If You Could Hear My Heart

Actually, she wanted to say “not worth a damn,” but in front of the great scholar Luo, she still chose a more euphemistic expression.

“This is the school’s rule. Look at you, what do you look like in that ultra-short skirt!” the homeroom teacher said.

“I think it’s quite nice,” Lou Yanli remarked indifferently from the side.

Of course, the homeroom teacher recognized Lou Yanli. He was one of the top students in the school and also, it was said, came from a very powerful family background.

“Lou Yanli, go to your class. Xu Chaomu is one of our students, so you shouldn’t be concerned,” she said.

“If you keep making Xu Chaomu stand in the playground, then I definitely have something to say about it.”

Lou Yanli frowned, his smile fading, taking on an unapproachable demeanor.

For the first time, Xu Chaomu realized that Lou Yanli could be so cold. In an instant, he went from the pear blossoms of February to the harsh ice of winter.

“Teacher, are you idle? I don’t want to stand anymore,” Xu Chaomu said indifferently.

“Xu Chaomu, I really can’t handle you. Look at you—your grades are at the bottom, and your parents are no longer around. Now your attitude is also bad, always talking back to teachers and refusing to accept discipline. What can you do after you graduate from high school?” the homeroom teacher sighed.

Xu Chaomu was indeed a little moved. If it had been before, she could have relied on the Shen Family’s wealth, on Shen Chi supporting her, and she would not have had to study hard.

But now, Shen Chi had already begun to treat her indifferently, and Aunt Zhou even proposed that she leave the Shen Family…

She silently lowered her head, staying quiet.

Lou Yanli, however, was quite righteous. He said indifferently, “Teacher, I’m friends with Chaomu. She’s very smart; I can tutor her.”

“Fine, whatever, it’s up to you. I won’t deal with you anymore. Lou Yanli, you focus on your studies. Don’t let Xu Chaomu lead you astray. These girls who have been wearing ultra-short skirts since they were little have complicated minds; you better stay away from her.”

“Teacher,” Lou Yanli said solemnly, “that’s not something a teacher should be saying.”

“I’m saying this for your own good. Take it or leave it.”

The homeroom teacher was clearly angry. She glared at Xu Chaomu again, her tone not very nice: “Spend more effort on your studies!”

After saying that, the old witch walked away.

Xu Chaomu felt a little sad, lowering her head and remaining silent.

Lou Yanli took her by the shoulders, trying to cheer her up: “Smile, it’s nothing. So what? I can support you for a lifetime, want to try?”

Xu Chaomu looked up and saw sincerity in Lou Yanli’s eyes, which deeply moved her again.

But not far away, the face of the man sitting in a Maybach grew colder and darker. His obsidian-like pupils emitted a fierce, indifferent light; she really did regard what he said as nothing!

Sure enough, after the evening self-study, Old Cheng was already waiting at the usual spot not far from school, afraid that the incident from the night before would happen again.

The details of that night’s incident still hadn’t been uncovered; he could not figure out who would have a grudge against Xu Chaomu. And to take action against an eighteen-year-old girl?

But Xu Chaomu never showed up.

Although she was reluctant to talk to Shen Chi, for fear that the Shen Family would worry, she still went to the phone booth to call Old Cheng.

“Uncle Cheng, you don’t have to wait for me. I’m out eating late-night snacks

with classmates. He’ll take me home,” she said.

“But… Miss Xu, you should come back. Mr. Shen hasn’t been looking too good all day,” Cheng said.

“Oh, is it because Miss Bai didn’t satisfy him last night?” Xu Chaomu pondered.

“…” Old Cheng choked up. The Shen Family was very restrained; how did this girl change so suddenly!

“Uncle Cheng, I’m telling you, go find a few more gorgeous beauties for Fourth Brother. I guarantee his mood will lighten up. Really, I’ve known him for eight years now, I’m not lying to you.”

Actually, she really wanted to say, “Make sure they have big busts!”

Thinking about it, she decided to be a bit more discreet, so as not to frighten Uncle Cheng.

“Miss Xu, please come back! Where are you? I’ll come get you,” Old Cheng was getting anxious.

“Uncle Cheng, it’s okay, really, I promise to return safely,” she insisted. After that, Xu Chaomu made a face at the phone and hung up.

Old Cheng really had no choice but to drive back and report to Shen Chi, inevitably facing another round of reprimands.

That night, Xu Chaomu had a lot of fun accompanied by Lou Yanli. They went for barbecue, looked through books at a used bookstore, and went treasure hunting at a street stall.

They played until the early morning, and Lou Yanli originally wanted Xu Chaomu to come home with him.

However, Xu Chaomu, fearing that the Shen Family would worry, then thought again that nobody in the Shen Family really cared. But after thinking it over, she still decided against it.

“I should head home,” Xu Chaomu said.

“Then I’ll call a cab for you.”

Lou Yanli took out his phone and dialed a number, and soon enough a taxi arrived.

“You should go home too. I had a lot of fun tonight! Remember to help me make up lessons, and I’ll treat you to something tasty!” Xu Chaomu winked, waving goodbye to him.

“Deal, and no backing out,” Lou Yanli laughed.

“Whoever backs out is a puppy, woof woof!” Xu Chaomu laughed and made a silly face.

Lou Yanli laughed loudly, waving goodbye to her.

Xu Chaomu happily returned to the Shen Family, only to find the gate locked tight upon her arrival.

“Hey! Open up, is anyone there? Is anyone still awake?” Xu Chaomu started to bang on the locked gate.

In the dead of night, when all was silent, Xu Chaomu’s calls seemed especially loud.

The gate rattled with a “clattering” noise as she knocked, but sadly, no one heard.

Did the Shen Family not consider her one of their own? Why lock her out…

She felt a bit upset and called a few more times, yet no one came to open the door.

“Dammit Shen Chi!” she yelled.

There was no response; Shen Chi’s room lights were long out, and maybe he was with Bai Man, doing those things.

Ten minutes passed, then twenty minutes… No one heard her cries, let alone came to open the door for her.

The night air was chilly, and she was still wearing an ultra-short skirt; she was shivering with cold.

Having no other option, she crouched down and curled up in a corner sheltered from the wind. Tears began to fall involuntarily, drop by drop, landing on the back of her hand…

“You all don’t want me… You all don’t want me…”

At first she sobbed softly, but gradually, she began to cry loudly.

After all, no one heard her.

Crying, she began to recall lots of things. Suddenly, she realized she had a really good memory; why she remembered every little thing from eight years ago, right up to these recent eight years.

“Shen Chi… since you don’t want me anymore, just tell me. I won’t cling to you…” she called his name the most.

Just a word from him that he didn’t want her, and she would leave immediately.

In the Shen Family, she had received a lot of cold looks; if it weren’t for Shen Chi still protecting her, why would Xu Chaomu stay here?

She wasn’t without pride; she wasn’t oblivious to how people saw her.

She just didn’t understand Shen Chi, that’s all..