Speed and Love

Life never follows a predetermined path, and no one knows when or where unexpected events might occur.

The high school freshmen at the affiliated high school had started their winter break, leaving the campus somewhat deserted. The sophomores and juniors wouldn’t get their break until closer to the Spring Festival. In her most recent exams, Jiang Mu had climbed into the top thirty in her grade, thanks largely to her math scores boosting her overall results. Yet, it seemed she had no way to share this good news with Jin Chao.

On Saturday evening, Zhao Meijuan took Jin Xin to the public bathhouse again. Jiang Mu returned home in the dark, and as soon as she set down her backpack, she received a call from Xiao Yang. In a hurried tone, he said, “It’s bad—Shandian’s been snatched away.”

Jiang Mu dropped her backpack and ran out of the neighborhood, hailing a taxi to Feichi. Xiao Yang was waiting at the car shop. After she got out of the taxi, she learned that Jin Chao had been away for several days. Tie Gongji had gone to a client’s place to pick up a car, and San Lai happened to be absent that day as well. Xiao Yang had gone to a small shop at the other end of the street to buy cigarettes. Shandian had been lying at the entrance of the car shop, but while Xiao Yang was paying, he heard a burst of barking. By the time he finished paying and returned to the shop with his cigarettes, Shandian was no longer at the door. All he saw was a van speeding away at the end of the street.

Jiang Mu was instantly stunned. Her intuition told her this wasn’t a simple matter—no one would target a dog for no reason.

Just then, Tie Gongji returned with the car. She rushed to his vehicle and asked, “Where is Ten Thousand Records Car Shop?”

After listening to Xiao Yang recount the incident again, Tie Gongji frowned and said, “I do know where it is, but the problem is there are several Ten Thousand Records shops in Tonggang. Even if they really took Shandian back to one of their shops, we don’t know which one it would be.”

“Then we’ll search them one by one,” Jiang Mu declared, pulling open the back door and getting in. Xiao Yang locked the rolling shutter and took the passenger seat, while Tie Gongji turned the car around and headed for the nearest Ten Thousand Records.

They parked in front of the shop, where the lights were still on. Two young workers were tidying up, and when they saw Tie Gongji barging in with a young man and woman, they sneered and came forward. “Didn’t you say you’d never set foot in Ten Thousand Records again? How do you have the nerve to come back?”

Tie Gongji glared at one of the boys and asked, “Has anyone from here been to Feichi?”

The boy, who looked about Jiang Mu’s age and had a sloppy demeanor, retorted, “Why would we go to Feichi? Did your shop hire a girl now?”

Jiang Mu frowned. Tie Gongji didn’t bother arguing with him and took Xiao Yang to search the repair bay and office. Jiang Mu stood in the lobby, observing the apprentice. His jacket was filthy, his corduroy pants saggy, and his sleeves were stained with reddish marks, as if his clothes hadn’t been washed in ages.

After finding nothing, Tie Gongji and Xiao Yang took Jiang Mu to the second car shop, but again, they came up empty-handed. Frustrated, Jiang Mu asked, “Are there any other Ten Thousand Records shops in Tonggang?”

Tie Gongji told her, “There’s one larger one, but it’s unlikely. Jin Fengzi is at that shop—I already called him.”

“Can we call the police?”

Xiao Yang said hesitantly, “It’s not very likely the police would search all over Tonggang for a dog.”

Tie Gongji had no choice but to drive back. Sitting in the back seat, Jiang Mu’s heart remained unsettled. Though Tonggang wasn’t a large city, finding a dog here was like searching for a needle in a haystack.Shandian was the dog she had watched grow up, from toddling unsteadily to becoming majestic and imposing. She had never kept a pet before, and Shandian was essentially her first real pet. She didn’t know if other dogs were as sensible as Shandian—staying by her side when she was scared, hugging her when she was sad, and bouncing around joyfully when she was happy. No matter when she came to Feichi, Shandian always greeted her with the utmost enthusiasm, escorted her to the roadside when she left, and many times, after she got into the car and looked back, Shandian would still be standing by the roadside, wagging his tail at her until she was completely out of sight.

To Jiang Mu, Shandian was family. From the moment she and Jin Chao proposed keeping him, she had decided that no matter where life took her, she would never abandon Shandian. Faced with the sudden reality of Shandian being taken, Jiang Mu simply couldn’t stay calm.

Xiao Yang suggested printing some missing dog posters, but Jiang Mu knew Shandian hadn’t just wandered off—he had been deliberately taken. Missing posters likely wouldn’t do much good.

As the car sped toward Feichi, Jiang Mu kept her eyes fixed intently outside the window. Every time she spotted a dog on the street, her expression grew tense. As the night deepened, her vision grew increasingly blurry. The passing street scenes outside the window blurred into streaks of neon lights. Suddenly, something flashed in her mind. She slapped the back of the front seat and said to Tie Gongji, “Turn back to the first auto shop.”

Tie Gongji swung the steering wheel, and the car cut through the alley, pulling up in front of the first auto shop. The boy in corduroy pants looked at them in surprise and asked, “Why are you back?”

Jiang Mu rushed up to him and demanded, “Show me your hands.”

The boy eyed her suspiciously. “Who are you?”

Jiang Mu’s brows furrowed. Without a word, Tie Gongji stepped forward and grabbed the boy’s wrist. Jiang Mu said to him, “Check his sleeve—is that paint?”

As soon as she spoke, the boy began struggling and cursing. “What are you doing? Are you crazy?”

Xiao Yang stepped in to help, and another man from the auto shop came over, shouting, “Tie Gongji, are you here to cause trouble?”

By then, Xiao Yang had already grabbed the boy’s sleeve and sniffed it, his expression shifting abruptly. “It smells like blood.”

Jiang Mu looked up and asked Tie Gongji, “Are there any areas in this auto shop we haven’t searched yet?”

Tie Gongji released the boy and made a dash toward the back, but two scruffy-looking mechanics descended the iron staircase. One of them, holding a socket wrench, pointed it at Tie Gongji and yelled, “You think Wan Ji is your own house? Coming and going as you please? Take one more step and see what happens.”

Jiang Mu’s blood boiled. Clenching her fists tightly, the thought that Shandian might be locked up somewhere here made her unable to hold back. She shouted, “Shandian! Shandian!”

There was no response. The man with the socket wrench walked up to Jiang Mu. “What are you yelling for? Trying to summon a ghost? If you’re calling for lightning, I’ll give you thunder.”

Jiang Mu withdrew her gaze and glared at him fiercely. The man raised the socket wrench, saying, “Why are you looking at me like that? If you beg me, maybe I’ll help you ask where the thunder is.”

As he spoke, he moved the socket wrench toward Jiang Mu’s face as if to stroke it. Just as Jiang Mu was about to dodge, a shadow fell over her from behind. A hand gently pushed the socket wrench aside, and then a man’s voice came from behind her. “Ning Huo, as soon as I arrive, I see you harassing a young lady. Did your chat with Boss Wan last time not get through to you?”Jiang Mu whirled around to see Jin Fengzi arriving with two men. Ning Huo asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Jin Fengzi shoved Jiang Mu inside without ceremony and said, "Business exchange. Let's see why your shop's performance has been stagnant."

Pushed into the auto shop by Jin Fengzi, Jiang Mu immediately rushed upstairs without thinking. Jin Fengzi called after her, "Come down. If you're looking for something, check the back."

Jiang Mu halted abruptly, ran back down, and dashed toward the rear workshop. A mechanic in corduroy pants blocked her path. Jiang Mu turned to glare at Jin Fengzi and his crew. The burly Jin Fengzi stared menacingly at the young man and said, "Looking for trouble? You dare block Jiu Ge's people? Don't want your hands anymore?"

The boy froze momentarily. Jiang Mu slipped past him and sprinted toward the back of the auto shop. Tie Gongji, familiar with the place, led her to the rear door. When it swung open, a large pool of blood stained the ground.

Jiang Mu's mind went blank with shock. When Jin Fengzi and the others caught up and peered inside, they cursed under their breath, "Fuck."

Jiang Mu frantically called out Shandian's name but received no response. Fear had completely left her as she charged back to confront the group. "Where's the dog? I'm asking you—where's the dog?"

Ning Huo remained nonchalant. "What dog? Is it illegal to slaughter a chicken on our own property?"

Jiang Mu trembled with rage. Jin Fengzi stepped in front of her, closing in on Ning Huo. "Where are Xiao Bian and Da Guang living now?"

Ning Huo met his gaze expressionlessly. "Don't know."

Jin Fengzi smirked coldly. "Fine. If we don't get this sorted out today, nobody leaves."

He pulled out his phone and made a call. Meanwhile, Jiang Mu felt chills running down her spine. The blood in the backyard hadn't fully dried—meaning Shandian might have been trapped there when they first arrived at the auto shop. She couldn't bear to imagine what had happened in those ten-odd minutes. The sheer volume of blood and its implications made her face grow increasingly grim.

Minutes later, Jin Fengzi informed Jiang Mu that the dog might be in Wushi Village, though the exact location was unclear.

Jiang Mu contacted San Lai, who had just returned from his mother's house. Upon hearing what happened, he immediately went back to his shop, picked up Xishi, and rushed over. Among Xishi's four puppies, Shandian had always been her least favorite—she'd only nursed him as a puppy when she felt like it. Strangely, when Xishi charged into the backyard and caught scent of the bloodstains, she became intensely agitated.

As Ning Huo and his crew began making calls, Jin Fengzi knocked the phone out of his hand and stationed himself in the shop to keep watch over them.

Tie Gongji and San Lai immediately drove two cars to Wushi Village. Located near Tongrenli, Wushi Village was an old district packed with single-story houses and narrow alleyways. The moment they stepped out of the cars, Xishi bolted forward. San Lai held her leash while Jiang Mu, Tie Gongji, and the others followed behind.

Wushi Village was vast, divided into First Village, Second Village, all the way to Fifth Village. Despite the winter cold, everyone was sweating from the search. Several men paused at a street corner to light cigarettes. Xishi panted with her tongue out, exhausted yet refusing to sit still—pacing restlessly and drooling.

Jiang Mu, who hadn't had a drop of water for hours, was too exhausted to run anymore. But the image of that pool of blood drove her on. She took the leash from San Lai and raced against time toward another alley.About ten minutes later, Xishi strangely circled back again, lingering around that area. Sensing something unusual, Jiang Mu led the dog to pause at each gate one by one.

Finally, at an iron gate adorned with a weathered and faded "fortune" character, Xishi suddenly grew extremely agitated and began barking frantically at the door.

Jiang Mu immediately slapped the iron gate and shouted inside, "Open up! Open the door!"

The commotion drew the attention of neighboring onlookers. Tie Gongji and the others standing at the street corner also heard Xishi's barks. They stamped out their cigarettes and hurried into the alley toward the sound.

Just then, the iron gate creaked open, and a head popped out impatiently. "Who is it?"

As the gate swung open, Xishi's barks grew increasingly ferocious. Jiang Mu recognized the person—it was Pingtou, the one who had caused trouble at Feichi, also known as Xiao Bian. She demanded, "Is Shandian inside?"

Xiao Bian was equally startled to see Jiang Mu and immediately tried to lock the gate. Jiang Mu thrust her foot forward to block it, but Xiao Bian paid her no mind. Spotting another group of men approaching from the alley, he yanked the gate shut with all his might. Jiang Mu's calf got caught in the iron door, and she pounded on it in pain.

Tie Gongji and the others rushed over, saw what was happening, and forcefully shoved the gate open. However, the moment the iron gate swung wide, everyone froze. Beneath the persimmon tree in the yard hung a blood-soaked dog, a rope tied around its neck. Its black fur was drenched in blood, dripping continuously. Its mouth was bound tightly with hemp rope, its eyelids drooping—it had lost all will to resist. Even amid Xishi's frantic barking, it showed no reaction, leaving everyone uncertain whether it was dead or alive.

The sudden sight of such a brutal and bloody scene stunned not only Jiang Mu but also the men behind her.

Tie Gongji stormed forward, kicked Xiao Bian, and cursed, "You're worse than an animal!"

Da Guang emerged from the room, taunting, "It's just a damn animal. Since you're here, why not join us for some dog meat?"

Xiao Yang, usually timid, was provoked by the scene and lunged at Da Guang, the two grappling fiercely. Chaos erupted in the yard. Trembling, Jiang Mu shouted to San Lai, "A knife, scissors..."

Ignoring the blood covering Shandian, she desperately supported the dog. San Lai dashed into the rental house, found a pair of scissors, and cut the rope suspending Shandian. Jiang Mu gathered the bloodied dog into her arms.

Xiao Yang, being beaten by Da Guang while covering his head, screamed hysterically, "Jiu Ge won't let you get away with this! Just you wait..."

Da Guang roared back, "Let him come! He ruined Wan Ji's business and now wants to mess with the Alliance's interests. Boss Wan won't tolerate him. You think he can really do anything to us? Hasn't he had enough of prison food?"

The night was eerily still, without a whisper of wind. Jiang Mu stood under the persimmon tree, clutching the blood-drenched Shandian. The bottomless lake in her mind suddenly drained completely, revealing a black hole at its base—sealed shut by countless iron cages. Beyond those cages lay a world she had never touched, one that filled her with dread, a world steeped in crime, welded shut by the law.

Her mind felt as if struck by thunder and lightning; a cold, tidal wave of coldness assaulted her heart, chilling her from within.

San Lai called out, "Xishi, come here."Xishi and Da Guang were old acquaintances, so she immediately pounced toward Da Guang. Da Guang grew fearful at the sight of Xishi and didn't even mind Xiao Yang darting around the courtyard. San Lai called Jiang Mu's name twice before she mechanically turned her head and heard him say, "I'll bring the car over. You take Shandian to the alley entrance."

Jiang Mu nodded unconsciously. Just as San Lai rushed out of the yard, Shandian in her arms let out a faint whimper. Jiang Mu suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing Shandian was still alive. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. She crouched down, took off her coat to wrap around Shandian, and limped toward the alley entrance despite the pain, continuously murmuring to him: "Hold on, Shandian. It's okay now. I'm taking you away. We're leaving right now. We can go home..."

She rambled incoherently to Shandian, who slightly opened his eyes. Whether by scent or sound, he recognized Jiang Mu and let out a pained whimper, as if recounting his ordeal to her. Jiang Mu couldn't hold back her tears: "I know, I know. I'm taking you to the hospital. We'll be fine once we get to the hospital..."

Shandian wanted to wag his tail in response as he always had, but he seemed to have exhausted all his energy - his tail twitched slightly before drooping again.

San Lai pulled up in the car, got out, and took Shandian from Jiang Mu's arms to place him in the back seat. While driving rapidly, he called his friend who was a veterinarian.

Shandian's life force was fading fast. Jiang Mu avoided his wounds and gently stroked his fur while calling his name. He only responded weakly occasionally, eventually becoming almost completely still.

Jiang Mu had never been so terrified - afraid of a vibrant life quietly slipping away beside her. Her body kept trembling, her eyes fixed intently on the road ahead, yet she didn't dare urge San Lai to hurry further.

Fortunately, Tonggang never had traffic jams at night. The car soon arrived at a pet hospital. Jiang Mu picked up the unconscious Shandian and rushed inside following San Lai.

The process was chaotic. She didn't even get a clear look at the doctor's face before Shandian was taken from her hands.

After examination, the doctor immediately scheduled surgery for Shandian. There weren't many reputable pet hospitals in Tonggang. Because of his work, San Lai knew several veterinarians, and this friend was among the best in Tonggang. If this person couldn't help, Shandian wouldn't make it through.

However, San Lai couldn't stay long. Xishi was still in Wushi Village, and Tie Gongji's situation remained unclear. He had to return immediately but worried Jiang Mu couldn't handle things alone, so he contacted Jin Fengzi to come quickly.

Not long after San Lai left, Jin Fengzi arrived at the pet hospital. When he saw Jiang Mu covered in blood sitting alone in the hospital corridor, he was startled. The young girl sat trembling on the cold plastic chair, whether from cold or fear.

He sat opposite Jiang Mu but couldn't find comforting words for a long time. Added to his general inability to offer comfort - saying "accept fate" seemed inappropriate since the dog wasn't dead yet, while optimistic words might backfire if the dog died later.

After much thought, straightforward Jin Fengzi simply asked: "Little sister, want some alcohol to calm your nerves?"Normally, Jiang Mu would never touch alcohol, but she couldn't suppress the chills running through her body. She gave Jin Fengzi a slight nod, and he immediately dashed to the nearby convenience store, returning with a bag of canned beers. He casually opened one and handed it to her.

As the night deepened, Jiang Mu's stomach remained empty. The moment the beer went down, warmth spread through her belly, and her thoughts cleared considerably. Silently clutching the can, she suddenly asked in a subdued voice, "Do you think Shandian might die?"

Jin Fengzi truly had no answer to that. If it were a cat, he could have joked about nine lives—losing one still left eight. But Shandian was a dog, so he could only improvise: "Probably not. He's been with You Jiu for so long—must have inherited his tough luck."

Jiang Mu kept her head lowered, her hair obscuring her face. Her voice was muffled as she asked, "How long have you known him?"

"Who? You Jiu? Let's see... about seven or eight years. We've been together since our car-modding days."

Perhaps out of fear or nervousness, the beer can in Jiang Mu's hand kept crackling under her grip, the crisp sound echoing through the deserted hospital hallway. She and Jin Fengzi drank in silence across the corridor. Whether it was the alcohol taking effect or not, the fog in her mind suddenly ignited.

The sound of the can abruptly stopped. Her silhouette was hidden behind her hair, her expression unreadable, but her voice strained out from her throat: "Did Jin Chao... kill someone?"