A Promise in a Thought 34

Chapter 34

Back at home, Bo Muyu was shooed back to her room by Ye Xialan to change her clothes.

Bo Mingliang was in charge of dinner in the kitchen, and Ye Xialan pulled Jiang Chenyin out to the balcony.

“About Xiaoyu going to live with you long-term, do you really have no objections?” Ye Xialan asked, grabbing Jiang Chenyin’s arm, looking as if she had to get a clear and detailed answer. “If you’re not willing, just say so. We don’t need to be so formal with each other.”

“What objections could I have?”

Jiang Chenyin smiled and patted Ye Xialan’s hand. After Ye Xialan let go, she crossed her arms and looked into the distance.

“Having her with me actually makes me much happier,” Jiang Chenyin said, taking a deep breath and chuckling. “I won’t spoil her too much, nor will I do too much for her. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried about that. She’s not that spoiled to begin with,” Ye Xialan said, frowning, her tone much more serious. “With Xiaoyu moving in, will she really not be a bother to you? Think it over carefully before you answer me.”

Her meaning was clear. How could Jiang Chenyin not understand? She, like her family, didn’t say it outright, but she was still concerned about her.

The more it was like this, the more Jiang Chenyin felt an unseen and intangible sense of heaviness. Everyone was walking on thin ice, afraid of saying the wrong word, afraid of triggering her memories. But in reality, she had never forgotten for a single day. It was just that the fullness of her life had pushed that part of her memory further away.

“Xialan, don’t you understand yet?” Jiang Chenyin’s expression was placid. “I’m unwilling to think about the past, but that past doesn’t completely affect my present.”

Ye Xialan was silent, her head slightly lowered as she thought about something.

“What happened four years ago made me relive the feeling of that year,” Jiang Chenyin’s voice was low, but it also carried a hint of clear, pure relief. “To this day, I’m still afraid, and I still subconsciously avoid it. But if I really develop feelings for someone, I will take the initiative.”

Ye Xialan’s fingers twitched, and she looked up at her in astonishment.

Jiang Chenyin’s expression softened. She withdrew her distant gaze and looked at Ye Xialan. “After all, if I’m rejected, it’s me who gets hurt, not the other person.”

“Chenyin…” Ye Xialan’s pupils constricted, and she unconsciously grabbed Jiang Chenyin’s arms.

“Being the one who gets hurt is much better than hurting others, isn’t it?” Jiang Chenyin murmured, and after she finished, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

She didn’t want to hear anyone say that she had hurt them again. Every time she heard such words, she would always think of the bloodiness of that year. That soul-shaking terror, and the thick, pungent smell of blood, seemed to have passed through the barrier of time, making it impossible for her to hide in any corner now.

Ye Xialan didn’t know what to say, only feeling a deep sourness in her heart.

How many people had suffered such torment? It was clearly not Jiang Chenyin’s fault, yet she had been entangled in nightmares for so many years. To this day, she was still afraid of hurting others, trying her best to avoid even the slightest hurt, all because of a sense of guilt that she should not have had to bear.

After a long while, Ye Xialan said softly, “You’ve been wronged.”

Jiang Chenyin shook her head, and after a moment of thought, she smiled. “What, did you pull me out here just to talk about this?”

“Not entirely. It’s about that child, Xiaoyu…” Ye Xialan hesitated.

“Who was it just now who said we don’t need to be so formal with each other?” Jiang Chenyin’s lips curved. “But I probably know what you’re going to say. For you to agree to her idea, you must have heard her promise before you agreed. Since you still have something to say to me, you must want to tell me that although I can’t spoil her too much, I shouldn’t completely ignore her either.”

What she said was reasonable and on point. Ye Xialan also started to laugh.

“Am I right?” Jiang Chenyin sighed softly. “Although Muyu is dependent on me, her nature hasn’t changed. She will definitely do what she promises, so it’s not guaranteed that she will tell me if something happens.”

Ye Xialan linked her arm through hers and smiled. “Very good. Absolutely correct.”

Jiang Chenyin laughed and didn’t say much more, only promising, “Don’t worry. I know what to do.”

Ye Xialan sighed, then bared her teeth and pretended to pinch her arm. “Why on earth does my daughter love clinging to you so much? What kind of love potion did you give her? Am I, her mother, not as good-looking as you?”

“Hmm…” Jiang Chenyin pretended to ponder, her expression slightly serious. “Maybe it’s because you’re three years older than me.”

Ye Xialan grabbed her clothes, incredulous. “Teacher Jiang, you have the nerve to call me old? Do you think being three years younger is that young?”

Jiang Chenyin covered her mouth and laughed. “No, I wouldn’t dare. I mean, maybe it’s because you’re her mother.”

“Impossible!” Ye Xialan clutched her clothes and wouldn’t let go. “That’s not what you meant just now.”

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t stop laughing. “That’s really what I meant…”

The two of them bickered back and forth as they entered the living room and then moved to the dining room.

Bo Mingliang, the family man, had already set the table. Bo Muyu was placing the filled rice bowls at each place setting.

As soon as she sat down, Bo Muyu said, “Mom, after I move out, I’ll come home on the weekends.”

Ye Xialan and the somewhat stunned Bo Mingliang exchanged a surprised look, then exchanged a look with the smiling Jiang Chenyin.

Seeing that her parents and Jiang Chenyin were not speaking, Bo Muyu simply put down her chopsticks and added, “Actually, it doesn’t have to be on the weekend. I’ll come back whenever I want to. I’ll definitely come home often.”

A look of relief appeared on Ye Xialan’s face, and she smiled. “I thought that now that you’ve successfully clung to your Auntie Yin, you’d forgotten all about your parents. Good, at least you’re still filial.” As she spoke, she nudged the Bo Mingliang beside her with her elbow. “Right, Daddy?”

Bo Mingliang chuckled and agreed, “That’s right. I’ve always said that our daughter couldn’t possibly not come home.”

Jiang Chenyin just smiled and said nothing. She had felt in Lingzhou that Bo Muyu was starting to become more mature, not just looking at one aspect of things when she considered them.

As she was recalling this, Bo Muyu pressed her lips together and said with concentration, “Dad is right. I won’t.”

Bo Mingliang nodded and said to Jiang Chenyin, “Then we’ll have to trouble you, Xiao Jiang.”

Jiang Chenyin smiled. “Not at all. That’s too formal.”

As they talked, the topic shifted. Ye Xialan casually brought up a few things and started chatting with Jiang Chenyin. Bo Mingliang and Bo Muyu couldn’t get a word in.

In the evening, Ye Xialan chatted with Jiang Chenyin for a while, but Jiang Chenyin had to leave soon.

Bo Muyu, who had just finished helping Bo Mingliang with the dishes, came out. Seeing that Jiang Chenyin was about to leave, she quickened her pace. “Mom, I’ll see Auntie Yin out.”

“Pfft…” Ye Xialan waved her hand. “Go on, go on. You’re moving in in less than two days, and you’re still in such a hurry.”

Bo Muyu pressed her lips together and smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

Jiang Chenyin stood at the door, smiling as she held out her hand to wait for her. She hurried over and took her hand.

The sky had completely darkened. The two of them walked leisurely towards the garage.

Jiang Chenyin instructed, “Alright, you should go back now. I’ll pick you up on Sunday afternoon. We’ll go to my parents’ place first, and then starting next Monday, you’ll come back to my place after work.”

Bo Muyu took slow steps forward and nodded. “Mmm, I know.”

Seeing that she was still walking with her, Jiang Chenyin asked with a smile, “What, you don’t want to go back yet?”

Jiang Chenyin knew this child’s nature all too well. It had been like this since she was little. Every time she was about to leave, she would always see her off for a long way. To the garage, to the car, and then she would run a few steps behind the car until it was far away.

Bo Muyu nodded honestly and asked, “Did my mom say something to you before dinner?”

Jiang Chenyin was taken aback. On second thought, Bo Muyu definitely didn’t know about the past. So, she was asking if Ye Xialan had told her anything about her.

“She said a little,” Jiang Chenyin said, stopping to face her. “After all, there’s no time limit this time. Although you’re living with me, your parents are still a little worried.”

Bo Muyu also stopped and looked at Jiang Chenyin, her gaze even clearer in the moonlight. “I know. I’ll arrange my own life. I won’t trouble you, and I won’t forget my parents just because I’m living with you. I was serious about what I said before dinner.”

Jiang Chenyin shook her head with a smile. “What do you consider troubling me?”

Bo Muyu lowered her eyes in thought before answering, “It means causing you trouble, making you do things for me that I can do myself.”

Jiang Chenyin nodded thoughtfully, a smile in her eyes. “But if you don’t let me know about your affairs, how will you know if it’s a trouble for me?”

Bo Muyu frowned, then nodded after a moment. “That’s true.”

“So,” Jiang Chenyin smiled faintly, the warm light in her eyes still there, but with a hint of sincerity. “Let’s put aside whether it’s a trouble for me for now. No matter what happens, you have to tell me. Understand?”

“I understand,” Bo Muyu said, squeezing her hand.

Jiang Chenyin gave their joined hands a little shake and said softly, “That’s good. You should go back now.”

But Bo Muyu didn’t move. Her throat moved, as if she had something to say.

Jiang Chenyin didn’t rush her, a slight curve on her lips. The sight of the silent girl before her was becoming more and more pleasing to the eye. Her inky-black long hair was softly spread over her shoulders and back, her fair face like flawless soft jade, her pink, moist lips lightly bitten, revealing a small, alluring tooth mark.

Her whole person still had a fresh, unripe childishness, yet she also showed the gentleness of a young woman. It was just that her expression was cool and condensed, and there was already a hint of faint solemnity in her brow.

Jiang Chenyin began to look forward to what this child would be like in a few more years. Mature and reserved, she would surely capture the hearts of many.

But, she would occasionally be a little silly in private. What to do about that…

As she thought this, she suddenly let out a low laugh.

Seeing her laugh, Bo Muyu didn’t think much of it, but instead squeezed her hand tighter and said in a low voice, “Auntie Yin, I want to hug you.”

Just as she was thinking that this child was being silly, she was being silly. Jiang Chenyin sighed with a laugh, “Okay.”

Having received her permission, Bo Muyu took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Jiang Chenyin’s waist, tightening her grip. Her breathing also quickened, fanning across Jiang Chenyin’s side profile.

She didn’t know why, but she just couldn’t bear to let Jiang Chenyin go. Even though they would be living together soon, at this moment, a strong sense of reluctance welled up in her heart. She didn’t want to just see Jiang Chenyin off. She wanted to hug her. That should make her feel much better.

When Jiang Chenyin’s hand gently stroked the back of her head, she felt that the restlessness in her heart was even more strongly suppressed, replaced by a gentle attachment.

“There’s no need to ask this kind of question in the future,” Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but laugh in her ear. “It’s not like you haven’t hugged me before. From when you were a child until now, have I ever said no?”

Bo Muyu looked up at her and blurted out, “This time is different.”

Jiang Chenyin said with amusement, “How is it different?”

Bo Muyu was at a loss for words. She didn’t know how it was different either, only that it felt different from the farewells before. The desire to hug Jiang Chenyin this time was very strong, so strong that she couldn’t control her strength at all. And even after hugging her, she still felt that some emotion was stuck in her chest, something she could clearly feel but didn’t know what to do about.

After thinking for a long time, under Jiang Chenyin’s playful gaze, Bo Muyu said haltingly, “I don’t know how it’s different, but it just feels different…”

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but let out a low laugh, gently pinched her cheek, and then sighed softly, “Silly girl. Do you still want to hug?”

Bo Muyu nodded. Being this close, she had to lift her head slightly to be at eye level with Jiang Chenyin.

She suddenly whispered to Jiang Chenyin, “I’m shorter than you. It’s a little uncomfortable to hug like this. I wish I could be a little taller.”

A little taller, and she wouldn’t have to lift her head slightly to be at eye level with Jiang Chenyin when they were this close. Or a little taller, and she could look down at Jiang Chenyin. Either way would be better than now, and it would feel more comfortable.

Jiang Chenyin’s eyes curved. She lowered her head slightly to get closer to her side profile and whispered in her ear, “I’ve lowered my head. Is this better?”

Her side profile touched Jiang Chenyin’s, a little ticklish, but this made her feel even more intimate, and the satisfaction in her heart was about to overflow.

Her arms were still wrapped tightly around Jiang Chenyin’s waist, her eyes slightly narrowed with a smile as she said softly, “Mmm, I like it like this.”