If You Could Hear My Heart

Xu Chaomu couldn’t hear the voice on the other end of the phone; she just knew it was a woman’s.

“Business must be busy,” Xu Chaomu muttered softly.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Shen Chi hung up the phone, giving her a meaningful look and slowly curling a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

Xu Chaomu played with her fingernails, distractedly asking, “Got a date tonight?”

“Yeah,” Shen Chi answered, equally distracted.

Xu Chaomu fell silent, her lips curling in a sneer. So what if he had a date?

The Maybach drove through the long marketplace, where the broad streets and squares were brightly lit, bustling with excitement. The crowds surged, no end in sight.

The crowd outside the shopping mall was shoulder to shoulder, and the mall’s large electronic screen displayed the latest fashion, dazzling to onlookers.

When the traffic light turned red, Shen Chi stopped the car, and Xu Chaomu gazed out the window.

The car had stopped right in front of the mall, and Xu Chaomu looked up at the electronic screen.

The brand was unknown to her, Givenchy, but then she wasn’t familiar with many brands. Shen Chi bought her clothes, and she wore whatever he bought. Plus, she often wore uniforms at school, so Xu Chaomu hardly had an idea about designer labels.

Yet, the clothes from this brand were truly beautiful, a bit mature, but elegant and intellectual. Especially that white spring dress on the electronic screen— every bit of it exuded splendor.

She watched intently, thinking that only a woman clad in such attire deserved to stand by Shen Chi’s side.

Just like at the ball, so many elegant and sexy beauties stood with Shen Chi, perfectly matched.

She looked down at her outfit, still bought with pocket money from a street stall, the whole set barely costing more than a hundred yuan.

As she looked down, Shen Chi happened to glance at her.

By the time he turned his head away, Xu Chaomu had lifted hers again to watch the electronic screen.

Right next to that screen was an advert for another brand she didn’t recognize: ChristianLouboutin.

But those high heels were gorgeous, the newest model, patent leather with red bottoms in nude color—paired with that dress, they must look stunning!

Xu Chaomu admitted that she might be a small-time hoodlum, but even a hoodlum loves beauty. She had fallen deeply in love with that dress and those shoes, looking back at them over and over with reluctance to look away. The light turned green, and Shen Chi stepped on the gas to move forward.

Yet Xu Chaomu kept looking back, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Soon, the car left the bustling downtown area and arrived at the relatively quiet Splendid World villa complex.

Shen Chi’s car didn’t enter the Shen Family’s home; instead, it stopped right at the gate.

Xu Chaomu knew he was off to his date, rolling her eyes at him, she got out of the car on her own volition.

Shen Chi watched her enter the Shen Family’s front gate, then turned the car around, heading toward a bar.

When Xu Chaomu entered the living room, she felt that the atmosphere was off. Usually, the servants would greet her and offer slippers when she returned, but today, where was everyone?

Why was it so deserted?

Finding it odd, Xu Chaomu changed her shoes and went searching.

In the butler’s room, she heard voices—a noisy discussion seemed to be going on.

Xu Chaomu pushed the door open and asked curiously, “Why are you all here?”

“Miss Xu, you’re back!” The servants dispersed at once, no longer gathered together.

As everyone left, the butler was about to turn off the TV. Just as she was about to do so, Xu Chaomu thought she saw a familiar figure flash on the screen.

Wasn’t that Zheng Lin? Was she seeing things?

“Butler, what were you watching?” Xu Chaomu wanted to see too.

“Oh, nothing, nothing,” the butler said, reaching to turn off the TV.

“Don’t turn it off! I want to watch too! I thought I saw someone I know!” Xu Chaomu reached for the remote control from the butler’s hand.

She pressed the replay button, adjusting several times, and finally saw it. It indeed was Zheng Lin; she hadn’t been mistaken!

She could never forget Zheng Lin’s face, arrogant and defiant. Although Xu Chaomu had slapped her the night before, she hadn’t come out on top, nearly being stripped in public.

If it weren’t for Shen Chi… ah, just the thought was distressing.

“Miss Xu, better not to watch, it’s nothing interesting.” The butler tried to persuade.

But Xu Chaomu was insistent, determined to see.

The screen showed a sports stadium, and Xu Chaomu recognized it, the famous sports stadium of C City with a large crowd.

There lay Zheng Lin on the ground, wearing a bikini, dressed indecently, head hung low. Xu Chaomu noticed the swelling on her left cheek was significant—it must have been from the slap the day before!

For the first time in her life, Xu Chaomu had struck someone, and she was not one to hold back against anyone who dared insult her mother.

Many passersby at the sports stadium were staring at Zheng Lin.

With her exposed skin in full view under the sun and the eyes of the public, Zheng Lin covered her face, trying to crawl out of the stadium.

She no longer bore that air of arrogance, but resembled a beaten dog, stripped of her clothes and her dignity under the broad daylight.

Xu Chaomu found it strange; with Zheng Lin’s family being so wealthy, why hadn’t anyone come to take her away?

“Miss Xu, please don’t watch anymore.” The middle-aged butler, feeling her face flush and heart thumping at the sight, worried about the younger Xu

Chaomu.

If the Fourth Master found out, she might be blamed for leading Xu Chaomu astray.

The video was cut off halfway through.

Xu Chaomu didn’t rewind any further, simply turning off the TV.

“They didn’t even blur her face,” she said nonchalantly, secretly quite pleased that someone had avenged her.

It was truly a cause for satisfaction, for satisfaction!

“Miss Xu, you should head back, have you had dinner yet?” The butler inquired.

“No need, Fourth Brother has already taken me out to eat,” Xu Chaomu said, and then asked, “Butler, do you recognize this woman?”

“I don’t know her, but I’ve heard she’s the daughter of a wealthy family,” the butler replied, still not keen on discussing the topic.

“Probably got what she deserved for doing bad things,” Xu Chaomu said no longer focusing on the unpleasant episode, and sauntered out of the butler’s room humming a tune.

But as she left, the butler cocked her head, puzzled. Hadn’t Xu Chaomu gone out for a date with a young man that morning?

However, she had ended up caught by the Fourth Master in the end.

C City’s famed Vogue Bar, where a table by the window bore a potted Miniature Orchid with its rich fragrance, refreshing and pleasing to the senses.

The bar’s crystal chandeliers, modeled after Mediterranean countryside candle styles, cast a serene glow.

Themed with a tranquil scholarly vibe, the atmosphere in the bar was calm. Bai Man enjoyed this place, where she could order a glass of Cook’s Black Diamond champagne and quietly listen to piano music, a joy ineffable.

When Shen Chi walked in, he instantly spotted Bai Man, who always preferred that particular spot.

Under the gentle lighting, Bai Man, in light makeup, donned a soft yellow floor-length dress, her hair reaching her shoulders. The subdued light bathed over her and her glass of wine, oozing charm.

She casually flipped through a magazine, a subtle smile lingering at her lips. As Shen Chi approached her, she looked up and beamed, “You’re here..”