A Promise in a Thought 45

Chapter 45

The wind and rain beat violently against the window, accompanied by intermittent claps of thunder.

Bo Muyu, her face pale, shrank back into the covers, her whole body wrapped up, leaving only a small gap at the top to breathe.

The thunder still rumbled mercilessly, far away from her. But with each clap, her heart would pound heavily, making her whole body tremble, as if the thunder were inside her.

After enduring it for who knows how long, she really couldn’t sleep. She sat up, clutching the blanket, a hint of fear in her eyes as she looked out the window.

She looked at the phone on her bedside table. Her first instinct was to reach for it, but before her hand could touch it, she pulled it back even faster.

The rain is so heavy, and the journey is so long. It must be very hard for Jiang Chenyin to come back.

Also, she had told Jiang Chenyin many times that she was a grown-up now.

She looked at the window again, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her head, and her soft black hair fell to the side of her cheek.

Then, without any more hesitation, she threw off the blanket, got out of bed, and, in her slippers, quickly ran to the window. As she reached out to close it, the sky suddenly lit up and then turned dark. Before she could pull her hand back, she saw a flash of lightning.

The thunder roared. Her hand recoiled as if she had been electrocuted, and her face instantly drained of all color.

Jiang Chenyin suppressed the anxiety in her heart and carefully maintained her speed. Just as she felt her nerves were about to snap, she finally turned into the gate of her residential complex.

Park, turn off the engine. Without a moment’s delay, Jiang Chenyin opened the door to her house and went in.

There was no one in the living room. The curtains of the floor-to-ceiling window were dancing in the wind. After closing the window, leaving only a small gap for ventilation, she let out a small sigh of relief. Perhaps Bo Muyu had shrunk into the covers and didn’t dare to come out. At least that would block some of the thunder.

Even with this thought, she quickly dropped her files and went upstairs. She had just been thinking that Bo Muyu would be huddled under the covers, but her relief didn’t last long. When she saw Bo Muyu in the hallway, her heart leaped into her throat.

This child was different from when she was little. As a child, she was introverted, but because she was close to her, she would run over with small steps during a thunderstorm, hug her waist, and say, “Auntie Yin, I’m scared.”

But this scene now made Jiang Chenyin’s heart ache. Bo Muyu was leaning against the wall of the hallway, wearing a coat, her face as white as a sheet, her lips colorless. The fear in her eyes was hidden beneath a calm surface, only a fraction of it showing. Her hands were hanging by her sides, clenched into fists.

This part of the hallway was some distance from the window, very safe, and the thunder was also quieter.

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t bear to watch any longer and strode towards her. “Muyu!”

Bo Muyu was taken aback. When she turned around, a look of joy appeared in her eyes. “Auntie Yin, you’re back. So soon.”

“Don’t be afraid. I’m back,” Jiang Chenyin said, taking her hand and then touching her forehead. After confirming that she was okay, she comforted her, “I’ll go and close the window now. It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

Bo Muyu had just opened her mouth, but before she could say a word, she saw Jiang Chenyin quickly walk into the room. Then, her footsteps paused, and the sound of the wind and rain almost disappeared.

Her gaze followed Jiang Chenyin, slowly moving down from her back to her shoes. The shoes that left a wet footprint with every step. One could imagine that Jiang Chenyin had been in such a hurry that she hadn’t even bothered to change them.

The sound of the wind, rain, and thunder were all shut out. Bo Muyu walked slowly into the room. Just as she was about to ask about Jiang Chenyin’s slightly damp clothes, she was interrupted by her again.

“It was my carelessness…” Jiang Chenyin said, tidying up the messy blanket as she blamed herself. “The sky was so gloomy. I should have known it was going to rain.”

“Auntie Yin…”

“How long did you sleep just now?” Jiang Chenyin asked, frowning as she walked over. “Did you wake up as soon as it started thundering? Or did you not sleep at all?”

“I…”

“Sigh, what kind of question is that?” she shook her head in annoyance. “The thunder is so loud, and the window is open. Who could sleep?”

Bo Muyu just quietly watched Jiang Chenyin talk to herself. All the fear from just now had vanished, and her heart was filled with only the image of the person before her. She was the same as before, always forgetting what she was doing to care for her. Nothing had changed.

Jiang Chenyin, who had not heard a response from Bo Muyu, finally paused. After meeting her gaze, the two of them looked at each other and smiled.

“I’m sorry. I’m late,” Jiang Chenyin sighed apologetically.

Bo Muyu shook her head. “You’re not late. It’s just right.”

Just in time when she was scared, after she needed her, and also before the thunder stopped. Not late at all.

Jiang Chenyin was pleased by this and touched Bo Muyu’s forehead again. “Are you hungry? I’ll go and make some congee. Eat and then take your medicine.”

A smile climbed up the corners of Bo Muyu’s eyes, and she reached out to take her sleeve. “You should change your clothes first. I’ll go down with you and wait for you in the living room.”

Only then did Jiang Chenyin remember to check her own clothes. She touched her back and sleeves, and they were both damp.

“Oh… my clothes are wet.”

Bo Muyu couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Auntie Yin, you’re so silly.”

This was the first time she had been teased by Bo Muyu. Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but bite her lip, glare at her, and then turn to the wardrobe.

Bo Muyu watched as Jiang Chenyin drew the curtains and took off her outer clothes. Her jade-like back, her slender waistline, her long, slim legs, it was as if a painting in her heart had gradually been filled with color.

The vivid and captivating scene before her made Bo Muyu’s cheeks burn. She didn’t dare to look any longer, turned to close the door, and went downstairs first.

After changing her clothes and shoes, Jiang Chenyin went downstairs and saw Bo Muyu sitting on the sofa in the living room, watching TV. She was still wearing a coat, holding a cup of water, her expression calm.

She didn’t disturb her and went to the kitchen.

For a fever, one should eat something light, but still nutritious. She had already planned to make mushroom and lean pork congee in the morning.

The mushrooms were sliced, the lean pork minced, for easy chewing.

The kitchen was connected to the dining room. Jiang Chenyin’s phone had been casually placed on the dining table when she had brought it down. As she was stirring the congee with a ladle, she heard the phone ring.

She paused for a moment, went to get the phone, and then came back, continuing to slowly stir the simmering congee as she answered the call.

She didn’t speak first, her attention mostly on the pot of congee in front of her. When she saw Meng Yi’an’s name on the screen, she knew what he was probably going to say. She hadn’t wanted to answer, but she didn’t want any further developments, so she had taken the call.

“Chenyin,” Meng Yi’an’s voice on the phone held a hint of apology. “I know you watched Xiaoyu grow up. It’s only right that you care for her. I was wrong to say what I did just now. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Jiang Chenyin replied placidly, scooping a little congee into a bowl on the side, taking a taste. The flavor was just right.

Just now, at the old residence, she had been stopped by Meng Yi’an. It was nothing to be entangled with him for a few sentences, but when he had asked her to stop and listen to him finish before going back to see Bo Muyu, a wave of anger had suddenly risen in her heart.

She had clearly said in front of him and her parents that Bo Muyu was sick and afraid of thunder. She wasn’t fully recovered, and now it was thundering. Was she supposed to let Bo Muyu continue to stay alone, enduring her fear?

Jiang Chenyin knew she was late going back, but she couldn’t possibly delay any longer knowing that she was late. So after telling Meng Yi’an that Bo Muyu was more important at this moment, she had turned and left, turning a deaf ear to him calling her name from behind.

Meng Yi’an paused, then changed the subject. “But I think you should seriously consider what I said. I didn’t misunderstand your meaning, and I’m not joking. I’m serious.”

Jiang Chenyin’s gaze turned grim. “Do you think I’m joking?”

Meng Yi’an was silent, then his voice was low and sorrowful. “Why won’t you give me a chance? The reason we broke up back then, wasn’t it something that time could have completely solved? For all these years, I’ve been thinking that if we hadn’t broken up then, things definitely wouldn’t be like this now, because all you needed was time.”

The aroma of the congee, accompanied by the steam, rose leisurely, whetting one’s appetite. But at this moment, Jiang Chenyin felt a sense of frustration and helplessness that she hadn’t felt in a long time. This was an emotion that had repeatedly appeared after seeing Meng Yi’an today.

When she was abroad, although Meng Yi’an had also been persistent, it was mostly in the form of waiting. Now that she was back, it was like a hidden opportunity that made Meng Yi’an restless, increasingly unable to suppress himself.

She could understand, but she could no longer tolerate it. Because she had already made it very clear, and also because of what Meng Yi’an had blurted out in his haste at the old residence just now.

To her, Bo Muyu was more important than what Meng Yi’an wanted to do.

Meng Yi’an was waiting for her response, and she was silent.

After a long while, Jiang Chenyin said softly, “I know what you mean, and I understand your thoughts.”

Meng Yi’an quickly pressed, “So you’re willing to reconsider?”

“Yi’an, I think we need to meet,” Jiang Chenyin’s stirring of the congee stopped, and the corners of her lips curved up, her eyes devoid of warmth. “And we need to have plenty of time. Is that possible?”

“Of course,” Meng Yi’an immediately agreed, his voice filled with an unconcealable joy. “Anytime you want is fine. I’m always free.”

“Okay, then wait for my call.”

Jiang Chenyin hung up, casually placed her phone on the cabinet, and then continued to focus on stirring the congee before her, as if the call just now had not affected her mood at all.

“Was that that uncle’s call?”

Bo Muyu’s voice came from behind her, as clear as a stream of water, making one immediately think of the pure, untainted aura of the speaker.

“Mmm,” Jiang Chenyin turned off the induction cooker.

“Auntie Yin, are you angry?” Bo Muyu asked, walking over to stand behind her.

She had been planning to come over to see how Jiang Chenyin’s congee was doing, but when she reached the kitchen doorway, she heard her voice. At first, she didn’t know who it was, but she finally understood after hearing Meng Yi’an’s name.

“Why do you say that?” Jiang Chenyin asked, turning around with a large bowl of congee and scooping up a spoonful to hold out to Bo Muyu. “Here, try it. I deliberately made it a little bland. You shouldn’t eat anything with a strong flavor when you’re sick.”

Bo Muyu lowered her head to drink the congee. The fresh fragrance entered her mouth, dispelling the faint, bitter taste from the medicine.

“It’s a little bland, but it tastes very good,” Bo Muyu said, a smile on her face, her small canine teeth showing.

Jiang Chenyin contentedly took a bite herself, and only then did she remember Bo Muyu’s question from just now. She asked, “By the way, why did you think I was angry just now?”

“Because you weren’t smiling when you were talking,” Bo Muyu said, looking into her eyes. “You usually smile when you talk, but I didn’t feel it at all just now. And you don’t have any business to discuss with him, so that’s why I thought you were angry.”

Jiang Chenyin’s personality was very easygoing. Out of ten sentences she spoke, probably six or seven were with a gentle smile. Other than that, when she was on business, she would subconsciously be a little more serious.

“I wasn’t really angry,” Jiang Chenyin smiled faintly. “After you’ve eaten, watch some TV, take your medicine, and then go to sleep.”

Bo Muyu was about to press the question, but before she could speak, Jiang Chenyin said, “Don’t worry. You won’t be seeing that uncle again.”