If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 564: Chapter 564: Spring Breeze for Ten Miles, No Match for You
 

Back then, he had searched for her for a long time, firmly believing his eyes hadn’t deceived him.

But the fact was, he hadn’t found her.

It turned out, he had once brushed past her. Those five years, ultimately, were the greatest punishment she had imposed on him…

Fortunately, he waited for her for five years and finally welcomed her back; otherwise, how lonely and desolate his life would be.

A gentle spring breeze couldn’t compare to you.

He flipped through the information in his hands, and saw that since she met Nie Chenglang, her life had improved a lot. Nie Chenglang even found her a good university and got her into a design program.

Most of the information that followed was about her time at school, likely obtained by Xiao Mo through someone at her school.

Her life at school was simple—sometimes working part-time at the library, sometimes participating in projects with her tutor, occasionally traveling with Nie Chenglang.

Her days abroad were indeed comfortable, filled with beautiful moments and leisure.

No wonder she didn’t want to return to the country.

The information contained only cold statistics—he really wanted to know, during those five years, did she ever think of him?

If he hadn’t forced her after returning to C City, would she have married Nie Chenglang?

However, he never dared to ask her for he feared the answer wouldn’t be what he wanted.

As he gazed at the first few pages, it was as if blades were slashing through his heart, once, twice… cutting until he was bloodied and covered in wounds.

There was also the time she ended up on the streets, caught by people shooting pornographic films. Eventually, she set a fire and managed to escape…

He could hardly bear to imagine, if she hadn’t escaped…

But he had said that no matter what she became, he would cherish her because she was the love of his life.

After looking for a long time, he closed the dossier and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes in contemplation.

His forehead was tightly furrowed, and he lightly massaged his temples with one hand.

His head ached.

The hardships she had endured over those five years were no less than his own. He even saw that the records indicated she had visited a psychologist during her school days.

The incident on the Sumatra Island ferry had inflicted endless trauma on her. He didn’t know whether those wounds had healed after five years.

Some people appear carefree and untroubled, not because they have no worries, but because they bury all their concerns deep within their hearts.

Xu Chaomu was such a person.

If he hadn’t looked up this information, would she ever have told him…

Just like the last time they were washing vegetables, when he asked her if life had been good for her, she told him that she had had a good life during those five years.

This was her so-called “good life.”

Shen Chi pondered with his eyes closed for a long time, with the image of Xu Chaomu lingering before him.

Her every frown and smile, every look, every gesture, all resurfaced in his mind.

This girl, having endured so much, still refrained from speaking a word of it to him.

Did she still see him as her brother?

Did she still consider him her husband?

Were there still some knots in her heart from the events of five years ago? For instance, the fact that his mother, Zhou Ran, had caused the death of her mother…

Shen Chi dared not think further; he feared that if these grievances were to resurface one day, could she still stay with him in good conscience?

No one could get over such an obstacle, and Xu Chaomu had only buried it deep inside her heart, not forgotten it.

Could she ever get past a grudge stained with blood?

The image of Xu Chaomu’s pure face emerged once again before him, and his heart clenched.

Gradually, he took out his cell phone and dialed the Shen Family’s number.

The butler, Ling, answered.

“Fourth Young Master.”

“Is Chaomu there?” Shen Chi spoke faintly.

“Yes, she’s here. I’ll go get her for the phone.”

“Wait, what is she doing?”

“Taking a walk in the garden.”

“Don’t disturb her, then.”

“All right, Fourth Young Master.”

“Mhm.” Shen Chi asked a few brief questions and then hung up the call.

The butler was somewhat puzzled; she didn’t understand Shen Chi’s intent. He had just left the Shen residence not long ago; was he missing Xu Chaomu so soon? Or was it… a check-up?

Hearing the downcast tone in Shen Chi’s voice, it didn’t seem like a check-up; it sounded more like missing her.

After hanging up the call, Shen Chi started to go through the files in front of him.

After locking Xu Chaomu’s records of the past five years in the cabinet, he appeared distracted and out of sorts.

Even during work, the image of Xu Chaomu constantly surfaced in his mind.

This state of mind persisted until the afternoon. Luckily, there were no meetings today nor did he need to go anywhere else.

In the afternoon, he remembered the text messages from a stranger he had seen on Xu Chaomu’s phone.

He stood up and walked out of the CEO’s office.

He went to the parking garage and drove his Maybach towards a summer resort.

The closer he got to the summer resort, the more beautiful the scenery became.

Both sides of the road were flanked by lush trees, with sunlight refracting through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The green banyan trees covered most of the sun, making the place particularly cool. Wildflowers grew beneath the trees, exuding a faint scent, blooming vibrantly.

Butterflies perched on the wildflowers and, when disturbed by passing cars, would flap their wings and fly elsewhere.

The ecosystem here was excellent, and everything was in its natural and wild state.

For instance, it was very easy to see a plump squirrel scurrying and leaping from one tree to another.

It was nearing evening, but the sun had no intention of setting, lazily hanging in the sky, its fading heat still intense.

Shen Chi’s Maybach sped along the road, the car’s speed at its maximum on the nearly deserted road!

The rows of trees rapidly receded into the background as Shen Chi’s Maybach screamed through the air!

Finally, the outline of the summer resort came into view!

The scenery was exceptionally pleasant, especially suitable for convalescence and retirement.

Outside the summer resort were several large fountain pools, with water jetting high into the air and beads of water splashing into the pool, akin to pearls dropping onto a jade plate.

The closer the car drove inward, the louder became the “whooshing” sound of the fountains.

There were very few people outside the summer resort, just a few security guards patrolling back and forth.

Having visited several times, Shen Chi parked his car effortlessly in the garage.

His father, Shen Cexian, owned a separate villa here; although not frequently occupied, it was extravagantly and exquisitely decorated.

Shen Chi entered the summer resort, and indeed, it was much cooler than outside, with temperatures five to six degrees lower.

The resort was vast; upon entering lay a several hundred square meter lawn. It was fully equipped with facilities like a golf course, a swimming pool, a billiard room… and various architectural styles.

At this hour, his father should be in the villa within the resort.

Indeed, as he approached the villa’s entrance, a servant bowed, “Fourth Young Master.”

“Where is my father?”

“The Master is on the second-floor balcony.”

Without saying a word, Shen Chi walked straight inside.

“Fourth Young Master, let me announce your arrival…” The servant attempted to stop Shen Chi.