If You Could Hear My Heart

Xu Chaomu couldn’t smile anymore; it felt like a stone hit her chest, a dull pain coming in waves.

She hadn’t known about those events from five years ago; she had been back in C City for so long, yet Shen Chi never mentioned anything to her.

All she saw was still a very impressive Shen Chi, unaware that five years before, he had faced such enormous pressure.

No wonder the butler said that for the past five years, he often suffered from headaches so severe he couldn’t sleep all night.

Seeing Xu Chaomu’s face change, Lou Yanli also sighed.

“Later, I heard that it was Shen Chi’s brothers, Li Beiting, Ji Shengxuan, and others who secretly helped him by providing a large sum of funds. Just then, Shen Chi caught Zhou Peitian, so Shen Shihan didn’t dare to make a move recklessly, and the internal turmoil calmed down.”

“Zhou Peitian? Didn’t he jump off a building later?” Xu Chaomu wondered.

Xu Chaomu could barely recall what Zhou Peitian looked like, but what stood out the most was being captured by Zhou Peitian and later, on that cruise ship, Shen Chi crippled one of Zhou Peitian’s arms.

But she didn’t know what happened afterward. She thought she would die in the gunfire that day.

“Yes, Zhou Peitian was close with Shen Shihan and knew too much. So, after Zhou Peitian jumped, nobody knew if Shen Chi or Shen Shihan pushed him.”

Xu Chaomu felt mixed emotions, letting out a sigh.

Back then, Shen Shihan kept to the shadows, and it had always been Zhou Peitian making the moves.

But if it weren’t for Shen Shihan and Zhou Peitian, perhaps, everything would be different.

However, what happened has happened.

The wheels of time roll forward, never turning back.

If there are only ‘ifs’, fate is irreversible.

“What happened then?” Xu Chaomu asked.

“Then? Shen Chi continued as president, but his talents were indeed convincing, and his methods harsh enough. After securing his position, he used various reasons to dismiss all those who opposed him within the company; the transfers out of headquarters were transfers, and now Shen’s is pretty much filled with his own people.”

“That time back then… did your dad beat you up?” Xu Chaomu rested her chin in her hand, curious about this in particular.

She had never doubted Shen Chi’s capabilities; the man was entirely capable of managing Shen’s.

Only if it weren’t for the diamond mine incident back then, he wouldn’t have had to struggle so hard these last five years.

Lou Yanli finally laughed, “At first I did get beaten up by my dad; after all, that breach of contract penalty was no small sum.”

“And then what?” Xu Chaomu was curious.

“There’s not much ‘then what’. I actually thought that breach would bankrupt the Lou Family. After all, you know very well how Shen Chi operates.”

“He’s not ‘my Shen’.” Xu Chaomu’s face reddened, slightly irritated.

Why did Lou Yanli seem to lean towards Shen Chi…

Lou Yanli chuckled, “But when Shen Chi later found out it was me, he didn’t hold a grudge. He told my dad to let it go.”

“That’s hard to believe,” Xu Chaomu said with a slight pout.

For a petty person like Shen Chi to show such generous magnanimity.

“I didn’t expect it either; even my dad was prepared for bankruptcy. Maybe, he considered the fact that we were classmates with you?”

“He’s a very narrow-minded person, best not to provoke him,” said Xu Chaomu indignantly.

“Actually… it’s not like that. After that incident, my dad was quite grateful to Shen Chi; he funded Shen Chi with a large sum and provided free technical support for a long while. That’s how the Lou Family and Shen’s began collaborating till today.”

“Shen Chi is indeed untouchable, but he’s no villain. On the contrary, after working this long with him, I found that this man is quite charismatic, a true gentleman. He has capabilities, methods, and magnanimity.”

“Yo, yo, yo.” Xu Chaomu laughed snidely, “Lou, the literary genius, don’t tell me you’ve fallen for him…”

“Only you love making trouble!” Lou Yanli smiled and lightly smacked the top of her head.

“Lou, the literary genius, does that mean you don’t love me anymore?” Xu Chaomu pretended to be hurt.

“You’re a married woman, do you think I dare to love you? Besides, I’d never dare to compete with Shen Chi for a woman; if I did, I’d die a terrible death.”

“You just said he’s a true gentleman,” Xu Chaomu pouted.

“That depends on who it is. Should someone steal his wife and he remains magnanimous? Hm?”

“Oh, you’re handsome, you’re right.”

Xu Chaomu lowered her head to take a sip of tea; the fresh aroma of Longjing tea immediately spread across her taste buds…

The summer breeze wafted through the window, ringing the bells on the ledge “ding, ding, ding, ding.”

A ray of sunshine seemed to shine into Xu Chaomu’s heart, and the corners of her lips lifted in a faint smile.

Her mood improved, but the thought of Shen Chi’s attitude from the night before irritated her again.

“Chaomu, tell me if you have any trouble in the future, I’ll always help you,” Lou Yanli said.

“First tell me, how did you know I’m Shen Chi’s wife? We haven’t even had a wedding.”

“I guessed,” Lou Yanli replied, “He loves you so much; it wouldn’t make sense not to marry you.”

“Can love be eaten?” Xu Chaomu retorted.

“Why not, with Shen Chi as your meal ticket, you won’t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life.”

“Lou Yanli, my classmate, do you still want to be my boyfriend?”

“No.”

Lou Yanli rejected her without hesitation, so resolutely that Xu Chaomu began to doubt her life.

“…” Xu Chaomu glared at him, “We haven’t seen each other for five years, and you’ve changed, huh.”

“Life is so beautiful; I want to enjoy it more,” Lou Yanli laughed heartily.

In matters of love, seeing her smile and be happy was truly the best outcome.

Moreover, after five years, she was still standing before him, chatting happily; the feeling was beyond what the word “happiness” could describe.

Maybe it could be called “regaining what was lost”?

“You don’t love me anymore; you must be in love with Shen Chi, definitely, definitely…” Xu Chaomu pretended to cry with a “woo, woo, woo.”

“Alright, alright, you’re beautiful, you’re right,” Lou Yanli mimicked her tone, looking helpless.

“Then you tell me, if I argue with Shen Chi, whose side will you take?”

“Of course, I’ll take yours,” Lou Yanli said, amused.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then I’ll tell you, Shen Chi has a lot of women outside.”

“That’s just gossip, don’t take it to heart.”

“It’s not fair, I want many, many boyfriends too.”

“I get it, get it, I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend, as long as it makes you happy.”