couldn’t help stealing glances at him. The yellowish light illuminated Jin Chao’s profile; his head was slightly bowed, his straight, prominent nose bridge giving his features a particularly stern outline. Combined with his knife-cleaning motion, he vaguely reminded her of Léon: The Professional.
Jiang Mu wondered why he’d suddenly pull out a small knife while chatting with friends late at night. It was downright unsettling.
After setting down the wet wipe, Jin Chao turned and directly pulled the plate of pig’s trotters in front of her over. Using his sharp knife, he sliced the meat off the trotters. Though it was a rather crude task, he executed it with surprising elegance—each precise cut turning the skin and meat into perfectly bite-sized pieces.
Wan Qing also lifted her gaze, tossed the gnawed pig’s trotter aside, wiped her hands, and turned to look at Jiang Mu. Sensing her stare, Jiang Mu met her eyes, and Wan Qing flashed her a flawless smile.
Just as Jiang Mu picked up her bowl to sip the soup, her eyes inadvertently drifted under the table, where she saw Wan Qing suddenly lift her foot to hook Jin Chao’s leg. Jiang Mu hadn’t meant to witness this, but her eyes betrayed her. She couldn’t resist glancing at Jin Chao, whose hands stilled. He frowned and shot a cold glare at Wan Qing, who only smiled more seductively and deliberately brushed her foot against his pant leg again.
Thud. Jin Chao slammed the knife onto the table. San Lai and Jin Fengzi, completely oblivious and still mid-conversation, jumped in surprise. "You Jiu, what the hell are you doing?" they exclaimed.
Jiang Mu, who had witnessed the entire scene, felt her heart flutter nervously at Jin Chao’s sudden action. Wan Qing, however, appeared utterly unfazed, showing no fear. Jin Chao placed the sliced pig’s trotter meat back in front of Jiang Mu and turned his gaze to her. "Finish eating and go inside early."
Jiang Mu found it hard to meet his eyes, sensing that Jin Chao had noticed her watching the whole time.
So she hurriedly finished the pig’s trotters and chicken soup, then went into the breakroom to work on her problems. Around midnight, she stretched, her eyes sore and swollen, and decided to get up and move around.
When she stepped out of the repair bay, she saw that everyone had dispersed except for San Lai, who was squatting by the shop entrance waiting for Xi Shi to finish her business. Jiang Mu asked, "Where’s Jin Chao?"
San Lai, his eyes fixed on the urinating Xi Shi, replied, "Probably in the back."
Jiang Mu also glanced at Xi Shi, then walked over to San Lai and asked quietly, "Is that Wan Qing Jin Chao’s girlfriend?"
San Lai answered slowly but firmly, "You Jiu would never want her."
"Why not?"
San Lai said offhandedly, "She’s Boss Wan’s daughter."Jiang Mu was slightly surprised; she had overlooked Little Green Snake's surname. She confirmed, "The daughter of the Ten Thousand Records Car Shop owner?"
San Lai gave an "mm" in response, whistled at Xi Shi, opened the shop door to let Xi Shi in, and then looked at Jiang Mu. "What were you two doing last night?"
"What?"
The corners of San Lai's mouth, hidden beneath his stubble, curled into a half-smile. "You Jiu didn't come to sleep until after midnight. You two sure have a lot of energy."
Although Jiang Mu and Jin Chao had only been talking through the curtain, under San Lai's very suggestive gaze, her face flushed instantly. Seeing this, San Lai burst into laughter. "I won't tease you anymore. Tell You Jiu I left the door unlocked for him."
With that, San Lai went into the shop. Jiang Mu, her face still burning, returned to the repair bay. She knew the "back" they were referring to was the shed yard visible from the room's window, but she didn't know how to get there.
She circled to the other end of the repair bay, where a door was slightly ajar, close to the break room. Jiang Mu gently pulled the door open, and a cool breeze drifted in from outside. It was dark out there, but she stepped out.
The area outside looked much the same as it had from her room's window. Under the shed were piles of items—some old parts left exposed, several cardboard boxes filled with things, and many tools she didn't recognize. In one corner of the yard, something was completely covered by a large tarp, held down by bricks at each corner. Jiang Mu had no idea what was underneath.
She scanned the area but didn't see Jin Chao there. However, the shed yard had a rusty iron gate leading to the outer street, and it was open. A faint wisp of smoke drifted in from that direction.
Jiang Mu headed toward it. Before she reached the wall, she heard Wan Qing's voice coming from outside the iron gate: "I'll say it again—if you need money, tell me. Don't get involved in that mess. The waters there are deep. Listen to me—would I ever steer you wrong?"
Jiang Mu's steps halted abruptly. She pressed herself against the door and peered through the crack, catching sight of Jin Chao and Wan Qing's shadows.
"You'd do best to stay out of my business," Jin Chao's voice was low and heavy.
Wan Qing tossed her cigarette butt and cursed, "Have I ever wasted my breath worrying about any other man like this? You Jiu, don't push me too far."
"What if I do?" Jin Chao's tone was indifferent, tinged with impatience.
Just as Wan Qing was about to retort, Jin Chao waved her off, pulled the iron gate open, and Jiang Mu's figure appeared unexpectedly. There was no avoiding it—twice in a row she'd been caught in awkward situations, and she felt utterly helpless. She stood at the doorway, unsure what to do.
Jin Chao merely narrowed his eyes and stared at her without a word, then stepped into the yard. Turning back to Wan Qing, who was still outside the gate, he said, "Don't come around here so often from now on." Then he locked the yard gate.
In the empty shed yard, the atmosphere grew still. Only after securing the lock did Jin Chao turn to face Jiang Mu, his expression stern. "Go inside. Don't come out here."
When he wasn't smiling, his expression looked rather fierce. Jiang Mu frowned and asked, "Why?"
Jin Chao's thin lips tightened. His gaze swept over her head to a corner of the yard, and he said to her, "Can't you see this place is full of stuff? It's not somewhere you should be."
Without thinking, Jiang Mu muttered, "Then why can she come here?"
Moonlight veiled like gauze reflected in her dark, moist eyes, shimmering like water or mist. Within them, a tiny spark of light flickered, vibrant and luminous.
Jin Chao slowly slipped his hands into his pockets, looked at her, and suddenly let out a soft laugh. "You... are you throwing a tantrum?"Jiang Mu was taken aback for a moment before she caught his meaning, flushing with embarrassment as she said, "What tantrum? I'm not throwing a tantrum. I have a very good temper—I just believe in fairness and justice."
Jin Chao nodded slightly, his jaw moving as he walked leisurely inside. "Right, a very good temper. No trace of morning grumpiness at all."
Jiang Mu instantly felt the subtle jab. The only time she wasn’t herself during the day was in the morning, and of course, he had to witness it.
She followed Jin Chao into the repair shop, mentally sorting through the messy web of relationships. Jin Fengzi worked for Boss Wan and must have heard about the three troublemakers who came yesterday. He had mentioned at the table earlier that he went back and gave Xiangzi a talking-to, but Jin Chao had changed the subject, likely out of consideration for Wan Qing’s presence.
Although Jiang Mu didn’t know what had happened between Jin Chao and Boss Wan, it was clear that there must have been a reason for them to part ways. However, Little Green Snake’s stance was ambiguous; she seemed to care quite a bit about Jin Chao.
Once inside the repair shop, Jin Chao began tidying up some scattered tools. Seeing Jiang Mu standing by the edge of the repair shop lost in thought, he assumed she was still sulking.
Strangely, he found himself instinctively thinking that if he didn’t placate her now, she would burst into tears the next moment.
In their younger days, Jin Chao would always try to appease her before she started crying—it was like a conditioned reflex etched into his body. He set down the tools in his hands, lit a cigarette, and glanced at her. "The back area is cramped and piled with stuff. Aren’t you afraid of mice?"
Jiang Mu snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him, finally realizing that Jin Chao was explaining why he hadn’t let her go to the back earlier.
She studied him for a few seconds before asking, "What’s this 'stirring up trouble' about?"
"It’s none of your business."
Jin Chao seemed unwilling to discuss it with her, but Jiang Mu’s intuition told her it must be related to what San Lai had mentioned earlier—the life-risking incident.
Jin Chao gathered some miscellaneous items from the repair shop and placed them on the shelves in the break room. Jiang Mu followed him in, leaning against the doorframe as she watched his back. "She seems to care about you quite a bit."
Silence.
Jin Chao didn’t respond. Only after methodically arranging everything did he turn to look at her. "Do you want to be late again tomorrow morning?"
Jiang Mu pursed her lips and said, "San Lai left the door open for you."
With that, she lifted the curtain and went to take a shower. When she came out, she peeked outside—the break room seemed quiet.
She thought Jin Chao had already gone to San Lai’s place, but as she reached the doorway and lifted the curtain, she saw him leaning against the table. His slender fingers held that old black Parker pen, his eyes downcast, as if lost in some memory.
The sound of Jiang Mu lifting the curtain snapped him out of his thoughts. When he raised his gaze and his eyes met hers, Jiang Mu felt an inexplicable panic.
She rushed over to Jin Chao almost instantly, snatched the pen from his hand, and turned to walk back to her room. Her cheeks burned, and her heart raced uncontrollably, as if all the years of longing she had harbored for Jin Chao were now laid bare before him through that pen.
If this longing had been mutual, perhaps she wouldn’t have felt so humiliated. But he hadn’t kept the promise tied to that pen—he hadn’t returned to see her, and in the end, he hadn’t even sent her a single letter or made a single phone call.She kept their promise, waiting for many years, only to realize in the end that everything had been her wishful thinking. She was unwilling to admit it, yet had no choice but to acknowledge that this fountain pen made her feel utterly ashamed in front of Jin Chao.
Just as Jiang Mu was about to step into the room, she suddenly halted, turned around, and glared at him with feigned anger: "I only kept this fountain pen because I like vintage things, not because of you."
After saying this, she rushed into the room, threw herself on the bed, and buried herself under the blankets. Her eyes reddened instantly, every cell radiating a sense of helpless shame.
There was no movement from outside for a long time. Jiang Mu pushed the blankets aside and turned off the room’s light. After what felt like an eternity, Jin Chao’s voice seemed to roll through layers of dark clouds, carrying the weight of the late night as it drifted in from behind the curtain: "Your handwriting has improved quite a bit."
...
"Next time, the next time we meet, I’ll check how your handwriting is coming along."
"Will you come back?"
"I will."
...
He hadn’t forgotten.
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