If You Could Hear My Heart

The nurse following behind was holding a sobbing little baby, but Shen Chi didn't even glance at it and went straight to Xu Chaomu's side.

Xu Chaomu's hands were cold as ice, and her face was pale. Shen Chi frowned deeply with concern.

"Does it hurt a lot? Mumu, you've worked so hard…"

He reached out to gently brush aside her damp bangs and held her hand tightly.

"Where's the baby?" Xu Chaomu blinked her big eyes, full of expectation.

"I'll let you hold it in a moment," Shen Chi said softly. "Rest well, don't say anything now."

The nurse sent Xu Chaomu into the suite, followed closely by the baby.

Ling, the butler, and several servants were so overjoyed they almost jumped for joy. Ling, the butler, was the first to see the little one and exclaimed to the servants beside him, "Quick, look! Does the baby look more like Fourth Young Master or Fourth Young Madame?"

A younger servant grinned, "Looks like Little Young Master."

"Of course it looks like Little Young Master," Ling the butler chuckled.

The night was peaceful, yet it became lively due to the birth of the baby.

The Shen Family had many servants, all of whom were busily and systematically taking care of Xu Chaomu and the little one.

"Mr. Shen, the baby was born at 2:58 a.m., weighing seven and a half pounds. Please hold him," the young nurse said brightly as she handed the baby to Shen Chi.

Shen Chi took one look… Hmm, wrinkly.

He had missed many moments when Xiaobao was born, but luckily, he had been present for this child from the start of the pregnancy to delivery.

"Let me see." Xu Chaomu smiled as she stretched her hand out from under the covers.

Shen Chi's posture while holding the baby was anything but practiced, but still passably decent. Seeing father and son together warmed Xu Chaomu's heart immeasurably—it felt like eating honey, sweet and cozy.

Though childbirth had been painful, the happiness far outweighed the pain.

Shen Chi laid the little one next to Xu Chaomu's bedside, then reached for her hand again.

"Well, take a look. Anyway, he isn't that good-looking, but he sure can cry," Shen Chi commented.

Xu Chaomu laughed as she gave him a playful slap, "Is that how you're supposed to talk about the baby?"

Shen Chi touched the baby's cheek—it was soft and smooth.

Xu Chaomu suddenly remembered she hadn't asked the baby's gender. She turned to Shen Chi and asked, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"…" Shen Chi fell silent.

"Hmm?" Xu Chaomu tilted her head to look at him.

"Boy," Shen Chi had to honestly admit.

"Ah…" Xu Chaomu was immediately caught between laughter and tears. She lightly punched Shen Chi, "Shen Chi, are you even capable?!"

"…" Shen Chi's face darkened. He leaned closer to her ear and spoke in a low voice, "Do you not know if I'm capable or not?"

"You owe me a daughter!" Xu Chaomu lamented in frustration. They had promised it would be a girl! Boohoo…

"…" Shen Chi slapped his forehead. How was he supposed to compensate for that?

Thus, Shen Chi could only coax her, "How about we have another baby in a few years? It'll definitely be a girl next time."

"Liar, liar, I don't believe you."

"…"

The little one in the swaddle suddenly stopped crying and fell back to sleep, completely ignoring Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu's conversation.

Xu Chaomu glanced at the baby. One Xiaobao already gave her enough headaches—two sons would surely turn the Shen Family upside down!

She shot a look at Shen Chi, dissatisfied. This failure of a husband only knew how to make her bear sons.

Shen Chi caught Xu Chaomu's gaze and sighed helplessly. Fine, the boy problem was indeed his fault.

Ling the butler, aware of Xu Chaomu's desire for a daughter, said with a smile, "Fourth Young Madame, don't worry. Since you delivered naturally, you can try again in a few years for a daughter. By then, two older brothers protecting their little sister—can you imagine how lovely that would be?"

Really? Xu Chaomu glanced at Shen Chi skeptically. She already deeply doubted him.

Shen Chi noticed the suspicious look Xu Chaomu gave him, and his lips twitched slightly.

…

The next morning, Xiaobao came running to the hospital.

As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Mom! Mom! Where's the little sister?"

Shen Chi stopped him, "Keep your voice down!"

"Oh… Got it."

"It's a little brother, not a little sister," Shen Chi told him.

"Huh? Didn't you say you were going to give me a little sister? I want a little sister, not a little brother," Xiaobao grumbled.

"We had a little brother to keep you company," Shen Chi could only try coaxing him.

"You're not being honest! You said it'd be a little sister for me to play with!" Xiaobao pouted.

Ling the butler tried to calm him down, "Little Young Master, a little brother is just as good and just as adorable as you."

"No, he'll fight with me over toys!"

"He won't. Your brother's younger than you—he won't fight you for them," Ling the butler said. "Come over, Little Young Master, and take a look at your little brother."

Ling the butler helped Xiaobao over to the crib. The baby inside was quietly sleeping.

Xiaobao blinked his big eyes at his brother for a long moment, then reached out and gently tugged the baby's hand.

"Mom, I don't like the little brother," Xiaobao announced to Xu Chaomu in the bed.

"No way, you have to care for him and love him," Xu Chaomu replied firmly.

"No, he's cuter than me!" Xiaobao sulked.

"Not at all! You're just as adorable as Little Little Young Master," Ling the butler hurriedly assured.

Xiaobao let go of Ling the butler's hand, ran to Shen Chi's side, and tugged at his pant leg. "Dad, tell me—who's cuter, me or the little brother?"

"…" Everyone around turned speechless, surprised at Xiaobao's mischievous streak.

Everyone's eyes turned to Shen Chi, waiting for him to answer this age-old dilemma.

"You're not allowed to say both are cute," Xiaobao added sneakily.

"…" Shen Chi looked down at the little rascal pulling his pants and smirked. "If I say you're cute, will you believe me?"

"…" Xiaobao was stunned into silence. Dad was so mean.

Xu Chaomu chuckled. Shen Chi was always up to something when it came to amusing Xiaobao.

But Xiaobao was a good sport—he could give or take—and never really argued with his cheeky dad. He had his ways to tease back.

Sure enough, Xiaobao's eyes flashed cunningly, and he grinned brightly, "Daddy Shen, between you and Mom, I like you more. Do you believe me?"

"…" Shen Chi was practically ready to kick him out the door.

Worried Shen Chi might smack him on the butt, Xiaobao quickly let go and rushed back to the baby's crib.

Still, this little brother was kind of cute. Xiaobao reached out and gently tugged at him again.

The baby remained much calmer compared to Xiaobao—no crying, no fussing, eating and sleeping contentedly.

It wasn't long before Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran arrived, followed by Yu Weiwei and Li Beiting with their little girl. For a moment, the suite became an especially lively scene.

Xiaobao played with Little Yu for a while, and sure enough, Xiaobao didn't miss the chance to bully her—tricking her left and right until he swiped her only lollipop.

The gullible Little Yu wasn't even mad and obediently handed over her lollipop.

Li Beiting, standing next to Shen Chi, commented, "Xiaobao is exactly like you were when you were little. You used to trick me all the time."

Shen Chi raised an eyebrow, "What did I trick you out of? Your virtue?"

"…" Li Beiting covered his face. "Not quite."

"It's only because you were dumb," Shen Chi teased with a smirk.