If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 712: Chapter 712: Take the Photo Back

That year, the great fire had consumed everything in her home, and she managed to save nothing.

By the time the fire was extinguished, black ruins covered the area, desolate and barren.

Thinking about these things, Xu Chaomu felt a pang of sorrow, a coolness in her chest.

It’s already been thirteen years…

“Chaomu, I have a photo album; it even has your pictures,” said Mo Shuifu, bringing over the album.

“I just replaced this album this year, the old one was too worn out,” Mo Shuifu said, smiling as she opened the floral-patterned album.

The album was beautiful, with a green background adorned with many differently colored petals.

“Why the sudden interest in looking at photos? Missing your childhood self?” Mo Shuifu laughed.

Xu Chaomu also laughed, “Yeah, I can hardly remember what I looked like as a child.”

“Hmph, this is you,” Mo Shuifu turned to one page and pointed to the little girl in the picture.

The little girl was wearing an adorable knit sweater, holding a lollipop in her hand.

Xu Chaomu chuckled, “What a silly girl, all dazed. Who’s this?”

“Not silly, quite cute,” laughed Mo Shuifu.

Standing beside Xu Chaomu was Xu Mengxi, and Mo Shuifu, wary of upsetting her, was about to turn the page, but Xu Chaomu pressed down on her hand.

Xu Chaomu pulled out that photo, her gaze landing on her mother.

Her mother was truly beautiful, like the loveliest begonia in spring, elegant and tranquil, tender and serene.

The longer Xu Chaomu looked, the more her smile grew, as memories of her childhood flooded her mind.

“My mother was really beautiful,” Xu Chaomu remarked.

“Yes, Aunt Xu was beautiful. I really liked her when I was young, and she was also good to me,” Mo Shuifu said.

Xu Chaomu wanted to smile, but her smile froze on the verge of her lips, tinged with bitterness.

Her mother would forever remain in her memories, forever young.

In that moment, she thought of Zhou Ran, the person responsible for her mother’s death…

Pain jabbed at her chest, sharp and intermittent.

Why did it have to be so…

Mo Shuifu already knew what had happened to Xu Chaomu, and she quickly tried to comfort her, “Chaomu, don’t overthink it. You’re doing fine now. Shihan is very good to you, you have to be well.”

“He is very kind to me, but my heart aches,” Xu Chaomu’s voice choked. @@novelbin@@

“Chaomu, let the past be past, alright? Be happy. Have you forgotten? Aunt Xu always told you to be happy,” Mo Shuifu said.

“That’s why I’m trying so hard to forget it, but if I do, would my mother forgive me?” Xu Chaomu said faintly.

“What Aunt Xu would wish most is for you to be well.”

Xu Chaomu hung her head, silently looking at the photograph in her hands.

On the yellowed photo, her mom was with her and Mo Shuifu.

Although time has passed so very far, she still felt a warmth when she saw this photo…

Maybe she was lucky, after the most beloved person to her had departed, she was sent another man who loved her.

If only there weren’t so many barriers between them, would things be perfect?

Too bad, there are no ‘ifs’…

She found it impossible to forgive Zhou Ran; truly impossible.

When she was with Shen Chi, she would try her hardest to forget this affair, but not when she was with Zhou Ran.

“Shuifu, I’ve almost forgotten all about my childhood. Do you remember if any stranger ever came looking for my mom?” Xu Chaomu asked casually.

“A stranger? Nothing of the sort, Aunt Xu was very quiet,” Mo Shuifu pondered, “However, there was one strange man who came to see Aunt Xu.”

Mo Shuifu remembered, five years ago, when Shen Shihan saw these photos, he had also asked her: Did any stranger come looking for Xu Chaomu’s mother?

At that time, her answer to Shen Shihan was no, but in fact, there had been.

“A strange man? Someone I know?”

Mo Shuifu shook her head, “I don’t recognize him, and you probably don’t either.”

“What happened after that?”

“He happened to ask at my house, and my dad said no one named Xu Mengxi lived here,” said Mo Shuifu, “Because your mom had instructed us to tell everyone that, no matter who it was.”

“Right, my mother didn’t like being disturbed,” Xu Chaomu uttered softly.

Memories of the past floated further and further away…

“Why bring this up all of a sudden?” Mo Shuifu asked with curiosity.

Xu Chaomu shook her head, “It’s nothing, just came to mind. By the way, do you remember what that man looked like?”

Mo Shuifu shook her head again, “I don’t remember clearly. If he showed up again, I might recognize him, but I can’t recall now. I just remember he was young, tall, and handsome.”

“Has anyone else come looking for my mother?” Xu Chaomu inquired.

“To my recollection, just that one. There might have been others, but then we’d have to check my dad’s diary,” Mo Shuifu replied.

“Uncle Mo’s diary? Did Uncle Mo have a habit of keeping a diary?” Xu Chaomu suddenly felt surprised.

“My dad had that habit,” Mo Shuifu said.

Mentioning Uncle Mo, Xu Chaomu also felt a sense of regret, after all, she didn’t even know when Uncle Mo had passed away.

“Then… can I take a look at it?” Xu Chaomu asked, “I don’t mean anything by it.”

“Of course,” Mo Shuifu did not hesitate, “It’s been so many years since my dad passed away, and I’ve never touched his things.”

“Shuifu, thank you,” Xu Chaomu expressed her gratitude.

She never imagined that, thirteen years later, she would be able to see a picture of her mother again.

“No need to thank me. About the diary, I’ll look for it when I get home,” Mo Shuifu said.

“That’s fine, no rush,” Xu Chaomu nodded.

In fact, she wasn’t all that curious about who her father was. Rather, she didn’t really want to know.

If her father had a happy family of his own, she would prefer to remain unaware.

All she wanted was to see if there were any traces or clues in the diary… or maybe…

She shook her head, not wanting to think further.

Lately, many negative thoughts had surfaced, such as her desire to collect evidence…