Xiao Yang had returned home for the New Year celebrations. Tie Gongji and Jin Fengzi had just arrived after finishing their New Year’s Eve dinners with their families. San Lai, having quarreled with Lao Lai earlier over repaying a significant sum of money on his behalf, had opted not to go back for the holidays this year.
So, by six o’clock, he and Jin Chao had already set up the hotpot. By the time Tie Gongji and Jin Fengzi arrived, the group had been drinking nonstop. When they heard knocking at the door at such a late hour, they were surprised. Their surprise only grew when they saw Jiang Mu standing outside.
As Jiang Mu stepped in, snow clung to her hair and shoulders. Dressed in a white coat, she looked like a snowman rolling in from the cold. But when she stood still, everyone noticed the disheveled state of her clothes—her white coat was stained with dirt. They were all startled. Jin Fengzi immediately stood up and exclaimed, “Girl, how did you end up like this on New Year’s Eve?”
San Lai, who had just lowered the rolling shutter, circled around to face her and asked in alarm, “What happened to you?”
Yet, Jiang Mu’s face was unusually bright with a smile as she stared intently at Jin Chao. Jin Chao had already straightened up from his recliner, frowning as he asked, “Why didn’t you leave?”
Her eyes burning with intensity, Jiang Mu replied, “I’m not leaving. I’m staying for New Year’s.”
Then, glancing at the nearly finished hotpot, she pouted pitifully and said, “Is there nothing left for me to eat?”
San Lai dragged a stool over for her. Jin Chao looked up at him and said, “Go get some more food.”
San Lai grinned and replied, “How could we let you go hungry, Your Highness? Please, allow this humble servant to prepare a feast fit for an emperor.”
Jiang Mu rewarded him with a radiant smile before turning her gaze to Tie Gongji and saying, “Let’s switch seats. I want to sit next to my brother.”
Hearing Jiang Mu’s unusually affectionate term for Jin Chao today, Tie Gongji chuckled and stood up. Jin Chao’s eyes darkened slightly as he watched her. Jiang Mu squeezed into the spot beside him. The corner was warm and cozy, and she stretched her legs out comfortably. Jin Chao glanced down at her dirt-stained coat and asked in a low voice, “What happened?”
But Jiang Mu seemed completely unbothered. Her eyes, glistening with moisture, remained fixed on him as she explained, “Everyone’s celebrating the New Year, so no one’s shoveling snow outside. The roads were too slippery.”
“Where did you come from?”
Jiang Mu pulled her chair closer to his and said, “From Dad’s place.”
Jin Chao furrowed his brow, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. “You walked all the way here like this?”
Jiang Mu shook her head, unzipping her coat. Her face and neck were flushed a soft pink. She tilted her head and murmured softly, “Not just walking—I ran part of the way, too.”
“…”
Jin Chao watched her silently. Jiang Mu tried to take off her dirty coat, but the corner was too cramped. As the coat slipped from her shoulders, she couldn’t fully extend her arms. Jin Chao reached around from behind her to help tug it off. His presence suddenly enveloped her. Jiang Mu lifted her head, and Jin Chao met her sparkling eyes, his own gaze inquisitive. Whether it was the alcohol or the festive spirit, his eyes lacked their usual coldness and instead held a faint, captivating glow. Jiang Mu looked at him, her lips curving into a smile.
Jin Chao stood up and hung Jiang Mu’s coat on the rack to his right. Underneath, she wore only a soft, light-blue mohair sweater. Suddenly feeling a chill, she hunched her shoulders slightly. Jin Chao sat back down and asked, “Are you cold?”Jiang Mu naturally extended her hand to him: "Brother, warm them for me."
Jin Chao slowly raised his eyebrows, staring at the hand she had extended toward him, and fell silent for a moment.
Before coming to Tonggang, Jiang Mu had only just learned about her true relationship with Jin Chao. Years of distance and practical reasons made her feel somewhat awkward around him, unsure of how to interact. Even after being there for so long, she had rarely seriously called him "brother," always feeling that the title was one-sided and unable to let go of the fact that he had neglected her for so many years.
Perhaps the only time she had consciously called him "brother" was when she asked him to go back to Jin Qiang's house to fetch her clothes, and Jin Chao had deliberately teased her into saying it.
Tonight, however, this was already the second time Jiang Mu had called him "brother" since entering the room. This unusual behavior left Jin Chao wondering what had provoked her. But with so many brothers around, it would be inappropriate to make a scene by holding her hand in front of others. He cleared his throat, lifted her wrist, and tucked her hand into his sweater pocket.
Jiang Mu had never seen him wear this piece of clothing before—soft and comfortable, it hung loosely on him, casual yet refined. The pocket held the warmth of his body, spreading from her fingertips to her heart. Jin Chao rested his elbow casually on the armrest, blocking the view of others. Jiang Mu’s arm slipped beneath his elbow, and though they weren’t touching, it felt as if she were holding onto him. On this cold and lonely night, she had finally found a sense of stability and belonging. Her smile hadn’t left her face since she entered the room.
But as her fingertips ventured further into the pocket, they suddenly brushed against something. Gradually, she discerned the shape of a key, with something attached to it. Jiang Mu froze for a moment, a thought flashing through her mind. In an instant, she pulled the key out of Jin Chao’s pocket.
As the key came into her hand, the small object attached to it fell into her line of sight. It was a square, handmade leather keychain with a somewhat retro style, engraved with four characters: "Yearning."
"Jin Chao... does he... have a woman?"—
"You’ll find the answer if you get the chance to find that key."
Jiang Mu stared at the small keychain in front of her, as if all the surrounding sounds had faded away. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Jin Chao. Beneath the cold, hardened exterior forged in a world of chaos, he was still the same Jin Chao—flesh and blood, with her in his heart. He might have lost the confidence and boldness of his youth, but he was still him, her Chao Chao.
Jin Chao had also turned to look at the keychain in her hand, his expression somewhat unnatural. Then he lifted his gaze, his eyes shifting to her face, filled with indescribable emotions. In that secluded corner, Jiang Mu smiled so brightly that her eyes curved into crescents. Her pale, cool skin flushed with a lovely rosy hue, spreading from the tip of her delicate nose down to her clean, elegant collarbone. The girl’s radiant beauty struck Jin Chao’s eyes, tinged with a hint of triumphant pride. He could only lower his gaze and curl his lips helplessly, as if the entire room had been captivated by her enchanting aura.
Jiang Mu turned her wrist, clutching the keychain in her palm, clearly with no intention of returning it. He let her keep it to play with, turning his head to pick up his drink.
San Lai came over with the pot, having prepared a new batch that wasn’t as spicy, and tossed in the shrimp that had been deveined.Jiang Mu gazed at him and recalled the first time she told San Lai her name, and the meaningful look in his eyes—
“What’s your name?”
“Jiang Mu.”
“Mu as in the ‘mu’ of ‘Yearning’?”
She clutched the keychain, tilting her head as she stared at him with a smile.
San Lai, amused by her gaze, chuckled along: “Don’t look at me with such infatuation. Your brother San Lai has been single for so long that even Xi Shi would look charming to me now. By the way, what are you laughing at?”
Jiang Mu put away the keychain and praised, “Brother San Lai, you’re such a good comrade.”
Though baffled, San Lai played along: “It’s mainly because I don’t have a proper workplace; otherwise, I’d definitely apply to join the Party.”
“…”
A TV hung on the wall of San Lai’s shop, usually used for projecting movies or playing games. That night, however, it was tuned to the Spring Festival Gala. Though no one was really watching, the background noise made the festive atmosphere feel stronger.
Once the food was served, Jiang Mu dug in heartily. Everyone could tell she was not only in high spirits but also had a great appetite—it was probably the most she had eaten since arriving here.
She even picked up her bowl and asked San Lai for some fennel dumplings.
San Lai asked in surprise, “I thought you didn’t like these?”
Jiang Mu replied with a smile, “I want to try them again.”
While the men drank and chatted boisterously, she never stopped eating, occasionally giggling along with their conversations.
Jin Chao, tall and long-legged, occupied a recliner by himself. Having drunk quite a bit, he looked unusually relaxed. From time to time, he glanced at Jiang Mu, who was eating with relish. Whenever she turned to look at him, he would respond with a faint smile in his eyes.
Whenever San Lai or Tie Gongji asked if she wanted more shrimp paste or yellow beef, Jiang Mu would put on a slightly proud expression and say, “I want my brother to cook it for me.”
Jin Chao had to sit up again and again to help her with the food. Eventually, he didn’t even bother lying back down, staying seated on the recliner and waiting to pick up the cooked dishes for her bowl.
San Lai couldn’t help remarking, “Is the food we cook poisoned or something?”
Jin Chao smiled faintly. Jin Fengzi, laughing heartily, offered Jiang Mu a drink but was met with a sharp glare from Jin Chao. San Lai slapped Jin Fengzi’s shoulder and scolded, “Are you out of your mind? Why do you keep offering her alcohol?”
He then turned to Jiang Mu and asked, “How about some soda? What would you like?”
Jiang Mu, warmed up from eating, sat in the cozy corner with fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose. She looked up and asked, “Do you have Sprite?”
San Lai stood up and replied, “Yeah, my big fridge has everything.”
Jiang Mu happily raised her hand and said, “With ice, please.”
Jin Chao chimed in from the side, “Just drink it at room temperature. Why add ice?”
Jiang Mu turned to him, holding up one finger: “Just one cube.”
Then she raised another finger: “Or maybe two.”
Immediately after, she raised two more: “How about four? But four is an unlucky number. Five, then? Please, brother?”
Jin Chao watched her bargaining with a hint of coquettishness and indulgingly turned away without another word.
Jin Fengzi, thoroughly drunk, rambled on: “A couple of days ago, Xiao Yong got into a car accident. He’s fine, but he probably won’t be active for a long time.”
As if suddenly realizing Jiang Mu was present, he clicked his tongue and glanced at Jin Chao. Jin Chao, however, remained calm and said, “She knows.”After speaking meaningfully, he stared at Jiang Mu: "She was my navigator during that competition."As these words fell, both seated individuals and San Lai, who had just returned with Sprite, froze simultaneously, turning their heads in unison to look at Jiang Mu who was engrossed in eating meat.
Jin Fengzi was the first to react, picking up his liquor and tapping it on the table as he said to Jiang Mu: "Girl, do you know what a navigator means to a racer?"
Jiang Mu set down her chopsticks and looked at him. Jin Fengzi continued with a mix of jest and seriousness: "Like a lover, they can make or break a racer, and can even cost a racer their life at any moment. That's why You Jiu never easily trusts anyone."
San Lai poured Sprite into a transparent glass, then dropped ice cubes into it. The foam bubbled fiercely, mirroring the turmoil in her heart, which also began to boil. A never-before-felt palpitation quietly sprouted, spreading instantly through her bloodstream to every limb. In that second, she heard the sound of her own heartbeat.
Author's Note: Leave a comment to enter the red envelope giveaway.
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions between 2021-09-17 10:47:54 and 2021-09-18 15:06:08~
Special thanks to: lee for the Rocket launcher;
17444142 for the grenade;
And the following for landmines: (3), lily_dengcr, "Dazzling" 1, Takayasan, Yuge Master, WJNY, 42636267, 50175543, (1);
Nutrient solution contributors: (20 bottles), (13 bottles), (10 bottles), (3 bottles), you, UE61, (1 bottle each);
Thank you all for your support—I will continue to work hard!
OpenNovel