Chapter 71:
I will be my brother's best friend
As soon as Pei Jing said these words, both Ji Ningyi and Ji Zhile were shocked.
As soon as Ji Ning's grandmother came, the idea of Pei Jing leaving came into his mind. He didn't ask Pei Jing, but as a good friend, he knew Pei Jing's thoughts.
He was a little evasive, thinking that he would not leave without asking Pei Jing.
Pei Jing was the first good friend Ji Ningyi made in elementary school, and he was very reluctant to part with Pei Jing.
Ji Ning pursed his lips lightly, just looked at Pei Jing and didn't speak.
Ji Zhile didn't expect it at all. He had a relatively simple mind, and he only remembered what his mother said, brother Pei Jing wanted to live with us, and he was very happy and welcome.
The family is so big that it can accommodate many children. He also wants to invite Xiao Yuan to live at home, but Xiao Yuan wants to live in his own home.
After Brother Pei Jing came, the house became more lively, and there were more games for the three of them to play, Ji Zhile liked it very much.
"Why did you leave?" Ji Zhile asked with rounded eyes, "Brother Pei Jing doesn't live with us?"
Pei Jing's throat was a little rough: "I'm going back to my home too, my home is far away."
Ji Zhile also understands this truth, children always have to go back to their own home, but...
"Brother Pei Jing, can't you stay longer? You can watch our performance." Ji Zhile begged pitifully.
Because he said in the kindergarten that two older brothers in his family would come to see his performance.
Pei Jing said: "I've lived here for a long time, and my grandma hasn't traveled far, so she won't be used to it in other places."
This Ji Zhile can also understand, because he also had a good time at grandma's house, but he can only stay for a few days, and he will really want to go back to his own home after too long.
Ji Zhile didn't know what to do, so she turned her attention to Ji Ningyi and Si Tian.
But Ji Ningyi was also sad, his head was slightly lowered, and his eyelashes were tightly pressed down.
Si Tian took Ji Zhile's shoulders and said softly, "Zhi Le, Pei Jing just went back to his home, it's not that you won't be able to see each other in the future, if you miss him, you can call him."
Pei Jing also nodded quickly: "Yes, there is a phone in the canteen opposite our house, and I will call you too."
Ji Zhile hugged Si Tian's arms with both hands, and leaned softly on her body, her cheeks bulging: "Okay."
In the closed and narrow space in the car, it was immediately filled with the melancholy of leaving. Every child's face was full of parting sorrow, especially Ji Ningyi, who sat on the side, pursed his lips more and more tightly, and felt sad. It's all going to fall.
Si Tian grabbed his clenched hand.
As soon as Ji Ning looked up at her, Si Tian smiled at her, and the corners of Ji Ning's lips tried to rise, and returned her smiling face.
What a polite kid even in difficult situations.
"Don't be sad." Si Tian said, "Pei Jing is not leaving now, there are still many things that have not been dealt with, at least we have to wait a few more days."
"Zhile, haven't you always wanted to sleep with Pei Jing?"
Pei Jing immediately said, "It's fine tonight!"
Ji Zhile pouted: "Then will you help me fold the quilt and clothes tomorrow?"
Seeing Ji Zhile's pouting sad look, Pei Jing gradually accumulated guilt in his heart, and said, "Yes."
It turned out that there wasn't any, but he was leaving, so Ji Zhile could be pampered.
Ji Zhile finally showed a smile, looking like a little fox after eating meat: "That's good."
Ji Zhile looked at Ji Ningyi and said enthusiastically, "Brother, come too."
His voice was sweet: "Brother Pei Jing and brother are best friends, and brother must be very reluctant to part with you."
Waiting for tomorrow morning, let brother Pei Jing fold his clothes and quilt for him, and let his brother help him twist the facekerchief and squeeze toothpaste.
Ji Zhile felt that they would definitely agree, and he had already thought about it.
Sure enough, when Ji Ning heard Ji Zhile's proposal, he quickly nodded: "Okay."
He looked at Ji Zhile, and Ji Zhile showed him a sweet smile, Ji Ning was filled with joy in his heart, quietly held his hand, and squeezed it lightly to express his gratitude.
He really wanted to have a good talk with Pei Jing again. After Pei Jing left, they would not have the chance to sleep together like this.
It’s just that Ji Ningyi is already in primary school, he felt that it would be embarrassing for him to sleep with his friends, but Zhile offered it.
He looked at his younger brother's fair little face, and the warmth in his heart surged.
Zhile is really kind to him, and she will consider him in everything she does.
Perhaps Zhile knew what he was thinking. They were brothers, and in the novel there was telepathy between brothers.
At this moment, Ji Ningyi's liking for Ji Zhile has reached a small peak.
Ji Zhile didn't know that his brother's heart was surging, he leaned on Si Tian, one hand was held by Ji Ning, and the other hand quietly went to pull Pei Jing's, grabbed his finger and held it.
Pei Jing looked at him in surprise, and Ji Zhile returned a sweet smile.
He held one in each hand, and leaned against the other, both of which belonged to him.
After returning home, the sorrow of parting had dissipated a lot, Ji Zhile said that he wanted to eat fried skewers again, and used Pei Jing as an excuse.
"Brother Pei Jing is about to leave, and he won't be able to eat fried skewers in the future, so he should eat more before he leaves."
Si Tian thought about it, and the three children liked to eat this kind of food, so she asked her aunt to make it.
Ji Zhile sneaked into the kitchen and said to her aunt, "Auntie wants to fry more chicken tenders and meat. Brother Pei Jing likes it very much."
Looking at Ji Zhile's clean and bright eyes, the aunt knew the general situation, so she said, "Okay, I will do more."
Ji Zhile's eyes were so happy that he squinted: "Thank you, Auntie."
When I came out of the kitchen and met Si Tian, Ji Zhile's eyes widened in surprise: "Why is mom here?"
Si Tian smiled kindly: "I originally wanted to skewer vegetables, but it seems that I heard something that I shouldn't have heard."
Ji Zhile quickly said, "You can listen."
He was a little nervous, thinking that his mother would see his intentions, because chicken tenders and meat skewers are his favorites, and his mother must know.
Si Tian rubbed Ji Zhile's little curly hair, and said, "Actually, it's not Pei Jing who wants to eat fried skewers, it's you who want to eat."
Really got caught. Ji Zhile hurriedly said, "We all want to eat."
Si Tian didn't see Ji Zhile's intention clearly, she had a smart face, but every move betrayed her own thoughts, and those eyes were really clearly written.
However, Si Tian didn't expose Ji Zhile at first, after all, considering that Pei Jing was leaving, she would definitely make the food that the child likes these few days, no need to think about anything else.
It’s just that Ji Zhile is not satisfied, and even under the banner of Pei Jing, he came to ask the cooking aunt to order food. Si Tian felt that he should wake up Ji Zhile, don’t treat other people as fools, and he turned out to be the stupidest that.
Si Tian said: "Forget it this time, don't be so anxious before you want to use others as an excuse next time."
No one turned around and went to find the aunt, revealing his intentions clearly.
Ji Zhile didn't quite understand, but his mother didn't criticize him, so Ji Zhile felt relieved, he nodded, and said obediently, "Good mom."
Si Tian pinched his cheek: "Go and play by yourself."
Ji Zhile said: "I want to wear skewers with my mother."
"bring it on."
So Ji Zhile put a lot of enoki mushrooms on himself when he was skewering. In fact, he wanted to wear meat, but the meat is under the control of his aunt and mother, so Ji Zhile can only make vegetables. Among the vegetables, he likes enoki mushrooms the most. Also wear the most.
Seeing his undisguised appearance, Si Tian didn't want to remind him anymore.
Those who are stupid are stupid after all, and those who cannot be taught are smart, and even when they grow up, becoming a vicious supporting actor is clearly a stumbling block for others.
The three children all like to eat fried skewers. This time, Si Tian is more indulgent. Ji Zhile just eats up fried skewers without eating. He feels very satisfied.
After eating, he secretly asked Pei Jing: "Brother Pei Jing, can you leave later?"
Ji Zhile knew that the benefits tonight were all because Pei Jing was leaving, and he liked it so much. If Pei Jing left a few days later, he would be able to live this kind of life more times.
Seeing Ji Zhile's expectant look, Pei Jing lowered his voice: "When my student status is settled, I will go back with my grandma."
He was afraid that Ji Zhile would be sad, so he quickly added: "Zhile, I will miss you very much."
Ji Zhile was obviously very happy when he was having dinner, but at this time he came to beg him to go back later, Pei Jing felt depressed.
He will go back to his home after all, but the fact that they are friends will never change, Zhile is reluctant to let him go, and he has the same feelings for Zhile.
Ji Zhile was a little disappointed that he couldn't live such a good life every day, but facing Pei Jing's true feelings, he also said, "Brother Pei Jing, I will miss you too."
Pei Jing's heart was sore and soft, and he reached out to stroke Ji Zhile's hair.
Ji Zhile also took the initiative to rub his head, like a cat.
He didn't know why his mother's brother and Pei Jing's brother liked to touch his hair so much, maybe they liked him too much.
In fact, Ji Zhile thinks it will mess up his hair, but since brother Pei Jing is leaving, he will take the initiative with brother Pei Jing.
When going to bed at night, the three children lay down together again, still in Ji Ningyi's room, sleeping on the big bed.
After the lights were turned off, Ji Zhile started talking, and he slept in the middle.
"Brother Pei Jing, is there fun at your house?"
Pei Jing thought for a while and said, "It's fun. There is a hill behind our house. Every time it rains, I will pick up mushrooms behind. But the road is very slippery. Be careful. We have a lot of chicken fir mushrooms. Take them home, grandma." It will be used to make soup, which is delicious."
"There is a lot of farmland in front of my house. Every summer after the rice is harvested, there are loaches and eels in the fields. They can be caught and sold in the city. It is very expensive. It costs more than 30 yuan a catty. After selling the money, you can save it. Buy a lot of stationery."
"Our school fence has not been repaired, and we can still go out of school to play after class."
Ji Zhile was startled: "Then outside the school will there be fried skewers and fried chestnuts?"
Ji Zhile’s kindergarten didn’t sell anything, and he knew that Ji Ningyi’s elementary school didn’t have any, but there were many small stalls outside the school, wouldn’t they be able to go out and buy snacks after class?
After class, my mother will definitely not come to pick me up. Isn't that as long as you have money, you can buy it? What kind of paradise is this? Little Ji Zhile was deeply shocked, and the seeds of longing were planted at this moment.
But Pei Jing's words shattered Ji Zhile's beautiful fantasy: "There is no snack shop outside the school, there is only a small shop, but inside it is basically stationery, only a few snacks."
Pei Jing has never bought those snacks, and all his extra money will be used for saving.
When they met Ji Ningyi in KFC, it was the first time Pei Jing took the initiative to buy snacks. He saved some money, and he also wanted to know that there were always advertisements on TV, but there was never a store in their small town. What does food taste like.
Then he unexpectedly became friends with Ji Ningyi and got to know Aunt Si Tian's family. Pei Jing felt that this was the greatest achievement.
"That's great too." Ji Zhile said, "I also want to pick mushrooms, and I'll go shopping after class."
Pei Jing hasn't thought about his hometown from this perspective yet. He wants to go back because his home is there, where he and his grandmother live.
But from Ji Zhile's point of view, it seems really great.
"Does Brother Pei Jing have any other good friends at home?"
Pei Jing said, "No."
The children in the village are unwilling to make friends with Pei Jing, because Pei Jing has no parents. But Pei Jing didn't care about them. He was very busy every day, busy with school and helping his grandmother with work, so he didn't have the heart to pay attention to them, as long as they didn't provoke him.
Ji Zhile held Pei Jing's arm with both hands, and said, "Brother Pei Jing has us, but it's fine if brother Pei Jing wants to make other friends."
Like him, he also has many friends. The best friend in the kindergarten is Xiao Yuan, and there are other friends who are not the best. These friends make Ji Zhile not want to go to kindergarten very much.
Pei Jing gave a soft "hmm", he felt that he had found his best friend.
Ji Zhile became a little sleepy while talking, his voice lowered, and he was also infected with drowsiness: "Brother Pei Jing should remember to call us when we go home, and when we are on vacation, we will go back to see your .”
Pei Jing said, "Okay, I will."
Ji Zhile fell asleep, but Pei Jing didn't. His heart was also filled with the sadness of parting, and then someone poked his arm, and Ji Ningyi's voice came to mind in the quiet and dark environment.
"Pei Jing, are you asleep?"
Those sentiments disappeared a little, just like when he thought he was the only one, Ji Ningyi appeared beside him. Pei Jing said, "I didn't sleep."
Ji Ningyi said: "Pei Jing, will you come to our house again after you go home?"
"Yes." Pei Jing's voice was low, but every word fell clearly in the quiet environment, "I will come to you when I have saved enough money and I am on vacation."
Ji Ning hummed: "Then you have to remember our home address."
Ji Ning said it clearly: "And my phone number, you should also remember it, you can call me when you go back."
Pei Jing asked, "How much is it?"
He doesn't have Ji Ningyi's phone number, because Pei Jing doesn't have a phone watch, and they live very close together, and they never need to contact each other by phone.
Ji Ning turned on the bedside lamp, the warm yellow light was soft and not dazzling, and Ji Zhile also fell asleep obediently.
Ji Ning lifted the quilt and climbed out of bed, found the notebook and pen, wrote down the number and handed it to Pei Jing.
Pei Jing took it solemnly: "I will remember it."
Under the light, Ji Ningyi lowered his eyelashes, feeling a little sad, Pei Jing stood beside him, trying to comfort his friend: "There is a small shop opposite our house, you can make calls there, when I get home, I will I'll call you."
Ji Ning asked: "Then I will call you later, can you answer it?"
Pei Jing said: "Yes, the grandfather at the commissary will answer the phone at the door, and I will hear it when I am at home."
Once Ji Ning knew that Pei Jing wanted to go home, he would not stop him.
"If you make a new friend, let me know."
Pei Jing said: "Ning Yi, you will always be my best friend."
This sentence made Ji Ningyi's heart tremble slightly, and he said, "I will remember it."
Pei Jing carefully put the note that Ji Ningyi gave him in the middle of the schoolbag, and put it together with the three thousand yuan, all of which are his precious things.
Ji Ningyi asked Si Tian to take him out the next day to go shopping. Faced with the eldest son's request, Si Tian naturally agreed. Ji Ningyi rarely asks for anything. This time is very special. She goes out.
In the car, Ji Ning explained his intention to Si Tian: "Mom, I want to buy a mobile phone for Pei Jing."
"Pei Jing's family doesn't have a phone. If he wants to call me, he needs to go to the canteen in the village. If Pei Jing's family has a phone, we can call often."
Si Tian didn't expect Ji Ningyi to be so thoughtful and thoughtful.
Si Tian said: "Of course, what kind of mobile phone does Ning Yi want to buy?"
Ji Ningyi said: "I didn't think about it either. I have lucky money. Mom, I want to use my own money to buy gifts for Pei Jing."
Unlike Ji Zhile, Ji Ning is bigger and can store good things.
The two children's new year's money was kept with Ji Jiangzhou, but Ji Zhile kept the full amount, and Ji Ningyi kept some. Ji Jiangzhou said at the time that he could dispose of it at his disposal, but Ji Ningyi never bought it. something else.
Si Tian said: "Yes, Ning Yi is a very caring child."
Si Tian took Ji Ningyi to the mobile phone store to choose a mobile phone. There are various smart phones in the mobile phone store. Si Tian asked Ji Ningyi to choose by himself. This is a gift from Ji Ningyi to Pei Jing.
In the end, Ji Ningyi did not choose a smartphone, but bought an elderly phone with a button, which is the most practical for the elderly.
After all, Pei Jing was only seven years old and still had to go to school, so he definitely couldn't bring his mobile phone to school.
The elderly machine is not expensive, a few hundred dollars, Si Tian thinks this is just right, and Pei Jing and grandma are more likely to accept it.
After buying the mobile phone, Ji Ning looked very happy as soon as he held it in his hand, but asked Si Tian worriedly: "Mom, will Pei Jing accept it?"
Si Tian said: "Yes, this is a parting gift from you, and Pei Jing will accept it."
Only then did the stone in Ji Ning's heart come to fruition. He believed what his mother said, and felt that Pei Jing had changed a lot compared to before. He sincerely hopes that Pei Jing can call him many times in the future, even if they don't live together, they are still best friends, they can chat and know each other's recent situation.
After buying the mobile phone, Ji Ning still wanted to buy a mobile phone cord, so Si Tian took him to the leisure department store.
As soon as Ji Ning was choosing by himself, Si Tian was looking at the accessories area beside him. The things were not expensive, but they looked very beautiful, shining under the lights.
As soon as Ji Ning had chosen the mobile phone rope, he turned around and saw Si Tian looking at the hair rope. He glanced at Ji Ningyi from the corner of his eye, and Si Tian asked him: "Have you chosen it?"
Ji Ning nodded, and Si Tian took him to pay. Ji Ning asked, "Does mom like those hair ties?"
Si Tian said, "Just look around, there's nothing I like."
Ji Ning glanced at those accessories, and followed Si Tian to pay for the phone strap.
After leaving the supermarket, Ji Ning gave Si Tian a bag, and said: "Mom, I'm going to buy a bottle of water, you wait here for me for a while."
After finishing speaking, Ji Ning ran inside, Si Tian watched his small back and went straight to the cold drink area, moving very quickly.
Ji Ning came out after a while, holding two bottles of water, one bottle of mineral water, and one bottle of peach-flavored drink.
He gave the peach to Si Tian: "Mom, drink it."
Si Tian sweetened her heart and teased him: "Doesn't Ning Yi like fruity drinks?"
Children like them should all like to drink sweet things, and Ji Zhile likes to drink Coke very much.
Ji Ningyi said: "Drinks will be more expensive, mom drinks, I like to drink water."
Zhile is very frugal, and he has to learn.
After hearing this, Si Tian immediately said, "It doesn't matter whether it's expensive or not, you must drink what you like."
Children do not come into this world to suffer.
Ji Ning quickly said, "I like it!"
He went to the supermarket again not purely to buy water, he said: "Mom, let me unscrew the bottle cap for you."
At school, the teacher said that boys have to take care of girls, and Ji Ningyi, as a boy, also has to take care of his mother, and he has to help his mother with things like unscrewing the bottle cap.
It's just that he held the bottle in his hand and twisted it vigorously, but it didn't move at all. Ji Ningyi's palms were flushed, and his face was also quietly stained with crimson.
Seeing this scene, Si Tian swallowed a smile, took the bottle in Ji Ning's hand, unscrewed it, and handed it to him: "Mom should help you."
The bottle cap is too tight, a child like Ji Ning can't unscrew it.
Ji Ning's face became more and more red, and even after drinking a sip of water, his face couldn't cool down.
Seeing his shy look, Si Tian couldn't help pinching his cheek: "When Ning grows up, I can unscrew it. I will wait for you to grow up."
Ji Ning gave a low "hmm".
As soon as Ji Ning and Si Tian returned home, Ji Zhile stood guard at the door, and when he saw them, he asked, "Where have you been, brother and mother? Why didn't you take me with you?"
Ji Ningyi didn't want to say it, because it was a secret gift he wanted to give Pei Jing.
Si Tian said: "We went out for a run, why don't you rest at home with Dad, if you want, we will go out together tomorrow."
Ji Zhile paused immediately: "No need, I'll be at home with Dad."
Si Tian knew that Ji Zhile was really lazy, she liked to sleep in and not exercise, but she didn't gain weight, she was still a small one, but her cheeks were pouty.
When Ji Jiangzhou saw them, he said, "Zhi Le asked many times when you will come back."
Si Tian said, "I'll give you a chance to develop a relationship with Zhile."
Ji Jiangzhou glanced at his youngest son who was closely following Si Tian, and felt that Ji Zhile was not very cooperative.
At night, Si Tian returned to her room after telling the three children a bedtime story, but found a bag on the counter. She picked it up curiously, and found a post-it note on the bag. The children's handwriting on it was a little immature but clear Neat.
[Give it to my mother, I hope my mother will always be happy and beautiful. —Ning Yi]
A gift from Ning Yi? Si Tian was a little curious about what it was, and was about to take it apart when the door of the room was knocked at this moment, and she took the bag to open the door.
Ji Jiangzhou stood at the door and said: "Pei Jing's matter has been dealt with, and he will go back with his grandmother on the weekend."
Si Tian's heart was filled with reluctance, and she didn't know what to say, Ji Jiangzhou's eyes had already fallen on the bag in her hand: "Is this a gift from Ning Yi?"
The side of the bag with the sticky note on it was facing Ji Jiangzhou, and the words on the sticky note were clearly visible.
"yes."
Ji Jiangzhou looked back lightly, and asked in a very calm tone: "What is it?"
Si Tian: "Have you not?"
Ji Jiangzhou: "...No."
Si Tian gave him a pitiful look, and then opened the bag on the spot, ready to show the poor father the gift the child gave to his mother.
Inside is a hair clip, dotted with a pearl, simple and beautiful, Si Tian thinks it looks familiar.
After thinking about it carefully, she remembered that she had seen this hair clip in the supermarket, but she just looked at it but didn't buy it. Girls always like to look at some accessories in department stores.
When did Ji Ningyi buy this? Si Tian remembers that when she took Ji Ningyi to buy a mobile phone cord to pay and went out, Ji Ningyi only had the mobile phone cord in his hand.
Then it could only be when Ji Ning went back to buy water. She had no idea that Ji Ning bought her a gift at this time and quietly gave it to her after returning home.
Ji Jiangzhou's eyes fell on the hairpin, and he restrained himself from moving away: "It's very beautiful."
Si Tian said, "Yes, Ning Yi has a good eye."
"If you like it, you can also ask Ning Yi for it."
She felt that Ji Jiangzhou's expression was calm, and he looked really jealous.
Ji Jiangzhou said: "No, Ning Yi gave it to you willingly."
"Okay." Si Tian took the hairpin in her hand, then gave the bag to Ji Jiangzhou, blinking, "here, we have it all."
Ji Jiangzhou held the empty bag in his hand, and there was a message written by Ji Ningyi to Si Tian on it. He was silent for a while, and said after a while: "Thank you."
"You're welcome, go to sleep, good night."
Si Tian closed the door, put the hairpin on the dressing table, and decided to wear it tomorrow.
The next day, Si Tian pinned her hair up with hair clips. She was either wearing it or tied it with a hair tie. Such a small difference could not escape the eyes of the children at home. Ji Zhile was the first to find out: "Mom Today's hair has changed."
The other two children also looked at it, and Pei Jing said, "Auntie looks so good."
Ji Ning's eyes fell on the hairpin, and there was some joy in his eyes. Si Tian blinked at Ji Ning, and quietly said to him when no one was paying attention: "Thank you, Ning Yi."
This day became the happiest day for Ji Ningyi. His mother accepted his gift and put on a hair clip. Pei Jing also accepted his mobile phone and gave him a pen.
Pei Jing was about to leave, and Ji Ningyi was in a low mood recently, but he was much better now, he accepted Pei Jing's departure, and understood that their relationship would not change with distance.
Pei Jing left on Saturday, the weather was fine and the sky was clear.
When Grandma Pei Jing came, she took the bus and it took a long time. When she went back, she took the train, and the station was bustling with people.
Pei Jing held his grandmother's hand with his schoolbag on his back, and his grandmother helped him carry his pockets. He didn't bring anything when he came, and he didn't bring anything when he went back.
Ji Ningyi and Ji Zhile held Si Tian's hand and looked at Pei Jing reluctantly.
Pei Jing said: "I will call you often."
Ji Zhile said: "I want it too, and I want to call me too!"
Pei Jingjing nodded, his eyes were slightly red: "Goodbye."
Pei Jing's small figure walked into the ticket gate and slowly disappeared with the crowd.
Ji Zhile hugged Si Tian's thigh, buried her head on it, rubbed her cheeks, and said in a muffled voice, "Mom, I don't like this."
As soon as Ji Ning looked ahead, he also pursed his lips tightly, trying to restrain his emotions, but his eyes turned red.
Si Tian said: "We will meet again in the future. Parting is also a lesson in life, and everyone will experience it."
It's just that for Ji Zhile and Ji Ningyi, it seems that the age they have experienced is too young.
Ji Zhile asked ignorantly, "Will Mom and Dad leave us?"
Si Tian said, "No."
As soon as Ji Ning squeezed Si Tian's hand, his voice was choked up: "Mom, don't leave us."
"Pei Jing is back home, I don't have a best friend anymore."
Pei Jing's departure was preordained, but he didn't want his relatives around him to leave too.
Hearing Ji Ningyi's voice, Ji Zhile turned to look at him quickly, and seeing Ji Ning's red eyes, Ji Zhile said softly, "Brother, don't be sad, I will be your best friend , I will never leave my brother for the rest of my life."
His eyes were clear and bright, holding Ji Ningyi's hand, the palm was soft and warm, and he said a promise that couldn't be more serious.