If You Could Hear My Heart

Butler Ling had made several calls to Old Cheng, but the result was the same: he wasn’t found.

Shen Chi’s heart instantly rose to his throat, and his right hand clenched the mobile phone, his fingertips slowly turning white.

“Lost? When did she go missing? And you kept this from me too?! Do you have a death wish?” Shen Chi was thoroughly infuriated.

“Fo…Fourth Master, you were in South Africa, and we didn’t want to disturb you, but… we’ve searched for an entire day and still haven’t found her, so…”

Butler Ling was trembling with fear, cautious and careful.

“What did I tell you before I left? I said to report anything about Xu Chaomu to me the moment it happens!”

“I’m sorry, Fourth Master…”

“That’s enough, I’ll call Xiao Mo.”

Shen Chi hung up the call, furious. He had only been away for four days.

Soon after, he rapidly dialed Xiao Mo’s mobile phone.

But the reply was exactly the same—that Xu Chaomu was missing.

“Mr. Shen, don’t panic, I have already sent people out to look for her. By tonight, I will certainly give you an answer.”

“Xiao Mo, you can’t even keep an eye on one person?”

“Mr. Shen… a fire broke out unexpectedly in the company’s western storage today, so I…”

“Don’t fucking make excuses for me! The storage? Compared to Xu Chaomu, which is more important?!”

“Yes, it’s my negligence. I accept the punishment.”

“Focus on Jiang Zhilan and Shen Shihan.”

“I know, there’s been no sign from Jiang Zhilan, and Deputy General Shen hasn’t shown up lately.”

“I want useful answers, don’t waste my time with nonsense!”

Xiao Mo held his forehead, nodding repeatedly: “Yes, I will definitely give you a response. Also, regarding the funds you need, Bai Xuan said he would support, but there is one condition—he wants to see your and Miss Bai’s marriage certificate.”

“What did you say to him?”

“I said, Mr. Shen is currently in South Africa and cannot come back to get the marriage certificate, and moreover, you might not even get back in time for the engagement party.”

“What did Bai Xuan say?”

“He didn’t agree. He said that even if you are not here, the marriage certificate can still be processed,” Xiao Mo said. “As long as you don’t get the certificate, it’s unlikely you’ll receive his funds.”

“Shen Chi can certainly forge a fake certificate to fool him, but I think it’s unnecessary. Alright, move on to the next cooperative company or bank.”

“Mr. Shen, is the mine owner asking for a very high price? I’ve long heard that mine owner is unscrupulous.”

“None of your business; just find Xu Chaomu for me!” Shen Chi said sternly.

“Yes.”

Shen Chi hung up the call, wishing he could fly back to China at that moment.

He sat in the chair, feeling sharp pains in his chest, so intense it was unbearable.

When Xu Chaomu awoke, it was already night.

She tried to move, but she could not budge at all; her hands and feet were tied up. At this moment, her legs were even cramping a bit.

Her mouth and eyes were covered with black cloth strips, and she called out “woof woof” a few times, but no one responded.

However, she could hear the echo in her ears.

Where is this place? She struggled desperately, trying to break free from the ropes.

To no avail, she couldn’t break free at all.

She smelled mold, and dust kept floating into her nose, choking her.

“Woof… woof…” She struggled forcefully, her feet kicking a piece of wood.

“Gurgle…” The wood rolled a couple of times, making a loud noise in this empty place.

Xu Chaomu tried hard to recall the events of the day, when she was walking along the plaza’s small path towards the airport.

Fearing being discovered, she specifically chose a secluded gravel path.

But her cleverness backfired, and she never imagined someone was watching her.

Last time, someone also kidnapped her, but she was careless and forgetful, and quickly forgot about it. Besides, Shen Chi had rescued her that night, and the time she spent with him, so warm and cozy, far outshone the fear.

Thus, she promptly forgot about the incident.

To her surprise, she was kidnapped again.

“Mmm…” She called out with difficulty.

In her daily life, she bore no grudges and committed no wrongs, except when she secretly stuffed a “snake” into the teacher’s chalk box at school. Of course, it was definitely fake; otherwise, she wouldn’t dare to put it there herself.

Xu Chaomu struggled fiercely, wondering if these people had kidnapped the wrong person.

After struggling for about half an hour and completely exhausted, Xu Chaomu finally gave up.

Just as she lowered her head, suddenly, the doors of the warehouse opened.

The moment the door was opened, Xu Chaomu felt a flashlight beam shine in.

She got scared and kept quiet, pretending to be asleep.

The footsteps of the visitor’s leather shoes echoed “thud thud thud” on the floor, exceptionally clear in this empty space.

Shortly after, another person followed into the warehouse.

“Is this Xu Chaomu?” the man behind asked in a deep, husky voice.

“Yes, Boss Zhou, we’ve checked the photo, there’s no mistake,” replied the subordinate.

“She looks young.” The man walked over to Xu Chaomu.

Under the light of the flashlight, the man studied Xu Chaomu for a few moments and reached out, lifting her chin.

Although she was tied up, one could still tell from her still tender face that she was no older than eighteen or nineteen.

Xu Chaomu moved her little head away in resistance.

The man laughed: “She doesn’t cry or make a fuss, quite interesting.”

“Boss Zhou, Number Two fed her sleeping pills. She must have just woken up,” said another.

“Number Three, what’s so special about this girl? I really can’t see it,” Zhou Peitian scrutinized Xu Chaomu, truly not believing Shen Shihan’s words—Shen Chi liked this girl?

“Nothing special indeed, she’s just a bit prettier, but there are many who are more so. Besides, this little body of hers isn’t much to look at.”

Hearing this, Xu Chaomu really wanted to spit in his face.

Number Three continued to appraise: “Her little face is quite delicate, very spirited. Boss Zhou, you wouldn’t have taken a liking to this girl, would you?”

“The woman in Weiyang is no weaker than her, would I have eyes for her?” Zhou Peitian was quite disdainful.

“That’s true, I thought you, Boss Zhou, wanted to change your usual taste. But then, changing tastes for a bit of fun wouldn’t be bad—the word is that these young girls are ignorant, and they’re comfortable to sleep with.”

“Number Three, don’t you dare get any crooked ideas. Just look after her properly, and don’t feed her sleeping pills too often; too much of that stuff is bad for the health.”

“Boss Zhou, who exactly is this girl?”

“Less nonsense, just watch her properly,” Zhou Peitian scolded.

Only then did Number Three curl his lip and fell silent.

Xu Chaomu felt a wave of anger surge in her chest, a small flame flickering fiercely!

The voices of these two, she was unfamiliar with, especially this “Boss Zhou”—who was he?

Zhou Peitian looked at Xu Chaomu a few more times before instructing Number Three: “Keep a close watch on her, and report to me immediately at any sign of trouble!”

“Yes, Boss Zhou.”

Zhou Peitian then left Xu Chaomu behind and exited the warehouse.

As soon as Zhou Peitian was gone, Number Three shut the door of the warehouse and approached Xu Chaomu.