If You Could Hear My Heart

Her pale knuckles flailed about in the air, seemingly trying to grasp her mother, but aside from a handful of air, she could catch nothing…

Gradually, she stopped reaching out, calling “Mom,” she let her hands powerless, hang down.

Two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving her washed-out little face an undefinable helplessness.

Shen Chi was irritated. He stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked out of the hotel.

The outside wind howled, rustling the leaves on the branches into a clatter. It looked like it was going to rain…

When Shen Chi got into his Maybach, a phrase from Xu Chaomu leaped into his mind, “Shen Chi, I know you hate me, and I hate you too. You go home and find the adoption papers, have them notarized, and I’ll have nothing to do with the

Shen Family.”

Get them notarized, and they would have nothing to do with each other?

Where in the world are things that simple.

The next morning, as expected, it rained. The sky was gloomy, and everywhere emitted a lazy air. It rarely rained heavily in C City due to its dry climate, but today’s rain was getting heavier and heavier.

Pouring down like it was dumped from the sky. Striking the buildings, the long streets, and the umbrellas of pedestrians.

Dark clouds pressed against the sky, the air felt oppressive, and everywhere was suffocating.

Li Beiting entrusted Yu Weiwei’s care to Ji Shengxuan, then left Weiyang early in the morning.

The red Maserati dashed through the rain, losing its usual pomp, yet resembling a blooming red peony amidst the shower.

As the rain scraped by the windshield wipers, he pursed his lips and looked ahead.

It was already 7:40 in the morning.

Right then, his phone rang.

He glanced down—Bai Man.

A bit surprised, why would Bai Man call him? After several rings, Li Beiting answered.

“Bai Man.”

“Li Beiting, have you arrived at the office?”

“Not yet, what’s up, what happened?”

“Have you seen Shen Chi? I couldn’t find him early this morning. I asked the butler, and he didn’t know either. I looked in the garage, and his car wasn’t there. I called him, but he isn’t picking up,” Bai Man said anxiously.

“Could he have gone to the corporation?” Li Beiting’s voice carried a hint of weariness.

“I already called Xiao MO, and he said Shen Chi hadn’t gone to the corporation,” Bai Man said softly, yet with unmistakable helplessness.

“He might be with a client, don’t worry. I saw him last night,” he reassured her.

“Who goes to clients that early in the morning.” Bai Man was clearly unsatisfied with Li Beiting’s answer.

“Bai Man, actually, men should also have their own space. You shouldn’t pry too much.”

“I understand, I’m just worried about him.”

“You don’t have to worry, what’s yours will definitely be yours, and no one can take it away.”

“Li Beiting, sigh, we haven’t had a meal together for a long time. I’m treating you today, how about we go out for a meal?”

Drained, Li Beiting was surely not going to accompany Bai Man. Thus, he kindly declined, “I’m not free today, maybe another time.”

“Then keep me company and talk for a bit? With Shen Chi not around, I feel so stifled. It’s like there’s a stone blocking my chest, I get uncomfortable not seeing him for a moment. This feeling… maybe you don’t understand.”

Bai Man sighed, she regarded Li Beiting as a friend, that’s why she spoke openly.

After all, Shen Chi, Li Beiting, and she grew up together.

“Okay, go ahead, I’m listening,” Li Beiting said, driving with his headset on.

“Maybe, I just love him too much. I want to see him every second. Some say obsession is a sickness, but this sickness has seeped into my bones. What should I do?” Bai Man’s voice was light, carrying a trace of melancholy.

Fine carvings turn into beans of red, but they lodge deep and knows not the depth of longing.

Bai Man’s eyes drifted, quietly watching the rain outside the window dancing in the sky, like boundless yearning, a disaster borne from a thought, an eternity from a glance.

Li Beiting knew that although Bai Man was a Miss, she was not arrogant or spoiled.

He sighed, “Don’t think too much, you and Brother Four have known each other for over a decade; the engagement and wedding are right around the corner. Don’t let your thoughts wander.”

“Li Beiting, people said he went to see Xu Chaomu last night, did he?” Bai Man said softly.

Her gaze still fixed outside the window. The window wasn’t closed, so rainwater floated onto her face, cool, like the river water in February—just thawed from ice, cold to the bone.

“Xu Chaomu got into trouble yesterday, Brother Four just gave her a scolding, don’t read into it too much. Brother Four has always regarded Xu Chaomu like a sister, Bai Man, I’ll stand by your side. In any case, Brother Four can only marry you,” he reassured.

“Does he love me?”

Bai Man’s tone was light, like a drifting thread…

She extended her hand, with the wind blowing up her sleeve and the rain quickly filling her palm.

A chill to the bone, yet she, was unwilling to withdraw her hand.

“If he didn’t love you, he wouldn’t engage with you. At the last press conference, he personally put the ring on your finger.”

“I hope so, I really love him, very much…” Bai Man’s voice trailed off.

Li Beiting spoke calmly, “Why bring this up suddenly? Stop overthinking things. If you keep yourself busy, you won’t think about those seemingly inconsequential things.”

“Li Beiting, do me a favor.”

“Tell me.”

“I heard that Xu Chaomu’s school has slots for studying abroad every May. Shen Chi is supposed to go to South Africa this May,” Bai Man said, stopping short of continuing, knowing Li Beiting was smart enough to understand.

Indeed, Li Beiting stayed silent for a while before responding slowly, “This study abroad program lasts for six years, until one graduates from a university overseas.”

“I know,” Bai Man responded, unfazed.

Li Beiting fell silent again for a moment before speaking, “I’m afraid I can’t help with this favor. Bai Man, Brother Four is just treating Xu Chaomu as a sister, you don’t need to worry so much. Besides, I’ve already talked to Chaomu.”

Li Beiting knew he could only choose to help one between Bai Man and Xu

Chaomu.

And Shen Chi marrying Bai Man was what everyone expected.

“Everyone says I’m paranoid, but as a woman, I actually trust my intuition quite a bit. Everyone knows Xu Chaomu likes Shen Chi. And Shen Chi…” Bai Man stopped, not continuing.

Her hand was still out the window, the wind and rain making her feel especially cold.

The sky remained gloomy, with no brightness and dense clouds hanging overhead.

“I’ll do my best,” muttered Li Beiting, with a look of exhaustion.

The windshield wipers desperately tried to clear the rain, but the more they wiped, the blurrier it became. Li Beiting’s gaze out the window was also unstable.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After hanging up the phone, just as he reached a red light, the signal flashed numbers:

“88, 87, 86…”

While Li Beiting watched the countdown, his mind remained calm.

The rain poured down relentlessly, quickly flooding the streets. The murky sky hung like a wide net over the city, the storm raging on, ceaselessly..