If You Could Hear My Heart

Shen Chi poured her a glass of warm water, and when the glass reached her hand, she grasped it tightly in fear.

The night was cold, but at this moment, the warmth from the glass spread through her body, making her feel much better, as if waking up from a nightmare.

She opened her eyes; it was still the warm tones of the bedroom at home.

"What time is it..." Xu Chaomu glanced at Shen Chi.

"Ten in the evening."

"I've slept for so long..." Xu Chaomu murmured, lowering her head.

"It's all over, don't think about it."

"How is Shui Fu..." Xu Chaomu asked unwillingly, her eyes flickering with hope.

Shen Chi shook his head, his tone regretful and thin: "Zinc phosphide is highly toxic, the hospital couldn't save her."

Actually, not long after they got into the car, Mo Shuifu had already taken poison. If she had been discovered and saved at that moment, perhaps her life could have been spared.

Sadly, it was too late.

Xu Chaomu remained silent in great stillness, feeling as if a heavy bell had struck her heart.

"They... are still together..." Xu Chaomu looked at the white wall ahead, her gaze powerless.

"Yes."

Even though it was in this manner...

Shen Chi thought, if back then he had found Xu Chaomu's remains and confirmed her death, he too... would have followed her with a gun.

Similarly, if it had been Xu Chaomu, if the explosion on the mountain hadn't spared him, she would have gone with him too.

To outsiders, these actions seem incredible, but in their eyes, it was just a matter of taking life and death lightly.

Taking life and death lightly, but never letting go of you.

Many years ago, Shen Chi was indifferent to the word "love," but only after experiencing it did he come to cherish it.

While Xu Chaomu was foolishly holding onto the cup and staring at the wall, Shen Chi suddenly turned his head and planted a kiss on her lips, as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, then withdrew.

Xu Chaomu blinked and looked at Shen Chi.

"Fourth brother..."

"Yes, be good." Shen Chi smiled slightly, using the same tone he often did when she was still in her teens.

Xu Chaomu looked at him: "Fourth brother, I never want to leave you."

Shen Chi stroked her long hair, his gaze steady.

Xu Chaomu drank a few sips of water until her body felt alive again. She regretted a little: "Fourth brother, if we hadn't gotten into the car, perhaps Shui Fu wouldn't have taken the poison..."

"If she truly held such a notion, it would have happened sooner or later."

Xu Chaomu said no more; she knew that Shen Chi was right.

"Don't think about it, go to sleep." Shen Chi said.

"Is it still raining?"

"Tomorrow will be a sunny day."

...

In the end, Mo Shuifu and Shen Shihan were still together, but in an extreme yet sole way.

Not everyone understands love, but those who do know it is both bitter and sour.

Niannian was taken away by Liu Rumei, and half a month later, Liu Rumei took Niannian and Shen Yanrou abroad together.

Before leaving, Shen Cexian went to see them off.

In these more than half a month, Shen Cexian had aged a lot, with many more grey hairs appearing.

In the waiting room, Liu Rumei handed Niannian to Shen Yanrou, while she pushed Shen Cexian's wheelchair to the window.

Outside the window, the sky was boundlessly blue. White clouds floated across the sky, like large chunks of cotton candy.

The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and occasionally a few birds might fly past.

Everything was tranquil, even the comings and goings of people at the airport were orderly, as if they were merely performing a simple step in life.

"Cexian, who would have thought we've known each other for so many years, time flies." Liu Rumei looked out the window, her voice drifting.

Shen Cexian didn't speak, yet his heart was tumultuous.

"I know, the first person you liked was called Xu Mengxi, and later, it was because my eyes resembled hers so much that I was fortunate to know you and even marry you." Liu Rumei smiled bitterly.

If not for that, she might never have met him in this lifetime.

"Rumei..."

"Cexian." Liu Rumei interrupted his words, "Actually, I have no regrets at all, in fact, I am thankful that I met you. When I was young, I liked you, very much."

"Of course, I still like you now." Liu Rumei added with a smile.

"Rumei, I'm sorry." Shen Cexian's face bore deep apology.

In this life, he had wronged three women.

Liu Rumei shook her head: "Don't say such things, some things aren't decisions we can make."

"Cexian, do you know who you love the most?" Liu Rumei asked.

"Aran." Shen Cexian replied without hesitation, even in front of Liu Rumei.

"Yes, I saw it long ago." Liu Rumei smiled, "In our youth, there was a time when you got drunk, and we made a mistake. Later, whenever you quarreled with Aran, you would come to me, but I saw it long ago—you loved her."

"Mengxi is the white moonlight in your heart, a secret crush carefully hidden deep inside. But Aran is different, your love for her is unabashed, yet she is strong-willed, and so are you, so you divorced."

Shen Cexian nodded, knowing well that Liu Rumei had always understood him.

This was also why he had never driven her away over the years, even if he didn't love her.

To him, Liu Rumei felt more like a soulmate.

She would listen to his innermost thoughts, would drink with him, and that was why he only sought her company when feeling down.

"Thankfully, everything is fine. You and Aran will always be together." Liu Rumei looked out the window, as if relieved.

"Take good care of yourself abroad." Shen Cexian looked up at her.

"Yes, don't worry, I'm better at taking care of myself than you are." Liu Rumei seemed rather at peace, all these years finally coming to rest.

"If anything happens, call me." Shen Cexian said, "If there are any difficulties, tell me, or tell Achi. Come back to visit when you have time..."

"Yes, once we're settled, I'll bring Niannian back to visit."

"Take care."

In the end, men are more reserved than women, no matter how much he wished to say, Shen Cexian was left only with the words "Take care."

"If you're really worried, just give me a call every few days." Liu Rumei laughed, "The first thing I have to do after going abroad is marry Yanrou off, and when she gets married, you as her father must come."

"Of course."

"It's getting late." Liu Rumei glanced at her watch, "I'll take another stroll with you."

She pushed Shen Cexian's wheelchair, walking silently in the deserted part of the airport.

You could hear the commotion downstairs, but to their ears, it was only the sound of wheels rubbing against the floor.

No one spoke, simply looking ahead with mutual understanding.

The past flickered in their minds, from youth to old age, ending in tranquility...