A Promise in a Thought 65

Chapter 65

After Bo Muyu told Jiang Chenyin that she was going on a long trip with Lan Yuxin, she was first taken aback, then quickly said, “That’s good. There have been too many troubles lately. It’s a good time to go out and relax.”

Jiang Chenyin carefully studied her expression, silently suppressing the slight discomfort in her heart, and nodded at her. “Mmm, that’s what I was thinking too.”

The girl’s eyes were full of concern, but Jiang Chenyin felt that something was missing.

Yes, a little bit of dependence was missing.

Bo Muyu used to be unabashed about her reluctance to part and her longing for her. Although she wouldn’t throw a tantrum, these emotions were never absent. Even during the years she was abroad, Bo Muyu would occasionally tell her how much she missed her.

When she had just returned last year, Bo Muyu had even called her from Lingzhou, saying that she missed her from so far away.

She had also said it during a video call when she was with the film crew a while ago, but at that time, Bo Muyu was already in the process of changing.

When did this sense of dependence start to weaken? She had no specific feeling, because this change was so slight that it was almost unnoticeable. It was only now, when she felt that this child was an adult, and when she emphasized to herself that this child was no longer a child, that she clearly felt that some things were different.

So her premonitions, and Lan Yuxin’s reminders, were only a matter of time.

Seeing Jiang Chenyin spacing out on the sofa, Bo Muyu moved a little closer and asked her, “Auntie Yin, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Chenyin pressed her lips together, a soft light in her eyes. She turned her head and pinched her nose. “Then when I’m not at home, you should try to cook for yourself and not order takeout. If I find out when I get back, you’ll have to sleep in the room next door by yourself.”

“I won’t,” Bo Muyu’s expression was serious, and she wrapped her arms around Jiang Chenyin’s. “Don’t worry about me. I can cook more dishes now than when I first moved in last year. I’m not lazy.”

“I know you’re very capable,” Jiang Chenyin said with a soft laugh. “Then you can cook for me tomorrow night. I’ll just be your assistant. Let me have a taste of the big screenwriter’s culinary skills.”

“Of course, no problem. You’ll definitely be satisfied,” Bo Muyu said with a confident look.

“I’ll wait and see,” a smile appeared in Jiang Chenyin’s eyes.

Bo Muyu paused, then said to her, “Auntie Yin, take care of yourself when you’re out and don’t catch a cold. It’s still a bit cold now. Don’t stand in the wind.”

Jiang Chenyin’s eyes curved up. “Okay, I know.”

“And…” Bo Muyu looked her up and down, not knowing what else to remind her of for a moment, and frowned in thought.

Jiang Chenyin waited quietly for her, without a hint of impatience.

“Forget it…” Bo Muyu said in a low, dejected voice.

Jiang Chenyin was a little disappointed, but the next second, she heard Bo Muyu say to her, “I’ll pack your luggage for you tomorrow night. I know what you usually need, so I definitely won’t miss anything. And the day after tomorrow, I’ll take you to the airport. You can have your assistant sister wait for you there. She doesn’t have to come over.”

Jiang Chenyin’s eyes widened slightly, and then her whole heart softened, followed by a gentle smile that she couldn’t suppress. “Okay, you can do it all. I’ll leave it to you.”

Bo Muyu finally revealed a small canine tooth, her smile suddenly appearing.

On the day of her departure, Bo Muyu woke up early, checked the luggage she had packed for Jiang Chenyin the night before one last time, and then drove her own car to take Jiang Chenyin to the airport.

After meeting up with Lan Yuxin and their respective assistants, Lan Yuxin circled around Bo Muyu incessantly. “Well, well, little one, you’re taking Teacher Jiang to the airport? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

As she spoke, she gave Jiang Chenyin a look. Jiang Chenyin understood in her heart, but she just smiled and said nothing, her eyes holding an unreadable emotion.

Bo Muyu didn’t answer Lan Yuxin, only instructing, “Then, Sister Lan, I’ll leave Auntie Yin to you. If you have any gatherings, don’t drink too much.”

When she said the last sentence, her gaze happened to turn to Jiang Chenyin. She looked very natural, not at all deliberate.

Jiang Chenyin nodded and smiled. Lan Yuxin patted her shoulder, flicked her chocolate-brown wavy hair, and whispered in her ear with a hint of a flirtatious smile, “You’re not at ease with Teacher Jiang when I’m around? You just work hard. Your big sister will take you to see the world when she gets back.”

“Yuxin!” Jiang Chenyin heard her words, and her smile faded a little. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Oh, you can’t even take a joke!” Lan Yuxin shot Jiang Chenyin a look. “She’s the precious baby of the Bo family and your Jiang family. What would I dare to do to her? I’m afraid you two families will join forces and ban me, okay!”

The two assistants covered their mouths and snickered. Bo Muyu glanced at her placidly. It was precisely because she was with her that she was not at ease with Jiang Chenyin.

Jiang Chenyin took a few steps closer, stroked Bo Muyu’s head, and said in a low voice, “Alright, you should go back. Don’t stay up too late. I’ll be back in a few days.”

Bo Muyu let out a soft “mmm,” her eyes fixed on her. At this moment, Jiang Chenyin finally felt Bo Muyu’s reluctance to part. It was not spoken, but it was transmitted to her through her eyes.

Jiang Chenyin really wanted to hug her, and she also suddenly didn’t want to leave. Thinking of the purpose of this long trip, the reluctance in Jiang Chenyin’s heart suddenly spread to every corner of her body.

But Bo Muyu’s next sentence dispelled Jiang Chenyin’s emotions. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of myself.”

Her gaze was exactly the same as when she had said, “Don’t treat me like a child anymore. I’m not a child.” Her dark, profound eyes were filled with a determination that was so reassuring, yet it made Jiang Chenyin feel a hint of an indescribable bitterness.

“Okay,” the hoarseness in Jiang Chenyin’s voice was masked by the noisy crowd in the departure hall. “Then we’re leaving.”

She clenched her fingers, then withdrew her hand and turned to walk towards the boarding gate. Lan Yuxin, following a few steps behind, turned back and blew a kiss to Bo Muyu, who was gazing at Jiang Chenyin’s retreating back.

On the plane, Jiang Chenyin looked out the window. Large patches of white clouds passed by, and scenes of her time with Bo Muyu seemed to flash through her mind.

From the first time Ye Xialan had brought the few-year-old Bo Muyu to her, to when Bo Muyu had started elementary school and didn’t like to play with her classmates, but instead loved to hold her hand and have her watch cartoons with her. All the way until Bo Muyu had started middle school and still didn’t have any good friends to talk to, that rare smile would only bloom in front of her parents and her.

The introverted girl had finally grown into a reserved adult, and that calm and beautiful temperament was gradually becoming more and more apparent.

“Don’t think about it anymore,” Lan Yuxin suddenly interrupted her thoughts softly. “You live with her every day. You should know her changes better than I do. When you just came back last year, she was still the same as before, dazed and direct. But now, not only does she have her own little thoughts to protect you, but her whole person looks much more mature. Work has made her grow, and also investigating those things about you. When she’s thinking for you, her character is also changing.”

Jiang Chenyin turned her head and met Lan Yuxin’s gaze, noncommittal.

She only heard Lan Yuxin continue in a rare, serious tone, “She has changed. If you don’t change a little, it will be very hard for you in the future.”

Jiang Chenyin looked out the window again, her eyes dark and unreadable. After a long while, she closed her eyes and sighed softly, “I know.”

Lan Yuxin smiled, and before she also closed her eyes to rest, she said half-jokingly, “It’s not that I’m criticizing you, but your life has been very full all these years. You have work, hobbies, and you know how to enjoy yourself. But besides these, the little one has occupied a large part of your life. Even when you were abroad for four years, you kept in touch. Not only did you not grow distant, but you also became more and more unable to let go.”

Jiang Chenyin listened to her words, trying not to think about it anymore, but Lan Yuxin’s last sentence echoed in her ears for a long time, “Teacher Jiang, you need a lover to replace the space she occupies in your life.”

They landed at their destination at noon. Lan Yuxin and Jiang Chenyin’s group checked into the hotel.

In the evening, Lan Yuxin took Jiang Chenyin to a banquet. The host was the producer of Lan Yuxin’s new drama. Jiayi’s studio was the producer of Lan Yuxin’s new drama, and Jiang Chenyin was a high-level executive at Jiayi. Hearing that Jiang Chenyin was here, the other party’s reception was very enthusiastic.

But Lan Yuxin seemed to have some purpose. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she pulled Jiang Chenyin to a corner of the banquet hall. Sure enough, not long after, a man in a sharp suit walked towards them.

Jiang Chenyin didn’t notice. She turned her head slightly and said to her in a low voice, “Yuxin, I want to go back to the hotel.”

As soon as she finished, Lan Yuxin nudged her arm with the elbow of the hand holding the champagne, maintained a smile on her face, and looked straight ahead, but she muttered, “Wait a minute. Don’t leave so soon…”

Jiang Chenyin was puzzled. Just then, she heard a male voice, “Miss Lan, long time no see. President Jiang, I’ve long heard of your reputation.”

Jiang Chenyin looked over. The man before her was handsome and elegant, his gaze deep. Looking around the entire banquet hall, he was probably the one with the most outstanding looks and temperament.

“Director Duan, long time no see,” Lan Yuxin said with her signature smile, stunningly beautiful. “I brought a friend today. You two must know of each other, but you don’t know each other.”

“Of course. This is the first time I’ve had the honor of speaking with President Jiang,” the man said with a polite smile, his voice a little naturally hoarse, low and magnetic, very attractive.

Lan Yuxin turned to Jiang Chenyin with great interest and said, “Teacher Jiang, this is Duan Zhiheng, Director Duan. He won the Asian Outstanding Actor Award when he was acting before. He’s switched to being a director behind the scenes in recent years. You remember, right?”

Jiang Chenyin couldn’t refuse and could only maintain a flawless, gentle smile on her face. “Director Duan is a famous actor. It’s natural for an excellent actor to become a director. How could I not remember?”

“That’s right,” Lan Yuxin’s eyebrows raised in delight. “Let’s go and sit over there and chat. It’s tiring to stand.”

Jiang Chenyin nodded. “Mmm.”

Duan Zhiheng turned slightly to the side, letting the two ladies go first.

As soon as they sat down, Lan Yuxin took on the great responsibility of warming up the atmosphere. Although she was sitting next to Jiang Chenyin, she still cast her passionate gaze over her to Duan Zhiheng. “Director Duan, it’s a pleasure to work with you again. Please be gentle with me.”

Duan Zhiheng smiled and said, “Miss Lan is too modest. With your acting skills, what more do I need to say? If we communicate a little more during filming, there basically won’t be any problems.”

Lan Yuxin let out a “tsk,” thinking to herself, this man is very good with words, even more charming than Meng Yi’an.

Her foot touched Jiang Chenyin’s under the table. Jiang Chenyin’s eyes lowered slightly as if nothing had happened, and she took a light sip of her champagne, pretending not to know. She had already hinted so obviously just now. Did Lan Yuxin think she was blind or deaf?

Jiang Chenyin didn’t react. Lan Yuxin had no choice but to continue. “By the way, Director Duan, I heard your hometown is in Qinzhou?”

“That’s right. Speaking of which, I’m half a Qinzhou native.”

“Oh…” Lan Yuxin’s lips curved up. She glanced at the seemingly uninvolved Jiang Chenyin, and then said to Duan Zhiheng apologetically, “Director Duan, you and Teacher Jiang can sit for a bit. I’m going to the restroom.”

Duan Zhiheng said with a slight smile, “Okay.”

As soon as Lan Yuxin left, a hint of awkwardness filled the air in this quiet corner, even though the voices of the people in the banquet hall were rising and falling, it couldn’t break the silence.

In the end, it was Duan Zhiheng who spoke first. “President Jiang doesn’t seem to be in a good mood?”

“No,” Jiang Chenyin tried her best to curve her lips into a slight smile. “I’m just a little tired. I haven’t had much rest since I got off the plane today.”

A hint of concern appeared in Duan Zhiheng’s eyes. “Then you two should leave after Miss Lan comes back. It’s just a private gathering. You don’t have to go through the motions. It’s nothing important.”

“Mmm, I’ll talk to her about it.”

Duan Zhiheng paused, then said, “President Jiang, actually, I went to visit the old station director when I went back to Qinzhou a few years ago. You weren’t there that year, so it was a pity that I didn’t get to meet you.”

“That is a pity,” Jiang Chenyin said with a light smile. Duan Zhiheng gave off a very polite impression. So far, she did not dislike him.

“But it’s okay…”

He paused slightly, and Jiang Chenyin was a little puzzled.

She only heard him continue with a smile, “After this gathering, I’ll be going back to Qinzhou for a while to visit my grandparents, and I also plan to visit the old station director again.”