One month before the college entrance exam, Jiang Mu unexpectedly discovered that Jiang Yinghan had started dating a foreign man and had already reached the stage of discussing marriage. Immigration procedures were underway. Prior to this, Jiang Yinghan had kept it completely secret from her, intending to tell her after the exams. However, some overseas mail caught Jiang Mu’s attention.
This led to a major disagreement between the two. Jiang Mu refused to follow Jiang Yinghan abroad for university—she knew nothing about her stepfather and inwardly resisted this sudden appearance of a man in their lives.
Especially after meeting the balding, greasy man named Chris, her aversion grew stronger. She couldn’t understand why her usually composed and dignified mother would marry a pot-bellied, wrinkled foreign old man. More importantly, they had known each other for less than half a year—it was an utterly unreliable whirlwind marriage. Yet Jiang Yinghan seemed bewitched, ready to leave her homeland behind for this wretched old man.
Jiang Mu tried every possible way to persuade her mother, but this time Jiang Yinghan remained firm. That month, Jiang Mu could barely focus on her exam preparations. On the day of the English test, she was running a high fever, slumped over her desk, her mind in a muddle. In the end, she didn’t even meet the cutoff score for first-tier universities.
Jiang Yinghan blamed herself deeply. In contrast, Jiang Mu showed no signs of disappointment. With her scores, she could only enroll in a foundation program or attend lower-tier universities in Australia—far from reflecting her true abilities. She proposed repeating her final year of high school, hoping this would convince Jiang Yinghan to stay in the country and not be deceived by that wretched old man.
To her astonishment, that evening Jiang Yinghan told her, “I’ve accompanied you all these years, and you’re an adult now. I won’t oppose your choice to stay in China and retake the exams, but I will still proceed with my plan to live with Chris in Melbourne. Mumu, it’s time I had a life of my own too.”
Jiang Yinghan’s final compromise was to allow Jiang Mu to stay in China for a year of retakes, on the condition that she had to live with her father—Jiang Yinghan couldn’t bear to leave her alone.
The long-unused term “father” suddenly reappeared in Jiang Mu’s life. She then learned that Jiang Yinghan had always maintained contact with Jin Qiang. Perhaps to prevent her from having any involvement with that side of the family, Jiang Yinghan had never mentioned it all these years.
According to the plan, Jiang Yinghan and Chris would travel to Australia in July to handle procedures, then return to settle their domestic business. During that time, they would stop by Tonggang to visit Jiang Mu.
Before that, Jiang Mu had to go alone to her father’s home in Tonggang, a fourth or fifth-tier city in the north, and complete the procedures for repeating her senior year. Before leaving the country, Jiang Yinghan packed two suitcases of Jiang Mu’s belongings and sent them ahead to Jin Qiang’s house.
Jiang Yinghan had arranged everything for her. Jiang Mu had no idea how her mother and father had communicated. But on the eve of Jiang Yinghan’s departure, she suddenly revealed something shocking to Jiang Mu.
…
Jiang Mu had never imagined that the brother who had always indulged her, saved tasty treats for her, patiently taught her pinyin, read her bedtime stories, and tirelessly carried her around had no blood relation to her at all.It was in the fifth year of Jiang Yinghan and Jin Qiang's marriage when Jiang Yinghan still showed no signs of pregnancy. That year, Jin Qiang returned to his hometown to visit his parents, while Jiang Yinghan remained in Suzhou and did not accompany him. Due to her inability to conceive, Jiang Yinghan was called a "barren hen" by her in-laws, and their relationship deteriorated to the point of being irreparable.
It was during that visit, without Jiang Yinghan's knowledge, that Jin Qiang's family tricked him into returning and arranged for him to spend the night with a village girl after getting him drunk. When he woke up, Jin Qiang realized the absurdity of what he had done.
He rushed back to Suzhou overnight, consumed by guilt. Watching Jiang Yinghan force herself to drink bitter traditional medicine day after day, he finally suggested adopting a child.
But Jiang Yinghan always felt that an adopted child would still be someone else's, not her own, and she refused to agree.
Not long after, the village girl showed up at their door, and Jin Qiang's parents also came to Suzhou, seemingly intent on pressuring Jiang Yinghan to step aside.
All the grievances and anger Jiang Yinghan had endured over the years erupted at once. Standing in the house left to her by her parents, she ordered the Jin family to leave. Jin Qiang, tears streaming down his face, begged for her forgiveness, while his parents desperately tried to pull him away, urging him to divorce Jiang Yinghan. Behind them, the young rural woman wiped her tears and called out, "Brother Qiang."
At that moment, Jiang Yinghan felt as if the entire world were spinning. Sharp, mocking voices seemed to pierce her eardrums from all directions. Enduring the insults from the Jin family, she suddenly felt that all her years of patience had been in vain. It wasn't that she was unwilling to divorce Jin Qiang; it was that she couldn't bear to watch him turn around and marry a younger woman, allowing his parents to fulfill their wish of holding a grandson, while her own life was utterly destroyed.
So she crouched down and whispered in Jin Qiang's ear, "As long as you cut ties with your family, I'll agree to adopt a child with you."
For Jin Qiang, it was an excruciating choice—between the parents who had raised him and the wife he had lived with for years. But he had left his hometown long ago and could never return. A divorce would leave him with nothing, and more importantly, he couldn't let go of Jiang Yinghan. Besides, he was still angry about how his parents and sister had deceived him into returning home. So he immediately persuaded his parents to leave and rarely visited them afterward.
That same year, they adopted a two-year-old boy and named him Jin Chao.
In the first few years, their focus was entirely on the little boy. Although there were cracks in their relationship, they seemed too preoccupied to address them.
Unexpectedly, when Jin Chao was four, Jiang Yinghan accidentally became pregnant. From the moment she learned of her pregnancy, all her attention shifted to the child in her womb. After Jin Mu was born, Jiang Yinghan was unwilling to devote any more energy to Jin Chao.
To Jiang Yinghan, Jin Chao was not a likable boy. He was an abandoned infant Jin Qiang had arranged to bring from their hometown. Unlike other lively and cheerful little boys, from the very first day, he stared at her with resistant, guarded eyes. Even though he was only two years old and had a pleasant appearance, Jiang Yinghan could still sense the stubbornness and roughness of a northern man in his small frame.Jin Qiang's family had solidified Jiang Yinghan's prejudice against northerners, just as she could never bring herself to like Jin Chao. After all, he wasn't her own child—merely a reluctant compromise from those years when she had forced Jin Qiang to make a choice. Jin Chao's constant presence served as an endless reminder of Jin Qiang's betrayal and the humiliation she had endured for so long.
Especially after Jiang Mu was born, Jiang Yinghan found Jin Chao increasingly grating. Jin Qiang's salary wasn't high, and having to support two children made their lives progressively more strained.
Jiang Yinghan poured all her affection into her biological daughter while growing increasingly cold and even resentful toward Jin Chao.
Poverty wears down even the deepest bonds. Jin Qiang argued with her about this several times, and over time, their once-strong feelings eroded under intensifying conflicts. The fissures they had temporarily concealed soon resurfaced, widening until they became irreparable, ultimately leading to divorce. When Jiang Mu's grandfather passed away, Jiang Yinghan didn't even notify Jin Qiang and his son.
Jiang Yinghan chose to reveal these old grievances to Jiang Mu before going abroad because she understood that, after all these years, her daughter still held those two in her heart. In corners unseen by her mother, Jiang Mu might still yearn for familial affection from them. But Jiang Yinghan knew Jin Qiang was a man whose tough exterior hid weakness—he would only shatter the idealized image of fatherhood in her grown daughter's heart. As for that boy, even as a child his gaze carried ambition, always reminding her of an ungrateful wolf cub. He shared no blood ties with Jiang Mu, and she didn't want her daughter having any connection with him. Thus, before leaving the country, she felt compelled to tell Jiang Mu these things—to let her focus on her studies abroad without clinging to false hopes.
After Jiang Yinghan went abroad, Jiang Mu didn't immediately seek out her father and brother. She stayed home alone, processing this shocking revelation about her past. It wasn't until August that she finally packed a single suitcase and embarked on the journey to Tonggang.
As dusk settled, the train finally pulled into Tonggang North Station. Jiang Mu stepped off amidst the bustling crowd and followed the flow of passengers out of the station.
Before boarding the train, she had called the number Jiang Yinghan left her. Jin Qiang himself answered. Years without contact made his voice sound unfamiliar, even stirring nervousness in her. She fell silent momentarily until Jin Qiang broke the stillness: "Is that Mumu? Have you boarded yet?"
Jiang Mu managed a soft "Mm."
Jin Qiang asked about her arrival time, promised to pick her up, and reminded her to travel safely.
Just half an hour earlier, Jiang Mu had received a text from an unknown number: "South Square exit."
So after exiting the station, she scanned the signs and followed another stream of people up an escalator. Emerging at street level, the unfamiliar cityscape and dry air left her momentarily disoriented. No skyscrapers stood nearby—just a massive billboard across from the station proclaiming "Automotive Steel Cables - Strongest in Asia," alongside advertisements for various seals and gaskets. The haphazard view formed her first impression of Tonggang, and it wasn't favorable.
Passengers dispersed in all directions around her. Coach buses waited nearby, while a scattering of red taxis and motorcycle taxis lined the streets.Jiang Mu stood bewildered amid the bustling crowd, searching for the familiar image of her father in her memory. Suddenly, a young boy unexpectedly dashed toward her, grinning cheekily as he said, "Sister, give me some money for food."
Jiang Mu looked down at the boy, who appeared no older than ten. He wore worn-out sneakers, his skin was dark and rough, and his eyes held a mischievous arrogance. She immediately stepped back a few paces and told him, "I don’t have cash."
To her surprise, the boy grabbed her directly and pulled out a QR code. "Just give me something, sister."
Jiang Mu hadn’t expected the boy to be so strong—his grip distorted her chiffon blouse. She quickly tugged at her collar and was about to turn and glare at him when she noticed four or five young men loitering not far away, some squatting, others standing. They smoked cigarettes and grinned with ill intentions, while one shot her a fierce warning look. Beside her, the boy spoke again, "Give me something, and I’ll let you go."
Jiang Mu’s expression grew cold as she realized the boy was part of the group. No wonder he acted so brazenly—she had likely been targeted. A flicker of fear crossed her heart. In this unfamiliar place, if those men followed her, she had no idea what might happen. She took out her phone, ready to scan the code and pay to avoid trouble, when suddenly a lighter flew through the air and struck the boy squarely on the forehead. It then fell to the ground with a sharp crack, shattering upon impact.
Both the boy and Jiang Mu were startled, and they simultaneously turned to look left. Parked by the roadside was a white Volkswagen, and leaning against the car door was a tall man, staring expressionlessly at the boy.
Upon recognizing the man, the boy’s face stiffened, and he instinctively glanced back at his companions. Meanwhile, the man by the car slowly shifted his gaze toward the group of youths and casually remarked, "Patrol officers are coming."
The delinquents cursed under their breath and immediately scattered, running off. Seeing this, the boy forgot about Jiang Mu and hurried after them. The south square returned to calm.
Jiang Mu stood frozen for a moment before turning her attention back to the man leaning against the car. If she remembered correctly, this car had been parked there since she exited the station. How long had he been standing there, watching her? Had he observed her confusion, her disappointment, her panic—as if watching a comedy?
Their eyes met for a few seconds before the man suddenly opened the driver’s side door and glanced at her. "How long are you going to stand there? Get in."
His voice was unfamiliar, his appearance unknown, yet there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about him. Jiang Mu found it hard to believe and widened her eyes, as if doing so would allow her to see him more clearly.
She then pushed her luggage and strode toward him. As she reached the curb, the man picked up her suitcase, headed straight for the trunk, and loaded it inside.
Jiang Mu didn’t get in the car but stood by the curb, her gaze fixed intently on him. He wore a slightly tight white T-shirt, and as he lifted the luggage, the defined muscles of his arms strained visibly. Under his short, tousled hair was a strong, handsome profile—the complete image of a mature man, with little trace of the overlapping memories she held.
After closing the trunk, the man noticed Jiang Mu still standing by the car door. He raised his slender eyelids slightly and walked over to her, casually quipping, "Why aren’t you getting in? Do you need me to open the door for you?"After speaking, he pulled open the passenger door, resting one hand casually on the frame as he glanced at her indifferently. "After you."
The word "please" carried no gentlemanly courtesy, instead laced with a roguish sarcasm. Jiang Mu stared intently at him, her palms growing damp with sweat. Just as she was about to speak, her voice came out hoarse. She cleared her throat awkwardly while the man remained motionless, his gaze fixed on her as if observing her every move.
It wasn't until Jiang Mu spoke again, cautiously asking, "Are... are you Jin Chao?" that he reacted.
Hearing her question, the man first lowered his head slightly, then gave a faint tug at the corner of his mouth before raising his eyes to meet hers with a direct and forceful gaze. "Don't recognize me anymore?"
His words brought a flush to Jiang Mu's cheeks. Not intending to prolong her embarrassment, Jin Chao stated bluntly, "Jin Qiang sent me to pick you up."
Upon hearing her father's name, Jiang Mu stopped hesitating and got into the passenger seat, obediently fastening her seatbelt. She watched as Jin Chao strode around the front of the car back to the driver's seat and started the engine.
Beside her sat someone who was once her closest family, the brother she had worried about all these years. In truth, Jiang Mu had countless questions she wanted to ask him over the years - why hadn't he contacted her? Had he been well all this time? Did he receive her letters? Had he moved away too? Or why hadn't he returned?
He had promised to come back to see her, and he had never broken a promise before. Why had he broken this one?
But since learning that Jin Chao shared no blood relation with her, these questions seemed to gradually explain themselves, and she could no longer bring herself to ask them.
Sitting together in this enclosed space, the sense of unfamiliarity was no less than if Jiang Mu were alone with a strange adult man. She sat ramrod straight, hands awkwardly resting on her knees, occasionally stealing glances at the man beside her from the corner of her eye.
He controlled the steering wheel with one hand, appearing very experienced. After several intersections, they encountered a red light with a sixty-second countdown. Jin Chao took out his phone and casually scrolled through it. Jiang Mu glanced at him uncomfortably, and though Jin Chao didn't look up, he seemed to sense her gaze and asked, "Transferred from Beijing?"
Jiang Mu replied properly with a "Mm-hmm."
"How did you get to Beijing?"
"Also by high-speed rail."
"What time did you leave home?"
"Six-thirty in the morning."
"Did you lock the door?"
"Ah? Yes, locked."
Jin Chao put away his phone and glanced at her, taking in her proper sitting posture and obedient manner of answering questions. He suddenly made a "tsk" sound before restarting the car.
Jiang Mu didn't understand what this gesture meant but felt too embarrassed to ask. She could only silently shift her gaze to the window. It should be rush hour now, but the streets here weren't particularly crowded. Jin Chao drove extremely fast the whole way, taking several turns so sharply to beat red lights that he nearly made Jiang Mu's heart leap out of her chest. She quietly gripped the door handle, staring nervously through the windshield.
At another red light, Jin Chao glanced sideways at her small hands gripping so tightly her knuckles turned white, and couldn't help snorting. "What are you afraid of?"
Embarrassed, Jiang Mu released her grip on the door handle and asked, "Did you know those people at the station earlier?"
Jin Chao countered, "Do I look like I know them?"
Jiang Mu really did glance at him from the corner of her eye. That young boy earlier had clearly changed expression upon seeing Jin Chao - it was hard to say he didn't know those people.In Jiang Mu's memory, her brother had always been an outstanding student. From elementary school through junior high, he remained at the top of his class. His room was filled with books, and she recalled how he could already comprehend profound literary classics as early as fifth or sixth grade. He enjoyed reading novels about World War II and books related to modern Chinese history. He had explained the Huaihai Campaign to her and told her about the causes of the American Civil War. In her recollection, her brother was an exceptionally brilliant scholar, destined to become a successful and accomplished individual.
In Jiang Mu's imagination, her brother now might have graduated from university or be preparing for postgraduate entrance exams. She pictured him in a clean white shirt, perhaps even wearing glasses—refined and erudite.
But the man beside her wore faded jeans and a white T-shirt with unidentified yellowish-black stains on the sleeves. There was no scholarly elegance about him; instead, he exuded a sharp, capable intensity that starkly contrasted with the image she had envisioned.
As if sensing Jiang Mu's lingering gaze on his sleeve, Jin Chao simply rolled up his short sleeves to his shoulders, turning them into sleeveless. The yellowish-black stains were tucked inside, revealing bronzed muscles that radiated a raw, powerful energy.
Feeling embarrassed, Jiang Mu averted her eyes. Jin Chao said to her, "They're just a bunch of useless troublemakers. Like guerrilla fighters, they often hang around the train station, specifically targeting women traveling alone as they exit. They ask for a bit of money to play games or indulge in food and drinks."
"Don't the police do anything about it?"
"How can they? They openly ask for money but covertly rob. The ones doing it are just kids, asking for ten or twenty yuan—can they really detain them? At most, they shoo them away if they catch them. If you run into this kind of situation again, be more fierce."
Jiang Mu was puzzled. "How do I be fierce?"
Jin Chao turned the steering wheel and pulled the car over to the roadside. After stopping, he replied, "Call me."
"—"
With that, he opened the car door and got out. Jiang Mu stared blankly at him, then pulled out her phone and found the message that said "South Plaza Exit." She quietly saved the unfamiliar number, labeling it "Brother." Then she lifted her head and saw the man standing at the shop entrance. She remembered Jin Chao was five years older than her, so he should be 23 now. His long legs were clad in faded jeans—how tall was he? He was already 170 cm at 14, and now he seemed to be around 185 cm. That unfamiliar silhouette left Jiang Mu feeling somewhat dazed.
So she lowered her head again and silently changed the contact name to: Jin Chao.
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