Speed and Love

That evening, Jiang Mu still attended Gu Zhijie's dinner gathering, but this time she wasn't alone—she brought Jin Chao along. The restaurant was at the foot of the mountain, not far from where they lived.

This marked Jin Chao's first step into Jiang Mu's social circle, and it was also the first time Jiang Mu had brought a man to dine with them. The moment they arrived, all eyes turned to Jin Chao.

Jin Chao remained composed, greeting everyone with a smile. Gu Zhijie stood up and said, "Please, take the seats inside."

As Jin Chao took off his coat and hung it in the corner of the private room, Gu Zhijie seized the chance to tease Jiang Mu: "No wonder you weren't interested in Thoas. Your ex-boyfriend is this handsome?"

Jiang Mu corrected him, "Current boyfriend."

Gu Zhijie was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. Turning to Jin Chao, who was walking over, he said, "You should be treating us tonight. You've stolen the girl countless men in our department have been dreaming of."

Jiang Mu turned her head and met Jin Chao's smiling eyes, suddenly feeling a bit shy.

Jin Chao sat down beside her and replied earnestly, "I really should be treating everyone. Please eat heartily and don't stand on ceremony."

His words drew laughter from the group, and they raised their glasses in congratulations, asking when they could drink the couple's wedding wine.

Gu Zhijie smoothed things over, saying, "I ran into them this afternoon, and they hadn't even confirmed their relationship yet. Now you're already asking for wedding candies? Isn't that a bit too eager?"

After saying this, he raised his glass and turned to Jiang Mu and Jin Chao: "So when do we get to drink the wedding wine?"

Jiang Mu protested, "I'm shy—spare me, please."

Jin Chao lifted his glass with a reserved smile. "I'll strive to make it soon."

Jiang Mu tugged at Jin Chao's sleeve and said to him, "Can you drink? Have less."

Jin Chao seemed to be in high spirits, lowering his gaze as he replied, "Today is special."

Those four words made Jiang Mu's heart feel as if it were resting on cotton—soft and warm.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu from their group asked, "Xiao Jiang, when are you taking your Subject One test?"

Jiang Mu replied, "I passed. I'm practicing for Subject Two now."

Zhang Yu exclaimed in surprise, "You're moving fast! Do you still have time to practice driving lately?"

"I make time."

Jin Chao glanced at her sideways. Noticing he hadn't touched his chopsticks much, Jiang Mu suddenly remembered something and asked, "Can you not eat hotpot?"

Jin Chao said helplessly, "It seems I really scared you. I'm not that particular."

Even so, Jiang Mu whispered, "I'll give you special treatment after this is over."

Later, when the conversation turned to work-related matters, Jin Chao listened quietly, occasionally helping Jiang Mu peel shrimp or cook meat in the pot. Having run a car shop in the past and interacted with all sorts of people, he could chat a bit with Jiang Mu's colleagues, and everyone formed a good impression of him.

As the gathering was about to end, he got up and went out. It was only when Gu Zhijie went to settle the bill that he found out Jin Chao had already paid in advance. Patting Jin Chao on the shoulder, he said, "I was just joking with you—you didn't have to take it seriously and pay."

Then, turning to Jiang Mu, he added, "Your boyfriend is too polite. Next time, I'll treat you two separately."

After saying goodbye to everyone, Jiang Mu and Jin Chao headed back. She hadn't dressed warmly that day—the afternoon had been pleasantly warm with fine weather. Who would have thought that when they stepped out of the restaurant in the evening, the wind would pick up and a drizzling rain would begin to fall? Jiang Mu shivered from the cold. Jin Chao simply opened his overcoat and wrapped her tightly in his embrace. His body warmth enveloped her instantly, so cozy that Jiang Mu narrowed her eyes, looked up at him, and smiled. "Chaochao."

He lowered his gaze, his eyes tender. "Hmm?"Tiny raindrops fell into Jiang Mu's eyes, making her blink uncomfortably. Jin Chao simply bundled her entire head inside his overcoat. She felt warm and sheltered from the rain, but couldn't see the path ahead—only their synchronized footsteps visible through the coat's hem.

Jiang Mu laughed and asked, "I can only follow you now. You wouldn't sell me off, would you?"

"Possibly," he replied.

By the time Jin Chao released Jiang Mu from his coat, he had already brought her home. She remained largely dry, but his short hair glistened with droplets and his overcoat was damp.

Upon entering, Jiang Mu urged him, "Go change your clothes quickly."

After removing his jacket, Jin Chao headed to the bathroom. Jiang Mu played with Shandian on the carpet for a while, listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom. Noticing his bedroom door slightly ajar, she glanced back several times before finally rising and approaching it.

Pushing the door open gently, the previously dark room illuminated the moment she stepped inside. Her eyes first fell on the bedroom's large bed, dressed in understated, high-quality light gray bedding neatly spread without hiding any women or anything unusual.

But when she turned her head, Jiang Mu froze completely.

Against the wall at the foot of the bed stood a full-length glass display cabinet containing a massive Lego space model—complete with a launch center and ground control room, walking astronauts, and a rocket bearing the words "China Aerospace."

Every component was assembled from thousands of Lego pieces. Jiang Mu had never seen the completed model, which was far larger than she had imagined. Covering her mouth in disbelief, memories came flooding back, stirring her emotions.

Footsteps sounded behind her. Jin Chao paused at the doorway upon seeing the open door. Jiang Mu turned to find his thick lashes slightly lowered, his clean jawline appearing both sharp and sensual.

With moist eyes, Jiang Mu asked, "How long did it take to build?"

Jin Chao hesitated briefly before recalling, "Combining both attempts—quite a while."

"Both attempts?"

He explained briefly, "It fell apart during shipping once. When reassembling after moving, the instructions were lost. The second time was more challenging."

He never mentioned the first attempt—back when Jiang Mu had just gone abroad, when he couldn't stand yet, spending days in a wheelchair without hope or direction.

This Lego set had accompanied him through those long, difficult days. It seemed his life had become stagnant except for this single goal.

He couldn't recall exactly how long the construction took. Sometimes he worked forgetting meals and sleep, other times through sleepless nights. But when the rocket engraved with "China Aerospace" finally stood on the launch pad at dawn, accompanied by morning sunlight, he gazed at the completed work as if seeing Mu Mu entering this field years later.

That was the first time he felt such intense desire to stand again, the moment ambition for the future ignited within him.

Jiang Mu approached the glass cabinet, fingers tracing the tiny components. She remembered their promise to build this model together, back when they believed they had all the time in the world to assemble it slowly. Who could have imagined that what she thought would be forever vanished in the blink of an eye.The glass cabinet door reflected Jin Chao's figure as he embraced her from behind, pulling her into his arms. The pleasant scent of his freshly showered body enveloped her, warm breaths sneaking into Jiang Mu's collar as he asked, "Who is Thoas?"

Jiang Mu gazed at his silhouette against her hair in the glass reflection and proudly told him, "The famous talented guy in our department, mixed Australian and French heritage."

Jin Chao's arms gradually tightened around her, but his tone was flippant. "He's pursuing you?"

Jiang Mu nodded honestly. "I already told you, lots of people are after me. Did you think I was joking?"

Jin Chao gripped her chin, turning her face toward him, his breathing deepening. "You really dare to say that."

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow provocatively. "Weren't you the one who told me to go out and interact with more men? I'm just following your advice. You should know by now—over the years, I've become quite the seasoned player in the romance department."

The turbulence in Jin Chao's eyes vanished into their dark depths as he pinched her chin. "No need to share with me, thanks."

Jiang Mu glanced sideways at the model and said, "I gave this to you. Even it gets to stay here—why can't I?"

Jin Chao's arm wrapped around her waist, his voice growing deeper and more magnetic. "I'll help you move tomorrow."

Jiang Mu turned around in his embrace and looked up. "Alright then, I'll head back first. See you tomorrow."

Though his eyes held a smile, his words were, "Take care, I won't see you out." Yet his hand clamped around her waist, preventing her from moving an inch. Jiang Mu realized that even if his body wasn't as strong as before, if he wanted to, he could still easily trap her in front of him, leaving her no escape.

With a slight exertion of his palm, she was pulled entirely into his embrace. He lowered his head, nuzzling her nose, gently sucking her lip, then kissed her fully. His intoxicating, subtle fragrance enveloped her, and Jiang Mu's thoughts froze as she actively responded. Jin Chao tightened his arms, lifted her off the ground, and turned to place her on the large bed behind them. Their heartbeats collided as a mesmerizing curve lifted the corner of his lips. "Still think you can walk away?"

This round, Jiang Mu was defeated. Wanting to prove she wasn't easily swayed, she found herself unable to move. Fortunately, she wasn't fighting alone. A damp sensation in her palm startled her, and she turned to see Shandian sitting by the bed, licking her hand—who knew how long he had been watching?

Though he was just a dog, he was an understanding one. Being stared at so directly made Jiang Mu blush. She escaped from under Jin Chao and said to him, "I didn't bring any clothes."

Jin Chao fetched a set of cotton pajamas from the closet and handed them to her, then leaned against the cabinet door, his gaze teasing her. Jiang Mu felt her whole body burn under his stare.

Usually so serious and even somewhat aloof, yet when he smiled, her heart trembled. Flustered, she hurried out of the room into the bathroom.

Jiang Mu was no longer a young girl. She knew what Jin Chao keeping her here tonight meant. Compared to the hesitation and fear years ago, she now felt more resolute, even a little expectant.

What hadn't changed was that he could still easily make her heart flutter.

By the time Jiang Mu finished her shower and came out, Jin Chao was leaning against the headboard, looking at his tablet. When she entered the room, he locked the tablet, set it aside, and swept a deep, leisurely gaze over her. "Planning to stand there like you're being punished?"Although the autumn nights were chilly, Jin Chao's home was equipped with a climate control system, so it didn't feel cold. Jiang Mu had forgone wearing the overly long pajama pants and simply slipped on Jin Chao's top before coming out. The sleeves hung so long they resembled theatrical costumes, swinging back and forth as she moved them. Her pale, alluring legs swayed conspicuously before Jin Chao, though she wasn't as uninhibited as in childhood, when she would casually climb onto his bed. Now, she had to maintain some decorum—taking the initiative to get into his bed felt somewhat embarrassing.

So she feigned seriousness and asked, "Should I sleep on the sofa?"

Jin Chao didn't respond, the corner of his mouth quirking slightly as he silently watched her performance. Jiang Mu then made a show of heading toward the bedroom door. Seeing that he showed no intention of stopping her, she pretended to adjust her hair while glancing sideways at him.

From behind came Jin Chao's voice, calling not her but Shandian.

Shandian trotted over eagerly, stretching his head forward. Jin Chao slowly uttered two words: "Close the door."

Shandian very obligingly jumped up, hooked the door handle with his paw, and pulled the bedroom door shut, incidentally closing himself outside as well.

Facing the closed door, Jiang Mu's lips lifted briefly in a faint smile before she suppressed it and turned back to look at Jin Chao. He patted the spot beside him.

Jiang Mu stepped forward with her smooth, slender legs and climbed onto the bed. As she drew near, she noticed the prosthetic limb standing beside his bed. Her expression faltered slightly—this was the first time she had seen his artificial leg with her own eyes. The visceral impact of seeing it directly was entirely different from merely hearing about it.

Her gaze still lingered on the prosthetic when Jin Chao pulled her over, directly lifting the blanket to wrap her inside.

Lying beside Jin Chao, Jiang Mu restlessly slid downward until her entire body was submerged deeper and deeper beneath the covers. Jin Chao then hauled her back up. She lifted her head to meet his dark, bright eyes and tentatively asked, "Can I... take a look?"

Jin Chao frowned slightly. "It's not pleasant to look at."

"Then are you planning to wear pants in front of me for the rest of your life?"

A flicker of emotion passed through Jin Chao's eyes as he turned his head away. Jiang Mu slid back under the covers, carefully rolling up the left leg of his pajamas. Finding it inconvenient, she then struggled to remove his pants altogether. Her hand had just reached his waist when Jin Chao caught it.

He looked down and asked, "What are you doing?"

Flustered, Jiang Mu replied, "I just want to see. Could you cooperate?"

Jin Chao gazed at her with a calm, detached expression. "Can't you just behave?"

She answered obediently, "No."

Jin Chao averted his eyes and undid it himself. Jiang Mu slipped down once more, her form creating a mound beneath the blankets. She didn't want Jin Chao to see her expression—this was her first direct encounter with his amputated limb, and it was awkward for both of them. So she buried herself completely under the covers.

In her memory, Jin Chao had possessed a pair of perfectly proportioned long legs. She could still recall how he used to lean against his car smoking, wearing grimy work pants, his left leg casually propped on a stool—a picture of rugged competence.

But when Jiang Mu saw his injury with her own eyes, it felt as if she were reliving the ordeal alongside him. She couldn't bear to look for more than a moment, curling up beside him with such anguish that her chest ached. She remained buried under the covers for a long time, unable to emerge.Her hair cascaded between Jin Chao's legs as she bowed her head, the soft strands making his breathing grow heavier. Though Jin Chao kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling, suppressing the restlessness within, the rhythm of his breathing beneath the blankets grew uneven—now light, now heavy—brushing against his skin like a torment.

Jiang Mu's attention remained entirely focused on his left leg, completely unaware of any unusual tension. Still immersed in sorrow, she was suddenly lifted into Jin Chao's embrace before she could react, his figure already looming over her.

She didn't notice when the lights dimmed. In the warm yellow glow, Jin Chao kissed her slowly, his lips erasing her sadness and soothing her heartache. The atmosphere grew intimate as his provocative teasing revealed a natural dominance, instantly igniting a fire that left her dizzy and defenseless. Her face flushed crimson, breath coming in ragged gasps like an enticing cherry.

Jin Chao's dark eyes burned with crimson intensity as he traced her lips and asked, "Care to enlighten me, little dating expert?The earlier joke now felt distant. Faced with reality, Jiang Mu froze. Through her loose clothing, Jin Chao's scorching palm covered her, kneading gently until she completely crumbled, her body arching sensitively.

Noticing her inexperience, Jin Chao slowed his movements. Leaning down to meet her dewy eyes, he murmured tenderly, "Mumu, open your eyes."

Jiang Mu tried, but her eyelids felt heavy as if intoxicated, every ounce of strength gone. She blinked weakly, meeting the blazing light in Jin Chao's gaze that seared her soul. He whispered, "Didn't you say you'd dated many men?"

A restless itch spread through Jiang Mu's heart. Overwhelmed, she choked out, "I have... but whenever anyone else touched my hand, I felt like I was betraying you..."

A smile bloomed on Jin Chao's lips as he gathered her completely into his embrace. "Silly girl."

Jiang Mu asked timidly, "Um... aren't you tired? Should I... take over?"

Jin Chao raised an eyebrow and stripped off her ill-fitting, obstructive nightgown. When she lay fully exposed before him, uncontrollable desire surged in his eyes.

Watching her curled, nervous form, he gently moved her concealing hands aside and chuckled recklessly. "Do you even know how?"

With her hands pinned beside the pillow, his gaze roamed freely over her body. Blushing, she turned away, biting her kiss-swollen lips. "I could... figure it out."

This girl he'd watched enter the world and grow up—once too precious to touch—now lay beneath him, breathtakingly beautiful. Overwhelming possessiveness shattered his control. "Some traditions," he rasped hoarsely, "shouldn't be broken. A woman doesn't take the lead her first time."

After those words, Jiang Mu felt her body cease to be her own. Drifting in a haze, she burned as if over flames, the subsequent events blurring into confusion.

When a sharp tearing sensation pierced her core, she grew restless, instinctively curling backward. Jin Chao anchored her waist, calling her name like a mantra: "Mumu, relax. Be good..."