If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 181: Only You Love Chaomu Most

“I told you to get out, can’t you hear?!” Shen Chi’s voice was low and chillingly cold.

His eyes grew colder, the deep contours of his face sketching out an intimidating chill.

The person in charge scrambled away, fearing that even a moment’s delay would threaten his life.

Shen Chi opened the surveillance footage, in the corridor, Xu Chaomu walked aimlessly towards the staircase, heading out of the hospital. Sometimes she looked forward confusedly, sometimes she smiled foolishly.

The surveillance captured her until she left the hospital’s main entrance.

Shen Chi watched with a heart that ached with each beat, his fists slowly clenching, his face deathly pale.

“Xiao Mo, come to the third floor of Dongcheng Hospital!”

Xiao Mo was handling documents for Shen Chi at the group, hearing the phone, he sensed something was off in Shen Chi’s tone, and without daring to ask further, immediately responded, “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

It didn’t take long for Xiao Mo to arrive.

Shen Chi stood at the hospital window making a phone call, clearly anxious, but he always appeared calm and collected to others.

Xiao Mo had followed Shen Chi for a long time, initially thinking that this man was invincible and indifferent, with a heart like stone.

Later, he realized that many times, this man was also helpless.

But, while most people find it hard to conceal such helplessness, Shen Chi was different.

“Mr. Shen,” Xiao Mo sighed and approached.

“You’re here…” Shen Chi glanced at him, his eyes plainly showing an indescribable dejection, “Chaomu is missing.”

Truth be told, Xiao Mo had never actually seen Xu Chaomu; he only knew that she was an orphan adopted by the Shen Family, Shen Chi’s sister.

But almost no one knew that Shen Chi had an adopted sister; even Xiao Mo, Shen Chi’s personal secretary, knew only a little of this.

However, Xiao Mo had seen a photograph of Xu Chaomu in Shen Chi’s desk drawer.

Shen Chi never kept any personal items in his office; thus, Xiao Mo was quite surprised when he first saw the photograph.

The photograph was quietly placed inside a notebook; When Xiao Mo first saw Xu Chaomu’s photograph, he thought the girl was very beautiful and adorable.

She smiled happily, showing off her pearly white teeth, her pure eyes unmarred by any impurity.

This young girl was carefree, innocent, and radiant.

When Xiao Mo saw the photograph, he too was taken aback, Shen Chi really took good care of this girl.

“Mr. Shen, how did Miss Xu disappear?” Xiao Mo was puzzled.

Shen Chi handed him the surveillance video.

Xiao Mo watched in silence, ran his hand through his hair, coming to an understanding.

“Come with me to look for her,” Shen Chi’s voice was low, yet extraordinarily weak, “It’s already dark, and she will be afraid.”

Xiao Mo nodded, “Okay, Miss Xu won’t have gone far, she must have left some clues, Mr. Shen, don’t worry.”

Shen Chi didn’t speak further; he was afraid of a repetition of the previous incident.

That night, too, it rained, and she was taken away, falling into a culvert, nearly drowning to death.

Xiao Mo started to divide efforts with Shen Chi, each driving a car, beginning their search from the hospital’s main entrance outwards.

At the same time, Shen Chi made many phone calls, sealing off all major stations.

By the time Xu Chaomu got home, it was already past eight in the evening.

In the city, at past eight o’clock, nightlife was just beginning, but in this remote and quiet place, all was still.

The driver, a bit concerned for her, cautioned, “Miss, be careful on your own. Where’s your mother? Why didn’t I see her come to pick you up?”

Xu Chaomu blinked, “She’ll be here soon.”

The driver finally eased up a bit, took one last look at Xu Chaomu, and drove away.

Tiny raindrops sprinkled from the sky, falling bit by bit on Xu Chaomu’s face, ice-cold.

She lifted her head, reaching out to catch the drizzle.

The wind blew her hair, and she stood under the dark night sky like a lost sprite.

Her little face was so pure, so lovely, especially when she smiled, simple and exuberant.

Looking far ahead, a streetlight could be seen from a great distance.

The place had become desolate, and Xu Chaomu could hardly recognize it.

Houses were sporadic, trees sparse.

On the path, not a soul in sight, only an occasional bark heard in the distance.

“Woof woof woof…”

Strikingly loud, strikingly solemn.

Xu Chaomu walked alone on this path; eight years had passed, time flew by so quickly.

Back then, after the incident at home, Uncle Mo had sent her to the nearest orphanage.

Now, eight years had gone by, and Uncle Mo, too, had passed away.

Step by step, she pressed on, and suddenly she longed deeply for her mother.

There would never be another person who loved her like her mother did.

Never again.

After an indeterminate walk, she finally came to a willow tree, beneath which was a Lonely Tombstone.

Back then, a fire burned everything to ash, utterly and completely.

Uncle Mo had buried her mother; those days she cried uncontrollably, in disbelief of the reality.

She cried for many, many days, becoming more and more averse to strangers, and increasingly mischievous.

Actually, when her mother was around, she was very obedient to her.

Recalling these memories, a sourness hit Xu Chaomu’s nose, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

Two streams of clear tears, drops of rain; after a long time, she no longer knew whether it was tears or rain on her face.

At first, Xu Chaomu stood, but gradually she squatted down, caressing the tombstone, crying uncontrollably.

It was dark here, barely any light to see; it was cold too, and Xu Chaomu felt icy all over.

“Mom, mom, it’s Chaomu, I’m back…”

Her voice was choked up, she could barely speak out.

“Mom, do you still recognize me? It’s so dark, can you see me? Don’t you recognize me anymore…”

“Mom, I have so much, so much I want to tell you. Please listen to me, okay…”

“I don’t know who else to talk to, no one is willing to listen, they all find me childish, they are so annoying.”

“Mom, do you know? After you left, I’ve been doing okay, but I just really miss you. Daytime, night, even in my dreams, I miss you. I really want to eat the sweet and sour pork ribs you made for me. You would cut the ribs so small, you said that’s how I liked them best.”

Xu Chaomu sobbed softly, low sobs escaping her.

“Mom, do you know, it’s been eight years, and I don’t like anyone else’s sweet and sour pork ribs. Please come back, will you make sweet and sour pork ribs for me? Chaomu really wants to eat them, really bad…”

Her little hands caressed the tombstone, which by then had fallen into disrepair and desolation.

“Mom, I haven’t come to see you in eight years, do you dislike me now? Please answer me, Chaomu misses you so much…”

“I know, I’m unfilial, I’m not good. Don’t ignore me, I’ll be sad. Mom, all the things I want to say, I want to tell only you, because only you understand, only you have always loved Chaomu the most.”