A Promise in a Thought 21

Chapter 21

When it was time to get off work in the afternoon, Su Man appeared in the hallway outside the screenwriting department.

She would smile and reply to every colleague who greeted her, but it was obvious she was waiting for someone.

It wasn’t until Bo Muyu came out that she started to move, walking over.

“President Su?” Bo Muyu was taken aback and stopped in her tracks. “What are you doing here?”

Su Man’s bright eyes held only Bo Muyu as she chuckled softly, “I just came down and happened to see you coming out. Let’s go down together.”

“Oh, okay.”

Bo Muyu walked beside Su Man, taking the elevator down to the basement with her. She listened as the colleagues around her respectfully called her “President Su,” and she would reply politely yet distantly.

Bo Muyu suddenly felt that even after knowing Su Man for several years, they had never truly become close. It was probably because she didn’t know how many sides Su Man had. In front of everyone, Su Man was authoritative; in front of her, Su Man was gentle.

But if Su Man’s authority was just an empty shell, then the entire company of Hongsheng wouldn’t be without complaints about this young leader.

But all Bo Muyu could see was her gentle side. Even the slightly stricter side was only visible during meetings.

This feeling was like always being on the outside of a superficial appearance.

However, Bo Muyu didn’t want to know about these things either. It was only because Su Man had previously mentioned wanting her to talk more about her life that she had this feeling now.

The level of openness between them both hovered on the surface, so why should she be the one to change? Hadn’t it been like this for all these years?

After getting out of the elevator, Bo Muyu looked around as she walked.

“Xiaoyu, is President Jiang picking you up today?”

“Mmm, Auntie Yin said she’s coming to pick me up and go home together.”

“You two are really close,” Su Man said, looking at her side profile thoughtfully. “I’ve rarely seen a junior and an elder be so close. Many people are very resistant to elders being too involved in their lives, let alone getting along like friends.”

“Is that so?” Bo Muyu asked, turning her head with a frown.

She had never had the kind of thoughts Su Man was talking about. Her parents and Jiang Chenyin were very concerned about her life, and her parents also got along with her like friends. Just like how her parents would tell her about the interesting things they encountered on their trip, they wouldn’t shy away from too much just because she was their daughter.

“Mmm, that’s why I’m surprised,” Su Man said, the corners of her lips lifting.

Speaking of Jiang Chenyin, Bo Muyu couldn’t help but explain, “I’ve known Auntie Yin since I was a child. She’s always been very good to me. She’s not like other uncles and aunties who would lecture me like a child. Even if she wanted to teach me something, we would always chat like friends.”

Su Man nodded and smiled. “I see. It seems President Jiang was very popular with children in the past.”

Bo Muyu’s smile widened. “Mmm, when she used to pick me up from school, my classmates would also go and play with her.”

But on second thought, Bo Muyu didn’t like it at all when those little kids used to tug on Jiang Chenyin’s sleeve. She remembered that Jiang Chenyin would smile and squat down, sharing the candy she had prepared for her with the other children.

It wasn’t that she disliked her candy being eaten by others, but rather that she disliked Jiang Chenyin paying attention to other children.

“Then…”

“I see her.”

Before Su Man could finish, she was interrupted by Bo Muyu’s soft yet joyful words. She followed Bo Muyu’s gaze and saw a slender woman standing not far away, bright and captivating.

Bo Muyu quickened her pace, the remaining distance closing in the blink of an eye, and then she reached out to hug Jiang Chenyin. “Auntie Yin.”

Jiang Chenyin opened her arms just in time to catch her and chuckled, “What’s the rush? It’s not like I’m going to run away.”

Su Man followed with a laugh, “She’s probably just eager to go home and celebrate her birthday.”

“Is that so? Such a big girl, still acting like a child,” Jiang Chenyin said, the corners of her lips curving up, her voice overflowing with affection.

“Alright, then I’ll be leaving now,” Su Man said, nodding and smiling at Jiang Chenyin, then turning to Bo Muyu. “Xiaoyu, happy birthday. See you tomorrow.”

“Mmm, President Su…” she paused, licked her lips, and corrected herself, “Senior, see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, have fun tonight.”

Su Man said her goodbyes and left.

There weren’t many people in the parking lot. As the sound of Su Man’s footsteps faded, the area where Jiang Chenyin’s car was parked became quiet.

Jiang Chenyin gently stroked Bo Muyu’s hair and said, “Alright, let’s go home. Your parents must be waiting.”

“Auntie Yin, wait,” Bo Muyu said, not letting go of her.

“Hmm?” Jiang Chenyin asked with a smile. “What’s wrong? There’s good food tonight. Don’t you want to go back yet?”

Bo Muyu shook her head, her gaze locked on Jiang Chenyin, as if she couldn’t get enough of looking at her, and as if she had something to say.

Jiang Chenyin was, after all, used to spoiling her, so she just held her like this, indulging all her thoughts.

“I’m not in a hurry because I’m going home,” Bo Muyu suddenly said softly. “It’s not because of my birthday. It’s because of you, because you’ll be celebrating this birthday with me. The thought of you coming, the thought of you being with me for the whole evening, the thought of you sitting next to me, even if it’s just for a few hours, makes me happy. You haven’t celebrated my birthday with me for several years…”

These were words she had been holding in for a long time. It wasn’t appropriate to say them to anyone but Jiang Chenyin. If she told her parents, they could only comfort her that Jiang Chenyin would be back. If she told Lin Chuwan, Lin Chuwan could only sigh. Yang Shuhan wouldn’t even understand why she missed Jiang Chenyin so much.

She didn’t understand it herself, but she just missed Jiang Chenyin. During these four years, whenever she relived that year’s separation in her dreams, her pillow would often be wet with tears.

“Muyu…” Jiang Chenyin’s nose tingled. She tightened her arms and whispered in Bo Muyu’s ear, “Silly child, what are you waiting for… I had to leave at that time. The ones I was most worried about were my parents and you. I hoped that you would make new friends in university and wouldn’t always be thinking of me…”

Her voice was very low, so close, carrying a familiar scent and an endearing gentleness.

Bo Muyu hugged her waist tightly, burying her head in the crook of her neck. After hearing her words, she shook her head vigorously.

“You’re different from others. How could I forget you just because I met someone else?”

Jiang Chenyin felt her heart growing softer and softer with every word this child said. She could only smile and rub her hair. “Okay, I know. I won’t say these things to you anymore.”

Bo Muyu still shook her head. She didn’t know how to express the place Jiang Chenyin held in her heart. It was not something that could be replaced by anyone who came later. Or rather, everyone had a unique meaning to her. There was no such thing as replacement.

Just as Jiang Chenyin was about to remind her that it was time to go home, her hand was pulled between their bodies, and her palm was squeezed tightly.

In the dimly lit parking lot, Bo Muyu’s eyes seemed to hold a rippling lake.

Jiang Chenyin heard her say in a low voice, “Auntie Yin, you’re very important.”

The words Jiang Chenyin wanted to say were stuck in her throat, and her nose tingled even more. How had this child spent those four years? Especially in the beginning, right after she had left, what kind of torment had she gone through? And she had so foolishly thought that she had left because of her.

Just as an “I’m sorry” was about to escape her lips, Jiang Chenyin heard her say in a small voice, “As important as Mom and Dad. Very important.”

Like a little puppy that had suddenly become well-behaved after playing around, letting out a couple of soft, childish barks.

Jiang Chenyin’s eyes shimmered with a soft light. She closed her palm around her fingers and said in a soft, gentle voice, “You’re very important too. Very, very important. So important that I don’t know how to express it. But…”

“But what?” Bo Muyu asked, looking up in confusion, her nose a little red from rubbing against Jiang Chenyin’s clothes.

Jiang Chenyin’s lips curved into a smile. “But we’re outside. The other things, can we save them for tonight?”

“Ah…”

With this reminder, Bo Muyu finally realized and quickly glanced around. Fortunately, no one was there.

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Silly girl.”

As soon as Bo Muyu got in the car, she buckled her seatbelt herself, then silently stroked the screen of her phone in the passenger seat without a word.

She seemed to have said something extraordinary just now, something she had never said before. Although it was nothing, after all, this was her Auntie Yin, not someone else. She was very important to begin with.

But saying it now at twenty-two, why did it feel a little… her face was a little hot…

Jiang Chenyin glanced at her a few times at the red light, and really couldn’t hold it in, smiling silently with her lips pressed together.

This child was grown up now. Her introverted nature made her expression usually placid, very quiet. At this moment, because she was embarrassed, she was looking down and repeatedly stroking the screen of her phone with her thumb. This small action was really very cute.

But she was still driving, so Jiang Chenyin didn’t tease her.

A short while later, Bo Muyu’s phone rang.

“Sister Chuwan, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Chenyin glanced over. The girl’s voice had returned to its natural state, clean and pleasant to the ear.

“Xiaoyu, I’m not feeling well. I probably won’t be able to make it to your place tonight. I’m so sorry. I really thought I could go…”

Lin Chuwan’s apologetic voice came through the phone, with a hint of weakness.

Bo Muyu said with concern, “Sister Chuwan, it’s okay. If you’re not feeling well, just rest at home.” She paused, then added, “I’ll come and see you on the weekend. You get some good rest.”

“Okay,” Lin Chuwan smiled. “Happy birthday, little birthday star. You have to eat lots of good food tonight.”

“Mmm, I will.”

After hanging up, Jiang Chenyin asked, “What’s wrong?”

Bo Muyu sighed faintly. “Sister Chuwan isn’t feeling well. She can’t come over.”

Yang Shuhan had also sent a message during work today, saying that something had come up at home and he couldn’t come tonight. That meant only Jiang Chenyin would be coming to her house tonight.

“I remember you said you two are very close,” Jiang Chenyin said, driving with her eyes on the road, her voice warm. “Go and see her another day. After all, she still remembered to call and wish you a happy birthday. It can’t be helped if she can’t come because she’s not feeling well.”

“I’ll go this weekend. I haven’t been to see Auntie Lin in a long time either.”

“Remember…”

“Remember to bring something for the elders,” Bo Muyu quickly finished with a smile. “It’s polite. I know.”

Jiang Chenyin laughed out loud. Without turning her head, she praised her in a warm voice, “Mmm, very sensible. So well-behaved.”