If You Could Hear My Heart

Ayu gave Miao Xiu a cold glance. "You must be tired of living, flirting with the son of President Shen."

Xiaobao blinked his eyes. "Uncle, you're the most handsome, is that okay?"

"Didn't you say your dad was the most handsome?" Miao Xiu retorted.

"Oh, right, I forgot." Xiaobao bit his finger again. "Uncle, you and Auntie are such a perfect match. Wishing you a hundred years of happiness and many kids!"

Miao Xiu finally smiled, grinning from ear to ear.

Ayu glared at Xiaobao. "Kids shouldn't talk nonsense. I'm not familiar with your Uncle Miao."

"Don't listen to your aunt. The two of us are very familiar." Miao Xiu took Xiaobao's hand. "Come on, Uncle's in a great mood. Let's go play."

Xiaobao looked at them. So, are they familiar or not?

As they walked on, Ayu stepped beside Miao Xiu, lowering her voice and speaking in a warning tone. "Junior Brother Miao, after this task is done, I hope we don't cross paths again."

"Whether or not we cross paths isn't up to me. What if we accidentally run into each other? What then?"

"I don't want you wasting time on me. I'm not interested in men."

"Then are you interested in women?" Miao Xiu looked at her with a teasing grin.

Such a rejection didn't bother Miao Xiu much, as Ayu had already rejected him many times before.

After being rejected so many times, one tends to grow a thicker skin.

"You can assume I'm interested in women," Ayu said casually, "I advise you not to waste your time. If you get older, you won't be able to marry a pretty girl."

"But I'm not interested in pretty girls at all. I'm only interested in you. What should I do?"

"Then keep wasting your time." Ayu was unrelenting. "I've said it before, I won't get married."

The last sentence was said louder, and Xiaobao overheard it. He looked up and said, "Getting married is great. My mom and dad are very happy."

"Did you hear that?" Miao Xiu said to Ayu. "Even Xiaobao understands this truth."

Ayu didn't want to waste any more words with Miao Xiu and walked away directly, making a phone call to the police station.

She still had many things to do. In her heart, work took up everything.

The police station originally wanted her to take a break, but after her persistent requests, the chief had no choice but to assign her a new task.

After the call, Ayu left.

Xiaobao looked gleefully at Miao Xiu. "Uncle Miao, your wife ran away."

"She just had something to do," Miao Xiu replied helplessly.

"She clearly doesn't want you." Xiaobao chuckled, showing two rows of pearly white teeth.

"You seem very happy, huh?"

"Uh...no." Xiaobao shook his head.

If he dared say anymore, Miao Xiu wouldn't take him to play, and then he'd have to squat by the hospital ward door again.

Xiaobao was quite endearing when he behaved. With Ayu gone, Miao Xiu had no choice but to take Xiaobao to play.

...

Xu Chaomu didn't stay long in the hospital before it was time to go home.

To show their gratitude, Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi invited Miao Xiu and Ayu out for a meal.

Ayu didn't come; only Miao Xiu showed up.

But Miao Xiu was an optimistic and outgoing person with plenty to say. He and Ayu shared one thing in common: they were both very smart and capable.

Seventeen years ago, Miao Xiu had tightly concealed the events. It seemed Xu Chaomu was completely unaware of Shen Chi's investigation into this matter.

After the meal, Xu Chaomu missed Erbao so much that she asked Shen Chi to drive straight home.

As soon as they walked in, Xu Chaomu headed straight for Erbao's nursery.

Erbao was sleeping soundly, and the nanny mentioned how well-behaved he was.

Xiaobao sulked back to his bedroom, feeling neither loved by his dad nor mom.

Shen Chi stepped out onto the balcony and called Xiao Mo, who had been handling the matter all along.

"How's the situation?" Shen Chi asked.

"The scene has been completely cleaned up. No innocent parties were involved, and there were no casualties," Xiao Mo reported. "All information has been sealed, and there were no witnesses at the time. Rest assured."

"I don't want to see any reports involving Shen Group."

"Understood."

"What about the police?" Shen Chi inquired.

"The police have taken Bai Man back to the station for questioning," Xiao Mo said. "The possibility of a secondary explosion has been ruled out, and her residence has been thoroughly searched. However, Shen Chi, your car is totaled."

"The car doesn't matter," Shen Chi said. "Where's Bai Man now?"

"Still at the station, under watch. Her mood is more stable than before, but she's still uncooperative and speaks very little."

"Set it up. I'm going there myself."

"Got it," Xiao Mo nodded.

"Until I get some answers, ensure she remains alive."

"Understood."

"Good." Shen Chi hung up the phone.

In truth, he didn't have much to say to Bai Man and didn't expect to get anything useful. However, Xu Chaomu had repeatedly urged him to find out the truth. She wanted to know, for example, how Bai Man had taken Xiaobao and why she hadn't killed him directly. What was her plan in using Xiaobao?

Most importantly, Xu Chaomu wanted him to recover the videotape from the Paris Grand Hotel.

Although he didn't see the importance of recovering that tape, since Xu Chaomu wanted it done, he'd have to comply.

After hanging up, Shen Chi walked to the nursery.

Xu Chaomu was sitting by the bed, gazing at the little one in the cot, her face full of warmth, a smile in her eyes.

Xu Chaomu extended a finger, gently brushing it across the baby's cheek.

"Hubby, look, the baby is getting cuter and cuter," Xu Chaomu said softly.

The little one no longer looked wrinkly like a newborn but had turned into something resembling a powdered jade doll.

Xu Chaomu hadn't seen Xiaobao's appearance right after birth, but luckily this little baby made up for that regret.

"Mm, looking more and more like me," Shen Chi added, leaning down.

"Will the three of you men gang up and bully me later?" Xu Chaomu pouted.

"You have two options: One, win us over; two, have a few more daughters."

"Why don't you say you'll take my side? Shen Chi, I'm very dissatisfied with your answer. So, you're sleeping on the couch tonight!"

"..." Shen Chi realized he'd misspoken, his face darkening. "See, you're clearly bullying me."

They continued to chat softly by the crib, while Erbao slept especially soundly.

Erbao was much quieter than Xiaobao, though who knew if he'd grow up to become another mischievous little rascal.

The weather was gradually turning colder, especially at night when cold winds howled, rustling the trees outside.

The leaves had turned much yellower, and each morning the withered grass was covered in a frosty white layer, resembling snow when viewed from afar.

Winter in C City arrived silently, with bare mountain tops visible in the distance, creating a stark yet unique beauty.

After the last press conference, Shen's share prices had risen significantly, with many businesses optimistic about the commercial street project.