A Promise in a Thought 75

Chapter 75

On Duan Zhiheng’s birthday, Jiang Chenyin first went to pick up Bo Muyu from work.

Still in the parking lot, Jiang Chenyin watched from a distance as Bo Muyu and some employees appeared at the entrance.

They were not just walking on their own like before. Some people seemed to be hesitating whether to greet Bo Muyu, while others had already gathered around her. From their gestures and expressions, it seemed they were saying, “See you tomorrow, Supervisor.”

Jiang Chenyin saw Bo Muyu give them a proper, slight smile. Looking at her like this, she did have a bit of a leader’s air.

As Jiang Chenyin watched, she was in a daze and even saw the image of Bo Muyu rushing over to hug her when she had just returned last year. Now, the slim-fitting women’s suit made her figure look slender and straight, her pace unhurried. When dealing with outsiders, her expression was distant and polite, but her aura was still not strong enough.

It was the same when she had confronted Mrs. Shao in the coffee shop a while ago. Her aura was green and immature, and she couldn’t hide her emotional fluctuations.

But she had only been working for a year. She would become more and more mature in the future.

Jiang Chenyin’s gaze followed her until she got into the car and fastened her seatbelt.

Only then did the distant-looking screenwriting supervisor reveal a small canine tooth. “Auntie Yin, let’s drive.”

Jiang Chenyin smiled with emotion. “Look behind you.”

Hearing this, Bo Muyu turned her head with a mixture of confusion and eagerness and saw a cake box on the back seat. She was taken aback for a moment, then turned back and sat properly.

Jiang Chenyin started the car and said to her, “We’ll eat the cake a little while after dinner. I’ll be home soon.”

Bo Muyu gazed at Jiang Chenyin’s side profile as she focused on driving, her hand clutching the seatbelt, and squeezed out a “mmm” from her throat.

Back at home, Bo Muyu washed the ingredients she had bought and prepared to cook. Jiang Chenyin was upstairs changing her clothes.

Tonight, only Bo Muyu was eating at home. The ingredients had been bought by Jiang Chenyin, and they were all her favorites. There was also the cake on the cabinet, which Jiang Chenyin had bought for her on her way home from work.

Jiang Chenyin had calculated the time. She would cook, eat, and then eat the cake. By the time Bo Muyu had finished all these steps, she should be back.

Bo Muyu was washing the rice, her expression dazed, letting the milky white water flow through her fingers.

Jiang Chenyin had arranged everything so carefully. Was it because this was the first time she had left her at home for someone else? Jiang Chenyin had once said that even if a partner appeared in her life, her position would never change, and the situation of her being left behind would absolutely not happen.

But now, Jiang Chenyin was indeed leaving her at home for Duan Zhiheng.

Bo Muyu bit her lip, her eyes wide as she stared at the gushing faucet. She felt that her thoughts were becoming more and more uncontrollable, more and more malicious. Before, she had hoped that Jiang Chenyin would not have such a suitable partner. Now, she felt that Jiang Chenyin had abandoned her.

But in her heart, she also understood that it was a very normal thing. Jiang Chenyin had been single for so many years. To have a suitable person, what a lucky thing.

She was just sad. She didn’t want the person she liked to have someone else by her side.

“Muyu, I’m going out.”

Jiang Chenyin’s voice came from behind her. Bo Muyu suddenly came to her senses, turned off the water, and then turned around.

The gentle woman before her had her long, curly hair spread over her shoulders, wearing a light blue silk shirt and black wide-leg pants, with a pair of high heels on her feet. Her whole person was elegant and proper, full of the charm of a mature woman, and also with a gentleness that made one want to protect her.

The moment Bo Muyu saw her, her eyes lit up, but the next moment, they dimmed.

Jiang Chenyin walked up to her and pinched her nose with a smile. “Big screenwriter, I’ll be back soon. Eat well.”

“Mmm, I’ll wait for you to come back,” Bo Muyu said, looking straight at her, imprinting her beautiful image in her heart.

There should be some changes tonight. Bo Muyu didn’t know what the road ahead would be like after Jiang Chenyin came back. She felt lost, scared, and also a little bit of an almost negligible expectation.

“Then I’m leaving,” Jiang Chenyin said and turned to get her bag from the sofa.

“Auntie Yin!” Bo Muyu suddenly felt uneasy and hurried after her.

Jiang Chenyin turned around, a smile on her lips. “What’s wrong?”

Bo Muyu was suddenly at a loss for words. She had rolled up her sleeves while washing the rice just now, and now her hands were held up in front of her, water droplets sliding down from between her fingers and into the cuffs rolled up at her elbows.

“I’m making cola chicken wings for the first time today. Don’t you want to try them before you go?” her eyes were moist, her voice steady but a little lower.

“I might be late. Director Duan is already waiting for me outside,” Jiang Chenyin said with some hesitation, looking at her watch.

“Director Duan is outside…” Bo Muyu bit her lip and lowered her head in disappointment.

Actually, that wasn’t what she wanted to say. She wanted to ask Jiang Chenyin not to go, to stay at home for dinner, to stay by her side and not go anywhere. But the words that came to her lips were cautious, because she had no position or reason to keep Jiang Chenyin.

Outside, there was a man who was a very good match for Jiang Chenyin. He was as outstanding, kind, gentle, and considerate as she was.

Reasonably and emotionally, she could not keep Jiang Chenyin. She could be willful for a moment, regardless of anything, but that was not her original intention.

Jiang Chenyin’s heart tightened, an indescribable discomfort. She quickly moved closer to Bo Muyu, lowered her head slightly, and lifted her face with both hands, saying softly, “Today’s appointment was promised to him long ago. I can’t break my word. But I’ll be back soon. Leave some of your cola chicken wings for me. I’ll eat them when I get home.”

Bo Muyu sniffled softly, and when she looked up again, a slight curve appeared on her lips. “Then you should go. I’ll wait for you to come back.”

This smile carried the clear feeling of her past, without any impurities, transparent to the bottom. Having worked for a period of time, she had already learned to hide her emotions a little. She was sad, but she couldn’t make Jiang Chenyin feel troubled because of her sadness.

“I’m leaving. You should go and cook your meal,” Jiang Chenyin said, pinching her cheek and hiding the sudden reluctance in her heart. “I’ll eat it when I get back. I’ll be back soon.”

“Go on,” Bo Muyu said, suppressing the urge to hold onto Jiang Chenyin and pushing her with the outer side of her elbow, which was not soaked in rice water.

Jiang Chenyin gave Bo Muyu a deep look, smiled at her, and then turned to get her bag and leave.

Just as the sound of her high heels faded away and the door closed with a soft “thud,” a watery sheen appeared in Bo Muyu’s eyes.

When Jiang Chenyin reached Duan Zhiheng’s car, he, dressed in a sharp suit and looking refined, took the initiative to open the passenger door for her.

Since she had met him, she had always sat in the back seat.

Jiang Chenyin’s footsteps paused, and she lowered her eyes, accepting his invitation.

The car drove slowly, out of the residential complex gate. Jiang Chenyin’s gaze was fixed on the rearview mirror, not moving for a long time.

Just then, Duan Zhiheng said, “I’ve already booked a restaurant. It’s your brother’s.”

Jiang Chenyin was slightly taken aback and turned to look at him.

Duan Zhiheng was focused on driving, but his every word was filled with concern for her. “Brother Jun’s restaurant has a great reputation. Many celebrities from various circles go there. The security measures are very good. My friends are also public figures. You must know some of them.”

Jiang Chenyin nodded silently.

Duan Zhiheng glanced at her and added softly, “This way, you shouldn’t be too restrained.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Chenyin replied with a polite smile.

Restrained? Actually, she wouldn’t be too relaxed no matter what. The only time she could truly relax was when she was at home with Bo Muyu, eating the simplest of meals, eating the cola chicken wings that Bo Muyu had made for the first time.

In the parking lot, the two of them got out of the car and walked, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far, even though they were side-by-side.

Just as they were about to reach their destination, Duan Zhiheng moved a little closer and called out to her, “Miss Jiang, can I call you by your name?”

Jiang Chenyin stopped, and he also stopped with her.

To be honest, it was just a change of address. It was nothing. But Jiang Chenyin knew very well that this was a subtle beginning. But he was treating her with sincerity. If she couldn’t even allow a change of address, it would be too unreasonable.

Thinking of this, she nodded and smiled. “You can.”

Duan Zhiheng smiled and bowed slightly. “Then let’s go. We can start as soon as we get in.”

He walked in front to lead the way for Jiang Chenyin. Jiang Chenyin suppressed the indescribable emotion in her heart and followed his steps.

This birthday banquet was like a gathering of friends. Duan Zhiheng’s friends were all talkative and elegant, and there was not a single criticism of the bad habits in the industry throughout the entire process. And just as Duan Zhiheng had said, some of the people were even acquaintances of Jiang Chenyin.

She was being very thoughtfully attended to, which she could clearly feel.

During the banquet, cups were exchanged, and the mood was high. But Jiang Chenyin could not get into the mood for a long time. She couldn’t even switch to her usual mood for social engagements.

Because someone at the banquet had brought up the topic of her and Duan Zhiheng being a good match. It was a very ordinary tone, like someone casually saying, “You two have a good relationship.” Although it was only a few sentences, it still made that indescribable emotion in her heart gradually magnify.

She began to feel uncomfortable.

The way Duan Zhiheng interacted with her gave her a sense of comfort, but the fact that she could not be interested in him became even clearer at this ambiguous moment.

During the banquet, Duan Zhiheng did not have a clear attitude towards his friends’ casual remarks. His concern for her remained. He would turn his head slightly to ask her what she wanted to eat, would remind her not to drink too much, and would also ask her when she would be going back at the latest.

Jiang Chenyin did not stay too late. She said her goodbyes at eight-thirty, and Duan Zhiheng was urged to drive her home.

On the way from the restaurant to the parking lot, the streetlights stretched the shadows of the tall man and the slender, graceful woman.

“Chenyin, did you feel okay tonight?” Duan Zhiheng’s naturally slightly hoarse voice was very magnetic. “I saw that you didn’t eat much. I was worried that you wouldn’t be used to my friends.”

Jiang Chenyin smiled and shook her head. “Of course not. You arranged everything very thoughtfully. Everyone was very nice, and I got along with all of them.”

“That’s good,” he said, as if relieved, and let out a soft laugh.

Jiang Chenyin pressed her lips together and smiled, not taking the initiative to start a topic.

Duan Zhiheng quickly started a conversation with a smile. “Xiaoyu is at home by herself tonight. I wonder if she’ll be bored waiting for you to come back.”

Jiang Chenyin lowered her eyes in thought, then chuckled softly. “I think she will be.”

Duan Zhiheng explained, “I had originally thought of inviting her to come along, but the friends tonight are all our age. Her personality is rather introverted. I was afraid she would feel uncomfortable.”

“I understand. If it were me, I would have thought of that too,” Jiang Chenyin said, her eyes still slightly lowered. From the side, one could see the curve of her lips, faint but warm.

As she spoke, a few fine strands of hair fell by her cheek. Her face was gentle and captivating under the lights. Duan Zhiheng couldn’t take his eyes off her for a moment, and a hint of affection leaked from his gaze.

Jiang Chenyin felt his gaze, but she did not return it. The smile on her lips faded as they walked under the shade of the trees, and the light from the streetlights was obscured.

When they reached his car, he gallantly opened the passenger door for her.

This time, Jiang Chenyin’s footsteps paused and did not move again. The emotion in her heart finally settled, and she looked at Duan Zhiheng. “Director Duan, I think we need to talk.”