Speed and Love

To thank them for the cake, the owner's young son gave them a bundle of fireworks called Night Pearls before they left. These things actually existed in the south too—Jiang Mu had only played with them as a child, and it had been ages since she last saw any.

Clutching the fireworks like a treasure, she was eager to try them out. Seeing her excitement, Jin Chao drove the car to the embankment beside the field ridge.

Back when fireworks weren’t completely banned, Jin Chao would always use his New Year money to set off firecrackers with his classmates in front of their house during the Spring Festival. The small firecrackers the boys loved were loud, and Jiang Mu, both scared and eager to join, would always flinch and hide behind him. But boys being mischievous, the more frightened she seemed, the more they enjoyed tossing snap-pops near her feet. Jin Chao would always yell at his friends, "Stop scaring my sister! If you make her cry, can you handle comforting her?"

Jiang Mu never dared to play with snap-pops. Instead, Jin Chao would buy her sparklers, which girls usually enjoyed. She could handle silent fireworks but was too afraid to light them herself.

Some things never change. As soon as Jiang Mu got out of the car, she circled around Jin Chao with the Night Pearls, urging him to light them. Jin Chao pulled out a lighter, lit one for her, and glanced sideways at her—clutching the colorful tube with a mix of tension and excitement—a faint smile tugging at his lips.

During the wait, Jiang Mu always grew quiet. Jin Chao knew it wasn’t because she had settled down, but because the first bursting pearl would startle her, so she stayed completely focused.

Sure enough, when the colored pearls began shooting out of the tube, Jiang Mu flinched, her arms trembling. But by the third or fourth burst, she had adjusted and turned to smile at Jin Chao.

His eyes holding a glimmer of light, Jin Chao looked back at her and said, "I thought you would’ve given up."

"Given up on what?"

Only after asking did Jiang Mu realize he was talking about the guzheng. Remembering how she used to cry and fuss during practice as a child, she laughed. "I thought so too. When I couldn’t master the tremolo technique at Level 4, I almost quit. Then at Level 6, I kept making mistakes switching from D major to G major. Mom said if it was too hard, I didn’t have to force myself. I stopped for three months but eventually picked it up again on my own. After all these years of practice, I can finally play for you…"

Tiny colored pearls shot into the night sky, bursting into vibrant displays that painted the dark night with dazzling hues. The flickering light brushed across Jiang Mu’s fair, serene face—a vision of almost ideal beauty.

She gazed at the sky; he watched her. In the end, she was still childlike at heart, finding pure contentment in a simple firework tube. Her innocence was the only pure land Jin Chao had encountered in his turbulent 24 years of life.

After leaving Suzhou, he often wondered—what if Mu Mu got bullied? She was short, not very strong, and without him to stand up for her, she’d probably just cry quietly when wronged.

Occasionally, he’d also think about the kind of life he wanted in the future. Though he had no clear picture, her small figure always appeared in his thoughts. Yet now that she was truly by his side, everything felt so peaceful and smooth it almost seemed unreal—like these fireworks soaring into the night sky, brilliant but fleeting, always at risk of vanishing into the vast darkness the next moment.The colorful sparks had faded, yet Jiang Mu remained standing motionless, holding her arm aloft for a long time. Only when she was certain no more fireworks would burst forth did she finally lower her arm. Before she could even turn around, she found herself falling into Jin Chao's embrace. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, drawing her close as he presented a black square box before her eyes, his breath gently brushing against her: "Happy birthday."

Jiang Mu gazed at the understated yet luxurious square box, cradling it as she lifted the lid. Inside lay an elegant and radiant pure silver Parker pen, with an arrow-clip and three gold-ring accents. The exquisite craftsmanship of the pen made it resemble a work of art, making her reluctant to even take it out for use.

Jin Chao's voice was slow and deep: "The old one was too worn out. Use this new one from now on."

He had given her two pens at two different stages of her life. The first had accompanied her through the long journey of academic pursuits, while the second came just as she entered adulthood, before stepping into the highest institution of learning. For Jiang Mu, these held profound significance.

She turned in his embrace, lifting her eyes to meet his gaze: "The one I gave you last year was bought with the performance fees I earned from outside gigs, not with Mom's money."

Her voice gradually softened as she lowered her head: "But it seems like you don't have much use for it."

"How do you know I won't need it in the future?"

The night breeze stirred softly, and the stars shimmered brightly.

Jiang Mu looked up, and in his eyes, she saw the reflection of a magnificent fireworks display—the most beautiful colors she had ever witnessed.

...

When the car pulled up in front of the auto shop, San Lai was lounging idly on a recliner in front of the pet store, seeking relief from the heat. Seeing the two return, he lazily lifted his eyelids and remarked with a tinge of sarcasm: "Are you even human? Out having fun this late?"

Jiang Mu hugged the remaining Night Pearl, staring at him with a smile. Jin Chao was carrying a large packaging box, so big it obscured his face. San Lai asked curiously: "What's that huge thing? A foldable bed?"

"..."

Jiang Mu widened her eyes at him: "This is my gift to Jin Chao. What foldable bed? Who gives a foldable bed as a birthday gift? Really."

San Lai drawled slowly: "Hard to say, you two really are just missing a bed."

Then, spotting the Night Pearl in Jiang Mu's arms, he unceremoniously snatched it: "This is mine now, to make up for my lonely, unbearable solitude."

Jiang Mu asked: "What do you want that for?"

San Lai lazily stood up and tossed out: "None of your business. I'll use it to impress girls."

With that, he truly made no effort to be polite, stashing the Night Pearl into his car trunk.

Jiang Mu gave him a speechless look before turning to follow Jin Chao back into the auto shop.

Inside the break room, Jiang Mu watched Jin Chao with eager anticipation. Jin Chao set the items down and began unwrapping his gift. After tearing off the wrapping paper, he revealed a large Lego set—a Rocket with "China Aerospace" printed on the box. If assembled, it would form a massive aerospace model complete with a Launch center and Ground control.

This indeed piqued Jin Chao's interest. He pulled out the assembly instructions and studied them for a long while before looking up, his brow slightly raised: "Do you know how much work this is? I suspect you're just giving me something to keep me busy."

Jiang Mu looked at the bags of scattered building blocks and laughed.In the past, they often passed by a toy store after school, pressing their faces against the display window many times to admire the Lego models inside. For them back then, owning such a large set of toys was an extravagant dream. Though the project seemed massive, Jiang Mu thought they had plenty of time ahead—they could slowly assemble it together during their free moments, eventually completing this grand endeavor. Of course, that wouldn't be tonight.

Jin Chao put away the instruction manual and watched Shandian pacing around thoughtfully before calling the dog into the yard to give it a bath.

Jiang Mu asked curiously, "Why are you bathing Shandian so late at night?"

Jin Chao lowered his gaze as he wet Shandian's fur and replied, "I've been busy lately—it's time for a wash."

Shandian used to get baths at San Lai's shop, but ever since its brush with death, the dog had become somewhat withdrawn. Nowadays, it would only stand still obediently for Jin Chao during baths; no one else could manage it.

Jiang Mu walked over and asked, "Your car's fixed—are you going to the warehouse tomorrow?"

"Not going."

She handed him Shandian's shampoo: "Then why not wait until tomorrow to bathe it?"

Jin Chao took the shampoo and said, "It's too sunny during the day. Evenings are cooler."

Jiang Mu came over to help. Shandian lifted its head, watching her with dark eyes before trying to rub against her with its large ears. Jiang Mu dodged playfully while Jin Chao chuckled, rinsing the suds off Shandian before handing her a large towel to dry the dog first while he went to fetch the blow dryer.

But the moment Jin Chao left, Shandian began vigorously shaking off water. Jiang Mu couldn't evade in time, getting drenched and looking quite disheveled.

When Jin Chao returned, the towel wasn't on Shandian—instead, Jiang Mu was holding it up while darting around the yard. Shandian seemed to be teasing her, deliberately shaking water her way. The lively scene brought a smile to Jin Chao's eyes.

He called out to Shandian, "Enough, come here."

Shandian obediently tucked its tail and returned to Jin Chao's side, standing patiently for drying. Jiang Mu turned around indignantly, "It's clearly my dog—why does it listen to you?"

Jin Chao held the blow dryer, lifting his eyelids slightly, "Don't you listen to me? Dogs take after their owners."

Jiang Mu was left speechless.

After Shandian's fur was dried, Jin Chao glanced up and noticed Jiang Mu's white dress was mostly soaked, faintly revealing what lay beneath though she remained unaware. He averted his gaze and told her, "Mumu, go take a shower."

Jiang Mu was still brushing Shandian's fur and looked up with a puzzled "Huh?"

Keeping his composure, Jin Chao said calmly, "Take a shower and change into dry clothes so you don't catch a cold."

Not sensing anything amiss, Jiang Mu nodded and went into the repair shop. But as soon as she entered, she opened the window and called out to Jin Chao, "I don't have any clothes to change into!"

Jin Chao stood and entered the room. While he searched the wardrobe for clothes for her, she leaned against it chattering away: "Shandian's intelligence is about equivalent to a four or five-year-old child, right? I feel like it understands everything you say. How did you train it? I've never seen you train it though. Brother San Lai asked me the other day if I plan to have it neutered—do you think we should? If not, it could still mate and have puppies later..."Jin Chao didn't understand why she had to bring up Shandian's mating and neutering at this very moment. His gaze involuntarily fell upon her—the damp white fabric clung to her, revealing the alluring curves of her front, even the graceful lines of her waist were clearly visible. Her voice, soft and melodious like a southern dialect, filled the entire space. The more innocent and seductive it sounded, the more it carried a forbidden temptation. Though he had already found the clothes, Jin Chao's movements halted. He curled his lips in self-mockery—after all, he was no saint, incapable of turning a blind eye. With restrained, heated breaths, he called out, "Mumu."

Jiang Mu fell silent, watching as he closed the wardrobe again. Then, he turned his gaze to her, pulled her over, and pressed her against the wardrobe door. When his lips crushed against hers, her heartbeat felt as though it would tear through her chest.

Her body heat, her softness, the inadvertent murmurs she let out—all of it drove Jin Chao to lose control. He had never kissed her like this before, with an aura of destruction, unleashing the truest version of himself hidden beneath his restrained and composed exterior—wild, untamed, and brimming with primal desire.

Jiang Mu sank into his intense emotions, growing increasingly dazed. An unbearable itch tormented her from within, and she whispered softly, "Ge..."

Jin Chao gently bit her lips, his breath scorchingly hot. "Don't call me 'ge' now—it feels like a crime."

Jiang Mu could barely stand, clinging to his shoulders as her body went limp, boneless. She responded to him with naive hesitation, her tone coquettish, "Chaochao..."

But that single utterance only made Jin Chao lose control even more. Jiang Mu had never seen him like this—his eyes wild, his body radiating desire, every inch of him exuding raw power. Her mind grew hazy as she heard the sound of a zipper sliding down, her dress slipping from her shoulders. The calloused skin of his palms glided over her delicate flesh, sending shivers through her.

Even in her innocence, she knew what Jin Chao intended to do. Fearfully, she closed her eyes, bracing herself to endure everything. Yet, the fallen dress was carefully put back on by Jin Chao, who reached behind her to zip it up again.

Jiang Mu opened her eyes in confusion, meeting his gaze filled with suppressed fire. He simply smiled faintly at her and said, "It's not the right time yet."

With that, he reopened the wardrobe, handed her the clothes, and left.

Jiang Mu rushed into the bathroom, her face burning like a ripe apple. She stood there for a long time, unable to calm down. The scenes from earlier kept replaying in her mind. Perhaps too overwhelmed, she had even caught her finger in the door in her haste to leave, crying out in pain, "Chaochao!"

Jin Chao came in from outside, taking in her pitiful state—her short hair damp and clinging to her cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She pouted, holding up her injured finger to tattle, "Your door bullied me."

Jin Chao suppressed a smile, saying nothing. Her demeanor reminded him of a distant memory.

Back in kindergarten, whenever Jiang Mu fell outside, she would endure the pain without crying. But the moment she returned home and saw him, the tears would start, and she would insist on climbing onto his lap to pour out her grievances. Once, during Jin Chao's military training in middle school, he was away for several days. Jiang Mu had scraped her knee, and the wound had already scabbed over and nearly healed. Afraid she would forget by the time he returned, she would deliberately draw a circle around it with a pen after every bath as a reminder.After Jin Chao returned from military training, he had been teasing her for a long time without any issue. But when he asked why she had drawn a circle on her leg, bean-sized tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. After Jin Qiang told him what had happened, he laughed so hard he couldn't close his mouth for a long time.

Little Jiang Mu back then was exactly the same as she is now, asking somewhat angrily, "What are you laughing at?"

Jin Chao turned around and walked to the bed to open the drawer. The items in his drawer were neatly organized, sorted into several metal boxes. Jiang Mu watched as he searched through two metal boxes, set them aside, and reached for a wooden box at the very back.

Her heart racing, she dashed over in one swift motion, pressed down on his hand, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Jin Chao had already grasped the wooden box and was pulling it out. He turned his head and replied, "Looking for a band-aid."

Jiang Mu said excitedly, "Isn't your medicine stored in the wardrobe drawer? Why are you looking here?"

Jin Chao narrowed his eyes slightly. "If there are band-aids by the bedside, why would I need to rummage through the wardrobe? Is there a problem?"

Jiang Mu’s hand also gripped the wooden box, and she subtly tugged it toward herself, replying with a hint of guilt, "No problem, no problem. I’ll look for it myself."

However, Jin Chao stared at her unusual behavior, his gaze scrutinizing her. His hand remained firmly in place, and Jiang Mu couldn’t pull the box away. She could only hear him say unhurriedly, "Didn’t you cut your hand? Are you really going to look for it yourself without worrying about the pain?"

Jiang Mu grabbed a tissue, wiped the blood from her finger, and immediately widened her eyes, putting on a healthy and spirited expression as she replied, "It’s fine now. Look, it’s healed. No need for a band-aid."

She raised her finger in front of Jin Chao, but her finger, acting like a traitorous ally, right under his eyes, began to bleed again.

Jin Chao glanced sideways and let out a "tsk," saying slowly, "Better put a band-aid on. I’m afraid you might lose too much blood."

Just as he was about to open the wooden box, Jiang Mu lunged at him.

She lunged so abruptly that Jin Chao was caught off guard. Afraid she might hurt herself, he didn’t dare dodge and instead shielded her with his body. As a result, she crashed into his chest with a heavy thud. The impact was not light, and Jin Chao grunted in surprise, asking, "What’s in this box? Your family heirloom?"

With that, he held the wooden box with one hand and flicked it open with his thumb. The moment the box opened, the air froze for a few seconds. It was simply impossible not to notice the bright red box nestled among the band-aids, cotton swabs, and thermometer.

Jiang Mu’s movements also froze as she stared blankly at the small box. Jin Chao was silent for a moment before turning to her with a meaningful look. "Family heirloom?"

Jiang Mu quickly took a step back, so embarrassed she wished she could dig a map of Tonggang right there on the spot.

Jin Chao took the item out, his eyes teasing as he said, "Hiding this by my bedside... you really are something."

Jiang Mu, of course, couldn’t accept such praise and immediately retorted, "Didn’t you give this to me?"

Jin Chao furrowed his brow. "I gave this to you?"

Jiang Mu’s cheeks burned fiercely. She turned her back to him and nodded.

Jin Chao said, baffled, "Why would I give this to you?"

Jiang Mu glanced back at him shyly, her voice soft and small. "How should I know..."

With that, she climbed onto the bed, wrapped herself tightly in the thin blanket, and lay completely still.For a long while, Jin Chao remained still and silent. Soon after, Jiang Mu felt the corner of the quilt being lifted as Jin Chao took her hand out and carefully applied a bandage to it.

Jiang Mu quietly lowered the quilt to peek at him. His gaze drifted lightly over her, causing her heart to skip a beat. She pulled the quilt back up, leaving only her eyes exposed, and asked him, "What are you thinking about?"

Jin Chao simply looked at her, a faint smile gradually spreading across his lips. The box of condoms lay discarded on the bedside table. He straightened up and started to leave, but Jiang Mu reached out and grabbed his hand.

Jin Chao paused, his gaze simmering with restrained intensity. "You really aren’t afraid I might do something to you."

Jiang Mu was indeed afraid, but she didn’t let go. Jin Chao’s voice softened as he told her, "I’m going to take a shower."