If You Could Hear My Heart

Although Xu Chaomu said she wouldn’t be coming back in the evening, Ling, the butler, still couldn’t help worrying and continued to wait.

By seven or eight o’clock, she always felt uneasy.

Therefore, she hurriedly made a call to the person in charge at Xu Chaomu’s school.

Unexpectedly, before she could make the call, a call from Old Cheng came in first.

“Ling Butler, has Miss Xu returned to the Shen Family?” Old Cheng asked anxiously.

“No, I was just about to call and ask. She said this morning that she was going hiking with friends and wouldn’t come back tonight.”

“I just received a call from Secretary Xiao, he said he lost her.”

“What do you mean? Old Cheng, be more specific, I didn’t understand.”

Ling, the butler, was confused, but her heart skipped a beat.

“Don’t panic, listen to me. After Mr. Shen went to South Africa, he entrusted Miss Xu to Xiao Mo’s supervision. However, Xiao Mo had to deal with something today, so he sent his own people to keep an eye on her, and unfortunately, they lost track of her at Tianqi Square.”

“How could they be so negligent? Have they found her yet? Miss Xu said she was going hiking, how did she end up at Tianqi Square?”

“I’m not clear why Miss Xu went to Tianqi Square, but as of now, she hasn’t been found.”

“Ah? Still not found? Has Xiao Mo sent more people?”

“He has. Almost all of Xiao Mo’s subordinates have been mobilized. So, Ling Butler, as soon as there’s any news at the Shen’s, you must tell me.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll be on the lookout here at the Shen Family’s.”

“Alright, then I’ll hang up first. I’m going to join Xiao Mo in the search. By the way, don’t tell Mr. Shen about this for now; he can’t be distracted in South Africa.”

“I understand.”

“Hmm.”

Old Cheng hung up and continued to search for Xu Chaomu.

Ling, the butler, paced back and forth anxiously within the Shen Family mansion.

Although Xu Chaomu could sometimes be naughty, over the past eight years, she had never spent the night outside. If there was something going on, she would always tell Ling in advance.

Xu Chaomu was a well-behaved girl, except for the times she would quarrel with her elder brother Shen Chi until they were at loggerheads; she was quite obedient.

Ling, the butler, wandered alone in the living room, silently praying.

“Nothing must’ve happened, Miss Xu is so well-behaved, nothing must’ve happened.”

Just as she was praying with closed eyes, the phone in the living room rang.

She was startled and hurried to answer.

“Ling Butler, is Chaomu at home?” came Shen Chi’s deep voice.

Shen Chi had just arrived in South Africa today. It was still afternoon there, and the weather was very hot; he was wearing a dark-colored shirt, standing under a trellis.

“Four, Fourth Young Master, Miss Xu went hiking today and said she wouldn’t be back tonight.”

“Not coming back? Who allowed her to spend the night outside?” Shen Chi furrowed his brow and immediately grew angry.

“Miss Xu said she was with a friend, and I didn’t feel it was right to stop her.”

“Haven’t I told you, except for in school, she’s not allowed to spend the night out. How could you ignore my instructions?!”

“Yes, Fourth Young Master, it’s my dereliction of duty. I’ll call someone to bring Miss Xu back.”

“If something happens to her, you will be held accountable! Get her back immediately!”

“Alright, I will have Old Cheng pick her up right away.”

Shen Chi’s anger subsided somewhat, his tone softened, “Alright, just get her back safely. I’m worried.”

“Fourth Young Master, don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

“How could I not worry? Have her call me when she gets back; I want to hear her voice.”

Shen Chi was genuinely concerned about Xu Chaomu. Firstly, he missed her deeply, and secondly, he knew that someone was targeting her.

When he was in China, he would do everything in his power to protect her, but now that he was in South Africa, he couldn’t guarantee anything.

At that moment, the South African sun was at its zenith.

Shen Chi rolled up his sleeves and loosened his tie a bit.

He sat under the relatively cool trellis where breezes came by, carrying waves of fragrant flowers.

There was a bottle of red wine on the table under the trellis, and Shen Chi poured himself half a glass, beginning to browse the documents on the table.

South Africa, worthy of being called the Diamond Kingdom, even had shiny diamonds embedded in the corners of the tablecloth when diamond mine owners entertained Shen Chi.

Small diamonds surrounded the edges, while large diamonds adorned the center. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires… various styles, various colors, dazzled the eyes, creating a bewildering effect.

This diamond mine had just been excavated this year, and every diamond from it was of superior quality. If Shen Chi could secure this diamond mine, then the jewelry supply of Shen Group would monopolize the entire market of C City.

Therefore, the importance of this diamond mine goes without saying.

There was a thick stack of documents, which Shen Chi looked through one by one.

The weather in South Africa was just too hot. After only a few pages, Shen Chi grew restless and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

He felt an ongoing unease.

Soon, Master Zuma brought an interpreter over.

Master Zuma was a true South African, wearing a long black robe and looking shrewd.

“Mr. Shen, how are the documents?”

“Master Zuma, give me some time; I need to study them properly,” responded Shen Chi with a gentlemanly hook of his lips.

“Sure, Mr. Shen. But remember, as long as the contract isn’t signed within a day, I still have to look for another buyer. I, Zuma, have one principle: the highest bidder gets my mine.”

“Master, I must say, while having a lot of money is a principle, what’s more important is the future prospects of the partnering company. There’s a term in our country called ‘visionary.’ Short-term benefits are always fleeting, whereas having a high perspective and a long-term view can bring much greater profit.”

The interpreter quickly relayed Shen Chi’s words to Master Zuma.

Master Zuma’s eyes darted, he fondled the agarwood beads on his wrist and laughed, “Mr. Shen, you do have a way with words. But as the saying in your country goes, I’m ‘short-sighted’; I only recognize money, not people.”

“Then, are you not satisfied with the price I had my people offer before?” asked Shen Chi sternly.

“It’s not that I’m not satisfied; I just feel that I can sell my diamond mine for an even better price. My diamond mine is exceptionally good.”

Master Zuma shrugged his shoulders with open hands.

His interpreter also made a helpless gesture.

Shen Chi pondered for a moment then smiled, “Alright, I’ll discuss further with you after I’ve reviewed all the contracts.”

“Then I ask Mr. Shen to please hurry. Enjoy the wine here; I will go attend to other guests.”

“Go ahead,” nodded Shen Chi.

As soon as Master Zuma and his interpreter left, Shen Chi resumed looking at the contracts on the table, but he couldn’t concentrate, as Xu Chaomu’s image kept swirling in his mind.

He took a few sips of red wine, but he still couldn’t find peace of mind.

He picked up his phone and dialed the Shen Family’s number.

“Ling Butler, has Chaomu returned?”

“Four, Fourth Young Master… not yet.”

“Why hasn’t she come back yet? Didn’t I send someone to pick her up?”

Seeing that she could no longer hide the truth, Ling, the butler, had no choice but to confess, “Fourth Young Master… I’m so sorry… truly sorry… Miss Xu… Miss Xu is missing…”