Chapter 69
For the entire month of April, Jiang Chenyin felt as if she were living in a state of conflict. Her family and friends would occasionally bring up Duan Zhiheng in front of her, yet she clearly felt that she had no desire to develop a relationship with him beyond that of a friend.
But at the same time, she wanted to struggle a little longer, to break free from the worst-case scenario she had envisioned for herself.
If someone were to directly express their affection for her at this time, she would immediately withdraw. But Duan Zhiheng was different. He was someone she could take the initiative with, someone with whom she could start a relationship from a place of friendship.
So, after May arrived, when she returned to the old residence and saw Duan Zhiheng again, and he invited her for tea and a chat, and even asked her to watch his chess game with Old Master Jiang, she did not refuse.
He was well-spoken and very considerate of Jiang Chenyin in his conversation. Although he held his own in controversial matters, he did not deny her views. Old Master Jiang watched from the side with a look of delight in his eyes.
Sometimes, she would occasionally receive a WeChat message from Duan Zhiheng at work. The content was not the kind of daily greeting that could be ended at any time, but a discussion that could be extended to more topics.
This kind of interaction made Jiang Chenyin feel comfortable, but it was only comfort.
On Friday afternoon, she was working. The screen of her silenced phone lit up. Her assistant, Xiao Lu, who was standing beside her waiting for her instructions, covered her mouth and smiled.
Jiang Chenyin raised her eyes slightly. “What are you smiling at?”
“Sister Chenyin, you’ve got another message,” Xiao Lu said with a playful wink.
Jiang Chenyin’s gaze shifted to the now-dark phone screen, and she asked, as if to Xiao Lu and also to herself, “Are there a lot of messages?”
“Not really,” Xiao Lu said with a smile. “Not for someone like me. Every day when I’m on break, I look at my phone, and the WeChat messages are piled up like a mountain. For you, Sister Chenyin, you only get one occasionally. It’s really not a lot.”
Jiang Chenyin said with a smile, “Then why did you say that?”
Xiao Lu said, “That was for me. You’re different. For important matters, people make appointments or your acquaintances call you directly. But to keep in touch with a message from time to time now, that’s a rare sight.”
Jiang Chenyin leaned back in her chair thoughtfully and smiled.
The topic having been brought up, Xiao Lu couldn’t help but ask, “Is it Xiaoyu? She’s really amazing now. The movie God of War, which Hongsheng is heavily promoting, just released its promotional photos recently. It looks really good, and the actors are well-chosen. I heard the screenwriter is Xiaoyu.”
Jiang Chenyin crossed her legs with a smile, her expression relaxed. “She is amazing. I feel like her adaptability is getting stronger and stronger.”
Xiao Lu thought she had tacitly admitted that the person she was keeping in touch with was Bo Muyu, so she smiled and said no more.
Only then did Jiang Chenyin reach for her phone, unlock it, and tap into WeChat. It was a message from Duan Zhiheng, asking her out for dinner. “If you’re free tonight, how about we eat out?”
This was the first time Duan Zhiheng had asked her out. The first thing she thought of was that she had just told Bo Muyu this morning that they would eat at home tonight. As she was hesitating, Duan Zhiheng’s second message came.
“I’d really like to chat with Xiaoyu again. She’s very smart. But I don’t have her number, so if you’re considering it, why don’t you discuss it with her and pass on my invitation for me?”
The balance in Jiang Chenyin’s heart was suddenly unsteady, the “agree” side sinking a little. Duan Zhiheng was an old actor who had been in the industry for many years. He had debuted as a singer in his teens and had later played the male lead in several major TV series. His experience in this industry could be said to be very rich.
Jiang Chenyin gripped her phone tightly, the hesitation in her eyes gradually fading. She sent a message to Bo Muyu on WeChat.
The rumors within Hongsheng were intensifying. The rumor that Bo Muyu was about to replace the current screenwriting supervisor was rampant. The group of people who had been on good terms with the screenwriting supervisor were now being sarcastic, both openly and secretly. But after Su Man had intentionally or unintentionally mentioned that she had heard the rumors in a meeting, the storm had returned to a seemingly calm but turbulent state.
When Bo Muyu came down from Su Man’s office again, her colleagues had been whispering and laughing, but they fell silent as soon as they saw her walk in.
Such an obvious two-faced behavior would make anyone uncomfortable, let alone Bo Muyu, who was at the center of the rumors. But she just swept her gaze over them coldly, said nothing, and returned to her seat.
“Xiaoyu…” the female colleague beside her, who she was on speaking terms with, leaned in and whispered, “Did President Su call you to discuss the new script again?”
“Mmm, we exchanged some opinions,” Bo Muyu replied in a placid tone.
“Another script is going to be produced?” the colleague lowered her voice even more. “But shouldn’t you be a little more low-key? Look…”
Bo Muyu looked up. A few colleagues nearby were whispering, and a few disdainful laughs could be heard from time to time. Her brow tightened, and the fingers gripping the folder turned white. After a moment, they gradually relaxed, and her face also turned stern.
“It’s okay,” she paused, turned to the colleague who often spoke to her, and her tone softened a little. “Thank you.”
The colleague scratched her nose in embarrassment. “Don’t mention it. We’ve been working together for more than half a year. I’ve been sitting next to you for so long. I know very well how hard you work.”
Bo Muyu nodded and showed a sincere smile.
After the colleague had turned back to her work, she took out her phone to look. A WeChat message from Jiang Chenyin was displayed on the screen.
She was stunned on the spot. Her brow, which had just been about to relax, furrowed even tighter, her eyes filled with a dark, unreadable emotion, which she steadily suppressed by lowering her eyes slightly.
When it was time to get off work, Bo Muyu did not go down to the parking lot where Jiang Chenyin usually waited for her. She went straight downstairs and out of Hongsheng. Duan Zhiheng had parked his car in a nearby parking space.
Jiang Chenyin was waiting for her outside, and then the two of them got into the back seat together.
Duan Zhiheng turned his head from the front and smiled. “Xiaoyu, I’m very happy that you could accept my invitation tonight.”
“Director Duan is too kind. Your invitation is something many people would feel lucky to receive,” Bo Muyu said, neither servile nor overbearing, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
Jiang Chenyin, on the side, listened to her polite yet implicitly distant reply, smiled silently, and squeezed the hand she was holding, expressing her satisfaction with her etiquette.
“Oh, you’re the one who’s too kind,” Duan Zhiheng paused. “If you don’t mind, you can call me Uncle Duan. It’s too formal to keep calling me Director Duan.”
“Of course I don’t mind,” Bo Muyu’s expression was as usual, and she even revealed a small canine tooth. “Thank you, Uncle Duan.”
“Hahaha, good…” Duan Zhiheng was very happy. “What do you want to eat? Tell your uncle.”
She looked at Jiang Chenyin, who pressed her lips together and smiled. “Tell Uncle Duan what you want to eat.”
She thought for a moment and then said, “Anything is fine. Uncle Duan can decide.”
The afterglow of the setting sun, streaming in from the car window, outlined her side profile and also warmed a patch of light in her eyes, which her smile did not reach. She actually didn’t care what they were having for dinner tonight. She had agreed to have dinner with Duan Zhiheng tonight because she wanted to observe the progress between them.
She wanted to see Duan Zhiheng’s current intentions, and also Jiang Chenyin’s current thoughts. There was no clearer way than to observe directly.
“Then let’s have Thai food. I happen to have a friend who has a restaurant here. I heard the reputation is not bad,” Duan Zhiheng said, making the decision and driving off.
In the private room, he gallantly pulled out the chairs for Jiang Chenyin and Bo Muyu, let them order first, and the small talk while waiting also took both of them into consideration, not favoring Jiang Chenyin in any way.
Bo Muyu’s heart remained clear. Even so, she had to admit to herself that Duan Zhiheng was a very good man. Whether it was his family background, his character and temperament, or his ability and achievements, he was not without flaws, but he was a very good match for Jiang Chenyin.
“Thai food is famous for its sour and spicy flavors. This restaurant is quite authentic. I heard the chef specially went to Thailand to study,” Duan Zhiheng said as the dishes were served one after another.
When eating Thai food, pineapple fried rice was almost a must-order. A pineapple, cut in half and its flesh hollowed out, was filled with golden fried rice, looking both beautiful and appetizing.
Then came the lemon garlic pepper shrimp, lemon sea bass, chili crab curry, and so on, one after another, the aroma filling the air. Although Bo Muyu liked sweets, she also liked meat, so she would not refuse such a feast.
Duan Zhiheng ordered three portions of pineapple fried rice, one for each person. After all the dishes were served, he gave a signal, and Bo Muyu quietly began to eat her portion.
As she ate her pineapple fried rice, Duan Zhiheng and Jiang Chenyin were chatting while they ate. It was nothing personal, just Duan Zhiheng saying things like “my grandparents are still in good health” or “the old station director really hopes we can have a chance to cooperate,” and then Jiang Chenyin would reply politely.
As she ate, her eyes fell on the lemon garlic pepper shrimp, and she picked one up to eat. The shrimp was headless and shelled, very fresh, and there was a hint of a sour taste from the lemon, very delicious.
She ate two in a row, then picked up another one and put it in Jiang Chenyin’s bowl.
Duan Zhiheng saw this and asked with a smile, “Xiaoyu, do you like this shrimp dish?”
“Mmm, it’s very delicious,” Bo Muyu’s lips curved up, and she said to Jiang Chenyin, “Auntie Yin, you should try it. I think it’s delicious.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Chenyin happened to have not tried this dish yet, so she took the opportunity to pick it up and take a small bite. “Mmm, it’s not bad.”
After she finished, she saw Bo Muyu’s eyes light up like stars. Her heart stirred, and she said with a hint of regret, “I tasted a little sweetness, but it was unfortunately covered by the taste of the lemon. It would be better if the sweetness could be enhanced.”
Duan Zhiheng chimed in, “What, you like sweets?”
Jiang Chenyin shook her head, looked at Bo Muyu, and stroked her head with a smile. “No, it’s Muyu who loves them.”
Duan Zhiheng noticed Jiang Chenyin’s affection for Bo Muyu and smiled at her. “Then the next time we come, I’ll have the chef adjust the flavor.”
“Thank you, Uncle Duan,” Bo Muyu replied with a faint smile, then her gaze fell on Jiang Chenyin’s gentle side profile, the satisfaction in her heart only she herself knew.
In the small, trivial matters of life, Jiang Chenyin would always pay special attention to anything related to Bo Muyu.
Duan Zhiheng took a sip of his wine and said pleasantly, “Xiaoyu, if you need any help from your uncle in the future, you can just call me. You can get the number directly from your Auntie Yin. If there’s a chance in a while, we can try to cooperate.”
Bo Muyu still smiled. “Okay.”
Duan Zhiheng smiled, and the topic turned back to Jiang Chenyin. “By the way, Miss Jiang, I have a movie recently that’s missing a very important supporting female role. Although she’s not the main character, she plays a very important role in the film. I wanted to mention it to you after we talked last time. I wonder if you could consider it?”
“When does filming start?”
Duan Zhiheng smiled. “It’ll probably be a few more months. There’s no rush.”
Jiang Chenyin did not answer, her gaze slowly sweeping over the dishes on the table.
Duan Zhiheng said with some hesitation, “Hmm… or should I talk to your manager about the time?”
“No need,” Jiang Chenyin said with a smile after a moment of thought. “You can show me the script first. I’ll give you an answer after I’ve read it.”
“No problem,” Duan Zhiheng’s eyes crinkled with a smile, his eyes reflecting Jiang Chenyin’s gentle face.
Bo Muyu listened on the side, quietly eating her own food, occasionally glancing over. Jiang Chenyin did not show any intention of wanting to develop anything, but Duan Zhiheng’s gaze and even gentler smile were clearly directed only at her.
That hidden expectation, Bo Muyu could feel it.
Back at home in the evening, Jiang Chenyin went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of water, handing the other one to Bo Muyu, who had followed her in.
After she finished her water, her voice was clear and pleasant. “Did you eat enough tonight? I noticed you really like that shrimp dish. Let’s go again next time.”
Bo Muyu was drinking her water with her head down, and she was also unconsciously biting her lip.
Because her head was down, Jiang Chenyin didn’t notice her absent-mindedness and continued to remind her, “You should drink some tea to clear the heat tomorrow. It’s too late to drink it today.”
Bo Muyu put down her glass, her voice deep as she squeezed it out from her throat, “Auntie Yin.”
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Chenyin asked, seeing her with her head down, and couldn’t help but reach out and stroke the top of her head.
Her lips moved, and for a long time, she couldn’t speak. But she had to. She felt that she was being selfish, but she was unwilling for her selfishness to affect Jiang Chenyin’s life. No one knew better than her and Jiang Chenyin how helpless it was to be pestered by someone you didn’t like.
She didn’t know how much of a good impression Duan Zhiheng had on Jiang Chenyin, but at least she was very clear that the person Jiang Chenyin liked in terms of love was not her. So she couldn’t just confess all her feelings without considering the consequences. Apart from enduring, she could only endure.
She wanted to give Jiang Chenyin a beautiful future, without pain, without threats, only happiness. But if the person who created this future couldn’t be her, was Jiang Chenyin to be so lonely?
Bo Muyu bit her lower lip hard, her eyes stinging. After a long while, she said in a low voice, “Auntie Yin, Uncle Duan is a good person.”
Jiang Chenyin’s hand, stroking her head, paused. She felt a lump in her heart, and then her hand slowly slid down to rest on her side profile. “I know.”
“The question you asked me last time, I can answer it now,” Bo Muyu said, looking up. At this moment, a watery sheen appeared in her eyes, flashing by. “Uncle Duan is very good. I think he’s very good…”
Jiang Chenyin was taken aback, and the thumb that had been gently stroking her side profile stopped.
Her voice was low as she squeezed it out from between her teeth, “Auntie Yin, will you like him?”
Jiang Chenyin was silent. Her lips moved but she didn’t speak, and her hand also left Bo Muyu’s face. Her autumn-water-like eyes were now a sheet of calm.
After a long while, she said, “I don’t know.”
The candlelight in Bo Muyu’s heart seemed to flicker after being swept by a weak wind. She felt a sliver of luck at the uncertainty in Jiang Chenyin’s words, an instinct she couldn’t control.
“Alright, I’m going to take a shower first. Let’s not talk about this topic anymore,” Bo Muyu said, forcing a smile. She paused, then said softly, “In any case, I won’t leave you no matter what, just like the wish I made on my birthday last year…”
Jiang Chenyin’s body shuddered. Just as she was about to subconsciously grab Bo Muyu, the girl before her pressed her lips together and smiled, then turned and went upstairs.
A dull ache immediately throbbed in her heart. She didn’t know what to say, but she always felt that she had something to say.
And for some reason, she had suddenly had an illusion just now, as if the only person who had been by her side had left, leaving her all alone. That feeling of loneliness and abandonment was so strong for the first time. She stood there in a daze, unable to move a single step.
