If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 398: Chapter 398: She Once Loved Someone Like That
After a few seconds of thought, the butler entered with determination.

She didn’t raise her head, but headed straight to the dining table, placing the tray on it and serving the hot dishes one by one.

“Fourth Young Master, Fourth Young Madam, please enjoy your meal,” the butler said after setting the table and quickly made her exit, not daring to linger.

Likewise, she closed the door for them.

“Shen Chi, can’t you be a little more proper? You’ve made me lose all my face!” Xu Chaomu exclaimed angrily.

Earlier, it was a young maid who came in, and just now, it was the butler herself.

It seemed like everyone up and down the Shen Family believed she, Xu Chaomu, was insatiable and utterly parched.

At this moment, Shen Chi was sitting beside Xu Chaomu, tightly wrapping his arm around her waist, preventing her from moving.

Previously, with Mo Shuifu present, he refrained from sitting next to her, but now that it was just the two of them in the living room, he felt free.

His head rested against hers as he continuously offered her food with chopsticks.

“Young couples are like that. The butler is worldly; surely, she’ll understand,” Shen Chi responded with utter ease.

“First, you and I aren’t a couple; second, you’re not exactly young anymore.”

“Alright, alright, you’re young, you make the rules,” Shen Chi pinched her cheek, his eyes filled with doting amusement.

Then, he popped a piece of lean meat into her mouth.

Xu Chaomu glared at him temporarily, conceding to let her eat in peace.

After she finished the meat, Xu Chaomu turned and said, “Can you let go of my hand? I have hands and feet, I can eat by myself.”

“A husband is meant to be used.”

Shen Chi didn’t let go, instead reached around from her back, encircling both her hands without loosening his grip.

Xu Chaomu was exasperated.

Shameless.

The summer breeze was crisp and warm, bringing with it waves of insect chirps and floral scents.

The weather was good today, and the moon was particularly round.

There were no stars in the night sky, only thin clouds floating around the moon.

“The Milky Way is clear yet shallow, how much distance apart are we? It’s on nights like these that we meet, surpassing countless encounters in the world.”

Moonlight shone on the Shen Family villa and onto the courtyard while the wind rustled the bamboo, causing the delicate leaves to make a “shasha” sound.

Lotus fragrance spread throughout, mingling with the scent of other flowers and plants, turning this summer night tranquil and serene.

As soon as Xu Chaomu had her fill, Shen Chi took her hand and they went for a stroll.

She was entirely unwilling, shaking off his hand every time he took hold.

He initially allowed her to fuss, but after the fourth or fifth time, his patience waned, and instead of holding her hand, he interlocked their fingers firmly, leaving her no chance to pull away.

Xu Chaomu had no choice but to give in.

“You know I’m physically weaker than you, yet you still bully me,” Xu Chaomu pouted.

“You’re not just physically weaker than me,” Shen Chi chuckled.

“What’s that supposed to mean,” Xu Chaomu grumbled, expecting him to spew nonsense.

Sure enough, he stated solemnly, “Your IQ is also not as high as mine.”

“Shen Chi, that’s personal attack!”

Xu Chaomu looked up indignantly, and beneath the moonlight, her gaze met his clear eyes.

And there were… the faint bite marks on his chin.

Her mood suddenly lifted considerably, eager to see how he would go to the company tomorrow, how he would conduct a meeting without being ridiculed by his subordinates.

“What I said is the truth,” Shen Chi tightened his grip on her hand.

He lowered his head to meet her watery eyes, which under the moonlight, were veiled with a layer of pale moon glow.

She was so beautiful that he felt his entire life was filled with sunshine.

Mumu, she was his Mumu, one of a kind.

Hand in hand, they strolled under the moonlight, stepping out of the living room and walking through the garden.

On the stone path, Xu Chaomu hopped along playfully.

Shen Chi could only follow her lead, occasionally pulling her back to ensure she didn’t walk too fast.

He was willing to indulge her like this forever.

The garden was filled with floral scents, from the strong essence of hibiscus, the subtle fragrance of water lilies, to the delicate aroma of jasmine…

Retro lily-lamp street lights lined the path, casting a bright light.

This light, softly shimmering on the ground, rivaled the moonlight.

The evening breeze gently caressed Xu Chaomu’s hair, dancing in the wind.

She adored the summer nights, the evening breeze carrying with it the scent of memories.

Such summer nights brought back thoughts of her unreturnable youth, her naïve eighteen-year-old self, and even earlier, the flush of being sixteen, the innocence of being ten.

Love also, like these summer nights, stirred the tenderness in her heart.

She had once loved a person so deeply, and this person was now walking by her side, holding her hand.

If there had been no detours, no ups and downs, would their love still be the same as it was at the beginning?

From now on, she would have no interest in admiring the lovely night; let the bright moon hang over the Western Pavilion alone.

They walked and stopped around the garden.

Sometimes, when Xu Chaomu grew tired, she would stubbornly refuse to move a step further.

“Shen Chi, let go of my hand. I want to sit on the stone bench for a while.”

“It’s too cold on the stone bench, you’re not allowed.”

“It’s summer now, not autumn, let alone winter. How can it be cold?”

“I said you’re not allowed,” Shen Chi was firm.

“…” Xu Chaomu was defeated and resorted to clinging to Shen Chi’s arm, refusing to walk.

She remembered a scene from five years ago when they took Dabai for a walk together; she was also too tired to walk and pretended to be stubborn, sitting on the roadside.

Back then, he had carried her slowly back to the Shen Family’s house…

It turned out that five years had passed.

Five years ago, she didn’t yet have this little bun in her belly.

Time was indeed a mysterious thing.

“I’ll take you to the billiard room to rest, I can teach you how to play pool,” Shen Chi suggested.

“Let’s go to the piano room. You can play the piano for me.”

Remembering the old times, Xu Chaomu thought of “Summer” which was fitting for this season of calm evenings and clear summer moons.

“Okay,” Shen Chi replied, his lips parting slightly, his large hand resting on her head. He lowered his gaze, his eyes reflecting the light and he appeared particularly relaxed and handsome.

Xu Chaomu also lifted her head, and in his eyes, she saw a miniature version of herself, along with the depth of adoration in his gaze, as profound as the ocean.

Holding onto his arm, Shen Chi led her toward the piano room.

At that moment, she became a docile kitten, retracting her sharp claws, her large eyes brimming with cuteness.

They didn’t have to walk far to reach the piano room, which was large and elegantly decorated.

The fresh floral curtains, the light green wallpaper, it was all understated and discreet, revealing a sophisticated and tasteful air throughout.

A costly piano stood not far from the floor-to-ceiling window, its lacquered surface reflecting a serene luster under the light.

Shen Chi led her to the couch beside the piano, his lips curling into a smile, “You sit here, I’ll play for you.”

“Mhm,” Xu Chaomu responded, propping her head with one hand, staring at him intently.

Why after thirteen years of looking at him, did he still look so captivating?

They say people who are attractive as children don’t look as good when they grow up, but Shen Chi not only didn’t look worse, he seemed to grow even more handsome?

It wasn’t fair.

Shen Chi released her hand; he loved to see the sweet smile on her face, like honey basking in the sunlight.