A Promise in a Thought 4

Chapter 4

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the floor of Bo Muyu’s room, casting an orange-yellow luminescence over the two people inside, making the scene look comfortable and warm.

You’ve grown up.

When Bo Muyu heard Jiang Chenyin say this, a sense of panic stirred within her.

Grown up. Does that mean I can’t be with her like I was when I was a child? Grown up. Does that mean I have to learn to be independent, just like Mom and Dad said? Grown up. Does that mean I have to act like an adult in front of her?

She had never considered this. Even though she wasn’t the most outgoing person, she had learned how to socialize after she started working. But the one thing she had never once considered was the possibility of not being able to be close to Jiang Chenyin.

Bo Muyu’s thoughts gradually settled, and the sights and sounds before her became clear again.

Jiang Chenyin was slightly bent over, tidying up the open files for her, and said with a smile, “You should put your files away neatly after you’re done. It’s so messy. It’ll be a hassle to find what you need next time.”

“Okay, I’ll be more careful next time,” Bo Muyu said, slowly nodding at her back.

The sapling in her heart, which had stopped growing for four years, hadn’t withered. Instead, it had grown strong and sturdy. The trace of panic from just now seemed to have vanished.

Jiang Chenyin paused in her tidying and looked at the name Bo Muyu had signed on the document.

The handwriting was neat and elegant, much more mature than when she was in school.

She shook her head and chuckled, feeling a bit emotional. “I suddenly feel like time has flown by. You’re an adult now, and you’re working. You’re not the child who would pester me to buy her toys anymore. It’s not just you; I’ve missed so, so much…”

She had just accepted the fact that Bo Muyu was a grown woman, and suddenly she was seeing the girl’s work documents. Four years had truly changed a lot of things. She hadn’t felt it while living her carefree life abroad, but seeing Bo Muyu made her realize that a long time had indeed passed. Over a thousand days and nights had altered many of the images in her memory.

Not only had she missed the most important stage of Bo Muyu’s growth, but she also hadn’t been able to properly care for her own parents.

“Auntie Yin.” Bo Muyu stepped forward and took Jiang Chenyin’s wrist, pulling it slightly towards herself. “Let’s go out. It should be time for dinner.”

She had heard the melancholy in Jiang Chenyin’s voice. Over the years, when she visited Grandpa and Grandma Jiang, the two elders would always bring up Jiang Chenyin.

Jiang Chenyin nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

When Bo Muyu and Jiang Chenyin neared the kitchen, they found Ye Xialan and Bo Mingliang in the middle of a heated yet affectionate debate about Ye Xialan sleeping in the guest room with Jiang Chenyin that night.

Bo Mingliang, wearing an apron, was stir-frying vegetables. Ye Xialan wrapped an arm around him, patted his stomach, and leaned in to say, “Daddy, can I sleep with Teacher Jiang tonight?”

“Then what about me?” Bo Mingliang asked without turning his head.

“Oh, come on,” Ye Xialan said coaxingly. “She just got back. Let us have some time to talk. It’s not like I’m going to sleep with her for the rest of my life. When she goes home, I’ll come back to our room. Please, Daddy, just say yes.”

Bo Mingliang put the lid on the pot, turned around, and crossed his arms. Tall and well-built, he looked down at his wife from a commanding height. “Let me think about it.”

Ye Xialan cupped Bo Mingliang’s face with both hands, intensifying her efforts to win him over. “Daddy, just say yes, quick…”

The middle-aged couple’s faces were nearly touching. This was the scene that greeted Jiang Chenyin and Bo Muyu when they reached the kitchen doorway.

A thirty-nine-year-old woman, almost forty, and Bo Mingliang is a fifty-year-old man. Can they not be so lovey-dovey!

Jiang Chenyin held her forehead and glanced at the composed Bo Muyu, whispering, “Don’t tell me your parents still haven’t toned it down after all these years?”

Bo Muyu nodded, unfazed, showing no intention of looking away. “Mmm, they’ve always been like this. Today is actually a good day. It’s not as intense as a few days ago.”

Jiang Chenyin’s gaze fell helplessly on the two people in the kitchen.

Good heavens, just how intense do these two get for Bo Muyu to be so calm about it? They must have gotten even more out of hand in the past few years than before I went abroad.

“Oh, Daddy…”

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but let out a light cough. The two of them froze instantly, and Ye Xialan quickly let go of her husband.

Bo Mingliang, pretending he hadn’t heard anything, shooed them away. “You all go wait outside. I can handle it here by myself. The food will be ready soon.”

Jiang Chenyin smiled. “Thanks for your hard work.”

Ye Xialan, on the other hand, gave Bo Muyu a meaningful look, then went to put her arm around her best friend’s shoulders and turn her around, asking tentatively, “Teacher Jiang, did you see anything just now?”

“I didn’t see a thing,” Jiang Chenyin said with a gentle smile. “But, can you please not call me Teacher Jiang like those people online? It makes me sound old.”

Ye Xialan shot Jiang Chenyin a look. “Then what should I call you? Old Jiang? President Jiang? Third Miss Jiang?”

Jiang Chenyin was so annoyed she wanted to shake her hand off. “Can’t you just use my name? Do you have to give me a nickname?”

“No way. To reflect your status in my heart, you must have a nickname.”

Jiang Chenyin glared at her. “If you keep calling me that, watch out, I’ll start calling you Sister Lan from now on.”

“Ha, you think I’m scared? I’m almost forty. Even if you call me sister, you’re not that much younger. Let’s just take each other down…”

What is all this nonsense? Jiang Chenyin didn’t even want to look at her anymore, really not wanting to admit that Ye Xialan had hit a sore spot.

Bo Muyu followed silently behind, listening to her mother and Jiang Chenyin ramble on just like they used to.

It seemed as if nothing had changed, except for the fact that she had grown up. And so far, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with that.

She felt that as an adult, there were more things she could do and say than when she was a child.

Ye Xialan kept talking to Jiang Chenyin, starting from events of the past few years, mostly gossiping about what had happened while Jiang Chenyin was out of the country.

Even when the food was served, Bo Mingliang and Bo Muyu couldn’t get a word in edgewise, just listening to the two best friends chat.

It was mostly Ye Xialan talking, with Jiang Chenyin responding. Sometimes her replies were longer, but Ye Xialan was generally the one driving the conversation.

Ye Xialan and Jiang Chenyin were very close. When they were alone, they could talk about anything and everything. But Ye Xialan was also very tactful; she knew exactly what to say and what not to say.

For instance, she could ask Jiang Chenyin why she didn’t hook up with a couple of older men or younger guys abroad, and she could pretend to be angry and scold Jiang Chenyin for not trying harder, but she would never bring up why Jiang Chenyin had left.

Some things were not only taboo for the Jiang family to talk about but also a line that should not be crossed between friends. It wasn’t that Ye Xialan couldn’t bring it up, but she couldn’t let those old matters affect Jiang Chenyin’s state of mind again, even though they had already had a severe impact.

After dinner, with Bo Mingliang’s tacit approval, Ye Xialan slipped into the guest room where Jiang Chenyin was staying, holding her nightgown.

How many days will Jiang Chenyin stay?

Bo Muyu wasn’t sure. She also hadn’t asked the question she had been holding in her heart. Seeing Ye Xialan and Jiang Chenyin chatting so happily tonight, she had almost forgotten about it.

Since she’s back and has promised not to leave again, the reason she left back then isn’t important anymore, right? If it wasn’t something good, why bring it up again?

That’s right. What good reason could make a person leave so resolutely?

Bo Muyu thought about it while taking a shower, and afterward, her cluttered thoughts seemed to clear up.

If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then so be it. She’s back now, what’s there to talk about?

It was time to rest. Bo Muyu stood by her bedroom door for a moment, then decided to open it and walk towards the guest room.

She knocked a few times, and a voice from inside said, “Come in.” It was Jiang Chenyin’s voice.

Bo Muyu entered. The sound of running water came from the bathroom, while Jiang Chenyin sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, holding a book in both hands, looking up at her.

The bathroom door suddenly opened, and Ye Xialan walked out in her nightgown, surprised. “Xiaoyu, why aren’t you in bed yet? You have work tomorrow.”

“I…” Bo Muyu thought for a moment and came up with an excuse. “I came to see if Mom and Auntie Yin need anything.”

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but smile, seeming to see through her true intentions.

Ye Xialan pinched Bo Muyu’s cheek and shook her head with a smile. “What could we possibly need? Even if we did, can’t your mother take care of it herself? Do we need you?”

“Then I’ll go back to my room,” Bo Muyu said, pressing her lips together firmly, looking a little disappointed.

Before knocking, she hadn’t thought of a reason to stay longer. It was impossible for Ye Xialan and Jiang Chenyin to ask her to stay. She had just had a sudden impulse to come over. As expected, she had to go back to her room.

But Jiang Chenyin said, “Let Muyu stay for a while. It’s still early. She probably won’t fall asleep right away if she goes back now.”

Ye Xialan glanced at Jiang Chenyin, then said to Bo Muyu, “Alright then, you can sit for a bit, but don’t interrupt when the adults are talking.”

“Mmm,” Bo Muyu nodded obediently and went to sit on the single armchair.

Ye Xialan poured her a glass of water and reminded her, “Have some water, but don’t drink too much, or your eyes will be swollen tomorrow.”

Bo Muyu nodded again.

After giving her instructions, Ye Xialan flicked her nightgown and plopped down next to Jiang Chenyin, wrapping an arm around her waist and suggestively touching her abdomen.

Ye Xialan had a very passionate personality; otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten together with Bo Mingliang, who was ten years her senior. Now, at nearly forty, with a happy family and having maintained herself well, she had an indescribable charm.

Jiang Chenyin put her book aside and sighed. “Can you keep your hands to yourself?”

“Why should I?” Ye Xialan said dismissively, still stroking Jiang Chenyin’s abdomen. “Can’t you take pity on me? My husband has a beer belly, there’s no feel to it at all. It’s been so long since I’ve touched your toned abs. What’s wrong with letting me touch them for a bit?”

“You can work out and get them yourself,” Jiang Chenyin said, at a loss for words. Her peripheral vision caught Bo Muyu looking over, and she reminded Ye Xialan in a low voice, “Watch what you say. The child is here.”

Ye Xialan smiled and replied, “It’s fine. My old man and I aren’t too shy about it. The child is grown up, after all. There are some things she needs to understand. We usually only avoid her when we’re doing… important business.”

Ye Xialan heavily emphasized the words “important business,” and her entire tone sounded very suggestive.

Jiang Chenyin almost choked. No wonder Bo Muyu had shown no reaction when she saw her and Bo Mingliang being lovey-dovey in the kitchen; her expression had been completely placid.

It seemed she had really seen it too often, so common that it didn’t require any emotional response.

But still, couldn’t this couple restrain themselves just a little!

Bo Muyu couldn’t hear what the two of them were whispering about. She picked up her cup and took small sips of water.

“Anyway, let me tell you,” Ye Xialan suddenly said in a normal volume, looking mysterious. “Do you remember that scumbag I told you about before? The one who was a business friend of my old man’s? He actually dared to call me later…”

“Cough… cough cough cough…” Bo Muyu choked on her water, her face flushing slightly as she coughed.

Ye Xialan quickly let go of Jiang Chenyin, leaned over to hand Bo Muyu a tissue, and said with a concerned frown, “Drink slowly. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Mmm…” Bo Muyu nodded, her lips red and moist. She didn’t dare to look up.

She had choked on the water, but it wasn’t because she was drinking too quickly.

Ye Xialan cleared her throat and reminded her, “Don’t go telling your dad what your Auntie Yin and I are talking about. He knows all this stuff; I don’t hide anything from him. Your Auntie Yin and I are just chatting. If you can’t stand listening, you can go back to your room.”

“Mom, I understand. I’ll stay a little longer,” Bo Muyu said, wiping her mouth and nodding seriously, meeting Ye Xialan’s gaze this time.

Ye Xialan went back to sit on the sofa, and Jiang Chenyin also withdrew her gaze from Bo Muyu.

Jiang Chenyin said to Ye Xialan, “As long as you two communicate well about these things and don’t hide anything from each other, that’s what matters. That way you can avoid any misunderstandings.”

Ye Xialan raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You sound like you know everything, so experienced. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’re an expert.”

Jiang Chenyin’s lips curved. “What experience does that need? It’s a way of getting along that even a child knows, okay?”

“Tsk…” Ye Xialan rested her chin on Jiang Chenyin’s shoulder, her hand toying with Jiang Chenyin’s collar, her words teasing. “Be honest with your big sister. In these few years in Singapore, did anyone pursue you?”

Jiang Chenyin sighed and answered leisurely, “Yes.”

Hearing this, Bo Muyu, who was about to put her cup back on the table, froze.