If You Could Hear My Heart

“She’ll never get married!” Xu Chaomu wrung her wrists.

“How do you know it’s a daughter? Even if it is, don’t worry, someone will want her. Like you, didn’t I pick you up?”

“Hmm, but her daddy is handsome, so this kid will definitely have good genes. Who knows, there may be a whole bunch of people chasing after her.”

Xu Chaomu didn’t know whether the child would take after Shen Chi more or her, but it would be best if the child resembled Shen Chi more. This man had high IQ and good looks; if she took after him, he wouldn’t have to worry about her lacking suitors. Just hope she doesn’t inherit his temper.

However, to Shen Chi, her remark “her daddy is handsome” was quite grating to the ear.

“Mumu, close your eyes and sleep. If you don’t sleep now, it’ll be daylight soon.”

He avoided the topic of the baby, hugging her and coaxing her to sleep like one would with a child.

Years ago, he couldn’t even utter a word of concern, and years later, he learned to coax her to sleep. But, it was only for her.

“I can’t sleep. Tell me another story, and make it pure this time.”

Shen Chi lowered his voice, commanding, “Sleep!”

“But…”

“Sleep!”

“Oh.” This time, Xu Chaomu obediently closed her mouth.

She lay awkwardly in his embrace and gradually, she truly fell asleep. She slept until nine in the morning.

Shen Chi barely slept all night; sometimes he managed to drift off only to wake up minutes later with an intense headache, which chased away any drowsiness.

Later, he simply held her in his arms, no longer trying to sleep.

For five years, he hadn’t properly held her; now, he only resented that the night was too short.

The days in summer begin early, and after just a few hours, the sky began to lighten. Gradually, the dawn rose from the east, and the sunlight pierced through the clouds to illuminate the earth, sprinkling light onto the balcony of Shen Chi’s room.

The moment he opened his eyes, it was already half-past five in the morning.

He carefully moved Xu Chaomu’s arm away and tucked her in before getting out of bed to dress.

He chose a white shirt from the wardrobe and, not to disturb her, he took all the clothes into the bathroom to put on.

His movements were so gentle that Xu Chaomu smacked her lips without any awareness.

It wasn’t until Shen Chi went downstairs that she clung to the bedding and slept soundly. Her black hair spread out on the pillow, and Shen Chi watched, reluctant to leave.

“Young Master Four, good morning. Is your headache any better? Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?” The butler was preparing breakfast.

“It’s fine, much better now.”

“Breakfast is ready. Would you like to eat now?”

“Yes, that would be good.”

“By the way, Young Master Four, early this morning, a black Cayenne was parked outside, lingering not far from the Shen Family’s villa.”

“How long has it been there?”

“About half an hour.”

“Let it stay there,” Shen Chi replied indifferently.

“Is it someone here to see you about business?”

“Don’t know.”

A servant delivered breakfast, coffee and sandwiches. Shen Chi sat at the table, absent-mindedly stirring his coffee with a spoon.

In an instant, the aroma of the coffee spread with the steam, filling the air.

While the coffee was still hot, he stirred it with the spoon and made a call to Xiao Mo.

“How’s the thing I asked you to check out last time going?”

“Good morning, Mr. Shen. Are you asking about Nie Chenglang? I checked, but guess, whose son is he?”

“Nie Chenglang…” Shen Chi chewed over the name, “There aren’t many prominent families in C City with the Nie surname.”

“Indeed not many, so you should be able to guess it,” said Xiao Mo.

After pondering for a few seconds, Shen Chi spoke solemnly, “Could it be Lu Feili’s son?”

“Yes, you guessed right, Mr. Shen. Lu Feili’s son is Nie Chenglang. She has only one biological son, who has always been studying in Paris and worked there after graduation. It wasn’t until recently that he returned to the country.”

Shen Chi’s coffee-stirring hand paused, “Oh? What else?”

“Weren’t you asking me to check on your wife’s affairs from those five years?”

Xiao Mo had been with Shen Chi for a while and knew what he liked to hear, so he continued with “your wife”…

Sure enough, Shen Chi’s lips curled into a smile…

“I looked into it, but it’s been five years, and a lot of things are untraceable. However…” Xiao Mo hesitated.

“What?”

“What I’ve found out is definitive.”

“Good, I know you’re capable. Report it!”

Xiao Mo’s mouth twitched slightly, “During those five years, your wife… should I really say this?”

“If you beat around the bush again, hand in your resignation tomorrow!”

“Alright, I’ll speak, just don’t get angry, please. During those five years, your wife was always with Nie Chenglang, almost… inseparable.”

Xiao Mo shut his eyes and blurted it out in one breath, looking as if he was facing certain doom.

With a “clang,” Shen Chi slammed the spoon down into his coffee cup.

Xiao Mo heard the noise even through the phone!

“What else?” Shen Chi asked coldly.

“There’s more… should I really tell you?”

“If you hesitate one more time, try me!”

“Then I’ll continue. Please put any fragile objects at least a meter away from you. During those five years, your wife went to a university to study design, courtesy of Nie Chenglang’s arrangements. Initially, your wife lived on campus, but towards graduation last year, Nie Chenglang moved her into his own apartment. As for what they did there… I can’t find that out.”

“What could they possibly do?!” Shen Chi fumed.

“Well… when a man and a woman are alone, what do you think?” Xiao Mo deliberately prodded.

“Shut up!”

Xiao Mo flinched and became very silent.

Then the phone was quiet for a long while until Shen Chi, irritated, spoke up, “What else? Why aren’t you talking?”

“You told me… to shut up.”

“If you keep this up, by afternoon go settle your salary with finance!” Shen Chi was on the verge of flipping the table.

“Then I’ll continue. As for your wife, she later interned at a company where Nie Chenglang happened to be the marketing director. So, your wife must be especially grateful to Nie Chenglang, or perhaps, harbor some other feelings. Later, Nie Chenglang proposed to your wife, and she accepted…” Shen Chi’s lips tightened noticeably, but Xiao Mo continued, “Mr. Shen, that’s the general situation, I’ll keep investigating for specifics.”

“Right, how did she get by those five years?”

Shen Chi remembered, she once bullshitted him about surviving by acting in ‘those kinds of movies.’

“I guess for the most part… by Nie Chenglang’s support. However, according to her college teachers, your wife worked part-time at night and during holidays, and the salary from her internship after graduation was decent.”

Hearing Xiao Mo say she worked part-time at night and during holidays, Shen Chi really couldn’t bring himself to be mad at her.

Back at the Shen Family, he had always wanted to serve her every meal, he really couldn’t imagine her working part-time.