If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 579: Chapter 579: Taking the Baby to See the Ocean
 

That night, Shen Chi held Xu Chaomu in his arms as they fell asleep.

Worried she might not sleep well, he made her a cup of calming tea.

This tea, he had brewed it once when Xu Chaomu first arrived at the Shen Family. Of course, it was only for her that he had brewed it.

Latterly, once Xu Chaomu stopped having nightmares and no longer woke up frightened at night, he ceased brewing the tea for her.

In the evening, holding the steaming cup of tea and taking in its familiar scent, her nose tingled, and hot tears promptly began swirling in her eyes.

Maybe it was exhaustion from crying, but shortly after he had embraced her, she drifted off into dreamland.

Gradually, he too fell asleep.

His arm was wrapped around her the entire time. Initially, they slept head to head, but later on, Xu Chaomu rested her head on his arm.

Perhaps it was comfortable resting on his arm, because that night, she used his arm as a pillow throughout.

In the middle of the night, Shen Chi’s arm began to feel numb, and by the next morning, it was nearly without sensation.

But seeing Xu Chaomu sleeping soundly, he didn’t move and let her lie on it as she pleased.

Sometimes, in his half-asleep state, he would hear Xu Chaomu murmur and talk in her sleep.

Listening carefully, she was calling out for her mother…

“Mom… don’t leave me…”

Shen Chi heaved a sigh. This knot in her heart, how was he to help untie it for her?

For those days, Shen Chi didn’t go to the corporation; he handed all big and small matters over to Xiao Mo.

The storm raged violently all night long, and the next day everything was still damp, but by the third day, the sun came out, and clarity was restored everywhere.

The water traces on the ground had long dried up, though the river’s levels had risen quite a bit.

The world, cleansed by the rain, was clear and bright, exceptionally fresh. The fragrance of green grass and earth hung in the air, while flowers swayed gracefully in the breeze.

Those two days, Shen Chi stayed by Xu Chaomu’s side without leaving, attentively caring for her.

The day after the storm, Shen Chi changed into a casual white T-shirt, looking bright and handsome.

Xu Chaomu was still lying quietly in bed, staring in the direction of the curtains, motionless.

Shen Chi picked out a similar white T-shirt from the closet for her; at first glance, it looked quite like a couples’ shirt.

Seeing that Xu Chaomu didn’t get up, he bent over and tickled her, “Mumu, get up. I’m taking you to the beach.”

Xu Chaomu blinked but said nothing.

Since that night, she had hardly spoken over the past two days. She lay in bed all of yesterday, silent, not eating, just quietly watching the position of the curtains as the sun rose and set.

Today’s weather was very good, the sky clear and the air fresh.

Shen Chi had promised to take her to the beach, so he kept pestering her.

“Mumu, don’t you really like the sea?”

Still, Xu Chaomu remained silent, even quietly closing her eyes.

Shen Chi was exceptionally patient; anyone else would have walked out on her by now. But how could Xu Chaomu be compared to others? She was the person he loved the most.

Besides, he was partly to blame for what happened that night. He hadn’t foreseen her reaction would be so intense.

He had underestimated the power of five years’ time.

“Mumu, let’s take the baby to see the sea, he’ll be happy,” Shen Chi coaxed Xu Chaomu.

She cared so much for her child; she couldn’t just lie there, if not for her own sake, then for the child’s.

Sure enough, Xu Chaomu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Chi helped her up and held the T-shirt before her eyes.

“Look, do you like it? It’s a perfect match with mine,” Shen Chi said.

The patterns on the two white T-shirts were indeed a pair, one with a boy printed on it, and the other with a girl.

The one he wore, of course, bore the image of the boy, while the one he pitched to her had the little girl.

Both the boy and the girl had big eyes and big heads, very cute.

Even when he was a few years old, he wouldn’t be caught dead in such juvenile T-shirts, but he knew Xu Chaomu liked them.

In their school days, when he wouldn’t let her buy clothes that were too fancy or attractive, she would have to settle for childish T-shirts. Every time she put one on, she’d boast proudly to him.

“Fourth Brother, are you jealous? Do you envy me?”

Back then, he would look at her with disdain.

Truth be told, she looked silly and adorable wearing them, and she was incredibly endearing.

In the present, the white T-shirt was laid out before Xu Chaomu, her gaze fixed on it.

“Although it’s a bit ugly, at least it’s a set,” Shen Chi said, picking up the T-shirt and preparing to help her out of her pajamas.

Xu Chaomu lowered her head and, after a long while, finally spoke.

“I’ll change myself.”

Shen Chi was slightly surprised; he thought she’d refuse.

He smiled lightly, “Alright, you do it yourself.”

“You go out.”

Shen Chi laughed, “Sure, I’ll step outside.”

Shen Chi left the room, waiting outside for her. This was the largest room in the Waterside Pavilion, their bridal chamber.

Having Xu Chaomu speak to him again finally gave him a sliver of consolation; he had feared she would always hold resentment against him…

But he believed that her love for him ultimately outweighed any hatred.

Otherwise, five years ago, she wouldn’t have taken a bullet for him, and five years later, she wouldn’t have agreed to exchange his father’s company authorization documents for a divorce.

Her love for him was not a whit less than his for her.

He tucked his hands into his casual pants pockets, standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at the resplendent and dazzling hall.

After about fifteen minutes, Xu Chaomu opened the door. She was wearing the white T-shirt Shen Chi had picked out for her, paired with a deep blue skirt.

The moment he turned his head and saw her, he smiled; she looked just as youthful and radiant as she had five years ago.

You couldn’t tell that she was pregnant, that she was to become a mother.

The T-shirt was roomy, concealing her slightly rounded belly. Her face remained calm, like an unruffled pool of water.

Shen Chi stepped forward, taking her hand and leading her downstairs.

“Mumu, you really do look good in anything,” Shen Chi said.

Xu Chaomu pursed her lips but didn’t respond.

“Mumu, this little girl on your T-shirt isn’t as good-looking as the boy on mine,” Shen Chi glanced at the drawing on her shirt.

Xu Chaomu finally spoke, her tone less than cheerful, “How can you compare a girl with a boy.”

At her words, he curved his lips into a smile.

He still preferred the lively, chatty Xu Chaomu, even if she rattled on incessantly by his ear every day, he found it endearing.

“So, do you think this little boy is handsomer, or am I?” Shen Chi asked her.

“Him,” Xu Chaomu replied, still sounding peeved.

“You don’t mean that,” Shen Chi teased, stroking the palm of her hand.

Shen Chi had already prepared breakfast for her; Xu Chaomu hadn’t eaten anything all day yesterday, and he worried she might refuse breakfast too.

To his surprise, she ate.

Perhaps his words the night before had moved her heart; he had told her to take good care of their child.