If You Could Hear My Heart

“Mr. Shen, don’t take it to heart, she was just talking nonsense,” Xiao Mo turned back.

He noticed the unhealthy pallor and exhaustion on Shen Chi’s face, the drunkenness only highlighting his weariness. He knew that Shen Chi hadn’t slept at all for a whole day and night, and had even neglected the affairs of the Shen Group.

Xiao Mo was a smart man and it didn’t take him long to understand.

But he still wasn’t sure what exactly Xu Chaomu meant to Mr. Shen in his heart.

A sister?

Shen Chi didn’t speak, he placed the photo back into the notebook, clipped it securely, and locked it.

He picked up his wine glass again, the red wine sliding down the glass wall, gleaming like a ruby.

“Mr. Shen, do you want to go find Miss Xu?” Xiao Mo asked.

It was already past four in the afternoon. If he didn’t go now, it would be dark soon.

He had heard that the place was chaotic, and if something happened…

“Mr. Shen, it’s getting dark, and Miss Xu will definitely be unsafe alone outside. How about I go pick up Miss Xu?”

Clutching the glass tightly, Shen Chi finally snapped, “Crash!” he shattered the glass on the floor!

Shards scattered everywhere!

His face was filled with a fierce expression, his eyes dark and brooding, his shoulders trembling.

A cold voice came from overhead, chilling enough to freeze everything around.

“If she loves leaving so much, then let her roll away and never come back!”

Xiao Mo was stunned, but true to his role as the chief secretary of Shen Group, his shock lasted only a matter of seconds.

A moment later, his face regained its composure.

“Mr. Shen, it’s not safe there, and Miss Xu is a girl alone…”

With the conversation reaching this point, Xiao Mo didn’t need to say any more.

Shen Chi was in a state of agitation. He undid the button at his collar and knocked into a wine bottle, which, unsteady, also “Crash!” broke upon the floor!

The red wine instantly spilled all over!

The red color was shocking, like a stain of blood, or a blossomed red rose.

The air froze, and time seemed to stop.

The silence in the office was profound, not a sound could be heard.

After a long, long while, Shen Chi’s voice, low and hoarse, finally drifted slowly out. He uttered two words without strength.

“Prepare the car.”

Raising Xu Chaomu was the most thankless thing he had done in his life.

From now on, he was no longer himself.

The man who never bowed his head, bowed again and again.

He couldn’t just leave her out there alone; he still couldn’t bear to part with her.

The harsh words he had spoken were just repeated self-inflicted blows to his own face. Shen Chi, too, had his moments of utter dejection.

“Alright,” Xiao Mo replied, finally at ease.

Soon, Shen Chi descended the stairs and got into the black Maybach.

“Mr. Shen, do you need me to accompany you?”

“Stay at the Group, be ready for my call.”

“Then I’ll call Driver Cheng.”

Without a response from Shen Chi, Xiao Mo made the call to Old Cheng.

It didn’t take long for Old Cheng to hurry over.

Xiao Mo gave Old Cheng a brief rundown and then closed the car door.

Shen Chi really was drunk, his fist propping up his forehead as he sat in the passenger seat, suffering from a severe headache.

Xu Chaomu, you’ve really outdone yourself.

Daring to leave without a word, traveling so far alone.

The day slowly turned to night, the sunset gently sinking below the horizon in the west, a circle turning gradually into a semicircle, then slowly into a dot…

The sunset’s light bathed everything in orange-red – the mountains, the trees, the grass.

Until nightfall swallowed the day, and the last ray of light disappeared from the sky.

When Xu Chaomu followed Nie Chenglang back to the orphanage, just then, the sun had set.

After a whole day of fun, Xu Chaomu was delighted.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had played so happily, but soon, melancholy washed over her.

By five o’clock the next morning, Nie Chenglang would be leaving C City by plane.

Helplessness and sorrow surged in her heart.

She rubbed her hands together and sniffled her nose.

Her nose felt sour, and her chest was tight.

The little rascals were carefree, unaware, because Nie Chenglang had not dared to tell them he was leaving.

They still thought that when they woke up the next morning, as soon as daylight broke, Teacher Nie would take them out to play.

Tiantian even mischievously ran up to Nie Chenglang, standing on a stool to whisper in his ear.

“Teacher Nie, lemme tell you, your girlfriend is fierce. You have to keep her in check, or she’ll lead us kids astray.”

Nie Chenglang pinched his cheek and laughed, “You’re the one who talks too much.”

Xu Chaomu couldn’t hear them, but she could tell from their expressions it was no flattery.

“Are you badmouthing me?” Xu Chaomu picked up Tiantian by his collar.

Tiantian immediately flailed, shaking his head vigorously: “No, no, Miss Xu, you’re the best, I really like you.”

“Really? How much do you like me?”

Tiantian made a long face, alas, another lie to tell.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Xu Chaomu pressed.

“Like, really, really lots; like fish love water, like bees love flowers,” Tiantian flashed a grin.

“That sounds more like it.” Xu Chaomu patted her hands and let him go.

Tiantian dashed away instantly, turning back to make a face at Xu Chaomu and muttering under his breath with satisfaction: “Wolf Grandma.”

“You!” Xu Chaomu was livid.

But she didn’t chase after him, instead, she sat down next to Nie Chenglang.

“Chenglang, can you not go?” Xu Chaomu tugged at his arm.

Under the light, she looked up to see the illumination fall on his bright face, young and handsome, very pleasing to the eye.

“No, I’ve already bought the ticket, and my advisor is urging me to return,” he said gently and regretfully.

“Then take me with you,” Xu Chaomu blurted out.

Nie Chenglang extended his hand, his palm gently brushing her soft hair: “Go back to where you’ve been staying, and don’t run off anymore. Promise me you ‘ll go back to school and never run away alone again.”

Xu Chaomu shook her head vehemently: “I don’t want to go back, I really don’t. Nobody likes me there.”

“How could that be? You’re so adorable, they must like you,” said Nie Chenglang.

Having spent a whole day and night with her, even Nie Chenglang was reluctant to part with her, let alone others.

“Really, I’m not lying to you. Can you take me with you?”

“Be a good girl, go home, and don’t come out alone again,” Nie Chenglang insisted.

Of course, Nie Chenglang couldn’t possibly take her with him.

“Will I be able to see you again?”

Longing and attachment shone in Xu Chaomu’s eyes.

“Let’s hope for another meeting in the future,” he said indifferently.

He had thought about leaving her his phone number, but after considering it, he concluded it wasn’t necessary.

“When are you going to the airport?” Xu Chaomu asked, blinking.

“I’m about to head out soon. It’s still several hours from here to the airport,” Nie Chenglang checked his watch.

Memories of the day flooded Xu Chaomu’s mind: him accompanying her for a barbecue, catching fish with her, wiping sweat off her forehead, and telling her jokes.

She remembered their first meeting last night, him standing in the rain holding an umbrella. His smile was bright and clear, as if the relentless passage of time had softened.