If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 124: The Shen Family Is Preparing For a Celebration

Translator: 549690339

A middle-aged man and a woman supported each other as they descended, their demeanour dignified.

The man was dressed in a Sun Yat-sen suit, taking firm strides, and exuding a sprightly aura. The woman was resplendent in jewels and a blue cheongsam, matching well with the man beside her.

A necklace of White Pearls hung around her neck, radiant and seemingly brand-new.

Bai Man also emerged from this car, her smile brimming as she called out, “Dad,” “Mom.”

Xu Chaomu couldn’t hear them, but she could read their lips.

It turned out that these two were Bai Man’s parents.

This was Xu Chaomu’s first time meeting them.

A pang of emotion hit her eyes; she truly envied Bai Man. Her parents were alive and adored her. She had everything, even the most outstanding man in C City, soon to be her fiancé.

She peered silently through the window. Behind them followed another car, likely carrying several bodyguards.

She knew the Bai Family was very wealthy, almost on par with the Shen Family.

The two families were long-time friends, a perfect match in social standing.

As she lay low by the window, two sharp, cold stares pierced through.

Xu Chaomu shuddered; Shen Chi had seen her.

She immediately felt uneasy, as if caught doing something naughty. She promptly ran away, drew the curtains, and descended the stairs.

Upon reaching downstairs, she found the living room deserted, the Shen family’s servants having gone out to greet the esteemed guests.

After munching hurriedly on some breakfast, she slung her bag over her shoulder and exited through a side door, finally feeling a sense of abandonment.

She overheard the servants chatting at the entrance.

“I heard that Mr. Bai and his wife are here to discuss marriage arrangements with the Shen family.”

“Ah? They came over so early in the morning?”

“Yes, the fourth young master personally went to fetch them. Both the Bai and

Shen families take this very seriously.”

“It’s about time for the discussion. Miss Bai seems easy to get along with. It’d be good for her to marry in sooner.”

“Once Miss Bai gets married here, I guess the fourth young master will move out with her. He wouldn’t live at the Shen family’s forever. He doesn’t get along too well with the few in the west wing. It would be better for them to move out.’

“Although the fourth young master can be a bit difficult, seeing him every day is quite a treat for the eyes.”

“Be serious. Oh, right, I heard that Mrs. Zhou is also returning today.”

“Is that so? Looking at the commotion today, it seems they’re getting serious.

The Shen family is preparing for a celebration.”

Xu Chaomu’s pace halted; Auntie Zhou was coming back, too?

Shen Chi was getting married and moving out, and she, too, would have to leave the Shen family…

The stray kitten finally had to return to nature, where she belonged.

She was always a wild child. After eight years of luxury, she was content. But why did she feel reluctant to leave…

This reluctance, like weeds, entwined around her heart, tightening, tightening, tightening…

So tight she struggled to breathe.

“Miss Xu.” Old Cheng approached.

“Ah?” Xu Chaomu blinked and came back to her senses.

“I’m here to take you to class.”

“Okay, thank you, Uncle Cheng.”

Xu Chaomu had long wanted to flee; today, the Shen family’s home did not belong to her. She didn’t even want to come back tonight.

She quickly slipped into Old Cheng’s car, seating herself in the back with her head down, clutching her backpack. She dared not look outside, afraid to see someone she didn’t want to encounter.

Old Cheng didn’t linger either; he started the car and headed towards the school from the Shen family villa.

“Your Shen family’s garden is really beautiful, and there are so many varieties of flowers.” Bai Man’s mother Jiang Zhilan exclaimed, as she casually picked a jasmine blossom.

The garden was indeed stunning this season, bursting with vibrant purples and reds and a plethora of colours. The foliage was well pruned, making the flowers thrive beautifully.

Jasmine, cherry blossoms, crabapple, orchids… Some had already bloomed, while others were still buds. A breeze stirred the delicate fragrances.

“If Madam likes, choose a few to take back.” Butler Ling said with a smile.

“No need, no need, I can come and enjoy them anytime.” Jiang Zhilan replied with a laugh.

“That’s true, Madam. You should visit the Shen family more often.” Butler Ling suggested.

Shen Chi escorted Mr. Bai and Mrs. Bai around the entire Shen residence, from the garden to the sports court, and then from the sports court to the swimming pool…

By the time they had walked through the Shen estate, a long time had passed.

“Dad, Mom, you must be tired; come rest in the living room!” Bai Man smiled, arm in arm with her mother, with whom she had a very good relationship.

Today, Bai Man was also dressed beautifully, in a white ankle-length dress, her gown flowing. Tall and slender, she looked even more graceful in the dress.

Standing beside the equally tall Shen Chi, they looked like the perfect couple.

“Uncle, Auntie, please come in and have a seat,” Shen Chi invited as well.

“Alright, alright, it’s been a long time since we’ve visited the Shen residence. Coming here feels like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden,” Jiang Zhilan joked.

“Auntie, you jest. Just yesterday, I visited the Bai residence, and whether it’s the architecture or the interior design, I can’t begin to tell how many times better it is than the Shen’s,” Shen Chi responded with a hint of a smile.

“Now, the fourth master certainly knows how to flatter,” Jiang Zhilan was delighted by Shen Chi’s compliment.

After that, everyone headed into the living room.

Butler Ling was busy preparing tea and soon brought a cup for each guest.

Shen Chi glanced at the tea leaves and said to Butler Ling, “Uncle Bai prefers pu’erh tea, and Auntie likes white tea; go change them.”

Butler Ling promptly took the tea away, “Alright, fourth master, I’ll prepare it right away.”

Bai Xuan and Jiang Zhilan nodded with a smile, both full of praise, “The fourth master still remembers what tea we like to drink. We’re really touched. To have such a fine son-in-law, what more could we ask for?”

Bai Man coyly hugged Jiang Zhilan’s arm and protested, “Mom, I’m very sensible too. How come I never hear you praise me? I’ll get jealous.”

“I’ve been raising you all these years; I know you well. As long as you don’t cause trouble, that’s enough for me. But once you’re with the fourth master, I can rest completely assured,” Jiang Zhilan said with a laugh as she glanced at Bai Man.

“Mom, that’s no way to talk about your daughter. If you keep this up, Shen Chi might start to dislike me. If he doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll be coming to you for compensation,” Bai Man said with a twinkle in her eye.

Bai Man, sitting next to Jiang Zhilan, rested her head on her mother’s shoulder.

Bai Man then playfully squinted at Shen Chi, “Right?”

Shen Chi’s lips curved subtly, and he replied, “How could I not want you.”

Jiang Zhilan laughed again, wrapping her arms around her daughter, “See, you’re spoiled by the fourth master. After marrying into the Shen family, you can’t be so wilful anymore; be more accommodating in everything. The fourth master is busy on a regular basis; you can’t trouble him.”

“I know, I know,” Bai Man replied petulantly, then tenderly glanced at Shen Chi standing nearby.

Before long, Butler Ling brought in the freshly brewed tea. The fragrance filled the room, infused with the inviting aroma of the tea.

Mr. Bai, Bai Xuan, spoke sparingly but was full of praise for the tea, “The fourth master is really thoughtful. This pu’erh is aged; just the fragrance is mellow and lingering..”