Jiang Mu had thoroughly enjoyed herself, but her trouser cuffs and shoes were completely soaked. The moment she got into the car, she couldn't stop shivering. "Brother, I'm so cold. Why is it so freezing?"
Jin Chao turned up the heater and said to her, "Take off your shoes."
Jiang Mu removed her icy, wet shoes and socks. Her feet were so numb from the cold that she kept shrinking toward Jin Chao. He glanced down at her curled-up form, then leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, sighing helplessly. "Sit properly. I'm driving."
The snow in the residential complex was already deep, making it impossible to drive further. Jin Chao had to park the car outside. He got out, walked around to the passenger side, and turned his back. Jiang Mu, clutching her shoes, climbed onto his back. Jin Chao wrapped her small feet, which were resting against his chest, with his coat and carried her deeper into the complex.
When they were children, Jin Chao had often carried her like this. Whenever he took her to the model shop, if he and his friends played for too long, Jiang Mu would inevitably doze off on the small sofa nearby. As a child, she would fall asleep abruptly—playing one moment and suddenly exhausted the next. Each time, it was Jin Chao who carried her home.
The neighbors at their doorstep would often joke about the older brother carrying the younger sister, a big kid hauling a little one. Even then, Jin Chao never had the heart to wake her. Of course, most of the time, even if he tried, she wouldn't stir.
But now, Jin Chao had grown into a mature man. His back was broad and reassuring, making Jiang Mu bury her face in the crook of his neck. The scent of fresh mint from his recent shower and a faint hint of alcohol clung to him, intoxicating her in a way she found mesmerizing.
Her warm, sweet breath seeped into the collar of his coat. His steps never faltered, but his neck stiffened slightly. "Are you tired?" he asked.
Jiang Mu murmured a soft "Mhm," and Jin Chao carried her all the way up to the fifth floor without stopping. She had truly believed he would never carry her upstairs like this again, just as he had when they were young. In the dimly lit stairwell, with her heart racing and the quiet night enveloping them, the scene felt like a glimpse into the past. Jiang Mu felt as if she had returned to her childhood self—the version of her that was completely unreserved in front of Jin Chao, freely relying on him without hesitation.
When they reached Jin Qiang's door, Jin Chao said to her, "Open the door."
"Let me down first."
In response, Jin Chao slid one arm behind her, wrapped it around her waist, and lifted her directly in front of him. Jiang Mu had no idea how he managed it—his strength was astonishing. In the darkness, she felt a sudden shift, and then she was facing him, yet her feet never touched the ground.
Barefoot, she stood on his shoes while fumbling for her house keys. Jin Chao's hand rested lightly on her waist, steadying her. His breath brushed against the top of her head, their bodies so close they were nearly pressed together.
When Jiang Mu lifted her gaze, the burning intensity in his eyes seared into her very soul. Standing before him, cradled in his palm, she felt as though she were melting into his gaze, her consciousness growing so hazy she even forgot to search for the keys.
Noticing her stillness, Jin Chao lowered his eyes to her soft, delicate face. The round, childish cheeks had long since matured into captivating contours. Her eyes, misty with emotion, held a hint of something he had never anticipated. He had imagined her grown-up appearance many times, each version retaining traces of her childhood cuteness and innocence. But he had never pictured the little girl from his memories evolving into the young woman before him—her eyes and brows now carrying a subtle, alluring charm. Though still tinged with a girl's immaturity, that blend of youthful shyness and budding allure was utterly devastating to any man.The arm around Jiang Mu's waist tightened. He lowered his head with lips slightly pressed together, his Adam's apple gliding slowly with the shifting light and shadows. In that moment, Jiang Mu's mind went blank, her eyes flickering incessantly, her heart pounding so fiercely it seemed to stop.
Yet Jin Chao merely bent down to retrieve the keys from her pocket, then straightened up to unlock the main door. He lifted Jiang Mu and set her down on the soft doormat before fetching her slippers.
Even after her feet touched the ground, Jiang Mu's breath remained caught, the air in her chest seemingly snatched away, leaving her unable to breathe voluntarily. Her mind felt hazy.
The cuffs of her pants were damp, forcing her to hurriedly return to her room for a change of clothes. Throughout this, neither of them spoke a word. Jiang Mu suddenly felt at a loss, unsure of what to say, but she couldn't understand why Jin Chao remained silent after entering, merely walking over to the glass tank to tap on it and check on the two turtles Jin Xin was raising.
As Jiang Mu gathered her clothes and prepared to enter the bathroom, she glanced back and saw Jin Chao already picking up the car keys from the table again. She quickly asked, "Brother, are you leaving?"
Jin Chao turned to look at her. "What else would I do here?"
Jiang Mu blinked, the air between them flowing soundlessly. Her voice was soft but carried an irresistible tenderness. "When we were kids, we always stayed up together on New Year's Eve. You'd tell me all sorts of fun stories to keep me from falling asleep. It's been so long since you last told me a story."
Jin Chao chuckled. "You never lasted through a single story."
"This time, I won't fall asleep."
Jin Chao lowered his gaze, silent for a few seconds before reminding her, "You're not a child anymore."
Though he himself didn't know whether this reminder was for her or for himself.
Jiang Mu understood Jin Chao's meaning. She wasn't a child anymore; they could no longer lie together carefreely, letting their imaginations run wild. But she truly missed those days. For many years, she had spent New Year's Eve alone, keeping vigil by herself. This year, she didn't want to be alone again. Jiang Mu sniffled and said, "You're older than me, so I'll always be the younger one."
Her eyes glistened as she looked at him. "Okay?"
Jin Chao picked up his phone and glanced at it. "At most, an hour."
Jiang Mu hurried into the bathroom for a quick wash, then changed into her fluffy pajamas. Jin Qiang lived in an old house where the heating wasn't very effective. After coming out, she dashed to her room and called out to Jin Chao in the living room, "Brother, could you get me the hairdryer?"
After saying this, she sat on the bed and smiled. If they hadn't been separated later and had continued living together, this would have been their daily life—bickering over trivial matters and relying on each other for small tasks.
Soon, Jin Chao came in with the hairdryer, walked to the bedside, and plugged it in for her. Just as he was about to hand it to her, Jiang Mu had already instinctively moved to the edge of the bed and leaned her head forward. Jin Chao had no choice but to turn on the warm air and stand by the bed, drying her hair for her.
He remembered she used to have long hair as a child. Every day before kindergarten, she had to wake up early to have her hair braided, often dozing off while sitting on a small stool with her eyes closed. Back then, he could never understand how someone could sleep sitting up. Later, he realized she could not only sleep sitting but even standing.One summer vacation, Jiang Yinghan went out in the morning for an errand. Jiang Mu woke up and couldn't find her mother, so she hugged her little rabbit, ran into his room, lifted the corner of his quilt, burrowed into his bed, and buried her face in his chest to continue sleeping. He could still remember how she looked that morning after waking up—her hair disheveled. He warmed up the meal Jiang Yinghan had left for her, but when she lowered her head to eat, her hair fell into the bowl. She insisted that he tie her hair up, refusing to eat until he did.
How would he know how to style a little girl's hair? He could only fumble through it, spending over half an hour before finally managing to tie her hair into tiny braids, making her look like an alien. When she went outside, the kid surnamed Wang from downstairs teased her, chasing after her and calling her "Upsy Daisy" from In the Night Garden. For a long time after that, the children in the neighborhood called her "Upsy Daisy."
Little Mumu was so upset that she ran back crying to Jin Chao, demanding that he learn how to braid hair properly. And so, the big boy actually learned how to do it.
Now, Jiang Mu no longer needed braids. Her hair was short, messy when the wind blew, but it still had that fine, soft texture.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Mu could still see the dartboard. Before leaving, she had reattached the letter, but now she knew that behind it lay years of mutual longing between them. Her heart felt as if filled with honey.
Warm air flowed through her roots as Jin Chao's slender fingers gently combed through her hair—light, soft, and soothing.
With her eyes closed, she asked him, "Didn't you say earlier that you'd spend the New Year at Dad's place?"
Amid the sound of the wind, Jin Chao's deep, magnetic voice replied casually, "Well, I'm back now, aren't I?"
Jiang Mu felt a pang in her heart. Although her own family had never been large during past New Year celebrations, Jiang Yinghan had never remarried, so she could still be with her mother. Jin Chao's situation, however, was different. He could get along with Jin Qiang and Zhao Meijuan, but going to Zhao Meijuan's parents' home must have felt out of place.
Had he spent all these New Years alone?
Jiang Mu couldn't bring herself to ask. Just the thought made her chest ache. Unconsciously, she rested her head against his chest. Jin Chao's hand holding the hairdryer paused. He frowned slightly, and after a few seconds, turned the dryer down a notch and called out, "Mumu."
Jiang Mu's muffled "Mm" came from against his chest.
"You..." He only got that far before the rest of his words stuck in his throat. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Did your mother say anything to you when she came this time?"
"What do you mean?"
"If she mentioned the debt I'm carrying, she must have also told you to keep your distance from me, right?"
Jiang Mu lowered her head and remained silent. Jin Chao's expression remained tense as he quietly finished drying her hair, then turned off the hairdryer and prepared to leave. But Jiang Mu suddenly grabbed the hem of his shirt. He turned back, and she lifted her face from her hair, saying to him, "What if Dad said the same thing to you?"
"If something happened to me, and Jin Qiang told you to keep your distance from me, would you listen to him?"
Jiang Mu answered for him, "You wouldn't. So why should I listen to Mom?"
Jiang Chao simply remarked nonchalantly, "Mm, I see. You've entered your rebellious phase now."
Jiang Mu stared at his retreating back and giggled.Jin Chao put away the hair dryer, and Jiang Mu called out to him, "Brother, I want some water."
Soon after, Jin Chao came in carrying two cups. He handed her water and remarked, "So demanding, no wonder you say you won't get married. Quite the enlightened thinker."
Jiang Mu took the cup and laughed, "How do you know I won't be a good wife in the future?"
Jin Chao dragged a cushion over and placed it on the floor by the bed, then leaned against the bedside table. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he commented, "Difficult."
Jiang Mu protested, "I'm gentle, virtuous, and understanding. You just don't get it."
Jin Chao raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at her, "Do I know this person you're talking about?"
Jiang Mu grabbed a pillow to throw at him. Jin Chao blocked it with a laugh, snatched the pillow from her, and said, "And prone to domestic violence. Better not inflict that on anyone."
Jiang Mu retorted angrily, "I won't inflict it on anyone else, just you."
A faint smile still lingered on Jin Chao's face, but he lowered his gaze and placed the pillow on his lap, not looking at her anymore.
Jiang Mu suddenly realized what she had said and bit her lip, chastened into silence.
One leaned against the headboard, the other sat on the floor. Jin Chao's sudden silence made Jiang Mu nervous again. She stole a glance at him; steam rose from the cup in his hand, the mist dissipating into the air with an ambiguous scent. The night was quiet, their proximity palpable, the forbidden thrill leaving Jiang Mu frozen in place.
Jin Chao slowly took a sip of hot water and handed the pillow back to her, "Really not planning to sleep?"
Jiang Mu shook her head, "I still need to sleep. I have to visit Shandian tomorrow. Want to come along?"
"After you wake up."
"I won't wake up on my own. Remember to call me."
Jin Chao checked the time. Afraid he might leave, Jiang Mu placed the pillow by the bed, resting her chin on it as she said, "Brother, can you tell me about when we were kids? I've forgotten so much."
Jin Chao turned to look at her, "What do you want to know?"
"I want to know what made Mom and Dad decide to divorce. I know they argued a lot, but there must have been something that made them finally decide, right?"
Jin Chao's gaze lifted slightly. The curtains cast swaying shadows on the wall, as if swaying his thoughts back to childhood.
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