After getting back in the car, Jin Chao asked Jiang Mu where to go. She took out her phone and directly navigated using the location, which was west of Tonggang, near the county town. She showed it to Jin Chao, who glanced at it and drove toward the destination according to the navigation.
There were few cars on the road in Tonggang at night, and Jin Chao drove very fast. Strangely enough, when Jiang Mu first arrived in Tonggang, Jin Chao had also picked her up. She remembered the first time she rode in his car—she was so nervous from the speed that she secretly gripped the door handle. Jin Chao had scoffed and said, "What are you afraid of?"
Back then, she had no idea the man before her was already a skilled racer on the track, and she was still puzzled by why he drove so fast.
But now, even if Jin Chao drove like he was flying, she wasn’t afraid at all.
The further they drove, the more desolate it became. Following the navigation, they entered an industrial area. The factory buildings looked dark and empty at night, with many processing plants clustered together, each separated by just a few streets.
They circled around to the back gate of one factory, which was right next to a barren hill. There was only one road, without even a streetlight on either side. Jin Chao drove in with the headlights on and stopped at the guardhouse, flashing the lights twice.
An elderly security guard came out and asked what they were doing.
Jiang Mu dialed a number and handed the phone to the old man. After a brief conversation with the person on the other end, the guard hung up and opened the electric gate for them, telling Jin Chao, "Go 200 meters in, turn left, and drive to Warehouse Area Gate 3."
Jin Chao handed him a cigarette and said, "Thanks," then stepped on the gas and drove into the factory area.
This was Jiang Mu’s first time visiting a factory so late at night. The massive industrial area was eerily quiet, not a sound to be heard, giving her goosebumps as if it were haunted.
Jin Chao, however, remained calm, leaning over the steering wheel to look for signs. Spotting an arrow pointing to the warehouses, he turned. It was a series of connected large factory buildings, each with tightly locked doors. Jiang Mu also rolled down her window to search until she saw a large circle on the left front warehouse door with the number "3" in the middle. She pointed and said, "Over there, right?"
Jin Chao drove up to the gate marked "3" and honked twice before getting out. Jiang Mu stepped out from the passenger side as well.
They stood on either side of the car, staring at the door. Soon, there was a faint noise from inside, followed by the sound of a mechanical door rising. The car’s headlights shone directly into the warehouse, and as the door lifted, two people gradually came into view.
One was Pan Kai, and beside him was a dark-skinned man around fifty years old.
Upon seeing them, Pan Kai waved excitedly and said to Jiang Mu, "You’re so fast! I just got here too."
Then, turning to Jin Chao, he respectfully called out, "Seventh Brother."
Jin Chao nodded at him, his gaze settling on the middle-aged man. Pan Kai quickly introduced, "This is Master Ren Dongwei, the chief engineer at my dad’s factory. Jiang Jiang said you wanted to restore the car—maybe you can talk with Master Ren?"
A long-lost expression flickered in Jin Chao’s eyes as he looked at Master Ren and said, "Long time no see, Uncle Ren."Pan Kai and Jiang Mu were both somewhat surprised. Master Ren pointed at him and said, "So you're the 'Seventh Brother' Pan Kai mentioned. You really never know when to give up."
Jin Chao smiled faintly. "There are always more solutions than difficulties."
Master Ren said to him, "Let's talk inside."
Jiang Mu and Pan Kai didn't go in. Master Ren and Jin Chao talked inside for over half an hour, though they didn't know the specifics of their conversation.
Jiang Mu gazed at the sprawling factory area and couldn't help but remark, "Your family's business is quite substantial."
Pan Kai replied somewhat sheepishly, "It's alright."
Jiang Mu turned her head to look at him. "Then why do you keep borrowing my pens without returning them?"
Pan Kai paused for a moment before laughing. "I'll definitely return them before the college entrance exams, definitely."
When Jin Chao emerged, Jiang Mu and Pan Kai were sitting on the steps at the warehouse entrance, chatting idly. As he approached, Jiang Mu immediately stood up upon hearing his footsteps and asked, "How did the discussion go?"
A trace of amusement flickered in Jin Chao's eyes as he unexpectedly reached out and pinched her cheek. The gesture caught Jiang Mu off guard, but then she started laughing too. Pan Kai looked from Jiang Mu to Jin Chao, his face full of confusion.
When Jin Chao walked her back, Jiang Mu learned that Master Ren was quite an experienced technician in Tonggang's circles. Jin Chao had dealt with him back when he was into motorcycles, though they hadn't seen each other for many years.
Jin Chao didn't elaborate further, only instructing Jiang Mu not to worry about the remaining matters and to focus on her exams, assuring her that he could handle things.
The next day after school, Jiang Mu and Pan Kai came running over again. Only Xiao Yang remained at Feichi, while Tie Gongji also came to help. Master Ren brought two assistants along. By the time Jiang Mu and Pan Kai arrived, they had already cleared out a temporary space in the warehouse specifically for working on the car.
Seeing her arrive, Jin Chao waved her over. Jiang Mu scampered over cheerfully. While working, he lectured her: "Do you know when your exam is?"
"Of course, tomorrow morning at 9."
Jin Chao shot her a sharp look.
Jiang Mu grinned cheekily. "Well, idle hands are the devil's workshop. Didn't you always say: play hard before big exams, play moderately before small exams, don't play when there are no exams? I'm about to have a big exam."
The implication being, if not now, then when?
The corners of Jin Chao's mouth lifted slightly as he told her, "Go back after dinner."
Jiang Mu pouted silently to express her dissatisfaction. Turning around, she saw Pan Kai actually doing practice problems while sitting on the steps.
Jiang Mu was baffled. Looking at herself, she hadn't even brought her backpack today. She walked over and bent down to look, exclaiming in surprise, "The exam's tomorrow! What's the point of doing this now?"
Pan Kai said mysteriously, "You don't understand. I have a bad memory. Studying too early is useless - I need to cram at the last minute."
Cramming for the college entrance exams? But as Jiang Mu looked up at the vast factory buildings, she suddenly thought it might not be so bad after all. If she didn't do well, there was always the family business to inherit.
She squatted down and asked, "Does your dad know they're working on the car here?"
Pan Kai replied without looking up, "Yeah."
"How did you tell him?"
Pan Kai stopped writing and turned to her. "After you called me, I went to find my dad. Told him if this matter isn't resolved, I won't do well in the college entrance exams."
"...Are you blackmailing your dad?"Pan Kai said with a grin, "Anyway, I'm his only son. He wouldn't dare provoke me at a time like this. What if I pull his oxygen tube out someday?"
"..."
Pan Kai continued, "About Seventh Day—"
"Just call him Jiu Ge. No one calls him that anymore."
Pan Kai was taken aback for a moment, then went on, "So about Jiu Ge’s matter—I did talk to my dad. He made two calls and looked pretty serious afterward. He stared at me for a long time, and I thought he wouldn’t agree. But later, he agreed to assign Ren Gong to help us. Ren Gong will coordinate the materials and personnel we need, and they’ll clear out a space in the warehouse. As for the rest, he’ll pretend he doesn’t know."
Jiang Mu was quite moved. Pan Kai’s father clearly already knew about Jin Chao and Boss Wan’s situation. At a time when all of Tonggang was on edge, he was still willing to secretly provide them with technical support. Five words suddenly floated through her mind: "a conscientious entrepreneur."
When dinnertime arrived, San Lai’s white car appeared at the warehouse entrance. Jiang Mu, sharp-eyed as always, spotted it first and ran out, calling, "San Lai Ge, what brings you here?"
San Lai was wearing a pair of flashy sunglasses. His face wasn’t particularly large to begin with, and with the glasses on, it seemed to disappear entirely. He dramatically took off the sunglasses and hooked them onto his collar, exclaiming in surprise, "Aren’t you about to take the college entrance exam? Why are you still hanging around here?"
At a glance, he noticed another silly figure sitting on the steps, diligently working on problems. San Lai sighed helplessly, then hauled several large bags from the back seat and called out to Jiang Mu, "Come help."
Jiang Mu hurried over, helping San Lai carry all the bags from the back seat. Then, together, they set up a table and began unpacking the takeout containers from the bags.
San Lai shouted to the busy workers, "Wash your hands and eat! You can get back to work after."
It had to be said—San Lai was a truly dedicated logistics chief. The meal he brought was exceptionally lavish. At his command, everyone gradually set down their tasks.
Jin Chao washed his hands and stepped outside the warehouse, lighting a cigarette. The sky was gradually darkening. He took a few puffs, then glanced back at Pan Kai’s focused expression and asked, "Can you see clearly?"
Pan Kai looked up proudly, blinking his small eyes. "20/20 vision. No problem."
"..." Jin Chao chuckled lightly and turned away. The sunset on the horizon was fading, and his voice grew low and distant. "I’ll remember this favor. I’ll pay you back someday."
Pan Kai looked up in surprise, staring at Jin Chao, then glanced back at Jiang Mu, who was distributing chopsticks. Jin Chao directly turned Pan Kai’s head back, narrowing his eyes as he warned, "It’s me who owes you, not her. Don’t get any ideas about her."
Pan Kai chuckled awkwardly. "Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare."
After the meal, San Lai, like a fussy mother, drove the two youngsters home. Along the way, he nagged them about what to prepare for the exam the next day and casually boasted about his own glorious achievements during his college entrance exam years. He’d heard that the first person to rush out of the exam hall would get on TV, so he’d specially worn running shoes to be the first. But in the end, there was nothing—just a crowd of parents surrounding him, asking all sorts of questions until his clothes were nearly torn off. So he advised them not to compete for first place.
But his advice and experiences were basically useless to Jiang Mu and Pan Kai.The next day, for the exam, Jin Qiang specifically took time off work. Zhao Meijuan had prepared breakfast early in the morning, and during the meal alone, she told Jiang Mu no less than three times, "Don’t be nervous." Jiang Mu didn’t feel particularly nervous herself; it was Zhao Meijuan, who hadn’t even attended high school, who seemed more anxious than her.
As Jiang Mu was about to leave, Jin Xin ran up to her and stared. Jiang Mu bent down and asked, "Is something wrong?"
Jin Xin handed her a small sticky note and said, "Look at it when you go downstairs."
Clutching the tiny note, Jiang Mu stepped out. Jin Qiang had already gone ahead to hail a taxi. When she reached the ground floor, she unfolded the sticky note. It was covered with little hearts drawn in a circle, and inside, two words were written in pencil: "Go for it!"
Jiang Mu’s eyes instantly curved into a smile. She carefully put the note away and walked toward the neighborhood exit.
Her phone rang. She took it out and saw it was Jin Chao calling.
After answering, Jin Chao asked, "Have you left yet?"
"Dad’s already hailing a taxi. What about you?"
"Still here."
"Did you not go back last night?"
"Yeah, I have to pick someone up today."
Jiang Mu laughed and asked, "Will there be a reward if I do well?"
Jin Chao seemed to be smiling too. "What reward do you want?"
"Let me think about it."
The line went quiet for a couple of seconds before Jin Chao’s voice came through the receiver, low and irresistibly pleasant: "Mu Mu, do your best."
After hanging up, Jiang Mu walked into the morning sunlight like a warrior heading to battle. Only this time, she carried with her the conviction Jin Chao had missed, stepping into the exam hall.
...
Jin Chao did indeed need to pick up a very important person that day—Zhang Fan’s older brother, Zhang Guangyu. A week earlier, Zhang Guangyu had traveled back and forth between Hangzhou and Shanghai to gather everything Jin Chao needed. Worried that shipping might cause delays or issues, he took time off and personally brought everything back to Tonggang.
As soon as Jin Chao picked up Zhang Guangyu, they hurried straight to the warehouse. The whole team threw themselves into repairs and modifications without a moment’s rest.
So, while Jiang Mu was fighting for her future, Jin Chao was battling for his path forward. Everyone was racing against time, not daring to slack off.
On the last day of the college entrance exams, as Jiang Mu stepped out of the exam hall, she finally felt the weight she had carried on her shoulders for four years lift away. A sense of unprecedented relief washed over her.
From a distance, Pan Kai excitedly shouted her name, bouncing toward her like an overgrown fool, yelling, "We’re free, we’re free! Come on, let’s go have some fun today!"
For once, Jiang Mu didn’t find his antics crazy. She laughed along with him. Just as they stepped out of the school gate, they spotted Jin Chao, San Lai, and a stranger standing at the back of the crowd.
Although the school entrance was packed with parents holding banners and flowers, the scene lively and bustling, Jiang Mu spotted them instantly. It was hard not to—all three were tall and stood out prominently, especially San Lai, who wore his patriotic T-shirt with "Chinese" printed in bold red. While others held flowers, he waved a tiny national flag, making it impossible to miss him. Jiang Mu strongly suspected he was hoping to catch the attention of TV reporters.
Jiang Mu hadn’t expected Jin Chao to drop his work and come pick her up today. She was about to push through the crowd toward them when she noticed someone else had already squeezed through ahead of her—Zhang Fan, who rushed up to Zhang Guangyu and immediately asked for his phone and cigarettes.After squeezing through the crowd, Jiang Mu finally realized that the unfamiliar young man was actually the older brother of Zhang Fan, who had previously given Jin Chao the blueprints.
She walked up to Jin Chao with a smile and handed him her exam admission ticket. Jin Chao took it and examined it carefully, his eyes sparkling like scattered stars. Lifting his gaze, he said to her, "Keep it safe. You'll need it for university."
Zhang Guangyu invited everyone to his place for a barbecue to celebrate enthusiastically. Pan Kai informed his aunt, who had come to pick him up, and then joined the group as they headed to Zhang Guangyu's home.
Many areas in Tonggang were under strict control today, filled with students and their supportive families. Since no one had driven, the large group marched along the street toward Zhang Guangyu's house. Along the way, they frequently encountered crowds laughing heartily and students stopping to take commemorative photos. The entire street was brimming with a carefree, jubilant atmosphere.
Even Pan Kai and Zhang Fan slung their arms over each other's shoulders and began singing: "I'm still the same boy as before, not a single change. Time is just a test, the belief in my heart remains undiminished. This boy before me still has the same face as at the start. No matter the hardships ahead, I won't retreat. Say never never give up, like a fire, Wuohoh..."
Completely off-key, it was a cringe-worthy spectacle, and they didn't care at all about their image as they howled the "Wu" part.
San Lai, walking behind Jiang Mu, tucked a miniature flag into her collar. At first, Jiang Mu didn't notice and walked with the little flag sticking out from the back of her head until she ran into Yan Xiaoyi and her friends, who pointed at her and laughed. Only then did she catch her reflection in a storefront window and realize she looked like a Sichuan opera performer. She immediately pulled out the flag and chased after San Lai, waving it.
Jin Chao and Zhang Guangyu walked at the back, discussing parts and components, but their eyes followed the boisterous scene. Jiang Mu caught up to San Lai and gave him a playful beating, even jumping up to try and stuff the flag into his collar. Jin Chao's brows and eyes relaxed into a smile.
He would never return to this age, nor to the day of the college entrance exam. But watching the radiant smile on Jiang Mu's face, he felt as if he were reliving it with her. The void in his heart had finally been filled in another way.
Zhang Guangyu's home was in an urban village, a self-built house with an additional three small floors added later. The top floor had a rooftop divided into two sections, equipped with tables and a barbecue grill, all neatly arranged. A string of star-shaped solar-powered fairy lights was hung around the edge, which automatically lit up at night. Jiang Mu let out an excited "Wow!" as soon as she stepped onto the rooftop.
Girls naturally have no resistance to such an atmospheric setting. Zhang Guangyu mentioned that his girlfriend had bought the decorations online the previous year. His girlfriend, who was also his high school deskmate, joined them later. Jin Chao and San Lai already knew her, and Jin Fengzi showed up sometime after.
To celebrate the students' successful liberation from their academic struggles, Jin Fengzi sweatily hauled two cases of beer up to the rooftop. When he offered a drink to Jiang Mu, she glanced at Jin Chao. Tonight, Jin Chao didn't stop her but reminded her, "Know your limits."
In Jin Fengzi's interpretation, "know your limits" meant drinking freely. So, he immediately launched into a stream of eloquent toasts, using nearly every idiom he had ever learned in his life. He spoke with fervor and passion, fiery and impassioned, then urged everyone to drink.Jin Chao and San Lai were used to it, knowing he always spouted a bunch of nonsense before drinking, so they completely ignored him. However, a few young kids were totally captivated, chugging fiercely as soon as they started, as if not drinking aggressively couldn’t showcase their bold, radical spirit of having just stepped over the high school threshold and soon becoming adults.
Later, when Zhang Guangyu’s girlfriend asked how their exams went and what schools they planned to attend, Zhang Fan mentioned a vocational college with an auto repair program but said he might not get in. If it didn’t work out, he’d go to some Xiang place to operate excavators—no one could tell if he was serious or joking.
Pan Kai said he planned to study philosophy. The whole table fell silent at his words, everyone thinking he must be drunk.
Then when they asked Jiang Mu, she looked up at Jin Chao. He lowered his gaze, spinning the beer bottle cap in front of him, appearing casual. She averted her eyes and said, "Haven’t decided yet."
Pan Kai exclaimed excitedly, "You still haven’t decided? You said the same thing two months ago! Hurry up and think—once scores come out, you’ll have to fill out applications."
Jiang Mu didn’t respond, just picked up her drink and took small, slow sips.
Not long after Jin Fengzi arrived, everyone got busy with the barbecue. Zhang Fan and Pan Kai struggled for ages without managing to light the charcoal, making San Lai so anxious he stepped in to handle it himself.
Zhang Guangyu’s girlfriend put on some music, and Jin Fengzi, getting into the groove, casually asked, "Why didn’t Tie Gongji come?"
Jin Chao replied, "He had something at home and went back."
Barbecue smoke drifted straight toward them, so Jin Chao simply stood up and moved to the other end of the rooftop to smoke. Jiang Mu also tried grilling for a bit but coughed from the smoke and was shooed away by San Lai. When she returned and didn’t see Jin Chao, she circled around the partition to the other side of the rooftop.
This side was piled with clutter: pickle jars, toolboxes, and surprisingly, a broken bathtub filled with stuff—the storage situation was quite mystifying.
And there sat Jin Chao, perched on the edge of the rooftop with a cigarette in his mouth, head bowed as he talked on the phone. His long legs were casually propped on the bathtub, exuding a carefree, unrestrained vibe. His solid arms rested beside him, muscles taut and prominent, his handsome, rugged appearance radiating a captivating sense of security and the pure essence of masculinity.
Jiang Mu’s footsteps unconsciously carried her toward him. She stopped by his side and quietly leaned against the balcony railing. Jin Chao glanced at her and said into the phone, "No rush on the airbag, wait till I get back tomorrow. Yeah, not going over today. You should head back and rest early too."
Zhang Guangyu’s balcony had a great location, offering a night view of the hundred lights from the urban village, full of life and warmth. The summer breeze blew, cool and comfortable, though Jiang Mu always felt her eyelids growing heavy after drinking—not exactly sleepy, just hard to keep them wide open.
Jin Chao hung up and asked, "Had too much to drink?"
Jiang Mu immediately straightened up. "Not at all, I’m completely sober."
Jin Chao’s gaze was deep, a faint smile flickering in his eyes as he looked at her flushed cheeks. He heard her soft, mellow voice call out, "Ge."
"Mm," he responded.
Jiang Mu swayed slightly and asked, "Where do you think I should apply?"
Jin Chao stubbed out his cigarette and lowered his head. "You should discuss that with your mom."
"She wants me to go to Australia."
Jin Chao’s eyelashes lifted slightly. Jiang Mu leaned closer, tilting her head up to ask, "If I really go to Australia, I won’t be able to come back for a long time. Would you miss me?"Jin Chao lifted his gaze to skim over her. He didn't speak, but his eyes shimmered with a dazzling light, deep as an endless galaxy, yet at this moment his universe reflected only her small form.
Surrounded by brilliant lights and twinkling stars encircling them, Jiang Mu stared intently at him, her gaze sliding from his striking brows and eyes down to his well-defined lips. Whether it was due to the alcohol or not, his lips glistened with an alluring sheen. In that fleeting moment, Jiang Mu's mind went beyond her control—she rose on her toes and kissed him.
When their lips met, Jiang Mu's heartbeat drowned out everything in the world. The innocent, shy, fragrant softness pressed against Jin Chao's lips—fleeting, yet like a spark igniting a prairie fire.
His eyes widened, burning with triggered intensity as he stared at Jiang Mu's lowered, evasive gaze. Breathing heavily, he scolded, "Have you lost your mind?"
Jiang Mu's chest heaved violently. She did feel dizzy, her mind floating as if she were treading on cotton. But unwilling to accept Jin Chao's reprimand, she mustered her courage and lifted her head to kiss him again. This time, as she pulled away from his lips, the arm around her waist suddenly tightened, pulling her entirely into Jin Chao's embrace. He lowered his head and captured her lips, and the moment he pried them open, Jiang Mu felt her heart stop. Though she had often slept beside Jin Chao as a child, this unprecedented intimacy made her legs go weak.
After a brief entanglement, Jin Chao pressed his forehead against hers, his breath scalding as he said, "I've lost my mind too."
Gazing at her dazed eyes and jade-like face, he lost control again, sucking on her soft, delicate lips. Just a few steps away, lazy music played, Pan Kai and the others shouted and joked, and Jin Fengzi's raspy singing voice tore through the air. Everything was happening, separated only by a partition.
The thrilling tension made Jiang Mu curl up in Jin Chao's arms. Her heart felt as if he had placed it among the clouds, yet her body seemed to sink. Jin Chao held her waist, bearing her full weight as his tongue tangled endlessly with hers. Jiang Mu's brain grew oxygen-deprived and dizzy, consumed by intense heat.
His captivating scent, tender invasion, and the ever-amplifying intimacy made Jiang Mu's body tremble lightly. The sorrow she had held for so long erupted in the most primal way, and she was kissed until her eyes reddened.
It wasn't until San Lai shouted, "Mu Mu, the chicken wings are ready! Where did you run off to?" that Jiang Mu jolted awake, escaping from Jin Chao's embrace. She took a frantic step back, glanced at him in a panic, and ran back.
Jin Chao watched her flustered retreat, pursed his lips to savor the lingering warmth, and then stepped around the partition. San Lai grabbed a skewer of chicken wings and handed it to her, but when he looked up and saw Jiang Mu's red-rimmed eyes, he froze. Turning to Jin Chao, who had just arrived, he snapped, "Are you insane? She just finished the college entrance exams—can't you let her relax? What did you say to make her cry again?"
He shoved the chicken wings into Jiang Mu's hands and said, "Ditch this brother of yours. All he does is bully you."
Jiang Mu lowered her head, accepted the chicken wings, and didn't dare utter a word.
Jin Chao remained silent, unable to refute. If this was bullying, it certainly seemed that way.
Author's Note: I didn't intentionally stop here, but you asked me to update more, and the plot just happened to reach this point. Ahem, ahem...
Taking a break on the 123rd, see you on the 4th!
Happy National Day holiday! Red envelopes are on the way.
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2021-09-29 16:22:40 and 2021-09-30 17:26:41~
Thanks to the little angel who threw a hand grenade: 17444142, 1;
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: Peach Eats More Kiwi, 2; 《Radiant》, 1; Pau, 1; Xiao Xiao, 1; It's UU Ya, 1; Takayasan, 1;Thank you to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: 38806593 50 bottles; A Piece of Nougat 24 bottles; Wanna Be a Panda 13 bottles; Pau 10 bottles; "Dazzling" 19 bottles; 17444142 7 bottles; Xu Tiantian 6 bottles; ShangAn, Milky Way 5 bottles; Ming 2 bottles; Love Yourself, Love Life, 50260040, Exclusive Witch, Warmth 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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