If You Could Hear My Heart

Xiao Mo remained silent; he agreed with Shen Chi's statement—revenge.

"Then, Mr. Shen, please be careful." Xiao Mo could only repeatedly remind him.

"Don't worry, I still have all of you, right?" Shen Chi said with a slight curve of his lips.

"Mm."

Xu Chaomu overheard their conversation and shouted through the remote connection: "Don't push her too far. If it comes to the worst, just shoot. I believe the police won't sentence you."

"Don't worry, I understand that." Shen Chi reassured her. "Do you trust your husband?"

Xu Chaomu nodded repeatedly: "Mm, I do."

"Then, once your cooking is done, I promise to come back. Today, I only want the dishes you make yourself. Remember what I like to eat?"

Xu Chaomu nodded: "I remember…"

"Deal—if it doesn't taste good, I'll have *you* for lunch," Shen Chi joked.

"At a time like this, you're still joking with me." Xu Chaomu's eyes turned red around the rims.

Shen Chi chuckled; he no longer felt so uneasy inside.

The car quickly caught up with Xiao Mo. Sure enough, as he looked out the window, there was a convoy of vehicles ahead, with two armed police officers standing next to each car.

Ahead, not far away, was a red compact car, and no one inside it had stepped out.

When Shen Chi arrived, everyone made way, allowing him to drive his car to the center of the scene.

Shen Chi didn't get out either but discreetly readied his handgun.

The police were all aiming their guns at the red compact car, but no one dared to act rashly, because there was still a hostage inside the vehicle.

When Shen Chi arrived, the police made an announcement: "To the person in the car ahead, state your demands and do not harm the hostage."

The driver's-side door opened, and Bai Man stepped out nonchalantly.

She genuinely had nothing to lose because Jiang Zhilan's gun was pressed against the head of the little boy inside.

From his car, Shen Chi saw the boy, merely four or five years old, crying "wah-wah" in fear. His cries echoed across the mountain pass.

The mountain sun was bright, yet gusts of roaring wind would sweep in from time to time.

The wind rustled the leaves on the mountain, creating a mournful, desolate atmosphere.

Shen Chi removed his sunglasses, calmly watching Bai Man in the distance. His demeanor was composed, but his gaze was as sharp and predatory as a hawk's.

"Husband, have we arrived?" Xu Chaomu asked nervously. "Raise the monitoring device higher and let me help keep an eye on things."

Shen Chi thought it was a reasonable suggestion and raised the monitor a little higher.

From the live feed, Xu Chaomu spotted Bai Man and was somewhat shocked.

She hadn't seen Bai Man since the explosion last time, and she hadn't expected Bai Man to have changed so much. She now looked like a woman in her forties or fifties.

Bai Man's hair had been cut short, her complexion was sallow and bloodless, and she appeared to have casually thrown on an overcoat. Beneath it, faint traces of a prison uniform could still be seen.

Xu Chaomu widened her eyes, struggling to believe that this was Bai Man—the woman who had once stood at the peak of her glory.

In those days, Bai Man's face had been everywhere in C City—on its streets, magazine covers, and giant electronic billboards. At her prime, Bai Man had been nothing less than a goddess in the hearts of men.

Although her appearance had changed drastically, traces of her former radiance could faintly be discerned in her features.

"Don't make a sound later," Shen Chi instructed Xu Chaomu.

"I know."

"If you dare to make a sound, you can go home tonight and copy our marriage certificate by hand," Shen Chi warned her.

"You're still joking!" Xu Chaomu glared at him.

After that, Xu Chaomu fell silent, her eyes fixed on the scene ahead.

Shen Chi remained seated in the car, unmoving, while Bai Man stood motionless outside the red car. Clearly, Bai Man had noticed Shen Chi's arrival.

"Bai Man, release the hostage and come back to the station with us. We can reduce your sentence," the chief in the foremost position negotiated.

"Reduce my sentence? Life imprisonment?!" Bai Man laughed coldly.

The chief said no more; the most leniency he could offer her was life imprisonment.

But clearly, Bai Man didn't care about life imprisonment. Every day she lived now was nothing but torment.

"State your conditions. What will it take for you to release the hostage?" the chief called out, maintaining full vigilance.

Bai Man leaned against the car, her gaze piercing through several police vehicles until it landed squarely on Shen Chi's armored car in the middle. She froze.

She had spotted Shen Chi in the driver's seat and hadn't expected him to come in person.

Bai Man raised a finger, pointing toward Shen Chi, while lightly lifting her chin. "I just want to talk to Shen Chi."

At that moment, Xu Chaomu saw Bai Man recover a trace of her former arrogant demeanor.

The chief glanced at Shen Chi behind him. Shen Chi nodded slightly in acknowledgment, prompting the chief to step aside. "Fine. What do you want to say to Mr. Shen?"

"Shen Chi, too scared to get out of the car? Where's your bastard son?" Bai Man asked pompously, her chin held high.

Shen Chi slipped the handgun into the pocket of his suit trousers, pushed open the car door, and stood by its side.

Xu Chaomu covered her mouth, her eyes wide with fear, for she had already detected the malice in Bai Man's eyes.

Her husband, however, was far more composed. After exiting the vehicle, Shen Chi stood firmly by the car and cast a calculating glance in Bai Man's direction.

Sunlight illuminated Shen Chi's face, highlighting the resolute and cold lines of his features. His eyes were dark, like an unfathomable abyss.

Bai Man stared at Shen Chi. This man was always like this—calm as ice and somehow capable of maintaining his unique composure and grace in any circumstance.

In terms of aura alone, she was already at a disadvantage.

"Bai Man, I, Shen Chi, am not the type to be swayed into doing whatever you dictate."

Shen Chi spoke indifferently, his gaze still fixed on Bai Man's face.

"I'm asking you—where's Xiaobao?!" Bai Man roared.

Several officers immediately tightened their grip on their guns. The chief bellowed, "Bai Man, behave yourself!"

Xiao Mo stood not far behind Shen Chi, his gun at the ready, awaiting Shen Chi's signal.

Xiao Mo scanned the surroundings. If he could locate a hidden sniper point capable of hitting Jiang Zhilan inside the car, this could all end smoothly.

However, if the shot merely wounded Jiang Zhilan and didn't take her out instantly, the young boy would surely be in danger!

For now, Xiao Mo hadn't identified such an optimal sniper point.

Feeling uneasy, Xiao Mo continued searching for alternative strategies.

"My son is, of course, at home." Shen Chi stared at her.

"Didn't I tell you to bring your son here?!"

"A child that young shouldn't have to face rabid people," Shen Chi replied flatly. "If you have something to say, say it to me."

"The drive here doesn't take long. Have someone bring your son over, and then we'll talk," Bai Man persisted.

"You orchestrated this entire escape just to see my son? Then, on his behalf, let me extend his deepest honor," Shen Chi said as he glanced at his watch. "I don't have time to waste with you. If you have nothing to say, I'll be leaving. After all, people are inherently selfish. That little boy in the car has nothing to do with me."

"You—!" Bai Man slammed her fist against the car door in frustration.

Fine. So ruthless. This truly was the Shen Chi she knew.