If You Could Hear My Heart

"No matter who your opponent is, as long as it's an illegal and criminal act, it will be exposed one day!" Shen Chi's tone was sharp.

"No, winners take all, losers crawl. Since you've won, everything you say is correct." Bai Man smiled faintly.

"With you being so stubborn, I don't need to waste my breath on you."

"Yeah, no need to reason with me. To this day, I still think I'm in the right. I just lost on a few details, that's all. I believe in myself."

Shen Chi fell silent. Indeed, there was nothing left to say to Bai Man.

"Shen Chi, where are you keeping my mother?" Bai Man's tone shifted, her gaze sharp like a leopard's.

"The same place as you: prison." Shen Chi's tone was as calm as water.

"Let me see her!"

"What, someone as cold-blooded as you, capable of killing, of harming babies, still has feelings?" Shen Chi sneered, his face full of disdain.

"Shen Chi, I haven't seen her in so long. Let me see her!"

"You can see her, if you tell me where the video is."

Bai Man shot Shen Chi a glance. So it was as she had suspected: to get anything out of this man, she had to trade something.

"The video? I destroyed it." Bai Man said lightly.

"Destroyed? Fine, then don't even think about seeing Jiang Zhilan." Shen Chi's expression was entirely indifferent.

He genuinely didn't care, not unless Xu Chaomu wanted it.

"Heh, then I won't see her. If you want the video, let Xu Chaomu come and get it herself," Bai Man retorted.

Shen Chi raised his wrist to glance at his watch. "Hearing you go on and on, I'm losing whatever interest I had left. Do you know the consequences of murder?"

"Death?" Bai Man smiled faintly, utterly fearless.

"I haven't decided yet. I'll discuss it with my woman when I get back, since you once made her wish for death."

At this point, Shen Chi's eyes grew dangerously sharp, and the lines of his face tightened.

Bai Man felt the razor-edge of Shen Chi's gaze slicing into her body bit by bit.

She shuddered. That look—she had seen it countless times.

He would look at her that way, but never at Xu Chaomu.

Similarly, the gentleness he reserved for Xu Chaomu had never graced her, not even for a moment.

That was the gulf between her and Xu Chaomu—a gap that would never close, no matter how hard she tried.

"Suit yourself," Bai Man said through gritted teeth, her face taut and her fists clenched.

She was no longer afraid of dying, so what was a life worse than death to her now?

"If you tell me the whereabouts of the video sooner, maybe I'll grant you a quicker death," Shen Chi said.

"You won't find it without me," Bai Man sneered. "How about you tell me you love me? Maybe then I'll tell you."

Bai Man thought Shen Chi was desperate to find that video, though she couldn't fathom what use it still had.

Shen Chi and Xiaobao had probably already done a paternity test…

Shen Chi chuckled coldly and said nothing.

From her plan, he could clearly tell that what Bai Man wanted was him—and his wealth.

Bai Man's so-called love for him was never pure. And, of course, he didn't need it to be.

Shen Chi stubbed out his cigarette, tossed it into the ashtray, and turned to leave.

Soon, Shen Chi's figure faded from Bai Man's view, retreating against the light, like a dream.

Bai Man stared at his tall and straight back for a long time, until he was entirely out of sight.

Clad in a long trench coat, Shen Chi was so young, so handsome—the most dazzling star in her past twenty-something years.

Outside the detention room, the bureau chief was still waiting.

"Mr. Shen, you've come out," the chief said, stepping forward as Shen Chi emerged.

"Keep an eye on her."

"Of course. Bai Man is a serious offender; I'll have someone guard her around the clock."

Shen Chi said no more and went directly to his driver, who pulled away from the police station.

The place where Bai Man and Jiang Zhilan were detained was far apart. However, Bai Man wasn't completely devoid of humanity; she still had feelings for her mother.

Shen Chi instructed his men to visit Jiang Zhilan's prison and inform her of recent developments.

Upon learning that her daughter had escaped from Singapore and committed further crimes, Jiang Zhilan was shocked.

But after the shock came immense sorrow.

Her emotions, oddly enough, mirrored Bai Xuan's—regret for the excessive indulgence they had shown Bai Man in the past.

Giving her everything she wanted, until a single disappointment drove her down a path of no return.

…

That evening, as Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu sat on the balcony, they gazed at the stars.

Xu Chaomu had personally made some desserts and cakes. She cut a piece for Shen Chi and another for Xiaobao.

The view from the balcony was stunning. Although it was winter, the scenery remained as lovely as ever.

Outside the windows, the stars sparkled, the moonlight was hazy, and the clouds were faint as silk.

The light and shadow cascaded over tall trees, their silhouettes flickering softly under the breeze.

Through the windows, you could hear the wind blowing, the rustling of bamboo leaves, and the gentle murmur of flowing water.

"Mommy, the cake you made is so delicious," Xiaobao said as he ate the chocolate-flavored slice.

"Eat slowly," Xu Chaomu said, wiping the crumbs from the corner of his mouth.

"Can I eat this every day?"

"No," Xu Chaomu replied firmly. "You'll get fat, and then the little girls won't like you anymore."

"Oh, then I can't eat it every day."

"Right. Not just cake—things like candy, chocolate, and fried chicken shouldn't be eaten too often. They'll all make you gain weight, understand?"

"Got it," Xiaobao nodded. "If I get fat, the little girls won't like me."

"Exactly. Mommy wouldn't like it either," Xu Chaomu said seriously. "If you get fat, you won't be as handsome as Daddy."

Xiaobao glanced at Shen Chi. Yup, when he grows up, he wants to be as handsome as Daddy.

Kids are easy to persuade. After just one piece, Xiaobao truly didn't ask for more.

Xu Chaomu also made him some freshly squeezed orange juice. Satisfied, Xiaobao held his glass and said, "I'll take this to my room to drink. I'll go check if my little brother is awake."

"Don't wake him up."

"Got it! If I wake him up, Mommy won't be able to sleep well with Daddy tonight."

"…" Xu Chaomu blinked. Something didn't seem right about that.

Shen Chi said, "Go on."

Xiaobao glanced at Shen Chi. He knew it—Old Shen was just waiting to shoo him off so he could have Mommy all to himself.

Out of gratitude for the cake, Xiaobao left, clutching his orange juice.

Once Xiaobao was gone, only Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu were left on the balcony.

"Why aren't you eating? Do you think my cake doesn't taste good?" Xu Chaomu handed him a piece.

"Eating sweets at night will make me fat," Shen Chi said with a disdainful frown.

"But I made it myself. It took a long time."

"It's not like you made it just for me."

Xu Chaomu laughed. Jealous, was he?

"Making it for our son and making it for you—are they not the same?" Xu Chaomu asked, her bright eyes looking straight at him.