A Promise in a Thought 24

Chapter 24

After the weekend, the colleagues in the company were getting restless.

After all, the National Day holiday was approaching. It was a short break, and many people were planning to travel.

Some were discussing going abroad, others were discussing traveling around Qinzhou, and in the end, the topic turned to “how to have fun with so many people around.”

Even until the afternoon, people would occasionally bring up related topics. Bo Muyu stared at her computer screen, her mind filled with the overall structure of God of War.

After the death of Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi, Gao Zhan, his son Gao Wei fully grasped power, and his true nature was completely revealed. According to official history, the Northern Qi regime was already corrupt and decadent at this time, and Gao Wei’s debauchery and tyranny accelerated the demise of Northern Qi.

So, should she slightly adapt Gao Wei’s story, or write it according to official history?

Perhaps she could try to be a little innovative, as long as the historical facts remained unchanged. The stories beneath the historical facts were, naturally, unknown to the public.

Bo Muyu’s brow tightened, and her nimble fingers began to type on the keyboard.

Not long after getting into the zone, she heard a colleague call out to her, “Screenwriter Bo, President Su wants to see you.”

“Got it. I’ll be right up.”

Bo Muyu replied placidly as she typed, then stopped and frowned at the part she had just written.

I should go see what Senior wants first.

She took a sip of water to wet her throat and got up to find Su Man.

Just as she knocked, the assistant went to Su Man’s side. “President Su…”

Su Man immediately looked up from the pile of documents. “Let her in, quickly.”

The assistant showed Bo Muyu in, brought her a cup of coffee, and then Su Man asked her to leave, gesturing for Bo Muyu to sit down.

“President Su, is something the matter?”

“Does there have to be something? Can’t I call you up if there’s nothing?” Su Man seemed to be in a good mood, rarely joking like this.

“No, I was just asking,” Bo Muyu shook her head.

“Alright, I’m just teasing you,” Su Man chuckled softly. “I called you up because I have something to tell you, something very important.”

“Go ahead.”

Su Man’s fingers tapped on the documents on the desk a few times. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “It’s like this. After the National Day holiday, there’s a gathering for domestic screenwriters, organized by a friend of my father’s. Many famous screenwriters will be there, and our company needs a screenwriter to attend.”

Bo Muyu nodded to show that she understood, and when she looked up again, she saw Su Man looking at her with a smile.

“President Su, you want me to go?”

Su Man nodded. “That’s right. I hope you’ll attend. Is there a problem?”

Bo Muyu’s brow tightened, and she fell silent.

Hongsheng had many screenwriters. Not to mention the established ones, there were plenty of screenwriters who had been with the company longer than her but had yet to be given a major role. She had just joined the company. First, there were rumors about her being close to Su Man, then her script in progress was chosen as a project for next year’s production. If she were to attend this screenwriters’ gathering, she would probably be ostracized by her other colleagues.

Sensing her hesitation, Su Man analyzed, “This gathering will definitely be helpful for your future development. What’s good for you is good for the company’s future projects. You don’t need to worry about other things. Ability and gossip are inherently symbiotic. If you’re strong enough, there will naturally come a day when you can completely crush the gossip.”

Bo Muyu’s hands unconsciously gripped the armrests of the chair. Under Su Man’s expectant gaze, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll go.”

“Very good,” Su Man smiled faintly. “There’s one more thing. Because most of the people at the gathering are seniors, I’ll be going with you this time. Is there a problem?”

Bo Muyu replied, “No problem.”

Su Man nodded. “Alright then. We’ll leave after the National Day holiday. It’ll take about a week. Also, remember to pack your luggage. The temperature in Lingzhou is lower than in Qinzhou, and October is almost here, so be sure to keep warm.”

Bo Muyu agreed to everything, and Su Man let her go back to work.

At dinner, Bo Muyu was engrossed in her food, seeming to be thinking about something.

Ye Xialan nudged Bo Mingliang with her elbow and whispered, “Daddy, look at her…”

Bo Mingliang followed his wife’s gaze.

Although Bo Muyu was usually quiet, when she was with her parents, she would prick up her ears to listen to their conversations and occasionally chime in with a reply. Today, she was clearly lost in thought, her eyes not blinking for a long time, just focused on shoveling rice into her mouth.

“Ahem…”

Bo Mingliang cleared his throat. Bo Muyu’s train of thought seemed to be interrupted. She finally did more than just eat, picking up some vegetables.

Bo Mingliang couldn’t help but ask, “Xiaoyu, why are you so absent-minded while eating? Did something happen at work?”

Bo Muyu blinked and looked up. “No.”

Bo Mingliang and Ye Xialan exchanged a look, both seeing doubt in each other’s eyes.

Just as the couple was about to ask again, Bo Muyu added, “Dad, Mom, after the National Day holiday, I’m going on a business trip to Lingzhou for about a week.”

Ye Xialan smiled. “Is that all? Go ahead. I thought it was something serious, making you so distracted during dinner.”

Bo Muyu silently bit her lip. Of course, she wasn’t thinking about the business trip. After hearing what Su Man had said, she didn’t care about these things anymore.

She was thinking about continuing to live with Jiang Chenyin. How should she bring it up? Jiang Chenyin had already agreed to let her come back. It was just her parents that she didn’t know how to tell.

However, since the precedent of living with Jiang Chenyin had been set, continuing should not be as difficult as starting.

With this thought, Bo Muyu’s clear gaze shifted over. “Dad, Mom.”

“Hmm? Go on,” Ye Xialan said, eating her meal.

She put down her chopsticks, first looking at Bo Mingliang, then at Ye Xialan. “I want to continue living with Auntie Yin.”

“What?” Ye Xialan also put down her chopsticks. “Why?”

Bo Muyu organized her words and said unhurriedly, “Because during the time you were away, I felt that I became much more independent. I don’t need you to worry about many things like when I’m at home. I think this way of life is quite good, so I want to continue living with Auntie Yin.”

There was not a single untruth in these words. She remembered what Jiang Chenyin had said last time, that the method of coaxing her parents to go on a trip was not good, so this time she told the truth.

She was indeed much more independent living with Jiang Chenyin than with her parents, and she did want to continue living with Jiang Chenyin. It was just that the desire to be with Jiang Chenyin was greater than the desire to be independent.

After hearing this, Ye Xialan bit her chopsticks and murmured, “What you’re saying… doesn’t seem wrong.”

Bo Mingliang’s approval was more obvious. “Xiaoyu is twenty-two. There’s nothing wrong with learning to be independent. Even if there’s no rush now, it’s necessary for the future.”

The way he said it, it was as if Bo Muyu was about to get married.

Ye Xialan shot her husband a look, but on second thought, it was true. Her daughter had grown up by her and her husband’s side. They should spoil her when they could, but when she reached a certain age, she still needed to be independent.

She didn’t have to be completely independent, but she had to have the ability. Starting with the basics of daily life was a good idea.

She picked up her chopsticks and continued to eat. After a couple of mouthfuls, she nudged Bo Muyu’s leg with her own under the table. “You’re in such a hurry to tell me. Have you asked Teacher Jiang? What did she say?”

Bo Muyu replied quickly, “She told me on the day I went home that I could go back after my birthday.”

Ye Xialan nodded. “Then ask her over for dinner after you get back from your business trip. We can’t let her look after our daughter for free.”

Actually, it wasn’t just for the reason Bo Muyu had stated. Ye Xialan was also thinking that by placing her daughter with Jiang Chenyin, she could observe if Jiang Chenyin had any inclination to find someone to be with.

Ye Xialan sighed inwardly. Can’t rush, can’t rush. Rushing can easily lead to good intentions backfiring.

After finishing her meal, Bo Muyu went back to her room. The first thing she did was call Jiang Chenyin.

As soon as the call connected, before Jiang Chenyin could speak, Bo Muyu let out a low laugh.

Jiang Chenyin was puzzled and chuckled along with her. “What’s wrong? Any good news to share with me?”

Bo Muyu had no intention of keeping her in suspense and told her directly, “My parents agreed to let me move in with you, and this time, there’s no time limit. I can have breakfast with you again, commute to and from work with you, sleep with you, and…”

“Alright, alright,” Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but laugh. “I know. We’ll do everything together, okay?”

Bo Muyu was still laughing, her eyes crinkling as she flopped onto the bed.

No time limit.

Just the thought of these words made her very happy. She was grown up now, twenty-two, but she could still do so many things with Auntie Yin, just like when she was a child.

Were there more things they could do together? There must be.

She was suddenly not satisfied with the present.

But there was still a long time to go. It didn’t matter. She would definitely discover new things they could do together.

As her laughter gradually subsided, Jiang Chenyin was still on the other end of the line with her.

She remembered what Su Man had said today and sat up. “By the way, Auntie Yin, after the National Day holiday, I’m going on a business trip to Lingzhou. There’s a screenwriters’ gathering I have to attend.”

She heard the sound of a cup clinking on the other end of the line, and then Jiang Chenyin’s smiling voice, “That’s great. It’ll be good for your career. Remember not to get distracted, and learn more from your seniors.”

“Mmm,” Bo Muyu paused, then asked, “Auntie Yin, are you busy?”

“No, I’m at home. But my eldest sister-in-law is here. I’m making coffee for her.”

Bo Muyu pressed her lips together, suppressing the strong desire to continue talking to Jiang Chenyin, and said softly, “Then you should go and talk with Eldest Auntie. The coffee won’t be good if it gets cold.”

Jiang Chenyin still smiled warmly, her tone even gentler. “Okay. Go to bed early. Spend some quality time with your parents during the National Day holiday.”

The coffee in the cup gave off a rich aroma. Jiang Chenyin brought it to Xu Zijun and sat down.

Xu Zijun looked at her with a smile. “Your big brother has a social engagement tonight. I thought I’d come over and chat since I had nothing to do.”

Jiang Chenyin said half-jokingly about Jiang Yingzong, “Big Brother has so many social engagements.”

“It’s not that serious. He’s still very family-oriented.”

Jiang Chenyin didn’t comment, only raising her lips slightly as she took a sip of water from her own cup.

Xu Zijun remembered her tone when she was on the phone just now with her back to her and asked, “Was that Xiaoyu on the phone just now?”

“Mmm,” Jiang Chenyin said, the smile in her eyes appearing as she thought of Bo Muyu’s laughter. “She said she’s going on a business trip after the National Day holiday, and she’ll continue to live with me after she gets back.”

“That child, she’s really loved being with you since she was little. During the years you were away, she would occasionally go to the old master’s place, and her eyes would be fixed on us, as if they could speak and ask us when you were coming back…”

As Xu Zijun spoke, a hint of affection gradually entered her words.

Jiang Chenyin sighed. “I’m the one who wronged her. But some things, it’s just not right to let a child know.”

Xu Zijun suddenly became nervous. The family had repeatedly warned everyone not to talk about the past with Jiang Chenyin. Now that she had brought it up unintentionally, what should she do?

She carefully observed Jiang Chenyin’s expression and saw that she was holding her cup, her expression calm, a hint of guilt in her eyes.

It should be fine. She’s just thinking of Bo Muyu.

She breathed a sigh of relief and quickly changed the subject. “Alright, it’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about it. By the way, last time, the old master had some ideas about Xiaoyu and Yixuan. Did he bring it up again?”

Jiang Chenyin sighed. “He did, but I tried my best to dissuade him. The two children are still young. There’s no rush for this.”

“That’s right. That’s what I mean,” Xu Zijun said, stirring her coffee with a small spoon. “But I don’t really have any objections to Xiaoyu and Yixuan. Yixuan is almost nineteen, only three years younger than Xiaoyu. We’ve watched Xiaoyu grow up. How could we not know that she’s sensible and obedient…”

As Jiang Chenyin listened to Xu Zijun praise Bo Muyu with a smile, she felt a momentary daze.

She seemed to have never thought that this child would one day grow distant from her. But the truth was, Bo Muyu would definitely meet someone she loved in the future, the person she had told her about in her childhood, someone better than her.

Even though this child had loved clinging to her since she was little, one day she would no longer be so dependent on her.

Jiang Chenyin suddenly felt a little empty, an indescribable discomfort.