Witnessing the scars left by Jin Chao's past trauma dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mu's heart. It should have been an unbearable moment, yet Jin Chao effortlessly dissolved her distress in this manner, making her thoughts and eyes filled entirely with him, temporarily setting aside the sorrow.
Since childhood, she had always felt Jin Chao was more mature than her. Most of the time, he remained calm in front of her, never showing an impulsive side. But now his eyes held a crimson, intoxicating warmth that could melt a person into liquid.
How it began was a blur to Jiang Mu, and how it ended remained hazy in her consciousness. She wrapped herself in the blanket, too embarrassed to emerge, feeling an unusual shyness in her heart. Especially when she recalled Jin Chao's gaze full of tenderness, her entire body burned fiercely.
Although it would be perfectly legal for them to marry on the spot, having grown up together since childhood—she had seen his mischievous younger self, and he had witnessed her silly, adorable childish moments—they had once maintained a pure sibling-like relationship. Even though their feelings had gradually changed over time, actually crossing that line left Jiang Mu feeling somewhat ashamed.
Jin Chao's feelings differed slightly from hers. After all, he had witnessed Jiang Mu's birth—so tiny when she first entered the world, with slender arms and small hands that looked pitiful. He once doubted whether this girl would survive. When they were young, even a slight grip on her wrist would leave red marks, making him extra cautious around her no matter how wild or rough he was outside. He feared accidentally hurting her during their play.
He had made her cry before—often teasing her deliberately as children, finding amusement in her frustrated tears. But he had never made her cry in this way. Seeing Jiang Mu curled into a small ball under the blankets, guilt washed over him. Heart aching, he pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her back as he asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Jiang Mu felt too embarrassed to look at him, burying her face in his chest while her body still trembled slightly. She stammered incoherently, "Just... a little. It's okay, I don't really know..."
She nuzzled her face against his chest, inhaling his pleasant masculine scent—an indescribable fragrance that evoked irresistible fascination. In a soft voice, she asked, "Are you tired?"
Jin Chao remained silent for a long moment before replying, "Are you tired after running a long race?"
Jiang Mu nodded against his chest: "Tired."
"What about after winning first place?"
Probably only excitement and thrill remained—this was likely what Jin Chao meant to convey. Jiang Mu buried her face deeper into him.
Jin Chao lowered his head to ask her, "What are you hiding from?"
Jiang Mu murmured vaguely, "Let me hide for a while."
Jin Chao's smile reached the corners of his eyes: "You've already given yourself to me, yet you're still too shy to look at me?"
His teasing only made Jiang Mu feel more mortified. Jin Chao understood she couldn't immediately adapt to such intimacy between them—it would take time. His fingertips traced soothing circles on her smooth back, sending tingling sensations through Jiang Mu's heart. She willingly surrendered herself completely to him, for she knew that in this world, only this man before her would never betray her and could be entrusted with her whole being without hesitation.After that, Jiang Mu fell silent and didn't move for a long while. When Jin Chao shifted to look at her, her long eyelashes had already closed as she slept quietly and obediently against his chest, seemingly unbothered by potential breathing difficulties. Her rosy lips still glistened with moisture, and he couldn't resist leaning in to kiss them. Jiang Mu murmured unconsciously in her sleep, her soft long hair spilling across the pillow beside him, reminding him of the sympetalous corollas outside the hospital that year - ticklish and fuzzy, making one's heart soften along with them. However, she seemed extremely tired, so he had no choice but to release her. He quietly admired her figure for a while longer, his eyes filled with deep, ink-like affection, before tucking the quilt securely around her and turning off the light.
Jiang Mu slept soundly through the night without any dreams, waking up feeling as though she'd climbed two mountains - her legs weak and sore. Feeling herself lying in a spacious, soft bed, she initially thought she was in a hotel during a business trip and comfortably turned over. But then she immediately realized something was wrong - she wasn't wearing any clothes.
Jiang Mu's eyes flew open, and it took her a moment to remember that Jin Chao had brought her home. Scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind, and even in recollection they felt somewhat overwhelming. Blushing, she slid back under the covers, her face burning as she took several moments to compose herself before peeking out again. Jin Chao wasn't in the room, but his pleasant scent still lingered on the pillow beside her.
Jiang Mu wasn't particularly sensitive to smells, yet for some reason Jin Chao's scent always captivated her. Whether it was the youthful smell of sunshine and sweat from his younger days or the mature, attractive masculine aura of later years, each phase corresponded with her own growth, creating an irresistible attraction.
She rolled over to his side of the bed. Strangely, when living alone she would get up immediately without lingering in bed, but having just returned to Jin Chao's side for one day, that lazy tendency had already resurfaced. She found it remarkable herself, so she decisively threw off the covers and got up.
As she stepped out of bed, Jiang Mu saw yesterday's clothes neatly folded and placed by the bedside. She picked them up - the clothes carried a soft, pleasant fragrance. She didn't know what time Jin Chao had gotten up, but he had even washed and dried her clothes.
Entering the bathroom, she found toiletries already arranged on the clean, tidy counter. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Jiang Mu noticed faint redness beginning from her collarbone downward. Pulling her collar aside revealed increasingly obvious red marks the further down she looked. Last night had been too chaotic - the first time she'd completely let her guard down with Jin Chao, her mind hazy. Only now did she remember how he had kissed and caressed her. Her face flushed to the tips of her ears, her eyes holding lingering shyness, while her heart felt filled with honey.
After dawdling for a while, Jiang Mu went out to find Jin Chao not in the living room. Breakfast waited for her on the table - milk, fried eggs, millet porridge, and a plate of freshly peeled red pomelo.
An indescribable happiness overflowed in Jiang Mu's heart, mixed with some guilt. She should have gotten up earlier to make breakfast, yet here was Jin Chao taking care of her instead. She resolved not to let this happen again.
Initially thinking Jin Chao had taken the dog for a walk, she was holding her milk when Shandian seemed to hear her movements and came wagging his tail from the study. Approaching the study door, she pushed it open to find Jin Chao sitting on exercise equipment, doing back stretches.He wore form-fitting black athletic wear, his back turned to her. With every stretch, his back muscles formed a perfect inverted triangle, while the just right tautness of his waist and abdomen made his upper body appear powerfully built. Jiang Mu leaned against the doorframe, sipping milk as she admired the view, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Jin Chao didn’t turn around, yet he seemed to sense her presence behind him. He halted his movements, turned, and walked toward her. A light sheen of sweat covered his body, and as he drew near, his intense masculine aura washed over her. Jiang Mu felt as if she were being bewitched into a daze—even the scent of his sweat struck her as irresistibly alluring.
Holding her milk with one hand, she looked up at him and grinned. He closed in, pressing her against the doorframe, looking down to take in her delicate, feminine demeanor. His breath came hot and urgent as he murmured, "Has my little temptress woken up?"
Jiang Mu grew shy again. After all, she was petite and inexperienced in such matters, unaccustomed in every way. The more nervous she became, the more restrained she felt. The night before, Jin Chao had held back for her sake, reluctant to unleash his full intensity. The entire process had been agonizing for him too—she had even called for a pause midway, tormenting him to the brink of combustion.
Noticing her distraction, Jin Chao captured her milk-scented lips, greedily entwining his tongue with hers in a tender, lingering kiss. So early in the morning, Jiang Mu was left with damp lashes and a racing heart, her legs so unsteady she could barely stand.
Sweat still clung to him, so he refrained from touching her, merely enveloping her with his presence as he leaned in, his scorching breath descending. "Do you want to rest at home today, or shall we move your things over?"
Her eyes soft, Jiang Mu replied, "My lease isn’t up yet—there are over two months left, and I can’t be bothered to sublet. Why not wait until it expires to move? Or maybe I could go back first to grab a few clothes?"
Jin Chao clicked his tongue, pulling his phone from his pocket. Jiang Mu heard the sound of a money transfer. Checking her own phone, she saw he had sent her an amount equivalent to half a year of her salary. Puzzled, she lifted her gaze to him. "Why did you transfer me money?"
He put his phone away and lowered his eyes. "Consider it as you subletting those two months to me. Can you move now?"
Suppressing a smile, Jiang Mu listened as Jin Chao told her, "Go eat your breakfast. If it’s cold, warm it up. I’m going to shower."
After finishing her meal, Jiang Mu carried the dishes to the kitchen. Jin Chao emerged from his shower and entered the living room, pausing for a few seconds as he glimpsed the small, busy figure in the kitchen. Having grown accustomed to solitude, the presence of a woman in his kitchen suddenly filled the home with a sense of warmth and life.
A smile touched his lips as he walked toward her. With only a few dishes, Jiang Mu intended to wash them quickly, but a pair of arms encircled her from behind, taking the plates from her hands to rinse them.
Cradled in front of him, Jiang Mu watched his slender hands wash the dishes, that long-lost feeling of being cherished making the corners of her eyes crinkle. His breath brushed past as he asked, "What made you think about getting a driver’s license?"
Jiang Mu hesitated briefly. To protect Jin Chao’s pride, she couldn’t very well say it was to make it easier to chauffeur him around in the future. If he wouldn’t even let her do something as small as washing dishes, she worried he might overthink such a remark.
So she casually replied, "It’s just more convenient, and anyway, it’s another skill to have."Jin Chao didn't speak. Jiang Mu turned around in his arms and hugged him. He washed the bowl, dried it, and placed it in the dish rack. Jiang Mu clung to him like a koala. Only when Jin Chao's hands were free did he lift her off the ground and carry her toward the living room. Clinging to his shoulders, Jiang Mu said to him, "Put me down, don't tire yourself out."
Jin Chao looked unbothered. "Your tiny weight is like lifting a feather."
Just then, his phone rang. He answered a call and said he'd be right down.
Jiang Mu asked him curiously who he had made plans with. Jin Chao threw on a jacket, took Jiang Mu's hand, and led her out the door, saying to her, "I made plans with someone to help you move."
Downstairs, a van was already parked. Jiang Mu saw a young man in his twenties waiting beside the van. He looked quite refined and fair-skinned. When he saw Jin Chao bringing Jiang Mu down, he joked, "Boss, does this count as overtime pay on the weekend?"
Jin Chao laughed heartily. "It does."
Seeing Jin Chao in a good mood today, the man curiously let his gaze linger on Jiang Mu's face. Suddenly, she looked familiar, and after studying her for a moment, his eyes widened in shock. "Isn't this...?"
Jin Chao silenced him with a look, cutting him off bluntly. "Shut up and get in the car."
The man immediately turned and opened the car door for him. Jin Chao shifted slightly to let Jiang Mu get in first.
OpenNovel