If You Could Hear My Heart

A wisp of rosy dawn light had begun to seep through the clouds on the horizon, heralding a beautiful springtime, where birds sang and flowers bloomed everywhere.

The mist-laden breeze lifted the hem of Shen Chi’s clothes as he stood under a camphor tree, his back straight and cool to the touch.

His well-tailored black suit wrapped around his slender frame, the lines smooth, making him look even more handsome and charmingly aloof.

“Xiao Mo.”

“President Shen, I’m here.”

“Contact Director Zhang at the civil affairs office, ask him to come to the office.”

“Yes. President Shen, have you found Miss Xu?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll get right on it.”

“You come too, and remember to bring a set of clothes for a girl, make it pretty.”

“All right.” Xiao Mo agreed fully, although he was somewhat baffled.

President Shen had just found Miss Xu, and she hadn’t even arrived at the company yet; why rush to the civil affairs office first? And bring a pretty set of clothes?

After giving the instructions, Shen Chi stood in the breeze for a while longer.

The fresh wind caressed his face, the scent of flowers was pleasing.

Today was indeed a good day.

When he got back in the car, his mood had improved significantly. She had been gone for a day and a night, and he had thought that he would be furious when he saw her again, but that wasn’t the case.

He couldn’t bear to be without her, truly couldn’t.

“President Shen, shall we go?” Old Cheng spoke up.

“Let’s go, to the civil affairs office.”

Old Cheng sighed, having thought Shen Chi might change his mind, but he was adamant about going to the civil affairs office.

Shen Chi glanced at Xu Chaomu beside him, sleeping so soundly.

His lips slowly curved upward, his large hand stroking her hair.

Maybe one day he should sell her after all, even just for some gas money, he mused.

Her hair was fine and soft, comforting to the touch. He stroked her hair over and over, the curve at the corner of his mouth never fading.

With a gentle pull, he drew her into his embrace.

Xu Chaomu, thinking she had grabbed some comfortable pillow, unconsciously clutched Shen Chi’s shirt, rubbing against it.

After a good while of finding the perfect position, she smacked her lips and fell back asleep.

Her head buried in Shen Chi’s chest, Shen Chi looked down at her, quite helpless.

Old Cheng saw all this through the rearview mirror, wondering if it really was a case of easy come, easy go?

He let out a sigh.

The car drove smoothly on the highway, with the sun gradually rising in the east.

The sky was streaked with clouds and rosy light, the weather was mild and sunny, the peach blossoms were lively and sprightly.

On such a day, it was fitting for a wedding.

Xu Chaomu continued to sleep in Shen Chi’s arms, soundly and sweetly. And Shen Chi, not wanting to awaken her, kept the same position, without moving an inch.

His arm had long grown sore, yet he did not move at all.

Eight years ago, this cause and effect had already been sown. Time was no match for fate.

Old Cheng, witnessing this scene, could not bear to disturb them. He could only drive very slowly, not wanting to see President Shen and Miss Xu part.

Once the paperwork was done, Miss Xu and the Shen Family would have no relationship at all.

Thinking of all the years gone by, Old Cheng’s eyes couldn’t help but moisten.

But, in the end, the car still reached the civil affairs office.

It was early, no one was there for business, and no one was at work yet.

When the car stopped in the garage, Xu Chaomu was still sound asleep.

Shen Chi liked her this way, asleep, with no need to worry about anything.

He hoped she would always be like this, let him handle the storms and stresses.

“President Shen, let’s not go after all,” Old Cheng advised earnestly once again.

“We’ve come all this way.”

Old Cheng was at a loss for words; indeed, they had come all this way.

Decisions made by Shen Chi were never defied by anyone.

But Xu Chaomu was still deep in sleep, so neither Old Cheng nor Shen Chi had the heart to wake her.

Therefore, Shen Chi maintained the same position, allowing her to continue sleeping.

“Fourth Brother…” In her sleep, she mumbled hazily.

Shen Chi’s heart skipped a beat as he looked down at her face.

After a long, long time, she finally woke up. When she opened her eyes, they met Shen Chi’s deep and profound gaze.

“How did I end up sleeping in your arms?”

“You scooched over yourself.”

“Impossible! I was clearly sleeping by the window.”

“What’s so impossible about it? Since you were ten, you’ve always liked to snuggle into my arms when you sleep in the car.”

“That was in the past… No, I didn’t like it even then.”

“You’re just a stubborn duck,” Shen Chi teased with a curved lip.

“Enough talking, are you still going through with the notarization? We’ve arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, haven’t we? Get out of the car!” Xu Chaomu said disdainfully.

“Don’t move,” Shen Chi said with a furrowed brow, speaking indifferently.

Xu Chaomu was about to get out of the car, curious about what he was up to now.

Shen Chi reached out his hand to gently straighten her hair.

As his fingertips slid through her hair, Xu Chaomu felt a current passing through her body.

His actions were gentle and meticulous to the extreme, patiently fixing her hair until he was satisfied, then he smiled and let go.

“You’ll have to take a photo later, so look pretty,” he said softly, his voice still cool and deep.

Unappreciative, Xu Chaomu slapped his hand away: “Keep your distance from me.”

Eight years ago, when she first met him, she talked to him casually and he said, “Don’t let me see you within three steps.”

Eight years later, when he talked to her, she told him, “Keep your distance from me.”

Shen Chi was not upset, but Old Cheng looked utterly astonished.

In this world, Xu Chaomu was probably the only person who dared to speak to Shen Chi like that.

“Let’s go, don’t keep the director waiting,” Shen Chi said, finally opening the door.

Xu Chaomu also opened the car door and got out, shouting across the car, “Did you bring all the documents? Try to get it done in one go so I don’t have to make another trip; I’m short on time.”

“Wait a second.”

Shen Chi walked around the car toward her, his large hand taking her small one: “Let’s go.”

Xu Chaomu didn’t react at first, but by the time she did, her hand was already encased in his palm.

She pulled, pulled, and pulled.

But couldn’t pull away.

Fine. Give up.

It was the last time, anyway, might as well part on good terms.

In the past, she always said, “Your surname is Shen, mine is Xu, I have nothing to do with you.”

Now, it really would have nothing to do with her anymore…

A gust of wind blew over, and Xu Chaomu’s eyes suddenly moistened.

He held her hand as they walked side by side up the steps, neither of them speaking, but the warmth in their palms grew.

The initially cold hands were not cold for much longer, soon becoming warm and cozy.

Just like the sky; as soon as the sun came out, the haze dispersed, and the earth warmed up.

They walked up the steps, through the quiet corridor, all the way to a door and stopped there.

Xiao Mo had been waiting there for a while, and when he saw Shen Chi, he hurriedly approached: “President Shen, Director Zhang is already inside.”

“Hmm, take Chaomu to change her clothes; I’ll have a few words with Director Zhang,” said Shen Chi.

“Okay.”

Xu Chaomu was filled with suspicion. Changing clothes for notarization?

Did he find her embarrassing?

“Miss Xu, please follow me,” Xiao Mo respectfully said to Xu Chaomu.

Xu Chaomu knew his name was Xiao Mo; he was Shen Chi’s chief secretary, and she had seen him a few times before.

But that was it; she knew almost nothing about Shen Chi’s professional life.

In her heart, she also understood that she wasn’t worthy of Shen Chi. Not pursuing him was a way to give him complete freedom.