If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 711: Chapter 711: Do You Want to Know Who Your Father Is?

Once upon a time, her third brother also used to comfort her like this.

She would feel upset after encountering unpleasantness with Shen Chi, but as soon as she was with Shen Shihan, happiness would return.

Anyway, her moods came and went quickly, for she was a carefree soul.

The little girl’s hand was still around Shen Shihan’s neck, and Shen Shihan teased her, “Then give uncle a kiss.”

The little girl wasn’t shy at all, with the innocence of a five- or six-year-old, unaware of the world’s complexities.

She liked Shen Shihan very much, indeed, and she happily wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the forehead.

After the kiss, the little girl laughed nonstop to herself.

Xu Chaomu also laughed upon seeing this, never having imagined that the cold, indifferent Shen Shihan could be so tender-hearted five years later.

“Uncle, I like you, do you like me too?” the little girl asked earnestly. @@novelbin@@

“Of course, I do,” Shen Shihan replied with a laugh.

“How much do you like me?” the little girl echoed his earlier words.

“As much as you like uncle, that’s how much uncle likes you.”

Clearly pleased with the answer, the little girl happily snuggled into Shen Shihan’s neck again.

“Zuozuo, is it okay to go home now? Otherwise, Mommy will worry,” Shen Shihan coaxed her.

“No.”

“If you don’t behave, uncle will stop liking you.”

“If I’m obedient, will you like me more?”

“That’s possible.”

Only then did the little girl reluctantly let go of him, climbed down from his lap, and waved goodbye.

“Then I’ll go home first, Uncle. You should visit often.”

“Sure.” Shen Shihan smiled faintly.

The little girl waved to Mo Shuifu and Xu Chaomu as well before she skipped away with her little yellow duck backpack bouncing on her back.

Once she was gone, Shen Shihan’s expression returned to its usual calm.

This calmness, as always, carried depth and a cool detachment, his eyes dark and fathomless.

He closed the music score, stood up, and walked over to Mo Shuifu.

“Have you eaten?” he asked indifferently.

“Yeah, you?”

“Got off the plane in the morning, came to see you, happened to find you absent.”

“I went to find Chaomu,” Mo Shuifu said quietly.

“Okay, you two talk; I’m heading to the corporation,” Shen Shihan said, his face devoid of much expression.

“Won’t you stay for a while?” Mo Shuifu implored him to stay.

She hadn’t seen Shen Shihan for a long time and had an inkling of what kept him busy, yet she hoped otherwise.

“No need.”

Shen Shihan strode towards the exit of the piano room, halfway through, he turned his head.

“Chaomu, I have a few words for you,” he said, glancing at Xu Chaomu.

“Oh,” Xu Chaomu responded and stepped forward.

Shen Shihan walked outside, and Xu Chaomu followed him, both reaching the trellis outside the piano store.

Though at the close of summer, the flowers and plants here were still lush and verdant, quite a sight.

“Third brother,” Xu Chaomu called out to him.

“Last time, that man, I’ve heard he was hospitalized,” Shen Shihan remarked calmly.

Xu Chaomu knew who he referred to and nodded, “Fourth brother beat him up.”

“Yeah, I’ve looked into it,” Shen Shihan said. “That man brought it upon himself, his death would be no loss.”

“A beating did him good,” Xu Chaomu said, still indignant.

Many days had passed, but she still felt unsettled whenever the incident came to mind.

“Angering your fourth brother, he’s lucky to be left with half a life,” Shen Shihan noted.

“Yeah,” Xu Chaomu felt no sympathy.

“Chaomu,” Shen Shihan spoke gravely, “do you know whose child you’re carrying?”

“I…” Xu Chaomu lowered her head, unsure if she should disclose this to Shen Shihan.

She was at a loss for words, sensing her reluctance to share too much with him.

The events from five years ago had cast a deep shadow in her heart.

He was no longer the trustworthy third brother she knew…

Well then, they probably wouldn’t have much to do with each other in the future.

“Whatever happens, remember that the child in your belly is Shen Chi’s,” Shen Shihan sighed, suddenly.

“Yeah,” Xu Chaomu replied softly.

Shen Shihan said nothing more, as a faint fragrance wafted through the air beneath the trellis.

“Chaomu, I’m leaving now. Keep Mo Shuifu company,” he said.

“Wait, third brother,” Xu Chaomu stopped him. “Sister Shui Fu… can she really not have children anymore?”

She could tell that Mo Shuifu yearned for a child, and so did Shen Shihan himself.

Shen Shihan paused, his eyes growing darker and deeper like still water, his facial contours edged with chilliness.

“It’s all luck,” Shen Shihan dropped those words, not elaborating.

Xu Chaomu detected a trace of heartache in his tone, but it was momentary; Shen Shihan quickly composed himself.

When Xu Chaomu looked at him again, his face had resumed its usual coldness.

“I’m off.”

With that, Shen Shihan didn’t linger and left the piano store.

Xu Chaomu watched his retreating figure, feeling a sense of desolation.

No matter how much she had once hated him, she still hoped that he and Shui Fu would have a child…

As he left, Xu Chaomu planned to return to the piano store.

But, just then, she received a text message: Xu Chaomu, do you want to know who your father is?

She was immediately startled, a mixture of shock, nervousness, panic, and unease flooding her.

What did this mean?

Who sent this to her?

Her father?

More than a decade ago, she often pondered this question, who her father was. But since arriving at the Shen Family, she had scarcely thought about it.

To her, “father” was an optional term; she had absolutely no emotional connection to it.

However, this unexpected message shook her.

Who was her father?

Her mother had never spoken of it; seeing her mother’s reluctance, she wouldn’t ask, as she had always been considerate as a child.

After so many years, she was not curious, yet, the sudden text message still shocked her.

Her heartbeat quickened. Afraid Shen Chi would see such a message, she deleted it.

“Chaomu, Chaomu!” Mo Shuifu called out to her.

“Ah, coming,” Xu Chaomu gathered herself and walked towards the piano store.

Mo Shuifu sat in the piano store, tidied up a bit, and asked, “Some kids will come for piano lessons this afternoon, do you want to teach them?”

“Sure, I know how to play many pieces.”

Although she had nearly forgotten them all…

At that moment, she suddenly missed the piano pieces played by Shen Chi; his were the most beautiful.

Mo Shuifu and Xu Chaomu sat together in the piano store for a while, Mo Shuifu even brewed some tea for Xu Chaomu.

“Shui Fu, does your family have any old photos? I’d like to see…” Xu Chaomu said to her.

“Yes, the piano store has some, let me get them,” Mo Shuifu stood up.

Xu Chaomu nodded; she wanted to see the old photos, within them lay her earliest memories.

In fact, she was provoked by that text message.

She also wanted to see her mother, she missed her…