Jiang Mu woke with a start in the morning, her first thought being, "Oh no, it's already so bright outside—I'm definitely late for school." It wasn't until she rushed through her washing up and dashed out of the bathroom that she realized there was no schoolbag in sight. Today seemed to be Sunday.
Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, she remembered Shandian, and her heart tightened again. Throwing on Jin Chao's jacket, she hurried outside. When she reached the repair shop, she saw Jin Chao standing at the entrance of the auto shop with a man, casually handing him a cigarette. Jiang Mu overheard the man ask, "When?"
Jin Chao's voice sounded serious: "In a few days. You'd better not come around here too often."
Jiang Mu slowed her steps as she walked out. At that moment, Xiao Yang returned from the restroom, and the man abruptly changed the subject, asking Jin Chao, "Boss, how much?"
Jin Chao waved a hand: "Just drive it away. No charge."
The man nodded to Xiao Yang: "Thanks for your help."
Xiao Yang replied with a smile: "Just pumping air, no big deal. Come back if you have any issues."
"Alright." With that, the man stood by the car and finished his cigarette.
As Jiang Mu stepped out of the repair shop, she saw San Lai squatting at the entrance of the pet shop, slurping noodles from a large bowl. His gaze, however, seemed to linger subtly on the man talking to Jin Chao. Unable to resist, Jiang Mu took another look at the man.
He appeared to be around forty, with a broad forehead, a hooked nose, dressed in a navy blue down jacket and a pair of old-fashioned leather boots. He looked quite sharp. Even though his back was turned to Jiang Mu, he seemed highly alert. The moment she observed him, he immediately turned and stared back at her.
Jiang Mu averted her eyes and asked, "Who's that guy?"
San Lai slowly withdrew his gaze and replied leisurely, "Just a customer."
Jiang Mu took out her phone and said to San Lai, "Send me the address of the animal hospital. I'm heading there right now. By the way, what happened after yesterday?"
San Lai set his bowl aside and, while searching for the location to send to Jiang Mu, recounted what had happened after he returned to Wushi Village. Xishi had indeed formed an inexplicable bond with Da Guang—biting no one else but him relentlessly. Since the dog belonged to San Lai, no one dared to touch it, so they tied it up tightly and left it in the yard.
By the time San Lai rushed back, Da Guang's pants had been torn off by Xishi, leaving him standing bare-bottomed in the yard, cursing loudly, his rear covered in dog bite marks. He kept insisting that his rabies vaccine antibodies would last for six months and that it was lucky he was the one bitten.
As for the fight itself, Jiang Mu hadn't witnessed it, but according to San Lai's account, the four men were all weaklings—none managed to take the others down despite brawling for a long time. If he had been there, he boasted, he could have made Da Guang kneel and sing the national anthem in no time.
Jiang Mu had already figured out San Lai's conversational style: no matter the topic, he would go to great lengths, rack his brains, and twist every chance to lavish praise upon himself—all without it seeming forced.
From his words, she gathered that although the four had fought yesterday, it likely hadn't been serious. The police were already on the scene when he arrived, and they all ended up at the police station. While stealing the dog was illegal, it didn't constitute a crime, so they faced administrative penalties. Today, someone from Wanji was coming to discuss compensation.
The thought of Wanji's people showing up again soured Jiang Mu's mood. Just the idea of seeing those faces made her feel disgusted.After San Lai sent the location to Jiang Mu, he looked up at her and said, "I heard Little Bian pinched you yesterday? Don't worry, his good days are numbered."
"What do you mean?"
San Lai picked up his large bowl and continued, "Your Brother Chao has already taken care of it. Jin Fengzi went to Boss Wan this morning and had Little Bian transferred to his team. Do you know why Old Jin is called Jin Fengzi?"
Jiang Mu shook her head blankly. San Lai laughed and said, "Because he's crazy, hahahaha..."
San Lai's laughter was so bizarre that Jin Chao, who had been busy, glanced over at them. Under Jin Chao's gaze, Jiang Mu felt inexplicably guilty.
She could vaguely recall doing some embarrassing things last night—like locking herself in the bathroom to vomit for a long time, trying to shoo Jin Chao away so he wouldn’t hear, and then inexplicably feeding him later. Though these actions weren’t something a sober person would do, she had been drunk. People who drink too much inevitably do shameful things; it shouldn’t be a big deal.
But for some reason, she felt Jin Chao’s gaze toward her this morning carried a different tone—scrutinizing, analytical, and something else she couldn’t quite put into words. He kept glancing at her off and on, making Jiang Mu feel as if she were steaming in a pot, uncomfortable all over. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she might have done something shameful without even realizing it.
So she hurriedly said to Jin Chao, "I’m going to the pet hospital to see Shandian. I’ll return your clothes later."
Without even looking at him, she rushed to hail a taxi by the roadside. Jin Chao stared at her retreating figure and called out, "Can you walk on your leg?"
"Yes, it’s fine."
With that, she vanished in a flash. When she arrived at the hospital and saw Shandian’s pitiful state, her mood sank again. Shandian was still lying there with its eyes closed, hooked up to an IV. She called its name twice, and its eyelids twitched slightly—but that was all. The situation was not good. Thinking of how lively and energetic Shandian used to be, Jiang Mu felt heartbroken. But all she could do now was hope the hospital would save it; there was nothing else she could do.
Shandian needed to remain hospitalized, so Jiang Mu had no choice but to return to Jin Qiang’s house to change clothes. Jin Qiang had just returned from his night shift. After Jiang Mu got drunk yesterday, Jin Chao had already informed Jin Qiang.
However, when Jin Qiang saw Jiang Mu return wearing Jin Chao’s jacket, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your mother called me yesterday. She said she’ll arrive in Tonggang on Saturday. I originally wanted to invite her over for a simple meal, but it seems she’s bringing that foreign old man and isn’t willing to come. Anyway, I’ve made the gesture—if she doesn’t want to, so be it. You should try to avoid going to Xiao Chao’s place too often from now on."
Jiang Mu was about to enter her room when she heard this. She suddenly turned back and looked at Jin Qiang, asking seriously, "Why?"
The three words were spoken with unusual intensity. Jin Qiang replied somewhat awkwardly, "Aren’t holidays coming up soon? You should focus on your schoolwork."
Jiang Mu glanced at him, nodded without another word, and went into her room.
She changed out of Jin Chao’s clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them in a bag. Then she spent some time solving problems and reading. As evening approached, Jiang Mu took the bag with Jin Chao’s clothes and went out. This time, she didn’t explicitly tell Jin Qiang where she was going, only saying she would be back later.When she rushed to the auto shop, a familiar red sports car was already parked at the entrance. Sure enough, someone from Wan's Auto had come to negotiate, but Jiang Mu never expected it would be Little Green Snake.
She suddenly recalled that conversation with San Lai.
"You Jiu would never want her."
"Why?"
"She's Boss Wan's daughter."
At the time, Jiang Mu couldn't understand, but now seeing Wan Qing again, she suddenly grasped the meaning behind San Lai's words.
She walked straight over to Jin Chao and handed him the bag she was carrying, overhearing Little Green Snake say to him: "You Jiu, say something. How should we resolve this?"
Jin Chao simply took the bag from Jiang Mu, his voice cold as he replied: "The dog isn't mine. Ask her how to resolve it."
Two or three men were still standing at the entrance. Jiang Mu didn't recognize them, but they were probably Boss Wan's people.
Upon hearing Jin Chao's words, Little Green Snake's expression stiffened slightly. Without even glancing at Jiang Mu, she stared at Jin Chao and said: "Just give me your stance. Do you want Xiao Bian and the others to come apologize, or should I directly kick them out? It's up to you."
Jin Chao slowly turned to face her: "Alright, my word is enough? Then have your father come here personally."
Wan Qing's face immediately changed, and she retorted at Jin Chao: "He's my dad, can't you just..."
"No." Jin Chao didn't give her a chance to continue.
Standing between Jin Chao and Wan Qing, Jiang Mu could clearly feel two opposing currents clashing fiercely in the air.
San Lai came over and pulled Jiang Mu aside, saying to her: "Give me a hand."
Jiang Mu kept looking back at the tense standoff at the auto shop entrance as she followed. Xi Shi stood obediently in the wash basin, covered in soap suds. Jiang Mu took off her jacket and rolled up her sleeves, scrubbing Xi Shi while asking San Lai: "Wan Qing... does she really like Jin Chao?"
San Lai sneered: "More than just like. She might as well paste 'marry me' on her face."
Hearing San Lai mention it, Jiang Mu learned that Little Green Snake and Jin Chao had met at Wan's Auto. He was good-looking, hardworking, and sharp. It didn't take long for Little Green Snake to notice him, and she started frequently visiting Jin Chao.
Some workers would privately joke about Jin Chao, calling him the Wan family's future son-in-law, saying all of Tonggang's Wan's Auto business would fall into his lap.
San Lai continued rambling: "Women are strange. Back when You Jiu was in school too—arrogant, cold and sharp-tongued with women—yet swarms of girls would flock to him. What's the appeal?"
Jiang Mu couldn't answer, because in her eyes, Jin Chao wasn't arrogant. It was just that most of the time he didn't want to get too close to others. People who've experienced too many goodbyes instinctively keep their distance. She was the same way.
So she asked: "Did Jin Chao and Wan Qing... ever get together?"
San Lai was silent for a long time. Only after rinsing all the suds off Xi Shi did he finally speak: "I don't know either."
"..."
"You Jiu's sister—well, the other sister, you know—Little Green Snake introduced her to an old Chinese doctor. It was quite effective, her condition stabilized and didn't progress further. After that, You Jiu treated her a bit better. Maybe to thank her, he even took her out to eat a few times. Whether they were together or not is hard to say, but after that incident happened, there was no way they could keep in touch. It's that incident Jin Fengzi told you about."Jiang Mu wasn't sure whether Jin Chao had discovered that matter and broken up with Wan Qing after they got together, or if they had fallen out just before becoming a couple. But judging by Wan Qing's reaction earlier, she probably still held unresolved feelings. Actually, Jiang Mu had sensed something during Wan Qing's last appearance, but this time the feeling seemed even stronger.
After drying her hands, Jiang Mu left San Lai's shop and noticed Wan Qing still lingering at the entrance. Seeing Jiang Mu emerge, Wan Qing directly asked, "Since You Jiu said to settle this with you, name your price."
Jiang Mu felt irritated—angry about the mess caused by Wan's people, not just the incident with Shandian but also the indelible harm inflicted on Jin Chao. Though Wan Qing might not be directly responsible, Jiang Mu found it impossible to be friendly toward her. She glanced at Wan Qing and retorted, "Do you think money can solve everything? Then, Sister Qing, how much is your life worth?"
Xiao Yang and Tie Gongji, apparently preparing to clock out, were idly munching on apples by the entrance while watching the scene. Jin Chao ignored the crowd, bent over working on something near the repair shop doorway.
Without giving Wan Qing a chance to respond, Jiang Mu turned to Xiao Yang and asked, "Any apples left? I want one too."
Xiao Yang fetched an apple from inside, washed it, and tossed it to her. Jiang Mu took a bite but found the apple soft rather than crisp. She walked over to Jin Chao and handed him the apple. "It's mealy. I don't want it."
A glint of curiosity flickered in Jin Chao's eyes. Last night's drunken antics were one thing, but now Jiang Mu was clearly sober and knew exactly what she was doing.
Yet he still bent down and took a bite of the apple she had eaten. His indulgence left Wan Qing stunned. Jiang Mu turned back and met Wan Qing's gaze expressionlessly. "I'll have the hospital send the bill directly to you."
Wan Qing glanced at Jin Chao once more before leaving with Old Man Wan's people without further delay.
Jiang Mu remained by the auto shop until the car disappeared from view. Suddenly, a voice sounded behind her: "Quite confident, aren't you? What makes you think I'd eat something you've bitten into?"
Without turning around, Jiang Mu replied softly, "Or would you prefer to keep being pestered by her?"
She then turned to face him. The evening neon lights blended with the sunset glow, casting a radiant hue over her face. Her clear, bright eyes sparkled like starlight, honest and transparent as the rising sun—sincere and straightforward, reminding him of his former self. Finally, a faint smile touched Jin Chao's lips.
Author's Note: Surprise! Update tomorrow afternoon~
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2021-09-11 10:30:24 and 2021-09-12 23:58:52~
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: 《Radiant》1, 42636267, 41074950, PeachEatsKiwis, Pau1;
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: dandan 43 bottles; Zhang Xiaorong 30 bottles; Yang Dani u 18 bottles; Orange Purple 9 bottles; Yoon Jeonghan 5 bottles; HUXUE, Ya ya ya ya ya! 2 bottles; odile, Zhuan Chong Nü Wu, Tao A Yang 1 bottle;
Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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