Chapter 66
Three days passed by quickly. Lan Yuxin had also taken Jiang Chenyin out to eat, drink, and have fun for three days.
April had arrived, and the tender green buds on the treetops brought a vibrant spring.
On the return flight, Lan Yuxin had been intentionally or unintentionally mentioning Duan Zhiheng to Jiang Chenyin, such as his family background, character, achievements, and his age, which was a good match for hers.
Duan Zhiheng was a few months older than Jiang Chenyin, about to turn thirty-eight. At this age, he was successful in his career, had outstanding looks, and was a good match for her in terms of family background.
Of course, the most important point in Lan Yuxin’s opinion was his high emotional intelligence, which did not give people a sense of pressure. This was her purpose in suggesting that Jiang Chenyin attend the gathering with her. After Jiang Chenyin had told her that Meng Yi’an was completely out of the picture, and she had felt that it was not as difficult to bring up these things with her as before, she had thought of this man.
From the current situation, Duan Zhiheng and Jiang Chenyin were a very good match.
He had a good impression of Jiang Chenyin, but he would not express it rashly. Instead, he used the reason of returning to Qinzhou to visit his grandparents to continue their future interactions.
The more Lan Yuxin thought about it, the more she felt they were a good match, so she would praise him to Jiang Chenyin from time to time. Jiang Chenyin did not seem to treat Duan Zhiheng any differently, but she did not object to Lan Yuxin’s nagging either.
“Hey, Teacher Jiang, did you hear what I said?” Lan Yuxin was almost biting Jiang Chenyin’s ear. “Besides his family background and character, Director Duan is 1.85 meters tall, and I heard he also has a habit of working out. Once that suit is off, he’s a beast just like you…”
Jiang Chenyin’s brow tightened, and she whispered helplessly, “Alright, I know.”
Lan Yuxin cleared her throat, glanced at the nearby passengers who were resting with their eyes closed, and then patted Jiang Chenyin’s arm and said in a small voice, “This is the top-notch kind for hugging and gossiping with at night, and you can also do other things.”
Jiang Chenyin shot her a look. “If you like him so much, why don’t you take him yourself?”
“He’s not suitable for me,” Lan Yuxin retorted matter-of-factly, then winked and said, “I don’t like that kind of man. He’s too gentle. A man should be a little wilder. But a woman like you should be with someone who is both sensible and obedient, otherwise it’s easy to have problems. You know what I mean, right?”
Lan Yuxin felt that Meng Yi’an was good in every way, but he just became worse at handling things as time went on. To make a woman like Jiang Chenyin follow him and get along according to his steps was definitely the worst strategy.
Jiang Chenyin had status, position, and reputation. She was an independent person. The most suitable way to get along with her was to let nature take its course. Let her get used to a person’s existence, and they would naturally get together. If they were suitable in all aspects, they would go even further.
To make her follow a schedule to date was equivalent to a form of submission to the other party, and it was not based on an emotional foundation or from the heart.
So Meng Yi’an’s failure was not without reason, and it was not just because Jiang Chenyin did not like him.
However, if Jiang Chenyin were to really fall in love with someone, Lan Yuxin could easily imagine that kind of irresistible gentleness. She really hoped to see that day.
“I understand what you mean,” Jiang Chenyin said, rubbing her temples and saying vaguely, “You just work hard. I know what to do.”
“Hey, that’s right,” Lan Yuxin raised an eyebrow and smiled. To be able to consider it was a good thing.
After landing in Qinzhou, Lan Yuxin wanted to go home and have a good sleep. Jiang Chenyin planned to go back to the old residence for a bit.
Duan Zhiheng was on the same flight as them. He was going to his grandparents’ house first to visit them, and then he would go to the old Jiang residence to visit Old Master Jiang.
As he finished speaking, Lan Yuxin let out a secret laugh. He was very calculating, taking advantage of the time Jiang Chenyin was at the old residence.
After the group separated, Jiang Chenyin sent a message to Bo Muyu, who was at work, saying that she would be back in the evening. Then she dismissed her assistant and went back to the old residence herself.
Before dinner, Duan Zhiheng also arrived at the old Jiang residence. He was gentle, polite, and dignified, with a constant smile on his face, which made Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang subconsciously look at him and then at Jiang Chenyin.
Even Auntie Wang was delighted and took the initiative to ask him what he liked to eat and what flavors he preferred, her words implying that she hoped he would visit often.
After dinner, the sky gradually darkened.
Jiang Chenyin, who had to work the next day, was going back to the city and planned to drive a car from the old residence. Duan Zhiheng also took his leave at the right time and offered to drive her back.
“Why don’t you let me drive you back?” he asked, his gaze deep, a smile on his face. “It’ll save you the trouble, and I also want to drive around for a bit. It’s very convenient.”
The corners of Jiang Chenyin’s lips curved up, and she seemed to be considering it.
Duan Zhiheng suddenly grinned. “We can chat on the way. I’d really like to get to know you better.”
“Hmm?” Jiang Chenyin was a little slow to react.
“Just kidding,” Duan Zhiheng laughed heartily. “I mean, if you need a reason to take my car, you can think of it this way: I’d be honored.”
“No…” Jiang Chenyin couldn’t help but raise her hand to cover a little of her smile, and finally nodded. “Okay, then I’ll have to trouble you.”
“Let’s go,” Duan Zhiheng said, still politely asking her to go first.
At this point, Jiang Chenyin had to have some shallow opinions of him. Meng Yi’an had been saying that he wanted to be friends with her, but his actions were not at all like someone who wanted to go back to being friends. Even taking a step back and starting as friends, Meng Yi’an couldn’t completely do it.
But Duan Zhiheng made people feel very comfortable. Not only did he not show any signs of making people uncomfortable, but he also took the initiative to joke about this topic to dispel her concerns.
There wasn’t much conversation on the way. In the beginning, there was even a trend of awkward silence. But Duan Zhiheng would occasionally bring up some topics that didn’t involve privacy, and would moderately extend them after Jiang Chenyin answered.
For example, Lan Yuxin’s new drama, the recent situation of their competitors, and some pertinent opinions on the dramas Jiang Chenyin had acted in before.
The whole journey was very comfortable. Duan Zhiheng successfully drove Jiang Chenyin to the entrance of her villa.
He glanced in the direction of the villa and said in surprise, “Miss Jiang, did you not turn off the lights when you left that day?”
Jiang Chenyin looked over, then let out a soft laugh and explained, “No, there’s someone at home.”
Duan Zhiheng got out of the car with Jiang Chenyin and stood on the steps, intending to watch her go in, his gaze thoughtfully on the door that was about to open.
Just as Jiang Chenyin opened the door, a girl with a scholarly and pure air came to greet her, her gaze fixed on Jiang Chenyin. “Auntie Yin.” She paused, then shifted her gaze to Duan Zhiheng. “Director Duan?”
This man was gentle and elegant, giving people a feeling of warmth without lacking a commanding presence, making it easy for people to trust him.
Bo Muyu’s brows gradually furrowed.
“Hello,” Duan Zhiheng smiled at her, then his smile held a hint of curiosity. “You know me?”
Bo Muyu suppressed the doubt in her heart, smiled, and took a few steps out, saying, “Director Duan is an outstanding actor, and after moving behind the scenes, you won the Best Director award. Of course I know you.”
Jiang Chenyin put her hand on her shoulder, smiled, and turned to Duan Zhiheng. “This is a friend’s child. She’s a screenwriter.”
“I see,” Duan Zhiheng smiled. “If there’s a chance in the future, we must have a good chat. Maybe we can cooperate.”
Bo Muyu smiled without a word, her expression calm.
After Duan Zhiheng left, Jiang Chenyin took Bo Muyu back to her room.
Jiang Chenyin was changing her clothes. Bo Muyu did not avoid her, because her thoughts were in a jumble.
For the past few days, Jiang Chenyin had not been out of touch with her. She would tell her where she had gone, and what she had eaten, and would take pictures and send them to her at the time. They would also chat on WeChat at night, and she would tell her to go to bed early.
Today, she had to work and couldn’t pick up Jiang Chenyin from the airport. Jiang Chenyin only said that she would go to Grandpa Jiang’s for dinner and would be back in the evening.
None of her words were related to this man, but perhaps it was a gut feeling. Bo Muyu felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Because Jiang Chenyin had no intention of rejecting that man, even if it seemed they were just friends now.
Did Jiang Chenyin have the thought of starting a relationship?
Bo Muyu walked over step by step, her steps inexplicably a little heavy, her heart filled with this question. But should she ask? If Jiang Chenyin’s answer was no, that would be fine. But if her answer was yes, how should she react?
She couldn’t even guarantee that she wouldn’t reveal that secret feeling.
She thought for a long time, and then asked in a low voice behind Jiang Chenyin, “Auntie Yin, is Director Duan your friend?”
Jiang Chenyin paused, her action of unbuttoning her shirt stopping. “No, I’ve only just met him. I met him when I went to a banquet with Yuxin.”
Bo Muyu lowered her eyes. It’s only been a few days. It can’t be.
The corners of her lips finally lifted slightly.
Jiang Chenyin changed into a comfortable T-shirt, turned around, and saw Bo Muyu with her head down. The emotions that she hadn’t had time to sort out all day came back to her mind.
She shouldn’t treat Bo Muyu as a child anymore, shouldn’t let her occupy such a large space in her life, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be intimate anymore.
At least for now.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Chenyin touched her face. “You didn’t eat enough for dinner? Tell me what you ate.”
“I went to Little Uncle’s restaurant with Xiao Han. I’m full,” Bo Muyu said, taking her hand and holding it between her own, reluctant to let go.
“Oh?” Jiang Chenyin asked with a warm smile. “Did you see any big stars? My second brother’s place often has important people.”
A faint smile appeared on Bo Muyu’s lips. “Yes, I saw a few actors chatting while they were eating, but I didn’t hear what they were talking about.”
“If you could hear, that would be something,” Jiang Chenyin said, unable to resist gently tapping her forehead with her other hand.
“Xiao Han looked very happy. It just so happened that one of the male actors was her favorite.”
“What about you? You don’t have a favorite?”
Bo Muyu gazed at her and said, “I have some I admire, but none I like.”
Jiang Chenyin chuckled softly and stroked the top of her head. Her hand unconsciously slid down a little, and she gently pulled Bo Muyu’s head towards her, at the same time lifting her chin to rest on her forehead.
Bo Muyu felt Jiang Chenyin’s movement and moved closer in understanding, her arms wrapping around her waist. She loved this kind of closeness. The scent she had been longing for surrounded her, all of it Jiang Chenyin’s scent. Her body and mind were infatuated.
“Auntie Yin, you can pick me up from work tomorrow. I’ll make you dinner when we get home,” Bo Muyu murmured in Jiang Chenyin’s ear.
“Okay,” Jiang Chenyin said, closing her eyes. The heart that had been wandering for the past few days inexplicably settled down. She had a feeling that this trip had actually not been able to make her learn how to separate Bo Muyu from her life.
Bo Muyu lowered her head, her chin brushing against her shoulder, her breath fanning across her neck. Time seemed to stand still, and neither of them broke the comfortable embrace.
But the quieter it was, the more Bo Muyu could feel the restless feeling in her heart, the desire for a little bit of comfort. She wanted to ask Jiang Chenyin if she had any plans to start a relationship, and also if Duan Zhiheng was within her consideration.
But she didn’t dare to ask. She was afraid of hearing an answer she didn’t want to hear.
After a long while, her arms tightened, and she said in a low voice, “Auntie Yin, why were you with Director Duan tonight?”
“He was having dinner at my parents’ place and gave me a ride back,” Jiang Chenyin said. “His father knows my dad. They used to have dealings. His hometown is also here, so he came to visit my dad.”
The more Bo Muyu listened, the colder her eyes became, and even her voice was much lighter. “Then will you be friends with him? What if he has other ideas?”
“He’s a very suitable person to be friends with,” Jiang Chenyin said, slowly opening her eyes, a hint of an indescribable melancholy in her heart. “As for other things, I have no thoughts for now.”
Bo Muyu closed her eyes and hugged Jiang Chenyin tightly, as if to merge her own breath with hers.
Just then, a murmur from Jiang Chenyin was like a highly destructive bomb, “Perhaps there will be in the future.”
