A Promise in a Thought 44

Chapter 44

After Christmas, the new year arrived. Unlike previous years, the Jiang family no longer had to miss the distant Jiang Chenyin.

The younger generation was filial, returning to the old residence to accompany the elders whenever they had free time from work. Every weekend was the liveliest time at the old residence. The biting winter cold outside could not melt the warmth brought by the family affection inside.

In comparison, the old Bo residence was much quieter. After the two Bo elders passed away, the several sons no longer had a reason to return to the old residence often, only going back for holidays, where the brothers would have a meal and a drink together.

But fortunately, the brothers had not grown apart. Even if they didn’t go back to the old residence, they would still meet up and visit each other on weekdays.

After the New Year, Ye Xialan took Bo Mingliang abroad for skiing. With their daughter no longer living at home, they were naturally carefree.

At this time, Bo Muyu’s script for God of War had entered its final stages. She and Su Man often discussed work and shared inspiration. With the script not yet finished, the two of them were already discussing the casting of the main roles.

Bo Muyu was originally unwilling to express her opinion. Although she was the screenwriter, she still wanted to leave the casting entirely to Su Man and the director. But Su Man said she wanted to hear her opinion. The screenwriter was, after all, the creator of the entire plot, so it was necessary to listen to her thoughts.

After such a busy period, Bo Muyu caught a cold without realizing it.

By Friday afternoon, she had a fever. When she got home from work, Jiang Chenyin could tell something was wrong at a glance and quickly made her eat something, take some medicine, and go to sleep.

She slept until nearly noon on Saturday. Jiang Chenyin made her some congee and placed the medicine on the bedside table.

Bo Muyu sniffled, reached out from under the covers to take Jiang Chenyin’s hand, and called out haltingly with a nasal voice, “Auntie Yin.”

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling very unwell?” Jiang Chenyin, who had just put down the medicine, leaned over with concern and felt her forehead. “It’s okay. The fever has gone down a lot. Just sleep at home today, and you’ll be mostly better by tomorrow. You probably won’t have to take leave on Monday.”

“I’ve slept for a long time. I’m not sleepy anymore,” Bo Muyu’s voice was a little muffled. The nasal congestion made her lose her usual energy when she spoke.

“You still can’t go out. It’s cold outside, and you need to rest now,” Jiang Chenyin said, tucking her in.

Bo Muyu huddled under the covers, only revealing a sickly face that looked much weaker due to her discomfort. “But you’re going to Grandpa and Grandma Jiang’s later.”

Jiang Chenyin looked down at her, unconsciously biting her lower lip, and murmured thoughtfully, “That’s right. I have to discuss something with my big brother today. I need to sort it out and announce it at the meeting on Monday morning.”

“I can stay at home by myself,” Bo Muyu said, her lips only a pale shade of red, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

Without a second thought, Jiang Chenyin refused, “I’m not at ease. You still have a fever. How can I leave you at home alone?”

Bo Muyu said, “But my head isn’t dizzy anymore. I can just cook something for myself in the afternoon, take my medicine, and then go to sleep. It’s very simple.”

Jiang Chenyin shook her head. “No.” She paused, then took Bo Muyu’s hand. “How about this? I’ll go over to my parents’ place for a bit, and I’ll be back in the afternoon.”

“That’s very tiring,” Bo Muyu’s words were clearly hesitant. She both wanted Jiang Chenyin to come back and didn’t want her to travel back and forth so frequently. The old Jiang residence was so far away.

Jiang Chenyin reached out and gently stroked her temple, a smile on her lips. “It’s okay. You just take a good nap at home. I’ll be back when you wake up.”

Bo Muyu looked at her straight on, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Seeing this, Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but complain, “I’ve noticed that the way you smile now is getting more and more different from before. It’s hard for me to see your little canine teeth anymore.”

Bo Muyu’s smile just now was because of Jiang Chenyin’s comfort. Now, hearing Jiang Chenyin’s rather resentful tone, she couldn’t help but grin, revealing her teeth, and asked, “Should I smile like this? A standard smile with eight teeth showing.”

“It’s too deliberate. It’s fake,” Jiang Chenyin said, gently pulling at her cheeks, her gaze soft. “I mean, I feel like you’re not as happy as you used to be. Is it because of work?”

Bo Muyu nodded, and the next second, she wanted to shake her head but held back. It was because of work, but also for other reasons.

She struggled against the blanket, wanting to sit up. Jiang Chenyin helped her up and leaned her against the headboard, then tucked her in.

She said softly, “I face my colleagues at work every day. It’s very late when I get off work. I eat and then go to sleep, and the next day, I repeat the same life. Even the time I have to talk with you has become less recently.”

There was another thing: Jiang Chenyin’s past. She had never asked, but she always kept it in her heart, mulling it over from time to time, and had already formed a rough outline. Too many things were piling up in her heart, and she couldn’t ask or say anything. She also clearly felt that she was different from before she had started working.

“You’ve been very busy lately. I know,” Jiang Chenyin said, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re not a cheerful person to begin with. I’m just worried that you’ll keep things bottled up and make yourself sick without being willing to tell me.”

Seeing the worry in Jiang Chenyin’s eyes, Bo Muyu couldn’t help but smile. “It’s just work. It’s all the same. I can handle it.”

Her gaze was sincere, and only then did Jiang Chenyin believe her, sighing with a laugh, “Is there anything you need my help with?”

Bo Muyu shook her head. “No. You have to believe that I can handle it.” She paused, her sparkling eyes shimmering. “I’m not a child anymore. I’m an adult.”

“Pfft…” Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand as her gaze swept to the bear by the bed that resembled a thickened golden-hooped rod. “Who is it that still sleeps while hugging a bear at night? Hmm?”

Bo Muyu’s eyes darted away, her expression a little unnatural. After a moment, she said in a low voice, “I was clearly hugging you. Who told you to put the bear on the other side? I turned over and could only hug it.”

Jiang Chenyin’s laughter became even more uncontrollable. Bo Muyu bit her lip and reached out to pull the bear over and throw it at her. “Stop laughing.”

She clearly always slept while hugging Jiang Chenyin, but sometimes when she woke up in the morning, she would find herself hugging that bear. She wanted to throw the bear into the next room, but Jiang Chenyin wouldn’t let her, saying that she looked cute hugging the bear.

Jiang Chenyin caught the bear, her eyes curving as she suppressed a laugh. “Alright, alright, I won’t laugh…”

After Bo Muyu had taken her medicine, Jiang Chenyin watched her fall asleep before leaving.

When she parked in the garage of the old residence, she saw a familiar car. Jiang Chenyin stared at it for a long while, then strode towards the main house.

As soon as she entered, she heard the cheerful conversation between Old Master Jiang and Meng Yi’an.

Seeing her come in, Old Master Jiang said, “Liu’er, why are you a little late today?”

“I had something to do today, so I’m late. I’m here to see my big brother. I’ll be leaving in a bit.”

Jiang Chenyin paused in the living room to answer Old Master Jiang, then nodded at Meng Yi’an.

Old Master Jiang said to her, “Is it urgent? The oldest is upstairs. I don’t know if he’s in his room or the study. Go and see.”

“Okay.”

After she finished, Jiang Chenyin went upstairs, not paying much attention to Meng Yi’an. Although there was nothing more to be said between her and Meng Yi’an, they had known each other since they were children, and he often came to visit the old master, so his appearance here was not surprising.

After she finished talking business with Jiang Yingzong, a loud clap of thunder suddenly sounded outside the window, and a heavy rain began to fall.

She came downstairs, looking at the gloomy sky with a headache.

This weather, it was either snowing or thundering and raining. The snow had finally stopped, but who knew that the sky would be so gray these past few days, and it had to rain at this time.

Old Madam Jiang approached her and asked, “Ah, Liu’er, what’s so urgent? Can’t you even rest on the weekend?”

“No, it’s not business,” Jiang Chenyin said, her brow furrowed, her grip on the folder tightening.

Old Master Jiang also walked over. “If it’s not business, then stay for dinner. There’s no rush.”

Jiang Chenyin turned her head and saw that not only her parents, but also Meng Yi’an had stood up and were walking over. Just as she was about to speak, another clap of thunder sounded, making her heart clench.

She couldn’t delay any longer. Bo Muyu was afraid of thunder, and she still had a fever. She would definitely force herself to go and close the windows despite her fear.

Jiang Chenyin’s expression turned grim. “No, Muyu is sick. It’s thundering and raining now. I have to go back immediately.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Jiang quickly asked, “What’s wrong with her? Have you seen a doctor?”

“She has a fever. It’s gone down a little,” Jiang Chenyin said, glancing at her watch as she went to get an umbrella.

“I remember, that child Xiaoyu is afraid of thunder…” Old Master Jiang no longer tried to persuade Jiang Chenyin to stay, resting both hands on the dragon head of his cane.

“I’m leaving now. Dad, Mom, please tell my brothers and sisters-in-law for me,” she said her goodbyes, and after getting her parents’ understanding, she glanced at Meng Yi’an, and without further ado, she opened her umbrella and went out.

She had only taken a few steps when she vaguely felt the sound of footsteps chasing after her. She couldn’t help but stop and turn around.

Meng Yi’an was also holding an umbrella. The hem of his long coat was splattered with rain, a patch of it wet.

“Chenyin!”

Jiang Chenyin asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve thought it over,” Meng Yi’an said with a sincere expression. “Since we can’t continue, how about we start over? We can slowly cultivate our feelings. Is that okay?”

“Wasn’t I clear enough last time?” Jiang Chenyin felt her headache worsening.

“I’m not saying we should get back together,” Meng Yi’an said, a little anxious. “I know what you mean. You don’t love me. We can’t get back together. So I was thinking, we can get to know each other again, and when the time is right for us to be together, we can go back to our previous relationship.”

Jiang Chenyin was taken aback for a moment, then said helplessly, “Is this the answer you’ve come up with after all these days? You think I only care that we can’t continue, so we should start over?”

The distance between them was heavily blocked by the rain. Jiang Chenyin couldn’t see Meng Yi’an’s expression, only knowing that he was silent for a moment, then moved a little closer and said to her, “Let’s give it a try, okay? Start over. Maybe there will be a different result.”

Jiang Chenyin frowned, turned her head to look around, and a wave of annoyance washed over her.

But she didn’t have time to talk so much with Meng Yi’an now. After looking at her watch again, she said as calmly as possible, “I don’t have time to talk about this now. I have something urgent to do. We’ll talk next time.”

She turned to leave, but Meng Yi’an followed closely behind. “Xiaoyu’s fever has already gone down. She’ll be fine. She’s afraid of thunder, but it’s already too late for you to go back now. It’s not too late for you to wait and listen to me finish before you go.”

He was very anxious, as could be heard from his tone. Because apart from the old residence, there was no other place where he could talk to Jiang Chenyin. She wouldn’t go on a date with him, and even if a coincidence like before were to happen, she would just turn and leave.

Meng Yi’an understood Jiang Chenyin’s personality. She was indeed gentle and kind, but her decisions were hard to change.

Jiang Chenyin stopped and turned to look at him again, her gaze turning to ice.

Meng Yi’an couldn’t see her face clearly. Seeing that she had stopped, a look of joy appeared on his face. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Jiang Chenyin say in a cold tone he had never used before, “I’m sorry. I think she is more important than what you have to say right now.”