After the four men had eaten and drunk their fill, they cleared the table and started playing mahjong. Jiang Mu pulled up a small stool and sat beside Jin Chao, watching the Spring Festival Gala while cracking sunflower seeds. When a particularly funny skit came on, she'd cover her mouth and chuckle to herself. Jin Chao rubbed the mahjong tiles while glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
Though he'd spent previous New Years playing cards with his brothers too, having this little follower by his side this year filled some hollow space in his heart. The tension around his eyes softened.
At midnight, Jiang Mu's phone chimed. She put down her snacks and checked it - surprisingly, Jin Chao had sent her a red packet. She looked up at him in astonishment, but he remained focused on his tiles, his profile unusually relaxed as he casually discarded a 20,000 tile.
Suppressing a smile, Jiang Mu lowered her head. As the sound of the red packet being opened echoed, all the men looked over. San Lai was the first to react, glancing back at the TV to check the time. "It's the New Year," he said.
He followed up by sending Jiang Mu a red packet too, telling her: "Little Mumu, here's some New Year money for you."
Tie Gongji and Jin Fengzi also sent her red packets. Jiang Mu felt somewhat embarrassed to accept them and instinctively looked toward Jin Chao. San Lai remarked: "We're giving you New Year money, why are you looking at him?"
Jin Fengzi chimed in: "According to our tradition, anyone without a job can receive New Year money."
Jiang Mu still tugged at Jin Chao's sleeve, unsure what to do. He leaned down, took her phone, opened all the red packets, then returned it to her.
A radiant smile spread across Jiang Mu's face as she politely wished each of her "big brothers" a happy New Year.
In previous years, they would likely have played through the night, but since Jin Chao had his little follower this year, they wrapped up the game shortly after midnight and headed to their respective homes.
As soon as Jin Chao stood up, Jiang Mu approached him and whispered: "Can I not go back tonight? Anyway... Dad isn't home."
Jin Chao said sternly: "You need to break this habit of staying out overnight."
Jiang Mu replied with a cheeky grin: "It's not like I'm hanging out with bad people."
Jin Chao turned to leave: "How do you know I'm not a bad person?"
"As long as you're not bad to me, you're a good person."
Jin Chao pulled open the door and glanced back at her without saying anything before stepping out. Jiang Mu followed him next door. Jin Chao turned to look at her: "The key."
Jiang Mu took the key from her pocket, detached the "Yearning" keychain, and handed the key back to him.
Jin Chao took the key and lifted his eyes to stare at the object in her hand. Jiang Mu shook it and said to him: "Let me keep this. You probably don't need it anymore."
Jin Chao crouched down to lift the rolling shutter and replied: "You think you know everything?"
Jiang Mu laughed: "Of course I know. Now that I'm here, why would you need to yearn for me anymore?"
Jin Chao paused, stood up and stared at her with gleaming eyes. Jiang Mu suppressed a smile and stepped into the auto shop. Jin Chao pulled down the rolling shutter, watching her lively retreating figure, the light in his eyes growing increasingly profound.
Jiang Mu walked straight into the break room, with Jin Chao following behind. He turned on the heater and pushed a chair toward her. After Jiang Mu sat down, Jin Chao brought another chair and placed it in front of her before sitting down himself. With everyone gone, he finally asked what he hadn't dared to earlier: "Weren't you supposed to go back? Did you have a fight with your mom?"Jiang Mu hung her head, picking at her fingernails with a sullen expression as she muttered, "My mom said... she's going back to sell the house."
Jin Chao remained silent, his brows slightly furrowed. Jiang Mu continued, "I already thought it was unreliable when she said she wanted to move to Australia with that foreign old man. Now after this trip, she's directly talking about selling the house—it's like she's been brainwashed. I'm just afraid she's being deceived by that person. They're not even from the same country. If she really gets cheated, it would be difficult to protect her rights. What do you think?"
Jin Chao pondered for a moment before saying, "I can't draw conclusions since I've never met that person. But have you considered one thing?"
Jiang Mu lifted her gaze to look at him.
"She never looked for anyone all these years after separating from Jin Qiang. Do you think she would settle for just anyone? She must have her reasons for making this decision. You'll have your own family someday too—finding someone compatible isn't easy. She can't possibly live alone until old age."
Jiang Mu blurted out, "I've thought about it before—it would be fine not to marry and just live with my mom forever. Even if I do marry, I could bring her along to live together."
Jin Chao laughed. Jiang Mu's face grew warm under his amusement, realizing how childish her words sounded. Whether or not to marry wasn't something she could determine through impulsive emotions right now.
The air grew quiet for a moment before Jin Chao suppressed his smile and glanced at her: "Really not planning to marry?"
Jiang Mu averted her eyes toward the repair shop, feeling as if a feather were tickling her heart. Blushing, she said, "How... would I know..."
Jin Chao asked her, "Have you tried communicating with her?"
Jiang Mu nodded: "Countless times. We argued about this constantly before the college entrance exams."
Jin Chao crossed his hands over his knees while watching her: "Since that's the case, there's nothing you can change. If I were you, instead of worrying needlessly, I'd focus on handling my own affairs properly. If she ends up living well, you can set your mind at ease. If not, at least you'll have the ability to ensure her peaceful retirement."
Jin Chao's profile appeared steady and reliable under the yellowish light of the break room. The worries that had plagued Jiang Mu for over half a year seemed to gradually shift perspective through his words. She had indeed been terribly afraid the foreigner couldn't provide her mother with a stable life, afraid Jiang Yinghan would end up dissatisfied due to various problems after following Chris abroad. Thus, she had repeatedly tried to stop Jiang Yinghan, never considering that her mother might also need a partner—someone to rely on when vulnerable, accompany her when lonely, and pass time with when bored.
It seemed that ever since her father left, she had taken for granted that her mother would naturally depend on her. She had only focused on worrying about her mother's safety, never considering her needs. Jiang Yinghan was indeed a mother, but she was also a woman herself.
There was truly nothing Jiang Mu could do. If she could have influenced Jiang Yinghan's decision, things wouldn't have reached this point. Still feeling somewhat frustrated, she said, "But if Mom sells the house, I really won't even have a place to stay if I return to Suzhou."
After speaking, she lifted her eyes to look at Jin Chao. In the dim light, she gazed at him like this and mumbled, "What should I do if I become homeless in the future?"
Her soft, sticky voice reminded Jin Chao of a steamed cake he'd eaten in the south during childhood. Hearing this, he didn't speak, merely lowering his eyes with a smile. Jiang Mu sucked in her cheeks: "What's so funny?"Jin Chao straightened up and leaned against the back of his chair, his gaze fixed intently on her. Jiang Mu thought he must have drunk quite a bit—even his eyes seemed intoxicating, making her increasingly flustered. She averted her gaze to the ceiling, her voice barely a whisper as she forced the words out: "Dad doesn’t care, Mom doesn’t want me, and my brother doesn’t cherish me..."
A smile spread to the corners of Jin Chao’s eyes, glimmers of light softening his gaze. His voice was relaxed, tinged with the warmth of alcohol: "How would you like me to cherish you?"
Jiang Mu’s heart raced. She hadn’t expected his words to stir such a ticklish sensation in her chest—a feeling she couldn’t quite name. She hadn’t been drinking, yet she felt intoxicated.
Jin Chao watched her flushed cheeks, then looked away. He stood up, poured her a glass of water, and placed it beside her before settling back into his chair.
Though Jiang Mu had been somewhat sulky earlier, now that Jin Chao had posed the question so directly, she found herself unable to utter a single word.
After a long struggle, she finally managed to say, "I won’t pressure you anymore, but you can’t take risks with yourself. No matter what, you have to stay safe. Can you promise me that?"
Jin Chao raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her. Her eyes were clear and transparent, her expression utterly serious. The worry in her gaze was unmistakable—sincere and pure.
Seeing his silence, Jiang Mu leaned forward tentatively and asked, "Is it a lot of money? Civil compensation?"
The relaxed expression on Jin Chao’s face gradually faded. "How did you find out?"
Jiang Mu bit her lip but ultimately didn’t mention Jiang Yinghan. She was afraid it would remind him of the past.
But Jin Chao said it for her: "Your mother?"
Jiang Mu lowered her eyes and murmured, "Mom said she’d leave me some money from selling the house. I could talk to her and ask her to give me a portion of it in advance."
Jin Chao remained silent, and the air grew cold. Jiang Mu stole a glance at him—his expression was icy, his eyes veiled with a frosty detachment that kept others at a distance.
She only wanted to prevent Jin Chao from engaging in dangerous activities. She hoped to help him resolve his debt as quickly as possible, but she realized he would never accept money from Jiang Yinghan. Back then, her mother had stood by and done nothing. Given his strong sense of pride, how could he possibly let her ask her mother for help now?
Tears welled in Jiang Mu’s eyes as she grew increasingly anxious. "I won’t bring it up again."
Jin Chao sighed and leaned slightly toward her. "It’s not about the money."
Jiang Mu looked at him, puzzled. "Then what is it?"
Jin Chao simply reached out and ruffled her hair. "It’s almost two o’clock. Aren’t you going to sleep?"
"To be honest, I slept until evening, so I’m not tired at all. Are you sleepy? I’ll sleep with you."
The moment the words left her mouth, both of them froze. She abruptly stood up and explained, "No, no—I mean, you sleep, and I’ll just... sit here beside you."
Jin Chao lifted his eyelids. "Sit here?"
Feeling awkward, Jiang Mu pressed herself against the edge of the table. Jin Chao slowly rose to his feet and said, "Then sit. I’m going to take a shower."
With that, he walked into the room. Soon, Jiang Mu heard the sound of running water. She touched her face—it felt warm. Without glancing at her phone, she sat there idly for over ten minutes.The sound of water stopped, and Jin Chao's footsteps echoed in the room. Jiang Mu stood up, lifted the curtain, and stood at the doorway. The room was warm, and Jin Chao wore only a short-sleeved shirt. With his back to her, he reached for the hairdryer on the shelf, his T-shirt riding up slightly. Jiang Mu's eyes fixed intently on his firm waist, exuding a sense of masculine vitality, and she instantly felt her whole body tense up.
Earlier, San Lai had told her that many girls used to sneak glances at Jin Chao's waist when he cleaned windows in high school. At the time, she couldn't understand what was so appealing about a waist. Even now, she still didn't get it, yet she couldn't tear her eyes away.
Jin Chao picked up the hairdryer, plugged it in, and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her standing dumbly at the door, he blew a gust of warm air in her direction before lowering his head to dry his hair and asking, "What are you looking at?"
Of course, Jiang Mu wouldn't admit she was staring at his waist. Instead, she let her gaze drift to the shelf and said, "Just the books you usually read."
"Interested?"
"...Not really."
"..."
After Jin Chao finished drying his hair, he turned to look at her. Feeling they couldn't just stand there staring at each other in such a cramped space, he paused for a moment and said, "I'll take you back."
Jin Chao put his jacket back on and picked up the car keys. Jiang Mu had no choice but to follow him to the courtyard. It seemed Jin Chao only drove that black car out on nights like this; he rarely used it during the day. Jiang Mu didn't know much about cars, but she had witnessed this car's speed and knew it was Jin Chao's means of earning money, which was why he had been so cautious before.
Once in the car, Jiang Mu asked, "In that race the other day, was the rule that whoever got the bag first would win?"
Jin Chao drove through the quiet streets and grunted in agreement.
Jiang Mu pressed on, "Who usually provides the money?"
"Whoever organizes it."
"Do you have a large organization?"
Jin Chao didn't answer.
Jiang Mu asked again, "Do you always play like this?"
"Not necessarily. These casual games aren't common. Some bored rich kids might set up one or two."
Jiang Mu exclaimed, "Casual? Then what are the serious ones like? How do you usually stay in touch?"
Jin Chao shot her a sharp look, then turned his gaze back to the road. "You really dare to ask."
Jiang Mu tilted her head to look at him as he continued, "The reason I said you were my girlfriend that day was because it was the only logical explanation. They all know my little sister is only in second grade. Suddenly having a sister your age would raise suspicions. This Alliance hasn't existed for just a day or two—they have their own ways of managing risks. If an outsider shows up, it's easy to attract attention. So, in that situation, I had to say that to make them think you were with me and dispel their doubts. As for the rest, the less you know, the better."
Jiang Mu suddenly felt a chill of realization. She remembered the number app on Jin Chao's phone. They hadn't used WeChat or QQ to communicate, so that app was suspicious—perhaps another method of risk avoidance, as Jin Chao had mentioned.
When Shandian got into trouble last time, Da Guang said Jin Chao had interfered with the Alliance's interests. Could this so-called Alliance be the underground organization? What exactly had Jin Chao done?Everything felt like a tightly woven net—dangerous and terrifying in Jiang Mu's eyes. Seeing her grave expression, Jin Chao chuckled, "I'm just going to make some money, then leave once it's done. It's not like I'm going to kill anyone. Why are you so nervous?"
But Jiang Mu worriedly asked, "Will this go on forever? Or will it stop once the debt is repaid?"
"At most, six months."
"Will the debt be cleared in six months?"
Jin Chao appeared nonchalant. "More or less."
This was the first direct answer he had given her since their argument about the matter that day. The six-month deadline eased Jiang Mu's mind a little.
Catching her relieved expression from the corner of his eye, Jin Chao's gaze deepened, and he said nothing more.
Jiang Mu had never seen a snowy scene in the early hours of the morning. The streets were empty, and Jin Chao drove slowly. She took out her phone and snapped a few pictures.
It snowed in Suzhou too, but not every year. Even when it did, the snow on the streets was usually cleared away by the next morning and had mostly melted by the afternoon.
So, whenever it snowed, Jiang Mu would get particularly excited, especially about the snow in Tonggang—it was so thick it made her want to stomp around in it.
She remembered how, as a child, whenever it snowed, she and Jin Chao would rush out early to find untouched patches of snow and stomp on them. If they were late and the pristine snow downstairs had already been trampled by other kids, Jiang Mu would always feel disappointed.
The car pulled up to an open square. As far as the eye could see, there was a vast expanse of white snow. In the past, finding such a pristine snowfield would have been a treasure to them. Jiang Mu gazed longingly and turned to Jin Chao, asking, "Can we stop? I want to go play for a bit."
Jin Chao slowly parked the car by the roadside and reminded her, "It's cold outside."
"Just for a little while."
Seeing her eager expression, Jin Chao knew exactly what she wanted to do. He had no choice but to accompany her as she got out of the car.
The snow reached Jiang Mu's ankles. As soon as she stepped out, she dashed toward the open space. Jin Chao called after her, "Don't run! Haven't you fallen enough already?"
Jiang Mu paid no attention to his words. She turned back to him and said, "Wait for me. I'm going to stomp out a shape, and then you can take a picture of me to commemorate the first day of the new year."
Jin Chao didn't understand why girls were so fixated on taking photos, but he had no choice but to wait for her.
As Jiang Mu energetically stomped in the snow, Jin Chao stood under a streetlamp at the edge of the square and lit a cigarette. Having lived in Tonggang for so many years, he was used to heavy snow every winter—sometimes it would snow for days on end. He had long lost the childhood novelty of snow and outgrown the youthful joy of playing in it. Yet, he stood there in the freezing cold, watching the girl's excited figure and enduring the chill with her.
Slowly, Jiang Mu stomped out the shape of a heart. Standing at the tip of the heart, she looked up at Jin Chao. His silhouette was haloed in light, elongated by the streetlamp. Wisps of smoke curled from the cigarette between his fingers, the embers glowing faintly. It felt like a dream of the past—flowers that were not flowers, mist that was not mist, yet the person remained the same.
Jiang Mu's smile shone brilliantly against the vast, snowy landscape. She raised her hands above her head and formed a heart shape toward Jin Chao. The cigarette between his fingers tightened in his grip. The next moment, when he heard Jiang Mu call out, "I'm ready! Take the picture!" the tension in his hand gradually eased...
Author's Note: Happy holidays! Leave a comment for a chance to receive a red envelope~Thanks to the little angels who threw support or provided nutrient solution for me from 2021-09-18 15:06:08 to 2021-09-19 11:03:43~
Thanks to the little angels who threw hand grenades: 47685181, Hidden Can't Be Hidden, 17444142 (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: 《Dazzling》 (12); 47685181, Dark Night Flying Cat, Wanna Be a Panda, Peach Eats Kiwi, Qi, Pau (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who provided nutrient solution: Ning's Smile (100 bottles); c (20 bottles); Mie Mie Not a Cat, Persimmon Wishes, Bo Zhan's Fruit Girl (10 bottles); Green Immortal Monkey, 17111635, Qi (5 bottles); Exclusive Witch, Dali Loves Cabbage (2 bottles); Hidden Can't Be Hidden (1 bottle);
Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
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