If You Could Hear My Heart

“President Shen, I’ve found out about the number you gave me just now.”

“Speak.”

“It belongs to someone close to Director Shen.”

Surprise flickered in Shen Chi’s eyes – his father?

His father seldom returned to the Shen Family home and had little interaction with Xu Chaomu. Five years ago, his father had already warned Xu Chaomu to stay away from him.

“I understand.”

“Also, President Shen, Director Shen’s health has been very bad recently, and it’s been Mrs. Zhou who’s been staying with him.”

“Oh?” This surprised Shen Chi even more.

His father and mother, each proud for most of their lives, he had not expected that, over the age of fifty, they would reconcile.

“Yes, they have been in frequent contact lately,” Xiao Mo added.

In frequent contact?

Shen Chi furrowed his brows tightly – it was probably not just a reconciliation.

“Mhm.” Shen Chi responded indifferently.

“President Shen, you asked me to check Nie Chenglang’s whereabouts last night, and I’ve found out.”

“Speak.”

“Nie Chenglang didn’t do anything unusual yesterday. He went home after work and stayed there all night, didn’t see anyone and didn’t come out again until he left for work in the morning.”

“I see…” Shen Chi pondered thoughtfully.

It seemed that the message Nie Chenglang had sent to Xu Chaomu might indeed have been sent without even his own knowledge.

“President Shen, is there anything else?” Xiao Mo asked.

“I want the details of Xu Chaomu’s life in Paris over those five years,” Shen Chi said.

Xiao Mo looked puzzled – why did Shen Chi suddenly want this?

“President Shen, I’ll do my best,” Xiao Mo said.

After all, five years had passed, and it was quite unlikely to find many things; he could only promise to do his best.

“Mhm.”

Shen Chi closed his eyes and continued to lean on the bed, reflecting on the issue.

Xu Chaomu returned after five years, he hadn’t asked her much about those years, and it seemed she hadn’t told him the truth either.

Today, seeing how skillfully she washed the dishes, his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.

Back at the Shen Family home, she was the kind who would not touch spring water with her ten fingers, and now, she could do many things.

What had she gone through in those five years?

After hanging up Xiao Mo’s call, he had been deep in thought.

His heart was uncomfortable, with pain seeping through his limbs. Xu Chaomu was the person he cherished the most in his life, yet thinking about the hardships she endured in Paris over those five years, he just couldn’t help but feel troubled.

The afternoon sun was scorching the earth, and the wind outside wasn’t strong, lazily blowing the wind chimes on the windowsill from time to time.

The chimes rang out with crisp “ding ding ding” sounds, which, in the stillness of the attic, echoed loudly.

Long are the days in summer, and when the crystal curtain moves with the breeze, the garden is full of the fragrance of roses…

…

Those days, Xu Chaomu was staying in the Waterside Pavilion, and Shen Chi took her to get familiar with every plant and tree there.

During those days, Shen Chi didn’t return to the Shen Family home either, quietly recuperating in the Waterside Pavilion.

That evening, after dinner, as the night cooled considerably and the breeze was especially comfortable on the skin, Shen Chi took Xu Chaomu’s hand for a walk in the garden along the winding path.

“Mumu, do you like it here?” he asked.

“I do.”

Xu Chaomu sincerely liked it here; it might not be as grand as the Shen Family home, but it felt more like a home.

Most importantly, it was just her and Shen Chi here.

Back at the Shen Family, she really disliked Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou. Here, she wouldn’t have to deal with those troubles anymore.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou since she returned to C City after five years.

It was better not to see the people she disliked.

The style of the Waterside Pavilion was fresh and clean, complete with rockeries, fountains, and small waterfalls. In summer, it didn’t feel too hot; instead, there was a cool breeze.

Especially the small waterfall of the Waterside Pavilion, cascading down from a not-so-tall rockery with the “hush hush” sound of water, where the droplets splashed as if they were beads, sending up misty sprays.

Xu Chaomu loved this small waterfall the most. Standing beside it in summer, she could feel the refreshing chill and relaxation.

“Would you like to live here with me in the future?” Shen Chi held her hand and asked again.

“Depends on your performance,” Xu Chaomu smiled.

Shen Chi’s lips slowly curved upward – what did it mean to depend on his performance?

He was her husband, if she didn’t live with him, who would she live with?

Shen Chi held her hand as they walked in the Waterside Pavilion. Xu Chaomu didn’t resist, letting him lead her.

His large, dry and warm palms enveloped her hand, filling her heart with warmth and tenderness.

She had never imagined that she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him after five years; such days seemed like a very distant past…

“Shen Chi…”

As they walked, Xu Chaomu spoke, stopped walking, and looked up at him.

Her grape-like, large eyes stared at him silently, and he stopped as well.

Under the lights, her white dress was demure and elegant, her hair cascading like a waterfall; she was like a quietly blooming lotus.

“Hmm?”

“I miss my little dog,” said Xu Chaomu, looking up and speaking softly.

“Oh!” Shen Chi looked dissatisfied.

She dared to think of other things while with him? Was he not captivating enough to hold her attention?!

“Why aren’t you reacting?” Xu Chaomu pouted unhappily.

“What reaction do you want?”

“You’re supposed to say happily, ‘Sure, I’ll help you bring your little dog back home’,” Xu Chaomu playfully insisted.

“How dare you think of other things while with me?!” Shen Chi was angry.

“That’s not it…” Xu Chaomu waved a hand in front of his eyes as if she had made a new discovery, a look of astonishment on her face, “You’re even jealous of a little dog?”

“Scram!”

“Come on, I really miss my little dog. Its name is ‘Wealth,’ and no matter what, it never seems to grow. I often feed it good things, but it just doesn’t grow. It often played with me when I was in Paris…”

“You still think of Wealth even with Dabai?” Shen Chi raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll still spoil Dabai. Please help me bring Wealth home,” she said.

“Where is it?” Shen Chi asked.

“At, at Nie Chenglang’s house…” Xu Chaomu felt a bit uneasy.

She seldom mentioned Nie Chenglang’s name in front of Shen Chi, fearing his jealousy…

“Understood, I’ll have someone pick it up another day.” Shen Chi didn’t refute Xu Chaomu this time.

It was okay; Dabai would stay at the Shen Family home, and Wealth would stay in the Waterside Pavilion.

Still, Shen Chi couldn’t understand why Xu Chaomu would name this dog such a tacky name!

Xu Chaomu was delighted: “Gege, you’re the best!”

“Less talk, more action,” he remarked without a change in expression, looking at Xu Chaomu. He was taller than she was, and he looked down at her like that.

Xu Chaomu had no answer; what he meant by “less talk, more action” was just to take advantage of her.

But considering Wealth’s sake, she hesitated, pouted, made up her mind, and still went on tiptoes!

“Smack,” she planted a kiss on his cheek!

After all, with such a handsome husband, she wasn’t at a loss.

So many women coveted Shen Chi, yet they couldn’t even touch him, and she felt quite lucky.