《If You Could Hear My Heart》 Chapter 1 - 001: Introduction - I Fell In Love With You 1 Chapter 001: Introduction ¨C I Fell In Love With You Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Weiwei, it¡¯s me, I¡¯m back in C City. I¡¯m getting engaged next week, you definitely¡­¡± p¡ª ¡°¡­shoulde¡± were the words that hadn¡¯t quite left Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips when her hand shook, and her phone slipped from her ear to the ground, creating an especially jarring noise in the quiet of the elevator. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± The elevator doors closed, and a chilly voice filled the space as a young and stern-looking man stepped right in front of Xu Chaomu with steady strides, not too close yet not too far away, effectively cornering her in the elevator. Using the elevator light, Xu Chaomu tried to pick up her phone with feigned calm, but her heart was pounding wildly. Talk about a narrow escape. Five years had passed, and she hadn¡¯t expected that the first familiar face she would see upon returning to C City would be his, Shen Chi¡¯s. His face was as frosty as ever, still not given to smiling, with sharp facial contours, keen cold eyes, thin lips pressed together without a trace of a curve. But five years had only made the man more mature and even colder, with a ck suit tailored to his figure, a deep blue tie, and a neat white shirt enhancing hismanding presence. ¡°So it¡¯s Director Shen, long time no see. How have you been? Can you eat and sleep well? How old¡¯s the kid?¡± Her small, pretty face beamed with a warm smile, contrasting with his icy demeanor like a warm spring against a harsh winter. ¡°What did you call me?¡± The mature and frosty scent of the man drifted slowly down from her ear, sending a tremor through Xu Chaomu. The man moved closer, his body pressing against hers, trapping her in the corner of the elevator. One hand grabbed her right hand and forcefully pressed it against the elevator wall. The elevator slowly descended, and although there was no one else inside, someone could enter at any moment! Meeting the chill in his eyes, she smiled again, ¡°Director Shen, is that title not to your liking? In C City, those two words mean everything, youmand the wind and summon the rain¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, I really wasted my affection on you,¡± he said. No sooner had he spoken than a chill spread across her neck. He leaned in close, dipping his head to kiss her neck! His kisses, light as drizzle at first, began to intensify. Shen Chi held her body with one hand and wrapped the other around her waist, leaving no room for her to resist. ¡°This is an elevator. To think, the great CEO Shen seems to be rather short of women day-to-day. Logically speaking, there should be countless women in C City dying to get into your bed,¡± she said. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was in her throat, but she didn¡¯t resist. Instead, she coquettishly looped one hand around Shen Chi¡¯s neck, pulling herself closer to him. Her other hand, soft and boneless, slowly toyed with Shen Chi¡¯s tie in a manner that was undeniably suggestive. Only then did Shen Chi lift his head and scoff coldly, ¡°You¡¯re the first woman bold enough to try to get into my bed!¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve climbed in so many times, and you, Director Shen, have always remained indifferent. Tell me, you couldn¡¯t possibly have some sort of problem, could you?¡± ¡°Do you want to try something in this elevator?¡± All these years, in this C City, she was the only woman who dared to stand up to him. He had spoiled her rotten, so much so that five years ago, she just up and left without a word! ¡°If Director Shen wants to give it a try, of course, I¡¯d be happy to. I hear it¡¯s particrly thrilling in an elevator. Oh, of course, as long as you don¡¯t mind that I¡¯ve been with other men¡­¡± Hearing this, she began unbuttoning Shen Chi¡¯s shirt. After undoing one button, her hand became more brazen. The man¡¯s body always had a faint and pleasant scent, his chest as firm as ever, wheat-colored skin, sexy abs, perfect figure. With rage ring in his eyes, Shen Chi¡¯s throat tightened, and hisrge hand grabbed the one causing trouble on his body. ¡°Xu Chaomu, can¡¯t you live without a man?¡± he asked coldly as he caught her wrist. At that moment, Shen Chi was like an enraged lion, and her wrist was nearly fractured. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s inadequate, and you won¡¯t let me find someone else? Director Shen, sickness must be cured. Didn¡¯t Yu Weiwei open a men¡¯s clinic? As acquaintances, you could get a discount,¡± she retorted. ¡°Who the fuck told you I¡¯m not up to it?¡± Shen Chi snapped. As a muscle in Xu Chaomu¡¯s face twitched, she barely had time to react before Shen Chi gripped her hands with one hand, raised her waist with the other, and forcefully pressed her against the elevator wall! He wanted to show her, once and for all, if he was capable! ¡°Mr. Shen, I just got back to C City and you¡¯ve already found me. Could it be that you¡¯ve never been able to forget me and have fallen for me? But I¡¯ve never liked you.¡± Her little face was slightly tilted upward, showing no fear of the harshness in the man¡¯s eyes. With a charming hook of her lips, she radiated an allure that was hard to resist. ¡°Yes, I like you. I¡¯ve fallen for you.¡± He deliberately paused before a certain word, his palm, warm and firm, sping her waist tightly, his gaze profound. ¡°Pah, how vulgar! You¡¯re shameless!¡± After not seeing Shen Chi for five years, Xu Chaomu really had to reassess him. Only he could say such things without blushing, his heart staying steady, his demeanor earnest, as if he were the one being harassed! ¡°Vulgar? That¡¯s something I learned from you.¡± His face remained unchanged, the corners of his lips curving into a slight arc¡­ There was no denying that five yearster, this little woman exuded a captivating presence, as serene and fragrant as flowers. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m about to be married!¡± Xu Chaomu gave a disdainful smile, her lips curling, her knee bending as she aimed a kick at him! Shen Chi had always been sharp. Although he dodged just enough to avoid the kick, Xu Chaomu pushed him forcefully and slipped out from under his arm to the elevator, frantically pounding the open button. ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± A roar of fury. One day, he swore he¡¯d catch her and make her beg for life and death. As the elevatornded on the first floor and the doors opened, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look back; she grabbed her bag and sprinted out. She had provoked a wolf! Feeling a bit ufortable in her abdomen, spasms came in waves. The prideful sun of summer was unbearably scorching. Stepping out of the elevator¡¯s confined space, Xu Chaomu felt dizzy and disoriented. The ringly white sun shone on her as she clutched her abdomen, trying to cross the pedestrian path to the opposite side of the road. Just as she was quick-stepping to the middle of the road, suddenly, a red Audi A8 came speeding towards her, totally disregarding the pedestrian signal light still on green! ¡°Watch out!¡± Shen Chi chased after her from behind. Seeing that the red Audi was about to hit Xu Chaomu, he dashed forward, wrapped his arms around Xu Chaomu, and the two tumbled to the ground, rolling from the center of the pedestrian path to the roadside. A fleeting cold sneer crossed the lips of the female Audi driver responsible for the ident. Without waiting for the crowd on the roadside to gather around, she stepped on the gas and sped away. ¡°Ah!¡± Feeling her world spinning, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes flickered with stars. She clutched her lower abdomen tightly and slumped, fainting into Shen Chi¡¯s embrace. ¡°Mumu, wake up, wake up!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face changed instantly. He pped Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheeks, but there was no response from her. He quickly checked her body; thankfully, aside from some scrapes on her arm, there were no obvious injuries. ¡°Old Cheng, to Central za!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was cold as he made a phone call to his driver. ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Soon, a ck Maybach arrived, and Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu into the car. ¡°To the city hospital!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ is this¡­ isn¡¯t this Xu Chaomu?¡± Driver Old Cheng was a bit stunned. This girl had left the Shen Family at the age of eighteen, and Mr. Shen had frantically searched for her for five years. How could she suddenly appear in C City now? ¡°Just go to the hospital!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was stern. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Old Cheng dared not speak any further and started the car heading in the direction of the hospital! In the mirror, Old Cheng saw Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were filled with agitation, his hands tightly holding onto Xu Chaomu, not daring to rx in the slightest! Chapter 2 - 002: Prologue She is pregnant, two months along 2 Chapter 002: Prologue She is pregnant, two months along Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Shen Chi held Xu Chaomu in his arms and looked down intently at her face. Five years had passed, and she had grown up a lot. Besides still enjoying giving him a hard time, everything else about her had changed. The once slightly chubby face from her youth had turned delicate and pretty. Fine willow eyebrows, long eyshes, a high nose bridge, and tender, thin lips. His fingers traced her pale cheek, whichcked warmth, and the next moment, his gaze froze. Intense eyes fixated on the snowy neck, where a delicate ne carved with roses was securely hidden under the cor. With a tug, his hand pulled, and the ne broke. His blood boiling, his eyes growing colder, the rose ne¡­ who gave it to her? He remembered, he had once given her a ne with a jade pendant. Had she thrown it away? Clenching his teeth, he gripped the rose ne tightly in his hand, opened the car window, and with a dark face, threw the ne out! ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the hospital, President Shen.¡± Old Cheng turned the steering wheel and steadily parked the car in the hospital parking lot. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu out of the car and rushed towards the consulting room withrge strides! ¡°Chenng¡­ Chenng¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± A dull pain came from her head, and Xu Chaomu was in so much pain that she clutched Shen Chi¡¯s arm tightly. In an instant, Shen Chi¡¯s footsteps halted. Chenng? Wasn¡¯t that the man she had said she slept with? His eyes turned icy as if chilled, his blood vessels seemingly frozen. His cold hand gripped Xu Chaomu¡¯s body tightly, with mes of anger burning. ¡°It hurts¡­ it hurts¡­¡± Shen Chi hated her to the bone, forgetting that his own hand was pinching her soft skin. The thought of it made him wish he could strangle her! Five years ago, clinging to his neck, she kept saying, ¡°Fourth Brother, I like you.¡± Five yearster, she had slept with another man! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really are shameless.¡± His voice was cold enough to chill the bones. ¡°President Shen, the doctor is here.¡± Standing at the doorway of the hospital room, Old Cheng brought in a doctor wearing a white coat. With a dark expression, Shen Chi kicked the door to the ward wide open and threw Xu Chaomu onto the bed. His actions were not exactly gentle, and they hurt her. She covered her lower abdomen, frowning deeply, and her dress was crumpled from being grasped. ¡°Could you two step out and wait for a moment?¡± The doctor adjusted his sses and put on his stethoscope. ¡°Sure.¡± Shen Chi gave a cold response and stepped out of the ward. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s going to be okay.¡± Old Cheng noticed that Shen Chi¡¯s face didn¡¯t look good, but he could onlyfort him like this. Besides, he didn¡¯t know what had happened between the two of them. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, and time passed minute by minute. Soon, a few nurses entered the ward. Not long after, a nurse came out. Knowing what was on Shen Chi¡¯s mind, Old Cheng hurriedly stopped the nurse. ¡°Is the patient inside in danger?¡± Old Cheng was quite anxious as well. ¡°Temporary shock from low blood sugar, but don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger,¡± the nurse said a few words then hurried off again. Only then did Old Cheng breathe a sigh of relief: ¡°President Shen, rest easy, Xu girl won¡¯t have anything wrong with her.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather she were dead!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was stone-cold, void of any expression. His fists were clenched tightly, veins popping on the back of his hands! Uh¡­ Old Cheng was at a loss for words. What was he saying? Five years ago, when Xu girl left the Shen Family, wasn¡¯t it Shen Chi himself who searched for her most frantically, turning C City upside down? Unfortunately, Xu girl seemed to vanish from the face of the earth, leaving no trace, not even a phone call or a letter. After that, no one dared to mention ¡°Xu Chaomu¡± in front of Shen Chi! ¡°Who¡¯s the family member of the patient,e with me.¡± The door opened, and a doctor in a white coat came out, removed his mask, and scanned the people at the door. ¡°I am.¡± Shen Chi stepped forward. ¡°Pleasee in.¡± Shen Chi followed the doctor into the ward, where several nurses quickly attended to everything and then went out, closing the door behind them. Only Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu, and the doctor remained in the empty ward, with the scent of antiseptic filling the air. A needle had already been inserted into Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, with a bag of something simr to glucose hanging. The doctor took a pen and rapidly recorded notes on a piece of paper. ¡°What is your rtion to the patient?¡± ¡°Husband.¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. He walked up to Xu Chaomu¡¯s bed, lifted the damp strands of hair from her forehead, and used a tissue to wipe the mud from her body. When he came across the bloodstains on her arm, a tightness gripped his chest, and Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°May I ask your name?¡± ¡°My surname is Shen.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen. Your wife doesn¡¯t have any major issues. It was just a temporary shock caused by low blood sugar. She just needs someone to look after her, and I will prescribe some IV fluids. However, your wife is currently two months pregnant and must be hospitalized for observation.¡± The hand holding the tissue paused, and Shen Chi turned his head, his eyes ring menacingly at the doctor. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said Mrs. Shen doesn¡¯t have any major problems.¡± ¡°Thest sentence.¡± ¡°Your wife¡­ is currently two months pregnant¡­¡± The doctor became unsteady, unnerved by the man¡¯s terrifying gaze. ¡°Say it again!¡± Shen Chi grabbed the doctor by the cor of his white coat,pletely losing hisposure. The pen fell to the floor as the doctor hastily extracted a report from a stack of papers. ¡°Mr. Shen, please, calm down. Here¡¯s the report we just did. Look, Mrs. Shen is indeed two months pregnant¡­¡± The doctor shoved the report into Shen Chi¡¯s hands and picked up his pen before exiting the ward. Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was fixed on the line of small print on the report: Pregnant for eight weeks. It felt as though a knife was stirring in his chest; his face turned frighteningly dark, and the coldness in his eyes could have frozen the paper solid. ¡°Good¡­ very good, Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re ruthless!¡± With several rips, Shen Chi tore up the report in his hands, angrily throwing the pieces over Xu Chaomu! Xu Chaomuy on the bed with no reaction, just one hand protecting her stomach. Her face was pale, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. Shen Chi¡¯s gaze burned like scorching suns, fixed on Xu Chaomu¡¯s abdomen. It was probably because it was only two months, but you couldn¡¯t tell at all that she was pregnant. Shen Chi slowly crouched down, hisrge palm pressed against her belly, caressing it¡­ In her belly was the seed of another man! ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu murmured with her eyes closed, her free hand iling about aimlessly. He didn¡¯t care about her struggle, his hand firmly stroking her not yet visibly pregnant belly. Slowly, he leaned close to her ear, his voice not loud, but filled with indifference and icy coldness. ¡°Xu Chaomu, listen well. Don¡¯t me me for being heartless. I will never allow this child to stay!¡± His warm breath brushed against Xu Chaomu¡¯s ear. She seemed to hear his words, yet also seemed not to. ¡°Chenng¡­ take me away¡­ Chenng¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew darker, his pent-up rage concentrated in his palm as he clutched Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck! ¡°Who is Chenng?¡± Shen Chi bellowed, Xu Chaomu gasping for air, her face turning beet red. ¡°Uh, uh¡­¡± Initially, she struggled, but quickly, she lost all strength. Of course, Shen Chi wasn¡¯t going to strangle her. As her face went pale, he let go, leaving her lying on the bed! He lit a cigarette by the window, not caring that he was in a hospital ward. Amidst the swirling smoke, he took out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Director Tan, arrange an abortion surgery, immediately!¡± Chapter 3 - 003: Skinny and Ugly 3 Chapter 003: Skinny and Ugly Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The ten-year-old Xu Chaomu was brought to the orphanage one winter, but just three days after entering the orphanage, the director was headache-ridden and sleepless. Every time the director sneaked off to do sweet nothings with his mistress, a firecracker would ¡°pop¡± outside the window, making thettice rattle vigorously. The first time, the director got so scared that he pulled up his pants and ran. The second time, after pulling up his pants, the director began to patrol the yard. The third time, the director dragged Chaomu down from a tree with her clothes in his grip. ¡°Xu Chaomu, copy your name one hundred times!¡± the director said, his teeth practically itching with anger. ¡°Ow¡­ let go, let go¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wailed. ¡°One hundred times, do you hear me?¡± ¡°I hear you¡­¡± Feeling defeated, Xu Chaomu picked up her notebook and began copying her name, dutifully cing the notebook on the director¡¯s desk the next day. However, when the director saw the notebook filled with the words ¡°bastard¡± over and over, smoke practically billowed from his seven orifices as he mmed the table in search of Xu Chaomu. ¡°You little brat,e out! I promise I won¡¯t kill you!¡± After searching the whole yard and not finding Xu Chaomu, another group of kids came running to him in tears instead. Some shirtless, some with snotty noses, some wiping away tears. ¡°Director¡­ my pants are gone¡­¡± ¡°Director¡­ an ink bottle hit my head¡­¡± ¡°Director¡­ there are firecrackers in the toilet¡­¡± ¡°All of you go and catch Xu Chaomu for me!¡± the director roared like thunder. The once peaceful and quiet orphanage had turned into a chaotic pigsty since the arrival of Xu Chaomu, giving the director one big headache after another. However, Chaomu was lying on a pile of straw, soaking up the sun, apparently unbothered by the turmoil she had caused. Basking in the sun was particrly warming andfortable, especially in winter, making her stretch outzily. But that afternoon, the shabby orphanage weed two distinguished guests. Ady in her thirties, apanied by a teenage boy, stood at the entrance of the orphanage. The woman was regal and graceful, walking in ck high heels and wearing an expensive white fur coat, with jewelry encrusted with diamonds adorning her ears, neck, and wrists, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight. The ten-year-old Xu Chaomu had no interest in such things, but her eyes lit up when she saw the boy at the woman¡¯s side, twinkling with mischievous light. In time, Chaomu thought to herself, being lecherous was indeed an instinct. Neither men nor women could escape it. But she couldn¡¯t be med, for who would resist such a handsome face on someone so young? The boy was truly good-looking, fair and youthful, but his brows were constantly furrowed, not prone to smiling, and his eyes were dark and deep, showing a maturity that didn¡¯t match his young age. As Chaomu hid in the pile of straw, a chill gaze fell upon her, sending a shiver through her body and nearly causing her to tumble from her perch. It turned out the boy had seen her! ¡°Wee to our orphanage,¡± the director said with a smile as he stood before them, though he looked slightly unnatural. Although the orphanage was in bustling C City, it was situated in the poorest and most chaotic part of the city. ¡°I¡¯vee to adopt a child.¡± The woman spoke softly, her voice graceful like a delicate orchid, her face betraying little emotion. The director let out an ¡°Oh,¡± used to such urrences as children were asionally adopted from the orphanage, though it was rare for wealthy people toe by. ¡°Pleasee inside, and I¡¯ll introduce you,¡± he said. ¡°No need, let¡¯s talk here,¡± the woman replied. ¡°That¡¯s fine, that¡¯s fine. Would you like to adopt a boy or a girl?¡± ¡°Do you have a girl named Xu Chaomu here?¡± The director¡¯s face was as colorful as a rainbow. Xu Chaomu? ¡°Yes, madam, there indeed is a child named Xu Chaomu here, who was just brought in three days ago. She used to live only with her mother, and I heard she¡¯s an illegitimate child. But recently, there was a gas explosion at their home, the house caught fire, and the child¡¯s mother passed away. However¡­¡± The director paused, contemting whether to reveal Chaomu¡¯s ¡°glorious deeds.¡± Xu Chaomu pricked up her ears. What? Someone wanted to adopt her? The woman¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure in her eyes, ¡°However, what?¡± ¡°This child, she¡¯s quite bright but a bit mischievous. I¡¯m afraid you might not like her. Actually, there are many other children in our institution¡­¡± ¡°No need, just bring Xu Chaomu out!¡± the woman spoke in a faint tone. The director wiped the sweat from his brow; he didn¡¯t even know where Xu Chaomu had run off to. ¡°Are you calling me?¡± Xu Chaomu jumped out from the pile of grass, dusted off her hands, yet her eyes were fixed squarely on the boy. The boy didn¡¯t look at her, his gaze full of disdain, ¡°Skinny and ugly, just like a monkey.¡± ¡°Are you blind?¡± Xu Chaomu was very angry. ¡°Xu Chaomu, how do you speak to a guest!¡± The director scolded, although he knew it wasn¡¯t much use. ¡°Madam, this is Xu Chaomu, she¡¯s already ten years old. She often speaks without respect for elders, I hope you¡¯ll forgive her,¡± the director apologized to them again. ¡°Let¡¯s pick another one. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to eat in the future,¡± the boy said indifferently to the woman. ¡°Achi, stop it, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re picking a wife. From now on, Chaomu will live in our house, so be kinder to her,¡± the woman still wore an indifferent expression. ¡°If I ever married someone like that, that would mean I¡¯m really blind,¡± the boymented dismissively, and still didn¡¯t spare Xu Chaomu a nce. ¡°Do you want to fight? Let me tell you, having a sharp tongue is a disease that needs to be cured!¡± Xu Chaomu stood defiantly in front of the boy but was noticeably shorter than him. The boy just snorted coldly and ignored her existence. ¡°Director, take me to do the paperwork. I want to take her with me today,¡± the woman spoke softly. ¡°Madam, wouldn¡¯t you like to reconsider? There are many well-behaved children in the institution. This girl¡­ is a bit mischievous, and I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± The director really wanted to say that he feared a return. In case this girl caused trouble, would ite back to bite him? Wealthy families could snap their fingers and the orphanage would go bankrupt. He couldn¡¯t afford to provoke them, so he had to avoid them. ¡°No need. I came specifically to take her away. Whatever you need, just tell me,¡± the woman said, her voice soft but insistent. ¡°This¡­ I¡¯ll ask Xu Chaomu.¡± The director still wasn¡¯t entirely at ease. He bent down and asked with a friendly smile, ¡°Chaomu, someone wants to take you away. Are you willing?¡± ¡°No benefit, why would I go with them. I¡¯m not a ball for you to kick around,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted disdainfully. The woman squatted down, brushing Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair with slender fingers like willow branches in February. As she squatted, Xu Chaomu caught a whiff of a crisp fragrance, like orchids or gardenias. It was then that she first understood what nobility meant; in her eyes, Mrs. Shen at that moment was like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens. The woman lifted her hand, her bracelets gently clinking, producing a ¡°ding-dong¡± sound that was crisp and pleasing to the ear. She gently removed the weeds from Xu Chaomu¡¯s head with a tender touch, ¡°Come back with me, and you¡¯ll have everything.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not old, but her heart sure is greedy,¡± the boymented without hiding his displeasure. Xu Chaomu had already been hesitating about whether to go with thedy because she was so gentle; a sniffle betrayed her thoughts of her own mother. However, the boy¡¯s killjoy attitude made her lift her head and look at him defiantly, ¡°This is greedy? I can be much greedier, do you want to see?¡± Chapter 4 - 004: Let Me Kiss You 4 Chapter 004: Let Me Kiss You Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The youth crossed his arms, furrowing his brow. Why did this girl¡¯s gaze seem so lecherous? ¡°Achi, you are five years older than Chaomu. Don¡¯t be so fierce with her; in the future, she will have to call you her brother,¡± the woman said with a slight curl of her lips, as if she was softly chuckling. ¡°Brother? Ha, brother, give me a hug,¡± Chaomu said with a vigor, shamelessly stretching out her arms. She rubbed against the youth¡¯s arm, wrapped her arms around his waist, and looked up at him with a smile. Her eyes were watery and crafty, and her little face was filled with innocence. ¡°No hugs!¡± The youth had a stern face. ¡°No hugs?¡± Chaomu challenged. ¡°No hugs!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll hug you!¡± With a jump like a monkey, Chaomu leapt onto the youth¡¯s back, her arms hooked around his neck, giggling uncontrobly. The youth¡¯s face turned as dark as could be, yet Chaomu clung to him like a stubborn ster, impossible to shake off! ¡°Get down!¡± the youthmanded coldly. He had never seen such an immodest little girl at the age of fifteen, and she was only ten; what would the future hold? ¡°Let me give you a kiss, and I¡¯ll get down,¡± she bargained. The little girl stubbornly clung to the youth¡¯s neck, her legs wrapped around his waist. At that age, she had no understanding of the propriety between men and women, which was evident in her behavior around Shen Chi; she had never understood it. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to get down!¡± the youth erupted. ¡°Chaomu,e down, Achi is getting angry. He doesn¡¯t like to fool around with girls,¡± the woman said with a gentle smile. ¡°So stingy. Just let me kiss you, just one kiss. You won¡¯t be fooled by a kiss, you won¡¯t suffer a loss from a kiss¡­ Ah! Jerk!¡± Chaomu held onto the youth¡¯s neck, leaning in as she spoke, thinking, I will kiss you, whether you agree to it or not! However, with a forceful pull, the youth pried her hands from around his neck, and Chaomu, caught off guard, fell back andnded on the ground, her butt blooming with pain instantly! The youth snorted coldly, looking down imperiously at Chaomu on the ground. ¡°Chaomu, are you alright? Come on, get up; your clothes are all dirty.¡± The woman hurried to help Chaomu up and dusted off her clothes. The orphanage director held his forehead in headache, his mouth twitching involuntarily, not wanting to speak. This Chaomu, going to live with the wealthy, would surely turn their house upside down! ¡°Achi, be more gentle with girls in the future. Chaomu is just a little older than you, she doesn¡¯t know anything. If her fall caused any serious injuries, what would we do?¡± the woman said, frowning and scolding the youth. ¡°She looks sturdy enough to me. A lesson might do her some good, so she doesn¡¯t tarnish the Shen Family¡¯s reputation in the future,¡± the youth replied coldly. ¡°You just wait!¡± Chaomu hissed through clenched teeth. ¡°Chaomu, you haven¡¯t answered me yet. Are you willing to go with me?¡± the woman asked softly. ¡°I am willing!¡± This time, Chaomu didn¡¯t even think before answering. She swore that she absolutely had to kiss this boy! There was plenty of time ahead, and she was determined not to let him escape her grasp. So, at the age of ten, Chaomu, still without a full set of hair, set herself a lofty goal: to kiss him! Later, once that goal was achieved, she set another, even more ambitious one: to sleep with him! The youth¡¯splexion had been rather unpleasant throughout, and now he stepped back several paces as if fearing contagion, keeping a distance from Chaomu with disgust. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re willing. Once you¡¯re at our house, we will treat you well. I¡¯m going to handle the paperwork; you and Achi go ahead to the car,¡± the woman said, patting Chaomu¡¯s head with a gentle gaze, as if she were looking at her own child. ¡°Mhm!¡± Chaomu responded crisply. Shaking his head, the director thought to himself that the girl must have amassed good fortune over several lifetimes to have someone still willing to take her in, especially someone who had specifically chosen her. The woman smiled and brought Xu Chaomu over to the boy¡¯s side, ¡°Achi, take Chaomu to the car, I¡¯ll be there in a bit.¡± The boy grunted unwillingly from his throat and didn¡¯t even nce at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chaomu, you have to be good in the future, don¡¯t cause trouble for others. Read more books and stop ripping them up everywhere. When you see elders, be polite and don¡¯t shout and scream,¡± the orphanage director advised Xu Chaomu. ¡°I got it, I got it, I wish you a long life and blooming peach blossoms,¡± Xu Chaomu replied. In fact, what Xu Chaomu really wanted to say was, the score you gave me on the entrance exam is how old I wish you¡¯ll live. But then she thought, the director only gave her sixteen points, and it was pretty obvious the director was way past sixteen years old. So, Xu Chaomu felt that it was still important to be kind. Besides, living a long life¡­was just a casual saying anyway, very few people could achieve that, she guessed. ¡°So disrespectful,¡± the director shook her head. After the woman and the director left, only Xu Chaomu and the boy were left at the entrance of therge courtyard. Without looking back, the boy walked straight out. ¡°Hey, wait for me, don¡¯t be so stingy, it was just a hug, I didn¡¯t do anything to you. If you don¡¯t like my hugs, you can hug me from now on,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Pattering along behind the boy, she ran until she was out of breath, but still couldn¡¯t catch up to him. ¡°Wait for me, you haven¡¯t told me your name yet! My name is Xu Chaomu, the ¡®Xu¡¯ from Xu Chaomu, the ¡®Chao¡¯ from Xu Chaomu, and the ¡®Mu¡¯ from Xu Chaomu. Isn¡¯t it a nice name? You can call me Chaomu, or Mumu, or even Amu, Xiaomu, and Mumu, and I wouldn¡¯t mind. But don¡¯t call me by my full name, that would make us seem like strangers,¡± she said. ¡°Hey, are you listening to me? Ouch¡­¡± Just as she was trotting forward, the boy suddenly stopped and Xu Chaomu bumped into his back, almost falling face first to the ground. She rubbed her forehead, feeling wronged. ¡°Are we that close?¡± the boy turned around, giving her a cold look, not really wanting to have any association with her. ¡°Doesn¡¯t a hug count as being close?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a wounded face. ¡°Stay away from me, I don¡¯t want to see you within three steps!¡± the boy warned her. ¡°Why the attitude, think you¡¯re something just because you¡¯re handsome? Curse you to be a bachelor all your life!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were filled with contempt. ¡°Has anyone ever told you, you¡¯re very noisy?¡± ¡°No, am I? I¡¯m just not that noticeably quiet. There¡¯s a lot I haven¡¯t said yet, you¡­¡± ¡°Get in!¡± The boy, clearly impatient, grabbed the edge of her clothes and threw her into the car, then sat next to her with a dark expression on his face. He couldn¡¯t understand why his mother would adopt such a skinny and ugly, and terribly chatty little devil from the orphanage! ¡°Ow, my head hurts, it hit hard¡­ ow¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried out in pain, inching her way onto the boy. Although they were both in the backseat, the boy had tossed her all the way to the inside, while he sat on the outer side. Xu Chaomu slowly moved closer, inching closer to the boy. The boy was really good-looking, like a sculpture of white jade. Especially now, as the sunlight gently shone through the car window, a few beams of light rested on his face, highlighting his handsome profile, long eyshes, and straight nose. ¡°Has anyone ever told you that you resemble someone?¡± Xu Chaomu propped her chin and looked at him. The boy furrowed his eyebrows and gave her a stern nce. ¡°Can you give a reaction, please? A tender heart needs flowers and apuse!¡± ¡°Who?¡± Atst, the boy spit out a word, but actually, he had no interest at all. ¡°Xu Chaomu¡¯s boyfriend!¡± The corner of the boy¡¯s mouth twitched. In the future, was he really going to have to live with her? Chapter 5 - 005: Men and Women Must Not Be Too Close 5 Chapter 005: Men and Women Must Not Be Too Close Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Seeing him finally show a different reaction, she finally cracked a smile, revealing two rows of small white teeth. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me your name, how old are you?¡± Xu Chaomu propped her cheek with her hand and tilted her head, staring at him intently with unblinking eyes. ¡°Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered a few times, then her small hand climbed up his neck, ¡°Can I call you Achi from now on?¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± ¡°Husband?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shen Chi nced at her uneasily, prying off the hands that were clinging to his neck like an octopus. ¡°Xu Chaomu, behave yourself!¡± Shen Chi said with a thinyer of anger on his face. Honestly, he had never encountered such a clingy girl before. ¡°Shen Chi, I want to ask you a serious question.¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly straightened her face, speaking earnestly as she looked at Shen Chi. ¡°No nonsense.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯ll just ask one thing, why did your family adopt me? Are you guys human traffickers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shen Chi said slowly, his words sparing. Xu Chaomu looked disappointed, ¡°Then what do you know?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re annoying!¡± Shen Chi gave her a nce and then leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes. Just thinking about having to live with her made Shen Chi¡¯s face contorted with pain. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, talk to me, please. Tell me what your family does for a living? Is this car yours? It looks pretty expensive. Also, aren¡¯t you afraid that after I arrive, I might steal your things and sell them for money?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s cool hand scratched Shen Chi, and with a jolt, he begrudgingly opened his eyes. ¡°Get your dirty paws off me!¡± he frowned. Those hands that had just been ying with mud were now touching his clothes again. ¡°Being mean again, are you mad at me because your grades are bad and you¡¯re always scolded by teachers?¡± Shen Chi found the situation bothughable and frustrating¡ªif he was really going to be petty with a ten-year-old girl, he wouldn¡¯t be Shen Chi. ¡°Young Master, has thedy not returned yet?¡± An middle-aged man came from outside, opened the car door, and sat down in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Uncle Jiang, not yet,¡± Shen Chi answered. Xu Chaomu blinked, smiling at the middle-aged man, ¡°Uncle, are you the driver?¡± ¡°Smart kid, are you the Xu Chaomu that thedy mentioned?¡± The driver smiled and turned his head to touch her braid. ¡°Yes, yes, I am Xu Chaomu. The ¡®Xu¡¯ in Xu Chaomu, the ¡®Chao¡¯ in Xu Chaomu, and the ¡®Mu¡¯ in Xu Chaomu, isn¡¯t it nice, uncle? My mom picked it for me!¡± Pride shone on her little face, but after it faded, her big eyes brimmed with boundless sorrow. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s very nice, indeed. Such a well-behaved child!¡± The driver couldn¡¯t help butugh heartily. However, this was the second time Shen Chi had heard Xu Chaomu introduce herself. He was fed up and, taking a pen from his pocket, he pulled out a notepad as well. ¡°Listen carefully, your name is Xu Chaomu, the ¡®Xu¡¯ in Xu Nuo, and the ¡®Chao¡¯ and ¡®Mu¡¯ in ¡®morning till evening¡¯.¡± Shen Chi casually wrote down the words ¡°Xu Nuo¡± and ¡°morning till evening,¡± and then wrote the name ¡°Xu Chaomu¡± beneath them, his handwriting steady and strong. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. Shen Chi felt helpless, she could be so articte at other times, but now that he was being serious, she didn¡¯t understand! ¡°Haha, Young Master, don¡¯t be too hard on Chaomu, she¡¯s just a little older than a toddler,¡± the driver chuckled. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, then so be it, as dumb as can be.¡± He tried to put away the note, but Xu Chaomu snatched it away from him first. ¡°If I don¡¯t understand, I need to learn, don¡¯t I? You weren¡¯t born knowing everything either. Maybe when you were my age, you didn¡¯t know as much as I do!¡± Xu Chaomu said defiantly. She put away the notepad carefully, tucking it into her pocket with great care. It wasn¡¯t untilter, when the paper had yellowed and the ink from the pen had blurred, that she understood the meaning of love enduring through time, and that being together every minute of the day wasn¡¯t necessary. And for two people without love, even being together constantly was just like being a world apart. ¡°I don¡¯t know as much about messy stuff as you do,¡± Shen Chi nced at her disdainfully, ¡°but at least I know what ¡®men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving objects¡¯ means.¡± ¡°Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving objects?¡± Xu Chaomu heard thisplex phrase for the first time and looked to the driver for help. ¡°Uncle, what does it mean?¡± Xu Chaomu was eager to learn. ¡°Haha, it means boys and girls shouldn¡¯t hug or embrace each other,¡± the driver exined, again finding Xu Chaomu very adorable for her serious attitude. ¡°Oh, then it has nothing to do with me,¡± Xu Chaomu said, relieved. ¡°How does it have nothing to do with you?¡± the driver asked curiously. ¡°We¡¯re not little boys and girls anymore,¡± Xu Chaomu spoke with false gravity. Having said that, she turned her head and once again scratched Shen Chi¡¯s neck, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Shen Chi burst out in rage, swatting her hand away! Anger was visible on his handsome youthful face, and with the sunlight streaming in from the window, it was particrly conspicuous. Xu Chaomu, as if blind, didn¡¯t notice at all. ¡°Being mean again, can¡¯t we just have fun!¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, looking at him with a sense of grievance. ¡°Hahaha.¡± The driver was already bent over withughter¡ªhe had never before seen someone openly tease their young master like this. In C City¡¯s upper social circles, everyone knew that the young master of the Shen Family, Shen Chi, was famously aloof and proud, not given to smiling, and seldom spoke a word more than necessary. No one dared to provoke him, let alone tease him so brazenly. Countless young girls fancied Shen Chi, but they all just watched from a distance; Xu Chaomu was the first girl bold enough to touch him! Xu Chaomu truly was a brash calf unafraid of tigers, freshly arrived and audacious at heart. ¡°Uncle, do you know why they want to adopt me?¡± Xu Chaomu whispered, pointing at Shen Chi. ¡°This¡­ I¡¯m not quite sure, maybe they have too much money,¡± the driver joked with her. ¡°I¡¯m not a pet,¡± Xu Chaomu responded, unhappy. ¡°Just kidding, just kidding, such a proud little girl. Come to the Shen Family, you¡¯re sure to not be at a disadvantage,¡± the driverughed. ¡°But it seems like some people don¡¯t really wee me.¡± As she spoke, Xu Chaomu deliberately nced at Shen Chi. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Just make sure to eat well, drink well, sleep well, and study hard,¡± he advised. Xu Chaomu nodded, somewhatprehending. She had initially thought that the Shen Family was just another wealthy household, after all, in C City, the rich were more numerous than ants. But little did she know, she was entering C City¡¯s premier family. The sun nted from its zenith towards the west, and as it neared sunset, it grew colder. The wind picked up a few dead leaves outside the vehicle, tapping on the windowpanes, creating a whining sound. Shen Chi had long stopped paying attention to Xu Chaomu, resting with his eyes closed against the backrest. After speaking for a while, Xu Chaomu grew tired, warmed by the air conditioning, and she curled up in the car and slowly fell asleep. Perhaps it was the cold, but while she slept, Xu Chaomu gradually shuffled closer to Shen Chi. Chapter 6 - 006: Taking Advantage of Him 6 Chapter 006: Taking Advantage of Him Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Just when her little ws were about to reach Shen Chi¡¯s clean neck, Shen Chi opened his eyes, grabbed her cor, and threw her into the farthest corner. ¡°Ow ow ow, let go, I didn¡¯t mean it¡­ kind brother, I just started, let¡¯s talk nicely¡­ It hurts¡­¡± Shen Chi had no intention of letting go; he was determined to teach her a lesson today. ¡°What did I warn you about?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t remember.¡± Shen Chi squeezed harder, and Xu Chaomu yelped in pain, ¡°I remember now, I remember now¡­ you said not to hug¡­¡± ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Not to kiss.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was full of dark lines, ¡°Xu Chaomu, listen well, stay away from me within three steps!¡± Xu Chaomu nodded her tiny head like pounding garlic, ¡°Got it, got it.¡± Only then did Shen Chi release her, brushing the dust off his hands. Xu Chaomu¡¯s inner world was almost copsing, but afterwards, she became even more determined in her goal to bring down this arrogant man and discipline him with a little whip and candle, until he kneeled and begged for mercy. See if he could still be arrogant, arrogant! However, long after, why did it turn out that the person begging on the bed¡­ was her¡­ At this moment, probably because all the paperwork was done, the woman walked up to the car. ¡°Madam, have you finished everything?¡± the driver asked. ¡°Yes, everything¡¯s done, let¡¯s go home!¡± The woman sat in the passenger seat, ncing back at Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu sat on opposite sides, a fair distance between them, like two rivers that never crossed. ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯m Achi¡¯s mother, my name is Zhou Ran, you can call me Auntie Zhou.¡± ¡°Auntie Zhou, you look so young, I almost wanted to call you sister!¡± Xu Chaomu smiled sweetly. Shen Chi gritted his teeth, what did this girl mean by taking advantage of him for no reason. When he looked at her, she was smiling with ill intent, her face carrying a provocative expression: I¡¯m taking advantage of you, so what, hit me then! Zhou Ran actuallyughed charmed by Xu Chaomu¡¯s words, ¡°What a sweet-talker you are, Auntie Zhou is not young anymore, I¡¯ve grown old.¡± Driver Lao Jiang started the car, driving it out of the orphanage. The car sped along the road, causing Xu Chaomu to widen her eyes in amazement. She had never left that poor, backward ce where she grew up; the further away she got, the more it felt like she had reached heaven. After several twists and turns, the car crossed a bridge and soon arrived at a ce that seemed like a paradise. There, the scenery was beautiful, the air was fresh, the clouds were light and looked like they could bring rain, the water was calm and seemed to emit mist. Rock gardens, fountains, pavilions, and corridors¡ªthere was nothing you couldn¡¯t find. ¡°What¡¯s this ce called?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, staring at the shiny gold signage outside. ¡°Splendor of the World!¡± Shen Chi answered indifferently. ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu just kept her eyes wide open, looking around. It was onlyter that she learned, Splendor of the World was the most upscale private townhouseplex in C City. Those living there were either rich or noble, and she was worth even less than a single cup or a painting from the Shen Family¡¯s collection. After stopping the car, a servant immediately came to open the door with solemn formality. Around them there was not a single noise; Shen Chi and his mother naturally got out of the car. But it was different for Xu Chaomu; it was her first time in such a ce, and she was so scared she trembled, looking at the standing servants, afraid to step out of the car. The more careful one is, the more careless they can be, and just as she stepped one foot out of the car, her other foot hooked right onto the car door, sending her lurching forward! The servants stood by as if they wanted to watch the spectacle unfold, making no move to help. ¡°` Shen Chi was quick on his feet, as he grabbed her in time. ¡°Can¡¯t even walk properly, what have you been eating to survive till ten?¡± He looked at her with disdain. Xu Chaomu took the opportunity to rub against Shen Chi; had it not been for him, she would have fallen and likely disfigured her face. Her action seemed to imply an unusual rtionship between her and Shen Chi, prompting the servant to quickly lower his head and say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, young master, it¡¯s my negligence, I didn¡¯t react in time.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t say much, just snorted coldly, not pushing Xu Chaomu away right away. Xu Chaomu seized the chance to get fresh, wrapping an arm around Shen Chi¡¯s waist. His scent was truly pleasant, like the refreshing aroma of green tea, rich andsting. ¡°If you¡¯ve hugged enough, get lost.¡± Shen Chi lowered his voice, warning Xu Chaomu. Only then did she reluctantly let go of him, ¡°Brother, was that considered a heroic rescue just now? I¡¯m so touched¡­¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu squeezed out a couple of crocodile tears. Shen Chi let out a coldugh, ¡°Heroic rescue? Hardly. At most, it was a hero saving a bear.¡± ¡°Chaomu,e with me, I¡¯ll show you around the house, then take you to your room,¡± Zhou Ran extended her hand to Xu Chaomu. ¡°I¡¯ming, Auntie Zhou!¡± Xu Chaomu red at Shen Chi and walked towards Mother Shen. Zhou Ran held Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, and they walked side by side through the Shen family¡¯s vi. At first, Xu Chaomu thought the vi housed many people, but then she realized that wasn¡¯t the case. Such a vast ce, all belonged to the Shen family. At each ce, she was amazed; there were so many things she had never even seen before. A golf course, which she initially thought was a rat hole; a swimming pool, which she initially thought was a swamp; an Eight-treasure golden silk nanmu brocade box, which she initially thought was for holding eight-treasure porridge. ¡°Auntie Zhou, your house is so beautiful. Will I be living here from now on?¡± ¡°Of course, you will live here permanently. Do you like it?¡± ¡°I like it.¡± Just as Xu Chaomu¡¯s words fell, a cold, deep voice came from behind, ¡°Who is she?¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head first and saw a man around Auntie Zhou¡¯s age. The man¡¯s face was expressionless, only showing a hint of surprise when Xu Chaomu turned around. ¡°Xu Chaomu, Xu Mengxi¡¯s daughter. You wouldn¡¯t be unweing, would you?¡± Zhou Ran also turned around, with an imperceptible smile at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Zhou Ran, you¡¯ve really got some nerve. It seems I¡¯ve underestimated you,¡± the man sneered coldly, his face clouded with shadows. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what they were saying. Who was this man? ¡°Chaomu, first go outside, I¡¯ll show you the roomter,¡± Zhou Ran bent down and told Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu nodded and followed the servant out of the garden. ¡°Who was that man just now?¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at the servant¡¯s sleeve and asked quietly. ¡°That¡¯s the master, you be careful, he has a bad temper,¡± the servant warned her. ¡°I got it.¡± Xu Chaomu stuck out her tongue, so that was Shen Chi¡¯s father, no wonder, like father, like son. ¡°Zhou Ran! Why did you bring Mengxi¡¯s daughter to the Shen Family?¡± Once there was no one around, Shen Cexian asked coldly. ¡°You don¡¯t like it? Oh, right, of course, you don¡¯t, I¡¯ve heard this Xu Chaomu is an illegitimate daughter. But Shen Cexian, I¡¯ve already brought her here, what are you going to do about it?¡± Zhou Ran coldly smiled at Shen Cexian, unafraid. ¡°Zhou Ran, you y a good game. But let me tell you, I¡¯ve already had thewyers draft a divorce document. Just wait for the signature, and get out of the Shen family!¡± Shen Cexian did not mince words, dropping the statement and storming out! Watching the cold back of this man, Zhou Ran bit her lips hard, he wouldn¡¯t let her livefortably, and she wasn¡¯t going to let him be smug either! Chapter 7 - 007 The Body is Quite Honest 7 Chapter 007 The Body is Quite Honest Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu wandered around the Shen Family vi, and eventually, she got lost. All she could see in front of her were rows of houses and tall flowering shrubs and trees. ¡°Where is everyone? Howe there¡¯s not a soul in sight¡­¡± Xu Chaomu began to panic as she walked around without spotting a single person. Xu Chaomu finally revealed her true nature as a person with a poor sense of direction. ¡°Brother Shen Chi, Auntie Zhou¡­¡± As the sky darkened, she waspletely clueless about where she had run off to. While she was looking up at the sky, she fell into the swimming pool behind her with a ¡°plop¡±! ¡°Ah! Help! Someone save me!¡± She cried out loudly as she iled her arms and legs, beating the water desperately. She didn¡¯t want to die yet; she hadn¡¯t aplished all of her life goals! If she died now, wouldn¡¯t that be letting Shen Chi off easy? As she was wailing desperately, a dark figure quickly jumped into the pool, sshing water everywhere. The figure swam a few strokes and grabbed Xu Chaomu, who was in the center of the pool. Xu Chaomu, sinking fast, saw a lifeline and clung to the dark figure¡¯s waist without a second thought, gripping tightly with her small hands. Shen Chi¡¯s face was covered with an exasperated expression. He tried to pry Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands off, but they were stickier than glue and clung to him. He stood still in the pool where the water only reached his chest. ¡°Help! I don¡¯t want to die¡­ I¡¯m still young¡­ I have a bright future ahead of me, a future full of promise, a thousand miles of it¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t let go of me now, I¡¯ll throw you out to feed the dogs!¡± Shen Chi was furious. The girl was burying her head in his neck as if she wanted to attach her entire body to his. Even though it was winter and they were wearing manyyers, Shen Chi had never been embraced by a girl like this! ¡°No, no, I won¡¯t let go. I don¡¯t want to die! Brother Shen Chi is out to kill¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried, tears streaming down like rain, holding on even tighter. This time, she jumped onto Shen Chi, her legs wrapping around him as well. ¡°Who¡¯d you learn this from? Get off me now!¡± Shen Chi was at a loss for what to do with her. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, and I¡¯ll get off¡­¡± Xu Chaomu dared not lift her head and stayed buried in his neck. ¡°Cut the nonsense, get off me!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu started to tentatively lower one leg, but being the scaredy-cat she was, she hooked it back onto Shen Chi as soon as she let it down halfway. ¡°No, no, I can¡¯t do it; I¡¯ll drown. I mean, since I¡¯m going to die anyway, you might as well kill me. I¡¯ve heard the headmistress say that to die under the peony flowers is to be a ghost¡­¡± Ssh! With a loud noise, Shen Chi, without saying another word, roughly tossed Xu Chaomu off himself and back into the pool! With a girl like this, violence was the only way! ¡°Help¡­ help¡­ Brother Shen Chi¡­ save me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu swallowed a few mouthfuls of water, using all her strength in a desperate struggle, trying hard to cling to Shen Chi¡¯s clothes. Water sshed everywhere, sttering onto Shen Chi¡¯s face. Regardless, Shen Chi remained indifferent. Just as Xu Chaomu was slowly sinking and thought she was about to die at Shen Chi¡¯s hands, suddenly, her foot touched the soft bottom of the pool. The bottom of the pool was like it was paved with fine sand. She quickly stabilized herself on one foot and then ced the other on top. Once she was fully standing, she realized that the water only came up to her chin. Then, she saw deep disdain in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. ¡°You get scared like this by a shallow pool; how useless!¡± Shen Chi said dismissively and turned to walk away. ¡°Wait for me! How did you find me? Have you been secretly following me? Do you really care about me that much? Tsk tsk, I would have never guessed; you really do care about me that much¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, my mother said that the dog keeper is not around; she told me to find you. You¡¯d better hurry up ande back with me,¡± Shen Chi said without looking back as he walked towards a door after getting out of the pool. ¡°You deny it with your words, but your actions speak the truth!¡± Xu Chaomu climbed triumphantly out of the pool, sneezing several times, and followed behind Shen Chi like a drowned rat. She was in such a sorry state from falling into the water, yet the man in front seemed utterly unaffected, as elegant and noble as ever, as if nothing had happened. Life is just so unfair¡­ Achoo! ¡°Xu Chaomu, who did you learn all this from? Be more honest in the future!¡± Shen Chi finally stopped in his tracks, ring at her fiercely. Now that she even knew such words, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder how she had grown up over these ten years. ¡°I¡¯m always honest and straightforward, and I always speak the truth,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. Of course,ter on, someone eventually demonstrated to Xu Chaomu, through actions, what ¡°verbal denial, physical honesty¡± meant, until a certain young woman, supporting her sore back, was too tired to get out of bed. ¡°You¡¯re skipping dinner tonight!¡± Shen Chi said coldly, Xu Chaomu was simply unreasonable and talking nonsense. ¡°Stingy¡­,¡± Xu Chaomuined, not convinced. Shen Chi meant what he¡¯d said, and that very evening, he locked up Xu Chaomu with his Tibetan Mastiff in a room, giving her nothing to eat. ¡°Achi, why are you angry? If you don¡¯t feed Chaomu, she will get hungry. At her age, she¡¯s still growing,¡± Zhou Ranmented, noticing that the two seemed to have a falling out. Several times during dinner, she wanted to call Xu Chaomu in, but Shen Chi just wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Hypocrisy,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, but Shen Cexian scoffed coldly at one side. ¡°Mom, I think she is wild. If we don¡¯t discipline her now, who knows, she might turn the Shen Family upside down in the future.¡± Shen Chi continued eating without lifting his head, and Zhou Ran didn¡¯t say anything more. Xu Chaomu, on the other hand, suffered. Not being given food was one thing, but being locked up with a big dog¡ªshe wasn¡¯t a puppy! The big dog looked much more formidable than her, but thankfully, it was chained. Still, Xu Chaomu shuddered with fear. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer¡ªI¡¯m not tasty. If you want to eat someone, eat Shen Chi¡­¡± The Tibetan Mastiff didn¡¯t pay any attention to her, lying down on one side and licking its own food. Xu Chaomu started crying, feeling even less than a dog. At least the dog had something to eat; she had nothing. ¡°Shen Chi, you big jerk¡­ why won¡¯t you give me something to eat¡­ I¡¯ll chop you into pieces to feed the dog¡­¡± she wiped away her tears. Though the orphanage was dirty and messy, at least there was food, wasn¡¯t there? She cried until she became tired, and watched as the sky outside the window slowly turned pitch ck. The wind made a soft noise against the window pane, and Xu Chaomu curled up into a ball, burying her head in her arms and fell asleep. She dreamed a dream, returning to the recent fire. The fire was fierce, turning the entire sky red. She cried and shouted, wanting to rush in, because she knew her mother was still inside the inferno. She was held back, tightly embraced by Uncle Mo from the neighbors, unable to move. With her ten-year-old eyes, she watched the fire consume everything, even the surrounding trees were burned to nothingness. She smelled the charred odor, the choking smoke, and even the blood in the air. How she wished for a heavy rain to fall from the sky at that time! But it didn¡¯te. The sky was filled with firelight, turning into blood-red mands. Her eyes stung from the smoke, but she didn¡¯t even blink. Several times, Uncle Mo tried to cover her eyes, but she used the strength of a ten-year-old to pry his hands away. She watched with her own eyes as the fire burned away thest trace of her rtives¡­ With a dubious father and a tragically deceased mother, she had been a disaster since birth. ¡°I won¡¯t leave¡­ I won¡¯t leave¡­ I have to go in¡­ Help¡­ help¡­¡± Uncle Mo began to drag her away forcefully; she was so young, he feared that the event would leave a shadow in her heart. ¡°I won¡¯t go¡­ I don¡¯t want to leave¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± In her dream, she bit Uncle Mo¡¯s hand. Suddenly, the fire, fanned by the wind, shifted direction, transforming into a fierce tiger, chasing after her from behind! ¡°Help¡­ help!¡± Chapter 8 - 008 Xu Chaomu, behave yourself 8 Chapter 008 Xu Chaomu, behave yourself Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu¡¯s head was covered in beads of sweat, and her little hands were wildly grasping at the air. Shen Chi walked over and grabbed her small hand, feeling its chill. Xu Chaomu suddenly woke up, with teardrops still hanging in herrge eyes. But upon seeing Shen Chi, she wiped away her tears and sighed, ¡°Ah, I had another nightmare¡ªthe food in my dream was snatched away by a dog.¡± Food was snatched away by a dog and you screamed for help? Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Come eat with me!¡± Shen Chi dragged her up in a domineering manner. ¡°Eat? I¡¯m not hungry, what¡¯s there to eat!¡± Xu Chaomu was suddenly stubborn. So if he asked her to eat, she was expected to eat and if he didn¡¯t, she wasn¡¯t supposed to? She wasn¡¯t some little dog he was raising! ¡°Really not hungry?¡± He squinted at her. ¡°Not hungry! I stuffed myself at lunch, I¡¯m still full!¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head away. ¡°Okay then, you don¡¯t need to eat tomorrow either, just stay here and sleep with Dabai.¡± Shen Chi nced at the Tibetan Mastiff, let go of her hand, and prepared to leave. ¡°Hey hey hey, good brother, I just remembered, I have a habit of eatingte-night snacks. If I don¡¯t eat for a day, I won¡¯t be able to sleep! Really! Tossing and turning, it¡¯s agonizing,¡± Xu Chaomu pulled at his arm, looking pitiful. ¡°Now I don¡¯t feel like taking you out anymore, I¡¯ll have to think about it.¡± ¡°Brother Shen Chi, you¡¯re handsome and dashing, with a promising future, may you live a long life, as enduring as the southern mountains, as fortunate as the Eastern Seas¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fall for that.¡± ¡°Then¡­ Xu Chaomu is a little rascal, Xu Chaomu is a little liar, Xu Chaomu is a little hooligan¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s more like it.¡± Only then did Shen Chi pull her hand and lead her out of the dark little room. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand was held in his palm, which warmed her heart. He brought her to the living room, where it was quiet, with just the two of them and a table full of delicious food. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes lit up, and without caring about her image, she picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a piece of belt fish. Shen Chi sat on the couch, casually flipping through a book. Delicious food, beautiful scenery, a beautiful woman¡ªXu Chaomu thought life was quite wonderful. Especially when she sneaked peeks at Shen Chi while eating, making the meal even more delightful. He was truly good-looking. From the side, his lines were strong, his nose sharp, thin lips slightly upturned, and his eyes focused intently on the words in the book. While she was staring at him, two cold nces shot over: ¡°Have you had your fill of looking?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s looking at you? There¡¯s a fly on the couch!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly bowed her head and ate her rice quietly. ¡°Flies at this time of year?¡± Shen Chi strode over with his long legs, right up to her. ¡°If I say there¡¯s one, there is one,¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. ¡°Xu Chaomu, if you dare lie again, I¡¯ll pinch you to death,¡± Shen Chi said. Lying at such a young age, what would be of her in the future? ¡°I¡¯m not eating, the fish is all bones!¡± Xu Chaomu mmed down her chopsticks, widened her eyes, and confronted Shen Chi. ¡°If you¡¯re not eating, then roll back to sleep!¡± Shen Chi had never seen such a hard-to-train girl. ¡°To your room?¡± Xu Chaomu was still ring at him, shouting for what? ¡°Roll!¡± Shen Chi picked up his book and left the living room, very angry. Once Shen Chi had gone, Xu Chaomu thought, did this mean she had won? Indeed, to deal with someone like Shen Chi, one had to have thick skin! So she picked up her chopsticks and took a few more bites of food. To be fair, the dishes were pretty good. She hadn¡¯t had her fill yet! The clock on the wall pointed to eleven. When she stretched and left the living room to go back to her room to sleep, she heard a not-too-loud, not-too-soft argument. As she passed by the corner of the wall, she swore she wasn¡¯t in the habit of eavesdropping. She just happened to hear her own name! ¡°Zhou Ran, by bringing Xu Chaomu into the Shen Family, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to,¡± a man¡¯s voice said¡ªit was the man from the day. ¡°Shen Cexian, you can only show off in front of me. I don¡¯t believe you feel okay seeing her,¡± that was Aunt Zhou! Why were they mentioning her? ¡°Zhou Ran, does it make you happy to torment me?¡± Shen Cexian spoke. ¡°Of course, in this lifetime, I just want to see you, Shen Cexian, meet a bad end!¡± Zhou Ran hissed back. Xu Chaomu was frightened by Zhou Ran¡¯s words; she simply couldn¡¯t imagine that such words coulde from Aunt Zhou. In Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart, Zhou Ran was beautiful and graceful, effortlessly distinguished, just like a fairy descended from heaven, exuding the fragrance of quiet orchids with every smile and frown. ¡°Zhou Ran, you don¡¯t measure up to her in the slightest,¡± Shen Cexian said coldly. It was very cold outside, and Xu Chaomu hugged her arms and left. She didn¡¯t want to listen anymore; she feared the world wasn¡¯t as beautiful as she had imagined. By the time thete night arrived, Xu Chaomu started to develop a high fever. She grasped at the bedsheets in confusion, incessantly calling out ¡°Mom¡±. Her cries went unanswered by heaven and unheeded by earth. It wasn¡¯t until morning that Shen Chi discovered Xu Chaomu was seriously burning up. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me ¡­ Mom ¡­ don¡¯t leave ¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was delirious with fever, babbling words no one could make out. Shen Chi had meant to call Xu Chaomu toe downstairs for breakfast, but he found her bedroom door still closed, and no matter how much he knocked, there was no response. ¡°Xu Chaomu, open the door.¡± No one answered. ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± Still no response. That¡¯s when he started to panic, opened the door, and ran inside. Xu Chaomu¡¯s nket had long fallen to the ground; she tossed and turned restlessly, speaking nonsensically. Shen Chi rushed over in a few strides, grabbing her arm, only to find that her entire body was burning up, the fever severe! ¡°Xu Chaomu! Wake up!¡± Only then did he remember that she had fallen into the water yesterday. ¡°Mom ¡­ Mom ¡­ don¡¯t go ¡­ don¡¯t leave Chaomu all alone ¡­¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Shen Chi bent down to listen. But he couldn¡¯t make out a thing; Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were closed, tears lingered at the corners, her expression one of agony. ¡°What a hassle!¡± muttered Shen Chi with a reluctant frown. He made a phone call from within the room, and soon the Shen Family¡¯s family doctor arrived. The doctor measured Xu Chaomu¡¯s temperature: ¡°She¡¯s feverish, 39¡ãC. I¡¯ll start her on an IV drip.¡± Shen Chi spoke up indifferently on the side, ¡°IV drips aren¡¯t good for the body.¡± ¡°An IV drip will help her recover faster, but if you don¡¯t want that, I can prescribe some medicine first to see if the fever will go down.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The doctor took out several boxes of medicine from his medical bag: ¡°Young Master, you must call me if anything happens. Otherwise, if the fever confuses her mind, it will be troublesome.¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s too lucid; a bit of delirium might be just what she needs,¡± Shen Chi said, his face full of disdain. After the doctor left, Shen Chi didn¡¯t go down for breakfast either. From yesterday till today, he had realized one thing: his mother didn¡¯t like Xu Chaomu, and his father liked her even less. Consequently, even the servants had started to mimic the master¡¯s sentiments. Just as his hand touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair, the girl grabbed his hand tightly and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Xu Chaomu, behave yourself!¡± Shen Chi warned her. Xu Chaomu finally woke up and burst into sobs, throwing off the nket and clinging to Shen Chi. She wasn¡¯t delirious; she was very much awake! If not now, then when? She clung to Shen Chi like an octopus; he tried to push her away with all his might but to no avail, as she smeared her snot and tears all over him. ¡°Brother Shen Chi, I knew you cared about me the most.¡± ¡°If you died, our family would be criminally liable!¡± ¡°So, do you want me to die or not?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°There you go, you do care about me!¡± Shen Chi had a face full of ck lines, thinking her logic was utterly nonsensical. ¡°I¡¯m going to count to three, then you better lie down! One¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± ¡°Three!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t budge an inch, her tears turning toughter: ¡°I won¡¯t lie down, what are you going to do about it?¡± Shen Chi wished he could throw her out the window; when he, Shen Chi, said to go east, no one ever dared go west! Chapter 9 - 009: If You Don’t Eat, You Feed 9 Chapter 009: If You Don¡¯t Eat, You Feed Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu rubbed against his body, her big eyes fixated unwaveringly on his face, thinking how even in anger, he was so good-looking that she couldn¡¯t help¡­ wanting to kiss him! Just as she was about to extend her ¡°poisonous ws¡± toward him, Shen Chi pushed her away with a ¡°smack¡±, and Xu Chaomu tumbled to the ground! ¡°Shen Chi, that¡¯s a low blow!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed indignantly. Shen Chi knew that dealing with the likes of this girl, one had to resort to brute force! ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m ying dirty, what can you do about it?¡± Shen Chi looked down condescendingly at Xu Chaomu prostrated on the ground. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re shameless! Are you even a man!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart roared with a thousand alpacas. ¡°If I¡¯m not a man, are you?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡­ I won¡¯t stoop to your level, there will be other days, just you wait, if you dare not run away!¡± ¡°You¡¯d better not cry in front of me!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Xu Chaomu was startled, hastily wiping the tears from her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s just the sand, it¡¯s gotten in my eyes!¡± ¡°If you want to cry, cry your fill today! If I see you cry again in the future, you can just get out of the Shen Family!¡± Shen Chi threw a big pack of tissues in front of Xu Chaomu, who was so frightened that she swallowed back her tears. ¡°Take your medicine and get back in bed!¡± Shen Chi threw the medicine onto her, and Xu Chaomu, not daring to breathe heavily, obediently crawled back onto the bed, covering herself with the nket, and lied down again. No one had told her that Shen Chi could be this terrifying when he was angry. However¡­ huh, all reactionaries are but paper tigers. Once she recovered, she would see who was more formidable. After Xu Chaomu got back into bed, Shen Chi left. Seeing him gone, Xu Chaomu picked up the tablet; such bitter medicine, only a fool would take it, and she was no fool. She hid the medicine and, feeling triumphantly proud, continued to lie down. But as soon as she thought of the nightmare she¡¯d had, a wave of difort surged in her heart. She really, really missed her mother¡­ Her nose tingled, and she began to sob softly. Then the sobbing slowly grew louder and uncontroble. Downstairs in the living room, Shen Cexian had breakfast and left for the group. When Shen Chi came down, only his mother was sitting by the dining table, slicing bread with an air of calm detachment. ¡°Achi, sit.¡± Zhou Ran passed him a ss of milk. ¡°Dad¡¯s gone?¡± Shen Chi sat opposite Zhou Ran. ¡°He left early.¡± Zhou Ran was nonchnt, ¡°I heard Chaomu has a fever?¡± ¡°Hmm, the doctor came and said it¡¯s no big issue; she¡¯s up and active.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± Not a ripple showed in Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mom, forgive my impertinence, but when you brought Xu Chaomu back, it wasn¡¯t out of affection, was it?¡± ¡°I simply thought your father had too much money. Adopting a child was just a whim, nothing more.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s face remained expressionless. ¡°Really? There are so many more well-behaved and obedient kids than Xu Chaomu at the C City orphanage. You can¡¯t even count them on ten fingers, yet you specifically chose Xu Chaomu? I remember, you don¡¯t seem to like troublesome kids.¡± Zhou Ran still showed no expression, but a faint cold smile crossed her lips. Her entire demeanor was like a tranquil orchid in a secluded valley, imperturbable. ¡°You don¡¯t need to understand.¡± Zhou Ran spoke indifferently. ¡°I just hope you don¡¯t inflict any unfairness on this orphaned child!¡± ¡°Fairness? I can be fair to anyone, but who has ever been fair to me?¡± Sorrow and grievance flickered in Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes as she lowered her head and slowly spread strawberry jam over her bread. Shen Chi said no more, silently continuing his breakfast. ¡°Achi, your eldest sister said she¡¯ll return to the country in a few days. It¡¯s been a while since you and your sister have seen each other,¡± Zhou Ran said in her usual light tone. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± After finishing his breakfast, Shen Chi called the servants and picked out a piece of cheesecake and a ss of milk to be sent to Xu Chaomu. Soaking her pillow with tears, Xu Chaomu was in her room; she hated crying, yet tears were such a bothersome thing¡ªwhenever she thought of her mother, they just wouldn¡¯t stop falling. Just at that moment, the door was knocked on, and she hurriedly wiped away her tears. The servant ced the breakfast on Xu Chaomu¡¯s table, ¡°Miss Xu, here is your breakfast.¡± ¡°Is it from Brother Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. ¡°No, it¡¯s from the madam,¡± the servant replied expressionlessly. ¡°Oh!¡± The sparkle in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes vanished instantly, and she retreated back under the covers. The servant closed the door and left,ing and going in a hurry. The breakfast, which was surely delicious and unlike anything she¡¯d ever had before, now failed to tempt her appetite. She thought she must be feverish,cking any desire to eat. She stayed under the covers, her body burning hot, unable to do anything but throw the covers off. After tossing and turning several times, exhausted by the struggle, she slowly drifted off to sleep. When Shen Chi entered, he saw Xu Chaomu sprawled across the bed asleep, with tear streaks on her cheeks and the untouched meal on the table. He frowned as he walked over, picked up the nket from the floor, and threw it over her. It was the first time he had ever tucked someone in; he must have owed her from a past life. But his movements were too rough, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped open. She said with annoyance, ¡°Brother Shen Chi, don¡¯t you know how to take care of a girl? I was finally asleep, and you woke me up.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you eat your breakfast?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t want to eat, I just don¡¯t want to eat. How many whys do you need, are you a walking ¡®why¡¯ encyclopedia?¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. He said one thing, and she retorted with three! ¡°The medicine?¡± ¡°I took it,¡± Xu Chaomu lied. ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi bent down, pushed away Xu Chaomu¡¯s pillow, and there, lying quietly underneath, were two white medicine tablets. He picked up one and silently looked at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu felt so unnerved by his gaze that she quickly scooted away. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you don¡¯t even have the skill to lie convincingly; how dare you lie?¡± Shen Chi scoffed. ¡°Brother Shen Chi, I was wrong, I know I was wrong!¡± Xu Chaomu wiped at her eye, though she actually touched nothing. ¡°What exactly did you do wrong?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have hidden it under the pillow; I should have thrown it out the window¡­¡± Xu Chaomu continued to lower her head ¡°wiping tears.¡± ¡°I see you are unrepentant. Come here and swallow it yourself!¡± Shen Chimanded. ¡°I won¡¯t swallow it; you feed me!¡± Xu Chaomu persisted, ever provocative. She refused to believe she couldn¡¯t outdo him, wondering whether his wisdom was an inch higher, or her cunning an ell taller. Shen Chi let out a coldugh, yanking her over brutally. One hand held her arm while the other aggressively pinched her chin and shoved the pill into her mouth. The bitterness of the pill contorted Xu Chaomu¡¯s face into a myriad of colors, looking as if she had been injured. Just as she was about to spit it out, Shen Chi said coldly, ¡°Swallow it!¡± Without water, how could she possibly swallow? Damn Shen Chi to hell! ¡°Will you dare to lie again next time?¡± Shen Chi observed her small face with a cold gaze. With the pill in her mouth, Xu Chaomu shook her little head like a rattle-drum. ¡°There¡¯s one more. Shall I feed you?¡± Shen Chi held her jaw. On the brink of tears from the bitterness, Xu Chaomu found herself unable to spit out the pill or swallow it. She shook her head again, adamantly refusing. Only then did Shen Chi let her go, sitting aside calmly watching her. Xu Chaomu grabbed some boiled water from the table and gulped a few mouthfuls, finally swallowing the pill, though the bitter taste lingered in her mouth. The man was too cruel; Xu Chaomu could onlyment her ownck of prowess. Chapter 10 - 010: You Come Over Here Right Now 10 Chapter 010: You Come Over Here Right Now Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She dutifully swallowed two pills, leaving Xu Chaomu half dead. She red resentfully at a certain person who remained calm and collected, grinding her teeth, ¡°Bastard, have you ever heard of ¡®cherishing the fairer sex¡¯?¡± ¡°Which part of you is ¡®fair¡¯ or ¡®delicate¡¯? Don¡¯t tter yourself too much!¡± Shen Chi stood up and left. ¡°You, you! If you dare,e back! Hey, bastard!¡± Unfortunately, Shen Chi didn¡¯t even turn his head back and with a ¡°bang,¡± closed the door behind him. When Shen Chi went downstairs, he saw his mother Zhou Ran and a middle-aged man sitting in the garden drinking coffee, with a thick stack of documents on the table. He recognized the middle-aged man; he had been to the Shen Family house a few times, seemingly awyer. He walked over and caught snippets of his mother¡¯s conversation with the man. ¡°Madam, Chairman Shen refuses to budge, so I¡¯m afraid the youngdy and young master might not end up with you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t expect him to budge; we both are well aware of his character. But the Shen Family is wealthy. Adi and Achi living with him might turn out much better than with me,¡± Zhou Ran said lightly, taking a sip of her coffee. ¡°Madam, Chairman Shen was unfaithful first, you stand a great chance of winning. Don¡¯t you want to fight for it?¡± ¡°No, I have more important matters to discuss with him.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s voice then dropped as she spoke quietly with thewyer, who nodded repeatedly in response. ¡°Madam, good, I will draft the documents as soon as possible. You can depend on me to handle this,¡± thewyer assured. Zhou Ran then nodded and smiled, ¡°Mr. Fang, this coffee is specially brought in from Mysia. You must try it.¡± Shen Chi stopped in his tracks, no longer moving forward and instead turned to leave. He had always known that his father had another family outside, and despite his mother¡¯s years of holding on, she couldn¡¯t avoid the fate of divorce. He had never felt that a union without love could end well, yet he waspletely baffled by his mother¡¯s decision to bring Xu Chaomu home. After returning to his room, Shen Chi called a psychologist, and soon, a female doctor wearing sses arrived at the Shen house. ¡°Young Master Shen, what kind of psychological issue would you like to discuss?¡± the female doctor adjusted her sses. ¡°Premature maturity.¡± ¡°Premature maturity? Are you referring to psychological or¡­ physiological?¡± An image of Xu Chaomu¡¯s slender, almost bone-thin frame shed before Shen Chi¡¯s eyes as he said indifferently, ¡°Psychological.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± the doctor jotted something down in her notes, ¡°How old is the child?¡± ¡°Ten years old.¡± ¡°And what are some of the child¡¯s behaviors that are too mature for their age? Also, is the child from an imperfect family?¡± Too mature for their age? Did incessantly climbing on him count? ¡°She¡¯s an illegitimate daughter, lived with her mother, and her mother passed away recently.¡± ¡°I see, no wonder. Children from unstable families indeed tend to mature earlier than those from normal families.¡± ¡°Let me take you to see her.¡± Having spoken, Shen Chi led the doctor upstairs. Premature maturity was an illness, and he had to nip it in the bud. ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± Shen Chi knocked on the door. Xu Chaomu hurriedly stuffed theic book she had been engrossed in into her backpack. This time she was smarter; she wouldn¡¯t leave it under her pillow! ¡°Coming!¡± She ran over to open the door. ¡°Why lock the door in broad daylight?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°I¡¯m just scared of you, okay? Forcing me to take medicine is one thing, but what if you throw me down from upstairs? Then what would I do?¡± Xu Chaomu said earnestly. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± Shen Chi sneered coldly. ¡°When Shen Chi speaks, the earth trembles three times; how can I not be afraid?¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes at him. Shen Chi turned to the doctor and said, ¡°You see the situation; handle it as you see fit!¡± After he left, Xu Chaomu was still confused when the female doctor dragged her into the room. Xu Chaomu guarded herself while retreating backward, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer, I don¡¯t like women!¡± The corners of the doctor¡¯s mouth twitched; this child was indeed unusually precocious. ¡°I am a doctor. Come on, I just want to ask you a few simple questions,¡± the doctor said with a kind smile. ¡°I¡¯m Xu Chaomu, ten years old, orphaned with no parents. I don¡¯t like anyone, especially Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu blurted out in one breath. ¡°Youngdy, you seem to know a lot. Let¡¯s have a chat,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Answer me a question first!¡± Xu Chaomu maintained several paces of distance. Suddenly, she thought of the parts she didn¡¯t understand while reading theic book. If she asked Shen Chi, he would definitely scold her for being ignorant, so why not ask this knowledgeable-looking female doctor instead. ¡°What¡¯s your question?¡± the doctor smiled. She thought, what could a ten-year-old child possibly ask? Perhaps about pretty flowers or a nice dress. However, what Xu Chaomu asked caught herpletely off guard. Xu Chaomu leaned in secretively, ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight, you have to keep this confidential!¡± ¡°Of course, I promise not to tell anyone,¡± the doctor vowed. ¡°Okay!¡± Kids are easy to cate. After hearing this, Xu Chaomu earnestly pulled out theic book she had hidden in her backpack. She turned to a part in the middle and, pointing to a man and a woman in theic, asked, ¡°Tell me, why is this woman saying ¡®no, no¡¯ while alsoughing and hugging this man?¡± The doctor blushed deeply at the sight, wondering where Xu Chaomu got such an adult-themedic. This was absolutely not suitable for kids! No, she had to report this to Young Master Shen and make sure he kept a close eye on this child, or there would be trouble in the future. ¡°You don¡¯t know either? Then what¡¯s the point of talking to you,¡± Xu Chaomu said, somewhat displeased as she put away heric book. ¡°Actually, youngdy, at your age, you should go out more, to ces like amusement parks or zoos. They are perfect for you,¡± the doctor suggested. ¡°I¡¯m done talking, I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± Xu Chaomu stated as shey down in bed and covered herself with a nket, finding the woman uninteresting. The frustrated doctor left the room awkwardly. Once she was gone, Xu Chaomu flipped out heric book again, immersing herself in it enthusiastically. Theseicster became her primer, attempting countless positions when she pounced on someone. However, the man with an icy demeanor never responded with the passion described in theics. Later, she concluded that this man was frigid in that department! As Xu Chaomu was engrossed in herics under the nket, the door was suddenly pushed open with a ¡°bang!¡± Frightened, Xu Chaomu quickly tried to hide theic under her pillow, but her movements were too slow, and the book was snatched away by someone. Xu Chaomu covered her face, thinking it was over, utterly certain that it was the female doctor who had snitched on her. She always knew that you couldn¡¯t trust petty people or women! ¡°Xu Chaomu,e here now!¡± Shen Chi sat on the couch with his legs crossed and a dark expression, his eyes filled with anger. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t move for a long time. Should she go? Her future was bright and full of promise; she wasn¡¯t ready to die. ¡°Noting?¡± Shen Chi inquired back. ¡°You, you promise not to hit me¡­¡± Shen Chi looked up and snorted coldly. ¡°You, you promise not to scold me¡­¡± ¡°Let me reiterate,e here now!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were a cold abyss, his voice icy. Chapter 11 - 011: Tearing Up a Comic Book 11 Chapter 011: Tearing Up a Comic Book Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare to move, knowing well that if she really went over, she would be yed and drawn! ¡°You, you promise¡­ Oh, let go!¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t finished speaking when her cor was forcefully grasped by someone, and then, Shen Chi lifted her in front of himself with one hand! ¡°Murder! Murder!¡± Xu Chaomu wailed like a ghost in agony. ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi threw her onto the sofa. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was sick, he would¡¯ve directly thrown her out of the room. Xu Chaomu obediently said no more, her big eyes brimming with tears, innocently looking at Shen Chi as if she wasn¡¯t the one who had done something wrong. ¡°Tell me, where did these bookse from?¡± Shen Chi demanded. ¡°Picked up from the trash heap!¡± Xu Chaomu lied without the slightest blush or skip of her heartbeat. ¡°From today on, you go pick from the trash heap. If you don¡¯t find ten books, don¡¯te back for meals!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Xu Chaomu was both crying andughing; she surely couldn¡¯t say she had cleverly taken them from Xiaopang at the orphanage¡­ ¡°I was wrong, I know I was wrong¡­¡± Xu Chaomu started to ¡°wipe her tears¡± again. Shen Chi had long stopped falling for that act, and he snorted coldly, ¡°If you dare look at these kinds of books again, I¡¯ll break your dog legs!¡± Xu Chaomu felt a chill down her legs. It was rather extreme; after all, she didn¡¯t even understand what was drawn on them, she was just having fun¡­ Could it be¡­ there were unspeakable secrets in theic books? ¡°If you hit me, I¡¯ll use you of abusing a minor.¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. ¡°What did you say?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°I said my brother is handsome and dashing, loved by everyone.¡± Xu Chaomu squeezed out a smile. ¡°Hmph.¡± Shen Chi nced at her disdainfully. ¡°So¡­ seeing as I¡¯m very sincere, could you please give me back the books?¡± Xu Chaomu tried to butter up Shen Chi. Shen Chi picked up aic book and nced at it, raising his hand as if to tear it. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t tear it! I haven¡¯t finished reading it yet! Give the book back to me!¡± Xu Chaomu was quick to act, pouncing onto Shen Chi and trying to take theic book. Shen Chi pushed her away with one hand, while tightly holding theic book with the other. This girl was getting more audacious! Little did he know Xu Chaomu was going all out for the sake of theic book; she straddled him and used her hands and feet to try and snatch it. She remembered that on the book, whenever the female protagonist straddled the male protagonist, twisting about, he would beg for mercy! Hum, she also wanted Shen Chi to beg for mercy! Unexpectedly, Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened frighteningly. Xu Chaomu miscalcted; not only did Shen Chi not beg for mercy, but he also pushed her to the ground. How could Xu Chaomu be a match for Shen Chi? She sat on the ground, her bottom aching from the fall. Then, theic book was torn to shreds like falling snowkes. Shen Chi coldly warned her, ¡°Xu Chaomu, if I catch you again, get out of the Shen Family!¡± He straightened his shirt and walked out of the room. Xu Chaomu looked painfully at theic book, but what hurt her even more was why the ¡°woman-on-top¡± position, touted as very powerful in theic book, didn¡¯t work for her! Definitely because she hadn¡¯t mastered it properly! Yes, that must be it. However, as a cunning young girl, she always had to keep a trick up her sleeve. Xu Chaomu triumphantly went to search under the bed and, with some effort, dug out her treasuredic books. Good thing she had them; she¡¯d have to be more careful reading in the future. It was only a pity for that one book, torn by Shen Chi, she hadn¡¯t seen the ending yet! After Shen Chi left Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, he was called over by his mother. Zhou Ran was sitting at the window, gazing at the scenery, indicating that Lawyer Fang must have left. ¡°Achi, I have something to tell you.¡± Zhou Ran slightly moved her lips. It was the depths of winter, and a faint mist appeared at the window. There was no particr scenery to behold outside, just loneliness. Zhou Ran had her hair bunned up, wearing a deep blue satin dress, her eyes revealing an unfathomable serenity. She seemed like a woman from an oil painting, sitting quietly by the window,posed. As she spoke, she adjusted the beige shawl on her shoulders, soft movements of her jade earrings, each smile and frown bing part of thendscape. Shen Chi approached and stood before Zhou Ran. ¡°Is it about Father?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s lips twitched slightly, ¡°He no longer wishes to live with me.¡± ¡°And you? What are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like forcing others. All these years, it has been just me maintaining this marriage, and I¡¯m tired.¡± Zhou Ran sighed, ¡°Since he wants a divorce, then let¡¯s divorce. Your sister and you are grown up.¡± ¡°My sister and I don¡¯t want you to be unhappy; I respect your choice.¡± Throughout the years, Shen Chi had indeed not seen much affection between his father and mother. Moreover, he had long known that his father had another woman outside, a woman named Liu Rumei, who even bore his father two children older than him. ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand; I have arranged everything.¡± ¡°So my sister and I can only follow Father?¡± Shen Chi inquired. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Ran said nonchntly, ¡°Shen Group must be yours in the future.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to know, why did you bring Xu Chaomu home? You seem to recognize her?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know eventually.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s face showed traces of weariness. ¡°Then will you take Xu Chaomu with you?¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t take her with me. I¡¯ll leave her at Shen¡¯s!¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s expression showed a flicker of emotion when she said this. ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± ¡°Achi, you don¡¯t need to be too kind to her. To call her ¡®Miss Xu¡¯ is to elevate her, she¡¯s nothing in my eyes!¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes revealed agitation. ¡°Do you hate her?¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows. ¡°Hate her?¡± Zhou Ran let out a bitter smile, ¡°How can I hate her? She¡¯s just a child. I don¡¯t even hate her mother; how could I hate her¡­¡± Her eyes veiled with a thinyer of mist, but her face remained calm. Shen Chi didn¡¯t understand what his mother was saying; he just listened. ¡°The court hearing is the day after tomorrow; Achi, you don¡¯t need to worry about anything. This is between me and Shen Cexian,¡± Zhou Ran said. ¡°Mom, where will you go then?¡± Shen Chi felt a pang of sorrow. ¡°I¡¯ll stay at the Zhou Family for a while. They have properties, and I will help manage them.¡± Zhou Ran was calm as if all of this was just a long journey. Shen Chi didn¡¯t say more, and Zhou Ran didn¡¯t continue either. The fog outside the window thickened, making the ss increasingly obscure. Meanwhile, Xu Chaomu was in her room, engrossed in heric books, this time she was clever enough to lock the door, feeling triumphant that she could finally readics openly. By evening, whether due to the effectiveness of the medicine or the magical healing power of theics, her fever had subsided. Though still weak, she had regained her appetite at least. Theseics were really good, each one better than thest! When dinnertime came, Zhou Ran didn¡¯t have much of an appetite and went to rest early. Shen Cexian also did not return today. In the vast Shen Family vi, the silence felt particrly empty, devoid of much vitality. Shen Chi sat alone at a table full of dishes, his appetite far from robust. Chapter 12 - 012 Men always say one thing and mean another 12 Chapter 012 Men always say one thing and mean another Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Where¡¯s Xu Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi asked a servant beside him. ¡°Upstairs.¡± ¡°Call her down for dinner.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± As the servant went upstairs to knock on the door, Xu Chaomu was engrossed in herics. Hearing the knock, she reflexively stashed all heric books under the bed. ¡°Miss Xu, the Young Master is calling you toe down for dinner.¡± ¡°Coming! Coming!¡± After putting away herics, Xu Chaomu then opened the door and went downstairs. Skipping downstairs, Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around Shen Chi from behind his chair: ¡°Were you worried I¡¯d go hungry?¡± ¡°Get your ws off me!¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°Am I right or what? Just admit it already!¡± Xu Chaomu was relentless. She seemed to havepletely forgotten about being scolded by Shen Chi during the day. Ah, what can you say? She¡¯s just forgetful. ¡°I told you, the servant who feeds Dabai isn¡¯t here these days. After you¡¯ve eaten, go feed the dog!¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Men truly are animals that say one thing and mean another!¡± Xu Chaomu had just read this line in heric today and used it on the spur of the moment. ¡°Who did you learn that from?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was sharp as he asked coldly, frowning. ¡°I saw it in a TV show.¡± Realizing this wasn¡¯t good, Xu Chaomu quickly tried to cover it up with a smile. ¡°Really?¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly and mmed his chopsticks onto the table with a ¡°snap,¡± anger burning in his eyes. Uh, Xu Chaomu trembled with fright. Shen Chi stood up and walked upstairs, with Xu Chaomu quickly following! ¡°Hey, where are you going? Weren¡¯t we going to have dinner together¡­?¡± Stumbling behind Shen Chi, he turned to the servant standing by and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let her follow.¡± The servant promptly held back Xu Chaomu, who kicked and punched to no avail, like an ant trying to shake a tree. ¡°Hey, stop blocking me, let go of me¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s heavy footsteps led to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, where he had long suspected she was still hidingics! Indeed, he sneered coldly as he found a thick stack under the bed. He took out all theic books and threw them down from upstairs. With a ¡°crash, bang, thump,¡± theics fell one by one. The loud noise made Xu Chaomu close her eyes in fright. Soon after, Shen Chi also came downstairs. He told the servant, ¡°Take these out and burn them!¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± The servant let go of Xu Chaomu and walked out of the living room with the books. In the spacious living room, only Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi were left, so quiet that no sound could be heard. ¡°Stop pulling these little tricks with me from now on!¡± Shen Chi scolded furiously. Xu Chaomu pouted her mouth, caught red-handed, and decided to confront him: ¡°Why do you care about what I read? You¡¯re neither my distant uncle nor my rtive. It¡¯s just aic book, not like I¡¯mmitting arson or murder! Why the anger?¡± Shen Chi sneered: ¡°Oh, talking back now? Fine, what did I say during the day? If I catch you again, you¡¯re out of the Shen Family!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was a bit loud, frightening Xu Chaomu. In terms of size, she couldn¡¯t match him; in terms of strength, neither. But when it came to backbone, she definitely wouldn¡¯t lose to him! ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave; who wants to stay in your house. Is having money that great? Does having money mean you can boss people around? Why did you burn myic books? They weren¡¯t bought with your family¡¯s money! I¡¯ve had enough of you all, don¡¯t bother me!¡± In a fit of anger, Xu Chaomu turned and left. All her life, she had never endured such treatment. Although her family wasn¡¯t wealthy, her mother had never scolded her. Whatever good things there were, she always thought of Xu Chaomu first. With that thought, Xu Chaomu wiped away a tear. Arguing with Shen Chi didn¡¯t make her cry, but the moment she thought of her mother, she felt the pain. When her mother was alive, how could she let Xu Chaomu suffer such grievances or be scolded by others¡­ She ran out of the living room, only then realizing how cold it was outside. The house was heated, and she had only put on a thin coat. Now that she had just stepped out, her entire body trembled with cold. She walked and cried, still just a child, tired from not finding the exit of the Shen Family¡¯s residence, she sat down at a corner of the wall, hugging her head and calling out, ¡°Mommy.¡± The cold wind brushed against her, causing her to shiver uncontrobly and hug her arms even tighter. ¡°Mommy¡­ why did you leave me all alone¡­ Mommy¡­¡± Her crying became more intense, and her voice fluttered in the wind like threads, tearing at the heartstrings. The sky had already turnedpletely dark, and asionally a bird flew over from the trees, pping its wings, which frightened Xu Chaomu so much she dared not lift her head. ¡°Wuu wuu¡­ wuu wuu¡­¡± She sobbed, feeling very distressed. Why did Shen Chi have any right to scold her, burn her books, bully her? How could he be so domineering¡­ ¡°Whose child are you? Why are you crying here sote?¡± Suddenly, a gentle voice of a youth came from above her head. Xu Chaomu initially thought she had misheard, but then the youth looked down and said, ¡°Don¡¯t sit on the ground, it¡¯s the middle of winter.¡± The youth reached out his hand, and Xu Chaomu lifted her head. In the light, Xu Chaomu saw a very good-looking young man with a smile on his face. Xu Chaomu blinked, ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°Is there anyone else?¡± The youthughed, revealing two rows of white teeth. ¡°Oh. I¡¯m not from any family, I was kidnapped!¡± Xu Chaomu said unhappily. ¡°Kidnapped?¡± The youthughed out loud, ¡°By whom were you kidnapped?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so cold here, if you take me out, I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Come on, get up! I¡¯ll take you to my ce!¡± The youth reached out his hand to pull Xu Chaomu up. He dusted off the dirt on her body and, holding a basketball, walked back with her side by side. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Li Beiting.¡± ¡°Oh, my name is Xu Chaomu.¡± Actually, she wanted to say her name was the ¡°Xu¡± from ¡°Xu Nuo¡± and the ¡°Chaomu¡± from ¡°Chaomu,¡± but on second thought, that was something Shen Chi had taught her, and she definitely wasn¡¯t about to say that! ¡°You haven¡¯t told me yet, who kidnapped you?¡± As soon as Li Beiting heard her name, he knew, wasn¡¯t this the little miss the Shen Family had just brought back? Xu Chaomu had intended to say it was Aunt Zhou, but after thinking it over, she felt that wouldn¡¯t be right, so she indignantly said, ¡°Shen Chi!¡± Li Beiting couldn¡¯t contain hisughter, the little miss was too adorable, a real treasure! He and Shen Chi were childhood friends. So, Shen Chi was trafficking people now, huh? That was truly an eye-opener! ¡°What are youughing at.¡± Xu Chaomu was very serious, her little face earnest. ¡°No, nothing,¡± Li Beiting couldn¡¯t stopughing all the way. They happened to have reached the Li Family¡¯s doorstep, and Li Beiting took her into the house. ¡°Your house is also very big¡­¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but wonder, is it that aside from her family, all the others were wealthy? ¡°It¡¯s much smallerpared to Shen Chi¡¯s ce,¡± Li Beiting said with a smile, ¡°By the way, why did you run out here all alone and cry?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you cry if you were kidnapped?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at Li Beiting with contempt. Li Beiting choked on his response, as if¡­ she had a point. No, that¡¯s nonsense, could the Shen Family really be involved in trafficking? This little girl had clearly been brought from the orphanage. ¡°Then¡­ does Shen Chi know you ran out here?¡± ¡°How would I know if he knows!¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. Well¡­ Li Beiting choked again, Shen Chi had indeed picked up a gem! ¡°Seeing you cry so sadly, did Shen Chi scold you?¡± Li Beiting teased her. He knew Shen Chi¡¯s temper and character quite well; Xu Chaomu must have irritated Shen Chi. With his nasty temper, no one would expect to get off easy once they¡¯ve provoked him! Plus, he had heard that there had been some recent changes in the Shen Family, which probably made Shen Chi even moodier. Chapter 13 - 013 Devour Completely 13 Chapter 013 Devour Completely Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Don¡¯t bring him up, it makes me unhappy,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a stern little face to Li Beiting. Li Beitingughed so hard his stomach hurt, it was the first time he had ever encountered such an interesting little girl. Just then, the phone in the living room of their house rang, and after he put the basketball down, he walked over to answer it. ¡°Li Beiting, send Xu Chaomu back to me!¡± The icy, stern voice startled Li Beiting; he thought it was someone else at first, but it turned out to be young master Shen. ¡°Look, Shen Chi, it¡¯s not my fault, okay? The girl was crying outside your house on her own, don¡¯t think I abducted her,¡± Li Beiting quickly disimed any involvement. ¡°Send her over within five minutes, and I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, whatever you, Shen young master, say,¡± Li Beiting wiped his sweat. ¡°Don¡¯t say it was me who had here back!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Uh?¡± Before Li Beiting could recover from his confusion, Shen Chi had already hung up the phone. Li Beiting held the receiver, unable to snap back to reality for a long time, Shen young master¡¯s manner of doing things was truly unpredictable! Xu Chaomu, however, didn¡¯t cause any trouble for Li Beiting; she sat obediently on the stool, staring nkly around therge living room of the Li family. Although Li family¡¯s living room wasn¡¯t as luxurious as the Shen family¡¯s, Xu Chaomu felt it had more warmth. At least, the family photos hanging on the wall were endearing. Once, she too had longed for a perfect family; she had even asked her mother where her father was. But her mother always remained silent, andter, afraid to make her mother unhappy, she never asked again. In the future, she would not have a warm home anymore. At that thought, she felt a bit of difort in her heart. ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ll take you back,¡± Li Beiting came over. ¡°Go where?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him suspiciously, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back to the Shen family; nobody there is nice to me apart from Auntie Zhou.¡± ¡°Your Auntie Zhou has been looking for you, she made several calls, worried you got lost,¡± Li Beiting fabricated a lie. ¡°Auntie Zhou is looking for me?¡± ¡°Yeah, she was so anxious when she heard you were here, she asked me to take you back,¡± he replied. Xu Chaomu was moved, but then thinking of Shen Chi¡¯s face, she quickly shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not going back, Shen Chi will eat me up without leaving anything behind!¡± She had learned a new phrase while reading aic book today: ¡°eat up without leaving anything behind.¡± Although she didn¡¯t know what it meant, every time the male protagonist said this to the female protagonist, thetter seemed scared. Therefore, Xu Chaomu thought it was a powerful phrase, perfectly suitable for her current situation. Pity that she wouldn¡¯t be able to learn such cultured things anymore, as all the books had been burned. Li Beiting was taken aback at first, then burst into uproariousughter. Eat up without leaving anything behind¡­ without leaving behind¡­ behind¡­ Li Beitingughed boisterously, ¡°You can absolutely rest assured on that count, I vouch for my integrity, Shen Chi definitely has no interest in you!¡± Not to speak of Xu Chaomu only being ten, even if she were eighteen and of age now, Shen Chi would definitely have no interest in her. After all, Shen young master likes Miss Bai Man from the Bai family! ¡°Is your integrity valuable?¡± Xu Chaomu expressed her doubt. Andter on, as it turned out, Li Beiting¡¯s integrity must have been eaten by a dog. Wasn¡¯t it said Shen Chi had no interest in her? Then who was the man who pinned her to the bed day and night, yearster?! ¡°How could you doubt me, huh? Come on, I¡¯ll take you back to the Shen family; your Auntie Zhou must be dying of worry,¡± Li Beiting said. Xu Chaomu was also worried about Auntie Zhou; after all, she liked her very much, as Auntie Zhou always reminded her of her own mother. When Li Beiting delivered Xu Chaomu back to the Shen family, Shen Chi was sitting at the dining table, leisurely enjoying his supper. He patiently cut his steak into pieces, his movements ever so graceful. When Xu Chaomu stood in front of him, he didn¡¯t lift his head. ¡°Ahem, Shen Chi,¡± Li Beiting coughed lightly. ¡°You can go now!¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°You¡­ cross the river and demolish the bridge, don¡¯t you! At least invite me for a cup of tea.¡± Li Beiting voiced his protest. But Shen Chi, with his head down, continued to eat his own dinner. Li Beiting found it pointless to stay, so he red at him and left the Shen Family. Well, just consider it a good deed for the day, Li Beiting consoled himself. Xu Chaomu too red at him, but her stomach betrayed her by letting out a loud ¡°gurgling¡± sound, impossible to cover up. She had not eaten anything all day, what now? Shen Chi, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, eating his own food without so much as a nce at Xu Chaomu. The steak emitted an enticing aroma, and together with the table full of dishes, Xu Chaomu really wanted to sit down and join in. No, no, dying of hunger is a minor issue, but losing one¡¯s pride is another. How would she face the future? So, Xu Chaomu walked past Shen Chi with her head held high and chest puffed out. But just a few stepster, the cold voice of someone behind her faintly rang out. ¡°Aren¡¯t you very capable? Whye back?¡± ¡°You think I want toe back? Aunt Zhou asked me to, I did it just so Aunt Zhou wouldn¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± Xu Chaomu retorted irritably. Shen Chi sneered. A ten-year-old child really doesn¡¯t know how to read the room. His mother, didn¡¯t like her at all. Shen Chi fell silent, and Xu Chaomu paused. Actually, if he had said ¡°Let¡¯s eat together,¡± she would have reluctantly joined him for the meal. But Shen Chi remained silent, and Xu Chaomu, grinding her teeth, had no choice but to climb upstairs on her own. Heric books were taken, and she had nothing to eat; Xu Chaomu felt that life here was worse than the orphanage. At least in the orphanage, she could set off firecrackers. It was in the middle of the night when she was woken by hunger. Xu Chaomu, covering her stomach, whispered, ¡°So hungry, so hungry,¡± but nobody paid her any attention. She turned on the bedsidemp and rummaged through everything looking for something to eat, but the cupboard was as clean as her face, empty. The clock pointed to ¡°1,¡± signaling it was one in the morning. The surroundings were silent, the only sound being the growling of her stomach. Xu Chaomu had no choice but to sneak downstairs, hoping to find something to eat. She didn¡¯t dare to turn on the lights, in case she was discovered¡­ that would be damaging to her image. Just as she was about to reach the bottom of the stairs, she saw a ck silhouette sitting on the sofa! The silhouette sat still, silent and motionless. ¡°Aahh!¡± Xu Chaomu screamed in terror as she clutched her head. Who on earth sits there in the dead of night without making a sound, scaring her to death? ¡°Click,¡± Shen Chi rose from the sofa and turned on the living room light. Xu Chaomu took off running. Why was it him? What was he doing awake at this ungodly hour? If he found out that she came downstairs for food, she would be mortified. Shen Chi caught her by the cor and yanked her down: ¡°What are you wandering around for in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?¡± ¡°Oh, really? Hehe, I¡¯m sleepwalking.¡± Xu Chaomu forced an ugly smile. She noticed that Shen Chi was sporting a dark expression, not looking too pleased. She didn¡¯t know who made him upset, but she was sure it wasn¡¯t her. ¡°Stop lying to me! There¡¯s food on the table, go eat it yourself!¡± Shen Chi let go of her. All her little tricksid bare, Xu Chaomu felt utterly embarrassed. She had no choice but to cover her face and walk past Shen Chi to sit at the table and eat. The food was still warm, which felt miraculous to her. Did wealthy families have bowls and chopsticks that came with a self-heating feature? Xu Chaomu was puzzled. Shen Chi didn¡¯t sit back down; instead, he slowly ascended the stairs. Xu Chaomu felt it would be rude not to show some concern, so she casually asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep at this hour?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s steps hesitated for a moment, but without a word, he continued climbing the stairs. Xu Chaomu felt like she was making a fool of herself, so she snorted, curled her lips in disdain, and continued to eat. Chapter 14 - 014: You Carry Me Off the Car 14 Chapter 014: You Carry Me Off the Car Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio On Xu Chaomu¡¯s fourth day at Shen Family¡¯s house, the divorcewsuit between Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian started. Shen Chi didn¡¯t go anywhere and stood alone on the terrace of the Shen Family¡¯s vi, silent and speechless. Xu Chaomu was sent to school by domestic help, and when she returned home, she happened to see a red car parked at the Shen Family¡¯s doorstep. By that time, it was alreadyte, and the setting sun dyed the earth with ayer of orange. When the wind blew, the withered trees trembled lightly, making a hissing sound. The birds suddenly took flight with a whoosh, flying from the trees to the farther sky. It was Driver Lao Jiang who picked up Xu Chaomu, and just as their car was about to stop at the entrance, the woman from the red car came out. The woman wore thick makeup, was d in a gray fox fur coat, had sexy long hair, and strode over in high heels. ¡°Park a little to the side, why are you blocking our way!¡± The woman¡¯s red lips moved as she said haughtily to Old Jiang. Xu Chaomu was angry; was this woman blind? How was their car blocking the way? However, it was Old Jiang who offered a cating smile, ¡°Yes, yes, we will move the car to the garage right away.¡± ¡°Sorry, the garage is already full. Find yourself another spot,¡± said the woman with a half-smile, full of pride. Old Jiang frowned. The Shen Family¡¯s garage was so spacious, how could it be full? It seemed like this was a deliberate power y. At that moment, Shen Chi came out, and all the woman¡¯s words fell into his ears. ¡°Who allowed you to park in the Shen Family¡¯s garage?¡± Shen Chi stood in front of the woman, his sharp eyes bearing down on her with amanding aura. ¡°So this is Shen Chi. Don¡¯t you know who will be thedy of the Shen Family from now on?¡± The woman said scornfully, as she strutted around in her high heels, arms folded. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what the woman was talking about; where did this crazy persone from? ¡°This vi is named ¡®Shen¡¯, not ¡®Liu!''¡± There was a cold smirk on Shen Chi¡¯s lips. ¡°Oh, such a big talker. I saw Zhou Ran moving out of the Shen estate like a drowned rat today; maybe you, Shen Chi, will be the next, oh, and your sister Shen Di.¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m in the Shen Family for one day, you, Liu Rumei, are nothing!¡± Shen Chi, no longer engaging in pointless conversation, gave Old Jiang a look, and Old Jiang nodded, stepping out of the driver¡¯s seat. Xu Chaomu, not fearing the chaos, stuck her head out and made a face at the woman, ¡°Even Dabai has more sense than you!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this brat?¡± Unable to take it out on Shen Chi, the woman couldn¡¯t stand being ridiculed by the girl either, and her face couldn¡¯t hold the expression. ¡°Liu Rumei, I¡¯ll count to three. Move your car, and I¡¯ll let it pass. If you don¡¯t, don¡¯t me me for being unkind!¡± Shen Chi started the car, his gaze as piercing as ever, eyes sharply fixed on the red BMW ahead. Xu Chaomu, loving the drama, didn¡¯t wait for Shen Chi to speak, she shouted, ¡°One!¡± ¡°You! You two!¡± The woman pointed at Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi, her face turning white with anger. ¡°Buckle up! Sit tight!¡± Shen Chi frowned and nced at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly buckled her seatbelt, smiled at Shen Chi, and then, lifting her face, she shouted loudly, ¡°Two!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s foot was already on the elerator, the setting sun shining through the window, turning his white shirt a golden yellow. His expression was serious, his chiseled facial features revealing a thinyer of anger. His eyes were focused ahead, and his whole body exuded a chill that seemed even colder than thete December weather. ¡°Three!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted. As soon as the word left her lips, Shen Chi pressed down on the elerator without hesitation. The woman standing in front of the car hurriedly dodged, falling and scrambling away, her high heels flying off and her ankle twisting. ¡°Are you trying to murder someone? Stop the car, Shen Chi!¡± The woman yelled. Shen Chi pursed his lips and aimed the car at the red BMW¡¯s bo! ¡°Close your eyes!¡± Shen Chi ordered Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu quickly closed her eyes and covered her ears. A loud ¡°bang¡± resounded as the ck Hummer collided with the red BMW, the BMW¡¯s bumper instantly wrecked! The headlights shattered to pieces, debris flying everywhere! Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and only after the noise ceased did she slowly open her eyes. A scene of disarrayy before her, the front end of the red BMW was now unrecognizable from the collision, while the ck Hummer remained unscathed, not a scratch on it. ¡°Shen Chi, have you lost your mind! My car!¡± the woman eximed, running over in distress. Xu Chaomu watched the woman wailing tragically and gave Shen Chi a knowing look, ¡°Brother Shen Chi, I suddenly have such admiration for you, what should I do?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t behave in the future, you¡¯ll end up just like her!¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu found her ttery had backfired. Shen Chi steered the wheel, turned the Hummer around, and drove straight towards the Shen Family mansion, heading directly for the garage! He parked the vehicle steadily in the garage before finally unbuckling his seatbelt. ¡°Brother Shen Chi, who is that woman? Where¡¯s Aunt Zhou? Why did she say she¡¯s thedy of the house?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Since when did it be her turn to be thedy of the house,¡± sneered Shen Chi as he opened the car door. ¡°I thought the same, how could it be her, Aunt Zhou is the realdy of this house!¡± Xu Chaomu resumed her ttery. With a ¡°bang,¡± Shen Chi closed the car door and didn¡¯t look back. ¡°Hey! My legs are numb! Brother Shen Chi! Wait for me!¡± Xu Chaomu had not yet unbuckled her seatbelt. Xu Chaomu thought Shen Chi, with his personality, would certainly ignore her. However, after walking a few steps, he paused, frowned, and came back to her door, opening the passenger-side door. ¡°The seatbelt is tangled up, ah, I can¡¯t get it off, can¡¯t get it off¡­¡± Xu Chaomu became more confused as she fumbled with it. ¡°Even Dabai is smarter than you!¡± Shen Chi said helplessly and took it upon himself to unbuckle her. As the seatbelt came undone, Xu Chaomu stretched out her arms, ¡°My legs are numb, you should carry me out of the car!¡± She had already thrown the argument from the day before yesterday with Shen Chi to the back of her mind; in the face of an external enemy, she was on his side! Xu Chaomu was ready for Shen Chi to push her away as usual, but instead, he scooped her up from the passenger seat in one swift move. For the first time, Xu Chaomu found herself in Shen Chi¡¯s arms, inhaling his unique fresh scent, like green tea mixed with the smell of grass ¨C light and pleasant. ¡°Brother Shen Chi, I¡¯m on your side, ready to go through fire and water, toy down my life, spare no effort at all!¡± Xu Chaomu started with her tteries again, and Shen Chi snorted coldly. ¡°Really, I¡¯ll always be on your side, if you say to go east, I¡¯ll never go west!¡± Xu Chaomu promised earnestly. ¡°Who was that person who got chewed out and kicked out two days ago?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. ¡°Heh, seems like it was Dabai.¡± From a distance, Dabai in his cage sneezed, the air seemingly filled with the presence of a sneaky individual. Carrying Xu Chaomu towards the bedroom, Shen Chi moved on, while Xu Chaomu suddenly remembered her grand undertaking. To give him a kiss! To kiss him! Xu Chaomu eyed his handsome, clean cheek and counted silently in her head. One! Two! Before she could mentally count to ¡°three,¡± Shen Chi flung her onto the bed with force. ¡°Ouch, that hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was speechless, thinking how ungentlemanly Shen Chi was. Couldn¡¯t he treat her with a bit more tenderness and care? She rubbed her little head, her face reflecting a look of aggrieved innocence. Chapter 15 - 015: Attack the Dog, but Consider the Master Chapter 15: Attack the Dog, but Consider the Master Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Put away your little tricks!¡± Shen Chi looked down at her from above. ¡°So stingy,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, thinking you can dodge the first, but can you dodge the fifteenth? Shen Chi gave her a nce and turned to leave her room. As soon as the tiger left, the monkey kingdom was in turmoil. Xu Chaomu rummaged through her backpack and fished out the treasure she had acquired that day¡ªa stack ofic books! These were the prizes she had won ying finger-guessing games with a bunch of boys! Her eyes were bent into crescents as sheughed, spreading theics out one by one on the bed. These books looked much more interesting than hers, and atst, she could resume her cultural education, for she was a person with a great thirst for knowledge! When Shen Chi was walking downstairs, Liu Rumei was still staring at her BMW, heartbroken. Just then, a ck Rolls Royce pulled up, andter, Shen Cexian got out of the car and approached Liu Rumei. ¡°Cexian, you finally arrived. Look at the great job your son did!¡± Liu Rumeiined first. Shen Cexian had rushed back from the Shen Group after receiving a call from Liu Rumei. He had spent the afternoon negotiating with Zhou Ran and, on some issues, had still ended in failure, so he was not in a good mood at the moment. ¡°Just buy another one. These trivial matters, you don¡¯t need to tell me,¡± Shen Cexian nced at the totaled BMW indifferently. ¡°Cexian¡­ only you pamper me the most¡­ It¡¯s just that this car was a gift from you, I feel a bit heartbroken,¡± Liu Rumei frowned slightly, holding her heart and sighing. She walked over and snuggled against Shen Cexian¡¯s arm, resting her head on his shoulder. ¡°Get some more people to help with the luggage, settle in today. Yanrou and Shihan should also be picked up, for anything you can consult the butler. Hold onto this bank card for now,¡± he said. Shen Cexian took out a card from his wallet and handed it to Liu Rumei, his face mostly expressionless. Liu Rumei refused to take it: ¡°You bringing me to the Shen Family is the greatest blessing I could have. I can¡¯t ept this card.¡± ¡°If I say hold onto it, hold onto it,¡± Shen Cexian stuffed the bank card into her hand, ¡°The pin is your birthday.¡± Only then did Liu Rumei carefully put away the bank card, wrapping her arms around Shen Cexian¡¯s waist: ¡°Cexian¡­ you are so good to me.¡± Shen Cexian pushed her away, his face still devoid of much fluctuation, ¡°I still have to go back to the Group.¡± ¡°Be careful on the road, don¡¯t overwork yourself,¡± Liu Rumei smiled. Only after that did Shen Cexian get back into his car, and once the driver started the vehicle, they drove off at a good pace. Liu Rumei, satisfied, put the bank card away in her wallet and said to her own driver, ¡°Go pick up Miss and Young Master.¡± ¡°Yes, madam.¡± This scene unfolded before Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. He sneered coldly, his eyes seeming to ze with ice, the corners of his mouth hinting at an imperceptible depth. When Shen Cexian returned to the Shen Group, Zhou Ran had yet to leave. She stood by the chairman¡¯s office window, dressed in a dark cyan coat, looking down from the window nkly. Shen Cexian watched her from behind for a good ten minutes, but the woman did not move, cold as ice, her presence sending chills. Even the summer sun¡¯s scorching rays seemed powerless to melt her. ¡°I¡¯ve given you what you wanted. What is it, you¡¯re not leaving?¡± Shen Cexian finally spoke up. Zhou Ran turned slowly towards him with a faint smile, observing all of Shen Cexian¡¯s expressions closely. ¡°Zhou Ran, you always act so self-righteous! Do you have any idea how much I detest this attitude of yours?¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he gripped Zhou Ran¡¯s shoulders, as if he wanted to crush them. Even in deep pain, Zhou Ran showed no expression. She simply hooked up the corners of her lips, silently watching the man in front of her. After so many years, he had not changed at all. His handsome features had matured through years of business, and his bespoke ck suit hugged his lean figure. It¡¯s just a pity that his eyes had changed. She once loved those clear and clean eyes of his, but now, those eyes were murky, and she couldn¡¯t see through them anymore. Zhou Ran said nothing, and Shen Cexian¡¯s hand slowly dropped. ¡°Do you have anything else to say? If not, please leave and don¡¯te to the Group again!¡± Shen Cexian turned away, no longer paying Zhou Ran any attention. ¡°You think I want to entangle with you?¡± Zhou Ran chuckled coldly, pulling out a stack of documents from her bag. ¡°Chairman Shen Cexian, please be troubled to move your pen and sign this document,¡± she said. Shen Cexian frowned tightly, flipping impatiently through the documents Zhou Ran handed him, and after a few pages, his anger was uncontainable. ¡°You don¡¯t believe what I say?¡± Zhou Ran smiled lightly, ¡°Words alone are no proof; I trust thew more.¡± ¡°I knew it, you never trusted me!¡± a trace of destion flickered through Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes. Zhou Ran moved her lips but ultimately said nothing. Shen Cexian picked up the pen without much hesitation and signed his name at the end of the document. With the documents in hand, Zhou Ran hooked her lips, ¡°Chairman Shen, we shall not meet again.¡± She gathered her shawl around herself and lifted her head as she walked out of the chairman¡¯s office. The elongated sound of her high heels clicked against the floor, gradually vanishing into the corridor¡¯s end. The silence was profound, Shen Cexian stood where Zhou Ran had just been, the scenery in the distance vanishing. His gaze was deep, seemingly endless. In the Shen¡¯s living room, Liu Rumei was busy instructing the servants on moving things around, causing amotion throughout the Shen Family home. Xu Chaomu had been quietly reading heric books, but Liu Rumei¡¯s shrill voice made it impossible for her to stay focused. Frustrated, she ran out of her room and happened upon Liu Rumei haughtily directing the servants. ¡°Move the vase a bit to the left!¡± ¡°Oh dear, be careful with that suitcase, it¡¯s genuine leather!¡± ¡°Just throw away Miss and Young Master¡¯s old clothes!¡± ¡°This is the Young Master¡¯s favorite jade ornament, put it in the living room!¡± Xu Chaomu bolted downstairs and grabbed the ornament, ready to throw it! ¡°There¡¯s only one Young Master in the Shen Family. When did I not know Brother Shen Chi liked jade?¡± With a mere loosening of her hand, the jade ornament would¡¯ve surely shattered. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you again. I thought you were some poor rtive of the Shen Family, but now I realize you¡¯re just picked up from the orphanage. No wonder you have no manners. Put that ornament down now, or when I p you with my hand, you better not cry out in pain!¡± Liu Rumei was arrogantly furious, not about to be intimidated by this girl. Hearing this, Xu Chaomu tilted her head and purposefully loosened her grip, and with a ¡°tter,¡± the jade ornament fell to the ground! The servants¡¯ eyes nearly popped out of their heads, each one too scared to make a noise. ¡°Sorry, your voice was too loud, my hand shook, and it fell,¡± Xu Chaomu said, brushing off her hands, feeling quite satisfied. Liu Rumei trembled with rage, raising her hand to deliver a resounding p. Just then, her wrist was seized by a strong force, held immovable. Grinding her teeth, she turned around to see Shen Chi! ¡°When punishing a dog, you must see the owner first. Liu Rumei, do you need to be so arrogant?¡± Shen Chi red down at her, his chilly eyes filling with a blood-red haze.. Chapter 16 - 016: What’s Wrong with What I’m Used To? Chapter 16: What¡¯s Wrong with What I¡¯m Used To? Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Out of line, let go of my hand!¡± Liu Rumei struggled fiercely to free her wrist. Unfortunately, Shen Chi¡¯s grip was too tight, and her efforts were futile. Embarrassed before the servants, Liu Rumei¡¯s face turned alternately red and white. ¡°You clearly don¡¯t understand the rules of the Shen Family. Move your things to the west wing now, or don¡¯t me me if I throw them out!¡± Each word Shen Chi uttered wasced with menace; he had already given her enough face. ¡°Let go of me, and we can talk this through. The rules of the Shen Family aren¡¯t for you, Shen Chi, to dictate. We should wait for your father to return and discuss this!¡± Liu Rumei stood her ground. It was her first day, and if the servants ridiculed her, how could she hold her head up in the Shen Family again? Shen Chi¡¯s grip on her hand tightened further, causing Liu Rumei¡¯s brows to furrow in pain. Xu Chaomu seemed to thrive on chaos, instructing the servants moving items, ¡°Throw it out, throw it out, this vase is too ugly, this box too hideous, what terrible taste.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The servants looked at each other, uncertain whether to stay or go. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Liu Rumei wished she could jump up in anger. These were all her treasures! Liu Rumei had no way of dealing with Shen Chi, so she turned to Xu Chaomu and shouted, ¡°Since when is it your turn to speak here? What are you exactly?¡± Shen Chi tightened his hold and raised an eyebrow, ¡°I spoiled her, so what?¡± Xu Chaomu felt overjoyed inside. Her face bloomed like a peach blossom in delight. ¡°Very well, there will be other days. Move everything to the west wing!¡± Liu Rumei finally conceded. The servants all wiped off sweat and resumed moving items out. Only then did Shen Chi let out a coldugh and release his hold. Livid, Liu Rumei stormed off. Everyone knew the western wing of the Shen estate was reserved for guests. By sending her there, Shen Chi was clearly showing he did not take her seriously at all. One day, she would move back in! Seeing that the living room had cleared, Xu Chaomu gleefully climbed onto Shen Chi¡¯s neck. ¡°Brother Shen Chi, since when have you cared about me so much?¡± Shen Chi smirked, ¡°I did say, you have to look at the owner when you beat a dog, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xu Chaomu nodded vigorously. But something seemed amiss. Pah, what beating a dog! She¡¯s not a dog! Shen Chi pried her fingers loose, ¡°Keep yourself in check, or else I¡¯ll throw you out to the dogs for food!¡± ¡°Are you confusing me with Dabai? I¡¯m not a dog. What¡¯s this about beating a dog and watching the owner? Shen Chi, you¡¯re a bully!¡± ¡°How could I mistake you for Dabai?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°You¡¯re not as cute as Dabai.¡± The next second, Shen Chi tossed Xu Chaomu onto the sofa and strode out. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu thrashed and kicked. ¡°Shen Chi, you bully!¡± After moving her belongings to the west wing, still indignant, Liu Rumei made a call to Shen Cexian. Shen Cexian offered her a few words offort but said little else. As Liu Rumei busied herself in the western vi, the driver brought over her son and daughter. Her daughter, Shen Yanrou, and her son, Shen Shihan, were both a bit older than Shen Chi. Shen Shihan was rtively quiet and cold by nature. However, upon arriving at the west wing, Shen Yanrou began toin, ¡°Can anyone even live here? The trees are taller than the building!¡± ¡°Talk less. Orphans from the orphanage are treated better than you,¡± Liu Rumei mocked coldly. The conversation between mother and daughter was overheard by the servants, and of course, it also reached Shen Cexian. When Shen Cexian returned home in the evening, arge table of dishes had already been prepared in the living room. Xu Chaomu used to be at odds with Shen Chi, but now she took the initiative to sit beside him. ¡°Before we eat, I¡¯m setting a rule!¡± Shen Cexian announced. Everyone remained silent, quietly waiting for what he would say next. ¡°The order of seniority cannot be neglected. Although Adi is abroad, she is the oldest and will henceforth be the eldest sister. Yanrou is the second sister, and Shihan is the third eldest. As for Achi, you are the youngest, so don¡¯t forget your manners when addressing others. Xu Chaomu, you should learn from this as well! ¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s words were definitive, spoken with a resolute and powerful voice that no one dared to interrupt. The living room became so quiet for a moment that one could hear a pin drop. ¡°I can call the second sister and the third brother, but I¡¯m afraid I can only address thisdy as ¡®Miss Liu,¡±¡® Shen Chi finally spoke, ncing indifferently at Liu Rumei. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard that the young master of the Shen Family, Shen Chi, studied at the best schools, yet he doesn¡¯t seem to know how to respect his elders. I don¡¯t expect you to call me ¡®mom¡¯, I can¡¯t ept that honor. But what is this ¡®Miss Liu¡¯? I have never heard such a term before,¡± she retorted. With Shen Cexian¡¯s backing her, Liu Rumei¡¯s voice grew louder by several decibels! ¡°Addressing you as ¡®Miss Liu¡± is already a courtesy. I certainly don¡¯t like people who don¡¯t know how to ept a face-saving gesture,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was icy. Sitting closest to Liu Rumei, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes darted around, looking for an opportunity. Spotting one, she stepped firmly on Liu Rumei¡¯s toes! Fast! urate! Ruthless! Liu Rumei grimaced in pain, gasping for air. Normally she pretended to be virtuous and good in front of Shen Cexian, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and swallow the pain! Acting as if nothing had happened, Xu Chaomu bowed her head to focus on the food in her bowl, yet her foot remained on Liu Rumei¡¯s toe! Shen Cexian had not yet spoken, but Shen Yanrou couldn¡¯t hold her peace: ¡°How can you talk to my mom like that? She¡¯s your elder, after all!¡± ¡°Brother Shen Chi¡¯s elders are like Uncle Shen, wise and sagacious. Not just anyone is worthy of being Brother Shen Chi¡¯s elder!¡± Xu Chaomu was the first to respond, her words as merciless as her actions. Liu Rumei, having already turned pale from the pain, was about to retaliate by pinching Xu Chaomu with her long nails when Chaomu shifted her foot, this time stepping on Shen Yanrou¡¯s instep. Shen Yanrou didn¡¯t have Liu Rumei¡¯sposure and let out a loud ¡°Ah!¡± right away! In her surprise, her elbow turned and arge ss of grape juice spilled all over Liu Rumei¡¯s skirt. ¡°Who stepped on me?¡± Shen Yanrou stood up. Everyone at the table remained expressionless, especially Xu Chaomu, who continued cutting her steak as though she was perfectly innocent. She had just learned how to cut steak from Shen Chi, and it was an opportune moment for a little practice. Liu Rumei also stood up, frantically trying to wipe her skirt with a tissue. s, the purple stain from the grape juice had already seeped into her red skirt, creating a mess. ¡°Xu Chaomu, was it you?¡± Shen Yanrou looked around and felt it must have been Chaomu. ¡°Was what me?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked herrge, innocent eyes. ¡°Did you just step on me?¡± Shen Yanrou asked through gritted teeth. ¡°Enough! All of you, settle down!¡± Shen Cexian finally spoke up. With a loud ¡°p¡± of his chopsticks, silence once again fell over the living room. Xu Chaomu continued to cut her steak, passing the first piece she had cut to Shen Chi¡¯s te. Shen Chi didn¡¯t refuse and gracefully ate the steak Xu Chaomu had handed him. Shen Yanrou pursed her lips and resigned herself to her misfortune. Of course, there was one other person at the table who remained utterlyposed. Shen Shihan. Throughout the ordeal, he had been mixing his fruit juice, indifferent to themotion around him, disying a cool detachment no different from Shen Chi¡¯s. Without saying a word, he calmly observed everything.. Chapter 17 - 017 Wasting a Good Look Chapter 17: Wasting a Good Look Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Throughout this meal, each person ate with their own thoughts and ns. Xu Chaomu was the most carefree among them, with a very simple idea in mind; she wanted to stand on the same side as Shen Chi. No help for it, after all, Shen Chi was good-looking. Although that Shen Shihan also had quite an impressive appearance, he still didn¡¯t catch her eye the way Shen Chi did. Shen Yanrou was the first to finish eating, having scarcely touched her food before setting down her utensils and returning to her room. Shortly after, Shen Cexian also left. Once Cexian was gone, Liu Rumei lost her appetite and stood up to leave as well. Only Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu, and Shen Shihan remained at the dining table. Xu Chaomu became even more unbridled, pushing a te of blueberry jam towards Shen Chi, ¡°Brother Shen Chi, this is really tasty.¡± Shen Chi did not ept it, and simply said indifferently, ¡°Call me Fourth Brother from now on. ¡°Then, should I call him Third Brother?¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at Shen Shihan. ¡°Mm.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t seem to mind; he passed two sses of juice that he had prepared himself. ¡°Try this.¡± Xu Chaomu looked at Shen Shihan with a face full of suspicion, but Shen Chi took the drink without hesitation, ¡°Thanks.¡± The rtionship between Shen Chi and Shen Shihan was quite subtle, something the ten-year-old Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand. There is a kind ofpetition known as the do-or-die battle between men. It is different from the minor squabbles between women; the battlefield of men is bloodless, yet every move is lethal. After dinner, Xu Chaomu went to see Dabai. Dabai was a Tibetan Mastiff raised by Shen Chi, and although it was not very old, it was already quiterge. Most critical of all, Shen Chi treated it many times better than he treated her. Ah¡­ using Shen Chi¡¯s words, she was just a dog who couldn¡¯tpare to Dabai. But¡­ one day, she would make Shen Chi submit to her little paws! Hmph. As Xu Chaomu squatted in front of the cage feeding Dabai, Liu Rumei and her daughter casually walked by on their stroll. Liu Rumei pretended not to see her and said with a smile to Shen Yanrou, ¡°Look, there are two dogs over there!¡± Shen Yanrou chimed in, ¡°Indeed, we better hurry on. Getting bitten by a dog means needing a vine!¡± Xu Chaomu was so irritated she gritted her teeth¡ªwhen did it be okay for everyone to bully her?! Her little mind whirring, she went to the kitchen and brought back arge watermelon to feed to Dabai. ¡°Dabai, Dabai, after you finish the watermelon, we¡¯ll show them what we¡¯re made of!¡± Dabai dutifully cleaned off the watermelon rind, and Xu Chaomu patted its head, ¡°Dabai, well done!¡± Under the cover of night, Xu Chaomu sneaked over to the western wing of the Shen Family vi with the watermelon rind in hand. One piece, two pieces, three pieces¡­ Xu Chaomu strategically ced watermelon rinds on the path leading upstairs and pped her hands with satisfaction. Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou, one in front of the other, finished their stroll and were about to head back upstairs to rest. Xu Chaomu hid in the darkness, silently watching them. As expected, with a ¡°thud,¡± Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou both stepped on a piece of watermelon rind simultaneously! ¡°0w! Who threw these watermelon rinds here?! Are they blind? Can you just toss these around wherever? Whoever did this,e out!¡± Liu Rumei was flopped on the ground, no longer caring about her image, cursing loudly. Shen Yanrou, however, kept herposure. After falling, she got right back up. ¡°It must be that little brat Xu Chaomu!¡± Shen Yanrou hobbled over from the staircase, foot in hand. Done for, done for¡­ Xu Chaomu hurriedly prepared to make her escape. But before she could scream, someone snatched her by the back of her cor, and a hand swiftly covered her mouth. Shen Chi brought Xu Chaomu back to his room, where Xu Chaomu finally patted her chest in relief. ¡°You scared me; I thought it was someone else.¡± ¡°Sneaking around again, up to no good.¡± Shen Chi gave her a disdainful look. ¡°You saw that? Well, this wouldn¡¯t exactly count as ¡®up to no good¡¯. What¡¯s the saying? Ah, ¡®acting for the heavens!!¡± Xu Chaomu had learned a new phrase. ¡°Not bad today, this is for you.¡± Shen Chi took out a small box nonchntly. ¡°What is it? What is it?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes gleamed. Upon opening it, it turned out to be a little wooden puppet. The puppet was painted with colorfulcquer, its innocently silly appearance somewhat resembled her, but not as cute. Shen Chi took a seat on the couch and casually picked up a book to read. Xu Chaomu fiddled with the wooden puppet, very happy. She really hadn¡¯t expected Shen Chi to give her a gift. She approached Shen Chi: ¡°I love it, I love it, but¡­ it would be even better if you gave me something else!¡± ¡°Give an inch and they¡¯ll take a mile.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t even look up, ignoring her. Xu Chaomu threw herself on him and hugged his neck: ¡°Gifts cost so much, why don¡¯t you let me give you a kiss instead?¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was cold, his demeanor domineering. Yet Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t let go, her little hand hooked around his neck, rubbing against him. ¡°A kiss doesn¡¯t cost a penny, oh, Brother Shen Chi, it would be such a waste of your good looks.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, he roughly pushed her away, dumping her onto the couch. Yearster, when someone pinned Xu Chaomu onto the bed, he repeated the words she once said with a sly smile, ¡°Why let such beauty go to waste by not kissing, when the good water shouldn¡¯t flow into others¡¯ fields?¡± Shen Chi picked up the book, straightened his cor, and left. ¡°So stingy, it¡¯s not like I¡¯d eat you up,¡± Xu Chaomu clicked her tongue. While she sat on the couch, beating her chest and stamping her feet, her eyes caught a glimpse of a piece of paper under a teacup. Out of curiosity, she crawled over from the couch, and as she drew closer, she realized it was a ne ticket from C City to Frankfurt. Frankfurt? What a strange name. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand, but the time on it was tomorrow morning at five! And this ticket belonged to Shen Chi! He was actually nning to abandon her and run off, how heartless of him¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart felt like it was being scratched by a little rabbit, itching incessantly¡­ Angered, Xu Chaomu found her hands trembling as she held the ticket. In a fit of pique, she tore up the ticket. Just as she was about to throw it in the trash, she stuffed it into her pocket instead. She had topletely destroy the evidence. Otherwise, if Shen Chi discovered it, he would definitely beat her up! The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Why did he have to leave, how could he just leave her alone at the Shen Family! No wonder he gave her a gift today, it turned out he was nning to leave. What treacherous intentions, with ulterior motives. Xu Chaomu was so angry she threw all the pillows on Shen Chi¡¯s couch onto the floor. It felt as if those were Shen Chi, and she could only feel relieved by stepping on them a few times! She decided to go all out, rummaging through every nook and cranny for other clues. Heaven helps those who help themselves, and she sessfully found something resembling a notice in his bedside table. Frankfurt, five years,mercialw¡­ Picking out a few words she recognized, she pieced together the fact that Shen Chi was going to this damn ce called Frankfurt to study for five years! ¡°How can you be so heartless, how can you leave me all alone.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose soured, and tears fell like beans, dropping ¡°plop plop¡±. The nerve of her to still help him all day today, and he was nning to leave without a word, and for a whole five years. If she hadn¡¯t found out today, would he have just left when she opened her eyes tomorrow morning¡­. Chapter 18 - 018: Watch Me Die Chapter 18: Watch Me Die Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Beiting, as Shen Chi¡¯s childhood friend, didn¡¯t even sleep in but ran over to the Shen Family home early in the morning to see Shen Chi off. He brought many things for Shen Chi, and to tell the truth, he really couldn¡¯t bear to part with them. ¡°Shen Chi, oh Shen Chi, I dreamt of a beauty, but I resolutely said goodbye to her to take you to the airport. How about that, brotherly enough, huh!¡± Li Beiting patted Shen Chi on the shoulder; he had even changed into a smart ck trench coat especially for the asion. Shen Chi sat on the sofa with a stern face, saying nothing. ¡°Are you sad to part with your brother? Sigh, I don¡¯t want to part with you either, but don¡¯t be sad, remember to write to me often once you get to Frankfurt.¡± Li Beiting sighed. Shen Chi was silent for a long time before he said faintly, ¡°Both the ne ticket and the admission notice are missing.¡± ¡°What? How could they be missing? Who would be so bold as to steal your stuff?¡± Li Beiting eximed in shock. This was bad; without the ne ticket and the admission notice, how could Shen Chi go to Frankfurt? Shen Chi sat on the sofa with a frown, his deep eyes unfathomable. ¡°Could it be that Miss Liu, who did the deed? I saw her yesterday, she just doesn¡¯t look like a good person, so sharp and mean.¡± The Li and Shen families had always been close, and Li Beiting had heard about the recent happenings at the Shen family. ¡°Impossible, she doesn¡¯t know about it.¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brow. ¡°Then could it have been some careless servant who threw it away? Although Li Beiting felt the probability was small after speaking¡ªservants at the Shen Family usually dared not enter Shen Chi¡¯s room carelessly¡ªhe didn¡¯t rule out the possibility. Shen Chi¡¯s frown slowly disappeared, and a smile flickered at the corner of his mouth; he seemed to have figured out the answer. Seeing Shen Chi silent, Li Beiting was actually more anxious than him. ¡°What are you going to do? How about rebooking a ne ticket, and as for the admission notice, get in touch with the academic office in Frankfurt. Under normal circumstances, schools are quite understanding.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s gone, it¡¯s gone!¡± Shen Chi stood up. His hands in his trouser pockets, his clean white shirt wrapped around his tall figure. The look in his eyes wasplex but incredibly determined. The sun slowly rose, and outside the window, a white mist lingered. The sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto Shen Chi¡¯s white shirt, highlighting his tall figure, casting his long shadow on the ground, stretching on and on. ¡°Not going?¡± Li Beiting asked. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°You better not regret it, those admission notices aren¡¯t easy toe by, even someone as smart as me couldn¡¯t get one!¡± Li Beiting still felt it was a great pity. Shen Chi patted his shoulder and smiled, ¡°If you shifted a bit of your cleverness this way, you might have been able to get one.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m supposed to beforting you,¡± Li Beiting felt like he¡¯d been led into a trap. ¡°Let me buy you breakfast.¡± Shen Chi and Li Beiting walked downstairs together, the suitcase lying quietly next to the sofa. As Xu Chaomu came downstairs leisurely, Shen Chi was just seeing Li Beiting to the door. As soon as she came down, two frosty gazes shot over. Chilly! Xu Chaomu shivered all over! Before Xu Chaomu could sit down, a domineering hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back upstairs! With a ¡°bang,¡± Shen Chi forcefully shut the front door. Xu Chaomu was so scared her heart trembled! ¡°Thump thump¡± ¡°Thump thump,¡± her little heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding! Shen Chi¡¯s hands cornered Xu Chaomu against the wall, his gaze sharp as he looked at her. ¡°Did you tear the ne ticket?¡± Cold eyes, a chilly voice, a forceful grip! Xu Chaomu felt like a total failure¡ªdidn¡¯t she have the potential to do something bad? But still, she tilted up her face and smiled brightly, ¡°What ne ticket? Where are you off to, Fourth Brother?¡± ¡°Stop pretending, speak up!¡± Xu Chaomu was like a pitiful child bullied by a little rascal, rubbing her eyes, but sadly, no tears woulde out. She slowly crouched down, eyeing the chance to crawl out from under Shen Chi¡¯s arm! One, two, three! ¡°0w, ow, ow, let go, it hurts¡­¡± Just as she crouched down, Shen Chi grabbed her shoulder and pulled her up! ¡°Not admitting it?¡± A cold smile hung at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth. ¡°Admit what, what ticket, I didn¡¯t see any ticket. Why so fierce!¡± ¡°If you admit it nicely, I might consider letting you off this time. If you don¡¯t¡­¡± Shen Chi deliberately paused. ¡°What if I don¡¯t admit it?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him anxiously. Shen Chi grabbed her cor and brought her onto the balcony, pressing her down at the window. As soon as the window opened, a gust of cold air poured in, whooshing, cutting like a knife. ¡°If you don¡¯t admit it, I¡¯ll throw you out!¡± ¡°Wuwu, I don¡¯t want to die¡­ My future is bright, my prospects are brilliant¡­ I don¡¯t want to die yet¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wiped her nose. ¡°So, do you admit it or not?¡± ¡°Under severe torture, there¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t confess, I confess everything. I tore up your ticket, and I hid your notification letter. If you want it, I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Yearster, when Xu Chaomu recalled this incident, she felt that she was truly despicable back then. She confessed just like that, making it all too easy for that bastard Shen Chi! ¡°With the ticket torn up, what good would the notification letter do me?¡± Shen Chi frowned on purpose. ¡°So what do we do, just throw me down then. No tickets, but one life here!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s little face showed not a hint of regret. ¡°From now on, you do whatever I say!¡± Shen Chi patted her little face. Under his domineering influence, Xu Chaomu could only nod her head. Only then did Shen Chi let her go and closed the window. Who knew that Xu Chaomu would suddenly burst into tears, jumping onto Shen Chi¡¯s bed, looking down at him from a height: ¡°You, you, you are too bullying! I¡¯ll die and you¡¯ll see!¡± This move she learned from aic book, where the female protagonist pulls this stint, the male protagonist always looks scared. But Shen Chi did not y by the rules; he calmly sat down on the couch, crossed his long legs, and watched her with a cold gaze. ¡°I¡¯m watching, go ahead and die!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. So,ter on, she obediently jumped off the bed. From then on, since she had verbally agreed to a humiliating treaty of ¡°do whatever I say¡± with Shen Chi, Xu Chaomupletely became another one of Shen Chi¡¯s Dabai. He said go east, she didn¡¯t dare go west. He said to pick up the basketball, she scurried over to fetch it. He gave her food, she dared not refuse to eat. He bought her clothes, she dared not wear them. He didn¡¯t allow her near the young boys, she stayed ten meters away from them. He ordered her to burn all the love letters she received, she obediently did so. He said no short skirts, so she wore long pants all year round. It wasn¡¯t until she was colonized by him for a whole eight years that Xu Chaomu learned a shocking truth! What good would the notification letter do me if all the tickets were torn up! Bullshit! The ticket could obviously be bought again, and he could still fly to Frankfurt just fine! Xu Chaomu felt that her brain had been muddled by soy sauce, deceived by him for a full eight years! Damn Shen Chi was a swindler! An utterly unforgivable big swindler! A big swindler! Chapter 19 - 019: Is the Super Short Skirt Beautiful? Chapter 19: Is the Super Short Skirt Beautiful? Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Eight yearster, Shen Chi formally took over the Shen Group. He stood by the window, looking at the misty white fog outside, his gaze deep and distant. He meticulously buttoned up his white shirt, adjusted his tie, and then donned his Italian custom-tailored ck business suit. The suit¡¯s fitting cut entuated his perfect physique, his tall stature, and his long legs. His chiseled face had sharp angles and deep contours, radiating a mature charm that was profound and enigmatic. Just as he was about to leave, Xu Chaomu leaned casually against his bedroom door, blocking his way. Her mischievous smile was enchanting; her beautiful eyes, brimming with allure, were full of unspoken seduction. The eighteen-year-old Xu Chaomu was no longer the skinny girl she used to be, t-chested and without a single ounce of extra flesh on her body. Today, she had purposely changed into a low-cut, sexy white shirt; and the highlight was below¡ªshe wore an ultra! short! skirt! With a beckoning gesture of her little hand, herrge eyes fixed intently on Shen Chi. ¡°Fourth Brother, isn¡¯t the miniskirt pretty?¡± Xu Chaomu deliberately struck a pose. Shen Chi swallowed, wondering how he had never noticed that the girl had a rather nice figure, with curves in all the right ces and skin that was fair and smooth. ¡°Haven¡¯t I said no short skirts?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression darkened as he gave her a cold nce. ¡°You said no short skirts, but this is an ultra-short skirt!¡± Xu Chaomu emphasized the ¡°ultra.¡± ¡°Change it!¡± Shen Chi was authoritarian. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s not entirely out of the question¡­ Um¡­ How about you change it for me?¡± Xu Chaomu stepped forward, closing the door with her foot and looping her small hand around Shen Chi¡¯s waist. ¡°Xu Chaomu, have you no shame?¡± A piercing cold gaze shot from Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. Over the years, his family education seemed to have been quite the failure. ¡°Shameless? You¡¯re not meeting me for the first time today.¡± Xu Chaomu Her soft, boneless little hand rubbed back and forth along Shen Chi¡¯s waist; his body was in great shape, strong and sexy, irresistibly touchable. Unfortunately, she could only touch him through his clothes, which made Xu Chaomu sigh deeply three times. ¡°Get lost!¡± Shen Chi grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s wandering hand, pushed her away forcefully. ¡°Then I¡¯m really going, Fourth Brother. Don¡¯t regret it once I¡¯m gone!¡± As Xu Chaomu spoke, she began to step backward toward the door, her face sporting a malicious grin. Little did she know, Shen Chi would grab her wrist in a sh, twist the doorknob, and drag her into her room. ¡°0w, let go, it hurts!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s cries reflected her pain. This man had never understood how to be gentle and considerate with women, and it seemed he still hadn¡¯t learned; she had no hope that he ever would. With one hand, Shen Chi pulled her along; with the other, he opened the wardrobe and rifled through it briefly before finding a pair of denim trousers. ¡°Change into these!¡± Xu Chaomu was defiant: ¡°Fourth Brother, you¡¯re way too controlling. I won¡¯t change, what are you going to do about it?¡± If he had the guts, let him lose his temper and change it for her; otherwise, she was genuinely not going to change today. ¡°You won¡¯t change, huh?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s grip on her wrist was chilling as he eyed her coldly. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Without another word, Shen Chi released her and started walking downstairs. Xu Chaomu was smug with triumph, feeling that after eight years of honing her skills, she had greatly improved! Shen Chi had no way to deal with her anymore! But why did it suddenly feel a bit cold? Shen Chi tranquilly ate breakfast downstairs, with Shen Shihan also present. ¡°Good morning, Fourth Young Master!¡± The servants standing by bowed in unison. ¡°Good morning! ¡± He didn¡¯t eat much, just drank a cup of coffee and ate a few slices of bread before leaving the Shen residence. ¡°Mr. Shen, are you taking Miss Xu to school today?¡± The driver, Lao Cheng, waited respectfully outside; Lao Jiang had retired due to ill health, and now it was Lao Cheng who consistently followed Shen Chi. ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t have to go to ss today,¡± Shen Chi said as he sat in the passenger seat, his gaze stern. ¡°Ah? Isn¡¯t today Wednesday?¡± ¡°Going to the group,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Ah!¡± Old Cheng didn¡¯t dare to ask more, started the car, and left the vi. Xu Chaomu hummed a song triumphantly, organizing her small backpack. But why did she feel it was getting colder and colder! Achoo! She sneezed, shivering all over. Although it was early spring, the Shen family¡¯s house had heating! Why was it so cold, cold, cold¡­ ng! She suddenly realized that Shen Chi, that bastard, had made someone turn off the heating! Achoo! She sneezed again! She endured, endured, endured, thinking once she was at school, there would be heating there. But when she went downstairs for breakfast, she found nothing on the table. Several servants were busy tidying up, someone wiping a vase, someone else arranging chairs, but no one was serving her breakfast. Of course, there was a chilly breeze throughout the living room. ¡°Butler Ling, is there breakfast?¡± Xu Chaomu approached a middle-aged woman. ¡°Miss Xu, I¡¯m sorry, there¡¯s none left.¡± Xu Chaomu could guess with her toes who was behind this little scheme, but she endured, endured, endured. After all, there was plenty to eat outside of school. ¡°Oh, then I won¡¯t eat. I¡¯m going to school now, goodbye!¡± Xu Chaomu slung her shoulder bag and walked out, but Butler Ling¡¯s voice eerily followed. ¡°Miss Xu, the Fourth Young Master said you don¡¯t need to go to school today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu could no longer contain her anger! It was just a miniskirt, for heaven¡¯s sake! She had never even touched the hem of a short skirt in her life! Was it that necessary?! This incident once again confirmed the man¡¯s pettiness! If she admitted defeat, then she wouldn¡¯t be Xu Chaomu! She gave a wry smile, ¡°Fine, if I don¡¯t go, I don¡¯t go. But please, do tell him that I¡¯m preparing for my college entrance exams next year. If I miss a day¡¯s lessons and can¡¯t get into a good university, that can¡¯t be med on me.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Butler Ling probably felt Xu Chaomu had a point, hurriedly making a call to Shen Chi. ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Butler Ling was on the phone, receiving instructions from Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu sat leisurely in the chair, and after Butler Ling hung up, she casually asked, ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°The Fourth Young Master said¡­ said that even if you don¡¯t miss a day¡¯s sses, you¡­ you won¡¯t get into a good university anyway.¡± Xu Chaomu was enraged, leaping from her chair, this was just too much, too much! No one should be treated like this! Xu Chaomu felt aggrieved, but with no solution at hand, she had no choice but to return to her room with her bag on her back. To express her anger, she mmed the door with a ¡°bang!¡± The room was too cold, and Xu Chaomu, having no alternative, changed out of her miniskirt. Poor her, for the first time wearing a miniskirt, she couldn¡¯t even get out the front door. If Yu Weiwei and her friends found out, how could she save face? Just yesterday, she had boldly bet Yu Weiwei that she would definitely wear a miniskirt to school tomorrow! Whoever didn¡¯t wear it was a little dog! Forget it, she¡¯s the little dog. She changed into jeans in front of the mirror with a sense of helplessness, and wrapped herself in an overcoat, finally managing to rid herself of the cold. Having shaken off the cold, she began rummaging through her belongings to ward off the hunger. Thank goodness she had the habit of hiding snacks; otherwise, in all these years, she would have been starved to death by Shen Chi long ago! She really wanted to gather all the evidence, then take him to court for abusing a young girl! Chapter 20 - 020: It’s Going to School, Not Going Up Chapter 20: It¡¯s Going to School, Not Going Up Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio That day, she was delighted that there were no sses to attend, so she hid in her room to read magazines. Weiwei was really capable; she couldy her hands on any magazine. She sneakily nced at the back cover of the magazine, where a line of small print read: Strictly no browsing under the age ot eighteen. She counted the days; she had three more months until her eighteenth birthday. Rounded up, that was close enough to ignore. Besides, the stuff in this magazine wasn¡¯t even as sensational as what she¡¯d seen when she was ten! Just as she was engrossed in the magazine, she suddenly heard people talking in the garden downstairs. Liu Rumei and Shen Shihan were sitting in the garden chairs, each with a cup of white coffee in front of them. Liu Rumei¡¯splexion didn¡¯t look very good, and she kept her eyes on her son, Shen Shihan. On the other hand, Shen Shihan seemed indifferent, silently stirring the coffee in his cup. ¡°Shihan, aren¡¯t you going to the corporation today?¡± Fear was written all over Liu Rumei¡¯s face, and even more so in her anxious voice. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but trivial matters. I¡¯m just a vice president in name, after all.¡± Shen Shihan hadn¡¯t changed much over the years; his handsome face had just matured a bit. He bore a resemnce to Shen Chi, probably inheriting more traits from Shen Cexian, with a chill ingrained in their bones. ¡°What are you talking about? You must do the things you ought to do, and even take initiative in the things you aren¡¯t supposed to.¡± Shen Shihan lifted his cup and took a sip, ¡°My youngest brother is doing quite well; there¡¯s no need for me to worry.¡± ¡°Shihan, should I say you¡¯re above worldly concerns, or scold you for being brainless?¡± Liu Rumei¡¯s eyes shed with an anxiety that resented hiscency. ¡°Mom, dad is recuperating in the summer vi. You should visit him more when you have the time,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. ¡°I really underestimated Zhou Ran. Eight years ago, she yed her cards so well that she forced your father to pass the corporation over to Shen Chi. Otherwise, it should have been you sitting in that position today!¡± Liu Rumei was furious. ¡°Mom, dad is not someone that can be easily swayed by a Zhou Ran, is he?¡± A smile curled up at the corner of Shen Shihan¡¯s mouth as he set down his cup and stood up to leave. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what they were talking about, but counting the years, it had been a full eight years since she¡¯dst seen Aunt Zhou. She didn¡¯t know how she was faring. She missed Aunt Zhou a bit, and her own mother as well. After skimming through the magazine for half the day and utterly bored, she secretly made a phone call to Li Beiting. Li Beiting had also taken over the Li family business. Despite being busy, he always made time for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯ve been locked up by Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu wailed. ¡°Your fourth brother locked you up? Hold on, don¡¯t speak, let me guess why,¡± Li Beiting said with earnest, ¡°it wasn¡¯t because you spied on him showering, was ¡°Get lost! ¡± She would have loved to, but every time Shen Chi showered, he was always careful to lock the door! ¡°Then you must¡¯ve been trying on his clothes again?¡± ¡°Li Beiting, do I reallye off as that kind of person to you?¡± Her heart was crashing down, although she had to admit that he was right. ¡°Otherwise, I never thought you had any sense of decency anyway! Just like Weiwei.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯m being serious here. I¡¯ve been locked up by that bastard Shen Chi!¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing I can do. You know full well what your fourth brother¡¯s temperament is like. If I go and get you out, my family¡¯s orders for tomorrow will surely be canceled. Any single one of those is worth a few billion, billions!¡± ¡°You mercenary viin, at least think of a way to help me!¡± ¡°Or¡­ you could try jumping out the window.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu angrily hung up the phone. Turning to Li Beiting was a waste of time; she should have gone to Dabai instead. She hadn¡¯t expected that shortly after she hung up, Shen Chi returned from the corporation. She hurriedly put away the magazine and sat down at the desk to study as if she had been doing so all along. It was only eleven in the morning; what was he doing back so early? Had he experienced a change of heart? As he turned the doorknob, he saw Xu Chaomu doing her exercises with a frowned brow, as if she was grappling with a difficult problem. ¡°Not wearing the miniskirt anymore?¡± Shen Chi scoffed. ¡°As if I¡¯d dare!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t even look up, humming, ¡°The bubble has burst.¡¯ ¡°You¡¯d better not dare.¡± Shen Chi walked over while Xu Chaomu ignored him. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to school!¡± He stood beside Xu Chaomu, looking down at her, his tone resolute and brooking no refusal. Xu Chaomu cast aside her pen and stood in front of Shen Chi. ¡°So if you allow it, I go to school, and if you don¡¯t, I can¡¯t? Are you always this overbearing?¡± Standing up, she barely reached his shoulders but she refused to be overpowered. ¡°It¡¯s going to school, not going up!¡± Shen Chi spoke with cool detachment. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. Regardless of whether Xu Chaomu agreed or not, Shen Chi dragged her out of the room with a domineering grip. ¡°I won¡¯t go unless you carry me to the car!¡± Xu Chaomu was willfully unreasonable, convinced that Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t actually carry her. Shen Chi was a bit helpless, but his grip was undeniably strong. Before Xu Chaomu could react, Shen Chi scooped her up into a princess hold and carried her in his arms! The bliss was so sudden, but after enjoying a mere few seconds, she was dumped onto the passenger seat. She quickly wrapped her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s neck, refusing to let go: ¡°Hold me a little longer!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Xu Chaomu refused to let go, ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re at a loss by holding me, unless¡­¡± Shen Chi raised his eyebrows. ¡°¡­unless you don¡¯t like women!¡± Xu Chaomu proimed defiantly. Shen Chi smirked and shamelessly adjusted the rearview mirror toward himself. ¡°With that puny frame of yours, you call yourself a woman?¡± Shen Chi walked withposed steps to the driver¡¯s side. Xu Chaomu was furious, feeling like she¡¯d been gravely insulted! She stared at herself in the rearview mirror for a while. What was wrong with her? She was developing quite nicely! As she was indignantly scrutinizing her reflection, Shen Chi pressed a button, turning the mirror away as the car slowly started. All the way to school, Xu Chaomu was in low spirits. No wonder Shen Chi wasn¡¯t interested in her. It turned out all men were alike, preferring those with prominent curves! Common! Vulgar! Unbearably vulgar! Xu Chaomuy prostrate on the window, sullenly gazing outside, her expression one of misery. Shen Chi caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. ¡°Today I¡¯ll take you right to the school,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. In the past, he always stopped the car a distance away from school and let Xu Chaomu get off there. Many times Xu Chaomu pleaded with him to enter the school, basically to cater to her vanity by showing off her handsome and attractive older brother! But todav. when Shen Chi offered to drive her to school. she suddenlv looked displeased. ¡°You¡¯re so busy, I shouldn¡¯t waste your precious time. How can it be spent on such insignificant people like us? There might be big clients waiting for you at the corporation. You should get back quickly! Better yet, throw me out now. I have legs; I can walk.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s words wereced with sarcasm. Hearing this, the curve of Shen Chi¡¯s lips grew even more pronounced. He had to say one thing, and she had to counter with ten! Chapter 21 - 021: The Stunning Beauty Chapter 21: The Stunning Beauty Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Really don¡¯t want me to give you a ride?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone wasckluster. ¡°No!¡± Xu Chaomu had her pride! ¡°Fine.¡± Shen Chi hit the brakes and pulled the car over to the side of the road, ¡°Get out!¡± Xu Chaomu forgot one important thing¡ªShen Chi was a petty man! She gave him a re and ¡°haughtily¡± grabbed her backpack to head out. What kind of person was he? She had never seen anyone like this. Later, Xu Chaomu understood a principle, if you don¡¯t hold a ce in someone¡¯s heart, then how could they care about your every frown and smile. Poor Xu Chaomu carried her backpack towards school, nearly crying; the school was still quite a distance away! After she got out, Shen Chi turned the car around without any hesitation and sped off. Only after his car drove away did Xu Chaomu turn her head, but where was the shadow of that ck Maybach? ¡°Runs faster than a rabbit, how reluctant he was to give me a ride.¡± Xu Chaomu muttered under her breath, stomping her feet in anger. After turning the car around, Shen Chi drove to another road that led to Xu Chaomu¡¯s school. The two roads were parallel, and from his car, he could perfectly see her every move. Not until he saw her enter the school gates did he drive to thepany. When Xu Chaomu arrived at her ss, it was just the break between lessons. Yu Weiwei was the first to run over: ¡°Chaomu, I heard the teacher say you were running a fever.¡± She was running a fever? That must be a lie told by Shen Chi! ¡°I did feel a bit unwell, and then I ran into some nasty people on the way.¡± Xu Chaomu was dispirited. ¡°You¡¯re all right now, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xu Chaomu nced at her, ¡°Eh, didn¡¯t you say you were going to wear a mini skirt?¡± This Yu Weiwei, not only did she not wear a mini skirt, but she was also wrapped up tight from head to toe,pletely bundled up. Was she also running a fever? ¡°Don¡¯t mention it! Just like you, I ran into a nasty person!¡± Yu Weiwei looked displeased. Xu Chaomu immediately perked up: ¡°Didn¡¯t you check the almanac when you left the house? Who are you calling a nasty person?¡± ¡°Who else but Li Family¡¯s eldest young master, the arrogantly cool and domineering Li Beiting, ¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes. ¡°Yo, Li Family¡¯s eldest young master, do tell.¡± Yu Weiwei resentfully recounted the whole story. She had made ns early in the morning toe to ss in a mini skirt, but just as soon as she stepped out of the Yu family mansion, Li Beiting¡¯s ostentatious red Maserati was already parked in front of her door. Li Beiting was five years older than Yu Weiwei, the same age as Shen Chi. But Li Beiting insisted that his grandfather¡¯s grandmother¡¯s cousin¡¯s stepmother was Yu Weiwei¡¯s grandmother¡¯s cousin¡¯s uncle¡¯s sister! Li Beiting insisted that Yu Weiwei call him ¡°second uncle,¡± and when Yu Weiwei refused, he wouldn¡¯t let her go to ss. Having no choice, she reluctantly called out ¡°second uncle.¡± But then, he took it further, iming she was going against morals and decency, and forbade her from wearing a mini skirt. Yu Weiwei got angry, and Li Beiting, without saying a word, grabbed her and dragged her into the mall. And that¡¯s how she ended up in such tightly bundled clothes. Xu Chaomuughed so hard her stomach hurt, and she and Yu Weiwei arrived at a conclusion: men are too meddlesome! The first lesson in the afternoon was math ss¡ªfunctions,plex numbers, cos, sin¡­ all of which made Xu Chaomu sleepy. Yu Weiwei nudged Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm and secretly brought out a magazine. Xu Chaomu quickly set up her math reference book as a cover and bent her head down to look. It was an entertainment magazine, a pretty good quality one at that, with a cover featuring a beauty with a melon seed face, willow leaf eyebrows, and delicate makeup. The beauty wore a bright red cocktail dress, her smile captivating and charming. ¡°Such a beautiful woman,¡± Xu Chaomu clicked her tongue in admiration. The key was the plunging neckline, the waves tumultuous! To someone like Shen Chi, whocked depth, he would definitely like this kind. ¡°I heard he became unbelievably popr not long after his debut,¡± Yu Weiwei also sighed. ¡°He was promoted by some wealthy businessman from C City.¡± However, Xu Chaomu was not interested in that. She lowered her voice, leaning mysteriously close to Yu Weiwei¡¯s ear. ¡°Do you have any good methods for breast ergement? If only I could be like this, it¡¯d be perfect!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed with her pinky to the area below the neckline of the beauty in the magazine. Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°Why do you want to erge your breasts?¡± Unfortunately, Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice was too loud, and with a tter, the entire ssroom fell silent, dozens of pairs of eyes turning to stare at them. This was so embarrassing, Xu Chaomu wished she could bury her head underground. She almost strangled Yu Weiwei! The math teacher pushed up her sses with a serious face, anger shing in her eyes. ¡°Xu Chaomu, Yu Weiwei,e to the office after ss!¡± Yu Weiwei hurriedly stashed the magazine into her drawer. It was a precious magazine, and since she hadn¡¯t finished reading it yet, she couldn¡¯t let it be confiscated. But the math teacher had sharp eyes and spotted Yu Weiwei¡¯s quick move; she dashed off the podium with efficient speed. ¡°Bring it out!¡± Yu Weiwei handed her a harmless literary magazine. ¡°The other one!¡± Yu Weiwei was reluctant to move this time. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes darted around, thinking that if Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t take it out, and the math teacher decided to search for it herself, they¡¯d be in big trouble. Under their desk, there was a pile of treasures! Xu Chaomu decisively pulled out the entertainment magazine from Yu Weiwei¡¯s hand and handed it over to the math teacher. ¡°Teacher, we confess, please go easy on us.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled as if flowers were blooming. The math teacher snorted coldly, rolled up the magazine, tossed it on the podium, and dropped the subject. As soon as the bell for the end of ss rang, Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei obediently followed the math teacher to the office. ¡°Is this what you read during ss?¡± the math teacher opened the magazine. ¡°Teacher, we were wrong; it was just out of curiosity that we bought it at the bookstore,¡± Xu Chaomu said, lowering her head and admitting her mistake with a good attitude. Yu Weiwei hurriedly added, ¡°Teacher, we promise not to read it anymore. If you don¡¯t believe us, we can write a pledge.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t deal with this; let your homeroom teacher handle it! I think we should have your parentse in!¡± That was it. Xu Chaomu forced out a few tears: ¡°Teacher, we really know our mistake, we shouldn¡¯t be reading these magazines during ss. We understand how important the college entrance exam is. Please give us another chance; we will definitely pay attention in ss, really.¡± ¡°As I said, I can¡¯t deal with this, nor do I want to. Are these the kind of magazines you should be reading? I¡¯m taking the magazine. Have your parentse by tomorrow.¡± It was over,pletely over. If Shen Chi found out about this, she would be in big trouble! Yu Weiwei was scared too, chiming in with Xu Chaomu: ¡°Teacher, please give us one more chance. We were confused for a moment; we really won¡¯t buy this kind of magazine again.¡± The math teacher was unyielding, storing the magazine beneath a pile of reference books, and then waved them away. ¡°You can go back now! Have your parentse by tomorrow; I¡¯ll have a good talk with your homeroom teacher as well.¡± After saying that, she went to make herself a cup of coffee. The parental meeting was set. Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei returned to the ssroom with heavy hearts. What were they going to do now? But Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t forgotten her unanswered question; she nudged Yu Weiwei. ¡°Weiwei,e on, do you have any good methods for breast ergement or not?¡± Yu Weiwei looked Xu Chaomu up and down, and then mischievously fixed her gaze on her neckline: ¡°You¡¯re pretty well-endowed already, what¡¯s there to erge!¡± Xu Chaomu actually felt that the Shen family¡¯s rice was quite nourishing, but it was just that Shen Chi didn¡¯t seem to appreciate it.. Chapter 22 - 022: The Secret to Breast Enlargement Chapter 22: The Secret to Breast Ergement Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Have you ever heard of a phrase called ¡®the more, the merrier¡¯? Just tell me all the good methods you know, and I¡¯ll listen.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, looking all eager to learn. ¡°There are methods, and I¡¯ll tell you, I¡¯ve really researched it,¡± Yu Weiwei said mysteriously. ¡°Weiwei, have you researched this too? Come on, tell me quickly. If it¡¯s effective, I¡¯ll pay when you want to buy magazines!¡± Xu Chaomu patted her chest. ¡°Listen up, first, papaya!¡± Yu Weiwei said, ¡°Papaya has been known since ancient times as a breast enhancement tool, and there are a myriad of ways to prepare it. You can make papaya milk or pair it with other fruits to eat, whatever you like!¡± Xu Chaomu looked at Yu Weiwei with admiration. She was truly a ¡°remarkable woman¡± with extensive knowledge. ¡°Second, buy essential oils! Rub them on every day, and a great figure will stand out!¡± Yu Weiwei said with a mischievous smile. ¡°Third, those advertisements you see, with all kinds of pills. But I don¡¯t rmend that.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded repeatedly: ¡°Not good, not good.¡± Yu Weiwei suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice: ¡°I have an ace method, absolutely no side effects, instantly effective, no rebound, no irritation, immediate results!¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, you¡¯re really something. Maybe you should go into advertising.¡± ¡°No, no, no, I¡¯ve got bigger goals to achieve. How could I just go into advertising and waste my talent?¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled: ¡°Come on, what¡¯s the ace method?¡± ¡°Listen closely.¡± Yu Weiwei cleared her throat and leaned close to Xu Chaomu¡¯s ear, ¡°Men!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Dumbass!¡± Yu Weiwei bent down to rummage through the drawer, finally pulling out a prized magazine, ¡°Look at this!¡± Yu Weiwei flipped to a certain page, and Xu Chaomu, in her infinite thirst for knowledge, read it seriously. After reading line by line, Xu Chaomu mmed the table and howled, what absurd idea! ¡°Yu Weiwei, did a dog eat your integrity?¡± Xu Chaomu smacked her with the magazine. Something about a man¡¯s hands being the best secret to breast enhancement. Yu Weiwei had even less integrity than she did. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, forget it, but give me the magazine back. Now is not the time to discuss this; think about how to deal with inviting parents to school tomorrow!¡± Yu Weiwei instantly became gloomy again. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Yu Weiwei tilted her head, mulling over it for a while, then suddenly her eyes lit up! ¡°I¡¯ve called Li Beiting ¡®Second Uncle¡¯ so many times; I can¡¯t just let him off easily.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°You¡¯re having Li Beitinge?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than letting my mom and dad finding out, right?¡± Yu Weiwei winked. Xu Chaomu gave her a thumbs-up; with Second Uncle, she could afford to be willful. Thus, Xu Chaomu followed suit and went to find Shen Shihan after returning home. The Shen Family was always cool towards her, so following the principle of seeking the fourth brother for serious matters, and the third for minor ones, she voluntarily ssified reading magazines as a ¡°minor matter.¡± Little did she know, after finishing dinner, Xu Chaomu snuck into the garden of the western wing. As soon as she stepped into the yard, arge hand whisked her back inside. ¡°Have you finished your homework today?¡± Shen Chi sat next to the desk, his gaze sharp, his hand idly tapping the table surface. Having removed his ck suit, he donned only a white shirt, the top button casually undone, slightly revealing a sexy, wheat-colored corbone. Xu Chaomu stared at him for a moment, her gaze drifting downward¡­ ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Shen Chi raised his voice. ¡°I did,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted and lied. What homework could she do when she couldn¡¯t write anything? She was nning to copy Yu Weiwei¡¯s work at school tomorrow! ¡°Let me see them,¡± Shen Chi knocked on the table a few times. ¡°Fourth brother, aren¡¯t you tired? I hear thepany¡¯s been really busytely. You should rest early so you can get up tomorrow morning. The wholepany is counting on you. I¡¯ll go get your clothes; you should take a bath and go to sleep!¡± Xu Chaomu fluttered around behind Shen Chi, her small hands eagerly massaging his shoulders and back. ¡°Do you want to get them yourself, or shall I do it personally?¡± Shen Chi curved his lips into a slight smile, his long fingers tapping the desktop. Why is this man so hard to deal with! Xu Chaomu quickly stepped in front of him, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to do it yourself, I¡¯ll go, I¡¯ll go.¡± If he really began rummaging through her things, the stash of treasures in her backpack would surely be discovered! After school today, she even specifically went out to buy a bottle of breast-ergement essential oil, which the store owner imed worked wonders. The top-secret method Yu Weiwei had spoken of waspletely impractical, and as for eating papaya, that was too obvious and easily caught. Using essential oil was by far the best method! Just as she was rummaging through her backpack, Shen Chi somehow managed to appear behind her! ¡°What are all these messy things?¡± He frowned and asked in a cold voice. Xu Chaomu quickly stuffed her treasures back into the backpack, covering them. But, she was a step toote. Shen Chi grabbed her backpack, turned it upside down, and with a tter, dumped everything out! There really was a bit of everything! Textbooks, workbooks,ic books, snacks, a small mirror¡­ Thest thing to fall out was a green bottle of essential oil! Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, while Xu Chaomu covered her eyes¡­ The scene was too much for her to bear. Shen Chi bent down to pick up the bottle of essential oil, which wasbeled with two characters: breast-ergement. A cold smile yed across his lips, he had been too preupied with the corporationtely and had neglected this girl¡¯s ideological education. Such a young age, where did these thoughtse from! Hisrge hand clutched the essential oil bottle tightly, his icy gaze falling upon Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. ¡°Where did thise from?¡± Shen Chi demanded. Xu Chaomu trembled and removed the hand covering her eyes, chuckling and saying, ¡°I bought it for someone else.¡± ¡°For who? Yu Weiwei?¡± Shen Chi pressed. Xu Chaomu was on the brink of tears; if she ratted out Yu Weiwei, Shen Chi would immediately call Yu Weiwei¡¯s dad, and that could lead to the end of Weiwei¡¯s friendship with her forever. ¡°I bought it for myself,¡± Xu Chaomu honestly admitted. The cold smirk at Shen Chi¡¯s lips deepened as his gaze, which had been on her face, slowly drifted down, stopping at the neckline of her pajamas. The neckline was neither too high nor too low, and from his angle, he could catch a glimpse of something. Xu Chaomu instantly crossed her arms over her chest, ¡°You, you, you, what are you looking at!¡± ¡°I¡¯m checking to see if you actually need this thing.¡± Shen Chi held the essential oil bottle and teased her with a smirk. For the first time, Xu Chaomu realized that this man had the potential to be a thug! ¡°Give me back the essential oil!¡± Xu Chaomu reached out to grab it. Shen Chi moved his hand, holding the bottle in his palm, and Xu Chaomu missed grabbing it, circling around Shen Chi to snatch the bottle back! ¡°Why did you buy this?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was as chilly as ever. ¡°For breast ergement, obviously!¡± Xu Chaomu replied with disdain. ¡°And then what?¡± ¡°Then to seduce young boys, what else!¡± Xu Chaomu jumped onto a stool, reaching for the essential oil bottle in Shen Chi¡¯s hand. Shen Chi¡¯s expression darkened even further. Breast ergement? Seduce young boys? He had forgotten; she was eighteen this year, the age when a girl¡¯s heart starts to flutter.. Chapter 23 - 023: Stop Having These Crooked Ideas Chapter 23: Stop Having These Crooked Ideas Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu watched as Shen Chi¡¯splexion grew increasingly unpleasant, and before he could lose his temper, she needed to quickly snatch the bottle! But when Shen Chi slightly shifted his body, Xu Chaomu lunged at nothing. She lost her footing and stumbled down from the chair! Just when she thought she was going to crash and break her skull, a strong arm caught her. ¡°Are you throwing yourself into my arms?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°It was clearly you who seduced me! Give me back the bottle!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled at him, while Shen Chi continued holding her without letting go. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I need to see if you really need this thing?¡± Shen Chi smirked devilishly. In Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, this man¡¯s smile was incredibly luxurious; hence, when he smiled, he was so enchanting that she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. While she was lost in admiration of his beauty, Shen Chi pushed her away and started walking towards the window! Xu Chaomu snapped back to reality. She had gone to great lengths to buy that, spending a full two hundred yuan on it¡ªit couldn¡¯t just go to waste like that! Two hundred yuan! Her two hundred yuan! When Shen Chi was just two steps away from the window, Xu Chaomu pounced forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare throw it!¡± Her little ws clung desperately to Shen Chi¡¯s waist, and she was truly frantic, not even noticing that her hand was resting on the most prominent part of Shen Chi¡¯s masculinity. Shen Chi¡¯s body heated up instantly, feeling as if a current had shot through him, his face turning as dark as could be. ¡°Take your hand off!¡± ¡°Give me the bottle!¡± ¡°Let go of your hand first!¡± ¡°Give me the bottle first!¡± Xu Chaomu was stubborn, and Shen Chi¡¯s body grew hotter, the physical change making him exceedingly ufortable. However, Xu Chaomu remained oblivious to what was happening. ¡°Get lost!¡± Irritation surged within him, and he pushed Xu Chaomu away with amanding force. Ignoring everything else, Shen Chi opened the window and flung the essential oil bottle into the back garden! ¡°My bottle¡­ my two hundred yuan¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wailed at the window. But it was pitch dark outside, and not even the shadow of the bottle was visible. ¡°Focus less on these crooked ideas and spend more time on your studies!¡± With a m, Shen Chi shut Xu Chaomu¡¯s room door behind him and strode to his own room. He pushed open the door to his bathroom and turned on the cold water, not stopping until he¡¯d taken a cold shower for over an hour, finally feeling calm. Damned Xu Chaomu! Meanwhile, Xu Chaomu was set on figuring out how to retrieve her bottle. She snuck downstairs and ran into the garden. ¡°Always throwing my stuff around, meddling in things that aren¡¯t your business. Yelling at me, do you think I¡¯m scared of you?¡± She muttered softly to herself while searching for the bottle. The garden was overgrown with weeds, and with the wind picking up at night, Xu Chaomu soon started to feel cold. Holding a shlight, she looked around, and several bugs flew onto her body. Xu Chaomu was both angry and annoyed¡ªwould she be out here suffering if it weren¡¯t for Shen Chi? ¡°Where could it have gone? Why can¡¯t I find it¡­¡± ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± Suddenly, from the dim light, Liu Rumei appeared, seemingly just having taken a shower, her body exuding a scent of jasmine flowers. In her hand was a small green bottle, with a faint smile lingering on her lips. Xu Chaomu straightened up, and sure enough, there was her bottle of essential oil. ¡°Thanks! ¡± Xu Chaomu walked over, intending to take the essential oil bottle from her hand. Liu Rumei looked at the bottle with deep meaning. ¡°Breast enhancement? Are you nning on breast enhancement?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s for a friend!¡± Xu Chaomu replied somewhat irritably. ¡°There¡¯s nothing shameful about breast enhancement. If your friend wants to enhance her breasts, just let me know. I know a spa director who¡¯s very skilled; her techniques work wonders, almost instantaneous effects,¡± Liu Rumei chuckled dryly. Xu Chaomu curled her lip and ignored her. ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s normal for girls to have their little desires when they grow up. Everyone goes through that age. Chaomu, do you¡­ do you like your Fourth Brother?¡± Liu Rumei asked Xu Chaomu in a lowered voice, smiling. Xu Chaomu smiled back at her: ¡°Of course I like Fourth Brother, and I like Third Brother too, but I don¡¯t much care for Mrs. Liu and Second Sister.¡± ¡°You!¡± Liu Rumei found herself at a loss for words. Xu Chaomu snatched the bottle from her hand and happily went upstairs. Although Shen Chi was very annoying, if she didn¡¯t stand by him anymore, he would be all alone. As soon as she got back to her room, she flipped through the essential oil instruction manual, smearing, rubbing, and kneading. The aroma of the essential oil was very pleasant, subtle, an intoxicatingly fresh fragrance. She also thought about the magazine she saw in ss today. When would she ever have the tumultuous waves like the cover girl of that magazine! After taking a cold shower, Shen Chi stood by the window to enjoy the evening breeze. His room was separated from Xu Chaomu¡¯s by only one wall. He felt that he couldn¡¯t let this girl run wild anymore. Today she even said to him, ¡°seducing young boys.¡± So, he made a call to the school administrator. ¡°Lately, which boy has Xu Chaomu been close to?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu has always been close to Yu Weiwei. As for boys¡­ it¡¯s probably Ouyang from the same ss; they¡¯re closer.¡± ¡°Ouyang?¡± Shen Chi fell deep in thought. The next day, as soon as Xu Chaomu arrived at school, Yu Weiwei pulled her aside with a look of dejection and unhappiness. ¡°Weiwei, what¡¯s wrong? Is your second uncle refusing toe?¡± ¡°Chaomu¡­ I have a sad piece of news for you, keep calm.¡± ¡°What?¡± Seeing Yu Weiwei¡¯s demeanor, Xu Chaomu wondered what could have happened. ¡°Chaomu¡­ we might not have special magazines to read anymore, maybe no one will fight for us, and maybe we can¡¯t hunt for treasures anymore¡­¡± Yu Weiwei spoke with a heavy expression, sighing as she did. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. ¡°Ouyang transferred schools; he¡¯s moved his stuff away. From now on, it¡¯s just you and me against the world¡­¡± Yu Weiwei sobbed, tears and snot mixed together. ¡°This kid dared to transfer schools?¡± ¡°They say his father was relocated to another city for a construction project. He had no choice but to follow along,¡± Yu Weiwei exined. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there an agreement to look after us until we graduate from college? Now are we supposed to fend for ourselves?¡± A wave of sadness naturally arose, and thinking about the potentially dull days ahead, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but tear up. ¡°Chaomu¡­ from now on, we sisters must stick together. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m two months older than you; I¡¯ll have your back!¡± Yu Weiwei said, putting on airs like a big sister. ¡°No heads up, nothing. Ouyang really let us down! Does he even consider us brothers anymore?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me him. I heard his dad got a sudden transfer callst night, and they had to leave immediately.¡± As Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei were sighing to the skies, the ss president came running over. ¡°Xu Chaomu, Yu Weiwei, the homeroom teacher is asking for you,¡± he said. Yu Weiwei nudged Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm: ¡°The math teacher hasined about Xu Chaomu lowered her voice: ¡°What do we do? I haven¡¯t dared to tell my family!¡± ¡°No big deal, stay calm, face it head-on. At worst, we¡¯ll have to stand on the sports field and write a reflection!¡± So, Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei, pretending to beposed, walked to the homeroom teacher¡¯s office as if they were there to receive an award, not punishment. The homeroom teacher was already waiting for them in a conference room¡ªnot too big, not too small and very clean. It was typically used for meetings with minor leaders. Both Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei suddenly felt honored.. Chapter 24 - 024: I Look Down on Him Chapter 24: I Look Down on Him Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Li Beiting is your second uncle?¡± The ss advisor, a sly middle-aged woman, pushed her sses up as soon as she saw Yu Weiwei walk in. Yu Weiwei¡¯s little brain clicked, and she instantly understood what that meant! Li Beiting had donated funds to their school, after all, so he was definitely an important figure. In truth, Yu Weiwei¡¯s family had nothing to do with Li Beiting, even though her home was just across from Splendid World; but just one street away, the difference in housing prices was a world apart. ¡°Yes, Li Beiting is my second uncle, he said he had some free time today and would drop by,¡± Yu Weiwei said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him about the magazine issue during ss, but, if you¡¯re willing to admit your mistake and correct it from now on, the teacher believes you can still get into a good university.¡± ¡°Thank you for your trust, teacher. I won¡¯t make such mistakes again. I¡¯ll pay attention in ss and take notes diligently,¡± she replied. ¡°Hmm, if there¡¯s something you don¡¯t understand, you can always ask more questions. The teacher won¡¯t refuse to teach, and I really like students who are diligent and eager to learn.¡± Xu Chaomu stood by, wondering when the ss advisor had be so easy to talk to. She remembered that when she and Yu Weiwei had gotten into trouble before, running eight or tenps on the field was the least of the punishments. ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± The ss advisor remembered there was another person. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± ¡°Where are your parents?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not unaware, ss advisor, my parents haven¡¯t been around since I was little,¡± Xu Chaomu responded indifferently. ¡°Then what about your guardian?¡± ¡°My guardian? He¡¯s really busy, busy making money to support me!¡± ¡°No matter how busy, he can¡¯t neglect your studies! Look at you, wasting time all day, forming cliques in ss, even daring to bring such magazines to pass around!¡± The ss advisor pulled out the entertainment magazine she had confiscated the day before and pped it on the desk. Xu Chaomu nced at it, her eyes catching the pretty face of the actress on the cover. ¡°Can¡¯t help it, my brother is so busy, and our family is so poor. He¡¯s having a hard time even getting married for my sake, I dare not bother him with my education. He¡¯s working from dawn till dusk, it breaks my heart to see it,¡± Xu Chaomu said as she squeezed out a couple of tears on purpose. ¡°Your family is so poor that even your brother is having trouble getting married?¡± The ss advisor had hardly finished speaking when a clearugh came from outside the door. Everyone in the meeting room looked outside, and Xu Chaomu was the first to cover her face. Li Beiting hade without even a hint of greeting! The ss advisor hurriedly got up from her chair and went over to greet Li Beiting. ¡°Mr. Li, hello, thank you for your concern,¡± she said. The ss advisor extended her hand to shake Li Beiting¡¯s, but he just ¡°hmm¡±-ed and didn¡¯t shake her hand. Instead, he looked toward Xu Chaomu, holding back augh. ¡°Chaomu, if your brother can¡¯t get married, you might as well marry him,¡± he said. This was probably the biggest joke Li Beiting had ever heard. What would Shen Chi¡¯s reaction be if he told him? He struggled to hold back hisughter; this girl was still so naive. In C City, any woman with a bit of looks and wits was trying her best to climb into Shen Chi¡¯s bed. Shen Chi was young, handsome, mature, sessful, and controlled the entire Shen Group, and yet he was still unmarried. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in him,¡± Xu Chaomu said, pouting dismissively. Shen Chi threw heric books away, forbidden her from wearing short skirts, was always scolding her, and evenined that her chest was too small! With such a bad temper, she wasn¡¯t interested at all! The smile on Li Beiting¡¯s face grew even clearer, having never before encountered someone who looked down on Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu¡¯s disdainful little eyes could hardly hide his contempt. The ss teacher was beside them,pletely baffled. It seemed like Li Beiting, the CEO, was quite familiar with Xu Chaomu? Yu Weiwei tugged at Li Beiting¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Second uncle, could you please plead with Xu Chaomu on my behalf? We¡¯ll never look at magazines again.¡± Li Beiting nced at Yu Weiwei, ¡°What magazine is so interesting?¡± The ss teacher smiled, ¡°Weiwei has already admitted her mistake, and I think it¡¯s good that she¡¯s willing to change. Since she has promised not to look at magazines anymore, you can rest assured, CEO Li.¡± In fact, Yu Weiwei really wanted to take the magazine back; she hadn¡¯t finished reading it, and it cost ten yuan! She and Xu Chaomu cooperated, shuffling around until they were near the conference table. While the ss teacher wasn¡¯t paying attention, Yu Weiwei¡¯s little hand crept onto the table and pulled down the magazine! However, just as she touched the magazine, arge hand reached out and grabbed the magazine first. Yu Weiwei red at Li Beiting with indignation. ¡°What magazine is so interesting?¡± Li Beiting repeated himself and took the magazine into his hands. But, as soon as he saw the woman on the magazine cover, his expression stiffened for a moment. He stared at the cover for several minutes. Xu Chaomu looked on with disdain. Indeed, men are all the same. The woman on the magazine was just a bit prettier, had arger chest, and a slimmer waist! Did he have to stare at it so intently?! Yu Weiwei also wore a look of disdain! She and Xu Chaomu reached the same conclusion¡ªno man was a good thing. The ss teacher continued, ¡°CEO Li, please take a seat here. The principal said he just wanted to have a few words with you.¡± ¡°No need, let¡¯s just talk about Yu Weiwei and Xu Chaomu, then I¡¯ll leave,¡± Li Beiting said, cing the magazine beside him. ¡°Weiwei has a good attitude and is willing to correct her errors. I believe she can change. She¡¯s a smart kid, so I¡¯ll have a few teachers give her extra attention. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°She¡¯s smart? She¡¯s only clever in small ways,¡± Li Beiting revealed Yu Weiwei¡¯s true nature in public. ¡°Li Beiting! If I¡¯m not smart, are you smart?¡± Yu Weiwei immediately challenged him! The ss teacher was startled; not even the principal dared to address CEO Li by his full name. This girl must be a rtive of Li Beiting; she sure had guts. Li Beiting snorted and didn¡¯t respond to her. The ss teacher went on, ¡°As for Xu Chaomu, she¡¯s not very obedient. She wouldn¡¯t even call her parents when I asked her to. I¡¯m nning on moving Weiwei¡¯s seat; I don¡¯t want Xu Chaomu sitting with her anymore.¡± Li Beiting snorted coldly once again. Was this ss teacher so opportunistic? Shen Chi was the biggest shareholder of this private school, and he had only donated some money. ¡°No way, no way!¡± protested Yu Weiwei first, ¡°I don¡¯t want to change seats. Chaomu and I get along so well, why would I change seats? I disagree! Second uncle, I disagree!¡± The ss teacher earnestly advised, ¡°Weiwei, this is for your own good. Have the teachers not taught you that one takes on the color of one¡¯spany? Xu Chaomu isn¡¯t ambitious, you mustn¡¯t follow her example. You still have potential.¡± ¡°Second uncle, I disagree!¡± Yu Weiwei clung to Li Beiting¡¯s clothes. Li Beiting¡¯s mouth curled into a smile as he patted her little cheek. He liked her just the way she was, very much. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t have to change seats; you¡¯ll just get a new ss teacher.¡± The bewildered ss teacher¡¯s eyes widened. What did Li Beiting mean? ¡°CEO Li, are¡­ are you joking?¡± the ss teacher managed a nervous smile, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for Weiwei¡¯s benefit. I haven¡¯t been a ss teacher for just a day; I can tell whether a student has potential or is willing to learn at a nce. You understand the principle of being influenced by thepany one keeps..¡± Chapter 25 - 025 Male Health Manual Chapter 25: Male Health Manual Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°I¡¯ve known Xu Chaomu for eight years, so ording to your logic, Xu Chaomu is very likely to have been led astray by me.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried an undeniable force. ¡°No no no, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± It was the homeroom teacher¡¯s turn to be dumbstruck. Xu Chaomu and President Li knew each other for eight years? Even she could be wrong sometimes. ¡°That¡¯s settled then, I think you don¡¯t need toe to school tomorrow.¡± Li Beiting said casually. ¡°President Li, you can¡¯t do this. I¡¯m really doing this for the good of these two kids. Sitting together, they get distracted. Look, they have college entrance exams next year¡­¡± Li Beiting cut her off: ¡°Me not letting youe to school is also for their good.¡± ¡°President Li, President Li¡­¡± The homeroom teacher was truly panicked now. Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei felt extremely satisfied. They exchanged nces, realizing that Li Beiting could be reliable at times. ¡°Oh, by the way, do you know who Xu Chaomu¡¯s brother is?¡± Before leaving, Li Beiting took a nce at the homeroom teacher and casually picked up the magazine from the table. The homeroom teacher had already guessed that the background was not small. She actually believed Xu Chaomu¡¯s nonsense and really thought her family was poor, so poor that her brother couldn¡¯t even afford a wife. The homeroom teacher waited for Li Beiting to continue, but he didn¡¯t speak again and walked out of the conference room. Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei hurried to follow him. Actually, Xu Chaomu was quite puzzled. From the tone of Li Beiting¡¯s voice, Shen Chi seemed to be quite formidable. In the Shen Family, she had once asked the servants who they feared the most. She would have thought it was Shen Cexian or Liu Rumei, but they unanimously told her: the Fourth Young Master Shen. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t figure it out. Was Shen Chi that terrifying? ¡°President Li, President Li!¡± The homeroom teacher wanted to catch up, but with a wave of his hand, Li Beiting¡¯s assistant blocked her at the door. Yu Weiwei pulled on Li Beiting¡¯s arm: ¡°Second uncle, you¡¯re really awesome!¡± Li Beiting was unimpressed. ¡°Second uncle, let¡¯s discuss something?¡± Yu Weiwei tried to cozy up to him. ¡°I¡¯ve taken this magazine, focus more in ss from now on. Xu Chaomu, you as well! Otherwise, I¡¯ll tell Shen Chi about this, and you won¡¯t be able to handle the consequences!¡± Li Beiting waved the magazine in his hand without mercy. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of him!¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of him because he hasn¡¯t lost his temper with you!¡± Li Beiting said indifferently. Xu Chaomu tilted her head. He hadn¡¯t lost his temper with her? He was always wearing a cold face. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, second uncle, you¡¯re leaving, but leave the magazine. What¡¯s a big man like you doing with an entertainment magazine? You wouldn¡¯t happen to fancy the cover girl, would you?¡± Yu Weiwei caught up. Yu Weiwei knew something was off with his look. He must be captivated by some beauty; men were all lecherous. He probably wanted to keep it to admire at his leisure. Li Beiting unwrapped the magazine to take a look, and his gazended on the cover girl. The expression in his eyes wasplex. ¡°Who would dare to fancy her?¡± Li Beiting mumbled to himself. Yu Weiwei only knew that the magazine cost ten yuan, and she hadn¡¯t finished reading it yet. She reached out her hand: ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, just give it to me. I love reading it; there are so many handsome guys inside!¡± ¡°Then I definitely can¡¯t give it to you.¡± Li Beiting shot her a nce and continued walking down the stairs. ¡°Hey, hey, Li Beiting! You¡¯re taking advantage of us!¡± Yu Weiwei shouted until she was hoarse, but Li Beiting had already got into his Maserati and sped away. ¡°Sigh, Ouyang¡¯s gone. If Ouyang hadn¡¯t left, maybe he could¡¯ve fixed us up with eight or ten copies.¡± ¡°So there¡¯s nothing we can do? Come on, after school I¡¯ll treat you to a visit to a bookstore where you can feast your eyes!¡± Xu Chaomu said generously. Therefore, when school was out, Xu Chaomu sneakily took Yu Weiwei past the school and into a long alley that strayed from the city center. The long alley exuded an ancient aura. Because it was early spring, green weeds had already covered it, and snails asionally crawled along the eaves, making the ce very quiet. People walked through the alley from time to time, and elderly were resting on chairs at the entrance of stores. Unlike the bustling city center, time here moved slowly. ¡°What is this ce?¡± Yu Weiwei asked. ¡°It¡¯s the night market. Don¡¯t be fooled by how quiet it is now; just wait until it¡¯s past six o¡¯clock, and it will be bustling!¡± Usually, either Shen Chi or Old Cheng woulde to pick up Xu Chaomu after school, so Xu Chaomu never had the chance to sneak out. But Xu Chaomu felt she was grown up and wondered why she should always be looked after by Shen Chi! ¡°Where¡¯s the bookstore?¡± asked Yu Weiwei. ¡°Silly, when the timees, people will set up their book stalls. I¡¯m telling you, they have any book you could want. You can find everything except what you can¡¯t imagine!¡± ¡°How did you find such a great ce?¡± Yu Weiwei asked, as if she¡¯d discovered a new continent. ¡°Ouyang mentioned it to me before, but I didn¡¯t pay attention. Now that he¡¯s gone, we need to fend for ourselves,¡± Xu Chaomu said thoughtfully. As the saying goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself. Until they found the next buddy, they had to rely on themselves for everything. Yu Weiwei nced at her watch, it was almost six o¡¯clock. The two wandered around the alley, which was permeated with a different atmosphere from the busy areas. Sure enough, as soon as it turned six, vendors began to appear one after another. It was gradually getting dark, and streetlights wereing on everywhere. The number of people increased, and the calls of the vendors became clearer. Xu Chaomu was somewhat reminded of her life a decade ago, when she lived in a ce like this alley, simple and restrained, oozing with a faint charm. Back then, she and her mother relied on each other. Although their life was modest, her mother cherished her deeply. ¡°Chaomu, there¡¯s a book stall over there with a lot of books!¡± Yu Weiwei eximed, pulling Xu Chaomu along as if she¡¯d found a treasure. The book stall owner was a girl about the same age as them, with a high ponytail, a light yellow top, light blue jeans, and a constant gentle smile on her face. She was squatting down, carefully arranging the books. Xu Chaomu also ran over and indeed, there were many books. Unfortunately, she had no interest in books like ¡°Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance,¡± ¡°Evening Talks by the Firece,¡± or ¡°Vegetable Root Discourses.¡± Instead, titles like ¡°The Secret History of Qin Shi Huang,¡± ¡°Nocturnal Talks amongst Womenfolk,¡± and ¡°The CEO¡¯s Fianc¨¦e¡± greatly appealed to her. She sneakily picked up a book, her eyes shining. She¡¯d found a gem¡ªthe ¡°secret¡± books were avable too! Yu Weiwei leaned in, ¡°Wow, Xu Chaomu, you¡¯ve lost your integrity! What do you need these for? Aren¡¯t you ashamed!¡± ¡°Shh, shh, shh, keep it down. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never read them!¡± ¡°Like me, Yu Weiwei, upright and straightforward, with an open and clear conscience, I have never¡­¡± ¡°Never what?¡± Xu Chaomu squinted at her. ¡°Never¡­ Never anything but read them openly and aboveboard!¡± After speaking, Yu Weiwei picked up a ¡°Male Health Manual¡± and started to read it with interest. A muscle twitched in Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek. ¡°Male Health Manual¡±¡­ That was really losing all integrity! Butter on, it was proven that Yu Weiwei was indeed ¡°upright and straightforward,¡± ¡°with an open and clear conscience,¡± because whatever she wanted to see, she saw it in the open and aboveboard. For instance, she wanted to see men, soter on, she opened a men¡¯s research institute. It specialized in treating all kinds of infertility and disorders¡­ and was known for its immediate effects, fast and safe! Chapter 26 - 026: How to show affection Chapter 26: How to show affection Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu browsed at the bookstall for quite a while, these books were too good to miss! Meanwhile, Yu Weiwei was engrossed in her copy of the Male Health Manual, unable to put it down. ¡°You¡­ are you Xu Chaomu?¡± The girl selling the books stared at Xu Chaomu for a while before finally asking tentatively. At first, Xu Chaomu thought someone was speaking to her, and upon looking down, she saw the young girl selling books. She examined her as well, finding her somewhat familiar, but couldn¡¯t ce her. The girl was quite pretty, exuding an air of schrly grace, especially her eyes ¡ªcrystal clear and bright, with long, curvedshes. ¡°I am Xu Chaomu, and you are¡­¡± ¡°So it really is you, Xu Chaomu. I thought you looked familiar. I¡¯m Shui Fu, do you remember me?¡± MO Shuifu said with a smile. ¡°MO Shuifu? Is that really you? It¡¯s you, right?¡± Chaomu recognized her then; it had been eight years, and MO Shuifu had grown even more beautiful. In the big fire that year, her mother perished in the mes, and it was MO Shuifu¡¯s father, Uncle MO, who had held her back to prevent her from rushing in. Later, she entered an orphanage, and then was taken away by the Shen Family. She had never seen Uncle MO again, nor had she seen MO Shuifu. MO Shuifu, before the age of ten, they had been good friends. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me, I¡¯m Shui Fu. Are you here to buy books?¡± MO Shuifu pointed at the books in their hands. Now it was Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei who felt awkward, each holding a copy of ¡°Not suitable for children.¡¯ Especially Xu Chaomu, running into someone she knew, it felt kind of embarrassing. ¡°Heh, heh heh, yeah, we finished school early and came out for a walk, just strolling around,¡± Xu Chaomu said awkwardly, hiding the book behind her back. ¡°Take whatever you like, it¡¯s been a long time, consider it a gift from me.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do, Uncle MO would scold you,¡± Xu Chaomu quickly eximed. ¡°He won¡¯t, my dad¡­ has passed away, and I never really expected to sell these books. Any little bit helps the family.¡± MO Shuifu said, her eyes reddening, a sad expression crossing her face. ¡°Uncle Mo¡­¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected this; eight years had passed, and Uncle MO was gone. When she was younger, Uncle MO was very kind to them, always buying two of everything¡ªone for MO Shuifu and one for her. But now, Uncle MO was gone, and she didn¡¯t even know. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it happened several years ago. Chaomu, just take the books if you like them, really,¡± MO Shuifu said with a slight smile. Xu Chaomu took out a hundred yuan from her bag, which happened to be spending money given to her by Shen Chi. She pressed the money into MO Shuifu¡¯s hand: ¡°We¡¯ll pick out a few books, and you keep the money. I didn¡¯t get to see Uncle MO when he passed away, and I don¡¯t feel good about that.¡± ¡°Chaomu, you pick, they¡¯re all old books, not worth much,¡± MO Shuifu refused to ept the money. Xu Chaomu insisted on giving her the money. Not wanting MO Shuifu to feel indebted, she randomly picked a few books and stuffed them into her backpack. After a few more words, Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei left the alley. ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ve been studying this for a while, and I think Li Beiting might be ill!¡± Yu Weiwei was still focused on her Male Health Manual. ¡°Look where you¡¯re going, be careful not to bump into a car.¡± ¡°Look here, Li Beiting is so narcissistic, arrogant, doesn¡¯t take others seriously, it¡¯s very likely due to excessive liver fire, he needs to clear heat and bnce internally¡­¡± ¡°What internal heat, how does that even work, let me see!¡± Xu Chaomu snatched Yu Weiwei¡¯s book away, only to find the pictures inside were incredibly explicit! Xu Chaomu¡¯s ears heated up, and she looked at Yu Weiwei with disdain: ¡°Weiwei, you really have no shame.¡± ¡°Why are you blushing? Xu Chaomu,e clean, do you have a crush on a young man?¡± Yu Weiwei chuckled mischievously. ¡°Who else could I like, I like you the most, Yu Weiwei!¡± Xu Chaomu also said with a sly smile. ¡°Well, I certainly don¡¯t like women!¡± Yu Weiwei said, ¡°Right, Chaomu, stop exining, exining is just covering up, covering up is just making up stories! If you haven¡¯t fallen for some young guy, why do you need breast-ergement secrets, eh? Oh, and this book, Boudoir¡¯s Secret, hahaha¡­¡± Yu Weiweiughed so hard her stomach hurt, almost bursting withughter. Xu Chaomu snatched her book back from her hands: ¡°What¡¯s so funny, if youugh again, I¡¯ll throw away this Male Health Manual of yours!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, don¡¯t throw it away, speaking of chasing boys, maybe I should give you a few tips!¡± Xu Chaomu looked up with a cold demeanor, but she was actually very curious. ¡°Three sentences, tackle him, tackle him, and tackle him again!¡± ¡°You talk as if you have a lot of experience.¡± Xu Chaomu expressed disdain. ¡°I may not have practical experience, but I¡¯m quite rich in theoretical experience. If you really like him, just steal a kiss when he¡¯s not looking. You look pretty good; no man could resist that.¡± After saying that, Yu Weiwei looked Xu Chaomu up and down with her big eyes. Clicking her tongue. What a pretty little face, a nice figure, so lively and spirited¡ªif I were a man, I¡¯d gobble her up with a single bite! Xu Chaomu quickly crossed her arms, looking at her with a wary face: ¡°You lecher, Yu Weiwei!¡± ¡°The pot calling the kettle ck!¡± Yu Weiweiughed heartily. The two leisurely strolled through the alleys with their bags, now buying kebabs, now donuts, having a st. It was Shen Chi, though, who nearly flipped the school upside down when he heard Xu Chaomu had disappeared. ¡°Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go find her. I will definitely bring Miss Xu back,¡± the driver, Lao Cheng, wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Send more people to find her!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Absolutely, Miss Xu might have just gone to a ssmate¡¯s house. Don¡¯t worry, nothing bad will happen. Miss Xu has always been obedient; maybe she¡¯lle back on her own in a little while,¡± Lao Cheng continued to wipe his sweat. ¡°Obedient?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was as cold as a block of ice, ¡°She needs to be disciplined!¡± Uh¡­ Lao Cheng was at a loss for words. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll go look for her now.¡± Lao Cheng drove off from the Shen Family residence, and outside the sky had already turnedpletely dark. Shen Chi stood at the window, frowning deeply, silently gazing out. This was the first time Xu Chaomu had left school without saying a word; she really had grown some wings, be bolder, and wasn¡¯t even taking his words to heart anymore! The light stretched Shen Chi¡¯s silhouette as he stood upstairs, watching the gate to the Shen Family¡¯s vi. His dark eyes were like the depths of a silent pool, inscrutable and endless. He just stood there indifferently until he received a call from Lao Cheng. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯ve found Miss Xu, I am bringing her back. We¡¯ll arrive at the Shen Family soon, rest assured.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Only then did Shen Chi divert his gaze, striding down the stairs. Seeing Shen Chi descend, the servants hurried to reheat the big table of dishes. At that moment, the clock on the wall pointed straight to nine o¡¯clock, neither early norte. The Maybach pulled into the Shen Family¡¯s garage, Lao Cheng whispered to Xu Chaomu: ¡°Chaomu, go and apologize to your fourth brother when we get back, he¡¯s very upset that you stayed out thiste.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded: ¡°Got it.¡± Actually, she didn¡¯t feel sorry at all deep down. She wasn¡¯t eight years old, after all. Shen Chi was such a domineering man, always wanting to control everything.. Chapter 27 - 027 Raising You for a Lifetime Chapter 27: Raising You for a Lifetime Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio When Xu Chaomu stepped into the living room, only Shen Chi was sitting at the table, eating. His expression revealed no concern, and he ate at his leisure. Xu Chaomu ced her backpack on the sofa and sat down next to him. ¡°So you still know which way the living room door opens,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently without even lifting his head. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips twitched; this man really held grudges. Her small hand climbed onto Shen Chi¡¯s neck as she chuckled, ¡°Big Brother Four, see, I¡¯m back, aren¡¯t I? I didn¡¯t stay out all night; I am still very obedient.¡± ¡°Get your paw off,¡± Shen Chi said with a nd tone that always carried an air of unquestionable authority. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu obediently retracted her hand. This man was always so stingy that even a touch from her was uneptable. Hmph, there woulde a day when she would not only touch him but pounce on him and strip him bare! She would see how arrogant he was, how domineering! ¡°Starting tomorrow, your allowance will be confiscated, ¡± Shen Chi dered without even ncing at Xu Chaomu. ¡°No way!¡± Xu Chaomu protested. ¡°What will I do when I want to buy something without any pocket money?¡± ¡°Let Butler Ling buy it for you!¡± Could she really have Butler Ling buy ¡®Not suitable for children¡¯ magazines? R-rated movies? Everyone knew that Butler Ling was loyal to Shen Chi first and foremost. If it came to that, Shen Chi would probably hang her up and have her punished! ¡°You can keep the pocket money,¡± Xu Chaomu always had a certain ¡°pride.¡± ¡°I can earn it myself.¡± ¡°Earn it?¡± Shen Chi chuckled as if he had heard a delightful joke. ¡°How will you earn it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business how I earn it; mind your own business.¡± Xu Chaomu muttered softly, clearly dissatisfied, like amb that had been pinned down by a big bad wolf, only able to scratch at him with her little paws. Although it was futile, at least it proved she had resisted. ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to control you now, Xu Chaomu? Are you nning to bepletelywless?¡± ¡°I¡¯m eighteen, not eight! No one in the Shen Family cares about me except you, and I don¡¯t want you to either!¡± Xu Chaomu stood in front of Shen Chi, gritting her teeth. No sooner had Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice fallen than Liu Rumei entered from outside the living room. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s going on here? Having a fight? Who¡¯s made our Chaomu unhappy? Don¡¯t frown; a girl doesn¡¯t look good with a frown,¡± Liu Rumei said with a smile as she approached. She arrived just in time to see Xu Chaomu¡¯s face full of indignation. She draped an arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulders and looked at Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu pushed away Liu Rumei¡¯s hand, and her brow instantly smoothed, her smile blooming brightly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Miss Liu. I¡¯m having a whisper with my Big Brother Four. Don¡¯t you know to knock before entering?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s smile was as radiant as a sunflower, so she took the opportunity to move behind Shen Chi¡¯s chair, wrapping her arms around his neck. ¡°Right, Big Brother Four, where were we just now in our conversation?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi grunted in response. ¡°Let¡¯s continue then. Oh, right, I was telling you, we¡¯ve had several new intern teacherse to our school recently, they are so pretty!¡± Xu Chaomu, seizing a rare opportunity to cling to Shen Chi a bit longer, had no intention of letting go. She lowered her head and leaned close to Shen Chi¡¯s ear, ¡°Big Brother Four, could you help me look at a few problemster? I can¡¯t solve them.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shen Chi replied, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, a rare hint of indulgence in his eyes. Xu Chaomu had never seen Shen Chi be so gentle before. Although she knew he was putting on an act for show, she was enjoying it, too! Liu Rumei, feelingpletely ignored, trembled with anger and found an excuse to leave, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte; you should rest soon. But Chaomu, you¡¯re not that young anymore. Even though you are like siblings, when a young man and woman share the same space, you should still be cautious to some extent.¡± ¡°Big Brother Four, she said we should be more careful,¡± Xu Chaomu leaned closer to whisper in Shen Chi¡¯s ear, pulling him even tighter with her small hand. ¡°Do you think we need to be more careful?¡± Shen Chi asked deliberately. ¡°I think there¡¯s no need!¡± ¡°Well, then that¡¯s settled,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled up slightly. This gentleness, this partiality, this indulgence left Xu Chaomu feeling cherished and amazed. Liu Rumei left the living room in frustration, giving them onest look and huffing coldly as she went. However, as soon as Liu Rumei¡¯s back was turned, the warmth in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes disappeared. ¡°Be sensible and take your hand off!¡± he said lightly. ¡°Using me and then kicking me aside once you¡¯re done, why are you so annoying?¡± Xu Chaomu let go and sat down beside him, grumbling unhappily as she picked up her chopsticks to start on dinner. She nced at Shen Chi out of the corner of her eye. He waspletely calm, not even looking at her, just elegantly enjoying his meal. It seemed as though it wouldn¡¯t matter to him even if she didn¡¯te home at night. For some reason, Xu Chaomu felt a pang in her heart, an ufortable sensation she had never felt before. ¡°I haven¡¯t asked you yet, where did you go tonight?¡± Shen Chi asked casually, his face betraying little emotion. ¡°What else? On a date,¡± Xu Chaomu replied without looking at him, focusing on her meal. Shen Chi¡¯s hand, which held chopsticks, paused, and two sharp gazes suddenly swept over. ¡°With whom?¡± Xu Chaomu shivered, feeling as if she had suddenly returned to the depths of winter. Why were Shen Chi¡¯s eyes so cold? ¡°Who else? A handsome and caring young man, of course!¡± Xu Chaomu up a mouthful of rice. The dishes tonight were quite good, and many were her favorites. With a ¡°snap,¡± Shen Chi put down his chopsticks. Xu Chaomu jerked, and a fishball slipped from her grasp, falling onto the table! ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t harshly deal with you. If something like this happens again, I¡¯ll break your legs!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice seemed toe from Hell, devilishly cold and terrifying. ¡°You can¡¯t support me for a lifetime. Dating is about securing my future. Better to find a good match while I¡¯m young; otherwise, when I¡¯m old and no longer attractive, nobody will want me,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with a pout, yelling without any real intent. ¡°What, Shen Chi can¡¯t support you for a lifetime?¡± Xu Chaomu was taken aback. What, what did he mean by that? Perhaps he was showing off how wealthy he was? ¡°Eat your food!¡± As Xu Chaomu remained puzzled, Shen Chi picked up another fishball and ced it in her bowl. After a while, Shen Chi finished his meal, picked up the jacket hanging on the rack, and headed upstairs. He paused halfway, ¡°You said you had questions earlier, you cane and ask me.¡± Having said that, he continued to his own room. Uh¡­ that was just to sound convincing in order to deceive Liu Rumei, right? There were plenty of questions Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand. But she really didn¡¯t believe Shen Chi could answer all of them. So after dinner, she deliberately picked out several particrly challenging sequence problems to give him. ¡°Big Brother Four, I don¡¯t understand these problems; please exin them to me!¡± Shen Chi was sitting in front of theputer, working on the keyboard, his forehead furrowed as he analyzed the recent profit and loss of the group. Just as he was calcting a crucial figure, Xu Chaomu pushed the door open and entered. He put aside his work and closed theptop. ¡°Which one?¡± He walked over, and Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t blink once, her eyes fixed on him.. Chapter 28 - 028 The Price of a Stolen Kiss Chapter 28: The Price of a Stolen Kiss I ranstator: NY01-d0 Studio Editor: NY01-d0 Studio ¡°Which problem?¡± Shen Chi frowned and repeated the question before Xu Chaomu snapped back to reality. ¡°This one, this one, and this one!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at the reference book. ¡°Let me see.¡± Shen Chi sat in the chair, seriously analyzing the problems. Xu Chaomu brought over a chair and sat next to him; as he studied the problems, she watched him. No wonder people say that a concentrated man is the most attractive. It¡¯s entirely true. When Shen Chi focused on a problem, he waspletely engrossed, always looking at the questions and asionally jotting down some steps with his pen. From her angle, his profile looked sculpted with sharp, smooth lines, a high nose bridge, and long eyshes. Even the scent of him was pleasant¡ªlight and elegant. Her gaze slowly moved down to Shen Chi¡¯s cor. The top button of his shirt was undone, revealing a patch of skin, and she watched, transfixed. Xu Chaomu felt a twinge of regret, for such an outstanding man was out of her reach. And to think she had lived with him for eight years! ¡°Have you had enough?¡± Shen Chi turned his head. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu quickly averted her gaze. Wasn¡¯t this manpletely absorbed in the problems? When did he notice her? ¡°This problem, a geometric sequence, you need to start by writing out the form¡­ Shen Chi began to exin the problem to Xu Chaomu, but how could she focus on the problem? She suddenly remembered what Yu Weiwei had said that evening. ¡°If you really like him, just surprise him with a kiss when he¡¯s not paying attention. You¡¯re quite pretty, and no man could resist you.¡± No man could resist? Really? To be honest, Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t very confident about herself. Just yesterday, Shen Chi hadmented on her petite frame, saying she hardly looked like a woman. But kissing him had been a lofty goal she¡¯d set for herself since she was ten years old! Even though the possibility of achieving this goal seemed ever smaller, she couldn¡¯t ept it! She couldn¡¯t ept it! She saw tonight as an excellent opportunity! Xu Chaomu moved closer to Shen Chi, who had already written a bunch of steps in the reference book. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand this part, Big Brother Si, exin it again.¡± Xu Chaomu pointed randomly at the middle section with her small hand. Shen Chi cast her a cool nce: ¡°You didn¡¯t understand? Then repeat the part you did understand to me.¡± . ¡® He was doing this on purpose! As he looked at her with icy eyes, Xu Chaomu counted in her mind: one¡­ Two¡­ She was only a step away from Shen Chi, and Xu Chaomu mustered her courage and got ready. Three! She pounced on him wildly, wrapping her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s waist andnding in hisp! She wriggled on hisp, sadly unable to reach Shen Chi¡¯s face. So, she let go with one hand, ready to hook his neck. Shepletely ignored Shen Chi¡¯s increasingly dark expression and the coldness seeping from his eyes; she had only one goal¡ªto kiss him! All those kissing techniques unique to the romance magazines suddenly flooded her mind. The magazines weren¡¯t read in vain! It was time to give it a try! After all, you can¡¯t rely solely on theoretical knowledge; practice is essential. Isn¡¯t there a saying, practice is the only criterion for testing truth? Just as her fingers were about to hook Shen Chi¡¯s neck, he suddenly kicked away the chair, and with a strong push, he tossed her onto the bed! A ¡®thud¡¯. Xu Chaomu felt like her bones were about to fall apart, but thankfully the bed was soft. She rubbed her head, which was really hurting, and just happened to bump into the sharp corner of the coffee table by the bed. ¡°Xu Chaomu, get out!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was filled with anger, his eyes bloodshot. He pointed towards the door, looking down on Xu Chaomu, his whole body exuding the aura of a king. Even though he was dressed in a gentle white shirt, at that moment, Shen Chi seemed like the cold King of Asura. Xu Chaomu stared at him with wide eyes, tears rolling about in her eyes. She struggled not to let them fall. Her head hurt badly, a dull pain like being pierced by a sharp knife, a cutting sort of agony. She held her head, her vision blurry, not even able to see Shen Chi¡¯s face clearly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get lost!¡± His voice hoarse, he roared again. Xu Chaomu¡¯s vision went dark, feeling something hot rolling down her head. She wiped it with her hand ¨C bright red blood! ¡°Ah!¡± Having never seen so much blood, let alone her own, she fainted on the spot. Shen Chi had not expected his own strength to be so great, nor to have bumped against the coffee table. He quickly held her: ¡°Chaomu, Mumu, wake up!¡± Xu Chaomu had lost all sensation, and Shen Chi instantly turned pale, feeling as though his heart had emptied. He carried her in his arms and sprinted towards the garage. The car¡¯s vibrations made Xu Chaomu slightly more alert. She tried hard to open her eyes, but her head hurt unbearably. She reached for the back of her head, but Shen Chi pressed her hand down. ¡°Don¡¯t move around; we¡¯re almost at the hospital!¡± He was speeding all the way, driving the fastest Lamborghini from the garage, running through several red lights, almost pressing the gas pedal to the floor! ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help reaching to grab his arm. But because she was fastened by the seatbelt, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t reach him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes hid a tenderness, but other than those three words, he said nothing. The car headed to the nearest hospital, and upon reaching the emergency room entrance, Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu inside! Soon, doctors and nurses came out. Fortunately, the injury was not too severe; it was just a lot of blood. The doctor skillfully applied medicine and bandaged her. As he did so, the wound stung intermittently, causing Xu Chaomu unbearable pain. She bit down on Shen Chi¡¯s arm. Shen Chi furrowed his brows, remaining silent, simply letting her bite him. Throughout the procedure, he held her, keeping her in his embrace. ¡°It¡¯s okay now, nothing serious. Come back in a few days to change the dressing. Remember not to get it wet and take your medicine on time,¡± said the doctor. ¡°Thank you,¡± Shen Chi nodded at the doctor. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyelids fluttered, she seemed to perceive a glint of guilt on Shen Chi¡¯s face. Really, this man had no idea how to be gently affectionate to women. From the first time he pushed her away, she had predicted that one day he would hurt her. At least, at least there was no danger to her life. Otherwise, the price for that stolen kiss would have been too great. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t gained any advantage from it! She just didn¡¯t understand why Shen Chi had such a strong reaction. Was it that shameful to be kissed by her? Or was it that she was truly so ugly? ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Shen Chi picked her up, relieved. As he went downstairs, he was much slower. He carefully ced her in the passenger seat and then bent over to fasten her seatbelt diligently. Xu Chaomu¡¯s head felt much clearer. As Shen Chi bent close to her, she caught the pleasant fragrance of his body, and she really felt like sneaking in a kiss. But remembering the cost, she gave up the thought. ¡°Behave,¡± Shen Chi patted her cheek and walked to the driver¡¯s seat. Had he not spoken, it would¡¯ve been fine, but his words made Xu Chaomu unhappy again. She turned her body away, facing the window, and closed her eyes, refusing to look at Shen Chi.. Chapter 29 - 029: Spend the Night with Me Chapter 29: Spend the Night with Me Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Shen Chi nced at her, the corners of his lips curving up slightly. He started the car and drove towards the vi. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, so he remained silent as well. The coolness of the night was like water, withrge trees swiftly receding behind the car window and the lotus-shaped streetmps flickering dimly along the roadside. The closer they got to the vi, the fewer people there were. Soon, they arrived at Jinxiu Tianxia. The lights outside the Shen Family vi were still on, all vintage European-style lily copper chandeliers, exquisitely beautiful in this tranquil night. Everything around was calm and quiet; the Shen Family was never a lively ce to begin with, but at night, it was even more deserted. Shen Chi parked the car in the garage and nced at Xu Chaomu beside him, ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± Xu Chaomu ignored him, continuing to look out the window with her head turned away. Shen, amused, chuckled to himself. The little girl was giving him the cold shoulder. He got out of the car, opened the passenger-side door, and bent down to look at her. Xu Chaomu then turned her head the other wav, determined not to look at Shen Chi. Shen Chi reached out his arms to hold her, lifting her from the car in a perfect princess carry. The girl¡¯s body carried a faint fragrance that somewhat resembled the scent of the breast-ergement essential oil, could she have retrieved the bottle he had thrown away? ¡°Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things, don¡¯t you know?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered, ncing at him. ¡°Hold on to me tightly, don¡¯t fall off,¡± Shen Chi said. Walking towards the house with deliberate steps, Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hands encircled his neck, burying her head in his chest. This was the first time he had held her for so long on his own initiative, and the first time she leaned against his chest without him pushing her away. But the price seemed to be high; her head still hurt. She didn¡¯t know if Shen Chi felt guilty; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have let her hold on to him. She decided to make the most of it and snuggle against him more. Lying against his chest, she could hear his steady heartbeat, unhurried and calm. Her own little heart, though, was already thumping wildly! His chest was warm, and his unchanged refined aura carried the maturity of a man. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Shen Chi said as they reached Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. ¡°Ah? That was fast¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt that the journey was all too short. Shen Chi looked down at Xu Chaomu in his arms, ¡°How do you n on getting down?¡± ¡°Can I just not get down?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Who was it that just said men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. Alright, it was her. She didn¡¯t speak, clinging to his neck, refusing to let go. Shen Chi had no choice but to walk over to the bed and gently set her down, yet Xu Chaomu still wouldn¡¯t release her hold. ¡°Let go of your hands,¡± Shen Chi said with a frown and a faint tone; though his voice was soft, his manner was as imperious as ever. ¡°I¡¯m a patient!¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°So what?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°So, I have a few demands,¡± she stated. ¡°Let¡¯s hear them,¡± he responded. Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hands remained on Shen Chi¡¯s neck as she looked into his eyes. How is it possible for him to be so handsome, his eyes as profound as endless oceans? ¡°Look at how severely you¡¯ve hurt me. I might wake up from the pain during the night. What if no one is around to take care of me and I faint?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked at him, the subtext probably being, just ept it and sleep with me tonight! ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s nothing serious,¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently. ¡°But what if, I mean just if¡­¡± Xu Chaomu persisted. ¡°You sleep like a log every night, rest assured, you won¡¯t wake up,¡± Shen Chi assured her. Sometimes at night, when Shen Chi couldn¡¯t sleep and walked out of his room, he would go and take a look at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was very restless in her sleep, he saw her ten times, and seven or eight of those times, her nket was on the floor, and even her pillow had ended up there as well. Every time, he helplessly walked over to cover her with the nket. She slept deeply, and sometimes, he would sit at her bedside for a while. ¡°Why are you scolding me again¡­¡± Xu Chaomu became unhappy, she imed it was because she was too tired from studying, how could she sleep like a pig. Shen Chi slowly pried open Xu Chaomu¡¯s fingers one by one, ¡°Sleep nicely, don¡¯t fuss. Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t give up just like that, this was something she had almost traded her life for! Taking advantage of Shen Chi¡¯s rare tenderness, she became even more shameless, wrapping her small hand around his waist as he turned to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, Fourth Brother, stay with me for the night, just one night. Look at my head, ow, it hurts, it hurts¡­¡± Shen Chi turned around, his face showing helplessness. ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°But if I faint from the pain, how can I call you? Ouch, my head really hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu held his sleeve with one hand and covered her head with the other. She looked just like Sun Wukong being tormented by Tang Seng¡¯s tightening spell, but shecked the skills, clearly pretending. ¡°Go to sleep!¡± Shen Chi, out of patience, pried her hand away and walked to the door, turning off the light to her room as he left. The moment he left, Xu Chaomu, deted, sat on the bed shedding tears. He either disliked her so much, or she was incredibly annoying. Crying herself to sleep, Xu Chaomu drifted off. After Shen Chi returned to his own room, he saw the reference book Xu Chaomu had left on the table. He quietly flipped through the book. This Xu Chaomu, her reference books were basically pristine. At this rate, how was she going to get into university? Shen Chi shook his head hopelessly and closed the book. As he approached the bed, he noticed the blood on the coffee table had congealed. He wiped the bloodstain with a tissue, feeling a slight pause in his chest, as if blocked by a stone. In the middle of the night, when all was quiet around the Shen Family vi, only the light in Shen Chi¡¯s room remained on. Hey on his bed with his arms crossed behind his head, eyes fixed on the crystal chandelier above. After watching for two hours, unable to sleep, he slowly got up and stepped onto the balcony. Pulling open the curtains, a chill breeze swept in, and he took a bottle of red wine from the rack. With the cork removed, the wine flowed down the ss wall, settling like gleaming rubies, exuding an enticing fruity aroma. The spring breeze was intoxicating, the night hazy, the crescent moon hanging askew. It wasn¡¯t until he had drunk most of the bottle that he finally left the balcony. He pushed open Xu Chaomu¡¯s room door, and the girl seemed to be having a nightmare. ¡°Mom,e back, I miss you, I want to hug you¡­¡± Her little hands iled in the air, catching nothing, and she cried, mournfully. Shen Chi walked over, picked up the nket from the ground, and gently covered her. ¡°Mom,e back, Chaomu really misses you so much¡­¡± Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed painfully. Shen Chi grabbed her cold little hand and held her, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯m here.¡±upda@te by new novel.o r g Xu Chaomu clutched tightly to Shen Chi, thinking that her mother was no longer leaving. She called out ¡°Mom¡± a few more times in a low voice before finally falling into a deep, peaceful sleep. Shen Chi simply slept beside her; that night, Xu Chaomu was well-behaved, no longer having nightmares or kicking off the nket. He touched her forehead, his eyes filled with heartache. When the first ray of dawn shone on the green curtains of Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, Shen Chi gentlyid her down from his arms, tucked her in again, and then quietly stepped out.. Chapter 30 - 030: Not Treating Her Like a Family Member Chapter 30: Not Treating Her Like a Family Member Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu rubbed her eyes and reached for the small mirror by the bed. Did she cry against night? Her eyes were all red. She hugged her pillow, not wanting to get up, but just when she felt like staying in bed, she suddenly smelled a clear fragrance of alcohol on the pillow. Where did the smell of alcohole from? Xu Chaomu was baffled. Her head was still aching vaguely, and she really hated Shen Chi. How was she supposed to attend ss looking like this today? And yet this stingy man wouldn¡¯t even keep herpany for one night. He acted as if she was a sex maniac that would do something to him. Although she admitted, she did have a bit of a bad intention. ¡°Miss Xu, good morning.¡± When Xu Chaomu went downstairs, breakfast was already set on the table, and no one else was in sight, so she sat down at the dining table by herself. ¡°Where¡¯s brother number four?¡± Xu Chaomu spread a bit of sd on her bread. ¡°The young master went to the group,¡± the servant replied. ¡°When did he leave? Did he show any concern for me when he left?¡± Xu Chaomu asked leisurely. ¡°No, the young master left very early.¡± A basin of cold water poured down, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s mood immediately soured. ¡°Yo, Chaomu, eating breakfast alone? Your brother number four left early in the morning; do you miss him?¡± Liu Rumei walked in from the entrance of the living room, with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile on her face. She touched her freshlybed hair and pulled up the jujube-red shawl on her body a few centimeters. As soon as she walked in, her high heels clicked loudly on the floor. Xu Chaomu did not lift her head and continued eating her own breakfast. Liu Rumei sat next to Xu Chaomu, very considerately taking a piece of cheese for her: ¡°Eat more; you¡¯re growing right now, you need the nutrition, and then you won¡¯t even need essential oils for breast ergement.¡± After saying that, sheughed to herself. Xu Chaomu smelled the pungent perfume on her and frowned, no longer wanting to eat her breakfast. She intentionally sat a bit further away from Liu Rumei; this woman was nothing like Aunt Zhou. If Aunt Zhou was like a delicate orchid, elegant and refined, then Liu Rumei was like a gaudy red rose, mboyant and charming. She really had no idea how Shen Cexian¡¯s taste could differ so widely, to have married Aunt Zhou and still not be satisfied. By her reckoning, it had been eight years since she had seen Aunt Zhou. Her thoughts drifted to Shen Chi again. She wondered if Shen Chi was like his father, favoring gaudy women. It seemed likely, since he liked big breasts. Ugh! How vulgar. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Chaomu? You seem to be in a bad mood? If you miss your brother number four, I can drive you there. I heard that there¡¯s a ball at Shen Group today, very lively. It¡¯d be a pity not to go.¡± ¡°I still have sses,¡± Xu Chaomu responded indifferently. ¡°Isn¡¯t it Saturday tomorrow, and you¡¯re off? The ball is just at night; it won¡¯t affect your studies. Your second sister and third brother will be going too. Howe, didn¡¯t your brother number four tell you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Xu Chaomu still paid little attention to Liu Rumei. But inside, she felt a bitplicated. Howe no one told her about the ball that both her second sister and third brother were attending? Was it that Shen Chi didn¡¯t consider her part of the family¡­ ¡°Are you going to go? We all n to be there tonight, and it would be dull for you to be alone at home,¡± Liu Rumei said, ¡°Your brother number four is really something. Howe he didn¡¯t tell you about your own family¡¯s ball at the group? Not bringing you along.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t dance anyway. Going to a ball would only embarrass him,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a tone of displeasure. All she wanted now was to finish breakfast quickly; this woman was really talkative. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go, just forget it; I was just afraid you¡¯d be bored. Eat more, don¡¯t starve yourself,¡± Liu Rumei said, handing another piece of cake to Xu Chaomu. After finishing her milk, Xu Chaomu picked up her backpack and left the Shen residence. Maybe because of her young age, she was not good at hiding her feelings, and Liu Rumei could tell she was unhappy. That day, from morning till night, Xu Chaomu was distracted in ss, but then again, she rarely paid full attention. It was just that, today, she was exceptionally inattentive. ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you injured?¡± Yu Weiwei asked with concern as she circled around Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. Even though the gauze was covered by her ponytail at the back of her head, it was still quite obvious. Xu Chaomu replied irritably, ¡°Dabai bit me.¡± ¡°No way, that Tibetan Mastiff? It bit you, and you¡¯re still alive? Then aren¡¯t you tougher than it is? There¡¯s a saying, what is it? Oh, you¡¯re more of a beast than a beast!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been poking this puppet all day; what are you doing that for? It hasn¡¯t provoked you,¡± Yu Weiwei sympathized as she watched Xu Chaomu jab at the pitiful puppet in her hand. She had been better off not bringing it up because as soon as she did, Xu Chaomu poked the puppet even harder. Indeed, this puppet was a gift from Shen Chi on her tenth birthday. She had always carried it with her over the years. But eight years had passed, and Shen Chi had never given her anything else. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it looks annoying no matter how you look at it?¡± Xu Chaomu threw the puppet on the table. Yu Weiwei leaned in, ¡°Not at all? It¡¯s quite cute, kind of like you. If you find it annoying, why do you carry it around every day like a treasure?¡± ¡°Who treasures it? It¡¯s so ugly; I¡¯ve wanted to throw it away for a long time!¡± Yu Weiwei gloated, ¡°Then throw it away! Can¡¯t bear to? I¡¯ll throw it for you!¡± Yu Weiwei grabbed the small puppet from the table and pretended to throw it out of the window. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! If it¡¯s going to be thrown away, I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± Xu Chaomu hurried to grab it. Yu Weiwei knew she couldn¡¯t part with it, no matter who had given it to her. Clearly treasured, yet she acted as if she didn¡¯t care. Xu Chaomu held the small puppet in her hand and stared at it intently without saying a word. Yu Weiwei wondered if being bitten by Dabai had changed Xu Chaomu somehow, as she seemed very unhappy. ¡°Chaomu, ahem, I¡¯ve got something to show you, and I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll cheer you up,¡± Yu Weiwei said mysteriously, clearing her throat. ¡°What?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look up, nor did she show any interest. ¡°Ta-da, look!¡± Yu Weiwei pulled out an envelope from her Chinese textbook, ¡°Guess who wrote to you? This person even made me promise to hand it to you personally; he¡¯s too shy to give it to you himself.¡± Xu Chaomu slightly lifted her eyelids, then drooped them again, ¡°Not interested.¡± In truth, she was still bothered by Liu Rumei¡¯s words. The Shen Group¡¯s ball, everyone in the Shen family could attend except her. She wasn¡¯t even granted the privilege of knowing about it. ¡°Not interested? If you¡¯re not interested then I¡¯m opening it! Let¡¯s see what¡¯s written inside¡­¡± Yu Weiwei took a small knife, ready to open the envelope. Xu Chaomu quickly extended her hand and snatched the envelope. ¡°Snooping around in privacy, be careful or I¡¯ll sue you!¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. ¡°I¡¯m not looking, I¡¯m not looking. I don¡¯t want to be sued,¡± Yu Weiwei covered her eyes. Xu Chaomu turned the envelope over a few times, examining it. The light green envelope was adorned with a few small pink flowers, which looked fresh and beautiful, like a breath of spring breeze that made the earth brim with the promise of spring. She opened the envelope, and a in piece of stationery paper leaped out. The first thing that caught her eye was row upon row of elegant regr script.. Chapter 31 - 031 He is Vulgar Beyond Endurance Chapter 31: He is Vulgar Beyond Endurance Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After finishing the letter, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned a bit red; she quickly put the letter back into the envelope and tucked it into her math book. Although it was just another ordinary love letter, there were two lines in it that she had to admit stirred her heart upon reading. ¡°Missing you is like the full moon, every day and every night.¡± Lou Yanli was acknowledged as a man of talent by everyone at school. It was said his calligraphy was extremely good, he could y the guitar, write poetry, and what¡¯s more, he always ranked within the top three students for every exam. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t understand why Lou Yanli had taken an interest in her! She was positive, today was not April Fool¡¯s Day. ¡°Why is your face red? What did you write? This is from Lou, the great talent himself, personally handed to me!¡± Yu Weiwei thought Xu Chaomu would be excited, but her reaction seemed rather t. So many people at the school were after Lou Yanli¡ªwhat kind of reaction was this from Xu Chaomu? ¡°It¡¯s nothing, nothing, just stop being nosy, go read your ¡®Male Health Manual¡¯!¡± ¡°Let me have a look, won¡¯t you? Are you not considering me a friend? Didn¡¯t we agree to share our joys and face our troubles together?¡± Yu Weiwei said earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, he asked me out to watch a movie tomorrow,¡± Xu Chaomu replied indifferently. ¡°Dead jealous, someone asked you out! Our Chaomu is wanted by someone too! Go, go, go, you must go. Look at that arrogant Yao Yue, delivering love letters to Lou Yanli every day, yet he doesn¡¯t even spare her a nce,¡± Yu Weiwei suddenly felt incredibly proud. ¡°Talking like I¡¯m unwanted by everyone.¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes: ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Lou Yanli being blind, you¡¯d probably still be unwanted.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What happened to sharing joys and facing troubles together! This is not how you kick someone when they¡¯re down! Thest ss on Friday was biology, and while Yu Weiwei listened with gusto, Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind had already flown back to the Shen¡¯s house. As the sky began to darken, Old Cheng came to pick Xu Chaomu up. ¡°Uncle Cheng, has Fourth Brothere back?¡± Xu Chaomu asked in the car. ¡°Oh, no, Mr. Shen has to work overtime tonight and might note back.¡± ¡°Noting back? Did he leave any message for me?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen seemed very busy, he didn¡¯t mention anything to me. It you miss him, you can give him a call.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so busy, I¡¯d rather not disturb him,¡± Xu Chaomu felt a bit unhappy. Actually, she had been feeling unhappy since morning. He had hurt herst night, left for the Shen Group in the morning without saying a word, and hadn¡¯t even mentioned the ball that evening, keeping it a secret from her alone. Now he was using work as an excuse not toe back. So, better not to bother him and avoid being called immature. ¡°Chaomu is back, just in time¡ªI was about to head out! Have you decided whether you want toe with me or not?¡± Liu Rumei was slipping on a white coat over a purple dress that entuated her youthfulness with makeup applied. She was carrying a beige handbag, ready to head towards the garage, but when she saw Xu Chaomu return, she stopped and gave her a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in balls; I have a lot of test papers to write, I won¡¯t go,¡± Xu Chaomu said, headed straight for the house without looking up. Liu Rumei grabbed her arm, ¡°Are you afraid you¡¯ll be upset seeing your Fourth Brother dance with someone else?¡± ¡°What does him dancing with other people have to do with me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that; I don¡¯t believe you could remain happy seeing him dance and drink with others. At the ball, there will be all sorts of women. If your Fourth Brother gets drunk, who knows, he might fall into the hands of one of them.¡± Liu Rumei spoke lightly, but her eyes were fixed on Xu Chaomu. ¡°He¡¯s so mundane; the more beautiful and sexy they are, the more he likes them. He would love to have a beauty in each arm!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice carried a sour tone. ¡°Actually, if our Chaomu dressed up, you¡¯d be no less attractive than those women. They don¡¯t have your youth, and you should know that youth is an asset.¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips, saying nothing. Liu Rumei pulled her into the makeup room, ¡°Let me dress you up.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t refuse; in truth, she also wanted to see what the ball was like. She had grown up, and Shen Chi had never taken her out, nor had she even been inside Shen Group. She wanted to see how he danced, and she wanted to dance with him even more. Liu Rumei was a makeup expert; in no time, she applied a light makeup look for Xu Chaomu. Because Xu Chaomu had a bandage on the back of her head, she even specially tied a pink bow over it to cover it up. She also personally picked out an off-shoulder white dress for Xu Chaomu, which looked elegantly simple, yet fresh and lovely. Xu Chaomu had never dressed up so formally before; standing in front of the full-length mirror, she could barely recognize herself. She wondered what Shen Chi¡¯s reaction would be if he saw her. ¡°Put on these high heels,¡± Liu Rumei said, bringing over a pair of white diamond-studded high heels. Xu Chaomu hesitated for a long time, wondering if Shen Chi would scold her for wearing high heels for the first time. Forget it, once she got to the ball, she would just quietly sit in a corner, not say anything, and just watch him dance. ¡°When we get to the ball, I¡¯ll just sit on the side, and make sure Fourth Brother doesn¡¯t notice me,¡± Xu Chaomu instructed Liu Rumei. ¡°Sure, whatever you say. As long as you have fun.¡± After reaching an agreement with Liu Rumei, Xu Chaomu dared to put on the high heels. The sky was dark, and the lights of the Shen family¡¯s vi were all lit. When Xu Chaomu walked out from the makeup room, she looked like a little princess, with a hint of shyness that couldn¡¯t overshadow her beauty. Unlike others who dripped allure and zest, she exuded a natural freshness and an unpretentious charm. Sitting in Liu Rumei¡¯s car, Xu Chaomu was still a bit nervous. She hoped that Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t see her, yet she also wanted Shen Chi to see that she was no longer the little girl she used to be. The ball was set in arge auditorium, with colorful bead strings forming patterns outside the hall, dazzling and magnificent. The archways were adorned with flowers, carrying a subtle fragrance. From the outside of the auditorium, various men and women could be seen. They wore formal suits, tuxedos, and cocktail dresses, brands unknown to Xu Chaomu. She was beginning to not want to go in; she felt like the most inconspicuous star, dim andcking shine. Liu Rumei held her hand, ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, don¡¯t want to see your Fourth Brother?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve agreed that I¡¯ll just sit in the corner; don¡¯t let Fourth Brother notice me,¡± Xu Chaomu reminded her repeatedly. ¡°Rx, rx. You see how many people there are, when the timees, just sit quietly in the corner, no one will pay attention to you. Just watch your Fourth Brother to your heart¡¯s content; don¡¯t let someone else snatch him away!¡± ¡°What does it matter to me if someone else snatches him away, don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Xu Chaomu was a bit unhappy, as if her little secret had been discovered. ¡°Got it, got it, let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you in..¡± Chapter 32 - 032: Undressing Her Chapter 32: Undressing Her Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio They hadn¡¯t been inside long before the ball began. Xu Chaomu chose the darkest corner to sit alone, while Liu Rumei had already joined Shen Yanrou in the most morous spot. After a little while, Xu Chaomu indeed saw Shen Chi. Old Cheng had also deceived her with his talk of working overtime when he clearly was here to attend the ball. She felt a twinge of sadness, wondering if the Shen family had always considered her, Xu Chaomu, an outsider for the past eight years. After all, her surname was Xu, not Shen. Shen Chi was dazzling today, dressed in a ck suit that made him look mature and sharp, exuding a powerful presence. As soon as he appeared, Xu Chaomu spotted him. Different from the usual Shen Chi that Xu Chaomu saw, the Shen Chi at the ball looked more like a business elite, with sharp eyes, a slightly cold face, and lips that wore a smile that was not quite a smile. Under the lights, he held a wine ss, toasting with a group of well-dressed men. Perhaps because the light was somewhat dim, Xu Chaomu always felt that the Shen Chi at that moment seemed more and more like a person from a different world than hers. Her hands nervously intertwined; she wanted to flee. The sound of the piano filled the hall as someone began to y on the piano at the forefront. Before long, Xu Chaomu also saw Shen Cexian, Shen Shihan, and Li Beiting. All along, she didn¡¯t even know what the Shen family¡¯s business was, just that they were very wealthy. One after another, people came to toast to Shen Chi, and several women d in very sensual attire approached as well. They were mostly enchanting and seductive, with their cleavage fully exposed, a single nce from them had the power to captivate all life. Shen Chi didn¡¯t refuse the neers; his face always held a faint smile. Xu Chaomu felt out of ce among them and began to feel that her presence was superfluous. Of course, had it not been for this ball, she would not have discovered that Shen Chi had such a good tolerance for liquor. Usually, when Shen Chi was at home, he barely drank; she even thought he didn¡¯t like alcohol. She began to doubt whether she really knew him, despite having lived with him day and night for eight years. As the ball progressed past the halfway mark, the initial formality waned, and everyone started to mingle more freely. Quite a few women came to invite Shen Chi to dance; he refused some and epted others. It was her first time seeing this man dance with other women, and she watched without blinking until the dance ended and then she lowered her head. No matter who stood by his side, they seemed well-matched with him. Head down, she cradled her ss of lemonade, silent and sitting quietly. Maybe she drank too much lemonade because midway through the ball, she wanted to go to the restroom. She stood up, made her way through the crowd, and periodically looked around for the restroom. Just as she was about to reach the entrance, someone stepped on her dress, and she suddenly lost her footing, her body tipping forward unstably! Right when she was about to fall to the floor, she grabbed a pir nearby. But her movement was too abrupt, and a young woman¡¯s ss next to her got knocked to the ground, shattering with a crash! The red wine from the goblet spilled onto the young woman¡¯s yellow dress, looking like a blooming red rose. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t spared either; some of the red wine stained her white dress, leaving her with an embarrassed expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry, it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± Xu Chaomu took out a tissue, trying to wipe the wine stain clean. ¡°Don¡¯t you look where you¡¯re going? What are you wiping for, can it even be cleaned? Do you have any idea how much my dress cost? How did you even get in here?¡± The woman stamped her foot, losing allposure. Initially, she had thought Xu Chaomu might be someone important and held back, but when Xu Chaomu knelt down, she saw thebel on Xu Chaomu¡¯s clothes¡ªa cheap knock-off found at some street stall. Xu Chaomu knew the stain wouldn¡¯te off, so she could only stand up. ¡°Take it off, I¡¯ll wash it for you.¡± ¡°What are you going to wash it with? Don¡¯t tell meundry detergent! Let me tell you, even if you send it to theundry, this dress is ruined! With such a big wine stain, how can I wear it again?¡± the woman harped on relentlessly. ¡°Sister Lin, calm down, it¡¯s probably just a server delivering drinks. She can¡¯t afford topensate for your dress!¡± Someone started to mediate. ¡°I will wash it carefully for you, whether it can be cleaned or not, we won¡¯t know until I¡¯ve tried,¡± Chaomu said lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to wash it, pay me and I¡¯ll let you go,¡± the woman scoffed with disdain, convinced that Chaomu couldn¡¯t afford to pay. ¡°How much?¡± Chaomu nced at her. ¡°Fifty thousand!¡± the woman held up a palm. Chaomu was taken aback. Was the dress that expensive? ¡°I don¡¯t have that much money, but I can wash the dress for you.¡± Truth be told, although Chaomu¡¯s surname was not Shen, after she turned ten, the Shen Family had never let her wash a single piece of clothing or a dish. ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t want you to wash it. Since you can¡¯t afford topensate, what do you suggest we do?¡± the woman looked at Chaomu with a mocking gaze. At that moment, Yanrou walked over, nced at Chaomu, and whispered into the woman¡¯s ear, ¡°Sister Lin, I saw her sitting alone in a corner for a long time, it looks like she snuck into the ball. Since she¡¯s so keen to climb into our high society circles, why not take her out, strip her clothes, and let her serve some rich old men? How about that? She looks a bit green, but her figure is quite delicate.¡± Chaomu didn¡¯t hear what Yanrou was saying, but she was certain it wasn¡¯t anything good. The woman thought it was a good idea and moved a step closer to Chaomu. After Yanrou finished speaking, she blended into the crowd, taking advantage of the many people around. ¡°I¡¯m asking you one more time, are you going to pay or not?¡± the woman demanded arrogantly. ¡°I¡¯ve already apologized to you. I can wash the dress for you, but I don¡¯t have that much money,¡± Chaomu felt the woman was being unreasonable. ¡°Sorry? Is an apology that useful? If I hit and killed your mother, would ¡®sorry¡¯ be enough?¡± the woman¡¯s words were venomous. ¡°The hell gives you the right to talk about my mother! What status do you have!¡± Chaomu lost it, and she pped the woman right across the face! With a ¡°smack,¡± the chattering around them suddenly stopped! In less than a second, the surroundings exploded into an uproar! ¡°This girl has eaten the guts of a leopard, she even dares to hit Sister Lin!¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, Sister Lin is bleeding¡­¡± ¡°You guys, pin her down for me!¡± A bright red handprint appeared on the woman¡¯s fair face, the five fingers clearly defined, and blood was even flowing from the corner of her mouth. Chaomu hadn¡¯t fought in many years, almost forgetting that she used to be a little thug. She never belonged to the circle of the wealthy, and it was fate that had mysteriously brought her to the Shen Family. She was out of ce with all of this. ¡°Damn it, pin her down, I have to teach her a lesson today!¡± the woman cursed vulgarly, her poisepletely gone. She was shaking with anger, her shoulders trembling uncontrobly! The woman¡¯s two male assistants, seeing their boss mistreated, came over, forcefully grabbed Chaomu¡¯s arms, and pinned her down! Chaomu struggled fiercely, but how could she match the strength of two men. Her butterfly knot fell to the ground, her long ck hair now loose over one shoulder. ¡°I swear I¡¯m not a Zheng if I don¡¯t beat you to death today! Strip her clothes off!¡± Zheng Lin¡¯s eyes zed with anger, her face throbbing with pain. Someone hurried to hold back Zheng Lin, ¡°Sister Lin, today¡¯s ball is hosted by the Shen Group. Creating such a scene might affect the ball, and the Shen Family might be embarrassed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost cousin-inw to President Shen, what do I have to fear!¡± Zheng Lin pushed away the peacekeeper, furiously pointing at Chaomu, ¡°Strip off her clothes for me! Completely!¡± Chapter 33 - 033 Shen Chi, You Bastard Chapter 33: Shen Chi, You Bastard Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Everyone dared not persuade her further. Yes, Shen Chi was about to be Zheng Lin¡¯s cousin-inw; she had nothing to be concerned about. It was Xu Chaomu who was stunned, her heart feeling as if it was being torn apart, faintly aching. The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and only one sentence circled in her mind, ¡°The President is about to be my cousin-inw.¡± Shen Chi, who was he marrying? Why did she know nothing about it? Just as she was distracted, her shoulder turned cold, and with a ¡°rip¡±, the shoulder of her dress was torn, exposing her fair skin to the air. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Xu Chaomu came back to her senses, struggling and shouting desperately, but to no avail. Just as a male assistant¡¯s hand touched the other side of Xu Chaomu¡¯s dress, a cold wind blew through, apanied by a powerful presence! Shen Chi pushed through the crowd, his tall figure like the King of Asura emerging from the dark night. He looked annoyed as he aimed a kick at Zheng Lin¡¯s male assistant¡¯s chest! ¡°Who the fuck told you to touch her?¡± Shen Chi radiated an icy coldness all over him. His eyes were blood red, filled with the stench of murder. The other male assistant had no time to react, his hand still holding onto Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm. Shen Chi lifted his foot, his ck dress shoending heavily on the assistant¡¯s chest, showing no mercy with his kick! The two male assistantsy on the ground, wailing in pain. They didn¡¯t dare to stand up and instead crawled away while lying on the ground. The people around them all took a step back, no one dared to speak, and immediately, the bustling ballroom became as quiet as a graveyard! Shen Chi took off his suit jacket and draped it over Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu clutched his clothing tightly, herrge eyes looking at him. His warmth and a subtle scent clung to the clothes. He had protected her, and yet she was unhappy. Before everyone, Shen Chi lifted her from the ground and held her tightly in his arms. He stood in front of Zheng Lin, his bloodshot eyes filled with a murderous impulse, darkness intense and bone-chillingly cold. Zheng Lin was scared into retreating two steps, her face¡¯s burning pain forgotten as a creeping coldness slowly enveloped her. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to even touch her, and you fucking dare to hit her!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep and powerful. His shout stunned everyone present. Everyone was specting about the girl¡¯s identity, for how could a young girl make Shen Chi lose all his reason. Such an elegant and mature man, and yet he swears twice for this girl. The coldness closed in step by step, and Zheng Lin stepped back further and further. ¡°Brother-inw, there¡¯s no need¡ª let¡¯s talk this out. I really didn¡¯t know who she is¡­ Please spare me this once¡­ I promise¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ I¡¯m leaving, I¡¯m leaving¡­¡± Zheng Lin ran out without looking back, stumbling as if chased by ghosts. The crowd was so frightened that they hardly dared to breathe, all instinctively retreating. Shen Chi held Xu Chaomu and left the ballroom, heading straight for the underground parking lot. The parking garage was a bit dark. Xu Chaomu stared at him¡ªwas he angry? Shen Chi lowered his head, meeting Xu Chaomu¡¯srge watery eyes. Her gaze wasplex, hard to describe. He lowered his head and rubbed his chin against her forehead, no longer ferocious. His lips curled into a smile, and in a tender tone, he asked, ¡°Did I scare you?¡± She moved her lips but didn¡¯t speak, just looked at him with herrge eyes. She wore light makeup, and her ck hair cascaded over her shoulders, presenting a different side of Xu Chaomu to Shen Chi. His throat moved slightly, and he felt an unusual stir of emotion. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Fourth Brother is here,¡± heforted her in a soft voice. She remained silent, feeling a sour pain spreading around her heart as if a handful of salt had been poured on it. Shen Chi opened the door to the Maybach and gently ced Xu Chaomu in the passenger seat. He didn¡¯t leave right away but reached out to touch her hair, separating the strands that fell across her forehead with his fingertips. He then tidied up the suit on her body, wrapping her up tightly. When Shen Chi came close to her, she could clearly smell the faint scent on him, mixed with the sweet aroma of alcohol. His tie tickled her nose, which felt ufortable even though it was itchy. Blinking back tears, she finally asked faintly, ¡°Who are you marrying? His hands paused, and his lips moved slightly: ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you bastard! Everyone knows already, why are you only hiding it from me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried. He hated to see her cry and immediately felt at a loss for what to do. ¡°Such a grand ball, you invited everyone but you don¡¯t want to tell me. You don¡¯t consider me a part of the Shen family; you see me as an outsider, an outsider!¡± Xu Chaomu sobbed as she beat on his shoulders. ¡°I have never regarded you as an outsider,¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t you bother with me anymore. I don¡¯t want to stay at the Shen¡¯s any longer. I, Xu Chaomu, am naturally a wild child, a ruffian. I should not have stayed at the Shen¡¯s¡­¡± She finally understood why, every time she wanted to kiss him or even just hug him, his response was always so intense. It turned out, he already had a fianc¨¦e. That¡¯s why he wouldn¡¯t let her touch him. Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed more deeply, and he steadied her: ¡°Stop it!¡± He wiped away her tears with a tissue, while Xu Chaomu fell silent, knowing that any more words would just seem like making a fuss in his eyes. Only when she calmed down did he finally take the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Who brought you to the ball today?¡± he started to interrogate. Xu Chaomu did not respond. Shen Chi actually had a clear idea in his mind, it must have been Liu Rumei. He snorted coldly. He couldn¡¯t even bear to let Xu Chaomu wear such poor-quality dresses, yet Liu Rumei dared to dress her in them! And Xu Chaomu, who hadn¡¯t offended anyone else this evening, had somehow managed to upset Zheng Lin, who was known for being spoiled, haughty, and hot-tempered¡ªno doubt this was a scene that had been arranged in advance! Yet, he did admire the girl¡¯s spunk; that p of hers was well delivered. Shen Chi started the car, driving the Maybach away from the garage. Back in the auditorium, people only breathed a sigh of relief after Shen Chi left. The scene was chaotic, nearly everyone had witnessed the whole incident. Shen Cexian, who was in poor health, left the hall immediately in a fit of anger. Shen Yanrou also quietly found a ce to hide, while only Liu Rumei and Shen Shihan remained seated there. ¡°Shihan, you¡¯re the clever one,¡± Liu Rumei said, taking a sip of her tea, acting as if this had nothing to do with her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing clever about me. I¡¯m just another man, and so, I understand the minds of men better,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently, his demeanor as calm as a breeze. ¡°Well, if Shen Chi really cares about Xu Chaomu, that makes things easier,¡± Liu Rumei said with a confident air. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte; I should head back. If you have time, remember to visit Dad more often. Even though he¡¯s unwell and no longer holds power over Shen Group, he is still the honorary chairman,¡± Shen Shihan reminded her tly. ¡°Alright, I know,¡± Liu Rumei nodded. Shen Shihan left the hall and headed towards the underground garage. When he arrived at the garage, Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach was already gone. He started up his own Ferrari and drove it out of the garage.. Chapter 34 - 034: The Expression Becomes Increasingly Unsightly Chapter 34: The Expression Bes Increasingly Unsightly Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The car quickly drove from the hall to the Shen Family home, and Shen Chi adjusted Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair for her. ¡°Does the wound still hurt?¡± He furrowed his brow as he checked the gauze on the back of her head, and just a light touch made Xu Chaomu whimper. ¡°How could it not hurt.¡± She pouted, feeling quite annoyed. Shen Chi didn¡¯t say anything, just carried her out of the car and walked all the way to the upstairs from the garage. Xu Chaomu was indeed angry. Shen Chi said he had never treated her as an outsider, but now, when she asked him whom he was going to marry, he wouldn¡¯t even reply. He was about to get married, yet she didn¡¯t even have the right to know. And he said he didn¡¯t treat her as an outsider! Angered, she jumped out of his arms. She took off the jacket she was wearing, stuffed it into his hands, and without looking back, headed to her own room. With a ¡°bang,¡± she closed the door to her room. ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu!¡± Shen Chi wore a helpless expression. He knocked on the door a few times, but there was no response. Xu Chaomu remembered the love letter Lou Yanli had given her, and she fished it out of her math book once again. ¡°Thinking of my beloved is like the full moon, day after day, night after night.¡± If only Shen Chi had written this letter, that would have been wonderful. But unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t. This man was getting married. All these years, it had been her harassing him; he had never shown the slightest interest. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Well, if he could get married, she could date too. Tomorrow she would go watch a movie with Lou Yanli, just perfect to nurture some affection. When the time came, he would be getting married, and so would she; it would be a double celebration, how great! Thinking this way, Xu Chaomu¡¯s mood improved a lot, and she hummed a little tune as she went to shower. Little did she know, excessive happiness brings sorrow; she totally forgot about the injury on her head that shouldn¡¯t get wet. When the hot water from the showerhead poured over her head, Xu Chaomu winced from the pain. ¡°Ah!¡± She screamed, jumping up and clutching her head, her face white as a sheet. It hurt so much¡­ Shen Chi was changing clothes next door. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s scream, he quickly came out, turned the doorknob to her room, and kicked open the bathroom door. ¡°Mumu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His face and eyes were filled with anxiety, and his actions were very rough! ¡°Ah Ah Ah! You pervert, get out, get out!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body. Damn it, she was one step toote, and she suspected Shen Chi saw everything. But this guy suppressed augh, unmoving, arms crossed, leaning against the bathroom door, casually watching her. He had just unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt when getting dressed, and now he looked undeniably roguish. ¡°You pervert, lecher, get out! Who let you in?¡± Xu Chaomu was furious, the mes in her eyes leaping up. Her hands hastily secured the towel around her, terrified that it might fall off. Water dripped from her hair, and inparison to Shen Chi¡¯sposure, she was clearly very flustered. ¡°Everything that should be seen has been seen, and what shouldn¡¯t have been seen as well.¡± Shen Chi looked at her indifferently, the smile at the corner of his lips even deeper. Xu Chaomu really wanted to poke his eyes out. What did he mean by everything that should be seen has been seen, and what shouldn¡¯t have been seen too! ¡°Get out, get out, get out! Don¡¯t let me see you!¡± Xu Chaomu roared. Shen Chi, however, wasn¡¯t annoyed. A yful smile lingered on his lips. He walked in, picked up a dry towel from the rack, and started to gently dry her hair. ¡°The doctor said not to let it get wet.¡± He spoke nonchntly. Xu Chaomu was so angry she could explode, her mind a mess. She stepped back warily, eyeing Shen Chi cautiously. This man was acting very unusually today, so unusual that it made her raise her guard. ¡°Don¡¯t move, or else if I have to look again, you¡¯ll be at a loss.¡± She stepped back, he moved forward, until there was no escape for her, then he pulled her arm, forcefully drying her hair. Had she agreed? The hell, had she agreed? What does he mean ¡®look again, and you¡¯ll be at a loss¡¯? She was already at a loss for goodness¡¯ sake! Embarrassing, wasn¡¯t she supposed to be the one seducing him? ¡°You, you, get out, I can dry it myself¡­¡± His touch was gentle, making her body feel strange whenever he wiped her hair. ¡°You¡¯re more proper holding the towel,¡± Shen Chi said with a smirk. Xu Chaomu really wanted to lift her foot and kick him so hard he¡¯d cry for his mommy. Just the other day she had seen something useful in Yu Weiwei¡¯s Male Health Manual, which listed the most vulnerable parts of a man¡­ But if she lifted her foot now, she might risk exposing herself again! ¡°Don¡¯t get your hair wet again!¡± Shen Chi warned, his tone as domineering as ever. ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t need you to take care of me,¡± Xu Chaomu shot back. ¡°You think I want to take care of you? If I wasn¡¯t worried you¡¯d go out and cause trouble for others, I wouldn¡¯t bother about you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You¡¯re just afraid I¡¯ll embarrass you! Fine, before I trouble others, I¡¯ll trouble you first!¡± No sooner had Xu Chaomu finished her sentence than she secured the towel, pushed Shen Chi forcefully, and pinned him against the wall. She then threw away the dry towel he was holding, pressed her body against his, and fiercely reached for the buttons of his shirt! She was going to show him what a female hooligan was like! She was going to show him what causing trouble really meant! Shen Chi had not anticipated her move. He ced his hands on her slight frame, attempting to hold her back. Xu Chaomu, fueled by a sudden brazen energy, tore at the open cor of Shen Chi¡¯s shirt, and the buttons popped off one by one, tumbling to the floor with a tter! Suddenly, Shen Chi¡¯s tan, sexy skin was exposed to the air, his lean body and firm abs exuding handsomeness and wildness. Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around his neck, her damp hair brushing against his neck, igniting all the fire within him. His breathing grewbored, his body increasingly rigid. ¡°Xu Chaomu! Have you no shame! Have you lost your mind!¡± he growled hoarsely. Shen Chi¡¯s strength was much greater than Xu Chaomu¡¯s; with a twist of his hand, he seized her slender arm and pushed her down in the corner! Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t give up just like that. He said she caused trouble, didn¡¯t he? He found her embarrassing, didn¡¯t he? She was all-in now. She¡¯d bring shame upon him today, damn it. She¡¯d be shameless, what about it! She made a countermove, climbing up Shen Chi¡¯s waist, her little hands hooking around his neck. She remembered scenes fromic books, and she kept pressing against him. Shen Chi¡¯s breathing became heavier and heavier, while Xu Chaomu¡¯s scent was a stimnt to his senses. It was the fragrance unique to young girls, like subtle plum or fresh lotus. Soon, Xu Chaomu noticed something was off. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Her eyes hazy, she called out to him, reaching to untie her towel. Just as the knot was about toe undone, Shen Chi, with a dark expression, clutched her arm hard and dragged her to therge bed! He threw her onto the bed, hisplexion growing worse by the second. He really wanted to strangle her. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I¡¯m telling you, this is thest time. If you dare to have such thoughts again, you¡¯re not setting foot in the Shen Family again! The Shen Family can¡¯t afford to lose this face!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep, a fire still raging inside him, but the words he spoke were chilling to the bone. Shen Chi was genuinely enraged, and in his eyes, she saw coldness and indifference.. Chapter 35 - 035: Such a Shameless Person Chapter 35: Such a Shameless Person Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She saw that his fists were clenched, but she tilted her little face upwards and showed not the slightest bit of shame. She stared straight at him and at a certain part of his body. She was curious, after going this far, could this man still keep himself under control? Could it be that he was impotent? This question, she needed to consult the more knowledgeable Yu Weiwei. ¡°You shameless girl, so young and already without a shred of decency!¡± Shen Chi stabbed another verbal knife into Xu Chaomu. Anger, annoyance, explosion! ¡°You were the one to lose your shame first!¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with a flushed face. She had already told him to leave, and yet he insisted on drying her hair. Who was more shameless? ¡°Behave yourself!¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly, his face tensing up tightly. His icy gaze pierced through her, and with a nce, he stormed out of the room! Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know if this counted as her victory. But still, she hadn¡¯t managed to kiss Shen Chi! When Shen Chi walked out of Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, Shen Shihan just happened to pass by downstairs. Looking up, he coincidentally caught sight of Shen Chi with an unpleased expression and his clothes inplete disarray, not a single button remaining on his shirt. Thinking like a normal person, one would fear that Shen Chi had forced himself on Xu Chaomu. Shen Shihan was a normal person, and he thought the same. ¡°Ahem.¡± Shen Shihan coughed lightly, lowered his head, and deliberately walked around the situation. Shen Chi shot two icy res, colliding with Shen Shihan¡¯s gaze. He gave Shen Shihan a cold nce and silently headed toward his own room. Shen Shihan picked up some things and also left the living room. As soon as Shen Chi returned to his room, he headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower, his second cold shower in several days! If this continued, he would surely be driven to madness! He punched the damp bathroom wall, Xu Chaomu, he really wanted to crush and knead her into shape! So young and yet so shameless! The look she had given him just now was fiery, full of desire and intoxication. Did she still think of herself as that ten-year-old girl and assume that all this was just harmless joking? The more Shen Chi thought about it, the angrier he got. After taking a cold shower for over an hour, he finally managed to calm himself down. When he left the bathroom, he saw that there were many missed calls on his phone. There were calls from his father Shen Cexian, from Li Beiting, and from¡­ Bai Man. He stared at the screen for a long time, just about to throw his phone down, when Li Beiting¡¯s call came through. ¡°Shen Chi, Shen Chi, it looks like you¡¯re too happy to think of home. The hall is a mess, and you just leave without a word. I called you so many times and you didn¡¯t pick up.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you there to handle it?¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently. ¡°Some things I can handle, some things I really can¡¯t. When Bai Man came looking for you, she kept asking where you were, what was I supposed to tell ¡°Li Beiting, since when do you not know how to lie?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°I¡¯m talking serious business here.¡± ¡°So am I.¡± ¡°Fine, you win.¡± Li Beiting conceded, ¡°What do you n to do about Zheng Lin? She is Bai Man¡¯s close cousin, you should be more aware of their rtionship than I am.¡± ¡°Using the other person¡¯s method to deal with them.¡± ¡°Bai Man didn¡¯t call to plead for mercy? If the beauty asks you a favor, your heart would melt, wouldn¡¯t it!¡± Li Beiting said with a half-mocking tone. ¡°Li Beiting, you talk too much!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice grew stern. ¡°Okay okay okay, I won¡¯t say anymore. How¡¯s Chaomu? Is she okay? Was she scared?¡± Shen Chi sneered, ¡°Scared? You are underestimating Xu Chaomu too much.¡± Just thinking about the things Xu Chaomu had done in the bathroom that night made Shen Chi¡¯s anger re up again! ¡°But I have to say, Shen Chi, you overreacted a bit tonight. It¡¯s good that Xu Chaomu is just a little girl, otherwise, what would Bai Man think?¡± Li Beiting was also speaking his mind. Shen Chi had publicly stood up for Xu Chaomu and then left with her in his arms under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes. Any woman would probably feel ufortable in her heart! Thankfully, Xu Chaomu was just a little sister Shen Chi had watched grow up. ¡°She couldn¡¯t possibly be jealous of Xu Chaomu, could she?¡± Shen Chi ncedzily out of the window. ¡°Of course not, Bai Man isn¡¯t that kind of unreasonable woman,¡± Beiting said. ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯m warning you about something, ¡± Shen Chi suddenly changed his tone, bing cold and serious. He was thinking about Xu Chaomu¡¯s bottle of breast enhancement essential oil and those messy magazines that often appeared in her school bag. Of course, what irritated him the most was what had happened tonight. ¡°Uh? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Beiting couldn¡¯t recall when he had ever offended Shen Chi. ¡°Keep an eye on your Yu Weiwei and don¡¯t let her lead Xu Chaomu astray!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was upromisingly stern. He knew Yu Weiwei was no pushover either, quite a match for Xu Chaomu. When the two of them were together, there was no telling what they might get up to. ¡® Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched again, ¡°Howe you¡¯re not saying that it¡¯s your Xu Chaomu who¡¯s corrupting Weiwei?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve warned you. It¡¯s up to you to handle it!¡± Shen Chi hung up the phone with a cold face. ¡°Hello?¡± Li Beiting was left talking to the sky in disbelief. Shen Chi threw the phone on the table, not bothering to return any more calls. As for Xu Chaomu, she acted like nothing had happened, her moodsing and going quickly. What was there to hold against Shen Chi? If she were to take things to heart, she would have cried herself to death several times over thest eight years. It was her strong mental fortitude that saved her. She touched the back of her head, still feeling a bit sore, so she changed the gauze herself. After changing the gauze, she started picking out clothes from the wardrobe, but she couldn¡¯t find a single piece that satisfied her. Shen Chi used to take her to the mall to buy clothes, or he would simply purchase them and bring them back for her. She had never been fussy before, but now she realized that the clothes Shen Chi bought for her were all so in, the colors not vibrant enough, and the cuts too conservative. How could she go out on a date in these clothes! Xu Chaomu was highly dissatisfied. The only pretty item was that extremely short skirt, which she had bought secretly without Shen Chi knowing, and she would have to wear it secretly tomorrow too. It was originally meant to be worn for Shen Chi to see, but he had shownplete disregard. No wonder, since from the evening¡¯s ball, it was evident that the women around him were all beautiful and sexy; he had seen every type of woman. Xu Chaomu spent a while picking out clothes and read Lou Yanli¡¯s love letters over and over. She especially liked that line he wrote: Thinking of you is like the full moon, day after day, dusk after dusk. Although Xu Chaomu was an academically poor student, she knew the line ¡°Thinking of you is like the full moon¡± came from ¡°Thinking of my lord is like the full moon, night after night diminishing its brilliant glow.¡± As for ¡°day after day, dusk after dusk,¡± there had once been someone who told her that her name Xu Chaomu meant the ¡°Xu¡± from ¡°promise¡± and the ¡°Chaomu¡± from ¡°morning and evening.¡± Actually, Xu Chaomu felt that at least going on a date with Lou Yanli would make her more cultured. Indeed, she was still someone who earnestly sought knowledge; her own eagerness to learn moved her. The next day, Xu Chaomu dallied in her room trying on clothes. She stood secretly on the balcony and, seeing Shen Chi¡¯s car leave the vi, she gleefully tried on the super short skirt in front of the mirror, strutting back and forth.. Chapter 36 - 036: Dating a Young Boy Chapter 36: Dating a Young Boy Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The miniskirt is so beautiful, yet Shen Chi, that man with no appreciation for beauty, actually insisted on her wearing long pants¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply three times. After trying on the clothes, Xu Chaomu even tied a butterfly knot in her hair. At first nce, youthful and pretty. ¡°Miss Xu, good morning.¡± When she came downstairs, everyone looked at her with strange eyes. This was the second time the servants had seen Xu Chaomu wearing a miniskirt, and she was dressed so beautifully. ¡°Morning!¡± Xu Chaomu was especially happy. She was only eighteen years old this year, right at the age when she loved to look beautiful. She decided that from now on, she would not go shopping for clothes with Shen Chi anymore. Shen Chi had particrly bad taste, which was evident from the fact that he liked women with big chests. This man was so vulgar! ¡°Miss Xu, what would you like to eat?¡± Butler Ling came over. ¡°I¡¯m not eating!¡± Xu Chaomu waved her hand and, humming a little tune, happily walked with her small bag toward the living room. Butler Ling watched Xu Chaomu, puzzled, as if the girl had taken a stimnt. ¡°Miss Xu, where are you going?¡± Butler Ling asked. ¡°Oh, going to a ssmate¡¯s house to do homework!¡± Xu Chaomu made up a lie. Butler Ling knew that Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t like studying. Could it be that Xu Chaomu was going out early in the morning, skipping breakfast, just to do homework at a ssmate¡¯s house? Butler Ling found it hard to believe. ¡°Would you like the driver to take you?¡± Butler Ling asked tentatively. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll walk. It¡¯s good exercise.¡± ¡°All right then, be careful on the road. Are you sure you don¡¯t want breakfast?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not hungry!¡± What Xu Chaomu was thinking was, if she ate breakfast now, wouldn¡¯t she be too full to enjoy snacks at the moviester? How unromantic. Xu Chaomu left the Shen family vi humming a tune, unaware that right after she left, Butler Ling gave Shen Chi a call. ¡°Fourth Young Master, Miss Xu has left the house without eating breakfast and said she was going to a ssmate¡¯s house to do homework.¡± Shen Chi was dealing with documents when he replied indifferently, ¡°Does it look like that to you?¡± Butler Ling shook his head: ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it. Miss Xu even specifically wore a miniskirt and tied a butterfly knot; she looked very eager.¡± ¡°Quite gutsy of her to dare wear that,¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. ¡°Fourth Young Master, should I have the driver follow her?¡± Butler Ling asked. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi acquiesced. Xu Chaomu walked happily down the street, oblivious to the fact that someone was trailing her. It was a rare day without tutoring, a rare chance to have fun. She looked left and right, strolling in the direction of the movie theater. Sure enough, by the time she arrived at the movie theater, Lou Yanli was already there. He wore a white T-shirt and carried a backpack. The warm sunshine shone down on him, and as Xu Chaomu looked from a distance, a smile spread across her lips. No wonder everyone at school said Lou Yanli was a male god. She used to think no one couldpare to Shen Chi, but now, looking at Lou Yanli, youthful and full of promise, how different he was from Shen Chi, who was always calcting, mature and savvy with a belly full of bad water, and especially quaint! Thus, inparison, she suddenly felt that Lou Yanli was countless times better than Shen Chi. ¡°Are you¡­ waiting for me?¡± Xu Chaomu walked up to Lou Yanli. This was Xu Chaomu¡¯s first date with a boy, and she was a bit at a loss. The usually aggressive girl turned shy, smiling sweetly, suppressing her usual feistiness. Lou Yanli smiled as he nced at Xu Chaomu: ¡°You¡¯ve arrived!¡± With that smile, Xu Chaomu felt the azure sky lost its color. Meanwhile, the driver not far away made a phone call to Shen Chi. ¡°Fourth Young Master, Miss Xu is on a date with a boy.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s pen dropped onto the table with a ¡°snap¡±: ¡°Keep an eye on them!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the driver continued to observe. Xu Chaomu and Lou Yanli walked side by side into the movie theater; he bought her popcorn, milk tea, and fried chicken. Xu Chaomu was delighted again; she was so easily satisfied. There was still a good while before the movie began, and Xu Chaomu started chatting with Lou Yanli. Xu Chaomu and Lou Yanli weren¡¯t very familiar with one another, since a cker and a top student usually inhabited two different worlds. Moreover, since Lou Yanli was in the science track and she was in the humanities track, they rarely saw each other. To Xu Chaomu, Lou Yanli made an impression as someone who studied well and looked handsome, but, until today, that hadn¡¯t mattered much to her. After chatting for a while, Xu Chaomu learned that Lou Yanli had liked her for a long time, surprised that from the first time he saw Xu Chaomu, he thought she was a very special girl. Xu Chaomu thought, ¡°special¡± should be in ¡°quotes.¡± ¡°I remember when we first started our senior high, we were all queuing up under the scorching sun to pay our fees, the line stretching long and long. You were the only one bold enough to ask the academic affairs teacher for hats and distributed one to each of us. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t expect Lou Yanli to remember such a small incident. ¡°At that time, I thought you were kind and smart.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m a cker¡­¡± Xu Chaomumented softly. ¡°As long as one person in a rtionship is a top student, that¡¯s enough,¡± Lou Yanli said, smiling, revealing bright white teeth that lent to a smile exceptionally clear and sunny. Xu Chaomu blushed once more; was this a confession? Just then, the movie started, and Xu Chaomu bit on her milk tea straw. For the first time, she experienced such girlish emotions, and she realized she was still an eighteen-year-old girl in the prime of youth. She wasn¡¯t some ruffian or female hooligan. She couldn¡¯t recall a thing about the movie because all she remembered was that Lou Yanli held her popcorn for her, and when she got her hands greasy from the fried chicken, he took out a tissue to clean her hands. He was very attentive and gentle, a kind of tenderness Xu Chaomu had never felt before from any boy. The movie ended too quickly for her liking. Lou Yanli had bought so many snacks that they hadn¡¯t finished eating, and as they left the theater, she stuffed a chicken wing into his mouth. ¡°You should try this, it¡¯s really good. I like to eat it from this ce. Every time Ie here, I buy it,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. Lou Yanli was a boy who rarely enjoyed snacking, yet he still ate the chicken wing she gave him. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s tasty. If you like it, just let me know. I pass by here every day on my way to school, I can bring it for you,¡± he said. Lou Yanli also smiled, his grin always so refreshing, winding his way into Xu Chaomu¡¯s melting heart. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know if this was the typical feeling of falling in love, but anyway, she thought the sky looked bluer, the clouds whiter. Well, except for the Maybach parked arrogantly in front of her. Xu Chaomu just happened to see Shen Chi sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, his expression stoic, hands resting on the steering wheel, eyeing the direction of the cinema¡¯s entrance relentlessly. He must havee directly from the Group, still in his ck business suit, which looked as cold as his demeanor. Xu Chaomu¡¯s expression immediately changed. Why was it that wherever she went, she ran into him¡­ In the ten seconds of hesitation between making a quick getaway and approaching to say hello, she felt indecisive. She figured she couldn¡¯t outrun a Maybach, and besides, fleeing wouldn¡¯t be verydylike. So, she walked over with a smile: ¡°Fourth brother, hello.. Are you here with your girlfriend to watch a movie?¡± Chapter 37 - 037: Not Small Anymore Chapter 37: Not Small Anymore Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Shen Chi¡¯s face grew three degrees colder as he red at her and spat out two words, ¡°Get in!¡± Xu Chaomu, holding a snack bag in one hand and grabbing Lou Yanli¡¯s arm with the other, giggled and said, ¡°Thanks, Fourth Brother, we were just saying we wanted to go to the park!¡± Lou Yanli was also very polite, calling out ¡°Fourth Brother¡±. Shen Chi ignored him, his eyes fixed only on Xu Chaomu. ¡°You get in here!¡± Xu Chaomu still clutched Lou Yanli¡¯s arm, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Fourth Brother is offering us a ride, saving us from taking the bus.¡± Lou Yanli, noticing something off in Shen Chi¡¯s gaze,ughed, ¡°Your Fourth Brother seems to have something to say to you. You go ahead; we can hang out some other time.¡± ¡°He has nothing to say to me. That¡¯s just the way he is. I bet he argued with his girlfriend and is in a bad mood! If you¡¯re not going, I won¡¯t either. Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Chaomu, still clutching Lou Yanli¡¯s arm, walked boldly past Shen Chi¡¯s car. Shen Chi, infuriated, got out of the car and dragged Xu Chaomu by the arm into the passenger seat. As soon as she sat down, he closed the car door and window, to no avail as Xu Chaomu pounded on the window. Lou Yanli watched from the side, dumbfounded. Is this really his brother? With a press of the elerator, the Maybach shot off like an arrow! ¡°What are you doing? This is broad daylight, kidnapping a civilian girl!¡± Xu Chaomuined. ¡°I haven¡¯t even asked you what you¡¯re doing!¡± Two overbearing gazes shot her wav, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat! Stay calm, calm, calm! ¡°Dating, can¡¯t you see? Is my boyfriend handsome?¡± ¡°Handsome? Handsomer than me?¡± Shen Chi stated this confidently, without the slightest blush or flicker of the heart. How can there be such a self-loving and frivolous man in the world! Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Way handsomer than you. Plus, he¡¯s young, full of life, brimming with youth¡­. Ah! Jerk!¡± While Xu Chaomu rattled on, Shen Chi mmed the brakes, the tires screeching, ¡°shhh¡ª¡±, and the speeding Maybach halted by the roadside! Xu Chaomu quickly grasped the seatbelt, her heart nearly leaping out! Shen Chi leaned in, his icy face erged in Xu Chaomu¡¯s view, growing bigger, and bigger! ¡°Calling it lively to apany you to a movie? Calling it youth to feed you a few bites of popcorn? Xu Chaomu, I must say, you¡¯re quite skilled at seducing boys.¡± ¡°Who am I seducing? Shen Chi, watch your tone! Who I date is none of your damn business! Aren¡¯t you getting married? I know that!¡± Xu Chaomu snapped his name angrily. ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Jealous of your uncle!¡± ¡°You¡¯re nothing like the Xu Chaomu who stood shyly at the cinema entrance just now,¡± Shen Chi stared into her eyes. Dammit, he always had a way to enrage her! She could be sodylike, but with him, she always reverted back to her usual self! ¡°What¡¯s it to you how I am? I¡¯m not young anymore, so stop trying to control me! My surname is Xu, not Shen; I have nothing to do with you!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled back at him, this man was always so overbearing. ¡°Not young? I think you¡¯re very much a child.¡± When Shen Chi said this, he deliberately paused for a few seconds at her neckline. She dared to wear a low-cut shirt out,pletely ignoring his warning. Xu Chaomu really wanted to leap up and fight him. She was arguing seriously, and he was making dirty jokes! ¡°Shen Chi, do you have no shame?¡± Xu Chaomu covered her chest, pulling her neckline higher. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that? No boobs and yet daring to wear a low-cut top, it¡¯s embarrassing for me.¡± ¡°You think everyone likes cows like you do? You find me embarrassing, and I find you vulgar!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t hold back, shing with Shen Chi head-on. ¡°Learned to talk back to me, have you? How impressive,¡± Shen Chi tapped her cheek, his lips curling into an almost-smile. Before Xu Chaomu could say anything, Shen Chi switched to a warning tone, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to date other men from now on!¡± ¡°There are so many things you forbid me from doing; if I listened to you all the time, would I have any freedom left?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Lou Yanli has started apany.¡± Xu Chaomu was taken aback, he even knew Lou Yanli¡¯s name? ¡°What are you implying?¡± Shen Chi hooked up the corner of his lips, ¡°If you don¡¯t want his family to go bankrupt, then be obedient.¡± ¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu almost jumped up, ¡°I really want to let Dabai out to bite you!¡± ¡°Dabai is my dog, will it listen to you?¡± Xu Chaomu felt that she¡¯d never win an argument with Shen Chi in her lifetime; he was just a shameless scoundrel! Shen Chi drove Xu Chaomu around theke, with her puffing up in anger, ignoring him the whole way. Shen Chi took her down to stroll through the park, and Xu Chaomu followed reluctantly, looking like a mistreated little wife. On the way, Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang many times. Only when he got impatient did he answer it. ¡°President Shen, some shareholders are causing trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy!¡± ¡°This¡­ could you pleasee to the group to have a look? Shen¡¯s major shareholder insists on seeing you.¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯m not avable!¡± Shen Chi frowned and hung up the phone. Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes, ¡°Liar.¡± The smile on the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth deepened, and he continued to walk with Xu Chaomu in the park. Today happened to be Saturday, and the park was full of people. The elderly men and women around all cast envious nces. It was Xu Chaomu¡¯s first time being the center of attention. Just as she strutted proudly, she realized that all these people were looking at Shen Chi! She deted immediately, regretting walking beside him. ¡°Young girl, who¡¯s this guy? He¡¯s quite handsome.¡± An olddy approached, sizing up Shen Chi as if she wanted to pick him out as a son-inw. ¡°He is my¡­¡± ¡°I am her husband,¡± Shen Chi said casually. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened. What did he say? What? He¡¯s her husband? Had she heard that right?! Colors came and went on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face like a dye workshop, and her heart thumped uncontrobly! The olddy looked disappointed but stillplimented Xu Chaomu,¡¯¡±Your little wife looks pretty and spirited; she seems quite young.¡± After the olddy left, the other old men and women wandered away too. For some reason, Xu Chaomu felt as though flowers were blooming in her heart. ¡°What did you just say you are to me? Say it again, let me hear.¡± ¡°What, what.¡± Shen Chi appeared indifferent. ¡°What you just said you are to me! Say it again, I didn¡¯t hear clearly. Say it once more, one more time¡­¡± Xu Chaomu clung to Shen Chi¡¯s arm, beaming brightly. ¡°Nothing much. If I didn¡¯t say that, these people would ask me how old I am, how much money is in my bank ount, and where I work. It¡¯s just annoying,¡± he replied. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re using me!¡± Xu Chaomu angrily shook off his arm. God, why is this man like this! ¡°You took it seriously?¡± Shen Chi raised his eyebrows. ¡°Of course not, only a fool would take it seriously! You¡¯re like my brother, my dear brother, right?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone was sour, and she was a little upset. ¡°Good that you didn¡¯t take it seriously,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. Xu Chaomu ignored Shen Chi for the entire afternoon. How could this man be so bad! Utterly bad! But even so, Xu Chaomu still spent the whole day with Shen Chi. Because whenever she saw something she liked, all she had to do was to take it, and someone would naturally pay for her. As dusk approached, Xu Chaomu finally asked Shen Chi grudgingly, ¡°You¡¯ve yed with me all day, don¡¯t you have to work?¡± ¡°I just came out to get some air; I wasn¡¯t ying with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu thought it better to keep her mouth shut. On the drive home, Shen Chi received a phone call from Bai Man. ¡°I want to see you, can we meet somewhere tonight?¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice was soft and gentle. ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Chi responded calmly. ¡°Then let¡¯s meet at our usual ce. I¡¯ll be waiting for you,¡± Bai Man said with a slight smile.. Chapter 38 - 038: Venting My Anger Chapter 38: Venting My Anger Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear the voice on the other end of the phone; she just knew it was a woman¡¯s. ¡°Business must be busy,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered softly. No sooner had she finished speaking than Shen Chi hung up the phone, giving her a meaningful look and slowly curling a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. Xu Chaomu yed with her fingernails, distractedly asking, ¡°Got a date tonight?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Chi answered, equally distracted. Xu Chaomu fell silent, her lips curling in a sneer. So what if he had a date? The Maybach drove through the long marketce, where the broad streets and squares were brightly lit, bustling with excitement. The crowds surged, no end in sight. The crowd outside the shopping mall was shoulder to shoulder, and the mall¡¯srge electronic screen disyed thetest fashion, dazzling to onlookers. When the traffic light turned red, Shen Chi stopped the car, and Xu Chaomu gazed out the window. The car had stopped right in front of the mall, and Xu Chaomu looked up at the electronic screen. The brand was unknown to her, Givenchy, but then she wasn¡¯t familiar with many brands. Shen Chi bought her clothes, and she wore whatever he bought. Plus, she often wore uniforms at school, so Xu Chaomu hardly had an idea about designerbels. Yet, the clothes from this brand were truly beautiful, a bit mature, but elegant and intellectual. Especially that white spring dress on the electronic screen¡ª every bit of it exuded splendor. She watched intently, thinking that only a woman d in such attire deserved to stand by Shen Chi¡¯s side. Just like at the ball, so many elegant and sexy beauties stood with Shen Chi, perfectly matched. She looked down at her outfit, still bought with pocket money from a street stall, the whole set barely costing more than a hundred yuan. As she looked down, Shen Chi happened to nce at her. By the time he turned his head away, Xu Chaomu had lifted hers again to watch the electronic screen. Right next to that screen was an advert for another brand she didn¡¯t recognize: ChristianLouboutin. But those high heels were gorgeous, the newest model, patent leather with red bottoms in nude color¡ªpaired with that dress, they must look stunning! Xu Chaomu admitted that she might be a small-time hoodlum, but even a hoodlum loves beauty. She had fallen deeply in love with that dress and those shoes, looking back at them over and over with reluctance to look away. The light turned green, and Shen Chi stepped on the gas to move forward. Yet Xu Chaomu kept looking back, her eyes filled with reluctance. Soon, the car left the bustling downtown area and arrived at the rtively quiet Splendid World viplex. Shen Chi¡¯s car didn¡¯t enter the Shen Family¡¯s home; instead, it stopped right at the gate. Xu Chaomu knew he was off to his date, rolling her eyes at him, she got out of the car on her own volition. Shen Chi watched her enter the Shen Family¡¯s front gate, then turned the car around, heading toward a bar. When Xu Chaomu entered the living room, she felt that the atmosphere was off. Usually, the servants would greet her and offer slippers when she returned, but today, where was everyone? Why was it so deserted? Finding it odd, Xu Chaomu changed her shoes and went searching. In the butler¡¯s room, she heard voices¡ªa noisy discussion seemed to be going on. Xu Chaomu pushed the door open and asked curiously, ¡°Why are you all here?¡± ¡°Miss Xu, you¡¯re back!¡± The servants dispersed at once, no longer gathered together. As everyone left, the butler was about to turn off the TV. Just as she was about to do so, Xu Chaomu thought she saw a familiar figure sh on the screen. Wasn¡¯t that Zheng Lin? Was she seeing things? ¡°Butler, what were you watching?¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to see too. ¡°Oh, nothing, nothing,¡± the butler said, reaching to turn off the TV. ¡°Don¡¯t turn it off! I want to watch too! I thought I saw someone I know!¡± Xu Chaomu reached for the remote control from the butler¡¯s hand. She pressed the rey button, adjusting several times, and finally saw it. It indeed was Zheng Lin; she hadn¡¯t been mistaken! She could never forget Zheng Lin¡¯s face, arrogant and defiant. Although Xu Chaomu had pped her the night before, she hadn¡¯te out on top, nearly being stripped in public. If it weren¡¯t for Shen Chi¡­ ah, just the thought was distressing. ¡°Miss Xu, better not to watch, it¡¯s nothing interesting.¡± The butler tried to persuade. But Xu Chaomu was insistent, determined to see. The screen showed a sports stadium, and Xu Chaomu recognized it, the famous sports stadium of C City with arge crowd. Therey Zheng Lin on the ground, wearing a bikini, dressed indecently, head hung low. Xu Chaomu noticed the swelling on her left cheek was significant¡ªit must have been from the p the day before! For the first time in her life, Xu Chaomu had struck someone, and she was not one to hold back against anyone who dared insult her mother. Many passersby at the sports stadium were staring at Zheng Lin. With her exposed skin in full view under the sun and the eyes of the public, Zheng Lin covered her face, trying to crawl out of the stadium. She no longer bore that air of arrogance, but resembled a beaten dog, stripped of her clothes and her dignity under the broad daylight. Xu Chaomu found it strange; with Zheng Lin¡¯s family being so wealthy, why hadn¡¯t anyonee to take her away? ¡°Miss Xu, please don¡¯t watch anymore.¡± The middle-aged butler, feeling her face flush and heart thumping at the sight, worried about the younger Xu Chaomu. If the Fourth Master found out, she might be med for leading Xu Chaomu astray. The video was cut off halfway through. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t rewind any further, simply turning off the TV. ¡°They didn¡¯t even blur her face,¡± she said nonchntly, secretly quite pleased that someone had avenged her. It was truly a cause for satisfaction, for satisfaction! ¡°Miss Xu, you should head back, have you had dinner yet?¡± The butler inquired. ¡°No need, Fourth Brother has already taken me out to eat,¡± Xu Chaomu said, and then asked, ¡°Butler, do you recognize this woman?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know her, but I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s the daughter of a wealthy family,¡± the butler replied, still not keen on discussing the topic. ¡°Probably got what she deserved for doing bad things,¡± Xu Chaomu said no longer focusing on the unpleasant episode, and sauntered out of the butler¡¯s room humming a tune. But as she left, the butler cocked her head, puzzled. Hadn¡¯t Xu Chaomu gone out for a date with a young man that morning? However, she had ended up caught by the Fourth Master in the end. C City¡¯s famed Vogue Bar, where a table by the window bore a potted Miniature Orchid with its rich fragrance, refreshing and pleasing to the senses. The bar¡¯s crystal chandeliers, modeled after Mediterranean countryside candle styles, cast a serene glow. Themed with a tranquil schrly vibe, the atmosphere in the bar was calm. Bai Man enjoyed this ce, where she could order a ss of Cook¡¯s ck Diamond champagne and quietly listen to piano music, a joy ineffable. When Shen Chi walked in, he instantly spotted Bai Man, who always preferred that particr spot. Under the gentle lighting, Bai Man, in light makeup, donned a soft yellow floor-length dress, her hair reaching her shoulders. The subdued light bathed over her and her ss of wine, oozing charm. She casually flipped through a magazine, a subtle smile lingering at her lips. As Shen Chi approached her, she looked up and beamed, ¡°You¡¯re here..¡± Chapter 39 - 039: Your surname is Shen, mine is Chapter 39: Your surname is Shen, mine is Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi responded. Bai Man walked forward, helped Shen Chi take off his suit jacket, and gently hung it on the rack. After Shen Chi sat down, she poured him a ss of champagne. ¡°Try this, the bar owner just brought back a few bottles from France,¡± Bai Man said with a smile as she looked at him. When her gaze fell on Shen Chi, it carried an indescribable tenderness, likeke water that ripples with the slightest breeze. Shen Chi also curved his lips into a smile, ¡°You invited me here just to drink?¡± ¡°My flight was dyed yesterday, and I didn¡¯t see you. I missed you,¡± Bai Man said as she sat next to him, clinging to his arm like a delicate bird. Bai Man always carried a faint fragrance of cherry blossoms; he knew she liked wearing the same perfume. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Shen Chi asked gently, reaching over to pick up the magazine on the table. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a while, just drinking and flipping through some ordinary magazines,¡±ined Bai Man coquettishly. Shen Chi casually flipped through a few pages, his smile deepening at the corners of his lips. ¡°Quite recent,¡± he remarked lightly. The magazine had even published the events ofst night¡¯s dance; someone had stealthily snapped photos of him holding Xu Chaomu. It seemed that this magazine could be shut down. He flipped through it some more and found photos of Bai Man being chased by entertainment reporters as she came down from the airportst night. ¡°There¡¯s nothing interesting to see,¡± Bai Man said as she took the magazine from Shen Chi¡¯s hands, a hint of disappointment in her voice, ¡°I called you several timesst night, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± ¡°I was too tired when I came back from the dancest night and identally fell asleep. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Bai Manughed, ¡°I don¡¯t me you. I know you¡¯re busy with work and thepany matters are important. It¡¯s fine. Just being able to sit here and chat with you is enough for me.¡± She leaned on his shoulder, a look of contentment on her face. Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak. Bai Man picked up the champagne ss and brought it to Shen Chi¡¯s lips, ¡°Here, have a taste. This wine is sweetly seductive, soft and matured. It¡¯s not something that can bepared to freshly brewed wines.¡± Bai Man was smart, and so was Shen Chi. How could he not understand the underlying meaning in her words? He took a sip and smiled faintly, ¡°When ites to wine, of course, the longer it¡¯s stored, the more vor it has, just like you.¡± Bai Man giggled, ¡°Who did you learn that from after a few months? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve seen some elegant matron again?¡± ¡°Am I thatmon?¡± Bai Manughed even harder, ¡°I¡¯m joking, don¡¯t be angry.¡± She put down her ss and picked up a box from the table, looking a bit petnt, ¡°I brought you a gift. You have to ept it, whether you want to or ¡± not. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t ept a gift? How could there be any reason not to?¡± Shen Chi replied with a smile. ¡°See if you like the tie I picked out for you?¡± Bai Man opened the box revealing a ck Armani business tie with diagonal stripes. She carefully lifted it out, a gentle smile on her face. ¡°Your taste is always good,¡± remarked Shen Chi after looking at it. ¡°Let me put it on for you to see,¡± Bai Man moved closer to Shen Chi, reaching out to untie his tie in a rather suggestive manner. Shen Chi stopped her, but still said with a smile, ¡°No hurry. What else did you want to talk to me about?¡± ¡°What else could there be? Haven¡¯t you missed me after months of not seeing me?¡± Bai Man pouted. ¡°Then this photo¡­¡± Shen Chi opened the magazine and picked out a photo with his fingers. The photo wasn¡¯t of anyone else but Zheng Lin. It was taken at the stadium, and she looked quite disheveled. Bai Man snatched it from him, ¡°My cousin upset you, she deserves this punishment.¡± ¡°It would be best if you think so,¡± Shen Chi said with a meaningful smile on his lips, ¡°I knew you understand the situation best.¡± Bai Man wrapped her arms around his, resting her head on his shoulder, half-pleadingly and half-coquettishly, ¡°Shen Chi¡­ can you not let these photos get out? And the ones that have already been released, can you take them back, right?¡± Shen Chiughedzily, ¡°Do I have that much power?¡± ¡°In this C City, you call the shots. Please, I¡¯m asking you¡­¡± Bai Man snuggled against his shoulder. How could she not know that Zheng Lin being dumped at the stadium had to be Shen Chi¡¯s doing? In C City, besides Shen Chi, who else would dare do such a thing to Zheng Family¡¯s precious daughter? She just couldn¡¯t understand, what was that girl to Shen Chi? She had heard that she was just an orphan taken in from the orphanage. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have the heart to make you ask me like this. I¡¯ll get someone to seal those photos,¡± Shen Chi assured. He only wanted to teach Zheng Lin a lesson; he didn¡¯t want to fall out with her since after all, Zheng Lin was Bai Man¡¯s cousin. In C City, the Bai Family was also reputable. ¡°I knew you care about me,¡± Bai Man said with a joyful smile on her face. It was already midnight by the time Shen Chi finished drinking at the bar. Bai Man wanted to plead with him to stay, but Shen Chi insisted on leaving. When he drove back, it was past midnight. At the Shen Family¡¯s vi, only the rows of street lights outside were still shining. As he looked up, he saw the light in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room was also on. He frowned, the girl was still not asleep at thiste hour. Xu Chaomu had her room door wide open; she was waiting for Shen Chi toe back. She didn¡¯t know why she was waiting¡ªperhaps because she had seen the video of Zheng Lin at night, did she want to thank him? Pacing back and forth in her room, Shen Chi saw her when he arrived; she was talking to herself while holding her stuffed rabbit. A smile appeared on his face as he walked in. ¡°Still not asleep thiste?¡± he asked with a hint of reproach. ¡°Fourth Brother!¡± Xu Chaomu dropped the rabbit and walked up to him. ¡°Hmm? You have something to say?¡± Shen Chi looked at her seriously. Xu Chaomu was about to ask if he was the one who took revenge for her when she suddenly smelled a strong scent of alcohol mixed with a rich perfume odor! ¡°Nothing!¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°Why are you not sleeping if there¡¯s nothing?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep¡­ too excited. Today Lou Yanli took me on a date and gave me a lot of stuff; what do you think I should give him in return?¡± Xu Chaomu made a show of pondering deeply. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, no more dating boys!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face showed annoyance. ¡°If you can date women, why can¡¯t I date men? Why are you being so unreasonable? Fourth Brother, don¡¯t forget, yourst name is Shen, and mine is Xu.¡± After all, you and I are not rted. Why do you have any right to control me? Xu Chaomu lifted her face defiantly. Shen Chi looked down, patted her cheek, his face clearly smiling but his tone was domineering, ¡°Do you believe I can make your name appear on the same household registration book as mine?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked herrge eyes, and before she could react, Shen Chi turned off the light in her room. ¡°Go to sleep early, and don¡¯t think about all that nonsense,¡± said Shen Chi, his voice cold and sharp in the darkness. Before leaving, he added one more thing, ¡°No more dates with boys!¡± He closed the door behind him, leaving Xu Chaomu standing there stunned! Damn it, it¡¯s not okay to be so overbearing. He¡¯s reeking of perfume himself, yet he even wants to control her from going on a date with a boy! Xu Chaomu felt it was incredibly unfair, and she was one to fight against injustice.. Chapter 40 - 040: I Was Scolded by Someone Chapter 40: I Was Scolded by Someone Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After yesterday¡¯s incident, Xu Chaomu learned her lesson and dressed in her school uniform early the next morning, heading out with her backpack. She even made a point of stuffing her homework notebook into her bag in front of Butler Ling, to let him know she really was going to a ssmate¡¯s ce to do homework. To make it more convincing, she even asked the driver to take her to a female ssmate¡¯s house. Sure enough, Butler Ling did not suspect a thing. Xu Chaomu walked around the backyard of her ssmate¡¯s home for a while and only confidently strolled out after seeing the driver¡¯s car drive away. She didn¡¯t believe she could be caught by Shen Chi again; he was so busy, having left early in the morning, how could he have time to deal with her? Xu Chaomu first headed to the mall where she nned to buy something for Lou Yanli. She wasn¡¯t someone who liked to take advantage of others, and since Yanli had given her a gift, she felt she should reciprocate. Might as well¡­ might as well buy something for Shen Chi, too, considering he had helped her vent her anger. She didn¡¯t know what boys liked, but seeing that Yanli had quite the schrly air about him, she picked out a few books. For someone who usually only reads entertainment magazines and R-ratedics, she really had no idea what books to buy. But seeing that ¡°The Book of Songs¡± and ¡°The Analects of Confucius¡± seemed like excellent choices, she bought a few and stuffed them into her backpack. After leaving the bookstore and looking up, she found herself passing by the very same spot as the previous evening. The electronic screen was still disying ads for dresses and high heels, and Xu Chaomu watched mesmerized for a long time. Would she look good in them? She still decided to muster up the courage to give them a try. The mall was exceptionally clean, the floors shiny enough to use as mirrors. It was the weekend, so there were quite a few people around. The white light shone on the counters and shelves, making the whole ce glitter and sparkle. There were several perfume shops on the first floor, so fragrances wafted throughout the mall. Xu Chaomu was dazzled by the beautiful clothes, jewelry, shoes, and cosmetics everywhere. There were many beautiful womening and going, lightly or heavily made up; although they didn¡¯tpare to the beauties she saw at the ball, each had their own charm. Xu Chaomu searched from one brand to the next, until her eyes were swimming. She hardly recognized any of the designer names in the mall, but she remembered the two from yesterday, so she focused on finding just those. She searched from the first floor to the second floor, then from the second floor to the third floor¡­ Before she could find them, she came across a tie at the men¡¯s counter that really caught her eye. It was yet another brand with English she couldn¡¯t recognize, finally understanding her English teacher¡¯s good intentions ¡ª mastering a foreignnguage was indeed important. Xu Chaomu pressed her face to the ss case; she didn¡¯t care for the rest, but that dark blue silk tie had her attention. She thought that this blue tie, paired with the ck suit Shen Chi often wore, would look great! Just as Xu Chaomu was about to ask an employee to take it out for her to look at, a high-heeled saleswoman walked over. ¡°Little sister, with so many people today, step aside; this ce isn¡¯t for you,¡± the woman said with thick makeup, instantly judging by Xu Chaomu¡¯s school uniform that she was there to make trouble. ¡°I want to take a look at this!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at the tie inside the cab. ¡°Little sister, we don¡¯t have anyone to entertain you here. Go downstairs quickly, and study hard; that¡¯s what you should be doing. When you grow up, you¡¯ll know that you can¡¯t afford the ties here.¡± The woman looked down at Xu Chaomu with a face full of scorn. ¡°Isn¡¯t your door open to do business? If they are customers, why am I not a customer?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, unwilling to ept this. There were a few couples in the store, and the staff were very enthusiastic with them, helping them select this and that, but when it came to her, they couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°Little sister, I¡¯ve already said so much; if we go any further, it might hurt your pride. Anything here is beyond your means. Even if ten years pass, you probably still won¡¯t be able to afford it!¡± ¡°Miss saleswoman, please show me that tie!¡± At that moment, a tall, blonde beauty walked over, pointing at the tie Xu Chaomu had her eye on. Xu Chaomu blocked the front of the disy case: ¡°I saw it first, if anyone is going to look, I should be first!¡± Seeing she was just a schoolgirl, the blonde beautyughed exaggeratedly: ¡°Are high school girls this fashionable now? Little girl, who are you buying that tie ¡°It¡¯s none of your business who I¡¯m buying it for,¡± Xu Chaomu shot back. ¡°You¡¯d better step aside, little sister, or I¡¯ll have to get you thrown out, and that won¡¯t be pretty,¡± the saleswoman said with a darkening expression, her eyes full of disdain and contempt. The blonde alsoughed: ¡°Little girl, do you even have the money for that tie? If you don¡¯t, maybe big sister can give you some advice. Old men these days like student girls like you. Just lie in their arms in a bar, and you¡¯ll have as much money as you want. With one night¡¯s work, you can buy several ties!¡± As soon as her words fell, several saleswomen began tough, covering their mouths. Xu Chaomu spat back, smiling: ¡°No wonder you can afford it, but judging by your looks, you¡¯d probably have to lie down for a good few nights just to save up for one tie.¡± Pfft, as if she, Xu Chaomu, didn¡¯t understand these things! She was one of the top tough girls and a female hooligan! She didn¡¯t fear anyone! ¡°Your mother, who are you cursing!¡± The blonde¡¯s face immediately turned green, and she was about to p Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu dodged: ¡°I¡¯m cursing you; could I be wrong? ¡°Miss, Miss, calm down; it¡¯s not worth arguing with a high school girl. Look at her, who knows what kind of wild child she is, raised without any manners,¡± the saleswoman intervened, trying to keep the peace. Another saleswoman rushed over with tea and water: ¡°Miss, please calm down, I¡¯ll get the tie for you to look at.¡± Xu Chaomu stood in front of the cab: ¡°Are you bullying the customer because you¡¯re a bigger store? I came first, so why does she get to see and I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Someone get this girl out of here, she won¡¯t learn her ce until she sees some color! She really thinks she¡¯s something!¡± the shift supervisor yelled at a few male employees. A few male employees walked over, shoving Xu Chaomu: ¡°Walk away on your own, don¡¯t fucking block our business!¡± Pushed roughly by one of the men, Xu Chaomu lost her footing and stumbled over a step. She reached out to grab the counter but was shoved again by someone else, causing her to fall forward! As she braced for a painfulnding, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Xu Chaomu recognized the familiar scent and her face instantly lit up with a smile. She threw herself into Shen Chi¡¯s arms: ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ I¡¯ve been insulted.¡¯ She rubbed her little face against his chest, and Shen Chi frowned, looking at her disdainfully: ¡°You got your snot all over me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been insulted, aren¡¯t you going to do something about it!¡± Xu Chaomu clung to his waist, refusing to let go. Shen Chi¡¯srge hand stroked her head, raising his eyebrows: ¡°Now you remember to call me Fourth Brother? What if I can¡¯t do anything about it?¡± Chapter 41 - 041: The Girl’s Man Chapter 41: The Girl¡¯s Man Trantor: 549690339 ¡°If you can¡¯t deal with it, you¡¯re not my fourth brother!¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. ¡°Who was it that so proudly shouted at me yesterday, saying she has the surname Xu, not Shen?¡± Shen Chi looked down at Xu Chaomu in his arms. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu knew this man was petty. Petty! A grudge holder! ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± She lifted her head and sweetly called out to him, ¡°If you can¡¯t deal with it, then you are not a man!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s smile lifted at the corners of his mouth, alright, she wanted to y provocative games. He looked down at her bright eyes and lowered his voice, ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you really want to discuss whether I¡¯m a man or not with me?¡± Xu Chaomu saw the yful smile on his face and remembered the incident in the bathroom that night. Wasn¡¯t it clear whether he was a man or not? ¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a white nce, in front of so many people, was she being flirted with? Shen Chi, looking at her fair little face, longshes, and puckered red lips, felt a warmth in his lower abdomen and suddenly wanted to kiss her. But in the end, he was a rational and mature man; he pushed Xu Chaomu away. Shen Chi walked up to the shop assistants, his lookpletely different from the one he had given Xu Chaomu just now. He scanned them with a gaze that was chilling to the bone, his face devoid of any smile. True to a luxury store, the assistants recognized at a nce from Shen Chi¡¯s ck suit that this man was worth a lot. More importantly, this man always emanated a powerful presence. Cold, frosty, with firm facial features and a wildly ferocious aura. One nce made everyone lower their heads guiltily. All of a sudden, there was not a sound to be heard. It happened to be the blonde woman buying ties who was clueless. She approached Shen Chi, ¡°Yo, yo, look at this young girl¡¯s man. High school students are really something these days, no wonder they dare to enter luxury stores, there¡¯s a sugar daddy behind them. But do men now like high school girls? Oh, I suppose it¡¯s because young girls are tender and soft, must feel particrly good to be on top, right?¡± Xu Chaomu stepped forward in a few strides, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about! He¡¯s my fourth brother, not my man!¡± She hated people who spoke nonsense! If anyone was going to be on top, it was her crushing Shen Chi, right! Shen Chi looked down and smiled at Xu Chaomu, only when he looked at her did his eyes show endless tenderness. ¡°Mumu, do you find her annoying?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes! I have disliked her from the start!¡± Shen Chi lifted his head, his gaze bearing down on the blonde woman, the tenderness in his eyes vanishing, leaving only ferocity. ¡°Do you want to take care of it yourself, or should I have someone else do it?¡± The blonde woman looked down on him, haughtily holding her head high, ¡°Oh, so what if you have some money? Do you really think I won¡¯t call someone on you right now?¡± Shen Chi chuckled coldly, his eyes scanning the row of shop assistants behind him, ¡°Whoever dares step forward, I¡¯ll let bygones be bygones in regards to today¡¯s affair.¡± One sharp-eyed woman had long recognized Shen Chi, the President of Shen Group, Shen Chi who could cover the sky with one hand in C City! This woman stepped forward and, without a word, pped the blonde across the face! With a ¡°smack,¡± Xu Chaomu was startled. Shen Chi covered Xu Chaomu¡¯s ears, ¡°Be good, close your eyes.¡± Xu Chaomu obediently closed her eyes. The blonde, having been struck for no reason, shouted, ¡°How dare you hit me,¡± and reached out to hit back! The scene descended into chaos, someone called security, and the blonde was finally escorted out! When it was finally quiet again, Shen Chi let go and said, ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes at him; she knew he could definitely handle it! The manager of the boutique hurried over after hearing the news, of course, he recognized Shen Chi. The entire mall was under Shen Group, offending Shen Chi would be unbearable. ¡°President Shen, please calm down, these shop assistants are new and don¡¯t recognize a great man when they see one. Please don¡¯t take it to heart, don¡¯t be angry¡­¡± President Shen? Could it be President Shen of Shen Group? People couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply. In C City, who would dare to provoke Shen Chi! Shen Chi didn¡¯t even look at him, just asked Xu Chaomu, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The manager, thinking he was being addressed, hurriedly replied with a smile, ¡°President Shen, I¡¯m in charge here. Whatever you want to buy, just tell me, and I¡¯ll have it delivered to the Group.¡± Xu Chaomu looked up at Shen Chi then pointed at the ss cab, ¡°I want to buy this!¡± Shen Chi couldn¡¯t help butugh, she wanted to buy a tie? ¡°Who is it for?¡± he asked indifferently. ¡°Who else could it be for, it¡¯s for Lou Yanli, he¡¯s given me a lot of stuff! It¡¯s only fair!¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips. ¡°Is that so? Fine, then you can pay for it yourself. But I¡¯ve warned you before, you¡¯re not allowed to date young boys.¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. For Lou Yanli? Why would a high school student need a tie? This little girl was just in stubborn! Shen Chi turned around, pretending to leave. ¡°Hey hey, lend me your card!¡± Xu Chaomu grabbed his arm and held out her hand. ¡°Do you expect me to pay for the gift you¡¯re giving?¡± Shen Chi folded his arms, leisurely watching her. ¡°Ohe on, Fourth Brother, that¡¯s not fair. What if Lou Yanli bes your future brother-inw? Don¡¯t you want to build a good rtionship with him in advance?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it should be him trying to build a good rtionship with me first?¡± ¡°Ohe on, either way, we¡¯re all family, right? Family shouldn¡¯t talk in such terms, just let me swipe your card, will you?¡± Shen Chi looked at her small face, and especially that relentless little mouth of hers, and he truly wanted to strangle her. ¡°I¡¯ll let you swipe it if you say something nice.¡± Shen Chi looked at her challengingly, deliberately saying so. Say something nice? Alright, she was best at that, wasn¡¯t she!updat? by §á?w§áo??l.?rg ¡°Fourth Brother, you¡¯re handsome and suave, talented and good-looking!¡± Shen Chi was unmoved. ¡°Fourth Brother, flowers bloom when they see you, birds are stunned, and tires burst when cars see you!¡± Xu Chaomu dug deep forpliments. Shen Chi still remained unmoved. ¡°Fourth Brother, you have peach blossoms blooming all around, and beauties flocking to your arms. Holding one in each hand, you are at ease every day.¡± Xu Chaomu improvised a poem on the spot; she suddenly realized she was quite talented, probably influenced by yesterday¡¯s conversation with Lou Yanli. Indeed, being in thepany of cultured people, one became more cultured themselves. She finally understood why she was always the little rascal in the Shen family; the root cause was the presence of Shen Chi, the ultimate rascal! Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, what was this nonsense about holding one in each hand! What was she filling her head with! Xu Chaomu, seeing the man unmoved, pondered if herpliments weren¡¯t charming enough? So she thought hard, her eyes suddenly lighting up! Right, she had read in an adult magazine that the female lead only had to say one sentence, and the male lead would be especially happy! Just one sentence! She smiled mischievously, tiptoed, and lowered her voice as she wrapped one hand around Shen Chi¡¯s neck. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ you are so amazing¡­ mmm¡­ so great¡­ can we do it again?¡± Xu Chaomu hooked Shen Chi¡¯s neck, her warm breath brushed his ear. Shen Chi¡¯s body suddenly stiffened, a rush of heat coursing through him.. Chapter 42 - 042 You ‘ve Spoiled Her Chapter 42: You ¡®ve Spoiled Her Trantor: 549690339 He turned his head, just in time to see Xu Chaomu¡¯s small face drawing near hers, with a smile so genuine it deceived both young and old. Her big, watery eyes looked particrly innocent, bearing an expression of being helplessly coerced. Shen Chi leaned in close to her, his nose catching her unique, youthful body scent, feeling a warm surge through his abdomen. This was already the third time in just a few days! Suppressing the intense urge within his body, he scowled, clenching his fists tight before pushing her away. ¡°Take it!¡± he said, pulling out a bank card from his wallet. Xu Chaomu epted the bank card, her face alight with joy: ¡°Thank you, Fourth Brother!¡± Was this trick really so effective? Just then, a woman walked into the shop from across the street. Dressed in a sky-blue dress, her figure was graceful, her demeanor elegant. She approached Shen Chi, wallet in hand, with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile on her face. She slipped her arm around Shen Chi¡¯s, looking at Xu Chaomu and saying, ¡°So this is your sister?¡± Her eyes shone like crystals, her nose was high and proud, and her makeup was lightly applied. Her long hair was tied up on her head, exuding intelligence and charming elegance. ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently. Xu Chaomu stared intently at the woman for several moments¡ªwasn¡¯t she the cover girl from the magazine that Li Beiting had taken earlier? Her gaze drifted downward; indeed, beneath the cor were surging waves! ¡°Quite a spirited girl, not at all like you,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. Xu Chaomu snorted inwardly. They weren¡¯t blood siblings, how could they resemble each other? Still, the sight of this womantching onto Shen Chi¡¯s arm made her incredibly ufortable. Yet, what mattered most was that Shen Chi showed no signs of rejection. Xu Chaomu suddenly recalled something Yu Weiwei had mentioned: ¡°I heard she became famous not long after her debut, skyrocketed by some wealthy businessman from C City.¡± If she remembered correctly, was this woman¡¯s name Bai Man? As for this wealthy businessman from C City, could it really be Shen Chi? Her heart felt like it had been pricked. A sting, a throbbing pain, excruciating. But who was she, Xu Chaomu? She was Dada, the little thug, right? She feared no one. She too smiled sweetly at Bai Man, ¡°Are you Fourth Brother¡¯s girlfriend? You¡¯re really beautiful and a perfect match for my Fourth Brother¡¯s taste. You two chat; I won¡¯t bother you any longer.¡± Xu Chaomu gave Shen Chi another nce; he didn¡¯t seem to have anything to say. In her heart, Shen Chi¡¯s image was greatly diminished! This man, so unbearably vulgar! He just liked big breasts and wouldn¡¯t admit it! ¡°Little sister is quite eloquent. I¡¯m your Fourth Brother¡¯s fianc¨¦e,¡± Bai Man said with augh. ¡°When I marry your Fourth Brother, would you be my bridesmaid?¡± Xu Chaomu smelled the light perfume on her, identical to what was on Shen Chi the previous night. Last night, Shen Chi was indeed with Bai Man. Her heart was pricked once more. ¡°We don¡¯t have the custom of sisters being bridesmaids here,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°My Fourth Brother has poor taste, vulgar vision, and low character. Are you sure you want to marry him?¡± A twitch at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth¡ªvery well, he¡¯d keep that in mind. ¡°Little sister does have a sense of humor. I¡¯m willing to marry, and he¡¯s willing to take me¡ªthat¡¯s enough!¡± Bai Man¡¯s face was filled with joy as she pulled Shen Chi¡¯s arm to rest on his shoulder. ¡°My name is Xu Chaomu.¡± Xu Chaomu red at Shen Chi, then turned and walked away without looking back. She called over to a shop assistant: ¡°I¡¯ll take this one!¡± The assistant hurried over to wrap the tie for Xu Chaomu. It was only when she was about to pay with the card that she realized she had forgotten to ask for the password. To turn back or not to turn back, that was the question. ¡°Your birthday!¡± At that moment, a deep voice sounded faintly from behind her. Her birthday? He still remembered her birthday! As if she needed him to remember, she wasn¡¯t going to thank him for it. Xu Chaomu curled her lips, punched in a few digits, and sure enough, the transaction was sessful. Eighteen thousand! So happy! Spending his money didn¡¯t hurt her at all! She only wished she had spent more! She left them behind, proudly carrying her shopping bag. So happy! She had spent eighteen thousand of his money! However, while riding the elevator down, she didn¡¯t know why but she felt a bit sour. It was as if sand had gotten in the corner of her eyes. She rubbed her eyes and the more she rubbed, the worse it felt¡­ Watching Xu Chaomu leave, Bai Man looked up to Shen Chi and said, ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯ve spoiled her rotten.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were cool and indifferent as he spoke with contempt, ¡°She¡¯s my sister, if I don¡¯t spoil her, then who will?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not your actual sister, right? I saw it all when she wrapped her arms around you, she didn¡¯t seem to regard you as just a brother.¡± ¡°Bai Man, you¡¯re not jealous of Chaomu, are you?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a smile, but his gaze held a hint of coldness. Realizing he was somewhat upset, Bai Man quickly hugged his waist and buried her head in his chest, looking the picture of a woman leaning on her man. ¡°How could I be? She¡¯s your sister, and she will be my sister too. It makes no sense for a sister-inw to be jealous of her sister-inw.¡± ¡°Good that you understand,¡± Shen Chi hooked the corner of his lips and pushed her away. He walked out of the boutique and headed towards the elevator! ¡°Shen Chi! Aren¡¯t we going to shop around more? We¡¯ve just arrived at the mall!¡± Bai Man chased after him in her high heels. ¡°There¡¯s something to take care of at the corporation. You shop on your own, excuse me!¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t look back. ¡°Shen Chi! Shen Chi!¡± Bai Man chased after him, but Shen Chi was already on the descending elevator. As Shen Chi rode the elevator down, he suddenly remembered something. Why had Xu Chaomue to this mall? He recalled how she sat in the carst night, watching the mall¡¯s electronic billboard without blinking. Last night, the billboard had only disyed two new arrivals, one was a Givenchy white dress, and the other, a pair of Christian Louboutin beige heels with red soles. His brows furrowed,st night, she clearly looked so reluctant in her eyes! He stopped and pressed a button, and the elevator slowly ascended to the fifth floor! Xu Chaomu, carrying her shopping bag, looked unhappy. She walked home, head down, eyes full of disappointment. She counted her steps, one, two, three¡­ As she counted, her footsteps remained ordered, but her heart became a mess. This was the first time she¡¯d met Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e in person, or rather, the second time. The first time she saw Bai Man in a magazine, she thought she was a beauty, delicate, elegant, intelligent, probably the type most men would pursue. She looked even better in person than in the magazine, and even her voice was gentle, like peach blossoms in the spring breeze, graceful and charming. Such a perfect woman, of course Shen Chi would like her. She should just wish them well! But why did her heart feel so painful¡­ Like a knife stirring inside, again and again¡­ ncing at the bag in her hand, she really did want to give the tie to Shen Chi. Perhaps, she could consider it their wedding gift, even though it was bought with his money. As Xu Chaomu walked, thinking all these thoughts, she began to n her future. Once Shen Chi married, he might move out of the Shen Family vi, and then she would have to stay there alone. She really did not want to let go of him, not at all¡­ When Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach stopped in front of her, her eyes were already red. She hastily wiped away her tears, pretending not to see, and kept walking. ¡°Crying?¡± Shen Chi rolled down the car window, supporting himself on it, his eyes fixed on her. ¡°Cry? Why would I, Xu Chaomu, cry? That¡¯s a joke,¡± she said indignantly, continuing on. Shen Chi lightly stepped on the gas to follow her, ¡°Then why are your eyes red? Don¡¯t tell me sand got into them.¡± Xu Chaomu stopped in her tracks and red at him fiercely, ¡°I just saw a handsome guy on the road, with an amazing body. Couldn¡¯t help it, I shed tears of excitement.. Chapter 43 - 043: Dare to Marry Me? Chapter 43: Dare to Marry Me? Trantor: 549690339 Tears of excitement¡­ Shen Chi couldn¡¯t hold it in andughed out loud. ¡°What¡¯s so funny,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled softly. ¡°Get in the car!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not getting in!¡± Xu Chaomu turned and walked away. Shen Chi opened the car door and dragged her onto the passenger seat. ¡°You¡¯re getting in even if you don¡¯t want to! Sit tight! Don¡¯t move!¡± Shen Chi fastened her seatbelt, his tone imperiouslymanding. Xu Chaomu made a ghost face with gnashing teeth: ¡°Yeah, sure, ¡®getting in¡¯ is more like it!¡± ¡® Shen Chi¡¯s face was lined with frustration as he once again realized the failure of his own family¡¯s upbringing. He drove towards the vi, and Xu Chaomu still ignored him. By the time they reached the garage, she huffily got out of the car by herself and went upstairs with her handbag. Once upstairs, she took out a tie box from her handbag. She didn¡¯t know much about ties or brands. She simply thought it was attractive and that it would look even better on Shen Chi. She changed her mind again, she no longer wanted to give it to Shen Chi. He was about to get married. Wasn¡¯t there someone else who would give him ties? Even if she gave it to him, he wouldn¡¯t cherish it. Just as she was staring at the tie, Shen Chi came in through the door. Xu Chaomu put the tie back in the box, and just as she was about to put it away, Shen Chi grabbed her hand. ¡°Not nning to give it to me?¡± he said indifferently. ¡°Why would you need me to give you a tie, Shen Chi? Doesn¡¯t Miss Bai Man buy you plenty of nice ones? This one is for Lou Yanli, don¡¯t tter yourself!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to pull her wrist free, but this man¡¯s grip was so strong! She tugged, tugged, tugged¡­ Okay, she couldn¡¯t pull it free. ¡°I bought it with my money, I¡¯m taking it!¡± With one hand holding Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi took the box in his other hand. ¡°Shen Chi! You¡¯re shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to snatch the box back. Damn, she had never seen someone so shameless. If she wouldn¡¯t give it, he just took it himself! She really had her eyes opened! ¡°Isn¡¯t it only right that I take it?¡± He raised his eyebrows and only then released Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrist. Xu Chaomu continued to try to snatch it back, but she was no match for this man. So, she could only watch helplessly as the tie was taken away¡­ What a bandit of a man! Where¡¯s the promised courtesy? The elegance? All gone to hell! ¡°Xu Chaomu, what¡¯s yours is mine, and what¡¯s mine is still mine.¡± Shen Chi smirked and touched her cheek. Xu Chaomu really wanted to kick him to death: ¡°I always said your character was terrible. How could anyone dare to marry you?¡± ¡°Would you dare to marry me?¡± ¡°Right, didn¡¯t I hear that you have midtermsing up?¡± Shen Chi cut her off. Actually, he was afraid to hear the answer she might say aloud. ¡°So what if we do, I¡¯ll just try not toe inst!¡± ¡°Ambitious,¡± Shen Chi frowned, his voice low. How could he, Shen Chi, have raised such an uninspired girl! ¡°It¡¯s not like you just met me,¡± Xu Chaomu gave up all pretense. ¡°If you get into the top ten this time, I have something for you,¡± Shen Chi spoke lightly. Xu Chaomu looked up and met Shen Chi¡¯s gaze. His eyes were always so deep, like an endless sky, with no sight of their limit. ¡°What is it? If it¡¯s not tempting, I don¡¯t have much motivation,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Something you want.¡± Shen Chi stood up without saying anything further and walked out of Xu Chaomu¡¯s room with the tie box in hand. Xu Chaomu watched his retreating figure for a long time. Something she wanted? When it was time for dinner, Shen Chi was not at home. Liu Rumei was ¡°concerned¡± about Xu Chaomu while eating: ¡°Chaomu, how¡¯s your studying going recently?¡± ¡°Not bad. My ranking at the bottom is pretty stable,¡± Xu Chaomu replied without looking up. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand something, you can ask your third brother, or even your second sister,¡± Liu Rumei said. ¡°Third brother, I believe, but second sister? Does she even know?¡± Xu Chaomu sneered. Shen Yanrou, who was sitting nearby, felt humiliated and said sourly, ¡°As if I never came inst.¡± ¡°Coming inst doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not smart. Consistently being at the bottom takes skill too,¡± Xu Chaomu argued illogically. Whenever Shen Chi was not at home, they would inevitably create a ruckus at the dinner table. But the moment Shen Chi returned, nobody dared to speak. After eating for a while, Xu Chaomu felt like it was akin to chewing wax and stopped eating. However, just as she was about to leave, she saw a newspaper on the sofa. It was probably Shen Chi¡¯s rule that newspapers and magazines were not allowed in the living room. Xu Chaomu could hardly ever see newspapers and magazines at the Shen¡¯s residence. The newspaper today must have been left by a careless servant, right? She casually flipped through it until she paused on the entertainment section. A giant photo nearly upied the entire page! ¡°Popr actress Bai Man seen in a bar date with a mystery man, suspected to be Shen Group CEO Shen Chi.¡± Xu Chaomu stared at the photo, her eyes not moving at all. In the photo, the woman was ambiguously untying the man¡¯s tie with her head lowered, her body partially shielding the man. Their poses were extremely intimate, leading one to suspect they were kissing. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat! Although the man¡¯s face was not shown in the photo, she knew his every move too well! The watch on his wrist was something she didn¡¯t recognize by brand, but having seen him wear it for so many years, she couldn¡¯t be mistaken! Moreover, the person with Bai Man had to be Shen Chi! Her heart pounded wildly, her entire body¡¯s blood boiling. Her little hand clutching the newspaper tightened and tightened¡­ Suddenly, she noticed a tie box on the table in the photo, containing a ck diagonal-striped tie! Xu Chaomu crumpled the newspaper into a ball in her hand and rushed swiftly to Shen Chi¡¯s room! Rage fused within her chest, the feeling that she had been deceived and yed with overwhelmed her! Bai Man gave him a tie, and yet he insisted on taking hers away. He just thought it was fun to bully her. All these years, hadn¡¯t he always treated her as a pet? When he was unhappy, she would y with him to cheer him up; when he was displeased, he would vent his irritation on her; hemanded, and she had to obey; when he was in a bad mood, she was subjected to his unreasonableness, his tyranny! Yet, he didn¡¯t inform her about the dance; she was thest to know about his fianc¨¦e. He would ruthlessly throw her on the bed, leaving her with a broken head and bleeding, but would he do that to Bai Man? No, he would be too distressed. What did he consider her? Merely a pet. A pet for him to order around and amuse himself with. Swallowing back her tears, Xu Chaomu bit her teeth and began banging furiously on Shen Chi¡¯s door! She knew he wasn¡¯t there, and she knew he had a habit of locking his door, but she still wanted to knock, as if with each hit, she was striking at him, soothing her feelings bit by bit! ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you bastard¡­ all these years treating me as a pet, funny to you, isn¡¯t it¡­¡± As Xu Chaomu continued to knock, she eventually broke down crying and slowly squatted down by the door. She buried herself in her knees, tears streaming uncontrobly¡­. Chapter 44 - 044 He Fears Losing Her Chapter 44: He Fears Losing Her Trantor: 549690339 Butler Ling was the first to discover Xu Chaomu crying incessantly, and she was terrified. In her eyes, how could Xu Chaomu ever cry! Yet Xu Chaomu was indeed crying, and crying very sadly. Her shoulders were shaking non-stop, her sobbing deep with sorrow. Butler Ling was at a loss; if Xu Chaomu had been yelling and screaming, it would have been easier to handle, yet there Xu Chaomu was, weeping. She had been fine during dinner, so how did she end up crying like this after a trip to the kitchen? She had no choice but to walk over and softly ask, ¡°Miss Xu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Butler Ling, can you help me open the door, please?¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head, clinging to Butler Ling¡¯s arm. When she looked up, her big eyes were teary and swollen from crying. Butler Ling felt quite embarrassed, ¡°Miss Xu, you know that none of us have the key to the Young Master¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Does he only have one key to his room?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Yes, no one can enter the Young Master¡¯s room, he always keeps his key with him,¡± Butler Ling exined patiently. Xu Chaomu stopped making a fuss, realizing that if there was only one key, she wouldn¡¯t be able to enter Shen Chi¡¯s room. She was still clutching the newspaper in her hand as she silently stood up. Butler Ling took out a tissue and handed it to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Miss Xu, what¡¯s wrong? Please wipe your tears and tell me what happened.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing!¡± Xu Chaomu refused to say more. Butler Ling knew Xu Chaomu was stubborn; although she always appeared carefree, the stubbornness inside her bones could rival the Young Master¡¯s! If she refused to speak, then no words would be coaxed out of her. The more rambunctious she seemed on the surface, the better, for her calmness indicated the eerie silence before a raging storm! Xu Chaomu stopped crying and went into her own room with the newspaper. Butler Ling grew more and more concerned; the Young Master had instructed her to call him if Xu Chaomu seemed off. But the Young Master should be out socializing right now, or perhaps, keeping Miss Baipany. Should she make the call? After hesitating for a while, she decided to go ahead and call. Although Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t hold as much weight in the Young Master¡¯s heart as Miss Bai did, at the very least he would offer her some guidance. Once she made the call, she indeed heard Miss Bail s silver bell-likeughter. Hesitating again, she still said, ¡°Young Master, Miss Xu¡­ is crying.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed, a dull pain emanating from his chest. Without asking for a reason, he stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bai Man asked. ¡°I need to go back for a bit!¡± Shen Chi said in a steady voice, picking up the suit from the clothes rack and slipping it on before leaving. ¡°Hey, we finally got together for a drink. Stay and finish it with me!¡± Bai Man pleaded. ¡°The drink is on me.¡± Shen Chi, without looking back, headed directly to the parking lot. Butler Ling held the phone for a long time, failing to snap back to reality. With a puzzled face, all she had said was one sentence, yet the Young Master said¡­ he wasing back right away? She was somewhat puzzled; wasn¡¯t the Young Master apanying Miss Bai? Bying back now, wasn¡¯t he leaving Miss Bai hanging? Xu Chaomu opened the window to her own room, only a wall separated her room from Shen Chi¡¯s. She could climb over! She just wanted to verify whether Bai Man had given him a tie as well! She found it amusing, whether it was true or not, she was nothing more than a pet raised by Shen Chi. asionally he treated her not so badly merely because she, his pet, was loyal, always standing by his side. But, he would never give his emotions to a pet. She began climbing out. She moved a stool over; standing on it, she could just reach the edge of the window. Carefully holding onto the edge, she put one foot on it! One foot steadied, she began lifting the other foot! Looking down from her window to thewn below, a five-meter drop, her legs began to tremble at the sight. She started to crawl towards Shen Chi¡¯s window ledge, inching along the edge of her own window little by little. She dared only take small steps, afraid that if she took a big step, she would fall down. She didn¡¯t want to die yet. One hand clung to the window sill of her room while the other reached out towards Shen Chi¡¯s balcony. It was a bit far; she couldn¡¯t reach it. It was pitch-ck outside, with only a few faint stars twinkling in the sky. There were lights on thewn below, casting the green grass into eerie, spectral hues. All around, it was quiet, so quiet that Xu Chaomu could even hear the sound of her own heartbeat! Thud, thud, thud¡­ Since she couldn¡¯t reach, she had to crawl along the wall. There was an oldmp on the wall that hadn¡¯t been lit for a long time, but it was perfect for her to hook onto and use to aid her crawl! Yearster, when she looked back on this experience, all she could find it was ridiculous, just ridiculous. One of her feet stepped onto the oldmp, uncertain if it could bear her weight. At that time, she was just that determined. When Shen Chi drove the car into the vi, the headlights shone right on Xu Chaomu, clinging to the balcony! He didn¡¯t even bother to park the car in the garage, hastily opening the door and sprinting over! He rushed straight to the second floor, to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, and when he saw her foot dangling in the air, suspended by the oldmp, his heart suddenly skipped a beat! She couldn¡¯t have an ident; he wouldn¡¯t let her have an ident! ¡°Chaomu!¡± he shouted in his heart and ran over with all his might. He stretched his hand out of the window and embraced her from behind! Tightly, he held her in his arms! ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Chaomu, terrified out of her wits, was held in his embrace, looking straight into his face. It was stern, gloomy, and rigid, and his body, exceptionally cold. His hands firmly held her, almost as if his nails were digging into her flesh. The next second, hepletely lost it! ¡°Xu Chaomu, what the hell are you doing! If you want to die, don¡¯t die at Shen Family¡¯s ce!¡± His eyes were bloodshot, like a bloodthirsty lion ready to tear her apart! In that second, he suddenly realized that he was afraid, afraid of losing her! This feeling was incredibly strong. His heart was also beating ferociously, spreading a deste loneliness in his chest, bit by bit, like the bitter seeds of a lotus spreading out. Xu Chaomu too was frightened by him, dumbstruck. Shen Chi held her at the window, and in that moment, all was silent. She didn¡¯t remember when he threw her onto the bed, but she saw that his cor was tied with the same necktie she had bought for him. Indeed, it looked handsome on him, paired with his white shirt and ck suit. However, it made him look even more domineering. And then, there was the smell of alcohol and perfume on him, not at all pleasant. Especially that perfume, that floral scent; she knew immediately who he had seen. ¡°I wanted to enter your room,¡± Xu Chaomu said fearlessly, looking up at him with her small face. ¡°What do you want in my room?¡± Shen Chi frowned. Xu Chaomu unfolded the crumpled newspaper she had in her hand, flipped to the entertainment page, and threw it into his hands. Shen Chi¡¯s frown deepened. Who had shown her these newspapers? As he opened it, indeed, it was a photo of him and Bai Man drinking in a bar, taken by someone in secret. The angle was quite skilled; it looked like they were kissing. The corners of his lips slowly curved up into a smirk: ¡°Just this?¡± Damn, just this? His tone was so casual! What else did he expect? Chapter 45 - 045: I Can’t Bear to See You Cry Chapter 45: I Can¡¯t Bear to See You Cry Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu red at him, curious to hear what he would say. Little did she know, Shen Chi only rolled up the newspaper in his hand and gave her a faint nce, ¡°Don¡¯t climb through windows anymore, acting like some stray cat!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a stray cat, I¡¯m your pet cat! Shen Chi, tell me, do you always think it¡¯s fun to bully me, as if teasing a cat?¡± Xu Chaomu was very angry, and she finally spoke her mind. ¡°What an achievement, daring to call me by my name,¡± Shen Chi¡¯srge hand touched her cheek. In the Shen Family, and even in C City, no one dared to call out his name so casually. Just as Bai Man had said, he had spoiled her too much. But what of it? He was willing. A smile didn¡¯t grace Shen Chi¡¯s face, and as his warm palm caressed her cheek, her heartbeat started to quicken¡­ Her little heart almost leapt to her throat. Was he angry? ¡°Chaomu, trying to gild your face again, are you as cute as a cat?¡± He stroked her face, a faint smile slowly spreading across his lips. Xu Chaomu thought she was in for a storm, but it turned out to be nothing but a hollow bark! She was even less than a cat! Xu Chaomu pped hisrge hand away, huffily saying, ¡°Shen Chi, I really want to strangle you!¡± ¡°But your little ws are indeed a match for a cat¡¯s, sharp and scratching,¡± Shen Chi grabbed her hand. Yes, he had grabbed her hand, her small hand tightly encased in his palm! Her heartbeat quickened again! Xu Chaomu felt so pathetic. Not long ago, she was crying at the door of his room, and now with a little seduction from him, she was ready to surrender. She was about to solidify her reputation as a ¡°pervert.¡± No, she couldn¡¯t let herself be seduced by him. Xu Chaomu pulled her small hand out of his palm, snatched the newspaper from his hand, and pointed at the tie on the table with the authority of a leader asking questions. ¡°What is this?¡± Shen Chi frowned, gazing at her seriously without shifting his eyes for a long time. ¡°What¡­ what are you looking at me for?¡± Xu Chaomu became guilty¡ªno, that¡¯s not right, she wasn¡¯t the one who had done something bad! Why should she feel guilty? ¡°Chaomu, do I need to send you to kindergarten to study some more, to learn picture recognition and reading?¡± Shen Chi looked worried. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was not lightly angered, ¡°I¡¯m talking seriously here!¡± ¡°I¡¯m also talking seriously,¡± Shen Chi sat up straight, all business. ¡°Just say it, Bai Man clearly gave you a tiest night, why did you have to snatch mine?¡± Xu Chaomu stared at his neck; not only did he snatch it, but he was wearing it! ¡°What do you mean ¡®snatch¡¯? I bought it with my own money, if not for me then who should it be for?¡± The person¡¯s tone was as domineering as ever¡ªnow even more arrogant and cool. So much so that Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but start questioning her world view, life view, and values! ¡°You¡¯re shameless with your sophistry! Give it back to me!¡± Xu Chaomu lunged forward, grabbed his tie, and started to undo it. Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t let her, so she threw herself onto him, her calf pressing down on his left leg, struggling to continue undoing it. She was very serious about it, but unfortunately, she had never untied such a thing before; looking from left to right, she couldn¡¯t get it off. As she fumbled over him, Shen Chi felt a rush of heat, his blood boiling¡ªthis was already the second time today! All the blood in his body rushed to his head, and his eyes also became tinged with desire. Besides, he had drunk a bit of alcohol that evening, feeling a burning heat throughout his body, and he was somewhat losing control of himself. He clenched his fists tightly and yanked her small hand fiercely, ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t y with fire!¡± ¡°Then give me back my tie! The one Bai Man gave you looked pretty good to me. Mine can¡¯tpare to hers. You might as well give it back to me, Mr. Shen, the big boss, you¡¯re notcking a tie!¡± Shen Chi squinted his eyes, an aura of danger permeating the area. He gripped her hand tightly, asking faintly, ¡°Do you know what it means to give a man a tie?¡± Is there a meaning behind giving a tie? Xu Chaomu was academically poor, how would she know. ¡°Listen, giving a man a tie means¡ªI want to possess you.¡± Shen Chi looked into her eyes, serious, domineering, and unquestionable. Their eyes met, and Xu Chaomu red back puffily, ¡°Isn¡¯t it more like I want to strangle you?¡± ¡® Shen Chi¡¯s face was filled with ck lines, feeling that they were worlds apart. He took the newspaper from her hand, nced at her again, and said, ¡°Go to sleep early, stop crying.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s crying, which eye of yours saw me cry?¡± Xu Chaomu was stubbornly defiant. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see you cry.¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly, dropping a sentence and turning to leave Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart fluttered, what did he say? Had he really spoken just now, or did she hear wrong? She pinched her own arm, it hurt! She wasn¡¯t dreaming, he had just said¡­ I can¡¯t bear to see you cry. Xu Chaomu stared with wide eyes towards the door, the air still seemingly carrying Shen Chi¡¯s scent. Just now, it was him, it was him. He had said¡­ I can¡¯t bear to see you cry. Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips curved into a deeper and deeper smile, like water in a boundless deep pool, drowning in it. She sighed with a headache, s, she truly was hopeless. After Shen Chi returned to his room, his phone rang. He looked down, it was Bai Man calling. ¡°Shen Chi, what happened at home? Is it serious?¡± Bai Man asked anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s alright, already taken care of,¡± Shen Chi answered indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s not that little girl¡¯s issue again, is it?¡± Bai Man asked casually. ¡°No!¡± Shen Chi said cuttingly. ¡°Oh, if there¡¯s anything you need my help with, just say it. By the way, I haven¡¯t been home for several months, when you¡¯re free, can you apany me to see my dad? He¡¯s been missing you too.¡± ¡°Alright.¡¯ Seeing that Shen Chi wasn¡¯t too enthusiastic, Bai Man didn¡¯t press further. She wanted to bring him home simply to show that the Shen Family and Bai Family had always got along well and to ensure that nothing would disrupt the peace between the two families. Shen Chi hung up first and went alone to take a shower. His mind kept reying the scene of Xu Chaomu climbing up the window, heart-stopping! If she hadn¡¯t been steady, if she had suddenly fallen from the window, what would he do¡­ She never made things easy for him! These images hovered in his mind, he had underestimated this girl¡¯s audacity. Xu Chaomu was always fearless. And then there were her actions today¡ªin the mall, she tiptoed to wrap her arms around his neck to ¡°sweet-talk¡± him, and just now, on the bed, she had pulled his tie and pinned him down. Thinking of these, Shen Chi¡¯s mind was in turmoil, and the fire in his body, instead of being suppressed, zed even hotter! He had no choice but to take another cold shower. As for Xu Chaomu, ever since Shen Chi left, she had been rolling around in bed nonstop, extremely excited. Her mind continuously savored all his words, he said, giving a man a tie means ¡ªI want to possess you; he said, I can¡¯t bear to see you cry. Although he also said, if you want to die, don¡¯t die in the Shen Family! But¡­ that could be ignored.. Chapter 46 - 046: Meeting Zhou Ran Chapter 46: Meeting Zhou Ran Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t slept all night, and the next day, she woke up with dark circles under her eyes, earlier than Shen Chi. She sat by the dining table, hands propping her cheeks, having decided that from now on, she wouldn¡¯t argue with Shen Chi nor y hooligan with him; she aspired to be a quiet and beautiful girl. It was only six in the morning when Shen Chi came downstairs, buttoning up his shirt sleeves. As he raised his head, he saw Xu Chaomu. ¡°Big Bro Four, good morning!¡± Xu Chaomu also saw him, promptly pulled out a chair for him with great enthusiasm, and ced warm milk, appetizing bread, and sweet jam all before him. ¡°Unjustified generosity usually has an ulterior motive,¡± Shen Chi huffed coldly, ¡°Spit it out, what do you want from me?¡± Damn, Xu Chaomu¡¯s little me ignited¡ªwhat was that supposed to mean, couldn¡¯t she just be nice to him? ¡°Big Bro Four¡­¡± she sweetly called out to him, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t argue with you anymore.¡± Shen Chi choked on a mouthful of milk. ¡°This is daytime, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Shen Chi nced at her indifferently. Xu Chaomu was almost about to reveal her true nature, but she suppressed it, suppressed it, suppressed it; she wanted to be a quiet and beautiful girl. ¡°Big Bro Four¡­¡± she wrapped around his arm again, ¡°I¡¯ll be really good to you from now on, not only will I stop arguing with you, but I¡¯ll also not make you angry.¡± Shen Chi felt her forehead and frowned, ¡°No fever. ¡°Big Bro Four¡­ What did you sayst night before you left? Can you repeat it so I can hear it please?¡± Xu Chaomu pleaded stickily. Shen Chi curled the corner of his lips, so that was the matter. Without looking up, he coolly sipped his milk and casually remarked, ¡°Forgot.¡± Xu Chaomu was almost ready to m the table¡ªforgot? ¡°What didn¡¯t you bear to do?¡± Xu Chaomu coaxed gently. ¡°Bearing what?¡± Shen Chi still looked as though he couldn¡¯t remember, elegantly continuing his breakfast. ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, right?! Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu mmed the table, immediately reverting to her true self. That¡¯s it, no more acting like ady for her, a little hooligan trying to act like ady¡ªridiculous! Whenever she spoke to Shen Chi, she just couldn¡¯t keep herposure! Deep breath, breathe in, breathe out¡­ Calm down, calm down! Damn, she just couldn¡¯t calm down! She let go of Shen Chi¡¯s arm and angrily went to have her breakfast. ¡°That¡¯s more like you,¡± Shen Chi nced at her, his gaze serene. Xu Chaomu felt like crying without tears; she was never going to escape the image of a female hooligan. She hadn¡¯t slept all night, hade to wait for him early in the morning, and what did he do? Forgot¡­ forgot¡­ forgot¡­ Throughout the meal, shepletely ignored Shen Chi. Shen Chi finished eating, and she was still dawdling. Out of options, Shen Chi shook his head and had to sit aside and wait for her. It wasn¡¯t until Xu Chaomu finally finished eating that he pulled her to the car. ¡°Wait, wait, my shoces are loose!¡± Xu Chaomu paused, nced at the ground, then at Shen Chi. Just as she was about to squat down to tie them, Shen Chi touched her hair and bent down ahead of her. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He tied her shoces with gentle and elegant motions. The subtlety of his cologne drifted to her nose, making everything seem so unreal. Xu Chaomu was stunned¡ªwas this Shen Chi? Shen Chi, the president of the Shen Group? Her Big Bro Four? She looked down and saw his profile, with thinly pursed lips, handsome in a way that also carried an indescribable air of authority. His movements tying the shoces were exceedingly graceful, almost unbearably so. The crisp suit hugged his lean figure, with slender fingers sliding over her white shoces. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart hammered again, furiously erratic. ¡°Alright, done,¡± Shen Chi stood up, his lips slightly curling. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help feeling that it was all over too soon¡ªif only time could stand still, how wonderful that would be! But she still looked unyielding, tugging on Shen Chi¡¯s arm, blinking her big eyes, ¡°Achi, when did you start to pity the fairer sex?¡± ¡°Putting on airs, are you? Where are you fragrant or delicate? Get in the car!¡± Shen Chi opened the car door and seated himself in the driver¡¯s seat. Xu Chaomu pouted; he had said the same thing to her before, and here it was again. Was she really that ugly? Didn¡¯t the aunties in the park stillpliment her on being pretty? Alright, she admitted thatpared to Bai Man, she was nothing. Having seen so many beauties, could Shen Chi ever look her way? As usual, Shen Chi dropped Xu Chaomu off not far from the school gate, and as soon as his car stopped, she had to get out obediently. ¡°I¡¯m off to school!¡± Xu Chaomu waved to him. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded in a deep voice. Xu Chaomu despised him for acting as if he didn¡¯t know her again. The way he behaved, it was as if she would really embarrass him! No sooner had she entered the school grounds than Shen Chi stepped on the gas and left. Xu Chaomu looked back, but there was no trace of him. As she was walking to her ss, a woman stood not far from her. Xu Chaomu looked up and her eyes instantly widened. Aunt Zhou! It was Aunt Zhou, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for eight years! Aunt Zhou still looked the same, not having aged a bit. She was d in a navy-blue dress, her long hair coiffed up behind her head, still radiating a calm and tranquil beauty akin to that of a distant orchid. ¡°Aunt Zhou!¡± Xu Chaomu called out to her. Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes showed little emotion, and her face didn¡¯t undergo much change. She slightly lifted the corners of her lips and, stepping in her ck high heels, slowly walked towards Xu Chaomu. She was wrapped in a shawl, without too much adornment, save for the earrings that swayed left and right with her movements. Xu Chaomu was delighted; she hadn¡¯t seen Aunt Zhou for eight years since she and Uncle Shen divorced, and she never returned to the Shen Family since. ¡°Aunt Zhou! Is that really you? I haven¡¯t seen you for such a long time!¡± Xu Chaomu called out again. Zhou Ran¡¯s lips curled up slightly, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s me, I¡¯vee to see you.¡± ¡°Mmm, I haven¡¯t started ss yet, we can talk as long as you want!¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. Actually, she really wanted to throw herself into Zhou Ran¡¯s arms for a hug, but she hesitated. Zhou Ran always exuded an air of inapproachability, and therefore, she didn¡¯t know what Zhou Ran¡¯s feelings towards her were after eight years. ¡°I¡¯ll say a few words and then I¡¯ll leave,¡± Zhou Ran spoke mildly. Standing before Xu Chaomu, she realized that the ten-year-old girl from eight years ago had grown up. She was quite tall, her skin fair, and her delicate oval face was brimming with youthful vigor. She¡­ was bing more and more like that woman. The sunlight flickered, almost making Xu Chaomu appear to be the young Xu Mengxi. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know what Zhou Ran wanted to tell her, so she just looked at her. ¡°Chaomu, in three more months, you¡¯ll be eighteen, right?¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s tone was serene, revealing no particr emotion. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Ran to remember her birthday, so she nodded, ¡°Mmm, in three months.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been with the Shen Family for eight years now, time really flies,¡± Zhou Ran seemed to sigh. ¡°Aunt Zhou, I haven¡¯t seen you in eight years either, how have you been?¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s smile was a mix of emotions, ¡°What¡¯s there to be good or bad about? Life goes on as usual, but now I¡¯m freer.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what she meant; the time she had spent with Zhou Ran was not long, and she didn¡¯t really understand her. ¡°Chaomu, has Achi been treating you well?¡± Zhou Ran asked with a faint smile on her lips. ¡°Achi has been very good to me. In the Shen¡¯s, only he treats me the best,¡± Xu Chaomu stated honestly. Although Shen Chi was gruff and overbearing, in all fairness, he had been incredibly kind to her.. Chapter 47 - 047 She Won’t Leave Chapter 47: She Won¡¯t Leave Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Do you like him?¡± Zhou Ran looked at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a sweet feeling unfurled within her. Did she like him? Did she like Shen Chi? Of course, she liked him! She liked to see his furrowed brows, she liked to see his smile, she liked to hear him speak. His every movement, everything about him, she liked it all¡­ She knew this liking was different from other kinds of fondness. But Xu Chaomu still smiled, ¡°I like it! I¡¯m also quite fond of Uncle Shen and Third Brother.¡± A flicker of something different passed through Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes as she spoke faintly, ¡°Achi is about to get married, you know that, right?¡± A few days ago, she didn¡¯t know; now, she did. The heart that had just been basking in the warm sun was suddenly reced by a sour and astringent feeling. She lowered her head, staring at her shoces. Theces were still tied by him, but now, he was truly about to be married. She didn¡¯t understand why Zhou Ran would ask her this, so she nodded, her eyes also losing their bright luster. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you know,¡± Zhou Ran said. ¡°The Shen Family has taken you in for eight years, and you¡¯re nearly eighteen now, and Achi is getting married. Once you¡¯re eighteen, you should leave the Shen Family!¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s tone was light, but to Xu Chaomu, it struck like a bolt from the blue! Xu Chaomu felt the sunlight dazzling, her mind going nk. She stared at Zhou Ran for a long time¡ªyes, the woman before her was Zhou Ran, the same Zhou Ran who had taken her from the orphanage. And now, she was telling her she should leave the Shen Family¡­ ¡°Why?¡± she asked defiantly. If the reason she was brought here was just to be discarded after eight years, she would have preferred never to havee to the Shen Family, would have preferred¡­ to never have met Shen Chi! ¡°There¡¯s no reason. The Shen Family is not obligated to keep you forever,¡± Zhou Ran said in a detached tone. ¡°What if I don¡¯t leave?¡± In her eyes, Zhou Ran had once been like a fairy, gentle and amiable, speaking to her like a mother and leading her out of the orphanage by the hand. But now, she didn¡¯t recognize the woman before her. Could it be that the prettier the flower, the more thorny it is, just like a rose? ¡°Once Achi is married and leaves the Shen Family, will you still choose to stay?¡± Zhou Ran looked at her, countering with a question. Xu Chaomu felt a fierce stab in her heart¡ªright, if Shen Chi got married, would she still stay? She lowered her head, no longer speaking. Zhou Ran could see that Xu Chaomu liked Shen Chi; it was just that she was too stubborn to admit it. Delusional infatuation¡­ Just like Xu Mengxi from years ago. Seeing Xu Chaomu bow her head, Zhou Ran said nothing more; she seemed to sigh, then turned and left. Her retreating figure slowly dissolved into a blue speck in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, blurring out of focus¡­ Xu Chaomu stood in ce, unaware of how long she had been there. Zhou Ran¡¯s words echoed in her ears: Once you¡¯re eighteen, you should leave the Shen Family! No, she wouldn¡¯t leave unless Shen Chi didn¡¯t want her anymore. ¡°Chaomu, what are you doing standing here? Is there treasure on the ground?¡± Yu Weiwei hade to school, and it was rare to see Xu Chaomu arrive so early. As soon as Xu Chaomu heard Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice, she snapped back to reality and walked forward with her bag on her back, ¡°Yeah, there are treasures on the ground, lots of them, you should hurry and pick them up!¡± ¡°Eh, not happy? Did the date not go well?¡± Yu Weiwei caught up to her. ¡°Am I not happy? I¡¯m clearly very happy!¡¯ ¡°If you have something on your mind, talk to me about it, I can help you solve it! I brought new magazines today, you¡¯ll have something to read during ss!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not reading them!¡± ¡°Huh? Not even looking at the magazines? That doesn¡¯t sound like Xu Chaomu. Let me tell you, the ones I brought today are really good, full of handsome men and beautiful women, everything you¡¯d want!¡± ¡°All the good-looking ones are trash,¡± Xu Chaomu blurted out. ¡°Could it be that Lou Yanli has made you angry? ¡°No, he¡¯s great,¡± Xu Chaomu continued walking. Arriving in the ssroom, Xu Chaomu sat alone and picked up a math book to read. Shen Chi had said that if she ranked in the top ten on the mid-term exam, there would be a reward. She was actually a bit expectant inside, wondering what that reward could be¡­ He hadn¡¯t given her a gift for so many years, and if he was about to get married, at the very least, before he got married, she could make onest profit from him. Yu Weiwei tried various ways to tempt Xu Chaomu, ¡°Look at this ice cream, it looks so delicious! Look at this handsome guy, he¡¯s your type! And this beauty, hey, isn¡¯t this the popr movie star Bai Man fromst time¡­¡± Xu Chaomu immediately snatched the magazine from Yu Weiwei. In these magazines, Bai Man dominated most of the pages, her poprity sky-high. ¡°Is she pretty?¡± Xu Chaomu asked Yu Weiwei, pointing at Bai Man. Yu Weiwei nodded, ¡°She¡¯s pretty, I think she has a lot of ss, not like those heavily made-up beauties. She¡¯s very fresh and elegant!¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s pretty too,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking at Bai Man in the magazine, ¡°what do you think men¡¯s reaction would be when they see a woman like this?¡± Yu Weiwei gave a mischievously evil smile, ¡°Obviously the normal reaction of a man, you know what I mean!¡± ¡°Then what if she were lying in a man¡¯s arms, do you think he¡¯d be able to control himself?¡± Yu Weiwei loved discussing these R-rated issues; her eyes lit up and she smirked wickedly. ¡°If such a beauty were in his arms and the man could still control himself, chances are he can¡¯t perform!¡± Yu Weiwei dered. She had recently been researching this issue; for men who can¡¯t perform, there are actually many treatment methods. The most important thing is not to deny the disease, but to discover the problem in time and treat it properly. Xu Chaomu thought back to that time in the bathroom when she took the initiative to throw herself at Shen Chi, yet even though he had reacted, he pushed her away in one move. ¡°So what do you think it means if a man has a reaction but still controls himself?¡± Xu Chaomu felt that she needed to consult an expert like Yu Weiwei for such questions. ¡°It¡¯s either that the woman is too ugly, or he doesn¡¯t love her!¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m ugly?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. Yu Weiwei turned Xu Chaomu¡¯s face to hers, clicking her tongue, ¡°Our Chaomu is a standard beauty, look at this little face, long eyshes, and high nose bridge, all tender and soft, who canpare to our Chaomu!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu brushed off Yu Weiwei¡¯s hand. So it¡¯s thetter, Shen Chi¡­ doesn¡¯t love her. Thinking about it, it made sense. How could Shen Chi possibly love her? Any normal guy wouldn¡¯t like a little ruffian, of course, except for Lou Yanli, who hadn¡¯t yet discovered her ruffian nature. And Shen Chi was as normal a guy as theye. If he liked her, she herself would find it abnormal. ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong with you? Oh¡­ you didn¡¯t force yourself on Lou Yanli, did you?¡± Yu Weiwei drew out her words and widened her eyes. ¡°What are you imagining, look at your magazine!¡± That day was particrly boring for Yu Weiwei because Xu Chaomu actually didn¡¯t join her in reading magazines during ss. There was no helping it, she had to study her Male Health Manual by herself, hoping to bring good news to more men in the future.. Chapter 48: The Man Who Seduces Me Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu was suffering from a terrible toothache after school, and she wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she caught a cold. To make matters worse, there was evening self-study that night, so she had no choice but to endure the pain and read. By nine o¡¯clock in the evening, self-study finally ended, but Xu Chaomu still had to do cleaning duty. It was like misfortunes nevere singly. Watching as all her ssmates left one by one, she was left to continue sweeping the floor with a broom and wiping the ckboard with the eraser. The surroundings were pitch-dark andpletely silent, Yu Weiwei had been picked up by Li Beiting to go home, leaving her alone to silently endure the toothache while on duty. The broom hitting the floor made a ¡°swoosh¡± sound. The floor was really dirty; those boys would throw trash on the ground after eating. Just as she finished sweeping and was about to close the windows, suddenly, the ssroom door was kicked open. A burst of cold air rushed in, and Xu Chaomu looked towards the door. The girl leading the group was Yao Yue! It was said she had been chasing after Lou Yanli for a long time. Following her were several delinquents with tattooed bodies and cigarettes hanging from their lips, acting tough and unruly. ¡°Are you Xu Chaomu?¡± Yao Yue walked over. Xu Chaomu nced at her. She was dressed very skimpily, and her hair was dyed yellow. No wonder Lou Yanli didn¡¯t like her. Rumor had it that Yao Yue came from a wealthy and powerful family and never took anyone seriously. She had to have whatever she wanted. ¡°I¡¯m not, who are you?¡± Xu Chaomu gave her a disdainful look. She was considered a small-time hooligan herself, not afraid of anyone! But, they had more people. ¡°Kun Ge, go ahead, beat her to death for me, see if she dares to flirt with my man again!¡± Yao Yue stood aside with her arms crossed. Xu Chaomu¡¯s tooth still ached, which really affected her fighting back. ¡°Miss, there are levels to being disabled. So, with this girl, are we making her a first-grade disability or¡­¡± one of the delinquents said disdainfully. ¡°What¡¯s all this talk for a fight? Just beat her to death, get it?¡± Yao Yue yelled. ¡°Yao Yue, look at what you¡¯ve be, do you still expect Lou Yanli to like you?¡± Xu Chaomu said coolly. Hisss¡ªher tooth really hurt, even speaking was painful. ¡°What are you waiting for, hit her, hit her hard!¡± Yao Yue was furious. Ever since she was a child, she got whatever she wanted, and everyone bowed down to her. She liked Lou Yanli, so he had to like her back! Where did Xu Chaomue from? Yao Yue had to beat her until her head was split open to show her might! A few delinquents blocked the doorway, and one of them rushed towards Xu Chaomu, aiming a punch at her! Xu Chaomu dodged to the left and swung a chair from the floor at them. Bang bang ng ng, the ssroom was suddenly filled with chaos. Xu Chaomu regretted not learning Taekwondo when Shen Chi had asked her to as a child. The few delinquents had been in plenty of fights, and one of them reached out to grab Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm! No matter how quick Xu Chaomu was, she couldn¡¯t jump out of the way, and her arm was seized! ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Lou Yanli appeared at the doorway out of nowhere, pushing aside Yao Yue and rushing towards Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was pushed to the ground by one of the delinquents, scraping off a patch of skin, and her blood flowed without stopping. Her tooth hurt, her arm hurt¡­ Hisss¡ª Xu Chaomu took in a sharp breath of cold air. Just as the delinquent was about to hit Xu Chaomu again, Lou Yanli blocked in front, taking a vicious kick from the delinquent! ¡°Stop, stop!¡± Yao Yue saw Lou Yanli. ¡°Lou Yanli, when did you get here? Does it hurt?¡± Xu Chaomu was a bit flustered as she helped Lou Yanli up. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m okay, what about you? Why are you bleeding? Did they hurt you?¡± Yanli went to examine Chaomu¡¯s wounds. Yao Yue was grinding her teeth with rage beside them, daring to show off their affection right in front of her? ¡°Miss, what should we do?¡± a young man asked Yao Yue. ¡°Pull the guy away and continue to beat them up for me! I¡¯m determined to make her leave horizontally today!¡± Yao Yue was not convinced, no, she was getting angrier and angrier, furious! ¡°Who do you want to leave horizontally?¡± Just as Yao Yue finished speaking, a tall figure appeared at the doorway. The man had a powerful aura, with sharp eyes that scanned the room. Good, he spotted Xu Chaomu in the corner; the girl nced at him and then lowered her head to care for Lou Yanli. ¡°And who are you? But I don¡¯t care who you are, I¡¯ll take on anyone who shows up!¡± Yao Yue pointed at Shen Chi. The young men also prepared for a fight, they had the numbers, who would be afraid? Shen Chi let out a cold chuckle and said softly to his driver, Lao Cheng, ¡°One, two, three, four, five, a total of five. Whether to beat them to death or not, you decide.¡± Lao Cheng nodded: ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Shen Chi walked in, and the young men even held knives. One of them lunged with a knife! Before the de could touch Shen Chi, Lao Cheng¡¯srge palm grabbed the young man¡¯s wrist and delivered a punch right to his chest! Ding¡ª The knife fell to the ground, bouncing a few times, and the young man screamed in pain. As Shen Chi walked toward Xu Chaomu, Yanli covered Chaomu¡¯s eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t look¡­¡± Chaomu obediently closed her eyes, making Shen Chi pause his steps. Crrack, snap¡ªthe sounds of violence erupted at the entrance. Lao Cheng, who had retired from the military and was handpicked by the Shen Family, was of course very skilled. Although the young men had the numbers, they were no match for Lao Cheng. Before long, they were beaten ck and blue. Yao Yue stood trembling by the doorway; she couldn¡¯t fight and had only boasted with her lips. Now, seeing her people beaten up like this by a middle-aged man, the situation was surely turning against them! ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯ll settle the score another time! Xu Chaomu, you little bitch, how dare you seduce my man, you fucking wait!¡± Yao Yue was extremely vicious, her mouth still unrelenting. Just as she was about to walk out, Shen Chi spoke in a deep voice, his face cold as he looked toward Lao Cheng: ¡°For what she just said, beat her to death!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Chaomu, realizing that Shen Chi had arrived, felt fearless. For many years, as long as she saw him, she was afraid of nothing. At that thought, her heart still ached. If Shen Chi were to leave her one day, what should she do¡­ He couldn¡¯t possibly stand by her side forever¡­u pdat? by §á?w?o??l.?R? ¡°Chaomu, does it hurt a lot?¡± Yanli took out a tissue to wipe the blood off her arm. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left sote?¡± asked Chaomu. ¡°I was on duty tonight. I happened to pass by your ssroom and saw you being bullied,¡± Yanli said. He looked down and carefully wiped the wound for Chaomu; it was quite serious, with arge patch of skin scraped off. ¡°Hiss, it hurts¡­¡± Chaomu bit her lip. Her teeth hurt, her arm hurt, Chaomu felt ufortable all over. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for bringing you trouble. I didn¡¯t know Yao Yue woulde for you, I¡¯m sorry, Chaomu,¡± Yanli apologized to her. Chaomu looked at him and smiled: ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, don¡¯t worry, they can¡¯t beat me..¡± Chapter 48 - 048: The Man Who Seduces Me Chapter 48: The Man Who Seduces Me Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu was suffering from a terrible toothache after school, and she wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she caught a cold. To make matters worse, there was evening self-study that night, so she had no choice but to endure the pain and read. By nine o¡¯clock in the evening, self-study finally ended, but Xu Chaomu still had to do cleaning duty. It was like misfortunes nevere singly. Watching as all her ssmates left one by one, she was left to continue sweeping the floor with a broom and wiping the ckboard with the eraser. The surroundings were pitch-dark andpletely silent, Yu Weiwei had been picked up by Li Beiting to go home, leaving her alone to silently endure the toothache while on duty. The broom hitting the floor made a ¡°swoosh¡± sound. The floor was really dirty; those boys would throw trash on the ground after eating. Just as she finished sweeping and was about to close the windows, suddenly, the ssroom door was kicked open. A burst of cold air rushed in, and Xu Chaomu looked towards the door. The girl leading the group was Yao Yue! It was said she had been chasing after Lou Yanli for a long time. Following her were several delinquents with tattooed bodies and cigarettes hanging from their lips, acting tough and unruly. ¡°Are you Xu Chaomu?¡± Yao Yue walked over. Xu Chaomu nced at her. She was dressed very skimpily, and her hair was dyed yellow. No wonder Lou Yanli didn¡¯t like her. Rumor had it that Yao Yue came from a wealthy and powerful family and never took anyone seriously. She had to have whatever she wanted. ¡°I¡¯m not, who are you?¡± Xu Chaomu gave her a disdainful look. She was considered a small-time hooligan herself, not afraid of anyone! But, they had more people. ¡°Kun Ge, go ahead, beat her to death for me, see if she dares to flirt with my man again!¡± Yao Yue stood aside with her arms crossed. Xu Chaomu¡¯s tooth still ached, which really affected her fighting back. ¡°Miss, there are levels to being disabled. So, with this girl, are we making her a first-grade disability or¡­¡± one of the delinquents said disdainfully. ¡°What¡¯s all this talk for a fight? Just beat her to death, get it?¡± Yao Yue yelled. ¡°Yao Yue, look at what you¡¯ve be, do you still expect Lou Yanli to like you?¡± Xu Chaomu said coolly. Hisss¡ªher tooth really hurt, even speaking was painful. ¡°What are you waiting for, hit her, hit her hard!¡± Yao Yue was furious. Ever since she was a child, she got whatever she wanted, and everyone bowed down to her. She liked Lou Yanli, so he had to like her back! Where did Xu Chaomue from? Yao Yue had to beat her until her head was split open to show her might! A few delinquents blocked the doorway, and one of them rushed towards Xu Chaomu, aiming a punch at her! Xu Chaomu dodged to the left and swung a chair from the floor at them. Bang bang ng ng, the ssroom was suddenly filled with chaos. Xu Chaomu regretted not learning Taekwondo when Shen Chi had asked her to as a child. The few delinquents had been in plenty of fights, and one of them reached out to grab Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm! No matter how quick Xu Chaomu was, she couldn¡¯t jump out of the way, and her arm was seized! ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Lou Yanli appeared at the doorway out of nowhere, pushing aside Yao Yue and rushing towards Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was pushed to the ground by one of the delinquents, scraping off a patch of skin, and her blood flowed without stopping. Her tooth hurt, her arm hurt¡­ Hisss¡ª Xu Chaomu took in a sharp breath of cold air. Just as the delinquent was about to hit Xu Chaomu again, Lou Yanli blocked in front, taking a vicious kick from the delinquent! ¡°Stop, stop!¡± Yao Yue saw Lou Yanli. ¡°Lou Yanli, when did you get here? Does it hurt?¡± Xu Chaomu was a bit flustered as she helped Lou Yanli up. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m okay, what about you? Why are you bleeding? Did they hurt you?¡± Yanli went to examine Chaomu¡¯s wounds. Yao Yue was grinding her teeth with rage beside them, daring to show off their affection right in front of her? ¡°Miss, what should we do?¡± a young man asked Yao Yue. ¡°Pull the guy away and continue to beat them up for me! I¡¯m determined to make her leave horizontally today!¡± Yao Yue was not convinced, no, she was getting angrier and angrier, furious! ¡°Who do you want to leave horizontally?¡± Just as Yao Yue finished speaking, a tall figure appeared at the doorway. The man had a powerful aura, with sharp eyes that scanned the room. Good, he spotted Xu Chaomu in the corner; the girl nced at him and then lowered her head to care for Lou Yanli. ¡°And who are you? But I don¡¯t care who you are, I¡¯ll take on anyone who shows up!¡± Yao Yue pointed at Shen Chi. The young men also prepared for a fight, they had the numbers, who would be afraid? Shen Chi let out a cold chuckle and said softly to his driver, Lao Cheng, ¡°One, two, three, four, five, a total of five. Whether to beat them to death or not, you decide.¡± Lao Cheng nodded: ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Shen Chi walked in, and the young men even held knives. One of them lunged with a knife! Before the de could touch Shen Chi, Lao Cheng¡¯srge palm grabbed the young man¡¯s wrist and delivered a punch right to his chest! Ding¡ª The knife fell to the ground, bouncing a few times, and the young man screamed in pain. As Shen Chi walked toward Xu Chaomu, Yanli covered Chaomu¡¯s eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t look¡­¡± Chaomu obediently closed her eyes, making Shen Chi pause his steps. Crrack, snap¡ªthe sounds of violence erupted at the entrance. Lao Cheng, who had retired from the military and was handpicked by the Shen Family, was of course very skilled. Although the young men had the numbers, they were no match for Lao Cheng. Before long, they were beaten ck and blue. Yao Yue stood trembling by the doorway; she couldn¡¯t fight and had only boasted with her lips. Now, seeing her people beaten up like this by a middle-aged man, the situation was surely turning against them! ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯ll settle the score another time! Xu Chaomu, you little bitch, how dare you seduce my man, you fucking wait!¡± Yao Yue was extremely vicious, her mouth still unrelenting. Just as she was about to walk out, Shen Chi spoke in a deep voice, his face cold as he looked toward Lao Cheng: ¡°For what she just said, beat her to death!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Chaomu, realizing that Shen Chi had arrived, felt fearless. For many years, as long as she saw him, she was afraid of nothing. At that thought, her heart still ached. If Shen Chi were to leave her one day, what should she do¡­ He couldn¡¯t possibly stand by her side forever¡­ ¡°Chaomu, does it hurt a lot?¡± Yanli took out a tissue to wipe the blood off her arm. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left sote?¡± asked Chaomu. ¡°I was on duty tonight. I happened to pass by your ssroom and saw you being bullied,¡± Yanli said. He looked down and carefully wiped the wound for Chaomu; it was quite serious, with arge patch of skin scraped off. ¡°Hiss, it hurts¡­¡± Chaomu bit her lip. Her teeth hurt, her arm hurt, Chaomu felt ufortable all over. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for bringing you trouble. I didn¡¯t know Yao Yue woulde for you, I¡¯m sorry, Chaomu,¡± Yanli apologized to her. Chaomu looked at him and smiled: ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, don¡¯t worry, they can¡¯t beat me..¡± Chapter 49 - 049 Gentle touch, it hurts Chapter 49: Gentle touch, it hurts Trantor: 549690339 Lou Yanli also smiled, ¡°There are five of them, and just one of you, can you beat them?¡± Xu Chaomu quite enjoyed watching Lou Yanliugh; his smile was like the bright moon in the sky, clear and refreshing. Just one nce was like moonlight shining on one¡¯s heart. Not at all like Shen Chi, who seldom smiled. Right, just like now, she sneakily nced up and saw Shen Chi with a dark expression on his face looking their way. She lowered her head, and Lou Yanli had already wiped the blood clean for her. She suddenly realized that in front of Lou Yanli, she felt like a genuine girl. Shen Chi walked over, bent down, and grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm, pulling her up from the ground! ¡°Come back to the car with me to put on some medicine!¡± His domineering grip and his chilly gaze left no room for Chaomu to refuse! ¡°Ouch, be gentle, you bastard, let go, let go¡­¡± Xu Chaomu pped at Shen Chi¡¯s arm, but Shen Chi had no intention of letting go! Lou Yanli nced at Shen Chi, looking somewhat helpless. However, this was Xu Chaomu¡¯s fourth brother, he thought that with her fourth brother present, she surely wouldn¡¯t be at a disadvantage. But this man¡¯s gaze towards Xu Chaomu was strange, as if he couldn¡¯t wait to devour her whole, as though Xu Chaomu had done something to wrong him. Lao Cheng was still lecturing those youths. Lou Yanli, worried that things might get out of hand, hurried over to break it up, and only then did Lao Cheng let go! On the way, Shen Chi dragged Xu Chaomu along, like a domineering wolf pulling a pitiful sheep. Xu Chaomu endured the pain in her teeth and wailed all the way, ¡°Shen Chi, the big bastard, Shen Chi, the big lech, Shen Chi, the big hooligan, let go, I can walk by myself! It hurts to death, hurts to death¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi frowned, finding her noisy, and simply picked her up. Xu Chaomu was dizzy with the sudden movement, and quickly clung to his neck. When she met his eyes, she saw the coldness radiating from them. Chilling¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Had she annoyed His Lordship again? Impossible, she hadn¡¯t said a word. Oh, it must be that he was irritating after dealing with Miss Bai Man and took it out on her! Shen Chi opened the door of the Maybach and threw Xu Chaomu onto the rear seat. He went to the trunk to find the medical kit, and found an ointment for treating scrapes. He took the ointment and sat in the back seat, while Xu Chaomu dodged like avoiding a rogue: ¡°You, you, you, don¡¯te over here!¡± But she was no match for Shen Chi. With a cold snort, he pulled her over, rolled up her sleeve, and applied the ointment to her arm! Hissss¡ª Xu Chaomu gasped in cold air again. ¡°Be gentle! It hurts! Ah! It¡¯s killing me¡­ ah¡­¡± The man really didn¡¯t understand at all how to be gentle or cherish the fairer sex; his grip was as domineering as could be. She was a patient, for goodness¡¯ sake; could being gentle kill him? Shen Chi didn¡¯t even look at her, spreading the ointment over her arm. Does applying ointment on a wound ever not hurt? However, listening to her cries, the corners of his lips unwittingly curved into a slight smile. ¡°Ah¡­ ah¡­ ah¡­ It hurts, be more gentle, gentle¡­¡± Xu Chaomu howled like a banshee. She couldn¡¯t help but forcefully push Shen Chi, she didn¡¯t want him to apply the ointment anymore. Didn¡¯t this man mean well at all? In the midst of the scuffling, Shen Chi wrapped her in his arms, his seductive voice resounding in Xu Chaomu¡¯s ears. ¡°You can scream louder; I don¡¯t mind.¡± If he said this to someone else, not everyone would blush, but who was Xu Chaomu? She was a little ruffian, could she not understand the implications in Shen Chi¡¯s words? Shen Chi, this shameless man, was simply harassing her! ying hooligan? Who¡¯s afraid of who, she wants to see who can out-hooligan who! She wrapped her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s waist, pouting coquettishly, ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ don¡¯t¡­ ah¡­ gently¡­ ah, um¡­ you¡¯re hurting me¡­ ¡® That¡¯s how it¡¯s written in theics, she just added some sound effects. The smile at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth grew deeper; he had really underestimated this girl. Old Cheng, however, was blushing and his ears turned red as he heard Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice not far from the car. Should he go over there, or should he not? After hesitating for five seconds, he decided to have a cigarette before going over. Xu Chaomuughed triumphantly. Trying to out-hooligan her? But Shen Chi, with a swift move, suddenly pushed Xu Chaomu down onto the back seat, his tall frame covering her. ¡°Baby, your screams are so enchanting¡­¡± he teased her, his hot breath brushing her ear, his eyes intently fixed on hers. Xu Chaomu was stunned. What did he call her? Shen Chi prodded her wound and deliberately applied the ointment with a firm hand. ¡°Bastard, that hurts, can¡¯t you be a bit gentler?¡± Xu Chaomu howled, trying to knock his big hand away! ¡°Baby, it only hurts once, and once it¡¯s done, it¡¯ll feel good¡­¡± Shen Chi hooked the corner of his lips, a mischievous look on his face. Thinking of outsmarting him? She was still too green! Damn, what¡¯s this ¡°just hurt once and it¡¯ll feel good¡± nonsense? Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed red like a peach! Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be the one teasing him? ¡°Shen Chi, get up, get up! You shameless guy, I¡¯m not ying with you anymore!¡± Xu Chaomu admitted defeat. She conceded that Shen Chi was absolutely shameless. Shen Chi patted her cheek, ¡°Giving up so soon? Hmm?¡± ¡°With someone like you who swims in a sea of beauties every day, who couldpete with you? I give up!¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. But Shen Chi had no intention of getting up. He leaned down, very close to her, even being able to distinctly smell the girlish scent emanating from her. ¡°Which eye of yours saw me swimming in a sea of beauties every day?¡± Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t concede, not admitting it! The scandals were flying everywhere! ¡°My left eye saw it, my right eye saw it, both of my eyes saw it!¡± Xu Chaomu argued with him. ¡°Then shut your eyes for me!¡± As he spoke, Shen Chi really went to cover her eyes, leaning down, his seductive voice softly saying, ¡°Be good, Fourth Brother will spoil you.¡± Soon, Old Cheng saw that there seemed to be no movement inside the car anymore, so he threw away the cigarette butt and walked over. As he got into the car, Shen Chi was sitting up straight, resting with his eyes closed. Xu Chaomu sat beside Shen Chi, her face flushed like she¡¯d tipped over a dye vat, making faces one after another. ¡°Ahem.¡± Old Cheng cleared his throat and sat in the driver¡¯s seat. Nobody spoke, and for a moment there was silence in the car. Xu Chaomu stroked her arm. It was painful, but not as much as before, the ointment felt cool on her skin. It seemed a bit like Shen Chi said, hurt once, then it feels good¡­ Pssh, what nonsense, she was definitely being led astray by Shen Chi! However, though her arm wasn¡¯t hurting much now, her tooth still ached tremendously. She winced in pain, covering her mouth with her head down. Old Cheng started the car, turned around, and began driving the Maybach from the school toward the Shen Family home. Xu Chaomu, utterly listless like a frostbitten eggnt, couldn¡¯t muster any energy and kept her head down throughout the ride. Indeed, a toothache is not a sickness, but when it strikes, it¡¯s unbearable! Chapter 50 - 050: Give Me A Kiss Chapter 50: Give Me A Kiss Trantor: 549690339 Just when she was in so much pain that she felt like hitting someone, Shen Chi opened his eyes and nced at her indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Chaomu covered one cheek, ¡°Toothache¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyelids drooped again, ¡°Endure it, take medicine when we get home.¡± Wasn¡¯t that stating the obvious? Didn¡¯t she know to take medicine? Suddenly, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes brightened, and she scooted closer to Shen Chi, ¡°But Fourth Brother¡­ it hurts so much, what should I do¡­¡¯ This time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t even lift his head, ¡°Even if it hurts, endure!¡± Talking to this man was utterly devoid of any fun, so she boldly rubbed Shen Chi¡¯s arm and tilted her little face upward, pretending to not fear death, ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ what would you do if Miss Bai had a toothache?¡± Shen Chi opened his eyes once again, meeting Xu Chaomu¡¯s clear and bright eyes. The car¡¯s interior lights were off, but with the faint light, he could still see Xu Chaomu¡¯s clean, pretty face. ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± He called her name with a hoarse voice. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up, waiting for what he would say next. Under the vague light, Shen Chi¡¯s face seemed even more handsome, with the darkness of thete night entuating his mature and imposing features. His gaze was somewhat hazy, and Xu Chaomu stared at him, never growing tired of the view. ¡°Are you asking for a beating?¡± Shen Chi patted her cheek, looking into her eyes. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had thought he would say something sweet, but this man was just too much! Xu Chaomu red at him fiercely, shoved aside her sense of injustice, andughed so hard that she trembled, ¡°Fourth Brother, let¡¯s make a bet!¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t want to engage in these boring little games, and said no more. ¡°Fourth Brother, do you dare to bet with me? Not betting means you¡¯re a coward!¡± Shen Chi remained silent, shifting his gaze away and leaning against the leather seat,zily looking ahead. ¡°Fourth Brother, you don¡¯t dare to bet with me? Are you admitting you¡¯re a coward?¡± Boring, childish. Shen Chi snorted coldly. The driver, Old Cheng, sitting at the front, dutifully pulled up the partition. He thought Xu Chaomu was really bold to tease even CEO Shen. But was this still the inscrutable and formidable president of Shen Group, Shen Chi? Shen Chi¡¯s cold and detached demeanor, his indifference to women, was well-known! ¡°Coward, Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, the coward; if you don¡¯t bet with me, you¡¯ll forever be a coward in front of me!¡± Xu Chaomu hummed. ¡°It seems you really are asking for a beating,¡± Shen Chi nced at her coldly. Sometimes he wondered, had he been spoiling her too much? To the point where she was getting out of control? If anyone else dared to talk nonsense in front of him, he could ruin them. Yet, he was helpless when it came to Xu Chaomu. ¡°Fourth Brother, seriously, my tooth really hurts! If it were Miss Bai, would you still be so nonchnt?¡± Xu Chaomu was almost in tears from the pain. ¡°Talking so much with a toothache!¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. ¡°Fourth Brother, just pretend I¡¯m Miss Bai, and give me a kiss, then the pain will go away¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, so fierce for what. But she hade to realize something: Bai Man was the only one in his heart, irreceable by anyone else. So, he would never touch her. At the most, he was just ying along with her because of the eight years they had spent together. If she took it seriously, she would lose. This time, after his singlemand to ¡°get lost,¡± she didn¡¯t pester him any further and sat alone in silence, looking out the window without speaking again. The streetlights outside were bright, one after another. Moths fluttered around the lights, everything was peaceful. Without Xu Chaomu¡¯s chatter, the car suddenly became quiet, not a single sound to be heard. Xu Chaomu rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window, just watching. Truly, the scenery outside the window was not as good as inside, but outside, she could watch as long as she wished. Shen Chi frowned; he thought Xu Chaomu would pounce on him as usual¡ªshe always did. However, there was no such movement. He turned his head to look at her and saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s clean little face; she was looking out the window,pletely still. For the first time, he saw confusion in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes; he had never thought this carefree, naive girl could be confused¡­ Perhaps the atmosphere made Xu Chaomu feel a bit mncholic, a sentiment she rarely understood in her life. She thought back to Zhou Raning to find her that morning, Zhou Ran¡¯s words imprinting in her mind, one by one. There was difort in her heart, a stifling sensation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shen Chi spoke. He moved to sit beside her, hisrge hand caressing her hair. Xu Chaomu moved her lips but said nothing. Shen Chi¡¯s touch was gentle, a rare gentleness. So gentle she almost drowned in it, but s, he was probably this way with every woman. Shen Chi curved his lips into a half-smile; was the girl angry? Shen Chi continued to stroke Xu Chaomu¡¯s long hair. This was the first time he realized how fine and soft the girl¡¯s ck hair was. Whenever his fingers touched her neck, an electric current seemed to surge through Xu Chaomu¡¯s body, causing a tingling, numbing sensation. In this world, gentleness is a deadly thing, especially the gentleness of this man. Xu Chaomu swatted away his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Shen Chi actuallyughed, ¡°Are you angry with me?¡± ¡°Who dares to be angry with you.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look at him, her eyes fixed outside the window. Outside, the crescent moon hung low in the sky, the stars shining brightly, while wisps of clouds drifted slowly. When the breeze blew, the willow branches by the road danced gracefully, the spring mist enveloping the stone tablets of Xi?o Xi?ng. ¡°Stop it,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand glided over her small face, his fingertips stroking her cheek. Right then, Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang. He nced at the screen and pressed to disconnect. But the caller was persistent and kept calling Shen Chi, forcing him to answer. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice came through with a hint of grievance, ¡°Why did it take you so long to answer my call¡­¡± ¡°I was just busy.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you rested yet?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Can I discuss something with you, please?¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice was sickeningly sweet as she cooed at Shen Chi. ¡°Hmm, speak.¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re going to A City to acquire a technologypany; can Ie with you, please?¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice was soft, as if pleading with him. Because she knew that if Shen Group acquired this massive technologypany, it would undoubtedly hold a press conference, and if she could stand by his side, it would be tantamount to announcing their rtionship to the public. Their rtionship was like a flower in a mirror or the moon reflected on the water¡¯s surface; unclear, undefinable. Although Shen Chi had said she was his fianc¨¦e, she wouldn¡¯t feel secure until the day it was publicly announced. Even though Shen Cexian had told her that Shen Chi would definitely marry her, she couldn¡¯t let her guard down until they were officially registered. Shen Chi was a man of integrity, she knew. Just as they had known each other for so long, yet he had never touched her. She hadn¡¯t noticed any other women around him; logically, she should be confident about him. Yet, relying on a woman¡¯s natural intuition, she felt an unease. Why she felt uneasy, she hoped it was just her overthinking it.. Chapter 51 - 051: I know, you hate me Chapter 51: I know, you hate me Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s thin lips parted lightly. On the other end of the line, Bai Man actually felt an inexplicable joy. Maybe she was really overthinking it. She was his fianc¨¦e, a position that would not be shaken. People who knew her all said that she was the white moonlight that Shen Chi treasured in his palm. Probably, she was really overthinking it. ¡°Husband¡­ thank you, I love you,¡± Bai Man was surrounded by happiness. ¡°Before we are married, don¡¯t call me that,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, but his tone remained exceedingly calm and irrefutable. ¡°Alright, I got it, I just got too excited. If you¡¯re notfortable with it, I won¡¯t call you that,¡± Bai Man smiled. ¡°Mm, go to bed early.¡± ¡°You too, don¡¯t work too hard, it hurts me. Every time I see you so busy, I wish I could help share the burden, but unfortunately, I don¡¯t understand business,¡± Bai Man sighed. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up,¡± Shen Chi said ndly. ¡°Mm, I love you¡­¡± As soon as Bai Man¡¯s words fell, Shen Chi hung up the phone. As long as the two of them talked, Xu Chaomu stared out the window just as long. Although she couldn¡¯t make out what Bai Man was saying, she still recognized Bai Man¡¯s voice. It was so tender it was sickening, she remembered it after hearing it just once. If she were a man, she would surely like Bai Man too. Thinking this, she fell asleep without remembering her toothache. When Old Cheng drove the car into the Shen Family¡¯s garage, Xu Chaomu had already fallen into a deep sleep. ¡°President Shen, we¡¯ve arrived!¡± Old Cheng announced as usual. ¡°Shh¡­ she¡¯s asleep,¡± Shen Chi gestured for Old Cheng to lower his voice. Old Cheng nodded, no longer speaking, and opened the car door for Shen Chi. Because Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm was injured, Shen Chi was exceptionally careful when he lifted her. He was afraid of waking her, so his movements were extraordinarily gentle. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t heavy, and when Shen Chi held her, it was like holding a little cat, though this little cat was by no means well-behaved. The Shen Family vi became particrly quiet at this time, and Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu all the way out of the garage, through the garden, and upstairs. The stairs in the Shen Family home were wooden, and Shen Chi lightened his footsteps, carefully ascending with her to the bedroom. He gentlyid her down on the bed and tucked her in with the nket. This girl truly would not know anything once she fell asleep¡ªif he sold her, she would probably still be dreaming. After doing all this, Shen Chi did not leave but sat down at the bedside of Xu Chaomu. He still remembered a few days ago when he had a bit to drink and ended up sleeping next to her. She was just as oblivious then as she was now. Actually, this was best; being able to sleep until dawn was also a kind of happiness. At least she wouldn¡¯t be like him, often waking up in the middle of the night, and once awake, unable to fall asleep again. Not sure how long he had been watching her, Shen Chi eventually stood up and went back to his own room. Xu Chaomu was awoken by a toothache, inhaling a breath of cold air and fumbling to turn on the bedsidemp. She nced at the clock¡ªit was two in the morning. Her pain was so intense she gasped, and she could only cover her cheek, as if that might lessen the pain somewhat. She didn¡¯t know who had carried her upstairs, perhaps¡­ it was Shen Chi? But she couldn¡¯t worry about that now, what she wanted the most was a painkiller! There certainly weren¡¯t any in her room, so she put on her slippers and decided to search downstairs. Not wanting to disturb others, she didn¡¯t dare to turn on the lights and took a small nightlight she usually yed with to go downstairs. Unexpectedly, just as she started going through the living room, she seemed to hear the sound of an argument! The voices were faint and indistinct, but asionally audible. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned white with fear¡ªit was two o¡¯clock in the morning! Just as she covered her head and was about to return to her room, she heard a familiar voice¡ªit was Zhou Ran! ¡°Shen Cexian, I¡¯m not here to reopen old wounds with you this time, but don¡¯t think I¡¯m easy to bully. You¡¯d better not provoke me!¡± Why was Zhou Ran at the Shen¡¯s? Who was she arguing with? It was the middle of the night. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t have the habit of eavesdropping, but thinking back to what Zhou Ran had said to her that morning, her heart felt ufortable. So, she slowly opened the living room door and moved towards the direction of the voices. Perhaps, she wanted to understand why Zhou Ran wanted her to leave the Shen¡¯s¡­ The night was indeed cold; thewn was covered with ayer of white frost. Mist drifted in the air, dampening her forehead and wetting her bangs. As expected, the light in Shen Cexian¡¯s room was on! ¡°I¡¯ve given you what you wanted, what more do you expect? Cough cough,¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s voice, filled with rage. His health had not been good in recent years, and he would cough whenever he got agitated. ¡°Shen Cexian, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. You¡¯ve handed the Shen Group to Achi, but you¡¯re reluctant to sign the documents. Are you waiting for me to die, to then pull Achi down from the president¡¯s position?¡± Zhou Ran pressed aggressively, sparing no sentiment. ¡°The president¡¯s position is meant for the able. Achi is my son, Shihan is also my son! Cough cough¡­ Besides, look at the good son you raised, he has always refused to marry. I¡¯ve said it¡ªI cannot entrust the position of president to someone without an heir! Cough cough¡­ The Shen Group is a family business; it must be inherited by someone with the Shen surname! ¡± ¡°Achi is only in his twenties, are you worried he won¡¯t have a son? Shen Cexian, don¡¯t y tricks with me! I¡¯m telling you, as long as I¡¯m alive, I will keep an eye on you! Let¡¯s see who dies first.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s words were like thorns on a rose, each one making one¡¯s heart race. Xu Chaomu was truly frightened by Zhou Ran. Was she too unfamiliar with Zhou Ran? Previously, in her eyes, Zhou Ran was like a beautiful orchid, as if she was above all offense and praise. But Xu Chaomu never expected Zhou Ran to speak such words. ¡°Zhou Ran¡­¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s voice grew low, he called out Zhou Ran¡¯s name with a spreading sadness, ¡°I know you hate me. I also know you don¡¯t trust me. If one day, I leave this world before you, will you be sad? Tell me.¡± Zhou Ran did not speak immediately, it took her a long time to speak slowly, ¡°Sad? Why would I be sad; I will be very happy, very happy¡­¡± ¡°Cough cough, cough cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s coughing intensified. At two o¡¯clock in the morning, Xu Chaomu was chilled by their discussion. ¡°Shen Cexian.¡± Zhou Ran called out his name, ¡°Give me the photo.¡± ¡°What photo? Cough cough¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb.¡± ¡°Why do you still want the photo? Mengxi is already dead!¡± ¡°I just want the photo.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s tone was very determined. Xu Chaomu waspletely stunned. Mengxi? Her mother, Xu Mengxi? Did Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian both know her mother? Why, why didn¡¯t she know anything¡­ Then, why did Zhou Ran bring her to the Shen¡¯s eight years ago? Xu Chaomu felt cold all over, as if she were standing in an ice cer.. Chapter 52 - 052: You Don ‘t Want Me Anymore, Right? Chapter 52: You Don ¡®t Want Me Anymore, Right? Trantor: 549690339 Impossible. Their family lived in the most remote area in C City, extremely poor; how could her mother possibly know Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran? It had to be someone with the same name, also called Mengxi. ¡°I won¡¯t give you the photo! Just go back!¡± Shen Cexian was adamant. ¡°I¡¯ve been asking you for so many years, and you refuse to give it to me. Fine, Shen Cexian, you win. I, Zhou Ran, have always been the wife you were forced to marry!¡± There was a loud ¡°ng,¡± as if a cup had shattered! After that, Xu Chaomu heard Shen Cexian¡¯s incessant coughing! Thump, thump, thump, thump¡­ The sound of high heels striking the floor. Xu Chaomu hurriedly hid. Sure enough, before long, Zhou Ran came down from upstairs. Not muchter, a car drove away from the Shen family¡¯s vi. Xu Chaomu took advantage of the darkness to slip back to her room, so frightened that her teeth stopped hurting. That night, Xu Chaomu suffered from insomnia. Such a rare event as insomnia actually happened to her. She needed to calm down. She stayed calm all night long, and it was only after five in the morning that she fell into a drowsy sleep. Coincidentally, she even had a dream, a nightmare. In the dream, Shen Chi was getting married, and the bride was Bai Man. Bai Man, in a white rhinestone strapless wedding dress, had a radiant smile. Meanwhile, Shen Chi was dressed in a ck suit, elegant and mature. Shen Chi walked hand in hand with Bai Man through the happiness arch decorated with flowers and approached the priest. Xu Chaomu sat below, just watching Shen Chi and Bai Man. Anger, dissatisfaction, and difort all erupted at once! She picked up her long dress and walked onto the stage, ¡°Shen Chi, you don¡¯t want me anymore, do you?¡± Downstairs, Shen Chi was having breakfast; he was almost finished. He nced at his watch; it was nearly seven o¡¯clock. Why hadn¡¯t Xu Chaomue down yet? ¡°Butler Ling, Miss Xu probably threw her rm clock again; should I go wake her up?¡± the butler suggested. Xu Chaomu ruined several rm clocks a month. At first, Butler Ling felt bad, but Shen Chi was always nonchnt, ¡°Let her throw them. Can¡¯t I afford a few rm clocks?¡± After that, Butler Ling never said anything more on the matter. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go,¡± Shen Chi rose from his seat. Butler Ling was stunned; was the Fourth Young Master really going to personally wake up Xu Chaomu? It seemed¡­ somewhat inappropriate! Atter all, Xu Chaomu was eighteen this year¡­ But he didn¡¯t dare to stop Shen Chi. In the Shen family, who wasn¡¯t afraid of Shen Chi. When Shen Chi pushed the door open, Xu Chaomu was angrily repeating that phrase ¡°Shen Chi, you don¡¯t want me anymore, do you¡±¡­ At first, it was anger. But by the time Shen Chi stood by her bed, it had turned into a sob. Shen Chi grabbed her hand tightly, frowning deeply, ¡°How could I not want you?¡± Xu Chaomu was awakened by his cold grip, her eyes snapping open! ¡°Shen Chi, are you acting indecently again!¡± Xu Chaomu tugged her hand away, pulling and pulling! Her voice was so loud that Butler Ling, who was downstairs cleaning the table, waspletely startled! Shen Chi, acting indecently? She hadn¡¯t misheard, had she? First, Xu Chaomu dared to call the Fourth Young Master by his name? Second, how could the Fourth Young Master act indecently towards Xu Chaomu? Shen Chi held onto her hand, not letting her move, and leaned in, ¡°You were calling my name even in your dream.¡± Xu Chaomu was stunned. Right, she had had a dream, a dream where Shen Chi was marrying Bai Man! ¡°Did I call your name? I don¡¯t remember that. Don¡¯t make excuses to act indecently!¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Shen Chi took another step closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, ¡°Do I need an excuse to be a hooligan?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck tingled from his teasing, sending a shiver through her body. ¡°If you don¡¯t let go, I¡¯ll scream, and then your reputation as the Young Master Shen will be ruined.¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him triumphantly, certain that he wouldn¡¯t dare to behave indecently in the Shen Family home. Shen Chi curled the corners of his lips. She had been acting petnt and resentfulst night, but after a night¡¯s sleep, she had forgotten all about it. This girl really was adorably foolish. ¡°Do you really want me to let go?¡± Shen Chi looked at her. ¡°Let go!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll let go¡­¡± ¡°Just do it¡­ Ah! Jerk!¡± As soon as Shen Chi released her, Xu Chaomu fell back onto the bed! She had forgotten that it was he who had pulled her up! She cursed Shen Chi nine thousand nine hundred times in her heart, for how could there be such an utterly detestable man in this world! She touched her head, grateful that it wasn¡¯t too painful. But the man was unapologetically watching her as if he had done nothing wrong,pletely at ease. ¡°Hurry up ande down for breakfast!¡± Shen Chimanded sternly. ¡°I¡¯m not eating, my tooth hurts!¡± Xu Chaomu only then remembered her toothache. It was the kind of toothache that hurt whenever it pleased. She covered her cheek, furrowing her brows in a painful expression. If Shen Chi hadn¡¯t known about her toothache yesterday, he might have thought she was faking it! He went downstairs helplessly, ¡°Butler Ling, where is the pain medication?¡± Butler Ling was still wondering what the young master and Xu Chaomu were up to so early in the morning, and was surprised to see hime down so quickly! She hurriedly responded, ¡°Yes, I have it, I¡¯ll go get it!¡± In a moment, Butler Ling brought over a medical kit containing various medicines. ¡°Young Master, here¡¯s the pain medication, just take one pill per meal,¡± Butler Ling handed the medicine to Shen Chi. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face remained as indifferent as ever. He took the medicine and some boiled water and headed upstairs. Butler Ling was stunned for a moment. The young master was such a cold person; could he even y the hooligan? She was quite curious what he would look like doing so. This time, Shen Chi also closed Xu Chaomu¡¯s door behind him as he entered. ¡°Take the medicine!¡± Shen Chi ordered. ¡°Ah? More medicine¡­ I don¡¯t want to take it¡­¡± This kind of medicine was very bitter! ¡°Want me to feed you?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°No, no, no, how could I trouble you to do such a trivial thing, no, no, no, I¡¯ll do it myself, myself¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was scared off by Shen Chi. When she was ten, she said, ¡°I won¡¯t take it, you feed me,¡± and to this day, eight yearster, she could still remember the bitter taste of the pill in her throat! This man really didn¡¯t y by the rules! ¡°Then obediently take it yourself!¡± Shen Chi fixed his gaze on her, one hand holding the pill, the other a cup. Xu Chaomu had no choice but toply. There was no room for her to talk back, no room for resistance, even the air seemed saturated with Shen Chi¡¯s dominating presence! Swallowing the bitter pill with a sense of deep injustice, Xu Chaomu gulped down several mouthfuls of water, almost choking herself to death. ¡°If it still hurts, tell me, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital!¡± Xu Chaomu finally managed to utter a dissenting ¡°no.¡± The result was a piercing nce from Shen Chi, and Xu Chaomu quicklv corrected herself, ¡°Oh¡­ If it still hurts, I¡¯ll tell you, you can take me to the hospital¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, ¡± was all Shen Chi voiced from his throat, before turning and heading downstairs. Xu Chaomu was at a loss with him, who could me her when his aura was stronger than hers; she didn¡¯t dare say ¡°no.¡± All she could do was kick the nkets in frustration, a small act of defiance.. Chapter 53 - 053: Car Accident Chapter 53: Car ident Trantor: 549690339 After Xu Chaomu swallowed the medication, she had no appetite for breakfast, so Shen Chi tucked some snacks into her bag. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to school,¡± Shen Chi took her hand. ¡°Are you not busy today? If you¡¯re busy, let the driver take me,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Shen Chi lifted his eyes and headed straight outside, ¡°I¡¯m not busy.¡± It wasn¡¯t until Shen Chi drove the Maybach away from the Shen Family that Liu Rumei climbed up the stairs to the west building and sat on the roof. On the rooftop, the sunlight was just right, the clouds were light and airy, and the breeze was gentle. Shen Shihan was leisurely looking at the newspaper and drinking coffee all by himself, inpletefort. The sunlight shone on his face, on his dark shirt, making him look even more stern and steady. He leaned back in his chair, his slender fingers flipping through the newspaper, making a rustling sound. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the Group?¡± Liu Rumei spoke indifferently, sitting across from him. ¡°I¡¯d be looking at the newspaper there as well, might as well read it at home. The weather is nice today, sunny and breezy.¡± ¡°Shen Chi will be off to A City the day after tomorrow,¡± Liu Rumei nced at Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan always acted as if nothing involved him, as if everything was unrted to him. No matter how anxious Liu Rumei was, Shen Shihan remained calm. Sometimes Liu Rumei thought that her son was not as good as her daughter. At least Shen Yanrou had quite a bit of prestige in Shen Group, and everyone below feared her, Shen Yanrou. Shen Yanrou had tactics and ability, but unfortunately, the Shen Group still ended up in Shen Chi¡¯s hands. ¡°I know,¡± Shen Shihan said without lifting his head. ¡°So you n on reading newspapers here for a few days?¡± Liu Rumei¡¯s tone was quite dissatisfied. ¡°As the vice president of Shen Group, how could I not go to A City? Don¡¯t you think?¡± Shen Shihan picked up his coffee and took a sip. ¡°I definitely trust you; you have your own ns. I came today to talk to you about another matter,¡± Liu Rumei said. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard that the day after tomorrow, Bai Man is also going.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal, Bai Man is the fianc¨¦e of my fourth brother. This time, if she goes, it could be a good opportunity.¡± ¡°If she goes, the position of Shen Family¡¯s daughter-inw will be solidified once she attends the press conference.¡± Liu Rumei sighed, not sure if her son truly did not understand or was just pretending not to. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Bai Man and my fourth brother have known each other for many years, passionately in love. Getting married is only a matter of time.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, it¡¯s like ying the lute to a cow, I¡¯d better go talk to your second sister,¡± Liu Rumei got angry. She stood up and left the rooftop. As for Shen Shihan, he showed no particr expression, just a slight movement at the corners of his lips. After he finished his cup of coffee, he stood up. Looking up, the sunlight was just right, but somewhat scorching. Since it was spring, the Shen Family¡¯s vi looked even more beautiful, especially the garden, full of vibrant colors and life. There were many kinds of flowers in the garden, with servants weeding and pruning. He casually picked up a ck coat, came down from upstairs, took his car from the garage, and left the Shen Family¡¯s estate. The day after tomorrow, Shen Chi was scheduled to go to A City. Still, he was not so keen on letting him go. Since that was the case, he needed to make a trip to the bank first. The Ferrari sped along the highway, his destination was not in C City and would take two hours to reach. Along the way, the air was fresh, the scenery pleasant, and Shen Shihan¡¯s mind rapidly processed his recent thoughts. Just as he was about to turn a corner, suddenly, not far away, a truck abruptly changednes and, overloaded as it was, wobbled and struck a van next to it! With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the truck crashed onto the van, and the cargo tumbled out! The entire van was instantly deformed, dust and debris scattered all over! Shen Shihan quickly turned the steering wheel, stopping his car on the side of the road. The dust kicked up choked him; he grabbed his phone and dialed emergency services m a rush! Saving people was urgent! He jumped out of his car and rushed to the scene of the ident! The truck driver was trapped inside, high up and unable to climb out, but wasrgely unharmed. The van, however, suffered extreme damage, its frontpletely crushed. Shen Shihan took out a safety hammer and tapped on the van¡¯s window ss, being careful to prevent shards from flying into the interior. Looking through the window, he saw two people inside, a driver and a young girl in the passenger seat. Both were unconscious, the girl especially so, severely injured, with blood already flowing from her head. The road was not busy with traffic, and there were no cars passing by at the moment. Shen Shihan had no choice but to carefully break the window, hoping to rescue the individuals inside. ¡°Hang in there, the ambnce will be here soon!¡± Shen Shihan shouted into the window. The van¡¯s driver seemed to hear his voice and faintly opened his eyes, only to pass out again after a short while. The girl in the passenger seat remained motionless, and Shen Shihan did not even know if she was still alive. Finally, he brushed away the ss shards by hand, cautiously working the door open bit by bit. He dared not force it, afraid that any sudden movement could make the van copse, bringing the heavy cargo down on them all at once. He could only gradually open the door, trying to let fresh air into the vehicle. When he finally managed to open the door, his hands were shed by the ss and covered in blood. He cleared off the heavy items sitting atop the van, hoping to save time for the emergency crew when the ambnce arrived. Before long, the ambnce arrived with its lights shing quickly followed by the police cars! Shen Shihan was drenched in sweat; he copsed to the side, allowing the medical staff to take the driver and the girl away. The sunlight was somewhat dazzling, the crimson blood and dust-covered rubble swirled in his vision. He could hardly imagine that he still harboredpassion in his heart.S?@rch §áew§áo?el .?rg on g?ogl? Soon, the driver and the girl were loaded into the ambnce, and Shen Shihan nced at it¡ªC City¡¯s First Hospital. ¡°Sir, as a witness to the scene, could youe with us to make a statement?¡± a police officer approached Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan was originally heading to a town on the outskirts of C City, but upon hearing the officer¡¯s request, he nodded. Later, he thought, sometimes fate is so strange; if he had refused to leave by car then, would the trajectory of his life have beenpletely different? The police took photos at the scene and collected evidence, taking the truck driver back to the station as well. Shen Shihan drove his car following them. At the police station, he cooperated with the statement, which didn¡¯t take much time. ¡°Mr. Shen, we¡¯re very grateful for your cooperation, and we will keep your information confidential.¡± The police officer knew Shen Shihan had acted bravely and treated him with great respect, even seeing him out when he left. Shen Shihan did not say much, putting on his sunsses and leaving the police station. He felt an odd sensation in his heart, a cold smile spreading across his lips. Wasn¡¯t he, Shen Shihan, supposed to be heartless? The Ferrari circled the police station and, when passing by C City¡¯s First Hospital, for some reason, he stopped the car.. Chapter 54 - 054: Men’s Words Can’t Be Trusted Chapter 54: Men¡¯s Words Can¡¯t Be Trusted Trantor: 549690339 What Shen Shihan understood the least was sympathy because he neither needed anyone¡¯s sympathy nor would he offer it to anyone else. In his eyes, so-called sympathy was nothing more than mockery in disguise. Yet when he parked his car at the hospital entrance, he surprisingly hesitated for a moment. He opened the car door and walked towards the building. ¡°How are the two people who were brought in from the car ident doing?¡± Shen Shihan asked the nurse at the front desk. ¡°Oh, you mean the van ident on the highway? They¡¯re both in surgery now. The driver¡¯s injuries aren¡¯t serious, but the young girl¡¯s condition is more critical,¡± the nurse replied. ¡°Is there a life-threatening situation?¡± ¡°That¡­ it¡¯s hard to say,¡± the nurse responded with some difficulty. Before Shen Shihan could speak again, the nurse looked at him, ¡°Are you a family member of the victims? We¡¯ve been trying to contact their rtives, but we haven¡¯t been able to reach anyone yet.¡± After speaking, the nurse took out two identification cards, ¡°We found these in the car, the driver is Zhang Hua and the girl is MO Shuifu. Based on their IDs, it doesn¡¯t seem like the two are rted. Do you know them?¡± Shen Shihan picked up one of the IDs, and the girl¡¯s face appeared on the card. A face like a melon seed, with willow-leaf eyebrows, and a serene smile gracing her face. ¡°MO Shuifu¡­¡± Shen Shihan murmured softly. Indeed, the name suited her, as the girl looked just like her name, serene and tranquil. ¡°I don¡¯t know them,¡± Shen Shihan handed back the ID to the nurse. ¡°Oh, then we¡¯ll keep looking to try to locate the victims¡¯ family,¡± the nurse said with a smile to Shen Shihan. ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Shen Shihan put down the ID and left the hospital. He still had important matters to attend to; he couldn¡¯t afford any more dys. Shen Chi was going to A City the day after tomorrow. In school, Xu Chaomu had been quiet all morning, and after the lunch break, she found that her toothache had returned. She spent the entire afternoon listlessly draped over her desk until Yu Weiwei was almost ready to call an ambnce. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t scare me. Where does it hurt? I¡¯ll take you to the infirmary,¡± said Yu Weiwei as she touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s forehead, which wasn¡¯t hot. She inspected Xu Chaomu from left to right and noticed a new abrasion on her arm. ¡°Chaomu, what happened to your arm? When did you get hurt? It looks so painful!¡± Yu Weiwei eximed. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just fell on my way home yesterday,¡± quipped Xu Chaomu quickly pulling her sleeve down. It happened to be the end of ss and Lou Yanli arrived at Xu Chaomu¡¯s ssroom doorway. He gestured to Xu Chaomu, indicating for her toe out. Yu Weiwei also teasingly nudged Xu Chaomu, ¡°Your boyfriend is here, go on, hurry up!¡± ¡°Keep it down, I¡¯ll be in trouble if someone hears,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly. ¡°Got it, got it, make it quick ande back. The next ss is with Master Extinguisher!¡± Yu Weiwei teased. Xu Chaomu went out of the ssroom, and Lou Yanli pulled her aside to a quieter ce. ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯m really sorry about what happenedst night. I had no idea Yao Yue would go find you. I¡¯ll figure out a way to clear things up with her,¡± Lou Yanli said earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s no big deal. I¡¯ve forgotten about it, why are you still remembering it?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ve been wronged,¡± Lou Yanli looked at her, ¡°is your arm injury better?¡± ¡°I applied some ointment, it¡¯s fine now. I¡¯m as lively as ever!¡± Xu Chaomu showed him her arm, ¡°How about you? You got hit yesterday. Did you get hurt? Thanks forst night.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m definitely fine, I¡¯m just worried about you,¡± Lou Yanli frowned. When Lou Yanli frowned like that, Xu Chaomu once mistakenly thought it was Shen Chi. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t. Shen Chi was far from a youthful pretty boy; the word ¡°youthful¡± was miles away from him. She never considered Shen Chi as youthful. Since she knew him, he had always appeared mature and rational. But wait, hold on. Why was she thinking of Shen Chi? Damn, she must be cursed. ¡°I¡¯m fine too, you better go back to ss. Don¡¯t worry about me, really!¡± Xu Chaomu reassured Lou Yanli, enduring her toothache and jumping a few times to put him at ease. The break was short, and before Lou Yanli could say much, the bell rang for ss. Lou Yanli reluctantly walked towards the ssroom while telling her, ¡°Take care of yourself and stay away from Yao Yue in the future.¡± ¡°Yeah, you too, take care! I¡¯ll take you to the amusement park on the weekend!¡± Xu Chaomu waved goodbye to him. Lou Yanli watched her return to the ssroom before he entered himself. As soon as Xu Chaomu got back to the ssroom, she returned to her somber state, with her toothache twitching painfully. Bearing the pain, Xu Chaomu asked for leave for one period and went to a phone booth to call Shen Chi. Shen Chi was in a meeting and didn¡¯t pick up the call from the unfamiliar number. Xu Chaomu, growing impatient, kept calling, but Shen Chi still didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Say you¡¯re calling because of a toothache, damn liar! Liar! Liar!¡± Xu Chaomu angrily hung up the phone! Xu Chaomu had no choice but to take a taxi to the hospital, grateful that she had some private money saved. She learned a lesson that day: if a man¡¯s words could be trusted, then pigs could climb trees. With a pitiful face, she waited in line at the hospital and saw a doctor, only to be cut in front of because of her young age. When she finally saw the doctor, he told her that one of her teeth was decayed and needed to be pulled. If not extracted, it would continue to hurt. Xu Chaomu was on the verge of tears; why was her luck so bad¡­ Extraction¡­ she even found taking medicine torturous, not to mention extraction; it would be unbearable. ¡°Youngdy, please think it over, and it would be best to have your parentse to the hospital,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Is there really no way to avoid it?¡± Xu Chaomu was close to pleading with the doctor. ¡°Unfortunately, no, youngdy. If it¡¯s not treated, you¡¯ll continue to hurt. You know tooth pain isn¡¯t easy to endure, right?¡± the doctor gently persuaded her. ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Let your parentse to the hospital. If possible, arrange it as soon as you can. Once it¡¯s out, it won¡¯t hurt anymore. Don¡¯t be afraid; we¡¯ll use anesthesia during the extraction. It¡¯s just like a mosquito bite, not painful at all.¡± Xu Chaomu nced at the dental tools on the table, shivering with fear. If the doctor was a man, how could she not believe his words! Moreover, the cries of a little girl resounding from the dental room next door weren¡¯t helping! Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t even had her extraction yet, but already her legs were jelly. It was her first time ever seeing so many dense medical instruments, cold and terrifying. ¡°Youngdy, what do you think? How about I prescribe some medicine for you, and you can go home and discuss it with your parents?¡± the doctor offered. Xu Chaomu nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s start with the medicine!¡± ¡°Well, take the medicine, but make sure toe back soon for the extraction, or you¡¯ll be in pain!¡± the doctor warned her. Xu Chaomu left the consultation room wilted. It was clear: the tooth had toe out¡­ She really feared pain¡­ What if the anesthesia failed, could she die from the pain? Engrossed in her chaotic thoughts, Xu Chaomu walked back to the Shen Family¡¯s house and saw the driver, Lao Cheng, looking around anxiously outside the vi. ¡°Ah, Miss Xu, you¡¯re finally back. Where did you go? I went to the school to pick you up, but you weren¡¯t there,¡± Lao Cheng said worriedly.. Chapter 55 - 055: The Little Married Couple, Showing Love Chapter 55: The Little Married Couple, Showing Love Trantor: 549690339 ¡°I didn¡¯t go anywhere,¡± Xu Chaomu said weakly. She walked toward the house with her backpack, not looking back, her whole being listless. Old Cheng found it a bit odd. Had the girl been scolded by a teacher at school again? Impossible, her skin was so thick that it would be a stroke of luck not to have driven a teacher to tears. As Xu Chaomu walked into the living room, she suddenly heard a burst of silveryughter, like that of an oriole. It was Bai Man. Howe she was at the Shen Family¡¯s house? Xu Chaomu hesitated, wondering whether to go in or not. She stood at the door and soon heard Bai Man¡¯s conversation with Shen Chi. ¡°Do you think this dress is pretty?¡± Bai Man coquettishly asked Shen Chi. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi seemed to hum in response. ¡°Ah, you didn¡¯t even look! Just take a nce, tell me, what¡¯s pretty about it?¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice was still sickly sweet. ¡°You look good in anything,¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently. Only then did Bai Man cheer up, feeling as sweet as if she had eaten honey: ¡°When did you learn to tter people? I¡¯m not falling for it¡­¡± Xu Chaomu covered her ears and wanted to run away¡ªit was a couple showing off their love; she better not go in. But Old Cheng called out to her from behind, ¡°Miss Xu, why note in? President Shen is waiting for you!¡± She wanted to run away but couldn¡¯t; how awkward. Indeed, the door opened, and a tall figure stood in front of her. Xu Chaomu, still covering her ears. wanted to run. But running awav in his presence wouldn¡¯t necessarily be bad¡­ But just as she took a step, Shen Chi caught her and pulled her back: ¡°Where are you running off to?¡± His voice was still as deep and maic as ever. ¡°I was going to find Third Brother¡­¡± Xu Chaomu lied. ¡°Your Third Brother isn¡¯t home,¡± Shen Chi said tly, ¡°Come back with me.¡± After speaking, he took Xu Chaomu by the hand and led her back to the living room. Bai Man was sitting on the sofa, still holding a fashion magazine. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ can I not be a third wheel?¡± Xu Chaomu felt she was quite self-aware. How would Bai Man think of this? Bai Man smiled, ¡°Chaomu is back, haven¡¯t you had dinner yet?¡± Xu Chaomu nced at her, still so beautiful. Delicate makeup, a pink long-sleeve dress, and a white thin overcoat draped over her shoulders. She looked both chic and sexy, exceedingly charming. Then she looked down at herself, not to mention her small chest, in this school uniform, she looked utterly unattractive. ¡°I won¡¯t eat, my tooth hurts,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Your tooth is still hurting?¡± Shen Chi asked with a frown of concern. If it weren¡¯t for Bai Man being there, Xu Chaomu probably would¡¯ve shouted at Shen Chi: ¡°You even care about me? I made so many calls to you, and you didn¡¯t pick up! ¡± However, since Bai Man was present, there was no need to be angry with Shen Chi. If she showed anger, it would only make her seem petty. So, she too responded indifferently, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the doctor,¡± Shen Chi said as he unterally grabbed her hand. Xu Chaomu shook him off: ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already seen a doctor. I¡¯m going upstairs to do my homework now; you two chat at your leisure.¡± After speaking, she ¡°bang bang bang¡± ran upstairs, faster than a rabbit. Bai Man looked at Xu Chaomu, and when she entered her room, she walked to Shen Chi with a beaming smile: ¡°Your little sister is quite amusing. She wouldn¡¯t be unweing me, would she?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Shen Chi said solemnly. ¡°Then help me have a look, which dress should I wear the day after tomorrow? I can¡¯t embarrass you. Look at this one, and then at this one!¡± Bai Man asked for Shen Chi¡¯s opinion, showing him the magazine. ¡°They¡¯re both good,¡± Shen Chi showed no preference. ¡°Then I¡¯ll choose this white gown, dignified and noble, standing beside you, won¡¯t we be well-matched?¡± Bai Man rested her head on Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Just as long as you agree, I was worried you wouldn¡¯t like it, ¡± Bai Man nestled against Shen Chi like a docile bird. Meanwhile, Xu Chaomu had locked herself in her room and closed the windows tightly. Now, she couldn¡¯t hear anything. She admitted, Bai Man was attractive, but she wasn¡¯t a man; there was no reason for her to like her. She dumped everything out of her bag¡ªthe homework books, pencil case, and the medicine she bought after school. She remembered the doctor¡¯s words, asking for her family toe to the hospital to sign for a tooth extraction. But where did she have family? She was an orphan. The thought brought an unsolicited bitterness to her heart. When she was unhappy, she took out the puppet Shen Chi had given her and vented her frustration on it. Poke, poke, poke! She poked vigorously! She remembered the conversation she had overheard outside the door¡ªShen Chi saying Bai Man ¡°looks good in anything.¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t believe Shen Chi could tter people; wasn¡¯t he always sarcastic? He had never onceplimented her, which made sense. She had nothing topliment. She was a little hooligan! Poke, poke, poke! She kept poking vigorously! Finally tired of poking, Xu Chaomu threw the puppet on the floor. She began to flip through her English book to do exercises, but as always, she felt sleepy as soon as she touched a book. After just one line of cloze passage, she fell asleep on the table. Downstairs, Bai Man was still chatting with Shen Chi. It was dinner time, and Shen Cexian, Liu Rumei, and Shen Yanrou had alle to the living room. ¡°Hello Uncle Shen, Aunt Liu, and Second Sister,¡± Bai Man greeted them with a smile. Shen Cexian responded, settling into his seat. Liu Rumei walked up to Bai Man with a smile, ¡°Manman is so sweet, when did you get here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been here for a while now. I¡¯ll be staying at the Shen Family today and tomorrow, and then apany Shen Chi to A City the day after tomorrow. Sorry to impose,¡± Bai Man was very courteous. ¡°We¡¯re family, no need for formalities; you¡¯re wee to stay as long as you like,¡± Liu Rumei said cheerily. A littleter, the servants brought the dishes to the table. Because they had a guest, there was avish spread. Bai Man sat close to Shen Chi and smiled at Liu Rumei, ¡°Aunt Liu is too kind.¡± ¡°Kind? You and Achi are nearly married! Oh, by the way, have you got your marriage certificate yet?¡± Liu Rumei asked with concern. ¡°Not yet, Shen Chi has been busytely. I thought we¡¯d wait until he¡¯s less busy,¡± Bai Man replied with a soft smile. Shen Cexian chimed in, ¡°In a while, we should invite Mr. Bai over to the Shen Family and discuss the wedding.¡± ¡°Sure, my father also looks forward to seeing you!¡± Without interrupting their conversation, Shen Chi turned to Butler Ling, ¡°Call Chaomu down for dinner.¡¯ ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go right away,¡± Butler Ling acknowledged. Butler Ling dashed up the wooden spiral staircase, tried the door, and found it was locked. She had to knock, ¡°Miss Xu, it¡¯s time for dinner.¡¯ Shen Chi had mentioned that once Xu Chaomu fell asleep, nothing could wake her up. So, no matter how much Butler Ling called, there was no response from inside. Butler Ling grew anxious and raised her voice, ¡°Miss Xu,e down for dinner!¡± Still no response, Butler Ling had no choice but to go back downstairs. ¡°Young Master, Miss Xu has locked the door and won¡¯t answer, no matter how much I call,¡± Butler Ling whispered to Shen Chi. Chapter 56 - 056: Three Vulgar Men Chapter 56: Three Vulgar Men Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi had no choice but to go himself, stretching out his hand to the butler, ¡°Give me the keys.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The butler went to fetch the spare key for Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. After taking the keys, Shen Chi headed upstairs. The sight left everyone at the table gaping, especially Bai Man, who was filled with mixed feelings. She asked Liu Rumei in a low voice, ¡°Is Xu Chaomu always like this?¡± Liu Rumei didn¡¯t speak, but Shen Yanrou did, ¡°The orphanage¡¯s prized gem has really gotten spoilt, so delicate and squeamish. I don¡¯t know where she gets the nerve, acting all high and mighty in the Shen Family.¡± Shen Chi was just reaching thest step of the staircase when he spoke without turning back, his voice colder than ever. ¡°I spoil her, so, Second Sister, do you have a problem with that?¡± His voice was deep and forceful, yet overbearing. As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone fell silent, and the surroundings instantly quieted down. A chilling silence descended as if a bucket of cold water had been poured from the sky, leaving Shen Yanrou speechless. Shen Chi¡¯s tall figure headed to Xu Chaomu¡¯s door; he didn¡¯t bother knocking, directly using the key to open it. As soon as the door opened, he saw the little wooden doll Xu Chaomu had thrown on the floor. It had been a gift from him when she was ten years old. Seeing it discarded on the ground, his brows knitted, and he bent down to pick it up. She was sleeping, having fallen asleep right there on the table, really not picky about the ce. ¡°Chaomu,¡± Shen Chi called out softly. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t respond, deep in slumber. When she slept, she retracted her sharp ws, appearingpletely harmless. Shen Chi touched her cheek and bent down to look at her. ¡°Chaomu, get up and eat.¡± Finally, Xu Chaomu showed a slight reaction, groggily opening her eyes to meet Shen Chi¡¯s gaze. ¡°Shen Chi, what are you sneaking into my room for?¡± Xu Chaomu dodged him. ¡°Do I need to sneak around to enter your room?¡± He always came and went as he pleased. ¡°You¡ªyou¡ªyou better not have any ill intentions! I¡¯d rather die than yield!¡± Xu Chaomu dered with feigned bravery. Shen Chi nced dismissively at her neckline, ¡°No normal man would be interested in an airport. Come downstairs and eat!¡± Before Xu Chaomu could react, her arm was forcibly seized by him. Damn it, airport? There¡¯s a limit to insults! Xu Chaomu was about to leap to her feet! ¡°Shen Chi, you are nothing but a vulgar, low-brow, populist man! A thug, a pervert, a scoundrel! You just like women with big chests! You just are¡­ uh¡­¡± Shen Chi dragged Xu Chaomu downstairs. She had been going on and on, but the moment they reached the table full of people, everyone¡¯s eyes were on her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed red instantly, wishing she could just dive into a hole. Although she was a bit of a hooligan, she usually only acted that way in front of Shen Chi. It was her first time doing so in front of so many people¡­ It was the end. The end. Her entire image was ruined, all because of this man! The butler had regained hisposure by now. After all, Xu Chaomu had been berating the young master since early morning, calling him ¡°Shen Chi¡± so confidently. In the Shen Family, who else dared to call the young master by his name so righteously, unless they no longer wished to live? Bai Man¡¯s expression was exaggerated. Even when she spoke to Shen Chi, she was always cautious, afraid to inadvertently upset him. And now, Xu Chaomu dared to curse Shen Chi! In C City, who didn¡¯t know that Shen Group¡¯s CEO Shen Chi had a bad temper? He was scheming and domineering in his ways, resolute and ruthless. Anyone who dared to cross him would end up like her cousin, Zheng Lin! Liu Rumei scoffed, ¡°No manners.¡¯ ¡°Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Shen Chi nced at her, speaking lightly. In fact, his eyes betrayed a hint of indulgence, and his tone carried a trace of helplessness. Xu Chaomu was so mortified she wished she could hide her face. She kept her head down, hiding behind him. As he moved a step down, so did she, following him obediently like a little cat. How could she dare to lift her head, with all the scrutinizing looks focused on her! By the time Shen Chi reached the dining table, Xu Chaomu was still keeping her head down. She had been so embarrassed that she had even forgotten her toothache. ¡°Sit down, eat!¡± Shen Chimanded authoritatively. He served her a generous portion of her favorite dishes in her bowl, knowing well that she was too ashamed to look up. A little embarrassment would serve as a good lesson for her. Bai Man was simply stunned. It was unbelievable to her. If anyone else had addressed Shen Chi in such a loud and familiar manner, they would likely have died several times over! To think that this girl was being so disrespectful to him, and yet, he wasn¡¯t even angry? Bai Man felt a tinge of envy, but then she remembered something Shen Chi had said to her, ¡°She¡¯s my sister, if I don¡¯t spoil her, who will I spoil?¡± With that thought, she felt relieved. Even if Shen Chi was cold and ruthless, he was still loving towards his sister. If she were to pick a fight with his sister, she wouldn¡¯t be Bai Man. Xu Chaomu kept her head down, eating whatever Shen Chi picked out for her, not fussy at all. Throughout the process, she never raised her head. How dared she! The shadow in her heart was as big as a basketball court now! Shen Chi, on the other hand, rarely saw Xu Chaomu this docile and a faint smile crept onto his face. Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou didn¡¯t dare to say anything, and Bai Man was even less likely to speak. Thus, everyone continued to eat their own food. Only Shen Cexian seemed displeased and snorted but said nothing, continuing with his meal. It was quiet at the beginning, but it wasn¡¯t long before Liu Rumei resumed her conversation with Bai Man. ¡°Miss Bai, have you picked out your dress for apanying Achi to A City the day after tomorrow?¡± Bai Man smiled, ¡°I just chose a white one, and he likes it too.¡± After speaking, Bai Man nced at Shen Chi, her gaze brimming with tenderness. ¡°White is good, dignified and elegant. But you always look good, standing next to Achi, you¡¯re simply a perfect match.¡± ¡°You tter me, Miss Liu. If I can look as beautiful as you at your age, I¡¯ll be content,¡± Bai Man said with a charming smile. ¡°Miss Bai, you¡¯re too kind. Why don¡¯t we go shopping together when you¡¯re back from A City? I¡¯ve been meaning to buy some things. I know you have a good eye and I¡¯m sure with you, I won¡¯t make any mistakes!¡± ¡°Sure, I happen to be free,¡± Bai Man knew that although Liu Rumei was Shen Chi¡¯s stepmother, if she were to marry into the Shen Family, she would inevitably have to deal with a whole household of people. Winning over the hearts of others was a crucial step. Xu Chaomu suddenly stopped moving her chopsticks. Shen Chi was going to A City with Bai Man? It seemed everyone knew, so why didn¡¯t she? What were they going to do in A City? It couldn¡¯t be to take wedding photos, could it? The scenery in A City was said to be beautiful, but it was a bit far from C City. Why hadn¡¯t Shen Chi told her? How could he keep it from her again. He had said he didn¡¯t consider her an outsider, but wasn¡¯t this obvious? Shen Cexian, Liu Rumei, Shen Yanrou, Bai Man, and Shen Chi all knew about the trip to A City. Probably even the butler knew! But she didn¡¯t. Xu Chaomu felt a pang in her heart, and her pace of eating slowed down. Chapter 57 - 057: Seeing What Should Not Be Seen Chapter 57: Seeing What Should Not Be Seen Trantor: 549690339 Liu Rumei and Bai Man were still chatting andughing as if they had known each other for years. Shen Yanrou also chipped in asionally, and soon, the dining table was bustling with lively atmosphere again. Shen Cexian and Shen Chi barely spoke, while Xu Chaomu kept her head down, silent. She listened for a while but couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of the conversation. She also didn¡¯t know what exactly Shen Chi and Bai Man nned to do, but they were a couple; what else could they be up to! Xu Chaomu chose to keep her mouth shut obediently. Hadn¡¯t Shen Chi alwaysined that she was thoughtless? Well, she could be considerate for once. Throughout the meal, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t utter a word, just kept her head down and focused on her rice. She didn¡¯t ask, and Shen Chi didn¡¯t say anything; she decided to pretend she hadn¡¯t heard anything. After dinner, she went to her room to do her homework in silence. Her little wooden puppet was, at some point, standing on the table, cocking its little head at her. Xu Chaomu grabbed it, tempted to throw it to the floor, but then she thought it would probably break if she did. With a pout, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to throw it away. Soon after, she heard Bai Man¡¯s voice: ¡°Shen Chi, let¡¯s go pack our luggage!¡± Xu Chaomu was still very sensitive to Bai Man¡¯s voice, and of course, even more sensitive to Shen Chi¡¯s. ¡°No need, the butler is here.¡± Xu Chaomu thought that sounded quite reasonable; she had expected Shen Chi to happily go pack luggage with Bai Man. But Shen Chi hadn¡¯t finished talking. ¡°Don¡¯t tire yourself out, go rest early.¡± Could this man really be so gentle? Xu Chaomu had thought he was naturally unsmiling, naturally cold to everyone. It turned out, he could show such unlimited tenderness only towards the person he liked! Xu Chaomu decisively put on her headphones to do some listening drills, but her mind kept grumbling: showing off your love will lead to an early grave! Probably not cut out for studying by nature, Xu Chaomu had only listened to a short segment of the listening exercise before she started to doze off again. Whoever invented these listening exercises, they were practically a somnolent symphony! Groggily waking up, she saw it was already midnight. Her workbook was wrinkled, so she put it aside. Forget it, she would copy the answers at school tomorrow! Suddenly, she remembered Shen Chi¡¯s words. He said if she managed to rank in the top ten of her ss in the midterm exam, there would be a reward. Her heart stirred again¡­ After hesitating for a long time, she decided to stay upte and study. She sneaked downstairs in search of coffee, which could help keep her awake and stave off sleepiness. However, she didn¡¯t find any coffee, but instead overheard Shen Shihan¡¯s voice. ¡°Make sure you understand the flight the day after tomorrow. Don¡¯t disappoint me,¡± Shen Shihan spoke on the phone, his voice cool and indifferent. Xu Chaomu found it strange; what was he doing standing in the open-air garden in the middle of the night? Moreover, Shen Shihan¡¯s voice sounded cold and chilly, not like the big brother she usually knew. ¡°Have you contacted the people in A City?¡± ¡°Yes, as long you understand,¡± said Shen Shihan as he hung up the phone. Xu Chaomu secretly peered into the garden. It was too dim to see clearly, but she could make out a blurry outline that was indeed her elder brother, Shen Shihan. Why was he sitting alone on a bench in the gardente at night, the heavy fog making it cold? Xu Chaomu watched for a while, but he didn¡¯t move. Just sitting there, his eyes seemed to be looking into the distance. He resembled an eternal sculpture set within the darkness. Xu Chaomu sneaked back to the kitchen. Sigh, where could the coffee be¡­ After searching for a long time and not finding it, Xu Chaomu had to give up. It seemed even fate didn¡¯t believe she could make the top ten. Early the next morning, when she got up, Shen Chi and Bai Man were already awake, sitting side by side at the table, having breakfast. In the past, it was always her sitting with Shen Chi. So, Bai Man was bound to marry Shen Chi eventually, and she had to get used to it ahead of time. It was as Zhou Ran had asked her, ¡°Once Achi is married and leaves the Shen Family, will you still choose to stay?¡± Her answer was clear, too. If Shen Chi didn¡¯t want her anymore, she would leave. Although, it seemed that day wasn¡¯t far off now. ¡°I got up early this morning to make this cake, try it and see. I think it tastes quite good,¡± Bai Man said, cing a piece of cake on Shen Chi¡¯s te with a fork. Bai Man was sitting very close to Shen Chi ¡ª from Xu Chaomu¡¯s angle, they were practically cheek to cheek! Bai Man looked blissful, while Shen Chi¡­ well, Shen Chi was his usual self, but Xu Chaomu was certain that he must be inwardly beaming with joy. But, did they have to be so affectionate? Several servants were standing right there! ¡°Miss Xu, good morning.¡± As she walked downstairs, as usual, several butlers greeted her. ¡°Morning!¡± Xu Chaomu greeted back. Shen Chi heard her voice, put down his knife and fork, turned to nce at Xu Chaomu, ¡°You¡¯vee at the right time,e have breakfast!¡± Have breakfast? She didn¡¯t want to be the third wheel! ¡°Chaomu¡¯se down too, morning!¡± Bai Man smiled at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Morning.¡± Xu Chaomu was coolly indifferent, slinging her bag over her shoulder and ready to walk out without giving Shen Chi and Bai Man another nce. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s chilly voice rose from behind. It was still emotionless as ever. ¡°To school, where else could I be going? Otherwise, if I see something I shouldn¡¯t, what¡¯s the way out? I don¡¯t want to get a sty.¡± Xu Chaomu said with disdain. Shen Chi¡¯s eyebrows frowned; her words seemed tinged with acidity. Bai Man was also displeased to hear this, but she kept on smiling, not believing that an eighteen-year-old girl could make too much of a fuss. Shen Chi rapped on the table, his attitude as domineering as ever, ¡°You bettere here obediently. I¡¯m counting to three, one¡­¡± Damn! Damn! Damn! Xu Chaomu was close to hating this man to death. So overbearing ¡ª even controlling whether she ate breakfast or not! How could there be such a person! And yet, she was utterly helpless! Who¡¯s afraid of who, just to show off their love for others to see? Fine then, she would just watch with eyes wide open! She sat down at the dining table huffily, gracefully picked up the knife and fork, and smiled at Shen Chi and Bai Man. She pointed at the piece of cake on Shen Chi¡¯s te, ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ this cake looks really tasty, give it to me, okay?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi responded, passing his te to Xu Chaomu and also picked some other breakfast items for her. Bai Man was so irritated her teeth itched, this was the cake she had gotten up early in the morning to personally make for Shen Chi! It had taken a long time to make, and he just gave it to Xu Chaomu without a second thought! ¡°Thanks, Fourth Brother,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile, her grin revealing two faint dimples. She started to cut the cake with the knife, meanwhile, ncing sideways at Bai Man. Oh, Bai Man seemed angry. Indeed, Bai Man, hugging Shen Chi¡¯s arm, cooed, ¡°Shen Chi¡­ I made the cake especially for you this morning, won¡¯t you even try it? Look, I even got a little oil burn on my hand. You¡¯re so good to Chaomu.¡± Shen Chi looked down at her; her gentle eyes were filled with hope and sadness. He nced at Xu Chaomu again ¡ª this girl was just lowering her head to eat the cake as if nothing was her concern. Yet Xu Chaomu understood Bai Man¡¯s words; it was no more than annoyance that the cake was being eaten by her, wasn¡¯t it? Chapter 58 - 058 Where Are You Chapter 58: Where Are You Trantor: 549690339 She had no choice but to eat, what else could she do! Xu Chaomu lifted her head and caught Bai Man gazing affectionately at Shen Chi. Shen Chi also had a look on his face¡­ that expression, it must be tenderness! ¡°Miss Bai, don¡¯t overthink it, my fourth brother isn¡¯t that nice to me. I¡¯m just his pet cat. If he feeds me, it¡¯s just to test if there¡¯s poison or if it tastes good. Fourth brother is such a precious man, what would we do if something happened to him? The Shen Group still relies on him, and he wouldn¡¯t want to make you, Miss Bai, worry.¡± While eating and talking, Xu Chaomu actually found the cake to be not tasty at all. But she was stronger than that; she didn¡¯t even know how to make coffee. She spoke cheerfully on the side,pletely oblivious to the increasingly cold chill in someone¡¯s eyes. Bai Man, however, was delighted by what she heard, smilingly said, ¡°Chaomu, what are you talking about? We will be one family from now on. No matter what delicious food I make in the future, I will always save a portion for you.¡± ¡°You should make it for fourth brother instead, he seems to like it more,¡± Xu Chaomu responded indifferently. Shen Chi merely watched her coldly, very good, he remembered this. After breakfast, Xu Chaomu leisurely headed to school. It was Old Cheng who drove her today; Shen Chi had his beautifulpanion to keep him busy, naturally, he had no time for her. In this way, Bai Man stayed at the Shen Family for two days, and Xu Chaomu knew she would be leaving for A City with Shen Chi soon. On the afternoon before their departure, Shen Chi had not revealed a word to her. This man truly didn¡¯t take her seriously. In his eyes, he could let the whole world know something, but Xu Chaomu was the exception; she was not allowed to know. It¡¯s as if the whole world knew Bai Man was his fianc¨¦e, about to marry him, while she was still kept in the dark. If he didn¡¯t say, she would pretend not to know, so as not to make him think she was being unreasonable. When evening self-study ended that day, it was already nine o¡¯clock at night. Xu Chaomu knew Shen Chi would be leaving for A City early the next morning, so he definitely would note to pick her up tonight. She slowly packed up her things, waiting until almost everyone else had left before she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the school gate. Unexpectedly, as she walked a distance, she still did not see the familiar Maybach. She looked left and right, but it was nowhere to be found. Could it be that Shen Chi wasn¡¯ting to pick her up and Old Cheng wasn¡¯t either? Had she been abandoned just like that? She continued walking forward, but still, there was no sign. She waited at the usual spot for a few minutes, but saw nothing. The night sky was pitch ck, the number of people around was dwindling. The evening breeze was cold, and she hugged her arms, continuing to wait in ce. ¡°Shen Chi, you big jerk, where are you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt aggrieved; he didn¡¯te himself and didn¡¯t even bother to check in on her! Had she offended him thesest few days? She didn¡¯t think so, aside from calling him a vulgar, lowbrow, pandering triple-threat man in public, a ruffian, a pervert, a scoundrel! But he didn¡¯t get angry then¡­ Did heter realize she had embarrassed him? She knew Shen Chi had always been a petty man, but was he really holding a grudge against her like this? The surrounding shops closed one by one, but Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach never appeared. Xu Chaomu started to worry. If she waited any longer, there wouldn¡¯t be anyone on the road. She decided to just walk all the way back, maybe she would see Shen Chi¡¯s car on the road. The darkness was so thick she couldn¡¯t see her hand in front of her face. asionally, a car would pass by her, scaring Xu Chaomu out of her wits. What if she encountered a con artist; what if she ran into a ruffian; what if she ran into a murderer¡­ She hadn¡¯tpleted her life¡¯s great ambition, she had been with Shen Chi for eight years and hadn¡¯t even kissed him¡­ She was at a disadvantage, okay? She didn¡¯t want to die. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, so Xu Chaomu quickened her pace. She tried to think of something happy to distract herself, like the time Shen Chi tied her shoces or when he said, ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see you cry¡­¡± But her heart still ached. Why didn¡¯t hee to pick her up? He knew she had evening self-study today, he knew she would get out of schoolte tonight. Was he still with Bai Man, were they packing for their trip tomorrow, were they having dinner together, were they together in the garden watching the moon¡­ A dull pain surged through her heart. But, the more you fear something, the more it tends to happen. Just as she had walked a distance and turned into a long street, suddenly, several men in ck clothes and hoods blocked her way! Xu Chaomu¡¯s legs went weak with fright; she instinctively started to run backward! Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump¡­ Her heart leaped into her throat! All her blood boiled, her mind went nk in an instant, leaving only one word, run! Run! Run! She used all her strength, and in front of her, there was nothing but a narrow road¡­ Her feet felt like they were filled with lead; she couldn¡¯t run fast at all, and her face turned pale with terror! She couldn¡¯t outrun the men, and they chased after her with force and blocked Xu Chaomu¡¯s path! ¡°Who are you, and who are you? I, I¡¯m just a student,¡± stammered Xu Chaomu in terror. She really had no money, except for the card Shen Chi gave herst time at the mall; she didn¡¯t know how much was left in it. She looked at the several men in front of her, tall in stature, but their faces were invisible. Only a pair of ferocious eyes were visible, radiating menace. ¡°It¡¯s her, take her away!¡± a man who appeared to be the leadermanded. His voice was very deep but in the silent night sky, it was particrly intimidating! ¡°Got it!¡± The other men, without further ado, stepped forward and grabbed Xu Chaomu. One put a sack over her head, while another gagged her mouth with a cloth strip! ¡°Mmm mmm, mmm mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled violently, but she was no match for these men. Soon, she couldn¡¯t see even a trace of light remaining before her eyes! All was pitch-dark before her, as if she had been ced into a vast bottomless pit, unseen, unheard, only endless terror assailing her! Her eyes were blindfolded, and her mouth was covered; where were they taking her? Shen Chi, Shen Chi¡­ She wanted to shout his name, but she couldn¡¯t make a sound! Each time she was bullied, he woulde forward, but why wasn¡¯t he here now¡­ The men began to drag her forcefully, and with a violent collision, there was a ¡°ng¡± as she hit a car door! The men then started to shove her into the car; throughout this entire process, not a word was spoken! Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands were also tied; she wanted to leave a mark, no, she had to find a way to leave a mark! She struggled not to get into the car, and with her foot, she drew a circle on the ground where the car had stopped, then, still resisting, she drew a moon. Sun, moon equals day and night. If Shen Chi could see it, he would definitely understand, he definitely would. ¡°Damn it, get in the car!¡± No matter how much the men pushed her, she kept resisting at the door, refusing to move. The men used brute force and gave her a shove; Xu Chaomu fell entirely onto the back seat of the car! The car smelled of the countryside, like the earthy scent on her hands when she yed with mud as a child. Where were they taking her? To the countryside? To the mountains? Or Heaven and Hell? She didn¡¯t want to die. Shen Chi¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ where are you¡­ where are you¡­ Chapter 59 - 059: Shen Si Shao’s Favorite Love Chapter 59: Shen Si Shao¡¯s Favorite Love Trantor: 549690339 The car jostled her away from the streets, and Xu Chaomu had never imagined that she would encounter trouble. If she were to not make it, she thought, the biggest regret of her life would have been not kissing Shen Chi! If she could survive this ordeal, she would definitely kiss him regardless of whether he opposed or not. She knew that she liked him, a liking that wouldst forever. He could dislike her, reject her, tell her to get lost. But she just liked him, liked every frown and smile, every word and deed, everything about him. If she lived, she would definitely throw herself at him, she couldn¡¯t leave any regrets in life! At this life-or-death moment, all she could think about was him. Her heart ached dully, a pain far greater than any physical suffering. But what about him? Was he still being affectionate with Bai Man, then flying to A City as dawn broke? If she were to be discarded in the wilderness, would he even know? Her nose soured, and tears fell uncontrobly¡­ On the road to Xu Chaomu¡¯s school, Old Cheng was already changing a tire. Why did the car have to break down now, early orte, but just at this time when the sky was pitch-ck, and now a tire burst! He cautiously handled the spare tire, repairing it as time ticked away. Despite sweating profusely, he still couldn¡¯t fix it. ¡°Mr. Shen, what should we do? It¡¯s still not working!¡± Old Cheng said to Shen Chi Chi, who stood by the side. ¡°Keep repairing here, I¡¯ll call another driver from home!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were full of urgency. There had already been quite a dy; why wasn¡¯t it fixed yet! He started calling a family driver, asking him to go to the school and pick up Xu Chaomu. But for some reason, he had a strange feeling in his heart, a feeling that was slowly erging, soaring, moring! His chest felt tight, the first time he had ever felt this way. Not long after, the driver called: ¡°Fourth Young Master, I searched all the way to the school and didn¡¯t see Miss Xu!¡± ¡°What? Did you search thoroughly?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low, the blockage at his chest suddenly exploding in that instant. ¡°Fourth Young Master, I¡¯ve been looking all the way here, and there¡¯s no one at the usual pick-up spot for Miss Xu. I asked a few passersby, and they all said they didn¡¯t notice!¡± The driver was also anxious, speaking breathlessly. ¡°Drive over here! Lakenz Road!¡± Shen Chi gripped his phone, his palm unexpectedly slick with sweat! The Shen Chi who was calm andposed in the face of danger was missing. His clenched fist was bulging with veins, his gaze suddenly became focused, his pupils constricted. Xu Chaomu was missing, and just at this time, things were not so simple! ¡°Mr. Shen, what happened?¡± Old Cheng sensed Shen Chi¡¯s unusual behavior and quickly ran over. ¡°Chaomu is gone.¡± Shen Chi struggled to restrain his emotions, but his deep and cold voice was tinged with hoarseness. ¡°Could she have gone home on her own first?¡± Old Cheng asked. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen her all the way.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, his eyes unfathomable. Soon, the Shen family¡¯s driver brought the car over. The road was pitch ck except for the lights of the two cars. The chirping of insects in the surrounding wild grasses made the night seem particrly deste. The driver had barely stopped the car when he jumped out. ¡°Fourth Young Master, we still haven¡¯t found Miss Xu. Do you want to go and check yourself?¡± ¡°Yes. Call right away, send more people to search! Make it fast!¡± Shen Chi said as he got into the car. Old Cheng also got into the driver¡¯s seat and started the car, heading in the direction of Xu Chaomu¡¯s school! Shen Chi¡¯s sharp eyes were fixed on the window, calling continuously on the phone. ¡°Mr. Shen, don¡¯t worry, maybe Miss Xu went to y at a ssmate¡¯s house or some shop for a bit,¡± Old Cheng could onlyfort Shen Chi like this. ¡°Impossible!¡± Shen Chi said decisively, his face rigid. Old Cheng sped up. From the mirror, he saw the tension, unease, and unprecedented panic on Shen Chi¡¯s face. Old Cheng realized then that Xu Chaomu was Shen Chi¡¯s darling. He had never seen the man so agitated. Who was he? The Shen Chi who ruled C City with an iron fist,posed and imposing¡ªthe Fourth Young Master, Mr. Shen. When they got near the school, Shen Chi got out of the car himself to search for Xu Chaomu! As expected, all was quiet around, the school had long since let out for night study, and the nearby shops were closed. ¡°Chaomu!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice rasped as he called out. There was no response. The streetlights were too dim; Old Cheng used a shlight to search. Street after street, alley after alley, path after path, but there was no sign of Xu Chaomu! ¡°Mumu!¡± Shen Chi called her name, his chest suddenly filled with countless flutters of panic. Phone calls came one after another: ¡°Fourth Young Master, we¡¯ve checked the homes of Miss Xu¡¯s ssmates, she isn¡¯t there!¡± ¡°Fourth Young Master, we also searched the roads Miss Xu regrly takes, nothing!¡± Nothing! Nothing! Still nothing! Shen Chi punched a wall! ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll tell them to send more people to search,¡± Old Cheng said. ¡°Inform everyone to tighten security at all C City checkpoints and inspect any suspicious vehicles thoroughly!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s words were imperious and undeniable! ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen, I will get the word out right away, including guarding the train stations and the airport!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Call after call went out, and then, using the weak light from the streemps, Shen Chi noticed two suspicious patterns on the ground! A circle, a moon. Circle, moon¡­ Chaomu! It must be that girl who left them! And this road leads to C City¡¯srgest theater, and not far from the theater is C City¡¯s boundary! The boundary, the boundary, the boundary¡ªcould it really be that someone took Xu Chaomu away? ¡°Old Cheng! Get the word out, block off the road to Shu Lakepletely, don¡¯t let a single car through!¡± Old Cheng too sensed something was amiss and promptly responded: ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen!¡± On the road to Shu Lake, Xu Chaomu kept struggling! A sack was over her head, making breathing difficult. It was pitch ck, stiller than death itself. Every move she made, she could hear her body rubbing against the seat. The people within the car barely spoke; whenever Xu Chaomu struggled, someone would tighten the ropes until she couldn¡¯t struggle anymore! She didn¡¯t know whom she had offended. She remembered one time during an exam, Xiaohu asked her for answers, which she didn¡¯t give. Could Xiaohu hold a grudge? It shouldn¡¯t be, she had exined to Xiaohu afterward since her answers were all random guesses. Or could it be Yao Yue? Shen Chi almost tossed Yao Yue out to be fed to dogs; she must hate Xu Chaomu to death. Considering this, there was also Zheng Lin, who Shen Chi had thrown into the sports field, left with nothing but a bikini. She must be itching for revenge. As these images shed through her mind, someone¡¯s cell phone in the car rang! Xu Chaomu pricked up her ears! ¡°What? There are people at the checkpoint? Damn, that was quick! ¡± ¡°Alright, got it, escape from the south, lead them away!¡± ¡°Keep it clean, don¡¯t leave behind any traces, or you¡¯ll be in for it!¡± Chapter 60 - 060: Does He Not Want Her Anymore? Chapter 60: Does He Not Want Her Anymore? Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t understand what they were talking about. Where were they taking her? Were they nning to destroy her body and erase all traces? No! She didn¡¯t want to die looking so hideous! ¡°Boss, what do we do? All the exits from Shu Lake are blocked, and there are police watching!¡± the man on the phone said. He kept his voice low, deliberately suppressed, and spoke evasively, fearing that Xu Chaomu would catch on to something. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say, take the south road!¡± the ¡°boss¡± sitting in the passenger seat was clearly impatient. ¡°Boss, did we take on the wrong job? This girl seems to have aplicated background!¡± ¡°Stop bbering, just do the job well since you¡¯ve taken the money!¡± the boss snapped irritably. The men in the car immediately fell silent. The driver turned the steering wheel, reversing the direction, and headed south at the fork! Tied up, Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t seated securely, and as the car turned, she mmed against the car window! It hurt, it really hurt! Shen Chi, you bastard¡­ where are you¡­ Xu Chaomu wanted to scream but couldn¡¯t make a sound; she wanted to look but couldn¡¯t see the road. For the first time in her life, she felt an endless despair¡­ Shen Chi¡­ did he not want her anymore¡­ As soon as day breaks, he would fly to A City with Bai Man, right¡­ It¡¯s like what they say, when it rains, it pours, and in the middle of the night, rain began to fall from the sky! At first, it was a drizzle, pattering against the car windows. Then not long after, the drizzle turned into a downpour, drumming loudly on the car. ¡°It¡¯s raining, boss!¡± someone in the muffled car began to speak. ¡°Speed up, let¡¯s get out of C City fast!¡± The boss was somewhat panicked as well. As expected, the driver floored the elerator, and the car sped forward! The road was bumpy and full of potholes, and the faster the car went, the more it jostled, leaving Xu Chaomu in a terrible state. ¡°Wuuu¡­¡± she struggled forcefully. ¡°Quick, call our guy and check the situation!¡± the boss ordered again. Soon after, another man began making a call, his voice low. ¡°Boss, should we stop? There are police checking the exits!¡± ¡°Are you all useless? Can¡¯t even handle a few cops!¡± the boss was furious. ¡°Tell them, if they can¡¯t handle it within an hour, they¡¯d better bite their tongues andmit suicide! ¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± The rain outside intensified, drowning out even the sound of their voices in the car. Xu Chaomu thought, if her body were thrown into the wilderness, covered in mud, would she look terrible, utterly woeful? If Shen Chi saw her looking that wretched, would he just abandon her in the wilderness and not want her anymore? She didn¡¯t want to die, especially not in such an ugly way¡­ They had been jostling for who knows how long when suddenly the car stopped. ¡°Boss, the rain is too heavy, should we find shelter?¡± the driver asked. ¡°Keep driving, do you want to do this in broad daylight? I¡¯m telling you, as soon as it gets light out, we¡¯re dead meat! The rain right now is a gift from heaven; it makes it harder for them to find us!¡± The driver had no choice but to restart the engine, and they proceeded on the potholed road. The boss lit a cigarette. ¡°Damn, this business is tough. I wouldn¡¯t have taken it if I knew!¡± The downpour fell from the sky, and the whole atmosphere was foggy. The glow from streetlights formed halos softened by the rain, and water quickly rushed over the road surface. A ck Hummer raced down the road, sshing water that leaped meters high! Behind it, another ck car followed closely! The two cars, one after the other, raced through the heavy rain, kicking up a misty spray. ¡°Boss Shen, please slow down, be careful of the road conditions!¡± Old Cheng in the car behind had to call Shen Chi, as he had been nearly thrown off multiple times by Shen Chi¡¯s driving. ¡°I know,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Yet, as he floored the elerator, he didn¡¯t care about the slickness of the wet road! He had only one thought: she must not be harmed. And he wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to her! The ck Hummer continued down Shu Lake Avenue into the rainy, deepening night. Tires sshed the water on the ground with a ¡°whoosh,¡± unstoppable. Shen Chi¡¯s phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing; Bai Man had made many calls to him. Shen Chi kept hanging up, but Bai Man persisted, forcing him to pick up. ¡°Shen Chi, where are you? Why haven¡¯t you returned? We have the acquisition ceremony in A City tomorrow morning; you absolutely cannot miss it!¡± Bai Man was anxious. It waste, and the rain was pouring; she had no idea where Shen Chi had gone. Moreover, Xu Chaomu was not in the Shen Family home. ¡°I¡¯m busy with something, we¡¯ll talk tomorrow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hang up! You know how important tomorrow¡¯s acquisition ceremony is. No matter what you are busy with now, I will wait for you to go together tomorrow! This is the first major project since you took over Shen Group, and it carries a lot of weight. The whole group is watching you!¡± Bai Man was well aware of the stakes involved. If it was sessful, no one would question Shen Chi¡¯s position as president. If not, would Shen Cexian dare to truly hand over the group to Shen Chi? She could see that Shen Cexian¡¯s favor was not limited to Shen Chi but also included Shen Shihan! ¡°You don¡¯t need to instruct me about the group¡¯s business!¡± Shen Chi replied, angercing his voice. Right now, his only goal was to find Xu Chaomu! ¡°It¡¯s me speaking out of turn. You handle it. Just make sure it¡¯s not because of some romantic entanglement,¡± Bai Man said lightly. She let out a coldugh and hung up first; it was the first time Shen Chi had snapped at her! Now, with Shen Chi not at the Shen¡¯s, and Xu Chaomu missing too, she thought she understood something. Ha, what sister? Does she, Bai Man, look like a fool? No sooner had Bai Man ended the call than someone brought news to Shen Chi. ¡°Fourth Young Master, we¡¯ve spotted a suspicious vehicle! On Shu Lake Road heading south, by the hillside, we suspect Miss Xu has been taken by them.¡± ¡°Block the roads! Send someone to follow them!¡± ¡°Understood. We¡¯ve already sent people to tail them!¡± ¡°Whoever dares harm a single hair on Xu Chaomu¡¯s head, I¡¯ll take his life!¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were fixed on the window, sharp and filled with killing intent. His lips were tightly pursed, and the veins on his hands, gripping the steering wheel, stood out, with bloodlust gradually spreading in his eyes. Whoever had grown tired of living, dared to touch Xu Chaomu. The ck Hummer continued its journey, now on the bumpy mountain road! The mountain paths were tough to navigate, and this area was already the most remote part of C City. Moreover, with the storm raging on, mudslides andndslides posed a constant threat! The rain seemed to spill from the heavens and suddenly, with a loud ¡°crash,¡¯ rocks began rolling down from the mountain in session! ¡°Boss, there seems to be andslide ahead!¡± eximed the driver, turning on the headlights in panic.. Chapter 61 - 061: Rolling Down the Hillside Chapter 61: Rolling Down the Hillside Trantor: 549690339 The man called Boss quickly grabbed a pair of binocrs to check, and sure enough, at the mountaintop ahead, huge rocks were rolling down, apanied by mud and rain, thundering loudly. ¡°Turn around quickly, get ready to retreat!¡± The boss was terrified too, if rocks were to fall in their direction, their lives would be in danger! ¡°Turn around quickly!¡± The man yelled again! Xu Chaomu struggled fiercely in fear, andslide? They were now binding her; what if andslide urred, would she be their human cushion? She shivered with fear. ¡°Okay!¡± The man driving responded. But they didn¡¯t expect the terrain here to be extremelyplicated and the road too narrow; they had to drive forward a bit to be able to turn around! Whether it was because the car was too old or the rain was too heavy, the driver tried to start the engine several times, but suddenly, with a ¡°snap,¡± the car stalled. The whole car shook for a moment beforeing to a calm stop, with only the sound of the pouring rain ¡°pitter-pattering¡± on the roof and the leaves of trees around! The people in the car were stunned for a moment, and within seconds, they all started swearing. ¡°Damn it, why does it break down right at this time, of all times?¡± ¡°Boss, what do we do? This rain won¡¯t stop anytime soon.¡± ¡°Yeah, with andslide ahead, we can¡¯t just hide in the car forever!¡± ¡°You guys go and check, see what the problem is!¡± the Boss ordered. The men looked at each other, none wanting to go out into the torrential rain. But they had no choice, waiting any longer meant death. Reluctantly, the driver got out with an umbre, but outside it wasn¡¯t just heavy rain, the wind was strong too. As soon as he got out, the umbre couldn¡¯t hold up, and he hurriedly closed it, getting drenched in rain. Looking left and right, seeing no apparent issue, he had no choice but to get back in the car, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s too dark to see what the problem is. What do we do?¡± ¡°Call the brothers toe pick us up!¡± the Boss said. ¡°That¡¯s no good, Boss, with the downpour and the bad road conditions, they definitely can¡¯t make it over by car!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t solutions meant to be found? Call them, they¡¯ve got to crawl over here for me!¡± No one dared to speak; the driver immediately called his brothers, but the signal was very poor, making the call intermittent. After finally finishing the call, the men discussed again, ¡°Boss, what about this girl? She¡¯s truly a burden.¡± ¡°I say we just ditch her in this ravine. With the rain pouring down like this, she won¡¯t be able to escape. That way, it¡¯ll be easier for us to exin when we get back. ¡± ¡°No way, the client said to send her away from C City, the farther and more remote, the better. We¡¯re still within the bounds of C City now, how can I just leave her here!¡± the Boss mulled over it for a few minutes. ¡°Boss, isn¡¯t the decision to send her or not ultimately up to you? Who would know too much about it? Right?¡± The Boss evidently had simr thoughts. Right, who would know whether she was sent or not. Xu Chaomu listened to their words, client? Who was the client? Who wanted to send her away? ¡°Or¡­ the dead can¡¯t talk. If the Boss is worried¡­¡± someone whispered softly. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart rose to her throat; she was so scared she couldn¡¯t move. ¡°If we kill her it¡¯s murder, but if we just leave her at the bottom of the mountain, with the rain like this and thendslide, I doubt she¡¯d survive,¡± another man said. ¡°Boss, you decide, with her in tow, we¡¯re too conspicuous.¡± After taking a drag of his cigarette, the Boss stayed silent for a few minutes, ¡°Just do as you said, throw her far away!¡± Xu Chaomu was totally stunned, she could not see, but she could hear the rain outside. It was midnight, the rain was pouring, and her hands and feet were tied; did she still have a chance at life? ¡°Okay!¡± The men began to carry Xu Chaomu, taking her out of the car. The rain was truly heavy; after walking a few steps, they didn¡¯t want to go any further, so they threw Xu Chaomu onto the hillside. The heavy rain quickly soaked the bup bag, and raindrops hit Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, chilling to the bone! ¡°Mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm¡­¡± she made muffled sounds. All to no avail, the only sounds around were the rain and the rumble of rolling boulders! She struggled, struggled, and struggled fiercely! However, she had no idea where she was, and as she struggled, the earth gave way, and she tumbled down the hillside! ¡°Boss, it looks like that girl fell down the hillside!¡± someone saw it from the window. ¡°Forget about it; everyone keep your mouths shut. Make the call, tell them toe over quick!¡± the Boss bellowed. ¡°Okay.¡± The sky was pitch dark, without a glimmer of light. The only thing breaking the silence was the asional thunderous noise in her ears, like thunder, or an earthquake! Before long, someone came to pick them up, and they quickly abandoned the broken car, squeezing together in the van that arrived. Xu Chaomu tumbled to the middle of the hillside, where she was stopped by arge pine tree, her head mming hard against the trunk! Right after the impact, she passed out. In her dreams, she kept calling Shen Chi¡¯s name; he was the only person she regretted leaving behind. If she died, would he be willing to give her a kiss, just one¡­ She really liked him. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed; everything was still pitch-ck. The cold rain hit her face, but she couldn¡¯t move. She didn¡¯t know where she was; she struggled with all her might, struggling. Unexpectedly, because a branch hooked the bag, it tore open arge hole and, struggling, Xu Chaomu managed to get the bag off her head! Now the rain soaked her head entirely, her clothes werepletely drenched! Xu Chaomu found arge rock and, straining herself, rubbed against it. Sweat and rain soaked her through and through, but finally, she managed to wear through the cloth binding her hands! Excitement, tion, and agitation! Xu Chaomu took a deep breath, feeling as if she¡¯d gone from hell to heaven. But everything was steeped in darkness; she hugged her arms to herself, cautiously feeling for the path. The soil of the hillside was loose; with a slight step, the earth would crumble away. She dared only cling to trees, inching her way down step by step. But she had no idea whaty below, was it an abyss or level ground? The wind whipped her face painfully; the rain mixed in, her clothes clinging to her body, causing difort everywhere. Her backpack had been thrown somewhere, as well as her little wooden puppet¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s Hummer took a shortcut through the western path. True to its superior performance, even on the winding road, its speed was unmatched. Soon enough, he was the first to catch up with the vans of those men! The ck Hummer arrogantly blocked their path, causing them to m on their brakes and nearly lose their souls with fright! The ring headlights lit up, and the men shielded their eyes, sneaking a nce at Shen Chi. The man in the Hummer had an icy face, his expression rigid with taut lines, his eyes capturing souls, like the King of Asura or a malevolent spirit emerging from the darkness.. Chapter 62 - 062: Fourth Brother, Save Me Chapter 62: Fourth Brother, Save Me Trantor: 549690339 Two cars faced off for quite some time before Shen Chi lowered his car window. ¡°Was Xu Chaomu taken away by you guys? Hollow, icy, and hoarse, his voice seemed toe from the heavens, like that of the Grim Reaper himself. There was rain sshing on his face, but he remained motionless, his cold gaze piercing through the air like a lethal noose! This boss was used to seeing the ways of the world, and he had already realized that he had tangled with someone he shouldn¡¯t have. Indeed. This man was no simple character! No one spoke. The boss signaled with his eyes to the driver, telling him to back up and escape! Understanding the cue, the driver was about to hit the brakes when Shen Chi made his move with lightning speed and opened the car door with a ¡°ng¡±! Bang Bang! Two gunshots rang out as Shen Chi pulled the trigger of his handgun; the van¡¯s window ss shattered, and shards flew everywhere! ¡°Ah!¡± someone screamed as pieces of ss stuck into their eyes! Shen Chi moved with incredible speed, pressing the gun against the temple of the man in the passenger seat, his index finger on the trigger! ¡°Speak!¡± he roared. ¡°Look, brother, I don¡¯t know who you are or what street you¡¯re from, but this person you¡¯re talking about, Xu Chaomu or whatever, I really don¡¯t know who that is.¡± The boss in the passenger seat clung to his own life, daring not to make any rash moves, yet his lips still refused to admit anything. He too had weathered great storms, but now, with this man having the upper hand, he couldn¡¯t just brawl his way out. One wrong move, and his life might be over! He knew he shouldn¡¯t have taken this job! Rain trickled down Shen Chi¡¯s hair, making the man in the dark night appear even colder and more forbidding. His eyes were blood-red with murderous intent, ready to pull the trigger at any moment! ¡°My fingers aren¡¯t equipped with eyes. Are you really not going to talk?¡± Shen Chi asked in a cold tone. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying¡­¡± the boss still stubbornly persisted. Bang! A gunshot went off, Shen Chi¡¯s hand moved, and the bullet hit the car interior, causing the vehicle to explode, renderedpletely inoperable. While the gun¡¯s echo lingered, the pistol was still aimed at the boss¡¯s head. ¡°Police will be here in three minutes. Tell me now, while there¡¯s still time.¡± Everyone in the car was terrified. They realized they couldn¡¯t leave now¡ªwhat chance did they have to live if Shen Chi went berserk? It was a certain death either way! A man inside the car, his courage bolstered by fear, stood up: ¡°What¡¯s in it for me if I tell you?¡± The corner of Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved into a cold, bloodthirsty smile: ¡°Whoever speaks first gets to keep his dog life!¡± Shen Chi was never known to be merciful in others¡¯ eyes; that shot that had just blown up the engine was already him showing restraint! He was always a cold-blooded man, only forgetting his nature in front of that one particr person. ¡°Xu Chaomu was thrown on the hillside ahead; whether she¡¯s dead or alive, we don¡¯t know!¡± A man in the car finally braved up to speak. Thrown on the hillside! Shen Chi¡¯s face turned an iron shade of blue. He clenched his fists, and just as he was about to pull the trigger, several police cars approached. The wailing sirens, in the deserted mountains, were especially loud and clear. Shen Chi did not want to kill. He retracted his gun and got into his Hummer. Flooring the gas pedal, he headed down the small road in front! He would deal with them after he found Xu Chaomu! The road ahead was covered in yellow muddy water; each passing car sent sshes soaring. Shen Chi paid it no heed, driven by a single belief¡ªhe had to find Xu Chaomu. He had to find her! He would not abandon her in the wilderness! ¡°Mumu, you must be safe¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was glued ahead, his heart in a vise grip, a mix of bewilderment, tension, and pain roaring and raging within him. Since Xu Chaomu was ten years old, he had never let her suffer. Now, these people dared to throw her on a hillside, out in the rain! Rage umted and exploded inside his chest, needing only a fuse to erupt into all-consuming mes! Following the tire tracks on the ground, when the car reached halfway and the marks disappeared, he knew she had to be nearby! Without even taking an umbre, he jumped out of the car and walked into the rain. Shining the shlight around, all he saw was yellow soil, tall trees, even tumbling boulders. There was no sign of Xu Chaomu; he couldn¡¯t find her. One step at a time, he moved forward on the muddy ground. Halfway through, he found Xu Chaomu¡¯s backpack! His eyes immediately turned even redder, Shen Chi feeling an urge to explode. He ced the backpack in the trunk and continued to search for Xu Chaomu in the rain. The rain showed no sign of stopping; by now, it was already 2:40 a.m.! ¡°Chaomu! Chaomu!¡± Shen Chi roared into the night. But Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear Shen Chi¡¯s voice; she clung desperately to a life-saving tree. She dared not let go, fearing that once she did, there would be an endless abyss below. If it was an abyss, her life would be over. She didn¡¯t want to give Shen Chi the satisfaction. The grand goal she had set for herself at the age of ten¡ªhow could she not fulfill it? But fate had other ns. A massive boulder slid down the mountain, headed straight for her location! With a thunderous boom, the rock struck the trunk of a pine tree, cleaving it in two. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands iled in search of something to grab, but she failed to hold onto the trunk! Her footing gave way, and she fell backward! ¡°Help!¡± she screamed with all her might. Xu Chaomu tumbled down alongside the rock, plunging into a water-filled culvert with two resounding sshes! There was supposed to be no water in the culvert, but after tonight¡¯s downpour, it had filled up quickly. Xu Chaomu gripped the rock, standing her ground, but the water was already reaching her neck. All around was pitch-ck darkness, not a speck of light to be seen. Rain continued to hammer into the entrance; she knew that before long, the culvert would overflow! And she, she could not swim¡­ All the way down, she had imagined countless ways to die, but never had she thought she would drown! ¡°Help! Help!¡± She cried out, hoping against hope that someone might pass by. Was it the two loud sshes from her fall that caught his attention? Shen Chi heard them, loud and clear. ¡°Chaomu!¡± he rushed toward the source of the sound. Scanning around with the shlight, indeed, he saw a ck bag hanging from a branch, with a piece of light green fabric nearby. Xu Chaomu had been wearing green clothes that day! ¡°Chaomu! Chaomu!¡± he shouted into the surroundings. The rain drenched his suit, his hair, his face, but he was past caring. Xu Chaomu heard it, she heard it! It was Shen Chi¡¯s voice, it was him! ¡°Help! Help! Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother¡­¡± Xu Chaomu used everyst bit of her strength to scream. If he could hear her, could she be saved? The rain continued to pour into the culvert, swiftly submerging her neck. She strained to keep her head above water; in just a moment, a little moment, if the water rose over her mouth, she¡¯d surely drown¡­ She didn¡¯t want to die¡ªnot like this. Chapter 63 - 063 He kissed her Chapter 63: He kissed her Trantor: 549690339 The downpour showed no sign of stopping, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair waspletely drenched. She closed her eyes, her face covered with droplets of water, afraid to open them. Her inner fear was magnifying bit by bit, but Shen Chi¡¯s voice undoubtedly gave her greatfort. However, after a while, there was still no movement. Had she imagined it, or had he left? ¡°Shen Chi¡­ Shen Chi, I¡¯m here¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡± she yelled with all her strength, pleading for him toe and save her quickly. The faint rain mixed with the salty tears streaming down her cheeks, indistinguishable from one another. All around was destion, like the primal screaming of the primordial universe. The water level rose higher and higher, engulfing Xu Chaomu¡¯s limbs. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know if she could hold on any longer; her legs were already giving out. She couldn¡¯t swim. By the time Shen Chi waspletely soaked by the downpour, he finally spotted Xu Chaomu. ¡°Mumu! Mumu!¡± He scrambled down thendslide-prone slope, his shlight beam illuminating the culvert entrance! He couldn¡¯t even bother to wipe the tears off his face because he saw Xu Chaomu being slowly swallowed by the rising water. After Xu Chaomu clearly heard Shen Chi¡¯s voice, she finally copsed, her legs giving out, and everything went dark; she couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and fell¡­ With a ¡°plop,¡± Shen Chi watched her sink into the water. ¡°Mumu!¡± A heart-wrenching scream echoed around! She couldn¡¯t swim! She couldn¡¯t die! Shen Chi¡¯s eyes reddened, his facial features tensed. Throwing everything aside, he dropped the shlight and leaped into the culvert, frantically searching for Xu Chaomu amid the surging water and pouring rain! Xu Chaomu was slowly sinking; she choked on water several times, trying to clutch at rocks or nts, but it was all in vain. Then, she lost consciousness¡­ Darkness and death were rushing toward her. Branches in the culvert wrapped around her arms, and she felt suffocating pain. She struggled to pull free, but they only tightened more. Stones kept plummeting into the water, hitting her, causing intense pain¡­ She struggled to breathe, her ears ringing, and breathing grew increasingly difficult¡­ Just when she thought she would stay eighteen forever, suddenly, she seemed to hear a loud ssh! A few secondster, a strong hand grasped her frail arm, pulling her towards the surface! The hand was as domineering as ever, gripping her, leaving no room for resistance. But this time, the dominance brought her immense tranquility and boundless hope. Xu Chaomu¡¯s head ached, and though she could see or hear nothing, she firmly believed it was Shen Chi, it must be him. He hade for her, he hadn¡¯t abandoned her¡­ She clung to him like grabbing the sole lifeline, her small hands tightly encircling his waist, very tightly. Shen Chi swam upward with Xu Chaomu, as the heavy rain and stones continued to hammer into the culvert, quickly raising the water level by several centimeters. Finally, standing at the entrance, he closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath as if he had just journeyed through a cycle of life and death! The rainshed his face, but he felt no pain; he only knew¡­she was safe. The girl¡¯s hands still clung to him like an octopus, grasping tightly, refusing to let go. Shen Chi let her hold on, embracing her with a strong arm, shielding her from the rain that now fell on him instead of her. Xu Chaomu fainted, oblivious even as Shen Chi held her. Shen Chi stroked her damp hair, feeling an unprecedented sense of solidity and peace. The rain followed his hair down as his lips were tightlypressed, his resolute face even more austere in the dark night. Under the faint light, his lips slowly curved into a smile. ¡°Chaomu¡­ it¡¯s all right now¡­ let¡¯s go home,¡± Shen Chi said, looking at her and picking her up. He walked step by step up the slope, relentless rain pouring down, boulders tumbling¡ªnone of which mattered to him at this moment. He reached the ck Hummer, opened the door, and ced Xu Chaomu in the passenger seat. But the girl still wouldn¡¯t let go, her hands tightly grasping his arm, tangling like waterweed. Shen Chi, smiling helplessly, had no choice but to pry her fingers apart one by one. She was ice-cold all over. Shen Chi turned on the car¡¯s air conditioning, and soon, the vehicle warmed up. He found water, a dry towel, and some of his regr clothes from the trunk. He began unbuttoning her clothes, but when her skin was exposed before his eyes, his throat involuntarily tightened. This was the first time he had seen her body. Last time in the bathroom, when he told her, ¡°I have seen what I shouldn¡¯t have seen,¡± he actually hadn¡¯t seen anything. But this time was different; he was personally unbuttoning her clothes. His long fingers undid her buttons, the girl no longer the scrawny Xu Chaomu from eight years ago; now, just one more nce at her would make him unable to stop himself. The closer he looked, the more the fragrance of the young girl on Xu Chaomu enveloped him. Rainwater moistened Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair and eyshes as shey with closed eyes. However, her lips, tender and rosy, appeared even more lustrous and adorable because of the rainwater. Shen Chi slowly lowered his head, inch by inch, drawing closer to her face. He wanted to kiss her, so badly. He was just two centimeters from her, close enough to see her delicate eyshes adorned with tiny glistening droplets. In this moment, Xu Chaomu was quiet and docile, nothing like the spoiled little wildcat he had nurtured. ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± his voice husky, he called her name. In his eyes was intoxication and indulgence, as reason gradually lost its foothold. His burning hand brushed her face¡­ Finally, he closed his eyes, his warm lips pressing against her moist ones. Regardless of consequence, he indulged in the feeling. Xu Chaomu remained unresponsive, nestled in Shen Chi¡¯s arms, extremely well-behaved, just like¡­pletely at his mercy. Shen Chi cradled her head, the kiss unending¡­ The scent of the young girl lingered at his nose; she didn¡¯t react, but he was like a man in deep torment! All his resolve and defenses crumbled in that moment. All he knew was that he was holding her, as if he was embracing the entire warm world. He kissed her for a long, long time, as if for an entire century, as though autumn had ended, stars had shifted, and time had circled again and again in aplex journey. He reached to unbutton his own shirt, with only one thought in his mind¡ªhe wanted her. ¡°Hmm¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu groggily called out and furrowed her brows.. Chapter 64 - 064: Held in His Arms Chapter 64: Held in His Arms Trantor: 549690339 This delicate call rendered Shen Chi even more incapable of restraining himself, his breathing growing faster and heavier. He desired her, so very much¡­ Outside the car, the rain poured down like a deluge, the night a curtain, wind and clouds surging, yet inside the car was a cocoon of warmth, tranquility, and loveliness. It seemed as if the world could fall apart, and it still wouldn¡¯t concern them¡­ Just as he had unbuttoned thest button on his shirt, a sliver of rationality suddenly prevailed. He looked at her, no, he couldn¡¯t have her¡­ For a moment, the inside of the car fell into an unusual silence. His hands finally lowered slowly, the sound of the torrential rain pattering against the car windows filled his ears. He sighed, retracting all of his fiery gazes, his body slowly cooling down. He just looked at her without a single improper thought. With a dry towel in hand, he carefully dabbed the rainwater off her body, from her hair to her arms, meticulously, without letting his mind wander further. He dressed her in his spare shirt, and her body began to warm. He also changed out of his damp clothes, tidying everything up. The rain outside was heavy, with stones asionally rolling down from the mountain. The road ahead was blocked by rocks, and the road behind had turned into a muddy mess. Shen Chi took out his phone,pletely devoid of a signal. He had to give up, but it was fine, a rare moment of peace. He turned his head to look at the very secure Xu Chaomu. She had some injuries on her arm, which Shen Chi treated with some antiseptic. Whether it was because his touch was gentle or she was simply too groggy, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t make much of a fuss. He brushed her soft hair with his fingers, his gaze never leaving her face. The light inside the car was soft, casting an even gentler glow on her cheek. It was already 3:20 in the morning. When Xu Chaomu woke up and found herself in Shen Chi¡¯s arms, her first reaction was that she was dreaming! Her second reaction was to pinch herself! Her third reaction, it was real! She lifted her eyelids, and from her angle, she could just make out Shen Chi¡¯s chin. He was asleep, his face showing signs of weariness. Seldom could she observe Shen Chi from this close, and Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t blink an eye. How can this man be so handsome, his profile sharp as a cut, his jawline firm, lips lightly pursed. Even with his eyes closed, he still exuded a mature and restrained aura. This rare opportunity must not be missed; Xu Chaomu was determined to get her fill of looking at him. So, without blinking, she watched, and watched, and watched¡­ If she weren¡¯t afraid of waking up Shen Chi holding her, she would definitely kiss him! She had resolved when she was taken away by those people that, if she survived, she definitely had to kiss him and not let him off easily! Her heart pounded like a little rabbit, thump, thump¡­ Her lips had already curved into a smile. Being held in Shen Chi¡¯s arms felt extraordinarily good, especially when she buried her face in his chest and could smell his familiar scent up close, soothing her like the fragrance of fresh tea. Her little hand crept up slowly, crawling to his chest and upwards, almost reaching his face¡­ Just as she prepared to go for that kiss, Shen Chi awoke. He caught her wandering hand, his eyes sleepy, and asked faintly, ¡°What are you doing?¡± He was exhausted, as if he had journeyed back from the brink of death. Fortunately, now with his eyes open, he saw the girl before him smiling at him. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, caught in his warm and ticklish palm, felt as if she¡¯d been caught in the act of wrongdoing, and she quickly shook her head: ¡°There¡¯s a leaf in your hair! ¡± Shen Chi curled his lips into a smile: ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± He released her hand. Even though he was still tired, the sight of her in high spirits dissipated much of his fatigue. ¡°Chaomu¡­ It seems the rain is quite heavy outside.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Chaomu¡­ Are the roads blocked? Can¡¯t we get back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Chaomu¡­ I just knew you would find me.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Chaomu, wearing an expression of enjoyment, chattered on, even though Shen Chi paid her no mind. The rain outside was truly heavy. She nced out the window now and then and at Shen Chi in turns, in the confined space where only the two of them existed. Xu Chaomu thought, how wonderful it would be if time could just stop. When she was quiet, the entire car became peaceful. Even their even breathing could be heard. Shen Chi closed his eyes again without speaking. Xu Chaomu felt it was better to talk, otherwise how boring it would be! ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± she called him sweetly, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°How did you find me? Were you worried when I disappeared?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up at him with a tiny face full of anticipation for his reply. Shen Chi didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids as he said indifferently, ¡°What do I have to worry about?¡± Her anticipation immediately turned to grievance; she had been kidnapped, and he wasn¡¯t worried? Unhappy! ¡°Then why bother to rescue me if you¡¯re not worried?¡± She stared at him with puffed cheeks, clearly upset. ¡°Just happened to be driving by here.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu clenched her fists, so angry her lungs could explode. What did he mean by ¡®just happened to be driving by¡¯? Did he rescue her just because he had nothing better to do? ¡°Chaomu, aren¡¯t you supposed to go to A City tomorrow? Then why haven¡¯t you left?¡± ¡°The road is blocked, how can I leave?¡± ¡°If the road weren¡¯t blocked, would you leave?¡± Xu Chaomu pressed on. ¡°Of course. Xu Chaomu deted like a punctured balloon, suddenly not in the mood to speak anymore. Whenever Shen Chi did speak, he always managed to infuriate her. Why was this man like this? Xu Chaomu said sarcastically, ¡°Oh, Chaomu, what if I am holding you back? What if you can¡¯t make it to A City tomorrow? What about Miss Bai, who¡¯s waiting for you to ¡®fly together¡¯?¡± Finally, Shen Chi half-opened his eyes to look at her, just in time to catch her looking aggrieved like an unjustly treated wife. With her eyes bulging angrily, she stared motionless at him. With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, he said, ¡°Come over and give me a shoulder massage.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, my hands hurt!¡± Xu Chaomu ignored him. ¡°Then keep quiet, and wait quietly for the rain to stop.¡± Shen Chi continued to rest his eyes. Xu Chaomu leaned against the window looking outside, as the rain outside was falling heavily and showed no sign of stopping any time soon. They were at the base of the mountain, surrounded by darkness, with only the faint light inside their car. Rocks kept tumbling down the mountain, blocking the road ahead. When a stone or a tree fell, it stirred up a ssh of muddy water, rendering the road muddy and difficult to navigate. Outside, it was pitch dark, out of reach for the hand. Remembering the frights along the way, Xu Chaomu had calmed down a lot. Now, Shen Chi was by her side. She wasn¡¯t afraid at all. As she settled down in the chair, she suddenly noticed she was wearing a man¡¯s shirt. Her eyes immediately widened. What had happened during the time she was unconscious?! Uneasily, she nced at Shen Chi, her little ws scratching his shoulder: ¡°Shen Chi!¡± Chapter 65 - 065: You Have to Take Responsibility Chapter 65: You Have to Take Responsibility Trantor: 549690339 This sudden rm forced Shen Chi to frown and open his eyes, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did you swap out my clothes?¡± she eximed, looking as if she had been vited. And the fact was, she really had been! ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Who gave you permission to change my clothes? Shen Chi, you¡¯re taking advantage of me!¡± Xu Chaomu could hardly imagine what this beast did while she was unconscious! ¡°Are you even worth taking advantage of?¡± Shen Chi looked at her with disdain and disgust, his gaze indecently falling on her chest. Xu Chaomu hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly recalling hisment about her being t-chested. Right, someone vulgar like him only liked women withrger busts! ¡°Shen Chi! You need to take responsibility!¡± Xu Chaomu said with moral indignation. ¡°So, what should we do? Seen what should¡¯ve been seen, and also what shouldn¡¯t have been seen. What do you want then?¡± Shen Chi was remarkably unfazed. God, this man is acting smug even after getting his way, utterly punch-worthy! Who is Xu Chaomu? She¡¯s a female hooligan. Now, as a hooligan, having been taken advantage of by another, she has to get even! Xu Chaomu¡¯s little ws reached out for Shen Chi, as she mbered over to the passenger seat and lunged at him. ¡°You saw me, I have to see you in return, right? Big Brother, isn¡¯t that so? What¡¯s that saying¡­ do unto others, whatever¡­?¡± ck lines ran down Shen Chi¡¯s face, the corner of his mouth twitching. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands already began to pull at Shen Chi¡¯s shirt, expertly starting with the top button! A fire within Shen Chi was stirred by her actions; this was the second time Xu Chaomu was unbuttoning his shirt! ¡°Stop it!¡± he barked, brows furrowing deeply. ¡°You¡¯re not taking responsibility, so what¡¯s wrong with letting me have a look?¡± Xu Chaomu refused to let go. Damn it, he had already seen her twice, both times ¡°seen what should and shouldn¡¯t have been seen,¡± yet she didn¡¯t even know what he looked like shirtless! This isn¡¯t fair y at all! Just as she had undone the top button of Shen Chi¡¯s shirt, he firmly grasped her wrist. ¡°0w, it hurts, let go. If you think I¡¯m clumsy, then why don¡¯t you do it yourself¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face twisted in pain. This man was too strong; she was no match for him. ¡°Alright then,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, ¡°Do you really want me to unbutton it myself?¡± ¡°What else? If you won¡¯t let me touch, then you unbutton and let me have a look. Once that¡¯s done, we¡¯ll be even, and I won¡¯t hold you responsible!¡± Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t stop talking. ¡°Remember, those are your words.¡± A mischievous smile spread across his lips. Shen Chi held her small hand tightly with one hand and went for her shirt buttons with the other. With a flick of his finger, a button popped open, exposing Xu Chaomu¡¯s snow-white neck to the car¡¯s dim yellow light! ¡°Shen Chi, you trickster! Have you no shame!¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t anticipated this move at all. How dare he! How could he start undressing her! Unable to break free from his grasp, she twisted and turned, trying to escape him. The way shey on top of Shen Chi was particrly suggestive, and coupled with her movements, it was a good thing no one was outside the car, as even Shen Chi felt it was embarrassing. The doused me was ignited once again. Shen Chi¡¯s throat moved, his eyes filled with desire. He asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Still want to keep unbuttoning?¡± ¡°Let go of your hand, and let¡¯s talk properly¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was at her wit¡¯s end. Shen Chi didn¡¯t prolong the tussle; with a loosened grip, Xu Chaomu scrambled off him. She quickly buttoned up her shirt, looking at Shen Chi defensively. When had this man be so shameless? Shen Chi gazed at her, her face flushed with anger, still puffing at him. As their eyes met, Xu Chaomu, for some reason, saw a hint of¡­ tenderness in his eyes? She sat down, ncing at him, ¡°Big Brother, why didn¡¯t youe to pick me up tonight?¡± ¡°The car had some problems,¡± Shen Chi replied tly, lying back in his seat. ¡°Oh, I thought you didn¡¯t want me anymore and had gone off to be intimate with Miss Bai.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e, how is it that I can¡¯t be intimate with her?¡± Shen Chi turned his head, leisurely looking at her. ¡°Of course you can, she is your fianc¨¦e after all. I wish you a hundred years of happiness together; don¡¯t forget to have your child call me auntie. But look at you two, haven¡¯t even got your marriage certificate yet, right? Better to restrain yourself a bit.¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t in the best of moods; she really disliked Shen Chi at times like these. He really had absolutely no feelings for her. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Shen Chi nced at her. ¡°Big Brother, you have Miss Bai, I have my boyfriend. You tell me, what do I have to be jealous about? You are my dearest Big Brother, and I am your little sister, right?¡± Xu Chaomu said deliberately. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi just responded indifferently. Damn it, Xu Chaomu almost lost herposure again. What did that ¡°Mhm¡± mean? Stay calm, stay calm, don¡¯t stoop to Shen Chi¡¯s level. If she had stooped to his level, she would have been infuriated many times over by now. The rain outside the window continued to pour. Xu Chaomu turned away, no longer looking at Shen Chi. The more she looked, the angrier she got; better to watch the raging storm. However, she suddenly remembered something important ¡ª her backpack¡­ Her little wooden puppet was still in there! She remembered being thrown out, and her backpack being thrown as well. It must be not far from here! She pulled hard at the car door, and as soon as it opened, she ran into the rain! ¡°Xu Chaomu! Where are you going?¡± Shen Chi reacted quickly, yelled out, and also leaped out of the car. He thought she might be sulking. With the weather like this, it was certainly no joke. If a rock were to fall from the mountain, it wouldn¡¯t just result in a bump on the head! Xu Chaomu had underestimated the heavy rain; within moments of running out, she was soaked through. Guided by the car headlights, she searched nearby, but all around were mud, stones, leaves, and branches ¡ª no sign of her backpack! Shen Chi approached and enveloped her in his arms, carrying her back toward the car! ¡°Are you out of your mind? Get in the car!¡± His domineering tone brooked no dissent. He held her tightly, forcefully opened the car door, and tossed her in. After finally wrangling her inside, he got into the car, pressed a button, and the car door wouldn¡¯t open anymore. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Shen Chi shot her a cold nce. Xu Chaomu was a mess, her hair also damp. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too bad. ¡°I just wanted my backpack, I¡¯m so into my studies after all,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Shen Chiughed coldly, ¡°If you were into studying, the sun would rise from the west.¡± ¡® Stay calm, stay calm, Xu Chaomu told herself, despite seething with rage, she reminded herself to resist taking Shen Chi¡¯s bait.. Chapter 66 - 066 When will you get married Chapter 66: When will you get married Trantor: 549690339 She forced a smile, ¡°Fourth Brother, you¡¯ve known me for so long; anyway, I¡¯m worthless in your eyes.¡± ¡°Hmm, a rare moment when you make sense,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Breathe out, breathe in, deep breaths! Xu Chaomu really felt like Shen Chi was about to infuriate her into illness, but luckily, she had a good mentality, cheerful and optimistic, she wouldn¡¯t hold grudges against him! No grudges! She turned her head away in a huff, resting her chin on the window as she watched the pouring rain. What should she do? Where was her backpack? Shen Chi clearly didn¡¯t care about her at all, so why should she care about a puppet he gave her? No, it wasn¡¯t about caring; it was about relieving stress! When she was unhappy, she could throw it away at will! Her little paws grasped the window sill, her eyes rolling around, trying to spot her backpack. But it was really dark outside; she could only see the area near the car. After scanning around, nothing¡­ ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Shen Chi cast a nce her way. ¡°Nothing. ¡± ¡°Backpack? Oh, I threw it into the trunk,¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly. He threw it into the trunk? Xu Chaomu turned her head and red at him, but his face was innocent. For some reason, a wave of warmth passed through Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart, but still, after staring at him for several dozen seconds, she turned her head away huffily. Making her search for nothing! Shen Chi was truly exhausted. Seeing that she was no longer speaking, he leaned back in the leather seat and closed his eyes to rest. Many thoughts shed through his mind, such as, who kidnapped Xu Chaomu tonight? Why did his car coincidentally have a t tire? And what about the signing ceremony tomorrow, what should he do. Xu Chaomu, on the other hand, was carefree. What concerned her more was how to deal with Shen Chi, a domineering and poisonous-tongued man, in the future. But soon, a wave of sadness welled up inside her. He would be getting married soon, and it would be difficult for her to even see him afterward, let alone confront him¡­ Zhou Ran¡¯s words reemerged at that moment. Once Shen Chi married, would she still stay with the Shen Family? The rain hit the window. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t normally a sentimental person, but at this moment, the silence in the car gave her a profound sense of loneliness. She propped up her little head with one hand and drew circles on the window with the other. Silence, emptiness, solitude. After thinking for a long time, Xu Chaomu finally gathered the courage to turn her head. Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were closed; she stared at him for a while. Biting her lip, she eventually whispered, ¡°Fourth Brother.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi wasn¡¯t asleep, just with closed eyes, he acknowledged. ¡°I want to ask you a question,¡± Xu Chaomu said with rare calmness. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°When are you getting married?¡± She finally mustered up the courage. Since Bai Man was his fianc¨¦e, then his wedding day should be set. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Shen Chi opened his eyes, nced at her, and closed them again. ¡°How is it none of my business, I need to take some time to buy a gift!¡± Xu Chaomu said with a yful and charming smile, hooking Shen Chi¡¯s arm. Displeasure flickered across Shen Chi¡¯s cold face. He pushed her hand away and said coldly, ¡°No need!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s no need, then I won¡¯t send one, and I can save some money. That¡¯s pretty good,¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head away again. She couldn¡¯t pry any information out of him, failure! She continued to lie in her seat, eyes darting around. Since Shen Chi refused to talk, what if she returned to the Shen Family to ask Bai Man? No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Xu Chaomu¡¯s tooth began to ache again. ¡°Hiss¡ª,¡± she inhaled sharply. Covering one side of her cheek, her little face twisted in pain. She bit her lip, enduring the agony. Really, it didn¡¯t hurt earlier norter, but just had to hurt now. But toothaches were really unbearable; sweat dripped from her forehead. She was almost rolling on the floor in pain. As soon as they were out of these mountains, she¡¯d go to the hospital to have her tooth pulled. Just when her back was soaked with sweat, suddenly, she heard the sound of a car starting in the torrential rain. She pressed her face against the window to look outside, and behind the ck Hummer, several white police cars approached. Their lights were blinding, instantly illuminating the dark ce like a beacon. ¡°Fourth Brother, the police are here!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted. Shen Chi then opened his eyes, lifted his wrist to check his watch; it was exactly 4:10 in the morning. It was the dead of night, quiet and still, when even the slightest rustle could be heard distinctly. The police jumped out of their cars, and both Old Cheng and Li Beiting were also in the police vehicles; they walked to the front of Shen Chi¡¯s car with umbres in hand. ¡°President Shen, sorry for beingte,¡± Old Cheng apologized to Shen Chi with a sorry face. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you drive,¡± Shen Chi had a tired look on his face, then immediately opened the door and moved to the back. ¡°Okay,¡± Old Cheng got into the driver¡¯s seat. Xu Chaomu was stunned by the scene before her. These police officers all seemed quite respectful towards Shen Chi. Oh, it might be more about the respect for Li Beiting. She had long heard from Yu Weiwei that Li Beiting was very powerful. She nced down, catching Li Beiting¡¯s gaze. Li Beiting stood in the pouring rain with a ck umbre, and when Xu Chaomu looked at him, he also nced at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. What did that look from Li Beiting mean? A warning? She couldn¡¯t tell, but she felt that Li Beiting was more serious and colder than usual. Everyone sighed in relief seeing that Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu were safe and sound. They proceeded to get back to their respective vehicles in an orderly fashion. Xu Chaomu looked back at Shen Chi who was now seated behind her. His eyes were closed; he was silent, unsure if he was asleep or deep in thought. Two police cars led the way in front, and soon after, Old Cheng followed them, with a fleet of police cars escorting them from behind. Leaving the mountains behind, Xu Chaomu suddenly felt a profound sense of loss. She turned to look at the road they had traveled. There¡ªit had been just her and Shen Chi¡ªshe still wanted to talk to him. Compared to nightmares, the warmth felt like it was carved into her heart with a knife. The entire way, the car was very quiet. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, Old Cheng didn¡¯t talk, and Shen Chi was even less likely to say anything. Unsure how long they drove, but eventually, the car left the mountain road and entered the bright city area. The scene suddenly changed from narrow to open, giving a sense of immediate release. Xu Chaomu felt that this journey was very long, like a century. Once the car reached an area with signal, Shen Chi¡¯s phone started ringing incessantly. He slowly answered. ¡°All flights tomorrow are canceled.¡± ¡°Tell the presidents, the contract must be signed by me, Shen Chi!¡± ¡°Xiao MO, send people to secretly contact theirpany, use the safest method to send the contract to C City!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was forceful and resolute, every word firm and decisive. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand, and actually, she didn¡¯t need to. She just felt that the gap between her and Shen Chi wasn¡¯t just a small stream; it was an entire gxy. She rubbed her head; her toothache was ring up again. She covered her cheek, head drooping, sitting listlessly in the passenger seat. Just then, Shen Chi hung up the phone and said to Old Cheng with a cold voice, ¡°Turn left, keep driving!¡± Chapter 67 - 067 Hold Me Chapter 67: Hold Me Trantor: 549690339 Old Cheng hurriedly stepped on the brakes and turned the steering wheel, even though he didn¡¯t know where Shen Chi wanted to go. Xu Chaomu was about to bury her head into the seat, her toothache causing her to twitch in pain. When Old Cheng turned onto the left street, he finally slowed the car down and asked, ¡°President Shen, where are we going?¡± Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu in front of him and said indifferently, ¡°To the hospital.¡± Old Cheng suddenly understood. He looked at Xu Chaomu and, with tacit understanding, drove the car toward the hospital ahead. With a swoosh, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned bright red. Was she discovered by Shen Chi? When their car was about to arrive at the hospital entrance, Li Beiting¡¯s car blocked the path of their Hummer. Old Cheng quickly braked and Xu Chaomu bounced twice heavily against the seat. Why did Li Beiting drive so aggressively? Old Cheng rolled down the window, and rainwater sshed in from outside. In the next second, Li Beiting got out of his car, his eyes fixed on Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu felt somewhat scared being stared at like that; Li Beiting didn¡¯t seem quite right tonight. What did that look mean? ¡°Shen Chi, get out. I have something to say to you!¡± Li Beiting shouted. Shen Chi was expressionless, calmly unfolding his long legs, ¡°You don¡¯t need to say it, I already know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know shit. Get out here! You owe me an exnation today!¡± Li Beiting cursed outright, his whole being far fromposed, his eyes shing with malice and anger. Xu Chaomu was somewhat confused about the situation. What were the grievances between these two? Weren¡¯t they friends since childhood? Could it be that Li Beiting secretly longed for Shen Chi? Yo, yo, yo, Xu Chaomu was struck by her own thought; she must be a genius, it had to be that way. Seeing Li Beiting¡¯s expression, looking like someone who had held it in for a long time and was about to erupt, she was very curious to see what Shen Chi would do when faced with Li Beiting. Xu Chaomu, who loved a good spectacle, suddenly forgot about her toothache. Shen Chi sent an icy look over, ¡°Li Beiting, move aside!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lose your mind, Shen Chi; you¡¯d better see clearly what it is you want! And don¡¯t me me for speaking bluntly in front of this girl¡ªshe¡¯s just an orphan picked up from the orphanage. The Shen family has raised her for eight years, and even if she doesn¡¯t leave, she should know when toe and go. You call her shameless for sticking to you, you¡­¡± ¡°Li Beiting, get the fuck out!¡± Before Li Beiting could finish, Shen Chi forcefully pushed open the car door, stepped out into the rain, grabbed Li Beiting by the cor, and shoved him down against the red car. In the rain, Xu Chaomu saw Shen Chi¡¯s eyes turning red, like a lion enraged, brewing a tempest! He was holding onto Li Beiting¡¯s cor, a punch nearlynding! ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯m warning you. If you dare say that kind of thing again, don¡¯t me me tor not seeing you as a brother!¡± Shen Chi pronounced each word as if they were the sharp edge of a de. ¡°Shen Chi, to think I considered you a brother, and this is how you treat me? The 5:30 flight, you decide what to do!¡± Li Beiting forcefully grabbed Shen Chi¡¯s hand, shoving it off his cor. With a face full of resentment, Li Beiting got into his Maserati, mmed the door with a bang, and sped off! In the rain, Shen Chi clenched his fists tightly. The rain falling from the sky soaked his face and his shirt. He stood like a cold statue, motionless, yet emitting a frigid chill. Clearly stunned, Old Cheng wondered why President Shen would get into a fight with President Li¡ªthey were supposed to be the best of friends. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart had nearly stopped, and her mind went nk. Li Beiting¡­ what did he say? ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t leave, she should know her ce. You say she has no shame, sticking to you¡­¡± She once considered Li Beiting a friend, but it turned out that in Li Beiting¡¯s eyes, she was nothing but a shameless girl who clung to Shen Chi. In the Shen family, Shen Chi doted on her so much, she almost thought she was a part of the Shen family. It turned out, no one really saw her as part of the Shen family. The closest, Aunt Zhou did, and now, Li Beiting as well. Her surname was Xu, not Shen. Xu Chaomu¡¯s head slowly drooped, her eyes clouding with ayer of mist, her face shrouded in loss and loneliness. It felt as though there were des churning in her chest, causing dull pains. Who says the young do not know the taste of worry? Minutester, Shen Chi got into the car. He nced at Xu Chaomu, who had buried her head by the window, not knowing what she was thinking about. ¡°Drive.¡± Shen Chi said faintly. ¡°Alright!¡± Old Cheng responded and started up the car again towards the nearest hospital. Though it was nighttime, there were still quite a few cars parked at the hospital entrance; electronic screens and streetlights illuminated brightly, and people were still moving around asionally. There was water on the road, and the rain continued to fall. When Old Cheng stopped the car, Xu Chaomu¡¯s head was still against the window, not looking up or speaking. Old Cheng had rarely seen Xu Chaomu like this, quiet like a forsaken child, her surroundings permeated with loneliness. Old Cheng said nothing, took out an umbre, and got out to open the door for Shen Chi. After Shen Chi got out, he stood by the passenger door, then opened it and lifted her out. His grip was still domineering; once he held her, he wouldn¡¯t let go. Xu Chaomu showed no particr expression. Previously, she would be happy if Shen Chi held her, but now, her heart didn¡¯t even flutter with the feeling of ¡°thump thump.¡± ¡°Hold onto me.¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows; she wouldn¡¯t even touch him, not fearing to fall. As Xu Chaomu raised her eyelids, she met his dark eyes. She symbolically hooked her arm around his neck, then lowered her head again. Right now, she was exactly as Li Beiting described, shamelessly clinging to Shen Chi. Shen Chi carried her all the way to the dentist¡¯s office in the hospital building, his steps steady, holding her until they reached the dental clinic. There was a doctor on duty in the clinic. Since it was nighttime, the hospital was empty, and all that could be heard in the corridor was Shen Chi¡¯s footsteps. Some departments were unstaffed and the lights were off, leaving them dark. The hospital was already a bit creepy, and Xu Chaomu was especially frightened toe here. It was fine during the day, with many people around, but now it was night, and she felt as if she could hear the wails of patients. Frightened, she buried her head into Shen Chi¡¯s chest. She swore it wasn¡¯t intentional; she was scared. Upon entering the clinic, he ced her on the bed and told the on-duty doctor, ¡°Take a look at her teeth and see what¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the doctor put on a mask and gloves, then approached. With every step the doctor took closer, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart pounded more violently! When the doctor held the cold forceps, Xu Chaomu was so frightened she trembled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be seen! I¡¯m fine! My tooth doesn¡¯t hurt anymore!¡± Her voice trembled as she sat up, ready to run. Shen Chi was quick to respond, firmly holding her down and speaking with stern authority, ¡°Lie down!¡± Chapter 68 - 068: Fourth Brother Accompanies You Chapter 68: Fourth Brother Apanies You Trantor: 549690339 What¡¯s the point of lying down if I¡¯m not sleeping with him! Xu Chaomu¡¯s rogue spirit red up again, and she pushed Shen Chi¡¯s arm: ¡°I don¡¯t want to see it anymore, my tooth doesn¡¯t hurt, I don¡¯t want to see it!¡± ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t hurt, lie down for me!¡± Shen Chi said in a cold voice. He grabbed her wrist and pressed her down onto the bed. Her little ws were sharp, clinging to his arm without letting go, and her nails left a long bloody mark on Shen Chi¡¯s arm. The doctor didn¡¯t know whether to hide or stay put. But to the doctor, this was nothing unusual; not only children, but adults are afraid ofing to the dentist. ¡°Shen Chi, stop bothering me, I said I won¡¯t go and I mean it. I have nothing to do with you, if you keep this up, I¡¯m going to sue you in court!¡± Xu Chaomu was still struggling endlessly, her hands pinned by Shen Chi, and then her legs began kicking him! ¡°Lie down properly!¡± Shen Chi was annoyed and his face darkened, a chill emanating from his eyes. Xu Chaomu used her hands and feet, but she was never a match for Shen Chi, and in a short while, she was subdued by him. ¡°Check her teeth!¡± Shen Chi snapped at the doctor standing by. While Shen Chi was holding Xu Chaomu down, she tilted her little head and bit down hard on his arm! Biting fiercely! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face turned pale in an instant, a piercing pain spreading throughout his body. His brows furrowed tightly, his blood flowing swiftly, and he almost subconsciously raised his hand. Xu Chaomu red at him and then let go. ¡°Go on, hit me!¡± In her eyes was defiance. Shen Chi¡¯s raised hand hung in mid-air, but it didn¡¯te down. Slowly, he clenched his fist. Finally, his hand dropped. He couldn¡¯t bear to hit her. His arm was left with two rows of congested bite marks and a scratch from her nails. Shen Chi was helpless; he had never been this bruised, even when he had rushed into the mountains to save her. The doctor stood by, truly in a dilemma, wondering whether to proceed or not. Shen Chi let go of Xu Chaomu, not forcing her anymore, but spoke to her in a very firm tone: ¡°If you don¡¯t check it, the pain will just continue. Deal with it yourself!¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes and relented. Her tooth had been hurting for many days, and the doctor had said it had to be pulled. Finally, she obedientlyy down, closing her eyes in agony as if it would cost her life. Shen Chi looked on helplessly, unable to do anything with her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s little hand clutched the bedsheet, eyshes trembling with fear, and there was silence all around, only the sound of the doctor¡¯s work could be heard. The doctor picked up a cotton ball with tweezers, and turned on the headboard light: ¡°Open up.¡± Xu Chaomu obediently opened her mouth, the yellow light casting shadows on her face, but she couldn¡¯t suppress the shaking of her body. Fear, dread, panic. Shen Chi took her hand and held her little hand in his palm. A warm flow came from the palm, spreading throughout her body, warming Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. ¡°You have a cavity in one tooth, it¡¯ll be fine once it¡¯s pulled,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded with a furrowed brow. The clinic fell silent, Xu Chaomu knowing she couldn¡¯t avoid it, so she opened her eyes and gave Shen Chi a pitiful look. ¡°Fourth brother¡­ I¡¯m afraid of pain¡­¡± Her watery eyes were filled with pitifulness,pletely different from the assertive Xu Chaomu of before. ¡°Fourth brother is here with you,¡± Shen Chi said, frowning, tightening his grip on her hand. Perhaps his resolute gaze gave her courage; she stared at him for a long time before obediently closing her eyes. The doctor took up a syringe to anesthetize Xu Chaomu, expertly managing the procedure. During this time, Shen Chi¡¯s phone vibrated countless times, but everytime he ignored it and immediately hung up. The orange light fell on her pale little face, every furrow of her brow tugging at his heart. He watched her quietly until the tooth extraction surgery was graduallypleted. When Bai Man¡¯s car arrived at the hospital, it was already beginning to get light. 6:10! Shen Chi had indeed given up going to A City! After hearing the news, Bai Man turned pale with rage, smashing several things! Nobody dared to stop the explosive sound of things breaking. Racing over to the hospital, Bai Man hadn¡¯t expected that at the entrance to the dental clinic¡¯s building, Old Cheng was on guard. Old Cheng lit a cigarette, standing at the entrance, his eyes sweeping the surroundings like those of an eagle. He had noticed Bai Man¡¯s sports car as soon as it had approached. ¡°Where¡¯s Shen Chi?¡± Bai Man got out of the car and demanded outright. ¡°President Shen is busy,¡± Old Cheng was terse. Bai Man didn¡¯t want to waste words with him and gave him a nce, stepping boldly past him in her red high heels! ¡°Miss Bai, at this hour, I¡¯m afraid President Shen doesn¡¯t really want to see anyone,¡± Old Cheng blocked her path, his gaze steely. ¡°Has he been bewitched by that little vixen? I need to see for myself what kind of skills this vixen has, at only eighteen, seducing men, huh.¡± Bai Man scoffed, and her words were unpleasant. She felt she had been too kind to Xu Chaomu, always treating her like Shen Chi¡¯s sister, but Xu Chaomu had never regarded her as a sister-inw, openlypeting with her for a man. Even she didn¡¯t know what kind of love potion Xu Chaomu had given Shen Chi to make him ignore something as important as signing a contract in A City! ¡°Miss Bai, Miss Xu is here at the hospital just because she¡¯s unwell, and President Shen is apanying her. You¡¯re reading too much into it,¡± Old Cheng was matter-of-fact. But Old Cheng, being in his forties, was perceptive, and given that he was always with Shen Chi, he understood that Shen Chi¡¯s feelings for Xu Chaomu were unusual. However, he also knew Bai Man was Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, so he couldn¡¯t be the one to stir up trouble. ¡°Miss Xu? You really regard her as a miss. In the Shen Family, who acknowledges her as a miss?¡± Bai Man¡¯s tone was arrogant and dismissive. ¡°That¡¯s the rule set by President Shen, no one can change it,¡± Old Cheng replied lightly. ¡°So, Old Cheng, are you going to let me go up or not?¡± Bai Man challenged him. ¡°President Shen has instructed, so please go back, ¡± Old Cheng said calmly. ¡°You!¡± Bai Man was furious. She decided to barge in; she didn¡¯t believe Old Cheng would dare do anything to her! She stood at the entrance, determined to make her way in. Old Cheng attempted to block her, but ultimately couldn¡¯t stop her; he couldn¡¯t reallyy his hands on Bai Man, so he blocked the doorway instead. Bai Man waspletely at a loss; there was no way Old Cheng would let her pass. She then tried calling Shen Chi, but he hung up each time. Bai Man was so angry that her heart pounded; she was fuming. ¡°Miss Bai, you should go back. It¡¯s quite cold outside, and if anything happens to you, President Shen will be worried,¡± Old Cheng tried to persuade her gently. ¡°Worried? Would he worry about me? He¡¯s got his eyes blinded by the little vixen,¡± Bai Man said through clenched teeth.. Chapter 69 - 069 Taking Advantage of Someone’s Danger Chapter 69: Taking Advantage of Someone¡¯s Danger Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Miss Bai, you should keep your voice down, don¡¯t let President Shen hear you. After all, Miss Xu is President Shen¡¯s most beloved sister,¡± Old Cheng always maintained a neutral attitude. ¡°Old Cheng, do you think I¡¯m eight years old?¡± Bai Man scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to say. Miss Bai, you should know better than me that President Shen does not like people who are immature.¡± ¡°Fine¡­ you¡¯re ruthless,¡± Bai Man¡¯s delicate melon-seed face contorted. Alright, if they won¡¯t let her in, she¡¯ll wait. Bai Man turned arrogantly and got into her sports car, closing the doors and windows, trying hard to calm herself down. Old Cheng was right, Shen Chi didn¡¯t like people who were immature, and wasn¡¯t the reason she had been able to stay by his side also because she was mature enough? But her mind was still in chaos. In that case, she had seen a lot of Xu Chaomu¡¯s immaturity in the Shen Family these past few days, but she hadn¡¯t seen Shen Chi show any dislike for Xu Chaomu. She didn¡¯t believe the emotions she had shared with Shen Chi over so many years could be so fragile. After all, everyone in this circle said that she was the one Shen Chi loved the most. Hopefully, she was just overthinking it. In the dental clinic, the doctor finished thest step of the procedure, then put away his instruments and took off his gloves. ¡°All done, the cavity has been dealt with, so you won¡¯t feel any more pain. Be careful with your diet these next few days, keep it light. I will prescribe some medicine; remember to take it on time. Also, try to consume less sugary food in the future,¡± the doctor advised. Xu Chaomu was half dead already, even with the anesthesia, she had shed tears all over her face. It still hurts so much! She clung to Shen Chi¡¯s hand and wouldn¡¯t let go. Shen Chiughed, ¡°Did you hear that? Eat less sugary food in the future.¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t speak, so she just nodded her head. There is a kind of torture in this world that¡¯s called being unable to speak; it¡¯s unbearable! Shen Chi was rarely able to see Xu Chaomu being so obedient, so he added, ¡°And argue with me less from now on.¡± Why can¡¯t I argue with you! If you¡¯re wrong, should I just listen and obey? Besides, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s more unreasonable most of the time! Xu Chaomu wanted to roar, but since she couldn¡¯t speak, she could only re at Shen Chi to express her discontent. This shameless Shen Chi was taking advantage of her! After the doctor wrote the prescription, Shen Chi went with Xu Chaomu to get the medication. She held on to his arm, and he did not refuse. She was naturally carefree, and after having her tooth pulled, she had forgotten all about Li Beiting¡¯s words. When Shen Chi took Xu Chaomu out of the hospital, it was already past seven in the morning. Bai Man¡¯s car was still parked at the entrance of the building, and she felt like her patience was nearly exhausted! However, when she saw Xu Chaomuing out with her arm hooked around Shen Chi¡¯s, she chose to continue persevering. ¡°President Shen, Miss Bai is over there,¡± Old Cheng whispered. Shen Chi barely lifted an eyelid, and sure enough, Bai Man was sitting in her car, looking in his direction. Xu Chaomu suddenly remembered Li Beiting¡¯s words and immediately let go of Shen Chi. Bai Man got out of the car, reining in any superfluous expressions, her tempting smile blooming as she took Shen Chi¡¯s arm: ¡°Why did youe to the hospital?¡± ¡°I brought Chaomu to get a tooth extraction,¡± Shen Chi said casually. ¡°Is it serious? Is it done?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡¯ ¡°Are you still going to A City?¡± Bai Man asked cautiously. ¡°If we leave now, it¡¯ll be toote.¡¯ Anxiety shed across Bai Man¡¯s face. If Shen Chi didn¡¯t go to A City, what about the contract? And the press conference? She had nned to use this press conference to announce to the world that she was Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Clearly, Shen Chi had not refused her. But now this had happened¡­ ¡°What should we do? This signing is very important for you. If it doesn¡¯t happen, it will be a huge loss for the group!¡± Bai Man said. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what they were talking about; it seemed very profound. ¡°I have my own arrangements.¡± There was not much disturbance on Shen Chi¡¯s face; he didn¡¯t say much to Bai Man anymore and instructed Old Cheng, ¡°Take Chaomu home, I¡¯ll head to the group.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Old Cheng responded. ¡°Shen Chi, let me take you to the group! I happened to drive here,¡± Bai Man offered. ¡°No need.¡± Bai Man didn¡¯t dare say more. Once Shen Chi refused, she had no room for negotiation. Shen Chi tossed the medicine to Xu Chaomu: ¡°Take the medicine on time!¡± Xu Chaomu nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. This man changed his expression as quickly as the weather; just a moment ago in the clinic, he was quite kind to her, and now he had adopted another cold and icy face! Shen Chi hailed a taxi on the roadside while Old Cheng was preparing to drive Xu Chaomu back home. The rain continued to fall, leaving the ground wet. The day had dawned, and the hospital gradually became bustling, with doctors and patientsing and going with umbres. Xu Chaomu felt as if it was all a dream, from being taken awayst night to now, holding medicine under the corridor. But at least, in the dream, there was him. She had survived safely for now, but the problem was, when could she kiss him? With his strong defenses, before she could even touch him, he would probably have rejected her fiercely. Xu Chaomu sighed deeply; the task was challenging indeed! ¡°I just happened to be going back to the Shen Family, why not let me take Chaomu?¡± Bai Man suggested to Old Cheng. Old Cheng expressed his thanks to Miss Bai, saying, ¡°President Shen asked me to take Miss Xu home, I don¡¯t dare to shirk.¡± Xu Chaomu gave Old Cheng a thumbs up; she definitely didn¡¯t want to take Bai Man¡¯s car. Unable to do much and unable to pull rank, Bai Man simply smiled: ¡°Then let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Of course, Miss Bai, please go ahead.¡± Bai Man drove out of the hospital, with Old Cheng¡¯s car following closely behind. Xu Chaomu was tired as well and fell asleep as soon as she got into the car. She dreamt of her mother. It had been a long time since shest dreamt of her mother, and in the dream, she cried. Her mother asked if she was doing well, and she kept nodding and saying she was doing fine. Sometimes she wondered if being taken to the Shen Family was luck or misfortune. In a daze, she dreamt the entire way until the car reached the Shen Family mansion. Seeing Xu Chaomu deep in slumber, Old Cheng didn¡¯t wake her up. After parking the car in the garage, he whispered to Butler Ling, ¡°Miss Xu is asleep; let her rest for a while. She doesn¡¯t need to go to sses today.¡± Butler Ling nodded, and Old Cheng left the Shen Family. When Xu Chaomu woke up, she felt refreshed, and her tooth ached much less, not really hurting anymore. But as she rubbed her eyes, the person sitting in the driver¡¯s seat had be Bai Man? Bai Man was staring at her, her peach blossom eyes gleaming, lips slightly curved, as ifughing. Xu Chaomu had to admit, a big star was indeed a big star, perfect from every angle; no matter how you looked, just beautiful. That fair face and those charming red lips, especially below the neckline, Xu Chaomu found most enviable. It wasn¡¯t clear in the magazines, but now that she¡¯d met the real person, damn, it was even better than the pictures! No wonder Yu Weiwei said that men liked women withrge chests, because they felt great to the touch. The so-calledrge chests were just like Bai Man¡¯s. If she were a man, she would like that too! No wonder Shen Chi, that tacky man, looked at Bai Man so tenderly.. Chapter 70 - 070 He Doesn’t Love Her Chapter 70: He Doesn¡¯t Love Her Trantor: 549690339 Actually, she really wanted to ask, what exactly did Bai Man eat to grow up like this. But then she remembered, Yu Weiwei, the expert, had told her that a man¡¯s hand was the best breast enhancer. Thus, she deduced, Shen Chi probably touched her a lot. She was impressed by her own cleverness, but her face immediately became unhappy. That shameless Shen Chi probably hugged Bai Man countless times in private. Isn¡¯t it said that Shen Chi is Bai Man¡¯s sugar daddy? As for secret rules, she understood them perfectly. However, what did all this have to do with her, and what was there for her not to be happy about? Xu Chaomu pursed her lips and looked away. She was about to open the car door when Bai Man grabbed her hand, ¡°Chaomu, I have something to tell you.¡± With no other choice, Xu Chaomu turned back. ¡°What?¡± she asked sinctly, her tone nd. It wasn¡¯t that she was aloof, but that she had just had a tooth pulled and it hurt to even say a word. If only she could master Shen Chi¡¯s ability to remain unflustered in any situation. ¡°Chaomu, look into my eyes and tell me the truth. Do you like your fourth brother?¡± Bai Man¡¯s graceful face held a gentle smile, like a white rose. Her entire demeanor was that of a sophisticateddy, exuding an air of elegance. What¡¯s there to look at? It¡¯s just colored contact lenses, isn¡¯t it? Xu Chaomu red at her and smiled too, ¡°I do like him. At the Shen family, I like Fourth Brother the most, followed by Third Brother, then Butler Ling, then Uncle Shen. Wait¡­ no, that¡¯s wrong. I love Dabai the most, followed by Fourth Brother, then Third Brother, then¡­¡± A sh of impatience swept through Bai Man¡¯s eyes as she interrupted Xu Chaomu, ¡°I¡¯m talking about the kind of ¡®liking¡¯ that a woman feels towards a man.¡± Xu Chaomu grimaced in pain, having managed to say so much, only to be cut off by Bai Man. ¡°I¡¯m a woman, and Fourth Brother is a man. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that!¡± Dammit, Bai Man just wanted to know if she had feelings for Shen Chi. She doesn¡¯t trust her own feelings? And to think she¡¯s considered the most beautiful woman in C City. If Shen Chi really married her, Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t cling on. A second-hand man? She wasn¡¯t interested! ¡°Just spit it out, Chaomu. Do you want to marry your fourth brother?¡± Bai Man made her intentions clear. Xu Chaomu answered seriously, ¡°I have a boyfriend. My boyfriend is handsomer than Fourth Brother, younger than Fourth Brother, more youthful than Fourth Brother, more spirited than Fourth Brother, gentler than Fourth Brother, more considerate than Fourth Brother¡­¡± Xu Chaomu discovered for the first time that she knew so many adjectives. Bai Man still looked skeptical, not believing a word Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Miss Bai, you don¡¯t want to marry my Fourth Brother anymore, do you? How pitiful he would be, unwanted by anyone,¡± Xu Chaomu said, seizing the opportunity to disparage Shen Chi. Just that morning in the hospital, he¡¯d picked on her because she couldn¡¯t speak. How the tables have turned! ¡°I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e, I can¡¯t like him enough, let alone not want to marry him. Marrying your fourth brother would be the happiest thing in my life,¡± Bai Man didn¡¯t understand what Xu Chaomu was trying to express. Shen Chi unwanted? Which woman in C City wouldn¡¯t sharpen her head just to climb into Shen Chi¡¯s bed! If that wasn¡¯t the case, she wouldn¡¯t be so defensive even against Xu Chaomu. ¡°Well, you¡¯d better think carefully, I heard¡­¡± Xu Chaomu deliberately lowered her voice, moving closer to Bai Man. ¡°What?¡± Bai Man frowned, what had she heard? She looked intrigued. Xu Chaomu continued in a hushed tone, ¡°I heard that Fourth Brother is frigid, the so-called impotent.¡± Shameless Xu Chaomu; Bai Man¡¯s face instantly flushed. Having been in the entertainment industry for many years, Bai Man had seen it all, but she never expected Xu Chaomu to be more open than herself. Was this girl really eighteen? Where had she learned such things¡­ ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t talk nonsense. From now on, speak less of these things. What do you, a girl, understand!¡± Bai Man said coldly. ¡°Miss Bai, I¡¯m considering your future happiness. You wouldn¡¯t want your ¡®happiness¡¯ to be insecure, right? Isn¡¯t it true? It¡¯s a secret known to the Shen family, but no one dares to talk about it. You know, Fourth Brother has a bad temper, and if it gets out, it would be terrible,¡± Xu Chaomu bluffed with a serious face. If Shen Chi knew she was gossiping, he would probably skin her alive. Bai Man¡¯s eyes shifted as she put on a bashfully smiling face, not ming Xu Chaomu for her shamelessness. ¡°Chaomu,e here¡­¡± She beckoned Xu Chaomu closer to her. With a smile on her face and allure in her seductive eyes, Bai Man looked enchantingly charming. Her slightly quivering eyshes added to her allure. Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes. Bai Man whispered in her ear, ¡°Chaomu, rumors can¡¯t be trusted. Your fourth brother not only has no such issues but is also¡­ very impressive. Just the night beforest, he took me many times; I don¡¯t know where he gets the energy¡­¡± The tone of Bai Man¡¯s voice was melodic, yet to Xu Chaomu, it was exceedingly grating. A sliver of destion appeared in her wide eyes but was quickly concealed by Xu Chaomu. ¡°Miss Bai, if he can¡¯t, then he just can¡¯t. Stop deceiving yourself!¡± Xu Chaomu taunted deliberately. In her heart, knots of distress and a knife-twisting pain. Over the years, she¡¯d caused him trouble on more than one asion, like that time in the bathroom when she had been so bold, yet he never showed the slightest desire towards her. He wouldn¡¯t even kiss her. Yu Weiwei was right, either the woman is too ugly, or he doesn¡¯t love her. With that thought, Xu Chaomu picked up her medicine, opened the car door, and ran upstairs without stopping for a second. Yet, she walked confidently, head held high and chest out. Bai Man fiddled with the gold bracelet on her wrist, pondering Xu Chaomu¡¯s words¡ªwhat did they mean? Could Shen Chi really be impotent? She began to feel uncertain. After all, she was considered the top beauty in C City; she¡¯d subtly flirted with Shen Chi several times, but he neverid a hand on her. What man could remain immune to temptation? Bai Man fell into deep confusion. Xu Chaomu was also feeling miserable, Bai Man¡¯s words making her entire being ufortable. Shen Chi was such a hypocrite, cold and domineering in public, yet in private, a beast¡ªno, worse than a beast. Bai Man had said that just two nights ago, he¡¯d taken her many times¡­ Pah, pah, pah! What a hypocrite! Worse than a beast! While she deeply despised him, part of Xu Chaomu felt strangely disappointed. She lowered her head and supported her cheek as she stared at the books on the table, her vision blurring. She scribbled aimlessly on the paper, the pencil¡¯s ck lines slowly filling the white page. She wrote several ¡°Shen Chi¡±s, then without fail crossed out each one with a big ¡°X¡±. Repeatedly doing this until her hand ached, she realized how childish she was being. Shen Chi and Bai Man were bound to get married eventually. Rather than fretting here, she might as well go and find a young man to date.. Chapter 71 - 071 The Demeanor of a King Chapter 71: The Demeanor of a King Trantor: 549690339 When Shen Chi took a taxi to the group, his secretary Xiao MO was simply taken aback. The rain was still pouring nonstop, and Xiao MO hurriedly opened an umbre to meet Shen Chi. Seeing that Shen Chi¡¯s face looked rather grim, and his eyes were full of red veins, Xiao MO couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit worried. However, walking alongside Shen Chi, he could still feel the powerful aura emanating from him; every move he made was with the poise of a sovereign. Shen Chi¡¯s steps were firm as he headed straight for the executive elevator to the group¡¯s floors. ¡°Report the situation,¡± Shen Chi said to Xiao MO as they walked, his tone very cold. ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao MO opened the folder and followed Shen Chi into the elevator, ¡°The president of Wanton Technology of A City is not budging, iming our group has unterally breached the contract. They gave us two options: either Wanton signs with anotherpany or our group pays a hefty fine for the breach.¡± Shen Chi sneered, ¡°Is he threatening? It seems he has forgotten who the real controller is!¡± ¡°I have already given them an ultimatum, and I gave them two choices too: either dy the signing or send the contract to C City!¡± Xiao MO said. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently, ¡°When dealing with these petty figures, just remember to always be tougher than them.¡± ¡°However¡­ President Shen, I heard that Vice President Shen is almost at A City.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that the contract must be signed by me, Shen Chi?¡± The elevator ¡®dinged,¡¯ and upon reaching the sixty-eighth floor, Shen Chi strode towards the president¡¯s office with his long legs. Xiao MO followed closely, watching this cheetah-like man, knowing that whatever Shen Chi wanted to do, he would certainly achieve. ¡°President Shen, do we need to book a ticket to A City? I¡¯m worried that the people from Wanton might renege.¡± ¡°Have all the spies been ced?¡± Shen Chi nced at him with a sharp look in his eyes. He reached to open a pile of documents on the table, nced at them, and then casually opened his email inbox. Among the numerous emails, there was one from his father, Shen Cexian! ¡°All arranged, just to be safe rather than sorry,¡± Xiao MO said, ¡°Once the contract is signed, there¡¯s no turning back. The acquisition of Wanton is a big deal for you.¡± A cold smile yed at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth as he opened the safe, withdrawing a thick stack of documents. He leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, faceposed and unruffled by anxiety. ¡°Xiao MO, dial President Yang of Wanton¡¯s number.¡± Shen Chi casually flipped through the papers while lifting the coffee from the desk. ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao MO took out his phone, dialed a number, and handed the phone to Shen Chi. Soon, someone on the other end picked up. ¡°President Yang, have you had breakfast yet?¡± Shen Chi asked, his lips lifting into a corner, though such a simple phrase wasced with chilling coldness and severity. Xiao MO nced at Shen Chi with the corner of his eye, noting how the man appearedposed, but his tone sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. ¡°It¡¯s President Shen! Have you arrived at A City?¡± came a middle-aged man¡¯s voice from the other end. ¡°Does it matter whether I¡¯m there or not?¡± ¡°President Shen, don¡¯t joke with us small-timers. The media are all here, once the contract is signed, Wanton will belong to Shen¡¯s. At this point, jokes like that shouldn¡¯t be made. Right?¡± Shen Chi did not reply; he just continued to peruse the stack of documents in his hands. ¡°President Shen? President Shen? If you¡¯re too busy with other matters, having Vice President Shen sign would do just as well.¡± Still, Shen Chi remained silent, his slender fingers gliding over the documents. Yang, clearly feeling guilty, stuttered, ¡°President Shen, Vice President Shen has arrived. Would you like to talk to him for a moment?¡± ¡°President Yang,¡± Shen Chi finally spoke up, ¡°on January twenty-third, you sold one of Wanton¡¯s core technologies to Lianmei Technology; on January twenty-ninth, you epted a bribe of seven million RMB; on February fifth, due to sloppy ounting, you caused Wanton to lose nearly a hundred million; on February thirteenth¡­¡± ¡°President Shen!¡± President Yang was sweating profusely, stumbling over his words, ¡°You¡­ stop reading, I¡­¡± Shen Chi nced at the thick stack of materials, sneering. Could anyone with such character really manage apany? ¡°President Yang, you don¡¯t want me to continue, do you? I¡¯m concerned you might not have a good memory.¡± ¡°President Shen¡­ please show mercy, don¡¯t let this information get out¡­¡± ¡°President Yang is a smart man; surely you don¡¯t want to spend the rest of your life in prison.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, President Shen, whatever you say. But¡­ but Wanton is so big, you know it¡¯s not just up to me¡­¡± President Yang meeklyplied. ¡°The police will being over in a bit, let me see which page to hand over first,¡± Shen Chi said, furrowing his brow in mock seriousness as he shuffled the documents. ¡°President Shen! Please have mercy, what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°The best course of action, of course, is to get the contract signed today, with so many media present. Right?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was not loud, yet every word was chillingly captivating. He sipped his coffee, his eyes deep and profound. ¡°But¡­ you haven¡¯te to A City, have you?¡± President Yang was very distressed, his back already drenched with cold sweat. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Shen Shihan gone there?¡± ¡°But¡­ didn¡¯t you say it has to be you who signs?¡± President Yang wiped his sweat. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to put on a show? Can¡¯t you make a fake contract? Do I need to teach you?¡± Atst, President Yang seemed to understand Shen Chi¡¯s intention. He was to forge a fake contract for Shen Shihan to sign, to perform a charade in front of everyone and then deliver the real contract to Shen Chi. But why¡­ why would Shen Chi want to do this? ¡°President Shen, may I ask a question that I shouldn¡¯t? Vice President Shen and you are both working hard for Shen Group, and whether Vice President Shen signs or you sign¡­ isn¡¯t it the same?¡± President Yang still asked, unable toprehend why, when both Shen Chi and Shen Shihan shared the surname Shen and were brothers¡­ Without another word, Shen Chi pressed the end call button. Was it ever his ce for others to question his actions? Yang on the other end of the phone was left hanging, furious yet not daring to express it. Shen Chi handed the phone back to Xiao MO, and at the same time, he threw therge stack of documents back into the safe. ¡°President Shen, did it go smoothly?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Shen Chi nced at him, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. Xiao MO gave him an admiring look, for he knew well that whenever President Shen took action, there was no question of failure. ¡°Then, President Shen, congrattions,¡± Xiao MO said with a smile. ¡°Call Li Beiting, have hime here,¡± Shen Chi said, lifting his coffee. ¡°I¡¯m afraid¡­ I can¡¯t summon President Li,¡± Xiao MO lowered his head. ¡°Did you invite him?¡± Shen Chi shot a fierce look at Xiao MO, filled with coldness and ice. ¡°Yes, President Shen, I¡¯ll go invite him,¡± Xiao MO quickly responded. Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before Li Beiting arrived, while Shen Chi, with his eyes closed, was leaning back in his chair. As soon as Li Beiting walked in, he smelled the strong scent of coffee and the aroma ofvender essential oil filling the room. Shen Chi sure knew how to enjoy life. But he had just had an argument with Shen Chi early in the morning; he was giving Shen Chi face bying over! Chapter 72 - 072 Xu Chaomu, Little Fox Spirit Chapter 72: Xu Chaomu, Little Fox Spirit Trantor: 549690339 Hearing footsteps, Shen Chi opened his eyes, a faint smile illuminating his lips, yet it still couldn¡¯t hide the icy cold in his eyes. Shen Chi stood up and casually took a bottle of wine from the rack, along with two wine sses. After removing the cork, Shen Chi poured wine into the sses, handing one to Li Beiting. ¡°I was impulsive this morning; consider this wine as my apology,¡± Shen Chi said, raising his ss. Li Beiting snorted coldly, with a disdainful tone, and sat down across from Shen Chi. ¡°I, Li Beiting, can¡¯t ept such an apology from you, President Shen. Now I¡¯ve truly seen how you don¡¯t recognize family,¡± Li Beiting said with a sarcastic tone. Shen Chi had almoste to blows with him that morning, looking at him as if he were a sworn enemy. All Beiting had done was say a few words for his benefit, yet this man hadn¡¯t given him any face. Beiting used to disbelieve those who said Shen Chi was cold and ruthless, but now, he¡¯de to ept itpletely. They had been brothers for over twenty years. Whenever Shen Chi had trouble, all it took was a call, and Beiting would rush over. And yet, despite such a rtionship, Shen Chi could actually hit him. What a sign of the times, what a sign. ¡°You¡¯ve seen what happened to Zheng Lin,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. He gently swirled his ss, seemingly devoid of guilt, as if Beiting had brought it upon himself. Li Beiting was so angry he could smoke; he didn¡¯t want to speak. He had thought Shen Chi might offer him some words offort. Damn, this man¡­ ¡°Shen Chi, I asked you to go to the airport for your own good. You know full well that your father said whomever signs this contract with Shen Shihan will gain five percent of his shares!¡± ¡°Let alone five percent, even if it were fifty percent, I would still go to save Chaomu if she were in trouble,¡± Shen Chi noted, sipping his wine with a profound look in his eyes. He wore an unchanging expression of cold pride, his whole demeanor like that of a sovereign lord, radiating a noble air. Every nce and movement he made showcased an extraordinary temperament! Now dressed in a ck business suit in his office, no matter from which angle he was viewed, he appeared perfect! ¡°Xu Chaomu, the little vixen. Hard to believe she¡¯s captured your soul,¡± Li Beiting mocked with his usual tone. ¡°Li Beiting, are you asking for a beating?¡± Shen Chi put down his wine ss, his lips thinly pressed, giving Beiting a cold nce. ¡°Won¡¯t admit it?¡± Li Beiting always spoke his mind. Eight years ago, when he first met Xu Chaomu, Beiting thought she was naive and fun. He didn¡¯t expect her to be a femme fatale. ¡°She¡¯s my sister; if not her, who else would I save?¡± Shen Chi stated tly. ¡°Fine, let me ask you, if Xu Chaomu and Bai Man were both in trouble at the same time, who would you save first?¡± ¡°I¡¯d kill you first, then there wouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Shen Chi said coldly, ncing at Beiting. ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m serious! You need to watch out for Xu Chaomu. You really think she¡¯s clinging to you just for fun? Everyone knows Shen Chi is wealthy, powerful, and single. Her approaching you, you think her motives are pure?¡± Li Beiting analyzed. ¡°And why did you approach me?¡± Shen Chi leaned in a little closer, looking directly at Li Beiting, a derisive smile curling at the edge of his mouth. ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting was choked up again. ¡°Li Beiting, I asked you over to discuss serious matters. How did the investigation into those people fromst night go?¡± Li Beiting raised his handsome brows and spread his hands smugly, ¡°They¡¯re all dead.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze sharpened, his obsidian-like eyes emanating a chilly coolness. ¡°Taken to the police station, no one spoke a word, and not long after being sent to jail, they all died.¡± ¡°Any clues found?¡± ¡°No clues at all. Just know that these people belong to the underworld, usually just others pay them, they do the job. Taking away Xu Chaomu was probably also amissioned task.¡± ¡°So in your opinion, who¡¯s the employer?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t know, no leads,¡± Beiting answered truthfully. ¡°Keep investigating.¡± ¡°Why should I, Shen Chi, huh?¡± Li Beiting looked at the man, finding his authoritarian attitude unbearable. Wasn¡¯t he himself the CEO of Li Group? How had he be Shen Chi¡¯sckey to be ordered around? ¡°Up to you, Shen¡¯s has a few big projectsing up looking for partners, ¡± replied Shen Chi nonchntly. ¡°Damn! All right, you win!¡± Li Beiting lifted his ss and took several sips of the wine, casting disdainful nces at Shen Chi. Shen Chi was at ease, though his eyes betrayed a trace of ruthlessness. For the whole day, Shen Chi dealt with matters rted to Wantong Technology and, of course, Xu Chaomu being kidnapped. He opened the video, and sure enough, Shen Shihan had signed the agreement with the people from Wantong. Print and online media swarmed the press conference, which was grand and lively, attracting a sea of people. Shihan was veryposed, showing no particr joy or displeasure; his expression always serene. On the stage, as soon as he stepped up, he attracted a swarm of female reporters snapping photos¡ªindeed, Shen Shihan had a striking appearance. Watching Shen Shihan sign on behalf of Shen Group, with President Yang constantly by his side, the arc of Shen Chi¡¯s lips deepened. The press conference continued for a full two hours¡ªa major business event covered by all the major media outlets. Shen Chi turned off the video and continued with his own business. Busy until nearly seven in the evening, Shen Chi asked Old Cheng toe pick him up. Tired from working for two straight days and nights, Shen Chi was exhausted, both mentally and physically. ¡°Shen Chi! You don¡¯t look very well; are you too exhausted?¡± Bai Man, in a red dress, came out of the car. Shen Chi focused his gaze and realized that when Old Cheng came, Bai Man hade as well. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Shen Chi said tersely. Bai Man took Shen Chi¡¯s arm, sitting next to him in the back seat. As Old Cheng drove towards the Shen Family home, Bai Man snuggled against Shen Chi, seeing his weary expression and feeling concerned. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a shoulder rub,¡± Bai Man offered considerately.Se??ch ?ew???e?. o?g on ?oo?l? She massaged Shen Chi, her gentle, boneless hands moving rhythmically. Her body exuded a faint cherry blossom fragrance¡ªnot overwhelming but gracefully subtle¡ªyet the scent still assertively made its way to Shen Chi. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleepst night; don¡¯t exhaust yourself, take care of your health. You know it pains me to see you not getting proper rest,¡± Bai Man said softly, her voice tender like a bell, pleasing to the ear. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded with his eyes closed, a slight furrow in his brow. Bai Man didn¡¯t disturb him further, quietly massaging his shoulders. In the light from outside the car, she gazed at Shen Chi, her face filled with infatuation. She and Shen Chi had grown up together and had known each other for years. He had be more mature and more unapproachable. She always felt that their rtionship had been good in their youth, but now it had grown distant. Was she overthinking it? Chapter 73 - 073: I Only See Her as a Sister Chapter 73: I Only See Her as a Sister Trantor: 549690339 Only when Shen Chi seemed to have fallen asleep did Bai Man carefully lower her hands and gently rest her head on his shoulder. There was always aforting presence about him that Bai Man found deeply endearing. However, Shen Chi wasn¡¯t asleep. When Bai Man leaned against him, he caught the scent of her cherry blossom perfume, causing his brows to furrow slightly. The car wove through the city¡¯s neon-lit streets, and soon they arrived at the Shen family vi. Mr. Cheng parked the car quietly in the garage, making as little noise as possible. Seeing Bai Man resting on Shen Chi¡¯s arm as if she were asleep, he nced back at Shen Chi. Shen Chi gestured with his eyes, indicating that there was no need to make any sound. Mr. Cheng nodded, opened his car door, and got out. Leaning against a camphor tree in front of the garage, Mr. Cheng lit a cigarette. The tip glowed intermittently, reflecting the scattered stars in the sky. He looked up at the ck sky, and a gust of wind blew, causing the cloud fments to dance. The moon hung like a crescent hook in the night sky. It was quiet and cool outside the garage. The spring breeze was like a gentle caress, bringing a soft, warm sensation to the skin. When the cigarette was halfway burnt, Mr. Cheng saw a small figure approaching. It was Chaomu. She looked as if she had taken a shower, dressed in a pink pajama set, her damp hair fastened with a crystal hairclip. As she walked toward the garage, she looked around cautiously. Mr. Cheng thought that in the nighttime, Chaomu was still quite beautiful, her natural beauty unadorned with makeup, a unique purity of an eighteen-year-old. Chaomu saw Mr. Cheng too. She approached him, ¡°Uncle Cheng, you¡¯re back! Is Fourth Brother back too? Has he returned?¡± Chaomu admitted to herself that shecked backbone. She had been sullen all day after hearing Bai Man¡¯s words in the morning, but she found herself missing Shen Chi before the day was over. It was already her third time checking the garage that evening. ¡°Chaomu, no backbone. Would you die if you looked at him one less time?¡± Alright, she might. The struggle within her was fierce. ¡°Ahem.¡± Mr. Cheng cleared his throat lightly. Actually, without him saying anything, Chaomu had already seen, ¡°He¡¯s back.¡± Indeed, with the aid of the vi¡¯s streetlights, Chaomu saw the two people nestled together in the car. One was Shen Chi, the other was Bai Man. Bai Man rested her head on Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder while he leaned back in the seat with his eyes closed. One dressed in a ck suit, mature and cold; the other in a red dress, intellectual and elegant. The moonlight was hazy, the clouds were light, and the evening breeze was gentle. The dim light shone on the car and illuminated the windows. The two of them were like a painting, mesmerizingly beautiful to the point where even a whisper seemed to disturb the tranquil scene. Chaomu was also stunned, they¡­ were such a perfect match. She couldn¡¯t help but take a few more nces at Shen Chi, as it was rare to see such tenderness on his cold face. If she were to lean against him in the same way, he would unhesitatingly tell her to ¡°get lost,¡± but he would never say that to Bai Man. Chaomu backed away while watching them, understanding that loving someone and not loving someone made a big difference. Mr. Cheng noticed the look of loss in Chaomu¡¯s eyes, and said indifferently, ¡°Miss Xu, you should go upstairs and rest early. It¡¯s windy tonight. Your Fourth Brother is just tired.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not just tired, he obviously worked too hard tonight!¡± Chaomu deliberately raised her voice. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Mr. Cheng¡¯s face was a picture of disbelief; Chaomu knew all about these things, it seemed. He didn¡¯t know what to say, but fortunately, Chaomu didn¡¯t linger and turned to run away. Possibly awakened by their conversation, Shen Chi rubbed his temples and opened his eyes. Bai Man also awoke but was reluctant to leave Shen Chi. Bai Man smiled, ¡°Look at me, I fell asleep on such a short drive¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go upstairs and rest,¡± Shen Chi nced at her. ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m not that sleep-prone. Hey, by the way, I think I just heard Chaomu¡¯s voice.¡± Bai Man nced towards the window, but apart from seeing Mr. Cheng smoking in the distance, she saw nothing else. Shen Chi heard it too, but he still responded indifferently, ¡°Did you?¡± ¡°Oh, maybe I heard wrong.¡± Bai Manughed, ¡°Does that girl usually cling to you a lot at home?¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°She seems to like you quite a bit, do you think¡­ she might have a crush on you?¡± Bai Man spoke casually, as if offhand. ¡°I only see her as a sister.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression was impassive, his tone indifferent. After speaking, he opened the car door, stepped out with his long legs, and left the garage. ¡°Shen Chi, hey, wait for me!¡± Bai Man chased after him, her face alight with a happy smile, her voice exceptionally tender. Clearly, she was satisfied with Shen Chi¡¯s answer. It was indeed unnecessary worry on her part. After all, how could the feelings she had for Shen Chi over the years change so easily? She needed to have more confidence in herself. Besides, where did Chaomu stand inparison to Shen Chi? She was just a girl still reeking of milk and couldn¡¯t hold a candle to him when they stood side by side. Once back, Chaomu closed the door to her room and sat silently at her desk doing her homework. She suddenly realized that working on problems could lessen her worries, like solving a simple equation made her incredibly happy. This way, Chaomu managed to forget the unhappy thoughts. The puppet on the desk grinned at her, and every time she looked up, she¡¯d see it. Unhappy. So she picked up the puppet and threw it out the window of her room without hesitation. Everything else she once couldn¡¯t bear to part with, it seemed throwing them away was no big deal after all! Last night, in the storm, she had braved the elements to retrieve it, yet tonight, she threw the puppet away with her own hands. Though it had been herpanion for eight years, it ultimately didn¡¯t belong to her. But the puppet was picked up by Butler Ling. She was on her night patrol in the garden when she saw the puppet on the ground. She recognized it instantly; wasn¡¯t it Miss Xu¡¯s cherished item? Why was it thrown into the garden? She picked it up, intending to return it to Chaomu. When she entered the living room, Shen Chi and Bai Man were having dinner. Seated opposite each other, they looked like celestial couples who had stepped out of a painting. Butler Ling knew that Bai Man was to be the future mistress of the Shen family, perhaps even thedy of the house. ¡°Master Shen, Miss Bai, good evening,¡± said Butler Ling with a polite smile, careful not to offend anyone. ¡°Good evening, Butler Ling,¡± Bai Man returned the smile, charming and alluring. Butler Ling couldn¡¯t help but admire her; C City¡¯s most beautiful woman¡¯s every smile was a scene unto itself. Paired with Master Shen, they looked exceptionally well ¨C matched. It was Shen Chi, however, who noticed the object in Butler Ling¡¯s hands, and his brow furrowed: ¡°What are you holding?¡± ¡°Oh, Master Shen, Miss Xu¡¯s puppet. It fell from the window, and I was just about to take it up to her,¡± Butler Ling exined. ¡°Leave it here,¡± Shen Chi nced at the table and said indifferently.. Chapter 74 - 074: Shen Si Shao, You’re Really Funny Chapter 74: Shen Si Shao, You¡¯re Really Funny Trantor: 549690339 Butler Ling didn¡¯t dare to hesitate; at the Shen Family, the Fourth Young Master¡¯s word wasw. ¡°Alright,¡± she agreed and ced the puppet on the side coffee table before leaving the living room. Bai Man thought the puppet was quite cute, so she walked over, picked it up, and looked at it from different angles,ughing, ¡°Chaomu even has such a cute little puppet, that actually resembles her quite a bit.¡± ¡°Put it down,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Bai Man¡¯s hand trembled, and she nced at Shen Chi, her face full of grievance: ¡°I was just looking, Shen Chi¡­ when did you be so stingy¡­¡± She put the puppet back on the coffee table, as if questioning the big deal over a mere broken puppet. Shen Chi remained silent, merely continuing his dinner. His dark eyes held a light of indifference, and as usual, his face was expressionless. Midway through the meal, Shen Chi set down his utensils. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest first. You take your time eating,¡± he stood up, his tall figure leaving the dining table without hesitation. Of course, he took the puppet from the coffee table with him, heading upstairs without looking back. ¡°Hey, Shen Chi, Shen Chi!¡± Bai Man called out twice, but to no avail. Alright then, she was already used to it, or else she would find herself unable to stop the wild thoughts. She had known Shen Chi for so many years, and he had always kept others at a distance. However, she knew he loved her and would marry her, and that was enough. After Shen Chi went upstairs, he headed straight for Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, where he knocked on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Xu Chaomu was immersed in solving problems, thinking that she needed to improve her cultural literacy to avoid being clueless when Lou Yanli quipped lines like ¡°spring sleep unaware of dawn¡± while all she could think of was ¡°sweat dripping onto the soil beneath the grain.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low. ¡°I¡¯m asleep,¡± Xu Chaomu replied offhandedly and continued with her work. However, something seemed off. Why could she answer him if she was asleep? That lie was so poorly crafted, Xu Chaomu felt embarrassed. A faint smile yed on Shen Chi¡¯s lips: ¡°Open the door.¡± Xu Chaomu pretended she didn¡¯t hear and continued to be preupied with the earlier scene in the garage. He and Bai Man nestled close, like a celestial couple. These images whirled persistently in her mind, impossible to dispel. Yet, the vi belonged to the Shen Family, and it didn¡¯t take long for Shen Chi to use his keys to open the door. His towering presence next to Xu Chaomu made her not even dare to lift her head. ¡°What new tantrum is this?¡± Shen Chi frowned, his sharp eyes filled with a cold light as he scrutinized her. Xu Chaomu was initially a bit afraid of Shen Chi, but at his words, she jumped to her feet. She was much shorter than him, but her piercing gaze was just as intense as his. ¡°Who dares to throw a tantrum with you, Shen Chi? I am just doing my problems; can you please not disturb me?¡± ¡°Doing problems? Why did you throw it away then?¡± Shen Chi ced the puppet on Xu Chaomu¡¯s desk, and as it moved slightly while settling down, his prating gaze never left her, the chill emanating from him enough to lower the temperature in the vicinity. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re really amusing, throwing away things you don¡¯t want, and now you¡¯re concerned about it?¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. Shen Chi¡¯s brow tightened, thrown away? Heh, who was it that braved the torrential rainst night in search of their backpack, as if their life depended on it? ¡°Keep it safe. Once it¡¯s thrown away, it¡¯s gone forever,¡± he said tly. Taken by a fit of defiance, Xu Chaomu snatched the puppet and hurled it to the floor; it ttered with two ¡°thuds¡± and rolled to Shen Chi¡¯s feet. ¡°I said I don¡¯t want it, and that means I don¡¯t want it!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled at Shen Chi. Though not tall as Shen Chi, her stubbornness was written all over her small face. She red at him with wide eyes, unyielding. The little puppety obediently next to Shen Chi¡¯s ck leather shoes, its face still bearing a smile, oblivious to concerns. Suddenly, the room fell silent. Shen Chi¡¯s face was cold, and the temperature of the air around them plummeted! ¡°Fine, that¡¯s what you said,¡± he stated expressionlessly. He bent down and picked up the puppet. He had no clue what Xu Chaomu¡¯s tantrum was about, she seemed fine in the hospital that morning, but now she behaved as if she had taken the wrong medication upon his return. He was tired too, with no patience left to coax her. Wordlessly, he took the puppet and left. With a ¡°bang,¡± the door was closed, and Xu Chaomu bit her lip, tears swirling in her eyes. She wrapped herself in the nket for the whole night, not understanding why, but feeling suffocated. She had never felt like this before, as if everything was gone, and she was cast away on a deserted ind. She knew, Shen Chi was her only reason to stay with the Shen Family. Early the next morning, Xu Chaomu donned her lovely miniskirt. As she came downstairs, Shen Chi and Bai Man were already seated together. They were having breakfast, with Bai Man asionally speaking to Shen Chi. In the past, she used to be the one having breakfast with Shen Chi, but not anymore. She felt like an outsider. ¡°Miss Xu, good morning,¡± Butler Ling greeted her with a smile as she came down. ¡°Morning, Butler. My tooth still hurts, I¡¯ll skip breakfast and head to school,¡± Xu Chaomu said tly, not even ncing at Shen Chi and Bai Man as she walked past them towards the door. Butler Ling was puzzled; Xu Chaomu had always been cheerful, lively even on mornings when she had performed poorly on tests. What was wrong today¡­? Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu but said nothing. The audacity to wear a miniskirt. ¡°Shen Chi, eat more, did you get tired yesterday?¡± Bai Man deliberately added a few slices of fried egg and pancake to Shen Chi¡¯s te. Bai Man¡¯s voice was neither loud nor soft, just loud enough for Xu Chaomu to hear clearly. She snorted coldly and strode outside. Old Cheng was already waiting outside. As Xu Chaomu was about to get in the car, Old Cheng said somberly, ¡°Miss Xu, I have to take President Shen to the corporation. ¡± ¡°You can¡¯t take me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Xu Chaomu, fuming, gritted her teeth: ¡°Oh, I understand. I¡¯ll walk myself.¡± The Shen Family¡¯s estate was in a prestigious location with beautifulndscapes all around. Anyone living here would have several cars at home. Therefore, it was utterly impossible to hail a taxi here. ¡°Yes, I apologize for the inconvenience, Miss Xu,¡± Old Cheng said. ¡°Inconvenienced? I never was any ¡®Miss¡¯,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. Xu Chaomu was quite clear about her status; being brought from the orphanage into the Shen Family eight years ago didn¡¯t make her forget who she was. She was nobody. Old Cheng stayed silent, not knowing how to respond to Xu Chaomu. He had seen much but could only choose to remain silent on many matters. The sun was nice today, and the puddles by the roadside had mostly dried up. Wearing her out-of-season miniskirt, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel cold. Walking along the road, she hummed a tune to herself. Chapter 75 - 075: Seething with Hatred Chapter 75: Seething with Hatred Trantor: 549690339 At the beginning of the walk, she had some patience, but the longer she walked, the more listless she became, and her legs grew weak. Why is it so far¡­ It used to be a short car ride to school, but now, after walking for nearly forty minutes, she still hadn¡¯t arrived. She decided not to walk anymore and simply sat by the roadside waiting for a taxi. Just as she took out her notebook and sat on the bench fanning herself, Shen Chi¡¯s ck Maybach sped past her with a whoosh! ¡°Hey! Uncle Cheng!¡± Xu Chaomu waved her small hand, shouting out. But both Uncle Cheng and Shen Chi kept driving as if they hadn¡¯t heard or seen her, and in the end, kicked up a cloud of dust. ¡°Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, what¡¯s so great about that.¡± Xu Chaomu dusted off her clothes, her face full of disdain and scorn. Luckily, it wasn¡¯t long before a taxi came, and Xu Chaomu finally managed to reach the school not without difficulty. Just as she had put down her backpack and was leisurely taking out her book at her desk, Yu Weiwei rushed into the ssroom from outside! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re in big trouble!¡± Yu Weiwei shouted loudly. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart lurched: ¡°What happened to me?¡± ¡°The teacher just received news that some big shot is visiting this afternoon, and students are required to wear their uniforms.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s no big deal.¡± Xu Chaomu was indifferent. ¡°I heard the leadership attaches great importance to this, so¡­ you actually wore a micro skirt!¡± ¡°What can I do? I¡¯m already wearing it, and they didn¡¯t give us prior notice.¡± ¡°Hurry up and go home to change, they won¡¯t be here until this afternoon, there¡¯s enough time. Many students have already gone to change!¡± Xu Chaomu nced at her indifferently: ¡°What if I don¡¯t change? What will happen then?¡± It was all just for show anyway, what could happen if she didn¡¯t change. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but you can try. I heard this person really is a big deal, the leadership cares a lot, maybe the ss director wille soon.¡± Yu Weiwei shrugged her shoulders. Xu Chaomu ignored her and continued reading her math book. Yu Weiwei closed her math book and threw a magazine in front of Xu Chaomu! ¡°Why read a math book? Look, a magazine! Don¡¯t you really like this beauty? Look, she was interviewed by reportersst time, she said she is going to announce her wedding date soon. I wonder who¡¯s so lucky to marry the number one beauty of C City!¡± Xu Chaomu looked up and saw Bai Man¡¯s beautiful, smiling melon-seed face. During the interview with reporters, she still maintained that intellectual and elegant demeanor, looking very beautiful and holding her ground well. Her ck hair was pinned up behind her head, wearing a white V-neck waist-cinching dress, making her look like an ethereal fairy. She truly was worthy of Shen Chi. ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Yu Weiwei waved a hand in front of Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. ¡°Nothing. I don¡¯t want to read magazines; I want to study hard.¡± Xu Chaomu passed the magazine back to Yu Weiwei. Although she knew that no matter how hard she tried, she wasn¡¯t worthy of Shen Chi, but at least in the future, when she left Shen Chi, she could support herself. ¡°Chaomu¡­ this isn¡¯t like you. What am I supposed to do if you start studying hard¡­¡± ¡°Deal with it!¡± Xu Chaomu insisted on not going home to change into the uniform, and so, when it was past one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the rumored big shot arrived at the school. In every ss, those who had self-study did so, and those who had sses continued as usual. Five ck Audis led the way, followed by a ck Maybach slowly entering the school. When they reached the senior meeting room, the principal and other important leaders came out very enthusiastically to wee them. Uncle Cheng opened the car door for Shen Chi, who stepped out of the Maybach. His noble aura and powerful presence immediately silenced the crowd. The Shen Group was thergest shareholder of this private school, donating substantial funds to the school every year. Therefore, everyone was extremely respectful towards Shen Chi. They felt that it was a great honor for Shen Chi to visit. Inside the senior meeting room, Shen Chi briefly spoke a few words, mainly that he would continue to donate to the school as always, but the school must foster good learning and school environments. The leaders felt Shen Chi made a lot of sense and showed him the school¡¯s recent assessment report. Shen Chi flipped through it and casually pointed, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look at this Sophomore ss Four.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± It just so happened to be Xu Chaomu¡¯s ss which was taking a test. As Shen Chi passed by the window, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened! The ss fell silent, except for the invigting teacher¡¯s constant walking. Xu Chaomu, seated by the window, looked up and caught Shen Chi¡¯s gaze for a moment before he quickly turned away, pretending not to see her. ¡°President Shen, this ss is currently taking an English mock test,¡± a leader exined. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi pondered. ¡°Xu Chaomu, focus on your test paper and stop looking around!¡± The invigting teacher approached Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was fuming with irritation; damn it, how could Shen Chi show up! And¡­ and with so many leaders in tow! Howe he gets such a grand reception! Just then, Xu Chaomu heard an even more infuriating remark, seeminglying from above. ¡°Does your school allow students to wear micro skirts?¡± That was the voice of Shen Chi. Sure enough, two cold and piercing gazes shot her way, exactly meeting Xu Chaomu¡¯s clenched and gnashing face! ¡°Sorry, sorry, President Shen, it¡¯s ourpse in management. It won¡¯t happen again in the future,¡± some leaders quickly apologized. Rage! Anger! Annoyance! Xu Chaomu¡¯s blood boiled, her passion inmed, she was furious! What the hell does Shen Chi mean by this!! ¡°Even though I don¡¯t think physical punishment is a good method, the weather is nice today. It should be eptable for her to stand in the yground for two hours, right?¡± Shen Chi turned to the leaders as if seeking their opinion, but his domineering tone left no room for rejection. Damn! Xu Chaomu almost crumpled the test paper into a ball and threw it at Shen Chi¡¯s face! ¡°We have repeatedly reminded students not to wear excessively revealing clothes, so of course, it¡¯s eptable. It can also serve as a warning to all students,¡± the leaders said. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi grunted coldly and left from outside Sophomore ss Four¡¯s window. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Xu Chaomu red at Shen Chi¡¯s retreating figure, teeth clenched, enunciating every word. ¡°Xu Chaomu, stop cheating, focus on your test paper, do your exam!¡± The invigting teacher knocked on Xu Chaomu¡¯s desk again. Thirty minutester, the bell rang, and the teacher came to collect the test papers. Xu Chaomu had no idea what nonsense she had written; her whole being seemed to burn with a fiery indignation! She clenched her fists tightly, teeth grinding noisily! ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu, did you see just now, there was a handsome guy outside the window, so handsome, but he seemed really familiar.¡± Yu Weiwei rushed to Xu Chaomu¡¯s side as soon as she turned in her test paper. The ssroom was filled with various noises, mostly studentsparing their answers. ¡°Really? Handsome? Yu Weiwei, you must be blind again.¡± Xu Chaomu ttered her things together as she packed, making a thunderous noise.. Chapter 76 - 076 She is Not Done with Him Chapter 76: She is Not Done with Him Trantor: 549690339 ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes. Xu Chaomu threw her books down very discontentedly, making a ¡°pitter-patter¡± noise. Those who didn¡¯t know the situation might think she had turned in a nk test paper again. ¡°Xu Chaomu,e over here!¡± The ss teacher stood at the ssroom door. What was expected toe, still came. Damn it! Yu Weiwei nudged Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm, ¡°Hey, the ss teacher is calling you! What¡¯s wrong with you? Something¡¯s off?¡± ¡°Collect my corpse.¡± Xu Chaomu walked out as if resigned to her fate. Even though it was still spring, today¡¯s sun was particrly passionate, drying the groundpletely. Raising her eyes, the blinding sunlight was almost painful to the eyes. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I already said it in ss this morning, everyone must wear the school uniform. So many students canply, why can¡¯t you? Wearing that super short skirt is simply ruining the school¡¯s atmosphere.¡± The ss teacher was unsparing, scolding her harshly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home and change.¡± Xu Chaomu replied. ¡°Everyone else can change, but you can¡¯t?¡± ¡°The rain was too heavy yesterday; my house got flooded.¡± Xu Chaomu said casually but with a serious look. ¡°¡­¡± The ss teacher was so frustrated she didn¡¯t want to speak and took several sips of water. ¡°How about this, you stand in the middle of the yground for two hours and reflect on your behavior,¡± the ss teacher said angrily. ¡°Oh, stand then stand.¡± Xu Chaomu did not wait for the ss teacher to speak again and walked out on her own. She made her way to the middle of the yground as if she had done it a thousand times. Shit, why is the sun so vicious! It¡¯s so bright she can barely open her eyes! In no time, her face and arms were sunburned, and she was sweating all over. Forgetting to bring a tissue, she could only wipe the sweat with her sleeves. But at the hottest time of the day, it was all in vain. She had barely wiped her face when more beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and nose, and her back was dripping with sweat. Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth, cursing Shen Chi countless times in her heart. Had she just lost her temper with him yesterday? Did he really need to treat her like this? No, she hadn¡¯t lost her temper with him. The scorching sun made Xu Chaomu¡¯s body burn with heat, when suddenly a thought struck her, ¡®Pah! Why should she listen to him? Why is she standing here?¡¯ She must be out of her mind! Standing there pointlessly for half an hour! Just as she boldly prepared to leave the yground, she saw Shen Chi and his group walking over. Shen Chi¡¯s sharp gazended on her, instantly cooling down the temperature around them. Xu Chaomu shivered and obediently took her position. ¡°President Shen, look, in this hot weather, this child is quite obedient. Why don¡¯t we let her go back to ss?¡± someone said to Shen Chi. ¡°Has she stood for two hours?¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°This¡­ she¡¯s probably only been there for half an hour.¡± ¡°What, does no one take my words seriously?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. The crowd fell silent again, and Shen Chi nced at them: ¡°Have someone keep watch. ¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± Xu Chaomu heard every single word of their conversation clearly and truly wished she could rush over and give Shen Chi a few kicks. What was he trying to prove? Shen Chi looked at her coldly, his eyes filled with indifferent light. Xu Chaomu clenched her fists; she was not done with him! However, forty minutester, a ss came out for PE, and it happened to be Lou Yanli¡¯s ss. Xu Chaomu wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Just as she was about to move to a less conspicuous area, Lou Yanli walked over to her. ¡°Chaomu, up to no good again?¡± Lou Yanli asked with a smile. Lou Yanli, truly the heartthrob of many, smiled with an air of refreshing breeze and moonlight. Even Xu Chaomu was momentarily dazzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t wear the school uniform,¡± Xu Chaomu said, pouting. She had expected Lou Yanli to look down on her because, based on her experience, top students often despised underachievers, just as the rich look down on the poor. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal; I think you look quite nice in that outfit,¡± Lou Yanli said with a smile. Xu Chaomu thought that like others, Lou Yanli would view students wearing very short skirts as bad students. But he didn¡¯t, and Xu Chaomu felt a little moved. ¡°Last time when I invited you to the movies, you wore this outfit. I¡¯ve always thought it looked really good on you,¡± Lou Yanli added. ¡°You still remember¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt like a young girl again in Lou Yanli¡¯s presence. Lou Yanli¡¯s lips curved in a smile: ¡°Of course I remember, I always do. Is it too hot? Don¡¯t stand there anymore. I¡¯ll keep youpany by the swing and we can talk. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get scolded.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the heat for it. ¡°It¡¯ll affect you.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to share both the good times and the bad?¡± Xu Chaomu was touched, and her heart warmed, sheughed. Lou Yanli led her to the swings at the edge of the yground. There were two swings, and they took one each. The spot was pleasantly shaded, with lush branches of arge tree shielding them from any sunlight. The swings, made of wood, felt light and breezy; with the slightest push, they soared high. The fragrance of flowers and trees filled the air; it was spring, and everything was vibrantly blooming. Beside the swing frames grew clumps of orchids, blooming at their peak, lush and gloriously green. Xu Chaomu leaned against the swing frame, squinting her eyes, sometimes looking at the sky, sometimes at Lou Yanli. Lou Yanli stood under the sunshine, his smile bright and clear as the February pear blossoms, pure and gentle. He was indeed a sight one could never tire of. ¡°Heartthrob¡­ I finally understand why so many girls are so persistent in chasing you, ¡± Xu Chaomu said as she looked at Lou Yanli, her eyebrows curving into a smile. ¡°I know,¡± Lou Yanli also said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re not modest at all, haha. But let me tell you, liking me is quite a hindrance to you. You¡¯re so talented¡ªyou¡¯re bound to be a pir of the state in the future. You¡¯ll meet a girl as outstanding as you,¡± Xu Chaomu said cheerfully as she talked with Lou Yanli, but no sooner had she finished speaking than a wave of sadness spread through her heart. She was neither good enough for Shen Chi nor for Lou Yanli. ¡°Fate has nothing to do with being outstanding,¡± Lou Yanli said, looking at her earnestly. Xu Chaomu tilted her head, thinking for a long while. But then sheughed heartily, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thatter, in the future. Maybe I¡¯ll be really outstanding too.¡± ¡°Even if you don¡¯t be outstanding, I won¡¯t despise you,¡± Lou Yanli said with a smile. ¡°But I will despise myself,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, smiling as well. As the two were talking, Xu Chaomu¡¯s ss teacher pushed up her sses and walked over. This wicked witch had been scolded by Li Beiting previously, and it took a lot of effort to keep her position at the school. Seeing Xu Chaomu being punished by President Shen today made her extremely happy. Although Li Beiting was also one of the school¡¯s investors,pared with President Shen, his influence was certainly lesser. She had wanted to teach this little girl a lesson for a long time. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I told you to stand in the middle of the yground, and here you are enjoying the cool shade?¡± the ss teacher asked sternly. ¡°I¡¯m not standing there! Why should I wear a school uniform anyway? Aren¡¯t you just trying to put on a facade? Whatever big shots, as far as I¡¯m concerned, they¡¯re worth nothing!¡± Chapter 77 - 077: Bastard Shen Chi Chapter 77: Bastard Shen Chi Trantor: 549690339 Actually, she wanted to say ¡°not worth a damn,¡± but in front of the great schr Luo, she still chose a more euphemistic expression. ¡°This is the school¡¯s rule. Look at you, what do you look like in that ultra-short skirt!¡± the homeroom teacher said. ¡°I think it¡¯s quite nice,¡± Lou Yanli remarked indifferently from the side. Of course, the homeroom teacher recognized Lou Yanli. He was one of the top students in the school and also, it was said, came from a very powerful family background. ¡°Lou Yanli, go to your ss. Xu Chaomu is one of our students, so you shouldn¡¯t be concerned,¡± she said. ¡°If you keep making Xu Chaomu stand in the yground, then I definitely have something to say about it.¡± Lou Yanli frowned, his smile fading, taking on an unapproachable demeanor. For the first time, Xu Chaomu realized that Lou Yanli could be so cold. In an instant, he went from the pear blossoms of February to the harsh ice of winter. ¡°Teacher, are you idle? I don¡¯t want to stand anymore,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I really can¡¯t handle you. Look at you¡ªyour grades are at the bottom, and your parents are no longer around. Now your attitude is also bad, always talking back to teachers and refusing to ept discipline. What can you do after you graduate from high school?¡± the homeroom teacher sighed. Xu Chaomu was indeed a little moved. If it had been before, she could have relied on the Shen Family¡¯s wealth, on Shen Chi supporting her, and she would not have had to study hard. But now, Shen Chi had already begun to treat her indifferently, and Aunt Zhou even proposed that she leave the Shen Family¡­ She silently lowered her head, staying quiet. Lou Yanli, however, was quite righteous. He said indifferently, ¡°Teacher, I¡¯m friends with Chaomu. She¡¯s very smart; I can tutor her.¡± ¡°Fine, whatever, it¡¯s up to you. I won¡¯t deal with you anymore. Lou Yanli, you focus on your studies. Don¡¯t let Xu Chaomu lead you astray. These girls who have been wearing ultra-short skirts since they were little haveplicated minds; you better stay away from her.¡± ¡°Teacher,¡± Lou Yanli said solemnly, ¡°that¡¯s not something a teacher should be saying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying this for your own good. Take it or leave it.¡± The homeroom teacher was clearly angry. She red at Xu Chaomu again, her tone not very nice: ¡°Spend more effort on your studies!¡± After saying that, the old witch walked away. Xu Chaomu felt a little sad, lowering her head and remaining silent. Lou Yanli took her by the shoulders, trying to cheer her up: ¡°Smile, it¡¯s nothing. So what? I can support you for a lifetime, want to try?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up and saw sincerity in Lou Yanli¡¯s eyes, which deeply moved her again. But not far away, the face of the man sitting in a Maybach grew colder and darker. His obsidian-like pupils emitted a fierce, indifferent light; she really did regard what he said as nothing! Sure enough, after the evening self-study, Old Cheng was already waiting at the usual spot not far from school, afraid that the incident from the night before would happen again. The details of that night¡¯s incident still hadn¡¯t been uncovered; he could not figure out who would have a grudge against Xu Chaomu. And to take action against an eighteen-year-old girl? But Xu Chaomu never showed up. Although she was reluctant to talk to Shen Chi, for fear that the Shen Family would worry, she still went to the phone booth to call Old Cheng. ¡°Uncle Cheng, you don¡¯t have to wait for me. I¡¯m out eatingte-night snacks with ssmates. He¡¯ll take me home,¡± she said. ¡°But¡­ Miss Xu, you shoulde back. Mr. Shen hasn¡¯t been looking too good all day,¡± Cheng said. ¡°Oh, is it because Miss Bai didn¡¯t satisfy himst night?¡± Xu Chaomu pondered. ¡°¡­¡± Old Cheng choked up. The Shen Family was very restrained; how did this girl change so suddenly! ¡°Uncle Cheng, I¡¯m telling you, go find a few more gorgeous beauties for Fourth Brother. I guarantee his mood will lighten up. Really, I¡¯ve known him for eight years now, I¡¯m not lying to you.¡± Actually, she really wanted to say, ¡°Make sure they have big busts!¡± Thinking about it, she decided to be a bit more discreet, so as not to frighten Uncle Cheng. ¡°Miss Xu, pleasee back! Where are you? I¡¯lle get you,¡± Old Cheng was getting anxious. ¡°Uncle Cheng, it¡¯s okay, really, I promise to return safely,¡± she insisted. After that, Xu Chaomu made a face at the phone and hung up. Old Cheng really had no choice but to drive back and report to Shen Chi, inevitably facing another round of reprimands. That night, Xu Chaomu had a lot of fun apanied by Lou Yanli. They went for barbecue, looked through books at a used bookstore, and went treasure hunting at a street stall. They yed until the early morning, and Lou Yanli originally wanted Xu Chaomu toe home with him. However, Xu Chaomu, fearing that the Shen Family would worry, then thought again that nobody in the Shen Family really cared. But after thinking it over, she still decided against it. ¡°I should head home,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call a cab for you.¡± Lou Yanli took out his phone and dialed a number, and soon enough a taxi arrived. ¡°You should go home too. I had a lot of fun tonight! Remember to help me make up lessons, and I¡¯ll treat you to something tasty!¡± Xu Chaomu winked, waving goodbye to him. ¡°Deal, and no backing out,¡± Lou Yanliughed. ¡°Whoever backs out is a puppy, woof woof!¡± Xu Chaomuughed and made a silly face. Lou Yanliughed loudly, waving goodbye to her. Xu Chaomu happily returned to the Shen Family, only to find the gate locked tight upon her arrival. ¡°Hey! Open up, is anyone there? Is anyone still awake?¡± Xu Chaomu started to bang on the locked gate. In the dead of night, when all was silent, Xu Chaomu¡¯s calls seemed especially loud. The gate rattled with a ¡°ttering¡± noise as she knocked, but sadly, no one heard. Did the Shen Family not consider her one of their own? Why lock her out¡­ She felt a bit upset and called a few more times, yet no one came to open the door. ¡°Dammit Shen Chi!¡± she yelled. There was no response; Shen Chi¡¯s room lights were long out, and maybe he was with Bai Man, doing those things. Ten minutes passed, then twenty minutes¡­ No one heard her cries, let alone came to open the door for her. The night air was chilly, and she was still wearing an ultra-short skirt; she was shivering with cold. Having no other option, she crouched down and curled up in a corner sheltered from the wind. Tears began to fall involuntarily, drop by drop,nding on the back of her hand¡­ ¡°You all don¡¯t want me¡­ You all don¡¯t want me¡­¡± At first she sobbed softly, but gradually, she began to cry loudly. After all, no one heard her. Crying, she began to recall lots of things. Suddenly, she realized she had a really good memory; why she remembered every little thing from eight years ago, right up to these recent eight years. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ since you don¡¯t want me anymore, just tell me. I won¡¯t cling to you¡­¡± she called his name the most. Just a word from him that he didn¡¯t want her, and she would leave immediately. In the Shen Family, she had received a lot of cold looks; if it weren¡¯t for Shen Chi still protecting her, why would Xu Chaomu stay here? She wasn¡¯t without pride; she wasn¡¯t oblivious to how people saw her. She just didn¡¯t understand Shen Chi, that¡¯s all.. Chapter 78 - 078: Let The Young Master Embrace Chapter 78: Let The Young Master Embrace You Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t know when he had appeared at the doorway, calling out her name with a cold voice from across the gate. Xu Chaomu initially thought she was hallucinating. Lifting her head and using the light, she saw Shen Chi¡¯s icy face, his deep-set eyes gazing at her as if she were prey. He wore a gray night robe, tall and imposing, his figure exuding a cold allure, yet his presence was undeniably powerful despite hisnguid posture. Xu Chaomu hurriedly wiped away her tears. She refused to cry in front of this man! ¡°The moon is beautiful tonight, don¡¯t you agree, Shen Chi? Are you out here to enjoy it as well?¡± Xu Chaomu made a show of looking at the moon above, but who could tell her where the moon actually was? She had just told a very unintelligent lie. Shen Chi furrowed his brows and replied coldly, ¡°Do you n to admire the moon all night out here?¡± ¡°Otherwise?¡± ¡°Heh, then keep admiring it!¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly and turned to leave. He wanted to see just how stubborn she could be. ¡°Bastard Shen Chi, I¡¯m telling you, if you have a problem with me, confront me openly. What kind of man takes private revenge at school!¡± Xu Chaomu finally erupted after holding it in all day. In the darkness of the night, within the shadow of the lights, she saw that the man¡¯s figure hadn¡¯t moved an inch. ¡°Xu Chaomu, what right do you have tomand me?¡± Shen Chi chuckled coldly, full of disdain, without even turning his head. ¡°Right, I have no rights. Your surname is Shen, mine is Xu. So, you also have no right tomand me from now on!¡± ¡°It seems the sun hasn¡¯t tanned you enough!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was exceptionally harsh in the night. ¡°Bastard Shen Chi, let me tell you, I won¡¯t listen to you ever again. You think you¡¯re so great because you have money, because you¡¯re capable. I was just adopted by the Shen family; one day, I will leave you all!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s body stiffened in the darkness. He had never considered that one day, this little wild cat¡¯s ws would scratch at his heart. He thought she wouldn¡¯t dare, but unexpectedly, there indeed came a day when she left without a word. And she was gone for a full five years! In the silent night, Xu Chaomu could even hear her own breathing. Why wasn¡¯t he speaking? This man¡¯s silence was somehow more frightening than when he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if you still think of me as your sister, then open the door. I can let bygones be bygones. I¡¯m generous not petty like you,¡± Xu Chaomu once again fearlessly added. Shen Chi¡¯s face was as dark as it could be, his eyes emitting an icy re. Finally, he turned around, opened the gate, but before Xu Chaomu could react, he pushed her, pressing her against the wall! ¡°Xu Chaomu, who gave you the courage? Huh?¡± he roared. He was like a lion in the night, his eyes bloodshot. Gripping her shoulders, his fingers seemed to be trying to dig into her shoulder des! Xu Chaomu trembled with fear, her shoulders aching¡­ She had joked with him before, but he had never been this angry. She was so terrified that she dared not take an extra breath, feeling that even one more nce at him could prove fatal. She finally understood why everyone said Shen Chi was cold and ruthless, why everyone was scared of him. She had previously doubted it, but now she was witnessing it herself. It was just¡­ a joke she made with him. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ let go¡­ it hurts¡­ I won¡¯t curse at you again, I won¡¯t call your name¡­ sob, please let go¡­¡± Her shoulders really hurt. ¡°Answer me! Who gave you the guts to leave!¡± Xu Chaomu was on the verge of tears, ¡°I was just talking, really¡­¡± She understood then, that no pet owner allowed their pet cat to leave ¨C it was a contemptuous gesture towards the owner¡¯s honor. And Shen Chi, ustomed to his high status, would especially never allow it! She nced at him once more, his gaze still fierce. Due to his overly violent actions, his night robe hade undone halfway, revealing arge expanse of his appealing skin. If it had been any other time, Xu Chaomu would have thrown herself at him, but now, she didn¡¯t dare. Not just now, but never again in the future¡ªthis man was not someone she could approach. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you never take what I say to heart,¡± Shen Chi nced at her and finally let go. ¡°I have a bad memory!¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°In the future, will you dare to wear short skirts again?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± though in her heart Xu Chaomu thought ¡°I will,¡± but this was not the time to argue with Shen Chi. ¡°Will you dare to date young boys again?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu refused to speak; damn it, he was starting to control her again! ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t date young boys, so who should I date? If you¡¯re so able, don¡¯t date Bai Man and keep mepany!¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, ring at him. ¡°Fine. ¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had stepped into a trap. She stared at him with wide eyes. He actually said ¡°fine¡±?? Xu Chaomu was dumbfounded for a long while. ¡°Stop standing there, you¡¯re in the way!¡± Shen Chi pulled her wrist and dragged her inside the vi. His overbearing strength, his domineering gaze, hadn¡¯t changed a bit! ¡°Hey, hey, the gate¡¯s not closed!¡± Xu Chaomu kept looking back. ¡°Someone will close it!¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t they all asleep? I knocked for ages and no one came to open the door! ¡± ¡°I told them not to open it, who would dare to?¡± Shen Chi scoffed. Damn! Xu Chaomu felt near copse on the inside. He tossed her into the room and frowned disdainfully, ¡°What¡¯s that strange smell on you, go take a shower!¡± Was there? Xu Chaomu sniffed herself but detected nothing. She had only enjoyed a delicious barbecue that evening. Yet, seeing Shen Chi frowning under the bright light, she finally regained the feeling of being around her Fourth Brother. If he remained as he was outside just then, she really would have been scared. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take a shower. What about you? Are you going to sleep with me tonight?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, reverting back to her usual self, as if her nature to provoke had never left. Indeed, her memory was as good as a goldfish¡¯s, only seven seconds long! ¡°Fine,¡± Shen Chi curved his lips into a smile, looking at her with amusement in his eyes. Uh¡­ It was Xu Chaomu¡¯s turn to be dumbfounded. Was Shen Chi on the wrong medication today? No, no, no, that couldn¡¯t be right. Bai Man was still at the Shen family home. What was this? Trying to entice someone¡¯s fianc¨¦? A mistress? ¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu could only glower at him. ¡°You¡¯ve always been the shameless one first,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. ¡°Fourth Brother, go embrace your beautiful Bai. She must feel so good in your arms,¡± Xu Chaomu sneered with a sly smile. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you let this young master give you a hug first, hm?¡± Shen Chi shamelessly looked at her, his dark, profound eyes fixed on her face. During the day, she was pretty good at pretending to be ady in front of Lou Yanli, but now, she was so unrestrained in his presence. But¡­ shamelessness was indeed her true nature! ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ doesn¡¯t this look like we¡¯re having an affair? Don¡¯t forget, your fianc¨¦e is still here!¡± Xu Chaomu batted her eyes, curious to see how this man would respond.. Chapter 79 - 079: For the Sake of Your Face Chapter 79: For the Sake of Your Face Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi stared intently at her for a moment, his eyes sweeping across with endless implications, deliberately pausing at the cor of her shirt. He crossed his armszily and said, ¡°An affair? Have you ever seen a man have an affair with a woman whocks everything?¡± Xu Chaomu choked for a moment, rolling her eyes several times in frustration. Lacks everything, wasn¡¯t he justining about herck of bust? ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t want to see you anymore, insufferable man!¡± Xu Chaomu red at him with disdain. ¡°Be a good girl, take a bath, and go to bed early; it¡¯s gettingte.¡± Shen Chi patted her cheek and a faint smile spread across his lips. Shen Chi then left Xu Chaomu¡¯s room and walked to his own. Xu Chaomu felt depressed for a long time, even absent-minded while taking a bath. Looking at herself in the mirror, was she as bad as he said? After bathing, she put a lot of effort into applying her breast-ergement essential oil, but despite many days of usage, it didn¡¯t seem to have any effect. Angry, she threw the bottle aside. Why should she apply it? Even if she really became like Bai Man, Shen Chi probably wouldn¡¯t spare her a nce! Feeling unhappy, she covered herself with the quilt and went to sleep. Two dayster, Bai Man had not yet left the Shen Family, and everyone in the Shen Family was quite polite to her. Plus, Bai Man was very good at socializing, often giving small gifts to the Shen Family members, even the servants received them. Of course, she also bought some for Xu Chaomu. Early Saturday morning, when the family was rxing in the garden, Bai Man came over with a pile of gifts. Shen Chi sat with his legs crossed on the chair, flipping through his financial newspaper, checking thetest economic trends. Xu Chaomu sat beside Shen Chi, shelling pistachios and tossing the shells onto a small te next to her. Liu Rumei, Shen Yanrou, and Shen Shihan were all present. Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou chatted quietly, theirughter bright and cheerful despite being a bit far from Shen Chi. As for Shen Shihan, just back from A City, he sat alone on a chair, sipping coffee and reading a magazine. The sun shone in the garden, the air was heavy with floral fragrance, full of lovely atmosphere. Shen Chi asionally nced at Xu Chaomu, his mouth curling into a smile. Xu Chaomu, shelling pistachios with diligence, sat on a little stool beside him, focused and methodical. With a ¡°dong¡±, each pistachio shelled was tossed into the te, the pile within growing. Time passed slowly, a rare sensation for Shen Chi to experience. He recalled the night she was taken away, almost drowned in a culvert, and felt how close death had been to him. Now, she was safe and sound. Shen Chi watched her and couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch her hair. Xu Chaomu, having retracted her sharp little ws, was especially good-natured. ¡°You¡¯ve shelled so many, can you finish them all?¡± Shen Chi bent down and asked her. ¡°Half for you, half for me. You want some?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked herrge eyes and looked up at him. Hershes were long and fine, quivering slightly, glistening in the sunlight. ¡°Alright,¡± Shen Chi replied softly, a smile in his voice. Xu Chaomu was mesmerized, her eyes affixed to the man who looked so charming when he smiled, irresistibly so beneath the gentle sunlight. He was nothing like the man who had grabbed her shoulders harshly, interrogating her that night. Xu Chaomu shed him a smile; she still preferred this version of Fourth Brother. ¡°Good morning, everyone!¡± Just then, Bai Man approached. The Shen Family¡¯s garden was extensive, and she greeted everyone warmly. In the Shen Family, Bai Man was already quite popr; as she arrived, the servants also greeted her with smiles, ¡°Good morning, Miss Bai.¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head; today, Bai Man was dressed in a very pretty blue silk cheongsam and wore a shawl, looking graceful, elegant, and demure. Her agent followed, hands full of shopping bags. ¡°I went out this morning and happened to buy a lot of things,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. Her agent set a basket of fresh fruit on the table in the garden then ced the shopping bags down one by one. ¡°Let everyone try, these are all fresh fruits,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou were the first to approach, ¡°Miss Bai, you are so thoughtful.¡± ¡°Third Brother, Shen Chi, Chaomu,e over here too!¡± Bai Man beckoned to them. Xu Chaomu exchanged a nce with Shen Chi; he closed the newspaper and rose from his chair. Shen Chi extended his hand, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go over,¡± he said. ¡°My legs are numb; I don¡¯t want to go,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Shen Chi looked at her; she was still an eighteen-vear-old child after all, her every little expression clear as day, unable to y the social game. Shen Chi pulled her up with a yank, ¡°Do I need to carry you there?¡± Xu Chaomu dusted her hands, flicking away the pistachio residue, stood up, and looked up at Shen Chi, ¡°For your sake, I won¡¯t snub your fianc¨¦e¡¯s kindness.¡± ¡°Should I be thanking you then?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved up in amusement. ¡°No thanks, no thanks, it¡¯s what I should do.¡± Bai Man handed jewelry boxes to both Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou, ¡°Aunt Liu, this is the jade bracelet I¡¯m giving you; I hope you like it.¡± ¡°Yanrou, this is the crystal ne I bought for you,¡± she said. Liu Rumei¡¯s smile reached her eyes, ¡°Miss Bai, you are too generous; we haven¡¯t even given you any gifts yet!¡± ¡°I have been staying at the Shen Family for several days, and I appreciate your care, so these little gifts are a natural gesture,¡± Bai Man replied. Liu Rumei said, ¡°Being Achi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, living with the Shen Family is natural, and giving us gifts¡ª you¡¯re being too polite.¡± Bai Man then passed a box to Shen Shihan, ¡°Third Brother, this pen is for you; I hope you like it.¡¯ ¡°Thank you,¡± Shen Shihan replied with a slight smile, epting the gift. Bai Man¡¯s agent distributed small gifts to several servants, ranging from clothes and choctes to cosmetics, a variety for everyone, reflecting Bai Man¡¯s careful consideration. As Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu approached, Liu Rumei teased, ¡°Miss Bai, what are you giving to Achi?¡± Bai Man¡¯s cheeks flushed, and with a poised smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll give his gift when we get back.¡± Shen Yanrou chuckled, ¡°Must be something nice.¡± To Chaomu, Bai Man said, ¡°Here, this music box is for you,¡± while handing her a paper bag. ¡°Thank you,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, epting the gift with an indifferent expression. Bai Man instantly became the center of attention in the garden, the ce alive withughter and conversation. Liu Rumei addressed Shen Chi, ¡°Achi, Miss Bai truly has the makings of a good wife and mother, so sensible; you must not let her down.¡± ¡°Yeah, Fourth Brother,¡± Shen Yanrou added with a smile, ¡°Today is Saturday, you should at least apany Miss Bai on an outing. It¡¯s spring, perfect for enjoying the great outdoors.¡± Xu Chaomu looked at Shen Chi again, yet this man, always keeping his feelings hidden, his face revealed nothing about what he was thinking.. Chapter 80 - 080: You Won ‘t Know Until You Try Chapter 80: You Won ¡®t Know Until You Try Trantor: 549690339 Bai Man stepped forward and hooked her arm through Shen Chi¡¯s, looking at him tenderly. She smiled at the crowd and said, ¡°He has been with me these past few days, and I¡¯m not a child.¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re right, the weather is nice today. I¡¯ll take you out for a walkter,¡± Shen Chi looked down at Bai Man. The crowd began to tease, ¡°Fourth Young Master really dotes on Miss Bai, I¡¯m so envious¡­¡± Bai Man stood close to Shen Chi, her face radiating happiness. Xu Chaomu nced at them, one stunningly beautiful, the other mature and noble. She remembered how gentle he had been towards her when she was peeling pistachios earlier, and now, he was equally gentle with Bai Man. Xu Chaomu thought, this man really knows how to charm women. She felt like she had seen through him and decided not to be fooled by his appearance in the future. As they chatted together, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t join in, so she left the group and returned to where she had been sitting earlier. Crackle and pop. She poured all the peeled pistachios into the bowl, then pressed down hard on the lid several times before walking over to Dabai¡¯s cage in the garden. Dabai waszily basking in the sun; this Tibetan Mastiff was well-fed and well-cared for, growing bothrge and strong. Seeing Xu Chaomu approaching, Dabaizily lifted his eyelids, nced at her, and continued basking in the sun without moving. Even the dog was ignoring her, leaving Xu Chaomu amused and frustrated¡­ ¡°Dabai, Dabai, it¡¯s time to eat!¡± She shook the box of pistachios. Dabai showed no interest and remained motionless. ¡°I peeled these pistachios myself,e on, up you get!¡± Xu Chaomu squatted down and stroked Dabai¡¯s smooth fur. She had known Dabai for eight years, initially being scared of him, butter realizing that he was just a paper tiger. Plus, he was particrly good at reading people¡¯s expressions, always looking extremely happy whenever Shen Chi woulde over. But when she came over, he acted indifferent. ¡°Dabai! Is it really okay for you to ignore me like this! If you keep ignoring me, no meat for you today!¡± Xu Chaomu tried both threats and bribery, but the stubborn dog still didn¡¯t move, asionally ncing at her with disdain. ¡°Even you¡¯re picking on me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt quite unhappy. Without any better option, she patted the ground and sat down next to Dabai, opened the box, and started tossing pistachios into her mouth one by one. As Dabai sat there basking in the sun and dozing off, Xu Chaomu sat beside him doing the same and gazing at the sky. Shen Chi came over just in time to catch thisical scene, a young girl and arge dog sitting side by side. He leaned against something nearby and watched for quite a while before walking over with a smile. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Shen Chi stood in front of Xu Chaomu. His tall figure cast a shadow over Xu Chaomu¡¯s sun, as well as Dabai¡¯s. Upon seeing Shen Chi, Dabai began to bark happily, tilting his head and wagging his tail, clearly overjoyed. Xu Chaomu felt annoyed, having tried to engage Dabai for so long with no response. Now Shen Chi had just arrived and the dog couldn¡¯t be happier. ¡°Just looking at the sky,¡± Xu Chaomu replied coolly to Shen Chi. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the deal to split the pistachios between us?¡± Shen Chi looked at the box that still had a small half left. ¡°We did split them, I ate my half, and the rest is for Dabai.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, did you think I was saving them for you?¡± Xu Chaomu threw a few more pistachios into her mouth and snorted. ¡°With that IQ of yours, practice a few more years before you try lying again. I know better than you what Dabai eats,¡± Shen Chi looked at Xu Chaomu with contempt. ¡°You! You! You!¡± Xu Chaomu became furious. Was the big and the small one both here to pick on her or what¡­ Angered, she grabbed a handful of pistachios and was about to toss them into her mouth when her wrist was caught by Shen Chi. ¡°Your teeth have just recovered a few days ago, have you forgotten?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were cool and clear as he spoke harshly. ¡°Mind your own business, aren¡¯t you supposed to apany Miss Bai for a stroll? Go ahead. Let me tell you, there¡¯s a beautiful park in the southern part of C City. There are lots of flower shows this season. If you give Miss Bai a bouquet of roses, I guarantee she¡¯ll be passionate tonight. You can go as many rounds as you want, no problem.¡± ¡® Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched. Were these the words of an eighteen-year-old girl? But then, recalling what she had done to him in the bathroom and in the car, he calmed down. Shen Chi lifted her chin with a smile that was not quite a smile, gazing at her wickedly: ¡°What if I gave a bouquet to you?¡± ording to her logic, shouldn¡¯t she be the one to be passionate? ¡°If you gave a bouquet to me, I would just help you pass it on to Miss Bai.¡± ¡°Oh? Not passionate anymore?¡± ¡°Second-hand men, I don¡¯t want!¡± Xu Chaomu wickedly gazed at Shen Chi. A fleeting cold light shed in Shen Chi¡¯s sharp eyes. Second-hand man? This girl, what guts! Feeling the sudden drop in temperature around her, Xu Chaomu hastily stepped back. Why so cold, she was just speaking the truth! ¡°Xu Chaomu, how would you know whether I¡¯m firsthand or secondhand without trying?¡± The threat approached step by step. Dammit, how could that be tried? ¡°Stop messing around, I¡¯d rather die than surrender!¡± Xu Chaomu grew cowardly; she had forgotten her lofty ambitions: to kiss him, sleep with him, tease him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Shen Chi patted her little face, still smiling his killer smile, ¡°I, Shen Chi, am not so desperate as to be, indiscriminate, in my, choosing.¡± As he spoke, his gaze stayed fixated on her neckline, prompting Xu Chaomu to kick out! ¡°You beast in human clothing!¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth. Not so desperate as to be indiscriminate; was that not just mocking herck of chest?! She had been ridiculed by him many times already, so she suddenly changed to a smile, ¡°Fourth Brother, could it be that you are impotent?¡± Impotent? This was the first time Shen Chi had ever heard anyone dare to say that about him. Even though he truly had never touched a woman, he still knew whether he was capable or not. He really wanted to pull Xu Chaomu up and show her with action whether he, Shen Chi, was capable or not! However, he patted her face, half-smiling: ¡°Whether I¡¯m capable or not isn¡¯t for you to say; you¡¯d have to try to know.¡± And so, Shen Chi felt that he couldn¡¯t continue discussing these not suitable for children topics with Xu Chaomu any longer. He stood up and took all the pistachios from her hands, ¡°We¡¯ll go to the hospitalter for a follow-up.¡± ¡°Hey! Those are the pistachios I shelled, why are you snatching them all away!¡± Xu Chaomu raged. Dabai ¡°woof woof woof¡± barked a few times, but it was not barking at Shen Chi, but rather at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was near tears and felt like killing it! When she dejectedly returned to the garden, Bai Man was still chatting with a group of people. She had no idea how Shen Chi had managed to get away from Bai Man to find her in the doghouse¡­ She walked past the garden, nning to head upstairs. Shen Yanrou and Shen Shihan, who were talking in a corner, fell silent when they saw Xu Chaomu approaching. After watching Xu Chaomu go upstairs, Shen Yanrou gave a meaningful nce. ¡°Shihan, how does this girlpare with Miss Bai?¡± disdain filled Shen Yanrou¡¯s eyes. ¡°She can¡¯tpare with Bai Man, not from any angle. But, liking someone is not aboutparison, it¡¯s about feelings,¡± Shen Shihan folded his arms, an expression of cool detachment on his face.. Chapter 81 - 081: I Really Dislike You Chapter 81: I Really Dislike You Trantor: 549690339 ¡°You mean Shen Chi is actually fond of that girl?¡± Shen Yanrou found it unbelievable. She had never been emotionally moved, thuscking awareness of matters of love, but she couldn¡¯t possibly believe that Shen Chi liked Xu Chaomu. ¡°As for that question, I¡¯m afraid only Shen Chi himself has the answer,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. ¡°Impossible, Shen Chi has always treated her like a little sister and doted on her. There¡¯s no reason for a brother not to be kind to his sister. He is almost about to marry Bai Man.¡± Shen Shihan remained silent, deep in thought. ¡°Right, Shihan, your trip to A City for the contract signing went smoothly. If you present the signed contract to Dad, wouldn¡¯t he start looking at you differently?¡± Shen Yanrou also worked at Shen Group and was well aware of what the signing meant for both Shen Shihan and Shen Chi. It wasn¡¯t just about the five percent of the shares in Shen Cexian¡¯s hands but also a token of trust and esteem. ¡°Second sister, do you think Shen Chi is that foolish?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was icy as he let out a coldugh. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Shen Yanrou didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Would he willingly give up the opportunity to sign the contract in A City and hand over the project to me?¡± ¡°He¡­ he didn¡¯t manage to go, right? I heard that Xu Chaomu had an ident that night,¡± Shen Yanrou said, filled with confusion. ¡°His failure to go doesn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t sign the contract.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s eyes were filled with a stern light, ¡°Just because I¡¯ve signed doesn¡¯t mean that the contract is real.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shen Yanrou eximed loudly, ¡°He actually had someone sign a fake contract for you?¡± Compared to Shen Yanrou¡¯s agitation, Shen Shihan was much calmer. ¡°Surprised? Second sister, we¡¯ve both seen Shen Chi¡¯s old sly and deep calctions,¡± Shen Shihan said expressionlessly. Shen Yanrou thought about it and realized that was true. Working in Shen¡¯s, she knew that if Shen Chi wanted something done, it would be done. Shen Yanrou fell silent for a long while before leaning closer to Shen Shihan: ¡°Shihan, are you going to let Shen Chi have this great opportunity?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave him an empty shell of Wantong,¡± Shen Shihan said coolly. ¡°Hm?¡± Shen Yanrou didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Bribe all the inner executives of Wantong and pull out the core technology and assets. ¡± ¡°Shihan, you really do have a way, you¡¯ve actually made me look at you with new respect,¡± Shen Yanrou praised. ¡°It¡¯s just a little trick,¡± he remarked. ¡°Right, Shihan, since Shen Chi is about to marry Bai Man, shouldn¡¯t you also consider getting married?¡± ¡°Get married?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°But one needs a partner for that, right?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re willing, there are plenty of high-ssdies in C City who would break their necks to marry into the Shen Family. I can set you up,¡± she offered. ¡°In terms of family background, how many of them canpare to the Bai Family?¡± Shen Shihan said with a coldugh. Shen Yanrou was rather helpless: ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. The Bai Family has only one daughter, Bai Man, and she¡¯s about to marry Shen Chi.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t speak further. If Shen Chi married Bai Man, his position as the president of the Group would be secure, beyond challenge from anyone. As long as his father, Shen Cexian, signed the session document and stamped it, Shen Group would forever belong to Shen Chi. Shen Group was the most powerful financial conglomerate in C City, without a doubt! ¡°By the way, second sister, have they found out who was behind Xu Chaomu¡¯s ident?¡± Shen Shihan steered the conversation away from marriage. He wasn¡¯t interested in marriage, at least not now. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, the issue was suppressed. Even the investigation was very secretive. I only heard that Li Beiting has been helping Shen Chi investigate, ¡± Shen Yanrou said. ¡°Someone dared to mess with Xu Chaomu,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s eyes gleamed with a deep cold light. In other people¡¯s eyes, what Shen Chi cherished was Bai Man, but in his eyes, Shen Chi cherished Xu Chaomu. After a while, they saw Xu Chaomuing down from upstairs again. ¡°Butler Ling, I really don¡¯t want to go to the hospital. I remember now, I haven¡¯t finished my homework!¡± Xu Chaomu clung to Butler Ling¡¯s arm. ¡°Miss Xu, Fourth Young Master is waiting for you in the car!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be apanying Miss Bai?¡± ¡°Miss Bai received ast-minute call from the film crew. She¡¯ll have to go to the set shortly.¡± ¡°How coincidental¡­¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. Without an excuse, Xu Chaomu could only trudge dejectedly towards the vi¡¯s exterior. As expected, Shen Chi was already waiting for her outside, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, driving himself. The car window was half-down, and the sun shone on his face. He wore a casual, dark-colored shirt today, squinting his eyes slightly. Xu Chaomu had always been weak-willed, easily seduced by beauty. Thus, her feet climbed into Shen Chi¡¯s car unconsciously. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ can we not go to the hospital? My tooth is already better,¡± Xu Chaomu looked pitifully at a certain someone. Without turning his head, that certain someone stepped on the gas, his voice stern: ¡°No!¡± ¡°Actually, I can go by myself; look, I¡¯m already so grown up. Going to a hospital should be no problem. You shouldn¡¯t always treat me like a child. I canpletely take a taxi to the hospital myself; even walking is fine. The weather is so nice today. Walking along the way, I could enjoy the scenery and, if¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi frowned, finding her really noisy. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a white nce and he scolded her again. And so, Xu Chaomu remained silent the whole way, not uttering a word. The car was very quiet, not a sound to be heard. Halfway through the drive, Shen Chi stopped at a red light, turning to nce at her. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking anymore?¡± Xu Chaomu seemed indifferent: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who told me to shut up?¡± ¡°Since when have you be so obedient?¡± Shen Chi squinted at her. ¡°In your eyes, you can¡¯t see my strengths, and you magnify my ws. In the end, you have just two words for me, ¡®dislike¡¯!¡± ¡°I do dislike you quite a lot,¡± Shen Chi said coolly, ¡°dislike you to the extent that I have to personally take you to the hospital.¡± A warm current slid over Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart, but she still pouted casually, ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯re bored.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Chi turned his head, looking ahead with a profound glint in his eyes, ¡°why am I so idle.¡± ¡°If Miss Bai has to go to the set, a phone call from you could easily convince the crew to let her off. Then you wouldn¡¯t be so bored, and you could have fun with a beautiful woman in your arms. How pleasant that would be.¡± ¡°It was me who had the crew call her,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep. Just then, the red light turned green, and Shen Chi¡¯s eyes remained fixed ahead as he depressed the elerator, continuing forward. What? What? Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t react for a moment. Shen Chi called Bai Man to the set? On purpose? Why would he do that? Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t figure it out, sighing to herself that city people really know how to y games. Before long, Shen Chi drove the car to the hospital. With today being Saturday, it wasn¡¯t very crowded, but Shen Chi had already made an appointment with the doctor. Just as he was about to walk upstairs with Xu Chaomu, they heardmotion at the hospital entrance, someone was causing trouble.. Chapter 82 - 082: Abort This Child Chapter 82: Abort This Child Trantor: 549690339 At the entrance of the hospital, two women and a man were surrounded in the middle. The man looked to be in his thirties, and of the two women, one was about the same age as the man, while the other appeared much younger. The younger woman was holding her forehead, looking pained. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened?¡± Xu Chaomu tiptoed, trying to get a better look inside. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to see.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids as he prepared to take Xu Chaomu upstairs. Xu Chaomu, by nature, loved excitement. She tugged at Shen Chi¡¯s arm, ¡°Just a nce, just a nce, just one¡­ ¡® Shen Chi had no choice but to shake his head helplessly. Before Xu Chaomu could walk over, there was a ¡°smack¡± as the thirty-something woman pped the younger woman across the face! Instantly, five red fingerprints appeared on the younger woman¡¯s face. She clutched her cheek as blood also started to flow from the corner of her mouth. Xu Chaomu shuddered with fright, gripping Shen Chi¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°Ju Shuya, have you eaten the guts of a leopard to dare to seduce my man? Crawling into a man¡¯s bed at twenty, you really have no shame!¡± the thirty-something woman cursed loudly. The man didn¡¯t dare to make a sound, and only when another p was about to be swung, did he grab the woman. ¡°Ayu, Ayu, don¡¯t be angry. Let¡¯s go home to talk, stop hitting, we¡¯re in public¡­¡± his voice grew lower and lower. ¡°Ning Kang, let go of me this instant. If you dare to shield this little bitch again, I¡¯ll hit you both!¡± the woman was furious. The woman¡¯s voice was loud and soon enough, a crowd gathered, prompting variousments. ¡°Wang Yu, look at yourself. How could your husband possibly like you? You¡¯re of a certain age and still so fierce. If I were him, I would have divorced you long ago! ¡± Ju Shuya covered her face, but her eyes were fixed unyieldingly on Wang Yu, unwilling to concede. ¡°Shuya, you should also hold back. Let¡¯s discuss this at home, let¡¯s go home to talk.¡± The man was now drenched in sweat. ¡°Say that one more time!¡± Wang Yu shook off Ning Kang¡¯s hand and pped again, ¡°You think you have the right after seducing another woman¡¯s husband? As long as I, Wang Yu, haven¡¯t divorced Ning Kang, you, Ju Shuya, are nothing but a homewrecker!¡± The young woman named Ju Shuya was no match for her, stumbling and falling to the ground. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Ning Kang? Does he like you? If it weren¡¯t for your Wang family¡¯s money and power, he would have divorced you long ago!¡± Ju Shuya remained unyielding. Wang Yu grabbed the sweating man beside her, ¡°Ning Kang, you tell this bitch right now, do you like her or me?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± The man, wiping his sweat, stumbled over his words. Soon the crowd murmured, mostly mocking the man. ¡°Look at this man dressed so decently, trying to pass off as a gentleman, but he¡¯s keeping a mistress.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how he responds.¡± ¡°The wife is so formidable, this mistress obviously stands no chance!¡± ¡°But are the young girls these days really so shameless? At such a young age, it¡¯s all about money, not love!¡± Shen Chi frowned all along, and pulling Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to see, let¡¯s go upstairs!¡± Xu Chaomu also felt it was unseemly, but for some reason, she really wanted to keep watching. So she tugged on Shen Chi¡¯s hand and mumbled, ¡°Not leaving.¡± Shen Chi looked helpless but decided to stay with her. Him, the president of Shen Group, watching a street brawl with Xu Chaomu ¨C it was indeed absurd. But there was no helping it, she wanted to watch. ¡°Ning Kang, have you gone mute?¡± Wang Yu came up and grabbed the man¡¯s clothes. After perhaps weighing the pros and cons, the man said softly, ¡°I¡­ of course I like you, Ayu.¡± Ju Shuya¡¯s eyes widened, the pain on her face forgotten. This was the man who cuddled her night after night, who told her he liked her, who promised her forever. Heh, a man¡¯s words can never be trusted¡­ ¡°You little bitch, did you hear that? You dare to entangle with my man? You should take a look in the mirror to see what you really are! You want my husband¡¯s money? I¡¯ll tell you, I won¡¯t give him a dime!¡± ¡°Ning Kang!¡± Ju Shuya stood up and walked over to the man, ¡°I¡¯m not after your money! I never was!¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± the man lowered his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I tell you, Ju Shuya, stop pulling these homewrecker stunts. If you want money, go sell yourself, don¡¯t break up families!¡± Wang Yu¡¯s words were venomous. Ju Shuya fell silent, and amid the buzz of the crowd, she gritted her teeth and pped the man across his face! ¡°Smack!¡± The crisp sound stopped everyone, especially Ning Kang. There was a brief silence all around. ¡°You owe me this,¡± Ju Shuya said, biting her lip. Her lip corner was bleeding, the handprint on her face stark, yet her eyes were filled with defiance and resilience. She stared at the man intensely, like the calm before a sudden storm! ¡°We¡¯re even now,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Hold it right there!¡± Wang Yu grabbed her arm, ¡°You think we¡¯re even just like that? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, you¡¯ve got a bastard in your belly! Come with me to get an abortion, then I¡¯ll agree you¡¯re even with Ning Kang!¡± Everyone present naturally looked towards the young woman, Xu Chaomu included. Indeed, there was a slight bulge in the young woman¡¯s belly. Covered by her clothing, but still visibly clear. Xu Chaomu guessed, probably a few months along. The man now held Wang Yu back, pleading, ¡°Ayu, it¡¯s not my child in her belly, please let her go¡­¡± ¡°Ning Kang, you think I am so easily deceived?¡± Wang Yu scoffed. ¡°Wang Yu.¡± Ju Shuya faced the woman, ¡°No wonder you can¡¯t have children, this is karma, you know? Ning Kang is never happy with you!¡± ¡°Ju Shuya, why are you even trying topete? You heard it yourself just now, Ning Kang likes me. And you are nothing but a mistress! You love to climb into men¡¯s beds so much, how about I send you a few men tomorrow?¡± Wang Yu was relentless. ¡°Stop it!¡± The man finally showed anger, ¡°Let Shuya go, Ayu, I¡¯ll go home with you. It¡¯s all my fault, everything!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Wang Yu was unforgiving, ¡°Not unless I personally see her abort this child!¡± ¡°Stop tormenting Shuya. It¡¯s her child, it has nothing to do with me.¡± The man said. ¡°Ning Kang, you expect me to clean up your mess? You best step aside!¡± Wang Yu shouted at the man. And again, the crowd started buzzing withments. ¡°Sad, sad. Why do girls choose to seduce other women¡¯s husbands?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s true love!¡± ¡°True love? One is after money, the other after beauty. Both are pitiful!¡± ¡°Yet, to me, the most despicable is the man.. He¡¯s married yet chasing after a young girl! ¡° Chapter 83 - 083 Is Miscarriage Very Painful? Chapter 83: Is Miscarriage Very Painful? Trantor: 549690339 The woman shoved the man away and grabbed Ju Shuya¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°Come upstairs with me!¡± ¡°Who are you to touch me? If youy another finger on me, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Ju Shuya, of course, refused toply. ¡°Call the police? Go ahead, I want to see if there¡¯s anyw left. Mistresses are so brazen these days!¡± Wang Yu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with fury. ¡°Shuya, you¡¯re still young, why don¡¯t you¡­ go upstairs with her¡­¡± Ning Kang also came over to persuade her. Although Xu Chaomu was young, she couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. This man¡­ was just scum! Xu Chaomu tugged at Shen Chi¡¯s hand unhappily: ¡°Fourth Brother, it¡¯s obviously this man¡¯s child. He¡¯s not taking any responsibility at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I told you not to watch.¡± Shen Chi covered her eyes. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. But she still pried Shen Chi¡¯s hand away and peered through the gaps in the crowd at the trio encircled in the center. Wang Yu was dragging and pulling Ju Shuya. Soon, several of Wang Yu¡¯s helpers came to hold Ju Shuya down. At first, Ju Shuya resisted to the death, reaching out to Ning Kang for help several times. But the man didn¡¯t help her. Instead, he said indifferently, ¡°Shuya, go upstairs. You¡¯re young. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯llpensate you. You¡¯ll surely find a better ce in the future, you¡¯ll be happy.¡± Hearing this, all of Ju Shuya¡¯s strength dissolved; she slumped to the ground like a puddle of mud. Both of her eyes were filled with confusion and emptiness, as if the grim reaper stood before her. She stopped struggling, and the red handprint on her face was shocking to the onlookers. Wang Yu¡¯s people quickly dragged her to the obstetrics and gynecology department upstairs. Wang Yu shot Ning Kang a re and followed, ¡°ck, ck, ck,¡± her heels echoing on the floor. Soon after, a buzz of gossip arose at the hospital¡¯s entrance. Ning Kang, too ashamed to face anyone, ducked into his car with his head down. Xu Chaomu felt a pang in her chest; this was her first time witnessing such a scene. Shen Chi, older and calmer, had no expression on his face. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her face to Shen Chi, a flicker of emotion in her eyes, ¡°That woman is so pitiful¡­¡± ¡°Everything has its rules. If she knew this man was married and still clung to him, then she can¡¯t be pitied,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ is having an abortion very painful? That child is innocent! ¡± Xu Chaomu still clung to his arm, refusing to let go. ¡°Why so many questions!¡± Shen Chi gave her a cold look and, without another word, started to pull her upstairs! I said she shouldn¡¯t have watched. If I answer her now, will she ask next if giving birth is painful? I am not a woman! ¡°Fourth Brother, can you be gentler, please? It hurts! Don¡¯t drag me like that!¡± Dragging her again! She¡¯s not a little dog! Xu Chaomu could hardly keep up with Shen Chi¡¯s pace; for every step he took, she had to hurry two. Shen Chi, utterly impatient, turned around and scooped her up in a princess carry, holding her close to his chest. The look in his eyes and the strength in his grip were as domineering as ever! ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you know why your teeth hurt?¡± The man nced at her coldly, his face serious and icy. Xu Chaomu felt a shiver down her spine: ¡°Why, isn¡¯t it because of cavities?¡± ¡°Because you talk too much!¡± He was ruthlessly blunt. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. Was this really okay? Shen Chi tightened his grip on her waist, hugging her tightly as if to prevent her from falling. Then he left a dumbfounded Xu Chaomu behind and strode into the consultation room. He dropped her on the bed in the exam room and said to the doctor who had been waiting, ¡°Give her a checkup!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The doctor donned a mask and gloves to perform a follow-up examination on Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu closed her eyes, and suddenly, she could only hear her own heartbeat. Even though there was no issue, she was still afraid of the cold touch of the instruments. Seconds ticked by. ¡°There¡¯s no problem now, your recovery is very good, rest assured. Same advice as before, eat less sweet stuff, especially at night,¡± the doctor told Shen Chi after finishing the examination. ¡°Mm.¡± Shen Chi was relieved and said to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Get up, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu touched her head and sat up. Actually, she really wanted Shen Chi to carry her, you know! But Shen Chi didn¡¯t even nce at her and walked straight out of the examination room. ¡°Fourth Brother, wait for me, I just remembered a question. Wait for me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu chased after him. Panting, she caught up to him, the question that had urred to her while lying on the bed shing through her mind. ¡°Fourth Brother, listen to me!¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at his hand. ¡°Fourth Brother, can you hear me?¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, are you listening?¡± Shen Chi stopped in his tracks, sweeping her with a cold gaze: ¡°Speak!¡± Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu choked up. Why so fierce. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, I don¡¯t want to say it anymore.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted her lips. Actually, she had just thought about a remark Shen Chi made earlier, ¡°Everything has its rules. If she knew this man was married and still clung to him, then she can¡¯t be pitied.¡± She was slow to react. Lying in bed and pondering it over, a cold sweat broke out on her back. Wasn¡¯t she the one clinging to him? And he had a fianc¨¦e. Hadn¡¯t she disrupted his rtionship with Bai Man? Didn¡¯t that make her a despicable mistress? Was he warning her? ¡°Speak up, let me hear it,¡± Shen Chi looked at her. Xu Chaomu shook off his hand, bypassing the issue, her smile innocent: ¡°I just want to ask you,st time you had me stand in the sun for hours on the yground, how are we settling that ount?¡± ¡°Are you sure it was several hours?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± ¡°Are you sure it was scorching sun?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point either!¡± ¡°Since neither is the point, is there any need to settle it?¡± ¡°Shen Chi! You¡­ you can¡¯t just back out, you need to make it up to me!¡± Xu Chaomu was really frustrated. This man was truly skilled at sophistry. ¡°Fine, how should I make it up to you?¡± Shen Chi folded his arms and looked at her with an amused expression. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes gleamed mischievously as she inched closer, grinning slyly. She approached him stealthily like a little cat, rubbing against him¡­ Rubbing against Shen Chi¡¯s arm, she tilted her head up and batted her long, curledshes at him. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± she called him yfully. Without waiting for her to speak, Shen Chi already knew what she was up to! ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± She called again, rubbing against his arm. But it wasn¡¯t enough; after the arm, she began to rub against his chest. ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°Then just let me give you a kiss. A kiss won¡¯t lead you astray, and it won¡¯t be a loss. It¡¯s not a bad deal¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing back and forth, but even on tiptoes, she could only reach his neck. ¡°Are you sure you want to do it here?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved into a smirk.. Chapter 84 - 084 – A Flutter in the Heart Chapter 84: ¨C A Flutter in the Heart Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu¡¯s little heart skipped a beat, wait, wait, what does he mean? Happiness came so suddenly that Xu Chaomu got carried away, and her cheeks flushed red in an instant. It seems like there are too many peopleing and going here. Hmm, her eldest brother really is thoughtful. She shyly asked, ¡°Then you pick a ce¡­¡± The smile at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth deepened. Xu Chaomu could still be shy? She wasn¡¯t shy when undressing him in the bathroom before. But, when she was shy¡­ he couldn¡¯t help but take a longer look at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­ to the car,¡± Shen boss said as he wrapped his arm around her waist, his maic voice low and the smile meaningful. Thump, thump¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s little heart suddenly started racing again. How did he suddenly get so smart? Just thinking about what would happen in the carter¡­ Oh my, Xu Chaomu thought the picture was too beautiful, her cheeks immediately turned rosy. Since it was her who wanted to kiss him, she must take the initiativeter on¡­ Her heart instantly blossomed like peach flowers, utterly sweet and delightful. But how should she kiss him? She hadn¡¯t studied that! Xu Chaomu felt nervous all the way, not hearing any sounds around her; all that was spinning in her head were Shen Chi¡¯s words! If she managed to kiss himter, she would have achieved the first goal of her life. Or maybe¡­ Should she take off his clothes too? And then¡­ If it¡¯s in the car, wouldn¡¯t that be too thrilling¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheeks turned even redder, but she was excited at heart. Her heart pounded fiercely as she went, truly thrilling. Shen Chi, with his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, walked her to the car. The car was parked in the VIP garage of the hospital. It was Saturday, hardly any people around, plus the surrounding area was slightly dim¡­ Upon seeing it, Xu Chaomu really found it to be an excellent spot. Hmm, her eldest brother really is considerate. Shen Chi opened the car door, and Xu Chaomu sat down on the passenger side. Her heart was pounding even more violently, her cheeks aplete flush of red. Shen Chi then sat in the driver¡¯s seat, his smile growing even deeper. Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheeks were like red apples, he had never seen her this shy before. ¡°Eldest brother¡­¡± she called out to him in a daze. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded lightly, his face losing all the wickedness from before and turning stern and solemn. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to wrap her arms around his waist. ¡°How can I drive if I don¡¯t move?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly realized, he tricked her intoing to the car, ¡°Are you ying with me?¡± ¡°Am I? I said let¡¯s go to the car, and here we are, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re bullying me!¡± Xu Chaomu abandoned the tender and loving air from before, her sharp little ws reaching out! She crossed over the center of the car, and her little wsnded on Shen Chi¡¯s arm! No, she couldn¡¯t just let him bully her like this! She, Xu Chaomu, was not that easy to bully! It¡¯s also her fault for being blinded by his looks for a moment! She actually believed the nonsense of this man Shen Chi! ¡°Sit tight!¡± Shen Chi shook off her hand, his cold gaze sweeping over her. Without further ado, he pushed Xu Chaomu back into the passenger seat, held her down with one hand, and fastened her seatbelt with the other. The domineering strength in his hand didn¡¯t allow Xu Chaomu even a bit of resistance! ¡°Shen Chi¡­ is it really okay for you to bully me like this?¡± the helpless Xu Chaomu said, on the verge of tears. The key is it¡¯s also very embarrassing! She¡¯s losing face, how is she supposed to face him in the future! ¡°How am I bullying you? Did I take advantage of you?¡± Shen Chi looked disdainful. Alright, he had said he wasn¡¯t interested in her. It¡¯s just that she had a bad memory and forgot about it. Now she remembered it bitterly. ¡°Don¡¯t move around! Be good for me!¡± Shen Chi pressed the gas pedal and drove the car out of the garage, slowly heading outside. ¡°Shen Chi, you have no shame, always bullying me. No shame, no shame¡­ ¡®Unashamed¡¯ Mom¡¯s opening the door for ¡®unashamed,¡¯ we are home now!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed. ¡°What are you muttering about?¡± Shen Chi frowned and nced at her coldly. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯ve decided, I¡¯ll ignore you from now on, don¡¯t talk to me!¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head away, boiling with anger! mes of fury were furiously flickering inside her! This was fury through the roof! This was boiling over with rage! This was steaming with anger to the point of smoke billowing from all seven orifices! She was really infuriated by Shen Chi! ¡°Oh, I got it.¡± Shen Chi was the picture ofposure. No matter how angry she got, he remained unflustered, emanating an icy aura of indifference. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt even less inclined to deal with this man! Shen Chi slightly turned the steering wheel, driving the car out of the hospital. However, just as he was about to press down on the gas pedal, suddenly, two people darted recklessly in front of his car! Screech¡ª Shen Chi hurriedly mmed on the brakes! ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Chaomu was caught off guard, her body violently jolted, and by a stroke of bad luck, her head hit the window. With a ¡°thunk,¡± tears almost spilled from Chaomu¡¯s eyes¡­ ¡°Chaomu, are you alright? Does it hurt?¡± Shen Chi quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and turned towards her, enveloping her shoulders with his hands, his deep eyes narrowed, filled with endless concern. Xu Chaomu held her head with both hands, her face twisted in pain: ¡°You try getting hit¡­¡± It¡¯s easy for him to say, not feeling the pain¡ªhow could this man not even drive properly? ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, nothing will happen,¡± Shen Chi panicked, hisrge hand caressing her head. His eyes were filled with a lookpletely different from before, radiating immense unease and rm. All over C City, people said he was ruthless and cunning, cold and heartless, with a heart harder than stone, never blinking even if Mount Tai were to copse in front of him. However, who was the person whose heart had just beaten irregrly¡­ ¡°How can it be nothing, Shen Chi, you did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xu Chaomu said intively, holding her head. Shen Chi was at a loss forughter or tears, but seeing her throw a tantrum was also good. Just then, someone knocked on the car window. ¡°Thud thud thud,¡± three knocks, neither loud nor soft. Shen Chi stared coldly out the window with narrowed eyes, only to find it was the same two people who had earlier appeared in front of his car¡ªthey even had the nerve to knock on his window! If he hadn¡¯t braked in time just now, these two people would probably be lying on the ground! The man and woman outside, the man no longer young, looking to be in his forties, and the woman, timid, probably around twenty years old. Because the windows were up, Shen Chi couldn¡¯t hear what the man was saying outside. The man looked anxious, gesturing for Shen Chi to open the car door. Shen Chi was impatient, but Xu Chaomu, upon seeing the woman standing behind, brightened up and called out. ¡°Shui Fu!¡± Xu Chaomu shook Shen Chi¡¯s arm: ¡°Hurry up and open the door, she¡¯s my friend¡­ The woman outside also saw Xu Chaomu, looked a bit incredulous, her eyes widening. ¡°Your friend?¡± Shen Chi asked, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Xu Chaomu nodded emphatically: ¡°Yes, can¡¯t I have friends?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a bit unusual,¡± Shen Chi said dismissively. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to talk to him.. Chapter 85 - 085: Life Savior Chapter 85: Life Savior Trantor: 549690339 He pressed the button, and only then Shen Chi opened the car door. Xu Chaomu jumped out of the car, ¡°Shuifu, howe you¡¯re in the hospital? What happened to you?¡± She saw MO Shuifu¡¯s arm wrapped in gauze, her face pale, even her lips devoid of any color. ¡°Chaomu, I was in a car ident a few days ago, but I¡¯m fine now; don¡¯t worry,¡± MO Shuifu said with a faint smile. Despite her injuries and herplexion not being very good, MO Shuifu¡¯s smile was still like the bright yellow roses in spring, bright and gentle. ¡°Let me have a look; are you sure you¡¯re really okay?¡± Xu Chaomu was so worried, a car ident was no small matter. MO Shuifu smiled and took her hand, ¡°I¡¯m really fine, I¡¯m even nning to be discharged.¡± Shen Chi also got out of the car, he did not recognize MO Shuifu, his face expressionless, with dark shadows still filling his eyes. The middle-aged man approached Shen Chi, ¡°You must be Mr. Shen, right?¡± Shen Chi responded with a cold ¡°hmm,¡± marked with indifference and aloofness. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you; do you remember Shuifu and me? The other day I was driving with Shuifu on the highway when a truck crashed into us, and after the ident, you saved us.¡± The middle-aged man was visibly excited, and MO Shuifu approached as well. She nced at Shen Chi, she was unconscious that day and did not see her lifesaver, but Uncle Zhang said it was the man before her. She thought she would never see him again, but unexpectedly he appeared at the hospital today. Is this fate? Shen Chi¡¯s frown deepened, he saved them? ¡°Mr. Shen, afterward we tried to find you, but the police said you only left a surname. Fortunately, we have met you again,¡± said the middle-aged man cheerfully. ¡°Are you sure you haven¡¯t recognized the wrong person?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed. The middle-aged man was sure, ¡°No, I was unconscious at the time but I caught a glimpse of you. Although I wasn¡¯t sure it was you today, you indeed have the surname Shen, that can¡¯t be wrong.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t saved anyone,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Mr. Shen, we won¡¯t bother you; we just wanted to express our gratitude now that fate has allowed us to see you again,¡± MO Shuifu said. From his leaving only a surname at the police station, they all knew that this man who saved them probably did not wish to be disturbed. Xu Chaomu came over with a smile and nudged Shen Chi¡¯s arm, ¡°Fourth Brother, you¡¯ve saved people before? Who would¡¯ve guessed!¡± ¡°You must have recognized the wrong person,¡± Shen Chi repeated. The middle-aged man hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Shen, we won¡¯t disturb you. We stopped you today just to say thank you. Although I didn¡¯t see very clearly that day, I remember the general outline.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, just admit it; there¡¯s no one more handsome than you in the world!¡± Xu Chaomu teased. ¡°Xu Chaomu, shut up!¡± Shen Chi scolded her. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, ncing at him resentfully. Can¡¯t even give apliment; no fun at all. ¡°Mr. Shen, we really won¡¯t disturb you. Just by saying thanks, we¡¯ll leave. The debt of saving our lives is immeasurable; if there¡¯s ever anything you need from us, we will not shirk, even at the cost of our lives,¡± MO Shuifu said. She looked at Shen Chi, the sunlight just right, refracting through the spectrum on his chiseled face, though indifferent, it seemed to her an era of peace. ¡°No need, we¡¯re merely strangers who crossed paths,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. He probably felt that continuing the conversation would seem like evasiveness, a cover-up the more he exined. ¡°Mr. Shen, if you don¡¯t mind, may I treat you to a meal?¡± the middle-aged man, feeling intimidated by Shen Chi¡¯s strong presence, said somewhat ufortably. ¡°No need.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s thin lips uttered two words as he took a seat behind the wheel. ¡°Stopping cars is dangerous; do it less from now on!¡± Shen Chi gave them another cold look. ¡°Mr. Shen, the grace of saving my life, MO Shuifu will never forget,¡± MO Shuifu approached the window and her delicate face showed a hint of sorrow. Shen Chi did not speak, his sharp eyes focused forward. Xu Chaomu pulled MO Shuifu aside, ¡°Shuifu, go back and recover, my Fourth Brother is just like that; you don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Chaomu¡­ you know Mr. Shen?¡± MO Shuifu was puzzled. ¡°After my family¡¯s incident, I was adopted by his family. Let me tell you, the days before I turned ten were so carefree, but these past eight years, he has tormented me to death. Can¡¯t say more, tears are welling up¡­¡± Xu Chaomu finished, pretending to wipe her eyes. But her eyes were uncooperative, not a single tear could she squeeze out. MO Shuifu was too naive; she really thought Xu Chaomu had suffered a lot and looked worriedly at her, ¡°Then are you not living a good life now?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu,e here now!¡± Shen Chi swept Xu Chaomu with a cold nce. MO Shuifu was startled by his voice, which was very cold, and his face was unfeeling. She now believed Xu Chaomu¡¯s words without doubt. Xu Chaomu, however, was very calm but felt uneasy inside; yelling at her in front of her friend, how embarrassing. ¡°Shuifu, you must recover well, take good care of yourself. Don¡¯t let anything happen again. We can meet again sometime, ¡± Xu Chaomu said as if they were parting forever. ¡°You too, take care of yourself and study hard,¡± MO Shuifu¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, looking indescribably lovely. As Xu Chaomu was about to say more, she suddenly felt the temperature around her drop sharply, and a pair of piercing, icy eyes stared at her. She reluctantly took MO Shuifu¡¯s hand, bidding her a heartfelt farewell, ¡°I have to go home now; we¡¯ll meet again. Be careful with everything; don¡¯t let anything happen again. It hurts me to see you injured like this.¡± ¡°Go ahead, Chaomu. I¡¯m grown up; I¡¯ll take care of myself. See you next time,¡± MO Shuifu smiled. She was beautiful when she smiled, herplexion might have been pale, but it could not hide her youthful and pretty charm, like flowers blooming under the sun. Xu Chaomu sat in the passenger seat, was just about to wave to MO Shuifu when Shen Chi, ever the spoil-sport, elerated away. ¡°What are you doing, not like you¡¯re speaking to a little boy. She¡¯s my friend!¡± Xu Chaomu finally burst out at Shen Chi when MO Shuifu¡¯s figure was no longer visible. What a petty man! ¡°Seat belt!¡± His voice was icy, his demeanor assertive. ¡°You, you, you!¡± Xu Chaomu had no retort, gave him a re, and obediently fastened her seat belt. After driving a while, Xu Chaomu touched her forehead where she was hit and red resentfully at Shen Chi. ¡°My head hurts!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi finally slowed down and gave her a look. Xu Chaomu pretended to close her eyes and sped her head, acting as if in great pain. Oh, but she was actually fine now. Shen Chi pulled the car over to the side of the road, his hand gently touching her forehead, ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± ¡°It hurts right here!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed to the spot where she was hit, ¡°I hope it¡¯s not a concussion. What if I¡¯ve gotten stupid?¡± Chapter 86 - 086 You are my Sister Chapter 86: You are my Sister Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Talking as if you¡¯re not foolish yourself,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu, covered in metaphorical ck lines on his head, was at a loss for words. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Shen Chi¡¯srge hand gently caressed her forehead, careful not to use too much force, yet very attentive. Xu Chaomu indicated that it actually stopped hurting a long time ago, but it was rare to be able to fool Shen Chi. At this moment, Shen Chi was much gentler, the harshness in his gazepletely faded, reced with care and concern. After touching her a few times, Shen Chi found out the girl was pretending. He helplessly curved his lips into a slight smile, but continued to stroke her forehead and hair. ¡°Fourth Brother, I suddenly realized you¡¯re quite nice to me,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. Alright, she was just that forgetful; a little kindness from Shen Chi and she would immediately forget all the unpleasantness. Herrge, curved eyes looked at Shen Chi, her long eyshes fluttering lightly, filled with countless girlish dreams. ¡°You¡¯re my sister, and it¡¯s only right for me to be good to you,¡± he responded. ¡°Sister! Who¡¯s your sister!¡± Xu Chaomu was infuriated. She swatted away his hand, ring directly at him with wide eyes, and due to her agitation, her chest heaved. Locked in a gaze, Shen Chi appeared exceptionally indifferent. ¡°Even though you¡¯re not my biological sister, I will treat you as if you were,¡± he stated in a calm tone that weighed heavily on Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. Like a morning bell and evening drum, the world spinning, she felt as if her entire world had copsed. ¡°Shen Chi, say it again!¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t believe her ears. ¡°Sit tight, I¡¯m driving now,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t repeat his statement, simply casting an indifferent nce at her. He didn¡¯t look at her anymore, his gaze fixated outside the window, deep and distant, ready to start the car at any moment. In Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, Xu Chaomu saw impatience, though she wasn¡¯t sure if she was seeing it wrong. Even though she had always thought that he never had any romantic feelings for her, hearing him say such words still felt like her heart was being sliced by a knife multiple times. His kindness towards her was merely because he treated her like a sister. Yes, what brother wouldn¡¯t be nice to his sister? She should have given up on any thoughts regarding him long ago, just like the words he said today. ¡°Everything should follow rules. If she knows that the man is married and still persists, then she can¡¯t be considered pitiable,¡± he said. He had warned her several times today, both explicitly and implicitly. Could she be any less perceptive? Shen Chi started the car, and without Xu Chaomu¡¯s chattering, the vehicle was silent and calm. Xu Chaomu felt like crying. But she didn¡¯t want to cry in front of him. The car drove past the hospital, through the bustlingmercial district, passing several scenic spots. As they neared a park, Shen Chi slowed down. ¡°Do you want to go to the park?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse as he focused on the road ahead. ¡°No need,¡± Xu Chaomu replied indifferently, not even lifting her head. Her heart was congested. ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Chi said nothing more, pressing on the elerator to continue forward. Along the way, Shen Chi answered a phone call. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°No more problems.¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading there now.¡± He didn¡¯t say much before the call ended; Xu Chaomu vaguely heard Zhou Ran¡¯s voice on the line. For some reason, now when she thought of Zhou Ran, she felt a chill throughout her body. Once,te at night, she overheard Zhou Ran discussing photographs with Uncle Shen and mentioning her mother¡¯s name, which she still hadn¡¯t figured out. On top of that, Zhou Ran had warned her to leave the Shen Family sooner rather thanter. Though not aggressive, the attitude wasn¡¯t pleasant either. In her eyes, Zhou Ran went from being an ethereal fairy to a cold, heartless woman. However, no matter what, it was she who brought her into the Shen Family. It was she who allowed her to meet Shen Chi. After ending the call, Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu. He seemed to sigh, ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll call a cab,¡± Xu Chaomu said with an indifferent look, obediently reaching for the car door. Unfortunately, the door wouldn¡¯t open, and as she turned her head, she met Shen Chi¡¯s gaze head-on. His eyes were unfathomably deep, and his face was expressionless. Xu Chaomu admitted to herself that she couldn¡¯t understand him, not even after eight years. A furrow formed between Shen Chi¡¯s brows, his thin lips pursed slightly, yet he remained silent. Xu Chaomu pressed the button herself; the door opened, and she stepped out of the car. ¡°Be careful out there,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t stop her, only offering a word of caution. Xu Chaomu, indifferent, kept walking without looking back. This was a livelymercial district, of course, nothing would happen. Shen Chi watched Xu Chaomu get into a taxi before turning around and driving off in another direction. His mother hade to C City to see him. In the understated yet elegant coffee shop, the piano tune ¡°Snowdreams¡± flowed softly, ying in the background. Outside the door of the coffee shop hung European retro-style candlestick chandeliers, while the interior was adorned with lotus-shaped vintage coppermps. Even in daylight, the lights are on, casting a soft glow that adds limitless charm to the coffee shop. There weren¡¯t many customers, and Shen Chi knew that this ce wasn¡¯t where just anyone could afford to indulge. ¡°Good day, sir.¡± Upon entering the coffee shop, after a brief search, he found his mother, Zhou Ran, sitting beside a mahogany table to the south. The moment he walked in, he drew the attention of everyone in the coffee shop, and even the strictly disciplined staff couldn¡¯t help but whisper among themselves. ¡°That man is really handsome!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he just? Toe to our ce, he must be quite wealthy.¡± ¡°A true tall, rich, and handsome¡ªplus he¡¯s young.¡± ¡°He does seem too aloof, though, not easy to approach.¡± ¡°What more do you want? Dream on¡­¡± A few staff members whispered to each other while grinding coffee beans and preparing desserts. Shen Chi strode across the room with his long legs, heading straight for his mother¡¯s location, who had already ordered his favorite coffee for him. He pulled out a chair, took off his suit jacket, and hung it over the backrest, emitting an air of regal elegance in his every movement. ¡°Achi, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Zhou Ran said with a slight smile. She looked beautiful today, wearing a white dress, with her makeup exquisitely done, her hair gathered into a bun on her head. She appeared no more than a thirtyish-year-old matron, still full of charm. If Shen Chi seemed more like a cold andmanding sovereign, then she, on the other hand, seemed more like a well-bred youngdy, elegant and dignified. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Chi uttered only one word in hisconic reply. Zhou Ran understood Shen Chi¡¯s character, so without further ado, she pointed to a te on the table, ¡°The pastries and coffee here are excellent. Try them, and we can chat at leisure.¡± Shen Chi stirred his coffee, which was perfectly vored. ¡°I heard Shen Cexian sent you to A City to sign a contract, but you didn¡¯t go?¡± ¡°Others might not know, but you surely do. I may not have gone, but that doesn¡¯t mean the contract wasn¡¯t signed, ¡± he replied. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t let me down,¡± Zhou Ran smiled lightly, ¡°Did it go smoothly?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Bai Man called me a few days agoining about not being able to attend the press conference; she was quite upset.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to her,¡± Shen Chi said with a deep voice and profound gaze.. Chapter 87 - 087: The Necklace Was Stolen Chapter 87: The Ne Was Stolen Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Bai Man is not the kind of woman who doesn¡¯t understand things,¡± Zhou Ran said. ¡°If you treat her well, she will treat you well in return, and even if you don¡¯t, she will still treat you well. After all, she loves you.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, he simply picked up his cup in silence. ¡°Is Xu Chaomu still clinging to you?¡± Zhou Ran asked again. ¡°She¡¯s like that with everyone. There¡¯s no ¡®clinging¡¯ to speak of.¡± ¡°Herst name is Xu, yours is Shen; you don¡¯t have to be too nice to her,¡± Zhou Ran said nonchntly. ¡°I came back this time to meet with Old Mr. Bai and have a meal together. You should bring Bai Man along. While we¡¯re at it, we can discuss your wedding arrangements.¡± ¡°Whatever you say is fine,¡± Shen Chi responded, without any particr emotion. ¡°You¡¯re busy with the group¡¯s affairs and you also have to guard against Liu Rumei at home. I won¡¯t say much, you know what I mean,¡± Zhou Ran said in a muted tone. ¡°This coffee is quite good, rich and aromatic,¡± Shen Chi said with a slight curve of his lips. Zhou Ran nced at him, knowing he didn¡¯t want to listen. Meanwhile, on the street, the taxi had quickly driven far away. Xu Chaomu sat in the car with a displeased expression on her face, deciding that she would cut ties with Shen Chi from now on! She was going to study hard, then work hard to earn money, and then take over Shen Group, making Shen Chi homeless, and then have him beg her, and then¡­ keep him! Xu Chaomu fantasized about the future all the way¡­ As she thought about it, Xu Chaomu felt much morefortable inside. She hummed a tune, and her mood shifted from gloomy to sunny. After keeping Shen Chi, she¡¯d first have to train him, get rid of his bad temper, then teach him how to warm her bed, teach him how to cherish and pamper women¡­ She would definitely train him to be very submissive! And then¡­ ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve arrived!¡± the driver woke her from her daydream. ¡°Ah? Oh.¡¯ Xu Chaomu rubbed her eyes and pouted, obediently getting out of the car. By the time she arrived at the Shen Family home, it was already noon. The Shen home was quite lively in the morning, but now, there was no sound to be heard. Had everyone gone for a nap? She tiptoed toward the Shen Family¡¯s living room, and as she passed the garden, only a few servants were seen weeding under the sun. Seeing her return, they looked at her strangely, but only nced up at Xu Chaomu briefly before looking back down. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t pay it much mind, only feeling that today seemed especially quiet. The Shen Family was quiterge; usually, at this time, wouldn¡¯t they all be talking andughing? Sometimes there would even be guests. Used to being carefree, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t find anything odd and headed to the living room as usual. But as soon as she entered the living room, she was startled! Why was everybody gathered around the table¡ªLiu Rumei, Shen Yanrou, Bai Man, Butler Ling¡­ There were also a few people she didn¡¯t recognize; they seemed to be Bai Man¡¯s agents? As soon as they saw her enter, everyone¡¯s gaze almost simultaneously turned toward her. Suspicion, confusion, turmoil! All sorts ofplexities! Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. What was going on? Feigning calm, Xu Chaomu pulled out a smile like that of blooming peach blossoms: ¡°Good afternoon, everyone.¡± No one acknowledged her, the room remained silent! Xu Chaomu walked forward, and she could even hear her own footsteps! What was this about? Just as she was about to go upstairs, Liu Rumei was the first to speak. ¡°Chaomu,e over here,¡± Liu Rumei said in a very serious tone¡ªit was rare for her to be so earnest. Xu Chaomu turned her head, ¡°Are you calling me?¡± ¡°Yes,e here and sit on this side,¡± Liu Rumei directed, pointing to the seat in front of her. As Xu Chaomu walked over, she quickly nced over everyone. Liu Rumei still had that slick expression on her face, while Shen Yanrou was looking haughty. As for Bai Man, with her arms folded and dressed in a cheongsam, she appeared especially aloof. Bai Man wasn¡¯t supposed to be with the film crew? Why had shee back? The atmosphere in the living room was chilly. Several of Bai Man¡¯s assistants and servants stood around, making the space feel oppressively crowded. Having taken a seat, Xu Chaomu inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Butler Ling, close the front door,¡± Shen Yanrou added, her tone quite arrogant. ¡°Yes,¡± Butler Ling¡¯s face showed constant apprehension; he dared not say much else. Upon hearing the second Miss¡¯s orders, he would certainlyply. With the living room door shut, the room fell even quieter! Xu Chaomu was really bewildered, what on earth was going on? The room was silent, and Xu Chaomu thought she could hear Bai Man sigh. ¡°Miss Bai, best you tell it yourself¡­¡± Shen Yanrou addressed Bai Man. Bai Man had a pained expression, her eyebrows tightly knitted, clearly reluctant to speak. She hugged her arms, not looking at Xu Chaomu, with ?a sorrowful look on her lightly made-up face. Xu Chaomu was quite close to Bai Man; she could even smell her perfume. ¡°I don¡¯t want to say anything,¡± Bai Man said indifferently after a long silence. Her tone was very muted, lofty and detached. Xu Chaomu was about to m the table and walk away. What the hell, they called her over to speak directly, not to beat around the bush like they were putting on a circus act?! Stay calm, stay calm; she couldn¡¯t lose her temper with these people. She had initially had a good impression of Bai Man¡ªbeautiful, gentle, anding from a wealthy family. But ever since Bai Man had spoken to her in the carst time, her fondness for her had waned bit by bit. ¡°If Miss Bai refuses to speak, am I to y the viin then?¡± Liu Rumei raised her eyebrows and looked at Bai Man. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, the item has been found, so let¡¯s just leave it,¡± Bai Man saidnguidly. ¡°Miss Bai might not want to make a fuss, but with a thief in the Shen Family, we won¡¯t feel at ease in the future,¡± Shen Yanrou said with a tinge of sarcasm. Xu Chaomu was no fool; she seemed to understand what was happening! ¡°She might just think it¡¯s fun, or she doesn¡¯t wee me,¡± Bai Man maintained her tone. ¡°Forget it, let me be straightforward, to avoid future trouble for everyone. This matter also pains me deeply,¡± Liu Rumei got up. She walked up to Xu Chaomu in her ck sweater, and opened a red jewelry box right in front of her. Inside the box was a very beautiful ne, the pendant made of sapphire, surrounded by big and stunning diamonds that sparkled under the light. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful ne. The gem was sorge, it must be expensive! ¡°Chaomu, this is a sapphire from Sri Lanka, given to Miss Bai by your fourth brother. This morning, Miss Bai rushed off to the film set andter discovered that the ne was missing,¡± Liu Rumei said, watching Xu Chaomu intently. If Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand now, she would be a fool. She propped her chin and looked at Liu Rumei calmly, ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Later on, this ne was found in your room. Don¡¯t you think you owe us an exnation Xu Chaomu sprang to her feet, furious. Who had allowed them to enter her room? Anger! Outrage! Indignation! Her eyes were full of fury and zing mes! Xu Chaomu felt like her lungs were about to explode; facing everyone at the table, she shouted, ¡°Who said you could go into my room?!¡± Chapter 88 - 088: What Are You Again Chapter 88: What Are You Again Trantor: 549690339 The room fell silent, with everyone wearing different expressions. Shen Yanrou, however, sneered, ¡°We were just conducting a routine search, it¡¯s not like we only searched your room. Besides, the Shen Family kindly provided you with a room. If the Shen Family isn¡¯t in the mood to harbor idlers, we could have you thrown out right now! Who are you to scream and shout here? What do you think you are!¡± Shen Yanrou had been holding back these words for a long time, and today they all came pouring out, making her feel much better! If she didn¡¯t show her fire, would the servants dare to bully her in the future? With her personality, she would never allow anyone to bully her! If she was angry, she had tosh out; if she was furious, she had to vent! It wasn¡¯t her first day disliking Xu Chaomu. A girl picked up from an orphanage, why should she be able to live in the main house, while their whole family could only live in the west wing? After holding in for eight years, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she¡¯d im everything back, with interest! ¡°And what are you? If it weren¡¯t for your mother ying homewrecker and driving out Aunt Zhou, would you be sitting here today?¡± Xu Chaomu was fuming. On impulse, she grabbed a cup of boiling water from the table and threw it! ¡°Ah! Xu Chaomu, you, you actually dare to ssh me with boiling water!¡± Shen Yanrou¡¯s face turned dark. She hurriedly fumbled around for tissues, the scalding water causing immense pain on her body. ¡°Second Miss!¡± ¡°Yanrou!¡± ¡°Are you alright, Second Miss?¡± ¡°Second Miss, wipe it off quickly!¡± All the servants in the room rushed to Shen Yanrou¡¯s side, some fetching tissues and others looking for towels. This was freshly boiled water; getting sshed with it was no joke! Shen Yanrou had never been so embarrassed before. She was a director at thepany, and at home, she was the second Miss. And now, a wild girl had dared to ssh her with boiling water! Bai Man had been very calm throughout, but even she lost herposure a bit at this scene. Beforeing to the Shen Family, she didn¡¯t know Xu Chaomu was such an unruly wild girl! Her assistants and agents rushed to protect her. fearing that the girl named Xu Chaomu would ssh Bai Man with boiling water, too. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you dare ssh my daughter with boiling water!¡± Liu Rumei¡¯s face seethed with ferocity, veins popping at the corners of her eyes. She threw down the jewelry box and pped Xu Chaomu across the face! Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t dodge in time. Just as she was about to receive an undeserved p, Butler Ling pulled Xu Chaomu away. The p missed its mark, but Liu Rumei¡¯s long nails still grazed Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck! Suddenly, three vicious scratches appeared on the snowy white skin of her neck! Blood flowed out! ¡°Ouch, ouch, ouch¡­¡± Xu Chaomu covered her neck. Unlike Shen Yanrou, when Xu Chaomu cried out in pain, not a single person came to her. Butler Ling quickly grabbed a wet wipe to help Xu Chaomu clean her neck. The nail scratch was as painful as a knife cut, and the wound stung unbearably with every touch of water. ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± Xu Chaomu gasped in pain from the sting. But thankfully there were no serious issues, and after Butler Ling wiped it a couple of times, the bleeding stopped. It just looked terrible, too unsightly. The living room instantly descended into chaos, and even Bai Man¡¯s agent couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. Was this the most distinguished Shen Family in C City? ¡°Quickly go find some burn ointment!¡± In the midst of the crowd, Shen Yanrou roared furiously. Immediately, servants went to look for ointment. As Xu Chaomu covered her neck preparing to go upstairs, Bai Man stopped her. No matter how chaotic it was elsewhere, Bai Man remainedposed throughout. There was a touch of arrogance on her powdered face, butpared to Shen Yanrou and her daughter, she was much moreposed. ¡°Wait, I have something to ask you,¡± Bai Man said, looking at Xu Chaomu. ¡°You want to ask why I would steal the ne?¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d like to ask Miss Bai, why did you enter my room without my permission?¡± ¡°We said it was a routine search, and it wasn¡¯t just your room!¡± Bai Man¡¯s agent couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Really? Was the fourth brother¡¯s room searched, too?¡± The agent quickly said, ¡°Of course, we wouldn¡¯t search the Fourth Young Master¡¯s room; the ne was originally a gift from him to Miss Bail¡± ¡°So whose rooms did you actually search?¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t afraid of them; the worst that could happen was being kicked out of the Shen Family, that¡¯s all! She was, after all, a little rascal, fearless of both heaven and earth! ¡°That¡¯s not the point. The point is that we found this ne in your room, ¡± Bai Man said coldly, looking at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Miss Bai, I¡¯m telling you, no matter how you found this ne in my room, it has nothing to do with me!¡± Xu Chaomu nced at Bai Man and turned her head away. Why should she be framed for something she didn¡¯t do? Orphaned and without parents, is she to be wrongfully used just like that? She didn¡¯t understand such reasoning. ¡°Chaomu, this seems hard to exin away. My ne went missing and was found in your room; you owe me an exnation,¡± Bai Man continued to block her way. ¡°I said it has nothing to do with me!¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice, and everyone in the room heard it. Normally, these servants didn¡¯t take Xu Chaomu seriously because of her age. Now, Xu Chaomu actually dared to stand up to Miss Bai! Who was Miss Bai? The fianc¨¦e of the Fourth Young Master of the Shen Family, the only daughter of the Bai Family, a leadingdy in the entertainment industry. And Xu Chaomu? Merely an orphan, a wild girl picked up from an orphanage. Because of Xu Chaomu¡¯s outcry, everyone was stunned for a few seconds. In their eyes, Miss Bai was a valued guest of the Shen Family. ¡°Please show some respect to our Miss Bai!¡± Bai Man¡¯s agent warned Xu Chaomu. ¡°It was you who disrespected me first, so why should I respect you?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted confidently. She pushed Bai Man¡¯s hand away and strode upstairs without looking back. Although Bai Man was angry, she was after all the daughter of the Bai Family, and wouldn¡¯t behave in an unseemly manner. Downstairs was in total disarray, while Xu Chaomu walked up the spiral staircase alone, leaving everyone with her calm silhouette. In fact, her calmness was all an act, okay? Actually, she really wanted to cry, didn¡¯t she? But even so, she held her head high andposedly walked to her room. Yet, the moment she pushed open her door, all semnce of calm andposure transformed into zing fury! ¡°Who turned my room into this mess?!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled out and quickly ran back to the stairway, looking down at everyone present in the living room with an air of superiority. Her room was in shambles, aplete mess. Books, nkets, clothes, essories¡­ scattered all over the floor, all mixed up, a sight for sore eves. nkets and pillows were thrown on the floor, clothes had fallen off hangers, and even her favorite hair clips were broken. The pencil holder had tipped over, and her colored pencils for drawing were strewn all about, everywhere! Even the small box she had locked was smashed open, and its contents were in disarray, scattered everywhere! There were diaries, letters, little notes¡­ all the little secrets of a young girl. These things were her treasures, always locked away in the box, unknown to anyone else.. Chapter 89 - 089: Not sure about eloping in the future Chapter 89: Not sure about eloping in the future Trantor: 549690339 For the first time in her life, someone dared to rummage through her belongings! Now, it felt like her deepest secrets were being exposed, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s blood raced to her head in anger. Every ounce of rage burned within her body, igniting into tiny mes! ¡°Who the hell trashed my room like this?¡± Xu Chaomu yelled with all her might, shouting again. Xu Chaomu was truly furious; she clenched her small fists, her lips pressed tightly together. She was really, very angry! Everyone downstairs froze for a moment, all eyes swept towards Xu Chaomu, but soon, each harboring their own thoughts, their gazes grewplicated. ¡°Go call the family doctor! What are you all standing around for?¡± Shen Yanrou bellowed at the stunned crowd. Some started to clumsily call the family doctor while the rest went back to whatever they were doing. The living room remained a chaotic mess. No one paid attention to Xu Chaomu, who bit her lip, seething with indignation! ¡°Can none of you hear me?!¡± Her cold gaze swept over everyone again. Her jaws were tightly clenched, her small face taut with tension. Someone in the crowd muttered, ¡°As if she¡¯s really someone important.¡± Followed by that, a few scoffs could be heard. This was unbearable! Xu Chaomu ran downstairs ¡°thump, thump, thump,¡± grabbed a valuable vase from the living room coffee table and smashed it on the floor! ¡°Crash,¡± a loud noise echoed, instantly shattering the vase to pieces. The fresh flowers inside all fell to the floor, and the entire vasey in ruins! Only then did everyone get shaken up; even Bai Man was startled, hopping aside to avoid any rash actions from Xu Chaomu. Shocked, panic-stricken, flustered! Everyone¡¯s heart skipped a beat! This was a priceless Qing Dynasty pastel twining stem mouth vase, always ced on the coffee table, which the maids would clean with gloves on very carefully. Now, Xu Chaomu had actually smashed it. ¡°Who the hell trashed my room like this?¡± Xu Chaomu asked coldly again. Did they really think she was easy to bully? She wouldn¡¯t let them bully her! The crowd exchanged nces, several new maids were so frightened that they quietly ducked their heads and slipped away to the side. Bai Man had not expected the ordinarily carefree, lighthearted Xu Chaomu to lose her temper. To tell the truth, Bai Man was a bit frightened herself. Seeing that no one spoke up, Xu Chaomu grabbed another small screen iid with Hetian jade from the table, ready to smash it down. The butler quickly grabbed hold of Xu Chaomu: ¡°Miss Xu, you can¡¯t smash anymore; these things are too precious for anyone to be ountable for their loss!¡± Every single collection piece of the Shen Family was of great value! ¡°Butler, then you tell me, who entered my room?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were red with anger. She hated when people messed with her things, especially when they broke open her locked little box. Inside the locked box were a young girl¡¯s most innocent secrets. Who would want their secrets to be known by others? ¡°This¡­¡± The butler lowered her head. She had always remained silent about today¡¯s events. She trusted Xu Chaomu a lot, yet the ne was indeed found in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. And today, with Miss Bai present, many times she could not take a stand. At this moment, Bai Man stepped forward; she walked slowly towards Xu Chaomu in her white high heels. ¡°It was I who told them to go in.¡± There was no sign of guilt on her face; it seemed like the most natural thing to do. Bai Man¡¯s agent, however, seemed to know what¡¯s what and immediately followed: ¡°I¡¯m the one who went in and rummaged around. We were just following protocol, trying to help Miss Bai find her ne. And the fact proves, the ne was indeed in Miss Xu¡¯s room!¡± ¡°Then what kind of exnation are you prepared to give me?¡± Xu Chaomu suppressed the rage in her chest. Breathe out, breathe in, deep breaths! She fixed her eyes intently on Bai Man! Bai Man didn¡¯t speak; her agent pushed his sses up, his look sharp: ¡°An exnation? Isn¡¯t it Miss Xu who should give us an exnation?¡± The agent was ustomed to opportunism in the entertainment industry, and seeing that the entire family looked unfavorably upon Xu Chaomu, he spoke with confidence. Bai Man pulled her agent, speaking leisurely: ¡°Xiaofeng, let it be, we have found the ne, and I don¡¯t want to say more.¡± ¡°Miss Bai, if you let this go today, what if another bracelet is lost tomorrow, and the day after a pair of earrings goes missing? If no one disciplines Miss Xu at her young age, what will be of her? You¡¯re soon to marry into the Shen Family; would it befortable to live with a thief? Today it¡¯s stealing objects; who knows if tomorrow it will be stealing affections¡­¡± Xiaofeng, the agent, spoke in one breath. She was reminding Bai Man, suggesting that if Xu Chaomu had any ill intentions, even the Fourth Young Master of the Shen Family might be stolen, which would mean a loss for Bai Man. ¡°Xiaofeng¡­ stop it¡­¡± Bai Man lowered her head, her eyes welling up with grievance. Upon hearing these words, Xu Chaomu was ready to burst with fury! ¡°Let me reiterate one more time, this ne has nothing to do with me! And, Miss Bai has not yet married into the Shen Family, but even if she does, I would not live under the same roof with her! And about stealing affections, do you think it is appropriate to talk about such matters in front of me? If Miss Bai is so understanding, then after marrying my fourth brother, she should behave herself and not be the one to do something improper!¡± Now Bai Man was the one provoked by Xu Chaomu; how dare she say that! Her agent stepped forward: ¡°Miss Xu, we always speak and act with evidence. Are you saying you have no feelings for Fourth Young Master? Ha, who would believe that?¡± After he spoke, the agent gave a signal to the other assistants behind him. ¡°Pitter-patter,¡± it wasn¡¯t long before one of them brought over several exquisite password journals, flipping them open and tossing them at Xu Chaomu¡¯s feet! As the journals fell open, the delicate handwriting inside wasid bare for all to see. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes reddened, her gaze fierce and murderous. Her blood was boiling! Seething! Screaming! Her most treasured diaries had been pulled out of the box, and not only that, but they had cracked the passwords and read them! ¡°Miss Xu, if you had no feelings for Fourth Young Master, why would you write so much in your journals? Things like ¡®Today I saw Fourth Brotherughing, he has a beautiful smile, I like to watch himugh¡­¡±¡® the agent mocked as he read aloud. It was as if she had been stripped naked in front of a crowd, all of Xu Chaomu¡¯s thoughtsid bare. These secrets, which she had carefully cherished, were never meant to be revealed one day! She was furious, engulfed in a ze of anger. Her lungs felt ready to explode; her body trembled as she lost all reason and hurled a small white porcin bottle towards the agent! ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± the agent screamed, dodging out of the way. The agent might have dodged, but the bottle identally struck Bai Man instead! Chapter 90 - 090 Shen Chi will kill her Chapter 90: Shen Chi will kill her Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Ah!¡± The bottle struck Bai Man right in the chest, and she clutched the area, furrowing her brows tightly! The bottle fell to the ground with a ¡°ng,¡± sending a crisp sound echoing. ¡°Miss Bail¡± ¡°Miss Bai!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, are you okay?¡± Everyone rushed toward Bai Man, causing even more chaos in the living room. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected to hit Bai Man, and she clung to the edge of the table, her lips still trembling. They had been the ones to bully her first. But she was still scared inside, she had made a big scene today, not only smashing a priceless treasure of the Shen Family but also injuring Bai Man. Shen Chi was going to kill her when he got back! She stood still where she was, feeling a bit panicked inside. The agent named Xiaofeng shot Xu Chaomu a sharp nce, ¡°Miss Xu, I think you¡¯d better pack your things and leave the Shen Family as soon as possible!¡± After dropping thatment, she went to support Bai Man. Xu Chaomu was stunned for quite a while before she slowly crouched down and began picking up her diaries from the floor one by one. Tears swirled in her eyes, but she stubbornly did not let them fall. On what basis did they use her of stealing the ne, enter her room, rummage through her things, pry open her lock, and peek at her diary? She had only tried to defend herself. Everyone was bullying her¡­ In the spacious living room of the Shen family, with so many people around, not a single one spoke up for her¡­ Soon, the remaining few servants began to make snidements. ¡°This Miss Xu sure has some nerve, daring to hit even Miss Bai. She really sees herself as the youngdy of the Shen Family.¡± ¡°Exactly, she¡¯s definitely in for it now. Whoever dares to mess with Young Master Four never ends up well, and now she¡¯s shed with Young Master Four¡¯s fianc¨¦e, of course it¡¯s a big deal.¡± ¡°Right, everyone says Young Master Four treasures Miss Bai; he feels distressed for a long time even when she catches a cold. Now that Miss Bai has been hit, it¡¯s unimaginable.¡± ¡°Hey, look at this antique vase, it¡¯s valuable too and now that¡¯s broken as well, she¡¯s sure to face even greater punishment!¡± ¡°Yeah, the vase is broken, the Second Miss and Miss Bai are both hurt, how can Miss Xu be so savage?¡± ¡°What do you expect from someone brought up in an orphanage? Of course, she¡¯s wild. And still, she fancies Young Master Four¡­¡± ¡°Indeed, I even saw what she wrote in the diary, it seems like she¡¯s liked Young Master Four for a long time¡­¡± ¡°Young Master Four and Miss Bai are the perfect match, she¡¯s truly overestimating herself.¡± Xu Chaomu heard the crowd¡¯s sneers and felt exhausted for the first time. All her carefree eighteen years, even with the asional gossip, she had ignored them all. She was a street ruffian, after all; why would she care about such words? But now, those words cut like knives, stabbing her right in the heart. She crouched on the floor, gathering up her diaries; she didn¡¯t want to stay there anymore. The butler Ling, realizing the situation was getting out of control, hurriedly called Shen Chi. She said, ¡°Miss Bai has been wronged at the Shen Family¡­¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t say much, just replied indifferently, ¡°I am busy; we¡¯ll talk when I get back.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi was ready to hang up, but Butler Ling quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s a dispute with Miss Xu.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice turned cold abruptly. ¡°Themotion is quite big,¡± said Butler Ling. ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll be back immediately,¡± stated Shen Chi decisively. After being hung up on, Butler Ling was stunned for a while; hadn¡¯t Shi Chi just said he was busy? Why did he suddenly change his tune to returning at once¡­ Since the old master, Shen Cexian, hadn¡¯t been in great health, Shen Chi had effectively taken over the running of the Shen Family, and his word wasw. Butler Ling didn¡¯t know where Shen Chi was at the moment, but it was certain that he would soon return to the Shen Family mansion! The living room was still a mess, and Bai Man was supported to a sofa, her hand over her heart, herplexion ashen. Xu Chaomu looked up at Bai Man, who even in distress, managed to maintain her elegant demeanor without uttering a word. She sat on the sofa dressed in a blue cheongsam, looking very much like a renowneddy of the Republic era, which made Xu Chaomu, inparison, seem like a wild child. Xu Chaomu knew she was in trouble, what now, should she really hide? Where would she go? What if Shen Chi came back, how would he hit her? In the face? That¡¯s painful, and it would ruin her looks¡­ No, she had to get out of there and avoid the trouble. Shen Chi was terrifying when angry¡­ If he found out she had identally hurt his beloved, he¡¯d beat her to a cripple without a doubt. Just as Xu Chaomu was about to leave with a stack of diaries, Bai Man¡¯s agent made a phone call to Shen Chi. ¡°Yes, President Shen, we¡¯ve called the family doctor, and they should be here soon. Miss Bail s injury is quite serious.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it was Miss Xu who hit Miss Bai directly with the bottle and also hurt the Second Miss.¡± ¡°You must stand up for Miss Bai.¡± ¡°With your word, I am at ease. Miss Bai and I will wait at home for you, pleasee back soon to see Miss Bai.¡± After a few sentences, the agent hung up the phone. She turned tofort Bai Man, ¡°Miss Bai, it¡¯s alright now, I¡¯ve spoken to President Shen, he¡¯ll be home soon. He said he will ensure justice for us, definitely punishing the evildoer.¡± ¡°For such a trivial matter, why did you¡­ bother him¡­ he¡¯s very busy.¡± Bai Man wrinkled her brows, her voicecking strength. ¡°Only President Shen can deliver justice for us. Besides, Miss Bai, no matter how busy he is, whenever it concerns you, he will surelye right away,¡± said the agent. Xu Chaomu had only one thought, Shen Chi wasing back. No, she had to get out of there quickly. If Shen Chi caught her, she would be done for. Where would she slip off to? Yu Weiwei¡¯s home? Li Beiting¡¯s house? Or should she just find a park or something to hide? There was no time to lose; she had to make a run for it! With her diaries in hand, she was about to head upstairs, even if she was to flee, she needed to grab some supplies first. ¡°Really nning to leave the Shen Family?¡± Liu Rumei suddenly approached, blocking Xu Chaomu¡¯s way upstairs. Xu Chaomu gave her a look that said, ¡°what¡¯s it to you?¡± and didn¡¯t even nce her way. ¡°President Shen ising back. Miss Xu, it would be best for you not to leave the Shen Family. Of course, if you feel guilty, you¡¯re free to go. We won¡¯t stop you,¡± said Bai Man¡¯s agent. Bai Man continued to hold her chest silently, but she didn¡¯t prevent her agent from speaking. Bai Man has always been very smart, just like how she would never personally search Xu Chaomu¡¯s room herself. ¡°You contradict yourself, you know.¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled sarcastically, ¡°You just told me to leave, and now you want me to stay. You¡¯re bipr!¡± If she really listened to them, that would be the true madness! There was no time to waste arguing with them; she had to escape quickly. ¡°Xiaofeng, stop it, she¡¯s just a child. We don¡¯t need to argue with a child. Let her go. It¡¯s fine, my health is not an issue, I¡¯ll recover after some rest,¡± Bai Man finally spoke, her voice sounding weak. Chapter 91 - 091: The Fourth Young Master Returns Chapter 91: The Fourth Young Master Returns Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Miss Bai, you¡¯re too forgiving. You didn¡¯t mind when the ne was stolen, and now you also don¡¯t mind getting hit out of nowhere, sigh.¡± The agent sighed. Xu Chaomu was so frustrated her teeth itched, turning ck into white and still ying the good guy. She couldn¡¯t hold back her anger and burst out, ¡°How many times do I have to say it before you listen? The ne has nothing to do with me!¡± ¡°Miss Xu, there¡¯s no need to quibble. So many eyes saw it being found in your room, if you keep saying it has nothing to do with you, that¡¯s just being deceitful. At such a young age, lying is not a good thing,¡± the agent said. ¡°Then if I secretly ce a book in Miss Bai¡¯s room tomorrow, does that mean Miss Bai stole my things?¡± Xu Chaomu defiantly tilted her face up, refusing to give in. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, that¡¯s framing!¡± The agent¡¯s face flushed red as he debated with Xu Chaomu, and he couldn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t out-talk a eighteen-year-old girl! ¡°Then how can you prove you¡¯re not framing me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one turning things upside down. If you¡¯re not guilty, just stay here, we¡¯ll wait for Fourth Young Master Shen toe back!¡± the agent replied. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged to go hiking with my ssmates, I don¡¯t have time to keep youpany,¡± Xu Chaomu was not to be fooled. Provocation, useless! She wouldn¡¯t dare to wait for Shen Chi toe back! If Shen Chi came back, would she even have a chance to live?! She had a bright future ahead, grand aspirations, she wasn¡¯t ready to die yet! Just as Xu Chaomu was about to head upstairs with a cold snort, there was a ¡°bang¡± as the door to the living room was kicked open! Cold! Domineering! Brutal! Along with a gust of cold wind came the chilling presence of the grim reaper! Everyone was taken aback and quickly looked up; sure enough, Fourth Young Master Shen had returned¡­ His presence was truly formidable. Shen Chi, with his hands shoved in his pockets, walked towards the center of the living room, his sharp eagle-like eyes emitting an icy re like obsidian. His thin lips pursed, his facial contours rigid. It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s legs went weak with fear, nearly copsing without a trace of dignity. Damn, this man is terrifying. She had already envisioned a hundred and eight ways to die¡ªlying down, standing up, hanging, nted, beaten to death with a stick, scalded to death by boiling water, mauled to death by Dabai¡­ The Shen Chi in front of her was like the existence of the grim reaper! The previously noisy living room suddenly fell into dead silence, no one daring to make a sound, their expressions varied. The younger maids lowered their heads, hiding away early, whilst the older ones looked confused and helpless. Shen Yanrou was applying burn ointment as if nothing else mattered, and Liu Rumei swept her gaze across the room. Bai Man¡¯s aides stood respectfully in ce, and the once chattering agent suddenly shut up. Shen Chi stood in the middle of the living room, right next to the shattered pieces of the vase. He nced around the room with a cold stare, causing the temperature to plummet. Especially when his gaze lingered on Xu Chaomu, she felt a chill go through her! Bai Man, who had been sitting on the couch, struggled to stand up when she saw Shen Chi arrive. She gave a slight smile, her face sweet and tender, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Her voice was soft, sounding particrly clear and pleasant in the spacious living room, like the tinkle of a spring. She walked over to Shen Chi¡¯s side, her agent quickly supporting her. ¡°What¡¯s all this about!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and forceful. Xu Chaomu stood not far from Shen Chi, using her peripheral vision to look around¡ªwhere could she slip away¡­ Bai Man¡¯s agent was about to speak, but Bai Man seemed to pinch her. Bai Man smoothed her cheongsam shawl and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just messing around. I feel bad for making you rush back.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, you tell me!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s sharp eyes fixed on Butler Ling. Butler Ling hesitated for a long while, not knowing what to say. Since Miss Bai was Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, it was better not to offend her. ¡°Fourth Young Master¡­ this¡­ this¡­¡± ¡°Stop hesitating, just spit it out!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Fourth Young Master,¡± Butler Ling spoke tentatively, ¡°After Miss Bai went to the set, she discovered that the sapphire ne you gave her was missing, so she came back to search for it. It turned out that the ne was found in Miss Xu¡¯s room. When Miss Xu came back, she refused to admit it and ended up burning Miss Second Younger Sister, then¡­ smashed this vase. When Miss Bai¡¯s agent was trying to break up the fight, Miss Xu identally threw a bottle that hit Miss Bai.¡± Butler Ling felt he had been quite objective, simply recounting the facts. Upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu became anxious and protested loudly while holding her diary, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal Miss Bail s ne, and I don¡¯t give a damn about her ne! ¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi coldly reprimanded, his gaze cutting through her. Xu Chaomu stopped in her tracks, meeting his fierce, indifferent gaze, indignation welling up within her. Her hands clutched her diary tightly, wishing she could dig her nails into it. Bai Man walked over and stood beside him, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, it¡¯s my fault for not handling this properly. Honestly, I didn¡¯t think it was a big deal. If Chaomu likes the ne, I might as well give it to her. Please stop being angry, will you?¡± Everybody could see that Shen Chi¡¯s stance was all too clear, obviously siding with Miss Bai. Bai Man¡¯s agent took the opportunity to say, ¡°President Shen¡­ Miss Bai has already been wronged, the ne was stolen for no reason, and she was hit. She¡¯s not even angry, and I feel indignant on her behalf.¡± ¡°Xiaofeng, stop talking,¡± Bai Man chided. Shen Chi took a few steps forward, right up to Xu Chaomu. Two piercing, icy gazes were directed at her, and Xu Chaomu immediately felt an overwhelming sense of oppression. Why was he standing in front of her? She needed to step back, back, back! ¡°Lift your head up!¡± Shen Chimanded harshly. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart trembled. She hadn¡¯t felt fear when arguing and fighting with so many people, but a single sentence from Shen Chi made her tremble all over. Yet she stubbornly refused to lift her head, biting her lip, silent. He was too fierce, and tears welled up in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Shen Chi, stop being hard on Chaomu. She¡¯s still a child, it really doesn¡¯t matter. The ne was found, after all, I don¡¯t me her,¡± Bai Man also stepped forward. ¡°Lift your head up, didn¡¯t you hear me!¡± Shen Chi coldlymanded again. The two icy gazes were like torches, focusing intently on Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu could fight with Liu Rumei, with Bai Man, but she didn¡¯t dare defy this man! If she dared to resist, he could crush her in an instant! The grievance inside her surged, and with her lips tightly clenched, she lifted her head. Her gaze met Shen Chi¡¯s directly, and at that moment her diary dropped to the floor with a ¡°p.¡± Bai Man stopped trying to persuade Shen Chi, letting him reprimand her. Perhaps it would teach her a lesson, preventing her from going astray at such a young age. The rest of the people in the living room remained silent, quietly watching the scene unfold. ¡°Did you smash the vase?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°Yes. I know I can¡¯tpensate for it. If you want money, I don¡¯t have any¡ªif you want a life, take mine. Do as you see fit!¡± Xu Chaomu talked back sharply.. Chapter 92 - 092 His Tenderness Chapter 92: His Tenderness Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Miss Bai is the one you injured?¡± Shen Chi asked with a stern face. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu looked up with her small face, and didn¡¯t deny it at all, ¡°My bottle was aimed at her agent, she was just unlucky to take the hit for her agent.¡± ¡°Was it you who scalded my second sister?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, all of it!¡± Xu Chaomu became impatient. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really have some nerve.¡± Xu Chaomu could clearly hear his scornful mockery, so she snapped, ¡°Kill or y me as you wish, just one word from you and I¡¯ll roll out of the Shen Family immediately!¡± He absolutely wouldn¡¯t listen to her exnations, which was just as well since she was toozy to exin anymore. Shen Chi stopped talking and just stared at her. His gaze was icy, chilling to the bone. ¡°If you won¡¯t speak, then fine, I¡¯ll leave on my own, since none of you hold me in any regard anyway.¡± Xu Chaomu crouched down to pick up her diary and leave, but before she could crouch, Shen Chi yanked her wrist forcefully, pulling her to his side. He was very close to her, so close that she could smell the pleasant scent that always clung to him. It was like clear tea, yet it carried a mature masculine essence. He slowly leaned in toward her, and Xu Chaomu got so frightened that she quickly closed her eyes, ¡°You, you, let go¡­ it hurts¡­¡± A strong force came from the wrist, and Xu Chaomu gasped in pain. Just when she thought Shen Chi was about to do something to her, his other hand touched her neck instead. There, there were three vivid scratches! Each one was bright red, as if even a gentle touch might make them bleed! ¡°It hurts, it hurts, don¡¯t touch¡­ ah, it¡¯s killing me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried out without regard for her image. Jerk! It really hurts! Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed, deepening with concern. When he had left, there had been no nail marks on her neck! His hand gently brushed over her wound, and wherever his fingers went, they brought the warmth of his slightly hot hands. ¡°It¡¯s killing me, let go, let go!¡± Xu Chaomu was frantic, bawling out loud. What was this man trying to do, tormenting her like this! ¡°Who did this?¡± Shen Chi leaned close to her ear and asked softly. His breath, heavy with masculine scent, brushed her earlobe, sending tingles throughout her body. ¡°I scratched myself!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to break free from his strong hand. ¡°You scratched yourself? Then scratch again, let me see!¡± Anger was evident on Shen Chi¡¯s face as he flung Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand away, his gaze pinning her down. Cruel! This man was truly ruthless! Asking her to scratch herself¡­ Xu Chaomu sulked, she just couldn¡¯t do it¡­ The main thing was, she didn¡¯t even have long nails! How could she scratch, scratch his second uncle¡­ Xu Chaomu red back at Shen Chi with wide eyes, unable to proceed. ¡°Not telling the truth?¡± Shen Chi gave her another cold look. ¡°It was Miss Liu who scratched me, she called me names,¡± Xu Chaomu finally admitted. He refused to listen to her exnation, so why was he asking her now? Would he believe her if she spoke? Upon hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s confession, Liu Rumei quickly came over, saying, ¡°Xu Chaomu, I identally scratched you, but just look at what you¡¯ve done! Sshing boiling water on your second sister, do you have any humanity left?¡± ¡°It was my second sister who cursed at me first! She told me to roll out of the Shen Family!¡± Xu Chaomu retorted defiantly. ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze grew colder, sweeping over the people meaningfully. ¡°Achi, don¡¯t believe Chaomu¡¯s nonsense. Shen Yanrou just scolded her a bit, everyone can testify. It was she who wouldn¡¯t admit stealing the ne and took her anger out on Yanrou!¡± Liu Rumei said. ¡°It was Second Sister who cursed at me first!¡± Xu Chaomu blurted out in desperation. What kind of attitude was this from Shen Chi? He simply didn¡¯t believe her! However, just then, Shen Chi spoke up, ¡°Miss Liu, what do you think I should do with you?¡± ¡°I am your aunt!¡± Liu Rumei eximed loudly, ¡°Look carefully, it is Xu Chaomu who sshed Yanrou with boiling water, smashed the vase, and even injured Miss Bai!¡± ¡°Mumu,¡± Shen Chi lowered his head, his voice deep yet tinged with a yfulness that was starkly different from before, ¡°what do you think should be done?¡± His gentle voice floated down from above her, leaving Xu Chaomu stunned. Was this Shen Chi? Hadn¡¯t he just been yelling at her? She had already braced herself for a noble sacrifice, so why had his attitude suddenly changed? Testing the waters, Xu Chaomu ventured, ¡°Let her p herself twice.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t be disrespectful!¡± Liu Rumei scolded. Everyone around them wore an expression as if they had seen a ghost, exchanging nces of disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion,¡± Shen Chi said, his lips curling into a smile. Xu Chaomu had the same ghost-like expression. What did his words mean? Suddenly, Shen Chi¡¯s expression turned cold and stern, facing Liu Rumei, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Chaomu told you to do it yourself!¡± The crowd wore an expression as if they had gone to the dogs, their eyes wide with shock! ¡°Shen Chi, be reasonable!¡± Liu Rumei shouted angrily, ¡°It¡¯s this girl who is being unruly and barbaric, everyone has seen it, and yet, you turn around and me me?¡± ¡°If she¡¯s unruly and barbaric, it¡¯s because I¡¯ve indulged her. What¡¯s the matter, not satisfied? Want to punish me as well?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was fierce and cold. His voice was low and indifferent, enough to freeze the surroundings! However, for Xu Chaomu, it sounded sweet as honey. Wait a minute, why did his words sound so pleasant? Was he protecting her? Xu Chaomu felt happinesse too suddenly, her heart bursting like fireworks with a ¡®pop, pop, pop¡¯! If he had intended to protect her, he should have said so earlier, she thought, having worried for nothing. Liu Rumei was momentarily stunned, then mocked, ¡°Who dares to punish you, Young Master Shen? But, I advise you to discipline this girl properly. You¡¯re spoiling her!¡± ¡°Are you going to p yourself or not?¡± Shen Chi asked, his patience running thin, his gaze piercing. ¡°You, you, you¡­ Shen Chi, take that back, I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear it!¡± ¡°Someonee!¡± Shen Chi called out sternly. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Liu Rumei stepped back two paces. ¡°If you are reluctant to do it yourself, I can only ask someone else to do it,¡± Shen Chi scoffed coldly. Bai Man ran over to grab Shen Chi¡¯s arm, ¡°Please, don¡¯t be hard on Aunt Liu, she really didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡± It was then that Xu Chaomu mustered her courage and burst out indignantly, ¡°Where did she not do anything? Isn¡¯t this cut on my neck made by her?¡± ¡°But you also sshed Yanrou with boiling water!¡± Bai Man frowned. This Xu Chaomu was so unreasonable. Shen Chi pushed Bai Man¡¯s hand away and bent down to pat Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± His lips curved into a shallow smile, although his eyes still reflected pain when theynded on the injury on her neck. Seeing that the servants were noting, Shen Chi grew annoyed, ¡°Isn¡¯t anybodying?¡± ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Shen Yanrou also ran over, protecting her mother. ¡°Is there anything I, Shen Chi, would not dare to do?¡± ¡°You, you¡­ don¡¯t mess around¡­¡± Liu Rumei was beside herself with anger. ¡°Come here and do it!¡± Shen Chi was tired of the talking and gestured towards a male servant in the crowd! The male servant¡¯s legs turned to jelly; to hit thedy of the house? Trembling, he couldn¡¯t step forward.. Chapter 93 - 093: Xu Chaomu, The Little Demon Girl Chapter 93: Xu Chaomu, The Little Demon Girl Trantor: 549690339 Shen Yanrou protected her mother: ¡°Shen Chi, have you lost your mind? After all, we are family, and yet you listen to this little witch¡¯s nonsense? Where¡¯s your brain? What spell has she cast on you!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s family with you!¡± Xu Chaomu stood up, her fiery temper ring again. Thankfully, thankfully, all those years of allegiance hadn¡¯t been for nothing. She had always stood by Shen Chi¡¯s side, and now, atst, she saw some payoff. He was still shielding her. ¡°Second sister, if you can¡¯t bear to see her hit, then you take the ps for her,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°You!¡± Shen Yanrou¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Are you going to hit her or not?¡± Shen Chi was truly losing his patience, barking at the male servant. The male servant closed his eyes and delivered a p. He dared not hit too hard, his hand trembling. But no one dared to disobey the Young Master¡¯s orders; they all knew the consequences! Shen Yanrou took the p for her mother¡ªa ¡°smack¡± thatnded squarely on her face! Another p followed immediately! After taking both ps, Liu Rumei was the one who felt truly distressed: ¡°Yanrou, Yanrou, are you okay?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯ll never let this go!¡± Shen Yanrou clutched her face, fury zing in her eyes. ¡°Fine by me; I¡¯m waiting,¡± Shen Chi returned, his lips curled into a smirk, his face impassive. ¡°Yanrou, let¡¯s go! A bunch of lunatics!¡± Liu Rumei helped Shen Yanrou leave the living room. Suddenly, the living room grew even quieter; not a sound could be heard. Bai Man was also stunned. Shen Chi, to protect Xu Chaomu, even dared to hit Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou? ¡°Mumu, are you hurt anywhere else?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone changed, unbearably gentle. ¡°My face got hit,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered nonsense. ¡°Hmm? Who hit you?¡± Shen Chi looked over, realizing the girl had started to tell lies. ¡°She hit me!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at Bai Man¡¯s agent Xiaofeng. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense; I didn¡¯t hit you!¡± The agent was frightened by the scene that had just unfolded and was starting to fear this youngdy. ¡°Shen Chi, Xiaofeng didn¡¯t hit her,¡± Bai Man also spoke up for her agent. ¡°Sister¡­ she did hit me! Really!¡± Xu Chaomu clung to Shen Chi¡¯s arm. It was the first time in her life she had lied with her eyes wide open, but¡­ today, they had bullied her first. ¡°Hmm, then she did hit you,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were filled with boundless adoration. ¡°Mr. Shen, don¡¯t listen to her nonsense, I really didn¡¯t hit her, everyone here can testify for me!¡± The agent panicked; Shen Chi had just disregarded his family members, would he spare her? ¡°Is that so? Who wants toe out and testify?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s icy gaze swept over the crowd. No one dared to make a sound, each wishing they could sink their heads into the ground. ¡°You, you all saw it, didn¡¯t you? I didn¡¯t hit her at all!¡± the agent pleaded. ¡°Do it yourself!¡± Shen Chi red at the agent. The agent backed away, too scared to speak anymore. Bai Man interceded for her: ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯ll vouch for her, she really didn¡¯t hit Chaomu.¡± Shen Chi was clearly very impatient, his voice rising eight degrees: ¡°I said do it yourself, didn¡¯t you hear?¡± The agent stared in shock, then raised her arm and pped herself across the face¡ªa sound that made onlookers shudder! Bai Man was too angry to speak; she covered her heart, feeling terribly suffocated. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere else?¡± Shen Chi bent down and asked Xu Chaomu. ¡°Oh, no more,¡± Xu Chaomu thought for a while and then decided to let it go. However, noticing the broken vase pieces on the ground, she looked up at Shen Chi with herrge eyes and said, ¡°Brother¡­ I smashed the vase, and they said it was priceless.¡± ¡°Did it hurt you?¡± ¡°No, but I did smash the vase, it¡¯s priceless!¡± Xu Chaomu deliberately repeated. ¡°If you like, I¡¯ll bring you a few more to smash tomorrow.¡± ¡°I heard this bottle is also quite valuable,¡± Xu Chaomu said purposefully, pointing to the white porcin bottle that had hit Bai Man. The porcin bottle had already shattered on the ground. ¡°Compared to you, which is more valuable?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course I¡¯m more valuable!¡± ¡°Well then, that¡¯s settled.¡± Xu Chaomu thought about it and then realized something wasn¡¯t right; she wasn¡¯t an object to be appraised with money, was she? Nevertheless, she found Shen Chi¡¯s words quiteforting! Her heart instantly swelled with joy. Just as Xu Chaomu was feeling happy, Shen Chi caught sight of the diary on the floor. He bent down, Xu Chaomu sensed trouble and also tried to grab it! But the person was too quick for her, snatching it first! After flipping through a few pages, Shen Chi understood what it was. ¡°Give me back my notebook!¡± Xu Chaomu was anxious. Shen Chi had no intention of returning it, flipping through a few more pages. The hint of a smile on his lips deepened more and more. The butler also widened her eyes; she had never seen Shen Chi smile so tenderly. She rubbed her eyes, yes, Shen Chi was smiling. Bai Man couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, picked up her handbag from the sofa, and walked out, not even caring about the Sapphire ne anymore. She let out a coldugh and left the living room. Right after, her agent and assistants followed her out. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you little demoness, a vixen!¡± she sneered coldly. Shen Chi had not mentioned Xu Chaomu¡¯s theft from the very beginning; he couldn¡¯t bear to see Xu Chaomu wronged, but did that mean he could watch her being wronged? The ne had been clearly found in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room! ¡°Miss Bai, Miss Bai, wait for me!¡± the agent caught up with Bai Man, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry; it¡¯s not worth harming your health over.¡± ¡°Xiaofeng, I¡¯m sorry you were wronged,¡± Bai Man said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m fine, the main thing is you, don¡¯t take it too hard. Mr. Shen¡­ probably really treats Xu Chaomu like his own sister, he¡¯s very indulgent towards her.¡± In reality, Xiaofeng couldn¡¯t even convince herself. ¡°Stop consoling me, I¡¯m not blind!¡± Xiaofeng fell silent, at a loss for words tofort Bai Man. Any woman in this situation would feel unhappy, wouldn¡¯t they? Meanwhile in the living room, after Bai Man¡¯s departure, the butler told everyone to disperse and left as well. For a moment, only Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu were left in the living room. ¡°Brother¡­ give me back my notebook,¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. Muttering to herself, she attempted to snatch the diary back from Shen Chi. She threw herself onto him, and as Shen Chi withheld it, she stretched out her arms trying to reach it. Shen Chi raised an eyebrow: ¡°I¡¯ve already seen what you wrote.¡± ¡°What did you see, stop pretending it¡¯s real. It¡¯s just for fun, don¡¯t take it seriously; you lose if you take it seriously,¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. Having said that, she tried again to snatch her notebook. After a bit of tugging, still unable to get it, Shen Chi nced at the diary a few more times before closing it, his gaze deepening. He stared at Xu Chaomu, fixated on her. ¡°Why are you staring at me like that? The parts where I curse you¡­ just pretend you didn¡¯t see them¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt uneasy under his gaze.. Chapter 94 - 094 Shen Chi, Shen Shameless Chapter 94: Shen Chi, Shen Shameless Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Curse me to be a bottom for the rest of my life? Huh?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. Sweating buckets, sweating buckets¡­ Xu Chaomu was so scared that she couldn¡¯t speak properly. After being bullied by Shen Chi, she casually wrote in her diary, ¡°I hope you get bullied in bed and be a bottom for life!¡± Once she finished writing, she felt fantastic! So fantastic! Then, as luck would have it, she even sketched a man being a bottom. s, herck of artistic talent meant the drawing didn¡¯t quite resemble Shen Chi, so she simply wrote ¡°Little Bottom Shen Chi¡± in big letters on the man. The feeling was like eating a big bowl of sour pickled vegetable noodles ¨C sour and refreshing! That drawing had her swaggering for days! Little did she expect that one day¡­ he would find it. Xu Chaomu was on the verge of tears¡­ She wanted to bash her head into tofu¡­ to hang herself with noodles¡­ to slit her wrists with potato chips¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you know what it means to be a bottom? Huh?¡± Shen Chi stepped closer, his tone eerie and mocking. ¡°¡­¡± If she didn¡¯t know, would she have drawn it so vividly on the picture? ¡°Xu Chaomu,e here.¡± Shen Chi gestured for her to approach. She wouldn¡¯t go even if she were beaten to death! Xu Chaomu hurriedly backed away, step by step, but after a few steps, she found her back against the wall. ¡°I won¡¯te over! I, I¡­ I just think being a bottom is very enjoyable, so¡­ I just arranged such a role for you! I was still thinking of you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu exined nonsensically. Shen Chi raised his eyebrows again: ¡°Being a bottom is enjoyable? Is that so? Show me by example.¡± He advanced step by step. Great, she had nowhere to run. Xu Chaomu watched him warily: ¡°What do you want to do!¡± ¡°Just asking you for a demonstration.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi ced one hand on the wall, effectively trapping Xu Chaomu in a corner. His handsome brows rose slightly, and his thin lips pursed lightly with a gaze that was deep and profound, his face carrying a meaningful smile. He watched Xu Chaomu without blinking, not taking his eyes off her. Xu Chaomu had no escape and decided to y along with the n. If she was scared of him, she wouldn¡¯t be the little hooligan Xu Chaomu! When it came to acting mischievously, she always had a knack for it, right! Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s waist. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled bewitchingly and enticingly, brimming with endless charm in the blink of an eye. She tilted her little face upwards, smiling triumphantly. ¡°Big Bro Four, do you really want me to demonstrate by example?¡± She had seen countless adult magazines; if she had to demonstrate, it would be like an award-winning performance within minutes! Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, just swallowed saliva. When Xu Chaomu¡¯s little hand touched his waist, his body felt like it was struck by a subtle current. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t care whether Shen Chi agreed or not; her little hand traveled upward, along Shen Chi¡¯s sturdy chest, right up to his top button! ¡°Big Bro Four, you need to cooperate with me.¡± Thus, Xu Chaomu brazenly began unbuttoning Shen Chi¡¯s shirt! Damn it, she couldn¡¯t remember how many times she had unbuttoned Shen Chi¡¯s buttons, but every time, the man had no reaction whatsoever! She seriously doubted his capabilities! ¡°Big Bro Four¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cooed seductively, ¡°I¡¯m helping you undress¡­ uh hug me, will you? Please? I promise I¡¯ll take good care of youter.¡± Xu Chaomu was really getting into her role, acting with such dedication, especially with that little look in her eyes, full of emotion. And her little hands were even more provocative. ¡°No way!¡± Shen Chi coldly pushed her away, a stark contrast to his previous attitude. ¡°You¡¯re messing up the script!¡± Xu Chaomu waspletely frustrated, her face lined with anger. He asked for a demonstration but wouldn¡¯t cooperate, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to say ¡®okay¡¯ and then hug me! Get it?¡± ¡°Pretty seasoned, huh? Who did you learn from? Tell me!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was icy cold, even talking about ¡°serving well.¡± Xu Chaomu shuddered with fright; wasn¡¯t he the one who asked her to demonstrate?! What kind of person is this?! Never seen one like this! All pain, no gain! Damn Shen Chi! ¡°Go y by yourself, I¡¯m done with you!¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily, pushing him away. ¡°Wait.¡± Shen Chi stopped her, ¡°I¡¯ll let this incident slide for now, but what about that vase? It¡¯s worth a fortune; how do you n topensate?¡± He nced coolly at the fragments on the ground, looking utterlyposed as he watched her. Xu Chaomu was livid: ¡°Damn it, who just said they¡¯d bring a few more for me to smash tomorrow?¡± ¡°As long as you can afford it, I¡¯ll bring a hundred for you to smash, no problem,¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently. ¡°You! Shen Chi, Shen Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth in anger. This man was always ready to put on a show. The words he said earlier made the uninformed think he was so fond of her; in reality, he was nothing but a scheming wolf! ¡°Fine, you want me to apany you, right?¡± Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s waist again and refused to let go, ¡°Tell me, how should I apany you? Lying down? Sitting? Or hugging? Master, what position do you want?¡± A twitch yed at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth; sure enough, he knew Xu Chaomu¡¯s brain was full of crap. Seeing that Shen Chi didn¡¯t say anything, Xu Chaomu became even more presumptuous! Apany? Fine, she¡¯d give him goodpany! This time, she was bolder, her little hand directly on Shen Chi¡¯s metal belt buckle. But how on earth does this thinge off? She fumbled around for quite a while, desperately touching everywhere in her haste. Shen Chi¡¯s face was turning ck; did she have any idea what she was doing? He grabbed her hand, putting a stop to her reckless stirring. However, his entire body was already reacting. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really have a death wish!¡± Shen Chi was enraged; he dragged her upstairs like hauling a little bunny. Poor little bunny was no match for him and could only ¡°ow ow¡± in protest. ¡°What¡¯s my fault, Big Bro Four? It was you who wanted me to apany you. Aren¡¯t you contradicting yourself, and don¡¯t you have any principles? Ouch, let go, it really hurts¡­¡± ¡°Fine,e on, Big Bro Four will teach you a position!¡± Err¡­ Xu Chaomu froze. What? What did he say? Was he going to take advantage of her? He, he, he¡­ Xu Chaomu was so stunned she even forgot to struggle. But soon enough, the man had dragged her into the room and with a ¡°bang,¡± he shut the door with his foot. Roughly tossing her onto the bed, he covered her entirely. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, Shen Chi, don¡¯t mess around¡­¡± Shen Chi was just inches away from her, close enough to see the long eyshes clearly, fluttering like butterfly wings, as delicate as petals caressed by a gentle breeze. She blinked her big eyes, revealing a scared look. He could feel her trembling, and the more she did, the stronger his urge grew. But he suppressed it, caressing her little cheek: ¡°Scared now? Xu Chaomu the little hooligan, you know fear?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes immediately zed with fire, ready to fight but refusing to be insulted. She was a little hooligan. How could she be afraid? How could she submit to Shen Chi¡¯s wicked power! She had a bone to pick with him, and she wanted to see who would be scared first! Chapter 95 - 095: I’m Afraid of Pain Chapter 95: I¡¯m Afraid of Pain Trantor: 549690339 So, she hooked her arms around his neck, pretending to be bashful, ¡°I was just wondering what position it is, won¡¯t it be too explosive?¡± Shen Chi had a face full of ck lines, Xu Chaomu was really bing more and more outrageous. Today, he had to teach her a lesson, make her remember this! From now on, she should think less about these crooked ideas and focus on her studies! ¡°Hmm¡­ Explosive is necessary, don¡¯t you think? But, fourth brother will be gentler.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi gripped Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrists, immobilizing her! Xu Chaomu was terrified, was she just a paper tiger, and Shen Chi was actually going to get serious? Although her life goal was to tease him, kiss him, sleep with him, the moment it was about to happen, she still shivered. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved up into a yful smile, ¡°This position is called the ¡®Italian chandelier¡¯.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face instantly turned as red as if she was in a dye shop, her mind filled with images of positions she had seen in magazines. Right¡­ the Italian chandelier, she had seen it¡­ NO! Her first time and it¡¯s something so explosive? Xu Chaomu admitted defeat. ¡°Fourth brother¡­ no no no, let¡¯s be gentlemen who use our words, not our hands. Didn¡¯t you say today that you treat me like a real sister? If you keep this up, you, you¡¯ll be a beast¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. Besides, you always say your surname is Xu, mine is Shen, so we have no rtion at all. Whatever I do to you is only natural, isn¡¯t ¡°Bullshit, you¡¯re getting married!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that yet to happen?¡± ¡°But you still can¡¯t mess around like this¡­ You¡¯re betraying Miss Bai doing this, if you want to hang, go find Miss Bai to do it!¡± Xu Chaomu was on the verge of tears, could reasoning with a beast ever work? ¡°No¡­ I¡¯ve chosen you.¡± ¡°Bastard, why are you tying my hands? Beast, let go of me!¡± Shen Chi felt that there was no need to reason with her, instead, he just took action! Simple and violent! So, he untied his necktie, wound it around her hands, and tied her up tightly. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned pale, did this man enjoy ying like this?! ¡°Fourth brother¡­ what are you doing, you¡¯re not marrying me, you know this is irresponsible, right?¡± ¡°Hm, I know.¡± ¡°You know and you still do this to me, what you¡¯re doing is illegal, you know that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s mutual consent, illegal?¡± ¡°Fourth brother¡­ is it that no matter what I say, you won¡¯t let me go?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a distraught face. After Shen Chi had tied her hands, he looked at her closely, noticing tiny droplets of water on her eyshes. The little girl who always climbed on him was just a paper tiger, so scared like this. ¡°Hmm.¡± He arched an eyebrow. Xu Chaomu assumed a look of despair, with her hands tied and legs pinned down, she had no room to resist. ¡°Then, then be gentle, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll hurt¡­¡± Xu Chaomu closed her eyes. ¡°Hurt what?¡± ¡°Everyone says the first time really hurts¡­¡± The man pretends to be ignorant! Xu Chaomu mmed down in anger! ¡°Is that so? Well, I¡¯ll tell you, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all, it¡¯s just¡­ a bit of suffering.¡± After finishing his words, Shen Chi pulled Xu Chaomu up, without any further discussion, and hung her on the room¡¯s coat rack. He found a rope in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room and tied her up firmly. Shen Chi, you bloody¡­ What are you trying to do?¡± Xu Chaomu was furious, is this what he meant by ¡°Italian chandelier¡±? ¡°To give you a long memory! You¡¯ll just hang there today, reflect on yourself! Mind your words and actions in the future, don¡¯t disgrace me, Shen Chi!¡± ¡°How did I disgrace you, they nder me for stealing the ne! Do you think I was the thief too?¡± Xu Chaomu burst into tears. Today, she faced off against so many people and held back her tears, but just one word from him, and her tears fell unconrobly, dripping down ¡°plop plop.¡¯ What did his words mean? Did he really think she was a thief? So, he wanted her not to disgrace him¡­ ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about that!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone softened. He couldn¡¯t stand seeing her cry, yet, she cried. Her crying made him feel frustrated and confused. ¡°Then what have I done that disgraced you? Tell me.¡± ¡°Remember, both in public and in private, that I am your fourth brother, you better treat me like a real brother! Stop doing things that are too much!¡± Shen Chi spoke sternly. ¡°What have I done? Haven¡¯t I just hugged you? You¡¯ve held me too, we¡¯re even! Okay, I remember now. Fourth brother, you are my brother, so please don¡¯t interfere with me in the future, okay?!¡± ¡°I should interfere with you, a stubborn wild girl like you, if I don¡¯t, won¡¯t you turn the Shen Family upside down? Study hard in the future, stop having these disorderly thoughts!¡± Shen Chi was dominating, he had to control her, he just had to. Xu Chaomu red at him with her big eyes, with a defiant look. This man was simply unreasonable! Incorrigible! ¡°Let me down, we can talk things over nicely.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Shen Chi replied coldly, ¡°Reflect on yourself properly today!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t! I just won¡¯t! I¡¯ve done nothing wrong, why should I reflect? I think you should be the one to reflect, you obviously don¡¯t like me, so why do you pretend to care about me in front of everyone? Shen Chi, are you using me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± ¡°Am I wrong? Did you have a fight with Bai Man, and then you used me to anger Bai Man?¡± Xu Chaomu got angrier the more she thought about it, that had to be it. She wanted to kick Shen Chi, but she couldn¡¯t reach him. When she met his gaze, a chill came over her, his eyes were nothing but ice-cold. As if a little colder, the air around could freeze! ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°I hit the nail on the head! Shen Chi, you¡¯re really shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu struggled desperately, but it was futile. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I¡¯m telling you, if you¡¯re not willing to reflect, you stay hung up here, I¡¯d like to see who dares to help you!¡± Shen Chi gave her a cold nce and walked away! ¡°Bastard! What are you doing! I¡¯m telling you as well, from now on, I want nothing to do with you!¡± Xu Chaomu cried, and quite shamefully, her tears fell again. She had said many times she¡¯d cut ties with him, but each time he was slightly nice to her, she couldn¡¯t bear it. She couldn¡¯t bear to leave him, she really couldn¡¯t bear it, couldn¡¯t bear it¡­ But him? If one day she really disappeared, he would probably search a few days, then peacefully continue his life. Without her, he would worry less, wouldn¡¯t be so angry, and there wouldn¡¯t be¡­ anyone to disgrace him. In his eyes, she was nothing but a burden, an encumbrance. She couldn¡¯t learn to be sensible like Bai Man, she was a little punk by nature. She yed the punk with him because she liked him, right? Fine, he didn¡¯t need it, he thought it disgraced him, so, let her reflect properly. After leaving Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, Shen Chi was filled with irritation, his heart unable to find peace. He hoped what he did was right, that it would properly control her. In the future, she better not harbor any thoughts towards him.. Chapter 96 - 096: Cut in Two with a Single Stroke Chapter 96: Cut in Two with a Single Stroke Trantor: 549690339 Restless and irritated, he unbuttoned his cor andy on his ownrge bed. Yet, when he opened or closed his eyes, all he could see was Xu Chaomu. From the first day he met her, she had never yielded to him, and after eight years, she was still the same. In C City, everyone would be wary of him, except her. If it had been anyone else, they might have been dead countless times over. He was well aware of her feelings for him. But what about himself¡­ He closed his eyes. After leaving the Shen Family, Bai Man sat in the car without saying a word, her delicate face filled with anger. Xiaofeng hurriedly touched up her makeup, ¡°Miss Bai, don¡¯t be angry. Getting mad at that kind of girl who has someone to raise but no one to teach isn¡¯t worth it.¡± ¡°Xiaofeng, you know very well what I¡¯m angry about, ¡± Bai Man huffed coldly. ¡°I know, today President Shen didn¡¯t take your side¡­ but that doesn¡¯t really prove anything. Look at the TV series you got this time; it¡¯s the blockbuster of the year, and wasn¡¯t the role of the leadingdy secured for you by President Shen himself?¡± ¡°But his attitude! I was the one who lost the ne and felt aggrieved, yet he actually went to protect a thief!¡± Bai Man was very emotional. ¡°President Shen has no sister, and in the Shen estate, there¡¯s no one he can trust, so it¡¯s natural that he pampers Xu Chaomu a bit more,¡± Xiaofeng suggested. ¡°This time, andst time too! Last time, my cousin Zheng Lin just said a few words about Xu Chaomu, and Shen Chi actually¡­ actually made my cousin lose face in public!¡± Xiaofeng also remembered the incident, which might not be known to outsiders, but they all knew it was orchestrated by Shen Chi. ¡°Miss Bai, I have an idea. Why don¡¯t you call President Shen now, invite him out for dinner, apologize proactively, and see what his attitude really is. Best case, get a recording and then¡­ let Xu Chaomu give up on this hopeless pursuit.¡± ¡°Dinner out? Would he be willing to dine with me?¡± Bai Man scoffed. ¡°Why not give it a try? Miss Bai, you are President Shen¡¯s fianc¨¦e. No one else has that status,¡± Xiaofeng reassured her. Bai Man hesitated for a moment, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call him.¡± Xiaofeng nodded, took the phone out of the bag, and handed it to Bai Man. Bai Man made the call, but Shen Chi didn¡¯t pick up at all. Once, no answer; twice, no answer; three times, four times, still no answer! Bai Man was furious and threw the phone away. ¡°Where is his sincerity? I really doubt whether he even considers me his fianc¨¦e?¡± Xiaofeng quicklyforted Bai Man, ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. President Shen might still be angry right now. Try calling againter.¡± Lying in bed, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes flickered open when he heard the phone ringing. It was Bai Man. The phone rang a total of four times. Finally, when Bai Man stopped calling, he calmed himself down, slowly picked up the phone, and hit the callback button. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked indifferently. Bai Man hadn¡¯t expected him to call back on his own, and his tone was calm andposed. ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to apologize¡­ Today¡¯s event was all because of me,¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice became ever so faint. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, it¡¯s Chaomu being ignorant, and I¡¯ve already schooled her,¡± he retorted. Bai Man thought Shen Chi would once again cover for Xu Chaomu, but didn¡¯t expect him to respond like that. ¡°So¡­ are you still mad at me?¡± she ventured. ¡°You did nothing wrong; why would I be mad at you?¡± ¡°Are you free tonight? I would like to take you out for dinner.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s fine,¡± he consented. Bai Man had been prepared for rejection and was surprised by his agreement. The clouds in her heart dispersed, leaving her pleasantly surprised. ¡°Then tonight at our usual ce, don¡¯t stand me up,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. After hanging up the phone, Xiaofeng shared Bai Man¡¯s joy. ¡°Miss Bai, I told you President Shen would definitely favor you. His act at the Shen house was just for show. In his heart, you are the one he cherishes the most,¡± Xiaofeng said. ¡°I hope so,¡± Bai Man¡¯s mood brightened considerably, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± She took the mirror and eyebrow pencil from Xiaofeng¡¯s hand and began to carefully apply makeup. As soon as the afternoon filming was over, she would go out to dinner with him. Throughout the afternoon, Bai Man wore a radiant smile as she filmed in the studio, her mood exceedingly cheerful, like a blooming white rose. Even the director and scriptwriter felt as if Bai Man had transformed. Meanwhile, Shen Chi slept the whole afternoon in bed, dealing with no official business, yet feeling very tired. When he awoke, the setting sun cast a golden glow through his window, spreading across the floor. Basking in the sunlight, he squinted, quietly watching the sunset outside the window. Such a sunset easily reminded him of the day he met Xu Chaomu, on a simr afternoon with the sunset shining on the car window, on his white shirt, and on her youthful face. He nced over at the small wooden puppet on the table. It was one she no longer wanted. But he didn¡¯t linger long, standing up to change his clothes for his evening date with Bai Man. Before leaving, he pushed open the door to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. There she stood, listless, with her head hung low, not making a sound, and her hands still bound. Her face was streaked with tears, all cried out and swollen. All her stubbornness, resilience, and tough-girl attitude seemed to have worn off. A pencily at her feet, which she naively kicked back and forth like a ball, tirelessly. When she heard the door sound, she looked up briefly. Seeing Shen Chi, she acted as if she hadn¡¯t noticed and lowered her gaze again. Now that evening hade, he had made her stand there all day long. Shen Chi walked over to her and tly asked, ¡°Learned your lesson?¡± A nce at her tear-streaked face made his heart skip a beat. He had said he couldn¡¯t bear to see her cry. Now, the one making her cry was none other than himself. Xu Chaomu ignored him, pouting as she continued to kick the pencil on the ground. Her hands were initially in pain, but now they were numb, devoid of any sensation ¨C just like her heart, which at first hurt but then went numb. In fact, she had done a lot of thinking. But her biggest problem was herck of memory. She had resolved to cut ties with him, but just a little bit of concern from Shen Chi, and she would follow him unashamedly. ¡°Not talking?¡± Shen Chi probed again. Xu Chaomu had made up her mind to remember this time; if he wanted her to keep her mouth shut, she would, and if he wanted her to talk, she would? Seeing her still unwilling to speak, Shen Chi sighed, turned, and started to leave. Xu Chaomu looked up, and just when she thought he was impatient and about to leave, he brought out a towel from the bathroom. ¡°Crying like a little kitten,¡± Shen Chimented with a hint of helplessness. He took the towel and carefully wiped her face. From her cheeks to her neck, he wiped her clean. Finally, the tear marks were gone. Xu Chaomu gazed at him with swollen eyes. His tall figure loomed above, his face gentle. Although he did not smile, there was no sign of anger anymore.. Chapter 97 - 097: She doesn’t like the taste of ginger Chapter 97: She doesn¡¯t like the taste of ginger Trantor: 549690339 After he finished wiping, he hung the towel back in the bathroom. Xu Chaomu red at him, very angry. He slightly hooked the corner of his mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, those who don¡¯t know might think I did something to you.¡± Xu Chaomu, prompted by his words, looked down and continued to kick the pencil on the floor, resolute in not speaking to him. In fact, she was toozy to talk to him anymore, the bastard. ¡°Did you remember everything I told you?¡± Shen Chi asked indifferently. Xu Chaomu refused to utter a word or look at him. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Shen Chi lifted her chin, deliberately gazing into her eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted in his own cold manner, spitting out two words. ¡°I need to step out for a bit; eat more at dinner. I will tell Butler Ling to help you clean up your room. Be good.¡± After saying this, Shen Chi began to untie the tie on her wrist. He hadn¡¯t done much to her, except left some marks from the bind on her wrist. Free atst, Xu Chaomu turned back into a little wild cat with ws. She felt a fire inside her and pushed Shen Chi out: ¡°Get out, get out, I don¡¯t want to see you! I never want to see you again!¡± Shen Chi did not budge; he looked helpless, grasping her small hand with a slight roguishness, ¡°But I want to see you.¡± Unable to outstubborn him, Xu Chaomu lowered her head, and, aiming for his arm, bit down hard. She showed no mercy, venting her anger for being tied up and tricked by him in the afternoon. ¡°Xu Chaomu, have you turned into a dog now?¡± Shen Chi winced in pain. Just like that time in the hospital when she bit his arm. Xu Chaomu remained silent, just kept biting down. She was determined to bite until Shen Chi let her go! Shen Chi was unable to bear it and finally let go. He wasn¡¯t angry, though; he just stared into Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes for a long time. He knew she was unhappy inside. ¡°Eat more at night, go to bed early, and do your homework well. Be obedient,¡± he said in a subdued tone, casually reminding her. Having said that, he left, not looking back, but a bright red bite mark remained on his arm. Xu Chaomu watched his dashing departure, biting her lip, feeling an indescribable difort. As Shen Chi went downstairs, he took with him the Sapphire ne jewelry box from the table. Butler Ling was right in the garden tending to the flowers. The garden in spring was beautiful, with various flowers ready to bloom. Soon, it would be a sight full of blossoms. ¡°Fourth Young Master,¡± Butler Ling called out respectfully upon seeing Shen Chi. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi walked over, ¡°Who from the Shen family went into Chaomu¡¯s room to rummage through her things today?¡± ¡°Miss Bai gave the order; her agent and a few servants went in,¡± Butler Ling responded truthfully. ¡°These servants, drive them all out of C City; I want to see who dares to hire them!¡± ¡°Yes, I will carry out your orders,¡± Butler Ling knew Shen Chi was angry. ¡°From now on, without my permission, no one is allowed to enter Chaomu¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± ¡°She likes to eat shrimp and egg dumpling soup, make her some tonight. Remember to add greens, don¡¯t put ginger; she doesn¡¯t like the taste of ginger.¡± Butler Ling naturally knew who Shen Chi was referring to as ¡°she.¡± In the Shen family, only Xu Chaomu liked shrimp and egg dumpling soup. ¡°Alright, I will prepare it to Miss Xu¡¯s taste.¡± ¡°Mhm, let her eat peacefully, don¡¯t allow anyone else to disturb her.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noted it all down. Fourth Young Master, won¡¯t you being back tonight?¡± ¡°Later,¡± Shen Chi said and then walked towards the garage. ¡°Fourth Young Master, take care,¡± Butler Ling said respectfully again. Shen Chi drove himself to Vogue Bar. Bai Man liked it here, so their dates were usually at this ce. Its privacy was also very good, of course, except for that time Bai Man gave him a tie and they were partially captured by the paparazzi. By the time he arrived at Vogue Bar, Bai Man was already there waiting for him. Under the dim lights, Bai Man held a ss of red wine, the ruby-like liquorplementing her snowy skin, looking absolutely stunning. She had chosen a spot as quiet as ever, still cing a Miniature Orchid on the table. Its fragrance was rich and refreshing. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re here,¡± Bai Man said with a smile as she stood up, cing her wine ss down. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi was his usual self, neither cold nor enthusiastic, with no significant fluctuations in mood. She took his coat for him, poured him some red wine, and enthusiastically handed him the menu, ¡°Order a few of your favorites.¡± Shen Chi flipped through the menu, casually picked a few items, then asked, ¡°Did the filming go smoothly today?¡± ¡°Smoothly, no major issues. If all goes well, this show will soon wrap up, and then we n to have a press conference.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°If I invite you toe then¡­ will you?¡± Bai Man asked cautiously. ¡°My presence there wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.¡± ¡°I just thought that announcing our rtionship would be better than letting others specte now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Shen Chi said, disliking the feeling of being led by others, a slight displeasure on his face. Bai Man dared not say more, just smiled, ¡°I¡¯m very happy you coulde have dinner with me tonight.¡± ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll treat you, and let¡¯s invite Old Master Bai as well,¡± Shen Chi said as he looked over the menu again. Upon hearing this, Bai Man¡¯s heart surged with excitement. Was he nning to discuss marriage with her father? She nodded happily, ¡°Good. Next time we can have a meal together as a family; the Shen and Bai families have always been close allies!¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi replied nomittally. He took out the Sapphire ne box from his pocket, his slender fingers flipping the box open, and removed the ne from the box. ¡°Why did you bring it here?¡± Bai Man was still surprised. Today, because of this ne, there was a big uproar in the Shen family. After a fit of anger, she had left the box at the Shen family¡¯s house, not expecting him to bring it. ¡°It¡¯s a gift from me; don¡¯t you want it?¡± he asked, his finger hooking the ne. The Sapphire was incredibly beautiful, sparkling under the light with a clear luster, the blue light ethereal like a phantom, exquisitely breathtaking. ¡°Of course, I want it. Everything you give me, I keep; I really like them. I even bought a specially made mahogany box to store the many things you¡¯ve given me.¡± Shen Chi curved the corner of his lips. Indeed, in C City, no one dared to reject things he gave, let alone throw them away. Yet, someone dared. His thoughts drifted back to the puppet on the table in the room. ¡°If you like it, take good care of it,¡± Shen Chi said coldly, intentionally stressing thest two words. The smile faded from Bai Man¡¯s face, reced by a pitiable expression. She nodded like a little girl, ¡°Shen Chi¡­ I understand, don¡¯t be angry anymore. Today was my fault, I didn¡¯t keep the ne safe, causing you to worry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do things that displease me again,¡± Shen Chi stated lightly, yet his tone carried an irrefutable authority. Bai Man nodded repeatedly, biting her lip, a picture of demure femininity, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put it on for you,¡± Shen Chi offered, holding the ne in his hand, looking at her. Bai Man was suddenly overwhelmed with favor and joy, her heart beating uncontrobly.. Chapter 98 - 098 Feeling Empty Inside Chapter 98: Feeling Empty Inside Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi picked up the ne and walked over to put the sapphire ne around her neck. With the light shining on it, the sapphire made Bai Man¡¯s neck look even more delicate and fair, irresistibly charming. She took out a mirror and looked at herself, filled with joy. Today, she had a disagreement with Shen Chi and almost lost the ne. Looking back, she was d she hadn¡¯t. It was she who had thought too much; Shen Chi¡¯s feelings for her had never changed. She lowered her head, ying with the sapphire ne on her neck, touching it over and over, growing fonder of it. She felt like a little girl in her first love, flush with embarrassment and shyness. Shen Chi, however, remained as he always was, expressionless. After helping Bai Man with the ne, he returned to his seat and picked up the red wine from the table. ¡°Thank you¡­ Can you stay with me tonight?¡± Bai Man looked up, her eyes full of hope. She had mustered all her courage to say this. She had hinted at it openly and covertly before, but he always found various reasons to decline. He was even more conservative than she, a woman. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired today,¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently, once again rejecting her. Bai Man didn¡¯t dare to insist, after all, she had been at fault earlier that day for upsetting him. Thus, she knew she needed to know when to advance and when to retreat. ¡°Then tonight you have to drink with me, and drink a lot. It¡¯s best not to go home unless you¡¯re drunk,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. ¡°Hmm,¡± came Shen Chi¡¯s reply from his throat. At the Shen family residence, after Shen Chi left, the butler began to personally cook egg dumpling soup with shrimp for Xu Chaomu in the kitchen. Now in springtime, fresh shrimp was hard to find, and the butler had searched for quite some time before finding them. While she was cooking in the kitchen, she pondered a serious matter. Like everyone else in the Shen family, she used to be indifferent to Xu Chaomu. Now, should she learn to take a side? Should she stand with the Fourth Young Master or with Madam Liu? Her answer was without doubt; she must stand with the Fourth Young Master, who was the future master of the Shen family. The character of the Fourth Young Master truly had the restraint of the old master and the arrogance of Madam Zhou. Although he was too aloof in his dealings with others, she knew that his heart was not cold. When she had prepared a whole table of dinner, she went to knock on Xu Chaomu¡¯s door. After Shen Chi left, Xu Chaomu had been doing her homework. After reflecting all afternoon, she still felt that she must study hard. Only then would she have a chance to turn things around in the future¡­ For instance, once she excelled in her studies, she could earn a lot of money, then acquire Shen Group, make Shen Chi homeless, have him plead with her, and then¡­ keep him as her kept man! After mulling it over, it all came down to keeping Shen Chi. No, she didn¡¯t want this man with such a terrible temper! Once she had money, she could keep a whole host of young, attractive men. Why bother with Shen Chi, an older man? As she was daydreaming and doing her homework, the butler knocked on her door. ¡°Miss Xu, are you there? It¡¯s time toe down for dinner.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ming,¡± she had to interrupt her pleasant dream once again. ¡°Miss Xu, you go eat, and I will tidy up the room for you,¡± the butler said with a smile. ¡°Just me?¡± Xu Chaomu saw arge spread of dishes downstairs, but the entire living room was empty. ¡°Yes, Miss Xu. However, the Fourth Young Master asked me to make the egg dumpling soup with shrimp for you, which you love. Please go try it!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly felt listless, with a hollow feeling inside. She sat alone at the table, surrounded by her favorite dishes, yet they tasted nd. She ate her rice slowly, chewed it slowly. She picked up an egg dumpling with shrimp with her chopsticks and then left it untouched. A long table, full of dishes, steaming hot, fragrant, but her heart ached. Just as she had taken a few bites of her rice, all of a sudden, the door to the living room was flung open forcefully. Xu Chaomu jumped in shock because this way of opening a door was something only Shen Chi dared to do. Yet, when she looked up, it was her uncle, Shen Cexian. Due to his health, Shen Cexian seldom returned to the Shen family residence and usually stayed in the summer vi in C City. ¡°Uncle Shen,¡± Xu Chaomu called timidly, quickly setting down her chopsticks and bowl. She wasn¡¯t afraid of Shen Chi or Liu Rumei, but she didn¡¯t dare to defy Shen Cexian, nor¡­ Zhou Ran. Between Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran, she always felt there was a profound secret, a secret involving her mother, Xu Mengxi. Shen Cexian ignored Xu Chaomu¡¯s greeting, his face unhappy. He stood there with a cold expression, pointed at her, and said, ¡°Come with me!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare to say anything; after all, Shen Cexian was her elder. Although he had been indifferent to her in the past eight years, the words he had spoken to her could be counted on one hand. She followed him hesitantly, head bowed, not daring to make a sound. Shen Cexian walked straight to the small study room of the Shen family, then stopped and sat down on a chair. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Having walked just a few steps, Shen Cexian started coughing non-stop, gasping for breath. He rested for a while before he felt less ufortable. ¡°Uncle Shen, shall I get you a cup of tea?¡± Xu Chaomu offered, her voice timid. ¡°No need!¡± Shen Cexian almost instantly refused, his tone exceptionally cold. Xu Chaomu was startled and didn¡¯t move, standing in front of him. Shen Cexian lifted his head, his eyes staring directly at her, filled with warning, hostility, and rejection. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare meet his gaze and lowered her head instead. What was he going to say to her? This was the first time in eight years that Shen Cexian had asked to speak with her alone. The air was as if it had solidified, carrying a whooshing chill. It was very quiet all around, and no sound could be heard. In the silence, Xu Chaomu could even hear her own heartbeat. ¡°Xu Chaomu, how many years has the Shen family provided for you?¡± Shen Cexian finally spoke, his voice slow. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart trembled slightly; this question had also been asked by Zhou Ran. ¡°Eight years,¡± Xu Chaomu answered truthfully. ¡°How have the Shen family treated you?¡± ¡°Quite well,¡± Xu Chaomu replied tly, her voice devoid of emotion. ¡°Do you always consider yourself the young miss of the Shen family?¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s tone clearly showed his impatience. ¡°No, my surname is Xu.¡± She had never seen herself as the young miss. Even living in the Shen family for eight years, she knew that none of the Shen family members had ever considered her one of their own. Her status was just slightly better than that of a servant, nothing more. ¡°At least you remember your surname is Xu,¡± scoffed Shen Cexian. ¡°So your behavior today, wasn¡¯t it excessively audacious?¡± So it was about today¡¯s incident. Xu Chaomu understood; probably Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou had called toin about her. ¡°I did nothing wrong,¡± Xu Chaomu maintained, still speaking tly. ¡°You¡¯re stubborn! Cough cough¡­ cough cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian became agitated, and once again, his coughing worsened, making even breathing difficult.. Chapter 99 - 099: I Wish Them Well Chapter 99: I Wish Them Well Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, her head bowed. The reflection on the floor showed her image, which she silently observed. She never admitted she was at fault, yet no one came forward to speak a word for her. She didn¡¯t steal the ne, not at all. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you¡¯ve done wrong or not, in the Shen Family, you don¡¯t have the right to make such a fuss! Cough, cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian added, ¡°Who gave you the audacity to smash vases? To injure the second Miss and Miss Bai?¡± ¡°They insulted me first, they were the ones at fault.¡± Xu Chaomu defended herself. ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Shen Cexian was truly infuriated, his eyes wide open as he coughed continuously, ¡°Let me tell you, the Shen Family has no obligation to adopt you. Since you¡¯re in the Shen family, you¡¯d better behave yourself.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t argue further. Yes, Shen Cexian was right; it was the family¡¯s grace to adopt her, and their duty not to. ¡°I heard that you like your fourth brother?¡± Shen Cexian couldn¡¯t help but ask. At that moment, the study was very quiet, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Xu Chaomu bit her lip, her head bowed with furrowed brows. Her little thoughts and secrets were exposed, and it felt like a stone blocked her heart, depriving her of all privacy. Her clean room was rummaged through at will, locked boxes were opened for no reason, and diaries with passwords were pried open. No one cared about her feelings; all the me was directed at her. Just because she was an orphan adopted by the Shen family, that¡¯s all. She had no right to resist. ¡°No,¡± Xu Chaomu resolutely denied it. Shen Chi had said that no matter whether it was in public or in private, she must always remember that he was her fourth brother. She¡¯d better treat him as a real brother and not do anything too excessive. ¡°You¡¯d better not have,¡± Shen Cexian said coldly, ¡°You know your own status. If you wish to stand alongside Shen Chi, see if you¡¯re worthy. Also, I must warn you, Bai Man is Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, they are bound to be together. You¡¯d better rid yourself early of any inappropriate thoughts and stop any sneaky behavior behind the scenes!¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian coughed non-stop after saying a lot in one breath and then held his chest. Another silence ensued, with only Shen Cexian¡¯s coughing heard throughout the room. After a while, Xu Chaomu spoke slowly. ¡°I wish them happiness,¡± she said with her head down, her voice soft and faint, with a slight choke. It was like a cloud in her heart that had lingered for a very long time, but with a gust of wind, it was supposed to disperse¡­ Into strands, into dust, never to return. When Shen Chi received the call from Butler Ling and hurriedly pushed open the study door, he happened to hear Xu Chaomu¡¯s words. His heart skipped a beat, giving him a sensation of a momentary stop. Xu Chaomu also heard the sound of the door opening and, just like Shen Cexian, her first instinct was to turn and look. Dressed in a ck suit, Shen Chi stood under the study¡¯s warm pale yellow light; his sharply chiseled, icy facial features were even colder. Meeting Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, Xu Chaomu was quickly defeated and looked down. ¡°Why have youe back? Cough, cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian nced at Shen Chi. He had heard that Shen Chi had gone on a date with Bai Man and had taken the opportunity to speak to Xu Chaomu alone. However, it was only seven-thirty, and Shen Chi had already returned. ¡°Should I report to you before Ie back?¡± Shen Chi responded unpleasantly. ¡°What kind of talk is that.¡± Shen Cexian was clearly not pleased, ¡°Since you¡¯ve returned, I won¡¯t say much, just discipline this girl properly, don¡¯t let her get out of line in the Shen estate!¡± Shen Cexian stood up after speaking, ready to leave the study. Shen Cexian knew that Xu Chaomu dared to disregard others only because she felt backed by Shen Chi. ¡°Whether she misbehaves or not, I¡¯ll be the one to shoulder it, no need for your concern,¡± Shen Chi locked eyes with Shen Cexian, neither backing down. ¡°Be clear on your own status, you¡¯re Bai Man¡¯s fianc¨¦! If you dare to let down Bai Man, I¡¯ll kill you! Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± ¡°Then what about how you treated my mother?¡± Shen Chi stood his ground. He grasped the stunned Xu Chaomu with a firm hand, pulling her by her small arm towards the exit of the study. With decisive strides, he walked without hesitation. Step by step, he dragged Xu Chaomu down the stairs. At first, he held her arm, but after a few steps, his grip moved down imperiously, taking hold of her small hand. Xu Chaomu was so shocked that it took her a long time to realize¡­ he hade back. It was like a dream. Not until Shen Chi pulled her into the living room did shee back to her senses. The lights in the living room were bright; Xu Chaomu, in an instant from one setting to another, felt it all so unreal. She stood by the table still dazed when Shen Chi¡¯s familiar, deep voice brought her back to reality. ¡°You¡¯re finding trouble for me all day long!¡± He looked at her, his hand letting go. While she looked thoroughly annoyed, warmth surged through Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. She looked up defiantly, meeting his gaze: ¡°I didn¡¯t trouble you, it¡¯s you who meddle too much!¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s my meddling.¡± For once, Shen Chi didn¡¯t give her a hard time; his tone was mild yetforting. Xu Chaomu listlessly reyed Shen Cexian¡¯s words in her mind. He had said, ¡°You know your own status. If you want to stand with Shen Chi, see if you¡¯re worthy. Moreover, I must remind you, Bai Man is Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, they are bound to be together. You¡¯d better rid yourself early of any inappropriate thoughts and stop any sneaky behavior behind the scenes.¡± Bai Man is Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡­ Bai Man is Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡­ She knew, but couldn¡¯t let go; it was like a needle in her heart, pricking her now and then. ¡°Not happy?¡± Shen Chi looked down at her. It was rare for him to see such despondency on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, and because it was rare, it made him particrly uneasy. He had no idea what his father had said to her. She turned to go upstairs. ¡°Stop right there. You haven¡¯t finished eating,¡± Shen Chi called after her, his voice stern. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± Shen Chi nced at the table where only a few bites were taken from a bowl of rice and none of the dishes were touched. Even her favorite dish, the shrimp egg dumpling soup, remained untouched. ¡°You must!¡± Shen Chi pulled her to the table, forcing her to sit down. Xu Chaomu looked resentfully at the man across from her. His features were cool with an ¡®I dare you to resist¡¯ expression written all over his face. She had no choice but to sit at the table and pick up her chopsticks. Only when he saw her eating obediently did he sit beside her. He nced at her. Her eyebrows were marked with mncholy. He had never seen Xu Chaomu like this before¡­ She listlessly stirred her rice with her chopsticks; in truth, she had no appetite at all. Too much had happened that day, and she hadn¡¯t caught her breath yet. But one thing had be clear: everything she had done today was wrong.. Chapter 100 - 100: He is Afraid Chapter 100: He is Afraid Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating your vegetables? These are all your favorites.¡± Shen Chi said as he picked up a few dishes and ced them into her bowl, but she did not even lift her head. As he drew closer to her, she could clearly smell the fragrance on his body, the light scent of cherry blossoms and the aroma of alcohol. She knew without thinking who he had met with that night. She wrinkled her nose and threw all the vegetables that Shen Chi had put in her bowl back out. Shen Chi had a helpless look on his face as he watched her childish gesture, saying nothing. He knew she was upset, so he let her throw them away. Shen Chi went to serve himself a bowl of rice and sat beside her, eating together with her. The living room suddenly became quiet, eerily silent, with not a sound to be heard. In the past, Xu Chaomu had enjoyed sitting together and eating with Shen Chi, but ever since Bai Man arrived at the Shen Family, she had never again sat with him. When they used to eat together, Shen Chi had set a rule,manding her not to talk during meals, but she would always chatter on endlessly. He could do nothing about her and had to resort to violence, starving her a few times. But it had no effect; she loved to talk. She could go on for three days and three nights, and she ate particrly slowly. Over time, even Shen Chi¡¯s eating speed had slowed down a lot. But today, she was silent, not saying a word. When he asked her to eat, she slowly picked at the rice in her bowl, eating it bit by bit, not taking any vegetables, just eating. For some reason, Shen Chi felt somewhat uneasy. He was afraid; it turned out he did not like this version of Xu Chaomu. This Xu Chaomu was too quiet, so quiet it scared him. He would rather have her be noisy, noisy to the point of disturbing his peace. ¡°Mumu, I¡¯m not busy tomorrow. Shall I take you to see a movie?¡± Shen Chi finally broke the unnervingly quiet atmosphere. ¡°No need,¡± Xu Chaomu answered without looking up, her tone devoid of emotions. ¡°Mumu, I was wrong about this afternoon¡¯s incident.¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows, paused, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been violent with you, but you¡­¡± Shen Chi had wanted to say, ¡°But you¡¯re too disobedient,¡± but he swallowed his words. She could be disobedient, but that was better than how she was now. He had thought he was just teaching her a lesson and that it wouldn¡¯t take half a day before she forgot. She was such a carefree girl, what did she know. Xu Chaomu still did not speak, and now, the incessant talker at the dinner table was Shen Chi. How cold a person he was, always sparing with his words. But now, he could do nothing about Xu Chaomu. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mumu.¡± He retracted all his words and simply apologized to her. Xu Chaomu did not want to listen to him at all. She began to shovel her rice more forcefully, but it still tasted nd. Her nose felt sour. Soon, she finished her bowl of rice without ever lifting her head. Once finished, she naturally set down her utensils and pushed back her chair to leave. Shen Chi barely ate a few bites. Seeing Xu Chaomu leave, he also stood up. He had never seen Xu Chaomu like this before. In the past, even if she caused a fuss with him, it would onlyst for three minutes. After three minutes, she would forget all about it. But now, it was different. Xu Chaomu walked forward, and Shen Chi followed behind her, calling out, ¡°Chaomu.¡± But Xu Chaomu did not respond and walked into her room, closing the door right in front of Shen Chi. Shen Chi felt helpless. Let it be, perhaps she¡¯ll forget everything after a good night¡¯s sleep. Shen Chi had no appetite to eat anymore and also returned to his own room. After he got back, he made a call to Li Beiting. ¡°Li Beiting.¡± ¡°Yo, Shen Four, what¡¯s up for you to call me today? Haven¡¯t you gone to be with your Bai beauty?¡± Li Beiting had a teasing tone, enjoying the drama. ¡°I¡¯m talking about something serious.¡± ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯m all ears. I always heed Shen Four¡¯s words.¡± Li Beiting was at the Li Family vi, listening to music and savoring red winefortably at that moment. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯splicated. Come over to the Shen Family for a bit, the billiard room.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brows were furrowed tight, and as soon as he finished speaking, he hung up. ¡°Hello, hello!¡± Li Beiting still wanted to say a few words, but, Shen Chi had already hung up the phone. ¡°What kind of person is that! So arrogant and domineering. Why should I listen to you! I¡¯m perfectly fine at home, and you tell me to go just like that? Let me tell you, I won¡¯t!¡± Li Beiting yelled into the phone a few times. After his rant, he obediently put down his wine, took his coat, and went out to the Shen Family. In the spacious and bright billiard room of the Shen Family, Shen Chi was holding a cue stick, bending over to measure the distance precisely. Beneath the lights, his lips were tightly pursed, sharply handsome, and his obsidian-like eyes glinted, radiating an aura of dominance. After a few seconds of consideration, there was a ¡°pop¡± sound. With a stroke, all the balls went into the pockets. ¡°When Shen Four ys, he dominates the field, none canpete.¡± Li Beiting pped, brown-nosing. ¡°Cut it out!¡± Shen Chi gave him a cold re and pointed to a cue stick on the side, ¡°Let¡¯s y together. The loser drinks.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°You might as well just tell me to drink directly. Can I even beat you? That¡¯s a joke¡­¡¯ ¡°Can¡¯t admit defeat?¡± Shen Chi nced at him coolly. ¡°Alright, alright, here Ie.¡± Li Beiting had no choice. If he didn¡¯t y, Shen Chi would definitely lose his temper. He reluctantly picked up the cue stick, ncing at the red wine bottles on the side table. There were at least seven or eight! He was doomed to be carried home tonight. After a few strokes, Li Beiting hardly won at all. He conscientiously drank ss after ss. Shen Chi just yed with him, not saying anything. Li Beiting thought this man was really strange, inviting him out in the middle of the night just to y billiards? It definitely wasn¡¯t for that. He nced at Shen Chi, whose gaze was deep and mncholic, like the sky in June before a storm, filled with gloom. Li Beiting couldn¡¯t stand the silence and after a few strokes, finally couldn¡¯t help but speak. ¡°Look, Shen, if you call me here and don¡¯t say anything, just y?¡± ¡°A few more strokes and my mood will improve.¡± Li Beiting looked at him in disbelief, his eyes reflecting his astonishment. Shen Chi in a bad mood? The man spent all day with a poker face; Li Beiting could never tell when he was in a good or bad mood. ¡°If you¡¯re in a bad mood, just talk to me. I¡¯ll help you sort it out! We are good brothers, after all!¡± Shen Chi remained silent, and the atmosphere grew dull again. ¡°If you don¡¯t speak up, I¡¯m leaving!¡± Li Beiting said, ¡°I still have to go home and take a shower. Oh, right, I have a video conferenceter tonight!¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently, ¡°If you want to leave, then go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched. Alright then, he continued to apany Shen Four in ying billiards. His face instantly showed countless expressions, how cool! Li Beiting was penalized several more drinks, his face flushed red. Shen Chi appeared to be tired; he crossed his legs and leaned against the table¡¯s edge, silently watching the billiard table. Shen Chi poured himself a ss of wine and held it in his hand, his gaze deep.. Chapter 101 - 101: Punishment for Disobedience Chapter 101: Punishment for Disobedience Trantor: 549690339 After a long silence, Shen Chi looked at the pool table under the light and finally spoke. ¡°How is the investigation going on the matter I asked you to look intost time?¡± Li Beiting was startled. That matter? After pondering for a moment, he said, ¡°I took down the dens of those few people, and even those who didn¡¯t cause trouble were sent to the police station. However, nobody knows who is behind the scenes. There¡¯s only one clue: the employer is a woman. They received orders to bring Xu Chaomu out of C City, and it would be best to find a remote forest to sell her off as a bride, so she can never escape.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew sharp, immediately covered with ayer of darkness. He remained silent. Li Beiting continued, ¡°It seems like Xu Chaomu has run into human traffickers. Given how attractive she is, it¡¯s likely she was targeted long ago. However, they have shown some mercy, not going so far as to kill Chaomu.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting decided not to analyze further. ¡°Keep talking.¡± ¡°What else is there to say? There aren¡¯t any more clues!¡± Li Beiting said, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, when I caught those people, I dropped your big name, Shen Chi, to prevent any prolonged nightmares. They won¡¯te looking for trouble with me, Li Beiting.¡± Shen Chi looked at him with disdain. ¡°Keep on with the interrogation.¡± ¡°I know, I know, dare I not take the matters of Fourth Young Master Shen to heart? But I still advise you, it¡¯s good to care for this girl, but don¡¯t overdo it!¡± Li Beiting might have had a bit to drink, getting feisty. He might be friends with Xu Chaomu, but he¡¯s also friends with Bai Man. Shen Chi and Bai Man are a pair to be married. They¡¯ve known each other since childhood. Now, what is Xu Chaomu? ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in things that aren¡¯t your business!¡± Shen Chi cut him off and said coldly. Li Beiting knew he had spoken too much; as soon as he said anything negative about Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi¡¯s face would darken. ¡°Right, is there anything else? If not, I¡¯m really leaving! My head is killing me from drinking; I shouldn¡¯t havee!¡± Li Beiting held his forehead. Shen Chi fell silent for a long time. For a moment, the billiard room was utterly quiet. Li Beiting really set down his cue stick, nning to tidy up his ss and head back. He straightened his jacket and cuffs as the light in the pool room shone on his face, slightly squinting his eyes. Just then, Shen Chi spoke indifferently, as if sighing, ¡°Li Beiting, what do you think should be done with someone who doesn¡¯t obey?¡± Li Beiting was genuinely stunned for quite a while. What, what does that mean? Was there a person or situation that Shen Chi couldn¡¯t handle? Who is ¡°someone¡±? Li Beiting¡¯s mind raced, and then it suddenly clicked. Damn, it must be Xu Chaomu! In C City, even he, Li Beiting, listens and obeys Shen Chi. The only one who isn¡¯t afraid of Shen Chi and dares to oppose him is Xu Chaomu, that young girl! That girl truly fears neither heaven nor earth. Without discipline, she climbs walls and tunnels underground; she¡¯ll even remove tiles from the roof. Li Beiting intentionallyughed mischievously, ¡°Is there still someone that Fourth Young Master Shen can¡¯t deal with? That¡¯s easy. Anyone who dares to oppose you should be cklisted, driven out of C City. If they¡¯re more serious, throw them in jail, and if even more serious, don¡¯t let them see tomorrow¡¯s sun!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about those people in the business world,¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°Then who?¡± Li Beiting pretended to be deep in thought, shrugging, ¡°I can¡¯t figure it out¡­¡± ¡°Li Beiting, stop ying dumb with me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A twitch appeared at the corner of Li Beiting¡¯s eye. No one had stripped him of his pretense so nakedly, giving no face at all. Li Beiting thickened his skin and yed along: ¡°Oh¡­ Xu Chaomu, right?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. ¡°That¡¯s easy. If she doesn¡¯t listen, just beat her, beat her to near-death. Do it a few times; she¡¯ll surely be obedient!¡± Li Beiting boasted proudly, revealing his father¡¯s unique secret. When he was young, he had been frequently disciplined by Old Master Li. Later, when his father said go east, he didn¡¯t dare go west. But Li Beiting knew very well in his heart, would Shen Chi really hit Xu Chaomu? ¡°Stop talking nonsense!¡± As expected, Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed deeper, his face darkening. ¡°Well, then I have no other choice, since I have neither a son nor a daughter. How would I know what to do with a disobedient child? I¡¯ve heard about today¡¯s trouble at the Shen Family. That girl Xu Chaomu almost turned the ce upside down, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°I allowed it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting again wore a look of disdain. He knew it. It must have been Shen Chi¡¯s indulgence that gave Xu Chaomu the courage to run wild in the Shen Family. Even Bai Man dared to touch, tsk tsk. ¡°Look, Shen Chi, you can¡¯t keep spoiling her like this. What if one day she sets fire to the Shen Family? Will you still give your silent approval?¡± ¡°As long as she¡¯s happy, that¡¯s what matters.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The corner of Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrobly. Is this really Shen Chi? When he was ten, he broke one of his pens and ended uppensating Shen Chi with ten identical ones. This man never makes a losing deal! ¡°So what do you suggest? I can¡¯t bear to hit her, and I can¡¯t bring myself to scold her. I say a few words to her, and you almoste to blows with me.¡± Li Beiting shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m out of ideas.¡± ¡°I did hit her today,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently, yet with an undercurrent of guilt and regret. Li Beiting¡¯s eyes bulged. Shen Chi hit Xu Chaomu? He must be joking! Could he really bring himself to hit Xu Chaomu? ¡°How did you hit her? Did you pick up a weapon or use your hands? Where did you hit her?¡± Li Beiting pressed. ¡°I tied her hands and had her stand for an afternoon of reflection.¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting decided he didn¡¯t want to talk to Shen Chi anymore. Is that what he calls hitting? He must have never been hit before! When Li Beiting was a kid, that was real hitting. Old Master Li would chase him around the courtyard with a weapon in hand¡ªwhack, whack, whack¡ªa good thrashing with a nk! Crying out loud, his wails could shake the heavens, and he couldn¡¯t walk for days afterward! Li Beiting was speechless. Shen Chi, a notorious figure in the business world known for his cold-blooded and ruthless tactics, wouldn¡¯t even flinch at taking a life. And yet, when it came to Xu Chaomu, he didn¡¯t even know how to properly give a beating. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m out of suggestions. I¡¯m heading home to wash up and sleep.¡± Li Beiting held his forehead. ¡°Shen¡¯s recently has quite a bit of capital on hand and is looking to sponsor some projects.¡± Shen Chi lifted his wine ss, gently swirled the red wine inside, not looking at Li Beiting. ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting was speechless again. Alright, Shen Chi is impressive! Li Group¡¯s new projects indeed require sponsorship. ¡°Well, Manager Shen, let¡¯s talk this over. Come on, let¡¯s drink and talk. This wine of yours is pretty good, aged, with a mellow and lingering taste¡­ Oh, what were we discussing? About Xu Chaomu, you know her personality better than I do. If all else fails, just leave her hanging for a few days. She talks so much and is so dependent on you, if you ignore her, she might just start obeying.¡± Shen Chi remained silent. Now, it was actually Xu Chaomu who wouldn¡¯t speak to him. However, what Li Beiting said wasn¡¯t a bad idea. ¡°Really, try it, it¡¯s effective. Especially with a chatterbox like Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll withdraw the sponsorship.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting felt like spitting blood. ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t work, that¡¯s not my fault, right? I¡¯m only responsible for giving suggestions, it still depends on how well you implement them. You can¡¯t just¡­¡± ¡°You can go now.¡± Li Beiting clutched his chest. Damn, this man¡­ is simply inhuman. After using him, Shen Chi kicks him aside. Damn it, he¡¯s nevering back again! Why did he evene here? He was just twiddling his thumbs! Damn, twiddling his thumbs! Chapter 102 - 102: I Put the Necklace Chapter 102: I Put the Ne Trantor: 549690339 While Shen Chi and Li Beiting were idly chatting in the billiards room, there were also a few people talking in the western wing of the Shen Family vi. ¡°Mom, be gentle, it hurts,¡± Shen Yanrou half-reclined on the sofa. Her fair little face was painfully pallid, even her lips quivering slightly. She had no choice but to clutch the cushion on the sofa, holding it tightly, daring not to rx. The neckline of her dress was slightly open as Liu Rumei applied medicine to her. The spot that Xu Chaomu had burned her today might no longer be red, but it was seriously hurt. ¡°Bear with it, it will heal soon,¡± Liu Rumei said gently as she spread the ointment on her. Her touch was already very light, and she also felt very distressed. Today, not only had Shen Yanrou been scorched with hot water by Xu Chaomu, but she had also received two ps in the face. Just thinking about it made Liu Rumei grind her teeth. Sitting in a chair opposite the sofa was another person, Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan sat with his arms crossed, his face cool and silent, as if deep in thought. Under the light, Shen Shihan, with his thick eyebrows and high nose bridge, looked calm and profound. No matter how much Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou talked, he did not utter a word, just sitting there with his legs crossed, quietly. ¡°Mom, you know my temper, I simply can¡¯t stand it anymore!¡± Shen Yanrou was hot-headed and had never felt as humiliated as she did today. Liu Rumei knew what Shen Yanrou meant and sighed, ¡°Even if you can¡¯t stand it, you have to tolerate it. No matter how much Shen Chi favors that girl, he wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to us. Always remember, your surname is Shen, and that girl¡¯s surname is Xu!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a group director, and to be toyed with by a little girl, if this gets out, how can I hold my head up in the group!¡± Liu Rumei felt a bit sorrowful, ¡°Zhou Ran has clever tactics, even after divorce she forced your father to hand over the group to Shen Chi. Otherwise, Shen Chi would only have been driven out of the Shen Family!¡± ¡°You all underestimate Shen Chi too much,¡± Shen Shihan finally spoke up. Liu Rumei nced at him and said indifferently, ¡°Shihan, whose side are you on when you speak?¡± ¡°I¡¯m simply stating the truth,¡± Shen Shihan replied, ¡°I advise you to use your brains more in the future and stop provoking Xu Chaomu!¡± ¡°You little brother! What do you mean by ¡®we provoke Xu Chaomu¡¯? Clearly, it¡¯s that wild girl who is unreasonable,¡± Shen Yanrou was displeased. ¡°The Zheng Lin incidentst time, the Bai Man incident this time, haven¡¯t you both seen that Shen Chi cares a lot about that girl?¡± Shen Shihan coldly responded. Shen Yanrou and Liu Rumei looked at each other, indeed¡ªthey had both noticed. But what could that prove? Shen Shihan was cold-faced, his tone faint, ¡°Do you know who took Bai Man¡¯s ne?¡± Liu Rumei said, ¡°How could we know, it was found in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, it must¡¯ve been Xu Chaomu who stole it. Whether she actually liked the ne or was just jealous of Bai Man, who knows.¡± ¡°I was the one who ced the ne in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room,¡± Shen Shihan said quietly. That was a bombshell, both Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou were stunned, their eyes widened! What? The ne was actually ced in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room by Shen Shihan?! Shen Shihan had deceived everyone! Even they had been kept in the dark! Shen Shihan remained asposed as ever, ¡°I just wanted to see if everyone called Xu Chaomu a thief, whether Shen Chi would still protect her.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Liu Rumei asked. Her and Shen Yanrou had the same expression, that of shock. ¡°The fact proves that he never doubted Xu Chaomu at all.¡± ¡°What does that prove?¡± Shen Yanrou said with disdain. ¡°I just want to ask you one thing,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s gaze was piercing, ¡°Shen Chi and Bai Man are about to get married. Do you want to see them married, or not?¡± ¡°Of course, we don¡¯t. The Bai Family is wealthy and powerful, on par with the Shen Family. If Shen Chi and Bai Man get married, we¡¯ll never have a chance to turn things around. Dad will definitely sign the power of attorney and hand over the corporation to Shen Chi for real,¡± Shen Yanrou was not foolish; she analyzed. ¡°Then isn¡¯t that good?¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. Shen Yanrou¡¯s mind spun, right, since Shen Chi cared so much about Xu Chaomu, why not take advantage of Xu Chaomu to disrupt the marital alliance between the Shen and Bai families and make Bai Man lose hope in Shen Chi? In that case, Shen Chi, without any backing, fighting alone, would surely fall apart. Dealing with Shen Chi alone was much easier than facing thebined force of the Shen and Bai families. Although Liu Rumei didn¡¯t deal with the corporation¡¯s affairs, after hearing what Shen Shihan and Shen Yanrou said, she also thought it made a lot of sense. Shen Shihan then slowly spoke again, ¡°In the future, when you take action, think before you act, always leave room for maneuver. It¡¯s good for others, and good for yourself.¡± Although Shen Yanrou was reluctant, she had to admit that Shen Shihan made a lot of sense. ¡°Got it, third brother, we¡¯ll consult with you on any issues in the future,¡± Shen Yanrou said lightly. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s the end of the ne matter; I¡¯ll go back to rest now. It¡¯ste, you should sleep early too.¡± Shen Shihan stood up and strolled out of Shen Yanrou¡¯s room. The room fell silent once again, Shen Yanrou said in a hushed voice to Liu Rumei, ¡°Mom, the third brother has thought everything through.¡¯ ¡°I used to think he was notpetitive, but it turns out he was nning ahead,¡± Liu Rumei said softly. ¡°If the incident with Zheng Linst time was not enough to show anything, then this incident with the ne has made it crystal clear to us that Shen Chi really cares about Xu Chaomu,¡± Shen Yanrou said. ¡°How did we not notice this before?¡± ¡°It¡¯s also our fault for being confused by our own involvement. What is Xu Chaomu, anyway? If she really marries Shen Chi, that might even be a good thing. It¡¯s the alliance between Shen Chi and Bai Man that is truly terrifying, ¡± Shen Yanrou was stillposed. She finally snapped back to reality from today¡¯s events, thinking about it, she was really impulsive during the day. She lost her face and dignity, and even gave the servants a goodugh for nothing. ¡°Yanrou, we both need to change our tempers, it¡¯s your third brother who acts calmly,¡± Liu Rumei said. ¡°Yes, we really need to make some changes.¡± Liu Rumei was applying medicine to Shen Yanrou while whispering quietly to her. They talked for a long time, and the light in Shen Yanrou¡¯s room remained on. The light in Shen Chi¡¯s room was also on. Shen Chi couldn¡¯t sleep no matter what; the puppet on the desk kept looking at him. Whether he opened or closed his eyes, he saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s stubborn little face; he felt as if he were under a spell. His mind was in turmoil, and he decided not to sleep any longer. Standing by the window, he drank for a while, then was buffeted by the cold wind for a long time, but the irritability hadn¡¯t dissipated. He called a few buddies, went down to the garage to get his Lamborghini, and drove out of the Shen family vi. The night was deep, and it was pitch-ck everywhere. The vi area was very quiet, and it was even more silent in the wee hours. asionally, a car would pass by, invisible to anyone. Shen Chi floored the elerator, lowered the windows on both sides, and the night wind mixed with the dust of the air rushed at him. The wind blew across Shen Chi¡¯s face, and he sobered up quite a bit. On the wide road, only Shen Chi¡¯s Lamborghini was roaring and speeding, with the trees on both sides receding at an astonishing speed. The faster he went, the more Shen Chi¡¯s entire being slowly calmed down in the speed.. Chapter 103 - 103: Who can compare with Miss Bai from Bai Family Chapter 103: Who canpare with Miss Bai from Bai Family Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi¡¯s facial lines tensed increasingly, his handsome and cold features entuated by the darkness of the night, as his obsidian-like eyes hid a profound glimmer. Perhaps because he had drunk some alcohol earlier, his car sped faster and faster, the sound of the Lamborghini tearing through the night audible throughout the street! Circling around C City¡¯s widest avenue, he drove, allowing the evening breeze to blow into the car. Soon, he arrived at an upscale club. People were already waiting to greet him at the club, as a waiter respectfully bowed and opened the car door for Shen Chi, ushering him inside the club. Entering the lobby, the dazzling lights exuded an air of drunken luxury. The decor here was extremelyvish, with pure gold candlesticks ced at the entrance leading to the VIP rooms. Shen Chi took off his coat, draped it over his arm, and went straight to the VIP room. The moment he pushed the door open, the inside was filled with smoke and tter, with the sound of sses clinking everywhere. This kind of club was always livelier at night than during the day. ¡°Yo, President Shen has arrived, a rare asion indeed. President Shen, you¡¯re usually reluctant toe to such ces,¡± spotted Shen Chi first, a man seated in the innermost part said. A faint sneer curled at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s lips as he walked in and handed his coat to the waiter. ¡°You¡¯re not weing me?¡± he asked, his lips curling slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping around. Everyone here was either a CEO or a wealthy heir, all well-versed in eating, drinking, and entertainment. The VIP room wasrge, with fifty chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The bright lights shone on the grandiose floor. Around the sides, gold powder shimmered magically under the colored lights at the corners. When everyone saw Shen Chi walk in, they all wore expressions of surprise, yet all were respectful. Each of them, sharp as a tack, knew Shen Chi¡¯s status in C City. ¡°How could we not wee you? It¡¯s a great honor for President Shen to join our gathering. It¡¯s a great favor to us, isn¡¯t it?¡± a man eximed loudly. No sooner had he spoken than a chorus of assent followed. ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s a tremendous honor.¡± ¡°President Shen, you must drink with us until you can¡¯t drink anymore tonight!¡± ¡°President Shen, what kind of drink do you like?¡± Having drunk quite a bit at home already, and perhaps under the hypnotic effect of the lighting, Shen Chi indifferently said, ¡°I heard the owner has a twenty-year-old red wine that¡¯s pretty good.¡± ¡°President Shen has such great taste. Even though you don¡¯te here often, your taste is absolutely top-notch. The owner¡¯s private wine isn¡¯t something just anyone can drink. We¡¯re really lucky to have Shen¡¯s light shine upon us today.¡± Soon, a young man called over the owner, and before long, a few beauties brought over two bottles of wine and custom sses, standing before Shen Chi. One of the beauties quickly poured him a ss of the translucent, aromatic red wine, which slid slowly down the walls of the ss like a fine ruby. The fragrance filled the room, even overpowering the scent of cigarettes. A beautiful Xiaomei brought the ss over to Shen Chi, and at that moment, someone started to jeer. ¡°How can one have fine wine without thepany of a beauty? Look at you all, you¡¯re so clueless. The beauty should feed the wine for it to be a true drinking experience, don¡¯t you think, President Shen?¡± The wine-serving beauty smiled faintly and lowered her head. Shen Chi leaned back on the sofa, his long fingers already holding the wine ss. He didn¡¯t speak, but a trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes. Someone noticed it and hastily said, ¡°To you, Young Master Jiang, such a wine-server might be a beauty, but she surely does not catch our President Shen¡¯s eye.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, all of you, leave!¡± ¡°In C City, who canpare to Miss Bai of the Bai Family?¡± Bai Man was Shen Chi¡¯s fiancee, and her name had long circted in the upper social circles; almost everyone knew her. People also knew that Bai Man was propelled to fame by Shen Chi, that she was the moonlight cradled in Shen Chi¡¯s palm. Therefore, no one dared to joke around with Shen Chi like that anymore. Shen Chi didn¡¯t look at anyone, just kept drinking the red wine in his ss. He drank one ss after another without so much as furrowing his brow. Everyone soon got into the swing of things. With many people around, it didn¡¯t take long for them to divide into several groups. Some yed finger-guessing games, others tossed dice, and some yed cards. The VIP room was engulfed in smoke, filled with scents of perfume, cigarette smoke, and the fragrance of alcohol. At first, Shen Chi joined them in tossing dice, but after a few rounds, he lost interest. Afterward, he sat alone in the opulent VIP room, drinking. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s continue!¡± ¡°Young Master Ye, you lost again, time for a penalty drink, a big one this time ¡ªdown it in one go!¡± ¡°Xiaomei,e pour Young Master Ye a drink!¡± They drank until dawn. The group was a mess¡ªsome asleep, some acting crazy from too much drink, while others continued to party¡­ Shen Chi got drunk. He didn¡¯t know how he got back to the Shen Family home, but when he woke up, his head was splitting with pain. The ring light shone on his face; he moved his eyshes slightly, and soon, a servant drew the curtains in the room. He groggily opened his eyes. At first, there were many figures before him, but when his eyes fully opened, the first person he saw was Bai Man. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Bai Man called softly, a worried look on her face, ¡°You¡¯re finally awake. You drank so muchst night.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi murmured tiredly, closing his eyes. He nced at everyone in a daze, not knowing why, but feeling empty inside. Besides Bai Man, only Butler Ling and a few servants were there. ¡°You all can leave; I¡¯ll stay with the Fourth Young Master,¡± Bai Man told everyone. ¡°Sure, Miss Bai, thank you for your trouble,¡± Butler Ling replied respectfully, bowing and leaving Shen Chi¡¯s room with the other servants. Bai Man rose to wipe Shen Chi¡¯s face with a towel, her expression full ofpassion. ¡°You¡¯ve been drunk for half the day. It was Young Master Jiang and the others who brought you back, ¡± Bai Man remarked lightly. She was upset becausest night, he had said something urgent came up and took leave of her, but then he had gone off to drink with a bunch of heirs. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t a rendezvous with women, but Bai Man couldn¡¯t help feeling ufortable all the same. ¡°I want to be alone for a bit,¡± Shen Chi said dully, his eyes still closed. His brows were tightly furrowed, his head throbbing painfully. ¡°Mm, you rest a bit more then. But it¡¯s already three in the afternoon. I will go make some refreshments for you.¡± After speaking, Bai Man stood up, nced at Shen Chi, who remained silent, bit her lip, and left his room to walk downstairs. As she passed by Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, she couldn¡¯t help but feel ufortable. Xu Chaomu¡¯s room was separated from Shen Chi¡¯s by just one wall, and even her visits didn¡¯t warrant this kind of treatment. She sighed, feeling she was overthinking it again. When Shen Chi was brought back drunk by others, Xu Chaomu had actually seen it. It was around 5:30 in the morning, the sky faintly brightening. Due to the matter with the ne, Xu Chaomu was bearing a grudge, experiencing insomnia for the first time in his life.. Chapter 104 - 104: She Dislikes Him Chapter 104: She Dislikes Him Trantor: 549690339 Of course, it was also the first time she had seen Shen Chipletely drunk. She just happened to be propping her chin and sitting by the window, staring into space, when her gaze drifted to the vi¡¯s gate and caught sight of several people escorting Shen Chi home. Then, they took Shen Chi into the room next door. When Xu Chaomu saw that Shen Chi had drunk too much, she frowned, looking very ufortable. After that, she heard people talking in the next room. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen President Shen drink so much.¡¯ ¡°I wonder what¡¯s troubling him¡ªdoes he have some worries on his mind?¡± ¡°Could it be that he had a quarrel with Miss Bai?¡± ¡°Impossible, Miss Bai¡¯s personality is so gentle, and she likes President Shen so much. She wouldn¡¯t quarrel with him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, President Shen isn¡¯t the type to argue with women either.¡± ¡°Could it be something rted to business?¡± ¡°Who knows!¡± The group chatted back and forth for a while, and even the butler came upstairs to help. Fortunately, Shen Chi was a good drinker. Even when drunk, he didn¡¯t speak, let alone cause a scene. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear Shen Chi¡¯s voice, and her heart tightened. She walked to the door, wanting to open it and check on the room next door. Although she had quarreled with Shen Chi during the day and he had been so fierce to her, seeing him in difort made her feel uneasy. Well, that settled it. She would not bother with him; she would just take a look. Just a look and then leave. But just as she was about to open the door, one of the men said, ¡°Make a phone call and have Miss Baie over!¡± Immediately after, another man said, ¡°Yes, let Miss Baie. Miss Bai is President Shen¡¯s fianc¨¦e, taking care of him is the most suitable. We¡¯re a bunch of clumsy men.¡± It seemed the butler agreed, ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll call Miss Bai right now.¡± Xu Chaomu retracted the step she had taken to go out. She twisted her hands together, lowered her head, and walked back to her own bed. After turning off the lights and drawing the curtains, the room plunged into darkness. Before long, she heard footsteps and Bai Man¡¯s voice again. Bai Man¡¯s voice was distinctive, unforgettable after hearing it once, like the song of a melodious oriole. ¡°Is he drunk? Is there any trouble?¡± Bai Man sounded very anxious. The butler replied, ¡°Miss Bai, there¡¯s no serious harm done. The young master is just a bit too drunk.¡± As soon as Bai Man arrived, the men who had escorted Shen Chi home left the Shen estate. Xu Chaomu covered herself with the quilt and couldn¡¯t hear the voices next door anymore, but she couldn¡¯t fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. Around 7 0¡¯clock,. pretending to have slept soundly, she rubbed her eyes and went downstairs. ¡°Good morning, Miss.¡± The servants were also downstairs doing work. ¡°Morning. ¡± Due to yesterday¡¯s incident, there was a strange atmosphere in the Shen family home. Although the looks everyone gave Xu Chaomu no longer carried the disdain of the past, they now darted away in avoidance. Xu Chaomu, as usual, sat at the table for breakfast, ignoring everyone¡¯s gazes. The butler was cleaning up the table. Ever since Xu Chaomu casually smashed a priceless vase yesterday, the master had ordered that no more expensive items should be ced in the living room. The butler sided with Shen Chi, but she wouldn¡¯t offend the other members of the Shen family either. Last night, Xu Chaomu had been called for a talk by the master, and she had been the first one the butler called for Shen Chi. But now, Xu Chaomu was eating her breakfast leisurely, without questioning where Shen Chi had gone. She asked softly, ¡°Miss Xu, it¡¯s Sunday today. Do you have any ns?¡± ¡°Going hiking.¡± ¡°Oh, alone?¡± Xu Chaomu knew that the butler followed Shen Chi¡¯s orders and would report her whereabouts to him. Nevertheless, after yesterday¡¯s event, her quarrel with Shen Chi had left a bitter taste, and besides, Shen Chi was drunk now, with Bai Man keeping himpany. ¡°Not alone,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. What did she care who she went hiking with! If Shen Chi dared, he coulde out and yell at her. She was not afraid of him; she despised him. ¡°Oh.¡± The butler didn¡¯t say anything else. Xu Chaomu continued with her breakfast, and the butler continued cleaning the living room. After a while, the butler came back, hesitating before she spoke, ¡°Miss Xu, the young master drank too muchst night, don¡¯t you want to go upstairs and check on him?¡± ¡°What¡¯s it to me if he drank too much? I need to go hiking, and I have already made ns with friends,¡± Xu Chaomu responded coolly, deliberately ncing up at the clock on the wall. ¡°Oh,¡± the butler said, her eyes filled withplexity. She didn¡¯t borate. The young master treated Xu Chaomu so well, and yet she spoke those words. Everyone saw yesterday that Miss Bail s ne had been found in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, yet the young master not only didn¡¯t punish her, but also protected her. The butler thought Xu Chaomu was really¡­ too thoughtless. The butler sighed and shook her head as she walked away. In the end, she was still just an eighteen-year-old girl. When Xu Chaomu finished thest sip of her milk and was about to stand up, Bai Man came down from upstairs. Bai Man had no particr expression on her face but nced at Xu Chaomu when she saw her. ¡°Chaomu,e here for a second.¡¯ Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t pay her any attention, ¡°I¡¯m going hiking, I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°I just want to talk to you for a moment; it won¡¯t take long. Once we¡¯re done, I can even take you there,¡± Bai Man said, her tone somewhat coercive and displeased. The butler heard their conversation but didn¡¯t speak up, continuing her work on the side. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t like having a private conversation with Bai Man. Thest time they talked in the car, it left her in a bad mood. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to listen to you,¡± Xu Chaomu said undisturbed. Bai Man¡¯s face turned ugly, as Xu Chaomu was rejecting her in front of everyone. When had Bai Man ever had to curry favor with anyone? And now, this girl was repeatedly undermining her. Was she too easy to bully? ¡°Xu Chaomu, you have two options today¡ªeithere out with me, or don¡¯t think about leaving the Shen house!¡± Bai Man said sternly. She would be the future young madam of the Shen family, and if she didn¡¯t give Xu Chaomu a lesson, would Xu Chaomu dare to openlypete with her for Shen Chi in the future? She had already nned to have her father discuss the engagement with the Shen family in a few days, and once it was settled, she would kick Xu Chaomu out of the Shen house. At the engagement, she would make a public announcement to let everyone know that she, Bai Man, was engaged to Shen Chi. Shen Chi always considered the bigger picture; even if he continued to protect Xu Chaomu at that time, he wouldn¡¯t do anything to her. ¡°This is not the Bai family¡¯s house; since when is it your turn to dictate me?¡± Xu Chaomu said lightly. ¡°I am Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and I am now part of the Shen family. But you, you don¡¯t even have the right to stand in the Shen house! I don¡¯t want to discuss this with you; you should be very clear about it yourself,¡± Bai Man said unreservedly, not knowing what had provoked her. Xu Chaomu bit her lips and lowered her eyelids, knowing that Bai Man was right. Indeed, she didn¡¯t even have the right to stand in the Shen house. Eight years ago, through a twist of fate, Zhou Ran brought her back from the orphanage to the Shen family, and she herself couldn¡¯t figure out why.. Chapter 105 - 105 Shen Chi Will Definitely Marry Me Chapter 105: Shen Chi Will Definitely Marry Me Trantor: 549690339 Butler Ling truly feared another incident like yesterday¡¯s would ur and hurried over to counsel Xu Chaomu. ¡°Miss Xu, why don¡¯t you have a chat with Miss Bai? Miss Bai won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Butler Ling really was patient and earnest, tugging Xu Chaomu along like a kind elder. But Xu Chaomu felt ufortable, biting her lip tightly, she looked up at Bai Man. In the realms of presence and aura, she had lost to Bai Man. She had no confidence, not even a bit. Bai Man¡¯s words pierced her heart like a thorn, and she instantly lost all self-assurance. ¡°I just want to say a few words to you, if you are willing to listen, thene over,¡± said Bai Man, ncing at Xu Chaomu and stepping out of the living room in her high heels. Butler Ling tugged at Xu Chaomu¡¯s sleeve: ¡°Go on, Miss Bai isn¡¯t as fierce as you think.¡± Xu Chaomu still followed, walking into the Shen Family¡¯s grand garden alongside Bai Man. Bai Man treaded across the lush green grass, ascending the garden¡¯s heights along the steps. The pavilion was quite windy, seated atop it, the breeze swept in from all directions. Today, Bai Man had donned a sky-blue gown, the hem fluttering about, perfectly blending with the deep blue sky above. Her long hair too danced in the wind, looking like a beauty who had stepped out of a painting. No wonder everyone said that Bai Man was the most beautiful woman in C City. Xu Chaomu nced at herself, having tied her hair in a ponytail, donned in a in white loose-fitting tee with an immature-looking chubby rabbit printed on it, paired with a pair of jeans ¡ª regr high-school student attire. Xu Chaomu sat across from Bai Man: ¡°Say what you need to say.¡± ¡°I think I don¡¯t need to beat around the bush with you, you¡¯re not stupid, you can understand,¡± Bai Man looked at her. Xu Chaomu frowned, staying silent. ¡°When everyone treated me as Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, only you never did. I know it all,¡± said Bai Man, her tone listless, ¡°but this is the truth, even if you don¡¯t acknowledge it in your heart, you should understand.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Xu Chaomu was calm. ¡°Shen Chi stood up for you and treated you very well; I won¡¯t deny it, nor am I jealous. Because, simrly, Shen Chi treats me well too. But these ¡®treatments¡¯ are different. Towards you, it¡¯s the care a brother should have. But towards me, it¡¯s the affection for a wife.¡¯ Bai Man paused, before continuing, ¡°Even if Shen Chi doesn¡¯t say it, you should know. Don¡¯t mistake Shen Chi¡¯s kindness towards you as something else, he is never going to like you.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, so Bai Man went on. ¡°Therefore, you shouldn¡¯t harbor any inappropriate thoughts towards Shen Chi. Though he stood up for you yesterday, he apologized to meter that night. He said that you are young and asked me to go easy on you. I think he was right, I will go easy on you, but you should at least give me the basic respect I deserve.¡± ¡°He really said that?¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her sparkling eyes to Bai Man, her gaze dimming. ¡°Yes,¡± Bai Man asserted firmly, ¡°he said a lot to mest night. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can y the recording for you.¡± Bai Man turned on her phone; she had secretly recorded her conversation with Shen Chi the day before. At first, the recording was filled with noise, interspersed with intermittent piano sounds. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know where it was recorded, but it didn¡¯t take long for the recording to quiet down. Then, she heard their dialogue. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Order some things you like to eat.¡± ¡°How did today¡¯s y go?¡± ¡°It went smoothly, no major issues. If nothing unexpected happens, we will soon be done filming, and we¡¯re nning to hold a press conference.¡± Xu Chaomu listened, and halfway through the recording, she heard Bai Man ask, ¡°Why¡­ did you bring it with you?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know what it was, but Bai Man, stroking the sapphire ne around her neck, said, ¡°This ne, he specially delivered it to mest night.¡¯ In the recording, Shen Chi said, ¡°The one I gave you, you don¡¯t want it anymore?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s long eyshes dropped, and just then, Bai Man pressed the stop button. ¡°Want to listen further? Afterward, Shen Chi personally put the ne on me; you can ask Shen Chi about all this yourself,¡± Bai Man looked at Xu Chaomu with an amused gaze, ¡°I tell you this, not to boast or anything, but I think you should clear things up in your mind, and stop being hopelessly one-sided. It¡¯s not good for you, and it¡¯s not good for Shen Chi either.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why you like Shen Chi, maybe it¡¯s just a simple crush, or perhaps¡­ you¡¯re after the Shen family¡¯s background. Yes, such an excellent opportunity ¨C who wouldn¡¯t want to stay in the Shen family, marry Shen Chi. If you do, you¡¯ll never live a poor and lowly life again, even without effort, you¡¯ll be assured a life of prosperity. He is your only lifesaver; you want to hold on to him tight, right?¡± ¡°Yes, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have any worries, so I like him. No, so I cling to him, stick to him. As long as I can marry him, what do I need my dignity for!¡± Xu Chaomu became emotional. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin. What was there to exin anyway? Probably not just Bai Man, but everyone in the Shen family thought the same. Even she herself thought that Shen Chi and Bai Man were well-suited, one handsome and dashing, the other alluring and charming. The Shen Family and the Bai Family were allied by long-standing connections, both prominent and reputable ns. Their match seemed ordained by heaven itself. She no longer had the courage to love Shen Chi¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think, but there¡¯s one more thing I want to tell you,¡± Bai Man said, ¡°Shen Chi will definitely marry me.¡± Confidence was written all over Bai Man¡¯s face, with a provocative look in her eyes. She emphasized the word ¡°definitely¡± with great certainty. Xu Chaomu looked up at her face, finding no hesitancy there. ¡°Why?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, but still asked. Bai Man curved her red lips, giving a slight smile: ¡°Why? Because he loves me, that¡¯s why.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently, ¡°I only see him as a brother.¡± The day before, Shen Chi had warned her, ¡°From now on, whether in public or private, always remember, I am your fourth brother. You¡¯d best treat me as if I were your real brother! Don¡¯t go doing something overboard again!¡± She had deeply etched it in her heart! ¡°You¡¯d best mean what you say,¡± Bai Man saidzily, ¡°That would be better for everyone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to climb a mountain.¡¯ Xu Chaomu stood up, no longer wanting to continue the conversation with Bai Man. Bai Man did not stop her, perhaps because she had said everything she wanted to. When Xu Chaomu reached thest step of the pavilion, she paused. Without turning back, she said lightly, ¡°Miss Bai, youck confidence in yourself. In fact, I really envy you.¡± After that, Xu Chaomu walked away, not looking back. She was speaking honestly; she did envy Bai Man. Envious of her family background, her beauty, theplete family she had, loving parents, and many, many friends. Everything she envied, she did not possess.. Chapter 106 - 106: Happily Going Mountain Climbing Chapter 106: Happily Going Mountain Climbing Trantor: 549690339 Her nose twitched with a sense of sourness, and warm, moist liquid swirled in her eyes. She ran away from the pavilion, holding onto thest shred of her dignity. Bai Man stood on the pavilion watching Xu Chaomu leave; the wind lifted her long hair, her expression unreadable. Yet, she couldn¡¯t feel any happiness inside. She had asked Xu Chaomu out alone because she had been provoked. When Shen Chi was drunk and lying in bed, she heard him call out ¡°Chaomu¡± softly. So lightly and faintly that even Bai Man doubted herself¡ªhad she misheard¡­ ? But she was no child; she wouldn¡¯t deceive herself. Perhaps, Shen Chi had called the name unintentionally, so she tried her best to forget it. But the less confidence she had in herself, the more she felt the need to have a proper talk with Xu Chaomu. She had to tell her that Shen Chi would definitely marry her, Bai Man, for certain! Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t walked far, just past the grandwn, when she ran into Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan drove his car out of the garage. He was dressed especially casual today, in sports attire, with a lively, sunny smile on his face. ¡°Chaomu, I heard you were going mountain climbing?¡± Shen Shihan rolled down the window and greeted her. Xu Chaomu nodded: ¡°Mhm.¡± In fact, she had no ns to go hiking; it was just something she made up on the spot to fool the butler. Since she¡¯d lied already, she might as well go. Staying at the Shen Family¡¯s only added to her vexation. ¡°Perfect, I¡¯m going hiking too. Shall I take you with me?¡± No wonder Shen Shihan was dressed so casually, he was also going hiking. Xu Chaomu looked at him: ¡°Can I go with you, Third Brother?¡± She hadn¡¯t actually arranged to meet any friends, so if Shen Shihan was going, it was the perfect situation to be looked after. ¡°Of course you can. I was nning to go alone, so it¡¯s just right to take you along. Hop in!¡± Shihan¡¯s face, basking in the sunlight, seemed extra handsome, his usual calmposure now reced with a vibrant energy. Xu Chaomu jumped into the passenger seat: ¡°Third Brother, won¡¯t you find me a nuisance? I¡¯m quitezy; I¡¯ll probably need a break after just a few steps.¡± Shen Shihan chuckled: ¡°Having someone to talk to is exactly what I¡¯ve been hoping for.¡± Xu Chaomu tilted her head: ¡°Which mountain are we going to?¡± ¡°Tianju Mountain.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit far?¡± ¡°Not at all, I¡¯ll drive us there quickly.¡± Xu Chaomu soon forgot all her troubles, the sunshine on her face transforming her back into that simple and carefree Xu Chaomu. She felt tired talking to Bai Man and drained seeing Shen Chi, so hiking was the perfect way to rx. ¡°Chaomu, how¡¯s your studying going recently?¡± Shen Shihan asked with concern. ¡°It¡¯s the same, I scored near the bottom again in the monthly exam,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, looking down. The monthly exam had just finished, and midterms were approaching. She remembered someone had said that if she made it into the top ten in the midterm exam, they would give her whatever she wished for. Now, she didn¡¯t want anything from him, but she still really wanted to do well. Not for anything else, because aside from herself, she had no one else to rely on. This was a feeling of crisis she had never experienced before, an unfamiliar loneliness and helplessness. Like being left on a deserted ind, with no one around for as far as the eyes could see. No matter how wide she opened her eyes or how hoarse she screamed, no one woulde to take her away¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll find you a tutor, if you want,¡± suggested Shen Shihan. Xu Chaomu was nomittal. Lou Yanli had already promised to coach her in her studies. So she declined Shen Shihan¡¯s offer: ¡°Third Brother, no need to trouble yourself, I¡¯ll study harder in the future.¡± ¡°We¡¯re family; there¡¯s no need for formalities. Whatever difficulties you face, just tell me, and I¡¯ll help you,¡± he said. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes moistened; she felt like crying all day today. She wasn¡¯t sentimental by nature, but Shen Shihan¡¯s words came as aforting warmth. ¡°Third Brother, may I ask you a question?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyelids drooped, her eyes shrouded by ayer of inscrutable somber sadness, ¡°Do you think¡­ the Shen family might drive me away? The warm sunlight on her face seemed to amplify her sorrow manyfold. She remembered the words Zhou Ran had said to her, words she never forgot. ¡°Why would that happen?¡± Shen Shihan smiled gently, turning to nce at her, ¡°No one¡¯s going to drive you away, don¡¯t overthink it. Just study and eat well at the Shen¡¯s; leave the rest to us. If anyone dares to send you away, I will definitely not allow it.¡± ¡°Third Brother¡­ will you stand by me?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart settled a bit more. Although she admitted disliking Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou, she truly liked Shen Shihan. The car drove on, Tianju Mountain was quite a distance from the Shen estate, requiring a full two-hour drive to reach. Xu Chaomu was in no rush, chatting with Shen Shihan, and before they knew it, the sun was directly overhead. Shen Shihan offered her a beverage: ¡°Are you thirsty?¡± Xll C.hanmll ented the drinknghin?_ ¡°T camp nnt with von _ Third Brother Xu Chaomu epted the drink,ughing, ¡°I came out with you, Third Brother, without bringing anything.¡± ¡°What I¡¯ve brought is enough for you to eat, drink, and be merry,¡± Shen Shihanughed too, ¡°Rest now, becauseter on, you¡¯re noting down until we reach the summit.¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯m sure I can make it to the top! During our ss¡¯s spring outing, not many girls made it, but I was one of them!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face glowed with pride. ¡°So impressive, Chaomu. And here you were saying you¡¯d need breaks after just a few steps.¡± ¡°Third Brother, after chatting with you for a while, I feel much better. I¡¯m going to be great today, and you¡¯ll remember to take photos of me, alright?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Talking as they went and likely due to the previous night of insomnia, it wasn¡¯t long before Xu Chaomu dozed off by the window. With her eyes closed and a hand propped against the window, she quickly fell into a deep sleep. She was especially quiet while sleeping, like a little cat, her ws retracted, revealing only a docile face¡ªto which anyone would be tempted to reach out and touch. Through the car window, sunlight streamed in, illuminating her face and her body, even outlining her delicate eyshes that seemed to flutter like butterfly wings. Fearing she might be cold, Shen Shihan draped a jacket over her. Xu Chaomu slept soundly, smacking her lips without waking. She slept so deeply that when they arrived at Tianju Mountain, Shen Shihan found it hard to wake her up. He parked the car in the parking area just as the sun reached its zenith. He nced at his watch; it was after ten. After gathering the backpacks, he gently woke up Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chaomu, wake up, we¡¯re here. Let¡¯s go hiking.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu rubbed her eyes, still incredibly drowsy, wishing she could continue sleeping. When she opened her eyes, the sun was almost too bright. There was Shen Shihan¡¯s face, not too close nor too far, his handsome features crisp and proud, incredibly good -looking. For the first time, Xu Chaomu realized just how handsome her Third Brother was.. Chapter 107 - 107: Shen Chi, She Doesn’t Want to see YOU Chapter 107: Shen Chi, She Doesn¡¯t Want to see YOU Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu eyed Shen Shihan without blinking for a good while, and before she knew it, she was smiling. ¡°What are you grinning about?¡± Shen Shihan opened the car door, and he was smiling too. ¡°I¡¯mughing because I have a handsome, suave brother who makes flowers bloom at his presence!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips sweetened the words. After a good sleep, she really could forget a lot of things, and her mood became much better in an instant. Add to that the good weather today and thepany of a handsome guy, Xu Chaomu was very pleased. Shen Shihan was not as inessible as Shen Chi, and he was quite amodating to all kinds of requests from Xu Chaomu. ¡°You¡¯re the sweet talker. Come on, get out. Do you want me to carry you down?¡± Shen Shihan looked at her. Xu Chaomu shook her head, her smile sly: ¡°I¡¯ll jump down on my own!¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than she used the car to hop down to the ground like a little rabbit. The breeze felt refreshingly crisp. After locking the car, Shen Shihan took a backpack and started climbing Tianju Mountain from the entrance with Xu Chaomu. The mountain was tall, piercing the clouds, majestic and lush with greenery. There were quite a few tourists today, but Shen Shihan had already found a less crowded path. ¡°Put on the hat, or you¡¯ll turn into a little charcoal by evening,¡± Shen Shihan joked as he ced a little hat on Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. Xu Chaomu smiled foolishly and moved next to Shen Shihan. Pointing at several women who kept looking back at them, she said to him, ¡°Brother, so many beauties are looking back at us. I feel so honored standing next to you! Brother, do you want to go flirt with them?¡± ¡°Stop it,e on, you climb in front, I¡¯ll follow behind. Be careful.¡± ¡°Oh! Alright!¡± Xu Chaomu, hands on the mountain wall and steps on the stony path, climbed up step by step. Now, she didn¡¯t feel tired at all, her feet as swift as the wind, rapidly ascending. There were many scenic spots on the mountain, and she wanted to take pictures with each one! Shen Chi didn¡¯t wake up until after three in the afternoon, his head throbbed immensely. By then, Bai Man had gone downstairs to make him some refreshments. He simplyy in bed with his eyes closed. It wasn¡¯t long before Bai Man arrived with the refreshments. She made cupcakes, and her skills had improved a lot. When she brought them in, the whole room was filled with a rich fragrance. ¡°Feeling better? Are you still ufortable?¡± Bai Man sat down beside Shen Chi¡¯s bed. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ve been drunk like this before,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was nonchnt. ¡°Eat something, I made them myself. Why did you drink so muchst night?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shen Chi got up, grabbed a jacket from his closet, and draped it over himself. Looking up, he realized it was already afternoon. ¡°Where are you going? At least eat a little, I worked hard on these,¡± Bai Man urged, bringing the cupcakes to him. Though Bai Man was used to Shen Chi¡¯s ways, she felt a twinge of difort in her heart. ¡°Leave it,¡± Shen Chi said curtly before heading straight out of the room. ¡°Hey, Shen Chi!¡± Bai Man called after him, but it was to no avail; the man didn¡¯t look back. After descending the stairs, Shen Chi found the butler, Mr. Ling, in the garden. Mr. Ling was tending to the flowers and quickly bowed respectfully when he saw Shen Chi, ¡°Fourth Master.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Xu Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi asked in a deep voice. ¡°Miss Xu said she went mountain climbing.¡± ¡°Climbing? With who?¡± ¡°Miss Xu didn¡¯t say, but I saw her leave with Third Master Shen.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Just after seven this morning.¡± ¡°Does she know I¡¯m home?¡± ¡°She¡­ she should know,¡± Mr. Ling dared not say more. Annoyance flickered across Shen Chi¡¯s face; his jaw clenched tight, his strides purposeful as he headed to the garage. Before long, he called Shen Shihan. ¡°Is Xu Chaomu with you?¡± Shen Chi demanded coldly. As it happened, Shen Shihan and Xu Chaomu had just climbed to the mountain peak. Xu Chaomu, brimming with joy, was snapping photos of the scenery with Shen Shihan¡¯s camera. The view here was so beautiful, and with the sunset approaching, wouldn¡¯t it be even more magnificent? ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Shihan nced at Xu Chaomu beside him. ¡°Where?¡± Shen Chi always spoke sinctly and assertively, always dominating in his tone. He had decidedst night to give Xu Chaomu the cold shoulder for a few days, but the first to lose patience was him. To outsiders, he might seem like Mount Tai standing unshaken, but many, many times, because of Xu Chaomu, hisposure changed, his mind was disturbed. But she¡­ When drunk, she went merrily mountain climbing. ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. ¡°Put her on the phone.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s tone was casual as he reached out to pass the phone to Xu Chaomu. He nudged Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s your fourth brother calling.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not answering,¡± Xu Chaomu stated decisively, her mood suddenly half spoiled. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, he¡¯ll be unhappy,¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°If I do, I¡¯ll be unhappy. Brother, I don¡¯t want to see him. Please let me enjoy myself here, don¡¯t answer his calls,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Alright then.¡± Shen Shihan agreed with Xu Chaomu and then spoke to Shen Chi on the other end, ¡°Shen Chi, she doesn¡¯t want to see you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s pupils constricted, his gaze fierce as he stared ahead, as if he could bore two holes through the air itself! ¡°Ungrateful wretch.¡± Annoyed, Shen Chi spat out coldly and hung up the phone. His hands rested on the steering wheel, not sure where to drive the car. Putting away the phone, Xu Chaomu asked indifferently, ¡°He hung up?¡± ¡°Yeah. Did you have a fight with your fourth brother?¡± ¡°Who dares to quarrel with him? I¡¯m just upset and don¡¯t want to see him, that¡¯s all. Brother, I really detest him now, he¡¯s too controlling. You saw, the moment Ie out for a hike, his calles through,¡± Xu Chaomuined. ¡°He¡¯s concerned about you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate it,¡± Xu Chaomu continued, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about these upsetting things. Brother, will you stay with me on the mountaintop to watch the sunset, and then we can take lots and lots of photos?¡± ¡°Sure, or how about I take you to spend the night on the mountain? There will be a bonfire dance party here in the evening.¡± ¡°Really? Brother, can you dance? Will you teach me?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°Not tired!¡± Xu Chaomu grinned wide, revealing a row of small white teeth. Shen Shihan watched her, smiling. In the end, Shen Chi couldn¡¯t help himself and had Secretary Xiao MO look up the phone¡¯s location. Shen Shihan and Xu Chaomu were on Tianju Mountain. Soon, Shen Chi drove quickly toward Tianju Mountain. The drive was gloomy, his face somber throughout. The car sped and in just an hour and a half reached Tianju Mountain. By the time he arrived at the mountaintop, the day was already drawing to a close. The open area was encircled with people after people. The sounds of signing and dancing blended withughter and chatter. He immediately spotted Xu Chaomu and Shen Shihan. Xu Chaomu leaned on Shen Shihan¡¯s shoulder, sitting on the ground, watching the dance. She wasughing joyously, utterly carefree as she pped her hands from time to time. He didn¡¯t know where Shen Shihan had found a floral wreath for her, which sat on her head, a bit childish but very cute.. Chapter 108 - 108: The Story of the Little White Rabbit Chapter 108: The Story of the Little White Rabbit Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi stood at the back with his arms folded, quietly watching the extraordinary bustle. The summit was very open, surrounded by many people. Xu Chaomu??s little hands also hung with bracelets full of bells, which rang non-stop with a ??ng, ng, ng?? whenever she pped her hands, sounding crisp and melodious, very pleasant to the ear. The bonfire burned in front of them, its red mes dancing as if waltzing gracefully. Xu Chaomu tugged on Shen Shihan??s arm, ??Big Brother Three, teach me to dance.?? ??You don??t need teaching, you??re so smart, you??ll get it just by watching,?? Shen Shihan said with a smile. ??Right, you have a point, I??ll watch it one more time, and I??ll surely get it!?? Xu Chaomu, unashamedly and shamelessly, also smiled. Some people were dancing in front, and Xu Chaomu silently memorized their steps. Sure enough, after a while, she stood up, and perhaps due to excitement, the wreath on her head fell to the ground. She bent over to pick it up and put it back on again. She joined the line of dancers, moving her hands and feet with vigor. The small bells ??ding-dinged?? as she asionally winked at Shen Shihan, making a face and shamelessly asking, ??Big Brother Three, do I look good dancing??? ??You look great!?? Shen Shihan apuded. Shen Chi, with his arms still folded, let out a cold snort, muttering to himself, ??Like a monkey.?? However, even though she danced like a monkey, he watched the ??monkey??s?? dance without blinking. Xu Chaomuughed very happily, her small face brimming with enthusiasm, her little white teeth glistening like pearls. The light of the fire illuminated her face, where one could see no sadness, no mncholy, nothing of the calmness from the night before. Shen Chi??s lips gradually formed a shallow curve, deepening more and more?? ??Chaomu, are you tired? Come have a drink of water!?? Shen Shihan waved her over. Xu Chaomu was indeed sweating profusely from the dance, but she couldn??t have been happier. She could not remember when thest time was that she had yed so freely and unbounded. She hopped and jumped over to Shen Shihan, took the bottle of purified water from his hand, and gulped down a few mouthfuls. Then she sat down next to Shen Shihan, who took a paper towel and wiped the sweat beads from her forehead. ??Look at you, all sweaty. Just make sure you don??t catch a cold, a cold means catching a bug and taking medicine,?? Shen Shihan said. ??I won??t, Big Brother Three, you??re here.?? ??I??m not a god; if you catch a cold, I can??t do anything about it.?? ??Look, there??s no wind on the mountain right now, I definitely won??t catch a cold. Big Brother Three, keep mepany for a chat! It??s still early, I don??t want to go back to sleep.?? ??Sure, you talk, I??m listening.?? ??I??ll tell you a story about a little white rabbit. I have so many stories, but no one to listen to them?? Will you listen??? Xu Chaomu pouted, a hint of loss in her eyes. ??Sure, I??m all ears.?? ??Won??t you find me childish??? Xu Chaomu looked up at Shen Shihan, hopeful expectation in her eyes. There was someone who always called her childish. She really wanted to tell stories to him, but how could a man like him waste time listening to very childish stories. He would get impatient. ??Of course not, I haven??t listened to someone tell stories in a long time, let me hear what your little white rabbit story is like,?? Shen Shihan said with an expectant expression. However, not far away, Shen Chi, upon hearing Xu Chaomu??s words, let out a coldugh, ??Childish.?? ??Then I??ll begin!?? Xu Chaomu was overjoyed, raising her voice excitedly. ??One day, a little white rabbit went to the river to fish, didn??t catch anything, and went home. The next day, the little white rabbit went fishing at the river again, still didn??t catch anything, and went home. On the third day, as soon as the little white rabbit arrived at the river, a big fish jumped out of the water and yelled at the little white rabbit, ??If you dare to use carrots as bait again, I??ll tten you!¡¯?? Shen Shihan burst intoughter, not so much because the joke itself was funny but because Xu Chaomu??s deadpan delivery was particrly amusing. At that moment, the little girl was especially adorable, making one want to pinch her little cheeks. Shen Chi alsoughed, his gaze fixed on Xu Chaomu??s face, lingering there for a long time. ??Big Brother Three, is the story I told funny? It??s not childish at all, right!?? Xu Chaomu rested her chin on her palms and squinted her eyes. Shen Shihan??sughter grew louder, but he still praised her, ??Very interesting, tell me another one.?? Xu Chaomu was exceptionally happy, feeling a sense of camaraderie with a fellow hero. ??Big Brother Three, I knew you were the best to me. Let me think, I have so many stories about the little white rabbit?? Let me think, think???? Xu Chaomu??s eyes rolled around, looking up at the sky, then at Shen Shihan, then fiddling with the little bells on her wrist. ??I??ve got it!?? Her eyes brightened, ??Big Brother Three, I??ll tell you.?? ??When the little white rabbit was in school, she was a very outstanding bunny. She could answer almost all of the teacher??s questions, which made everyone admire her greatly. One day, the teacher gave a very difficult question, no one knew the answer, so they all looked to the little white rabbit. The little white rabbit asked, should I answer in Chinese or in English? Upon hearing this, everybody admired her even more, no one knew the answer, but the little white rabbit knew how to answer in English. So, the teacher said, ??Let??s go with Chinese first,?? and the little white rabbit said, ??I don??t know.?? The teacher asked, ??How about in English??? and the little white rabbit said, ??I don??t know.???? Xu Chaomu was dead serious while telling the story, not joking around, but once she was done, she burst into chucklingughter herself. She shook Shen Shihan??s arm, ??Big Brother Three, Big Brother Three, is it funny or not??}?? ??It is funny; I had no idea Chaomu you were so good at telling stories.?? Shen Shihan was amused by Xu Chaomu??s expressions; he admitted that her stories weren??t amusing at all. Just as Shen Shihan was about to speak, Shen Chi approached from behind the trees. His voice was deep, yet carried the power to prate the air. ??What??s so funny, it??s not original.?? Xu Chaomu was taken aback and turned around. This voice was all too familiar, if not Shen Chi then who could it be. The luster on her face dimmed instantly; she knew this man, who never spared ivory from his dog??s mouth. Killed the mood, ruined the scene. Also, why was he here? In the moment Xu Chaomu was lost in thought, Shen Chi had alreadye to her side, sat down next to her without waiting for her consent. ??It wasn??t meant for you, what??s it to you whether it??s original or not,?? Xu Chaomu retorted. She then looked up at Shen Shihan with her little face, ??Big Brother Three, you agree, right??? ??Yes, Chaomu, you do have a knack for storytelling,?? Shen Shihan said with a smile. Was this girl using him as a shield? ??See, Big Brother Three has taste. A good story should be told to someone who appreciates it, otherwise, it??s like ying the lute to a cow,?? Xu Chaomu persisted. Shen Chi felt a bit helpless inside, she was indirectly scolding him. Before Shen Chi could respond, Xu Chaomu disdainfully scooted away from him. ??What are you doing now??? Shen Chi wasn??t annoyed, watching her ever-childish antics with arms folded.. Chapter 109 - 109: Come Home with Me Chapter 109: Come Home with Me Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Third brother, let¡¯s dance. You haven¡¯t danced for me tonight. I want you to dance with me,¡± Xu Chaomu shook Shen Shihan¡¯s arm,pletely ignoring Shen Chi, as if he didn¡¯t exist. ¡°Your fourth brother dances even better than I do. Why not invite him?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s gaze shifted to Shen Chi. ¡°If you don¡¯t dance, I¡¯ll just dance by myself,¡± Xu Chaomu said without turning back, determined not to look at Shen Chi. Why didn¡¯t Shen Shihan take her side? ¡°Sit down!¡± Just as Xu Chaomu was about to stand up, Shen Chi grabbed her wrist, his grip prating through the paper. His voice was subdued and deep, like dark clouds pressing down, instantly cooling the atmosphere by several degrees. ¡°If you don¡¯t let go of my hand, I¡¯ll scream ¡®pervert¡¯!¡± Xu Chaomu was not about to show any weakness. ¡°Yell if you¡¯re not ashamed,¡± Shen Chi said, looking at her with disdain; he wasn¡¯t going to fall for that. After rolling her eyes several times, Xu Chaomupromised and turned her pleading gaze towards Shen Shihan. ¡°Third brother, are you going to do anything about this?¡± Shen Shihan smiled, his smile as clear as the moonlight in the sky: ¡°I really can¡¯t intervene here. Chaomu, why don¡¯t you tell a story about a little white rabbit and see if your fourth brother is willing to let go?¡± ¡°You¡¯re all bullying me. You have no shame,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered, lowering her eyelids. Two wolves! ¡°The wind is picking up; it¡¯s too cold on the mountain. Come home with me,¡± Shen Chi told Xu Chaomu. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back!¡± Xu Chaomu began to struggle to free her hand vigorously. She tried to push him away, and when that failed, she scratched. She didn¡¯t say ¡°don¡¯t want to go home¡±; she said ¡°don¡¯t want to go back¡± because she no longer considered that ce home. It was Shen Chi¡¯s home, not hers. Her home had beenpletely gone since she was ten years old. Soon, Shen Chi¡¯s hand bore several bloody marks from Xu Chaomu¡¯s nails. As music reverberated all around, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes showed helplessness. Xu Chaomu pulled her wrist out and hid beside Shen Shihan. She really did look like a frightened little white rabbit. ¡°Chaomu, go back with your fourth brother. You have sses tomorrow and can¡¯t be toote. Have you finished all your weekend homework?¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°She¡¯s going to copy someone else¡¯s tomorrow anyway,¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly, knowing Xu Chaomu like the back of his hand. Xu Chaomu, when sleepless at night, did work hard on her homework, even though she didn¡¯t know how to do much of it, but she did try. Now, Shen Chi was denying her efforts and even ndering her for copying homework. ¡°I have been doing my homework; don¡¯t nder me. I won¡¯t copy homework in the future.¡¯ This resolution was her own; she had to work hard, or what would she do in the future? ¡°Okay,e home with me. Don¡¯t catch a cold,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t say much more. It didn¡¯t really matter to him whether she copied her homework or not. He could afford to support her regardless. ¡°I¡¯m not going back with you. Third brother said he would take me to spend the night on the mountain. I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re even here.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s whole day had been ruined by Shen Chi. ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Chi nced at Shen Shihan. The dark depth in his eyes was profound, like the still waters of a deep pool. Shen Shihan smiled again, ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ll bring you here another time. The wind has picked up on the mountain, and I haven¡¯t booked a hotel. Just go back with your fourth brother.¡± ¡°Third brother, you broke your promise.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s a bracelet for you, as an apology for breaking my promise. Please don¡¯t be angry, okay?¡± Shen Shihan somehow had a silver bracelet, which he had apparently bought from somewhere. The bracelet was small and exquisite, adorned with a tiny kitten charm. The kitten was very small and very cute. The bracelet indeed suited Xu Chaomu¡¯s style. Perhaps because she was so taken with the kitten charm, she took the bracelet grudgingly: ¡°I¡¯ll take the bracelet, but I¡¯m not going back with him. Third brother, you take me.¡± ¡°Your third brother¡¯s car is broken!¡± Shen Chi caught Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand decisively, his assertiveness allowing no room for her resistance. Enough with the nonsense! ¡°Hey, shameless viin, if you keep this up, I¡¯ll get angry! I¡¯m terrifying when I¡¯m angry! Hey, why won¡¯t you let go? I¡¯m going to bite you.. Shen Chi was already on guard and, before Xu Chaomu could bite down, he pushed her onto the cable car. Tianju Mountain was very high, and although it was night, looking down from the cable car was still terrifying. Xu Chaomu, frightened, covered her eyes: ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­ ¡°I thought you were very brave?¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. Just then, the cable car started moving with a slight tremor, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart almost leapt out of her throat. Her legs were weak and trembling, and she shamefully whimpered, clinging to the cable car¡¯s handrail for dear life: ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re such a bastard. Aside from bullying me, what else can you do? You have the nerve to bully Bai Man¡­¡± A cold wind whistled past their ears¡­ Whoosh, hiss. The piercing howl terrified Xu Chaomu. Her heart pounded wildly, unrestrained. Uncontrobly shaking, the cable car descended rapidly, giving her the sensation of walking on a tightrope. Heart pounding, anxious and unsettled. She shook violently, her lips trembling as they quivered, her eyes too scared to open. The wind was so strong that the harsh howling sounded like the wailing of wolves. In the wind, she thought she heard Shen Chi sigh. The next second, she was enveloped in his embrace. His chest was firm and warm. When she fell against him, it was like a lost rabbit finding a cozy burrow to snuggle into. His hands tightly circled her waist. Feeling her severe trembling, he held on even tighter, refusing to let go. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid; we¡¯ll be there soon. Xu Chaomu nested in his arms, not daring to look up or speak, just clutching his clothes tightly. His scent was pleasant, spreading through the wind, making it seem even clearer and more faint. Shen Shihan also stood up, his brows furrowed and his gaze deep, showing no emotion. His eyes darkened like ink, vast and fathomless as the stars above. Gradually, he stooped down to pick up the gand from the ground. It had fallen during Xu Chaomu¡¯s struggle. He held it in his hand, his lips moved slightly, and with a flick of his hand, he tossed the gand down the mountain. When Shen Chi and Xu Chaomunded safely, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was still pounding fiercely. Xu Chaomu clung to Shen Chi¡¯s clothes like an octopus, her face deathly pale. Her legs continued to shake shamefully, her facial expression extremely somber. She held him, and he didn¡¯t push her away. Xu Chaomu pressed against Shen Chi¡¯s chest; how could his heart still beat so steadily? ¡°Let go if you¡¯ve had enough of hugging, ¡± his indifferent voice came from above her. Xu Chaomu then realized she was still clinging tightly to him. So, she grabbed his clean shirt, crumpled it, and wiped her hands, smearing all the mud, snot, and tears onto his clothes. That made her feel a bit better. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shen Chi looked disgusted, catching her errant hands. He then nced at his shirt, crinkled and untidy. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Xu Chaomu asked with a hint of defiance. ¡°Home.¡± Chapter 110 - 110: Why Would I Cry Chapter 110: Why Would I Cry Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Fourth Master Shen, I don¡¯t have a home. Why not just send me back to the orphanage? I actually quite liked it there. It¡¯s been eight years since Ist saw the director, and I don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s managed to get together with his little lover.¡± ¡°Are you sure anyone wants to see you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Why are you like this? Xiaopang and the others really like me. They love climbing trees with me the most, fishing with me the most, the most¡­¡± As she spoke, Xu Chaomu lowered her head and suddenly couldn¡¯t help but sob, tears falling like pearls off a broken string¡ªplip, plop, onto the ground. ¡°Why are you crying now?¡± Shen Chi was helpless. He was out of options when it came to her. But no matter what, he longed to see her making a fuss, scampering about like a little mouse, stirring trouble like a kitten on the roof, it was all fine. As long as she wasn¡¯t calm and quiet, it was all good. Shen Chi took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears; she dodged his hand, grabbed his shirt, and rubbed her face against it fiercely. After rubbing it a few times, she seemed to have worked off her anger. ¡°Where am I crying? How could I be crying? You¡¯re not that old, but you¡¯re really losing your eyesight.¡± Shen Chi looked at her face, stubborn as a mule. Whether Xu Chaomu agreed or not, Shen Chi took her away from Tianju Mountain. The night was dark and quiet, and all was silent beneath the mountain. Xu Chaomu did not resist any longer. Besides following him, she had no other option. But she couldn¡¯t just suffer for nothing. ¡°Fourth Brother, I want to talk to you about something,¡± Xu Chaomu nced at him. She liked to watch this man drive. When he drove, he was so focused, concentrated, and alert. His expression was stern, his demeanor cold and firm, and even his smoothly defined jawline was tensed tight. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a parent-teacher conference on Tuesday, are you free?¡± ¡°Ranked where from the bottom?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was indifferent, his gaze fixed ahead. ¡°I¡¯m notst, with my brilliant intelligence, I¡¯ll never fall to that rank, right? As for the top ten, I¡¯m not that interested. I think the eighth from the bottom is a lucky number, so¡­ you know.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled, then sat up straight. She had forgotten again. Shen Chi had scolded and hit her yesterday, and in the blink of an eye, she was without dignity once more. Shen Chi¡¯s expression was cold, he didn¡¯t speak, leaning on the driver¡¯s seat, his long fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. The car fell silent, making Xu Chaomu ufortable. Can¡¯t you just say if you¡¯re avable?! ¡°Are you free? If you¡¯re not, never mind, I¡¯ll just tell the teacher my brother went on a blind date and can¡¯t make it back for a while,¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice. ¡°I won¡¯t go, it¡¯s embarrassing,¡± Shen Chi spoke inly. Xu Chaomu immediately clenched her small fists: ¡°If you won¡¯t go, then don¡¯t. What does it have to do with you? Even if I¡¯m not good at studying, I can still fight.¡± ¡°Hmm, and you can also lure young boys,¡± Shen Chi remarked dryly. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he was driving, Xu Chaomu would have thrown a punch at him by now. What did he mean by luring young boys? Who talks like that? Xu Chaomu turned her head away, puffed up with anger: ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡± She leaned against the car window with one hand, resting her head on it. After watching the scenery outside for a while, she found nothing interesting. It was all dark and oppressive. However, with Shen Chi by her side, she wasn¡¯t afraid. This sense of security only came when he was near her, even after they had just argued. Probably exhausted from the climb, Xu Chaomu fell asleep shortly after. Shen Chi turned to look at her, already deeply asleep. The cat bracelet Shen Shihan had given her was on her wrist¡ªhow childish it looked, no matter how you looked at it. And the T-shirt she wore today, with its silly-looking rabbit, it was just like Xu Chaomu. He remembered the stories about the little white rabbit she told that night, his eyebrows lifting slightly. Didn¡¯t she know that little white rabbits are too foolish and end up being eaten by the big bad wolf? Xu Chaomu became very quiet when she slept. Her cute rosy cheeks, the rise and fall of her chest, her pouting lips. Shen Chi couldn¡¯t resist stroking her head. She was so well-behaved this way. Halfway through the drive, Shen Chi lowered his voice and made a call to Secretary Xiao Mo. ¡°Xiao MO, cancel the meeting in Washington the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, do you have an urgent arrangement? The Washington meeting is about the financial support for this project, and you must go personally.¡± ¡°Find another partner.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, that¡¯s not appropriate. The investmentpany in Washington was selected unanimously by all our senior executives. Finding another one at this point might not be feasible.¡± ¡°In my world, there¡¯s only possible or impossible, there¡¯s no such thing as whether it¡¯s appropriate or not,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was sharp and brooked no argument. ¡°Ah¡­ right, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After hanging up the phone, Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu. Ranked eighth from the bottom, she really did embarrass him. Not long after Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu left Tianju Mountain, Shen Shihan also drove away from the mountain. His Ferrari raced under the night sky, like an arrow off its bowstring, heading toward C City¡¯s downtown. The night was vast and all around, and an extraordinary silence prevailed. As he left the deste area behind, his horizon gradually expanded. The center of C City was bustling. He then called a friend. ¡°Pei Tian, where are you? I need to talk to you.¡± ¡°Weiyang. Room 1509.¡± The man on the other end sounded like he was drinking. ¡°Alright, wait for me.¡± Shen Shihan heard the noisy background and frowned slightly. Soon, he drove to ¡°Weiyang.¡± It was one of thergest entertainment clubs in C City, frequented by the wealthy and the elite. Shen Shihan knew that Shen Chi often came here too. As the door of Room 1509 was pushed open, Shen Shihan heard the sound of a beer bottle crashing to the floor! With a tter, in an instant, all other noises stopped! The room was filled with smoky haze and the smell of alcohol. Shen Shihan frowned and peered through the smoke. After a few seconds of silence, the ce exploded with noise again. ¡°Dammit, I¡¯ve never seen someone so clumsy. Can¡¯t you even open a damn beer bottle?¡± A half-naked man exuding malice kicked a woman on the floor! The woman on the floor bowed her head; the kick was heavy, and she immediately clutched her chest, herplexion pale and lips turning purplish. Holding back her pain, she began to pick up the shattered beer bottle pieces, apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault. Sorry¡­¡± Over and over, she said, ¡°Sorry,¡± more than any other word. But these men weren¡¯t about to let it go easily. The man who had kicked her grew even angrier as he saw the woman kneeling on the floor and reached out for her hair! Just as his hand was about to touch the woman¡¯s dark hair, Shen Shihan strode forward, blocking him. ¡°Dai, do me a favor and let her go,¡± he said. Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was deep and powerful, carrying an intimidating force. The hazy light from the smoke-filled room cast upon Shen Shihan¡¯s face, revealing an indescribable chill. Though dressed casually in sportswear, he oozed elegance and poise.. Chapter 111 - 111: A Woman Who Doesn’t Know Right From Wrong Chapter 111: A Woman Who Doesn¡¯t Know Right From Wrong Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Young Master Shen has arrived.¡± ¡°Yo, Young Master Shen has never pleaded for a woman before.¡± ¡°Does Young Master Shen know this woman?¡± The crowd started chatting among themselves, and the private room instantly buzzed with activity. The man who kicked her snorted when he saw it was Shen Shihan, pointing at the woman on the ground, ¡°You¡¯re damn lucky today, with Young Master Shen pleading for you! Scram if you know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Only then did the woman stand up from the ground, clutching her chest, her ck hair covering half of her face. She cautiously bowed to Shen Shihan, not daring to lift her head, ¡°Thank you.¡± She hurried out, her steps quick, as if afraid of causing more trouble. ¡°Stop right there,¡± Shen Shihan called out to her. He had recognized her just now, but she seemed not to remember him. If he remembered correctly, this woman was named MO Shuifu. She could hardly be considered a woman, at most twenty-one or twenty-two years of age. Her face was delicate, possessing a transcendent quality, elegant like a lotus, yet incredibly cold. But what she was doing now was serving tea and water, and she was doing it here, in the disreputable ¡°Weiyang.¡± He noticed that her clothes were somewhat disheveled, and herplexion not very good. However, even so, it couldn¡¯t hide the gracefulness in her bones. The woman halted her steps but did not turn around. Her heart beat erratically, in a jumble. She twisted her hands together nervously, as today was only her second day at this job, and trouble had already found her. ¡°You should not work at a ce like this anymore,¡± Shen Shihan stood by her side, frowning deeply. ¡°Thank you for helping me just now, but I need the money,¡± MO Shuifu said coldly without lifting her head. Behind her were the sounds of boisterous chatting and piercing gazes, and she knew people were pointing and making remarks about her. The supervisor had told her that she couldn¡¯t afford to provoke anyone who could afford toe to ¡°Weiyang.¡± If she wanted to earn money, she had to treat them like masters and serve them well. MO Shuifu didn¡¯t have much of a good feeling towards the man who had helped her, considering him nothing more than a rich and indulgent young master who probably just happened to be in a good mood today to lend her a hand. Shen Shihan did not speak, and MO Shuifu quickly ran out of the private room. Shen Shihan¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°An ungrateful woman.¡± The crowd only approached and started to jeer after the woman had left. ¡°Young Master Shen, you¡¯ve never taken an interest in anydy over the years, so what¡¯s this? Have you taken a fancy to this girl?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve taken a liking to her, so you know what to do, right?¡± Shen Shihan scanned the crowd. ¡°A woman Young Master Shen fancies, we definitely won¡¯t touch. We¡¯ll take care of her if we see her,¡± a man said. The others followed suit, noisily remarking, ¡°Young Master Shen truly has unique taste; with so many socialites and models in C City, we haven¡¯t seen you take a fancy to anyone.¡± ¡°That girl just now had a good figure, pretty face too.¡± ¡°Indeed, just a bit clumsy, couldn¡¯t even open a beer bottle properly.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t seen her at ¡®Weiyang¡¯ before; she must be new. It¡¯s forgivable since she¡¯s new! ¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Pei Tian?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s expression turned slightly displeased, cutting them off. He didn¡¯t like being talked about, whether it was directly or behind his back. ¡°Pei Tian went to the washroom; he¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for him in the adjacent private room.¡± Shen Shihan, finding the noise too loud and the smell of smoke too strong, walked out of 1509. ¡°Hey, Young Master, have a drink! Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s hang out,¡± one called after him. ¡°You can put the drink on my tab,¡± Shen Shihan replied without looking back as he left the private room. The adjacent private room was much quieter. Once the doors and windows were closed, no sound could be heard. One has to say, Weiyang had excellent soundproofing measures in ce, reflecting a good understanding of protecting clients¡¯ privacy. Shen Shihan opened a bottle of red wine, its aroma filled the private room. The dim lighting cast upon his face entuated his already somber and frostyplexion. Before he had a chance to sip the wine, the door to the private room was turned 0Den. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re really here!¡± The man who arrived was in his thirties, with a mature and stable presence. ¡°Sit down.¡± ¡°You said you had something to discuss with me, Young Master Shen?¡± Zhou Peitian sat down across from Shen Shihan and got straight to the point without any small talk. ¡°Are you strapped for cash recently?¡± Shen Shihan cut to the chase as well. ¡°You¡¯re not implying¡­ you want to borrow money?¡± ¡°The Shen Group is recently investing in a huge diamond development project. Naturally, a big project like this requires a lot of funds,¡± Shen Shihan stated inly. ¡°Young Master, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. Even if Shen¡¯s is starting a project, it wouldn¡¯t be your responsibility to gather funds, right?¡± Zhou Peitian spoke frankly, ¡°I¡¯m a man of quick talk, hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Shen Shihan chuckled, ¡°Brother Zhou is indeed like a brother to me. Since you said that, you should know why I want to borrow money.¡± ¡°You want to invest in a new project that canpete with this one, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Brother Zhou is smart.¡± ¡°I have a good suggestion for you. Go find the chairman of Faye Jewelry Group ¡ªLu Feili. She¡¯s been distressed about Shen¡¯s projecttely. If you and she team up, one with experience and the other with money, you¡¯re bound to do well.¡± ¡°Faye Jewelry Group?¡± Shen Shihan narrowed his eyes, pondering the name. ¡°Yes. If Shen¡¯s sessful with this jewelry investment, it will certainly threaten the existence of Feili Group. Therefore, Lu Feili is like an ant on a hot pan right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this woman. Almost fifty, running such a vast conglomerate all by herself; she¡¯s known to be strong-willed, ruthless. Her husband passed away a long time ago, leaving her with only one son, Nie Chenng, who¡¯s abroad.¡± ¡°Young Master, a strong alliance is the best endeavor,¡± Zhou Peitian said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you, Brother Pei, to smooth things over for me. As you know, I¡¯ve never been very good at interacting with women,¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°Sure, that¡¯s no big deal. Aren¡¯t we brothers?¡± Zhou Peitian pped him on the shoulder. The two chatted for a while longer, and since it was evening, ces like this became more lively at night. When they¡¯d discussed nearly everything and opened several bottles of wine, the hazy light threwnguid shadows over Shen Shihan¡¯s indifferent face. ¡°Young Master, care to join the others for a drink next door?¡± Zhou Peitian stood up. ¡°Not tonight, I¡¯m a bit tired. I¡¯ll head back,¡± Shen Shihan replied, ncing at his watch, ¡°Some other day, I¡¯ll drink with you until we¡¯re both under the table.¡± ¡°Be careful driving after drinking, don¡¯t get caught,¡± Zhou Peitianughed heartily. ¡°I won¡¯t bother you any longer, Brother Zhou. Let¡¯s make arrangements another time.¡± Shen Shihan left the private room, finding the corridor outside to be quiet, practically without sound. This floor primarily featured European-style decor, with decorative paintings from various centuries hanging on the walls. The lights were dim, dust motes floating. Shen Shihan rubbed his forehead slightly. He had drunk quite a bit in just a short time, and his head was starting to ache. The farther he walked, the quieter the sounds from the private rooms became, until they were no longer audible. When he reached the first floor, he nced to the side and saw a woman crouched in a corner. She was buried in her knees, her shoulders shaking slightly, likely crying. But this was no ce for tears, so she cried with great caution, her shoulders visibly trembling, yet without a sound being heard.. Chapter 112 - 112: Sir, Please Respect Yourself Chapter 112: Sir, Please Respect Yourself Trantor: 549690339 In a dark corner, there was only a sliver of light. She was well hidden, yet Shen Shihan still caught sight of her. He was naturally sensitive; whenever there was a stir, his sharp eyes quickly took notice. The woman had been crying all along, yet her tears were restrained and stubborn. It was amon enough sight; in such ces, it was nothing unusual for women to be bullied. But after a brief appraisal, he lifted his gaze and his steady footsteps brought him to where she was. Frightened by the sound of his footsteps, the woman jolted and immediately looked up, shrinking back into the corner. The light illuminated her face, revealing eyes filled with fear and panic, like a deer in headlights, disoriented and staggering. Her eyes were red and streaked with tears. But after a few forceful beats of her heart, she calmed down. It was him. The man who had just intervened on her behalf in the private room. ¡°Why are you hiding here?¡± Shen Shihan furrowed his brow as he looked at her. This was the third time they had met. He wasn¡¯t the type to meddle in others¡¯ affairs, but it seemed that every encounter had him doing just that. The woman gathered herposure, concealing any semnce of difort, and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She wiped away her tears and stood up, trying to walk out of the corner. But to walk away, she would inevitably have to pass by Shen Shihan. ¡°You, don¡¯t you remember me?¡± Shen Shihan looked at her, slightly squinting his eyes. However, he found his question humorous almost as soon as he asked it. The first time they had met, she had been unconscious in a car, her head bleeding; how could she recognize him? Besides, did it matter whether she recognized him or not? ¡°Of course I remember. Thank you, sir, for helping me in the private room just now.¡± The woman¡¯s face was devoid of any expression, as cold as ever. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Shen Shihan asked, his voice indifferent. ¡°MO Shuifu,¡± the woman replied ambiguously, her voice barely audible. After speaking, she briskly walked past Shen Shihan, with an eagerness to escape. Anyone who came here was someone she couldn¡¯t afford to provoke. Acting on an impulse he couldn¡¯t exin, Shen Shihan reached back and caught her arm, not letting her leave. ¡°MO Shuifu?¡± he murmured her name, one syble at a time. His low voice, though cold and detached, was exceptionally pleasant to hear. Probably unused to being pulled and tugged by a man, MO Shuifu immediately became angry: ¡°Sir, please conduct yourself with dignity!¡± Shen Shihan also let go of her arm: ¡°Sorry.¡± MO Shuifu bowed her head, not looking at him. She ran off swiftly, not turning back, quickly disappearing from Shen Shihan¡¯s view. Shen Shihan chuckled to himself; she really was a woman who didn¡¯t recognize a good deed. Still, when it came down to it, it was he who had meddled unnecessarily. He let out a coldugh and irritably took off his coat, draping it over his arm, and stepped out of the cramped, narrow corner. By the time he went to the parking garage to retrieve his car, MO Shuifu was nowhere to be seen. Pressing the elerator, he drove toward the Shen family¡¯s vi. It was already past ten o¡¯clock at night, but the city center was still bustling. The streets were crowded with people. When he reached a traffic light, the red signal came on and Shen Shihan brought the car to a stop. While waiting for the green light, he turned his head to look outside. In this dazzling city of lights, crowds surged, indulging in luxury and revelry. As he grew impatient, his phone rang. ¡°Xiaoma, what is it?¡± ¡°Third Young Master, haven¡¯t you been asking me to look into that girl¡¯s background?¡± ¡°Have you found something?¡± Shen Shihan suddenly became much more alert. This was something he had set in motionst year, but there wasn¡¯t a single clue. It was no wonder, given that Xu Chaomu¡¯s mother had died many years ago, and their home had been destroyed in an explosion, obliterating any potential leads. Previously, he had thought Xu Chaomu was just an orphan adopted by the Shen family, but now, a strong feeling told him it wasn¡¯t that simple. Zhou Ran was quiet, yet very proud. There were countless orphans in C City; she wouldn¡¯t possibly fancy Xu Chaomu, a naughty and mischievous little girl. ¡°No,¡± the voice on the other end grew weaker, ¡°When we were searching, it seemed someone else was looking too. Several times when we came upon a clue, it would mysteriously vanish.¡± ¡°Someone is interfering?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Yes, and it seems it¡¯s not the same person. At least three parties are meddling with the investigation into Xu Chaomu¡¯s past.¡± ¡°So what are you trying to tell me?¡± Just as the green light came on, Shen Shihan stepped on the gas, revealing no expression. His face was lit by an otherworldly glow, casting his profile in stark, cold lines. ¡°Third Young Master, we found out something. Xu Mengxi knew Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian,¡± the man on the phone whispered. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then we couldn¡¯t find anything more.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s y a guessing game then. What do you think, was Xu Mengxi¡¯s death an ident or a coincidence?¡± ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t say,¡± the other party¡¯s voice weakened further. Shen Shihan knew he wouldn¡¯t dare to guess, and heughed, his mirth as gentle as a breeze through willows, but his tone wasced with ruthlessness: ¡°Then we won¡¯t guess. Keep investigating. Guesses can¡¯t be counted on.¡± ¡°Understood, Third Young Master.¡± After hanging up, Shen Shihan rolled down the car¡¯s window. The wind poured in continuously, but it didn¡¯t make him feel cold. The car passed the busiestmercial district, then drove past Shen Group¡¯s towering building. The Group¡¯s building stood proudly in the most prime location in the city center. Its facade was brand new, and the words ¡°Shen Group¡± glittered amidst the y of light and shadow, dazzling onlookers. When Shen Shihan arrived at the tranquil Splendid World vis, the area was already very quiet. Under the streetlights, moths fluttered towards the light, spiraling around. In the Shen family¡¯s vi, only Shen Chi¡¯s room was still lit. Every other room was silent and peaceful. After parking the car in the garage, Shen Shihan returned to his own room. Exhausted from the day, as hey in the bathtub and closed his eyes, the day¡¯s people and events shed through his mind like fleeting clouds. He remembered Xu Chaomu had been very happy that day, her smile like a blooming sunflower, bright and splendid. She could tell stories, dance, and sit beside him carefree, calling him ¡°Third Brother.¡± He had taken many photos of her as sheughed, unable to stop, resonating with the boundless blossoms around her.. Chapter 113 - 113: The Baby is named Shen Chapter 113: The Baby is named Shen Trantor: 549690339 He said he would take her to spend the night on the mountain, and after watching the sunrise the next day, he would take her to school. But he broke his promise anyway. Closing her eyes, the sound of Xu Chaomu¡¯s bell tinkling on her wrist filled her mind, dingling and jingling, over and over again¡­ Again and again. Later, she was taken away by Shen Chi. After that, he met another woman who was very cold and aloof. This woman was theplete opposite of Xu Chaomu. Despite having a delicate face, she managed to project endless strength and stubbornness. Even her tears were reserved solely for herself. If Xu Chaomu was like the warm sun of summer, exuding enthusiasm, then this woman was like the frost of winter, cold and solitary. ¡°MO Shuifu¡­¡± He even called out her name. Her name, like her character, was infused with indifference. He had saved her twice, yet she never showed any gratitude. She really was an unappreciative woman. Gradually, he stopped thinking about these things. He began to think about what Zhou Peitian had said¡ªthe jewelry project, Feili Group, Lu Feili, joining forces¡­ This ount, he needed to calcte carefully. The night was as still as water, with misty moonlight and heavy fog. In the blink of an eye, it was Tuesday. Xu Chaomu was up early, carrying her backpack down the stairs. For some reason, ever since her trip to the mountain that day, Bai Man had disappeared from the Shen Family. Although her belongings were still there, Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t seen her since. At this moment, it was just Shen Chi sitting downstairs, eating breakfast alone. ¡°Yo, Fourth Brother is having breakfast by himself? I¡¯m not used to not seeing you showing off your love with Miss Bai,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smirk that was asking for trouble. ¡°Are you itching for a beating again?¡± Shen Chi shot her a sharp look. ¡°Hmph,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, spitting, ¡°stingy man.¡± But he was right. She couldn¡¯t forget so easily; she had to learn from her mistakes and grow some ambition. This man was no saint; he was capable of anything. She didn¡¯t want to stand in the yground under the scorching sun again, nor did she want to be tied up and forced to reflect for an afternoon. She had to learn to fight back, to turn defeat into victory¡­ Forget it, she could never learn. Xu Chaomu set her backpack down on the sofa and got herself a cup of milk, sitting far away from Shen Chi. Picking a few of her favorite sesame pancakes, she deliberately kept her head down and ate quietly. In the past, she used to sit next to him. Shen Chi frowned and paused with his knife and fork, ncing at her. ¡°Come sit here,¡± he demanded in his usual domineering tone. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, continuing to eat with her head down. ¡°Is there anything you wouldn¡¯t dare do?¡± ¡°Of course. Only Miss Bai has the privilege to sit beside you. I have a bright future ahead, and I¡¯m not ready to throw my life away yet.¡¯ ¡°What are you jealous about?¡± ¡°Do I need to be jealous? That¡¯s funny,¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips, ¡°Have you ever seen a younger sister jealous of her sister-inw? Fourth Brother, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten what you¡¯ve said. You¡¯re not old, but your memory is poor.¡± ¡°What are you babbling about now?¡± ¡°Saying how handsome and charming you are, loved by everyone.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Chi gave her a meaningful look, with a slight smirk, ¡°So you love me too.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, have you no shame? What would I love about you, nner of schemes, full of mischief? Only those who are blind could fall for you.¡± However, after speaking, Xu Chaomu mused over her words. ¡°Blind¡±¡­ wasn¡¯t she cursing herself too? She had never seen someone curse others and include themselves in the process. Immediately, the corners of her mouth twitched.. ¡°So exin to me what ¡®loved by everyone¡¯ means,¡± Shen Chi said calmly, continuing to cut his pastry. ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to argue with you first thing in the morning, getting angry isn¡¯t good for the skin, hmph.¡± Unable to outtalk him, Xu Chaomu hummed a little tune and had her breakfast smugly. Shen Chi nced at her again, still very calm. He casually sipped his coffee without looking at her and stated indifferently, ¡°You have three seconds to sit next to me, or you don¡¯t need to go to school today. One¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was taken aback, her brain couldn¡¯t keep up. Just as his ¡°three¡± was about to drop, Xu Chaomu yelled out with the speed of a premium member, ¡°If I sit next to you today, I won¡¯t be called Xu Chaomu!¡± Damn it, why should she be afraid of him! It¡¯s just skipping school, right? Great! No need to go to ss, blissfully free. It will also save her from today¡¯s parent-teacher meeting, to avoid being looked down upon andbeled as an orphan without parents. Shen Chi, however, looked utterly rxed as he lifted his head, his eyes brimming with a spring-like warmth: ¡°If not Xu Chaomu, then what, Shen Chaomu? Hm?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, if I go sit next to you, I¡¯ll take yourst name!¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head, refusing to back down. If he asked her toe over, she was supposed to just go? Did he really think she was some pet cat? ¡°You said it yourself.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi carried his coffee and walked over. His well-fitted suit showed off his tall and strong figure. He strode gracefully over with his long legs and sat right next to Xu Chaomu, regally andposed. Unfazed by praise or criticism, he was utterly calm. ¡°Should I start calling you Shen Chaomu from now on?¡± Shen Chi asked casually, giving her another nce. ¡°Shen Chi, you conniving businessman! You tricked me!¡± Xu Chaomu was no lightweight when it came to anger. She had been outyed by him. Her rage surged, and she clenched her fists tightly, grinding her teeth. ¡°Shen Chaomu¡­ sounds pretty good,¡± Shen Chi became even more content, bending his head to lift his coffee to his lips. ¡°Who wants to take yourst name, don¡¯t call me Shen Chaomu, it¡¯s really ugly,¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head away, fuming. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. When you have kids in the future, they can take the Shen name then.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind short-circuited. The thought of having children was too remote for her to process at the moment. But no business without deceit; she had to be more cautious from now on. Seeing Xu Chaomu calm down, Shen Chi could finally eat breakfast in peace. Her mind was always half a step slower than normal people. However, Butler Pei, who was standing outside ready to push the door open, was taken aback. Howe Miss Xu was calling the young master by name first thing in the morning? Had she eaten the heart of a leopard? Butler Pei couldn¡¯t make head or tail of it. Perhaps Xu Chaomu was on stimnts. After breakfast, Shen Chi had Old Cheng drive Xu Chaomu to school. Xu Chaomu hung back at the door, hesitant. After a while, she finally spoke, ¡°Fourth Brother, the second year has a parent-teacher meeting today.¡± Shen Chi acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, snorted coldly, now she remembered to call him ¡°Fourth Brother.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother! The second year has a parent-teacher meeting today!¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice and repeated. ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°Fourth Brother, will you go?¡± Xu Chaomu asked persistently. Even though he had already made it clearst time he wouldn¡¯t go, if he didn¡¯t, no one would. Inevitably, she would be mocked again for being an orphan without parents. ¡°Not going. It¡¯s embarrassing,¡± Shen Chi gave her the same cold, direct response as before. ¡°Fine, don¡¯t go..¡± Chapter 114 - 114: My Brother Went for a Blind Date Chapter 114: My Brother Went for a Blind Date Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu felt pretty ufortable inside, but no matter how bad he felt, face mattered. He wouldn¡¯t go, and she couldn¡¯t force him. Then again, being the eighth from the bottom really was embarrassing. But what of it? Even if he were the top student in his ss, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t necessarily go. She lifted her little face, red at Shen Chi puffing with anger, grabbed her backpack strap and walked out the door without looking back. What a self-inflicted snub! Old Cheng had been waiting at the door for a while. Seeing Xu Chaomu arrive, he opened the passenger door for her. Only after Xu Chaomu left the Shen Family did Shen Chi start the car and head off to the Li Group. By the time Xu Chaomu got to school, the sports field was already set up. Today was the parent-teacher conference for the entire sophomore yearbined with an awards ceremony, and it was bustling with activity. There were plenty of banners along the way, saying ¡°Warm Wee¡± and the like, as well as colorful balloons flying high in the air. The weather today was exceptionally nice, with clear skies and wispy clouds. Blue skies were dotted with swallows and doves, adding vibrant life to the scenery. Xu Chaomu thought it would be great if it rainedter. How beautiful! Hmph¡­ The sports field was big and beautifully decorated. One could tell that a lot of effort had been put into it. The surroundings of the field were decorated with picked flowers in pots¡ªorchids, irises, red clusters¡­ Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple colors adorned the field, making it look like a splendid garden. There were many students in the entire sophomore ss; the auditorium couldn¡¯t fit everyone, so the parent-teacher conference and award ceremony were held on this vast sports field. The stage was set up early,plete with microphones, tables, awards¡­ everything wasvish andprehensive. Chairs were also prepared on the sports field, row upon row, with no end in sight. If one was lost in the crowd, it was like being engulfed by the ocean, utterly untraceable. Xu Chaomu felt this ceremony had nothing to do with her. She was thinking that if it rainedter and everyone got drenched like drowned rats, she would calmly take out her raincoat and put it on¡­ Gracefully blossoming in the rain. Hmph¡­ Thinking this way, she was much happier and hummed a tune as she walked toward the ssroom. No sooner had she stepped into the ssroom than Yu Weiwei blocked her way, ¡°Chaomu, check the time; you almost arrivedte again. ¡°Beingte is to show respect for the bed!¡± Xu Chaomu dered with a raised chin, blustering nonsensically with a straight face. ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s mouth twitched. Xu Chaomu leisurely walked into the ssroom, put her backpack down, and took out her homework and textbooks. ¡°Chaomu, who from your family ising for today¡¯s parent meeting?¡± Yu Weiwei heard that Xu Chaomu and her brother lived on their own, with no one else to depend on, and that her brother seemed to be a construction worker. However, she couldn¡¯t figure out how Xu Chaomu knew Li Beiting. Perhaps Xu Chaomu¡¯s brother was working on a construction site for the Li Group. Sometimes when Xu Chaomu identally annoyed some little tyrants, people would say she was an orphan with no parents, living with a brother who couldn¡¯t find a wife. Or even worse, they¡¯d suggest Xu Chaomu might be an illegitimate child found on the street and taken in by her brother. Every time she heard these things, Yu Weiwei would defend Xu Chaomu. In the beginning, Xu Chaomu would argue back with a flushed face, butter she couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond. ¡°No one¡¯sing.¡± Xu Chaomu said while packing her backpack. ¡°Your brother is that busy? The ss monitor just tallied up the numbers, and it seems like most students¡¯ parents areing!¡± Yu Weiwei rested her chin on her hands as she looked at Xu Chaomu. Yu Weiwei had never met Xu Chaomu¡¯s brother, but he seemed to be really busy. It made sense; he had Chaomu to support, after all. How could he not work hard to earn money? ¡°Most? Doesn¡¯t that mean there are students whose parents aren¡¯ting? Weiwei, look at us¡ªwe¡¯re not getting any awards or recognitions. Having parents over would just be embarrassing.¡± Xu Chaomu added, pulling a silly face. She and Yu Weiwei were neck and neck: one was ranked eighth from the bottom and the other, seventh from the bottom. ¡°You¡¯ve got a point there,¡± Yu Weiwei said, scratching her head sheepishly. ¡°So, how are you going to handle the parent meetingter?¡± ¡°Handle it as I usually would, sneak out and watch a movie.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that. My dad ising! If I sneak out, he¡¯ll break my legs.¡± Saying this, Yu Weiwei stuck out her tongue in all seriousness. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to share our blessings and face our troubles together? How can you leave me alone in the movie theater? Think about it, if I go alone, what if I run into human traffickers? Look at me, I¡¯m quite the cutie, huh? If the traffickers take me deep into the mountains and force me to marry some old and ugly man, what if.. Xu Chaomu trailed off, she lowered her head and deliberately sniffed, looking troubled. Usually, after she said something like this, Yu Weiwei would pretend to wipe away tears with her sleeve and say with a sniffle, ¡°That¡¯s so sad. A heartbreaking story. Chaomu, I¡¯ll apany you to the movie theater. I¡¯ll definitely go with you. If they¡¯re going to kidnap anyone, it¡¯ll be us together.¡± But today, Yu Weiwei shrugged, ¡°I can¡¯t. My dad really will kill me; ranked seventh from the bottom, he almost blew the roof off in anger. If I run away, I¡¯m done for. Chaomu¡­ so I guess you¡¯ll just have to take a trip with the traffickers. You¡¯re so clever, you¡¯ll definitely escape. Go for it, I believe in you, I have faith in you, I value you, 1¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m not talking to you anymore!¡± Xu Chaomu puffed up with frustration and turned her head, picking up her book to work on the problems. Just then, the ss monitor came over and knocked on Xu Chaomu¡¯s desk, ¡°Xu Chaomu, it¡¯s time to sign up.¡± ¡°Sign up for what? Are we registering for a marriage? I¡¯m not interested in you, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. As soon as she spoke up, Yu Weiwei covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s about today¡¯s parent meeting,¡± the ss monitor said, irritated, his mouth twitching as he pushed up his sses, ¡°Who from your family ising?¡± The ss monitor wasn¡¯t well-versed in Xu Chaomu¡¯s family affairs, only knowing she seemed to rely on her brother, and they were quite poor, which was why she usually only wore her school uniform. Her brother had nevere by. and of course. Xu Chaomu was always ranked at the bottom. Her brother must have felt disheartened. ¡°No one.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t even look up. The ss monitor wasn¡¯t surprised by this response; it was exactly what he expected. So many times when registering, Xu Chaomu¡¯s answer was always the same: ¡°No one.¡± So, the ss monitor nonchntly scribbled on the paper while asking, ¡°What¡¯s the excuse this time? Is your brother sick from moving bricks? Or is he hiding because he¡¯s too handsome and being chased by women?¡± These were all excuses Xu Chaomu hade up with before, and the ss monitor remembered them. But so what if they were made up? As long as they didn¡¯t look too absurd¡­ well, he admitted, actually they were quite outrageous. ¡°Oh, my brother went on a blind date. You see, his date this time is quite outstanding, can farm dozens of acres, nting all sorts of crops, corn, purple sweet potatoes, sorghum. She can also raise animals¡ªbut raising chicks and ducklings is too basic; I heard she keeps penguins! Penguins! Impressed or what? Jealous? Envious? So my brother values this match a lot, he set out early in the morning..¡± Chapter 115 - 115: She likes him, without any ulterior motives Chapter 115: She likes him, without any ulterior motives Trantor: 549690339 The ss leader¡¯s mouth twitched again, and his face was covered with ck lines as he wrote two words in the reason column, ¡°Matchmaking¡±. After writing, the ss leader put away his pen, pushed his sses, and gave Xu Chaomu a meaningful nce before turning to leave. Xu Chaomu called out to him, ¡°Hey, ss leader, I haven¡¯t finished talking yet. Listen to me. Don¡¯t you also think that my future sister-inw is outstanding? It would be great if it worked out this time. My brother has worked so hard for me, always toiling away withoutint, even moving bricks in the rain. Atst, he¡¯s going to start a family, and I¡¯m so happy. Someone will take care of him from now on¡­ Xu Chaomu spoke in an overly emotional tone, as if it were true. She pretended to sob twice and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Damn it, despite all the wiping, not a single tear came out. The ss leader clutched his chest, almost vomiting blood. He didn¡¯t look back and just walked away. Yu Weiwei elbowed Xu Chaomu, ¡°Cough cough, stop ¡®crying¡¯, there¡¯s no one here. So fake.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so fake, everything I said is true!¡± Xu Chaomu snorted, lifted her head, and said defiantly. ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s all true. But speaking of which, your brother really doesn¡¯t seem to care much about your studies. He¡¯s never been to school, not even parent-teacher meetings. You should know, one¡¯s growth cannot be separated from parental support.¡± ¡°How could he dare toe, dressed in rags? He can¡¯tpare to the other parents in our ss when he¡¯s moving bricks on a construction site,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t mind it, no matter how poor, he¡¯s still your brother. He brought you up single-handedly; it wasn¡¯t easy,¡± said Yu Weiwei, quite moved. Although she thought what Xu Chaomu said was a bit exaggerated, she still believed her words. Maybe it wasn¡¯t to such an extent, but the Xu family¡¯s financial situation probably wasn¡¯t very good. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Even if he¡¯s so poor that he has to beg, I still want him,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly, her head bowed low. What she said was heartfelt. Yes, the Shen Family was very rich, but she only ever liked Shen Chi, with no attachments. Even if he ended up homeless and begging, as long as it was him, she would still like him. Thinking this way, Xu Chaomu felt a bit sad; everything was just her one-sided wishful thinking. Even in Bai Man¡¯s eyes, she was just a gold-digger who wanted totch onto Shen Chi, to climb up to the Shen Family, aiming to be the fourth young mistress of the Shen Family. She knew, it wasn¡¯t just Bai Man who thought this way; perhaps, Shen Chi thought the same. Her heart ached, and Xu Chaomu felt very ufortable. ¡°Chaomu, you have a good heart; you¡¯ve moved me¡­¡± Now, it was Yu Weiwei¡¯s turn to ¡®cry¡¯, though no tears fell; her heart was truly touched by Xu Chaomu¡¯s gesture. ¡°When have I ever been heartless?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. After speaking, she buried her head in her exercises, afraid that if she looked up, someone would see the moisture in her eyes. Just then, the homeroom teacher walked into the ssroom. She scanned all the students with a nce, probably seeing that everyone was present, and then cleared her throat. ¡°Everyone, heads up. We¡¯ll be going to the field for the recognition assembly, and each of you should bring a chair with you. Line up ording to your student numbers and don¡¯t mess it up. The east side is for students, the west side is for parents; make sure you see it clearly.¡± Her voice was shrill, and as soon as the homeroom teacher spoke, Xu Chaomu wished she could cover her ears. The ss leader stepped forward and handed the registration form to the homeroom teacher, ¡°Teacher, some students¡¯ parents won¡¯t being.¡± The homeroom teacher took it and nced at it; then turned her gaze to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Xu Chaomu, is your parent noting again?¡± ¡°I thought the teacher would be used to it by now,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. She didn¡¯t like this opportunistic homeroom teacher. Last time, when Li Beiting wanted to rece her, she had pulled countless strings to keep her ce. Since then, the homeroom teacher¡¯s attitude towards Yu Weiwei changed 180 degrees, while she treated Xu Chaomu like an enemy. ¡°I can¡¯t control you; do what you want! I think you might as well not go to the recognition assembly, ¡± the old hag didn¡¯t say much else and turned her head away, ¡°The rest of you, gather on the field. ss leader, lead the way.¡± After she left the ssroom, the ss leader started directing everyone to the field. Yu Weiwei nudged Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm, ¡°Don¡¯t mind what that old witch said; let¡¯s go together, we¡¯ll sit together.¡± ¡°Not going,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her head down, busy with her exercises. She bit her pencil, her eyebrows furrowed as if she¡¯d encountered a tough problem. ¡°Chaomu, didn¡¯t we agree to fight against that old witch? You can¡¯t let her bully you,¡± urged Yu Weiwei. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to go now, it has nothing to do with the old witch.¡± ¡°Chaomu, is there something on your mind? You seem off. Tell me, I¡¯m your confidante. If anyone has bullied you, I¡¯ll stand up for you until death,¡± Yu Weiwei insisted. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just feeling a bit down for scoring eighth from the bottom on the test.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t believe it; she had scoredst before and hadn¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu upset then. ¡°Gather up, everyone gather! Come out quickly!¡± The ss leader shouted from the ssroom doorway. One by one, people started leaving the ssroom with their chairs. ¡°Ding ding dong dong,¡± ¡°Ping ping pong pong.¡± Quite soon, almost everyone in the ssroom had left, and the room became much quieter. Outside the ssroom, the sound of the loudspeaker was deafening, and the stirring music could be felt all around. ¡°Yu Weiwei, Xu Chaomu,e on, follow us,¡± the ss leader said. Seeing that Xu Chaomu was determined not to go, Yu Weiwei also sat up straight in her seat. ¡°ss leader, we¡¯re not going! You go ahead!¡± Yu Weiwei called out loudly. ¡°Weiwei, just go. Your dad is here, and if he can¡¯t find youter, he¡¯s going to worry. He¡¯ll definitely beat you up again if he can¡¯t find you,¡± Xu Chaomu finally put down her pen. ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I won¡¯t either. The rivers andkes are perilous, but we¡¯ve got to keep our loyalty! Didn¡¯t we agree to stand together through thick and thin?¡± Yu Weiwei put on a tough ¡°big sister of the underworld¡± act, just one step away from mming a leg on the table! Xu Chaomu had no choice but to put down her pen, ncing at Yu Weiwei, ¡°Let¡¯s go then, if we¡¯re going to be embarrassed, we might as well be embarrassed together, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s what I wanted to hear. Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s tick off the old witch!¡± Yu Weiwei patted Xu Chaomu on the shoulder. They each picked up a chair and started walking towards the field, full of bravado. The field was crowded with people: students, parents, and teachers. On the stage, several leaders were already seated, each one with a microphone in front of them. Today, the sky was clear, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of wind. It was the perfect day for arge assembly. Yu Weiwei quietly searched the crowd for a while and then pointed at a middle-aged man, whispering to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Look, my dad!¡± Xu Chaomu stood on tiptoes and looked over, whispering back, ¡°Your dad looks unhappy..¡± Chapter 116 - 116: Fourth Brother, is Meant to be Trapped Chapter 116: Fourth Brother, is Meant to be Trapped Trantor: 549690339 ¡°What girl would be happy about ranking at the bottom of her ss!¡± Yu Weiwei couldn¡¯t help butugh through her tears. ¡°Well, your dad still cares about your grades quite a bit. You need to study hard and not let him down. Besides, don¡¯t you want to go to medical school? The cutoff scores are really high,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. ¡°Ugh, let¡¯s not talk about that anymore, let¡¯s go over there,¡± Yu Weiwei changed the subject and pulled Xu Chaomu towards the area where the senior year two ss four was. Xu Chaomu¡¯s gaze wandered restlessly through the crowd. In that moment, she suddenly found herself hoping Shen Chi woulde. But she knew he wouldn¡¯t. He¡¯d find it embarrassing, given how she did on her exam. ¡°What are you thinking about? Chaomu, we¡¯re here. Sit down,¡± Yu Weiwei put down a chair and tugged on Xu Chaomu¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu finally settled down next to Yu Weiwei. Still, her mind wasn¡¯t really there, and all sorts of thoughts fluttered through her head. There wasn¡¯t a bit of wind around, and there were plenty of people talking on the sports field, creating an uproar all at once. After a while, the awards ceremony officially began, and the host cleared their throat on the stage, speaking a few irrelevant words as usual. Xu Chaomu, propping her head up, felt listless and started to doze off. Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t dare to fall asleep since her dad was there; she had to sit upright and attentive, pretending to be listening intently. ¡°Next, please wee Principal Wang to speak,¡± announced the host. Suddenly, thunderous apuse sounded from below the stage, ¡°p p p p¡±¡­ Xu Chaomu was already daydreaming when the ss teacher, an old hag, red at her from nearby. Yu Weiwei had no choice but to nudge Xu Chaomu and whispered, ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t fall asleep. The old hag has her eyes on you.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu rubbed her eyes, trying to perk up. Principal Wang¡¯s voice came to her ears: ¡°We¡¯ve just had our monthly exam, and during this round of tests, many of our students have made significant progress¡­ both I and the faculty are very pleased¡­ Now, let us present the awards and certificates to the winners of the first prize schrship.¡± ¡°Chaomu, look, the prizes for first prize are so generous. There¡¯s a notebook, a fountain pen, and even a little gold medal!¡± Yu Weiwei whispered. ¡°Who knows if it¡¯s just gold-ted!¡± ¡°True, it¡¯s just gold-ted, nothing much to envy.¡± Yu Weiwei immediately lost interest in looking at the stage. At that time, all the winners of the senior year two first prize schrships joyfully went on stage to receive their awards; it was a lively scene on and off the stage. After they all stood on stage, Principal Wang spoke again: ¡°Let¡¯s wee the parents of the first prize schrship winners on stage with warm apuse. It¡¯s the parents we should thank most for the cultivation of an outstanding talent; they¡¯re also the rightful owners of the honor. Let¡¯s give another round of apuse to our hardworking parents.¡± p p p p, there was another round of thunderous apuse. Some parents looked at the stage with envy, while others started murmuring among themselves. ¡°These kids are really outstanding.¡± ¡°Yeah, if only my child was half as good as they are.¡± ¡°Your child¡¯s not bad either; it¡¯s just that they didn¡¯t perform consistently this time. Unlike my little brat, who rankedst again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, academics isn¡¯t the only way out.¡± Xu Chaomu was sleepy. She lowered her head and whispered to Yu Weiwei, ¡°Weiwei, I¡¯m going back to the ssroom to do homework. Listen for me, will you? If there¡¯s nothing too important, I won¡¯te back.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to see the prizes? Who knows what second ce gets!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to see? Second ce probably gets silver-ted, and third ce gets something molded from y!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Weiwei, if you won first ce, what would you want?¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly thought of a question. Someone had said, if she made it into the top ten of her ss, she would get what she wanted. ¡°I want¡­ ¡± Yu Weiwei looked up to the sky, eyes lighting up, ¡°Lots and lots of tickets¡ªboy tickets, girl tickets, red tickets!¡± ¡°Utterly vulgar.¡± ¡°You mean you don¡¯t want them? I don¡¯t believe that for a second.¡± ¡°Of course¡­ I do!¡± Xu Chaomu pped Yu Weiwei¡¯s arm and snuck away from the field, crouched over. ¡°Hey, Xu Chaomu!¡± Yu Weiwei tried to catch her when she had already slipped away. One step, two steps, three steps¡­ Xu Chaomu stealthily slipped out of the crowd. She left the booming voices behind her and finally took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart. But, as luck would have it, as she was sneaking back into the ssroom, not watching her step, she stumbled over a brick with a ¡°thud.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Xu Chaomu exhaled sharply as she lurched forward. Her hand iled in the air, clutching at nothing with her left hand, but her right hand found a car¡¯s side mirror! Clinging to it like a lifeline, Xu Chaomu brought her left hand up as well. This way, she managed to avoid falling. ¡°That was close,¡± Xu Chaomu patted her chest, still shaken. However, she heard a ¡°scratching¡± sound and got startled. It turned out her bracelet had identally scratched the car, and a chunk of the car¡¯s ck paint hade off! Xu Chaomu was instantly dumbfounded, retracting her hand as if shocked by electricity, staring at the paint she scraped off. A long scratch, very noticeable. After standing frozen for a dozen seconds or so, Xu Chaomu hurriedly jumped to the back of the car to check the license te. She didn¡¯t know much about cars, but if this was somehow the same brand as Shen Chi¡¯s family car, she certainly couldn¡¯t afford the damages! But s, misfortune opened the door for more; she was out of luck! The car had a big ¡°BMW¡± logo at the back¡ªdamn it, ¡°Don¡¯t Touch Me,¡± it was a BMW! Just like the one that Liu Rumei drove, although she didn¡¯t know which model it was, she was sure she couldn¡¯t afford it! After a long deliberation, she felt that as a socialist sessor, she should always maintain good moral conduct and couldn¡¯t just slip away¡­ Damn it, she really wanted to slip away unnoticed! After a fierce mental battle, she went upstairs quietly, lethargically took out paper and pen, wrote down contact information, and promised that she wouldpensate. She decided to stick the note on the ¡°Don¡¯t Touch Me,¡± no matter whether the car owner wantedpensation or not; at least her conscience would be clear. So she wrote: ¡°Senior year two ss four Xu Chaomu inadvertently scratched your car. Please forgive me. Here¡¯s my contact number: I will do my best topensate. Sorry once again.¡± The phone number was, of course, Shen Chi¡¯s¡ªbig brother¡­ is meant to be yed. After writing the note, Xu Chaomu put double-sided tape on the back and ran down from upstairs. But, just when she was a few steps away from ¡°Don¡¯t Touch Me,¡± a burly man pointed at her and yelled, ¡°It¡¯s her, catch her! Don¡¯t let her get away again!¡± ¡°Hey hey hey, you guys¡­¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t finished speaking when another man grabbed her arm.. Chapter 117 - 117: Lost My Life Chapter 117: Lost My Life Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Who are you, let go of me,¡± Xu Chaomu struggled. Struggling, struggling, struggling, but it was useless. She was like a little white rabbit, held fast by an eagle, unable to move. ¡°Was it you who scratched my car? Little brat? Got a lot of nerve to run, too,¡± the man approached. He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, a thick gold chain around his neck, a face full of coarse features, and an aggressive attitude. When he spoke, his wide yellow teeth were revealed. ¡°I came here to apologize. You weren¡¯t here just now, so I went upstairs and left you a note, I was sincere,¡± Xu Chaomu held up the white paper in her hand. The man snatched it away with a chuckle, ¡°Ha ha, please forgive me, I¡¯ll pensate to the best of my ability¡­ ha ha ha.¡± ¡°Boss Yao, she¡¯s just a high school student; she can¡¯t afford to pay!¡± ¡°Little brat, do you even know how much money you¡¯ve knocked off? Compensate? Can you afford it?¡± The man looked down at Xu Chaomu arrogantly. ¡°Fifty thousand?¡± Xu Chaomu had a bad feeling in her heart. ¡°Double that.¡¯ ¡°One hundred thousand?¡± ¡°Double again.¡± ¡°Two hundred thousand?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t study math for nothing, correct, two hundred thousand. Little brat, can you afford that? Ha ha ha ha.¡± Again burst mockingughter. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m uneducated; your car is worth at most four hundred thousand. A scratch, how could it possibly be two hundred thousand¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had never seen two hundred thousand in her life. ¡°What the fuck are you talking about!¡± The man¡¯s face immediately dropped, ¡°Open your eyes and take a good look, this car is worth four hundred thousand? If you spout any more nonsense, believe it or not, I¡¯ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs?¡± ¡°Uncle, why are you even wasting words on her, just ughter this little brat!¡± Just then, a girl walked over from the direction of the sports field, looking aggressive and unforgiving, her eyes filled with a malice unmatched by her age. The voice was too familiar; Xu Chaomu took a closer look and realized it was Yao Yue! Last time, Yao Yue and some guys got beaten badly by Old Cheng; this was payback. There were three of them, all menacing, while she was alone and outmatched. Xu Chaomu began to tremble pathetically, feeling doomed. Was she going to be beaten to death? ¡°This is a school, don¡¯t mess around¡­ I¡¯m going to call security¡­¡± Xu Chaomu trembled with fear. Backing away, backing away, backing away¡­ ¡°Ha ha ha ha,¡± the manughed heartily again, ¡°Call security? Go on, I¡¯d like to see who dares toe. Ha ha ha ha ha.¡± Yao Yue alsoughed incessantly, ¡°Uncle, it wouldn¡¯t be bad to take this little brat back as a pet.¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to cover her eyes and sob. It was so scary¡­ But as an outright little hoodlum, how could she cry? She straightened her face, clenched her teeth, lowered her head, aimed at the man¡¯s arm that was holding her, and bit down fiercely and ruthlessly! One bite was not enough for her, so she bent one leg and kicked towards the man¡¯s lower abdomen! She caught him off-guard! He howled in pain! ¡°You little brat, you actually dared to bite me, you fucking want to die! I¡¯ll beat you to death! You¡¯re really asking for it!¡± The man who grabbed Xu Chaomu became furiously embarrassed, and he swung a punch at her. Xu Chaomu was petite, and she ducked her head to avoid it. But damn it, she didn¡¯t know Tae Kwon Do, Sanda, or boxing! If only she could turn back time, she would definitely learn martial arts from the martial arts teacher properly. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is the best! She hurriedly skedaddled towards the direction of the sports field! ¡°Catch her!¡± Yao Yue issued themand, and she also ran a few steps forward, stretching out both arms, blocking Xu Chaomu¡¯s path. Xu Chaomu¡¯s head mmed into her chest, knocking out a ¡°wa wa¡± scream from Yao Yue, who felt so much pain she wanted to roll on the ground. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t get away with any advantage either; once Yao Yue intercepted her, her steps halted, and she couldn¡¯t escape, getting dragged back by that man. ¡°What do, do you guys want to do¡­ let¡¯s talk this out, we can discuss this, discuss this¡­¡± Xu Chaomu changed her tone. ¡°Discuss? Fist negotiate with me first! Goddamn, even dare to mess with me!¡± The man wasn¡¯t buying it, swinging a fist right at her! Xu Chaomu reacted as quickly as she could, but the corner of her mouth still took a solid punch. Ow ow ow, it killed her. Soon after, a hot liquid slowly trickled from the corner of her mouth, bright red. Blood! Xu Chaomu wiped it with her hand, her vision blurred, nearly passing out. ¡°Second uncle, don¡¯t waste words with her, it was she who brought people to beat me upst time. Today, you beat her to death for me, no matter what it takes. If you can¡¯t kill her, you¡¯re not my second uncle!¡± Yao Yue, panting, cupped her chest and walked up to the man with the gold chain. ¡°It was she who hit youst time?¡± ¡°Yeah, this little bitch even stole my man. How can I swallow this indignity! Second uncle, you must take revenge for me today!¡± Yao Yue turned her head toward Xu Chaomu, her eyes filled with murderous and resentful intent, chillingly cold. ¡°You damn dare to steal Yueyue¡¯s man? You really have no shame at all!¡± Yao Yue¡¯s second uncle advanced, his eyes round with fury, looking savage, like the ferocious demon of death bearing fangs. ¡°Don¡¯t twist the truth; look at Yao Yue, could any boy want her? She¡¯s nothing but a female, night, ghoul.¡± Xu Chaomu gave up all pretenses, fearing nothing anymore. After wiping a hand full of her own blood, Xu Chaomu felt so aggrieved, so aggrieved. ¡°Who are you calling a female night ghoul? Little bitch!¡± Yao Yue stepped forward, aiming a kick at Xu Chaomu, her expression fierce. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t dodge in time and got her hand grabbed by the man again; her calf took a solid kick. It hurt her to death. She alone was no match for the three of them. Obviously not satisfied, Yao Yue raised her hand and pped towards Xu Chaomu¡¯s face! Xu Chaomu desperately dodged backward, exerting all her effort. She barely avoided the p! ¡°Three against one, you guys bullying me, have you no shame? Help!¡± Xu Chaomu screamed at the top of her lungs. A smart person doesn¡¯t take a loss before their eyes; she didn¡¯t care about any semnce of dignity now, her life was on the line. ¡°Help, help, hel¡­¡± The man behind her covered Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth, tightly preventing any sound. ¡°Wu wu wu,¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°Second uncle, don¡¯t bother talking to her, take her out of the school and give her a beating. There are too many people here, who knows if someone mighte.¡± Yao Yue said. The man with the gold chain took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling rings of smoke, and calmed his mind: ¡°This brat doesn¡¯t have any family or background?¡± ¡°Second uncle, when did you be such a coward? In this C City, whichckey wouldn¡¯t listen to you? I¡¯m telling you, this brat is a bastard with her parents early dead, living with a brother who works moving bricks on a construction site, the whole school knows. She¡¯s not good at studying, and even her homeroom teacher doesn¡¯t like her. Don¡¯t worry about any repercussions, just beat the hell out of her, I¡¯ve long found her displeasing to the eyes.¡± Yao Yue spoke without any mercy, her eyes wide open, hands on hips, her tone sour and cutting. Xu Chaomu wanted to speak, but with her mouth covered, she could only make ¡°wu wu wu¡± noises. Why hadn¡¯t Shen Chi beaten Yao Yue to deathst time! Yao Yue¡¯s second uncle exhaled another puff of smoke: ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll certainly not be polite. Yueyue, don¡¯t be mad, your second uncle will avenge you.. Xiaoyi, take her away!¡± Chapter 118 - 118: Getting Involved with the Old Man Chapter 118: Getting Involved with the Old Man Trantor: 549690339 The man was dragging Xu Chaomu, trying to pull her towards the car. ¡°Wu wu¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled desperately, using all her strength; her little face turned red. She kicked her feet against the ground, trying to reach something she could hook her feet onto. But the sound from the loudspeakers on the yground was too loud, and nobody noticed what was happening in this corner. Xu Chaomu knew she couldn¡¯t let them take her away, for if she was taken away, her death would be extremely miserable. She had a bright future ahead of her, she couldn¡¯t die! Suddenly, her foot hooked onto a discarded water pipe, she clung to it for dear life, struggling furiously! ¡°Let go of your foot, or I¡¯ll chop off your hand!¡± the man warned viciously. ¡°Wu wu¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head vigorously, staring at them. Can¡¯t let go! Must not let go, even if it kills me! ¡°Stop talking nonsense with her!¡± Yao Yue stepped forward, ¡°Kick her a few times, and she¡¯ll be subdued!¡± How venomous a woman¡¯s heart can be, Xu Chaomu truly wanted to bite Yao Yue to death. The man, upon hearing Yao Yue¡¯s words, had a ferocious look on his face. He raised his right leg high, gathered all his strength, and aimed a kick at Xu Chaomu¡¯s abdomen. Xu Chaomu closed her eyes in terror, her lips turned pale, and her mind went nk. In the blink of an eye, just as his foot was about to hit Xu Chaomu, a pair of men¡¯s ck leather shoes got there first, aiming a kick at the man¡¯s chest, sending him toppling over! The man lost his bnce, his vision darkened, and he staggered backward. Before his hand could reach the wall for support, the ck leather shoes kicked him fiercely again, hitting right in the center of his chest; the man immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. That kick was delivered with an enormous force, with all the kicker¡¯s strength behind it! ¡°Motherfucker, don¡¯t you know your ce? Not just anyone can touch Xu Chaomu!¡± A deep and menacing voice sounded from above. The aura was powerful, the attitude ruthless, and the air around seemed to suddenly get several degrees colder. ¡°Ah ah¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was suddenly released by the man, but her foot was still hooked on the waste pipe, and she wasn¡¯t steady. She swayed for a moment before falling forward! Just as she was about to fall to the ground, the owner of the ck leather shoes hooked her waist with one hand, holding her tight. The fresh and pleasant scent reached Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose, her heart began pounding, and her lips curled into an involuntary smile. If it wasn¡¯t Shen Chi, then who else could this person be? She buried herself in his chest, her little ws gripping his clothes, refusing to let go. He wasn¡¯t wearing a suit today, nor a tie, just a dark gray sweater. Though casual, it couldn¡¯t hide his powerful presence. The sunlight poured down, making his handsome face look exceptionally refined. Xu Chaomu looked up and saw his chin. He was pursing his lips, his face full of annoyance, every part of his face was tightly drawn, the lines of his face were firm and resolute. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but nuzzle him a few more times, she loved rubbing against him, like a kitten against him. Rub rub rub. Rubbing back and forth, rub rub rub. ¡°Fourth Brother, why are you here?¡± Xu Chaomu clutched his sweater, batting herrge eyes at him. How did hee to school, wasn¡¯t he worried about losing face? ¡°Passing by,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently, and as he looked down, he met Xu Chaomu¡¯srge eyes. The man with the gold chain walked up, smoking a cigarette, having seen that this man was out of the ordinary from those two kicks. ¡°Brother, mind your business. This wild girl scratched my car, and I was discussingpensation with her,¡± the man said. Xu Chaomu seized Shen Chi, tilting her small face up, ¡°Fourth Brother, he¡¯s talking nonsense, he wants to hit me!¡± Shen Chi lowered his head, with a mock smile, leaned close to Xu Chaomu¡¯s ear, his hot breath brushing her earlobe, ¡°You remember to call me Fourth Brother at a time like this? What would you do if I didn¡¯t step in?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t step in, then I¡¯ll¡­¡± Xu Chaomu red at him, pretending to be fierce. Shen Chi raised an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯ll do what?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ cry¡­¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu leaned into his chest again, sniveling and tearing up as if for real. . ¡® Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, really embarrassing. The man with the gold chain, seeing that Shen Chipletely ignored him, felt he couldn¡¯t save face and raised his voice, ¡°Brother, please step aside. You¡¯d best not meddle in my affairs, otherwise, many things might not see where they¡¯re going.¡± Only then did Shen Chi turn his head, shifting his gaze from Xu Chaomu to the man. ¡°Don¡¯t call me brother, you¡¯re not worthy.¡± It was a very calm voice, very in words, buting from Shen Chi¡¯s mouth, they were exceptionally chilly and severe. The man clearly felt insulted; he took the cigarette from his mouth, threw it under his foot, and ground it fiercely, as if crushing an ant. ¡°Don¡¯t jinx your future by talking too big. If you meddle too much, don¡¯t me me for being impolite,¡± the man said again. Yao Yue had seen Shen Chi before; it was him who had injured her and her buddiesst time. Yao Yue ran to the man¡¯s side, grabbing his arm, ¡°Uncle, it was him, he¡¯s the one who hit mest time!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± the man said disdainfully, ¡°Enemies often cross paths; that saying really is true.¡± The man who had been knocked to the ground by Shen Chi managed to stand up, holding his chest, his face twisted in ferocity. ¡°Yao Yue, if you hadn¡¯t been so arrogant, why would my Fourth Brother have hit you? You got what you deserved!¡± Now that Xu Chaomu had some backbone, as long as Shen Chi stood by her side, she felt secure. ¡°Fourth Brother?¡± Yao Yue¡¯s ears perked up, immediately disying a sneer, ¡°Where did you get a ¡®Fourth Brother¡¯ from? You little slut, you really know how to seduce men. Not content with Lou Yanli, you¡¯re flirting with old men too. How many men have you slept with? You¡¯re truly shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to argue with Yao Yue, it was beneath her to get into an argument with such a ssless girl. So, to stir the pot, she tugged on Shen Chi¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Fourth Brother, she said you¡¯re an old man.¡± Her big eyes blinked pityingly. Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu with disdain; she was shifting the whole mess onto him. However, his look at her was one of tenderness and indulgence. ¡°So, what do you say we should do?¡± Shen Chi asked Xu Chaomu on purpose. ¡°Fourth Brother, I¡¯m on your side. She dares to insult you by calling you an old man, and I simply can¡¯t tolerate it. You must know, Fourth Brother, you¡¯re young and handsome, graceful, talented, and distinguished. You might bear it, but I cannot.¡± ¡°Bootlicker,¡± Shen Chi said with a smile, and all the scenery around lost its color. The sunlight was just right, shining on his sweater, soft as jade. At this moment, he seemed like a beautiful gentleman stepped out from the pages of a DOOR, moaest ana gentle. However, this gentleness was only for Xu Chaomu alone. A momentter, his piercing cold gaze swept over, turning to the other three people in front of him. The surrounding air suddenly dropped by three degrees, enveloped by an icy chill. Xu Chaomu looked at no one else, just tilting her little head to gaze at Shen Chi, her eyes shining. Never getting enough of looking at him. ¡°Xu Chaomu, ¡± Yao Yue started again. She had run away in a panicst time, but this time, with her uncle supporting her, she had to regain her face. Her uncle was someone to be feared in C City; anyone who heard her uncle¡¯s name was filled with dread.. Chapter 119 - 119: He Didn’t Protect Her Well Chapter 119: He Didn¡¯t Protect Her Well Trantor: 549690339 Yao Yue stepped forward, ¡°Come, beg me for mercy, and I¡¯ll say a few good words to my second uncle on your behalf. Who knows, maybe he¡¯ll let you keep both your legs and arms.¡± ¡°Yao Yue, even if you begged me for mercy, I wouldn¡¯t spare your legs or arms; I¡¯d definitely kill you,¡± Xu Chaomu retaliated tooth for tooth. ¡°You! Brother Yin, give her a thrashing, no more bullshit!¡± Yao Yue turned to her second uncle¡¯s bodyguard and ordered. ¡°Yes, Miss Yao.¡± The bodyguard advanced, swinging a punch. Having been caught off guard before and kicked twice by Shen Chi, he was frustrated. This punch was delivered with full force, aimed straight at Xu Chaomu¡¯s delicate face. Xu Chaomu quickly covered her eyes, frightened, and stumbled back two steps. Like a small cat, she jumped and hid behind Shen Chi¡¯s tall figure. Shen Chi stood firm as a pine. When the bodyguard¡¯s punch came swinging in, he didn¡¯t move; he just extended his right hand and precisely grabbed the bodyguard¡¯s wrist. A crisp ¡°snap¡± resounded, heard by everyone. ¡°Ah!¡± The bodyguard¡¯s scream of horror pierced the sky. ¡°Snap¡± ¡°Snap.¡± Shen Chi showed no mercy, twisting the man¡¯s wrist with such powerful force that it was instantly crippled! ¡°Scram!¡± He spat out the chilling words, his face cold and solitary, a ruthless chill shing in his obsidian hawk-like eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he threw the man several meters away. Clutching his broken wrist, the man was in excruciating pain, his face contorted gruesomely. ¡°Ah!¡± Lying on the ground, the man howled in agony, his legs twitching, veins bulging on his face. Under the pleasant sunlight, Shen Chi¡¯s towering figure perfectly shielded Xu Chaomu, who was so scared that she clung to Shen Chi¡¯s clothes and refused to let go. She knew that Shen Chi had practiced Taekwondo since he was young and was already a ck belt. When she was a child, she also practiced with Shen Chi, but she just watched him instead of concentrating on her own training. Latterly, she didn¡¯t learn a thing. Shen Chi was several levels above her when it came to fighting. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, falling onto Shen Chi¡¯s sharply chiseled face, which looked cold, solitary, and exceptionally attractive. Frightened, Yao Yue quickly hid behind her second uncle and asked in a low voice, ¡°Second Uncle, what should we do?¡± ¡°Who is this man?¡± Her second uncle asked, looking perplexed. Yao Yue shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, someone who sticks his nose into other people¡¯s business, perhaps?¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± her second uncle, after all, was used to such scenes. Xu Chaomu was still hiding behind Shen Chi when he reached back and touched her, smiling slightly, ¡°Come out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. ¡°Scared of what?¡± Shen Chi asked her leisurely. But the girl hid behind Shen Chi, refusing toe out. Shen Chi pulled hard, dragging her to his side. ¡°Scared you can¡¯t beat them,¡± Xu Chaomu giggled. ¡°So little confidence in your fourth brother?¡± Shen Chi looked down at her, the ferocity and sternness had faded, reced by modesty and warmth. ¡°Fourth Brother, wait for me,¡± Xu Chaomu squeezed her eyes at him and suddenly ran off. Shen Chi narrowed his eyes, wondering what the girl was up to. ¡°Brother,¡± Yao Yue¡¯s second uncle stepped forward, speaking with righteous indignation, ¡°You hurt my bodyguard today. I don¡¯t want to fuss over that. However, the girl just now scratched my car; aren¡¯t you going to give me an exnation for that?¡± Shen Chi lifted his eyes, covered with ayer of frost, ¡°Are the injuries on Chaomu¡¯s face caused by you guys?¡± ¡°Brother, why don¡¯t you first talk about how you n topensate for the money?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you fuckers a question!¡± Shen Chi raised his voice coldly. This cry stunned everyone present. After a few seconds of shock, Yao Yue¡¯s second uncle, who was no pushover, retorted, ¡°So what if it is? You want to fight? Come on, I¡¯ll stay with you to the end!¡± ¡°Getting physical with you would dirty my hands, ¡± Shen Chi nced at him. Just then, Xu Chaomu came with a basin of water from who knows where, filled to the brim. ¡°Fourth brother, make way for me.¡± Shen Chi lifted his eyes, his narrow, attractive eyes narrowed further. ¡°Ssh!¡± A whole basin of cold water was poured over Yao Yue and her uncle, not a drop spared! Yao Yue jumped up at once, like a startled poodle. She waspletely soaked from head to toe, her hair clinging to her body, dripping water continuously. It was still spring, and a basin of cold water had chilled Yao Yue to the point of chattering teeth. The damp clothes stuck to her body, making her look like a drowned dog. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re seeking death!¡± Yao Yue cursed while wringing the water from her clothes. ¡°Achoo!¡± ¡°Achoo!¡± She sneezed several times in a row, shivering from the cold. Her sticky hair clung to her face, her eyes wide with fury, her cheeks deathly pale. In haste, she stripped off her jacket, leaving just a white camisole that clung to her well-developed body due to the wetness; she didn¡¯t care about her image anymore. After removing her jacket, the camisole outlined her curves closely. Compared to Yao Yue¡¯s panic, her uncle was much calmer. He wiped the cold water off his face, shook his hands, his face a map of flesh, but he didn¡¯t act recklessly. ¡°Shameless,¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly. Stripping in broad daylight. Xu Chaomu jumped to Shen Chi¡¯s side, tiptoeing to cover his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t look,¡± she warned him. These vulgar men always liked women with big chests, and Yao Yue was well endowed; what if he took a fancy to her? Shen Chi was both amused and helpless, a face of resignation as he pried off Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hand: ¡°Stop fooling around.¡± ¡°Fourth brother, you¡¯re shameless too, liking women with big chests,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°What else should I look at then, you?¡± Shen Chi retorted without any scruples. He looked down at her, the girl¡¯s face full of jealousy, her cheeks puffed up and red like cherries. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch her face; her mouth corners seemed a bit swollen. He had seen the man hit her. He had failed to protect her, and a twinge of self-reproach swept through his heart. It was like that unripe green apple, with its astringent taste spreading through his heart, pervasive and lingering¡­ Xu Chaomu pped away his hand: ¡°Fourth brother, I¡¯m your sister, show some respect.¡± Shen Chiughed. Was she considering him a brother now? At this moment, Yao Yue yanked at her hair and yelled, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re so gutless. Have all these years meant nothing to you?¡± ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s go. This man is not to be trifled with; we will have our day,¡± Yao Yue¡¯s uncle whispered to her. The man who had just been bluffing and blustering had now turned into a turtle withdrawing into its shell. He looked at Shen Chi and felt he seemed familiar, but he couldn¡¯t quite ce where he had seen him. Even though Shen Chi was dressed unassumingly, it couldn¡¯t hide the aura about him. It was the kind of presence that, even lost in a sea of people, still stood out, noble and innate. ¡°Uncle, just look what¡¯s be of me! And now you tell me to go? If you want to be a coward, go ahead, I won¡¯t have an uncle like you anymore! Spineless!¡± Yao Yue said, sshing water in defiance. Xu Chaomu, an orphan, what kind of dignitaries and nobles could she know? Yao Yue refused to believe it.. Chapter 120 - 120: Mumu, You Are a Femme Fatale Chapter 120: Mumu, You Are a Femme Fatale Trantor: 549690339 ¡°You guys think you can just leave? You¡¯ll have to ask if I agree first.¡± Shen Chi slowly spoke, his tone seething with ferocity. He walked toward the three, his cold gaze sweeping over them, as if the air itself had instantly frozen. Anyone who dared to harm a single hair on Xu Chaomu¡¯s head would pay with their lives! And now, they had actually hit her. Having known Xu Chaomu for eight years, he couldn¡¯t bear toy a finger on her, yet they had the audacity to do so. ¡°Do you know who my second uncle is? I could scare you to death if I told you. If you have any sense, you¡¯ll scram, or you¡¯ll be left crying for your mom and dad after we¡¯re done with you!¡± Yao Yue blustered like a young calf not fearing the tiger, her tone unfriendly. She was the dominant female at school, even the teachers feared her and wouldn¡¯t dare touch her. Moreover, her family was prominent in C City, and she knew plenty of thugs from the underworld, so no one dared to mess with her. Xu Chaomu stepped forward too, fights like this were too unbing for a man. She had to protect her Big Brother¡¯s good image. So, the fighting, she would take on. As the saying goes, men and women working together make for an easy job! ¡°Yao Yue, who was the one crying for their mom and dadst time? Haven¡¯t forgotten already have you? Look, if you know what¡¯s good for you, get down on your knees and apologize to us. We¡¯re generous and will let it slide. But if you don¡¯t get a clue, we¡¯ll beat you to a pulp and hang you on a gpole!¡± Xu Chaomu got brave knowing that Shen Chi was by her side. But, what if her Big Brother lost¡­? The thought was too beautiful; she didn¡¯t dare to continue. Shen Chi, on the other hand, didn¡¯t waste words with them. He was always quick and decisive in his actions, fast and fierce! Besides, dealing with these types, he didn¡¯t need to lift a finger himself. He made a call to Li Beiting: ¡°Come to Xu Chaomu¡¯s school, within five minutes.¡± Li Beiting, the bastard, was engrossed in gaming in his office, having a st. Just as he received Shen Chi¡¯s call and was about to roar ¡°I¡¯m not going¡±, Shen Chi hung up before he could! Fuck, treating him like some kind of servant? He, Li Beiting, was a boss for Christ¡¯s sake! He decided not to go, wanting to see what Shen Chi could possibly do to him. Thus, muttering ¡°son of a bitch¡± about Shen Chi, he mmed on the elevator button and descended floor by floor. He pulled out his Maserati, vroomed, and drove to the school. Looking at his watch, four minutes and thirty-eight seconds! Still, Li Beiting pretended to be nonchnt, sauntering over casually. Meanwhile, under Yao Yue¡¯s instigation, her uncle had also called his underworld contacts. Soon, just as Li Beiting arrived, a few motorcycles came roaring in. Each rider with a steel helmet and leather gloves, they swaggered around, radiating brute arrogance! ¡°Brother Yao, ran into some trouble?¡± the gang of ruffians approached. ¡°Eh, this brat scratched my car and sshed water all over me and Yueyue. Grab her and give her a beating,¡± said Yao Yue¡¯s uncle, nonchntly. ¡°Easy, easy, that¡¯s a trifle matter,¡± the men sneered with faux amiability. Just as Li Beiting arrived, he almost retreated back into his Maserati at the sight. ¡°Big Bro, are you messing with me?¡± Li Beiting whispered to Shen Chi. ¡°I¡¯m leaving this to you, and I expect no mercy, understand?¡± Shen Chi red at him coldly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll need to call a few people. I¡¯m no good at fighting,¡± Li Beiting said. ¡°You handle it, just make sure it¡¯s clean.¡± Li Beiting quickly called a few of his guys from the precinct, and in no time, they arrived, making the scene even livelier. Xu Chaomu tiptoed to wrap her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s neck, speaking earnestly, ¡°Big Brother, Yao Yue is still just a kid, so young, you absolutely can¡¯t go easy on her. Even if she gets ten years in jail, she¡¯d only be twenty-eight when she gets out.¡± ¡°Mumu, if this were ancient times, you¡¯d be nothing but trouble with your charm.¡± The whisper was lost in the wind. Shen Chi let out augh, augh as warming as a spring breeze, as radiant as the bted sunshine. It was like the light rain by the riverside in February, a gentle fall, and numerous white pear blossoms were instantly moistened. ¡°Beauty, I am not, but a source of trouble, that¡¯s true. I am the one who brings disaster upon you, Fourth Brother. Have I brought disaster upon you?¡± ¡°If I were to be brought to disaster by you, then I wouldn¡¯t be Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Pff, ¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Trying to outwit her Fourth Brother in intelligence and bravery, she nheless always ended up defeated under his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go home. Does your wound hurt?¡± Shen Chi wrapped an arm around her waist, his brow furrowing. ¡°No more pain, Fourth Brother, you¡¯re the cure-all remedy for me!¡± Xu Chaomu rejoiced and had already thrown the earlier quarrel with Shen Chi out of her mind. The corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, but he said nothing, with not too many expressions on his face. As they were leaving, Shen Chi left Li Beiting with a faint instruction, his voice deep and forceful, ¡°His car, smash it.¡± With a casual gesture towards the BMW, he then left with Xu Chaomu. ¡°Got it,¡± Li Beiting red at him. He, Shen Chi, really acted with impunity. Of course, in C City, there weren¡¯t many who could make him think twice. No sooner had Xu Chaomu settled into Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach than his phone rang. She turned her head and saw the screen of Shen Chi¡¯s phone lying in the car. Bai Man. Xu Chaomu thought Shen Chi was quite decent, not having stored Bai Man¡¯s number as ¡°Darling¡± or ¡°Wife¡± or something. Shen Chi answered the call. It was Bai Man¡¯s agent, Xiaofeng, on the line, sounding very anxious. ¡°Fourth Master, Miss Bai has been bullied on the set. Pleasee over quickly! ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°It¡¯s hard to exin in a moment; a new girl was too outspoken and said something she shouldn¡¯t have, and then¡­ Fourth Master, you bettere here. Miss Bai is crying, and she feels terrible.¡± ¡°Mmh.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you at the set.¡± Shen Chi hung up the phone. Xu Chaomu was close enough to have heard it all. So, without waiting for Shen Chi to ask her to leave, she jumped out of the car without saying a word. Just now, when dealing with Yao Yue, she had been bullied yet her heart did not hurt. But now, her heart felt as if pricked by a needle, a sourness slowly spreading¡­ Initially, it was just a little, but then it became overwhelming, her throat felt choked up with the acidity. As she hopped out of the car, Shen Chi said nothing. He just watched her receding back, his gaze pausing for a moment. Xu Chaomu was stubborn indeed, walking straight ahead without looking back, her departure resolute. Only when her figure had disappeared from view did Shen Chi step on the elerator, turn the car around, and leave the school. He had postponed a meeting in Washington to specificallye for Xu Chaomu¡¯s parent-teacher conference. He was actually already sitting among the parents, yet Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t seen him. He had intended to surprise her, but then that incident happened. He too felt helpless as he drove towards Bai Man¡¯s set. After crossing several traffic lights and driving for quite a while, he finally arrived at the set where Bai Man and the others were. The set was noisy and morous, with loud arguments and faces flushed with strife, apanied by the sound of things being smashed. Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed. Was there really someone here bold enough to bully Bai Man? Who didn¡¯t know that Bai Man was his, Shen Chi¡¯s, fianc¨¦e? Chapter 121 - 121: It’s time for him to marry Bai Man Chapter 121: It¡¯s time for him to marry Bai Man Trantor: 549690339 Moreover, even with Bai Man¡¯s family background, there are still people who dare to bully her; it seems someone is living too impatiently. As soon as Shen Chi entered the film set, someone with sharp eyes immediately greeted him with respect, ¡°Good day, President Shen.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shen Chi responded with a grunt from his throat and headed straight inside. When he walked into the lobby, he indeed saw a crowd gathered around, some standing, some sitting. Bai Man was sitting on the sofa, bowing her head and wiping away tears, surrounded by the most people, all of whom wereforting her. In the middle of the lobby, a young girl stood, bowing her head and apologizing to Bai Man. Xiaofeng¡¯s eyes were also sharp, and as soon as she saw Shen Chi, she immediately called out, ¡°President Shen!¡± All eyes swooshed over to him, filled with respect, hesitation, and admiration. ¡°What happened?¡± Shen Chi frowned and asked Xiaofeng. Bai Man stood up, her face filled with guilt, and walked to Shen Chi¡¯s side, scolding Xiaofeng, ¡°It was nothing serious. Why did you call the Young Master Fourth over?¡± Shen Chi did not say anything; the call had clearly been made from Bai Man¡¯s phone. ¡°Young Master, you have to stand up for Miss Bai. If neers can bully Miss Bai, won¡¯t others no longer respect Miss Bai in the future? Miss Bai is kind-hearted. We have never had such an incident before,¡± Xiaofeng said smoothly. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone grew slightly impatient. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a neer, it doesn¡¯t matter. She just misspoke a word or two,¡± Bai Man hastily said. Shen Chi became even more impatient, and Xiaofeng pushed Bai Man, hurriedly saying, ¡°Though Miss Bai is generous and forgiving, how can we swallow this insult? President Shen, the neer said some unpleasant things. She spoke out of turn. I wonder if you would find it eptable.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Shen Chi coldly spat out a word. ¡°The new girl was jealous of Miss Bai and smashed her powderpact and mirror. When Miss Bai spoke to her about it, she, not knowing where she heard the gossip, boldly confronted Miss Bai, ¡®You are just an actress who can¡¯t get married, with just a bit of good looks. If President Shen were willing to marry you, he would have done so already; why would he keep dragging it on?¡±¡® Xiaofeng spoke bluntly and finished in one breath. Hearing her recount it, Bai Man¡¯s eyes reddened again. ¡°Is that all?¡± Shen Chi asked. Xiaofeng shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s more. She also said Miss Bai is nothing more than a discarded chess piece that you, President Shen, have yed with, no different from a hostess!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed even tighter. Indeed, the words were offensive. Bai Man¡¯s eyes became even redder. She covered her face with a tissue, continuously wiping her eyes, her makeup already ruined from crying. ¡°President Shen, you must stand up for Miss Bai,¡± Xiaofeng said. ¡°Who said these words?¡± Shen Chi scanned the crowd, his gaze roaming over the people. Suddenly, dead silence fell over therge hall, not a sound to be heard. Wherever Shen Chi¡¯s gazended, people lowered their heads, fearing that they would bring disaster upon themselves. Normally, everyone knew Bai Man was the youngdy of the Bai Family, and the future Mrs. Shen, the fourth young mistress of the Shen Family. Nobody dared to do anything to Bai Man. This neer was audacious indeed, to say such things in front of Bai Man. Although everyone was curious why Bai Man had not yet married Shen Chi. But curiosity was one thing; holding it in one¡¯s heart and saying it out loud were entirely different matters. ¡°I will ask one more time, who said these words!¡± Shen Chi raised his voice and shouted, his sharp eyes sweeping through the crowd once again. Everyone was taken aback and shivered. Although the film was funded by the Shen Group, no one had seen Shen Chi lose his temper. Many hadn¡¯t even seen his face before. Someone pushed a girl forward; she was the same girl who had just been standing in front of Bai Man. ¡°It was, it was me. I¡¯m sorry, President Shen, Miss Bai. I shouldn¡¯t have¡­ said that.¡± The girl was trembling with fear, so much so that her legs went weak. ¡°Get out of the film set immediately and don¡¯t even think of setting foot in C City ever again!¡± Shen Chi was ruthless. Everyone gasped again, trembling with fear. Shen Chi had spoken harshly, and this girl¡¯s future might very well be ruined forever. Disasters arise from careless talk. ¡°President Shen¡­ You are a magnanimous person. I didn¡¯t mean to do it. I just spoke without thinking. You can punish me however you want, but please don¡¯t kick me out of the film set, okay?¡± The girl fell to her knees with a thud. If it weren¡¯t for Xiaofeng blocking her, she almost would¡¯ve clung to Shen Chi¡¯s legs. Shen Chi frowned in disgust and said to Xiaofeng, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take her away? ¡°Yes, right away, President Shen.¡± Xiaofeng responded, bending down to pull the girl by the arm, ¡°We¡¯re colleagues after all. Are you leaving on your own or should I have someone take you? Don¡¯t say we don¡¯t sympathize with you or give you face.¡± ¡°I¡­ Xiaofeng, can you plead for me, please? I don¡¯t want to leave, I really don¡¯t want to go¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it toote for you to be saying this now?¡± Xiaofeng said as she pulled her up, ¡°Out of our past collegiality, I¡¯ll escort you out. Remember in the future, troublees from the mouth, so speak less!¡± As Xiaofeng shoved her towards the exit, the girl cried and wailed, ¡°Xiaofeng, Miss Bai, please help me beg for mercy. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­¡± Her voice grew fainter and quite quickly, she was handed over to the security personnel. Nobody dared to make a noise, silently watching everything unfolding, keeping their distance. It seemed that the rumors were true, Miss Bai Man was indeed President Shen¡¯s favorite darling, untouchable by anyone else. Otherwise, one would meet with grave danger. ¡°Stop crying.¡± Shen Chi frowned as he passed a tissue to Bai Man. Bai Man took it and her sobs became even heavier, her shoulders trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t take such words to heart,¡± Shen Chi consoled her. Bai Man remained silent, but Xiaofeng spoke for her. ¡°President Shen, everyone says Miss Bai is your fianc¨¦e, but you have never given her a definite wedding date, not even taken wedding photos, nor bought rings. Miss Bai is actually deeply hurt, yet she never says a word about it,¡± Xiaofeng said. ¡°Xiaofeng, stop it. The Young Master is busy, as you well know. These are just formalities, I don¡¯t care about them,¡± Bai Man whispered. Shen Chi remained silent. It turned out Bai Man had found herself a good agent indeed. ¡°Miss Bai, marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Isn¡¯t that right, President Shen?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s once in a lifetime,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently, a nearly imperceptible shadow darkening his gaze. ¡°President Shen, then you must give Miss Bai a promise. You know better than any of us how Miss Bai feels about you. She¡¯s practically ready to give her heart to you,¡± Xiaofeng was eloquent. Shen Chi slowly turned his head, his gaze meeting Bai Man¡¯s. The light in the hall shone on his face, and he appeared calm andposed to everyone present. ¡°Please invite Mr. Bai to the Shen Family¡¯s house tomorrow.¡± He had finally made up his mind. Yes, it was time for him to marry Bai Man.. Chapter 122 - 122: She Loves Your Money Chapter 122: She Loves Your Money Trantor: 549690339 Bai Man raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears swirling around in her sockets. When she looked at Shen Chi, however, a different kind of tenderness was in her eyes. She was like the willows in spring, soft and delicately beautiful, and like the river water of March, waves rippling gently. Did he mean that he would talk to her father about their marriage tomorrow? ¡°Do I need to¡­ prepare anything, or, say something to my dad?¡± Like a bride-to-be, Bai Man¡¯s face flushed with a tinge of red, shy and restrained, yet slightly anxious. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll pick you up myself,¡± he said. Shen Chi left this remark behind and turned to leave the hall. His hands buried in his pockets, he strode out with his long legs. The sweater he wore made him seem more approachable, but his straight back exuded a coldness and aloofness. Bai Man hurried after him on her heels, ¡°Shen Chi, wait, I have something else to tell you.¡± Shen Chi walked into a quiet room next to him and turned his head indifferently, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you really want to marry me?¡± Bai Man asked, biting her lip, her eyes soft and brimming with emotion. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Have you really thought it through? This isn¡¯t something you can back out of. If you don¡¯t like me, I won¡¯t force you.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Shen Chi looked at her, his eyes deep, a bottomless abyss. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯d like to discuss something with you. When should we move out to live together? I want to be with you. The Shen family has too many people, and I¡¯m not used to it. Besides, I¡¯m almost done shooting this drama, I¡¯ll have lots of time, and if¡­ if you¡¯re willing¡­¡± Bai Man lowered her head, her face growing redder, ¡°If you¡¯re willing, we could have a child this year.¡± For some reason, Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed. He didn¡¯t speak, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. But for Bai Man, this was also a good sign; at least, he didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared by me, was I a bit too forward?¡± Bai Man lowered her head, her face growing even redder, ¡°It¡¯s just that I really love you, that¡¯s why I have this thought.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter,¡± Shen Chi said tly. ¡°Shen Chi, are you willing to move out with me or not?¡± ¡°I have no such ns for now.¡± ¡°Is it¡­ because you can¡¯t bear to leave Xu Chaomu?¡± Bai Man asked tentatively. ¡°My mother brought her to the Shen family; I really do need to take good care of her.¡± ¡°There are so many people in the Shen family, they will take good care of her. She¡¯s not a ten-year-old child anymore; she can take care of herself. After all, propriety demands some distance between men and women, and though you see her as a sister, she may not see you as a brother.¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes flickered as he looked at Bai Man. ¡°No, I know it¡¯s me you love, and that¡¯s enough. I¡¯m not some unreasonable woman,¡± Bai Man quickly said, ¡°besides, you saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s diaryst time too, right? A young girl¡¯s thoughts, allid bare.¡± ¡°Her liking me is her business; I can¡¯t control that.¡± ¡°Then listen to this, it came up when I was having tea with Chaomu,¡± she said offhandedly. Bai Man took out her phone and found the conversation they had in the pavilion. The recording had been edited, and as soon as it was yed, Bai Man¡¯s voice could be heard. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you like Shen Chi, maybe you just do, or maybe¡­ it¡¯s for the Shen family¡¯s status and wealth. Yes, with such an opportunity, who wouldn¡¯t want to stay in the Shen family, to marry Shen Chi. Marry him, and you¡¯ll never have to live a poor, humble life again, you won¡¯t even have to try anymore, all provided for life. He is your only lifeline, you want to grab onto him tightly, don¡¯t you?¡± Then Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice followed. ¡°Yes, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything, so I like him. No, that¡¯s why I cling to him, why I stick to him. If I could marry him, what do I care about face!¡± Once the recording was yed, Bai Man pressed pause. Shen Chi¡¯s tall frame stiffened, his fists slowly clenching. In his eyes was a barely perceptible chill, like the ice in the twelfth lunar month, growing colder and colder. The whole surrounding seemed enveloped in a coldness, even the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. ¡°Shen Chi, this girl¡¯s thoughts are not simple. Maybe you spoil her too much, and she mistook that pampering for affection,¡± Bai Man said softly, watching Shen Chi from the corner of her eye. ¡°Send me the recording,¡± Shen Chi said in a low, angry voice. ¡°Uh, alright. But don¡¯t me her; it¡¯s not just her who thinks like that, it¡¯s quite normal. She loves your money¡­ ah, Shen Chi¡­ where are you going?¡± Bai Man hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Shen Chi strode out. His tall figure disappeared from her sight in an instant, and she couldn¡¯t catch up no matter how much she tried. Shen Chi didn¡¯t stop for a moment; he walked downstairs, out of the courtyard, and got into his Maybach. His movements were swift, with no hesitation. His mind suddenly became a whirl of chaos, Xu Chaomu¡¯s words echoing in his ears, over and over again. ¡°Yes, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything, so I like him. No, that¡¯s why I cling to him, why I stick to him. If I could marry him, what do I care about face!¡± Ha¡­ ha¡­ Shen Chi sneered coldly, the corners of his mouth revealing deep scorn. She clung to him, even trying several times to kiss him, to throw herself at him, all because of this? What was the difference between her and all those other women? They all wanted to climb into his bed, didn¡¯t they! Shen Chi punched the steering wheel, his emotions running high. The car tires screeched violently against the ground, ¡°screech¡ªI¡¯ a piercing noise to the ear. The Maybach swerved abruptly off thene, startling the surrounding vehicles into evasive maneuvers. Shen Chi floored the gas pedal, speeding the car recklessly forward. The knuckles gripping the steering wheel were white, veins standing out. Further up, his face was ghostly, his lips pressed thinly, cold to the marrow. His sharp eyes stared straight ahead, his body straightened, his back chilling. The Maybach sped like a mad thing down the road, running through several red lights, cars around barely managing to avoid collisions. ¡°Yes, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything, so I like him. No, that¡¯s why I cling to him, why I stick to him. If I could marry him, what do I care about face!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice grew clearer and clearer, haunting his mind and refusing to leave! He drove toward the school, determined to drag her out! All these women loved his money, his power, even her! However, just as the Maybach was about to reach the school gates, he mmed on the brakes, forcefully stopping the car at the intersection. The next second, he grabbed a jade ornament from the car and smashed it violently. His eyes bloodshot, his jaw clenched tight. With a ¡°ng,¡± the ornament shattered on impact. Startled passersby on the sidewalk quickly stepped back and detoured around. What was the point in going to find her? Ha, let her love his money then, it¡¯s not like he¡¯d ever marry her, right? If he wasn¡¯t Shen Chi, if he wasn¡¯t the CEO of the Shen Group, would she still shamelessly cling to him? Shen Chi felt an immense irony. He clutched the steering wheel tightly, his eyes filling with blood.. Chapter 123 - 123: She is His Pet Chapter 123: She is His Pet Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t feeling good either. When she left, he didn¡¯t say a word and just left the school. A call from Bai Man, and his soul was gone. With her mind in disarray, she scratched her head and drew random lines on the paper with her pen. She was so irritable that she couldn¡¯t settle down to do her work. He was good to everyone. If she had trouble, he woulde to help her. Simrly, if Bai Man was in trouble, he would rush over immediately. Initially, she thought he was only nice to her, but now she realized, how was that possible? She was his pet; Bai Man was his lover. Of course, he would be nice to both a lover and a pet, but these are two different kinds of affection. The formeres from the heart, while thetter is teasing, it¡¯s deceiving. Xu Chaomu felt a bit ufortable. She tilted her head and continued drawing aimlessly with her pen in hand. The sounds of the loudspeaker and the noisy crowd from the nearby yground made Xu Chaomu lose her focus. The sunlight streamed through the window, onto her, her books, and her fair, slender fingers. Her mind was full of Shen Chi¡¯s every move; even without wearing a suit today, he still looked so handsome. There was a sense of security when hiding behind him. This feeling was something she couldn¡¯t get with anyone else. ¡°Sigh,¡± Xu Chaomu sighed softly and squinted at the sun in the sky. Who says the young do not know the taste of sorrow. Her love was ultimately a hopeless sinking. After who knows how long, the award ceremony finally ended, and the students gradually returned to the ssroom while the parents dispersed. The building was suddenly buzzing with people. Yu Weiwei moved two chairs, one for herself and one for Xu Chaomu, almost exhausting her to death. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I thought you had left. The parent-teacher meeting is over. Why didn¡¯t youe to move the chairs? I¡¯m dead tired. And look at you,fortably sitting on the teacher¡¯s chair,¡± Yu Weiwei said with a huff,ining. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t say a word; she justy on the desk. ¡°Hey, Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you unhappy?¡± Yu Weiwei walked over, showing concern. Xu Chaomu shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡¯ ¡°You don¡¯t look fine to me. Are you feeling unwell? How about I check you out? I¡¯ve learned quite a few recipes recently.¡± ¡°Save your recipes for Li Beiting, they¡¯re specially for curing infertility.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s mouth twitched: ¡°How do you know Li Beiting is infertile?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was speechless, she had said it off the top of her head. She wondered if Li Beiting had left, and if those people had been dealt with. ¡°But speaking of Li Beiting, I think I saw him just now. I didn¡¯t get a clear view, so I¡¯m not sure if it was him,¡± Yu Weiwei said. ¡°Definitely not, why would he be at the school? He doesn¡¯t have any kids.¡± ¡°You have a point there,¡± Yu Weiwei giggled. There were no sses that morning and lunchtime approached quickly, but Xu Chaomu still looked unhappy, even unable to eat her lunch. Shey by herself at the window, watching the sun move from the east to the middle and then from the middle to the west. After the lunch break was a political science ss, which was famously known as a sleeping ss,parable to Nanfu batteries: one period outperforms six. ¡°Philosophy is a systematized, theorized worldview. The fundamental issue of philosophy is the rtionship between thought and existence¡­¡± The political science teacher was spewing saliva all over the podium, while underneath, students had fallen like dominos. Yu Weiweiy down and read her ¡°Male Health Manual¡± for a while. Halfway through, she fell asleep with a snore. But Xu Chaomu, unusually, didn¡¯t sleep and instead took notes seriously. She had realized a truth long ago; she couldn¡¯t always depend on Shen Chi. One day, Shen Chi would leave her. That day woulde, eventually. No matter how foolishly infatuated she was, she knew she didn¡¯t deserve Shen Chi. That was the reality. Just as Uncle Shen had said: Be clear about your own status. If you want to stand beside Shen Chi, you also have to see if you¡¯re worthy of it. Even Shen Chi himself had warned her: From now on, whether it¡¯s in public or private, always remember that I¡¯m your fourth brother. You¡¯d better treat me like a real brother! Don¡¯t do anything too outrageous! A pet cat remains a pet cat; it can never be a little princess. After political science came Chinese ss, followed by English and math sses. Xu Chaomu listened attentively, although she didn¡¯t understand much. However, Lou Yanli had promised to tutor her. Suddenly, she was filled with confidence. During the evening self-study session, she copied down the questions she didn¡¯t understand and bought a beautiful new notebook especially for it. Even Yu Weiwei was shocked, ¡°Whoa, is this the same Xu Chaomu?¡± Yu Weiwei tried to tempt her with entertainment magazines, but Xu Chaomu remained indifferent, leaving Yu Weiwei feeling abandoned. It was past nine in the evening when ss ended, yet Xu Chaomu was still engrossed in her math problems. Until Mr. Cheng stood at the window and knocked on the ss. Ever since that incident, Mr. Shen had instructed him to pick up Xu Chaomu punctually. ¡°Uncle Cheng!¡± Xu Chaomu looked up, with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. It wasn¡¯t Shen Chi. The ssroom was empty; she was the only one left. ¡°Miss Xu, ss is over, I¡¯m here to take you home.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Xu Chaomu sluggishly packed her bag and followed Mr. Cheng out of the school. Mr. Cheng walked steadily, while Xu Chaomu was full of youthful energy. Mr. Cheng was like Xu Chaomu¡¯s uncle, kind and loving. ¡°Where¡¯s Fourth Brother?¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°The young master went to Miss Bai¡¯s house,¡± Mr. Cheng answered truthfully. Xu Chaomu¡¯s disappointment deepened; she lowered her head and fiddled with her hands, no longer speaking. The car was dim, and with her head down, no one could see her expression. After a while, she began to count her fingers again, one, two¡­ ten; one, two¡­ ten; one, two¡­ ten. She didn¡¯t know how many times she repeated the cycle, but finally, they arrived at the Shen family¡¯s house. ¡°Miss Xu, go on up and get some sleep. I¡¯ll pick you up for school tomorrow, ¡± Mr. Cheng parked the car in the garage. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Cheng.¡± She replied tly, then grasped the strap of her bag and went upstairs. She nced up at Shen Chi¡¯s room. The light was off; he wasn¡¯t there. Butler Lin had prepared her milk, which helped her sleep if drunk before bedtime. As usual, Xu Chaomu sat down to do her homework for a while. By the time she finished, it was already half-past eleven. She drank her milk and went to bed but woke up several times during the night. Before, she never woke up during her sleep and always slept until naturally awake. She thought, people do change. The next morning, Xu Chaomu woke up at seven o¡¯clock, and to her surprise, there were several luxury cars parked in front of the Shen family¡¯s vi. One of them was Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach. Shen Chi got out of the driver¡¯s seat with his usual steady steps. Then he went to open the door for a ck car behind him.. Chapter 124 - 124: The Shen Family Is Preparing For a Celebration Chapter 124: The Shen Family Is Preparing For a Celebration Trantor: 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 ne 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 fianc¨¦. 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 shey 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 themotion today, it seems they¡¯re getting serious. The Shen family is preparing for a celebration.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s pace halted; Auntie Zhou wasing 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 ss.¡± ¡°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 toe 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 vi. ¡°Your Shen family¡¯s garden is really beautiful, and there are so many varieties of flowers.¡± Bai Man¡¯s mother Jiang Zhn eximed, 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 cane and enjoy them anytime.¡± Jiang Zhn replied with augh. ¡°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;e rest in the living room!¡± Bai Man smiled, arm in arm with her mother, with whom she had a very good rtionship. 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, pleasee 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 Zhn 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 tter,¡± Jiang Zhn was delighted by Shen Chi¡¯spliment. After that, everyone headed into the living room. Butler Ling was busy preparing tea and soon brought a cup for each guest. Shen Chi nced 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 Zhn 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-inw, what more could we ask for?¡± Bai Man coyly hugged Jiang Zhn¡¯s arm and protested, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m very sensible too. Howe 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 restpletely assured,¡± Jiang Zhn said with augh as she nced 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 being to you forpensation,¡± Bai Man said with a twinkle in her eye. Bai Man, sitting next to Jiang Zhn, rested her head on her mother¡¯s shoulder. Bai Man then yfully squinted at Shen Chi, ¡°Right?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved subtly, and he replied, ¡°How could I not want you.¡± Jiang Zhnughed 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 amodating in everything. The fourth master is busy on a regr basis; you can¡¯t trouble him.¡± ¡°I know, I know,¡± Bai Man replied petntly, then tenderly nced 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..¡± Chapter 125 - 125: Discussing Marriage Chapter 125: Discussing Marriage Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Uncle Bai is too kind, this is a Pu¡¯erh tea my father has stored for nearly ten years, I am merely making a humble offering with others¡¯ flowers,¡± Shen Chi said, his face calm like the surface of water, undisturbed by any ripples. Deep pools of cky concealed within his eyes, imprably dark and seemingly endless. Just then, Jiang Zhn nced around the Shen Family home and, observing the roomful of people, asked with mild curiosity, ¡°I heard that the mother-inw brought back a little girl eight years ago, howe I haven¡¯t seen her today?¡± The butler stepped forward with a smile, ¡°Madam, she went to school, and left early in the morning.¡± ¡°Oh really, I see, I¡¯ve heard Manman mention her, she seems to be called¡­ what was it¡­¡±Jiang Zhn pondered, pressing her forehead. ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± said the Butler, taking over the conversation. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right, Xu Chaomu. Quite a nice name, she must be a very gentle and quietdy, children raised by the Shen Family are all exceptional,¡± Jiang Zhn said with a slight smile, exuding elegance. No one spoke; Jiang Zhn had not met Xu Chaomu¡ªto describe her as a gentle youngdy was far from urate. She was a wildcat who could climb onto roofs, leap over walls, and had an unstoppable nature. Beads of sweat formed on everyone¡¯s brows. ¡°It¡¯s been many years since I¡¯ve seen Adi. I remember Adi being very quiet as a child with good academic results, and her violin skills were second to none. It was a pleasure every time I heard her y the violin,¡± the old Mr. Bai said. ¡°My eldest sister has been studying abroad these past few years. Should she return soon, we siblings will surely call on you in person,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Adi is truly outstanding, not like my daughter, who only knows how to cause me trouble,¡± Jiang Zhn looked at Bai Man and smiled indulgently. ¡°Mom, there you go again. Your daughter can dance, y many instruments, and sing. Oh right, and make you happy, isn¡¯t that true?¡± Bai Man, in the presence of her mother, adopted the demeanor of a young daughter to the delight of Jiang Zhn. Seeing this, Jiang Zhn remarked, ¡°The Young Master is going tough at you.¡± Shen Chi curved the corner of his lips slightly, ¡°How could I?¡± The old Mr. Bai then said, ¡°When will the parents-inw return? I¡¯ve prepared some humble gifts; Young Master, I will leave them in your care for now.¡± Upon saying this, Bai Xuan received several gift bags from the hands of a servant. Called humble gifts, they were items of no small value. Shen Chi responded lightly, ¡°Uncle Bai is too polite.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only right and proper to give gifts. I¡¯m just afraid the items might not be as valuable as those you took to the Bai Family, just a token of goodwill,¡± Bai Xuan said. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Bai, and on behalf of my father and mother, I also express our gratitude.¡± At all times, Shen Chi¡¯s face maintained the sameposure, but everyone knew that this was just his temperament and disposition. Soon, the butler brought fruits and pastries for the guests, serving them very attentively. While Bai Man and her mother chatted, Shen Chi and Bai Xuan sat to one side talking. The servants bustled about, waiting for Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran to return. ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ve heard that the Shen Group is nning to invest in a diamond project?¡± Bai Xuan inquired. The Bai Family was also in business, and Bai Xuan had established a considerable investmentpany. Over recent years, his business had grown significantly, upying a substantial part in C City. Importantly, Bai Xuan had a very good rtionship with Shen Cexian, reportedly being ssmates in college. Both families often engaged in business together, and to be rted by marriage was a cause for double celebration. ¡°Indeed, in a few days, I will personally go to South Africa to inspect this batch of diamonds. If the deal goes through, the profits will naturally be considerable. Thest acquisition of Wantong Technology will provide the needed technological support for this project,¡± Shen Chi stated without betraying any emotion. But in his heart, he understood that this diamond project required a massive sum of capital, one that the Shen Group alone could not cover. ¡°That truly is a matter for celebration,¡± Bai Xuan said. ¡°If there¡¯s anything the Bai Family can do to help, feel free to ask. I only have this one daughter, so my position towards you, of course, is undivided.¡± Bai Xuan was also aware that the project required substantial investment. ¡°I want to express my gratitude to Uncle Bai in advance. As for the financial aspect, I am afraid we will indeed have to trouble you when the timees,¡± Shen Chi replied. ¡°I can¡¯t assist with much, but with financial matters, as long as you say the word, I will definitely support you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Bai.¡± ¡°However, Young Master, let me offer you a piece of advice. You¡¯ve just taken the CEO position, so you need to be cautious at all turns. I¡¯ve had dealings with Shen Shihan, and like you, he is reserved but not to be underestimated, be wary, ¡± Bai Xuan kindly warned. ¡°I understand.¡± From the first time Shen Chiid eyes on Shen Shihan, he knew their confrontation was like a match between equally matched yers. After a while, the conversation flowed and the living room bubbled with lively chatter. Before long, Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian arrived at the Shen Family home, one after the other. Eight years after the divorce, Zhou Ran rarely visited the Shen Family home, with most visits ending in an argument with Shen Cexian. This time, if not for Shen Chi¡¯s marriage, Zhou Ran would not havee to the Shen Family homestead. She did not want to see Shen Cexian. Shen Cexian remained unchanged, not often returning home due to health reasons. He coughed violently the moment he exited the car, his health evidently not as robust as it once was. Just as he alighted, he saw Zhou Ran striding past him in high heels. For many years, Zhou Ran had favored a perfume that was pure and quietly elegant, like an orchid. She passed by him without a nce. ¡°Ahem.¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s coughing was severe as his gaze lingered on Zhou Ran. Zhou Ran maintained her usualposure, still gracefully youthful, untouched by age, and exuding a refined elegance. When she heard Shen Cexian cough, she paused briefly, with what seemed to be both a sneer and a scoff. ¡°Shen Cexian, long time no see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just the usual, nothing new,¡± Shen Cexian replied, ¡°You always wished me ill, and your wish is granted.¡± A subtleyer of shadow flitted through Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes, like a night sky flickering with dim stars. ¡°Seeing you in poor shape actually pleases me,¡± Zhou Ran said with a coldugh, and without turning her head, she walked away decisively. She left behind a series of sharp clicks from her heels echoing distinctly in the empty courtyard. Shen Cexian gazed at her retreating figure for a long time¡­ so long that it was hard to tell whether it was the wind that moistened the corners of his eyes¡­ He stood in the yard, allowing the wind to sweep silently by. The air still held traces of Zhou Ran¡¯s scent, resembling ethereal orchids and pure lotuses¡­ Spring days are marked by flourishing grass and soaring orioles, and pear blossoms drifted down like a river of white. The sun stretched his shadow longer and longer, casting a solitary mncholy on the ground. As Zhou Ran entered the house, all eyes shifted to her. Her demeanor had always been remarkable, and today, wearing a ck dress resembling a gown, she exuded a knowledgeable elegance and dignified grace. ¡°Aunt Zhou, hello!¡± Bai Man was the first toe over, smiling as she took the white scarf from Zhou Ran¡¯s hands. ¡°Hello,¡± Zhou Ran said, her lips curling into a faint smile, serene as calm waters. ¡°The mother-inw has arrived, ¡± Jiang Zhn also rose to her feet.. Chapter 126 - 126: Getting Engaged Next Month Chapter 126: Getting Engaged Next Month Trantor: 549690339 The living room became even more lively all at once. Butler Ling seldom saw Zhou Ran, and now seeing that she was still the same, he feltforted. Many of the servants in the Shen Family were new, and some hadn¡¯t even seen Zhou Ran before. Now that they had, they found Zhou Ran¡¯s temperament to be many times better than that of thedy from the west wing and couldn¡¯t understand why the master had divorced Mrs. Zhou eight years ago. Zhou Ran hadn¡¯t been sitting down for long when Shen Cexian also walked in. All eyes turned to greet Shen Cexian, except for Zhou Ran, who ignored everyone and took a sip of tea. ¡°Cexian, it¡¯s been a long time,¡± Bai Xuan went up and firmly grasped Shen Cexian¡¯s hand. ¡°Bai Xuan, you¡¯re still the same, in very good health, unlike me, who has been increasingly unwelltely,¡± Shen Cexian sighed. ¡°Cexian, look at you, don¡¯t talk like that, I know a few good doctors, I¡¯ll introduce them to you. There¡¯ll be no problem, just visit the Bai Family more when you¡¯re free, you need to let go of what¡¯s on your mind,¡± Bai Xuan said. ¡°Once Achi¡¯s marriage is settled, I¡¯ll definitely visit your home frequently, just don¡¯t find me a nuisance then.¡¯ ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯d be more than happy if you came.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, they began to sit down and discuss the engagement of Shen Chi and Bai Man. Bai Man sat next to Shen Chi, her arm looped through his, looking delicate and pitiable like a little bird relying on a person. She asionally looked up at Shen Chi, her eyes brimming with tender affection. ¡°Our Shen Family will certainly not skimp on the engagement ceremony and betrothal gifts,¡± Shen Cexian dered. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to let the young couple register their marriage first, then have the engagement party, which can be kept simple. As for the wedding banquet, if it¡¯s not convenient, it can be postponed. I know Achi is always very busy, ¡± Bai Xuan was very easygoing. He knew that Shen Chi was recently taking on the South African diamond project and might be indisposed. ¡°Getting married is a big deal, I still have time for that,¡± Shen Chi said with a nod. His chiseled face revealed a stern coolness, and his tone betrayed no emotion. Bai Man was very pleased to hear Shen Chi say that, and she looked up at him with a soft voice, ¡°The group¡¯s affairs are important, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Zhou Ran smiled, her lips curving up slightly, ¡°Manman is very sensible.¡± Zhou Ran looked beautiful when she smiled, but like Shen Chi, she rarely did so. Thus, when she did smile, there were two sets of eyes intently fixed on her, unable to look away for a long time. In that moment, Shen Cexian was somewhat distracted. ¡°Then let¡¯s have the parents-inw set a date,¡± Jiang Zhn said. Zhou Ran took a light sip of tea, ¡°I¡¯ve checked, and the eighth of next month is a good date. Why don¡¯t we let Achi and Manman get engaged then? What do you think?¡± Shen Cexian answered with a deep look in his eyes, ¡°I have no objection.¡± Bai Xuan also agreed, ¡°That¡¯s great, there¡¯s still over a month to prepare. Achi, what do you think?¡± Shen Chi turned his head slightly, his gaze passing over everyone¡¯s faces, ¡°That¡¯s fine. Jiang Zhn was quite happy to hear everyone agree, ¡°Then let¡¯s do it this way. I¡¯ll prepare everything well and also give Manman a lesson or two. Once she¡¯s married into the Shen Family, she should be a good daughter-inw.¡± ¡°Mom, there you go again. With so many people here, you¡¯re not giving me face, ¡± Bai Man said, feigning annoyance. ¡°I¡¯ll gift Achi and Manman a seaside vi as a wedding present. Once you¡¯re engaged, you can move into your new home,¡± Zhou Ran said calmly. ¡°Mother-inw, you are too kind.¡± Shen Chi frowned slightly, looking at everyone with a detached and frosty demeanor. Everyone continued discussing Shen Chi and Bai Man¡¯s wedding ns, and before they knew it, it was already noon. Butler Ling had prepared a great variety of dishes, enthusiastically hosting the distinguished guests. Liu Rumei had heard that the Bai Family would be visiting and had left the house a few days in advance. She didn¡¯t want to see Zhou Ran and stir up unnecessaryplications. Liu Rumei came from an ordinary family and knew she would be at a disadvantage if a conflict arose. Therefore, today, no one from the west wing was present. Butler Ling looked at therge family gathering and sighed to himself; if only the mistress and the master had not divorced, it would have been so much better. During the meal, Bai Man kept sitting next to Shen Chi, one looking as dazzling as a lotus reflecting on water, the other as brisk and resolute as the north wind. Bai Xuan and Jiang Zhn sat together too, but Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian sat opposite each other, neither speaking a word. ¡°Shen Chi, try this, it¡¯s very tasty,¡± Bai Man picked up a rib for Shen Chi, looking at him tenderly. Everyone saw this and felt reassured. After all, Shen Chi and Bai Man had known each other for many years, and now that they could be close as husband and wife, nothing could be better. Meanwhile, at the vi where the rest of the family was jovially having lunch, Xu Chaomu sat alone in the cafeteria, poking at his rice. The food in the cafeteria was not appetizing and was cold and hard. Yu Weiwei had her family deliver meals every day, but Shen Chi¡¯s family did not bring her food. Though it tasted bad, Xu Chaomu still forced himself to finish eating. If he didn¡¯t eat, he would starve. Today, he had ordered two dishes, one being stir-fried shredded pork in garlic sauce and the other spicy and sour shredded potatoes. As he sat at the table eating alone with his head down, Lou Yanli came to sit beside him. ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong? Does it not taste good?¡± Lou Yanli¡¯s smile was always as bright as the moon and as smooth as warm jade. One more nce at him, and you could lose yourself in it. Especially today, Lou Yanli wore a clean white shirt, his every move graceful and polite, making his smile even more radiant. ¡°You know how it is with the cafeteria food,¡± Xu Chaomu pursed his lips, looking up at Lou Yanli. ¡°Yeah, eat this, I brought it from home, I can¡¯t finish it all by myself, so we can eat together.¡± Saying that, Lou Yanli took several food containers out of his bag. Upon opening them, a delicious aroma wafted out. Sovish! Xu Chaomu was wide-eyed with surprise, ¡°Did your mom make this?¡± ¡°Yes, try my mom¡¯s cooking. She rarely cooks, and you just happened to run into it today,¡± Lou Yanli said with a smile. ¡°My mom¡¯s cooking is also really good¡­¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly bowed his head, his eyes turning red. Lou Yanli knew a bit about Xu Chaomu¡¯s family background and understood he was reminded of something upsetting. He immediately changed the subject, ¡°You shoulde to my house sometime, my mom would definitely like you, she has a personality simr to yours.¡± At these words, Xu Chaomuughed, ¡°Simr to me? Wouldn¡¯t that mean she¡¯s very different from you?¡± ¡°I take after my dad more,¡± Lou Yanli alsoughed, ¡°Come on, try it, it¡¯ll be cold if you don¡¯t eat soon.¡± ¡°Lou Yanli, what does your family do?¡± Xu Chaomu tilted his head and asked. ¡°My family¡­¡± Fearing Xu Chaomu would feel inferior, Lou Yanli told a lie, ¡°We own a small factory, manufacturing dolls.¡± ¡°So, does your family have a lot of dolls?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, the idea of manufacturing dolls seemed so endearing. Do they, do they! ¡°Yes, as many as you want. What do you like? Rabbits? Teddy bears? Puppies? Let me know what you like, and I¡¯ll bring one for you.¡± ¡°How about you make one that looks like me?¡± Xu Chaomu teased.. Chapter 127 - 127: A Peaceful Present, Calm Years Chapter 127: A Peaceful Present, Calm Years Trantor: 549690339 ¡°¡­¡± Luo Yanli¡¯s lips twitched, but a momentter he responded, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll talk to my dad about it.¡± ¡°The eyes need to berger, the nose more prominent, and the expression smiling and cute. Well, I guess once it¡¯s done it won¡¯t look like me.¡± Xu Chaomuughed first after finishing her own description. ¡°Alright, alright, I promise to satisfy you.¡± That meal, Xu Chaomu ate quite happily, Luo Yanli¡¯s mother¡¯s cooking was really good. In fact, her own mother¡¯s cooking was delicious too; she loved her mother¡¯s sweet and sour pork ribs the most. However, after she turned ten that year, she never had it again¡­ Latter, when she moved into the Shen Family, she refused to eat sweet and sour pork ribs made by anyone. She was afraid of forgetting her mother¡¯s vor¡­ Feeling a sting in her nose, Xu Chaomu lowered her head to eat. ¡°Oh, by the way, Chaomu, I heard Yao Yue dropped out of school, and her dad got into some trouble and ended up in jail, ¡± Luo Yanli mentioned. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu froze for a few seconds. ¡°I just heard about it, the whole family is ruined, her dad got twenty years. That¡¯s good, she won¡¯te to trouble you anymore.¡± Luo Yanli thought back to the incident afterst night¡¯s study session. Xu Chaomu pondered for a bit; Yao Yue dropped out of school? Her dad in jail? It appeared that crossing Shen Chi truly had no good oue. No wonder she always heard the servants in the Shen Household saying how ruthless and indifferent the Fourth Young Master Shen was, with seasoned tactics, and that no one dared to provoke him. She was starting to believe what they said more and more. In these eight years, her knowledge of Shen Chi was minimal, in fact, she knew nothing at all. ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu,¡± Luo Yanli called out twice, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°I was thinking, shouldn¡¯t we celebrate? But then again, Luo, the talented schr, you¡¯ve lost one of your admirers,¡± Xu Chaomu snapped back to reality. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that, they fall one after another, an endless stream, ¡± Luo Yanliughed heartily. ¡°Pfft, you¡¯re so narcissistic too; I underestimated you,¡± Xu Chaomuughed, blinking her eyes. For the first time, she felt that being with a man other than Shen Chi was also very enjoyable. Maybe it was because she and Luo Yanli were the same age; they seemed more like they belonged to the same world. But not Shen Chi; he was different. That day, after having dinner with Luo Yanli, Xu Chaomu brought a pile of problems to him for help. ¡°Luo, the talented schr, I can¡¯t solve any of these problems.¡± Luo Yanli¡¯s lips twitched¡ªit was quite a lot¡ªbut he still patiently said, ¡°Let me have a look.¡± When he lowered his head to look at the problems, the sunlight cast on his side face, clean and handsome, youthfully clear. This feeling¡­ was like eight years ago, the first time Xu Chaomu saw Shen Chi. Back then, Shen Chi was wearing a very white shirt too, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves, everything was¡­ peaceful and serene. Xu Chaomu and Luo Yanli sat on the swings in the yground, it was very quiet, with the fragrance of flowers all around. It was azy spring day, beautiful everywhere. Butterflies and bees flew back and forth, sometimesnding on grass des, sometimes on the petals of flowers. Xu Chaomu, a poor student, tilted her head and asked Luo Yanli who was standing beside her. ¡°Luo, the talented schr, the scenery is so beautiful, describe it for me.¡± Luo Yanli nced at the azure sky, then at Xu Chaomu with her sweet smile, and slightly curved his lips: ¡°A peaceful present, serene years.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand, what was that? Sorrow. Being uneducated really is terrifying. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Luo Yanli chuckled, lowered his head and tousled her hair. To her surprise, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t reject this gesture; in the past, only Shen Chi had done this. However, most of the time Shen Chi treated her like a pet, stroking her hair just like petting a cat¡¯s fur. The spring breeze was gentle, and Xu Chaomu thought, at this age, it was time to experience a proper romance. She and Luo Yanli sat in the yground for a long time, and Luo Yanli, being a top student, knew everything she didn¡¯t. Xu Chaomu admired him to no end. That night, after evening study, Xu Chaomu made a phone call to Uncle Cheng, saying she wouldn¡¯t return. She knew that Bai Man¡¯s parents and Zhou Ran were there, and if she returned, it would seem quite superfluous. After all, among so many people, not a single one liked her. Fortunately, Luo Yanli invited her out to see the night view, and she joyfully agreed. She had grown up in C City but had never been taken out to see its stunning night view. C city was beautiful and bustling; yet, amusingly, she had grown up in this city without ever seeing its stunning night scenery. When she told Uncle Cheng over the phone that she wouldn¡¯te back, he frantically tried to persuade her: ¡°Miss Xu, you shoulde back. If something likest time happens, I can¡¯t take the responsibility.¡± ¡°No worries, someone¡¯s with me.¡± ¡°No, Miss Xu, pleasee back. If the Fourth Young Master¡­ hello, hello¡­¡± Before Uncle Cheng could finish, Xu Chaomu hung up the public phone. ¡°Yanli, where are we going?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked and asked. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the amusement park, it¡¯s open 24 hours. Have you ever ridden the Ferris wheel at night?¡± ¡°No, I lead a pretty monotonous life.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s perfect; I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Luo Yanli hailed a taxi, taking Xu Chaomu away from the school and towards the amusement park. Xu Chaomu discovered that she wasn¡¯t quite the little ruffian in front of Luo Yanli. She was also an eighteen-year-old girl who, usually, would only get so angry with Shen Chi that she¡¯d leap up and wave her arms in fury. The amusement park in C City was said to be thergest in the country with the highest Ferris wheel, ranked third in Asia. Xu Chaomu had pestered Shen Chi many times to apany her for fun, and each time he just replied with two words: ¡°Childish.¡± Later, she noticed that Bai Man never clung to Shen Chi, for Bai Man was very sensible. Gradually, she stopped bothering Shen Chi too. Xu Chaomu knew Shen Chi was busy, but when he was with Bai Man, he somehow wasn¡¯t busy anymore. In his heart, she was of course not as important as Bai Man; Bai Man was the cherished beloved he held in the palm of his hand. After getting off the taxi, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t stand steady, her foot twisted, and she started to fall forward! ¡°Chaomu, be careful!¡± Luo Yanli quickly grabbed her. Xu Chaomu fell right into his arms, promptly clutching at Luo Yanli¡¯s clothes. Luo Yanli also wrapped his arms around her waist, and Xu Chaomu finally stood firm, not falling to the ground. As she got close to Luo Yanli, Xu Chaomu realized that he had a light, elegant scent about him, very pleasant and appealing. This scent was different from Shen Chi¡¯s. One was domineering, the other tranquil and natural. Xu Chaomu rubbed her nose and said with augh, ¡°Look at me, I can¡¯t even walk straight.¡± Luo Yanli then released her, ¡°No worries, I am here, if you can¡¯t walk, I can carry you.¡± ¡°I am not that fragile,¡± she retorted. Just as Xu Chaomu and Luo Yanli were about to enter the amusement park, a bold ck Maybach made a screeching turn and abruptly came to a halt in front of them. With the license te ¡°C8888,¡± Xu Chaomu instantly knew whose it was. Startled, she quickly stepped back two paces.. Chapter 128 - 128 Don’t Make Me Hate You Chapter 128: Don¡¯t Make Me Hate You Trantor: 549690339 Deep breaths, deep breaths. Stay calm, stay calm. The ck car window slowly lowered, and in the dim night, Shen Chi¡¯s face was especially cold and aloof. His all-ck shirt blended with the car, making him seem like the King of Asura from Hell, his whole body radiating a bone-chilling, icy aura. His profile was as sharply defined as if carved by a knife, his thin lips lightly pursed, devoid of any smile, even¡­ a hint of anger was rising up. Xu Chaomu kept retreating backward relentlessly. She wanted to run away! Lou Yanli recognized Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu called him Fourth Brother. Seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s frightened demeanor, he grabbed her hand and spoke softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here.¡± Shen Chi turned his head, kicked open the car door with a ¡°bang,¡± his movements fierce and rough. He stepped up to Xu Chaomu and Lou Yanli, and his towering figure immediately cast arge shadow over them. ¡°Get your ass over here!¡± Shen Chi¡¯splexion was ice-cold, as he roared at Xu Chaomu, who was behind Lou Yanli. Xu Chaomu was practically hiding behind Lou Yanli; she didn¡¯t know what she had done to provoke Shen Chi. Just yesterday, he had still smiled at her. It was he himself who had first left after receiving Bai Man¡¯s call, and today, he was the one who hade back with the Bai Family to discuss the marriage. What the hell did it have to do with her? Why the hell was he ming mad at her? ¡°I¡¯m not going over there,¡± Xu Chaomu took two more steps backward, tilting her little face up defiantly. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, get the fuck over here!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a bloodthirsty lion. The rage was about to burst! Lou Yanli extended his hand to shield Xu Chaomu, and said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t force Chaomu, she doesn¡¯t want to go with you.¡± ¡°Get lost, it¡¯s not your turn to speak here!¡± Shen Chi, not knowing what had irritated him, strode forward, forcefully grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s petite frame, and dragged her towards the car. Lou Yanli chased after them, ¡°Let go of Chaomu, if you really are her Fourth Brother, you shouldn¡¯t treat her like this, she will hate you!¡± Shen Chi kicked Lou Yanli away, threw Xu Chaomu onto the passenger seat, closed the car door, andpleted the action smoothly. Stepping on the elerator, he drove the car out of the amusement park. ¡°Lou Yanli! Lou Yanli!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled out the window. She really felt quite sorry for Lou Yanli. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re really despicable, why did youe here, to monitor me 24 hours a day? When will you stop meddling with me? Just say it, is it after the engagement or after the wedding? Get it clear today!¡± An eerily cold and bone-prating aura pervaded Shen Chi from head to toe. ¡°Despicable? Xu Chaomu, am I more despicable than you? The Lou family is very wealthy, aren¡¯t they? I underestimated you before.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Make yourself clear.¡± ¡°What do I mean? You pretend not to understand?¡± Shen Chi mmed on the brakes violently, his movements exceptionally rough, and the car immediately stopped at a deserted intersection! Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t seated steadily and her head hit the window hard. Before she could cry out in pain, Shen Chi¡¯s long index finger pinched her chin, his gaze sharp and his grip strong. ¡°Shen Chi, what have you eaten to be so irritable? How have I annoyed you? Could it be that you¡¯re in a bad mood because Bai Man¡¯s parents can¡¯t stand you? Serves you right!¡± Xu Chaomu was utterly unyielding. Shen Chi, this man, always managed to push her to her limits. She thought resentfully, why should she be constantly amodating him, why should she obediently be his pet cat? Anyway, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she would leave. Best if she never saw him again in her life. Bastard! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really want to marry me, don¡¯t you?¡± Shen Chi growled through clenched teeth. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heartbeat skipped a beat. Her chin hurt from his pinch, and she frowned in struggle: ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself, you think every girl likes you? Look in the mirror, you old man! Bastard!¡± Even though she truly wanted to marry him, when her pride was shattered by him, her heart was shattered too. ¡°Don¡¯t make me hate you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was full of disgust. For eight years, this was the first time he had spoken to her with such an attitude. Xu Chaomu was stunned, forgetting the pain in her chin. Was her love for him really such an embarrassing thing for him? Was she even unworthy of loving him? Yes, he was the most dazzling man in C City, a high and mighty king. She could only look up to him, only listen to his words. Being loved by her must have made him feel ashamed. Xu Chaomu stopped talking. She lowered her eyelids and remained silent, letting the pain in her heart spread bit by bit. It was like the wild grass that filled the mountains, taking over her heart, leaving it barren¡­ When Xu Chaomu talked back to him, he had the energy to scold her, but as soon as she fell silent, it threw him into turmoil. But on remembering the conversation he overheard yesterday, he couldn¡¯t help but put even more force into pinching her chin. ¡°Don¡¯t y the pity card in front of me. From today on, you will move to the room on the north side of the Shen Family¡¯s house! Vacate your room for Bai Man!¡± Xu Chaomu looked up in astonishment. Yes, these were the words he had said. On Shen Chi¡¯s face, she saw undeniable coldness and, of course, the ever-present disgust. He was ordering her, telling her to give her room to Bai Man. ¡°It¡¯s not that much trouble. After I go back, I¡¯ll pack a few clothes, and I will leave the Shen Family,¡± she said lightly. Finally, he was driving her away. When Zhou Ran drove her away, she refused to leave because she had said that she would only leave if he didn¡¯t want her anymore. And the day hade. He didn¡¯t want her anymore, so she would leave. It was simple. Her thick skin didn¡¯t mean she had no pride. ¡°The fuck I allowed you to leave?¡± Shen Chi burst into another rage, his eyes boiling with hot blood. A surge of annoyance rose in his chest, needing just a spark to ignite! ¡°Shen Chi, either I leave or I continue to live in this room. Don¡¯t push me!¡± Xu Chaomu was also angry. Damn it, she really wanted to p this man to death! She better not get the chance because she really would strangle him! And so, they stood, eye to eye, sparks flying between them, neither willing to back down. Time passed by the second, and in the quiet of the car, they could hear each other¡¯s breathing. And Xu Chaomu¡¯s heartbeat, thumping in her chest. Each second felt as if it spanned a century. In the end, it was Shen Chi who conceded. He felt ridiculous; he had vast power, boundless capabilities, but he was helpless against Xu Chaomu. He had no idea what to do with her. If it were someone else who dared to leave, he would have immediately had their legs broken. Now, even though she might stay by his side for his money, for his power, after the outburst, he still pathetically wanted to keep her. Gradually, his hand dropped. The air once again filled with a quiet, cool current, silent as the grave. ¡°Consider what I just said as unsaid,¡± hepromised. He resettled himself in the driver¡¯s seat, his gaze fixed ahead, his deep, dark eyes as if filled with endless darkness. His hands rested on the steering wheel, the whole man leaning back in his seat, overwhelmed with a sense of powerlessness. Xu Chaomu touched her head; she had just banged it against the window, which hurt, and then there was her chin¡­ Damn it, this man was simply a tyrant! Chapter 129 - 129: Fourth Brother, are you jealous? Chapter 129: Fourth Brother, are you jealous? Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu dared to say, ¡°Aren¡¯t you, Shen Chi, always known for keeping your word? Once spoken, your words are like water poured out. Besides, you just said so many things, which one am I supposed to pretend you didn¡¯t say?¡± Her words had barely ended when a sharp look from Shen Chi shot over. Chill, icy, harsh. Xu Chaomu shivered. ¡°Don¡¯t push it!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just take it that you haven¡¯t said anything useful tonight, ¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly, ¡°That way, I can assume you took the wrong medicine and won¡¯t hold it against you. But Shen Chi, don¡¯t treat me like a pushover. Don¡¯t take your anger out on me because you¡¯re frustrated with someone else!¡± Shen Chi scoffed coldly, turning to look at her. His piercing gaze sliced across her face like a knife, as Xu Chaomu feigned calm. In fact, her heart was already beating chaotically. She just wouldn¡¯t admit it; he had scolded her no less fiercely tonight, as if he wanted to devour her. Now she was justifying herself, which was only fair. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you better not be harboring any ulterior motives,¡± he warned her. If she was really after his money, looking for a benefactor for the rest of her life, he would never forgive her! ¡°As shrewd as you are, Shen Chi, could my little schemes deceive you? Brother, I¡¯ll say this too, don¡¯t interfere too much. We share neither blood nor obligatory ties; we should forget each other in our separate worlds.¡± Today, she learned a new phrase ¨C ¡®forget each other in our separate worlds¡¯. She thought it sounded elegant and sophisticated, exceptionally fitting for this moment. It made her feel quite cultured, and the thought gave her a little thrill. The word ¡°brother¡± from Xu Chaomu made Shen Chi¡¯s heart clench, heh, brother¡­ When did she ever consider him a brother? ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of you for eight years, how can you say there¡¯s no rtionship? Xu Chaomu, is your heart made of stone?¡± His demeanor had cooled down; now his voice was hoarse and faint. Damn it, Xu Chaomu really wanted to leap up and scratch him to death! It was his heart that was the coldest and hardest, and now he was turning the tables, using her instead. ¡°What can I do about it? I have my own life, you can take it if you wish,¡± Xu Chaomu said shamelessly. ¡°Is your life that valuable?¡± Shen Chi sneered disdainfully. ¡°Then I¡¯m out of ideas. I gave you a chance, you didn¡¯t want it, so be it. Justy off the yelling at me in the future, bullying me doesn¡¯t show any skill.¡± ¡°No, you could repay me with your body.¡± Shen Chi smirked with a hint of yfulness. Actually, sitting here chatting with her like this was the best thing. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl, as if a carriage was passing through the dusty grounds, slowly enough that nothing else seemed important¡­ He didn¡¯t want to argue with her, but she always managed to infuriate him beyond measure. He stopped thinking about that recorded conversation, which only agitated him more. ¡°I don¡¯t want a second-hand man,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Shen Chi¡¯s tone had softened a lot, so she wasn¡¯t that afraid anymore. To tell the truth, when he dragged her back from the amusement park gate, she was so scared she nearly cried. ¡°Quite brave,¡± Shen Chi turned to look at her. She dared to despise him? And even spread rumors that he was a second-hand man? ¡°Start driving, I want to go back to sleep,¡± Xu Chaomu said, unable to keep her eyelids open any longer, feeling sleepy almost immediately. ¡°You seemed energetic enough when you were out and about with Lou Yanli.¡± ¡°Big brother, are you jealous? The jealousy is strong,¡± Xu Chaomu closed her eyes,zily retorting. She fastened her seatbelt and leaned against the window. When he wasn¡¯t shouting at her, she liked to call him big brother; it felt like a natural habit. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be,¡± Shen Chi replied nonchntly. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled, pouted her lips, and fell asleep. She was truly exhausted, finding afortable position to snuggle in and curl up. Soon, the car was tranquil, filled with the sound of her regr breathing, very peaceful. Shen Chi looked at her helplessly, like a pig, falling asleep in a matter of minutes. Just a moment ago she was all ws and fangs, but now she¡¯d withdrawn her tiny ws, bing docile and obedient. Her eyshes were very long, fluttering slightly now and then. The car was warm, and her little face was flushed. Her mouth remained pouted as if she was still angry with him. Shen Chi¡¯srge palm instinctively started stroking her hair, soft and fine. She didn¡¯t wake up, so he leaned over, burying his face in her hair. A subtle and intoxicating scent of flowers wafted up, enchanting. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± He murmured into her ear, his voice deep yet very light, so light that only he could hear. The car was silent; naturally, no one responded to him. Xu Chaomu had long since fallen asleep, smacking her lips as if she was having a sweet dream. Shen Chi touched her little cheek helplessly, ¡°Really wish I could sell you, at least it would cover some fuel costs. After a while, Shen Chi started the car, driving towards the Shen Family home. He drove smoothly and carefully, and Xu Chaomu continued her deep slumber without stirring. Even upon arriving home, she showed no sign of waking. Bai Xuan and Jiang Zhn had already gone home, and Shen Cexian had left as well. Zhou Ran had not departed though; she was staying in the Shen Family guest room. Bai Man had rushed to eat dinner before going to the film set for a night shoot, so the Shen Family vi was very quiet at the moment. Seeing that Shen Chi¡¯s car had returned, the butler approached. ¡°Young Master Shen, did you find Miss Xu?¡± Shen Chi wore an expression of disdain, ncing at the sleeping Xu Chaomu: ¡°Where else could she have gone?¡± The butler saw that Xu Chaomu was securely asleep and felt relieved, ¡°Young Master Shen, shall I carry Miss Xu upstairs to bed?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it.¡¯ Having said that, Shen Chi opened the passenger door, carefully lifting Xu Chaomu in his arms. Xu Chaomu smacked her lips, still asleep, but cuddled into afortable position to continue sleeping after being picked up by Shen Chi. She probably thought she was in bed; her hand gripped Shen Chi¡¯s shirt just like she would hold onto a nket. Shen Chi looked down at her, and for some reason, felt very reassured. Holding her, he stepped past the garage and walked steadily upstairs. But his every move was witnessed by someone at the guest room window. This person was Zhou Ran. Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu into her room. In truth, everything he¡¯d said in the car that night was spoken in anger; he couldn¡¯t bear to let someone else have the room she¡¯d lived in for eight years. Still, remembering that recording, his grip involuntarily tightened on Xu Chaomu, unwilling to let go. Xu Chaomu frowned, perhaps pained by his grasp, shifting a bit in his embrace. Only then did Shen Chi loosen his grip and carefullyid her on the bed. He pulled the nket over her and tucked her in. Actually, he wasn¡¯t very good at taking care of others; he had never looked after anyone before he met Xu Chaomu. When he first encountered Xu Chaomu, even just covering her with a nket was an awkward affair for him.. Chapter 130 - 130: Do You Know my Mother Chapter 130: Do You Know my Mother Trantor: 549690339 Now, these tasks have be routine, performed with a natural ease. He stood by the bed, watching Xu Chaomu as she slept so sweetly, her delicate, pale little paws clutching the blue downforter, sleeping soundly. He didn¡¯t know how long he stood there before finally, Shen Chi turned off the light in her room and went back next door. It wasn¡¯t until the light in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room went out that Zhou Ran pulled the curtains up from the balcony. She took off her coat and, with arms crossed, paced back and forth in the room. Walking around, for a very long time. The next morning, Old Cheng drove Xu Chaomu to school. As soon as Old Cheng¡¯s car left, Zhou Ran¡¯s car then arrived. Xu Chaomu, with her backpack on her shoulders, walked towards the school gate; by now, many students had already arrived. It was when she crossed the main road heading to her sophomore year sses that Zhou Ran stopped her in her tracks. Zhou Ran had a serene and refined scent of perfume on her, and with a wrinkle of her nose, Xu Chaomu knew it was her. She was quite afraid of encountering Zhou Ran, yet here she was. With no way to avoid her, Xu Chaomu stopped walking. ¡°Auntie Zhou,¡± she obediently called out. ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Ran responded indifferently, her expression unreadable, leaving others unable to guess what she was thinking. She adjusted the white scarf around her neck and stood before Xu Chaomu, scrutinizing the youngdy who had already turned eighteen this year. It was rare for her to see the girl, and she noticed that Xu Chaomu had grown quite tall, with a fair, baby-faced look that was quite endearing. Today, she was wearing a white T-shirt, loose-fitting, but it couldn¡¯t hide her developing figure. There was a faint youthful fragrance about her, very light and pleasant to the senses. Zhou Ran wasn¡¯t a man, but she knew that Xu Chaomu at this age could stir all the desires of a man. Zhou Ran smiled bitterly, thinking back eight years when she had nted a time bomb with her own hands. She could never have imagined that her son, indifferent to women, would get entangled with this girl. Was it fate? ¡°Auntie Zhou, did youe looking for me?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, ufortable under Zhou Ran¡¯s gaze. ¡°Yes, I came to have a few words with you,¡± Zhou Ran replied coolly. ¡°Auntie Zhou, are you here again to persuade me to leave the Shen Family?¡± Xu Chaomu was mentally prepared. Rather than directly answering Xu Chaomu, Zhou Ran looked up at her, ¡°Achi and Bai Man are getting engaged next month.¡± Honestly, Xu Chaomu was taken aback. Even though she was prepared, her body still couldn¡¯t help but shudder when Zhou Ran spoke the words out loud. Next month¡­ ¡°Oh, I see. I¡¯ll prepare a gift for Fourth Brother and my future sister-inw, ¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head, her eyes bereft of any sparkle. ¡°That¡¯s good. Don¡¯t forget what I¡¯ve told you before. Was it Achi who brought you back yesterday?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± Xu Chaomu said coolly. Sensing impatience in Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone, Zhou Ran¡¯s expression also turned slightly unpleasant. Her gaze roamed over Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, and with a hint of an involuntary smile, she said, ¡°Achi has been genuinely good to you; I¡¯ve told him to treat you as his own sister and not to harbor any alternative intentions. He¡¯s remembered my words.¡± ¡°But he hasn¡¯t tried to send me away,¡± Xu Chaomu looked up. ¡°I haven¡¯t forcefully driven you away either, but staying in the Shen Family serves no purpose. Once they are engaged next month, Achi and Bai Man will move out.¡± Zhou Ran knew that Xu Chaomu had a strong sense of pride, just like her mother¡¯s. ¡°Auntie Zhou, I have a question for you, please tell me the truth. Eight years ago, why did you bring me to the Shen Family?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it good? The Shen Family provided you with clothes and food far superior to what the orphanage could offer. They also sent you to a good school, good prep sses, introduced you to things you would never encounter in an orphanage in your lifetime.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Xu Chaomu asked again. ¡°There¡¯s no particr reason.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes misted over as if she was recalling something far, far in the past¡­ So distant, like a mountain hidden in misty rain, only a vague outline remained. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Xu Chaomu raised her little face, ¡°Auntie Zhou, did you know my mother?¡± ¡°What does it matter if I did?¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s tone was light, like a fleeting breeze in early spring. It was Xu Chaomu¡¯s turn to be at a loss for words. Yes, what did it matter? Her mother had left her, never to return¡­ The Shen Family had taken care of her for eight years, fulfilling all moral obligations. Just as Zhou Ran had said, they provided her with luxuries unimaginable in an orphanage. Yet they had sparked hope only to snuff it out. She would have preferred to have grown up in the orphanage. ¡°Auntie Zhou, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head to my ssroom now.¡± ¡°Onest warning, don¡¯t get too close to Achi, and don¡¯t even try to be a mistress.¡± Thest two words, Zhou Ran had said through clenched teeth. Xu Chaomu knew how much she despised mistresses. With a dim look in her eyes, she said, ¡°I only see him as my brother.¡± Even though she was a bit of a scamp, fond of making harmless jokes with Shen Chi, she still had her principles. She wouldn¡¯t be a mistress, wouldn¡¯t destroy his happiness. It just felt a little regrettable. She had set a grand goal at the age of ten ¨C to kiss him. Eight years had passed, and he was about to get married; yet she still hadn¡¯t achieved it. She really was a blockhead. How could there be such a foolish rascal in the world. ¡°Sigh.¡± With the thought, she couldn¡¯t help but hold her forehead and sigh. ¡°Go to ss; I won¡¯t keep you any longer,¡± Zhou Ran said. Xu Chaomu nodded, her step much lighter and less burdened. Zhou Ran was fairly kind to her today, probably because she had already mentally prepared herself. She wasn¡¯t that fragile. If she were to cry and wail, she wouldn¡¯t be Xu Chaomu. But what should she gift Shen Chi for his engagement? He was so wealthy; hecked nothing, making any gift from her seem superfluous. When she reached the ssroom, she dutifully took her textbooks out of her backpack, ready for morning study. Soon enough, Yu Weiwei also arrived. Yu Weiwei somehow procured several men¡¯s health research manuals and, with a serious demeanor, hid them inside her Chinese textbook and studied intently. ¡°Chaomu, let¡¯s study medicine together, and men¡¯s health at that. I¡¯ve been researching for days and found it quite fascinating,¡± Yu Weiwei proposed earnestly. ¡°What¡¯s fascinating about it? Do tell,¡± Xu Chaomu challenged. ¡°For example, there¡¯s an essential oil called ng ng. Heard of it? It has aphrodisiac properties, can enhance romantic moods, and adds to marital bliss, ¡± Yu Weiwei said with a mischievous twinkle. ¡°Have you used it?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at her with disdain. ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes, ¡°Theory remains theory, practice is another thing. I am imparting wisdom to you. How could I, such an innocent girl, have ever used it?¡± ¡°Why give me this wisdom; I don¡¯t need it,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a boyfriend?¡± Yu Weiwei winked at her.. Chapter 131 - 131: The Engagement Gift for Him Chapter 131: The Engagement Gift for Him Trantor: 549690339 ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m not pure?¡± Xu Chaomu rebutted. ¡°Just a tiny little bit.¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, I¡¯m gonna kill you!¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to grab a book to smash her with. ¡°Madame Xu, spare me, I dare not nder you to your face anymore, I¡¯ll only do it behind your back from now on.¡± ¡°A bitch is always melodramatic,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. Xu Chaomu continued to memorize her text; ¡°Preface to the Tengwang Pavilion¡± was really tough to remember. While memorizing, her eyes suddenly lit up as if a lightbulb was connected to a power source¡ª¡±ding¡± went her brain, and in that moment, everything became clear. She elbowed Yu Weiwei and lowered her voice, ¡°Hey, is this essential oil really that effective?¡± ¡°Absolutely, for different types of people you can increase the dosage for an even better effect. For you, I reckon two drops will suffice. Then light a small candle, and don¡¯t mention how romantic that will be. Tell me, under such an atmosphere, which man could remain unmoved? When that timees, hehehehe¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t drag me into everything, my brother is getting married.¡± ¡°Oh? You¡¯re buying it for your brother? Wow, such a thoughtful sister. Go buy it, I tell you, once they use this essential oil, if there aren¡¯t seven bouts in one night, I, Yu Weiwei¡­ I, Yu Weiwei, will give you a dor!¡± Yu Weiwei patted her chest, earnest in manner but not in words. ¡°How am I supposed to verify whether there are seven times in one night?¡± Xu Chaomu started to be as unserious. After all, she and Yu Weiwei were evenly matched, a pervert versus a gangster. When two lecherous women team up, their power is boundless. ¡°Come on, let me give you a bit ofmon knowledge. For a man, the average time for each round is about twenty minutes, let¡¯s say your brother is impressive and takes half an hour. Including forey and rest time, if it¡¯s seven times in one night, it will pretty much take the whole night. You could just secretly listen in, right?¡± ¡°For the sake of one dor, do you think I would stoop that low?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a face full of ck lines. Yu Weiwei pondered for a moment, shook her head earnestly, ¡°Not worth it.¡± ¡°There, it¡¯s settled,¡± Xu Chaomu twitched the corner of her mouth. If she dared to eavesdrop, Shen Chi would surely y her skin, draw her tendons, and break her legs. ¡°Your brother is getting married, right? Is the sister-inw the one who keeps penguins like you mentionedst time?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Weiwei said with a meaningful tone, ¡°Let me offer you a package deal. You buy some ng ng Essential Oil and a set of sexy lingerie, give the essential oil to your brother, and the lingerie to your sister-inw, I guarantee they will absolutely adore you. Oh, oh lei lei.¡± ¡°No shame,¡± Xu Chaomu gave her a disdainful look. ¡°As a friend, I¡¯ve already offered you a solution. Ah, I¡¯m such a good friend, ah, I¡¯m touched to death by myself.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. Could she say she didn¡¯t know Yu Weiwei? However¡­ the method she suggested really did seem pretty good. She pondered it all morning and decided to follow Yu Weiwei¡¯s advice. But would Shen Chi end up killing her? Definitely not, he would surely be coy, refusing with his words but secretly pleased. Men are just like that. So, taking advantage of the lunch break, she sneaked off to the mall. After visiting several stores, she finally managed to buy it. One bottle seemed too little, so she bought five! It cost her a lot of pocket money! She didn¡¯t dare buy the lingerie, since even if she had, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to give it. However, just as she was sneakily carrying the essential oils out of the mall, bad luck struck, and damn, she saw Shen Chi! Bai Man was clinging to his arm, all smiles and gentle charm. Shen Chi, however, remained expressionless as usual, giving off his standard icy vibe as if everyone owed him money. Xu Chaomu quickly hid away, like a rabbit spotting a wolf. She sidled into a clothing store and shielded herself withyers uponyers of clothes. Her heart thumped wildly! Taking a deep breath, Xu Chaomu cautiously parted a long dress to sneak a peek. She just happened to see Bai Man leading Shen Chi into a famous jewelry store. From the back, Bai Man looked soft and tender, her red dress highlighting her slender figure as she swayed gracefully. As for Shen Chi, he cut a straight and dignified profile, his elegant ck tailored suit entuating the lines of his back. One hand in his trouser pocket, the other taken by Bai Man, their steps were leisurely yet resolute. The two of them were both tall, but even with high heels, Bai Man was still much shorter than Shen Chi. This man had always been a natural talent, the center of attention wherever he went. As they leaned over to pick out jewelry, a crowd gathered, stealing nces and murmuring among themselves. Too bad Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t have a camera, otherwise she really would have liked to snap a photo. Such a harmonious scene, beautiful as a painting. A talented man and a beautiful woman, the embodiment of loving bliss. Xu Chaomu too stared fixedly at his back, thinking it was for the best, at least he was getting married to the person he liked and would be very happy. She would note between them. Bai Man and Shen Chi were choosing rings. The sales associate ced many on the ss counter for Bai Man to select from. ¡°Shen Chi, do you think this one looks good? This one has a rose pattern, and the one I just tried on was heart-shaped,¡± Bai Man raised her hand against the light. Under the light, the diamond ring glittered brilliantly, its luster like the sun, striking and clear. The surrounding beauty faded inparison, with the diamond ring bing the focus of all eyes. Turning her head, Bai Man admired the diamond ring on her ring finger, her face glowing with happiness. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice,¡± Shen Chi nced at it and mumbled in response. The sales associate smiled cordially, ¡°Miss has great taste. This rose diamond ring is a newly released design, and the diamonds are pink diamonds from Sri Lanka, just arrived from France this morning. Moreover, this ring model can also be customized with text. Miss, Sir, there is a male version avable for this ring as well.¡± With that, the sales associate carefully put on gloves and took out the male version of the ring. ¡°This ring is part of a set, symbolizing being in pairs, good thingsing in twos, specially designed for couples and spouses,¡± the sales associate exined with a smile. Shen Chi, with his gaze as inscrutable as ever, like the dark and fathomless waters of a deep pool, his onyx-like eyes also reflecting a profound sheen. ¡°This one is good, Shen Chi, try this one on, let¡¯s wear them together and see how it looks.¡¯ Bai Man took the male ring out. The male ring was more simplistic, not too shy, exuding a sense of solemnity. Bai Man personally slipped the ring onto Shen Chi¡¯s finger and admired it from different angles. ¡°It¡¯s perfect, just as if it were made for us,¡± Bai Man eximed with admiration. After she said that, she ced her slender hand over Shen Chi¡¯srger one, her smile as elegant as a blooming rose. Xu Chaomu felt a pang of sourness watching them. Damn it, it¡¯s like fate was against her, she just went out to buy something and stumbled upon a couple unting their love. She hid from them, fearful of being noticed.. Chapter 132 - 132 1 Want His Money Chapter 132: 1 Want His Money Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu used a multitude of clothes to shield herself as she carefully moved toward the entrance of the shopping center. She knew Shen Chi had sharp eyes and might spot her, so she was exceptionally cautious in her movements. Step by step, using her backpack for cover, she never stopped as she sneakily slipped out of the mall. Shen Chi, who was currently advising Bai Man, caught a glimpse of a petite figure bending over from the corner of his eye. A smile instantly curled up at the corners of his mouth, feeling that buying a ring, which had seemed rather dull just moments before, had suddenly be interesting. Why wasn¡¯t she properly staying in the ssroom in broad daylight, but instead running to the shopping center? She really was asking for a spanking! Xu Chaomu made it to the entrance of the shopping center, panting and patting her chest, relieved that she hadn¡¯t been detected. Gathering her courage, she sneakily peeked back into the mall. Shen Chi was still selecting rings with Bai Man. It was good that he hadn¡¯t seen her; after all, they had been so close to discovery. With that kind of luck, she might as well buy a lottery ticket. She hummed a tune contentedly on her way back to school while the five bottles of essential oil ¡°clink-nked¡± in her backpack, apanying her melody. There was no evening self-study today, so Xu Chaomu returned home early. She was thinking about when to give Shen Chi his gift¡­ As she was sitting in the garden, holding the bottle and lost in thought, Liu Rumei approached. Liu Rumei immediately noticed the essential oil bottle in Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and said with a smile, ¡°Chaomu, have you finished the breast enhancement oil fromst time?¡± Xu Chaomu quickly drew the bottle toward herself, responding indifferently, ¡°What breast enhancement oil? I don¡¯t remember.¡¯ ¡°Let me have a look.¡± Liu Rumei had a forward manner, casually snatching a bottle of essential oil from Xu Chaomu to examine closely. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve switched to ng-ng this time?¡± Liu Rumei had lived for many years, and she understood far more than Xu Chaomu did. ng ng essential oil is an aphrodisiac. What is this girl thinking about regarding Shen Chi? However, it was perfect; it couldn¡¯t get any better than cooking the raw rice into ready-to-eat rice. After herst conversation with Shen Shihan, Liu Rumei corrected a mistake. Previously, she had treated Xu Chaomu as an enemy, but now, she had to stand with Xu Chaomu. Maybe one day, if Xu Chaomu really married Shen Chi, then it wouldn¡¯t be toote to deal with her. ¡°Why are you taking other people¡¯s things so casually?¡± Xu Chaomu, displeased, snatched it back. ¡°What are you buying this essential oil for?¡± Liu Rumei asked again, with a smile on her face. ¡°I do whatever I want to do, it¡¯s none of your business,¡± Xu Chaomu turned away, dismissive. ¡°I can¡¯t control you, indeed. Even if you smashed all the valuables of the Shen Family, no one would dare to question you,¡± Liu Rumei said with augh. Putting on airs was something she was good at. But she was also speaking the truth. Other people would have to kneel for days for breaking an ordinary bowl, but Xu Chaomu could break an ancient Qing Dynasty vase without anyone daring to me her. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to talk to her. Last time with the ne incident, Liu Rumei had set her up, and now she hade to speak to her on her own initiative. Xu Chaomu had a clear sense of love and hate, and as a young girl who couldn¡¯t hide her emotions, she preferred to wear her feelings on her face. Disliking Liu Rumei, she also couldn¡¯t learn to force a smile. Thus, she stood up with the bottle in hand. ¡°Don¡¯t go, I actually have a few words to tell you, though I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re willing to listen. It¡¯s about your fourth brother,¡± Liu Rumei said, remaining seated, not annoyed. The setting sun cast its glow, nting in the west. The orange light turned the white clouds into the peel of an orange, little by little, creating countless shapes and forms. This light, falling on Liu Rumei, seemed to strip away much of her harshness. Xu Chaomu nced at her, just as light beamed through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating Liu Rumei¡¯s eyes. For a moment, Xu Chaomu was under the illusion that Liu Rumei¡¯s eyes resembled those of her mother. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll listen,¡± Xu Chaomu stopped in her tracks. ¡°Your fourth brother is getting engaged, does it make you feel reluctant to let him go?¡± ¡°Yes, my third brother and fourth brother have always been good to me; of course, I would be reluctant if they got engaged. Actually, Miss Liu, I would be sad if you got engaged too.¡± ¡°You! No respect for your elders!¡± Liu Rumei was at a loss for words for a moment. But thinking about it, there was no point in getting angry with Xu Chaomu, so Liu Rumei said, ¡°Do you know what Bai Man¡¯s biggest advantage is? Or rather, do you know what your fourth brother likes about Bai Man?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, annoyed. She knew what it was¡ªit was about havingrge breasts. Men all like women who can¡¯t be easily grasped with one hand, especially someone like Shen Chi, the lecher. ¡°The bystander is clear-headed, while the yer is blind. Let me tell you. Bai Man is sensible and gentle, never causing trouble for your fourth brother, and even actively helping to solve some of his worries. What man wouldn¡¯t like such a woman?¡± Liu Rumei said. In fact, Xu Chaomu understood. Bai Man was perfect, like a wless piece of white jade with no blemishes to be found. Thinking about it, she felt that if she were a man, she would marry Bai Man too. Nheless, she still replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, indeed, fourth brother is lucky to marry Miss Bai. Someone even wants someone like him. The heavens really are blind.¡± Liu Rumei had thought Xu Chaomu would be sad, only to hear her speak like this. ¡°You want him too, don¡¯t you?¡± Liu Rumei raised an eyebrow. She couldn¡¯t be tricked by Xu Chaomu¡¯s little schemes. ¡°I want his money!¡± Xu Chaomu said earnestly. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, having him means having his money, doesn¡¯t it? Your fourth brother isn¡¯t even married to Bai Man yet, and you¡¯re already willing to hand him over to someone else?¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®hand over¡¯? I¡¯m not interested in him, just an old man.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a sore loser,¡± Liu Rumeiughed and took the essential oil from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands, ¡°I have something good. Add a few drops to this essential oil and put it in the bathroom to evaporate with the steam, and it will have an effect beyond your imagination.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this? If you like it, I¡¯ll give you a bottle. I¡¯m not stingy,¡± Xu Chaomu replied. After speaking, Xu Chaomu handed her a bottle and then left. When she returned to her room to do homework, the sun had not yet set. The days were getting longer and spring was growing more intense. She lined up the four bottles of essential oil on the table and tapped them with a pencil. Ding ding dong dong, ding ding dong dong¡­ The sound was crisp and pleasant. While she was engrossed in her homework, she heard noises from outside the vi. It turned out Shen Chi and Bai Man had returned. Upon their arrival, many servants came to greet them, with a grandeur that resembled an emperor returning to the pce. ¡°Psh,¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. Just yesterday, he had yelled at her and even told her to vacate her room for Miss Bai. She really did hate to leave, as living next to him felt so nice. It was as if she could reach out and touch him. Regrettably, he wouldn¡¯t feel the same way. To avoid having to share dinner at the table with them, Xu Chaomu went downstairs before the meal was ready, purposefully telling the butler she was hungry¡­ Since the butler couldn¡¯t let her starve, he made several dishes for her.. Chapter 133 - 133: Brother Four, Your Ring Looks Great (Extra Update) Chapter 133: Brother Four, Your Ring Looks Great (Extra Update) Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Butler Ling, I have a lot of homework today, so please bring my meal to my room. I¡¯ll eat while doing my homework.¡± Butler Ling rarely saw Chaomu so earnest and was quite pleased, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll serve it upstairs for you. Eat slowly, there¡¯s no rush to start writing after you¡¯ve finished.¡¯ Having said that, Butler Ling was ready to head to the kitchen. However, Shen Chi walked in and gave Chaomu a cold look, ¡°No manners. If you want to eat,e down to eat, or else go hungry!¡± ¡°Rules are dead, people are alive. The rules of the Shen Family are set by you, Fourth Brother. If you disagree, it¡¯s because you¡¯re just trying to make things difficult for me.¡± Chaomu was not afraid of him. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll see who dares to bring you your meal today.¡± Shen Chi red at her with a piercing gaze. Butler Ling was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to go or stay. Chaomu, furious, stormed upstairs, ¡°I¡¯d rather not eat at all. You¡¯re just giving me trouble on purpose. Let me tell you, you won¡¯t starve me, I¡¯ll jump around just to show you!¡± After speaking, she bounced upstairs. Actually, her heart felt bitter. Who was she showing these rules to? Before she could return to her room, Butler Ling pleaded quietly with Shen Chi, ¡°Young Master, Miss Chaomu will be hungry. I¡¯ll make her a few dishes. She was justining of hunger earlier.¡± ¡°If you keep spoiling her like this, sooner orter, the Shen Family will turn upside down. She doesn¡¯t understand discipline,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Err¡­¡± Butler Ling was at a loss for words and couldn¡¯t help but grumble inwardly, wasn¡¯t it Fourth Young Master who spoiled her in the first ce? Chaomu heard everything. He had known her not just from today, and he knew that she didn¡¯t understand manners. She didn¡¯t see why she should listen to him at every turn, having been subjugated by him for so many years; she¡¯d been humiliated enough. But what to do about this hunger? Thus, Chaomu started searching through the cupboards for snacks. After a lot of effort, she found a few pieces of bread, ate them hurriedly, and resumed her homework. Yet, damn it, this man was truly heartless. She heard him dining with Bai Man downstairs, but he never allowed Butler Ling to bring her any food. Butler Ling felt sorry for Chaomu and kept giving Shen Chi hints both openly and covertly, but Shen Chi pretended not to hear them. After the meal, Shen Chi sat on the living room couch with Bai Man to watch Bai Man snuggled against Shen Chi, resting her head on his shoulder. She made herself a milkshake and watched intently, biting the straw. ¡°Shen Chi, look, this actress is a good friend of mine. I asked her to be my bridesmaid when I got married. Do you like her?¡± Bai Man pointed to an actress on the screen, her smile blossoming. She tilted her head to look at Shen Chi with tender eyes. She loved looking at this man¡ªhis face had an indescribable maturity and handsomeness. After knowing him for over a decade, she would finally be marrying him soon. ¡°How could one bridesmaid ever be enough,¡± Shen Chi curved his lips in a small smile. Bai Manughed, ¡°I have other girlfriends too. I¡¯ll invite them so they can join me by my side.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Hey, Shen Chi, when should we collect our marriage certificate?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after the engagement. I have to take a trip to South Africa soon. ¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you. I heard that diamonds from South Africa are big and beautiful. Can you pick a nice one for me?¡± Bai Man looked expectantly at Shen Chi. The soft lighting fell on her face, making herplexion look even more porcin, delicate to the point of being irresistible. Herrge eyes shone brighter as well. ¡°Hmm.¡± Bai Man wrapped her arms around his waist, cuddling against his chest with a face full of bliss, ¡°I knew you are good to me. I will wait at home for you to return as soon as possible.¡± Despite what was ying on TV, Bai Man had no interest in watching. She only knew that when she nestled against this man¡¯s chest, she felt warm and secure. But Shen Chi, as usual, was lukewarm. He watched the TV without showing much emotion on his face. Chaomu twisted open the doorknob and came downstairs looking for something to eat. Just reaching the top of the stairs, she saw the cozy couple in the living room. Her first reaction was to freeze, a wave of sourness washing over her heart¡­ Her second reaction: spit¡ªcouldn¡¯t they show off their love in their room? So, she put on an unconcerned expression, humming a tune, and walked down the stairs as if nothing was amiss. Shen Chi and Bai Man both heard her footsteps and turned to look. ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯re not asleep yet?¡± Bai Man greeted with a beaming smile, maintaining her poise. Chaomu, without looking up, said, ¡°Just act like I¡¯m air and carry on. No need to feel embarrassed, just keep the volume down. Though I¡¯d suggest doing it in your room¡ªthe living room couch is too small and might dampen your enthusiasm.¡± After she spoke, she tried to slip by them like a mouse. Yet her escape didn¡¯t seed as Shen Chi grabbed her cor from behind. ¡°What are you doinging downstairs? Finished your homework? Mind your own business!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was as deep and harsh as ever. ¡°I just came down to get a ss of water, Fourth Brother. You¡¯re practically a tyrant,¡± Chaomuined loudly. Bai Manughed and interceded on behalf of Chaomu, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry with her. Chaomu is no child; she understands moderation. She¡¯s just joking around with us.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, in light of Miss Bai¡¯s words, let me go. Otherwise, she might think you have a tendency for domestic violence.¡± Only then did Shen Chi let go, ¡°Get lost upstairs!¡± Chaomu straightened her clothes, huffing disapprovingly, ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of you.¡± However, as she lowered her head for a moment, she noticed the ring on Shen Chi¡¯s ring finger. A simple ring, yet it made Shen Chi appear all the more mature and extraordinary, with his long fingers adding to his appearance. She couldn¡¯t help but take another nce. For some reason, her heart throbbed painfully. But she looked up with a smile, cheeky as ever. ¡°Fourth Brother, your ring is really nice. How much did it cost?¡± Now Shen Chi understood what she had been looking at just now. He snorted coldly, ¡°Worth more than you.¡± Being used to his biting tongue didn¡¯t prepare Chaomu for the absence of any desire to retort. The bitterness in her heart was spreading like the taste of bitter melon, threatening to bring her tears the longer she stayed in the living room. She thought she must be hexed. Bai Manughed, clinging to Shen Chi¡¯s arm with a hint of coquettishness, ¡°You¡¯re teasing Chaomu again.¡± ¡°What tease,¡± Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°He just finds me disagreeable. If he were mad at someone else, like you Miss Bai, you¡¯d surely be upset. But it¡¯s different with me. He could scold me or hit me, and I wouldn¡¯t dare harbor resentment. After all, I rely on him for food. To put it unpleasantly, I¡¯m just a pet he keeps. To be even cruder, I¡¯m just like a stray girl begging for food in the Shen Family, no different from a beggar on the street.¡± ¡°Is that what you call not harboring any resentment?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone turned hostile. Her words struck a chord, making him feel ufortable. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± Chaomu looked at him.. Chapter 134 - 134: Let Her Go Chapter 134: Let Her Go Trantor: 549690339 The tension between the two was bing increasingly thick, just waiting for a spark to ignite. The temperature in the living room seemed to drop several degrees, whooshing down. Bai Man then pulled Shen Chi away,ughing, ¡°Chaomu was just joking with you, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Shen Chi was very annoyed. He had raised her for eight years, doted on her for eight years, and this was how she repaid him. Wasn¡¯t he good enough to her? Asking for alms in the street¡­ Heh, she actually had the nerve to say that. To those unaware, they might think Shen Chi treated her terribly. ¡°Go upstairs, and if you are unwilling to stay in the Shen Family, then move to the boarding school tomorrow! I don¡¯t have to see you and save myself the annoyance!¡± Shen Chi really lost his patience. The recording Bai Man had let him listen to before was still stuck in his mind. ¡°You think I want to see you,¡± Xu Chaomu said coldly with a nce at him. This man¡¯s temper was getting worse. She had noticed from his behavior these past few days and had no idea whom he was annoyed with. In any case, no matter who irritated him, the ultimate target of his anger was always her. Neurotic. ¡°Chaomu, you also keep quiet and go to bed, it¡¯ste, rest well, you still have sses tomorrow,¡± Bai Man tried to mediate as a peacemaker. Actually, seeing Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu argue should have made her feel relieved. But for some reason, the more she watched, the more it felt like the two were arguing like a couple. Because Shen Chi had never quarreled or gotten angry with her. Without turning back, Xu Chaomu then ran up the stairs, ¡°thump, thump, thump.¡± So angry she lost her appetite, she went upstairs and with a ¡°bang¡±, she shut the door to her room forcefully to express her anger. Once in her room, she began packing her things. So boarding school it is? Fine, that way she wouldn¡¯t have to see him and be annoyed! She bit her lip and started packing up all the clothes from the wardrobe, along with shoes, books, dolls¡­ The room filled with the sound of her bustling about, and after half an hour, she looked at the bulging rolling suitcase and felt satisfied. It was already past nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Xu Chaomu did her homework for a while before she covered herself with a nket and went to sleep. Moonlight spilled through the partially closed curtains, casting its glow onto Xu Chaomu¡¯s bed and across the floor of the room. Light and shadow yed delicately in the dimness. The pink Rhododendron curtains were instantly tinged with a light shade of white by the moonlight. The vi area was eerily silent, and at this time, it was extremely quiet. However, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t sleep. Tossing and turning, her mind was haunted by images of Shen Chi and Bai Man cozy together, and the ring on his finger. And then the news they gave her, that they were getting engaged on the eighth of next month. Thinking of this made her cry. No matter how strong she appeared in front of others or how tough she acted, at this moment, she cried without restraint. Initially, it was a quiet sob, her shoulders trembling uncontrobly. Then, she covered herself with the nket and cried out loud. Now, with no one around, she could cry. Cry however she liked. It had been a long time since she had cried¡­ Moonlight continued to shine onto her bedside, lighting up her pillow, stained with tears¡­ The next morning, she was woken up by her rm clock. She had hoped everything was just a dream, but when she looked in the mirror and saw her own red, swollen eyes, she realized she had cried the night before. Suddenly, a man¡¯s words echoed in her ear, ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see you cry¡­¡± Xu Chaomu sat stunned on her bed for a very long time. It was always like this, he would say something and she would take it to heart. When her petite figure dragged the heavy suitcase downstairs, Shen Chi was already gone. There was breakfast on the table, her favorite cheese cake and sour milk, with a bottle of strawberry jam on the side. She probably should feel grateful to him for at least not starving her, for at least giving her a bite to eat. When Butler Ling saw Xu Chaomu dragging arge blue suitcase downstairs, he hurried over in shock. ¡°Miss, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Fourth Young Master said to start boarding at school from today,¡± Xu Chaomu was quite calm. ¡°Impossible, how could Fourth Young Master bear to let you board at school? Stop this nonsense, give me the suitcase, I¡¯ll take it upstairs for you.¡± After speaking, Butler Ling tried to take the suitcase from her hand. He was well aware of the harsh conditions at the school. He had heard that the food in the cafeteria wasn¡¯t good, and multiple students had to share one dorm room. They had to get up early to fetch water from the water room, and sometimes they couldn¡¯t even get a shower at night. Although Xu Chaomu had no blood ties to the Shen Family, Butler Ling knew she had never experienced such hardship. Xu Chaomu guarded the suitcase: ¡°Really, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him yourself.¡± Butler Ling didn¡¯t seem convinced, seeing Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t joking. Xu Chaomu added, ¡°Call him, please, and let Uncle Cheng drive me onest time. After that, it won¡¯t be necessary.¡± She lowered her eyelids, only looking at her rolling suitcase. The suitcase was the one she had bought for a spring outing with her ss. It had never been put to use and had just been sitting in her room. Hurriedly, Butler Ling called Shen Chi. ¡°Fourth Young Master, are you really making Miss Xu move to school for boarding today?¡± Shen Chi was sitting in the car on his way to the group, reviewing documents. He paused and said indifferently, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s true¡­ Okay¡­ I understand. Miss Xu has already packed her things and says she will leave in a while. But, Fourth Young Master, the school¡¯s conditions are harsh. You really should¡­¡± Butler Ling said only half his sentence. Shen Chi, impatiently, said, ¡°Let her leave!¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Butler Ling dared not continue. At times like this, she knew better than to go any further, or Fourth Young Master would get angry. She might as well have watched Shen Chi grow up, she knew him very well. After hanging up, Butler Ling came back and said to Xu Chaomu: ¡°If you miss home after you get to school, call me. If the food in the cafeteria is bad, I¡¯ll bring you some. Don¡¯t put up with less, okay¡­¡± ¡°Mm, I know. Butler, thank you.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ You¡¯ve never even washed your clothes at home, how will you manage at school,¡± sighed Butler Ling. Butler Ling knew, once Xu Chaomu became stubborn, she was really a match for Fourth Young Master. These two, on the surface one was aloof, the other cheerful, but at the core both were equally stubborn. If they ever really got into a huge argument, they might end up never dealing with each other again. ¡°I¡¯ll learn, I have to learn how to do everything, the Shen Family won¡¯t support me forever. ¡°Miss Xu, don¡¯t be mad at Fourth Young Master, he really can¡¯t bear to send you to board at school, the conditions are so poor there.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s quite good, besides, what¡¯s it to him what I bear,¡± said Xu Chaomu lightly. Butler Ling didn¡¯t know about the recent events, of course, she was clueless. Like the night beforest, when Shen Chi dragged her into the car, the look in his eyes was as if he wanted to devour her! Andst night, in front of Bai Man, he made her unable to defend herself. ¡°Miss Xu, why don¡¯t you call Fourth Young Master yourself? Say something nice to him, and he¡¯ll soften up,¡± suggested Butler Ling. Chapter 135 - 135 She Really Wants a Home Chapter 135: She Really Wants a Home Trantor: 549690339 Butler Ling estimated that Xu Chaomu must have upset Shen Chi again. This time, it seemed a bit serious. If there was a next time, would Xu Chaomu be directly kicked out of the Shen Family? Butler Ling hurriedly dismissed the thought, no, that wouldn¡¯t happen. After all, Xu Chaomu had lived with the Shen Family for eight years; if not for kinship, then for affection. ¡°I won¡¯t call him,¡± Xu Chaomu said, not even lifting her head. Butler Ling really had no other choice, but she still tried to persuade her, ¡°Why don¡¯t I plead with the Fourth Young Master on your behalf? You¡¯re used to living in the Shen Family, you¡¯ll be ufortable at school.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, thank you, but don¡¯t call him. I will take care of myself at school, and I will study hard,¡± Xu Chaomu replied. Butler Ling could only shake her head. Xu Chaomu was like this, it appeared she really was angry with the Fourth Young Master. Butler Ling never knew how resolute Xu Chaomu could be untilter, when she left, it was for five years. Shen Chi sat in the car, initially holding a pen and reviewing documents with a calm mind, signing here and there. But after a call from Butler Ling, he felt agitated and annoyed; he threw all the documents onto the floor, even breaking the pen! The driver, Old Cheng, was startled. Who was Shen Chi angry with, first thing in the morning? He dared not say much, just quietly drove the car. After a while, Shen Chi made a call to Secretary Xiao Mo. ¡°Is everything arranged for the trip to South Africa?¡± Xiao MO replied respectfully, ¡°Yes, everything¡¯s arranged. There are a few documents waiting for your approval.¡± ¡°And the financing?¡± ¡°Mr. Bai Xuan called yesterday saying that if you ask, he will definitely support you.¡± ¡°Just talk? Is there any actual action?¡± Shen Chi scoffed. ¡°That¡­ Mr. Bai is probably waiting for you to speak in person,¡± Xiao MO said. ¡°By the way, any news from the Feili Group?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s slender fingers tapped on the seat, appearing leisurely, but his eyes had ayer of ruthlessness. ¡°Mr. Shen, no movement. After Shen¡¯s released the news about acquiring Feili Group, it seems their chairman, Lu Feili, went to the hospital.¡± ¡°That woman isn¡¯t so fragile, keep a close watch,¡± Shen Chimanded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Shen Chi then discussed many things with Xiao MO, mainly about the trip to South Africa. This time, his main purpose was to inspect a diamond mine. If he could develop it for the Shen Group, it would be extraordinary. Of course, this diamond mine, rumored to produce top-quality diamonds, wasn¡¯t only watched by the Shen Group. Soon, the car reached the Shen Group headquarters. Xiao Mo, holding documents, was already waiting downstairs. When Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach arrived, he immediately went forward to open the door. The weather was fine today, the sun lingering. Sunlight poured from the sky, shining on Shen Chi¡¯s immactely tailored ck business suit. He was very tall, hisplexion as stern as ever, he elegantly stepped out of the car without a wrinkle in his suit. ¡°Mr. Shen, for the trip to South Africa, based on your previous instructions, we have arranged a one-month itinerary, ¡± Xiao MO reported. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi murmured. Shen Chi walked towards the building, and Xiao MO quickly followed. Without any instructions from Shen Chi, Old Cheng followed his usual routine and went back to pick up Xu Chaomu for school. He turned the car around and drove back the way he came. When he returned to the Shen Family, he saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s petite figure dragging a suitcase outside. Butler Ling followed anxiously, ¡°Miss Xu, I¡¯ve got it for you. Just wait a bit longer, Uncle Cheng will be back soon. No need to rush off.¡± While she was speaking, Old Cheng got out of the car. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Old Cheng wasn¡¯t aware of the situation yet. ¡°Ah, Old Cheng, the Fourth Young Master said to send Miss Xu to board at school,¡± Butler Ling sighed. ¡°Boarding?¡± Old Cheng frowned. Was the call Shen Chi took in the car about Xu Chaomu? ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not sure what to do.¡± Butler Ling sighed again. ¡°Miss Xu will have a hard time adjusting at school, but the Fourth Young Master refuses to change his mind. Old Cheng, you¡¯re always with the Fourth Young Master, could you please talk to him on the phone for me? I really can¡¯t bear to send Miss Xu to boarding.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s something Mr. Shen has decided, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Old Cheng¡¯s voice trailed off. The rest of the sentence was understood by everyone¡ªhe was probably powerless to help. ¡°Going to school is good, at least she can fit in with ssmates of the same age. It¡¯s better than staying at home looking at old men, ¡± Xu Chaomu said with disdain. When she was annoyed, she liked to refer to Shen Chi as the old man. Butler Ling and Old Cheng were embarrassingly speechless; their faces were a picture of consternation. In the eyes of outsiders, Shen Chi was young and handsome with an extraordinary bearing, but Xu Chaomubeled him an old man. ¡°Uncle Cheng, please give me another ride,¡± Xu Chaomu urged. ¡°Alright.¡± Uncle Cheng nodded. Xu Chaomu climbed into the car with her luggage, while Old Cheng and Butler Ling followed behind. Butler Ling still whispered softly, ¡°Uncle Cheng, if you get the chance, you must plead with the Fourth Young Master. Miss Xu hasn¡¯t experienced hardship. Sigh, I can¡¯t believe the Fourth Young Master is really willing to do this.¡± ¡°I know, I know,¡± Old Cheng just nodded. In reality, he clearly understood that no one could sway Shen Chi¡¯s decisions. Xu Chaomu put her luggage in the trunk and sat in the passenger seat without uttering a word. It seemed the car still retained the faint, pleasant scent of Shen Chi, but she didn¡¯t want to see him, not one bit! ¡°Chaomu, be good when you get to school. Butler Ling and I wille to see you when we have time,¡± Old Cheng started the car. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I heard the mid-term exams areing up. You need to work hard, you¡¯ll be in your senior year next half of the year.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Xu Chaomu was curt. Old Cheng chattered for a bit, caring for Xu Chaomu like a close uncle would. Xu Chaomu internally appreciated the concern from Uncle Cheng and Butler Ling. They were the only ones who seemed to care about her. Her thoughts drifted back to the day Bai Man¡¯s parents visited the Shen Family. Standing on the balcony, she watched the Bai family with envy. She too yearned for a home, warm and cozy. Unfortunately, she had none. She didn¡¯t even have rtives. In this world, she was truly alone. Just as the Maybach had been driving for ten minutes, suddenly, a red Maserati blocked its path. Under the sunlight, the Maserati was extraordinarily eye-catching. Its red color was brazen, gleaming with a bright sheen. The license te C9999 matched Shen Chi¡¯s C8888 like a pair. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t need to look to know who it was¡ªLi Beiting, of course. That time she was kidnapped, Li Beiting had made some cutting remarks to her face. Since then, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t quite see Li Beiting in the same light. Friends or not, why be so blunt? His words, ¡°She¡¯s just an orphan picked up from the orphanage. You, Shen Family, have raised her for eight years, and even if she doesn¡¯t leave, she should know when toe and go. To say she¡¯s shameless for clinging to you¡±¡­ She remembered them all so well to this day. It was nothing like the first time she saw Li Beiting when she was ten years old. Chapter 136 - 136: Li Beiting’s Heartfelt Words Chapter 136: Li Beiting¡¯s Heartfelt Words Trantor: 549690339 However, she was magnanimous and had no interest in quibbling with Li Beiting. Old Cheng pulled the car to a stop, and Li Beiting also got out of the vehicle. Today, Li Beiting was dressed quite formally in a meticulous ck suit. His face bore a rare expression of stern solemnity, as he looked at Xu Chaomu with a keen and piercing gaze. ¡°Mr. Li, what brings you here?¡± Old Cheng asked pleasantly. ¡°I¡¯m here to take Chaomu to school,¡± Li Beiting said, ncing at Xu Chaomu in the passenger seat with a sharp eye. Xu Chaomu felt a chill run down her spine. It was an eerie feeling, as if she had seen a ghost. ¡°This¡­ there¡¯s no need to trouble Mr. Li. I usually take Chaomu to school, and I happen to be free,¡± Old Cheng said, effectively declining the offer. ¡°Let me take her today,¡± said Li Beiting with a rather domineering tone. Sticking her head out of the window, Xu Chaomu retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take me. If you enjoy giving people rides so much, why don¡¯t you be a free taxi driver? That would be a real deed of virtue.¡¯ Li Beiting didn¡¯t bother to argue with her. He opened the door of his Maybach, took her by the arm, and led her toward his car. ¡°Old Cheng, I¡¯ll take the girl with me. I¡¯ll make sure she gets there. You can rest easy,¡± Li Beiting said without looking back. He closed the door, started the car, and pressed the gas pedal ¨C all in one fluid motion. ¡°Kidnapping a good woman in broad daylight, Li Beiting, have you no respect for thew?¡± Xu Chaomuined indignantly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me, what kind of good woman are you supposed to be?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The corner of Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched; that wasn¡¯t the point. Li Beiting elerated forcefully, and with the Maserati¡¯s excellent performance, they quickly covered a good distance. When they reached a rather secluded area, Li Beiting abruptly hit the brakes and stopped the car. Xu Chaomu was caught off guard, almost hitting the car window. Dammit, Li Beiting was just like Shen Chi. ¡°Li Beiting, are you trying to rob me of my wealth and take my life?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°I¡¯m not going to beat around the bush with you. You need to listen carefully right now; I have a few words to say to you!¡± said Li Beiting seriously, no longer the approachable Li Beiting he usually was. Xu Chaomu was so scared that she obediently shut up. ¡°Shen Chi and Bai Man are getting engaged next month, and I think you should be aware of it. Shen Chi and Bai Man have had a rtionship for over a decade. They were childhood sweethearts long before you came to the Shen Family,¡± he said. ¡°How would I not know,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. ¡°Shut up!¡± Li Beiting snapped at her, then continued, ¡°Your affection for Shen Chi is no secret, but you shouldn¡¯t think about creating trouble to disrupt their rtionship.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, do you even consider me a friend?¡± Xu Chaomu became angry. Zhou Ran might have said those words to her, but how could Li Beiting! ¡°I consider you a friend, just as I consider Bai Man a friend. I¡¯ve known Bai Man longer than I¡¯ve known you! So, the words I¡¯m saying today are for your own good, as well as Bai Man¡¯s,¡± said Li Beiting solemnly. ¡°Oh. ¡± Xu Chaomu bowed her head, saying nothing. ¡°Shen Chi is definitely going to marry Bai Man, and if you truly loved him, you shouldn¡¯t ruin him. Wouldn¡¯t you be happy if he¡¯s happy? ¡°I¡¯m not a three-year-old. I understand,¡± Xu Chaomu said irritably. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re not three years old,¡± Li Beiting continued, ¡°Actually, you should know, Shen Chi is the highly regarded fourth young master of the Shen¡¯s, and Bai Man is a young Miss from a distinguished family. Their match is perfect, as you well know.¡± ¡°I know!¡± Xu Chaomu said impatiently. ¡°I understand you don¡¯t like hearing this, but you must listen,¡± Li Beiting persisted, ¡°Shen Chi has always treated you as a little sister, and he¡¯s been good to you over the years. Don¡¯t be ungrateful and spoil his happiness.¡± ¡°Do I look like someone who would be so ungrateful?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to listen anymore. She reached for the door handle, trying to open it and get out. But Li Beiting had locked the door, and no matter how hard she tried, it was pointless. ¡°Wait until I¡¯m finished,¡± Li Beiting said, looking at her, ¡°During this time, don¡¯t throw tantrums with him. The Shen Group has a lot of issues, and he¡¯s extremely busy every day. He doesn¡¯t have time for you.¡± ¡°He already shipped me off to boarding school, Li Beiting, what else do you want from me?¡± she screamed hysterically. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand why everyone med her. Yes, she didn¡¯t even have the right to like someone. To be liked by her was an insult. That was what Zhou Ran thought, what Li Beiting thought, and what Shen Chi¡­ also thought. Suddenly, she remembered being dragged back from the amusement park by Shen Chi the night before when he had said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me dislike you.¡± Yet, justst night, she had made him dislike her, had talked back to him, had upset him. A favored pet cat had to learn to be submissive, not to bite. But she couldn¡¯t learn; she wasn¡¯t born to be liked by people, but to live a good life for herself. Her eyes grew a bit moist. ¡°He sent you off to board at the school?¡± Li Beiting was clearly unaware of this development. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the case for today. What about it, do you think he should have sent me away from C City instead?¡± ¡°Since he¡¯s sent you away, just stay properly at school and visit the Shen Family less. When Shen Chi and Bai Man move out, you cane back,¡± said Li Beiting. ¡°What¡¯s the point of me going back to the Shen Family¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes clouded with a thinyer of confusion. Everyone was driving her away. Why bother going back¡­ Li Beiting fell silent, likely because he too felt that the things he said to Xu Chaomu today were a bit hurtful. After all, Xu Chaomu was just an eighteen-year-old girl. But he had to say these things. If this stubborn girl insisted on marrying Shen Chi, wouldn¡¯t it ruin him? As Shen Chi had just taken over the Shen Group, and as his brother, he must ensure that Shen Chi consolidated his position. Some things Shen Chi couldn¡¯t bring himself to say, and so Li Beiting had to find an opportunity to speak up. ¡°Open the car door, I¡¯ll walk back to the school myself.¡± Xu Chaomu said obstinately, and no one could persuade her otherwise. She didn¡¯t need their well-intentioned advice. She wasn¡¯t clueless. ¡°Let me take you there,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s tone softened. He turned to nce at Xu Chaomu. Her delicate and naive face slightly furrowed; she seemed to be gnashing her teeth, with forbearance and a trace of resignation in her eyes. With a sigh, Li Beiting seemed to relent and started driving in the direction of the school. Old Cheng had already arrived at the school ahead of time and had moved Xu Chaomu¡¯s luggage to her dormitory, where he then waited for her. When Xu Chaomu got out of Li Beiting¡¯s car, her expression was unreadable, like the calm surface of a summerke, undisturbed, without a single ripple. It was rare for Old Cheng to see Xu Chaomu so quiet. After all, she was the girl who could make a teacher cry and who could leave the four young masters at a loss. But now, she just walked ahead, head lowered. All alone. The sun slowly elongated her shadow, stretching it further and further¡­ When Yu Weiwei learned that Xu Chaomu hade to board at the school, she was shocked: ¡°Chaomu, why have youe to board at the school? Didn¡¯t you always say the school wasn¡¯t good?¡± Chapter 137 - 137: Mr. Shen, Kiss Miss Bai Chapter 137: Mr. Shen, Kiss Miss Bai Trantor: 549690339 ¡°It¡¯s nothing; my brother doesn¡¯t want me anymore,¡± Xu Chaomu said calmly, as if it were a very ordinary matter. ¡°Really?¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But I thought the two of you had a good rtionship. You even mentioned getting him a wedding gift. He can¡¯t be like that, right? Marrying a wife and then disregarding his sister?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is. What¡¯s the use of a sister after getting a wife?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t care at all. Yu Weiwei was at a loss for words; it seemed there was some truth to that. ¡°But, are you reallyfortable living at school? I heard, you know, there are mice squeaking in the closet at midnight! And the sound of mantises biting the bed board!¡± Yu Weiwei tried to scare Xu Chaomu. ¡°Would I, Xu Chaomu, be afraid of mice?¡± Back in the orphanage, which had a reputation for being the most disorderly, she had seen it all. ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes. ¡°Forget I said anything.¡± The two talked for a while before the English teacher walked into the ssroom with a stack of vocabry notebooks. Some students were memorizing vocabry, some reciting texts, and others chatted away. Xu Chaomu was a bit distracted, with many things on her mind. She stared into the sky for a while, sinking into thought. Somehow, her thoughts drifted back to Shen Chi¡­ However, Shen Chi wasn¡¯t free to think about her; he was in his office discussing with Xiao MO about the trip to South Africa. He knew that securing the diamond mine would be very difficult; it required not only sufficient financial and technical support but also persuasive power. Shen Chi might be influential in C City, but in South Africa, everything would have to rely on strength and ability. Moreover, that diamond mine was quite rare, coveted by many groups. Therefore, the matter required careful and long-term nning. After discussing with Xiao MO, it was already afternoon. The sun shone brightly andzily in the sky, the clouds motionless. The streets were bustling as always, vibrant and lively. That afternoon, Shen Chi held a press conference about a new neunched by Shen Group. Ever since acquiring Wantong Technology Company, Shen Chi had used their top-notch technology to create this ne named ¡°Eternal Heart.¡± The ne¡¯s presentation couldn¡¯t do without a model, and that model was none other than Bai Man. With this move, Shen Chi killed two birds with one stone: showcasing the ne and announcing his rtionship with Bai Man to the public. Presenting the ne was meant to reveal part of Shen Group¡¯s strength; announcing his rtionship with Bai Man was to tell everyone that they were about to get married. At the press conference, Shen Chi was dressed in a ck suit, while Bai Man wore a diamond-studded, water-blue, trailing, one-shoulder evening gown. From the start of the event, Bai Man stood on the brightest stage, arm-in-arm with Shen Chi. Shen Chi was as usual, austere and serious, his tall figure swathed in a ck suit. Bai Man smiled and waved to the crowd from time to time. She had taken great care with her appearance that day; her ck hair was twisted into a bun, shining with white pearls. To be honest, she was quite surprised when Shen Chi called her. But the fact that he brought her to such an important press conference showed that he cared a lot about her. Just as, after the Shen and Bai families discussed marriage, she shared her feelings with her parents. They bothforted her, advising her not to overthink it, for Shen Chi really liked her. The press conference went smoothly. After presenting the ¡°Eternal Heart¡± to all the guests, Shen Chi personally put the ne around Bai Man¡¯s fair neck. The ne was embedded with blood-red diamonds, the so-called blood diamonds, precious and extraordinarily rare. Yet, this ne featured ninerge blood diamonds, each one uniform in size and color, as if they were replicated. The diamonds sparkled under the lights, exceptionally beautiful, surpassing the splendor of the stars by threefold. Bai Man lowered her head, and Shen Chi took the ¡°Eternal Heart¡± and put it around Bai Man¡¯s neck. At that moment, the crowd below erupted into excitement, and the serious press conference suddenly became extraordinarily lively. One reporter began to ask loudly, ¡°President Shen, does the ¡®Eternal Heart¡¯ have any special significance?¡± ¡°President Shen, is this a marriage proposal to Miss Bai?¡± ¡°President Shen, there have been rumors about you and Miss Bai being childhood sweethearts. Can you reveal whether something good is uing between you two?¡± ¡°President Shen, kiss Miss Bai!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, what do you have to say about President Shen giving you this valuable ne?¡± ¡°Miss Bai, what are your feelings at this moment?¡± Noises filled the air, and when someone shouted ¡°kiss her,¡± the crowd began to chant in unison. ¡°Kiss her, kiss her¡­¡¯ Bai Man looked at Shen Chi with tender affection, her eyelids drooping, her cheeks flushing slightly: ¡°Don¡¯t listen to their nonsense.¡± Shen Chi smiled faintly, reached out to tuck her hanging hair behind her ear; his gesture was gentle and meticulous. ¡°Do you like this ne?¡± he asked in a hoarse whisper, his voice deep yet tender. ¡°I love it. It¡¯s the only one of its kind in the world. Just like you, to me, you¡¯re one of a kind, invaluable.¡± Bai Man¡¯s tones were soft and tender, and each time she looked up, her eyes brimmed with soft tenderness. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it. It¡¯s for you.¡± ¡°Really? The Eternal Heart¡­ Can you tell me what it means?¡± Bai Man asked coyly, tilting her head at Shen Chi. ¡°What do you think?¡± Shen Chi also smiled, his hand brushing her hair. Seeing their affectionate behavior, the crowd began to make noise again, and the press conference instantly became very lively. ¡°President Shen, you and Miss Bai really are a match made in heaven.¡± ¡°Yes, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a good match in terms of social status.¡¯ ¡°President Shen, satisfy everyone just once, please kiss Miss Bai¡­¡± ¡°Miss Bai, why don¡¯t you take the initiative and kiss President Shen?¡± Bai Man lowered her head, her cheeks blushing, and whispered to Shen Chi, ¡°Maybe¡­ you should just indulge them?¡± Indulging them would also be indulging her. Shen Chi onlyughed softly, his eyes brimming with indulgence and tenderness, ¡°Now you¡¯re conspiring with them.¡± After speaking, he touched Bai Man¡¯s hair again and led her by the hand to the front microphone. ¡°Thank you all foring today; it¡¯s an honor for Shen Group. The ¡®Eternal Heart¡¯ represents eternity, evesting, and permanence, which is also what I want to say to Miss Bai,¡± he said. He paused, then continued with a slight curl of his lips, ¡°Next month, I will be engaged to Miss Bai Man, signifying that in the future, we will be as eternal as the Eternal Heart, forever in love. ¡°Moreover, this ne will soon go into production, and it will be Shen Group¡¯s leading design for this year. I hope everyone will continue to support us.¡± Shen Chi spoke with a deep voice, artictely and with a powerful presence and credibility that left no room for doubt. As soon as he spoke, the crowd below fell silent, all ears tuned to his words.. Chapter 138 - 138: Shen Chi, I Don’t Want You Anymore Chapter 138: Shen Chi, I Don¡¯t Want You Anymore Trantor: 549690339 After the speech, the auditorium erupted into thunderous apuse. When he was ready to leave the podium, Bai Man took his hand with a smile and walked to the microphone. ¡°Today, I am very grateful for everyone¡¯s presence. I hope you will continue to support Shen Group and continue to support me. In the future, I willplete the endorsement for this jewelry. Just like the name of this ne, ¡®eternal¡¯, forever. I also wish that all lovers in the world will unite in marriage.¡± Bai Man was graceful andposed, her words delivered with light humor. Many reporters were not focused on Bai Man¡¯s speech but on her hand holding Shen Chi¡¯s hand. A match made in heaven, disying such affection. ¡°Click¡± ¡°Click¡±¡­ Then came a frenzy of photography, with shes going off incessantly. For a moment, the lights at the press conference flickered wildly, with shbulbs and spotlights alternating, and the noise of the crowd made it a lively scene. The whole press conferencested an afternoon, with Shen Chi and Bai Man making an appearance, followed by speeches from other Shen Group executives. At night, there was a jewelry exhibition and a g. Nearly all of C City¡¯s elite were present, making the g both grand and prosperous. This was huge news that rocked the entire C City, and journalists were working overtime just to capture a few exclusive photos. Soon, media, newspapers, and magazines were all scrambling to report the event. Shen Chi had always kept a low profile, but this time he made a high-profile announcement about his marriage during the press conference, and he became the headline of major media outlets overnight. In this era of advanced inte connectivity, it took less than an hour for the news to spread throughout the entire city. However, Xu Chaomu found out about this only the next afternoon. The next day happened to be Saturday, and she did not return to the Shen Family home, nor did anyonee to see her. She spent half the day alone in the ssroom doing homework and got so bored in the afternoon that she sneaked to the newsstand at the school gate to buy some newspapers. When she first got to the newsstand, Xu Chaomu was startled. All sorts of newspapers and magazines, all with headlines featuring Shen Chi and Bai Man. Shen Chi was in a ck suit, while Bai Man was in a long blue dress. Differentyouts, but the same photos all over. The headlines were eye-catching, ¡°Shen Group Press Conference, Mr. Shen and Miss Bai Publicly Disy Affection¡±, ¡°Popr actress Bai Man supported by Shen Group¡¯s President Shen Chi¡±, ¡°President Shen spends fortunes for hisdy, her smile in return for her loving man¡±¡­ Her gaze shifted downward, downward, downward¡­ Xu Chaomu saw the hands Shen Chi and Bai Man were holding. A wave of pain spread through her chest, a pain that had appeared from time to time recently. It was as if she were drinking tea steeped with lotus seeds, the bitterness magnifying slowly¡­ Even someone as optimistic as her couldn¡¯t help but lower her head. The grip on the newspaper tightened, and a mistyyer of tears formed in her eyes. The sun bleached white, casting down on her body, the tip of her nose glistening with beads of sweat, yet she was unaware. ¡°Youngdy, do you want to buy that newspaper? You¡¯ve been reading it for quite a while now,¡± the newsstand owner finally spoke up. The owner had been watching Xu Chaomu for a while, at first thinking she was browsing without intent to buy, but then realizing that the girl was fixated on the huge photo on the front page of the newspaper, motionless and staring intently. ¡°Youngdy!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t respond, so the owner called out again. ¡°Ah? Oh, I¡¯ll buy it.¡± Xu Chaomu came back to her senses and took out a dor to give to the owner. She hurried away with the newspaper and read all the news once she was back in the ssroom. She felt shameless. After Shen Chi had treated her this way, why should she still care about him? He had her stay in school just so he could be lovey-dovey with Bai Man. Maybe he had already given her room to Bai Man. Xu Chaomu felt a bit miserable. In the past, she would have cut out Shen Chi¡¯s pictures, draw big Xs over them, and write the words ¡°Eternally Doomed ¡ª Shen Chi¡±. But now, she didn¡¯t even have the interest to do such things. Silently tossing the newspaper into the trash bin, she bit her lip, ¡°Shen Chi, I don¡¯t want you anymore.¡± From now on, he would take his broad road, and she would walk her narrow bridge. To forget each other in the rivers andkes would be best, never to interact in life or death. She returned to her seat, took out her reference book, and began doing homework. She had fallen behind on many courses and needed to slowly catch up. Although studying wasn¡¯t the only way, at least she wouldn¡¯t starve in the future. As she was pondering over a math problem, someone tapped the window ¡°thud, thud, thud¡±. Xu Chaomu looked up to meet Lou Yanli¡¯s gaze. He smiled slightly, and all the surrounding scenery seemed to lose its color. That smile, like a spring breeze caressing the face, like pear blossoms falling¡ª gentle, clean, unhurried. She couldn¡¯t help but smile back, tilting her head to look at him, ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± Lou Yanli, as if by magic, produced a doll as tall as a textbook and waved it at Xu Chaomu, ¡°Come out!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes sparkled. A doll ¡ª did Lou Yanli really remember her casualment from the cafeteriast time? She skipped out of the ssroom, snatched the doll from his hands like a bandit, ¡°Is this for me?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s made in your image. Take a look and see if you like it,¡± he said. Xu Chaomu was delighted. She looked it over from left to right and then pouted at Lou Yanli, ¡°How does it resemble me? I¡¯m much cuter than this. Look, these eyes are not as big as mine, this hair isn¡¯t as ck as mine, this skin isn¡¯t as white as mine, this¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, are you shameless?¡± Lou Yanliughed out loud, cutting off her words. ¡°Really, don¡¯t you agree? I¡¯m such an honest person, speaking nothing but the truth,¡± she said. ¡°Then give it back to me; I¡¯ll take it home to keep as a pet,¡± Lou Yanli said, then reached out to grab it. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, although it¡¯s a bit ugly, a gift once given and water once poured can¡¯t be taken back. This doll, I¡¯m keeping it!¡± Lou Yanli smiled too. His family didn¡¯t run a doll factory; he had personally sketched the design and had it made. ¡°Chaomu, I heard you started boarding at school?¡± Lou Yanli asked. The joy Xu Chaomu had been feeling dimmed at the question, and she replied indifferently, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice at school.¡± ¡°Then you cane and ask me anytime if you have any problems, or, I can find time in the evening to tutor you. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s free of charge.¡± ¡°How could I ept that?¡± ¡°If you feel bad about it, you can be my girlfriend, okay?¡± Lou Yanli¡¯s tone was serious, and he looked at Xu Chaomu earnestly. His attractive eyebrows slightly raised, his eyes brimming with sincerity and tenderness. ¡°You really dare to take me?¡± Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°If you dare to agree, then I dare to take you.¡± ¡°My grades aren¡¯t good, my attitude isn¡¯t good, and I often get scolded by teachers.¡± ¡°No problem, my grades are good enough.¡¯ ¡°But I can¡¯t do anything; I can¡¯t even wash clothes properly.¡± ¡°No problem, I can do it.¡± ¡°And all I know is how to eat, drink, and have fun. What do you say to that?¡± ¡°No problem, I can afford to keep you..¡± Chapter 139 - 139: The Day He Left Chapter 139: The Day He Left Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu could find no more excuses, yet she felt it was somewhat unfair to Lou Yanli. After all, she had liked someone, once filling her heart to the brim with thoughts of that person¡­ But then again, she thought, Shen Chi was about to get married; he didn¡¯t want her anymore, and she didn¡¯t want him either. Was she really supposed to remain an old maid forever? It was just that emotional hurdle within her heart that seemed insurmountable. ¡°Chaomu, please agree,¡± Lou Yanli saw the hesitation in her eyes, unsure of what she was wavering over. Perhaps it was about her brother? Lou Yanli had not missed the headline in the newspaper. When he saw it, he was taken aback for a moment¡ªwasn¡¯t that Xu Chaomu¡¯s brother? Normally, Xu Chaomu would tell others her brother worked moving bricks on a construction site. But Lou Yanli wasn¡¯t so easily fooled; he had personally seen Xu Chaomu¡¯s brother driving a Maybach. That certainly wasn¡¯t a car just anyone could afford. But, if Xu Chaomu¡¯s brother truly was Shen Chi, the president of Shen Group, then it meant his family¡¯spany and Shen Group had a very close coborative rtionship. ¡°Let me think about it¡­¡± It was the first time Xu Chaomu was so indecisive. Once she agreed to Lou Yanli, she would no longer be allowed to think about Shen Chi. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to Lou Yanli. ¡°I thought you might reject me.¡± Lou Yanli chuckled, ¡°Go ahead and think about it, I can wait.¡¯ Xu Chaomu nodded, holding the doll Lou Yanli had given her. She looked down and caressed the doll¡¯s ck hair, feeling hesitant in her heart. After a long silence, she asked again, ¡°Yanli¡­ I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not good enough for you.¡± She was genuinely scared; when she liked Shen Chi, there was already a world of difference between their statuses. Now, she feared that she might not live up to Lou Yanli either¡­ All mismatches in love tend to end up with no good result. ¡°Why would you think so? You know, my mother said the same thing to my dad, but he loved her so much. Now, after so many years, they are still in love, living happily together. Forced love is the least stable. Oh, by the way, I told you before, your temperament is very much like my mother¡¯s.¡± ¡°I would really like to meet your mother someday.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. ¡°There will be a chance.¡± Clutching the doll, Xu Chaomu chatted aimlessly with Lou Yanli. They began by standing and talking by the window but soon, Xu Chaomu suggested moving up to the rooftop. The school¡¯s rooftop was high; standing there felt almost like standing at the peak of a mountain. The wind ¡°whooshed¡± by, lifting Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair. Xu Chaomu realized that it was only in front of Lou Yanli that she felt like a proper youngdy. They talked a lot, but Lou Yanli cleverly avoided mentioning anything about Xu Chaomu¡¯s ¡°brother.¡± After a very long while, Xu Chaomu said to Lou Yanli, ¡°Yanli, wait for me to think it through, I will definitely give you an answer.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lou Yanli smiled, his lips curving up. It was the afternoon, the sunlight was clear, and the years were peaceful. Strands of golden sunlight shone on Lou Yanli¡¯s shirt, and Xu Chaomu recalled a line from the poem they had learned in Chinese ss today: In my youth, my spring garments were light. She never cared much for studying; perhaps it¡¯s true what they say about being influenced by your surroundings. By staying with Lou Yanli, she herself could be more cultured. Of course, if one stays with a rogue, they would likely be a rogue as well. Throughout the weekend, Xu Chaomu stayed with Lou Yanli, who was there for her during the hardest times in her heart. He kept herpany talking, eating together, and helping her with study problems. Life without Shen Chi might not be so bad after all. Aside from a small, spreading ache in her chest¡­ After the Shen Group¡¯s press conference, Shen Chi, as usual, drank himself into a stupor. Countless people toasted him at the banquet, and he refused none, drinking ss after ss. It wasn¡¯t until the early hours of Saturday that the crowd started to disperse. Butler Cheng propped Shen Chi into the car, fortunately, Shen Chi was a good drunk, just silently leaning on the seat, not uttering a word. It was as if he was asleep, or maybe deep in thought. Shen Chi¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, probably feeling sick due to too much alcohol. Starting the car, Butler Cheng looked back, ¡°President Shen, you can¡¯t drink so much anymore.¡± Shen Chi did not respond, and Butler Cheng wasn¡¯t sure if he had heard. The car fell silent for a few seconds, before Butler Cheng sighed. Shen Chi¡¯s hand clenched into a fist supporting his head, his expression pained. ¡°President Shen, are you alright? Shall I stop and take you to a nearby hotel?¡± Butler Cheng slowed down the car. Shen Chi rubbed his forehead: ¡°No need, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Then please bear with it a little longer, we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± After saying that, Butler Cheng drove with full concentration, escorting Shen Chi back to the vi. It was nearly three in the morning, the roads were eerily quiet, growing even more so as they neared the vi area. The Maybach raced down the road with a ¡°whoosh¡± sound, exceptionally clear in the dead of night. Butler Cheng had already called Butler Ling in advance, so as soon as the car reached the Shen family gate, Butler Ling came out to help. ¡°Fourth Young Master,¡± Butler Ling called out and hurried over to assist Shen Chi. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I can walk,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep, his eyes downcast. ¡°Fourth Young Master, I¡¯ve made some sobering tea for you. Please have a few sipster, it would help you feel better.¡± Butler Ling tried to support Shen Chi, but he insisted on walking by himself. Sighing inwardly at Shen Chi¡¯s stubbornness, he never allowed himself to appear the slightest bit weak in front of anyone. Butler Ling followed close behind as Shen Chi, supporting himself against the walls, climbed the staircase. Stopping in front of Xu Chaomu¡¯s door, perhaps out of habit, he halted and nced at Butler Ling. ¡°Is Chaomu asleep?¡± Butler Ling was taken aback, feeling a sudden warmth in her eyes. Her voice lowered, ¡°Fourth Young Master, Miss Xu has gone to stay at school.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s drunken gaze lingered on the door for a few seconds, then, as if remembering something, he smiled bitterly, ¡°Oh, I forgot.¡± A hush fell over the hallway. Not a sound was heard. With Shen Chi walking ahead, Butler Ling followed close behind. The tall figure wrapped in a suit, usually somanding and cold, seemed to Butler Ling to be filled with a touch more solitude now. Shen Chi opened the door to his own room, slowly undid his tie, and methodically hung his suit on a coat hanger. Butler Ling brought the tea for sobering up and then bowed out quietly. Butler Cheng hadn¡¯t left yet, and Butler Ling took the opportunity to speak with him. ¡°Butler Cheng, how much did the Fourth Young Master drink tonight?¡± ¡°Quite a lot. You should take extra care tonight. If President Shen calls for you, hurry up to him,¡± Butler Cheng said with a hint of concern. ¡°Sigh, why did he drink so much again? No matter how young, this is not a way to drink. It was the same a few days ago; he got utterly drunk.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot on his te with thepany, and drinking is part of the job. Besides, President Shen has just taken over thepany, and with so many things to handle, it¡¯s inevitable,¡± Butler Cheng seemed to understand better. ¡°Try to advise him when you have a chance. No matter how important the socializing is, it can¡¯tpare to one¡¯s health,¡± Butler Ling sighed.. Chapter 140 - 140: Sleeping Together, Five Thousand per Hour Chapter 140: Sleeping Together, Five Thousand per Hour Trantor: 549690339 On the weekend, Xu Chaomu was running on the yground when Yu Weiwei mysteriously pulled her aside. ¡°Chaomu, did you tell mest time that you want to make money?¡± ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Do you still want to make money now?¡± ¡°Of course! Who would think they have enough money?¡± Xu Chaomu gave a sincere response. She had no money, and she really wanted to save up for the day she might leave the Shen Family, so she wouldn¡¯t starve to death. Leaving the Shen Family again¡­ Actually, she had already entertained the idea, just not sure why she couldn¡¯t bring herself to make the decision¡­ If she left, she could please everyone. Shen Chi, Bai Man, Zhou Ran, Shen Cexian, Li Beiting¡­ The wind blew across her face, feeling a bit cool. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you to a ce where we can make money together. I heard you can earn a thousand just by working for two hours at night.¡¯ ¡°What do you mean ¡®work for two hours¡¯? It¡¯s not selling my body, is it? Because I won¡¯t do that. Although I don¡¯t have any talent to sell, I don¡¯t sell my body!¡± Xu Chaomu dered with a sense of righteousness. ¡°Goddamn it, Xu Chaomu, what¡¯s in your head! Even if you wanted to sell yourself, no one would buy. Besides, would I ever cheat you?¡± Yu Weiweiined discontentedly. ¡°You would,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a resentful nce. Yu Weiwei¡¯s face was covered in ck lines, fuming with frustration. ¡°Spill it, what¡¯s this job, and where is it?¡± ¡°Ever heard of ¡®Weiyang¡¯?¡± Yu Weiwei whispered. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a high-end clubhouse?¡± Yu Weiwei nodded vigorously, ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°No, no, we can¡¯t go to such a ce.¡± ¡°Five hundred an hour, you really not going?¡± ¡°Even if there¡¯s money to be made, you¡¯re not going?¡± ¡°Oh, then I¡¯m going,¡± said Yu Weiwei with a shrug. ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t go, just tell me, what exactly will we be doing?¡± Xu Chaomu feigned indifference. ¡°Just serving tea and water.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that simple?¡± ¡°Yep, just follow the supervisor¡¯s lead, and you get paid daily.¡± Xu Chaomu was somewhat tempted. Should she go take a look? If it really was no good, she could always turn back, especially since the wages were paid aa11Y. ¡°We¡¯re going tonight?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Yep!¡± Yu Weiwei nodded her head. Xu Chaomu weighed it out for quite a while and felt it was worth it. Just going two or three times a week could her a few thousand yuan. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go there tonight, what time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s mostly night shifts here; tonight it¡¯s from twelve to two,¡± said Yu Weiwei. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, then. We¡¯ll look out for each other.¡± ¡°No problem, I have a senior who does part-time work there; she¡¯s the one who rmended it.¡± Xu Chaomu was reassured, considering Weiyang was a renowned club in C City, the management shouldn¡¯t be too bad. So, when evening finally arrived, Xu Chaomu sneakily followed Yu Weiwei to Weiyang just after ten. The ce was truly bustling, with neon lights of all colors hanging outside the clubhouse. In front of the club was arge square with a musical fountain that, under the illumination of lights, changed into various shapes. The words ¡°Weiyang¡± were written in regr script. The sign shed golden, a sign of luxury. A line of luxury cars was parked at the entrance, the same makes and models as those owned by the Shen Family, which Xu Chaomu also recognized. Under normal circumstances, Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t daree to such a ce even if given ten times the courage. But now, having been driven out of the Shen Family, no one would mind her anymore. ¡°Xu Chaomu, why are you so nervous,e on, lift your head and stand tall! We¡¯re female hoodlums, they should be afraid of us!¡± Yu Weiwei grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Now, Xu Chaomu had no reservations at all. Make money, make money, make money. After making money, she could even keep a handsome man. As many as she wanted. Tall Korean oppas, towering Korean oppas, warm beauties, domineering guys¡­ the world was her oyster! ¡°Are you Yu Weiwei and Xu Chaomu?¡± As they stepped into the club, a supervisor eyed them up. ¡°Yes.¡± They nodded together. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re both eighteen.¡± ¡°We have various positions for waitstaff here; do you only want to serve tea and water?¡± the supervisor asked. ¡°What else is there?¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but ask, driven by curiosity. ¡°Of course.¡± The supervisor replied, ¡°Serving tea and water is the simplest and pays the least. Apanying guests for drinks pays a thousand an hour, sleeping with guests pays five thousand an hour. Sorry to be blunt, but you¡¯re adults now, you don¡¯t mind me speaking like this, do you?¡± The supervisor was a tall woman with heavy makeup but a pretty face. Anyone who could mingle in this ce was bound to be gorgeous. ¡°We don¡¯t mind, we don¡¯t mind, we¡¯ll just serve tea and water,¡± said Yu Weiwei. ¡°No problem, we value straightforwardness here. While the ce is big, we don¡¯t cheat anyone. Transparent pricing, daily wages, and we never force anyone. I¡¯m just letting you know since you asked,¡± the supervisor exined. ¡°Thanks a lot, we really appreciate it,¡± Yu Weiwei bowed. ¡°Tonight, you¡¯ll be in charge of VIP rooms 888 and 209. Whatever the guests need, you must deliver immediately. If the guests are unsatisfied, sorry, but I will deduct your wages, ¡± the supervisor warned with a stern face. ¡°Got it, we will definitely do a good job,¡± Yu Weiwei and Xu Chaomu promised together. Soon, after a quick rundown of the rules, they were led to their respective areas. Yu Weiwei was assigned to 209, while Xu Chaomu was sent to 888. For Xu Chaomu, the number 888 was chilling because Shen Chi¡¯s car te number was also made up of ¡°8s¡±¡ª8888, even more domineering than this. The room was filled with many people, all of whom were said to be the wealthy of C City, none to be trifled with. It was Xu Chaomu¡¯s first time carrying a tray, and she didn¡¯t dare to carry too many drinks; she only ced ten empty wine sses on a tray. The soundproofing in the room was excellent, and Xu Chaomu only heard noise when she approached. Men and women, aplete mix-up. ¡°Mr. Wang, you¡¯re really good at making jokes. If you ask me to drink, how could I refuse?¡± a woman¡¯s coquettish voice. ¡°Beauty, so how many sses are you nning to drinkter?¡± ¡°Mr. Wang, let¡¯s y a game of finger-guessing, the loser drinks. I don¡¯t believe you can beat me.¡± ¡°If you lose, just drinking isn¡¯t enough, you¡¯ll have to let this young master steal a kiss¡­¡± Just then, an irate male voice erupted, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the wine ss been brought in yet? Dawdling around, asking for a whooping!¡± Only then did Xu Chaomu snap back to reality, steadied her tray, and knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock. After a moment, the door opened, and smoke billowed out. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Xu Chaomu, who had never seen such a scene before, immediately started coughing nonstop. ¡°Damn it, did Weiyang hire a sickly kid to serve? You don¡¯t have some contagious disease, do you?¡± It was the same man speaking. In normal circumstances, Xu Chaomu would have charged over, ¡°You¡¯re the sick one! Your whole family is sick!¡± But she held back, resisting the urge. What could be more important than money? Before money, one has no choice but to bow their head. ¡°Zhengming, cool it, cool it. You can tell she¡¯s new, clumsy and awkward. Getting angry at her isn¡¯t worth it, ¡± someone pulled him back.. Chapter 141 - 141 A Heart Fluttering and Blushing Scenario Chapter 141: A Heart Fluttering and Blushing Scenario Trantor: 549690339 ¡°What are you standing there for, can¡¯t you pour some drinks?¡± a woman scolded Xu Chaomu with a shrill voice. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Xu Chaomu squatted down and used a bottle opener to open the beers on the table. Feeling a surge of resentment, she had never done anything like this before, but she endured it¨Cfive hundred yuan for an hour! Five hundred yuan! Five hundred yuan! If she saw all the people in front of her as money, then they wouldn¡¯t be so annoying. Xu Chaomu opened the beer bottles and poured into the sses. She had no expression on her face, and because of the manager¡¯s request, she had also applied makeup and tied her hair up in a bun. This hairstyle made her small face look even more delicate and charming. She poured one ss after another. The private room was lively with color, as men and women started to flirt. ¡°Little Yueyue, young master hasn¡¯t been to Weiyang for a month, did you miss me? ¡°Who would miss you? You haven¡¯t been here for a month, you must have forgotten about me.¡± ¡°My darling, even if I forgot my own parents, I wouldn¡¯t dare forget about you, right? I¡¯ve been so restless this past month without seeing you. Feel my chest- -isn¡¯t my heart beating wildly? It¡¯s all because I¡¯ve missed you.¡± The man grabbed the woman¡¯s hand and started fondling her on his chest. ¡°Pfft, Mr. Hu, you¡¯re always joking with me.¡± The woman half-heartedly resisted and then fell into the man¡¯s arms. ¡°I like it when you¡¯re like this, you really are my sweetheart.¡± The man grabbed the woman¡¯s hand and wandered all over. From his outer shirt to under his shirt, from his chest to his belt¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, city folks sure know how to y. Soon, she saw scenes that made her face blush. Another two men came over, one of them putting his arm around Little Yueyue¡¯s waist and kissing her face. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The woman¡¯s body went limp, ¡°Liu¡­ Mr. Liu¡­ Mmm¡­ Oh¡­ Do not¡­¡± Although Xu Chaomu had seen plenty of adult magazines, this was the first time she had witnessed it live. If she stayed any longer, would it turn into something R-rated? She was a child raised right, after all. She had only a little¡­ well, just a tiny bit of interest in these matters. Right, just a tiny bit. She just took a quick peek. One peek, one peek¡­ It was rumored that the women here had good skills. Maybe she should sneakily learn a thing or two? ¡°Damn it, move faster with your hands. Even pouring drinks you¡¯re so sluggish, what have you been eating to grow so slow?¡± the hot-tempered man scolded Xu Chaomu again. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Chaomu swallowed her anger. With so many sses, could she fill them quickly? Into her ears came the sounds of enticement: ¡°Mr. Hu¡­ don¡¯t¡­ you¡¯re making it difficult for me¡­ ah¡­ hmm¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red. Three men crowded around her, looking at her with lecherous eyes. ¡°Little sister, how old are you? How can you still blush? Is this your first time at a ce like this?¡± After speaking, the three menughed loudly together. ¡°Please take your time with the drinks here.¡± Xu Chaomu remembered what the manager said¨Cno matter what the guests said, she just had to keep her dignity. Although, she really wanted to ssh a beer in their faces! ¡°Little sister, have a drink with us. Let¡¯s y a game, rolling dice. If you win, I¡¯ll give you a thousand; if you lose, you take a drink. How about it?¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve never won at dice before.¡± Xu Chaomu said expressionlessly. Not ying with you for a thousand! ¡°Hahaha, this chick is interesting. Mr. Tian, she¡¯s just turned you down,¡± one of the men said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if she¡¯s never won,e on, let me teach you hand by hand. I guarantee you¡¯ll win.¡± Mr. Tian walked towards Xu Chaomu. The few men and women who were flirting earlier now stopped and came over to watch. The private room wasrge, the smell of cigarettes was heavy, and the lighting was dim. About a dozen or so people crowded around, mostly men with messy clothes and women who lookedzily sexy in varying postures, whether lying down, leaning, or standing. There were still three sses left to pour. Xu Chaomu held her breath and silently hurried to pour the drinks. It was then that the man called ¡°Mr. Tian¡± came over and grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrist. ¡°Come on, babe, no need to pour any more drinks. We¡¯ll pay you the same. Make us happy tonight, and you can take these twenty thousand!¡± After saying that, the man pped a bank card on the table with a ¡°smack.¡± These few men found Xu Chaomu very amusing, and moreover, she had a pretty delicate face and looked young. Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrist was grabbed, and she couldn¡¯t pour drinks anymore. She tried to pull away with force. ¡°Gentlemen, the manager is waiting for me to report back. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me,¡± Xu Chaomu forced a smile. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? If our guys here take a liking to a girl, does a manager dare to say anything?¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly, even the boss of Weiyang has to give us some consideration. Babe, don¡¯t be scared, stay with us!¡± ¡°But gentlemen, I am not feeling well today,¡± Xu Chaomu bore her temper and kept up her appeasing smile. The manager said if she offended anyone, she wouldn¡¯t get a penny! ¡°Cutie, making excuses again? No worries, I¡¯ll make you feelfortable!¡± Another man approached. Xu Chaomu was quickly surrounded in the middle, with hungry wolves all around shing their gleaming eyes. The other women joined in, giggling, ¡°Don¡¯t scare our little sister, maybe she¡¯s still a novice!¡± ¡°Really, look how anxious you guys are, like you haven¡¯t seen a woman in ages.¡± ¡°Look, these girls are jealous. Little chick, what do you think we should do?¡± someone started teasing Xu Chaomu again. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t struggle, but calmly looked at them, ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit. I¡¯m no novice. What type of men haven¡¯t I seen? Oh, right, you all know Shen Chi, don¡¯t you? Last night, Shen Chi wanted me for the whole night, left my back aching and sore.¡± Xu Chaomu thought if Shen Chi knew, he¡¯d probably kill her. But a wise man does not fight when the odds are against him. The men were stunned and then burst intoughter. ¡°This chick doesn¡¯t beat around the bush. Shen Chi is famously indifferent to women. Other than Miss Bai, he really doesn¡¯t seem to take to any woman. Little chick, your lie has no substance. You think we¡¯re that easy to fool?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, go ask Shen Chi yourself. I even know what brand of shirt he wears.¡± Xu Chaomu said with disdain. ¡°Oh? Then tell us, what brand of shirt does Shen Chi wear? And what about his body, good physique? Did he satisfy youst night?¡± ¡°Well, he likes Versace shirts the best. But speaking of physique, Shen Chi¡¯s is incredibly good. As forst night¡­ oh, such matters, if you¡¯re bold enough, why don¡¯t you ask Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu had thrown caution to the wind, somehow feeling the perverse joy of denigrating Shen Chi! To get back at him! She rarely had the opportunity for such sweet revenge! Whether it was because Xu Chaomu sounded too convincing, or because these people were somewhat wary of Shen Chi, in any case, the room fell silent for a few seconds. Chapter 142 - 142 He Doesn’t Like to Close the Door While Bathing Chapter 142: He Doesn¡¯t Like to Close the Door While Bathing Trantor: 549690339 ¡°This chick talks like she knows what¡¯s up, could it be that this Shen Chi really just pretends to be noble on the surface but is actually like the rest of us behind closed doors?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always said, Shen Chi is one person in front of others, and another behind their backs.¡± The men resumed their discussion about Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu wanted to seize the opportunity to pull away her wrist, but this guy named Tian Shao just wouldn¡¯t let go! Another man approached, grinning slyly, ¡°Little miss, why don¡¯t you tell us, then? Is this Shen Chi any good in bed?¡± Dammit, how would she know. But she sighed, furrowed her brows, looking like she was deep in thought. ¡°Haha, little miss, it looks like this Shen Chi isn¡¯t much good after all.¡± ¡°s,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head too, wearing an expression of deep disappointment as ifmenting over unfulfilled potential. Her act drew even moreughter from the crowd, ¡°I always say men can never escape lust. Look, I was right, wasn¡¯t I, saying Shen Chi is no good!¡± Xu Chaomu almost burst intoughter, she restrained herself, and kept restraining herself. It wouldn¡¯t take long, she feared, for the news of Shen Chi being ¡°no good¡± to spread throughout the entire upper ss. Just the thought excited her a little! Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but feel smug. She wasn¡¯t always going to lose to Shen Chi, and today she finally got herance. Destroy his reputation,pletely! But some still heard the contradictions in Xu Chaomu¡¯s words, ¡°Chick, you just said Shen Chi took you for a whole night, leaving your waist and back sore, now you¡¯re saying he¡¯s not up to par?¡± ¡°I was the one active all night, of course I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Xu Chaomu was shameless, already notorious as a little ruffian. ¡°Hahaha, this chick knows quite a bit. Seems we¡¯ve been underestimated, she¡¯s definitely not as innocent as we thought,¡±ughed the men. Ugh! Can¡¯t one have theoretical knowledge without practical experience? Haven¡¯t eaten pork but can¡¯t watch pigs run? She hasn¡¯t slept with Shen Chi, but at least she¡­ she touched him! ¡°So, missy, what other preferences does this Shen Chi have?¡± Some still didn¡¯t believe Xu Chaomu¡¯s ims. ¡°Him? He doesn¡¯t like to close the door when he showers,¡± Xu Chaomu seriously chimed in, raising an eyebrow. The men looked at each other, puzzled; this was something they couldn¡¯t verify. Xu Chaomu inwardly scorned them. If Shen Chi really didn¡¯t like closing the door when showering, she would¡¯ve seen everything by now, not live with him for eight years and still have no idea what he looks like undressed! ¡°What else?¡± they pressed on relentlessly. ¡°Else¡­ Oh, Shen Chi doesn¡¯t like to eat sour things.¡± That was actually true. Indeed, someone in the crowd agreed: ¡°This gal isn¡¯t shallow with Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Tian Shao, you better let her go now. If Shen Chi finds out you¡¯re holding his woman, you won¡¯t get away with it,¡± said someone. Tian Shao didn¡¯t care at all, leering at Xu Chaomu with a sinister smile, ¡°I want to try a woman Shen Chi has had, see how good she is¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned dark, damn it, she¡¯s invoked the Buddha-like Shen Chi, how could these people still be so brazen? Could it be that Shen Chi¡¯s reputation isn¡¯t big enough? Or is he not well-liked? ¡°Tian Shao, stop joking. If this chick whispers in his ear, just think about the consequences.¡± Xu Chaomu still didn¡¯t lose herposure, smiling graciously, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t whisper in the ears of Shen Chi, at best I¡¯ll just ¡®boast¡¯ about all of your alcohol capacities and¡­ oh, also how good you are at throwing dice.¡± ¡°Tian Shao, let her go. It¡¯s not worth the trouble for a bit of fun,¡± suggested someone. ¡°Right, there are plenty of women. Just call another one over. As for a woman Shen Chi has touched, even if he doesn¡¯t want her, it probably won¡¯t be our turn.¡± Still, Tian Shao didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Are you guys being naive or what? Fooled by just a few words from this little girl? In my opinion, she¡¯s just spouting nonsense!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying though, ¡®better to believe it and not need it, than need it and not believe it¡¯.¡± A smile yed upon Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips again, ¡°What else do you want to know about Shen Chi? I¡¯ll tell all.¡± Making up stories, she had quite the skill. Especially when it came to fabricating rumors about Shen Chi, she was tireless. At that moment, she almost didn¡¯t want to leave. ¡°Then, missy, tell us, what car does this Shen Chi drive?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips twitched. Couldn¡¯t they ask something more challenging? ¡°He usually drives a ck Maybach, and there¡¯s a cute doll-shaped pillow on the car that I love. It¡¯s sofortable to lean on, with a faint scent ofvender. Some there had indeed been in Shen Chi¡¯s car, ¡°What the chick says is right, she knows so much, seems she really has been in Shen Chi¡¯s car.¡± Xu Chaomu felt smug again. How could she not know? She begged him to buy that pillow because she found sleeping in the car ufortable. Unable to dissuade her, Shen Chi bought a pillow for the car. Every time Shen Chi looked at that pillow, he¡¯d disapprove, always saying the doll on the pillow was as dumb as her, just sitting in the car, looking clueless and silly. Thinking of this, Xu Chaomu¡¯s excitement waned a little. Now, she wondered if he had thrown that pillow away. Probably, given how much he detested it. ¡°Enough, Tian Shao, let the chick go. You¡¯ve had your fun with her, she¡¯s told us a few ¡®secrets,¡¯ just let her go,¡± someone spoke up for Xu Chaomu. Only then did Tian Shao let go, ¡°You can go. I¡¯m not interested anymore.¡± With a cheeky grin, Xu Chaomu said, ¡°Thank you, young masters. I¡¯ll pour the drinks for you. Enjoy your drink, take your time. Have fun.¡± After that, Xu Chaomuposed herself and filled up all the empty sses. While they were not yet regretting it, she picked up the tray and bolted. That scared the bejesus out of me. She almost tarnished her reputation, but thankfully she was clever. She was once again awestruck by her own wit. Escaping room 888, she went downstairs to look for Yu Weiwei, fearing Weiwei might have run into a simr situation. This job was a bit too high risk! Hurrying down the stairs, ¡°thud, thud, thud,¡± she forgot to take the elevator. The d¨¦cor of Weiyang was indeed luxurious, and though she couldn¡¯t tell Picasso from Da Vinci, she recognized that all the paintings on the wall were high-quality replicas. She continued on her way, taking it all in. Just as she reached the door of room 209, she heard a loud ¡°bang¡± as if a table had been flipped! Xu Chaomu was startled, quickly closing her eyes and covering her ears. She pressed herself against the wall, listening quietly for any sound from inside the room. The soundproofing of the room was so effective that the noises were muffled once they reached the door. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t sure if Weiwei was inside and strained to catch snippets of conversation. ¡°Are you going to strip or not? If you won¡¯t, then I¡¯ll have to do it myself,¡± she heard. Xu Chaomu perked her ears. No way, stripping? Was Weiwei really in there? ¡°These chicks sure are stubborn, why waste words? Just do it! Strip them!¡± Xu Chaomu frowned ¨C who exactly was inside? Chapter 143 - 143: Yu Weiwei Jumps into the River Chapter 143: Yu Weiwei Jumps into the River Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Don¡¯te any closer, or I¡¯ll smash it!¡± That voice, it was Yu Weiwei¡¯s! Xu Chaomu grew even more anxious, indeed, this money was not so easily earned. She stood outside, burning with impatience, pacing back and forth, yet she couldn¡¯t think of a good solution. ¡°Yo, chick, you¡¯ve got quite the temper. Go on, smash it then, but after you¡¯re done, you¡¯re still taking it off!¡± The men inside erupted into loudughter. There was a ¡°ng¡± as the sound of something being smashed could be heard. ¡°Damn it, you really smashed something? And you dared to throw it at me? I¡¯m going to strip you now!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± Just then, Xu Chaomu heard another girl¡¯s voice. It was muffled by the walls, but Xu Chaomu still recognized it. It was MO Shuifu! How could MO Shuifu be here? ¡°MO Shuifu, don¡¯t think that just because Shen Shihan spoke a few words for youst time, you can push your luck. While I¡¯m still in a not too bad mood, you¡¯d better step aside, otherwise I might strip you too, and then you can¡¯t me me for not showing mercy,¡± a man said. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what it meant, Shen Shihan? Shen Shihan? Brother Shen? ¡°She¡¯s my friend, just a tea server. Let her go, and we can negotiate the rest,¡± MO Shuifu¡¯s voice was cold and crisp, like the lonely plum in winter, chilly but imbued with a sense of pride. ¡°MO Shuifu, we can let her go, but then, does that mean you¡¯ll be looking after us tonight?¡± The man¡¯s teasing voice became increasingly wanton. Yu Weiwei spoke up: ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. Even if we die here today, we won¡¯t let you have your way.¡± Xu Chaomu became even more anxious. Yu Weiwei was usually quite clever, how could she be so stubborn at a time like this? Stupid! The more you resist, the happier these wolves get. Isn¡¯t Li Beiting her second uncle? Just mention Li Beiting¡¯s name, and that should be the end of it! Even though she would be scoldedter, it was still better than being humiliated right now. Xu Chaomu pondered and prepared to rush in. It was a do-or-die situation. For a friend, she would go through fire and water. That¡¯s just how righteous Xu Chaomu was! As she was about to kick in the door, suddenly, someone in the room screamed, ¡°This chick¡¯s jumped out the window!¡± Jumped out the window? Yu Weiwei jumped out the window? Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know where she got the strength from, but with a ¡°bang,¡± she kicked and shouldered the door open! ¡°Cough cough cough.¡± The room was full of smoke and swirling fumes. Xu Chaomu coughed non-stop, her eyes scanning the room rapidly! A group of people were lying at the window, each with a different expression, all veryplicated. There was horror, fear, indifference, amusement¡­ Their expressions varied, and after a few seconds of silence, an uproar ensued, with a flurry of discussions. Xu Chaomu then remembered, there was a river outside this window! Yu Weiwei, like her, couldn¡¯t swim! ¡°Quick, go save her, Weiwei can¡¯t swim!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted at the top of her voice. Before the others had time to react, MO Shuifu pushed past Xu Chaomu at the door and ran rapidly downstairs! As she passed by Xu Chaomu, she left a trail of a sweet and pleasant floral fragrance. ¡°Shui Fu! Shui Fu!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t have time to concern herself; she followed MO Shuifu and ran down as well. Someone said loudly from behind, ¡°What do we do? Could someone die from jumping down there?¡± ¡°Scatter quickly, and if anyone dares to call the cops, I¡¯ll kill them!¡± ¡°Stop fooling yourself. They jumped from our spot; if the copse, none of us can escape.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯d better stick to the same story. The chick fell by ident, and if anyone dares to babble, I¡¯ll cut their tongue off!¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± ¡°What about those two chicks that just ran out?¡± ¡°Chase after them, bring them all back. Also, send someone to dredge the river. If the police ask, we¡¯ve got our bases covered.¡± ¡°Right, get down to the river quickly.¡± Xu Chaomu followed MO Shuifu to the first floor; MO Shuifu seemed very familiar with this ce. After descending the stairs, she darted into an alley with rapid steps. Running out of breath, Xu Chaomu gasped, ¡°Shui Fu, wait for me!¡± ¡°Chaomu, you go call the police!¡± MO Shuifu didn¡¯t look back. She didn¡¯t know how Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei ended up in Weiyang, a ce teeming with all sorts of people. When she first arrived, she had also almost been bullied if not for a man known as ¡°Brother Shen¡± who said a few words on her behalf, which allowed her to survive up to this day. Now that Yu Weiwei was in such trouble, she had every reason to save her. She was a few years older than Xu Chaomu, who she always treated as a little sister, and naturally, she also considered Yu Weiwei a friend. ¡°Shui Fu, what are you going to do?¡± Before MO Shuifu could answer Xu Chaomu, Xu Chaomu heard a ¡°ssh¡±¡ªMo Shuifu had jumped into the water! ¡°Shui Fu! Shui Fu!¡± Xu Chaomu cried out, her eyes moistening against her will. But she stood by the shore, helpless. She couldn¡¯t swim. It was the first time she felt such despair, seeing two good friends jump into the river while she couldn¡¯t do anything. Still, she managed to keep herposure, refraining from wailing. Instead, she rushed to a phone booth and dialed Li Beiting¡¯s number! Her mind was still clear, and she briefly exined the situation. Li Beiting was about to sleep, but as soon as he heard the news, he sat up with a ¡°swoosh,¡± ran down the stairs without even changing his slippers, and drove his Maserati towards Weiyang! ¡°Xu Chaomu, who allowed you to go to Weiyang with Yu Weiwei?¡± he scolded fiercely, his tone frighteningly cold. ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t ask about that now, okay? Saving them is what¡¯s important!¡± Xu Chaomu was desperate. She was already sweating profusely. ¡°What use is panicking now! I¡¯m on my way, I¡¯ve already called the police station! ¡± ¡°Then drive faster, Weiwei can¡¯t swim, you know that,¡± Xu Chaomu said, stamping her foot in frustration. ¡°Xu Chaomu, shut your mouth! If anything happens to Weiwei, I won¡¯t let you off easy!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s attitude was domineering, and his tone was chillingly impersonal. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll take full responsibility, just rescue Weiwei for me, you can yell at me all you want.¡± Li Beiting had floored the elerator, running through several red lights. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s words, he clenched his teeth and furiously tossed the phone aside, his hands gripping the steering wheel, he switched to racing mode! He wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to Yu Weiwei! Xu Chaomu was hung up on, she paced back and forth on the riverbank. The cold wind blew over her, but she didn¡¯t feel cold at all; instead, she kept sweating. Nothing would happen, Yu Weiwei would definitely be alright, and Shui Fu too¡­ They would alle back safe and sound¡­ Soon, the police arrived at Weiyang, and in no time, police tape was up, and everyone in room 209 of Weiyang was detained. The river was pitch-ck; while Xu Chaomu stood by the river, the police took her back to the hall for questioning.. Chapter 144 - 144: Li Beiting’s Anger Chapter 144: Li Beiting¡¯s Anger Trantor: 549690339 In arge room, a swath of people sat densely packed: uniformed police officers, the same group of men from room 209, and of course, a few women with disheveled clothes. The men from room 209, however, wore looks of disdain; such affairs were presumably nothing new to them. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± a police officer asked Xu Chaomu. ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± she replied. The officer took notes on a piece of paper at great speed, as Xu Chaomu nced over and saw the foreman had also arrived, looking terrified. Xu Chaomu was very anxious inside. The river was cold and dark, and Yu Weiwei must be suffering¡­ Not long ago, during that downpour in the mountains, she too had tumbled into a culvert from the slope, drenched through and nearly drowned. That sensation was excruciating; it was a suffocating pain, as if her chest were blocked by a stone. She remembered in the culvert, she almost thought she was dead, but then, Shen Chi had rescued her. ¡°Xu Chaomu, did you witness with your own eyes when Yu Weiwei fell into the river?¡± the police officer asked again. ¡°Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. It was this group of men who forced her to jump, ¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at the men in front of her. ¡°You ought to take responsibility for your words; this isn¡¯t something to be said lightly!¡± a man yelled, lighting a cigarette. ¡°I will take responsibility, of course. I¡¯m saying this in front of all these people. Since it¡¯sing from me, I won¡¯t alter or retract my statement!¡± Now, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help Yu Weiwei with anything but to speak with righteousness and without guilt. Of course, her heart was still pounding non-stop! If these policemen were in league with these men, she would definitely be in trouble. At this moment, the foreman slowly spoke: ¡°Chaomu, Yu Weiwei broke the ss herself and then identally fell out of the window¡ªyou must not twist the truth.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°That¡¯s the real twisting of the truth! I saw with my own eyes that Weiwei was pushed to desperation by these men before jumping!¡± ¡°Youngdy, you can mess around with what you eat, but not with what you say. Which eye did you see it with?¡± a man said viciously. Xu Chaomu, fearlessly replied, ¡°If you have the guts, check the surveince!¡± As soon as she uttered those words, the expressions on a few men in the crowd changed instantly. However, the man who led them maintained hisposure, andughed out loud: ¡°Fine, check the surveince? Come on, call your managers, your bosses, let¡¯s do it!¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth and was about to speak when the foreman smirked: ¡°Zhao, this girl is talking nonsense. Weiyang values the protection of our guests¡¯ privacy above all. How could we install surveince in the rooms?¡± Xu Chaomu understood then; the club was in cahoots with these people, and she was on her own! A police officer spoke up, frowning: ¡°Stop the noise and cooperate with the investigation quietly.¡± Several police officers checked the scene for evidence, and others made written records on site, but it was all trivial. Sometimeter, several auxiliary policemen who had gone into the water to search for the missing arrived. ¡°Reporting to the deputy chief, we didn¡¯t find anyone.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart seized, and she rushed forward grabbing the auxiliary policeman¡¯s clothes: ¡°Why didn¡¯t you find them? Weiwei and Shui Fu just fell into the water! They couldn¡¯t have gone far!¡± ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t make trouble, we will definitely do our best to find them,¡± the police officer said. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re doing your best!¡± Xu Chaomu angrily retorted. The group of men at the scene were rich and powerful, and no one dared to offend them. Even if it meant nothing to them, even if it cost two lives! But Xu Chaomu cared. They were her best friends; how could she not care. ¡°Youngdy, stand back. If you keep harassing the police, we can detain you,¡± a police officer warned Xu Chaomu. ¡°Who dares to detain her?¡± Just then, the security line at the door was ripped apart, and a man with a cold voice and a stern face strode in. Her heart recognized that voice all too well; Xu Chaomu looked up, and it was Li Beiting. The same Li Beiting who had just been on the phone with her. He arrived very quickly. Li Beiting¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his body¡¯s blood boiling and raging. His fists clenched tight, his icy gaze swept over the people in front of him. However, after Xu Chaomu nced at him, the corner of her mouth curled into a smile. Why hadn¡¯t he changed out of his robe or even his slippers? But this in no way affected Li Beiting¡¯smanding presence. When this man was serious and stern, he was even more fierce and aggressive than Shen Chi. Suddenly, several people stood up in therge room, calling out ¡°President Li.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s eyes were blood-red. Without acknowledging anyone, he kicked a coffee table and pointed at all the auxiliary policemen: ¡°All of you motherfuckers get out and search! If you can¡¯t find Yu Weiwei, I¡¯ll throw you out to the dogs!¡± Xu Chaomu, too, was startled by Li Beiting¡¯s fury. She had never seen him so furiously ashamed. Although Li Beiting didn¡¯t care much for her, he had never been this furious! Were men so terrifying when they got angry? Both Shen Chi and Li Beiting were. Scared, she took a few steps back, but luckily, with Li Beiting there, she didn¡¯t need to worry. ¡°Yes, President Li, even if you hadn¡¯t said it, we would¡¯ve searched anyway.¡± ¡°What are you still standing around for? Do you want me to kick you out?¡± From the beginning to the end, Li Beiting¡¯s tone was extremely unfriendly. His entire being was like a lion on the savannah, with a gaze that patrolled its prey, his eyes blood-red and ready to strike. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go!¡± several auxiliary policemen immediately left again. The group of men in the room didn¡¯t understand why Li Beiting would care about a maid, but sensing something was off, they prepared to flee. Xu Chaomu noticed this and didn¡¯t wait for Li Beiting to speak; she pointed at the group and said, ¡°Li Beiting, it was them who bullied Weiwei. Weiwei called for you so many times, Uncle Er, you have to stand up for her.¡± Everyone was shocked again¡ªLi Beiting was that Yu Weiwei¡¯s Uncle Er? Incredible. But the group remained defiant: ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t talk nonsense. In doing things and speaking, we rely on evidence. Show us the evidence, if you¡¯re right as you im, we will certainly not deny it. But if not¡­ youngdy, how do you n to take legal responsibility?¡± ¡°Fuck off, are you lecturing me about thew?¡± Before Xu Chaomu could respond, Li Beiting roared in a domineering tone. Though she disagreed with Li Beiting on some matters, Xu Chaomu still gave him a nod of approval at that moment. It turned out Li Beiting was fairly righteous towards Weiwei. Having someone to cover you sure felt good. With that one yell from Li Beiting, the room once again fell silent. Only the ¡°whooshing¡± sound of the air conditioning could be heard. ¡°President Li, truly, this matter has nothing to do with us. If you want to pursue responsibility, we¡¯re not afraid; we can just see you in court,¡± the men bluffed. They recognized Li Beiting, after all, in normal times, they were wary of Li Beiting. After all, Li Beiting was Shen Chi¡¯s best friend.. Chapter 145 - 145: Disheveled Clothes Chapter 145: Disheveled Clothes Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Pursue liability? Do I, Li Beiting, need to follow legal procedures with you lot? I¡¯m telling you, whether Weiwei is dead or alive, you all better fucking roll out of C City!¡± ¡°Boss Li, if you put it that way, it won¡¯t be fun anymore.¡± A man holding a cigarette stepped forward. These men were not from the business world, and their earlier deference to Li Beiting was merely out of fear of Shen Chi. It was said that Li Beiting and Shen Chi were the best of brothers, and Shen Chi was a feared figure in C City, known equally among bothw-abiding citizens and the underworld. However, when Li Beiting spoke to them like this, they clearly didn¡¯t ept it. ¡°This chick named Yu Weiwei, we didn¡¯t touch her. She fell off the building by ident and dropped into the river. Are you saying, we should take responsibility for that? Boss Li, what you¡¯re saying is a bit too harsh. Why don¡¯t we all take a step back?¡± The man looked at Li Beiting with a fierce determination. But Li Beiting showed no signs ofpromise. He pointed at the man¡¯s nose, his words righteous and stern, his expression ferocious, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, and my words are like spilled water ¨C I can¡¯t take them back. I told you to roll out of C City, and you¡¯d better fucking roll without stopping!¡± Seeing that Li Beiting was not easy to deal with, the man took out his mobile phone, ready to call his own people. Unexpectedly, as soon as he took out his phone, Li Beiting stepped forward and with a ¡°smack,¡± knocked the phone out of his hand! He then stomped heavily on it, grinding it underfoot a few times until the phone¡¯s screen shattered instantly! Xu Chaomu watched quietly from the side; she had never seen Li Beiting so enraged. His demeanor radiated a murderous impulse. Even she was startled. ¡°Bring them in, if they won¡¯t take the toasts I offer, they¡¯ll take the forfeits; send all these men to C City¡¯s prison. Thew? Who the hell are you to talkw with me?¡± Li Beiting roared in anger, and the surroundings fell silent. The men took a few steps back until they could retreat no further. Just then, the owner of the Weiyang Club finally came out. Xu Chaomu had assumed the owner would be a pot-bellied, big-eared middle-aged man, but surprisingly, the owner turned out to be a young man. The light was slightly dim, and the lighting above cast on his face, making him appear calm andposed. Dressed in a casual ck suit, with a steady stride, and an undisturbed gaze, the man exuded an air of elegance. His every move was graceful, which seemed out of ce in the atmosphere of the Weiyang. He walked toward Li Beiting in polished ck leather shoes, his cold and handsome face breaking into a faint smile. ¡°What kind of wind blew Boss Li over here?¡± ¡°Huh, Ji Shengxuan, you finally show up. The way you carry yourself as a boss sure is something,¡± Li Beiting sneered, his tone still impatient. Xu Chaomu stared intently at the man for a moment ¡ª Ji Shengxuan? She had never heard of him. But no matter how she looked at it, she couldn¡¯t connect Weiyang with this man. From any angle, Ji Shengxuan seemed like a refined young intellectual, not the tycoon of an entertainment empire. He exuded an air of elegant gentlemanliness, not the impetuousness characteristic of Weiyang. However, Xu Chaomu had seen plenty of cases where appearances were deceiving. Shen Chi was the perfect example! ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to put on airs in front of Boss Li. I just had a few extra drinks and arrived a bitte. Let me offer my apologies,¡± Ji Shengxuan said, his lips curving slightly, his slender mouth opening to reveal a pleasing sight. Xu Chaomu¡¯s gaze flickered ¡ª these two men standing together were exceptionally striking, and if you added one more man to the mix¡­ ¡°Ji Shengxuan, on your turf, are you going to give me an exnation today?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s anger seemed to recede slightly. Originally, he was going to search for Yu Weiwei himself, but given hisck of swimming skills, even if he went, he wouldn¡¯t be of any help. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Boss Li just said? Send them to prison. Oh, if that¡¯s not enough, cripple their arms and legs, and that¡¯ll do it, right?¡± Ji Shengxuan said, his tone light, his face seemingly still wearing a faint smile as he spoke these ruthless words. Xu Chaomu shivered. She knew well that men who built major businesses were no easy characters. This man seemed indifferent to everything on the surface, serene as he faced the world, but the words he uttered were more ruthless than anyone else¡¯s. She really couldn¡¯t understand the world of men. ¡°Boss Ji, don¡¯t you have some evidence for me?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he turned to Ji Shengxuan, changing his tone. ¡°That¡¯s an easy thing to address, show it,¡± Ji Shengxuan pped his hands. Shortly after, someone brought over something resembling a videotape. Li Beiting¡¯s eyes narrowed. This man was truly not someone to be taken lightly. With so many people causing trouble on his property, he bided his time before appearing, and when he did, he was all set. Li Beiting picked up the videotape, his lips thinning slightly, his expression a mix of a smile and not a smile. ¡°Then, thank you, Boss Ji.¡± ¡°No problem at all, with Boss Li honoring us with your presence, how could I not handle things properly?¡± ¡°So, those men, you¡¯re okay with offending them?¡± Li Beiting cast a nce at the men crowded in the corner. Those who frequented ces like the Weiyang were either rich or powerful, and these men surely had significant status. ¡°Boss Li, I¡¯m just being fair, favoring no one. Walk straight and have no fear of crooked shadows. You agree, don¡¯t you?¡± When Xu Chaomu heard this, she couldn¡¯t help but think what a crafty fox he was ¨C a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! She pursed her lips, giving Ji Shengxuan another look. He was perfectly positioned under the chandelier. The dim light highlighted the sharp angles of his face. His lips curved upward slightly, his cold eyes glittering, his face carrying a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, inscrutable. Just then, several soaked auxiliary police walked in. ¡°No luck, we still can¡¯t find the person.¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face paled. Without a thought, she bolted outside. ¡°Xu Chaomu, where do you think you¡¯re running off to?¡± Li Beiting immediately followed her. Ji Shengxuan didn¡¯t move; he just shifted his gaze, watching Xu Chaomu and Li Beiting leave. Li Beiting soon caught up with Xu Chaomu, grabbing her, ¡°Don¡¯t just run off. If I lost you, I couldn¡¯t bear the responsibility!¡± ¡°Weiwei is missing, Li Beiting, order someone to search for her! Don¡¯t you understand? If something really happens to her, I¡¯ll never be at peace for the rest of my life.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice carried a hint of crying; she was truly anxious. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent people to search. Am I not anxious? Weiwei¡¯s missing ¨C do you have any idea who¡¯s the most worried? You¡­ never mind, just stand here, don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll have someone take you back.¡± Li Beiting was exasperated. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, I can¡¯t possibly leave. Even if it means standing vigil, I must!¡± Xu Chaomu was stubborn, and nothing could persuade her otherwise. ¡°Don¡¯t make trouble for me. I¡¯ll have Fourth Brother take you back! Look at yourself, not properly dressed, with a face full of heavy makeup. I¡¯ll settle ounts with you and Weiweiter!¡± Li Beiting said, his tone unfriendly.. Chapter 146 - 146 Clinging to a Few Tycoons Chapter 146: Clinging to a Few Tycoons Trantor: 549690339 ¡°What settling ountster, Li Beiting, you better find Weiwei first!¡± Xu Chaomu was also furious. Li Beiting no longer paid attention to her and dialed Shen Chi¡¯s number directly on his mobile phone. Xu Chaomu knew whom he was calling and lunged forward to fight him for the phone! If Shen Chi found out that she was working part-time at Weiyang, he would kill her. ¡°Don¡¯t call Shen Chi, Li Beiting, you said it yourself, to keep me away from him, so why are you calling him now!¡± ¡°At least he treats you as his sister.¡± Li Beiting ignored Xu Chaomu¡¯s opposition and made the call. ¡°Li Beiting, give me the phone, don¡¯t call him, I have nothing to do with him, I hate him!¡± Xu Chaomu reached out to snatch it, but she was no match for Li Beiting¡¯s height. Little did she know, by the time she said these words, the call had already connected. Xu Chaomu¡¯s words, not a single one left out, all fell into Shen Chi¡¯s ears. Shen Chi hadn¡¯t slept yet; he was sitting in front of hisptop, sipping coffee while working on documents. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice, his handsome brows furrowed slightly. He pursed his lips and remained silent. ¡°Shen Chi, take Xu Chaomu away!¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Shen Chi asked, his voice cold and slightly deep. ¡°Weiyang!¡± Li Beiting shouted. ¡°Since you are there, you might as well send her to school, what does it have to do with me?¡± ¡°Fine, so you¡¯re noting, Shen Chi? You¡¯re leaving the mess for me, is that it? Fine, you¡¯re impressive! I¡¯m telling you, Xu Chaomu is neither human nor ghost right now, do you know what she¡¯s doing at a ce like Weiyang?¡± ¡°What can she do? Looking to hook up with a few sugar daddies?¡± Shen Chi scoffed coldly. ¡°I won¡¯t waste my words on you! If you don¡¯te, forget it, I don¡¯t have the energy to take care of her, I¡¯ll just leave her at Ji Shengxuan¡¯s, whether you like it or not!¡± Li Beiting was truly angry; normally, he would justugh it off and not get into a dispute with Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu, standing close to Li Beiting, not only heard his words, but also¡­ heard what Shen Chi said. Looking to hook up with a few sugar daddies? What was that supposed to mean?! Her little fists clenched tighter and tighter, Xu Chaomu was so angry that the corners of her mouth twitched, and her body turned cold. The blood in her body flowed faster; it felt as if her heart had been stabbed with a knife, the pain relentless. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t bother me with such things,¡± Shen Chi said impatiently. ¡°Fine, consider me nosy. I, Li Beiting, am not idle with nothing better to do. Since you don¡¯t care, I certainly can¡¯t be expected to look after this girl!¡± Having said that, Li Beiting hung up the phone first. When Xu Chaomu looked up, she saw Li Beiting¡¯s face full of fury. Li Beiting gave her a cold nce, put the phone in his clothes, and strode off. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t follow; her legs felt unusually heavy and wouldn¡¯t lift. Her entire body was weak and her mind went nk. The cold wind blew in gusts against her, and the night wind was always very cold. She hugged her arms tightly as her lips continued to tremble. Li Beiting walked along the riverbank, personally looking for Yu Weiwei. However, he couldn¡¯t swim, and no matter how much he searched, it was in vain. He had no choice but to dispatch even more people over! ¡°Mr. Li, we still haven¡¯t found her.¡¯ ¡°Mr. Li, we¡¯ve searched all along the riverbank near Weiyang, and we didn¡¯t see anyone.¡± ¡°Mr. Li, we¡¯ve increased manpower, but still, no luck.¡± Not found, not found, not found! Li Beiting was on the verge of insanity, punching a camphor tree! The camphor tree was forcibly shaken by the punch, and the leaves hissed. A piece of bark poked his hand, and blood flowed along the back of his hand¡­ ¡°Alive or dead, we need proof. Tonight, if she¡¯s not found, none of youe back!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s indifferent and cold gaze swept over everyone. The tone was bone-chilling and extremely harsh! ¡°Yes, Mr. Li, we will do our best, you should also¡­ take it easy,¡± someone wasforting Li Beiting. Life and death were uncertain; no one could say for sure. Everyone could only tremble with fear and do their limited best. ¡°Go find her for me!¡± Li Beiting shouted again. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Everyone dispersed again, splitting up to search for Yu Weiwei and MO Shuifu. Li Beiting, one hand still on the tree trunk, his fresh blood still flowing, drop by drop, particrly prating under the moonlight. A gust of wind came, causing the leaves to rustle, and a few yellow ones couldn¡¯t hold on, twirling a few times before falling onto Li Beiting¡¯s shoulder. The moonlight was cold and fell on his face, making him look somewhat pale. The man who was just seething with rage now seemed a bit forlorn. Soon, the ground at his feet was covered with leaves. He was still wearing a not-so-thick robe, a pair of slippers he hadn¡¯t had time to change. No matter from which angle, he looked incredibly lonely¡­ Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t go either; after stabilizing her emotions, she walked along the riverbank. She too couldn¡¯t swim; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have just watched Yu Weiwei and MO Shuifu jump into the water. Guilt, self-reproach, and anxiety suddenly filled her chest. ¡°Weiwei, Shuifu, where are you?¡± Xu Chaomu shouted loudly at first, then began to sob quietly. Gradually, when she realized it was all in vain, she found a more secluded spot to sit down. Her eyes stared straight at the water surface, which was terrifyingly still. Calm and unmoving, just like this dark sky, hiding depth and restlessness, as if a massive force was swallowing everything. Xu Chaomu shivered; Weiwei and Shuifu must not be in trouble. Shuifu knew how to swim; they must have already reached the shore, she just didn¡¯t know it yet. They definitely wouldn¡¯t be in trouble. They definitely wouldn¡¯t. She still had to skip ss with Weiwei, they still had to sneak a peek at magazines together, they had even agreed to apply to a male program together¡­ Nothing would happen to Weiwei; she couldn¡¯t leave her alone. She was still wearing the Weiyang waitress¡¯s uniform, which was very thin; now, Xu Chaomu hugged her arms, her legs, curled up at the edge of the bushes, her head down, not speaking. Another gust of wind blew, she felt a bit cold, and hugged her body tighter. Her head was almost buried between her knees, so cold¡­ Time passed bit by bit, and the night grew deeper, the surroundings bing quieter and quieter. She could hear her own breathing, along with the choked sobs from her throat¡­ After receiving Li Beiting¡¯s call, Shen Chi couldn¡¯t focus on his work anymore, growing more and more irritable, he smashed several cups in session. An indescribable feeling overwhelmed him, filling him with annoyance. He had just let her go for two days, and she had run off to a ce like Weiyang. If it were someone else, he would suspect they¡¯d been deceived or acted naively, but Xu Chaomu, she should know better! She was more mature than anyone! He really could no longer guess what she was up to, and in recent times, his impression of her had greatly diminished. The once naive and carefree Xu Chaomu was gone, and now, she had be somewhat irksome to him. Maybe, it was he who had changed.. Chapter 147 - 147: Slap Her Chapter 147: p Her Trantor: 549690339 In the past, whenever she fought with him, rubbed against him, or embraced him, he would always indulge her, always yield to her. But now, he was immensely impatient. Those women outside, too, liked to lean on him, to crawl into his bed. His money and power made everyone rush to him, that was all. In the middle of the night, when it was silent, no sound could be heard anywhere. Xu Chaomu was still sitting in the bushes, her eyes swollen from crying. If she had a mirror right now, she would certainly look awful. Li Beiting had already returned to Weiyang, Ji Shengxuan was still waiting where he was. Most of the people in the house had already dispersed, Ji Shengxuan had his legs crossed, sitting on the couch, slowly savoring his drink. ¡°Found her?¡± Ji Shengxuan¡¯s voice was calm, showing no sign of emotion. ¡°No.¡± Li Beiting grasped the edge of the table; only then did he manage to support himself. He was utterly exhausted. The bloodstains on the back of his hand had dried, and it was unclear how much blood he had lost; his entire hand looked frighteningly mangled. ¡°An incident on my turf, no matter what, I will stay with you tonight and wait for news,¡± Ji Shengxuan said. ¡°Thank you.¡± Li Beiting no longer had the energy to speak. He slowly sat down on the couch, next to Ji Shengxuan. His pale fingers picked up a wine ss and poured red wine into it. Ji Shengxuan passed him a wet wipe, ncing at the bloodstain on his hand, ¡°Clean it up.¡± Li Beiting didn¡¯t say anything, silently wiped off the bloodstain on the back of his hand, his whole demeanor was expressionless, listless, as if he was nothing more than an empty shell that had been stripped of his soul. Ji Shengxuan stopped talking, watching Li Beiting intently. This was not the usual Li Beiting who often came to Weiyang to drink, full of vigor and vitality, President Li. Ji Shengxuan was genuinely curious about the person who jumped into the river. The dim light flickered unsteadily, like spirits in the dark night, yet it flickered with countless somber hues. The weak light shone on Li Beiting¡¯s face, making hisplexion even paler, his head nearly drooping, pale knuckles resting on his fingertips. After this incident, Weiyang still seemed undisturbed, as if nothing had happened. It seemed fitting for a ce like Weiyang, where such incidents were probably not unusual. Of course, given Ji Shengxuan¡¯s strong grip and courage, he would not allow even a hint of this to leak. Soon, someone came to report again. ¡°President Li, Miss Xu still hasn¡¯t been found.¡¯ ¡°President Li, we¡¯ve searched all the nearby rivers, nothing.¡± ¡°President Li, it¡¯s too dark now, it¡¯s indeed difficult to search any further.¡± Every piece of news was identical; when Li Beiting first heard it, he just clenched his lips tightly. Then, with a ¡°ng, ¡± he shattered the ss in his hand! The broken shards scattered all over the floor! Ji Shengxuan wasn¡¯t annoyed; he only slightly curled his lips, ¡°President Li, as long as it happens on my Weiyang turf, I¡¯ll be sure to help you find Miss Xu.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s lips trembled, he didn¡¯t speak, hisplexion deathly pale. Ji Shengxuan patted his shoulder, then left him alone, slowly walking out of the room. After Ji Shengxuan left, he leaned against the rear courtyard of Weiyang and lit a cigarette. In the flickering moonlight, his face was stern, tinged with a trace of chill. In the bushes, Xu Chaomu was still sitting, her voice hoarse from crying. She silently bowed her head, hugging her knees. The wind lifted her hair, a few strands teasing her cheeks, tickling but also bringing a hint of coldness. It was a bit cold. When Shen Chi arrived, he didn¡¯t find Xu Chaomu until he got to the backyard; Ji Shengxuan raised a hand and pointed, and only then did he see her sitting in the bushes. Her figure was delicate, as fragile as a kitten. His heart inexplicably skipped a beat, then trembled fiercely. He strode forward, stopping in front of her without a word, his face stern. His face was colder than the ice of midwinter, radiating chillness all around. His ck, sharp, onyx-like eyes stared at Xu Chaomu, emitting a hawkish chill. A dark shadow blocked Xu Chaomu¡¯s light; upon realizing someone was approaching, she slightly lifted her head, only to see a pair of ck men¡¯s leather shoes. Her body shivered; she knew who hade. She pretended to be calm, keeping her head down, but he saw her expression entirely, even her slightly trembling pinky finger didn¡¯t escape his notice. ¡°What are you doing sitting on the ground? Stand up!¡± Seeing no response from her, he finally exploded in anger, roaring loudly. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu, with downcast eyes, supported herself up from the ground, stood up, and patted her clothes without daring to look up. ¡°Lift your head!¡± Shen Chi roared again. The riverbank was very quiet, especiallyte at night; his deep and forceful voice brimming with an undercurrent of rage made the silence all the more profound. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare utter a word of refusal, she never had any rights in front of him. It was hateful of Li Beiting to have called him over. It waste now; it must be close to one o¡¯clock. Slowly, Xu Chaomu lifted her head, constantly feeling two oppressive and icy stares upon her, making the air around cooler by several degrees. As she lifted her head, he caught sight of her made-up face. She must have been crying, her eyes all red, her makeup smudged. He barely recognized her with that makeup on. And the clothes she was wearing, thin and tight, with a low neckline! ¡°You motherfucker, who are you dressing up like that for, to seduce?!¡± Shen Chi was infuriated, his hand instinctively raised, about to strike. Xu Chaomu was initially frightened, but upon hearing his words, a rush of anger red in her heart, causing her lips to tremble and herplexion to turn white. Seduce¡­ How could he say such a thing to her. As he raised his hand to p her, she didn¡¯t dodge, instead lifting her small face defiantly. ¡°You want to hit me? Go ahead then. Of course, I dressed like this to seduce men, what did you think?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯srge eyes stared back at him, unyielding. In fact, her heart was suspended in fear; she had seen him in a fury before, and she knew if his p reallynded, she would not be in a good ce. Shen Chi¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, bloodshot, like a furious lion watching its prey! Time seemed to freeze. His raised hand trembled, then clenched into a fist, slowly, the rampant rage was reined in. Hit her¡­ He still couldn¡¯t bring himself to follow through. But the rage boiling in his chest didn¡¯t dissipate, and he grabbed her arm, dragging her forcefully to the river¡¯s edge. Before she could react, he was pushing her head down into the water! An angry man is terrifying! A furious Shen Chi was like a demon! ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Xu Chaomu choked on several mouthfuls of water, struggling for air. ¡°Wash yourself clean!¡± Shen Chi held onto her cor with one hand, while pressing down on her head with the other.. Chapter 148 - 148 Shen Chi, Get Out Chapter 148: Shen Chi, Get Out Trantor: 549690339 The anger on his face had yet to fade, and he wore a cold expression, utterly devoid of emotion. The strength in his hand was as domineering as ever, allowing no room for Chaomu to resist. Xu Chaomu struggled briefly, ending up with a face full of water! ¡°Let go, let go! Help!¡± she shouted. ¡°I¡¯d like to see whoes to save you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low, but he did not rx his grip. Xu Chaomu choked on several mouthfuls of water, coughing incessantly. Completelycking the strength to fight back, she was like a rag doll at the mercy of Shen Chi. Her face was soaked, and her hair, due to her vigorous movements, hade loose. Right now, she looked neither human nor ghost. The water was cold in the dead of night, and she shivered, sneezing several times. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± A violent coughing fit began, and her chest heaved with the effort. After tormenting her to near death. Shen Chi finallv eased his frustration and. grabbing her by the cor, flung her onto the ground. ¡°Achoo!¡± After sneezing several times, Xu Chaomu wiped the water from her face and slowly stood up, ring at Shen Chi. Her upper body was soaked, the whole of her shivering. When the wind blew, she hugged her arms tightly, her teeth chattering from the cold. ¡°Bastard,¡± she muttered through clenched teeth, spitting out the word. These days, he no longer showed her the pampering and pity of the past, even going so far as to hurl harsh words without any regard for her feelings. Perhaps, one person¡¯s affection cannot be divided between two. After all, he had no obligation to dote on her. Taking her in and ensuring she was well-fed and clothed was already the utmost kindness. ¡°Xu Chaomu, how dignified you¡¯ve be, who let youe to a ce like this?¡± Shen Chi asked in a deep voice. ¡°I came to lean on a sugar daddy, is that a problem?¡± Xu Chaomu remembered the phone call Li Beiting had with him, when he said, ¡°What can she do? Wants to lean on a few sugar daddies?¡± In his eyes, she was worthless, and the only thing she could do was seduce men, lean on sugar daddies. ¡°Shameful!¡± he said unceremoniously. Xu Chaomu was so angry she trembled all over, her shoulders shaking violently, unable to tell if it was from the cold or rage. ¡°How have I shamed you? Out there, you never acknowledge me as a part of the Shen family, so I never call you my elder brother either. Rest assured, nobody knows I know you. I know my ce,¡± she replied, her voice shaking. Her little fists clenched tightly as she bit her lip hard. She knew that he refused to acknowledge her as part of the Shen family, and the truth was, she wasn¡¯t really one of them. Water dripped down her hair, and as the evening breeze kept blowing, she felt colder and colder. Under the clear moonlight, she saw the ring on his finger shing a chilling light. Suddenly, she remembered the newspaper from yesterday at the press conference where he was smiling and hugging Bai Man, saying, ¡°Next month, I will be engaged to Miss Bai Man, and this also signifies that in the future, we will be as constantly in love as this ¡®Eternal Heart¡¯.¡± Constantly in love¡­ Then she wishes them a lifetime of happiness together. But somehow, her words once again infuriated him. ¡°You know your ce? If you did, you wouldn¡¯t be flirting around, ultimately embarrassing the Shen family!¡± Xu Chaomu looked up at him, staring intently. Her lips were nearly bleeding from biting them so hard, her heart felt as if it was being stabbed again and again. ¡°Shen Chi, get lost, I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± She finally exploded in anger, and for so long, she finally dared to curse him out. She had her self-respect; loving him did not mean she could abandon all her dignity. Once upon a time, she didn¡¯t dare to say a single ¡°no¡± to him, but now, she was pointing at him, demanding he leave! Shen Chi was also taken aback before rage took over, his voice deep and furious, ¡°What did you say? Say that again, I dare you!¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I want you to leave! Get out!¡± she pointed at him, having lost all reason. She could say it ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, and it would still be the same! Droplets of water trailed down her hair, and she had forgotten what cold felt like. Inside her chest, anger red fiercely¡­ Shivering and feeling chilled to the bone, she could even hear her own ragged breathing. What awaited her was perhaps a p. After all, this man had always been the center of attention, the favored son of heaven, who tolerated no insolence from anyone. But she didn¡¯t care anymore. Shen Chi seized her shoulders with considerable force, pinning her against a camphor tree! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯ve really got some nerve. Believe it or not, just based on your words, I, Shen Chi, could make you beg for life and yearn for death!¡± She believed it. She knew crushing her was as easy for him as crushing an ant. But even so, that didn¡¯t mean he could trample over her dignity at will. ¡°Shen Chi, I know you hate me, and I hate you too. Go home, find the adoption papers and get them notarized, and I¡¯ll have nothing to do with the Shen Family anymore.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about it!¡± His eyebrows were furrowed in a cold confrontation, his hands nearly buried in her shoulders as if he wanted to y her skin! Xu Chaomu bit her lip in pain and said no more. She was a mess, trembling from the cold, soaked and chilled to the bone. Yet, the atmosphere was colder. All that could be heard were their breaths in the silent night sky, slowly amplifying, amplifying¡­ ¡°It¡¯ste, I need to go back to school now, Shen Si Shao, you should go home too.¡± Xu Chaomu finallypromised, knowing that stiffening up any more wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Plus, this man has always responded better to a softer approach. If she stood up to him head-on, it wouldn¡¯t end well. ¡°Xu Chaomu, in the future, I better not catch you messing around outside!¡± he warned her sternly. ¡°Oh,¡± she responded indifferently. Just then, a gust of cold wind blew in, causing Xu Chaomu to sneeze repeatedly, shrinking from the cold. She was still leaning against the tree, and a leaf fluttered down tond on her shoulder. Shen Chi finally let go of her, his mood considerably softened, and subconsciously raised his hand to brush the leaf off her shoulder. His movements were elegant and gentle, nothing like how furious he had been moments ago. Xu Chaomu shifted to the side, not letting him touch her again. She lowered her head and sidestepped past him, her stride confident. In truth, she had nothing to feel guilty about. She hadn¡¯t done anything to bring shame to the Shen family or herself. She came to Weiyang only wanting to make some money; she didn¡¯t want to use his money anymore. All of Shen Chi¡¯s and Xu Chaomu¡¯s exchanges were witnessed by someone, Ji Shengxuan. Ji Shengxuan squinted his eyes and smoked quietly as he watched everything unfold. Although he was a distance away, he could see clearly. He was quite familiar with Shen Chi, who was also considered a VIP client of Weiyang. On the business battlefield, Shen Chi was shrewd and ruthless, with extraordinary means, slowly but surely expanding the Shen Group. Now with the support of the Bai Family, he couldmand wind and rain. However, he was genuinely curious, as it was the first time he had heard anyone daring to tell Shen Chi to get lost. The girl wasn¡¯t old, her face still carried the softness of youth, and even the heaviest of makeup couldn¡¯t mask her greenness.. Chapter 149 - 149: The Elegant and Gentlemanly Man Chapter 149: The Elegant and Gentlemanly Man Trantor: 549690339 Ji Shengxuan squinted his eyes. Who was this girl? If it were someone else, they probably would have been dragged out to feed the dogs by now. However, Shen Chi, he could not even bring himself to p her. Although he scolded her with his words, it was nothing more than venting his momentary frustration. Ji Shengxuan had been in charge of Weiyang for many years and had seen countless people. His eyes were sharp. Just by the small gesture Shen Chi made a moment ago, when he naturally brushed the leaves off her shoulder, Ji Shengxuan was certain that this girl was extraordinary. At the very least, she held a ce in Shen Chi¡¯s heart. Ji Shengxuan exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression unchanged. Xu Chaomu left, resolute in her departure. Shen Chi did not chase after her and turned to leave as well. Xu Chaomu hugged her arms, feeling cold. As she walked past Ji Shengxuan, she nced up and saw him standing in the doorway against the light, with smoke curling around him. His lips twitched subtly, his whole demeanor elegant and gentlemanly. He stubbed out his cigarette and threw it on the ground. He then took off his coat and handed it to Xu Chaomu. ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Xu Chaomu hesitated but still took it. She was somewhat in a disheveled state now. The ck coat still carried Ji Shengxuan¡¯s body heat. She wrapped it around herself and pouted, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Ji. I¡¯ll wash it and give it back to you another day.¡± ¡°No need to return it. I don¡¯t care about a piece of clothing,¡± Ji Shengxuan said indifferently. ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll keep it. Mr. Ji¡¯s clothes must be quite valuable,¡± Xu Chaomu said without any politeness. Ji Shengxuanughed, ¡°You¡¯re quite interesting, girl.¡± Xu Chaomu nced over to find Ji Shengxuan¡¯s smile was clear and bright, shing with the ambiance of the entire club. When he smiled, he still looked so refined. Especially now that he had taken off his coat, revealing a white shirt that made him appear even taller and more slender. Xu Chaomu felt envious, the fact that a man could have such a good figure, looking slim in clothes but with a well-built physique underneath. She was filled with envy and jealousy. And he was also wealthy, his stature not falling short of Shen Chi. ¡°Are you looking at me?¡± Ji Shengxuan asked with augh when Xu Chaomu fell silent. ¡°Mr. Ji, you really are narcissistic. Men are all the same,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, turning and stepping into the club. Inside the club, Li Beiting was still standing in the same spot, to Xu Chaomu¡¯s surprise, with cigarette butts scattered around his feet. Since when did Li Beiting smoke? Moreover, he was still holding one. For a moment, the room was shrouded in smoke. ¡°Cough cough, Li Beiting, why are you smoking so much?¡± Xu Chaomu frowned. Although Li Beiting had said many unpleasant things to her, she thought about it and realized that he had her best interests at heart after all. ¡°Smoking can relieve worries, little girl. You¡¯re still too young.¡± Li Beiting remained silent, and Ji Shengxuan behind him spoke up. Xu Chaomu turned her head in defiance, ¡°Then isn¡¯t Mr. Ji smoking all night? What concerns or grievances do you have?¡± Ji Shengxuan paused for a moment and then chuckled elegantly and charmingly, slowly saying, ¡°With such a big incident happening on my turf, how could I not worry? I am also afraid that President Li will overturn my Weiyang.¡± Xu Chaomu was half-convinced, always feeling that men¡¯s words were not to be trusted. Especially those who are used to the business world, whose words could change depending on whom they talk to; it was impossible to distinguish which were true and which were false. Just like Shen Chi, inscrutable. While they spoke, Li Beiting listened impassively. Soon, a man walked through the door. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand trembled¡ªit was Shen Chi. As expected, Shen Chi noticed the coat she was wearing and gave her a harsh look. But fortunately, he did not embarrass her in front of so many people. ¡°Still no news?¡± Shen Chi was talking to Li Beiting. Li Beiting took a drag on his cigarette, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Ji Shengxuan, what kind of exnation do you n on giving us?¡± Shen Chi coldly stared at Ji Shengxuan. ¡°What kind of exnation would President Shen like?¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu thought Ji Shengxuan was also a sly fox. ¡°Closing down for rectification wouldn¡¯t be too much, would it? What do you think, Ji Shengxuan?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was sharp. ¡°President Shen, we¡¯ve been friends for many years. Are you seriously intending to have my Weiyang closed for rectification? Besides, Miss Yu has not yet been found. It¡¯s not toote to draw conclusions after she is located.¡± ¡°Just based on the fact that you employ minors alone, I could make your Weiyang pay through the nose,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep and powerful. Ji Shengxuan remained silent, ncing at Xu Chaomu. He thought so, this girl looked young, and it turns out she was a minor after all. But could this be considered losing his temper for a beauty? Xu Chaomu had been intending to speak on Ji Shengxuan¡¯s behalf considering the coat¡¯s sake, but thinking of the recent event, she opted to keep quiet. It was better to stay out of trouble at times like these. ¡°Indeed, it was my oversight. If President Shen wants me topensate, I have noints,¡± Ji Shengxuan said slowly. ¡°These clients are used to causing trouble, and I¡¯m sure you, President Shen, have seen this many times. Even VIP customers like you, when I sent someone over to apany you in drinkingst time, didn¡¯t they also¡­¡¯ Ji Shengxuan stopped mid-sentence. The unspoken part was ¡°weren¡¯t they also underage,¡± but he knew when to quit while ahead. He was certain that Shen Chi had an umon rtionship with Xu Chaomu. Sure enough, he noticed a slight change in Shen Chi¡¯s expression. But Shen Chi was who he was; in that instant, heposed himself again. Xu Chaomu, however, nced at Shen Chi and let out a cold hum. No matter how upright he behaved normally, he was a lecher at heart. ¡°Ji Shengxuan, I¡¯ll say it again, we need to see a person alive or a body in death. I¡¯m giving you one night!¡± Shen Chi said. Seeing that Shen Chi was willing topromise, Ji Shengxuan did not persist, his smile as cid as clear weather after rain, ¡°One night is enough.¡± ¡°Then you can keep Li Beitingpany here tonight. If there is still no news by morning, you should know what to expect,¡± Shen Chi warned. ¡°Of course,¡± Ji Shengxuan said lightly. He understood well that Shen Chi and Li Beiting had a brotherly rtionship for many years and were exceptionally close. After speaking, Shen Chi left. From the moment he came to the moment he left, he didn¡¯t speak a word to Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand clutched the corner of Ji Shengxuan¡¯s clothing, her mind full of mixed feelings. At that moment, neither Li Beiting nor Xu Chaomu spoke. She leaned on the sofa, her head bowed, ying with the buttons on Ji Shengxuan¡¯s coat. Wealthy people surely were wealthy, even the buttons were so exquisite. This coat, tsk tsk, worth tens of thousands, right? Ji Shengxuan walked over to Xu Chaomu, also leaning on the sofa, crossing his legs elegantly and naturally. ¡°Little girl, how old are you this year?¡± ¡°Mr. Ji, don¡¯t you know that a woman¡¯s age is a secret?¡± ¡°Unwilling to tell? Then let me guess. Twenty-five?¡± ¡°Mr. Ji, your eyesight is really bad. Do I look that old? I am only eighteen this year!¡± Xu Chaomu protested. ¡°Oh, eighteen,¡± Ji Shengxuan said as he turned his head, his smile as calm and clear as a breath of fresh air, very gentlemanly. Xu Chaomu wore a face full of frustration, like someone who had fallen into a trap. As expected, men of the business world were incredibly crafty. Of course, she med herself for being foolish, foolish, foolish.. Chapter 150 - 150: Artificial Respiration Chapter 150: Artificial Respiration Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Little girl, Weiyang is not a ce for an eighteen-year-old girl toe,¡± Ji Shengxuan said. ¡°You, Ji Boss, are short of people, and I¡¯m short of money, who knows how old I am. Look at me, don¡¯t I look mature with makeup on?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. Upon hearing her, Ji Shengxuan really took a serious look at her. Just now, Shen Chi had pushed her into the river, and by now, the makeup on her face had been washed off, revealing her small and delicate white cheeks, but no matter how you looked at them, they seemed immature. Her big eyes showed a stubbornness, and her pouted little lips were also red and plump. ¡°You¡¯re short of money?¡± Ji Shengxuan was genuinely curious. Someone who knew Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t be so bad off as tock money, right? ¡°Ji Boss, do you want to lend me money? I don¡¯t want it.¡± Ji Shengxuanughed again, and when he smiled, his eyes were especially attractive: ¡°Wishful thinking.¡± ¡°Ji Boss, the name of your club is quite nice. Weiyang, Weiyang, evesting joy. Speaking of this, the light in Ji Shengxuan¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed a bit. Weiyang¡­ evesting joy¡­ For a moment, it was a bit quiet around. Xu Chaomu thought she had said something wrong and quickly changed the subject: ¡°Ji Boss, are all the men whoe here kind of shady?¡± ¡°How could that be, like our Boss Li, he never fools around like those men.¡¯ Xu Chaomu responded with an ¡°oh,¡± her tone nonchnt. Ji Shengxuan seemed to understand something and deliberately said, ¡°However, the Boss Shen who just came is a VIP customer of ours, and every time I look for women to apany him, he never refuses.¡± ¡°You can tell he¡¯s a beast in human clothing, men like him are often hypocrites, all lers at neart.¡± As Xu Chaomu spoke, Ji Shengxuan sized her up carefully, discerning a hint of emotion in her eyes. Young girls, after all, can¡¯t hide their feelings. They chatted in fits and starts, and Ji Shengxuan found that this girl was indeed very interesting, reminding him of someone. Thinking of that person, the color in his eyes dimmed again. Weiyang, Weiyang, evesting joy. Wrapped in Ji Shengxuan¡¯s clothes, Xu Chaomu soon felt warm, but seeing Ji Shengxuan sitting in a thin shirt, she couldn¡¯t help but show concern: ¡°Ji Boss, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± ¡°Cold? Will you give me my clothes back?¡± Ji Shengxuan said with a smile. Wrapping up even tighter, Xu Chaomu replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m cold too.¡± ¡°Then keep it on and don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± For a brief moment, a glint appeared in his eyes, and he thought of extending his hand to do up her coat. But just as he thought to extend his hand, he drew it back. Ultimately, he sighed inwardly. Time ticked by slowly, and still there was no news. Xu Chaomu was restless, anxiously pacing around the room. Watching the cigarette butts pile up at Li Beiting¡¯s feet, she no longer had the patience to wait, and several times she wanted to rush out to look for someone. For a while, the room was quiet, with no one speaking. Ji Shengxuan made several phone calls, but there was no news. Just when he was about to make a few more calls, suddenly, two figures walked in. ¡°Someone, help, Weiwei has fainted¡­¡± It was MO Shuifu¡¯s voice; she was drenched all over, supporting Yu Weiwei, who was limping as they entered. She was already frail, and now, she seemed on the verge of copsing. The first to react was Li Beiting; he rushed over to support Yu Weiwei: ¡°Weiwei, Weiwei, what¡¯s wrong? Wake up, wake up! Are you okay?¡± Xu Chaomu also ran over: ¡°Weiwei!¡± However, Yu Weiwei did not show any response, leaving MO Shuifu utterly exhausted and copsing onto the couch. Xu Chaomu quickly poured MO Shuifu another cup of hot water, ¡°Shui Fu, are you cold? I thought you weren¡¯ting back¡­ What¡¯s wrong with Weiwei? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?¡± MO Shuifu offered a faint smile,forting her, ¡°It¡¯s all right now, Chaomu, we¡¯re back, aren¡¯t we? Don¡¯t worry.¡± MO Shuifu¡¯s voice was weak and her face pale. As for Yu Weiwei, she still had no reaction. ¡°Weiwei!¡± Li Beiting hugged Yu Weiwei into his arms, pping her tace a couple of times, but Yu Weiwei still did not react. In his urgency, Li Beiting cradled Yu Weiwei¡¯s head and pressed his lips against hers. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, and her little face turned red in an instant. Even though it was CPR, Xu Chaomu swore she had never secretly watched anyone kiss; this was her first time. MO Shuifu, holding the hot cup of water, also lowered her head. Ji Shengxuan, on the other hand, was making a phone call, summoning a doctor. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, but Li Beiting did not care about anyone¡¯s gaze, as if the only person in his eyes was Yu Weiwei. After performing CPR, Yu Weiwei¡¯s breathing became much smoother, but her body was still cold, and her cheeks were abnormally pale. ¡°Should we hurry and call a doctor? Weiwei¡¯splexion doesn¡¯t look good, ¡± Xu Chaomu asked Li Beiting anxiously. Li Beiting said nothing, picking up Yu Weiwei, his face stern, ¡°Ji Shengxuan, clear out a room for me!¡± ¡°The second room on the left is unlocked,¡± replied Ji Shengxuan, ever so nonchntly. Li Beiting did not look back, with one swift motion, he carried Yu Weiwei next door. ¡°Weiwei!¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to follow, but MO Shuifu grabbed her arm. ¡°Chaomu, there¡¯s nothing seriously wrong with Weiwei.¡± Only then did Xu Chaomu stop in her tracks, but as she looked down, she noticed MO Shuifu¡¯s foot dripping with blood, the crimson seeping through her trouser leg. She was so frightened that she crouched down, ¡°Shui Fu, what happened to your foot?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a cut from a shard in the water. It¡¯s not serious,¡± MO Shuifu said with a smile. In her smile, she resembled a bright yellow rose, elegant without being coquettish, emanating an indescribable schrly aura, refined and graceful. Soon, the doctor Ji Shengxuan had called arrived. ¡°Doctor, doctor, please help my friend. Her foot is cut, and it could get infected, ¡± Xu Chaomu said frantically. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a look,¡± the doctor said, taking out alcohol and a cotton swab from the medical kit to examine MO Shuifu¡¯s wound. Xu Chaomu ran up to Ji Shengxuan, ¡°Boss Ji, could you find a set of dry clothes for my friend?¡± ¡°You¡¯re treating me like a servant?¡± Ji Shengxuan was not annoyed but calmly watched Xu Chaomu. ¡°Consider it a favor I owe you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Ji Shengxuan curled his lips into a slight smile, not saying much more. He dialed another number on his Dhone. Soon, someone brought the clothes. ¡°Shui Fu, howe it took you several hours toe up? I was so worried,¡± Xu Chaomu said earnestly. MO Shuifu smiled gently, her pace unhurried, ¡°When I jumped in to save Weiwei, she was injured. It took quite an effort to get her to shore. Since my foot was hurt as well, I treated her wounds briefly before bringing her back.¡± ¡°Weiwei is so silly,¡± Xu Chaomu sighed. MO Shuifu rubbed her foot and let out a weary sigh. In another room, as soon as Li Beiting ced Yu Weiwei on the bed, people promptly delivered clothes, toiletries, and a medical kit. After the doctor had treated Yu Weiwei¡¯s wounds, he left, and Li Beiting lowered his head to look at Yu Weiwei as if a weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders. She was still alive. He couldn¡¯t help but pull her into his embrace, not caring that her clothes were still soggy.. Chapter 151 - 151: The Clumsy Mr. Li Chapter 151: The Clumsy Mr. Li Trantor: 549690339 The room was heated, and Li Beiting held Yu Weiwei tightly for a long time before he finally let her go. He spread out clean clothes and reced her damp clothes for her. ¡°Silly girl, really silly,¡± he sighed. After unfastening her coat, he also took off the clothes inside, and Yu Weiwei, still not awake, did not move an inch. Li Beiting, this privilege-borne man, had never cared for anyone before. He was awkward and clumsy while changing Yu Weiwei¡¯s clothes and nearly hurt her several times. But, even though he was clumsy, he was still a man. As he unbuttoned Yu Weiwei¡¯s T-shirt under her coat, her fair and clean skin immediately unveiled before his eyes, igniting a ze within him, consuming and honing his rationality. Even his fingertips were on fire, and his breathing became more and more rapid. After struggling with his thoughts for a while, he stood up, avoiding looking at her anymore, and made a phone call to summon a waitress, stepping aside. ¡°Change her out of her wet clothes,¡± Li Beiting instructed before walking out of the bedroom. He stepped into the living room outside and stood by the window looking out. His heart finally settled down, and he silently gazed out the window. The night had deepened, and ncing at his wristwatch, the hour hand pointed right at ¡°3¡±. Soon, the waitress had changed Yu Weiwei¡¯s clothes and dried her hair. ¡°Mr. Li, Miss Yu¡¯s clothes have been changed,¡± she reported. ¡°Mm.¡± The waitress did not speak further and obediently withdrew. Li Beiting then re-entered the room. The light in the room was warm, casting a peaceful and serene glow on Yu Weiwei¡¯s cheeks. She still remained motionless, her long eyshes casting a fan-shaped shadow above her eyes, as beautiful as peach blossoms on spring branches, when a gentle breeze in February made them seem quietly otherworldly. Li Beiting sat by the bed, his gaze fixed on Yu Weiwei, not uttering a word, just watching her. He maintained this posture for a very long time, without moving at all, and did not feel tired. Yu Weiwei, in contrast, slept very deeply, with steady and calm breathing; in sleep, there were no worries to trouble her. After who knows how long, he covered her with a nket, turned off the light, and finally left the suite. Having treated all of MO Shuifu¡¯s wounds, which weren¡¯t too serious, she said to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Chaomu, you should go back early. You have ss tomorrow.¡± ¡°Shuifu, I¡¯ll wait for Weiwei to wake up, and we¡¯ll leave together. You should also go back early. Let me walk you out,¡± Xu Chaomu offered, feeling somewhat guilty. Thankfully, both Weiwei and Shuifu were fine now. ¡°I live nearby, it¡¯s not far. I can walk back by myself. You wait here for Weiwei, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± MO Shuifu said with a gentle smile. She always had a pleasant demeanor, pure and pristine like a sheet of white Xuan paper, soft and gentle, always wearing a light, indifferent smile. ¡°I should still walk you home. It¡¯ste at night,¡± Xu Chaomu insisted. Unable to dissuade Xu Chaomu, MO Shuifu nodded in agreement. Xu Chaomu linked arms with MO Shuifu, supporting her as they walked out. The night was indeed deep, the surroundings were very quiet, and not a single star could be seen in the sky. Even the moon had hidden behind the clouds. They had not walked far when Xu Chaomu suddenly stopped. In front of them was a ck Maybach, its headlights had turned on the moment they came out. The window was half down, and the man inside sat at the driver¡¯s seat, still and quiet. The light shone on Shen Chi¡¯s face, enhancing the angr contours that seemed chiseled, adding an extra chill to his demeanor. The night¡¯s darkness made him exude a ghostly coldness. Xu Chaomu and MO Shuifu, caught in the headlights, instinctively shielded their eyes from the light. Shen Chi said nothing, simply sitting there. MO Shuifu recognized Shen Chi, a hint of surprise in her greeting, ¡°Mr. Shen, hello. ¡± Shen Chi grunted from his throat, still looking cold as ice. Xu Chaomu hurriedly pulled MO Shuifu¡¯s hand and started walking quickly, as if a demon was chasing them from behind. She thought he had already gone home and didn¡¯t expect him to still be here. ¡°Chaomu, why didn¡¯t you greet Mr. Shen? Is he waiting for you?¡± MO Shuifu asked, somewhat curious. ¡°Shui Fu, you haven¡¯t told me yet how you came to be at Weiyang?¡± Xu Chaomu deflected the conversation. MO Shuifu didn¡¯t notice anything and replied indifferently, ¡°The pay here is high.¡± ¡°Shui Fu, you couldpletely find another job, you shouldn¡¯te to a ce like Weiyang.¡± In Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, MO Shuifu was like a fairy rising above the water, unsullied since childhood. In her heart, she was as pure as her name, a lotus rising out of the water. Emerging from the mud unsoiled, cleansing in the clear ripples without bing a seductress. And Weiyang, with its mix of good and bad, waspletely at odds with MO Shuifu¡¯s temperament. ¡°I still have a mother to support. Actually, it¡¯s not too bad here, just serving tea and being careful is enough.¡± Actually, she thought, if it wasn¡¯t for that gentleman she encounteredst time, she probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to survive peacefully at Weiyang. ¡°Shui Fu, if you need any help, just tell me. Maybe I can help!¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°You focus on your studies.¡± MO Shuifu smiled lightly, without saying much more. As they walked and talked, Xu Chaomu quickly escorted MO Shuifu to where she was staying. It was a humble ce, but MO Shuifu had decorated it beautifully. There was a sense of warmth of home that Xu Chaomu quite envied. ¡°Chaomu, you should go back. Weiwei might be awake and looking for you.¡± ¡°Take good care of yourself, remember to apply medicine to the wound on your foot. If someone bullies you, tell me, and I¡¯ll stand up for you!¡± MO Shuifu couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°I am older than you, I should be the one protecting you.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m better at fighting than you are.¡± MO Shuifuughed again, it had been eight years, and she was still the same. She was always climbing trees and rooftops, capable of anything, causing Aunt Xu a lot of worry. Thinking back on these past events, they had be blurry. Like the wisps of cooking smoke that scatter with a puff of wind.. ¡°Chaomu, go back. Be careful on the road,¡± MO Shuifu said, ncing at the time. It was really gettingte. ¡°Then you should sleep early too. Good night, sweet dreams.¡± Xu Chaomu made a funny face at MO Shuifu, her smile as bright and cheerful as the sunshine. She was always like that, with a memorysting only three minutes. Even if there was a torrential storm three minutes ago, she would revert to normal after another three minutes. She was an irrepressible little rascal¡­ After seeing MO Shuifu off, Xu Chaomu walked back alone along the same path. MO Shuifu¡¯s ce was indeed not far from Weiyang; it didn¡¯t take long to reach Weiyang again. The ck Maybach was still parked in the courtyard, though its headlights were off. But that dominating car shape, that imposing number te, she recognized with just a nce. She pretended not to see it, and took a detour. Unexpectedly, the car started up, made a sharp turn, and arrogantly blocked her path. The window was halfway down, and Shen Chi¡¯s face showed little emotion, cold and frigid, his lips lightly pursed, his eyes emitting a cold and sharp light. Xu Chaomu took a few steps back; she wasn¡¯t ready to be run over by a car. ¡°Get in the car!¡± the man said, his thin lips parting slightly, leaving no room for refusal.. Chapter 152 - 152: Sleep with Me, Fifty Thousand Chapter 152: Sleep with Me, Fifty Thousand Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu shook her head slightly, with her hands sped behind her back, wearing an expression as if she had encountered a pervert. In the night, this look of hers was actually quite cute, as goofy and adorable as ever. Shen Chi¡¯s heart stirred, and the coldness between his eyebrows faded a bit. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it a second time!¡± Xu Chaomu stepped backward, like a mouse who had seen a cat, and after a few steps, she turned and ran. Run, run, run¡­ In fact, thinking about what she had said to him before, she was still a bit scared. She had actually told him to get lost¡­ Now, even if she had ten times the courage, she wouldn¡¯t dare do it again. She didn¡¯t know where she had gotten the nerve at that moment¡­ With a ¡°bang,¡± Shen Chi kicked open the car door, strode over, grabbed her by the cor, and dragged her into the car. ¡°You¡¯re not even listening to what I say, Xu Chaomu, are you nning a rebellion?¡± His tone was domineering but carried a hint of helplessness. ¡°Then give me a reason to obey. Are you ufortable not bothering me?¡± Xu Chaomu challenged him. ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Chaomu listened to his words, which were somewhat rascally. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was left speechless. He pulled her over to the passenger seat, then closed the car door and windows; the lights went out too. Xu Chaomu pounded on the window, the impacts causing a ¡°bang bang¡± sound: ¡°I want to go see Weiwei, I¡¯m notfortable leaving her there alone.¡± ¡°With Li Beiting there, what do you think you¡¯re doing, ying the third wheel!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was stern. ¡°But I haven¡¯t gotten my wages for today!¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Serving tea and water, five hundred; keepingpany while drinking, one thousand; staying overnight, five thousand. You tell me how much.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted her lips. The anger in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes that had just subsided red up again. Hisrge hand sped the back of Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck, pulling her close to him. ¡°Staying overnight with me, fifty thousand!¡± He said with a cold voice, his annoyance palpable. The force on his hand increased a bit more, pulling at Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck painfully. She grimaced, the pain making her twitch. But she refused to submit, her small ws scratching at his cor, starting to undo the buttons on his shirt. ¡°If fifty thousand seems too little, for someone like Young Master Shen, it should at least be one hundred thousand. But since it¡¯s our first coboration, fifty thousand it is!¡± Given Shen Chi¡¯s appearance, she didn¡¯t feel at a loss. This man was so good-looking that no matter what, she felt she had gained. ¡°You certainly don¡¯t stand on ceremony!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes darkened, all around him a dangerous message emanated. He caught her iling hands and pinned her to the seat. Xu Chaomu knew that the more she scratched him, the less he would let her go. But she just couldn¡¯t swallow her pride! ¡°Young Master Shen, that ring looks really nice. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re about to be engaged. The eighth day of the next month, I didn¡¯t get the date wrong, did I?¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. When he touched her, her gazended precisely on his ring. A simple ring, that looked remarkably good on his hand. ¡°What kind of gift do you n to give me?¡± Shen Chi asked in return, his violent tone surprisingly muted. He let go of her and settled back into the driver¡¯s seat. Once seated, he didn¡¯t drive but just sat quietly next to her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t want a gift?¡± She remembered he had said ¡°no¡± before. But she had still prepared several bottles of ng ng Essential Oil for him, confident they would work wonders. She lowered her head without looking at him, just quietly fidgeting with the buttons on her clothes. The clean clothes she had just changed into, Ji Shengxuan¡¯s jacket, were left behind in the club. As usual, her heart was filled with mixed feelings. ¡°It was just polite talk. When someone offers a gift, who would really refuse it,¡± Shen Chi scoffed. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll prepare a gift for you, guaranteed to satisfy you, wishing you happiness,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a downcast head, her voice very soft. She would prepare a gift for him, she wouldn¡¯t go back on her word. Once he got engaged, it would be time for her to leave¡­ At the Shen Family, even if Shen Cexian, Liu Rumei, and Shen Yanrou all treated her with cold disdain, and even if Zhou Ran and Li Beiting both persuaded her not to cling to Shen Chi, but in truth, as long as Shen Chi didn¡¯t drive her away, she wouldn¡¯t leave. Her skin might be thickened, but after all, he was her only support. This support, was enough for her to weather all the disdainful looks. Who would want to be so shamelessly persistent unless it was out of deep love? But her love was too cheap, not worth mentioning. Her love for him was even considered a disgrace by him. ¡°Hypocritical affection.¡± Shen Chi nced at her. Xu Chaomu rested her forehead, looking aggrieved. She wasn¡¯t being hypocritical. Even if he didn¡¯t love her, she still hoped he would be well and happy forever. She meant what she said. She wanted to argue back, but arguing would likely lead to another quarrel. Lately, Shen Chi had been like he took the wrong medicine,pletely unmerciful towards her. And his words were indeed harsh. It seemed he was fed up with her. As she fell silent, the car became quiet, and deep in the night, there was no sound to be heard at all. Several minutes of silence passed, with neither speaking. Shen Chi turned his head, his gaze fixed on her face. She lowered her head, supporting it with one hand and fiddling with a button with the other. Repeating the action, never tiring, serene on her face. This Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t resemble the wild girl who had pointed at him earlier that night, telling him to get lost. But, what Shen Chi dreaded most was seeing Xu Chaomu like this. Her silence would inexplicably irritate him. After watching her for a few minutes, she remained silent as if she were mute. He had no idea what was going on in that little head of hers! Shen Chi, with a belly full of fire, forcefully stepped on the elerator, driving the car out of the Weiyang estate. ¡°Buckle up your seatbelt!¡± he said solemnly. Xu Chaomu reached for the seatbelt and buckled it. After doing so, she lowered her head again to y with her buttons. The clothes Ji Shengxuan had someone find for her were pretty nice; the buttons were delicate, each one embroidered with different flowers. She counted the petals on the flowers, one, two, one, two¡­ repeatedly, never finding it boring. But it was a bit dark, and after counting for a while, her eyes began to hurt. She didn¡¯t know where Shen Chi was taking her, to school or back to the Shen Family¡¯s home? As the journey continued, she stopped ying with the buttons, propping her head with one hand and leaning on the window. After all the night¡¯s exertions, she was quite tired. She was one of those who tend to fall asleep as soon as they get into a car. Shortly, she began to doze off, nodding off like a pecking chicken. When Shen Chi turned to look at her, she had already fallen asleep. He slowed down the car, driving very smoothly. Her face was like a porcin doll¡¯s, fair and rosy. With her stubborn ws and sharpness retracted, the sleeping Xu Chaomu always seemed so innocently harmless. Yet, inappropriately, the words Xu Chaomu had said jumped back into his mind. ¡°Right, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about a thing. That¡¯s why I like him. No, that¡¯s why I cling to him, that¡¯s why I stick to him.. As long as I can marry him, what do I care about face!¡± Chapter 153 - 153: Let’s Make Things Clear Today Chapter 153: Let¡¯s Make Things Clear Today Trantor: 549690339 When everyone ndered her for stealing the ne, he could choose to believe her without hesitation. But at this moment, he believed the recording. It came from her own mouth, leaving him no choice but to believe it. As he thought about this, his grip on the steering wheel tightened, and the car swerved, nearly hitting arge tree on the side of the road. With this jolt, Xu Chaomu groggily opened her eyes. Oh, how had she fallen asleep again? She rubbed her forehead and looked up at Shen Chi, whose face was cold, still looking like someone owed him money. Not daring to provoke him, she chose to continue her silence. She yawned several times but could no longer fall asleep. Shen Chi pressed the gas pedal several times and parked the car in front of a five-star hotel. The hotel¡¯s lights twinkled, it was well-located, and there were peopleing and going every now and then. Shen Chi stopped the car here, and Xu Chaomu looked up, realizing this ce was neither near her school nor the Shen Family. Where was this¡­ What were they doing at the hotel? Suddenly, she thought of Shen Chi¡¯s previous words, ¡°Sleep with me for fifty thousand,¡± and she shuddered. They couldn¡¯t possibly be here to check into a room, could they? Although she liked him and enjoyed snuggling close and teasing him. She wanted to kiss him, to sleep with him, to flirt with him. But that was before she knew he had a fianc¨¦e. Before she knew he was about to get married¡­ Auntie Zhou had said, ¡°Don¡¯t get too close to Achi, and don¡¯t try to be the other woman.¡± She wouldn¡¯t be a homewrecker, nor would she destroy his happiness. She had her own bottom lines. ¡°Get out!¡± Shen Chi nced at her. Xu Chaomu was still pondering the words Zhou Ran had said to her and didn¡¯t hear Shen Chi¡¯smand. ¡°Get the hell out!¡± His voice was deep and he repeated firmly. She then reacted, unbuckled her seat belt, and murmured ¡°Oh.¡± When she opened the car door, a st of cold air greeted her. It was so cold outside, with the night wind howling. Looking at the weather, it didn¡¯t seem very promising, and she wondered if it was going to rain tomorrow. The wind blew through her hair, and she tucked her locks behind her ears, standing with her arms wrapped around herself in the chill. After parking the car properly, Shen Chi walked over to her. At this time of night, it was very deep. There were still couples passing by from time to time, but the overall silence was frightening. At this moment, a fat, old man was holding a young woman, whispering sweet nothings as they walked. ¡°Babe, are we leaving tonight or not?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve brought me to a hotel, how could I leave?¡± The woman cooed. ¡°Rx, I won¡¯t let you down. Tonight, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied¡­ Hahaha¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense. There are people around, stop making a scene.¡± ¡°Look at you, blushing. I love that about you.¡± ¡°Stop it, stop it, it¡¯s embarrassing with others around. We¡¯ve reached the hotel, let¡¯s go make a scene inside.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? Anyone standing at the entrance of a hotel at this hour is here to sell themselves, right?¡± After he finished, the old man nced at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu dodged his gaze, but his words were quite ufortable to hear. ¡°What are you standing around for, go in!¡± Shen Chi barked at her again. Xu Chaomu looked at him warily, stepped back two steps with her arms crossed, and shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not going in.¡± ¡°You have no say in this!¡± Shen Chi grabbed her wrist. Her hand was cold to the touch, while his was quite warm. His dominant grip on her small hand proved she no say in the matter. He dragged her into the hotel and pulled out a card for the front desk. ¡°Good evening, sir. Would you like a single or double room?¡± ¡°Single room.¡± ¡°Certainly. ¡± He brought her here to have a clear conversation with her, a single room was enough for a talk, no need to book a suite. The front desk clerk was clearly ustomed to this, customers of the opposite sex arriving at this hour were mostly here to book rooms. Only, the girl in front of him was bright and youthful, not looking too old. Soon, Shen Chi, holding the room card, took Xu Chaomu to their room. With a ¡°bang¡± the door closed behind them, and Xu Chaomu clutched the doorknob, refusing to go inside. ¡°What are you doing? Why did you bring me to a hotel?¡± Xu Chaomu asked with caution. ¡°What do you think you can do in a hotel?¡± Shen Chi gave her a sidelong nce. He was feeling warm, perhaps from irritation, and started taking off his coat as he spoke. As he disrobed, her vignce intensified. Her heart raced, beating wildly like a frightened deer. ¡°If there¡¯s anything to say, let¡¯s just talk. No need for physical contact!¡± Xu Chaomu backed away, pleading pathetically. ¡°I really have no interest in you,¡± Shen Chi shot her another icy look. The hand on the doorknob finally rxed, what had she been thinking? Shen Chi knew what she was thinking all too well; he had never been interested in her. He had always told her she was like a sister to him. It was her own wishful thinking. ¡°Then why did you bring me here, what do you want to say?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her big eyes, standing at the doorway. Shen Chi took off his jacket, sat on the bed, rolled up his sleeves, and pointed to the spot next to him, ¡°Sit down here!¡± Today, he wanted to have it all out with her. Xu Chaomu moved to sit, but instead of next to him, she sat in a chair. She moved the chair a bit farther away from him. Seeing her childish behavior, he couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Xu Chaomu repeated. ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± he called her name, in a neutral tone, ¡°today you¡¯re going to make it clear how you feel about me.¡± So, it was still that issue¡­ A few days before, he had asked her, ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really want to marry me, don¡¯t you?¡± Back then, she was flustered and angry, responding quite rudely, ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself too much. Do you think every girl likes you? Take a good look at yourself in the mirror, old man! Bastard!¡± After that, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me dislike you.¡± Today, he had rephrased it, but the meaning was the same. ¡°How I feel¡­ whatever you want me to feel, that¡¯s what I feel.¡± If he wanted her to see him as a brother, then she¡¯d see him as a brother. ¡°Don¡¯t brush me off!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not brushing you off,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, feeling wronged, her head hung low. Finally, Shen Chi took out his phone and yed the recording that had been haunting him. He almost threw the phone at her face but restrained himself. Had he thrown it, it might not have disfigured her, but it would certainly have drawn blood. At first, there were ¡°whooshing¡± sounds from the phone, like the wind rustling the leaves, followed by Bai Man¡¯s voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you like Shen Chi, perhaps it¡¯s just a simple crush, or perhaps¡­ you¡¯re attracted to the Shen family¡¯s status. Yes, it¡¯s such a good opportunity, who wouldn¡¯t want to stay with the Shen family, to marry Shen Chi. Marrying him would mean you¡¯ll never have to live poor and lowly again; he¡¯s your only lifeline, you want to cling to him desperately, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Right, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything, so I like him. No, so I¡¯m clinging to him, sticking to him. As long as I can marry him, why would I care about face!¡± That was her voice. At this point, the recording abruptly stopped.. Chapter 154 - 154 Xu Chaomu, Don’t Pretend to be Dead Chapter 154: Xu Chaomu, Don¡¯t Pretend to be Dead Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was about to leap out of her throat. That day, when Bai Man had spoken to her, she had never anticipated that Bai Man would record their conversation! Rage zed within her heart. Her shoulders shook with anger. Had Shen Chi been acting like he was on the wrong medication these past few days because of this? ¡°Did you say these things?¡± Shen Chi stared at her intently. She lifted her head, and in his eyes, she saw distrust. ording to her former character, she would never allow anyone to nder her. But now, what should she say? That these words were spoken in anger, that actually she didn¡¯t feel that way, that actually she liked him? Exining further would be meaningless. Being liked by her was something he was disdainful of. ¡°Shen Chi, are you going deaf? This is my voice, can¡¯t you even recognize that?¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I truly underestimated you. Your thoughts have never been pure. Tell me, did you start harboring this idea since you were ten?¡± ¡°For such a smart person as yourself, Shen Chi, it took you eight years to figure it out? You should know, no one wants to live a poor and tough life. If I could cling to you, it would mean a lifetime of carefree living. Being an adopted child of the Shen Family, I, of course, felt insecure, always at risk of being cast out by the Shen Family. Only by sticking to you, and preferably getting you to marry me, would I have security for life.¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected that she could say these things without any preparation, they just came out. It didn¡¯t matter anymore. He was about to marry Bai Man, and she could never marry him in this lifetime. Let the misunderstanding stand, it was nothing. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to let herself win just this once, to give him, the high and mighty Shen Chi, a taste of being deceived. That felt rather good. Indeed, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. He stood up and grabbed her by the throat with a swift movement. ¡°I¡¯ve cherished you for eight years, doted on you for eight years. Is this how you repay me?!¡± Xu Chaomu was choked to the point where she could hardly breathe. She wed at his hand, trying to pry it from her neck. ¡°Ugh, ugh¡­¡± Muffled sybles came from her throat. She couldn¡¯t speak, she was in difort, she wondered if he was going to strangle her to death¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, what makes you any different from the women who crawl into my bed! ¡± He tightened his grip on her neck. His face was cold and grim, his body exuded a chill. Xu Chaomu tried to pull his hands away, but it was futile. Gradually, her breathing became more difficult. Her hands stopped struggling and slowly¡­ fell still. He wanted to crush her, as simple as crushing an ant. Her breathing grew more and morebored; she wanted fresh air, but his grip did not loosen in the slightest. As Shen Chi forcefully strangled her, furious, he waspletely unaware that Xu Chaomu was on the verge of suffocation. Only when he noticed the little one was unresponsive, no longer putting up a fight, did he suddenly panic, immediately releasing his hold. ¡°Xu Chaomu! Don¡¯t pretend to be dead! Xu Chaomu! Mumu!¡± He really panicked now, shaking her shoulders, patting her cheeks. Shen Chi¡¯s face turned as white as paper. ¡°Mumu, Mumu!¡± Xu Chaomu had her breath lodged in her throat, and it took her quite a while to cough lightly and open her eyes. Ufortable, she felt nothing but difort. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Holding her neck, she coughed heavily, almost vomiting bile. Seeing that she had recovered somewhat, Shen Chi also felt as if he¡¯d just walked through a near-death experience. He let his hands fall weakly to his sides. Just a moment ago, why had he even been anxious about her? He should have strangled her, shouldn¡¯t he? ¡°So ufortable¡­ so very ufortable¡­ water¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s tears came out as she held her neck, in real difort. Shen Chi felt a sudden twinge in his chest, yet he silently went to the table and brought her a bottle of mineral water. If it had been any other woman, she might have died several times over. After a few sips of water, Xu Chaomu felt not quite so ufortable, but her throat still burned. ¡°Young Master Shen, rest assured, since you¡¯ve seen through my little scheme, I have no face to stay by your side anymore. I¡¯ll leave,¡± she said, with every word adding pain to her throat. ¡°Leave? Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Shen Chi was very annoyed. For some reason, the mention of her leaving made him irrationally irritable. Xu Chaomu kept quiet. Whatever she said would be wrong. ¡°Oh, I want to sleep now¡­¡± She was no longer going to argue with him. He was usually so clever, but now he was even more childish than she was. Shey down on the table, resting her head on her arms, hardly able to keep her eyes open. So sleepy¡­ Truly, so very sleepy¡­ As Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes closed, her ws retracted, and lying on the table, she disregarded whether the surface was cold or not and fell asleep. Shen Chi always said she slept like a pig, and it wasn¡¯t a lie. Once she slept, she would forget everything. Finding afortable position, she buried her head in her arms, smacked her lips twice, and soon fell asleep. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me¡­ so sleepy¡­¡± she mumbled in a daze. Shen Chi stood by, not sure what to do. She was just fine, dropping off to sleep, while he hadn¡¯t even finished his questions! The fist he had clenched gradually loosened. He wasn¡¯t about to shake her awake by the cor to continue his interrogation. Waves surged in his heart, like a raging tide, pounding against his chest. When everything had quieted down around him, he bent down, scooped Xu Chaomu up, and carried her to the big bed. Sitting by the bed, his heart gradually steadied. Thinking back on what had just happened, he almost choked her to death. Where had that impulsee from¡­ With a wry smile, he realized he had spoiled her to the point of recklessness. Now, he was merely reaping what he had sown. Xu Chaomu turned over, first kicking the nket off, then probably feeling cold, started reaching for it again. As she pulled at it, she identally kicked Shen Chi, but still deep in sleep, she was unaware and kicked him a few more times before she managed to pull the nket back. The kicks weren¡¯t strong, but Shen Chi frowned nheless. It was hard to say whether she did it intentionally or not. Turning his head, he saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s innocent face, a single tear resting on her longshes, as if she had been crying. Shen Chi¡¯s spine stiffened, and he sat ramrod straight. He extended his hand intending to wipe away the tear, but his fingers paused mid-air and were then retracted. He had no reason to be kind to her. At that moment, Xu Chaomu clutched the nket tightly around herself, as if cold or frightened. Her body shook, and her face was pale. ¡°Mom¡­ don¡¯t leave¡­ I¡¯ll make you something nice to eat¡­ don¡¯t go¡­ don¡¯t leave Mumu alone¡­¡± She called out softly, as if trapped in a nightmare again. ¡°Mom¡­ don¡¯t leave me¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± She began to cry, calling out and crying, like a ten-year-old child. Helpless, tender, confused.. Chapter 155 - 155: I Truly Love Him Chapter 155: I Truly Love Him Trantor: 549690339 Her pale knuckles iled about in the air, seemingly trying to grasp her mother, but aside from a handful of air, she could catch nothing¡­ Gradually, she stopped reaching out, calling ¡°Mom,¡± she let her hands powerless, hang down. Two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving her washed-out little face an undefinable helplessness. Shen Chi was irritated. He stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked out of the hotel. The outside wind howled, rustling the leaves on the branches into a tter. It looked like it was going to rain¡­ When Shen Chi got into his Maybach, a phrase from Xu Chaomu leaped into his mind, ¡°Shen Chi, I know you hate me, and I hate you too. You go home and find the adoption papers, have them notarized, and I¡¯ll have nothing to do with the Shen Family.¡± Get them notarized, and they would have nothing to do with each other? Where in the world are things that simple. The next morning, as expected, it rained. The sky was gloomy, and everywhere emitted azy air. It rarely rained heavily in C City due to its dry climate, but today¡¯s rain was getting heavier and heavier. Pouring down like it was dumped from the sky. Striking the buildings, the long streets, and the umbres of pedestrians. Dark clouds pressed against the sky, the air felt oppressive, and everywhere was suffocating. Li Beiting entrusted Yu Weiwei¡¯s care to Ji Shengxuan, then left Weiyang early in the morning. The red Maserati dashed through the rain, losing its usual pomp, yet resembling a blooming red peony amidst the shower. As the rain scraped by the windshield wipers, he pursed his lips and looked ahead. It was already 7:40 in the morning. Right then, his phone rang. He nced down¡ªBai Man. A bit surprised, why would Bai Man call him? After several rings, Li Beiting answered. ¡°Bai Man.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, have you arrived at the office?¡± ¡°Not yet, what¡¯s up, what happened?¡± ¡°Have you seen Shen Chi? I couldn¡¯t find him early this morning. I asked the butler, and he didn¡¯t know either. I looked in the garage, and his car wasn¡¯t there. I called him, but he isn¡¯t picking up,¡± Bai Man said anxiously. ¡°Could he have gone to the corporation?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s voice carried a hint of weariness. ¡°I already called Xiao MO, and he said Shen Chi hadn¡¯t gone to the corporation,¡± Bai Man said softly, yet with unmistakable helplessness. ¡°He might be with a client, don¡¯t worry. I saw himst night,¡± he reassured her. ¡°Who goes to clients that early in the morning.¡± Bai Man was clearly unsatisfied with Li Beiting¡¯s answer. ¡°Bai Man, actually, men should also have their own space. You shouldn¡¯t pry too much.¡± ¡°I understand, I¡¯m just worried about him.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, what¡¯s yours will definitely be yours, and no one can take it away.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, sigh, we haven¡¯t had a meal together for a long time. I¡¯m treating you today, how about we go out for a meal?¡± Drained, Li Beiting was surely not going to apany Bai Man. Thus, he kindly declined, ¡°I¡¯m not free today, maybe another time.¡± ¡°Then keep mepany and talk for a bit? With Shen Chi not around, I feel so stifled. It¡¯s like there¡¯s a stone blocking my chest, I get ufortable not seeing him for a moment. This feeling¡­ maybe you don¡¯t understand.¡± Bai Man sighed, she regarded Li Beiting as a friend, that¡¯s why she spoke openly. After all, Shen Chi, Li Beiting, and she grew up together. ¡°Okay, go ahead, I¡¯m listening,¡± Li Beiting said, driving with his headset on. ¡°Maybe, I just love him too much. I want to see him every second. Some say obsession is a sickness, but this sickness has seeped into my bones. What should I do?¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice was light, carrying a trace of mncholy. Fine carvings turn into beans of red, but they lodge deep and knows not the depth of longing. Bai Man¡¯s eyes drifted, quietly watching the rain outside the window dancing in the sky, like boundless yearning, a disaster borne from a thought, an eternity from a nce. Li Beiting knew that although Bai Man was a Miss, she was not arrogant or spoiled. He sighed, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, you and Brother Four have known each other for over a decade; the engagement and wedding are right around the corner. Don¡¯t let your thoughts wander.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, people said he went to see Xu Chaomust night, did he?¡± Bai Man said softly. Her gaze still fixed outside the window. The window wasn¡¯t closed, so rainwater floated onto her face, cool, like the river water in February¡ªjust thawed from ice, cold to the bone. ¡°Xu Chaomu got into trouble yesterday, Brother Four just gave her a scolding, don¡¯t read into it too much. Brother Four has always regarded Xu Chaomu like a sister, Bai Man, I¡¯ll stand by your side. In any case, Brother Four can only marry you,¡± he reassured. ¡°Does he love me?¡± Bai Man¡¯s tone was light, like a drifting thread¡­ She extended her hand, with the wind blowing up her sleeve and the rain quickly filling her palm. A chill to the bone, yet she, was unwilling to withdraw her hand. ¡°If he didn¡¯t love you, he wouldn¡¯t engage with you. At thest press conference, he personally put the ring on your finger.¡± ¡°I hope so, I really love him, very much¡­¡± Bai Man¡¯s voice trailed off. Li Beiting spoke calmly, ¡°Why bring this up suddenly? Stop overthinking things. If you keep yourself busy, you won¡¯t think about those seemingly inconsequential things.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, do me a favor.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I heard that Xu Chaomu¡¯s school has slots for studying abroad every May. Shen Chi is supposed to go to South Africa this May,¡± Bai Man said, stopping short of continuing, knowing Li Beiting was smart enough to understand. Indeed, Li Beiting stayed silent for a while before responding slowly, ¡°This study abroad programsts for six years, until one graduates from a university overseas.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Bai Man responded, unfazed. Li Beiting fell silent again for a moment before speaking, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help with this favor. Bai Man, Brother Four is just treating Xu Chaomu as a sister, you don¡¯t need to worry so much. Besides, I¡¯ve already talked to Chaomu.¡± Li Beiting knew he could only choose to help one between Bai Man and Xu Chaomu. And Shen Chi marrying Bai Man was what everyone expected. ¡°Everyone says I¡¯m paranoid, but as a woman, I actually trust my intuition quite a bit. Everyone knows Xu Chaomu likes Shen Chi. And Shen Chi¡­¡± Bai Man stopped, not continuing. Her hand was still out the window, the wind and rain making her feel especially cold. The sky remained gloomy, with no brightness and dense clouds hanging overhead. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± muttered Li Beiting, with a look of exhaustion. The windshield wipers desperately tried to clear the rain, but the more they wiped, the blurrier it became. Li Beiting¡¯s gaze out the window was also unstable. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± After hanging up the phone, just as he reached a red light, the signal shed numbers: ¡°88, 87, 86¡­¡± While Li Beiting watched the countdown, his mind remained calm. The rain poured down relentlessly, quickly flooding the streets. The murky sky hung like a wide over the city, the storm raging on, ceaselessly.. Chapter 156 - 156: The Beauty’s Strategy Chapter 156: The Beauty¡¯s Strategy Trantor: 549690339 The trees along the perimeter green belts were bent by the wind, branches and leaves flying everywhere, apanying the dense rain that swept through every corner. Bai Man held her phone in one hand while extending the other out the window, maintaining this position motionless. Despite the howling wind outside, the leaves rustling wildly, and the cold dampness and chill brought by the windblown fallen blossoms, Bai Man seemed unaffected by the cold. She faced the wind, letting it whip through her hair. Xiaofeng, her manager, carried a cup of milk upstairs and saw Bai Man with her hair in disarray, the big wind causing papers to fly around the room. ¡°Miss Bai, it¡¯s too cold. Let me help you close the window, or you¡¯ll catch a cold. If you do, Shen Chi will be worried,¡± Xiaofeng said with a smile, half-joking. Bai Man didn¡¯t insist on keeping the window open. She smiled faintly and turned her head, pulling her shawl closer. ¡°He¡¯s so busy, how could he find the time to worry about me?¡± Bai Man joked back. ¡°Even if Shen Chi is busy, as long as you make a call, he will always take it to heart,¡± Xiaofeng insisted. ¡°I called him this morning, and he didn¡¯t answer. His car wasn¡¯t in the garage either. Tell me, where is his concern?¡± Bai Man sighed. ¡°Shen Chi is a busy man, please be understanding,¡± Xiaofeng replied. ¡°I know, Xiaofeng, am I that unreasonable?¡±ughed Bai Man. ¡°Miss Bai, drink this milk while it¡¯s warm. After you have your breakfast, we¡¯ll head to the set,¡± Xiaofeng suggested. ¡°The rain is pouring so heavily today, I don¡¯t want to go. Please let the director know. I¡¯ll stay at the Shen Family home, waiting for the young master to return,¡± Bai Man saidnguidly as she sat down in a chair. She pulled out the chair, took the cup of milk from Xiaofeng, and drank absentmindedly. The milk was warm. With a sip, warmth spread through her heart. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll call the director right away,¡± Xiaofeng replied. ¡°How¡¯s that neer doing?¡± Bai Man asked nonchntly, her eyelids fluttering slightly. Xiaofeng¡¯s mind raced: ¡°The neer who was ¡®kicked out¡¯st time? I gave her a handsomepensation. She said she would never set foot in C City again. ¡± ¡°What do you think Shen Chi would think if he found out about my doing this?¡± Bai Man mused. ¡°You did nothing wrong. If it wasn¡¯t for your pushing Shen Chist time, how could he have discussed marriage with Mr. Bai so quickly, how could he have gotten engaged to you so soon? Ultimately, he still cares about you,¡± Xiaofeng reassured her. Bai Man¡¯s lips moved slightly, and she remained silent, shaking the milk ss in her hand. After a long silence, she lifted her eyelids, ¡°I want you to listen to a recording.¡± Having said that, she took out her phone, and her fingernails, painted with nail polish, slowly slid across the screen. It was the same recording she had yed for Shen Chist time. In it, Chaomu was emotionally saying, ¡°Yes, if I could marry him, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything, so I like him. No, so I¡¯m clinging to him, sticking to him. As long as I can marry him, what do I need ¡®face¡¯ for?¡± After listening, Xiaofeng looked up, ¡°Miss Bai, you should let Shen Chi hear this recording.¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What was his reaction?¡± ¡°He seemed quite angry.¡± ¡°Chaomu really overestimates herself, how can shepare to you.¡± ¡°Xiaofeng, he doesn¡¯t even believe that Chaomu stole the ne, so why would he believe this recording of mine¡­¡± Bai Man said. Xiaofeng had no answer; indeed, how clever Shen Chi was. Bai Man gave a bitter smile, her gaze bing hazy, ¡°I think, he cares too much about Chaomu. The more you care, the more you fear. So even the slightest doubt, he will amplify it countless times, even to the point of madness, of being lost.¡± ¡°Miss Bai, don¡¯t overthink it. Who needs to boost someone else¡¯s morale at the expense of their own pride? Focus on your uing engagement next month. I heard from the Shen Family they¡¯re already arranging it. It will be grand, and Shen Chi values it highly,¡± Xiaofeng rushed to say. ¡°I don¡¯t want to think about it, but there¡¯s still more than a month until the eighth of next month, right? A lot can change in a month. Who can tell?¡± Bai Man replied. Xiaofeng, perhaps thinking Bai Man had a point, fell into thoughtful silence. The room became quiet for a moment. After a while, Xiaofeng lifted her head, a glint in her eyes, ¡°Miss Bai, you¡¯ve driven away all those women who hooked up with Shen Chi before. Now, it¡¯s just Chaomu; many methods can still be applied, right?¡± ¡°Indeed, you are right,¡± Bai Man responded with a gaze that couldn¡¯t hide her lingering sadness. ¡°Miss Bai, such matters are simple if you think about it. Leave it to me. You can be at ease and be the bride, at ease entering the Shen Family,¡± Xiaofeng offered. Bai Man didn¡¯t respond this time, simply taking another sip of milk. She lowered her head, and when she did, the white milk swayed in the ss cup, and she just silently watched it¡­ The rain above continued relentlessly. In the garden, a cat with its drenched body arched suddenly jumped into a bush. The shadow flickered and vanished in an instant. But the bushes quivered, the surrounding nts shook as well, and droplets sshed, scattering the newly bloomed crabapple flowers to the ground. The red petals scattered on the ground and on the green leaves, creating extreme beauty. When Chaomu woke up early in the morning, she found that Shen Chi was gone, and she didn¡¯t know when she had fallen asleep in the bed. Fortunately, her clothes were all intact. But she thought Shen Chi wasn¡¯t interested in her anyway. That kind of man, so ordinary, looked down on her. Her neck no longer hurt, but remembering how Shen Chi nearly strangled her to death yesterday, she felt waves of fear. Such a devil, it¡¯s better to stay away from him in the future. She hadn¡¯t noticed before how bad his temper was. Thinking about it, her saying ¡°Shen Chi, get lost¡± yesterday must havepletely angered him. He didn¡¯t strangle her; he must have shown mercy. After washing up, Chaomu hurried out of the hotel. She hadn¡¯t expected the rain to be so heavy. Everything in front of her was a blur of grey mist, hazy and white to the point where she couldn¡¯t even see the floors of the building opposite. Wind mixed with raindropsshed against Chaomu¡¯s face, a bit cold, prompting her to wrap her arms around herself. She stood outside the hotel for quite a while, without an umbre, unable to see any taxis. Raindrops sshed at her feet, slowly soaking the hem of her pants. Just then, a ck Maybach slowly pulled up in front of her. The smooth lines, themanding ck,bined with that stern face, turned this spot into a striking scene. ¡°Get in!¡±manded a voice with thin lips, softly issuing two words. How could she encounter him no matter where she went? Chaomu jumped back two steps and shook her head repeatedly. After several shakes that weren¡¯t emphatic enough, she shook her head several more times until she stopped, as if she had taken an ecstasy pill. Shen Chi narrowed his eyes at her antics, and murmured under his breath, ¡°What kind of tantrum is this now?¡± His words were uttered softly, so Chaomu naturally didn¡¯t hear them. Last night, after he left the hotel, he didn¡¯t return. Instead, he sat in his car, spending the entire night away from home. Having thought through the night, he suddenly realized that the first person he wanted to see each morning was still her. He thought he was crazy. Completely and utterly crazy.. Chapter 157 - 157: Fourth Brother, She’s Your Daughter Chapter 157: Fourth Brother, She¡¯s Your Daughter Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Do you expect me to invite you?¡± Shen Chi frowned, his obsidian-like eyes intently fixed on her. ¡°What do you want?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, watching him warily. As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy. ¡°Why so much nonsense, get in!¡± Shen Chi said irritably. ¡°I have a glorious future ahead, I¡­¡± ¡°I know you have a glorious future, prospects bright as brocade, but if you don¡¯t get in now, I¡¯ll make sure your future ends today!¡± This wretched girl, always with the same few phrases, she started saying them since she was ten, and he knows them by heart. ¡°Are you taking me to school?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Only then did Xu Chaomu reluctantly open the car door, knowing she couldn¡¯t escape from him. When she sat in the passenger seat, she actually smelt a hint of tobo in the car. She sniffed, yes, it was the scent of tobo. He smokes? She remembered that he did not smoke. Suddenly, a sentence from Ji Shengxuanst night came to mind, ¡°Smoking relieves worries, little girl, you are still too young.¡± Turning her eyes, she nced at Shen Chi. His face, though cold and forbidding, was always so good to look at. He showed no expression, just started the car and drove away from the hotel. Perhaps her nose was ying tricks on her. The car was quiet inside, neither of them speaking a word. In the past, it was always Xu Chaomu who talked incessantly at times like this. Helpless, Shen Chi had to break the silence first: ¡°How is your study going these days?¡± ¡°Not so great.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you give me some peace of mind?¡± Shen Chi was exasperated but didn¡¯t mean to reprimand her. ¡°Making you lose face is more like it,¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. Shen Chi said no more; if he said something, she would have to argue. But¡­ that was okay, at least she didn¡¯t avoid him like a mouse evading a cat. After a long silence, the car fell quiet once more. Rain pattered against the car windows, the wipers swishing non-stop, but everything outside was shrouded in mist. Shen Chi let out a sigh, almost imperceptibly saying, ¡°Anyway, I can afford to keep you.¡± Xu Chaomu, who had been looking down and fiddling with her fingers, turned her head towards him with confusion, not sure if she had heard him right. His hand rested lightly on the steering wheel, perhaps from a night without sleep, hisplexion wasn¡¯t very good. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked forward, cars rushing by like flowing water, but his face was devoid of ripples. Sincest night, he had thought long and hard. If any other woman had spoken to him that way, the milder cases might have been driven out of C City by now, the severe ones, might have been utterly eradicated. But the one who spoke to him that way was Xu Chaomu. Even if she told him her motives were bad, even if she said she clung to him just to escape a life of poverty, even if she told him to scram¡­ he couldn¡¯t bring himself to be harsh, because she was Xu Chaomu, unique. There was only one Xu Chaomu in this world. If she left, if she was gone, whom else would he dote on¡­ Xu Chaomu, however, was not much in a contemtive mood, though sitting beside Shen Chi, she no longer possessed the attitude to bicker and joke with him as before. In the past, she would counter every word he uttered with ten of her own. He was aloof and arrogant, yet she would always joke with him. He forbade her approach, and she would insist on scratching him with her little ws. Whenever he got angry, she felt delighted. Just like before, when he was driving, she could never sit still in the passenger seat, asionally stealing nces at him, and, looking on, would crack a smile. She wouldugh by herself, and after herughter, she would say, ¡°Big Brother Four, you¡¯re so handsome, isn¡¯t that unsafe?¡± And then, that certain someone would always respond with a stony face, throwing her a sharp nce. Or else, she would reach for a plush cushion in the car, pull its two hands, and tease Shen Chi, ¡°Big Brother Four, this is your daughter, isn¡¯t she cute?¡± Once more, that certain someone would throw her a sharp nce with a stony face, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, I¡¯m driving!¡± At that time, she would be over the moon, chuckling nonstop. Teasing Shen Chi was one of her greatest pleasures. How much she liked him. She really, really liked him so much. But he¡­ he did not like her back. Really, who wants to be so shameless? It¡¯s just that she loved him too much. But he didn¡¯t understand. And if he didn¡¯t understand, so be it. She liked him, and it wasn¡¯t fair to demand he like her in return. Forced affection is never sweet, which she understood. At this moment, Xu Chaomu leaned against the window, quietly watching the rain outside. The downpour obscured her vision, but she still turned her head to look¡­ Due to the temperature difference inside, the car windows gradually fogged up. Xu Chaomu stretched out her hand and started writing on the ss with her finger. ¡°Xu Chaomu¡­¡± she whispered her own name as she wrote it. Once, someone said, the ¡°Xu¡± of ¡°Xu Nuo,¡± and the ¡°Chaomu¡± of ¡°morning and dusk.¡± I promise you a lifetime of mornings and dusks. After writing her own name, she stared at it foolishly. The handwriting wasn¡¯t pretty and somewhat childish. Actually, she really wanted to write Shen Chi¡¯s name beside hers¡­ Just like in her diary, where she had written his name over and over. With each written instance, each spoken word, her heart filled with joy. The feeling of liking someone was so wonderful. Even if it was a faint and endless unrequited love with no end in sight¡­ In the deste years, she faced turmoil alone. Droplets trickled down the letters, and soon the name ¡°Xu Chaomu¡± blurred. She wiped the name away with her hand, and the window cleared up. Although the rain outside continued pouring, it didn¡¯t obstruct her view. Just when the Maybach halted at a red light, Xu Chaomu happened to see a family of three crossing the street. A young couple was holding the hands of a little girl, shielding her between them. But the three of them shared only one umbre, so the tall young father wrapped one arm around his wife and held the umbre with the other, while the young mother protected the little girl. The little girl was young, at most five or six years old. With her hair in twin ponytails, she was adorable and seemed very sensible. In such heavy rain, Xu Chaomu saw that the couple¡¯s clothes were wet, yet the little girl remained dry. The sidewalk was long, and the family walked together, leaning on each other, faces showing contentment and unaffected by the heavy downpour. Reaching the end of the walkway, the little girl looked up as if she was talking to her parents. Of course, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear, but she watched them, her lips curling into a faint smile. Likely tired of walking, the young father passed the umbre to the woman and, bending down, lifted the girl into his arms. The family slowly vanished into the rainy veil¡­ Even as the family disappeared, Xu Chaomu¡¯s gaze remained unfixed. Perhaps sensing her still and focused gaze out the window, Shen Chi followed her line of sight. And with that, he too saw the scene.. Chapter 158 - 158 – Give Me Some Time Chapter 158: ¨C Give Me Some Time Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes became moist. All her life, she had never truly understood what ¡°home¡± meant. She had no home; her only family, her mother who had been her whole world, perished in a fire when she was ten. The Shen Family took her in, and to be fair, her life with the Shen Family was pretty good, especially when it came to Shen Chi. Despite being somewhat overbearing, he was really good to her, beyond reproach. But that said, the Shen Family was still the Shen Family, not her home. How she longed to have a home of her own¡­ She would decorate it beautifully, with little flower pots and a variety of lovely flowers; she would learn to cook, preparing a table full of delicious food; she would hang a warm floral curtain, and with a pull, the bedroom would be drenched in sunlight¡­ Having a home would be so wonderful. That¡¯s why sometimes she was really envious of Bai Man. She had aplete family, parents who loved and cherished her, a career, beauty, and family background¡­ Particrly thest time the Bai Family came to the Shen Family to discuss marriage arrangements, and she saw Bai Man nestled against her parents, her heart was filled with such envy¡­ She too wished to be pampered and babied in the arms of her parents. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t do that. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Seeing her quiet for a long time, Shen Chi turned his head and asked indifferently. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to speak, her brow revealing a faint trace of wistful sorrow. Shen Chi saw her gaze lingering where a family of three had passed by just moments ago and figured out what she was thinking. Hisrge hand reached out involuntarily, wanting to touch her head. The warmth of his palm gently fell, with tenderness and indulgence. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dodge, just lifted her eyes in surprise and looked at Shen Chi. After a long while, he slowly began to speak. ¡°Give me some time,¡± his voice sounded, deep and hoarse. In his eyes, there was an unfathomable depth, his pupils dark as abyssal waters, mysterious and imprable. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what he meant. Her eyelids drooped again, and she turned her head subconsciously, still quite resistant to him. Just then, the red light turned green, and Shen Chi let his arm fall, sighing, and pressed the elerator once more. If it were the old days, when he touched her hair, she would definitely have struck back wanting to touch his in return, she would definitely have protested, ¡°Big bro, you¡¯re taking advantage of me again!¡± Now, maybe she had bezy, no longer finding the interest. How much longer could she continue to like him? Next month, he would be engaged¡­ There was a sharp pain in her heart, unbearable. Suddenly, she remembered the press conference where he had personally ced a ring on Bai Man¡¯s finger, saying aloud, ¡°Next month, I will be engaged to Miss Bai Man, which also signifies that in the future, we will be just as this ¡®Eternal Heart¡¯, eternally in love.¡± Eternally in love¡­ Those four words were the greatest irony to her. Soon, the car arrived at Xu Chaomu¡¯s school. It waste, and the students were in their break time. Because of the rain, the students were only moving around in the corridors, and no one was outside. The rain was pouring down heavily. Even with the excellent sound instion of the Maybach, she could hear the steady downpour. Xu Chaomu thought, ording to Shen Chi¡¯s habits, he wouldn¡¯t drive into the school. After all, every time before, he had her get out of the car from afar. Perhaps he didn¡¯t want to be associated with her. Indeed, she hadn¡¯t done anything that would make him proud. But today, Shen Chi drove into the school gates. This made Xu Chaomu somewhat anxious. She reached for the seat belt, ¡°You don¡¯t need to take me in, I can walk over.¡± ¡°How can you walk in such heavy rain?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not that far, it doesn¡¯t matter if I get wet for a bit, I¡¯m not that delicate. Just stop the car,¡± she said. ¡°Sit still! ¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t listen to her at all and drove straight into the school. But the parking spot was still a distance from the teaching building, and the rain was indeed heavy. As soon as he parked the car, she reached to open the door, but she was thwarted when she found it locked and could only stare helplessly. ¡°Don¡¯t you have an umbre in the car? Lend it to me. I¡¯ll return it when I go back home,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he replied. ¡°Then please unlock the door. I¡¯ll walk over, it¡¯s just a few steps. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t talk nonsense. In front of others, I never mentioned that you are my fourth brother. Nobody knows.¡± Some annoyance appeared in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. He turned his head, and a coldness seemed to settle there. ¡°Really, I¡¯m not lying to you,¡± Xu Chaomu, thinking he did not believe her, anxiously twisted her fingers, ¡°Even if I did tell, nobody would believe me. But I swear, I haven¡¯t told anyone. I might be immature, but I know my limits. If you don¡¯t want me to say it, I won¡¯t say it.¡± After her speech, the annoyance in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes deepened. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you this obedient before,¡± he snorted coldly. Xu Chaomu pouted, seeing that he still had no intention of opening the door, she reached out to press the button herself, ¡°I¡¯m alreadyte, if I don¡¯t get there soon, the teacher¡¯s going to make me stand as punishment.¡± ¡°It would be a miracle if a teacher isn¡¯t driven to tears by you,¡± Shen Chi said tly. ¡°If you dislike me, then don¡¯t look at me, so I won¡¯t offend Your Highness¡¯s eyes. You¡¯ll me me if you can¡¯t eat or sleep well,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted discontentedly. The events ofst night were still fresh in her mind: her liking him, and him disliking her. In this case, it didn¡¯t matter if he disliked her a little more. She remembered there was a term for this, ¡°part on good terms.¡± Part on good terms. Her words were especially grating to the ear, causing Shen Chi to frown. No one had ever dared to speak to him like that before; he was both angry and amused, but mostly he felt helpless. He had lost his temper with her badly the night before andter felt he had wronged her. He could lose his temper with anyone, but he should not have done so to her. His hand brushed through her hair, his lips curving up slightly, ¡°If I can¡¯t eat or sleep well, it would certainly be because of you.¡± ¡°How is that my fault? If you really can¡¯t eat or sleep well, it¡¯s definitely because Miss Bai hasn¡¯t satisfied you. Bastard, hurry up and open the door; I need to get out!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was filled with annoyance; Xu Chaomu was being improper again. He couldn¡¯t even recall how many times she had called him a ¡°bastard.¡± If someone else had insulted him like that, he would have turned against them long ago. Shen Chi¡¯s face remained expressionless, his deep eyes inscrutable. He unlocked the door, and Xu Chaomu, like a rabbit, leapt out of the car. The rain outside was heavy, and she heedlessly rushed out, desperately trying to avoid him, and in her carelessness, she even sprained her ankle. ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes narrowed with intensity. He quickly jumped out of the car, his steps steady and firm. Approaching her, he scooped her up without a word, cradling her tightly in his arms. ¡°Hold on to me!¡± His tone was asmanding as the force of his arms, leaving no room for her to protest or struggle. The rain soon drenched Shen Chi, his hair soaked in no time. He shielded her, unwilling to let her get wet in the slightest.. Chapter 159 - 159: Can You Please Stay Away From Chapter 159: Can You Please Stay Away From Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu just had to be contrary, her little fists pounding on his chest, even more densely than the raindrops. ¡°Don¡¯t hold me; I have hands and feet of my own, let me down quickly. If someone sees uster, your reputation as Shen Chi, the young master, will be ruined. Having a sister who doesn¡¯t apply herself to her studies and isn¡¯t good at them, you¡¯ll be disgraced.¡± All these years, he had refused to take her to school precisely because he was afraid of her showing off in front of others. Yes, she did really want him to take her to school before, so she could tell others, ¡°Look, this is my fourth brother, handsome right?¡± That small vanity of hers would have been satisfied; in her eyes, he really was outstanding. But now, it was different. She was almost desperate to sever any connection with him. She did not want to be seen as the mistress who destroyed his happiness with Bai Man, did not want to be called shameless; she had her self-respect. Moreover, she was bing ever more aware that he was like the stars, shiny and dazzling, while she was just dust. She had never been someone whocked confidence, but this inferiorityplex wrapped around her heart like waterweed, making it difficult for her to breathe. Perhaps, people always grow up slowly. It¡¯s just that she had been somewhat slow to realize it. Shen Chi was getting irritated. He held her tighter to stop her from moving. He opened his suit further, allowing her to lean against his chest, where not a single drop of rain had touched her. As for himself, he was thoroughly soaked in just a moment¡¯s time. His low,ckluster voice came from above her head, ¡°You¡¯re not only neglectful of your duties and bad at your studies, but you also have impure thoughts, love to throw tantrums, can¡¯t wash clothes, can¡¯t cook, and asionally flirt with young boys. But what can be done about it, who calls you Xu Chaomu?¡± Embracing her without any hesitation, he strode toward the school building. Xu Chaomu was held tightly in his arms, unable to move. When she was close to his chest, she could smell that familiar pleasant scent of his. Her eyes became a bit moist. No matter how good this man was, he was not hers. She stopped talking and stopped struggling, only gripping his shirt with her small hand. She really hadn¡¯t been touched by even a drop of rain, until just before reaching the school building, when a few beads of water trickled down Shen Chi¡¯s chin onto her face. When she looked up, she saw his whole figure drenched, yet he said nothing. His face appeared taut, his gaze still imprably deep. ¡°Let me down, we¡¯ve arrived, I¡¯ll walk up myself.¡± Her ss was on the third floor, and it happened to be the break between sses; she didn¡¯t want to be the center of attention. Although, she had longed for it so much before. And if it had been the past, seeing Shen Chi treat her so well, she would have definitely wiped the rain from his face, feeling sorry yet shamelessly saying, ¡°Fourth Brother, you treat me so well, what should I do if I want to offer myself to you?¡± But now, she didn¡¯t want to say or do anything. ¡°I will carry you up,¡± Shen Chi said in his emotionless tone, preparing to ascend the stairs. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to carry me! Put me down! Why are you so annoying, can¡¯t you keep your distance?!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled at him hysterically, pushing against him with force. She was truly angry, and even she was stunned after speaking those words. Shen Chi was taken aback too, his steps halting suddenly. Xu Chaomu rarely ever spoke to him like that; there was a lot of impatience in her tone. In his moment of distraction, she pushed him away, without looking back, and dashed up the stairs to the third floor. Soon, her figure disappeared from his sight. This time, she ran faster than ever, not daring to return to the ssroom, instead hiding in the restroom. Tears ¡°pattered¡± down freely like the rain from the skies, unstoppable. Shen Chi, standing at the bottom of the stairs on the first floor, lingered for a long while before he withdrew his gaze, his eyes filled with destion¡­ Outside, rain curtains hung low, with the torrential rain pouring down incessantly. All he could hear was this downpour. The steam rose behind him, misty like smoke, making his silhouette appear even more rigid and frosty. Drops of water followed his hair, down his face; the rain of the season was cool, but he didn¡¯t feel its chill. When the ss bell rang, Xu Chaomu finally emerged from the restroom, having washed her face, with no trace of tears visible. She pretended as if nothing had happened and went to the ssroom. ncing at the teaching building downstairs, the ck Maybach was still sitting in the rain; she quickly withdrew her gaze. Yu Weiwei was absent from school, and she knew that with Li Beiting taking care of her, there would be no problems. However, because she waste, as soon as the homeroom teacher entered the ssroom, she was pointed out. ¡°Xu Chaomu, why are youte again? Do you still take your studies seriously?¡± the old woman rebuked sharply. Going by the way Xu Chaomu used to be, she certainly wouldn¡¯t have taken thisying down, but this time she obediently stood up, bowed her head, and spoke quietly, ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll go out to stand as punishment.¡± She took a Chinese book and prepared to leave, and the homeroom teacher¡¯s tone was hostile, ¡°I don¡¯t know how you were assigned to my ss, dragging our ss¡¯s average down. It would have been better if you hadn¡¯te at all, but when you do, you don¡¯t study properly and bring down the average score.¡± Xu Chaomu said nothing,tely, she had actually been studying hard. But when your grades are poor, no matter what you say is wrong. So, it was better to stay silent. She took her Chinese book and stood in the hallway outside the ssroom, head down and silent. The homeroom teacher stopped talking, snorted coldly, and began teaching. But before starting, she reiterated the discipline loudly again, ¡°Let me say this once more, the midterms areing up, everyone must be diligent, and anyone who iste will stand outside like Xu Chaomu!¡± No one dared to talk back, meekly bowing their heads and listening to the lesson. Xu Chaomu looked at the words in the Chinese book, and absentmindedly turned a page,nding on a verse. ¡°Where do the fluttering snow and flowers go? Ice and snow wearying, a tree sparse and cold before dawn. Love for the bright moon brings with it a wan pallor. After shedding too many tangled threadses the yearning for the spring mountain, but resuming the broken dream in theundered skirt is difficult. So much west wind resentment, unabated by the arch of brows.¡± Xu Chaomu, not a schrly student, naturally did not understand it, but as she read carefully, she felt it was beautiful. Especially in this moment, with the torrential rain, the rain curtain hanging low, and mist swirling. As the breeze blew, she also longed to recite, ¡°So much west wind resentment, unabated by the arch of brows.¡± She then closed the Chinese book, stood on the balcony, propping her chin in her hand, and quietly watched the rain. Rain strands brushed her face, tender and soft, like the green willows by the riverside, their branches and leaves caressing the cheek, giving the same gentle sensation. She had not stood for long when a figure approached. ¡°Chaomu,te again?¡± It was Lou Yanli. He stood beside Xu Chaomu, with a warm smile, and without waiting for her to respond, he joined her side, watching the heavy rain together.. Chapter 160: Liking is a feeling Chapter 160: Liking is a feeling Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu lifted her eyelids, her voice weak and breathless, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s too cold, I couldn¡¯t get up, and I also broke the rm clock this morning.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy you several rm clocks next time,¡± Lou Yanli said with augh. ¡°Why did youe out too? Isn¡¯t it ss time?¡± Xu Chaomu tilted her head to look at him. Lou Yanli smiled, ¡°I came out to keep youpany. How could I bear to let you stand alone in the wind early in the morning?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. You must have been too mischievous in ss and got kicked out by the teacher, right?¡± Xu Chaomu smiled at him, feeling much better. Lou Yanli was indeed a sight to behold, especially standing in the wind, detached from the world, exuding a gentle gentleman¡¯s warmth. No wonder the entire grade liked to call him the ¡°Male God¡±; it really wasn¡¯t an undeserved title. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right, I told the teacher, ¡®Teacher, I¡¯m going out to stand with Xu Chaomu. She¡¯s so alone.¡¯ Without a second word, the teacher sent me out.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you, you¡¯re teasing me again,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her big eyes twinkling withughter. ¡°Anyway, I can¡¯t go back now, so you have to take me in; make some room for me,¡± Lou Yanli looked at her with a pitiful gaze. Xu Chaomu moved aside by the balcony, ¡°Hmph, just stand with me. Isn¡¯t it embarrassing to be seen standing with a poor student like me?¡± ¡°Embarrassing? Standing with a beauty like you is a wishe true.¡± ¡°Ahem, Lou Yanli, who did you learn this slick talk from? If I spread this around, your ¡®Male God¡¯ status will be gone.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a Male God?¡± Xu Chaomu cocked her head and scrutinized him, looking him over from left to right. Lou Yanli certainly was good-looking. He had the energy and vitality unique to an eighteen-year-old, as well as a gentle schrly air about him, exuding an aura of being both refined and cultured from head to toe. So, Xu Chaomu nodded vigorously, ¡°Hmm, a Male God, no doubt about it!¡± ¡°As long as you think so, I don¡¯t care about anyone else¡¯s opinion.¡± ¡°Howe you fell for me?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes. ¡°Liking someone is a feeling,¡± Lou Yanli said seriously. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, let it be,¡± Lou Yanliughed, finding it amusing when Xu Chaomu acted clueless. He reached out and lightly touched her hair. The gesture was intimate, but not in a way that caused difort. On the contrary, Xu Chaomu felt her heart warm considerably. ¡°Male God, would you read this poem to me, please?¡± Xu Chaomu flipped to that page and pointed out the short poem for Lou Yanli to see. Lou Yanliughed heartily, ¡°Why are you suddenly interested in this? I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making fun of me for not liking to read,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°How could I make fun of you? Here, I¡¯ll read it to you,¡± Lou Yanli knew it by heart, having memorized it long ago. Amidst the wind and rain, Lou Yanli recited the poem word for word to Xu Chaomu. His voice was very pleasant to listen to, clear and resonant; he had always been a broadcaster for the school radio station. Many times, he had also helped the English teacher by reading listening test passages to the whole school. The love-struck girls all said that listening to Lou Yanli¡¯s voice over and over could get them pregnant. Indeed, Xu Chaomu thoroughly enjoyed listening to him recite poetry. ¡°Where are the drifting catkins and blossoms¡­¡± ¡°How much resentment in the west wind, unable to scatter the curved brows¡­¡± For the first time, Xu Chaomu felt that learning could be a pleasure. She listened entranced as Lou Yanli read, not noticing that the Maybach below had never left. Shen Chi wasn¡¯t anywhere else; he was sitting behind the wheel, his hands quietly resting on the steering wheel. The wipers weren¡¯t on, and the rain washed over the windshield, blurring his view. Even though his suit was soaked by the rain, he had forgotten to take it off. From his position, he could clearly see Xu Chaomu. Of course, there was also a boy with her, if he remembered correctly, was named Lou Yanli. Lou Yanli again. Xu Chaomu wasughing quite happily at the moment, still that carefree Xu Chaomu. Completely unlike the silent and sullen girl fromst night and this morning. She had started to show him a sour face, as if the world dared not show her a sour face, yet she dared. She was just taking advantage of his indulgence, relying on the fact that he wouldn¡¯t dare to treat her badly. Right now, the two of them were talking about something, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was filled withughter, particrly joyful. Shen Chi felt increasingly uneasy, his thin lips pursed, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter and tighter. Just then, Bai Man called him. He finally picked up. ¡°Shen Chi, where are you? I¡¯ve called you many times, and you haven¡¯t answered.¡± ¡°I had a project meetingst night and haven¡¯t returned. I¡¯m in a hotel, and my phone died,¡± Shen Chi casually replied. ¡°The rain is heavy today. Which hotel are you at, and have you been drinking? Should Ie pick you up? ¡°No need, I¡¯ll head to the group soon.¡± ¡°Be careful on the slippery roads. Have you had breakfast?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bother you then. Just hearing your voice is good enough. You don¡¯t know how anxious I was this morning when you didn¡¯t answer the phone. I was scared something happened to you. Thankfully, you¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Bai Manughed softly, ¡°If I don¡¯t worry about you, then whom should I worry about? Anyway, will youe home for dinner tonight? What if I cook for you personally, would that be nice?¡± ¡°I have a dinner engagement tonight.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Bai Man¡¯s enthusiasm instantly faded, ¡°When will the engagement end? I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to wait for me. ¡°No, I will wait, because I¡¯m your wife, and I want to.¡± Shen Chi frowned slightly, ¡°Stop it, go to sleep.¡± ¡°No matter howte, I will wait for you.¡± After saying that, Bai Man hung up the phone. She rarely hung up before Shen Chi, but this time, she didn¡¯t wait for his reply and decisively ended the call. Indeed, no matter howte, she would wait for him. If she didn¡¯t wait, she feared that he might be someone else¡¯s without realizing it. Shen Chi was increasingly bugged and was about to open the car window when Xiao Mo¡¯s call came through. ¡°President Shen, the shareholders are waiting for you to return for a meeting.¡± ¡°Let them wait.¡¯ ¡°President Shen¡­ where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Oh, okay, everything is prepared for the meeting. I¡¯ve told Secretary Kang to go downstairs and wait for you.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± After hanging up, Shen Chi turned the car around and drove the Maybach out of the school. As he left, he nced up one more time to see Xu Chaomu and Lou Yanli still standing side by side on the balcony. This heavy rain had unwittingly be their romantic backdrop for a lovers¡¯ talk. Remembering how he had braved the rain to carry her up the stairs, it all seemed rather ridiculous now. He, Shen Chi, since when had he be so undignified? Perhaps due to the Maybach¡¯s eye-catching design, as Xu Chaomu was talking with Lou Yanli, she nced up and just happened to see Shen Chi¡¯s car leaving the school. She had thought he had left long ago. She lowered her eyelids again; whether he left or not, what did it have to do with her? Chapter 161: Will Not Use Shen Family’s Money Any More Chapter 161: Will Not Use Shen Family¡¯s Money Any More Trantor: 549690339 The rain had been pouring down all day and finally stopped in the evening, but the sky was still shrouded in mist. Since there was no evening self-study today, Xu Chaomu went to get tutored by Lou Yanli. Lou Yanli weed Xu Chaomu happily; he would help her answer any questions she didn¡¯t understand. To express her gratitude, Xu Chaomu invited Lou Yanli out to dinner. The food in the cafeteria was not good, but Lou Yanli didn¡¯t mind at all. Whatever she ordered, he would finish, without the airs and haughty style of a young master. Xu Chaomu was indeed tight on cash, as Shen Chi hadn¡¯t given her living expenses for a long time, and the little money left in the bank card he tossed her at the mallst time had run out. She didn¡¯t want to borrow from someone else, so that¡¯s why she ran off to Weiyangst night with Yu Weiwei to earn some money. In her eyes, it was about earning her own money, but in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, it became gold-digging. However, she also understood one thing: money is indeed very hard to earn. In the future, once Shen Chi marries Bai Man and she really has to leave the Shen Family, what should she do¡­ This thought, she could only keep it at the bottom of her heart. After dinner, Lou Yanli had intended to keep Xu Chaomupany for a little longer, but since it was gettingte, Xu Chaomu urged him to go home. ¡°You should head home, if you go backte, your father and mother will worry. I¡¯ll just go back to the ssroom and do some homework, I will study hard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, do more practice problems, and if you don¡¯t understand anything,e ask me tomorrow¡ªyou don¡¯t have to be polite with me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m being polite with you, but¡­ can you ask your aunt to make some more delicious food to bring over tomorrow? I¡¯ve been craving it sincest time,¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes. Lou Yanli¡¯s mother¡¯s cooking was indeed very good. Plus, Xu Chaomu had eaten in the cafeteria for several meals, which were truly unptable. ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything and I thought you didn¡¯t like it. I¡¯ll bring some for you tomorrow, my mom will be happy to hear someone praising her cooking.¡± ¡°Please thank your aunt for me.¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu walked Lou Yanli to the school gate to see him It was only after watching Lou Yanli ride away on his bicycle that she started walking backwards towards the dormitory building. The cold wind blew in gusts against her, a bit chilly, but her heart felt even colder. On the vast road, she walked alone. She had no mom, no dad, no home¡­ She longed to eat the dishes her mother made too, especially her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, with their tangy sweetness. She remembered that her mother used to dote on her the most, always iming she didn¡¯t like sweet and sour pork ribs and would leave them all for her to eat. Back then, she was young and believed her mother¡¯s words. Eight yearster, the memory brought tears to Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes¡­ She walked backwards step by step, the wind brushing against her face. Walking along, she realized she would soon run out of money and nned to find another part-time job that evening. She would no longer use the Shen Family¡¯s money, not from today onwards. Owing someone alwayscked a sense of confidence and dignity. She dared not go back to Weiyang, even though she had met Ji Shengxuan there, who also knew Shen Chi and Li Beiting. If she went back, she might get caught again. After much thinking, realizing she wasn¡¯t skilled at much, she could only go to restaurants to wait tables and pour tea. The sry at restaurants certainly couldn¡¯tpare to that of a club, but at least it was without risks. She walked along, asking at shops outside the school, but respectable businesses were afraid to hire her because she was still underaged. Xu Chaomu was close to crying out of desperation. If she couldn¡¯t find another part-time job, she would soon have no money. After much pleading, finally one restaurant agreed to keep her, but they would only pay her five yuan for washing dishes for an hour. Xu Chaomu clenched her teeth and agreed; five yuan was better than no money at all. An hour for five yuan, that¡¯s twenty for four hours¡ªenough to ensure meals are covered. At the Shen Family, Xu Chaomu had never touched dishwater, never washed dishes before. But here, she had to wash them with great effort. Initially struggling to adapt, she broke two bowls, which meant she essentially worked an hour for nothing. But as time went on, she became more skilled. Gritting her teeth, she endured. Yet, after just an hour of washing, her back and wrists ached terribly. She had never done such heavy work. Although the Shen Family disdained her, they never made her do these kinds of chores. She persevered, as there was nothing else she could do besides washing dishes. Five yuan is still five yuan, at least it was money she had earned herself. When night fell, Shen Chi went to the school to look for Xu Chaomu, but she was nowhere to be found. At this hour, the sky was as ck as ink, but Xu Chaomu¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen. Shen Chi was almost ready to flip the entire school over in his search. Unable to find Xu Chaomu, and with several school officials sweating with anxiety, none dared to irritate Shen Chi. They all tried their best to locate her. ¡°Vice Principal, we asked in the dorm building, and everyone said they haven¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu. She hasn¡¯te back tonight,¡± reported a security guard, drenched in sweat. The Vice Principal quickly waved his hands: ¡°Keep looking, check everywhere around the school!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face grew darker as he thought about the previous night¡¯s incidents; thinking about it sent chills down his spine. She really was a constant source of trouble for him. ¡°Vice Principal, she¡¯s not on campus. We¡¯ve searched the library, ssrooms, and sports field¡ªno sign of Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°Keep looking!¡± All security staff were mobilized, and about half an hourter, someone came with an update: ¡°We have news, some restaurants outside the school mentioned a girl named Xu Chaomu had been looking for part-time work.¡± ¡°Where is she then?¡± Shen Chi asked, his voice low and cool with a hint of frost. ¡°At Hongjin Hotel¡­ washing dishes.¡± ¡°Bang¡ª¡± a loud crash resounded as Shen Chi kicked over a table, shattering the cups and thermos on it! Marching out, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew colder and icier with each step. Washing dishes¡­ Hmph, at the Shen Family, she wouldin about fetching him a coat, but now she¡¯s washing dishes willingly for strangers! He didn¡¯t go far before entering the hotel. ¡°Sir, how many are with you? Would you like something to eat?¡± a waiter approached him. ¡°Get lost!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes red red with towering anger. The waiter stepped back, frightened, and didn¡¯t dare to stop Shen Chi. Shen Chi strode straight inside, exuding an intimidating presence. Indeed, as soon as he entered the kitchen, he saw Xu Chaomu kneeling on the ground, washing dishes. She was bent over, washing earnestly and meticulously. Her fair little hands held a te, poured detergent, then rinsed with clean water. One, two, three¡­ She didn¡¯t realize Shen Chi had arrived. Enraged, Shen Chi grabbed Xu Chaomu by the cor and yanked her up from the ground without a word! ¡°ng¡ª¡± Taken by surprise, the te slipped from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands to the ground, shattering. Panicked, she stamped her foot, ¡°My te, the te is broken¡­ there goes my money¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, how fucking broke are you?!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was thunderous as he tightened his grip on her cor, pulling her close. Chapter 162: Don’t Touch Me Chapter 162: Don¡¯t Touch Me Trantor: 549690339 In the dim light, Shen Chi saw that Xu Chaomu¡¯s small face was still dotted with water droplets and dish soap. Her hair was a mess, not at all presentable. As for her clothes, although she had an apron on, she still looked very unclean. Shen Chi frowned in disgust, his face full of contempt. ¡°Really short on money.¡± Xu Chaomu wiped her hands, staring into his eyes, and spoke indifferently. Yes, she was telling the truth, she was indeed very short on money, she was almost unable to afford food. ¡°If you¡¯re short on money, just tell me, why are you washing dishes in a ce like this to show off?!¡± Shen Chi raised his voice again, his face looking very unpleasant. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you toe here to see, of course, I wash dishes to earn money for myself. I won¡¯t ask you for money. epting someone¡¯s charity makes you beholden to them.¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s charity? You really draw a clear line.¡± Annoyance written all over his face, Shen Chi gritted his teeth. Someone¡¯s charity¡­ huh, she saw him as an outsider. ¡°Shen Chi, please leave now. This ce is dirty and messy; it wouldn¡¯t be good if your clothes got dirty. This ce isn¡¯t suited for someone as noble as you.¡± Xu Chaomu wiped her hands on her apron once more, lowering her eyelids, intending to squat down and continue washing dishes. Just ten more minutes, and she wouldplete an hour¡¯s task. Shen Chi knew, these past days, she had always been going against him. ¡°If you have something to say,e outside with me. Don¡¯t throw a tantrum here!¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t care whether she agreed or not, he reached back, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her out. In the kitchen¡¯s dim corner, the light was faint. As soon as they stepped out, Xu Chaomu found the light too intense and instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes from it. ¡°I¡¯m not throwing a tantrum at you. If I did, you¡¯d definitely despise me, and it wouldn¡¯t be worth it.¡± She knew, she had given him a very bad impression recently. Simrly, the impression he had left on her wasn¡¯t good either. Now, they were mutually repulsed by each other. It would be better not to see each other at all. ¡°Your tone is so bitter, and you¡¯re iming not to be throwing a tantrum?¡± Shen Chi pulled her towards the school gate, at first dragging her arm, but then his overbearing palm slid down and gripped her small hand. Xu Chaomu instinctively tried to pull away: ¡°Don¡¯t hold my hand, I just washed dishes, it¡¯s dirty. Also, men and women shouldn¡¯t touch.¡± Shen Chi chuckled: ¡°Men and women shouldn¡¯t touch? I should be the one lecturing you on that. But when have you ever remembered?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve remembered it a long time ago, after sticking to you for so many years, I won¡¯t keep clinging to you in the future. And Shen Chi, you are getting married soon, you said it yourself, you want to be forever in love with Miss Bai. So, don¡¯t touch me.¡± Xu Chaomu struggled to pull her small hand free, but the man¡¯s grip was always overbearing, not allowing her any leeway. However, Shen Chi¡¯s spine suddenly stiffened, the smile on his lips halting abruptly. He had indeed said ¡°forever in love¡± at the press conference, but he forgot about it as soon as he said it. He hadn¡¯t expected her to remember. He sighed: ¡°Stop it.¡¯ He didn¡¯t say anything more; those were his own words after all and he couldn¡¯t deny them. Although, things weren¡¯t as she thought. Moving to the sink, Shen Chi gracefully pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. The handkerchief carried a faint herb and wood perfume scent, not overpowering, but very pleasant. He turned on the tap, water cascading down with a ¡°whoosh.¡± He pulled her to wash her hands, and Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t refuse. Seeing the shallow cuts on her hands, he frowned with heartache. ¡°Don¡¯t do part-time jobs anymore, just tell me if you¡¯re short on money.¡± He sighed again, finally not yelling at her, but his tone was full of helplessness. ¡°Shen Chi, when did you start having such a bad memory? Didn¡¯t I tell youst night that I clung to you just for your money? So, you better stay away from me.¡± ¡°To me, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. Beforest night, he couldn¡¯t swallow his pride, angrily confronting her. Later, he thought, he shouldn¡¯t be angry with her. Having indulged her for eight years, it had be a habit. He knew she was stubborn; if he wasn¡¯t careful and drove her away with his scolding, what would he do¡­ Without her, who else could he dote on? He had never imagined that there woulde a day when he would be so despondent. If he had known this would happen, he should have stopped his mother from going to the orphanage eight years ago. Then, he would never have met this troublesome girl. But could he bear that? With a sigh, Shen Chi dampened the handkerchief and meticulously, tenderly wiped her hands. His movements were gentle and careful. ¡°Little paws have gotten thinner again.¡± Shen Chi held her hand and bent his head to wipe it for her. As he bowed his head, his face looked exceptionally handsome in the moonlight, chiseled and strikingly handsome. This tenderness, like the ocean, was intoxicating, beckoning one to drown willingly. At that moment, Xu Chaomu was struck dumb, her deep-seated grievances suddenly dissolving. The tap water was clean and cold, running over her hands, chilly to the touch. ¡°Come back and live with us, you don¡¯t know how to take care of yourself, you¡¯ve gone thin in just a few days. The school food isn¡¯t good, neither is the amodation, you won¡¯t be used to it.¡± Shen Chi spoke lightly. ¡°Shen Chi, do you know the saying ¡®When a gentleman speaks, even fast horses can¡¯t catch up with his word¡¯? It was you who drove me out, and moreover, I¡¯ve grown ustomed to it, I won¡¯t go back with you. That room of mine, isn¡¯t that what you¡¯ve always wanted for Miss Bai? I don¡¯t have anything of value, just clear the room out for her. ¡°When a gentleman speaks, even fast horses can¡¯t catch up with his word¡±? Oh, I¡¯m not a gentleman anyway, so such words have nothing to do with me.¡± For every word he said, she had ten to counter. ¡°Why are you being so unscrupulous!¡± ¡°If not for these eight years, influenced by your bad example, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve learned from you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was indifferent; he was focused only on one thing, and that was to finish washing her hands and dry them. Soon, he had cleaned her little paws, and then he used the handkerchief to wipe the stains from her face. ¡°No matter what you say, I won¡¯t go back. I¡¯m not a ball for you to kick around. To kick away when unhappy, and pick up when you feel like it.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s appropriate topare yourself to a ball?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being serious with you!¡± Xu Chaomu knew he was diverting the topic again. ¡°Stop it, let¡¯s go, go home. I came over tonight to pick you up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a home.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice quivered, her head lowered as she walked away, leaving the sink, leaving Shen Chi. How could the Shen family be her home? Homes are warm andforting, but all she ever received at the Shen family was contempt and neglect. Her home had been gone for eight years. For a moment, Shen Chi found himself without a response, for the first time feeling at a loss for words. In the end, Shen Chipromised but in a domineering tone: ¡°Then take good care of yourself living at the school. If I see you thin again, you better roll back to the Shen family immediately!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak. If it had been the old days, she would have surely thrown herself into his arms, ¡°Big Brother, I¡¯m so touched by how much you can¡¯t bear to part with me..¡± Chapter 163: How Much Does She Like Him Chapter 163: How Much Does She Like Him Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi found himself at a loss when it came to her; as long as she remained silent, it irritated him greatly. In his vexation, he unbuttoned his cor, and then he took out his wallet from his pants pocket and tossed a bank card at her. ¡°Take it, don¡¯t make me worry anymore.¡± He stuffed the bank card into her hand, but Xu Chaomu quickly put her hands behind her back as if the card were a hot potato. She shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°Is it not enough?¡± ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t want your money.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only right for you to use my money,¡± Shen Chi said, pulling her towards him and cing the card in her hand regardless. With the bank card in hand, Xu Chaomu looked up at him. Under the moonlight, his tall figure was striking, his features handsome. As he looked down at her, his youthful, handsome face bore an unmistakable, domineering air. She pursed her lips and said no more. She would just hold onto it without actually using it. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, you should go home. I need to get back to my dorm to sleep,¡± Xu Chaomu said. After washing dishes all evening, she indeed felt sore and achy. ¡°Yes, be good and don¡¯t wander off,¡± Shen Chi said, his hand involuntarilynding on her head. Only seeing her safe and sound could put his mind at ease. ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu responded reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you to the dorm building.¡± ¡°No need, I know the way,¡± she rebutted. ¡°I insist, no objections.¡± Finishing his words, he assertively took her hand and led her down a small path towards the dormitory. The moonlight was soft and the shadows whimsical. The path was deserted, upied only by the two of them. The streetlights stretched their shadows longer and longer, one tall, one short, walking side by side. With his long strides, he walked quickly, so Xu Chaomu, in turn, deliberately walked very slowly. Left with no choice, he slowed down his pace to amodate her. Xu Chaomu tried to shake off his hand, but he refused to relent, instead holding her small hand tightly in his palm. Hisrge hand was dry and warm, quicklyforting her chilly hand. Xu Chaomu thought, if only this were a dream. Because in a dream, she could act without restraint. The road was quiet and peaceful, asionally a bird would startle from the treetops, pping its wings and causing the branches to rustle with a ¡°whirring¡± sound. It was spring, with faint fragrances wafting along the roadside. One breath and the scent of spring was discernible. A warm breeze caressed her face, and flower fragrances filled her sleeves. Perhaps it was the overwhelming tranquility that made Xu Chaomu feel an unreal sense of calm. In the past, whenever they were together, it was always Xu Chaomu who talked non-stop, annoying Shen Chi so much that he would tell her to shut up. Now, it was Xu Chaomu who kept quiet. It was Shen Chi who broke the silence with a light and indifferent voice, ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ve heard from the teachers at school that you often talk behind your brother¡¯s back in ss.¡± A twitch formed at the corner of Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth. It seemed one really had to pay for their actions. She did indeed speak ill of him a lot at school. She grumbled, ¡°I can¡¯t beat you, and I can¡¯t out-talk you. Criticizing you behind your back is hardly a crime.¡± ¡°You¡¯re destroying your brother¡¯s hard-earned reputation,¡± Shen Chiughed, looking at her with a fondness in his eyes, ¡°I can endure things like moving bricks, but I really can¡¯t tolerate such malicious nder about arranged dates. Do you think your brother needs to go on blind dates?¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe one day no one will want you. If you had no money, no power, no influence, would anyone still like you?¡± Although she said this, Xu Chaomu knew that even if he had nothing, she would still like him. Very much, very much¡­ ¡°Yeah, you wouldn¡¯t like me anymore either,¡± Shen Chi said, his voice low and his gaze hazy. ¡°Of course, if you had no money, no power, no influence, why would I still like you?¡± Xu Chaomu was candid, after all, he was about to marry Bai Man. Saying this at least made her feel a little better. Shen Chi fell silent. Xu Chaomu thought he must feel ufortable about it. He was so ustomed to being looked up to that such words from her would surely upset him. Like Shen the Fourth Young Master, ustomed to being admired. Seeing he wasn¡¯t speaking, Xu Chaomu added, ¡°Though I¡¯ve said quite a few bad things about you behind your back, don¡¯t seek revenge on personal grounds.¡± Shen Chi sighed but didn¡¯t speak a word; he just held her hand more tightly. ¡°We¡¯ve reached the dorm building; you can go back now. The midterms areing up, and if it¡¯s not necessary, you don¡¯t need toe see me,¡± Xu Chaomu said, struggling to pull her hand free. Shen Chi looked up, realizing they had indeed arrived. ¡°Do you really not miss me?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°Cold-hearted, domineering, what¡¯s there to miss about you?¡± ¡°Then study hard and don¡¯t let me see you too close to the little boys.¡± ¡°Go on, just go, keep your distance from me!¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, pushing him away. What was it to him if she was close to Lou Yanli? Wasn¡¯t he the one being intimate with Miss Bai himself? This man was so annoying. She¡¯d said in the morning she didn¡¯t want to see him, asking him to keep away, and now here he was, getting close to her again. Wasn¡¯t he the one who cared most about face? Now, he stuck around like gum on a shoe, impossible to shake off. At that moment, a light drizzle started to fall from the sky. Thin threads of rain descended from the air,nding on their faces. It was then that Shen Chi didn¡¯t prolong the encounter. In truth, he didn¡¯t understand why he was lowering himself so much. Perhaps, after eight years of Xu Chaomu sticking to him, he hade to learn persistence too? With a wry smile, he released her. Like a little rabbit, Xu Chaomu bolted up the stairs without looking back. ¡°Thump, thump, thump, thump¡ªI¡¯ Her footsteps echoed unusually loud through the stairwell. The rain fell harder, starting as a fine drizzle and soon pelting down like spilt beads on his face. Not until her figure vanished from his sight did he turn to leave. He clenched his fists, taking steps toward his car¡ªone deliberate step at a time. When Xu Chaomu reached the darkest corner of the dormitory, she secretly stood there, peering down from above. Beneath the dim streetlights, the persistent rain continued to fall, dampening the lights, the nts, and Shen Chi¡¯s clothes. Within the circles of dim yellow light, she saw his figure, lonely and indistinct, his back bold yet every step slow and heavy. The light elongated his shadow, and under it, he stood alone. She couldn¡¯t see his face clearly, but Xu Chaomu just watched his retreating figure growing smaller and smaller¡­ Gradually, he went around a building and out of sight. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to blink, only she knew how much she liked him. But, from now on, she would have to bury that affection deep within her heart. Perhaps over time, it would gather dust. Henceforth, it would never be revealed again. The man had long gone, but Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t bear to leave. She stood on the balcony, letting the wind gently brush against her face. Raindrops fell on her face, disordering her hair, gently stirring. She remembered the line she had learned in the morning: How much resentment does the west wind have that it cannot scatter the curves of the eyebrows.. Chapter 164: Old Photos from More Than Twenty Years Ago Chapter 164: Old Photos from More Than Twenty Years Ago Trantor: 549690339 Half an hourter, the drizzling rain had turned into a downpour. Everywhere one could hear the sound of water rushing down, and Shen Chi didn¡¯t immediately return to the Shen Family, instead he just sat quietly in his car watching the rain. Bai Man had waited for Shen Chi at the Shen Family for a long time, but couldn¡¯t catch a glimpse of him. Whenever she called his number, she was met with the same message, ¡°The number you have dialed is currently busy.¡± She mmed her coffee cup onto the ground where it shattered, scattering fragments all around! Bai Man stopped calling Shen Chi and instead, drove her sports car straight into the rain. The rain outside was really heavy. Droplets pounded on the sports car, making a thunderous noise. The sports car roared past, apanied by the sound of rustling leaves. Bai Man searched one ce after another; she refused to believe that she couldn¡¯t find Shen Chi. However, it seemed like even the heavens were not on her side. She searched for a whole hour, driving through the big and small streets of C City, but still couldn¡¯t find him. Frustrated, she parked her car on the side of the road, rolled down the window, and threw out everything smashable from the car onto the ground! She called Xiaofeng, called Li Beiting, called Ji Shengxuan, she called everyone she could think of. It was useless. Absolutely useless. Just when she was about to give up, her car happened toe around to the seaside vi that Zhou Ran had given them. The vi was beautiful and grand. Not far from the sea, one could now hear the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Bai Man initially intended to bypass the vi and leave, but then she saw lights on the first floor of the vi. It was already eleven o¡¯clock at night. Why would anyone be in this brand-new vi? Bai Man hesitated, wondering if it could be Shen Chi inside? If he really was there, it would make sense, since it wouldn¡¯t be long before she and he would move in to live there. At this moment, the heavy rain poured down, and waves after waves hit the rocks continuously. Many sounds filled her ears, the howling wind, the mournful sounds of the sea, the pattering rain¡­ The light on the first floor of the vi was yellow, a warm color that stood out brightly in the stark ckness of the night sky. The curtains of the vi were drawn, and Bai Man couldn¡¯t see clearly who was inside. In her hesitation, she turned the steering wheel and drove to the vi¡¯s parking area. After turning off the car lights and grabbing the key, Bai Man prepared to get out and check, maybe Shen Chi was really there. As soon as she opened the car door, the cold wind rushed in, and Bai Man gathered her hair, braving the wind to walk up the steps of the vi. The vi was exquisite, with fountains, rockeries, little bridges, and corridors, it was very beautiful. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine that Zhou Ran had put a lot of thought into it. Walking forward, just as Bai Man was about to use her key to open the door, she suddenly heard a ¡°ng¡±, as if something had broken. She was startled and involuntarily stepped back. ¡°Zhou Ran, I came here today to talk things over with you calmly, why are you throwing another tantrum?¡± It was Shen Cexian¡¯s voice, deep and vigorous. Bai Man was puzzled and dared not proceed with opening the door. Why would Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran be here? Could it be that Shen Chi was here too? She hid in a dark corner, and didn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°You do not deserve to receive my anger, Shen Cexian. Say what you have to say all at once; I do not wish to see you, not one bit!¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s voice was clear and cold. A silence, a long silence. Bai Man could even hear her own heartbeat. The surrounding rain continued to fall heavily, drumming on the steps, sshing into the sea. Water sshed everywhere and droplets bounced chaotically. Without hearing Shen Chi¡¯s voice, Bai Man finally realized after a long time that it was only Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran inside. ¡°This is Achi and Manman¡¯s new house, and you¡¯ve broken something that will need to be reced. Let¡¯s not make a scene,¡± sighed Shen Cexian. Bai Man knew Shen Cexian was not known for his good temper, yet his reaction to Zhou Ran¡¯s outburst seemed indifferent, as if he werepletely unperturbed. Another silence. Inside the room, with the lights brightly lit, Shen Cexian sat on a sofa. Due to his illness, he had lost a lot of weight, and hisplexion was very pale. Zhou Ran leaned against a table with her arms folded, not looking at him. Zhou Ran didn¡¯t appear aged; she was still beautiful, with delicate makeup on her fair face. She wore a thin, beige coat, and standing to one side, she looked stunning and seemed to be in her thirties. Shen Cexian was calm, but the anger in Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes gradually subsided after the bouts of silence. ¡°Say what you need to say. I have to get back to the Zhou Family,¡± Zhou Ran said impatiently. ¡°Zhou Ran, we have been divorced for eight years now. In fact, you should find a better ce to be,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to worry about my business. Shen Cexian, do you think I don¡¯t want to remarry? I just want to wait until Achi and Adi are married. Rest assured, I will certainly live better than you,¡± she retorted. Shen Cexian nodded, ¡°As long as you¡¯re doing well, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Zhou Ran seemed impatient, ¡°Do you actually have anything to say to me?¡± Shen Cexian silently looked down and finally took out an old, creased photograph from his pocket. ¡°Take it. It¡¯s what you¡¯ve always wanted.¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s gaze wasplex. Although he handed the photograph to Zhou Ran, his eyes never left the people in the photo. Three people, one man and two women, all very young, in their twenties, at the prime of their lives. It was clear to see that the man on the left was a young Shen Cexian. The young Shen Cexian shared some resemnce to Shen Chi, wearing a white shirt, serious andposed, with slightly pursed lips and a profound look. The woman standing next to him was unmistakably Zhou Ran. Zhou Ran had maintained herself well over the years, without much change, only more mature than the figure in the photograph. The Zhou Ran in the photo was smiling gently, the epitome of a refined maiden. She was dressed in a light blue, long dress, elegant like an orchid, or a fairy descended from the heavens. Against the azure sky, she looked exceptionally beautiful. However, there was another woman on the right. If Zhou Ran was a secluded orchid, this woman seemed more like a winter jasmine under the sun,posed and warm, with a calm smile on her face. When Zhou Ran took the photo, she too paused. She had been asking Shen Cexian for this photo for many years, and now he was finally willing to give it to her. Looking down, she found herself staring into Xu Mengxi¡¯s piercingly clear eyes. Xu Mengxi was truly beautiful, withrge eyes and a warm smile, her thick ck hair cut short just above the shoulders, pure and refined. In the photo, she wore a white dress, a stark white, like a cloud in the sky. Eighteen-year-old Xu Chaomu was starting to look more and more like her, only, Xu Chaomu¡¯s personality was nothing like Xu Mengxi¡¯s. The young girl was quirky, lively, and active, whereas Xu Mengxi was a very quiet and demure woman. Fingertips gently traced Xu Mengxi¡¯s face¡­ Although the photograph had yellowed, the people in it were still crystal clear, as if past events were vividly before her eyes. Zhou Ran¡¯s heart skipped a beat at that instant. ¡°Xu Mengxi, Xu Mengxi¡­¡± she murmured her name, her voice hoarse.. Chapter 165: I Caused Xu Mengxi’s Death Chapter 165: I Caused Xu Mengxi¡¯s Death Trantor: 549690339 A momentter, her fingertips lightly slid to the right. Sliding past herself, they slowly moved towards the far right. The man on the far right was young, handsome, and gentlemanly, with an indescribable depth and serenity on his face. Back then, he too was the male deity pursued by the entire university. Zhou Ran looked at his face, her index finger brushing across it. There was a moment of distraction, but soon, she moved her finger away. She repressed all expressions and coolly lifted her head, only to realize Shen Cexian was staring at her. ¡°Shen Cexian, you¡¯re willing to give me this photo now, after I¡¯ve been asking you for so many years. Spill it, what do you want in exchange?¡± Zhou Ran scoffed. Warm yellow light shone on her face, softening her expression, but not by much. Shen Cexian watched her quietly, smiling faintly, ¡°Do I always appear so despicable in your eyes?¡± ¡°In business, we trade fame for profit, something I understand well. How could I let an old fox like you suffer a loss?¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s tone was truly not the least bit polite. ¡°If you really think that way, then may I ask you, what do you want with this photo?¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s tone was muted, likely dulled by poor health, making many things seem less significant to him. Things that used to seem very important now seemed dispensable. To live another day was to lose one less day. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Zhou Ran still refused to say. She tucked the photo into her wallet, then ced the wallet back into her purse. ¡°Mengxi has been dead for eight years now, things that should be over ought to be over¡­¡± Shen Cexian sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t try guessing my thoughts with your ideas, Shen Cexian, and don¡¯t forget, I have no connection with you anymore.¡± ¡°I know.¡± A thin frost of indifference zed Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is there anything else? If not, I need to get going. I drove here, and it wasn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°I have one more question to ask you. Mengxi¡¯s death eight years ago¡­ was it rted to you?¡± Shen Cexian looked at her. Zhou Ran¡¯splexion changed drastically, her entire face falling, like the sky in June turning suddenly overcast, nketed with dark clouds. Outside the window, a heavy rain was falling, with the roar of the ocean waves deafening, and Zhou Ran¡¯s lips grew colder. ¡°Ha, Shen Cexian, what¡¯s with that tone? An interrogation? Suspicion? Contempt? Right, Xu Mengxi was killed by me, the gas explosion was my doing. Go ahead and sue me, let me rot in jail for life!¡± Zhou Ran yelled hysterically at Shen Cexian, her emotions somewhat unbridled. She rarely lost control, but now she truly couldn¡¯t restrain her feelings. Shen Cexian¡¯s own face changed as he clutched the arm of the sofa, his hand trembling violently. Back then, Xu Mengxi¡¯s death was sudden, a fire obliterated everything¡­ He hadn¡¯t even had the chance to see her onest time. Of course, it wasn¡¯t until that day that he learned Xu Mengxi had always been m C City. ¡°You¡­ lied to me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s hand was still shaking. ¡°What do I gain from lying to you? There¡¯s nobody else here, why should I lie to you? There¡¯s no need for that. Does it hurt to hear? Actually, Xu Chaomu has been living in our house every day for the past eight years, it mustn¡¯t be easy for you either, right? Xu Chaomu, the illegitimate daughter Xu Mengxi had with another man.¡± Zhou Ran paused, a cold smile like blood spreading across her lips: ¡°See, even when Xu Mengxi was fooling around with other men and had an illegitimate daughter, she still didn¡¯t like you. How does it feel to see Xu Mengxi¡¯s daughter with another man every day?¡± ¡°You! Cough cough¡­¡± Indeed, Shen Cexian was furious, breathless and coughing nonstop. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± In the spacious house, this sound was particrly grating. ¡°Seeing you in misery makes me feel at peace.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s words were like a sharp knife, plunging into the core of Shen Cexian¡¯s heart, mercilessly. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian couldn¡¯t speak, just kept coughing relentlessly. He clutched his chest, nearly gasping for breath. ¡°Of course, you could also throw me in jail, making sure I¡¯d definitely be worse off than you,¡± Zhou Ran watched him, ¡°With your abilities Shen Cexian, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue to keep me in prison for life.¡± ¡°Zhou Ran, you may leave, cough cough¡­ I don¡¯t want to see you anymore.¡± Shen Cexian clung to the sofa tightly. He feared he¡¯d lose consciousness if he let go. ¡°Don¡¯t regret it. Today, you let me go. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll still make your life miserable,¡± Zhou Ran said as she stood above Shen Cexian in her high heels. Her eyes were also deep and dark, as if peering into an abyss. ¡°Get out,¡± Shen Cexian burst out in anger. He truly feared that another word from her would be his death. Zhou Ran said nothing more, giving Shen Cexian a cold stare. She put on her scarf and walked toward the door in her high heels. Outside, the storm raged on, winds howling past, stirring the ocean into tumultuous waves and tossing branches chaotically about. In the vi¡¯s courtyard stood a tall begonia tree, its newly bloomed flowers scattered in the strong wind and rain. Petals littered the ground. Bai Man heard footsteps and quickly ran off, hiding in a dark corner. She held her breath, daring not to make a sound. Shortly after, Zhou Ran turned the doorknob. Standing in the hallway, she looked up at the sky, stretching her hand out to catch the rain. The rain fell on her palm, ice-cold to the bone. Without an umbre, she braved the downpour, walking towards her car. The wind lifted her hair and scarf as she stepped firmly, one foot in front of the other. Her heart felt less burdened, because, when many words were spoken, the difort wouldn¡¯t be as severe. Soon, she switched on the car lights, started the engine, and drove away from the vi without looking back. She followed the coastline, driving on. The sea, deep and endless, looked menacing at night, like a ck hole that could swallow everything, even a mere nce might pull one in. Zhou Ran left, but Shen Cexian did not leave. He clutched his chest, coughing severely. When he barely caught his breath, a piercing pain hit him to the core. ¡°Cough cough, cough cough¡­¡± He took out a handkerchief, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Bright crimson stained the white fabric as his heart quivered. He looked up, his vision blurring, the window curtains no longer curtains, the lights ring and painful. Everything became so harsh to the eye. Finally, he slowly lowered his hand, leaning on the sofa cushion, and closed his eyes slightly. He was so tired¡­ He wanted to rest well, if possible, to dream a dream where he could go back to his youth, over twenty years ago¡­ The days of his youth were wonderful, carefree and untroubled. It seemed as though the sky was always this blue, as clear as a vast, boundlesske with no end in sight¡­ The downpour outside tapped against the window pane, droplet by droplet.. Chapter 166: Accompany Me to Choose a Wedding Dress Chapter 166: Apany Me to Choose a Wedding Dress Trantor: 549690339 Bai Man stood in the corner, unable toe back to her senses for a long time. The conversation between Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian still lingered in her mind, sentence by sentence, slowly forming fragments. What did it mean? So Xu Chaomu¡¯s mother knew Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran? And the rtionships were unusual? And as for what Zhou Ran said, ¡°Xu Mengxi was killed by me,¡± what did that mean? Bai Man froze, rain hitting her face, of which she waspletely unaware. Slowly, a slight curve formed at the corners of her lips. The lights in the vi were on all along, and soon, Shen Cexian¡¯s coughing could no longer be heard, everything returning to tranquility. Wind howled and rainshed around in all directions, and the waves crashed mightily. Aftering to her senses, Bai Man walked back to her car from the corner. When she returned to the Shen Family home, she found that Shen Chi had alreadye back. Bai Man was somewhat damp, so she went to her own room to take a shower. She changed into a V-neck white silk nightgown, and just when she was about to lie down to sleep, somehow, her heart yearned deeply for Shen Chi. Thus, she walked quietly towards Shen Chi¡¯s room, where the light was still on. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ Are you asleep?¡± she knocked on the door. The vi was very quiet; her voice sounded like the gentle trilling of a Goldman¡¯s Warbler, extra enchanting at this hour. Shen Chi had just finished showering and was fastening the buttons of his robe. Hearing Bai Man¡¯s voice, he replied in a deep voice, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I just want to see you, to talk to you for a bit¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯ste, whatever it is, we can talk tomorrow. Get some rest early.¡± ¡°Shen Chi¡­ we¡¯re about to get engaged, so why are you still so indifferent towards me? In reality, I don¡¯t feel secure at all.¡± Bai Man stood outside the door, her voice mncholic. Suddenly, her face darkened and lost its luster, her eyes,cklustre. A few seconds of silence passed before the door opened. Shen Chi seemed to sigh, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things.¡± Only then did Bai Man look up, assessing the man before her. Having just bathed, he smelled pleasantly of herbs. Thezy grey robe draped over him entuated his handsome and unrestrained appearance. Under the light, that distinct facial contour, the furrowed brow, the tall nose, and those lightly pursed lips¡­ Everything about him was utterly captivating to Bai Man. ¡°Come in and talk.¡± Shen Chi turned and walked into his room. Bai Man stood at the doorway, watching his retreating figure, a surge of impulsiveness in her heart. Little by little, she closed the door behind her and followed him inside. Shen Chi¡¯s room wasrge, but the interior was decorated in a simple and restrained manner, much like his own character. Yet as soon as Bai Man entered, she saw a small wooden puppet on the table¡ªshe had seen it before; it belonged to Xu Chaomu. Thest time, just as she was about to take a closer look, Shen Chi had scolded her to put it down. Now, seeing the puppet again, Bai Man felt uneasy. What¡¯s more, Shen Chi had ced it in a prominent spot, though she wasn¡¯t sure if it was intentional. ¡°Sit.¡± Shen Chi pulled out a chair for Bai Man. ¡°Thank you,¡± said Bai Man. ¡°Shen Chi, when did youe back?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been back long.¡± ¡°I called you so many times; I was really worried about you, afraid you would be forced to drink a lot when socializing. You have no idea, thest time you got drunk, seeing you so miserable, I wished I could take on some of that burden for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have worried you.¡± ¡°Seeing you¡¯re okay now, I feel relieved. But¡­ howe you didn¡¯t answer my calls?¡± ¡°I forgot to charge my phone.¡± Bai Man gazed affectionately at Shen Chi. She would say something, and he would reply briefly, and although his face didn¡¯t show much expression, Bai Man felt somewhat ufortable. She remembered how he was alwaysughing and joking with Xu Chaomu; even when they argued fiercely, Bai Man couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. Shen Chi rarely smiled, and if he did, it was merely perfunctory. In a couple¡¯s rtionship, it¡¯s through frequent arguing and yful teasing that a deep bond is formed. Yet Shen Chi was always quite good to her, He never argued with her, nor got angry with her. What kind of goodness was that? She had once told Xu Chaomu during a chat that Shen Chi¡¯s kindness to her was like a brother¡¯s to his sister, and his kindness to Bai Man was that of a husband to his wife. But now, sitting in front of Shen Chi, she no longer had such confidence. Bai Man stood up, moved closer to him with a coquettish smile, ¡°How could you forget to charge it again? I should have a word with Xiao Mo. What kind of secretary is he?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping? It¡¯ste,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Aren¡¯t you also awake? Tired? If not, keep mepany and chat for a bit, it¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve just sat and talked.¡± ¡°I have to get up early for thepany tomorrow, you should go back and sleep. When I have time, I¡¯ll keep youpany.¡± ¡°No way, just talk with me for a little while. I¡¯ve waited for you for a long time, and I didn¡¯t eat well at dinner. How could you have the heart to reject me? Shen Chi¡­¡± Bai Man leaned coquettishly against Shen Chi¡¯s chest, her slender and delicate hands slowly sliding to his waist, wrapping around him. She had also just taken a shower, and her body carried a faint fruity scent, like citrus. Shen Chi furrowed his brow slightly: ¡°Stop it, go back to your room and sleep. You have shooting tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, the tasks aren¡¯t heavy these next few days, and besides, no matter how tired I am, I feel energized just seeing you. Do you know I wish I could see you every hour of the day¡­¡± ¡°Shen Chi, when I was little, I would always nag you to talk with me, we were so close back then. Over the years, I¡¯ve felt a growing estrangement between us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being too busy and neglecting you,¡± Shen Chi said. Bai Man shook her head, lifting her lovely oval face, ¡°Thepany matters are the most important. As for me, it¡¯s okay. But next time, could you please answer my calls? My heart can¡¯t settle down; I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Her words were cut short as Shen Chi interrupted her, ¡°You have nothing to fear, on the eighth of next month, we will get engaged.¡± Bai Man finally nodded. Her hands slowly slid up from Shen Chi¡¯s waist, reaching for the tie of his robe. ¡°Shen Chi, when will you have some free time? Shall we go take wedding photos?¡± ¡°You know I might have to go to South Africa soon.¡± ¡°Then¡­ Could you apany me to pick out a wedding dress and gown? Just take a little bit of time, just a little.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, with your help, I¡¯m sure I can pick something satisfying.¡¯ Bai Man¡¯s face was brimming with happiness; she rested on Shen Chi¡¯s chest, the corners of her mouth curling into a full smile. Outside the window, the rain kept pouring down relentlessly, but the room was warm. A soft yellow halo shone on Bai Man¡¯s face; she slowly squinted her eyes, looking up at Shen Chi¡¯s chin. Perhaps it was because he had just showered, but Bai Man grew increasingly fond of the charming scent emanating from Shen Chi. Especially when she was close to him, she could feel her heart beating wildly. Gradually, she began to untie his robe¡­. Chapter 167: Becoming His Woman Chapter 167: Bing His Woman Trantor: 549690339 Bai Man¡¯s hands were soft and boneless, gentle as water. At this moment, the atmosphere in the room was also very ambiguous, with just the right temperature and a faint fragrance in the air. Bai Man¡¯s eyes were somewhat intoxicated; she liked Shen Chi very much. For a long time, she had wanted to marry him and be his woman. But, Shen Chi reacted very quickly, hisrge hand instantly grasping her wrists. ¡°It¡¯ste; you should go back and rest,¡± he said, his tone haughty and cold. With furrowed brows, Shen Chi gave Bai Man a nce. ¡°No¡­ Shen Chi, you clearly know I like you a lot, you know we are getting engaged next month. Don¡¯t you even want to touch me? I really like you¡­ can¡¯t we be together¡­ do you want me¡­ please?¡± Bai Man, looking up at him, fluttered hershes and gazed at him with emotion. She wriggled her hands free and tiptoed, trying to hook her arms around his neck. Every blink of her peach blossom-like eyes shimmered with boundless affection. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, soft and serene. She quietly looked at Shen Chi, her hands slowly hooking around his neck again. Everyone said Bai Man was the most beautiful woman in C City, yet this man had remained indifferent for so many years. Chaomu had jokingly said he was impotent; of course, Bai Man didn¡¯t believe such nonsense. She didn¡¯t believe that there was a man who could remain unmoved in her presence. The atmosphere became more and more ambiguous, more and more intense. She hooked her arms around his neck and slowly drew closer to him¡­ The citrus fragrance from her body became clearer, Shen Chi frowned even deeper, and with a raised hand, he gently pushed her away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m very tired,¡± he said indifferently. He kept a distance from Bai Man, his faceposed, revealing no sign of disarray. Even his breathing remained steady. Rejected, Bai Man¡¯s face flushed red, then turned deathly pale. She had gone to such lengths, yet this man showed no hint of being moved. She, Bai Man, the top beauty, was simply a woman of empty fame. If she couldn¡¯t win this man¡¯s heart, it was as if she had lost the whole world. Bai Man lowered her eyelids, her tone growing impatient, ¡°Every time you use being too tired as an excuse. Tell me, do you really not like me at all?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it, don¡¯t be delusional,¡± Shen Chi was also getting impatient. But due to his excellent upbringing, except when Chaomu infuriated him beyond measure, he maintained a gentlemanly demeanor in front of anyone. Especially in front of women. ¡°Then tell me just once that you love me, yes, say it to me. I want to hear it,¡± Bai Man pressed Shen Chi. Initially, she had used a neer actress to stage a scene in front of Shen Chi, forcing him to agree to a date for their engagement. Now, she simrly wanted to force him to say these words. She was ying a high-stakes game. She knew if he got angry, the consequences would be unbearable. ¡°Bai Man, you know, I, Shen Chi, don¡¯t like to be manipted,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face hardened, hisplexion looking very unpleasant under the light. Tears began to swirl in Bai Man¡¯s eyes instantly: ¡°You won¡¯t even say that one sentence to me¡­ Shen Chi¡­ do you really like me? If you¡¯re unwilling to marry me, I can take the initiative to ask for an annulment¡­ ¡°I think you are too tired, let¡¯s not speak of this anymore. You should leave!¡± ¡°Shen Chi, then tell me, who is your most beloved? Me or some other woman¡­ or perhaps¡­ that girl?¡± Bai Man¡¯s words were very straightforward. ¡°Bai Man, are you insisting I kick you out? Don¡¯t be so ridiculous, even my patience has its limits!¡± Finally, he became angry, his low voice filled with impatience. ¡°Forget it, if you won¡¯t say it, let it be; I won¡¯t push you. You know very well in your heart, does Chaomu really like you? She¡¯s just young and doesn¡¯t understand what like means. She clings to you today and will do the same to someone else tomorrow. Maybe, if someone gives her a candy, she¡¯ll follow them. What does she know about liking someone?¡± ¡°Bai Man, I have never liked people who talk about others behind their backs,¡± Shen Chi said coldly, his voice like winter¡¯s frost, chilling the surrounding air. ¡°You don¡¯t like it, fine, I¡¯m leaving, get some sleep,¡± Bai Man said with a sneer, without saying anything more, finding relief in having said her piece. Although she knew that Shen Chi was not relieved. She turned and left Shen Chi¡¯s room, also taking care to close the door behind her. As she walked back to her own room, she thought to herself that Shen Chi definitely did not like Chaomu. If what she had heard earlier that night was true, that Zhou Ran had caused the death of Chaomu¡¯s mother, with Shen Chi¡¯s intelligence and means, he would have certainly found out by now. Thus, Shen Chi¡¯s doting on Chaomu amounted to atonement. Heh, one day she would let Chaomu know about it. The man she liked most, Shen Chi, was the son of the man who had killed her mother. How perfect, wasn¡¯t it? Bai Man pulled up a cold smile, that chilling smile was like a poppy in the wind, exceptionally eerie in the lonely vi. The rain had been pouring down for several days, sometimes with wild tempests, sometimes just a patter, but it never stopped. The entire C City was enshrouded in ayer of dim rain mist, the deluge engulfing the city. The sky was a light gray expanse; the sun hadn¡¯t been seen for days, turning it into a rare treasure that everyone longed for. It was the perfect season for a spring outing, but the relentless rains had bent many flowers and trees, scattering petals everywhere. Looking around, the ground was strewn with white pear blossoms, light pink apricot blossoms, deep red crabapple flowers¡­ a colorful array of petalsy scattered. As the wind blew, petals fluttered and danced, like a rainfall of blossoms. On Saturday, the temperature dropped significantly, bringing back the sensation of winter once again. Having not brought enough clothes, Chaomu had no choice but to return to the Shen Family home. The butler, Ling, was weeding the garden when he saw Chaomu return, quite surprised. ¡°Miss Chaomu, you¡¯re finally back, I haven¡¯t seen you for many days. Are you getting used to living at school?¡± Ling put down what he was holding and came over. Chaomu hugged the butler, ¡°Butler, I missed you so much. I¡¯m doing pretty well at school, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m a bit disappointed I can¡¯t eat your cooking.¡± ¡°Look at you, still so sweet-tongued. Stay for lunch today then. I¡¯ll cook your favorite dishes,¡± Ling said with a smile. ¡°No, Butler, I just need to grab some clothes and then head back to do homework at school, ¡± Chaomu declined. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Have lunch before you go. Uncle Cheng can take you back after,¡± the butler insisted. ¡°Butler, really, there¡¯s a lot of homework to do, and I¡¯m not really that hungry,¡± Chaomu continued to decline. ¡°Today, I will make the call. Miss Chaomu, you stay for lunch. I¡¯ve missed you these past days; keep mepany,¡± the butler insisted. Hearing the butler put it that way, Chaomu really had no excuse to refuse. The butler had always been kind to her, and further refusal would seem unkind.. Chapter 168: Fourth Sister-in-law, I’ll Be Your Bridesmaid Chapter 168: Fourth Sister-inw, I¡¯ll Be Your Bridesmaid Trantor: 549690339 Butler Ling knew that Xu Chaomu was a kind-hearted girl; once she said she¡¯d stay, she certainly wouldn¡¯t leave. Nevertheless, Xu Chaomu still cautiously asked, ¡°Butler, at noon¡­ who else will be eating together?¡± Butler Ling chuckled, ¡°No one else, just our own Shen family people.¡± ¡°What about¡­ my fourth brother and sister-inw?¡± ¡°Your fourth brother might note back. Miss Bai, on the other hand, is here. Your fourth brother is quite busy, but I¡¯ll give him a callter and let him know,¡± Butler Ling said. ¡°No, no, no, don¡¯t call him, Butler. I¡¯ll leave after lunch. If I dy his important matters, I can¡¯t afford it. Butler Ling nced at Xu Chaomu and sighed. The one who had sent her to board at school was none other than the young master, and Xu Chaomu probably held some resentment in her heart. Xu Chaomu ran ¡°clomp clomp clomp¡± up the stairs to her room. Her room was the same as before, but dust-free, clean and tidy, as if still lived in, yet itcked the liveliness of the past. When she used to live here, she liked to have her stuffed animals and pillows all over the floor, but now they were neatly arranged. Her room wasn¡¯trge, but it was very cozy; Xu Chaomu hugged her quilt and rubbed it. ¡°I miss you so much, little white rabbit, Grey Wolf, big-faced cat¡­¡± She checked all her plush toys one by one. After holding them and reluctantly kissing them a few times, Xu Chaomu then went to organize her clothes in the wardrobe. The clothes were all still there; she chose a few she needed. Perhaps hearing some noise, Bai Man, who was reading a script in her room, walked out. Seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s room door open, she leisurely stood in the doorway. She had not yet changed her clothes, merely wearing a silk nightgown, her long hair draped over her shoulders, lookingzy and sexy. Midway through, Xu Chaomu saw Bai Man. ¡°Morning, sister-inw,¡± Xu Chaomu looked up to greet her before continuing to focus on her clothes. This address of ¡°sister-inw¡± gratified Bai Man inside. Having been boarding at school for so many days, she noticed that Xu Chaomu seemed to have be much more obedient. She used to greet her without any warmth, but now she had learned to greet proactively. ¡°Are you back to get some clothes?¡± Bai Man asked indifferently. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Take a few more with you, the temperature has dropped a bit recently.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xu Chaomu kept her head down, organizing her clothes and soon had almost finished. She didn¡¯t have many clothes to begin with, so it was easy to pick a few to wear. Once she packed her clothes into her backpack, Xu Chaomu then nned to walk outside. ¡°Sister-inw, are you not filming today?¡± ¡°No, I felt a bit under the weather today, so I didn¡¯t go to the set. You just happened toe back, let¡¯s have lunch togetherter. Although I¡¯m not sure if you are willing to eat with me.¡± Xu Chaomu gave a slight smile, ¡°I promised Butler Ling, I¡¯ll stay for a whileter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, it¡¯s been many days since Ist saw you. Have you also not seen your fourth brother for many days?¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t foolish; she could hear the insinuations in Bai Man¡¯s words. So, she pouted, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been many days since Ist saw him. But I don¡¯t want to see him either, since he¡¯s the one who sent me to board at school.¡± Bai Manughed, ¡°You should talk back to him less in the future. That¡¯s just his temper. But it¡¯s fine, once we are engaged, we¡¯ll move out, and then you won¡¯t have to be angry with him anymore.¡± ¡°Out of sight, out of mind.¡± Xu Chaomu deliberately sighed. She made thatment for Bai Man to hear, hinting that the sooner they moved out, the better. That way, at least she could often visit the Shen family and eat the dishes Butler Ling made. Still, why did her heart skip a beat again, ah¡­ Bai Man¡¯s smile stiffened slightly after hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s words. Xu Chaomu walked out with her backpack and locked her room door as she left. ¡°Sister-inw, you once told me in the mall that you wanted me to be your bridesmaid, does that still count?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s not customary to have a younger sister serve as a bridesmaid?¡± Bai Man crossed her arms. She couldn¡¯t quite read Xu Chaomu anymore, wondering how a few days of boarding at school had seemingly changed her so much. ¡°I was teasing you.¡± ¡°So¡­ are you sincere about wanting to be a bridesmaid?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, bridesmaids also look pretty, and I¡¯ve never worn a bridesmaid dress before. Sister-inw, can you help me pick out a dress too when you select your wedding gown?¡± ¡°No problem at all, but you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°Sister-inw, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t cause any trouble. How could I, when your fourth brother took me in for eight years? Now that I see him getting married, I still have some conscience. I won¡¯t mess things up.¡± Bai Man was half-convinced. What Xu Chaomu said was genuinely heartfelt. In this lifetime, she couldn¡¯t marry him; so let her be a bridesmaid once, to quietly watch him get engaged and married. It¡¯s said that the groom is the most handsome man at a wedding. Her fourth brother was already handsome; he would definitely be more so on his wedding day. As a bridesmaid, she could watch him from a close range. Seeing him happy was also good. She silently thought: Better to drift apart and forget each other in the vastness than to hold each other in shallower waters. Better to forget each other in the vastness. When noon came, Butler Ling indeed prepared a big table full of delicious food, many of which were Chaomu¡¯s favorites. Especially the fresh shrimp and egg dumpling soup; she hadn¡¯t forgotten that it was Xu Chaomu¡¯s favorite. She always remembered how the young master instructed her that Xu Chaomu disliked ginger. So, she never used it in her cooking. ¡°Butler Ling, I love you so much. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had such a sumptuous lunch!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed with a smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat well at school, you cane home, and I¡¯ll make you something tasty. Eat up, don¡¯t starve,¡± Butler Ling said with a beaming smile. Bai Man didn¡¯t say much; Xu Chaomu¡¯s attitude towards her today was quite decent, so she refrained from mocking her. ¡°Okay!¡± Xu Chaomu picked up her chopsticks. The long table wasden with food, its aroma wafting through the air. Creamy shrimp balls, chicken juice with Matsutake mushrooms, fish-vored shredded pork¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight. Perhaps she was really hungry or it had been too long since she had enjoyed such delectable dishes, but she ate with savory appetite. Just as she was halfway through and about to pick up a shrimp ball, the door to the living room opened. Apanied by a gust of cold wind that poured in, Xu Chaomu looked up, her hand trembling. Why had hee back¡­ It was quite cold outside, but the living room was very warm. Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu and Bai Man, took off his ck leather gloves and handed his coat to Butler Ling. ¡°Fourth Master, howe you¡¯re back? I did not receive your call,¡± Butler Ling said as he took his coat, hanging it on the rack. ¡°No matter how busy, one has toe home for meals,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Bai Man got up and approached, ¡°Is it very cold outside? Are you still busy this afternoon?¡± ¡°Not much left for the afternoon. ¡°Then eat moreter before heading to the corporation; the house is quite warm,¡± Bai Man said with a slight smile. ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi grunted in reply.. Chapter 169: Habit is a Terrible Thing Chapter 169: Habit is a Terrible Thing Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu gradually calmed down and continued to eat her meal, as if she hadn¡¯t seen Shen Chie in. But sitting here while the young couple dined together, what was she doing? With that thought, she couldn¡¯t help but speed up her eating. Finish early, return to school early. ¡°Young Master, had I known you¡¯d being, I would have prepared a few more dishes,¡± the butler Ling said. ¡°It¡¯s quite alright, no need to make extra on my ount,¡± Shen Chi said, pulling back his chair, his movements candid and graceful. Xu Chaomu nced at him from the corner of her eye, wondering why he sat opposite her at such a long table, spoiling the view. As Shen Chi had juste in from the rain, his hair tips still carried a hint of moisture. ¡°Chaomu, why did youe back today?¡± Shen Chi asked, his voice muted and deep, casting a casual nce at her. ¡°To get some clothes,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, without looking up, poking at the rice in her bowl. A weasel paying respects at a chicken¡¯s house is never up to any good. The butler Ling, aware of their recent spats, quickly added, ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s been raining for several days in a row and the temperature has dropped, so Miss Xu came back to fetch some clothing to ward off the cold.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently. Bai Man chimed in from the side, ¡°Shen Chi, why don¡¯t you let Chaomu move back in? It¡¯s not great for her to be alone at school. Staying in a dorm is hardly the same as being at home.¡± Bai Man was just trying to do a good turn, saying it offhand. To her surprise, Shen Chi actually gave it serious thought for several seconds before nodding, ¡°Since you¡¯ve pleaded on her behalf, let her move back in then.¡± Bai Man was immediately choked up, having only made a passing remark without expecting Shen Chi to agree. After all, Shen Chi was stubborn too, his spoken word as irrevocable as spilled water. But¡­ he actually agreed, following her lead. Bai Man was filled with regret. On the other hand, Butler Ling was rather pleased: ¡°It¡¯s good for her to move back in. I can look after Miss Xu better. It¡¯s really inconvenient for her to be alone at school.¡± Xu Chaomu, on the other hand, did not appreciate the gesture: ¡°I¡¯m not moving back in. I¡¯m quite happy living at the school, and my ssmates are good to me.¡± Butler Ling hastily winked at Xu Chaomu, trying to signal that the Young Master was making a significant concession. Unfortunately, Xu Chaomu, her head bowed, saw nothing of it. Whye back to watch a couple show off their love day after day? The man was a cornucopia of cliches, needing an audience even for showing affection. ¡°You really are growing quite a temper,¡± Shen Chi remarked dryly. ¡°Takes one to know one,¡± Xu Chaomu fired back fearlessly. Butler Ling listened on, sweating bullets, knowing that probably only Xu Chaomu dared to talk back to the Young Master. Bai Man felt a tad ufortable listening to their exchange. She pretended tough, ¡°You siblings start squabbling the minute you see each other. Shen Chi, look at you, you¡¯re older than your sister, you should give her some leeway.¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°Sister-inw, you¡¯re intelligent and not only pretty but also very considerate. To marry someone like my brother, you¡¯re truly aggrieved.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi shook his head in frustration. Bai Man smiled charmingly, ¡°Chaomu is actually quite sensible too. Shen Chi, you shouldn¡¯t always be so critical of her. Today, she even told me she would be my bridesmaid when we get engaged.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi deepened his voice, his eyes as unfathomable as the depths of dark waters. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu said simply. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, it¡¯s getting cold; if we don¡¯t, the food will be chilly,¡± Bai Man diverted the topic. She always felt that whenever Xu Chaomu was around, Shen Chi became more talkative. It made her feel uneasy. Shen Chi habitually served a bowl of soup, a habit can be a frightening thing; filling only half a bowl, he ced it in front of Xu Chaomu. He had always been the one to serve her soup while she ate, sparing her the effort. Yet, she had been staying in the dorm for many days, and he hadn¡¯t shaken the habit. Just as he set the bowl down, Shen Chi himself was the first to be taken aback. Habits truly are terrifying things. Xu Chaomu was also startled and looked up at him. In that moment of eye contact, Shen Chi wore an expression of helplessness, while Xu Chaomu looked surprised. The meal went by quietly, contrary to the usually talkative Xu Chaomu, who had now learned to chew in silence. In the past, she would have snuggled up to Shen Chi, piling up his te with a heap of food: ¡°Big brother, eat up, I¡¯m telling you, more food gives you strength¡ªyou know what I mean.¡± Xu Chaomu used to be so irreverent; Shen Chi, frustrated but helpless, would end up eating all she offered. Now, with Xu Chaomu silent, the dining table was quiet. Xu Chaomu was the first one finished. Standing up, she said, ¡°Big brother, sister-inw, enjoy your meal. I¡¯m heading back to school.¡± Butler Ling interjected, ¡°Miss Xu, why don¡¯t you let the Young Master drive you? Young Master, are you busy?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded, not indicating whether he was busy or not. Xu Chaomu found herself in a dilemma¡ªshould she let him drive her or not? That man had no good intentions. ¡°Miss Xu,e on, let me carry your clothes to the car for you. You take a seat and wait for the Young Master to finish his meal.¡± Butler Ling took her backpack without waiting for a reply, leaving Xu Chaomu with no choice. Bai Man wasn¡¯t very happy but, since things hade this far, she had to offer a friendly warning, ¡°Be careful on the roadter. The roads are slippery after the rain¡ªit¡¯s better to be safe. Shen Chi soon finished his meal. Xu Chaomu was already sitting in the car, idly looking out the window. The rain had stopped, but it was still very cold. The car was warm with the heater on, quitefortable. This man was still indulging as always, with the faint scent of eucalyptus in the car, quite enchanting. She casually turned on some music, and soft strains of ssical music began to drift through the air. After listening for a while, she felt that her tastes and the man¡¯s were misaligned; even sophisticated ssical music seemed less appealing than ¡°Happy Sheep, Pretty Sheep, Lazy Sheep, Fiery Sheep¡­¡± to her. So, she turned off the music and started humming a tune to herself. Over and over she hummed, ¡°Happy Sheep, Pretty Sheep, Lazy Sheep, Fiery Sheep¡­¡± When Shen Chi arrived, she was just humming, ¡°No matter the problem that tries to trip me up, I won¡¯t let it hurt my heart; no matter the danger before me, I won¡¯t panic.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t interrupt her, listening instead as she sang until thest line, ¡°In all sorts of weather, I possess the power to make peopleugh. Although I¡¯m just a sheep¡­¡± After finishing, Shen Chi couldn¡¯t hold back augh. He casually opened the car door and sat down in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You¡¯re not a sheep; you¡¯re a cat, a little wild cat,¡± Shen Chi couldn¡¯t stop hisughter. He tucked his long legs into the driving area and closed the car door. The car was warm, filled with a diffusing fragrance. ¡°A homeless little cat is naturally a wild cat,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted.. Chapter 170 - 170 My Daughter is Your Daughter Chapter 170 - 170 My Daughter is Your Daughter Chapter 170: My Daughter is Your Daughter Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi, of course, didn¡¯t mean that. His point was that Xu Chaomu was unreasonable and her little ws were sharp. However, she took it the wrong way, and it ended up looking like he was at fault. ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t be mad at me. Are you busy this afternoon?¡± Shen Chi had no choice but to coax her. ¡°I still have a lot of homework to do. ¡°Haven¡¯t you always been copying others?¡± ¡°That was in the past! Don¡¯t like it? Then don¡¯t look. If I don¡¯t study seriously, you scold me, if I do, you doubt me, whatever I do is wrong, you just can¡¯t stand me. Of course, I¡¯m not your biological sister, why would you be able to stand me.¡± Shen Chi really didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry; he said one thing, and she had to oppose him with ten. ¡°Look at you, not a little wild cat anymore. Talking like this, how will you ever get married in the future?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was full of helplessness, hisrge palm involuntarily brushing her hair. When his palm touched her head, Xu Chaomu turned and red at him: ¡°Fourth Brother, don¡¯t you know that many boys at school are chasing after me? Even if I don¡¯t get married in the future, it¡¯s none of your business. It¡¯s good enough you have people who want you.¡± ¡°Oh? A lot of boys are chasing after you? Tell me their names,¡± someone raised an eyebrow. ¡°I can¡¯t even count them all, of course I can¡¯t remember their names.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not your fault if no one wants you; how about I reluctantly take you in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not blind. How could I possibly fancy a man like you?¡± ¡°So tell me, what kind of man am I?¡± ¡°Scheming, acid-tongued, creepy, shameless, vulgar, lowbrow, cheap, surrounded by women. I have a bright future and a brilliant career ahead, how could I possibly fancy you?¡± Xu Chaomu said all this in one breath, making Shen Chi want tough even more. ¡°Fine then, if you don¡¯t fancy me, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡± He started the car and drove the Maybach out of the Shen Family mansion. Xu Chaomu stared out the window, really bored, so she started looking around the car for her doll pillow, a very cute girl doll. After searching and not finding it, she questioned Shen Chi: ¡°Where¡¯s my doll pillow?¡± ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°Your daughter.¡± Shen Chi was instantly covered with ck lines on his face, remembering that ugly rag doll. Previously, Xu Chaomu often held the doll by its fuzzy hands to rub against him: ¡°Fourth Brother, she¡¯s your daughter, isn¡¯t she cute?¡± At that time, he usually ignored her. Childish. ¡°Threw it away,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Xu Chaomu¡¯s temper red up, and she started to whine with a crying tone: ¡°Why did you throw away my daughter? She¡¯s so cute. You can¡¯t stand me, but why can¡¯t you stand her? She¡¯s so pitiful, where did you throw her?¡± After she spoke, Xu Chaomu climbed over from the passenger seat and grabbed Shen Chi¡¯s arm. She really liked that doll; every time she fell asleep in the car, she would rest on it or hold it. When Shen Chi saw her tearsing, he quickly stopped the car and wiped her tears away. ¡°Suddenly crying, you really are too much for me to handle. I brought it back home, I didn¡¯t throw it away.¡± ¡°Where is it then?¡± ¡°In my room.¡± ¡°Oh. ¡± Xu Chaomu then settled back into her seat. However, Shen Chi smiled meaningfully: ¡°Wasn¡¯t she my daughter? How did she be your daughter now?¡± Realizing her slip of the tongue, Xu Chaomu hurriedly said: ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful, of course she¡¯s my daughter. Your daughter will certainly be ugly as sin.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched; that doll, beautiful? It was hideously cute¡­ ¡°What¡¯s mine is yours, my daughter is your daughter, we don¡¯t need to make such a clear distinction,¡± Shen Chi smiled with a deep implication. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t react at first, could this also be left indistinct? Shen Chi liked her dumb and cute appearance; he casually stroked her head and continued driving. He kept driving until he brought her to the school. Even though there were fewer students today, when Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi got out of the car, Yu Weiwei caught them in the act. Yu Weiwei sneakily hid behind a big tree, her eyes widened in astonishment. When did Xu Chaomu meet such a handsome guy? Young, handsome, words couldn¡¯t describe him. Too unkind, this girl. Despite counting her as her best friend, she didn¡¯t even tell her about meeting such a handsome guy. Yu Weiwei was a big flirt, her eyes zing over. He was a sight for sore eyes, a sight for sore eyes indeed! Before she thought Li Beiting was pretty handsome, but now,pared to this man, Li Beiting paled inparison. Plus, this man exuded a lofty and noble aura, nothing like Li Beiting¡¯s clownish vibe. Shen Chi opened the car door for Xu Chaomu like a gentleman, taking her hand: ¡°I¡¯ll leave you here, if you miss me,e back home.¡± Xu Chaomu was unappreciative: ¡°Even if I miss Dabai, I won¡¯t miss you.¡± Just as Xu Chaomu was about to leave, Yu Weiwei jumped out from behind the bushes: ¡°Freeze, hands up!¡± Xu Chaomu was startled and nearly lost her footing, but Shen Chi was quick to hold her waist. ¡°Be careful,¡± Shen Chi looked at her. Xu Chaomu saw it was Yu Weiwei and felt so embarrassed. It felt as though she was caught cheating in bed, right or not, right or not! Her eyes darted around, and suddenly, Xu Chaomu had an idea, putting on a serious face to push away Shen Chi¡¯s hand: ¡°Thank you, sir, for giving me a lift to school. I¡¯m very grateful, and we can have dinner someday.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression changed, he really wanted to tug at her ear. Who was she calling sir? Yu Weiwei paused, perplexed. Sir? A lift on the way? So there was no affair? However, this man looked somewhat familiar. So, Yu Weiwei trotted up to Shen Chi, smiling: ¡°Sir, may I have the honour of yourst name? Can I have your phone number? I mean the kind that we can keep in touch with. I¡¯m very grateful for you bringing Chaomu to school; she¡¯s my good friend. Someday, I¡¯ll join her in expressing our thanks.¡± Xu Chaomu sent a look of utter contempt her way, getting excited over a man. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Chaomu ever mentioned me to you?¡± Shen Chi narrowed his eyes. He recognized Yu Weiwei. Doomed, utterly doomed. Xu Chaomu¡¯s little face was as if it had been run over, and she held her head ready to run. Her lie was about to be exposed¡­ After so many years of lying¡­ Actually, it wasn¡¯t her fault. It was Shen Chi himself who had forbidden her to talk nonsense outside. So¡­ she hade up with a tale about her brother working on a construction site, unable to find a wife. Her tale was so vivid that the whole grade believed it. Including Yu Weiwei! ¡°Ah? What¡¯s your rtionship to Chaomu? Not just someone you met on the way?¡± Yu Weiwei scratched her head. ¡°He¡¯s my neighbor! Weiwei, how have you been resting at home? Feeling better? Did thest event leave any scars on your mind? Last time¡­¡± Shen Chi cut off Xu Chaomu: ¡°I¡¯m her brother.¡± Done for,pletely done for. This man in front of her, how could he be working on a construction site, failing to find a wife, how could he be wearing rags! At that moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was inplete disarray. She took steps back, back, back, and looking for a chance to slip away! Chapter 171: Brother? My Beloved Brother! Chapter 171: Brother? My Beloved Brother! Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Brother? Sentimental brother?!¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s mind worked unlike that of ordinary people. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, his face alight with ck lines. But it was Shen Chi who raised an eyebrow, ¡°You could exin it that way.¡± ¡°Damn, Xu Chaomu, you actually have a sentimental brother! And you didn¡¯t even tell me! You actually are two-timing! You actually¡­ you, you, you¡­¡± Yu Weiwei was simply too excited, gesticting wildly. Xu Chaomu really wanted to cover his face; what kind of situation was this? ¡°No, he really has nothing to do with me, he really is my, my neighbor!¡± Shen Chi looked at Xu Chaomu fondly, ¡°Hmm, her room is just next to mine.¡± ¡°Weiwei, don¡¯t listen to his nonsense, I really have nothing to do with him, really. I swear, if I have any special rtionship with him, I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll give you a dor!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red. Xu Chaomu could still blush; Shen Chi too found this a new sight to behold. ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s no special rtionship, just the hugging kind.¡± Shen Chi curled his lips into a smile. The handsome face shed its coldness, now more full of smiles and more attractive than ever. It was as warm as thete spring sun. Actually¡­ he had also kissed her. ¡°Hugged?!¡± Yu Weiwei eximed as if she¡¯d discovered a new continent, ¡°Chaomu, you really don¡¯t treat me like a friend, hiding your sentimental brother from me. Out with it, what else besides hugging? Spill the beans!¡± Xu Chaomu held his forehead; what else could there be? The man had always kept her from touching him. Since she was ten, she had set lofty goals to hug him, kiss him, sleep with him. Unfortunately, after aplishing just one, he was about to get married. Shen Chi at this moment seemed talkative, ¡°Subsequent developments to be followed up.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re such a bad friend. I despise you, I renounce you, I¡¯m going to break off our friendship for three minutes! Three minutes!¡± ¡°Weiwei, he¡¯s just joking with you; he¡¯s about to get married. Do you even know who he is? Shen Chi, the president of Shen Group. His fianc¨¦e is that famous star, the one we often see, Bai Man.¡¯ Upon hearing this, Yu Weiwei took a closer look at Shen Chi. She pped her forehead, finally remembering. Right! It was Shen Chi! No wonder he looked so familiar; he had visited their school, he was a major shareholder of this school. Instantly, Yu Weiwei felt dizzy; the world was too crazy. ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯re so unscrupulous!¡± Now, she believed Xu Chaomu¡¯s words. However, she conjured up a piece of paper and a pen from her backpack as if by magic, ¡°President Shen, could you give me an autograph? And maybe get that big star Bai Man to sign one for me too?¡± Xu Chaomu roared, ¡°Yu Weiwei, I¡¯m going to break off our friendship for three minutes!¡± ¡°Stop arguing, stop arguing.¡± Yu Weiwei waved Xu Chaomu off. Yu Weiwei, always swayed by superficial attraction! Of course, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t do something like signing autographs. He straightened up, ¡°Later on, don¡¯t bring Chaomu any more of those messy books.¡± Yu Weiwei nudged Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm, ¡°Look, your sentimental brother is quite concerned about you.¡± ¡°I just said, he¡¯s not my sentimental brother, he¡¯s just my brother!¡± Xu Chaomuid it all out, ¡°That one I made up stories about, working on a construction site, who couldn¡¯t afford to get married.¡± Yu Weiwei looked confused, ¡°Your brother?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Chaomu appeared defeated. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯ve tricked me so badly, you scoundrel. I actually thought you had a tragic past when actually your family is so rich. You, you, you, you made me sympathize with you for nothing. You owe me my tears, you¡¯ve deceived my innocent heart!¡± ¡°I only tricked you a little bit, actually, my parents have been gone for a long time, I was adopted by their family.¡± ¡°Adopted? That still could make him your sentimental brother though!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just bber, President Shen is going to get angry,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Yu Weiwei quickly covered her mouth, but then leaned in closer to Xu Chaomu and said, ¡°Such a handsome, such a young brother, are you really telling me you¡¯ve never had a crush? If it were me, I¡¯d have pinned him down, tackled him, and slept with him by now!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had to admit, Yu Weiwei was one step ahead. She also lowered her voice, ¡°If you¡¯re not as pretty as Bai Man, don¡¯t have a chest as big as Bai Man¡¯s, you might as well save your energy.¡± ¡°Your brother is that vulgar? How about I leak it to the media?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Xu Chaomu got serious too. Shen Chi, standing aside, was getting impatient, ¡°What¡¯s all this whispering about?¡± ¡°Big Brother, you can go back now. I¡¯m going to talk to Weiwei for a while.¡± ¡°In the future, make up fewer stories about me.¡± Shen Chi gave Xu Chaomu a cold nce and, without further disturbance, got in the car and left. Watching the ck Maybach speed away, Yu Weiwei patted her chest, ¡°Your brother looks at me differently than he looks at you!¡± ¡°Nonsense, he looks at everyone like they owe him money.¡± The moment Shen Chi left, Xu Chaomu was back to not being able to say anything nice. ¡°Xu Chaomu, give it to me straight, what did you mean when you asked me about breast enhancement before?¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s brain was clearly much sharper than Xu Chaomu¡¯s. She refused to believe that having such a top-notch handsome guy at home wouldn¡¯t move her heart! Given Xu Chaomu¡¯s character, she would probably have jumped him by now. ¡°I was just thinking about plumping them up and then going to seduce some young guys,¡± Xu Chaomu said shamelessly. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not to seduce your beloved brother?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already taken. Why would I seduce him? Plus, I don¡¯t like him at all, not one bit. He¡¯s especially domineering, even wants to control me wearing mini skirts to school! He¡¯s a demon!¡± Xu Chaomu began to fabricate stories about Shen Chi again, intending to pour out all the bitterness of being enved by him! Great tyrant! Great demon! Damned ten times over! ¡°What a pity, what a pity. If I were you, I¡¯d kiss him forcefully first, then tackle him, and finally sleep with him!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, knowing it would be utterly ineffective! Suddenly, an idea shed in Yu Weiwei¡¯s mind and she remembered something Xu Chaomu had said before, ¡°Then tell me, why would a man have a reaction but still hold himself back? What¡¯s the reason for that?¡± ¡°What else could it be? Either the woman is too ugly, or he doesn¡¯t love her!¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m ugly?¡± ¡°Our Chaomu is a standard beauty, look at this cute face, long eyshes, high nose bridge, so soft and pink, who canpare with our Chaomu!¡± Yu Weiwei had always been puzzled about who the man in Xu Chaomu¡¯s stories was; now, with a sudden insight, could it be her beloved brother? ¡°Ahem.¡± Yu Weiwei lowered her voice, ¡°Chaomu, tell me honestly, have you ever tried to seduce your beloved brother?¡± Asscivious as Xu Chaomu was, if she tried to deny it, she would never be able to exin it away. ¡°No.¡± Xu Chaomu would rather die than admit it. Failed seduction attempts were embarrassing to admit. ¡°You¡¯re still keeping secrets from me? Kiddo, if you don¡¯t speak your heart, we¡¯re really breaking off our friendship!¡± Yu Weiwei said sternly. Xu Chaomu hesitated for a few dozen seconds. Actually, she had kept these things inside for a very long time and had never told anyone. . ¡°Weiwei, treat me to a drink, and I¡¯ll tell you all about it,¡± she said. ¡°Drinking? Chaomu, can you even drink?¡± Yu Weiwei was skeptical. When they used to sneak out to a little shop forte-night snacks, they had ordered alcohol too. The first time they got a bottle, Xu Chaomu took a sip, got drunk, and started talking to a lucky cat calling it her name: ¡°Weiwei, why do you keep waving at me¡­ Weiwei, how did you turn yellow¡­¡± Yu Weiwei was speechless on the spot.. Chapter 172: Shen Chi, I Like You Chapter 172: Shen Chi, I Like You Trantor: 549690339 Later, Yu Weiwei never took Xu Chaomu out for drinks again. However, Yu Weiwei¡¯s own tolerance for alcohol wasn¡¯t that impressive, about on par with Xu Chaomu. ¡°Come on, take me out for drinks. If I get drunk and throw myself at you, I won¡¯t hold you responsible,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mood had improved a bit, so she shook Yu Weiwei¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m not into women.¡± ¡°Please, please take me out, Weiwei. You¡¯re beloved by all, flowers bloom at your sight, birds freeze when they see you, and cars blow tires when they pass you by. Weiwei, you¡¯re the nation¡¯s beauty, captivating and lovely, fish sink and geese fall, the moon hides in shamepared to you. Weiwei, you¡ª¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes. Unable to withstand Xu Chaomu¡¯s relentless nagging, Yu Weiwei ended up taking her out. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight, if you get drunk and start hugging the fortune cat,ughing and crying, I¡¯m leaving. It¡¯s so embarrassing!¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm!¡± Xu Chaomu nodded obediently. Yu Weiwei took Xu Chaomu to a small bar which was neither too fancy nor too shabby. The bar was filled with flickering lights, thumping music, and the aroma of alcohol wafting through the air. Outside, it was the cool early spring, but inside the bar, it felt like high summer. Men and women were dressed in cool, breezy clothing, with many women walking around in camisole dresses. ¡°Mumu, you sit over there. I¡¯m going to order drinks and will be right back,¡± Yu Weiwei pointed to a rtively quiet spot. ¡°Don¡¯t be stingy, get the good stuff!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll take a sip and just, plop, pass out.¡± ¡°Scram! I¡¯m going to drink and show you today!¡± Influenced by the atmosphere, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was flushed. Having said that, Xu Chaomu walked over to the designated spot. The modest table was up against the wall, which had a stic flower pot on it. Next to the flower pot was a diffuser, mist swirling around and carrying a refreshing scent with it. Xu Chaomu sniffed. Wasn¡¯t that the aroma of ng ng essential oil? ng ng essential oil, that¡¯s a seductive fragrance. What if she became promiscuous after getting drunk? The thought was too beautiful; she dared not continue. Before long, Yu Weiwei came over with two sses of champagne, ¡°Try this, I really splurged. Let me emphasize again, if you get drunk, I¡¯m leaving you on the street!¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded obediently again. She took a sip from the ss that Yu Weiwei handed her. It wasn¡¯t tasty. But no matter how bad the drink, after having enough you stop noticing. Just like people, no matter how much you love someone, once you lose heart, the love dies. So, Xu Chaomu kept on drinking. ¡°Mamma mia, my dear ancestress, you¡¯re not supposed to drink like this. You¡¯re drinking yourself to death!¡± Yu Weiwei hurriedly tried to grab Xu Chaomu¡¯s ss. ¡°No, give it to me, just let me drink a little. Weiwei, didn¡¯t you say that drinking a lot would make a person feel better?¡± Xu Chaomu snatched the ss back and took a big gulp. ¡°Mamma mia, what¡¯s bothering you? Are you upset about having small breasts or not having enough magazines to read? Come on, spit it out. Your sister here will help you, don¡¯t keep it all bottled up.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s¡­ because of small breasts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. She truly was a lightweight, her face had turned red in no time, and her thoughts began to blur. ¡°If it¡¯s small breasts, just say so. I have plenty of solutions for that, you¡ªI¡® Before Yu Weiwei could finish, Xu Chaomu cut her off, leaning on the table and looking at the ss: ¡°Tell me, why does he only like big-breasted women, only the beautiful ones? How can he be so vulgar?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Yu Weiwei blinked. ¡°Who else could it be, the big jerk!¡± ¡°Who is this ¡®big jerk¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak anymore and just continued drinking. The music in the bar was deafening, noisy, and hot. She had only taken a few sips when she felt irritated by the heat, taking off her coat while she drank. So disgusting¡­ But the more she drank, the more addicted she became¡­ Gradually, the ss in front of her seemed to double, as did Yu Weiwei, everything became doubled¡­ The lights were so blinding, she squinted her eyes, swaying her ss. ¡°The big jerk has no shame, I curse him to have an ugly son, and a daughter who cannot be married off¡­¡± Xu Chaomuid her head on the table, squinting her reddened face, ¡°Wuwuwu¡­ but you¡¯re so handsome, how could your son be ugly, how could your daughter not be married off¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, what are you talking about?¡± Yu Weiwei asked with a face full of ck lines, a messy, iprehensible speech. ¡°Big jerk, you won¡¯t even let me kiss you, how stingy can you be¡­ You¡¯re getting married¡­ Who will I kiss now¡­ Wuwuwu¡­¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu started to cry¡­ Shey her head on the table, her shoulders shaking nonstop. At first, it was constant sobbing, but slowly, it turned into loud crying. Yu Weiwei finally understood, she finally understood! Still denying she¡¯s love-struck, these thoughts¡­ Indeed, truthes out when you¡¯re drunk, truthes out when you¡¯re drunk. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, be good. There are plenty of nice guys out there, if you want, I can lend you my second uncle to kiss.¡± ¡°Big jerk, I know you like Bai Man¡­ I won¡¯t cling to you¡­ But why do you dislike me so much¡­ Big jerk, how many kids will you have after you get married, will they call me auntie¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried and rambled on non-stop, ¡°But what am I supposed to doter¡­ Shen Chi, I like you¡­ I really really like you¡­¡± Yu Weiweipletely understood then, this girls was thinking of Shen Chi. On normal days, Xu Chaomu was careless and heartless, but Yu Weiwei never thought she would hide her feelings so deeply. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ I don¡¯t want your money, I don¡¯t want anything, I just want you to be happy, I just want you to be well¡­ Big jerk, you have to be happy after you get married, do not be sad, do not frown, do not have a cold face. Chaomu won¡¯t tease you to be happy anymore, but your wife is so virtuous, she must be very good to you, she definitely will be¡­ I know, it¡¯s all wishful thinking on my part. I know, without me, you can worry about one less thing¡­ ¡± ¡°Chaomu, Mumu, wake up, don¡¯t talk nonsense, stop drinking!¡± Yu Weiwei tried to grab the ss from her hand. Xu Chaomu was unwilling to give it up and kept drinking nonstop. Her face was as red as an apple, her little face full of tear streaks. But Xu Chaomu had no idea that, not far away in a corner, Liu Rumei was there. Liu Rumei watched all this with an unnoticeable cold smile on the corner of her mouth. She called the waiter over, handed him a ss of liquor, and stealthily added something to the drink. She pointed to Xu Chaomu¡¯s location: ¡°Take this drink to that table.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± The waiter quickly carried the drink over. Liu Rumei then wrote a note and gave it to another waiter: ¡°Call this number, and tell the owner their name is Xu Chaomu, and she¡¯s drunk at the 1977 Bar. Keep calling until you get through, and don¡¯t mention I was here, or else I¡¯ll cut off your livelihood!¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Having done all this, Liu Rumei picked up her purse and walked out of the bar. Xu Chaomu was still sobbing: ¡°I really won¡¯t bother you anymore, you must be happy¡­ If you don¡¯t like me, dislike me, are annoyed by me, I can leave, I just want you to be well¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ I¡¯m telling you, you look really good when you smile¡­ I wish I could see you smile more, I wish I could hug you¡­ I wish¡­. Chapter 173: Fourth Brother, Can You Kiss Chapter 173: Fourth Brother, Can You Kiss Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu waspletely drunk, rambling non-stop, and yet she kept pouring more alcohol into her ss. ¡°Four¡­ when you have a baby in the future, can you let him y with me, don¡¯t ignore me¡­ I will definitely like him a lot, I¡¯ll give him all the tasty food, I¡¯ll take him to the amusement park¡­ he¡¯s sure to look a lot like you¡­ actually, do you know, on the first day I met you, I really wanted to beat you up, but I couldn¡¯t beat you¡­¡± As Xu Chaomu cried and cried, she suddenly broke into a smile, and everything from eight years ago became increasingly clear in her mind. That day, the sunlight was so beautiful, everything was beautiful. The boy was dressed in a white shirt, standing in the sunlight with furrowed brows, unsmiling. She hugged him, and he disliked her; she wanted to kiss him, and he disliked her even more. She moved closer and closer to him, and he warned her, ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you within three steps!¡± She wouldn¡¯t, just wouldn¡¯t. The following eight years, she tried hard to tease him, but he was always indifferent. Her head started to hurt¡­ Not wanting to think further, Xu Chaomu filled up another ss of wine. ¡°Mumu, you really can¡¯t drink anymore,e home with me, you¡¯re going crazy!¡± Yu Weiwei was scared. This girl was drinking alcohol like it was water; how much stress must she be under? ¡°Don¡¯t pull me, don¡¯t pull me¡­ I want to drink, don¡¯t pull me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled. It was at this moment that a waiter came over with drinks. ¡°Good evening, this is aplimentary bottle of champagne from our bar. Please enjoy and have a pleasant life.¡± After saying that, he opened the bottle and ced it on their table. Yu Weiwei was curious, since when did the bar start giving away drinks? Was there some promotion? Xu Chaomu was all bright-eyed, grabbing the bottle and pouring. ¡°Gurgle¡± ¡°gurgle¡±, soon, another ss was filled! ¡°My dear, I¡¯m begging you, let¡¯s go, if you keep drinking like this, it will be the death of you! I, Yu Weiwei, do not want to end up in jail, you know!¡± Yu Weiwei desperately pulled at Xu Chaomu, while Xu Chaomu desperately flung off her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, don¡¯t stop me¡­ actually, I miss my mom a bit¡­ I really want to see her¡­ In this world, only she loves me the most¡­¡± Yu Weiwei was terrified: ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not thinking of doing something foolish, are you?¡± Yu Weiwei really regretted it; why did she bring her to the bar! Xu Chaomu downed another big gulp of alcohol, half crying and halfughing, ¡°Weiwei, Weiwei¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here, I¡¯m right here.¡± ¡°Do you know¡­ he¡¯s getting engaged on the eighth of next month, I¡¯m going to be Bai Man¡¯s bridesmaid¡­ The closest one to him will be the bride, and next closest will be the bridesmaid, right¡­?¡± Yanli was stunned. Xu Chaomu was going to be Bai Man¡¯s bridesmaid? This was self-torture, masochism to the extreme. How much did this girl love that man! Yu Weiwei¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Do you still remember¡­ the joke you once told me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu paused, then took another big swig of alcohol. She was so blurred that she couldn¡¯t see clearly anymore, only able to reach out and grab onto the bottle. ¡°I¡¯ve told you so many jokes, the clean ones and the dirty ones, which one are you referring to?¡± ¡°The one¡­ that one¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright, if you can¡¯t remember don¡¯t talk about it anymore, let¡¯s go back to school, be a good girl.¡± Yu Weiwei coaxed and cajoled. ¡°I want to talk about it¡­ it¡¯s the one¡­ you told me before, the furthest distance in the world is¡­ when he¡¯s getting married, and you are the bridesmaid¡­¡± Yu Weiwei remembered, back then, she had said, ¡°The furthest distance in the world is not the remote ends of the earth, nor life and death, but when he¡¯s getting married, and I am only a bridesmaid.¡± At the time, Xu Chaomuughed heartily without a care, ¡°Let him get married, why hang oneself on a single tree, the world is never short of men!¡± Yu Weiwei sighed heavily, wishing she had never told her that. ¡°Weiwei you don¡¯t understand¡­ actually, seeing him happy makes me really happy¡­ truly¡­¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu burst into tears with a ¡°waah¡±. ¡°Happy and you still cry, you just know how to lie to yourself!¡± Yu Weiwei couldn¡¯t help but scold her, feeling uneasy as she saw Xu Chaomu so distressed. Shen Chi received a strange call while he was in the middle of a meeting with the group. During meetings, his phone was always with Xiao MO, let alone today¡¯s secret meeting, which was very important and concerned the diamond project in South Africa. Xiao MO picked up the call and heard Xu Chaomu¡¯s name. Xiao MO didn¡¯t know much about Xu Chaomu, but Shen Chi had specifically instructed that anything regarding Xu Chaomu should be reported to him immediately. But he was in a dilemma now. Shen Chi was in a meeting; what should he do. Weighing the pros and cons, he decided to go into the meeting room first. ¡°Everyone here, I trust the most as the saying goes, powers should check and bnce each other, but you all know what kind of person I am, Shen Chi. Some say I¡¯m ambitious, yes, that¡¯s true, so I don¡¯t allow the presence of powers within the group. This South Africa diamond project, we must sign the contract as soon as possible!¡± Shen Chi, dressed in a ck suit, sat at the forefront, his gaze icy and his tone resolute. Xiao MO stepped forward quickly and whispered in Shen Chi¡¯s ear, ¡°President Shen, I just received a call that Xu Chaomu is drunk at the bar. 1977 Bar at Hengtian za.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze sharpened, then calmed instantly. Xiao MO thought Shen Chi would respond as usual with, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after the meeting!¡± But unexpectedly, just three or four secondster, Shen Chi stood up. ¡°Adjourn the meeting!¡± His low, hoarse voice brooked no argument. Xiao MO hurriedly followed him, ¡°President Shen, the meeting has only just begun. Should it be postponed or rescheduled?¡± ¡°Reschedule!¡± ¡°Alright. Do you need me to drive you there?¡± ¡°No need, stay at the group. If anything happens, report to me immediately.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Chi said as he strode toward the elevator. He had only been away for a little over an hour; how had she run off to the bar and even dared to drink? Who gave her such courage? If he caught her, he would not spare her! Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was icy, his eyes sharp as a hawk, his face exuding a chill that could freeze everything around him. To make her behave, yet she always had to be so willful! She always found a way to drive him up the wall, it was truly unbearable! Shen Chi drove off in his Maybach toward the direction of 1977 Bar! Xu Chaomu was really hammered, wrapping her arms around Yu Weiwei¡¯s shoulders and moring, ¡°Four, kiss me, will you¡­ I know men and women shouldn¡¯t touch¡­ but, a ceremonial kiss is okay too¡­ is it okay, is it okay¡­¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry, pping Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek, ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯m taking you to sober up. I¡¯m not your Four, and your Four won¡¯t possiblye. Forget about that old man, we don¡¯t need him, huh! Come on, let¡¯s go to the washroom.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t want me anymore¡­ He really doesn¡¯t want me anymore¡­ I knew there would be such a day¡­¡± ¡°Stop crying, stop feeling bad, I¡¯ll introduce you to my second uncle. My second uncle isn¡¯t bad either, oh, right, Lou Yanli is miles better than your Four. It¡¯s us who don¡¯t want him, not the other way around.¡± Yu Weiwei supported Xu Chaomu.. Chapter 174: I Want to Hold You Chapter 174: I Want to Hold You Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had no more strength, her throat hoarse, almostpletely at Yu Weiwei¡¯s mercy. Even so, the name she called out the most was still Shen Chi¡¯s. ¡°Come, be good, let¡¯s wash your face.¡± Yu Weiwei dragged Xu Chaomu into the washroom, wet a towel with water, and began to wipe her face for her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s little face was beet red, clearly drunk to a serious degree. Yu Weiwei felt helpless; knowing that Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t handle her alcohol, she had still ended up like this. Yu Weiwei sighed. If only Chaomu would forget everything once she sobered up. Though Xu Chaomu was causing amotion, she obediently let Yu Weiwei wash her face for her. After the wash, Yu Weiwei proceeded to take her out of the restroom, nning to ask a waiter for some sobering tea. However, the moment Yu Weiwei firmly grasped Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, she realized how fiercely hot her body was. ¡°Why is it so hot¡­¡± Yu Weiwei touched her arm, then her forehead, and found that her whole body was burning up. Yu Weiwei was startled! ¡°So hot¡­ ufortable¡­ hot¡­¡± Xu Chaomu, holding her forehead, kept crying out. She clung desperately to Yu Weiwei¡¯s arm because it was slightly cool. ¡°Chaomu, where does it hurt? Are you having an allergic reaction to alcohol? Quickly, tell me.¡± Yu Weiwei panicked. She shouldn¡¯t have brought Xu Chaomu to a bar. ¡°Hot¡­ ufortable¡­ so ufortable¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s face grew even redder, her consciousness blurry. She reached out to unbutton the top button of her shirt, as if that would cool her down. ¡°Youngdy, you can¡¯t just strip here,¡± Yu Weiwei quickly stopped Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands. Yu Weiwei, having read her share of Little Forbidden Books, had a realization. Xu Chaomu¡¯s condition clearly indicated she had been drugged. ¡°Oh my God, this is bad, I have to take you to the hospital right now!¡± Yu Weiwei eximed as she began dragging Xu Chaomu along. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ so hot¡­ thirsty¡­ ufortable¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had lost allposure, and even the words she managed to say were but faint moans, provoking a flush and a racing heart. She still sought to unbutton her shirt, feeling extremely hot, as if she were in the middle of the desert with the scorching sun rendering her breathless. It was as if a fire was burning inside her, desperately yearning for a cool spring¡­ ¡°Youngdy, let go, stop grabbing at the wall! I¡¯m taking you to the hospital! You have to hold on for me!¡± Yu Weiwei struggled to pry off Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands that clung to the wall, but the drunk girl¡¯s strength was incredibly strong. Yu Weiwei exerted all her might but still couldn¡¯t pry them loose! ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ I feel so bad¡­ I want to hug you¡­ Fourth Brother¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice grew lighter, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, but her words wereden with allure. Sure enough, a man with ill intentions approached. ¡°Hey, whose little girl is this, drunk off her feet? Calling for her beloved? Your beloved is right here¡­¡± the man leaned in closer. Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes widened as she protected Xu Chaomu: ¡°Get lost!¡± The man wasn¡¯t annoyed, still grinning with a face full of disgusting b. This man too was drunk, reeking of alcohol, and stretched out his dirty hand to touch Xu Chaomu. Yu Weiwei was quick to act, pping away hisrge palm: ¡°Take your dirty hands off! Did you not hear me tell you to get lost?!¡± ¡°Oh, feisty. Look at your friend, constantly moaning in difort. Brother is just trying to help her. Little sister, your friend here wants a man¡­¡± Yu Weiwei was furious, and with one swift kick, sheshed out, ¡°Get away from me, and don¡¯t you dare look in the mirror! You look like this and still dare to jump around!¡± As soon as Yu Weiwei let go, Xu Chaomu¡¯s whole body slumped, like a pile of mush, unable to muster any strength. ¡°It¡¯s really so hot¡­¡± Xu Chaomu leaned against the wall, her consciousness already blurring. She started to unbutton her shirt, revealing one button at a time, exposing her delicate corbone. Her skin, fair as snow, was both seductive and captivating. Under the lights, her small face was flushed with a rosy glow, like a ripened red apple, simultaneously emitting a young girl¡¯s unique fragrance. This immediately drew several more wolves, and soon, a group of men had Xu Chaomu surrounded. Xu Chaomu crouched in the corner, her mind a blur,pletely unaware she was still in the bar with a circle of people eyeing her greedily. All she knew was that her body felt ufortable, very ufortable¡­ ¡°Little sister, you¡¯re so pretty. Did you drink too much and feel bad? Come, brother will help you¡­¡± A middle-aged man crouched down and reached out to touch Xu Chaomu. Subconsciously, Xu Chaomu knew this voice was neither Yu Weiwei¡¯s nor Shen Chi¡¯s, so she swung her hand to p it away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­ go away¡­¡± The manughed heartily, ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling unwell? What¡¯s wrong with brother helping you out? Come, be a good girl and let brother have a hug.¡± Having said that, the man really took steps closer to Xu Chaomu. Yu Weiwei kicked out, hitting the man squarely in the chest, ¡°I told you all to roll, did you not hear me?!¡± ¡°Chaomu, get up,e with me!¡± Yu Weiwei crouched down and reached for Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. Unexpectedly, before she could touch Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, a man dragged Yu Weiwei away. ¡°This chick isn¡¯t bad either, why not y with us too?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Yu Weiwei, who often sparred with Xu Chaomu, wasn¡¯t afraid of these hoodlums at all. On the other hand, Xu Chaomu covered her ears, curling up motionless in the corner. The tide of heat inside her felt like ants, nibbling at her body, gnawing at her chest. But Yu Weiwei was ultimately outnumbered. A man took advantage of the situation and pulled Xu Chaomu up from the ground. ¡°Come to the private room with me to y, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll pay you. As much as you want. Babe, give me a smile first. Such a charming little face you have¡­¡± the man said with a sycophantic smile. ¡°You¡­ go away¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu weakly tried to push him away. ¡°We don¡¯t know each other, but after today, won¡¯t we be acquainted? As familiar as you wish. Tsk, tsk, look at you, you seem unacquainted with men, but I like that.¡± The man burst into another round of heartyughter. Xu Chaomu felt her head splitting, her consciousness slowly slipping away¡­ But she knew she couldn¡¯t be taken away by these people, otherwise the consequences would be unthinkable. Just as the man was dragging her into a room, Xu Chaomu bit down on his arm. Though powerless, she used all her remaining strength! Shen Chi, who had burst into the bar, witnessed the entire scene! He strode forward, radiating an icy chill from his whole being. His facial features were rigid, and his eyes, like a hawk¡¯s, zed with the light of Hell. His entire presence was cold and forbidding, like the King of Asura from the dark night. ¡°You¡¯re fucking tired of living!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was ice-cold as he kicked the man pulling Xu Chaomu. Chapter 175: I Will Not Get Pregnant Chapter 175: I Will Not Get Pregnant Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi had put all his force into that kick, resulting in the man spurting blood with a ¡°puh¡± sound. Instant chaos erupted around them! ¡°Someone¡¯s been killed!¡± ¡°Go, go, run for it!¡± ¡°Is this a brawl or a murder?¡± In a sh, the bar descended into utter pandemonium, with women¡¯s screams and men¡¯s shouting bursting out all at once! People scrambled towards the exit, trying desperately to avoid trouble that might cost them their lives. The men who had just been harassing Xu Chaomu now hid themselves away in a sh. Shen Chi was far from willing to let it go, and kicked down once more, his leather shoending right on the man¡¯s head! The man was totally defenseless, left only to cry out ¡°wa wa¡±. ¡°It hurts, it hurts¡­¡± Several men stood nearby, but their legs trembled, and none dared toe to his aid. Yu Weiwei had been caught up in the fight herself, and she had not expected Shen Chi to show up. At that moment, she was stunned, frozen in ce. ¡°Hurts?¡± Shen Chi scoffed with a coldugh, blood spreading at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Tell me, which hand touched her?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s dress shoe moved to the man¡¯s scap, seemingly with little effort, yet it induced excruciating pain in the man. The man on the ground twitched at the corners of his mouth, his eyes widened in agony, pupils constricted, feeling pain upon pain. Blood continuously poured from his mouth, his throat clogged, and he couldn¡¯t speak. Shen Chi sneered coldly, ¡°Not talking? All right, then, I¡¯ll break both your hands for good measure. That¡¯ll be quicker!¡± After that, he pressed down hard, his right foot stomping on the man¡¯s left shoulder de with all his might. A double snapping sound was heard, and all the bones in the left shoulder de were shattered! ¡°Ahh!¡± The man wailed like a wolf in agony! The bar owner, not wanting a fatality on his premises, hurried forward to plead, ¡°Mister, please show some mercy and spare him. He didn¡¯t really do anything. ¡± Shen Chi¡¯s piercing gaze swept over, a cold smile with profound implications on his lips, ¡°Oh? Didn¡¯t do anything? Are you saying I¡¯m seeing things?¡± ¡°No, no, of course not,¡± the bar owner was sweating bullets, ¡°Actually¡­¡± ¡°Get lost! Otherwise, I¡¯ll shatter your hands as well!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, as if I hadn¡¯t said anything,¡± he said. The bar owner ran off, tripping over himself. A death in his establishment was better than losing his own life. Just as Shen Chi was about to bring his foot down on the man¡¯s right shoulder de, Xu Chaomu, who was crouching on the ground, held onto the wall and whimpered faintly, ¡°Feel so sick¡­ so hot¡­¡± Her little face twisted in pain. ¡°Damn it!¡± Shen Chi cursed under his breath. He had been to such venues countless times and knew the situation all too well. Shen Chi spared the man, bent down, reached out his arm, scooped up Xu Chaomu firmly, and cradled her across his chest! Without a moment¡¯s dy or hesitation, he held her tightly, stepped forward with a firm pace, and carried her out of the bar! Yu Weiwei was left behind, unable to ept this, and jumped up and down, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re just leaving me here by myself, is that fair?! Hey, you¡¯re cutting off the bridge after crossing the river!¡± But fearing to provoke these people further, she hopped and slipped out of the bar. With Shen Chi by Xu Chaomu¡¯s side, she obviously had nothing to worry about, but¡­ but¡­ With Xu Chaomu looking like this¡­ with her beloved brother¡­ nothing could happen¡­ right¡­? That image was too beautiful, even Yu Weiwei, who had read countless little forbidden books, dared not imagine further. But should she just hand over her Chaomu to this jerk of a man? No way, he was set to be married. She couldn¡¯t entrust Chaomu to him! Thinking this, Yu Weiwei quickly chased after Shen Chi, but just as she had run to the bar entrance, panting heavily, Shen Chi was already speeding away in his Maybach, holding Xu Chaomu close. ¡°Hey, Shen Chi, if you dare to treat Mumu poorly, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Yu Weiwei chased after him, shouting from behind. But her legs were no match for the speed of the Maybach; soon, she wilted. The sky was overcast, without a trace of sunlight. Dense clouds packed the air, as if brewing a heavy rain. The temperature outside wasn¡¯t high, but inside the car, it was warm as spring. Xu Chaomu was buckled up by Shen Chi, confined to the passenger seat with a seatbelt. Her little hand, however, wasn¡¯t still for a second, crawling towards Shen Chi like a little crab. Subconsciously, she recognized Shen Chi, because his voice was the most pleasant to her. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ Fourth Brother¡­¡± she whimpered, calling for him with a flushed little face. Restlessness and heat surged through her body, the fire within growing more intense. Her little w reached across the seat, crawling in the direction of Shen Chi. ¡°You still recognize me,¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. Her hand quickly found its way onto his, and when she touched his cold hand, it was like touching a clear spring. Longing inside, she took the opportunity to touch it a few more times. ¡°Stop moving around, I¡¯m driving!¡± Shen Chi turned and warned her. A stern nce from him pierced her, but Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t deterred; she grabbed his hand with her own small one instead. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ I feel so terrible¡­ Mmm¡­ ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to stay still, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital!¡± ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ I don¡¯t want to go¡­¡± Xu Chaomu whined. She was terrified of hospitals. Shen Chi felt a heat surge within him; Xu Chaomu rarely acted coy with him, making it difficult for him to stay calm. Just then, Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand slithered up his arm like a snake. The steering wheel moved, the car slipped, and Shen Chi quickly pressed the brakes, stopping the car at the intersection. Luckily it was a secluded road section, otherwise considering the dangerous movements Xu Chaomu had been making, they would have inevitably hit someone! Her hand kept crawling, crawling, crawling; she just felt sofortable leaning on Shen Chi, his coolness offsetting the heat on her body. But this man was stingy, not letting her touch him. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you hold yourself!¡± Shen Chi was angry, grabbing her fidgeting hand! ¡°Fourth Brother, why won¡¯t you let me touch you, let me hug you a little, it¡¯s not like you¡¯ll get pregnant from a touch¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was somewhat lucid now, gazing at Shen Chi with blurry drunk eyes. ¡°But you could get pregnant!¡± Shen Chi gritted his teeth. ¡°No¡­ I won¡¯t get pregnant¡­ because Fourth Brother, you¡­ don¡¯t work¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was really drunk, talking nonsense. ¡°Now I really want to show you whether I work or not!¡± Shen Chi was also furious. A man, having been said so many times not to work, had reached the limits of his patience today! It was the ultimate insult to a man! Before he knew it, Xu Chaomu had unbuckled her seatbelt; it wasn¡¯t just her hand, her whole body had crawled over. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ Shen Chi¡­ Husband¡­¡± Xu Chaomu babbled incoherently, her mind was a mess, not knowing what she was doing or saying. Shen Chi¡¯s gaze paused,nding on her face: ¡°What did you call me?¡± ¡°Bastard¡­¡± Xu Chaomu enunciated slowly, followed by a giggle. Shen Chi was so angry that his face turned dark, it was only her, always her, who could make him this furious. Even when intoxicated, there were no exceptions! Chapter 176: Xu Chaomu, where are you putting your hand? Chapter 176: Xu Chaomu, where are you putting your hand? Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s neck, her fluffy little head rubbing against the nape of his neck. ¡°Bastard, you¡¯re so cool. I¡¯m so hot, let me hug you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was groggy, her words a stream of indistinct sybles, but she knew that she just wanted to be close to him. Her small hand climbed up to his neck, and the herbal fragrance emanating from him was so soothing, unchanged over the past eight years, and only when he was by her side did she feel immensefort. Even though thisfort was about to no longer be hers¡­ She really couldn¡¯t bear to let go, she just couldn¡¯t¡­ Just as Shen Chi was about to push her away, she clung to his neck and mumbled, ¡°Bastard¡­ give it to me, will you¡­ I¡¯m so hot, ufortable¡­¡± It was as if there were thousands and thousands of ants crawling under her skin, the thirst inside growing more and more intense. Her right hand, holding his neck tightly, began clumsily to undo the top button of his cor. Shen Chi shuddered all over, suddenly struck by an electric shock. For a man to hear a woman say ¡°give it to me¡± is an enormous temptation. Especially for a man who is both mentally and physically very normal. But there was still some bit of rationality left in his head, she was drugged, she wasn¡¯t lucid! Shen Chi¡¯s neck was cool, which Xu Chaomu liked very much. ¡°Bastard, why won¡¯t you let me touch you¡­ you don¡¯t believe it when I say you can¡¯t¡­¡± Touching the coolness, Xu Chaomu suddenly felt much morefortable, making a content ¡°mm¡± sound in her haze. Right then and there, she was nothing short of a demon, a demon that clung to him, stuck to him, tormented him! ¡°Xu Chaomu, sober up! Look clearly at who I am!¡± Shen Chi grabbed her iling hand. ¡°Ouch¡­ Bastard¡­ you¡¯re Bastard Shen Chi¡­ let go of me¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ do you want me or not¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was on the verge of crying, the burning inside her body was excruciating, and though her eyes were foggy when she looked up at Shen Chi, the desire in them could not be hidden. She yearned for him. Shen Chi felt like he was going to lose his mind too, he always felt that thest bit of reason in his brain was about to slip away. She was inviting him, and he was desperately refusing her. He controlled his own reason. ¡°Sit the fuck down, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital!¡± Shen Chi yelled at her angrily. It was only by yelling at her that he could dissipate some of his own thoughts. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ mm¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ do you want me or not¡­ I don¡¯t want you to be responsible¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice carried a sob, and she truly feared she might die, her body was getting hotter and more desperate by the second. She had no idea what she was saying or doing, her small hands scratched the air aimlessly, slowly drifting onto Shen Chi¡¯s body! In that moment, Shen Chi trembled, almost losing hisst bit of restraint. ¡°Xu Chaomu, where are you putting your hand?!¡± he said icily, grabbing her hand and securing her in the passenger seat. Xu Chaomu giggled, ¡°Fourth Brother, you clearly want it too¡­ right¡­ your mouth won¡¯t admit it, but your body is pretty honest¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was dark, and a cold chill radiated from his entire body. This wretched girl, did she even know what she was saying? Xu Chaomu, drawing from some unknown reserve of strength, once more undid her seat belt and pounced on him with a counterattack. With all four limbs, she gave Shen Chi no chance to think! ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ I like you¡­¡± Her hand clung to his neck, tightly. Every fiber of her being was tingling with restlessness, and when her burning hand touched his icy body, Shen Chi waspletely awakened. He was suffering too! ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± his voice was deep and hoarse, ¡°stop ying with fire, get down!¡± ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ you just can¡¯t handle it¡­ wuwuwu, it hurts so much¡­¡± He didn¡¯t react, nor did he make a move, just let her embrace him. Xu Chaomu was in so much pain that she started to undo her own clothes. One by one, she unfastened the buttons at her neckline. Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew colder, his pupils shrank, and his breathing got heavier. From his angle, he soon saw a sight unlike any other. Struggling against his impulses, he caught her hands, not allowing her to continue undressing! And yet, her hands were scorching hot. If he found out who had drugged her, he wouldn¡¯t let them off easy! Xu Chaomu opened her innocent eyes wide, hanging onto him, oblivious to the fact that she was ying with fire. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital,¡± Shen Chi sighed. He grabbed her wrist, not letting her move wildly. To Xu Chaomu, how she felt was like climbing a mountain of swords or descending into a sea of mes, but upon hearing the word ¡°hospital,¡± she desperately shook her head. She feared the hospital more than anything, she didn¡¯t want to go. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± ¡°Stop making trouble, if we don¡¯t go now, you¡¯ll die!¡± Shen Chi shouted at her. ¡°You clearly could¡­ have me¡­ why are you staying chaste¡­¡± ¡°No way!¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows. ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll trick you for money¡­ It won¡¯t happen¡­ really it won¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m just in so much pain¡­¡± She clenched her tiny fists, truly afraid she couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, she didn¡¯t want to die. ¡°Such a hassle! I¡¯m moving you to the back seat!¡± Shen Chi said with a dark face, utching his own seat belt. In the moment he let go of her hand, she pounced fiercely, pinning him down in the seat. She wouldn¡¯t let him move! Where she found the strength, he couldn¡¯t tell, but if he wouldn¡¯t touch her, then she would pounce on him! With a tug, ¡°tter tter,¡± she pulled all the buttons off Shen Chi¡¯s shirt. The buttons fell to the ground, scattering one by one, making quite the noise in the silent space. She didn¡¯t give him a moment to think; immediately, her hands frantically searched over his body. For the first time, she realized how well-built this man was. Thin in clothes, but muscr without. And his body was so cool, it felt like she was approaching a clear spring, extremelyfortable. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She buried herself in his chest, let out a quiet moan of satisfaction, very contented. Shen Chi couldn¡¯t stay calm, and nearly lost control of himself, nearly mming her onto the steering wheel! But he clenched his fists tightly, suppressing all his desires. He pressed the air conditioning button in the car, turning on the AC. Soon after, the cold air filled the car. As Xu Chaomu¡¯s restless hands slid toward his waist, Shen Chi smacked the back of her head, knocking her out. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu instantly calmed down,pletely motionless, passed out. Shen Chi was not having an easy time, everything that had just happened was an extreme torment for any normal man. But ultimately, rationality prevailed. He couldn¡¯t have her.. Chapter 177: Finally Kissed Him Chapter 177: Finally Kissed Him Trantor: 549690339 He calmed down after quite a while and began to recover, finding himself utterly unprepared for everything that had just happened. He was always a calm andposed person, but only in front of her would all his emotions be fully exposed. He sighed, unable to suppress a bitterugh as he nced at his shirt, now missing all its buttons. If anyone saw him like this, would he still be able to show his face in C City? Fortunately, he had the habit of keeping spare clothes in the trunk, so he picked another shirt at random and put it on. Seeing Xu Chaomu sound asleep, he finally turned off the air conditioning. He closed his eyes for a long time before he managed to steady his heart. But he couldn¡¯t allow Xu Chaomu to suffer any longer, so he started the car and headed for the hospital. While driving, he phoned Xiao MO, ¡°Shut down 1977 Bar immediately!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, what happened?¡± ¡°Just shut it down, why all the questions?¡± ¡°Err¡­ okay.¡± Xiao MO had no idea who had crossed his boss this time. But once Mr. Shen gave an order, it must be followed thoroughly, or the bar owner would not be able to stay in C City anymore. The car continued towards the hospital, and before they arrived, Xu Chaomu began to stir restlessly. Shen Chi naturally hadn¡¯t used excessive force just now; he couldn¡¯t bear it. But he didn¡¯t expect Xu Chaomu to wake up so soon. ¡°It hurts¡­ Brother Si¡­¡± Like a kitten, Xu Chaomu whimpered softly. ¡°Just bear with it a little longer,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Fortunately, this time he had firmly secured her in the passenger¡¯s seat, rendering Xu Chaomu immobile. He knew she was in great difort, wishing desperately that he could take on her pain. ¡°Brother Si¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face contorted as she struggled in agony. They were ten minutes from the hospital when Shen Chi stepped on the gas, and the Maybach sped down the road. Stopping at the nearest hospital, he unbuckled his seat belt, got out of the car, and picked up Xu Chaomu. ¡°Brother Si¡­ you¡¯re so heartless¡­¡± Tears started flowing from Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes as she half-squinted at him. Was he refusing to touch her while she was in such pain, keeping himself pure for Miss Bai? She loved him, and she truly wanted to give herself to him, even if this time she wasn¡¯t drunk or drugged. But he remained unmoved. Forget it, he is the upright gentleman, and she, the despicable rogue. No one loves a little thug. ¡°Let¡¯s say I¡¯m heartless,¡± Shen Chi sighed, bending down to unfasten the restraints around her. When he bowed his head, the youthful fragrance emanating from her body wafted into his nostrils, sending an electric shock through him. Only he knew how hard it was to resist. Her hands were freed by him and just as Shen Chi was still bent over to unbuckle her safety belt, Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands hooked around his neck! No more hesitation, she didn¡¯t care anymore! If she couldn¡¯t throw herself at him, she would at least steal a kiss! Otherwise, what kind of thug would she be? After eight years of living with him, longing for him, eight whole years! The war had been won in that time, yet she was still waiting, longing for him. Now, as he was about to get married, she took advantage of her drunken state to kiss him. that¡¯s not illegal, right? Otherwise, it would be a lifelong regret for her. So, the moment her arms hooked around his neck, she lifted herself up and awkwardly nted her lips on his cool ones! Her body felt burning hot, but his lips were so cool and so cool¡­ She had never been kissed, and although she possessed countless theories, when it came to practice, she found herselfpletely clueless. Not knowing what to do, she simply lingered on his lips. So clumsy, how does one even kiss¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, his eyes narrowed, pupils constricted, his obsidian eyes reflecting endless depths. Given his sharp reflexes, he could have pushed her away the moment she hooked her arms around his neck. But he hesitated for a few seconds. He didn¡¯t expect that just those few seconds would give this unruly girl an opening! The key point is, her intelligence just wasn¡¯t up to the task. Now, as she kissed him, Shen Chi¡¯s face was full of ck lines, as if gnawed on by a cat. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind was in a haze, the book said¡­ What did the book say again¡­ At the crucial moment, it failed her yet again¡­ The consequence of not studying hard usually. The more she kissed, the dumber she got, Shen Chi was really getting impatient, hisrge palm secured the back of her head, pressing her down onto the passenger seat! She didn¡¯t know how, but he did. ¡°Mmm, mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around his waist. Why so rough, as if he hadn¡¯t seen a woman in years. He gave her no breathing space, deepening the kiss until he slowly pried open her pearly teeth, intertwining deeply with her¡­ The kiss was very long, very long. By the end, it was unclear who was kissing whom. Xu Chaomu tried to respond to him, but she was really clumsy, being overpowered by Shen Chi every time. Shen Chi¡¯s kiss was just like him, very dominant; there was no chance for her to take the lead. Gradually, Xu Chaomu stopped struggling; after all, there was no use in struggling. The fire in Xu Chaomu¡¯s body was extinguished a great deal, but Shen Chi was not having an easy time. After having his fill, he finally let go of her. But the unique fragrance of a young girl still lingered at his nose, refusing to dissipate. This was the second time he had kissed her¡­ But for Xu Chaomu, she was still groggily thinking it was the first time. And what pleased her immensely was, she had kissed him forcefully! Finally, she had made aeback. She was especially delighted, her little face red-hot. She even forgot, for the moment, that he was getting engaged next month. Taking advantage of Xu Chaomu¡¯s dazed state, Shen Chi scooped her up from the seat, cradling her in his arms as he walked towards the hospital. As the wind blew, Xu Chaomu sobered up a bit, and she grabbed onto Shen Chi¡¯s cor. ¡°You bastard, actually I really hate you, I hate you to death¡­ But since you just kissed me, you¡¯re cheating on someone, I¡¯ll go back and tell your sister-inw¡­ Are you afraid¡­¡± After finishing, Xu Chaomu giggled, half-drunk and half-awake. ¡°Afraid.¡± He said to please her. In truth, what he feared most was losing her¡­ He didn¡¯t know when it started, but his care for her had long since turned into love. The bottom line he had so carefully guarded was eroding bit by bit. However, now he could only silently say to her, ¡°Give me a little more time.¡± Just a little more time, not too long. ¡°If you¡¯re afraid, say something nice to make me happy, and if I¡¯m happy, I won¡¯t tattle on you.¡± ¡°How do you want me to make you happy? ¡°You don¡¯t even know how to coax someone, so dumb¡­ You could say, um¡­¡± Xu Chaomu thought for a moment, ¡°You could say Xu Chaomu is the smartest, Xu Chaomu is the cutest, Xu Chaomu is the kindest.¡± ¡°You are clearly the dumbest, the most rogue.¡± Shen Chi curved his lips. ¡°Not happy, I¡¯m going to tattle on you tomorrow, make you kneel and scrub the washboard at home.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled again, but her heart felt very ufortable. Why does it still hurt when you¡¯re drunk¡­ ¡°Okay, okay, Xu Chaomu is the best-behaved. Hm? Satisfied now?¡± Shen Chi finally curved his lips into a smile. Having suppressed it for so long, he found that his every frown and smile was always influenced by her.. Chapter 178: I Don ‘t Love Your Money Chapter 178: I Don ¡®t Love Your Money Trantor: 549690339 ¡°So perfunctory¡­¡± Xu Chaomu propped her forehead, pouting her lips. He didn¡¯t want to go home and kneel on a washboard, so he humored her, unhappy. ¡°Feeling any better? Just hold on a little longer; the consultation room is just ahead.¡± Shen Chi looked down at her. ¡°I don¡¯t feel good.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s big eyes were hazy, and she clutched his cor, refusing to let go. The wind blew on her body, a bit cold, but Shen Chi held her tightly. ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable, so am I,¡± Shen Chi sighed. All he could do was quicken his pace. ¡°Fourth brother¡­ when will you take me to see the night view of C City, when will you take me on the Ferris wheel, when will you listen to my stories¡­ why do you always say I¡¯m childish, I¡¯m not childish at all¡­¡± ¡°Be good, when Ie back from South Africa, I¡¯ll take you, I¡¯ll take you to all those ces.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you anymore¡­¡± Shen Chi fell silent. ¡°Fourth brother, don¡¯t be mad, okay? It was you who didn¡¯t trust me first. You said, after living with you for eight years, listening to that recording, you still doubted me, I don¡¯t love your money¡­ I really don¡¯t love your money¡­ I said all that in anger¡­¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Shen Chi quickly responded. Because he cared too much, he took every little detail so seriously. Now that he thought about it, he was being just as childish when he got impulsive. He often called her childish, but he wasn¡¯t much better himself. ¡°Knowing that and you still got angry at me, you looked like you wanted to eat me alive, someone who didn¡¯t know any better might think we have some deep hatred,¡± Xu Chaomuined. ¡°Xu Chaomu, are you really drunk or just pretending? You seem quite lucid to me.¡± Shen Chi held her even tighter, finding her quite adorable at the moment. ¡°I¡¯m really drunk, otherwise¡­ why would I talk so much to you¡­¡± If she weren¡¯t drunk, she definitely wouldn¡¯t bother with him. The wind blew on her body; her head hurt a little. Soon, Shen Chi walked into the consultation room. He gently ced Xu Chaomu on the hospital bed and stayed by her side. The doctor was ustomed to seeing all kinds of situations, immediately recognizing what was up with Xu Chaomu. ¡°Please check her out,¡± Shen Chi exined simply. ¡°Hang a drip for her; she needs to clear the drugs out of her system,¡± the doctor said and went to write the prescription. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi acknowledged. But Xu Chaomu grabbed his hand and wouldn¡¯t let go, ¡°I don¡¯t want the needle, I don¡¯t want the needle¡­¡± Shen Chi knew she was afraid of pain, and he couldn¡¯t bear to let her get the needle, but there was no other way. ¡°Stop fussing, be good; you¡¯ll feel better after the IV,¡± Shen Chi patientlyforted her. He was never a man who was good at coaxing, especially not women. In others¡¯ eyes, he was cold and uninterested in women, yet all his patience was reserved for her alone. Sometimes, in the quiet of the night, he would think if his mother hadn¡¯t gone to the orphanage to bring her home that year when he was ten, he would never have met her. Without meeting her, he would have had a lot less trouble. She was really troublesome, sometimes even infuriating him to the point of losing allposure. She wasn¡¯t good at studying, was yful and mischievous, ignorant, often embarrassing him. Not meeting her would have been more peaceful. But, the happiness she brought him far outweighed the trouble. ¡°I don¡¯t want the needle; if anyone, you get the needle,¡± Xu Chaomu was slightly roused by the scare. Her mind wasn¡¯t as foggy anymore, but her body still felt ufortable, as if countless ants were crawling inside, tingling and prickling. ¡°Either let the doctor do it or I¡¯ll do it myself; your choice!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. At times like this, he was resolute in not indulging her. ¡°I don¡¯t choose, I don¡¯t choose, you¡¯re just picking on me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried. Shen Chi knew that Xu Chaomu was normally quite all right, but she always got upset at the hospital. The nurse Miss walked over with the prepared IV bag, her face gentle, but the needle in her hand seemed frightening. ¡°Miss, it won¡¯t hurt, it¡¯s just like a mosquito bite,¡± the nurse gently consoled Xu Chaomu. ¡°You always say that when it¡¯s time for injections, but it always hurts,¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. She punched and kicked, aiming at Shen Chi with force. Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened as he firmly held her down. ¡°Lie down properly! If you dare to move again, I¡¯ll leave you alone in the hospital tonight!¡± Shen Chi red up. The nurse Miss was startled by Shen Chi¡¯s outburst. Yet she couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at him; even angry, he looked so attractive. Xu Chaomu knew that this man meant what he said, so she obediently let her hand drop. Being left alone in the hospital at night was scary. ¡°Right, it¡¯ll be over soon,¡± the nurse Miss said with a smile, ¡°It won¡¯t hurt.¡± The nurse cleaned the back of her hand with an alcohol swab, and Xu Chaomu closed her eyes in fright. Feeling her tremble, Shen Chi was amused. The nurse inserted the needle into her vein, smiling, ¡°This IV will take a bit slow, around two hours. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi responded. Soon, only Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu were left in the ward. ¡°Two hours, I have to get back to school,¡± Xu Chaomu looked at the IV bag andined. ¡°If you didn¡¯t go drinking today, you wouldn¡¯t be in this mess! You brought this on yourself!¡± Shen Chi scolded her coldly. ¡°Going drinking wasn¡¯t your business, I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re always shadowing me; I can¡¯t go anywhere without running into you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of you,¡± Shen Chi nced at her disdainfully, ungrateful. He still had such an important meeting that he hadn¡¯t finished today, and she was always causing him trouble. As the IV slowly dripped into her body, Xu Chaomu finally began to feel better, the difort inside slowly fading away, and the flush on her face gradually receding. But her head was still a bit dizzy. ¡°I want to sleep now,¡± Xu Chaomu turned over, showing her back to Shen Chi. Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, which was his tacit consent. Soon, Xu Chaomu was still, sleeping like a little pig. Shen Chi felt somewhat confused as he thought about that kiss, The long and rich kiss. Gradually, he walked to the other side of the bed. He gently touched her hair with his hand, bending down, inhaling the fragrance from her hair. ¡°Promise me, to always keep well,¡± Shen Chi curved his lips, the bend deepening. In his eyesy a deep reluctance; he thought to himself how much he cared for her. His fingers twined through her hair, softly stroking as he watched her sleep peacefully, and he instantly felt at ease. As he watched Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, standing by her side, his phone suddenly vibrated. He looked down to see it was Li Beiting. Not wanting to wake Xu Chaomu, he stepped out of the ward. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, where are you? I have something to tell you.¡± Li Beiting wasn¡¯t smiling, instead showing a rare seriousness. ¡°Cut to the chase, say it over the phone.¡± ¡°Come out; it¡¯s about that project in South Africa and Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave..¡± Chapter 179: No One Can Replace Her Chapter 179: No One Can Rece Her Trantor: 549690339 ¡°I can¡¯t exin over the phone. What¡¯s so important that you can¡¯t step away? Where are you exactly?¡± ¡°The hospital.¡± ¡°The hospital? Which hospital? I¡¯lle to you!¡± ¡°Dongcheng Hospital, third floor.¡± After finishing, Shen Chi hung up the phone. Li Beiting really didn¡¯t know why he worried about Shen Chi all the time. If it weren¡¯t for their years of brotherhood, he truly would have cut ties with Shen Chi by now. Shen Chi stood by the window outside the ward, waiting for Li Beiting. The sky grew darker, and the wind outside whipped in gusts. Since it was the weekend, the hospital wasn¡¯t very busy, and at this moment, it was quiet. There wasn¡¯t a single sound to be heard in the corridors. It wasn¡¯t long before Li Beiting arrived, looking travel-weary and exhausted. ¡°Why are you in the hospital? Who¡¯s sick?¡± Li Beiting asked upon seeing Shen Chi. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. But even if Shen Chi didn¡¯t say it, Li Beiting knew. Probably the only person who could make Shen Chi so concerned was Xu Chaomu. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t meddle in your affairs, but I still want to say this to you, you¡¯re about to get engaged. Don¡¯t let down Bai Man!¡± Li Beiting and Bai Man also grew up as childhood friends. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t stand to see anyone mistreat Bai Man, not even Shen Chi. ¡°What¡¯s so important that you had to see me in person before saying it?¡± Shen Chi looked at him, his brow furrowed as he interrupted. ¡°Shen Chi, others might not see through your feelings for Xu Chaomu, but don¡¯t think you can hide them from me,¡± Li Beiting said. Shen Chi let out a cold, mockingugh, ¡°How well do you understand me?¡± ¡°After knowing you for so many years, if it weren¡¯t for meeting Xu Chaomu, I really wouldn¡¯t have known that Shen the Fourth Young Master could take care of someone,ugh, and do so much for her.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°You say she¡¯s just like a younger sister to you. But ask yourself, is that really true?¡± ¡°Did youe here just to talk to me about this?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression became somewhat cold. ¡°Hear me out,¡± Li Beiting frowned as well. A gust of wind blew in from the window, bringing a mist of rain, whichnded on Shen Chi¡¯s face, making his features appear even more stern and icy. His facial lines were tightly drawn, his eyes deeply set, as dark as the gloomy sky overhead. Li Beiting continued, ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯d better think it over clearly. The Bai Family is well matched with your Shen Family, and Bai Man is not only your childhood friend but also elegant and beautiful with talent. Her marrying you, standing by your side is the most suitable match!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me that!¡± Shen Chi grew annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry with me. Just listen to me this once for all, and I will never advise you again!¡± Li Beiting raised his voice. It was uncertain whether it was the volume of their conversation or that Xu Chaomu was a light sleeper, but she furrowed her brows and woke up. By chance, she heard Li Beiting talking about Bai Man. She blinked andy quietly in bed, listening. This was a regr single ward, and the soundproofing wasn¡¯t great, so she heard rather clearly. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m just going to ask you one question. Have you ever seen the wife of a CEO who is unreasonable, troublesome, disobedient, clueless, someone you can¡¯t possibly take out in public?¡± Li Beiting was clearly implying something, and Shen Chi couldn¡¯t misunderstand. ¡°I¡¯ve already said, you don¡¯t need to meddle in my personal matters,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face turned even colder. ¡°If Xu Chaomu loves you, she should leave you! She¡¯s eighteen, not eight. She should know that she isn¡¯t a match for you. Not to mention her personality, just her family background, and social status. What good can she do you?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you are the CEO of Shen Group. You¡¯re not an ordinary person. Even I can see what¡¯s clear. Why can¡¯t you?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It was the same heavy topic again. She was afraid to hear more, but she couldn¡¯t help but listen. Li Beiting said everything she knew. In fact, she no longer thought about marrying Shen Chi; she hade to terms with his engagement and uing marriage. Li Beiting had told her not to make him worry. She bit her lip. She was just being a little capricious sometimes, like just now when she refused to be pricked by the needle. If that also counted as making Shen Chi worry, should she be more well-behaved in the future? ¡°Li Beiting, shut up¡ªif you want to talk,e downstairs with me!¡± Shen Chi also realized that their voices were a bit loud; he was afraid that Xu Chaomu might hear them. Having said that, Shen Chi strode towards the staircase. As soon as they left, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear anything else and didn¡¯t know what they would discuss next, but they were clearly avoiding her. However, Li Beiting¡¯s words kept circling in her mind. ¡°If Xu Chaomu loves you, she should leave you! She¡¯s eighteen, not eight. She should know she¡¯s not worthy of you. Not to mention her personality, just her family background, her status, do you think she can bring you any benefits?¡± Once they reached the open space on the first floor, Shen Chi finally stopped. Li Beiting quickly followed him. Shen Chi remained silent for a while, saying nothing. Rain began to drift onto his face, his expression growing increasingly grim. After a long time, he finally spoke, his voice authoritative and cold. ¡°Li Beiting, listen to me, Xu Chaomu is Xu Chaomu, nobody can rece her!¡± Li Beiting let out a coldugh, crossing his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning. Once the project in South Africa is over, when your backing is solid and your position is secure, you¡¯ll call off your engagement with Bai Man, won¡¯t you? After all, that project in South Africa is a matter of life and death for you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re ying a really good game here. I bet even Old Master Shen and Old Master Bai were blinded by you, right? That engagement trick was pretty clever. At thest press conference, you telling Bai Man ¡®forever in love¡¯¡ªanyone who didn¡¯t know better would think you, Shen Si Shao, were truly in love with Bai Man.¡± Li Beiting was, after all, someone who had known Shen Chi for many years, a brother to him. That guy was always scheming when he was still in school. Years had passed, and he had only grown more cunning! Li Beiting had been fooled by Shen Chi more than once, but learning from past mistakes, he hade to understand Shen Chi¡¯s methods somewhat over the years. ¡°What do you know! Li Beiting, I¡¯m asking you one question¡ªare you or are you not fond of that girl Yu Weiwei?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject!¡± Li Beiting barked. ¡°Regardless of whether your answer is ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no,¡¯ let me tell you that your family¡¯s patriarch and matriarch will not agree to you marrying her.¡± Strike the snake where it¡¯s weakest¡ªindeed, Shen Chi saw Li Beiting¡¯splexion change. He just observed all this impassively, expressionless. ¡°So, Li Beiting, from now on, don¡¯t meddle in matters between me and Xu Chaomu! ¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was full of warning, his piercing gaze sweeping across Li Beiting¡¯s face. ¡°So, are you nning to let down Bai Man? She loves you so much!¡± ¡°Is there anything else? If not, then get lost.¡± Li Beiting was so angry he was trembling. He should have known long ago¡ªhow could Shen Chi be a man who lets himself be manipted by others? ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t say anymore. Shen Chi, you should know that many groups are eyeing the diamond project in South Africa with covetous eyes; you better be careful.¡¯ Shen Chi remained silent; how could he not know of the numerous risks and hazards waiting for him in South Africa. But no matter how difficult, he would definitely try his best. ¡°Hmm, thank you,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently, his gaze deep. Li Beiting gave him a look; the man in the rain had a deep and distant gaze. With a turn, Li Beiting¡¯s figure disappeared into the rain.. Chapter 180: Xu Chaomu has Disappeared (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 180: Xu Chaomu has Disappeared (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Trantor: 549690339 The curtain of rain hung low, and the air in the hospital room was somewhat stuffy and oppressive. Xu Chaomu stared at the ceiling for quite a while, herrge eyes filled with confusion. She was like a child abandoned in a maze, walking and turning, as one by one the people around her all left, and night fell, yet no one came to take her hand and lead her out of the maze. She cried alone, searching for an exit in the maze. But in the vast maze, where no light could be seen, no one would take her out. Xu Chaomu struggled to get out of bed and pulled out the needle in her hand. Her head was still a bit muddled, but at that moment, there was a ce she really wanted to go. Really wanted, very much so. She quietly went down a secluded staircase in the hospital; the hallway was very dark, and since it was getting dark outside, she cautiously went down the stairs, step by step, holding on to the banister. From time to time, one or two nurses brushed past her, but none of them noticed her. By the time she went downstairs, it was almostpletely dark outside, and a light rain was falling, cool against her face. She rubbed her eyes; she had sobered up quite a bit and her body didn¡¯t feel as ufortable anymore. Suddenly, she remembered something¡ªdid she¡­ force a kiss on Shen Chi? pping her head vigorously, she was filled with regret; surely, alcohol could muddle the senses. How did she end up kissing him when he was about to get married? Would that count as seduction? In his eyes, would he look at her with prejudice again? She wasn¡¯t that kind of woman¡­ But the kiss had happened, and yet, what did it feel like? She couldn¡¯t remember anything at all¡­ Xu Chaomu pped her head as she walked outside the hospital. She withdrew a bit of money from her bank card and then hailed a taxi to go home. Yes, she wanted to go home. Her home. Soon, it waspletely dark. Streetlights lit up one after another, and the streets bustled with activity. The taxi moved from the lively city center towards a more remote area as Xu Chaomu watched out the window with wide eyes. Due to the temperature difference, condensation slowly fogged up the car windows. Blinking herrge eyes, she wrote her own name ¡°Xu Chaomu¡± with her finger. After writing it, she drew a heart, and beside it, she wrote Shen Chi¡¯s name. Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi. She smiled joyfully; although she dared not write it in front of him, now that he wasn¡¯t there, she wrote as she wished. ¡°Xu Chaomu loves Shen Chi¡­¡± she murmured softly, and as she chanted, she began to smile. She didn¡¯t know how long she hadughed foolishly, but as the writing on the window blurred and became unclear, tears streamed down from the corners of her eyes. She slowly wiped away all the traces with her hand as her shirt cor was already soaked with tears. An eighteen-year-old girl, with the most ethereal of loves. ¡°You must always be happy¡­¡± Xu Chaomu whispered to herself. A towering building shed by outside the window, and Xu Chaomu looked up; it was an excellent location with perfect lighting. The building was both luxurious and imposing, with the four characters ¡°Shen Group¡± prominently disyed. Shen Group, the CEO, Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu had never been inside the building; she didn¡¯t know what Shen Chi was like when he worked. She heard from others that he was cold and scheming, with ruthless methods. Then was he often angry with his subordinates? His subordinates must hate him to death. Thinking this, Xu Chaomu giggled. But as the building disappeared from view, a tremendous sense of loneliness enveloped her again.. He was the CEO, rich and powerful, with ability and an aura thatmanded respect and fear from everyone. And she, she couldn¡¯t do anything right. They were all correct, it was her who was unworthy of him. His marriage to Bai Man would be just perfect. Besides, he didn¡¯t like her anyway. The car drove out of the busiest area and slowly headed toward a quieter neighborhood. ¡°Youngdy, it¡¯s quitete for you to be going to that ce, it¡¯s not safe,¡± the taxi driver said to Xu Chaomu. ¡°It¡¯s fine, my mother is there,¡± Xu Chaomu replied calmly. Indeed, her mother was there, why would she be afraid? Ever since she was a child, her mother had always cherished her the most. ¡°Oh, if your mother is there, that¡¯s good. If you were going alone, I¡¯d be worried. That ce is about to be demolished, there are barely any households left, and it gets quite eerie at night.¡± ¡°Thank you, uncle, but I¡¯m not scared,¡± she reassured him. ¡°Do you want to get some sleep? It¡¯ll be fifty minutes before we arrive.¡± ¡°Okay, you can drive slowly, there¡¯s no rush,¡± she said. Xu Chaomu leaned against the window and closed her eyes, her mother¡¯s face graduallying to mind. It had been eight years since shest visited her mother. and she felt very unfilial. Her mother had been so kind to her, keeping everything for her, taking care of her, caring for her, pampering her. And yet, she hadn¡¯t gone to see her mother even once in eight years. She really wasn¡¯t a good daughter. The further away from the city center, the more remote the roads became, and even the streetlights grew dim. It was still raining outside, the drizzle apanied by the hissing sound when the wind blew. Xu Chaomu knew, in this world, no one would ever love her like her mother did. Never again. The car continued along the highway, however, back at the hospital, Shen Chi had returned and was going mad. Where had Xu Chaomu gone? ¡°Somebody! Where¡¯s the patient? Where did she go?¡± Shen Chished out at the nurses. His eyes were bloodshot, a chilly aura emitted from him, and the veins on his clenched fists were bulging. He had only gone down to talk to Li Beiting for a while and smoked a cigarette, and she had disappeared! ¡°Sir, we didn¡¯t notice the patient leaving, please wait, I¡¯ll go check the restroom!¡± The nurse¡¯s face was white with fear. ¡°Is it necessary to pull out the IV for a trip to the restroom?! Are you all fucking useless?!¡± After speaking, Shen Chi kicked over a coffee table, and the ssware on it shattered with a crash! His face tight, the lines of his back rigid, there was a murderous urge in his eyes. ¡°Sir, please calm down, we¡¯ll check the surveince right now, please calm down,¡± the small nurse was nearly in tears, having never seen anything like this before. One of the nurses had just administered Xu Chaomu¡¯s injection, having previously seen this man soft as water, who had now suddenly turned into a raging lion. Indeed, at this moment, Shen Chi was a lion ready to devour someone at any minute! All the nurses had left, and Shen Chi stood there, suddenly feeling an immense emptiness. Where had she gone, why had she left without saying a word? Xu Chaomu, do you even consider me, Shen Chi, important anymore?! The IV was thrown on the ground, the medication leaking from the needle, with a few drops of blood on the floor. The bed had already grown cold, and there was no sign of her on it. The wind blew in through the window, causing the window pane to ¡°dong dong¡± and the curtains to fly about wildly. Soon, the head of the hospital rushed over. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m sorry, such a serious incident has urred. We¡¯ve just reviewed the surveince, and Miss Xu left the hospital on her own. I¡¯m sorry, we are really sorry, it¡¯s our¡­¡± ¡°Get out! All of you fucking get out!¡± Shen Chi exploded, grabbed an ashtray, and hurled it.. Chapter 181: Only You Love Chaomu Most Chapter 181: Only You Love Chaomu Most Trantor:549690339 The person in charge quickly dodged out of the way, ¡°Yes, yes, Mr. Shen, this is the surveince footage, I¡¯ll leave it here, in case you¡­¡± ¡°I told you to get out, can¡¯t you hear?!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and chillingly cold. His eyes grew colder, the deep contours of his face sketching out an intimidating chill. The person in charge scrambled away, fearing that even a moment¡¯s dy would threaten his life. Shen Chi opened the surveince footage, in the corridor, Xu Chaomu walked aimlessly towards the staircase, heading out of the hospital. Sometimes she looked forward confusedly, sometimes she smiled foolishly. The surveince captured her until she left the hospital¡¯s main entrance. Shen Chi watched with a heart that ached with each beat, his fists slowly clenching, his face deathly pale. ¡°Xiao Mo,e to the third floor of Dongcheng Hospital!¡± Xiao Mo was handling documents for Shen Chi at the group, hearing the phone, he sensed something was off in Shen Chi¡¯s tone, and without daring to ask further, immediately responded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for Xiao Mo to arrive. Shen Chi stood at the hospital window making a phone call, clearly anxious, but he always appeared calm and collected to others. Xiao Mo had followed Shen Chi for a long time, initially thinking that this man was invincible and indifferent, with a heart like stone. Later, he realized that many times, this man was also helpless. But, while most people find it hard to conceal such helplessness, Shen Chi was different. ¡°Mr. Shen,¡± Xiao Mo sighed and approached. ¡°You¡¯re here¡­¡± Shen Chi nced at him, his eyes inly showing an indescribable dejection, ¡°Chaomu is missing.¡± Truth be told, Xiao Mo had never actually seen Xu Chaomu; he only knew that she was an orphan adopted by the Shen Family, Shen Chi¡¯s sister. But almost no one knew that Shen Chi had an adopted sister; even Xiao Mo, Shen Chi¡¯s personal secretary, knew only a little of this. However, Xiao Mo had seen a photograph of Xu Chaomu in Shen Chi¡¯s desk drawer. Shen Chi never kept any personal items in his office; thus, Xiao Mo was quite surprised when he first saw the photograph. The photograph was quietly ced inside a notebook; When Xiao Mo first saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s photograph, he thought the girl was very beautiful and adorable. She smiled happily, showing off her pearly white teeth, her pure eyes unmarred by any impurity. This young girl was carefree, innocent, and radiant. When Xiao Mo saw the photograph, he too was taken aback, Shen Chi really took good care of this girl. ¡°Mr. Shen, how did Miss Xu disappear?¡± Xiao Mo was puzzled. Shen Chi handed him the surveince video. Xiao Mo watched in silence, ran his hand through his hair,ing to an understanding. ¡°Come with me to look for her,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low, yet extraordinarily weak, ¡°It¡¯s already dark, and she will be afraid.¡± Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°Okay, Miss Xu won¡¯t have gone far, she must have left some clues, Mr. Shen, don¡¯t worry.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak further; he was afraid of a repetition of the previous incident. That night, too, it rained, and she was taken away, falling into a culvert, nearly drowning to death. Xiao Mo started to divide efforts with Shen Chi, each driving a car, beginning their search from the hospital¡¯s main entrance outwards. At the same time, Shen Chi made many phone calls, sealing off all major stations. By the time Xu Chaomu got home, it was already past eight in the evening. In the city, at past eight o¡¯clock, nightlife was just beginning, but in this remote and quiet ce, all was still. The driver, a bit concerned for her, cautioned, ¡°Miss, be careful on your own. Where¡¯s your mother? Why didn¡¯t I see here to pick you up?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, ¡°She¡¯ll be here soon.¡± The driver finally eased up a bit, took onest look at Xu Chaomu, and drove away. Tiny raindrops sprinkled from the sky, falling bit by bit on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, ice-cold. She lifted her head, reaching out to catch the drizzle. The wind blew her hair, and she stood under the dark night sky like a lost sprite. Her little face was so pure, so lovely, especially when she smiled, simple and exuberant. Looking far ahead, a streetlight could be seen from a great distance. The ce had be deste, and Xu Chaomu could hardly recognize it. Houses were sporadic, trees sparse. On the path, not a soul in sight, only an asional bark heard in the distance. ¡°Woof woof woof¡­¡± Strikingly loud, strikingly solemn. Xu Chaomu walked alone on this path; eight years had passed, time flew by so quickly. Back then, after the incident at home, Uncle Mo had sent her to the nearest orphanage. Now, eight years had gone by, and Uncle Mo, too, had passed away. Step by step, she pressed on, and suddenly she longed deeply for her mother. There would never be another person who loved her like her mother did. Never again. After an indeterminate walk, she finally came to a willow tree, beneath which was a Lonely Tombstone. Back then, a fire burned everything to ash, utterly andpletely. Uncle Mo had buried her mother; those days she cried uncontrobly, in disbelief of the reality. She cried for many, many days, bing more and more averse to strangers, and increasingly mischievous. Actually, when her mother was around, she was very obedient to her. Recalling these memories, a sourness hit Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose, and tears flowed down her cheeks. Two streams of clear tears, drops of rain; after a long time, she no longer knew whether it was tears or rain on her face. At first, Xu Chaomu stood, but gradually she squatted down, caressing the tombstone, crying uncontrobly. It was dark here, barely any light to see; it was cold too, and Xu Chaomu felt icy all over. ¡°Mom, mom, it¡¯s Chaomu, I¡¯m back¡­¡± Her voice was choked up, she could barely speak out. ¡°Mom, do you still recognize me? It¡¯s so dark, can you see me? Don¡¯t you recognize me anymore¡­¡± ¡°Mom, I have so much, so much I want to tell you. Please listen to me, okay¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who else to talk to, no one is willing to listen, they all find me childish, they are so annoying.¡± ¡°Mom, do you know? After you left, I¡¯ve been doing okay, but I just really miss you. Daytime, night, even in my dreams, I miss you. I really want to eat the sweet and sour pork ribs you made for me. You would cut the ribs so small, you said that¡¯s how I liked them best.¡± Xu Chaomu sobbed softly, low sobs escaping her. ¡°Mom, do you know, it¡¯s been eight years, and I don¡¯t like anyone else¡¯s sweet and sour pork ribs. Pleasee back, will you make sweet and sour pork ribs for me? Chaomu really wants to eat them, really bad¡­¡± Her little hands caressed the tombstone, which by then had fallen into disrepair and destion. ¡°Mom, I haven¡¯te to see you in eight years, do you dislike me now? Please answer me, Chaomu misses you so much¡­¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m unfilial, I¡¯m not good. Don¡¯t ignore me, I¡¯ll be sad. Mom, all the things I want to say, I want to tell only you, because only you understand, only you have always loved Chaomu the most.¡± Chapter 182: To Love Deeply is to Let Go Chapter 182: To Love Deeply is to Let Go Trantor: 549690339 Gradually, she sat down in front of the tombstone, just as when she was a child sitting by her mother¡¯s side. Her mother would tell her stories, and she would listen quietly and obediently. She wasn¡¯t so naughty and mischievous before, she was truly sensible. Xu Chaomu rested her head gently on the tombstone, heedless of the rain soaking her clothes and drenching her face, as she talked with her mother. Her mother would definitely hear her. ¡°Mom, let me tell you, I¡¯ve fallen for someone, will you scold me? Hehe, I know you won¡¯t, you love me the most. You never had the heart to scold me, even when I took apart the scarf you knitted for so long, you didn¡¯t scold me¡­¡± ¡°Mom, I really like him so much, but he doesn¡¯t like me, he¡¯s about to get married¡­ I know I¡¯m not worthy of him, he¡¯s too outstanding, many women chase after him, pretty ones, rich ones, capable ones¡­ all sorts,¡± ¡°His fianc¨¦e is also very beautiful, everyone says she is the number one beauty of C City, I think she¡¯s so pretty too. When they stand together, they look so well-matched. Seeing him happy, I¡¯m quite happy as well, really quite happy¡­¡± Even though she was smiling as she spoke, her tears flowed even more fiercely. Her shoulders twitched continuously; Xu Chaomu wiped away her tears. How can she cry, such ack of self-control. ¡°Mom, actually the feeling of liking someone is quite nice, every move he makes tugs at your heart. When he gets close to you, your heart races really fast. Mom, you don¡¯t know how often I teased him, because he always has such a stern face, I wanted to see him smile more.¡± ¡°Sigh, he didn¡¯t appreciate it. Although he¡¯s pretty nice to me, he never liked me. It has always been me wishing for more, always me taking the initiative, Mom, am I being too forward?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s all good now, he¡¯s getting married, I won¡¯t think about him anymore. Not thinking of him, he¡¯s such a jerk.¡± Xu Chaomu said a lot, talking more and more incoherently as she went on. Physically and mentally exhausted. She was so tired¡­ ¡°Mom¡­ his name is Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu leaned against the tombstone, with her eyes closed. Repeatedly murmuring his name, as though she had found an exceedingly rare treasure, she was filled with joy. Not to think of him anymore, she must not think of him from now on. To love deeply is to let go. Raindrops fell on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, even though the night sky was pitch ck and the fields silent and empty, Xu Chaomu was not the least bit afraid. With her mother by her side, she never felt scared. She kept talking, and, as she went on, finally became tired, her eyelids too heavy to lift. Shey against the tombstone, drifting peacefully to sleep. With the shelter of arge willow tree, the rain rarely hit her face. She curled up in a ball and slept soundly. This kind of peacefulness, no one else could provide. Just like eight years ago, when she would hide in her mother¡¯s arms¡ªit was the same feeling then. The dark night was silent, and the rain poured down like a river. When a bright shlight beam hit Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, she smacked her lips without a flicker of consciousness. The man who approached was young, in his twenties, with his brows slightly furrowed and his sculpted face sharply defined. He held an umbre in his right hand and a shlight in his left. The beam of light highlighted the raindrops, making them even clearer and also shining upon Xu Chaomu¡¯s beautiful but pale face. ¡°Why are you asleep here?¡± The man frowned deeply and slowly walked over. Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips moved a bit, but she didn¡¯t wake up. Probably because of the cold, she hugged her arms tightly and pulled her jacket up high, nearly cocooning herself, just like a little wild cat. Seeing she didn¡¯t respond, the man took a few more steps and bent down. ¡°Wake up, don¡¯t sleep here, it¡¯s cold.¡± Still no response. The man¡¯s face showed a trace of helpless amusement. He ced the shlight on the ground and patted her shoulder, ¡°Girl, wake up, it¡¯s very cold here.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu smacked her lips. Groggily opening her eyes, she thought she was dreaming. The man in ck coat standing before her somewhat resembled Shen Chi; he looked quite good holding the umbre. Slender fingers, grasping the umbre¡¯s spine. Standing alone against the wind, calm and unppable. The drizzle fell beside him; he was elegant and gentlemanly, a dashing fine man. But her eyelids were too heavy, the light too dim, so she moved her lips slightly and smiled. The man smiled as well, ¡°Come on, get up. Where¡¯s your home? I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Xu Chaomu squinted her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m a little fox fairy, my home is in the mountains.¡± ¡°Is that so? Little fox fairy.¡± The manughed; the girl was quite amusing. ¡°Don¡¯t I have a fairy¡¯s aura? The kind that¡¯s ethereal and elegant.¡± Xu Chaomu shamelessly smiled. Giggling yfully, she sounded very childlike. ¡°More like a demon¡¯s aura,¡± the man cast her a sidelong nce, yet chuckled. Xu Chaomu red at him, ¡°Is it that good-looking men have nasty tongues?¡± ¡°Come, give me your hand; I¡¯ll help you up.¡± Without waiting for her reply, the man reached out his hand. It was a beautiful hand, with long fingers and a broad, warm palm. Still squinting, Xu Chaomu looked at him, ¡°Are you a bad guy?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°It seems like it to me. So tell me, are you a fox fairy? Why would you appear here sote?¡± ¡°Watch less TV,¡± the man chuckled helplessly, ¡°I was just passing by.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu patted her bottom and, holding onto his hand, stood up. She didn¡¯t know how long she had slept, but she felt much more at ease now. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you scared of me?¡± The man brushed some dust off her clothes for her. ¡°To frighten people requires something fearsome; nothing about you seems scary.¡± Xu Chaomuined discontentedly. The manughed, augh as refreshing as a clear breeze after rain. He stuffed the shlight into Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, ¡°Here, take this, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a home, I¡¯m an orphan,¡± Xu Chaomu said somberly, looking down. The man moved the umbre slightly towards her and paused when he heard her words. He tilted his head just enough to see a mncholic expression on her face that didn¡¯t match her usual demeanor. ¡°How old are you?¡± he asked softly. His voice was deep and powerful, with a sticky maism that wasfortable to listen to. ¡°Almost eighteen.¡± ¡°Then be my assistant; I happen to need a hand with chores,¡± he suggested. ¡°Certainly not, why should I do chores? Fighting would be more fitting,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted discontentedly. ¡°Girls shouldn¡¯t be fighting, getting hurt would spoil your looks, and if you¡¯re not pretty, no one will want you. Understand?¡± he said with a hint of authority in his tone. ¡°I was already unwanted,¡± Xu Chaomu said quietly, kicking a pebble with her foot. ¡°Look, haven¡¯t I taken you in now? Let¡¯s go, if we don¡¯t get back, you¡¯ll definitely catch a cold,¡± the man said, pulling her closer without further discussion. Most of the umbre was tilted towards Xu Chaomu, and the man¡¯s shoulder was getting damp. Noticing that Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hands were ice-cold, the man took off his coat and draped it over her. Chapter 183: My Name is Nie Chenglang Chapter 183: My Name is Nie Chenng Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Come on, wear this.¡± The man bent down to button her up. The clothes still carried his warmth. When they wrapped around Xu Chaomu¡¯s slender figure, suddenly, a surge of warmth welled up from the bottom of her heart. Xu Chaomu held a shlight, while the man held an umbre. One tall, one short, they walked side by side in the rain. The umbre was always tilted towards Xu Chaomu¡¯s side. In the dim light, Xu Chaomu felt particrly funny wrapped in that oversized clothing. Now the man was left with only a white shirt, and in this weather, it was false to say he wasn¡¯t cold. ¡°Handsome, are you cold?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up at him. The man smiled, ¡°Not cold, I¡¯ve walked a lot, and I feel rather hot.¡± ¡°Oh, then I won¡¯t be polite with you.¡± After saying this, Xu Chaomu wrapped the clothes even tighter around herself. She had just taken a nap, and upon waking, she felt exceptionally cold. ¡°Little girl, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯m a kidnapper who will abduct you?¡± The man thought the girl was too naive. ¡°If you really were a kidnapper, you¡¯d be prepared, and I couldn¡¯t escape anyway.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the man asked, squinting. ¡°Xu Chaomu. Xu as in ¡®Xu Nuo,¡¯ and Chaomu as in ¡®morning and dusk.¡¯ Finally, she stopped saying the ¡°Xu¡± of ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± the ¡°Chaomu¡± of ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± the ¡°Chaomu¡± of ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± Once, someone had taught her how to say her name; once, someone had written her name on paper with a fountain pen. Looking at it, looking at it, all was joy. However, paper will eventually yellow, and handwriting will blur, just like time marches on, and emotions fade. ¡°Chaomu, morning and dusk,¡± the man whispered softly, ¡°If lovests for a long time, would it really matter if it¡¯s morning or night? It¡¯s a lovely name.¡± ¡°It was my mother who named me, so of course it¡¯s good.¡± Whenever Xu Chaomu spoke of her mother, she was always full of pride; she loved her mother dearly. The manughed out, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°How about you? What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Nie Chenng.¡± After saying this, the man took Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hand and wrote three characters: Nie Chenng. The temperature in his palm was like the warmth from his clothes, like a warm breeze in early spring, everything was excellent, and time was incredibly slow. When he came close to her, she caught the scent of his sharply sweet woody-fruity fragrance, refined and intimate. Looking up, she met his smiling face. In the intery of light and shadows, amidst the hazy drizzle, his smile melted slowly in her heart like honey. She smiled too, showing off her pearl-like small white teeth, ¡°So how should I address you? Handsome, Mr. Nie Handsome, or Mr. Nie Super Handsome?¡± ¡°Call me Chenng. If you call me handsome, I¡¯ll be vain.¡± ¡°Then why do you still look so good?¡± ¡°To not unduly affect the city¡¯s aesthetics.¡± When Nie Chenngughed, Xu Chaomuughed along. ¡°Chenng, why are you out alone sote at night?¡± Xu Chaomu was quite curious. Nie Chenng lifted his wrist and nced at it, ¡°It¡¯s just ten o¡¯clock. I went to buy ne tickets at the airport. I have to go back to Paris in a couple of days.¡± ¡°Paris? Is your home in Paris?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes dimmed, Paris was so far away¡­ Since childhood, she had never left C City; no one had taken her out. ¡°No, I study in Paris. I¡¯m about to graduate. This trip here is to sponsor a charity event for the orphanage.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been here for a while, and although the conditions are tough, being with those kids every day is still joyful.¡± ¡°I was sent to an orphanage when I was ten,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Oh? What happened after that?¡± ¡°Well, afterward I went with Sun Wukong to visit Mount Huaguo.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Nie Chenngughed. ¡°Chenng, can I be with you for the next few days, go to the orphanage?¡± ¡°Sure, but I¡¯ll say it again, you¡¯ll have to help with chores.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing any chores for you. Hey, let me tell you, if I go to the orphanage, I¡¯ll probably end up fighting with those kids. Really. I used to fight with my friends a lot, and they couldn¡¯t beat me.¡± ¡°Look at you, so high-spirited.¡± Nie Chenng looked down at her. When he first met Xu Chaomu, he thought she was a stubborn and quiet girl, but he discovered that she was an outright little troublemaker. ¡°Big handsome guy, I want to ask you a question.¡± Xu Chaomu twinkled her eyes, a sly smile ying on her lips. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°If I end up fighting with the kids, whose side will you take?¡± Nie Chenng thought she had some profound question. He was first taken aback, then slowly curved his lips into a smile, saying seriously, ¡°Neither. I¡¯ll have both of you stand under the sun as punishment!¡± ¡°Annoying, so no use trying to curry favor.¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips. They crossed the narrowne, apanied by the gentle rain and breeze. At that moment, a small ditch appeared in front of them. Not deep, but quite wide. Xu Chaomu timidly took two steps back, looking bewildered at the ditch, then looked up at Nie Chenng. ¡°Can¡¯t make it across.¡± Xu Chaomu remembered that there wasn¡¯t a ditch here before. Truly, what a shifting world, so much can change over time. Eight years, neither long nor short, yet enough to change so much. The ce that was once bustling was now nearly deserted. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Nie Chenng handed the umbre to Xu Chaomu. He rolled up his trousers, bent over, and patted his shoulder, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll carry you on my back.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose tingled for some reason. But secondster, she grinned, ¡°Big handsome guy, I¡¯ll walk by myself. Your clothes seem pretty expensive.¡± ¡°No more nonsense. Do you really want me to carry you?¡± ¡°Oh, then you better carry me.¡± As soon as she said that, Xu Chaomu leaned on his shoulder. She opened the umbre overhead, and that¡¯s when she realized that half of Nie Chenng¡¯s shoulder was damp. He was only wearing a thin white shirt, and when she touched it, she found that much of it was wet too. ¡°You¡¯re so nice to me, it will touch my heart,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly into his ear. ¡°Then be touched for a bit.¡± Xu Chaomu was truly moved, the atmosphere of the night lending itself to sentimentality. Just as she was about to say something, Nie Chenng spoke first, ¡°You¡¯re quite heavy.¡± Sadness and mncholy instantly turned into bemusement. ¡°Do you know, when you say that, it hurts my feelings. Don¡¯t talk to me for three minutes! Humph.¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to wipe away tears. Then, she turned her head away, closed her eyes, and ignored him. ¡°Quite the temperament,¡± Nie Chenng chuckled, ¡°I haven¡¯t even asked you yet, why did you run out all alone in the dead of night?¡± ¡°The king sent me to patrol the mountain.¡± Xu Chaomu had a poor memory; she had just told him not to speak for three minutes, yet here she was answering his question. They had long crossed the little ditch, but Nie Chenng hadn¡¯t put her down. The girl was light and thin, hardly heavy on his shoulders. Nie Chenng was amused by her again, ¡°So what did you find on your patrol?¡± ¡°You! Mr. Nie Super Handsome.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled. Chapter 184: You Have a Child Now Chapter 184: You Have a Child Now Trantor:549690339 ¡°Brat.¡± Nie Chenng smiled indulgently, his face a mix of helplessness and joy. ¡°Chenng, are you cold? I¡¯ll give you my clothes,¡± Xu Chaomu said, noticing that his shirt was soaked through. ¡°I¡¯m carrying you on my back. Do you think I could be cold?¡± Nie Chenng obviously didn¡¯t want the clothes. ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m heavy again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have school? Don¡¯t tell me you n to patrol the mountains every day?¡± ¡°I do have school, but I¡¯ve been in a bad mood these past few days, so I¡¯m not going.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s tone became serious, ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll take you to school tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t chase me away. I don¡¯t want to go back; I really don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Unhappy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Xu Chaomu became stubborn and refused to say more. Going back, they didn¡¯t want to see her, and she didn¡¯t want to see them either. They were unhappy, and so was she. ¡°Then you promise me that I can take you in for two days, but when I leave C City, you must go back to school,¡± Nie Chenng said to her earnestly. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s head drooped. ¡°Good, obedient girl.¡± Soon, after not walking much farther, they arrived at the entrance of a run-down orphanage. A sign hung at the entrance with white background and ck letters. Nie Chenng stopped walking, slightly tilting his head, ¡°Chaomu, we¡¯re here. This is where I¡¯ve been stayingtely.¡± Xu Chaomu looked up. She had felt the road was somewhat familiar, but now, with her shlight shining on it, her eyes welled up with tears, and she nearly cried. It was the orphanage where she had stayed in the past. She had nned to visit it tomorrow, but here she was, arriving ahead of schedule. Time seemed to revert to eight years ago, when her mother had just passed away. She¡¯d been so petnt back then and had been a real troublemaker at the orphanage. She listened to no one! Setting off small firecrackers, spilling ink, ripping up her workbooks¡­ She¡¯d done everything she could possibly do. On her very first day, she turned the whole orphanage upside down. Back then, the orphanage was bustling with many kids, and soon, she reigned supreme. So, Shen Chi disliked her the first time he saw her. In fact, even after eight years, he still disliked her. Following him for eight years, it was always she who was reaching above her station. Seeing no reaction from Xu Chaomu, Nie Chenng¡¯s back stiffened, and he asked softly, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°I lived here once,¡± Xu Chaomu said tly. Nie Chenng was clever, and he understood Xu Chaomu¡¯s meaning immediately. So, it was this ce that had stirred Xu Chaomu¡¯s memories. To break the slightly sad mood, Nie Chenng said, ¡°Are you nning toy on my shoulder forever?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu stuck out her tongue and let go of him, jumping down with a ¡°thud.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in; it¡¯s cold outside. Be careful, or you really will catch a cold, and then I¡¯d feel guilty,¡± Nie Chenng said as he opened the door. Xu Chaomu followed him into the orphanage, which still looked the same as she remembered, except more dpidated and worn. Still, it was as clean as it had been eight years ago. The moment the door lock clicked, a little boy came out rubbing his eyes. Pitter-patter, he ran straight towards Nie Chenng and clung to his legs. ¡°Teacher Nie, why did youe back sote? You haven¡¯t told me a story yet.¡± ¡°Tiantian, be good and go to sleep. I¡¯ll tell you a story first thing in the morning,¡± Nie Chenng bent down, patient as ever. The little boy shook his head, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep without a story!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with all the fuss, little rascal? Go to sleep! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll spank you so hard you won¡¯t be able to get out of bed tomorrow!¡± Xu Chaomu red fiercely. That¡¯s the way to deal with such brats ¨C with a show of force! A good spanking, and they get the message. Hmm. Frightened, the little boy clung tighter to Nie Chenng¡¯s legs, looking at Xu Chaomu with wide, pathetic eyes. ¡°Teacher Nie, she¡¯s scary. You hit her.¡± Xu Chaomu snapped at him, hands on hips, ¡°Quite brave, aren¡¯t you? Go back to bed now. If you don¡¯t sleep now, I¡¯ll get the wolf to bite you. Awooo¡­¡± Xu Chaomu imitated a wolf¡¯s howl twice and made a scary face. The little boy was so terrified he scrammed, tripping and stumbling as he ran. As he ran, he cried out, ¡°The wolf ising, the wolf ising; Teacher Nie brought back a wolf¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. What did he mean Teacher Nie brought back a wolf¡­ Nie Chenngughed heartily, innocently saying to Xu Chaomu, ¡°You made the kid cry. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll have tofort him.¡± ¡°Comfort him? It¡¯s your fault for spoiling them. Scare them for three days, and they won¡¯t be clingy anymore. I don¡¯t believe he won¡¯t sleep without a story! Hmph.¡± ¡°Kids need a bit of coddling. You¡¯ll understand once you have your own. You¡¯re sure to dote on your child and spoil them rotten,¡± he reasoned. ¡°What, do you already have a kid? You haven¡¯t even graduated and you¡¯re already ahead of the game?¡± Xu Chaomu smirked yfully. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. I don¡¯t even have a girlfriend, let alone a child.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll stop. Teacher Nie is blushing,¡± Xu Chaomu teased him, making a face. ¡°Brat.¡± Nie Chenng shook his head, smiling helplessly. ¡°Teacher Nie, tell me a story. I can¡¯t sleep without one,¡± Xu Chaomu fluttered her eyes, imitating the voice of the little boy, gazing at Nie Chenng expectantly. ¡°Stop messing around, go inside. Look at your hair, it¡¯s all wet.¡± Without allowing Xu Chaomu to refuse, Nie Chenng pulled her inside the house. There weren¡¯t many clean empty rooms in the orphanage, so Nie Chenng offered his own room to Xu Chaomu. His room was neatly tidy, spotless, and although small, it was warmly arranged. Particrly, the orange deskmp on the table gave off a warm glow when turned on. ¡°You¡¯ll sleep here tonight. There¡¯s everything you need on the desk. If you need anything else, just tell me; I¡¯ll sleep next door,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Teacher Nie, just tell me a story. I really won¡¯t be able to sleep if you don¡¯t,¡± she pleaded. ¡°No, go to bed. It¡¯ste,¡± he replied. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell one, then I can tell one to you,¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. She was best at storytelling, particrly the tale of the little white rabbit. ¡°Go on, but we agreed: after¡¯s story time, you sleep,¡± he bargained. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with a riddle.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nie Chenng took a seat beside her, suddenly interested. The room was cozy, and themp¡¯s light bathed Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, entuating her innocence and charm. A sudden impulse to touch her cheek arose, but he held back, simply curling his lips into a smile. ¡°Here it is: Xiao Bai, Xiao Hei, Xiao Hong, and Xiao Hui went on a ne trip. Who do you think will get sick?¡± Xu Chaomu said seriously. Her grave appearance was soical that Nie Chenng almost burst outughing. It was such a childish, simple riddle. But he deliberately pondered over it for quite some time before looking up distressed, ¡°I can¡¯t figure it out.¡± Chapter 185: She Doesn’t Want to Return to the Shen Family Anymore Chapter 185: She Doesn¡¯t Want to Return to the Shen Family Anymore Trantor:549690339 Seeing Nie Chenng with a worried frown, Xu Chaomu pped andughed heartily, ¡°Come on, think harder. You¡¯re so smart, Mr. Nie, you can definitely guess.¡± Nie Chenng pretended to think for a few more minutes before he suddenly realized, ¡°Oh, I got it. It¡¯s the white rabbit (spit) right?¡± ¡°I knew it, Mr. Nie, you¡¯re really intelligent and talented. Thumbs up for you!¡± Xu Chaomu said, propping her chin and looking at him. She changed her posture frequently, with a gentle smile always on her face. Nie Chenng found her chin-propping look extremely adorable, and without meaning to, his hand still reached out and touched her hair. She looked beautiful when she smiled, not at all like when he first saw her with tears all over her face and sorrow in her eyes. ¡°Finished talking, can we go to sleep now?¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Nope.¡± Xu Chaomu shook her little head like a rattle drum, ¡°Not sleeping without a reward.¡± ¡°How old are you? Still needing a reward to sleep, just go to bed, I¡¯ll turn off the lights for you.¡± ¡°Mr. Nie, you¡¯re so stingy.¡± ¡°Hm? What reward do you want, then?¡± Xu Chaomu touched her belly and smiled innocently, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really hopeless, I shouldn¡¯t have picked you up.¡± Nie Chenng shook his head helplessly, but his smile was very gentle. That gentleness was like the ocean, capable of making one drown in it, unable to extricate oneself. Rings of halo shone upon his face as he stood up, and the tall figure intended to walk towards the doorway. Xu Chaomu watched him like a child who had done something naughty, looking like she had gotten away with mischief. ¡°Mr. Nie, are you going to find me something to eat? Mr. Nie, you¡¯re really kind. I¡¯m going to present you with a banner of honor,¡± Xu Chaomu babbled on. ¡°Where is there anything to eat? I¡¯ll go make you some supper.¡± After saying that, Nie Chenng opened the door and walked out. Outside, there was still a drizzle, pitter-pattering, like a mournful violin ying continuously. The ground was wet with rain, and there was moss on the steps. Even though this ce was remote and simple, it felt even more like a paradise, uninvolved with the outside world¡¯s contention. As if all the mundane troubles had nothing to do with it, the tranquility, remoteness, and ethereality hereposed a stunningly beautiful picture. Thend was open and t, with neat houses around, good fields and lovely ponds, bamboo and mulberry trees included. The paths interwove, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard from afar. Nie Chenng took an umbre at the door, his steps steady, slowly merging into the rain. Xu Chaomu gazed at his silhouette, feeling somewhat dazed. Soon, Nie Chenng disappeared into the rain curtain. He really went to the kitchen to make Xu Chaomu something to eat. There wasn¡¯t much to work with here, so he made a bowl of noodles for her. Xu Chaomu sat on the bed in a daze, Nie Chenng¡¯sptop on his desk, and she started to y games out of boredom. When Nie Chenng came in, she was engrossed in the game, and curious, he leaned over to look. ¡°¡­¡± Nie Chenng was at his wits¡¯ end. Minesweeper. ¡°Lost again¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said, disheartened. ¡°Here, eat up the noodles, or you¡¯ll startining about being hungry again,¡± Nie Chenng handed her the chopsticks. ¡°I¡¯ll eat after I win a round.¡± Xu Chaomu became stubborn, like pulling ten bulls back wouldn¡¯t work. ¡°Eat!¡± Nie Chenng insisted, putting the chopsticks in her hand. ¡°No no, let me win a round first.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m going to dump it,¡± Nie Chenng said, rising to his feet. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t dump it, I¡¯ll eat!¡± Xu Chaomu climbed down from the chair and grabbed the bowl from his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll eat the noodles, and you win a round for me. Why can¡¯t I win, when I¡¯m clearly so smart¡­¡± ¡°With that IQ of yours¡­¡± Nie Chenng gave her a disdainful look. Afterward, Nie Chenng casually clicked a few times, thoughtfully pondering. Soon, he finished a round and won. Xu Chaomu stared with her mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time. ¡°How did you y that, teach me, Mr. Nie, please teach me!¡± Xu Chaomu leaned in to look at theputer. ¡°Watch carefully, click this one, look, then this one¡­¡± Nie Chenng started to teach her, ¡°Even a five-year-old can y this. Does that mean your IQ is worrying?¡± Xu Chaomu felt challenged and reached to snatch his mouse, ¡°I might know something you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then tell me, what do you know?¡± ¡°I know how to fight.¡± Nie Chenng was caught betweenughter and tears. Her small hand brushed against Nie Chenng¡¯srge one as she grabbed the mouse, and she didn¡¯t notice anything, but Nie Chenng pulled back his right hand, feeling an unusual sensation sweep through his chest. ¡°Mr. Nie, if I don¡¯t win this round, you¡¯re the dummy.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s thoughts were drifting, so he responded with a faint ¡°Hmm¡± from his throat. Xu Chaomu smirked slyly; he had taken the bait. And as it turned out, her IQ really was worrying¡ªshe didn¡¯t win. She shrugged her shoulders and nced at Nie Chenng, ¡°Mr. Nie, you¡¯re the dummy.¡± Having said that, she rolled over to eat her noodles. One has to admit, the noodles were very fragrant, and she ate them with great satisfaction. ¡°Hmm?¡± Nie Chenng was slow to react. By the time he caught on, Xu Chaomu was already giggling at him. ¡°You called me a dummy, go stand in the corner as a punishment tomorrow!¡± ¡°Mr. Nie, your IQ is worrying,¡± Xu Chaomu mimicked his tone. ¡°You¡¯re so mischievous and capable of anything,¡± Nie Chenng looked at her with both exasperation and amusement. Soon, Xu Chaomu finished her bowl of noodles. Blinking, she asked Nie Chenng, ¡°Mr. Nie, are you hungry?¡± ¡°What if I say I am?¡± Nie Chenng looked at the empty bowl she had eaten clean. ¡°Even if you are, there¡¯s none left.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled wickedly and shrugged her shoulders. Nie Chenng had never seen such a mischievous ghost of a girl before. ¡°So now can you go to sleep?¡± Nie Chenng looked at her. ¡°Hmm¡­ almost.¡± ¡°You¡¯re harder to coax than those little kids,¡± Nie Chenng expressed helplessly. Having said that, Nie Chenng stood up, took his clothes, and spread her quilt for her. ¡°Sleep tight, and I¡¯ll wake you up tomorrow. No sleeping in,¡± Nie Chenng told her as he turned off the light. The room instantly plunged into darkness, and then there was the sound of Nie Chenng closing the door. Outside the window, the rain drizzled, the sound tapping rhythmically on the eaves, creating a ¡®thunk-thunk¡¯ noise on the tiles. Xu Chaomu felt secure; this was where she grew up, where she had her most carefree childhood. She liked days like this, without troubles, without sorrows. Clutching the quilt, which carried a clean scent just like Nie Chenng¡¯s fruity fragrance, she felt content. Here, it was lovely. It couldn¡¯tpare to the Shen Family vi, nor to their luxurious clothes and gourmet food, but given the choice, she didn¡¯t want to return to the Shen Family anymore. The next day, the rain had stopped early on, and the sun nted in from over the eaves. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t remember thest time she had slept so soundly and sote. She slept deeply until the door was knocked on. ¡°Madam, Madam, Madam Xu, wake up; the sun¡¯s shining on your bum!¡± A bunch of little brats knocked on Xu Chaomu¡¯s door energetically. Xu Chaomu turned over, ignoring them. Chapter 186: Teacher Nie’s Girlfriend Chapter 186: Teacher Nie¡¯s Girlfriend Trantor:549690339 ¡°Madam Teacher, Madam Teacher, wake up, we¡¯re going to set off firecrackers.¡± Xu Chaomu rolled over again. So noisy. Seeing no response from inside the room, the little brats actually started setting off the firecrackers. ¡°Crackle crackle crackle¡± ¡°Crackle crackle crackle,¡± the sound of firecrackers was deafening. ¡°Damn it!¡± Xu Chaomu scratched her head, and with a thud, finally sat up. Rubbing her groggy eyes, Xu Chaomu really didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. But thinking back, she had done the same thing in her time, setting off firecrackers until the headmaster developed a psychological shadow. What goes aroundes around, after all. Xu Chaomu was wide awake now and could only get out of bed slowly, but she really did want to sleep¡­ A bunch of little curs. Outside the window, amidst deafening firecracker noise, Xu Chaomu heard a very pleasant voice, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The little rascals immediately giggled and said, ¡°Teacher Nie, the sun¡¯s shining on our butts, and Madam Xu is still not up, sozy.¡± Xu Chaomu recognized that voice in an instant, wasn¡¯t it Tiantian, who she frightened awayst night? Lil¡¯ brat, quite vindictive. ¡°What Madam Xu.¡± Nie Chenng said with a furrowed-brow smile. Tiantian made a face, ¡°Teacher Nie, isn¡¯t your girlfriend called ¡®Madam¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu was even more amused; she had been promoted all of a sudden. ¡°Have you finished your homework from yesterday? Have you memorized the text? I¡¯ll check it in a bit.¡± Nie Chenng asked. ¡°Teacher, we¡¯re leaving.¡± A group of little brats instantly ran faster than smoke. The firecrackers ¡°crackle crackle crackle¡± soon ended, and Xu Chaomu, clutching her head, sighed, head pounding. A bunch of annoying little brats. Nie Chenng walked over, stepping on spent firecracker remnants, and knocked on the door, ¡°Chaomu, are you awake?¡± ¡°Still sleeping.¡± Xu Chaomu yawned. ¡°No more sleeping, get up for breakfast.¡± Nie Chenng knocked a few more times. Xu Chaomu¡¯s sleepiness waspletely gone; she scratched her head. The young and old are both so bothersome, wuu wuu wuu. ¡°Teacher Nie, have mercy.¡± Xu Chaomu hugged her quilt; she really wanted to keep sleeping¡­ ¡°Give me a reason.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes rolled around, ¡°This ¡®Little Fairy¡¯ bed is so seductive, clinging to me and refusing to let go.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s face was lined with ck strands, ¡°That¡¯s not a good enough reason, get up!¡± As Nie Chenng knocked on her door, Xu Chaomu had no choice but to bite the bullet and get dressed. When she appeared in front of him, rubbing her eyes, he looked down at her and pulled out a smile, ¡°Wash your face and brush your teeth, thene over for breakfast right away.¡± ¡°So annoying.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. As she and Nie Chenng sat together for breakfast, those little brats popped up again, whispering secretly outside. ¡°Teacher Nie¡¯s girlfriend is so pretty!¡± ¡°No, no, no, not at all, Teacher Nie¡¯s girlfriend is very fierce.¡± ¡°Teacher Nie is even putting food on her te!¡± ¡°Because Teacher Nie is afraid of her!¡± ¡°But Teacher Nie is smiling!¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t smile, his girlfriend will eat him up. She¡¯s really fierce.¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t stand it, they spoke as if she was some sort of a demon. So, she stood up, walked to the door, and with hands on hips: ¡°You, and you, and you, plus you, all of youe here, I promise to beat you to death.¡± The little brats hurried away, no one was foolish enough toe straight to the door. When it came to dealing with little brats, Xu Chaomu was very experienced and skillful! With one hand, she grabbed one, lifting the two little rascals by their cors and dragged them over. ¡°Come on, say something nice for big sister to hear.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled triumphantly. Humph, trying to fight her. Eight years ago, she was the unrivaled little tyrant of the orphanage. ¡°Ow ow ow, wah wah wah, help! Teacher Nie, save us!¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, Madam Xu is a wolf.¡± ¡°You still dare to talk back? Believe it or not, I¡¯ll throw you onto the rooftop?¡± Xu Chaomu threatened them. Nie Chenng wasughing on the side, enjoying the scene without chiming in. One of the smarter little brats quickly started kissing up, ¡°Madam Xu, you are as beautiful as a flower, Madam Xu, you are like a fairy from heaven, Madam Xu, you can overthrow cities with your beauty, Madam Xu you¡­ I¡¯ve run out ofpliments¡­¡± The little guy had a crestfallen look on his face; he truly had run out of words. These few phrases were the results of him racking his brains for quite a while. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Now, call me ¡®sister¡¯ and let me hear it.¡± Xu Chaomu was smug. She was confident she could handle them. But the two little guys red their eyes out, refusing to call her that. One of them even muttered, ¡°So fierce, and yet a sister? More like a wolf in grandma¡¯s clothes.¡± ¡°Hmm? What did you say?¡± Xu Chaomu also red, ¡°You won¡¯t call me that, huh? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll throw you onto the rooftop right now.¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu started herding them up the staircase. ¡°Good sister, pretty sister, sister, sister, you¡¯re the best.¡± The two little brats immediately pleaded for mercy. ¡°Hmm? Can¡¯t hear you clearly,¡± Xu Chaomu said with feigned arrogance. ¡°Sister, sister, you¡¯re the best, I love you to death.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s more like it.¡± Only then did Xu Chaomu let go of them. The two little brats took off running, mumbling as they went. ¡°We¡¯re doomed, we¡¯re doomed, we lied.¡± ¡°Will our noses grow longer tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, we didn¡¯t mean to lie.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was covered with ck lines as she rolled her eyes in exasperation. Nie Chenng wasughing so hard he was bending forward and back, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed and his long legs slightly crossed. Against the backlight, when Xu Chaomu turned around, she felt like she was seeing the most beautiful scene in the world. In the sunlight, the morning dew sparkled, the green tree branches swayed, and the birds flew by chirping. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet ¨C amidst the intermingling light, the man in a gray sweater stood there within the light and shadow. Xu Chaomu smiled gently; she discovered that time could be so beautiful. ¡°Come here, let¡¯s have breakfast,¡± Nie Chenng called out to her. Xu Chaomu obediently went over; this man seemed to have a ma on him. The two sat together for breakfast, chatting. ¡°Sir Nie, where does your familye from?¡± ¡°From C City.¡± ¡°Oh, Sir Nie, how many people are there in your family?¡± ¡°My father passed away early; it¡¯s just my mother and me at home.¡± ¡°Did you go to see your mother this time you came back?¡± ¡°I came back stealthily. If she knew, she wouldn¡¯t let mee to the orphanage to do charity work.¡± ¡°Do you have to go back to Paris?¡± ¡°Yeah, I still have to continue my studies there.¡± ¡°When is your flight?¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning at five o¡¯clock.¡± Xu Chaomu stopped talking and poked at the white porridge in her bowl with her chopsticks. The fragrant and delicious white porridge suddenly felt heartbreakingly sad to smell. Nie Chenng spoke faintly, ¡°After I¡¯m gone, study well on your own, and don¡¯t run around recklessly. I haven¡¯t asked you yet, where are you living now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask,¡± Xu Chaomu felt inexplicably mncholic. Her eyes were veiled with a mist of confusion. Nie Chenng nodded; if she didn¡¯t want to talk, he wouldn¡¯t ask. Changing the subject, Nie Chenng looked at the children in the courtyard, ¡°I¡¯m taking them out for a picter. Do you want toe?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯ming. Sir Nie, you can¡¯t just leave me behind. Otherwise¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise what?¡± Nie Chenng raised an eyebrow. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll cry.¡± A twitch appeared at the corner of Nie Chenng¡¯s mouth, exasperated. However, just when Xu Chaomu was having unrestrained fun in the orphanage, Shen Chi was nearly turning C City upside down. Chapter 187: Mumu, Where Are You Chapter 187: Mumu, Where Are You Trantor:549690339 Shen Chi searched for Xu Chaomu all night long, not closing his eyes once. As he drove, he made phone calls, initially losing his temper, but as thetter half of the night approached, his hands on the steering wheel gradually loosened¡­ The Maybach aimlessly drove on the roads, with a fleeting moment where his vision blurred. The car, like a cheetah that had lost its direction, dashed haphazardly, prompting passersby to dodge and yell in fright, ¡°Driving like that, do you have a death wish?!¡± He seemed to hear nothing; he only wanted to find her. ¡°Mumu, where are you¡­¡± His eyes fixated straight ahead, the bloodshot orbs dull and lifeless, the normally bright, obsidian-like eyes now seemed to have turned to ashes. Xiao Mo called him: ¡°President Shen, I haven¡¯t found her on my end.¡± At first, he would rage at the person on the other end of the phone: ¡°Damn it, keep looking. If you don¡¯t find her, don¡¯t you ever show your face again!¡± Xiao Mo hurried to hang up the phone, scared, and continued searching for her. In thetter half of the night, having really not found Xu Chaomu, Xiao Mo reluctantly plucked up the courage to call Shen Chi again. ¡°President Shen, shall we call the police?¡± Shen Chi cursed him out as usual, but after several curses, around four in the morning, when Xiao Mo could barely keep his eyes open, he sleepily called Shen Chi again. ¡°President Shen, it¡¯s veryte, you should go back and sleep. I¡¯ll search for her.¡± This time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t reply, for a long, long time. The silence on the other end was so profound that Xiao Mo thought Shen Chi had hung up. ¡°President Shen, where are you now?¡± ¡°Xiao Mo,¡± Shen Chi finally spoke slowly, his voice faint and choked, ¡°You go back first.¡± Xiao Mo was stunned, it took him a long time toe back to his senses. He had never heard Shen Chi speak to him with such a tone. ¡°President Shen, let me continue searching, you go back to sleep. The group¡¯s business can¡¯t do without you, you have to take care of your health.¡± ¡°I told you to go back,¡± Shen Chi emphasized. Xiao Mo knew if he persisted, Shen Chi would lose his temper. He could only nod his head: ¡°President Shen, don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡± After four in the morning, Xiao Mo never called Shen Chi again. Shen Chi drove around to all the ces Xu Chaomu might go, realizing that she actually had always been a good girl, her usual haunts weren¡¯t many. The car stopped at the entrance of the amusement park, looking up, the giant Ferris wheel stood silently in a corner. In the deep quiet of the night, with the whistling wind, the Ferris wheel appeared like a sleeping behemoth, motionless. He remembered, since she was ten, she would tug at his sleeve saying, ¡°Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, why can other little girls often go to amusement parks, but you never take me?¡± ¡°Annoying,¡± he nced at her with disdain, continuing to read his newspaper. She was persistent, her small paws gripped his clothing, preventing him from reading the paper. ¡°Fourth Brother, take me!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go by myself!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t allow me to go to the amusement park, then you should at least y with me!¡± Xu Chaomu, unhappy, clung to him. With his personality, how could he y with someone, especially someone as pestering as this little girl. So he pulled his clothes out of her hand, threw away the newspaper, and without a word, stood up and left. Naturally, she wasn¡¯t as strong as him; left behind by him, herrge eyes shimmered with tears of grievance. Shen Chi sat immovable in the driver¡¯s seat, and in the darkness of the night, the amusement park¡¯s lights shone brightly. As he watched, his eyes grew moist. He truly seldom took her out to y. Even over the course of eight years, the number of times he¡¯d taken her out could be counted on one¡¯s fingers. That night, when he saw her sneaking out to the amusement park with Lou Yanli, her eyes were filled withughter. He angrily took her away, yet never once considered simply apanying her properly. Today, in the hospital room, he promised her, when he returned from South Africa, he would take her there. Wherever she wanted to go, he¡¯d take her there. ¡°Chaomu, Mumu¡­ where are you¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand fell limply, his voice deep and hoarse. His eyes were hazy as he stared ahead, until everything in front of him fell apart. For a whole hour, he just sat in the car, motionless, like a statue. The hands on his watch moved from four to five, then from five to six. Rain drizzled from the sky during thete night, but stopped by dawn. The trees by the roadside in the morning were adorned with glistening dewdrops, which fell as the wind blew. The morning air held a mist, white and indistinct. The night quietly retreated, and with the first ray of sunlight, the day brightened again. Around five in the morning, Shen Chi stepped out of the car; he leaned against the car door and lit a cigarette. The sky was still dark, with misty water vapor floating everywhere. The corner of his ck suit was lifted by the wind; surrounded by the swirling smoke, his face became increasingly indistinct¡­ By the time Xu Chaomu and Nie Chenng went out for an outdoor barbecue, the sun was already high in the sky. The weather, clear after the rain, was truly pleasant. The sky was a shade of azure, dotted with white clouds; the air was fresh, everything was desirable. ¡°Don¡¯t run around, everyone,¡± Chenng chased after a group of little kids. But the kids were fast, as he caught up to one, another would take off running. Xu Chaomu had no choice but to step in, cutting them off! She bent down to pick up a brick, threatening them, ¡°No one is allowed to run, or the brick will be thrown at you.¡± The little kids immediately stood still, looking at Xu Chaomu innocently. Chenng couldn¡¯t help butugh and cry at the situation. Who handles things like that? ¡°Raise your hands!¡± Xu Chaomumanded with hands on her hips and fierce eyes, intimidating them. ¡°Wow,¡± the group of little kids uniformally raised their hands. They were of various heights and wore different clothes, but they all raised their hands in unison! One after another, they gazed at Xu Chaomu, eyes wide with fear. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Chaomu was clearly satisfied, ¡°Put your hands down.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± with a unanimous sound, the little kids put their hands down, pressing them against their trousers. ¡°Good,¡± Xu Chaomu was satisfied again, ¡°Line up! Count off!¡± The little kids quickly lined up, there weren¡¯t many of them, just seven or eight, but they quickly formed a line and began to count off. ¡°One!¡± ¡°Two!¡± ¡°Three!¡± Xu Chaomu was still quite pleased; it seemed these kids could be taught. To deal with this bunch of little kids, rough measures were necessary. In fact, she learned all this from someone, whenever she was disobedient, he always resorted to force. Remembering that person, the brightness in her eyes dimmed. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s march!¡± Xu Chaomu called out. The kids cooperated and marched forward, their steps disordered yet oddly uniform. Chenngughed himself into a stoop, one little ghost leading a bunch of little kids; they actually looked the part. Carrying a pile of things, Chenng followed behind, and soon they arrived at the site for their barbecue, at the foot of a hill. There were hills, water, green grass, and colorful flowers. ¡°Halt!¡± Xu Chaomumanded seriously. Her crisp voice echoed charmingly and beautifully in the valley. The little kids immediately stopped in their tracks and began to y, hopping and jumping around. Chapter 188: You Have The Potential To Be A Great Dad Chapter 188: You Have The Potential To Be A Great Dad Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Put on the hat, or you¡¯ll get sunburnedter,¡± Nie Chenng took out a hat and ced it on Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. The sun was indeed lovely, Xu Chaomu squinted his eyes, feeling very satisfied. The air still carried the scent leftover fromst night¡¯s storm, and the spot they chose was quite dry, particrly suitable for a pic. Xu Chaomu looked at the carefree children and saw himself at ten years old. As Nie Chenng was tidying up, Xu Chaomu suddenly asked him, ¡°Mr. Nie, can I ask you a question?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a good thing or a bad thing for these kids to be adopted by wealthy families?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so straightforward,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Good or bad isn¡¯t just about material things; there has to be spiritual fulfillment too. If that family can treat these kids as their own, then it¡¯s definitely a good thing.¡± Treating them as their own. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes dimmed again. She didn¡¯t continue with the question and went to help Nie Chenng. By noon, an array of food was grilling on the rack. There were chicken legs, wings, m, sausage¡­ The aroma was enticing. The little rascals couldn¡¯t wait anymore and swarmed over for food. Xu Chaomu stood in front of the grill and red at them, ¡°Don¡¯t touch!¡± Intimidated by Xu Chaomu, they thought of her as the Big Bad Wolf. One with more courage sucked his fingertip and pointed at the chicken legs, ¡°Mrs. Xu, I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯tining about being hungry while ying,¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. The little rascals immediately ran to Nie Chenng with a ¡°whoosh,¡± clinging to him, ¡°Mr. Nie, I want food.¡± ¡°Mr. Nie, Mrs. Xu is too scary.¡± ¡°Mr. Nie, don¡¯t take Mrs. Xu anymore, she¡¯s a very bad wolf, worse than the Big Bad Wolf.¡± ¡°Mr. Nie, we¡¯ve divided up the food, don¡¯t give any to Mrs. Xu.¡± They were all talking at once, mainly badmouthing Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was so angry she could spit fire; these little rascals were really hard to manage. Nie Chenng bent down, very patient, ¡°Your Mrs. Xu is just teasing you all, don¡¯t make a fuss, go wash your hands. Everyone will get their share, no snatching.¡± The rascals immediately beamed with joy and began to tter, ¡°Mr. Nie is so nice.¡± ¡°Mr. Nie, I love you.¡± Xu Chaomu felt like she had be a thoroughly wicked viin. Nie Chenng, while the kids were washing their hands by the river, handed food to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Are you hungry? Eat something quickly, once theye back, you won¡¯t get the chance.¡± ¡°Leave it for them, I won¡¯t stoop to arguing with children, I¡¯m going to catch fish in the river.¡± Xu Chaomu gave a sly smile, rolled up her sleeves, and walked towards the riverbank. ¡°Chaomu, be careful, do you want me toe with you?¡± ¡°No need, you stay here and entertain the kids. I think you have a real knack for being a dad,¡± Xu Chaomu said,ughing so hard she was bending forward and backward. She hated looking after kids the most; left to care for them, she would likely end up quarreling with them. Nie Chenng was different; he was gentle and attentive, capable of managing the challenging task of entertaining children effortlessly. Just then, Nie Chenng¡¯s phone rang. He looked down; it was a call from his mother. ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°Chenng, are you busy?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m out doing research with my mentor.¡± ¡°Oh, are you still in Paris?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When do you n to return home? There¡¯s a lot going on in the group recently, and Mom really can¡¯t manage it all alone.¡± The voice on the other end sounded weak, and Nie Chenng fell silent for a long time. ¡°Mom, you know I¡¯m not interested in the jewelry industry.¡± ¡°You always say that. Forget it, I¡¯ve managed your father¡¯s business alone for half my life. If you don¡¯t want it, I won¡¯t force you. Shen Group has been eyeing Feili Group with greedy eyes; let¡¯s just give it to them. I can¡¯t hold on any longer.¡± Nie Chenng furrowed his brows deeply, clutching his phone, seemingly unwilling to speak for a long time. Xu Chaomu noticed Nie Chenng on the phone and blinked at him, ¡°Chenng, I¡¯ll go catch fish first!¡± Nie Chenng nodded, but the woman on the other end frowned, ¡°Is there a girl with you? Your girlfriend?¡± ¡°No, just a ssmate,¡± Nie Chenng said tly. ¡°Oh, remember to bring your girlfriend home for me to meet.¡± ¡°Yeah, Mom, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to hang up.¡± Xu Chaomu had already run off. She arrived at the small river at the foot of the mountain, took off her shoes, and went down to catch fish. The river, warmed by the sun, wasfortable; stepping into the water, she recaptured the feeling from before she was ten. Before the age of ten, she often yed in the river like this. After the age of ten, upon arriving at the Shen family, with its strict household rules, especially Shen Chi¡¯s, who would often prohibit her from doing this or that. Thus, after ten, she never went into the river again. Randomly recalling the overbearing man, Xu Chaomu curled her lips and muttered softly, ¡°Bastard.¡± She bent down, the sunlight spilling over her, making her smile as radiant as a sunflower. Shen Group. Shen Chi received one call after another, but they all had the same message, ¡°Mr. Shen, we haven¡¯t found her.¡± After a day and night without sleep, his eyes were bloodshot. Hey exhausted in his chair, his grip on his phone slowly loosening; with a ¡°ng,¡± the phone fell onto the desk, tracing a deste arc before dropping to the floor. His face wore exhaustion, unable to lift his eyes. ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± he called her name, sounding lost. The usuallymanding Mr. Shen was gone; the current Shen Chi was dejected and forlorn. His head throbbed; he pressed his forehead, frowning deeply. After a while, he reached out, grabbed a bottle of liquor from the shelf. Skilfully removing the cork, he poured the liquor into a ss. With the fragrance filling the air, he drank one ss after another. No matter how good his alcohol tolerance was, it couldn¡¯t withstand his current rate of drinking; soon, his head grew heavier and terribly painful. He took out a photo from the drawer; Xu Chaomu¡¯s face gleamed like a flower in the picture. As his fingertip traced her face, his vision blurred¡­ ¡°Mumu, Mumu¡­¡± Xiao Mo knocked numerous times, but there was no response from inside. ¡°Mr. Shen, please open the door.¡± Xiao Mo knew Shen Chi had been sitting inside for half a day and was worried. With no response, Xiao Mo knocked harder, ¡°Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen!¡± Finally, Shen Chi weakly pressed the button, and the door slowly opened. Upon entering, Xiao Mo was momentarily stunned. The room was filled with the smell of alcohol, and Shen Chi was clearly drunk. ¡°Mr. Shen, there¡¯s news,¡± Xiao Mo said. Shen Chi looked up bleakly, put down his ss, and atst nced at Xiao Mo. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Back in her hometown.¡± Shen Chi was stunned; he had searched all over C City but did not expect her to return to her hometown. Maybe that ce could no longer be considered her home, because there, nothing remained. He suddenly remembered driving her past a traffic light not long ago, and she had gazed out the window, lost in thought. Chapter 189: Making Her Uncomfortable (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 189: Making Her Ufortable (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Trantor: 549690339 That day, it was pouring rain, and the two of them had just had an argument. Outside the window, there was a young couple with a little girl, the family of three supporting each other as they crossed the street. It was ordinary yet warm, and Xu Chaomu watched them for a long time, captivated. Now, she had run back to her hometown, he should have guessed it. What she wanted had always been simple. ¡°Mr. Shen, do you want me to arrange something?¡± Xiao Mo was waiting for Shen Chi¡¯s direction. Unfortunately, Shen Chi was clenching his fist and leaning against his forehead, remaining silent. His brows were deeply furrowed, it was clear he¡¯d had too much to drink. With a nce, Xiao Mo saw the photo of Xu Chaomu on Shen Chi¡¯s desk. Just how important was this girl to Mr. Shen? Just as Xiao Mo was about to speak again, suddenly, someone barged into Shen Chi¡¯s office! ¡°Shen Chi, where have you hidden Mumu?¡± The visitor was Yu Weiwei. She hadn¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu at school all day today, and at first she snickered, but then she couldn¡¯tugh anymore. She pressed Li Beiting for answers, and it was only then that Li Beiting said Xu Chaomu was missing. She insisted oning to Shen Chi¡¯s office, and Li Beiting, unable to persuade her otherwise, had to bring her over. Xiao Mo quickly intercepted Yu Weiwei, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss, please step outside.¡± Yu Weiwei was not to be trifled with, and she stepped on Xiao Mo¡¯s foot, ¡°I¡¯m talking to Shen Chi, what are you blocking me for?¡± Xiao Mo, worthy of being Shen Group¡¯s chief secretary, winced in pain but still maintained good manners. Yu Weiwei walked around Xiao Mo and approached Shen Chi. As she was about to speak with a fierce momentum, a cold re from Shen Chi made her body tremble. And she forgot her prepared lines¡­ ¡°You, where have you hidden Mumu?¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s bluster was halved. Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and his body exuded a frigid chill as he red at Yu Weiwei. This man¡¯s aura was too overpowering, Yu Weiwei was scared enough to step back. ¡°Miss, please leave,¡± Xiao Mo approached again. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, I¡¯m asking him; yesterday Mumu left with him, and now he¡¯s lost her, how is this supposed to be okay? Does he care about Mumu at all? Shen Chi, say something, did you scold Mumu again?¡± Yu Weiwei had finally regained her power of speech and started tosh out at Shen Chi angrily. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Xiao Mo said evenly. ¡°How am I talking nonsense? Shen Chi, hand over Mumu! Is this how you treat people? If you don¡¯t like Mumu, then you shouldn¡¯t have pursued her!¡± Yu Weiwei felt ufortable all over when she remembered what Xu Chaomu had drunkenly said the night before, and she wanted to cry. Shen Chi was really a jerk. Mumu was absolutely right about him. In desperation, Yu Weiwei reached out to pull on Shen Chi¡¯s clothes, ¡°Hand over Mumu, you were the one who took her away, now give her back!¡± Apparently irritated, Shen Chi waved his hand to shake off Yu Weiwei, his expression very ugly. Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t stand firmly, stumbled, and fell backwards. Fortunately, Xiao Mo was quick to help and caught her. ¡°You really are a jerk, how could Mumu ever like a person like you, you¡¯re not worthy of her, I feel so sorry for Mumu! Shen Chi, you¡¯re just a jerk!¡± Yu Weiwei was cursing on behalf of Xu Chaomu. Xiao Mo¡¯s expression changed immediately, as no one had dared to curse Mr. Shen to his face like this. He hastily covered Yu Weiwei¡¯s mouth, but she, being hot-tempered, bit his hand fiercely. Yu Weiwei suddenly spotted a photo of Xu Chaomu on the desk. With quick eyes and nimble hands, she snatched it away. ¡°Why are you still keeping Mumu¡¯s photo? You¡¯re not nice to her at all. Do you even know how much she cried yesterday? How would you know, when all you ever do is coo and cuddle with your white lotus? If you don¡¯t like Mumu, just make it clear to her. Stop bothering her; she won¡¯t cling to you!¡± ¡°You think just because you¡¯re rich, you¡¯re amazing? Do you think all the women in the world should revolve around you? Bastard!¡± Yu Weiwei rattled on relentlessly. Shen Chi became angry, he stood up, his ck suit wrapping around his tall figure, emitting waves of coldness that seemed to freeze the surrounding air. Cold, so very cold. ¡°Give me the photo,¡± he demanded in a low voice. Fearlessly, Yu Weiwei shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t give it to you! Tell me, where is Mumu?!¡± ¡°I said, give me the photo!¡± Shen Chi mmed his hand on the table, raising his voice and yelling once more. A man drunk on anger is not clear-headed, and most dangerous. Xiao Mo quickly tried to persuade Yu Weiwei, ¡°Miss, there are many things you don¡¯t understand. Hand over the photo, and let¡¯s talk it out.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give it to him. Shen Chi, if you¡¯re capable, hand Mumu over! What on earth did you do to her? You beast in human clothing!¡± Yu Weiwei was not afraid of him. ¡°I¡¯ll say it one more time, give me the photo!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, terrifying to behold. Hisrge palm, crashing down on the table, slowly clenched into a fist. Rage and annoyance climbed on his face, dark clouds gathering, brewing a violent tempest! The office was suddenly a battlefield with drawn swords and taut bows! The atmosphere was eerily quiet to an extreme! Yu Weiwei shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t give it to you, this photo belongs to Mumu. I want to return it to her.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s towering figure pressed forward, taking rapid strides towards Yu Weiwei. He gripped Yu Weiwei¡¯s wrist tightly, his force great and anger immense. ¡°Let me go, let go, it hurts¡­¡± He disregarded everything and snatched the photo from Yu Weiwei¡¯s hand before flinging her hand aside! Xiao Mo grimaced, she had warned her not to provoke President Shen, and now she had asked for trouble. ¡°Xiao Mo, see her out!¡± Shen Chimanded coldly. ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Mo knew that President Shen was being lenient. Had it been anyone else, it would surely have been ¡°get her out of here.¡± ¡°Miss, pleasee with me now,¡± Xiao Mo gently persuaded Yu Weiwei. Yu Weiwei was stubborn too, and besides, she was so close to Xu Chaomu. How could she just let Chaomu disappear into thin air? ¡°I won¡¯t go. Shen Chi, you owe me an exnation. Where have you hidden Mumu? What did you say to her yesterday? Did you make her upset again?¡± Make her upset¡­ Heh. At the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth appeared a cold and bloodthirsty sneer, thinking who the hell was making whom upset! ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say something? Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Do you feel guilty? Did you do something to betray her? What have you done to her?¡± Yu Weiwei spilled out all her usations. Seeing Shen Chi¡¯s change in expression, Xiao Mo quickly dragged Yu Weiwei away. Yu Weiwei kicked and punched, ¡°Stop blocking me! Don¡¯t pull on me! I want to talk to him! Shen Chi is just a sanctimonious hypocrite! Mumu was unlucky to have taken a fancy to him; she¡¯s really had bad luck for three lifetimes!¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice grew fainter and fainter, and soon Xiao Mo had her inside the elevator, sending her down. Shen Chi¡¯s fingers held the photo, his thin lips tightly pressed, silent. He sat rigidly on the chair, his eyes filled with an unfathomable depth. Chapter 190: Will You Take Me Away, Please? Chapter 190: Will You Take Me Away, Please? Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Mr. Shen, don¡¯t take it to heart, she was just talking nonsense,¡± Xiao Mo turned back. He noticed the unhealthy pallor and exhaustion on Shen Chi¡¯s face, the drunkenness only highlighting his weariness. He knew that Shen Chi hadn¡¯t slept at all for a whole day and night, and had even neglected the affairs of the Shen Group. Xiao Mo was a smart man and it didn¡¯t take him long to understand. But he still wasn¡¯t sure what exactly Xu Chaomu meant to Mr. Shen in his heart. A sister? Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, he ced the photo back into the notebook, clipped it securely, and locked it. He picked up his wine ss again, the red wine sliding down the ss wall, gleaming like a ruby. ¡°Mr. Shen, do you want to go find Miss Xu?¡± Xiao Mo asked. It was already past four in the afternoon. If he didn¡¯t go now, it would be dark soon. He had heard that the ce was chaotic, and if something happened¡­ ¡°Mr. Shen, it¡¯s getting dark, and Miss Xu will definitely be unsafe alone outside. How about I go pick up Miss Xu?¡± Clutching the ss tightly, Shen Chi finally snapped, ¡°Crash!¡± he shattered the ss on the floor! Shards scattered everywhere! His face was filled with a fierce expression, his eyes dark and brooding, his shoulders trembling. A cold voice came from overhead, chilling enough to freeze everything around. ¡°If she loves leaving so much, then let her roll away and nevere back!¡± Xiao Mo was stunned, but true to his role as the chief secretary of Shen Group, his shocksted only a matter of seconds. A momentter, his face regained itsposure. ¡°Mr. Shen, it¡¯s not safe there, and Miss Xu is a girl alone¡­¡± With the conversation reaching this point, Xiao Mo didn¡¯t need to say any more. Shen Chi was in a state of agitation. He undid the button at his cor and knocked into a wine bottle, which, unsteady, also ¡°Crash!¡± broke upon the floor! The red wine instantly spilled all over! The red color was shocking, like a stain of blood, or a blossomed red rose. The air froze, and time seemed to stop. The silence in the office was profound, not a sound could be heard. After a long, long while, Shen Chi¡¯s voice, low and hoarse, finally drifted slowly out. He uttered two words without strength. ¡°Prepare the car.¡± Raising Xu Chaomu was the most thankless thing he had done in his life. From now on, he was no longer himself. The man who never bowed his head, bowed again and again. He couldn¡¯t just leave her out there alone; he still couldn¡¯t bear to part with her. The harsh words he had spoken were just repeated self-inflicted blows to his own face. Shen Chi, too, had his moments of utter dejection. ¡°Alright,¡± Xiao Mo replied, finally at ease. Soon, Shen Chi descended the stairs and got into the ck Maybach. ¡°Mr. Shen, do you need me to apany you?¡± ¡°Stay at the Group, be ready for my call.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll call Driver Cheng.¡± Without a response from Shen Chi, Xiao Mo made the call to Old Cheng. It didn¡¯t take long for Old Cheng to hurry over. Xiao Mo gave Old Cheng a brief rundown and then closed the car door. Shen Chi really was drunk, his fist propping up his forehead as he sat in the passenger seat, suffering from a severe headache. Xu Chaomu, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself. Daring to leave without a word, traveling so far alone. The day slowly turned to night, the sunset gently sinking below the horizon in the west, a circle turning gradually into a semicircle, then slowly into a dot¡­ The sunset¡¯s light bathed everything in orange-red ¨C the mountains, the trees, the grass. Until nightfall swallowed the day, and thest ray of light disappeared from the sky. When Xu Chaomu followed Nie Chenng back to the orphanage, just then, the sun had set. After a whole day of fun, Xu Chaomu was delighted. She couldn¡¯t remember thest time she had yed so happily, but soon, mncholy washed over her. By five o¡¯clock the next morning, Nie Chenng would be leaving C City by ne. Helplessness and sorrow surged in her heart. She rubbed her hands together and sniffled her nose. Her nose felt sour, and her chest was tight. The little rascals were carefree, unaware, because Nie Chenng had not dared to tell them he was leaving. They still thought that when they woke up the next morning, as soon as daylight broke, Teacher Nie would take them out to y. Tiantian even mischievously ran up to Nie Chenng, standing on a stool to whisper in his ear. ¡°Teacher Nie, lemme tell you, your girlfriend is fierce. You have to keep her in check, or she¡¯ll lead us kids astray.¡± Nie Chenng pinched his cheek andughed, ¡°You¡¯re the one who talks too much.¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear them, but she could tell from their expressions it was no ttery. ¡°Are you badmouthing me?¡± Xu Chaomu picked up Tiantian by his cor. Tiantian immediately iled, shaking his head vigorously: ¡°No, no, Miss Xu, you¡¯re the best, I really like you.¡± ¡°Really? How much do you like me?¡± Tiantian made a long face, s, another lie to tell. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Xu Chaomu pressed. ¡°Like, really, really lots; like fish love water, like bees love flowers,¡± Tiantian shed a grin. ¡°That sounds more like it.¡± Xu Chaomu patted her hands and let him go. Tiantian dashed away instantly, turning back to make a face at Xu Chaomu and muttering under his breath with satisfaction: ¡°Wolf Grandma.¡± ¡°You!¡± Xu Chaomu was livid. But she didn¡¯t chase after him, instead, she sat down next to Nie Chenng. ¡°Chenng, can you not go?¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at his arm. Under the light, she looked up to see the illumination fall on his bright face, young and handsome, very pleasing to the eye. ¡°No, I¡¯ve already bought the ticket, and my advisor is urging me to return,¡± he said gently and regretfully. ¡°Then take me with you,¡± Xu Chaomu blurted out. Nie Chenng extended his hand, his palm gently brushing her soft hair: ¡°Go back to where you¡¯ve been staying, and don¡¯t run off anymore. Promise me you ¡®ll go back to school and never run away alone again.¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head vehemently: ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back, I really don¡¯t. Nobody likes me there.¡± ¡°How could that be? You¡¯re so adorable, they must like you,¡± said Nie Chenng. Having spent a whole day and night with her, even Nie Chenng was reluctant to part with her, let alone others. ¡°Really, I¡¯m not lying to you. Can you take me with you?¡± ¡°Be a good girl, go home, and don¡¯te out alone again,¡± Nie Chenng insisted. Of course, Nie Chenng couldn¡¯t possibly take her with him. ¡°Will I be able to see you again?¡± Longing and attachment shone in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s hope for another meeting in the future,¡± he said indifferently. He had thought about leaving her his phone number, but after considering it, he concluded it wasn¡¯t necessary. ¡°When are you going to the airport?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, blinking. ¡°I¡¯m about to head out soon. It¡¯s still several hours from here to the airport,¡± Nie Chenng checked his watch. Memories of the day flooded Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind: him apanying her for a barbecue, catching fish with her, wiping sweat off her forehead, and telling her jokes. She remembered their first meetingst night, him standing in the rain holding an umbre. His smile was bright and clear, as if the relentless passage of time had softened. Chapter 191 - 191 The Annoying Little Fairy Chapter 191: The Annoying Little Fairy Trantor: 549690339 Nie Chenng turned his head and found himself gazing directly into Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes. Her eyes were like stars, her pupils clear as cut water, pure and clean, possessing the unique innocence and beauty of her age. With each blink, her long eyshes would flutter slightly, a sight quite enchanting to behold. ¡°May I take you there?¡± Xu Chaomu asked imploringly. Nie Chenng¡¯s lips curved in a smile, as hisrge hand brushed through her hair, ¡°Of course you may.¡± ¡°Oh, this is for you.¡± Xu Chaomu bowed her head to remove her bracelet and handed it to Nie Chenng. This bracelet had been a gift from Shen Shihan when they were ying in Tianju Mountain. A cat charm bracelet, very cute. She had always worn it on her wrist. Although it was hard to part with, she thought that if she gave it to Nie Chenng, he would surely keep it safe for her. ¡°Such a pretty bracelet, are you really sure you want to give it to me?¡± Nie Chenng said with a smile as he looked at the silver bracelet. It really was very pretty, and it still carried the warmth of her wrist when he took it off. Cradled in the palm of his hand under the light, the silver glinted brightly. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t throw it away, I can bear to part with it. But if one day you really don¡¯t want it, just throw it into the sea.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll keep it always.¡± Nie Chenng and Xu Chaomu sat together and talked for a very long time. When they were done, he went to pack his luggage. Xu Chaomu was very optimistic, he said he was leaving and she didn¡¯t shed a single tear. But when he stood at the doorway with his suitcase, slightly tilting his head against the light, her nose tingled and tears began to stream down her face. She turned around to wipe them away; she wasn¡¯t going to cry. ¡°Mr. Nie, let me help you with your luggage!¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to be cheerfully unaware of her sorrows and bounced over to drag his suitcase. ¡°Shush, keep it down, they¡¯re all asleep.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded and pulled his luggage. The night was chilly, so Nie Chenng draped one of his own coats over Xu Chaomu, who was also wearing a long ck trench coat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nie Chenng stepped outside the gate and looked back. The orphanage was quiet at night, eerily silent except for the low hum of insects. The children went to bed early and were already deep in dreams at this hour. Closing the door behind him, Nie Chenng stood still for a few minutes, finding it hard to leave. Xu Chaomu felt the same way. It would be eight years before she would return to this ce again. The next time, who knows when it would be. Nie Chenng wrapped his arm around her waist: ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± This time, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look back. Walking through the night, one tall and one short, Xu Chaomu wrapped in Nie Chenng¡¯s long coat looked rather amusing. Meanwhile, Nie Chenng strode with assured steps and elegant poise. They walked a good distance from that spot before they finally saw a taxi. ¡°Chaomu, where do you live? I¡¯ll take you home first,¡± Nie Chenng said, noting the time was still early. Xu Chaomu shook her head vehemently, ¡°I¡¯m not going back.¡± ¡°Listen, tell me,¡± Nie Chenng frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the airport with you first, then I¡¯ll make my way back to school on my own,¡± Xu Chaomupromised. ¡°That won¡¯t do, I¡¯ll take you, it¡¯s dark out.¡± ¡°No need, I want to watch you board the ne.¡± Unable to win her over, Nie Chenng could only shake his head and sit with her in the back of the taxi. The trip from there to the airport would take three hours, plenty of time to spare. The taxi raced through the night, speeding towards the direction of the airport. Halfway there, a slick ck Maybach sped past the taxi like a released arrow. The dominating and smooth design stood out even in pure ck, exceptionally eye-catching. The taxi driver broke the silence in the car with praise, ¡°Now that¡¯s a fine car, so quick and without a sound.¡± Nie Chenng chuckled lightly, ¡°The Maybach lives up to its name, certainly a performer.¡± Xu Chaomu, naturally clueless about such things, turned her head quickly at the mention of ¡°Maybach.¡± But the car was nowhere to be seen by then. Ah, fine cars truly are different, so fast. However, her heart skipped a beat, wondering¡­ it couldn¡¯t have been him, could it? Suddenly, her hands began to twist together nervously. The taxi drove smoothly and swiftly. After crossing that deste area, the view opened up considerably. The lights were bright, and the atmosphere lively. By the time they arrived at the airport, it was past two in the morning, still a long while before the flight¡¯s departure. Xu Chaomu sat side by side with Nie Chenng in the brightly-lit departure hall, chatting away. The hall was bustling with peopleing and going, quite lively indeed. ¡°Chaomu, tell me a story,¡± Nie Chenng suggested, to lighten the mood of parting. ¡°I don¡¯t have any stories left¡­¡± Xu Chaomu propped her cheek in her hand and looked down at her shoes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell you one.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°One day, a reporter interviewed an olddy: ¡®Excuse me, ma¡¯am, what¡¯s your opinion on setting off firecrackers indiscriminately?¡¯ The olddy said: ¡®How else to look? Just climb up to the window and watch.¡¯ Xu Chaomuughed gleefully upon hearing this. She¡¯s always been easy to amuse, finding joy andughter in simple things. She always liked to live happily, so no matter how many worries she had, she chose to forget them. But some things, she just couldn¡¯t forget. Nie Chenng regaled her with several more stories and jokes, making Xu Chaomuugh until her stomach hurt. She clutched Nie Chenng¡¯s arm, ¡°Mr. Nie, my stomach hurts fromughing, you¡¯re responsible!¡± ¡°Take a breath, we still have time, get some sleep!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t sleep, I want to talk to you.¡± Each word spoken was one less they had together. Nie Chenng, still unable to refuse her, continued to tell her stories. After many tales, Xu Chaomu grew tired after all. She rested her head on Nie Chenng¡¯s arm and slowly drifted off to sleep¡­ Nie Chenng knew she must have been tired from ying all day. He covered her with his coat and watched over her as she slept. Xu Chaomu slept soundly, these past two nights she had slept well. In her dream, her mother was cooking sweet and sour pork ribs for her, and she wandered around the living room moring to eat. Then, the man sitting beside her pulled her down with a smile, endearingly saying, ¡°All you think about is eating; you should learn to cook, too.¡± She threw herself into his arms, ¡°I won¡¯t do it, girls don¡¯t cook these days, it¡¯s the guys who do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a baseless argument,¡± the manughed, but didn¡¯t refute her. Lately, he often cooked her sweet and sour pork ribs, and again she teased, ¡°You¡¯re deliberately trying to fatten me up and then dump me, just to find a little fairy.¡± ¡°Fattening you up a bit is just so you¡¯ll be nicer to touch,¡± the man facetiously replied with a straight face. ¡°No, obviously, it¡¯s to find a little fairy.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re the vexing little fairy,¡± he replied. Finishing his words with a kiss to seal them. The kiss was domineering and deep, bearing his unique fragrance of grass and wood¡­ Xu Chaomu immediately woke up, suddenly remembering her drunken kiss with Shen Chi the day before. And that man in her dream just now¡­ She patted her head, shaking it. Just then, the airport¡¯s hall was filled with the sweet voice of the announcer: ¡°Attention all passengers, flight XXXX is now ready for boarding, please proceed to gate XX for check-in¡­¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s gaze shifted to the electronic screen. Chapter 192: A Long and Passionate Kiss Chapter 192: A Long and Passionate Kiss Trantor:549690339 ¡°Chaomu, I have to go now.¡± Nie Chenng lowered his head to look at her. Xu Chaomu lifted her head from the crook of his arm, her eyes filled with reluctance. ¡°I can¡¯t bear it¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was in distress. With him around for a day and a night, she had almost forgotten those unhappy things. She really wished life could just continue like this¡­ He would hold an umbre for her, make noodles for her, listen to her stories¡­ ¡°Even a journey of a thousand miles must end. Chaomu, my student, promise me you¡¯ll go back to school, study hard, okay?¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Nie Chenng took the suitcase from her hand and step by step headed towards the boarding gate. He didn¡¯t dare to look back; he didn¡¯t want to see tears in this carefree girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°Teacher Nie, Chenng!¡± Xu Chaomu initially stood in ce, thinking that as long as she didn¡¯t follow, there wouldn¡¯t be the sadness of parting. But just as Nie Chenng was about to reach the boarding gate, she ran over quickly. Ignoring the crowded and chaotic crowd, she pushed through the obstacles and ran over. She just suddenly wanted to hug him, really, really wanted to. She would always remember how bright his smile was, how pleasant his voice sounded, how unfettered her days were with him around. Just as she was about to throw herself into his arms, Nie Chenng opened his arms first and pulled her into his embrace. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see you go.¡± Xu Chaomu bit her lips, repeating the same lines. ¡°I have to leave eventually,¡± Nie Chenng sighed. He had so much to say, but he swallowed it all. Maybe, it was a farewell forever. Better left unsaid. ¡°Chenng, do you know a saying, ¡®Every meeting in this world is a reunion after a long separation.¡¯ So, I look forward to our next reunion after a long separation.¡± Xu Chaomu raised her head and smiled. She didn¡¯t even know how she could be so open-minded. Fully aware that a parting might mean no reunion for a long time toe. ¡°Alright,¡± Nie Chenng murmured as he parted his lips. She let go of him and took steps backward, ¡°You should board the ne, if you don¡¯t leave now, you might not be able to go¡­¡± As she retreated slowly, she quickly disappeared into the crowd. Nie Chenng only turned around and walked towards the ne, dragging his luggage, after she was out of sight. No one could see the other anymore. But all of this was witnessed by someone from the moment Xu Chaomu hugged Nie Chenng. With tightly clenched fists, he walked toward the crowd in a few strides. Xu Chaomu dejectedly lowered her head, counting her steps, thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight¡­ Shen Chi abruptly grabbed her wrist, his eyes bloodshot, ¡°You fucking ran here by yourself!¡± ¡°Thirty-eight, thirty-eight!¡± As Xu Chaomu was counting, she was interrupted by this man, and couldn¡¯t help but repeat it angrily twice. ¡°Thirty-eight my ass!¡± Shen Chi was enraged. His grip was always domineering, grabbing onto Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrist and refusing to let go. He dragged her out as if he was dragging a little white rabbit. ¡°Let go, let go, someone help, over here¡­¡± Xu Chaomu refused to walk, so she stomped on the floor, trying to get him to release his grip. She knew that if he let go now, she would definitely fall and bleed from her head. Shen Chi covered her mouth, and the next second, with a whirl, he picked her up. ¡°Shut up!¡± Close to his chest, she smelled a very heavy scent of alcohol. Why would she listen to him? She opened her throat and screamed, ¡°Catch the molester, catch the human trafficker, catch the thief, catch¡­¡± ¡°I told you to shut up!¡± Shen Chi roared. Around them, people cast strange nces, but a cold look from Shen Chi made them all lower their heads again. This man emanated an icy and ruthless aura all over! ¡°I want to speak, I insist on speaking, Officer, there¡¯s a molester here, are you going to take care of it¡­ Bastard, put me down¡­¡± ¡°Fucking noisy!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed tightly as he carried her to a dark corner. He roughly set her down, and the next second, he pinned her against the wall! His hands forcefully held her, leaving no room for resistance! He bent his head and urately captured her incessantly speaking lips, sealing them with a kiss. Kissing, once you¡¯ve done it a time or two, can be addictive. He thought he was addicted, poisoned. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, she was stunned, her mind went nk. The day before yesterday she had been drunk, but today, she was sober. The strong scent of alcohol and the fragrance of nts from Shen Chi¡¯s body kept drilling into her nose; apparently, this man was drunk. No wonder, he mistook her for Bai Man. ¡°Mmm¡­ Shen¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled to speak, but just as a word popped out, he kissed her again. This kiss was lingering and fiery. She desperately tried to push him away, but her hands were weak and feeble, so she changed tactics to scratching. As she scratched at his chest, he, annoyed, forcefully captured her hands, lifting them over her head to prevent any further movement! ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She writhed, not wanting to be a substitute for another woman. Any woman Shen Chi, the Fourth Young Master Shen, desired would line up to climb into his bed with just a wave of his hand. Why had hee to look for her? His body pressed tightly against hers, and as she twisted, the fire in him was fully ignited. Through the clothes, Xu Chaomu felt his intense reaction; she tried to kick him away. But Shen Chi was not so easily dealt with; as she lifted her leg, he pinned her legs with his knee, immobilizing her. His left hand unbuttoned her blouse, and Xu Chaomu felt a chill at her neckline, her eyes widening in rm! No¡­ this man was drunk; he had no idea who she was. His gaze was hazy, his slender fingers fiddling with her blouse buttons, one, two¡­ Finally, his lips left hers, slowly sliding downward¡­ After gulping for air twice, Xu Chaomu cried out loud, ¡°Shen Chi, take a good look, I¡¯m not Miss Bai. You¡¯re drunk, let me go!¡± His kiss stopped at her neck, his breath heavy. Hearing her words, he halted his movements. Xu Chaomu rxed with relief, ¡°Look up and see who I am, Shen Chi, let me go, I¡¯m getting married one day!¡± In the past, she always liked to snuggle against him, snuggling and snuggling until she wanted to kiss him. His usual response was, ¡°Get lost!¡± Now that he kissed her and he initiated it, she was not pleased. She didn¡¯t know which words of hers touched him, but he truly didn¡¯t continue. He dropped his hands dejectedly, setting her free. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart trembled; she knew he had mistaken her for someone else. Why would he kiss her on his own volition? He avoided her like the gue. Countless women surrounded him, beautiful, sexy, enchanting, charming¡­ Xu Chaomu was none of those. He would be blind to set his eyes on her. She rebuttoned her blouse nonchntly, ready to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t go out drunk making a fool of yourself in the future, mistaking people for others and bing aughingstock, huh.¡± Xu Chaomu huffed with a displeased tone. ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± He raised his bleary drunk eyes, his thin lips pressed tightly, his voice cold as he called her name, ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± Chapter 193: You’re my sister, dear sister Chapter 193: You¡¯re my sister, dear sister Trantor:549690339 He stared at her intensely, his gaze filled with coldness. But those obsidian-like eyes were still as sharp as a hawk¡¯s, and when they swept over Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, she shuddered. She pretended to be calm and poked his arm. ¡°Bastard, move aside, I need to go buy something.¡± She was hungry. Shen Chi was annoyed and grabbed her arm, ¡°What did you just call me? Disrespectful!¡± During this time, she didn¡¯t even know how many times she had called him a bastard. In her entire life, she was probably the only one who dared to do so. ¡°Bastard, unhappy?¡± Xu Chaomu deliberately smiled, her eyes meeting his as she looked up. He clearly was a bastard, having just kissed her as if she were Bai Man. Thinking of this, her heart felt sour. At first he was annoyed, but as he looked at her innocent face, annoyance turned to helplessness. She just liked to go against him. With a hint of drunkenness, he leaned in close, his face just two centimeters from hers. He could clearly see her long eyshes, fragile and thin like butterfly wings. His warm hand slowly brushed her face, and he suddenly smiled, ¡°Just look at yourself, so unabashed. Who would dare to marry you in the future?¡± Xu Chaomu thought he was going to get angry, but his tone turned out to be so gentle. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business who marries me, as long as it¡¯s not you. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t marry you either. With a man like you, vulgar and sleazy, with a poison tongue and a lustful nature, who would be blind enough to marry you?¡± ¡°Lustful?¡± he mused over the word. His fingers lifted her chin, caressing her skin. His voice was husky and deep, and his mood seemed to have improved significantly, ¡°Mumu, exin to me, what does ¡®lustful¡¯ mean?¡± Feeling the dangerous aura emanating from him, Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand trembled. ¡°Lustful means¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi stroked her face, waiting for her to continue. ¡°Lustful just means liking all sorts of colors.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Like red, blue, green, white¡­¡± Before she could finish, he tilted her chin up, looking proud yet sighing, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to teach you by demonstration.¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t reacted yet when a punishing kiss fell upon her. It was stillden with a heavy scent of alcohol, but not as violent as before. This kiss was more like a light rain on the lips, fluttering gently. Shen Chi thought that kissing really was addictive. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind nked again. What was wrong with Shen Chi today? ¡°What, what are you doing¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s little face turned red, her hands pushing him away. ¡°Anything else you don¡¯t understand? I can teach you,¡± he said with acent smile. He didn¡¯t believe that he, a big hooligan, couldn¡¯t handle her, a little hooligan. ¡°How do you write ¡®shameless¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu said indignantly. ¡°Oh? Like this¡­¡± After speaking, he leaned in again, his intentions clear as day. Xu Chaomu quickly jumped away. There was no need for her to talk to him anymore; he was drunk and behaving like a beast in human¡¯s clothing. ¡°Shen Chi, let me remind you, you¡¯re getting engaged on the eighth of next month,¡± she said, tilting up her little face. ¡°Not bad, learning to give as good as you get,¡± Shen Chi looked down at her. ¡°The rabbit doesn¡¯t eat the grass by its burrow. If youck women, go find one elsewhere, I¡¯m your sister.¡± Thest four words, Xu Chaomu deliberately emphasized. One had to admire the depth andplexity of the Chinesenguage; those four words also managed to scold him. ¡°Right, you are my sister, ¡®precious little sister¡¯.¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth, shameless. This man was really drunk, spouting such words without blushing or skipping a beat. ¡°Precious little sister,¡± pah. She turned and walked away, not wanting to deal with him. She was hungry, she really wanted to eat something. The airport still had quite a few shops open, and she spotted a nice dumpling store, so she quickly headed there. When she sat down in the store, Shen Chi came and sat beside her. She moved away, and he moved closer. This scene seemed familiar. In the past, she always liked to stick to him, rushing over to wherever he sat. When he showed his disgust and avoided her, she would shamelessly follow him. ¡°Won¡¯t you let someone eat in peace?¡± Xu Chaomu snapped furiously. What was going on today? Not only had he gotten drunk, he also fell ill! ¡°You eat yours; I¡¯ll just watch,¡± Shen Chi replied, not annoyed, slightly curving his lips. Who could eat with someone staring at them?! Damn it! The waiter quickly brought over the dumplings, filled with her favorite shepherd¡¯s purse. She endured, endured, endured. Bowing her head, she ate one dumpling after another. Shen Chi really just watched, silent, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t swallow another bite, there were no shameless people like him. Angry, she mmed her chopsticks down: ¡°I¡¯m not eating!¡± He immediately grasped her hand, frowning: ¡°Why not eat if you¡¯re hungry? Want me to feed you?¡± ¡°Seeing you just upsets me.¡± ¡°So, the man sitting opposite you just now is the same one from the ne?¡± Xu Chaomu was stunned. He saw that? Seeing her silent, he got displeased: ¡°Who is that man?¡± He was acting like a childish little kid. Xu Chaomu looked at him with disdain. ¡°None of your business.¡± ¡°They seemed quite affectionate together just now.¡± ¡°Yeah, not only did we embrace, but we also kissed. What¡¯s the matter, jealous?¡± Xu Chaomu was insufferably defiant. ¡°Kissed?¡± His eyes shed with dangerous, icy vibes as he said gravely, ¡°How did you kiss?¡± ¡°French wet kiss¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled to recall such a term. It had been a long time since she read any magazines. She was falling behind on pop culture. No wonder they say books are thedder of human progress. The color drained from Shen Chi¡¯s face: ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, will you ever stop? Are you deliberately keeping me from eating my dumplings?¡± Finished speaking, she lowered her head to eat her dumplings. So annoying. Men who drank too much were utterly irrational, with the intellect of a three-year-old child. Sure enough, Shen Chi stopped talking after her outburst. With an irritable face, he took off his coat, hung it over his arm, and started dragging her outside. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to eat!¡± This man became as imperious as an emperor when he got bossy. Xu Chaomu was dragged outside by him, attracting a crowd¡¯s attention. ¡°What are you doing? If you¡¯ve got something to say, say it, don¡¯t get physical.¡± The sky was beginning to brighten outside, and soon, the sun would rise. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Shen Chi ignored her, just dragging her along, refusing to let go. Passersby turned their heads frequently, but upon seeing Shen Chi¡¯s stern face, they quickly looked away. Lao Cheng had the Maybach parked in a corner of the airport, standing outside smoking. Today, he had driven the car to the orphanage and then to the airport¡ªit was quite the ordeal. But Shen Chi was even more wearied, virtually silent the whole time, and drinking quite a bit while in the car. Suddenly, he saw Shen Chi dragging Xu Chaomu back. Lao Cheng quickly snubbed out his cigarette. ¡°Xu Chaomu, get in!¡± Shen Chi unceremoniously shoved her into the car. ¡°Where are you taking me? I haven¡¯t finished my dumplings!¡± Xu Chaomuined indignantly. ¡°Shut up, enough with the nonsense!¡± Shen Chi forcefully pushed her into the back seat and sat next to her. ¡°Boss Shen, where to?¡± Lao Cheng asked. ¡°Civil Affairs Bureau.¡± Chapter 194: Going to the Civil Affairs Bureau Chapter 194: Going to the Civil Affairs Bureau Trantor: 549690339 These three words stunned both Old Cheng and Xu Chaomu, leaving them clueless. Old Cheng was the first to speak, ¡°President Shen, the Civil Affairs Bureau may not be open yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I will have Xiao Mo call the director.¡± The anger on Shen Chi¡¯s face had faded quite a bit, but Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand anything. What was he going to the Civil Affairs Bureau for? Isn¡¯t that where marriages and divorces are handled? Xu Chaomu immediately became vignt, ¡°Why are you taking me to the Civil Affairs Bureau? Are you going to marry me?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really are beautiful.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Dream on!¡± ¡°Damn it! Bastard!¡± Xu Chaomu was so angry she itched to smack him. Shen Chi, though, gave augh, his half-drunk eyes hazy as he watched her, and hisrge hand involuntarily reached out to touch her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, tell me clearly, why are you taking me to the Civil Affairs Bureau?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you always wanted to sever ties with the Shen Family? I¡¯ll take you to get it notarized, and after that, you and the Shen Family will no longer have any rtion.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone changed, his brows deeply furrowed, a thinyer of cold frost covering his profound eyes. Suddenly, the air froze, not a sound to be heard. The hand stroking her hair abruptly dropped, and it seemed she could hear him sigh. All at once, silence enveloped the surroundings. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, indeed, she had said during a quarrel with him before, ¡°Shen Chi, I know you hate me, and I hate you too. Go home, find the adoption papers, and get them notarized, then I¡¯ll have nothing to do with the Shen Family anymore.¡± At that time, he had replied to her, ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about it!¡± Now, he probably had thought it through. Well, it was good. He was about to marry Bai Man, and keeping her around was, after all, just a burden. The atmosphere was a bit cold, nobody spoke. Xu Chaomu felt a blockage in her chest, it had been eight whole years. From this moment on, she would have nothing to do with the Shen Family. She still remembered that afternoon, when Zhou Ran and Shen Chi stood side by side in the orphanage courtyard under the clear sunshine. He wore a white shirt and a frosty face, never one to smile. Thinking back to that day, it felt as if it were just yesterday. Actually, eight years had passed. From now on, they would no longer have any rtion. Perhaps, it was for the best, to ¡°meet and part as strangers¡± in the vast sea of life. She lowered her head, her hands intertwined. Her fingers twisted together, thoughts scattered. Her nose tingled, but she held back the tears. A look of destion seemed to cross Shen Chi¡¯s face too. He sat rigidly, not speaking, his profound gaze unending. Suddenly there was silence in the car, and even Old Cheng was startled. ¡°President Shen, have you really thought this through?¡± Old Cheng couldn¡¯t quite believe it, fearing that Shen Chi was drunk. ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied indifferently. ¡°President Shen, whether you go through with the certification or not is not really important. You see, Miss Xu has been very good and obedient in the Shen Family, maybe you shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Old Cheng tried to plead on behalf of Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi frowned and nced at Xu Chaomu, ¡°How is she good?¡± Old Cheng was at a loss for words; Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t good, wasn¡¯t she spoiled by you yourself? Upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu angrily turned her head to look out the window. With a faint voice, she said, ¡°I told you to get the notarization done long ago, to save all these years of trouble.¡± She tried to seem indifferent, but her irritation was evident as soon as she spoke. Tears filled her eyes, and she tried hard to keep them from falling. ¡°Do you think I didn¡¯t want to?¡± Shen Chi nced at her again. Xu Chaomu bit her lip and stopped talking, afraid that if she spoke, she would choke up, which would be very embarrassing. Seeing Xu Chaomu was about to cry, Old Cheng quickly said to Shen Chi, ¡°President Shen, how about another day? Look, the weather isn¡¯t great today, it¡¯s all foggy.¡± He hoped Shen Chi would be more clear-headed before making a decision. ¡°Today,¡± Shen Chi looked at his watch, ¡°Today is actually a rather nice day.¡± Uh¡­ Old Cheng choked up. Picking a good day for such a thing? Xu Chaomu immediately got annoyed; he didn¡¯t care at all, so why should she? ¡°Uncle Cheng, today is indeed a good day, the perfect time for a good send-off. Please, drive a little faster,¡± she said. Old Cheng shook his head; both President Shen and Miss Xu were stubborn, and when they argued, one was fiercer than the other. He really didn¡¯t know how they had made it through these eight years. Xu Chaomu continued to look out the window; due to the temperature difference, a thinyer of condensation quickly formed on the ss. She habitually wrote her own name: Xu Chaomu. She remembered writing her and his names side by side in a taxi the day before yesterday. The pain of unrequited feelings, in the end, still had to be borne by herself. ¡°Chaomu, you need to be okay¡­¡± Xu Chaomu murmured softly, looking at her own name, her eyes brimming with tears. Afterwards, with no rtion to the Shen Family, she must live well¡­ Ultimately, she returned to the starting point. ¡°Muttering about what?¡± Shen Chi moved closer, his brow furrowed. Xu Chaomu ignored him, reaching out to wipe her name off the ss. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Shen Chi caught her hand. The next second, he stretched out his other hand and next to her name, he wrote ¡°Shen Chi.¡± Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu. The car fell into a long silence once more. From the rearview mirror, Old Cheng saw the two of them, and had it not been for the conversation earlier, he really would have thought President Shen and Miss Xu shared a cordial rtionship. When he was close to her, she could smell a strong scent of alcohol on him. Really, he wasn¡¯t sober again. She broke free from his grasp and reached out to erase the names on the ss. With a single swipe, both names were wiped away. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. Call me when we¡¯re at the Civil Affairs Bureau, after today¡¯s ¡®good day¡¯ has passed, it could be a long wait,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. After saying that, she shook off Shen Chi¡¯s hand and went to sleep for real. She liked to sleep in the car and could fall asleep as soon as she rested her head. The Maybach had a good suspension, and no matter how she slept, it never felt bumpy. She thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to ride in such a car many times in the future. Sleep once, one less time. While Xu Chaomu was asleep, Old Cheng spoke up to persuade Shen Chi again. ¡°President Shen, let¡¯s not go, shall we? Miss Xu really is quite good, although she is a bit naughty sometimes, we all like her a lot,¡± Old Cheng pleaded. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it quite clearly.¡± ¡°But Miss Xu¡­¡± ¡°Shh, keep it down, she¡¯s sleeping.¡± Having no other option, Old Cheng gave up. The car continued forward; the early morning fog descended, and the sky was heavy. The sun had not risen yet, and the horizon was still immersed in the pre-dawn calm. After a while, as the car was about to enter the highway, Shen Chi spoke up. ¡°Stop on the side for a moment, I need to call Xiao Mo.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Old Cheng quickly parked the car on an empty spot. Old Cheng knew that Shen Chi didn¡¯t want to wake Xu Chaomu; he would even step outside to make a phone call. Clearly reluctant, yet still insisting on doing the notarization. Shen Chi quietly opened the car door and stepped out; a fresh breeze with a touch of mist made his face more alert. Truth be told, he had always been fairly sober. He could get drunk, but never to the point of confusion. Chapter 195: His Big Hand Holds Her Small Hand Chapter 195: His Big Hand Holds Her Small Hand Trantor: 549690339 A wisp of rosy dawn light had begun to seep through the clouds on the horizon, heralding a beautiful springtime, where birds sang and flowers bloomed everywhere. The mistden breeze lifted the hem of Shen Chi¡¯s clothes as he stood under a camphor tree, his back straight and cool to the touch. His well-tailored ck suit wrapped around his slender frame, the lines smooth, making him look even more handsome and charmingly aloof. ¡°Xiao Mo.¡± ¡°President Shen, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Contact Director Zhang at the civil affairs office, ask him toe to the office.¡± ¡°Yes. President Shen, have you found Miss Xu?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get right on it.¡± ¡°Youe too, and remember to bring a set of clothes for a girl, make it pretty.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Xiao Mo agreed fully, although he was somewhat baffled. President Shen had just found Miss Xu, and she hadn¡¯t even arrived at thepany yet; why rush to the civil affairs office first? And bring a pretty set of clothes? After giving the instructions, Shen Chi stood in the breeze for a while longer. The fresh wind caressed his face, the scent of flowers was pleasing. Today was indeed a good day. When he got back in the car, his mood had improved significantly. She had been gone for a day and a night, and he had thought that he would be furious when he saw her again, but that wasn¡¯t the case. He couldn¡¯t bear to be without her, truly couldn¡¯t. ¡°President Shen, shall we go?¡± Old Cheng spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the civil affairs office.¡± Old Cheng sighed, having thought Shen Chi might change his mind, but he was adamant about going to the civil affairs office. Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu beside him, sleeping so soundly. His lips slowly curved upward, hisrge hand stroking her hair. Maybe one day he should sell her after all, even just for some gas money, he mused. Her hair was fine and soft,forting to the touch. He stroked her hair over and over, the curve at the corner of his mouth never fading. With a gentle pull, he drew her into his embrace. Xu Chaomu, thinking she had grabbed somefortable pillow, unconsciously clutched Shen Chi¡¯s shirt, rubbing against it. After a good while of finding the perfect position, she smacked her lips and fell back asleep. Her head buried in Shen Chi¡¯s chest, Shen Chi looked down at her, quite helpless. Old Cheng saw all this through the rearview mirror, wondering if it really was a case of easye, easy go? He let out a sigh. The car drove smoothly on the highway, with the sun gradually rising in the east. The sky was streaked with clouds and rosy light, the weather was mild and sunny, the peach blossoms were lively and sprightly. On such a day, it was fitting for a wedding. Xu Chaomu continued to sleep in Shen Chi¡¯s arms, soundly and sweetly. And Shen Chi, not wanting to awaken her, kept the same position, without moving an inch. His arm had long grown sore, yet he did not move at all. Eight years ago, this cause and effect had already been sown. Time was no match for fate. Old Cheng, witnessing this scene, could not bear to disturb them. He could only drive very slowly, not wanting to see President Shen and Miss Xu part. Once the paperwork was done, Miss Xu and the Shen Family would have no rtionship at all. Thinking of all the years gone by, Old Cheng¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but moisten. But, in the end, the car still reached the civil affairs office. It was early, no one was there for business, and no one was at work yet. When the car stopped in the garage, Xu Chaomu was still sound asleep. Shen Chi liked her this way, asleep, with no need to worry about anything. He hoped she would always be like this, let him handle the storms and stresses. ¡°President Shen, let¡¯s not go after all,¡± Old Cheng advised earnestly once again. ¡°We¡¯vee all this way.¡± Old Cheng was at a loss for words; indeed, they hade all this way. Decisions made by Shen Chi were never defied by anyone. But Xu Chaomu was still deep in sleep, so neither Old Cheng nor Shen Chi had the heart to wake her. Therefore, Shen Chi maintained the same position, allowing her to continue sleeping. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± In her sleep, she mumbled hazily. Shen Chi¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he looked down at her face. After a long, long time, she finally woke up. When she opened her eyes, they met Shen Chi¡¯s deep and profound gaze. ¡°How did I end up sleeping in your arms?¡± ¡°You scooched over yourself.¡± ¡°Impossible! I was clearly sleeping by the window.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so impossible about it? Since you were ten, you¡¯ve always liked to snuggle into my arms when you sleep in the car.¡± ¡°That was in the past¡­ No, I didn¡¯t like it even then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a stubborn duck,¡± Shen Chi teased with a curved lip. ¡°Enough talking, are you still going through with the notarization? We¡¯ve arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, haven¡¯t we? Get out of the car!¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Shen Chi said with a furrowed brow, speaking indifferently. Xu Chaomu was about to get out of the car, curious about what he was up to now. Shen Chi reached out his hand to gently straighten her hair. As his fingertips slid through her hair, Xu Chaomu felt a current passing through her body. His actions were gentle and meticulous to the extreme, patiently fixing her hair until he was satisfied, then he smiled and let go. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take a phototer, so look pretty,¡± he said softly, his voice still cool and deep. Unappreciative, Xu Chaomu pped his hand away: ¡°Keep your distance from me.¡± Eight years ago, when she first met him, she talked to him casually and he said, ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you within three steps.¡± Eight yearster, when he talked to her, she told him, ¡°Keep your distance from me.¡± Shen Chi was not upset, but Old Cheng looked utterly astonished. In this world, Xu Chaomu was probably the only person who dared to speak to Shen Chi like that. ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t keep the director waiting,¡± Shen Chi said, finally opening the door. Xu Chaomu also opened the car door and got out, shouting across the car, ¡°Did you bring all the documents? Try to get it done in one go so I don¡¯t have to make another trip; I¡¯m short on time.¡± ¡°Wait a second.¡± Shen Chi walked around the car toward her, hisrge hand taking her small one: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t react at first, but by the time she did, her hand was already encased in his palm. She pulled, pulled, and pulled. But couldn¡¯t pull away. Fine. Give up. It was thest time, anyway, might as well part on good terms. In the past, she always said, ¡°Your surname is Shen, mine is Xu, I have nothing to do with you.¡± Now, it really would have nothing to do with her anymore¡­ A gust of wind blew over, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes suddenly moistened. He held her hand as they walked side by side up the steps, neither of them speaking, but the warmth in their palms grew. The initially cold hands were not cold for much longer, soon bing warm and cozy. Just like the sky; as soon as the sun came out, the haze dispersed, and the earth warmed up. They walked up the steps, through the quiet corridor, all the way to a door and stopped there. Xiao Mo had been waiting there for a while, and when he saw Shen Chi, he hurriedly approached: ¡°President Shen, Director Zhang is already inside.¡± ¡°Hmm, take Chaomu to change her clothes; I¡¯ll have a few words with Director Zhang,¡± said Shen Chi. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu was filled with suspicion. Changing clothes for notarization? Did he find her embarrassing? ¡°Miss Xu, please follow me,¡± Xiao Mo respectfully said to Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu knew his name was Xiao Mo; he was Shen Chi¡¯s chief secretary, and she had seen him a few times before. But that was it; she knew almost nothing about Shen Chi¡¯s professional life. In her heart, she also understood that she wasn¡¯t worthy of Shen Chi. Not pursuing him was a way to give himplete freedom. Chapter 196 - 196 Happy Newlyweds Chapter 196: Happy Newlyweds Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu quickly went with Xiao Mo to change her clothes, while Shen Chi walked into an office. ¡°Director Zhang, is all the paperwork ready?¡± Director Zhang pointed at a pile of documents on the table and said, ¡°Mr. Shen, you¡¯re putting me in a difficult position, you know very well that girls under the age of 20 can¡¯t get married.¡± Shen Chi nced at the stacked documents and then smiled, ¡°I just knew that there¡¯s nothing impossible in Director Zhang¡¯s office.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your matter, I really couldn¡¯t have done it.¡± ¡°Then I really must thank Director Zhang.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Director Zhang said, ¡°But Mr. Shen, you know the marriage certificate can only be issued once. Have you really thought this through?¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t thought it through, would I have gone to all this trouble to ask you toe here?¡± ¡°So, Mr. Shen, you¡¯re nning to keep this girl in the dark?¡± Director Zhang couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Yes, so please, I hope Director Zhang will cooperate with me. The specifics, I¡¯ve already exined over the phone before.¡± ¡°This is nothing for me. But Mr. Shen, how long do you n to keep her in the dark?¡± ¡°I have my ns.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t ask any further. Mr. Shen, should I say congrattions on your wedding?¡± A slow smile spread across Shen Chi¡¯s lips, and for once, a different kind of smile appeared on his young and handsome face. A smile broke like the first breeze of spring, as if time itself had paused. After changing clothes, Xu Chaomu stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself from left to right. It was a cherry blossom pink evening dress, pure and simple, very pleasing to the eye. Shen Chi was quite generous today, allowing her to wear such a beautiful dress. In the past, the clothes he bought for her were always very ugly. Even wearing a ¡°nightdress,¡± he had to make a fuss for days. Indeed, after the notarization, she was no longer rted to him, and his mood seemed to improve. Xu Chaomu also put aside the difort in her heart. It was a good thing to be no longer rted to him. From now on, no one would control her, no one would make her angry, no one would ever¡ª She couldn¡¯t continue thinking, and her eyes began to well up again. She was just that weak. ¡°Miss Xu, let¡¯s go. Mr. Shen is waiting for you,¡± Xiao Mo said. Xu Chaomu nodded, her throat felt tight, and she couldn¡¯t speak. By the time they arrived at the office door, Xiao Mo knocked, and Shen Chi came out. When he saw Xu Chaomu behind Xiao Mo, Shen Chi was stunned for a moment, gazing at her intently. His lips immediately curved into a smile, his eyes full ofughter. She looked pretty today, yes, he was satisfied. Xu Chaomu said discontentedly, ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re so slow. Just get this over with so I can go back to school.¡± Before Shen Chi could speak, Director Zhang behind him frowned deeply. It was the first time Director Zhang saw someone calling Shen Chi by his name so openly and confidently. Oddly enough, Shen Chi didn¡¯t seem annoyed at all. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Shen Chi stepped forward and took her hand. The paperwork was personally processed by Director Zhang. When it came time to take a photo together, Xu Chaomu was very puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t this about ending the adoption rtionship? Why do we need to take a photo together? I don¡¯t want to take it with him,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. Director Zhang was well-prepared, and he said seriously, ¡°The photo is to prove that you two had a rtionship before. It¡¯s a necessary procedure, please cooperate.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand this and just said ¡°Oh,¡± obediently posing for the picture. Shen Chi cracked a smile, thinking that if he sold her one day, she would probably even help him count the money. However, she had a sullen face right now, and Shen Chi worried that the photo would show her scowling, which would not do. So, just as Director Zhang counted, ¡°One,¡± ¡°Two,¡± ¡°Three,¡± and right as he said ¡°Three,¡± Shen Chi tickled the palm of Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. Xu Chaomu was earnestly waiting to have the photo taken, unwilling in her heart. But when Shen Chi tickled her unexpectedly, she burst intoughter. Director Zhang quickly captured the shot and gave Shen Chi a thumbs-up for ¡°OK.¡± They exchanged nces, each understanding the other. Shen Chi said to Xu Chaomu, ¡°It¡¯s done. You have no more part in this. You can go to school now. I¡¯ll have Lao Cheng take you.¡± ¡°Wait, let¡¯s make this clear. Does this mean I can move out of the Shen family¡¯s house starting today?¡± Xu Chaomu persisted. She looked up, waiting for his answer. However, Shen Chi, looking at the photos on the camera, didn¡¯t look up, his tone back to its usual deep and indifferent, ¡°I didn¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°You¡ª you¡ª you¡­ then tell me, what is the benefit of ending the adoption rtionship for me?¡± Shen Chi gave her an exasperating look, ¡°There¡¯s no benefit.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi continued to look at the photos. In the photo, they were standing close together, her smile fleeting, but beautiful. Watching her smile, he couldn¡¯t help but curl his own lips. ¡°Then why did you bring me to get this notarization so early in the morning!¡± Xu Chaomu said, very unhappy. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you¡¯ve been moring for?¡± Shen Chi gave her a nce. Director Zhang, standing to the side, had never seen Shen Chi talk to anyone like this before, without any airs or his usual coldness. A man shows his gentleness only in front of the person he loves. Even his gaze was filled with indulgence. It was only when he looked at that person that he would shed all defenses and coldness. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you again, you liar! Big liar!¡± Xu Chaomu left in a huff, damn big liar! As she left, the smile at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth deepened even further. Director Zhang joked, ¡°Mr. Shen, your young wife seems quite dissatisfied with you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dissatisfied with me in every way,¡± Shen Chi said with a smile rather than annoyance. But that was fine with him. Director Zhang, smiling even wider, ¡°The girl does have a good personality.¡± ¡°Good? She¡¯s a constant worry. If she doesn¡¯t give me trouble for a day, she feels itchy for a beating.¡± Director Zhang¡¯s smile grew even wider; this was the first time he had seen Shen Chi talk so much. Soon, Director Zhang finished processing their marriage certificate for them, ¡°Mr. Shen, congrattions on your wedding.¡± When the bold red marriage certificate was handed to Shen Chi, he found himself unable to look away for a long time. Flipping it open, there was the freshly taken photo, a bright red stamp. Both marriage certificates were given to Shen Chi. Shen Chi remembered a phrase he had said before: Marriage, once in a lifetime. Yes, he doted on her so much, always giving her the best things. Now, with this one chance, how could he bear to give it to someone else? Shen Chi left the civil affairs bureau, with Director Zhang seeing him off to the parking garage. Xiao Mo had already been waiting in the garage, quickly opening the car door upon Shen Chi¡¯s arrival. Lao Cheng had taken Xu Chaomu to school, so he would take Shen Chi to the grouppany. Getting into the car, Xiao Mo said to Shen Chi, ¡°Mr. Shen, did you also not sleepst night?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Shen Chi rubbed his forehead, which was indeed very painful, but as soon as he looked down at the marriage certificate in his hand, all the pain disappeared. As if everything was worth it. Xiao Mo was initially puzzled about what Shen Chi was holding, but then he turned his head and saw the gold-lettered words ¡°Marriage Certificate.¡± Marriage certificate? Xiao Mo was stunned, but his mind worked quickly, and he figured it all out in an instant. ¡°Mr. Shen, did you just¡­ get a marriage certificate with Miss Xu?¡± Xiao Mo asked cautiously. Chapter 197: Keep the Marriage Certificate Chapter 197: Keep the Marriage Certificate Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips slowly curved up. Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how deeply the old fox, Shen Chi, had hidden his feelings. Xiao Mo had been by his side for many years, and if it wasn¡¯t for this incident, he probably wouldn¡¯t have realized how much Shen Chi cherished someone. ¡°Congrattions, President Shen.¡± Xiao Mo smiled. It was indeed rare to see a smile on Shen Chi¡¯s face. ¡°Xiao Mo, park the car somewhere quiet, I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Mo drove the car out of the Civil Affairs Bureau¡¯s garage and headed to a secluded area along the road. Shen Chi held the marriage certificate and couldn¡¯t help but look at it a few more times. In the photo, Xu Chaomu smiled beautifully¡ªwhen she smiled, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. His fingertips gently slid across her cheek, as if she was right in front of him. Xiao Mo soon parked the car, knowing Shen Chi definitely had something important to say. Shen Chi slowly wrapped up the marriage certificate, carefully and meticulously, and checked it over again after wrapping it up. ¡°Xiao Mo, you¡¯ve followed me for quite a few years. In Shen Group, the person I trust the most is you.¡± Shen Chi began to speak slowly, his tone strong and forceful. Xiao Mo turned his head and saw the depth and seriousness on Shen Chi¡¯s face. This man could stay utterly sober-minded even when drunk. Probably, only Miss Xu could make him lose control. ¡°President Shen, your cultivation and trust in Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo will never forget.¡± ¡°Keep this marriage certificate.¡± Shen Chi solemnly handed the two marriage certificates, ced together, to Xiao Mo. ¡°This¡­¡± Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t fathom Shen Chi¡¯s intentions. ¡°Going to South Africa this time, you should know, there¡¯s a fifty percent chance of sess. I, Shen Chi, am a mortal, not a deity; I will strive with all my might, but that does not mean I will definitely win.¡± ¡°Yes, I know,¡± Xiao Mo spoke. ¡°So, President Shen, let me go, and you stay in C City.¡± The South African diamond mine had many groups coveting it. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if someone resorted to despicable means. Moreover, that ce was said to be rather chaotic. ¡°Things concerning me, Shen Chi, are not yet at the point where I need my brothers to risk their lives for me.¡± Shen Chi looked at Xiao Mo, his tone strong and assertive. Xiao Mo¡¯s heart warmed; Shen Chi had always treated him like a brother. ¡°Then what do you mean, President Shen?¡± ¡°If, and I say if, I have an ident in South Africa and can¡¯t return, destroy this marriage certificate.¡± Although his voice was usually strong and vigorous, it sounded exceptionally tragic this time. ¡°It¡¯s impossible, President Shen, with our thorough arrangements and deployment, such a scenario won¡¯t happen,¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s throat choked up. Despite saying so, he knew the possibility Shen Chi mentioned could very well exist. ¡°Don¡¯t I know myself? I¡¯m not yet so powerful that I can control everything.¡± ¡°President Shen¡­¡± ¡°Let me finish.¡± Shen Chi spoke sharply. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of things with Director Zhang. If this marriage certificate is destroyed, it won¡¯t affect her in any way. She can still marry just as well.¡± Xiao Mo, of course, understood who ¡°she¡± was and felt a surge of emotion in his heart. ¡°Of course, if I return safely from South Africa, give me back the marriage certificate.¡± ¡°President Shen, everything will definitely go smoothly. When I get back to the group today, I¡¯ll make further arrangements to ensure that everything is foolproof.¡± ¡°If things can go smoothly, that would be best.¡± Shen Chi leaned back in the rear seat, suddenly overwhelmed with boundless sentimentality. ¡°President Shen, what do you n to do about the Bai family?¡± Xiao Mo realized that Shen Chi had no intention of marrying Miss Bai. Then what about the uing wedding date on the eighth of the next month, the day the Shen family and Bai family were meant to join in marriage? ¡°Bai Man once told me she loved me. She wanted to be my girlfriend, wanted me to announce our rtionship in front of everyone, and wanted to be affectionate with me as normal couples are. I know the Shen family already owes the Bai family a favor, but that¡¯s all I can give her,¡± Shen Chi said. Xiao Mo understood; in the eyes of outsiders, Bai Man was Shen Chi¡¯s darling. But in reality, only the person involved knew the truth. As for the favor the Shen family owed the Bai family, although Xiao Mo didn¡¯t know what it entailed. ¡°I, Shen Chi, am not a perfect person. I¡¯ve given these things to Bai Man. Of course, Old Master Bai has also given me, Shen Chi, significant financial support. So, I guess I¡¯m somewhat despicable.¡± ¡°No, President Shen, how can that be despicable¡­¡± Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Shen Chi chuckled to himself: ¡°You don¡¯t know, during that time, I had such bad fights with this girl; I almost wanted to just break off all contact with her.¡± After finishing, Shen Chi took another indulgent look at the marriage certificate in Xiao Mo¡¯s hands. ¡°At that time, I regretted spoiling her so much. She even dared to scold and deceive me. So, you see, when I announced my rtionship with Bai Man during that period, it was partly out of spite. Xiao Mo, do you think I¡¯m childish?¡± After a long silence, Xiao Mo said, ¡°You really care too much about Miss Xu.¡± ¡°Raising her has been the most loss-making thing I¡¯ve done in my life; I¡¯ve invested my whole self in it,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips slowly curved up. Hearing this, Xiao Mo smiled. ¡°President Shen, Miss Xu doesn¡¯t seem to appreciate it; she seems unaware of your intentions.¡± ¡°No matter, if I return safely from South Africa, I¡¯ll have to deal with her properly,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes and brows smiled, as charming as the drizzle of peach blossoms in March. After speaking, there was a moment of silence. ¡°But before that, I can¡¯t give her a certain promise,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. So, many, many times that he wanted her, he held back. If he couldn¡¯t return safely from South Africa, at least she would still be whole, and she could still marry someone else. ¡°President Shen, I will take a long-term view and make meticulous arrangements for the South African project. I won¡¯t overlook any slight movement.¡± Xiao Mo thought that was all he could do. ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°President Shen, if I may ask boldly, what do you n to do on the eighth of next month?¡± ¡°I have my own ns.¡± Xiao Mo didn¡¯t ask further, knowing what he needed to do¡ªkeep the two marriage certificates safe. He hoped he could return them intact to Shen Chi. No, he definitely could. ¡°Drive to the Waterside Pavillion in the West Suburb.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Mo responded. Xiao Mo knew that the Waterside Pavillion in the West Suburb was a small vi Shen Chi had purchased. The scenery was elegant, the location understated, and the interior decor was vintage and luxurious¡ªvery suitable for a family of three. This small vi, transacted through him, was a ce Shen Chi particrly liked. Xiao Mo had previously wondered why a bachelor like Shen Chi would need such a vi, but now it seemed there was another purpose. ¡°President Shen, rest well at the Waterside Pavillion. Leave the affairs of the group to me.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi was finally tired; he hade to understand something¡ª he owed Xu Chaomu from a previous life. She dared to leave the hospital without a word of notice this time. And furthermore, she dared to hug and cuddle with a man at the airport. If it weren¡¯t for the orphanage director saying that he was just a visiting teacher, Shen Chi would have been unable to control his emotions again. Yet, for a man to be at this point was rather pathetic. Shen Chi felt helpless, but what could he do? Chapter 198: Male Science Chapter 198: Male Science Trantor:549690339 Xiao Mo quickly drove to West Suburb, where the scenery was vast, with mountains and water, creating a very pleasant environment. Once inside the courtyard of Waterside Pavilion, there were rockeries, flowing water, and waterfalls, with mist rising and steam lingering. All around, only the sound of water and birdsong could be heard, peaceful and elegant. Since Xu Chaomu had gone to board at school, Shen Chi had been spending more time here. After getting out of the car, Shen Chi walked into Waterside Pavilion. Xiao Mo did not follow, but watched Shen Chi leave before driving off himself. It didn¡¯t take long for Xu Chaomu to also be dropped off at school by Old Cheng, her little fits of temper came quickly and dissipated just as fast. As long as she didn¡¯t see that bastard Shen Chi, everything was fine! The adoption rtionship had ended, why wouldn¡¯t they let her move out of the Shen Family home? Could he be more domineering?! Just as she was dragging her feet into the ssroom, Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly ran over to hug her. ¡°Chaomu¡­ where have you been? I¡¯ve missed you so much, I was really afraid something happened to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I look fine? Look at me, I can hop and jump around. Here, let your sister tell you a joke.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear a joke, you tell me where you went?¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes welled up, asking anxiously. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to ask, I didn¡¯t go far, just suddenly didn¡¯t feel like going to school.¡± ¡°Tell me, why did you suddenly run away from home? After you left the bar that day, did that scum do anything inappropriate to you?¡± ¡°Weiwei,e here, I¡¯ll tell you a secret.¡± Xu Chaomu beckoned Yu Weiwei over with an air of mystery. Yu Weiwei leaned in, and Xu Chaomu whispered in her ear, ¡°You mustn¡¯t tell anyone, but my fourth brother, he¡¯s no good.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Yu Weiwei looked disappointed, ¡°Really? What a waste of that face, that body, that promising youth.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about that, he¡¯s got plenty of money. Even if he¡¯s no good, plenty of young girls still want to marry him.¡± ¡°Oh, like you.¡± ¡°Spit, why would I want a man who¡¯s no good?¡± ¡°Then, who was crying like a dog at the bar that day?¡± ¡°It was you.¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes. Just then, someone knocked on the window, Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei looked up together and saw it was Li Beiting. Xu Chaomu immediately lowered her head, knowing Li Beiting didn¡¯t like her. She was also aware that Li Beiting was looking out for Shen Chi¡¯s interests, after all, she, Xu Chaomu, was not good enough for Shen Chi. ¡°Weiwei,e out.¡± Li Beiting gestured to Yu Weiwei. Yu Weiwei stuck her tongue out at Xu Chaomu and quickly walked out. ¡°Second uncle, what do you need?¡± ¡°How can you wear so little today? Put this jacket on, they say it¡¯s going to get colder tonight.¡± Without waiting for a response, Li Beiting draped the jacket he brought over Yu Weiwei. ¡°Oh, thanks, second uncle.¡± Yu Weiwei made a face. ¡°Hmm. Have you been causing troubletely?¡± ¡°Nope, I¡¯ve been good. I just advanced from the eighth from the bottom to the ninth, and I think I can get to the tenth from the bottom in the midterms in half a month.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Is that all the ambition you have?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you praise me? I¡¯m clearly making progress every day.¡± ¡°This thing, shouldn¡¯t you exin it?¡± Li Beiting pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyelids twitched; how did that thing end up in Li Beiting¡¯s hands. She shed him a smile and reached out to snatch it: ¡°Second uncle, don¡¯t look at that, it was just for fun.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like a fool.¡± Li Beiting said coldly, ¡°Go and change this application. As a girl, why filled out for a male specialty? I won¡¯t allow it!¡± ¡°Second uncle, really, it was just for fun. Give me the application form.¡± Yu Weiwei reached out to grab it. But no matter how she tried, she couldn¡¯t outmatch Li Beiting, who clenched the application form tightly, unwilling to relent. ¡°I said, go change it!¡± His face was cold, not leaving any room for argument. ¡°I won¡¯t change it!¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s temper red up as well, ¡°Why do you care so much, wasn¡¯t it just for fun? Besides, why can¡¯t a girl apply for a male specialty? That is gender discrimination!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue with me, go change it now!¡± Li Beiting yanked her arm, pulling her towards the administrative office. ¡°Li Beiting, we¡¯re not rted by blood, why do you meddle so much? I call you ¡®second uncle¡¯ to give you face, if I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d just call you Li, Big, Jerk!¡± Yu Weiwei said each word distinctly, very angrily. Applying for a male specialty was her grand ambition! Li Beiting didn¡¯t listen to her nonsense and without further ado, dragged her to the administrative office. At the office, he threw the form on the desk: ¡°Change her option!¡± The teacher put on sses, took a look, and couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Yu¡¯s ambition is noble and unique, just like Xu Chaomu, only the two of them dare to apply for it.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s brow furrowed; Xu Chaomu had applied too? Clearly, the two were in cahoots. ¡°Mr. Li, what should I change it to?¡± Yu Weiwei immediately shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare change it, keep it that way! Teacher Wang, don¡¯t listen to him, choosing a university major is my own business.¡± The teacher shook his head with a helpless expression. ¡°Change it to Chinese, it¡¯s better for a girl to study literature.¡± Li Beiting didn¡¯t care about Yu Weiwei¡¯s shouting. ¡°Fine, I can do that.¡± Teacher Wang pushed up his sses and started making changes on theputer at the administrative office. ¡°I refuse, I don¡¯t like Chinese, I like male science! Li Beiting, if you ever have a problem in the future, at least I could treat you for free!¡± Li Beiting was immediately embarrassed; what was wrong with him! The girl said this without blushing or batting an eye. The administrative office teacher chuckled even more. ¡°Also, change Xu Chaomu¡¯s as well.¡± Li Beiting said. ¡°To Chinese too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, if you dare to change it, we are done for good, pretend I never knew you!¡± Yu Weiwei raged. ¡°It¡¯s fine if I know you.¡± Li Beiting didn¡¯t bother with her. If he was scared of her, he wouldn¡¯t be called Li Beiting. Teacher Wang quickly made the changes on theputer, printed two new applications, and showed them to Li Beiting. Li Beiting was finally satisfied and sternly told Teacher Wang: ¡°In the future, if they fill in anything nonsensical, report it to me.¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Li.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, this is interference, I¡¯m going to sue you!¡± Yu Weiwei was furious. ¡°Go ahead and sue, right now.¡± Li Beiting nced at her dismissively and turned to leave. ¡°Li Beiting! You turtle bastard! You¡¯re destroying my dream! I will never tolerate you!¡± Yu Weiwei cursed as she walked, and in a fit, she took off the jacket from her body and threw it at Li Beiting. ¡°Take your jacket, and don¡¯t ever see me again. You¡¯re as disgusting as a fly, I wish I could squash you!¡± The coatnded squarely on Li Beiting¡¯s face, but he wasn¡¯t annoyed; he caught the jacket and watched her coldly. Chapter 199 - 199 Let’s Have a Good Talk Chapter 199: Let¡¯s Have a Good Talk Trantor:549690339 He had a chilling expression, his voice low and stern, ¡°If you have that kind of sly thought again, I¡¯ll be the first to p you dead!¡± Having said that, Li Beiting took the coat and assertively helped her put it on, not allowing her the slightest bit of resistance. Xu Chaomu happened to be leaning on the windowsill and she caught sight of Li Beiting and Yu Weiwei instantly. Li Beiting was helping Yu Weiwei put on her coat, and Weiwei had an unwilling look on her face. Ah, truly envious. It¡¯s so nice to have Uncle Beiting. Suddenly, she remembered the words Li Beiting had said to Shen Chi in the hospital, and she immediately felt a stone blocking her heart. She thought that she needed to take the initiative to find Li Beiting. ¡°Li Beiting, I don¡¯t want the clothes you bought me, if you keep this up, I¡¯m going to tell my dad when I get home,¡± Yu Weiwei continued to be petnt with Li Beiting. Li Beiting raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you threatening me? Do you want me to take you to see your dad? I¡¯d be quite happy to.¡± Yu Weiwei was infuriated, unable to use any tricks against such a scoundrel. ¡°Alright, go to ss and don¡¯t dy your studies. Remember, no scheming!¡± Li Beiting warned. Having said that, Li Beiting headed towards his Maserati. With a thumbs-down, Yu Weiwei made a gesture of disdain behind his back, huffed, and ran off. Of course,ter on, Yu Weiwei climbed the wall in the middle of the night, slipped into the academic affairs office, and in thest half hour before the deadline, secretly changed her application choices. Quick as lightning, without anyone noticing. Xu Chaomu sneaked downstairs and just as Li Beiting was about to open his car door, she called out, ¡°Hey, Li Beiting, I have something to say to you.¡± Li Beiting was in a good mood that day, a smile ying on his eyes. ¡°Show some respect, call me ¡®Bro¡¯ or ¡®President Li¡¯.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not giving you that satisfaction, considering I didn¡¯t call you a bastard is already giving you face.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s face was full of exasperation, Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei, truly two little witches. ¡°Do you really dislike me?¡± Li Beiting looked at her leisurely, his smile became gentle, his casual white outfit making him look vigorous. He actually knew that he had said a lot of unpleasant things to her before. The sun shone on Li Beiting¡¯s face, causing Xu Chaomu to squint her eyes too. She suddenly remembered the first time she met Li Beiting, she had an argument with Shen Chi, and he took her home. No wonder people say, ¡®If life was like the first encounter.¡¯ ¡°I don¡¯t dislike you that much, Li Beiting, let¡¯s have a proper talk,¡± she said. ¡°Okay.¡± Li Beiting agreed immediately, this was the first time Xu Chaomu had taken the initiative to find him. Xu Chaomu chose a very quiet caf¨¦; she didn¡¯t know if it was elegant or not, but she knew it was quite expensive. Cheating Li Beiting out of money made her happy. After ordering two cups of coffee, Xu Chaomu stirred her spoon, silently adding creamer and sugar cubes. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± Li Beiting asked first. ¡°Li Beiting, do you remember the first time we met?¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head. She smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Li Beiting of course remembered, and he nodded. ¡°That day, I had an argument with Shen Chi, he threw away all my prettyic books and even scolded me, so annoying.¡± Recalling the past, Xu Chaomu felt many a bitterness wash over her, but she kept smiling all the while. ¡°I know, so you ran out alone and even imed you were being trafficked by him.¡± ¡°Yeah, you remember everything.¡± ¡°Hmm, I remember everything.¡± Li Beiting also tugged at the corner of his mouth. He actually liked Xu Chaomu quite a bit¡ªher pleasant personality, her good temper, her optimism and cheerfulness, and the absence of petty tantrums. Sadly, she had given her love to the wrong person. ¡°Can you believe how annoying Shen Chi is? I bought thoseic books with my own money, and he just threw them all away without saying a word. So domineering. At that time, I really hated him.¡± Bringing up these memories, Xu Chaomu truly looked blissful. Suddenly, she missed her childhood. How did she suddenly grow up? Shen Chi was also about to settle down¡ªget engaged, get married, have children. It was as if it were only yesterday that she was rubbing shoulders with him, hugging him, and in a blink of an eye, he belonged to someone else. ¡°You¡¯re right, Shen Chi was domineering and autocratic as a child. I remember this one time, I lost his fountain pen, and he made mepensate him with ten exactly the same!¡± ¡°That¡¯s just how annoying he is.¡± Xu Chaomu and Li Beiting chatted on and off, mostly about Shen Chi¡¯s faults. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t the type to speak ill of others behind their backs, but when it came to criticizing Shen Chi, she never tired of it. After talking for a very long time, she lowered her head again to look at the ck coffee in her cup. ¡°Li Beiting, you¡¯ve said a lot to me before, and actually, I understand,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her head down. Li Beiting fell silent; he knew those words were not very pleasant to hear. For Xu Chaomu, they must have been quite a mental burden. But he had no choice but to speak frankly because there were many chasms between her and Shen Chi. It¡¯s just that he wouldn¡¯t meddle in their affairs anymore in the future. ¡°Hmm, if you think it was unpleasant, just forget it,¡± Li Beiting said. ¡°It was a bit harsh, but what you said was true. Brother Si¡­ it¡¯s better for him to marry Miss Bai than to marry me.¡± Xu Chaomu slowly stirred her coffee, ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of the corporation, his wife should match his status. And me, I¡¯m not suitable, I would only cause him trouble.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, I know there are many forms of loving someone. To be in each other¡¯spany day and night is one, to grow old together is another, and to let go for the sake of the other is also a form. So, I¡¯ve prepared myself to let go. It¡¯s just these past few days, I felt a bit upset, that¡¯s all.¡± Li Beiting was seeing Xu Chaomu so sensible and well-spoken for the first time and was somewhat surprised. Of course, what she said surprised him even more. Li Beiting nodded slightly and said indifferently, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t drink anymore in the future. It¡¯s not good for a girl to drink.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it anymore, I¡¯ll take good care of myself,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. In the past, Shen Chi took care of her, and she didn¡¯t have to worry about anything. Even when eating meals or drinking soup, he would prepare everything for her, not to mention doingundry or cooking. But from now on, his tenderness would be directed at another woman. The affection of one person ultimately cannot be divided between two people. Actually, on reflection, Shen Chi had been very good to her over these eight years. asionally being domineering or acting haughty towards her, he never could bear to hit her, never could bear to let anyone else bully her. She was content. She hoped he would be forever happy, forever. ¡°Chaomu, you need to take good care of yourself. You¡¯re still young, and in the future, you¡¯ll find someone who you love and who loves you too.¡± ¡°Thank you, I think so too. After all, I¡¯m such a good girl, right? When the timees, I¡¯ll take my time choosing! I need to find someone as handsome as President Li, right?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s smile was brilliant, her dark eyes sparkling with light. Seeing her smile made Li Beiting feel a bit more relieved. Yes, a girl as good as Chaomu will surely meet a man who will love and cherish her deeply one day. ¡°With your sharp tongue, here, have a piece of cherry cheesecake.¡± Li Beiting carefully cut a slice of cake for her, and as he looked into her clear eyes, he thought it was best that she could see things clearly. ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯ve said so much, now I need to ask you a question,¡± Xu Chaomu said while eating her cake and sipping her coffee. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Chapter 200: He is a Beast in Human Clothing Chapter 200: He is a Beast in Human Clothing Trantor:549690339 ¡°You like Weiwei?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡°Why won¡¯t you admit it, you do like her. Are all you men so secretive? Will you get pregnant if you admit it?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Hurry up and say it, otherwise I¡¯ll introduce a boyfriend to Weiwei. Let me tell you, there are plenty of guys who like Weiwei.¡± ¡°Hm? A lot of people like her?¡± ¡°Yeah, the kind that could line up from the south gate to the north gate of the school. If you won¡¯t admit it, then forget it.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I just have a bit of a crush on her,¡± Li Beiting said helplessly. ¡°Liking someone isn¡¯t something to be ashamed of, just say it and it¡¯ll be fine,¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled. ¡°But Li Beiting, you must treat Weiwei well, don¡¯t scold her, don¡¯t hit her, don¡¯t give her a hard time.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t be like Shen Chi, he¡¯s always scolding me,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t get involved with Weiwei in any more messy stuff, filling in the ¡®male department¡¯.¡± ¡°You know about it already? I think the ¡®male department¡¯ is pretty good. If one day you guys get sick, juste to us for free treatment, it¡¯ll save money.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx us when there¡¯s nothing wrong,¡± Li Beiting nced at her. ¡°Oh, spit, spit, spit, ignore what I said. If you have any problems, then Weiwei¡¯s lifetime ¡®happiness¡¯ won¡¯t be guaranteed.¡± ¡°Look at you, not being serious again. If the fourth brother finds out, he¡¯ll scold you so much you won¡¯t know which way is up.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a hypocrite himself,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. Chatting back and forth, Xu Chaomu¡¯s mood significantly improved. It was only when Li Beiting saw that it was gettingte that he let Xu Chaomu return to the ssroom. By evening, when school was dismissed, Xu Chaomu was buried in homework and hadn¡¯t realized that everyone else in the ssroom had left. Mr. Cheng entered the room at some point and knocked on Xu Chaomu¡¯s desk. ¡°Miss Xu, I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± ¡°Hm? Uncle Cheng, where are you taking me?¡± Xu Chaomu was confused, as she lived at the school now and didn¡¯t require Mr. Cheng to pick her up. ¡°To a ce.¡± ¡°What ce?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know once youe with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going, I still have a lot of homework to do,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. ¡°Consider it a favor to me,¡± Mr. Cheng said with a smile. Because Mr. Shen had instructed him no matter what, he had to bring her to the Waterside Pavilion. Kind-hearted as she was, Xu Chaomu felt it would be rude to refuse after hearing Mr. Cheng say that. After pondering for a while, she reluctantly packed her books and followed Mr. Cheng into the car. The Maybach raced along the broad road, a route that Xu Chaomu had never taken, arousing her curiosity. ¡°Uncle Cheng, where are you taking me?¡± ¡°To a small vi Mr. Shen has purchased.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go, I won¡¯t go, let me out of the car, Uncle Cheng! I don¡¯t want to see him,¡± Xu Chaomu said as she tried to pull the car door. But the door was locked, and Mr. Cheng tried to reassure her, ¡°Miss Xu, Mr. Shen isn¡¯t a tiger, why are you so scared of him?¡± ¡°Uncle Cheng, you know very well, he went with me to get the certification done today, which means, from now on, I have nothing to do with the Shen family.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do anything about what you tell me, all I know is, Mr. Shen asked me to pick you up.¡± ¡°What does he want?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xu Chaomu, her frustration building up, ruffled her hair. Finally, the car stopped in front of the Waterside Pavilion vi. Although not as expansive as Jinxiu Tianxia, it had its own unique, exquisite charm. Little bridges over flowing water, streams babbling. Waterfalls cascading onto rocks with a ¡°whoosh¡± sound, the clear water slipping through the crevices of the stones. Thendscape was picturesque, the scenery elegant. It was evening, and the afterglow of the sunset shone through the clouds onto the small vi,yering colors, bright and dazzling. Swarms of swallows flew by overhead, adding an endless charm. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips, This man, he really knows how to enjoy life. ¡°Miss Xu, please go ahead, Mr. Shen is waiting for you inside.¡± ¡°Uncle Cheng, are you leaving?¡± ¡°Yes, I still have errands to run.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay with him, he¡¯s up to no good.¡± ¡°Miss Xu, haven¡¯t you known the fourth master for eight years? Aren¡¯t you aware of his character?¡± ¡°Of course I am aware, he is superficially decent but a beast at heart; one way in front of others and another behind their backs; vulgar, lowbrow, pandering, and a shameless pretender.¡± ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Mr. Cheng took a nce back and saw Shen Chi approaching, so he quickly coughed to alert Xu Chaomu. ¡°Also, he looks refined but he¡¯s totally corrupt, with no morals or scruples, he is just¡­¡± ¡°It sounds quite like the real deal.¡± Shen Chi approached, speaking in a low, slow voice. After having slept half the day, he looked much better, had taken another shower, changed into a simple dark shirt, and overall appeared refreshed and spirited. ¡°You guys chat, I¡¯ll go get busy.¡± Mr. Cheng was very tactful. But no matter what, Mr. Cheng couldn¡¯t understand why Shen Chi, who was clearly very unwilling to let go of Xu Chaomu, had gone to get the certification. It just didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Mumu, why do you love spreading rumors about me so much? Am I really worth nothing in your eyes?¡± Shen Chi looked at her, his voice full of grievance and helplessness. ¡°Right! Not worth a damn!¡± Xu Chaomu red at him, brandishing her ws. Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, these weren¡¯t words a girl should speak. Once again, he realized the failure in his family¡¯s upbringing. ¡°Say it, what did you bring me here for? My time is precious, you know. The ss president from ss Three has asked me to go to a movie, the studymittee member from ss Five has invited me for fried chicken, oh, and the math delegate from ss Six asked me¡­¡± ¡°But tonight, you¡¯re booked by me,¡± Shen Chi narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re nothing to each other now, we just got the certificate this morning.¡± ¡°Yeah, just this morning,¡± Shen Chi said with a narrow gaze, a sly smile on his lips. Just this morning¡­ we got married. It¡¯s still hot off the press. ¡°You know and that¡¯s good,¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then, say what you have to say.¡± ¡°Come inside with me,¡± Shen Chi said, pulling her hand dominantly, allowing no resistance. Xu Chaomu tried to scratch him yet he didn¡¯t react, tried to pull away but still, he gave no response. Alright, she just gave up. There¡¯s no winning against this man with physical strength ¨C she¡¯s always on the losing end. Damn it, a ck belt in Taekwondo thinks he¡¯s great! Damn it, having strength thinks he¡¯s great! Well, she admitted, it is impressive. For instance, right now, she couldn¡¯t budge an inch. Shen Chi pulled her into the house and closed the door. The vi was cozy and warm, with ayout that was very inviting. The overall color scheme was the warm yellow of the lights, which felt veryfortable and pleasant. The moment she looked up, she saw the beautiful crystal chandelier, dazzling and brilliant. ¡°You had mee here just to show off your wealth, right?¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. ¡°Pretty much,¡± Shen Chiughed. Did he really need to show off his wealth to her? ¡°Where¡¯s Miss Bai? Not seeing you two showing off your love is a bit unusual for me.¡± Shen Chi frowned, ¡°You talk too much.¡± After saying that, Shen Chi pulled her onto the sofa and tossed a few magazines at her. Chapter 201: You Kissed Me First Chapter 201: You Kissed Me First Trantor:549690339 ¡°Sit tight and wait for me to call you to eat. Don¡¯t go wandering around; if you break something, you won¡¯t be able to afford it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu responded, a naughty smile on her face. Her eyes shifted slyly, she deliberately pushed a cup on the coffee table, and with a ¡°ng,¡± the cup fell to the ground and shattered. ¡°Shen Chi, what should we do, it¡¯s broken.¡± Shen Chi was both amused and exasperated. How did he end up raising such a rascal? Indeed, raising her was the most unprofitable thing he had done in his life. ¡°What do you think we should do?¡± Shen Chi bent down, intentionally looking at her face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s much we can do, how about I piece it back together?¡± Xu Chaomu said with innocent, wide eyes, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°You need topensate.¡± ¡°But I really can¡¯t afford it, Shen Chi. How about this, let¡¯s keep it on credit for now, and we¡¯ll settle it all together next time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like people owing me.¡± After saying that, he lowered his head, held her shoulders, and kissed her forehead. A light, pure kiss, without any impurities, simply beautiful. ¡°Mm, settled.¡± He smiled triumphantly. Xu Chaomu was stunned. Had she been tricked again? The next second, she exploded. ¡°Shen Chi, have you no shame? Why the hell did you kiss me, you bastard.¡± Xu Chaomu desperately backed away, grabbing a throw pillow from the couch and hurling it at him. ¡°Shameless! Rogue! Pervert! Beast!¡± She threw one after another. Shen Chi, helpless, caught the throw pillows she tossed at him, and with an innocent expression protested, ¡°It was you who broke the cup first.¡± ¡°That is apletely separate issue, okay?! Are you still drunk? You should be kissing Miss Bai, not me!¡± Xu Chaomu was furious. ¡°Mumu, you know I never like to make a losing deal. You were the one who kissed me first. Have you forgotten?¡± Shen Chi had an expression of feigned nonchnce, his dark sparkly eyes staring straight at Xu Chaomu, even his tone was cheeky. The smile on his face was cunning no matter how you looked at it. ¡°Drunk actions don¡¯t count. That day I was just too drunk, if I were sober, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have kissed you. I know you are getting married, I won¡¯t ruin your marriage.¡± Xu Chaomu earnestly spoke these words to him. Shen Chi¡¯s expression changed, but within a few seconds returned to normal. ¡°No problem, I give you permission to ruin it.¡± After speaking, he bent down, gently ced the throw pillow down, his whole being radiating an air of elegantposure. ¡°Shen Chi, are all you men like this? Always wanting to have both what¡¯s in your bowl and what¡¯s in the pot, only feeling content with a girl on each arm? Lousy character, morally bankrupt!¡± ¡°Am I really worth so little in your eyes? No problem, I can be even worse, even more despicable.¡± With those words, he bent down and circled Xu Chaomu on the couch, lowering his head. His face was about to touch hers, his hot breath caressing her face. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red, she gritted her teeth, and swung her fist at him. She aimed a punch at his handsome face, to see if he would ever dare to show his face in public again. But Shen Chi, true to his ck belt in Tae Kwon Do, reacted swiftly, catching her fist in his hand. ¡°Denying you¡¯re a wildcat? What kind of girl is as wild as you?¡± He wore an expression of helplessness. He held her hand, patted her cheek: ¡°Sit still; don¡¯t move around.¡± Xu Chaomu was gritting her teeth: ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll call Miss Bai?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly and dropped two words before heading upstairs. Not long after, he threw a dreadfully ugly doll pillow down to her from upstairs. ¡°Your daughter, hold onto her, don¡¯t lose her.¡± Xu Chaomu reached out to catch it, and it turned out to be that doll, which she always thought he had thrown away since she had never seen it in his car afterward. ¡°Didn¡¯t you find it ugly? If it¡¯s so ugly, why keep it?¡± Xu Chaomu mored. ¡°At least it was bought with money,¡± Shen Chi retorted disdainfully. This doll was really ugly, not just ugly, but stupidly cute as well. Just like Xu Chaomu. Seeing this doll, Xu Chaomu felt joyful inside and keptbing its little braids over and over. The doll had a faint scent ofvender, quite pleasant and refreshing to the heart. Actually, it wasn¡¯t ugly at all; it was just Shen Chi¡¯s sense of aesthetics that had always been problematic. Embracing the doll, Xu Chaomu mumbled to herself, ¡°Let¡¯s not bother with that bastard. In his eyes, only those with big chests are pretty. His taste is so vulgar.¡± Shen Chi frowned, ¡°What are you muttering about?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Shen Chi ignored her and went straight into the kitchen. Today, it was just the two of them here. He nned to cook for her himself since today was the first day they had gotten their marriage certificate. Night fell quickly, and Xu Chaomu, bored, flipped through a magazine for a while, watched TV for a bit, but still felt bored, so she wandered around the vi. This ce was really nice, much better than the Shen Family home. She walked back and forth in the living room with her hands behind her back, looking up at the chandelier, the wallpaper, the hanging paintings. Although she couldn¡¯t distinguish whether the paintings hanging on the wall were by Van Gogh or Picasso, she knew these things must be very valuable. If she sneaked off with one to sell, it would be enough for her to live on for several lifetimes, tsk tsk. The vase on the shelf was particrly exquisite too, containing a few stalks of roses and baby¡¯s breath, vibrant and quite a sight to behold. As soon as she lowered her head, she could smell the fresh scent of the roses. She happily stroked the petals of the roses with her hands, falling in love with them every time she looked. But this man¡¯s taste was really unique, keeping roses at home for no reason. Shen Chi was in the kitchen, having changed into a simple grey sweater, now wearing an apron and frowning as he studied the cookbook. He knew everything she liked to eat. As Xu Chaomu wandered, she found herself in the kitchen. The kitchen decor was also exceptionally elegant, with fresh floral designs on the white tiles that were very soothing to the eye. ¡°Yo, who would have thought that Shen Chi, the big CEO who has everything handed to him, could cook,¡± Xu Chaomu taunted with a snort. ¡°It¡¯s you who has everything handed to you,¡± Shen Chi replied without even looking up, continuing to chop vegetables. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips; she knew that a dog couldn¡¯t spit out ivory. ¡°Fourth brother, should I call your sister-inw over? Otherwise, you¡¯re wasting so much food making this big table of dishes,¡± she suggested. ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you speak nicely? Nasty temper, you should really work on that, or your future kid is definitely going to be a little brat! Don¡¯t you know that stuff like heredity is really powerful?¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Shen Chi stopped his actions and turned to look at her with a leisurely smile, ¡°As long as my son is good-looking, there will be plenty of girls flinging themselves at him. Hmm, just like you.¡± ¡°Pshaw, shameless. Listen here, Shen Chi, I¡¯ve long since stopped liking you, so don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± ¡°Hmm, I heard you.¡± The man continued chopping vegetables, unfazed. ¡°What kind of reaction is that? I¡¯m serious, I¡¯m not joking with you.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed. Chapter 202: He Raised a Little Devil Chapter 202: He Raised a Little Devil Trantor: 549690339 She was clearly infuriated by Shen Chi¡¯s reaction. She had been earnestly presenting him with a definite fact, yet he acted as if he were deaf. ¡°Miss, please be moredylike.¡± Shen Chi frowned and gave her a reproachful nce. ¡°Don¡¯t like it? Then don¡¯t look.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± The man shook his head, spread his hands, and wore a helpless expression. He admitted that her arrogance was something he had indulged. Now, it was his turn to reap what he had sown. ¡°By the way, you still haven¡¯t told me why you called me over today.¡± Xu Chaomu asked, tilting her head. ¡°To celebrate.¡± ¡°Celebrate?¡± Xu Chaomu racked her brain but couldn¡¯t think of anything worth celebrating. Ten-odd secondster, she smacked her forehead: ¡°Oh, the adoption was terminated, we should celebrate that. From now on, I won¡¯t be your burden anymore. There won¡¯t be anyone to embarrass you or cause you trouble. It¡¯s indeed worth celebrating.¡± Get rid of her? Shen Chi felt helpless; he knew that he would never be able to get rid of her for the rest of his life. ¡°Not that.¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Hmm? Not that? Then what are we celebrating?¡± ¡°Five years ago today, I won an international taekwondo grand prize championship. Today, I suddenly remembered it and thought we¡¯d celebrate a bit.¡± Xu Chaomu had a face full of disbelief. ¡°I thought about it, and I probably wouldn¡¯t have won the championship without you. After all, you were the one who slipped croton into my opponent¡¯s drink. When I think about it, I really should thank you.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. Did he have to bring up such an embarrassing incident? ¡°So, let¡¯s celebrate.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi freed a hand and with a smile, patted Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek. Seeing her look of being stuck, he couldn¡¯t help but feel quite smug. Then, Shen Chi went back to cooking. By the time he finished preparing a whole table full of dishes in a flurry, it was already seven in the evening. The vi was very quiet, and one could hear the gurgling sound of a small waterfall outside the window. Xu Chaomu satfortably in her chair, watching a certain man bustling about. Under the warm-toned lights, his tall figure became even more striking and dashing, and the light gray sweater made him seem much more gentle and harmless. This man was always so handsome and charming, just a brief nce could captivate someonepletely. Xu Chaomu yelled with her chopsticks in hand: ¡°Can¡¯t you be a bit faster? I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t youe and help out?¡± Shen Chi felt helpless. ¡°I can¡¯t. Are you going to hit me?¡± ¡°You little rascal.¡± Shen Chi chuckled softly. In the end, he finished preparing the whole table on his own, while Xu Chaomu took it for granted, humming tunes, looking left and right, but not lifting a finger to help. Shen Chi felt like he must have owed her a lot of money in his past life. When all the dishes were finally on the table, Xu Chaomu pushed her bowl forward: ¡°Serve me some rice.¡± ¡°Serve yourself!¡± Shen Chi red at her coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t serve it, I won¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°Then starve.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll starve.¡± Xu Chaomu red back at him, her face practically spelling out ¡°who¡¯s afraid of who?¡± Shen Chi was thoroughly exasperated, utterly helpless. How had he ended up raising such a little demon? He couldn¡¯t let her starve after all, so he had to stand up and serve her rice. It didn¡¯t matter; he wasn¡¯t going to quibble with her, especially since today was the auspicious day of their marriage registration. Seeing him serve the rice, Xu Chaomu was very pleased with herself. After serving the rice, he sat down across from her. Xu Chaomu picked up her chopsticks and pointed at a dish of shrimp: ¡°I want to eat this!¡± ¡°Get it yourself!¡± Shen Chi gave her a warning look. ¡°But¡­ I can¡¯t reach it.¡± Shen Chi, feeling resigned, reluctantly reached out and picked up a shrimp for her. ¡°You peel it!¡± Xu Chaomu demanded, knocking on the table, bing more and more presumptuous. ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t you have hands of your own?!¡± Shen Chi snapped. Holding her bowl, Xu Chaomu made an illogical case: ¡°But I only have two hands, one for holding chopsticks, and one for holding the bowl. How can I peel shrimp?¡± ¡°You can be even more unreasonable!¡± ¡°I can be, thump thump thump, feed me.¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomuughed. She loved seeing the man getting flustered. He was about to get married and she wouldn¡¯t have many more chances to be so unreasonable with him. Thinking about this made her heart suddenly ache. It¡¯s okay. Let it be. Without him, there will still be a bunch of younger, fresher guys waiting for her. ¡°Get lost!¡± Shen Chi was irritated. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll get lost.¡± Xu Chaomu huffed and stood up, putting down her utensils for real. ¡°What are you doing? Sit down!¡± Shen Chi hurried over, pressing down on her shoulders to keep her from leaving. ¡°Then peel for me! If you peel the shrimp, I won¡¯t go.¡± Xu Chaomu was sure that this man, proud as he was, would never stoop to peeling shrimp for her. Serving rice was probably his absolute limit. ¡°I really owe you one.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi rolled up his sleeves, sat down beside her, and started peeling shrimp. He looked particrly alluring when he was serious. Xu Chaomu nced sideways at him. His side profile was sharp and chiseled, and as he pursed his lips, he carefully peeled shrimp for her. ¡°Looks like I was right to add that croton five years ago.¡± Xu Chaomu snickered. This man was always so proud, she had never imagined he would indulge her temper tantrums. Shen Chi frowned, just as he finished peeling a shrimp. He turned to her and said in a deep voice, ¡°Open your mouth.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu opened her mouth. Shen Chi then fed her the peeled shrimp, his movements filled with tenderness, his eyes brimming with indulgent affection. As she ate the shrimp, she gazed at him. She really wanted to touch his face¡­ Such a wonderful man, but he wasn¡¯t hers. By the eighth of next month, he would be engaged. He would be the groom, she would be the bridesmaid. From then on, their lives would be untangled. She was somewhat consoled knowing that someone worthy would stand by his side as his wife, someone who was not as capricious and willful as her. He needed a gentle and virtuous wife, one who could solve problems and relieve his worries. ¡°What are you thinking about now?¡± Shen Chi interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Nothing, I was just wondering, Mr. Shen, you¡¯re pretty adept at peeling shrimp. Have you been doing this for Miss Bai often?¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Just curious.¡± ¡°Curiosity killed the cat. Open your mouth!¡± Without further ado, Shen Chi tossed another shrimp into her mouth, putting an end to the nonsense. Xu Chaomu obediently ate the shrimp. Days like this were rare, and she suddenly didn¡¯t feel like dwelling on unhappy thoughts. Such days, once they pass, they¡¯re gone forever. The light shone on Shen Chi¡¯s face, and Xu Chaomu watched him, unwavering. She really wanted to watch him like this for the rest of her life, just quietly, and that would be enough. But there is no feast that doesn¡¯te to an end. When the music stops, people disperse. ¡°I don¡¯t want shrimp anymore, I want that!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at another dish, the pine nut corn. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s settle the effort fee first.¡± ¡°What effort fee?¡± ¡°You know, I don¡¯t run a charity. I¡¯ve been peeling for so long, shouldn¡¯t youpensate me?¡± Chapter 203: Don’t Leave Me Without a Word Chapter 203: Don¡¯t Leave Me Without a Word Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Master Shen, you¡¯ve worked hard. Master Shen, you serve the people. Master Shen, you should be honored. Master Shen, you should not expect any reciprocation.¡± Shen Chi became impatient and interrupted her, pointing at his own face, ¡°Kiss me.¡± ¡°Hooligan!¡± ¡°No kiss?¡± Xu Chaomu shook her tiny head like a rattle drum, ¡°No kiss!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll kiss you.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi lowered his head and pressed a kiss onto her right cheek. Not too light, not too heavy, just perfect. Xu Chaomu felt like crying but had no tears; the line seemed a bit familiar. She remembered the first time she met Shen Chi, when she stretched out her arms for a hug. ¡°Big brother, huh? Big brother, give me a hug.¡± Back then, she shamelessly stretched out her arms. She rubbed the young man¡¯s arm, wrapped around his waist, and looked up at him with a smile. ¡°No hug!¡± He had a dark expression on his face at the time. ¡°No hug?¡± ¡°No hug!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll hug you!¡± She leaped like a monkey onto the young man, wrapping her hands around his neck, shaking withughter. His face was as dark as could be, yet she clung to him like a ster, utterly inescapable! Thinking of this, Xu Chaomu shook her head. Indeed, what goes aroundes around. There¡¯s a saying, isn¡¯t there? What goes around,es around. But no matter how you look at it, it felt like she was at a loss. Sigh, it was her own foolishness that led her to impulsively kiss him while drunk. Shen Chi, being such a petty person, would surely need to kiss back to even the score. Shen Chi looked at her with a triumphant air, ¡°Do you still want me to peel shrimp for you?¡± Xu Chaomu quickly shook her head, ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Mhm, then eat your food nicely, on your own.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu turned obedient, but in truth, she didn¡¯t dare let him do anything. This petty man was so nitpicky, small-minded to the extreme. She picked up her chopsticks and began eating, while Shen Chi went to the kitchen to wash his hands. All of a sudden, she started to miss the feeling of him peeling shrimp for her, it was almost like it had been a dream. When Shen Chi came back, she was biting on her chopsticks, motionless. He bent down and touched her head, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Thinking about my boyfriend,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°Really? Who?¡± Shen Chi narrowed his eyes, exuding a dangerous aura. ¡°Who cares, some handsome guy,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her head down, picking at her bowl of rice. ¡°Handsome guy? A really handsome guy? Isn¡¯t that still me?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯ve never seen anyone as shameless as you,¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. ¡°Mumu, listen to me.¡± All of a sudden, Shen Chi¡¯s expression changed, all traces of a smile gone, leaving only seriousness and solemnity. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, wondering if she had angered the gentleman once again. That man had quite the temper! She hurriedly braced herself, ready to flee if absolutely necessary. ¡°Mhm,¡± she mumbled her acknowledgment. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t just run away from home without saying a word. Got it?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s stern voice released a chilling cold, and the temperature around them seemed to drop a few degrees. ¡°The Shen family isn¡¯t my home, how could it be running away from home. My legs are mine to use, why do you care so much,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered quietly. She poked at the rice, grumbling unhappily. ¡°What are you muttering?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°Not muttering anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you something, did you hear me?¡± He raised his voice again. ¡°Why are you being so fierce, being loud doesn¡¯t make you right!¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°Answer me!¡± Shen Chi mmed the table hard. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat in fright. Tears instantly swirled in her eyes, she was quite afraid when he got angry. She was holding back a bellyful of grievances, but she just wouldn¡¯t give in, ¡°Didn¡¯t we just end our adoption rtionship today? Have you forgotten? Since it¡¯s over, why do you still care about me? I¡¯m not eating!¡± Having said that, she threw down her chopsticks. If he could yell at her, she could lose her temper too. She stood up and turned to leave. ¡°You sit down for me, is it that hard to answer my question?!¡± Shen Chi held her shoulders and pressed her down into the chair. His tone eased a bit, just that the force of his hands remained strong. ¡°Then you answer me first, why do you still want to control me when our adoption rtionship is over?¡± Xu Chaomu stared at him with wide eyes, defiant and unwilling to give in. ¡°If I don¡¯t take care of you, who will?¡± What the hell kind of answer is that? Xu Chaomu got pissed off. ¡°Answer me, don¡¯t leave me without a word ever again, do you hear me?¡± Shen Chi asked again. That day when she left the hospital, he panicked, feeling as if his heart had been ripped out, his mind went nk. It was a pain he didn¡¯t want to experience ever again. It was too much for him to bear for the rest of his life. Xu Chaomu fell silent, she didn¡¯t want to answer him. ¡°Why won¡¯t you answer me? Xu Chaomu, speak!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes immediately turned red, his voice bing hoarse and deep. ¡°Won¡¯t leave then, I won¡¯t leave,¡± Mumu said indifferently. She knew that if she didn¡¯t speak up, he would never let it go. Even though it was a perfunctory reply, he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, a glint of relief appearing in his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± He let go of her and put the chopsticks back into her hand. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips and deliberately threw her bowl and chopsticks down with a ¡°tter.¡± ¡°Sorry, did I frighten you? Don¡¯t be upset, give me a smile,¡± Shen Chi reached out and caressed her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m not that faint-hearted.¡± Mumu said coolly. ¡°But I am faint-hearted, so, don¡¯t leave without saying a word, okay?¡± He was truly afraid, afraid she would leave and nevere back. ¡°Mhm,¡± she poked at the rice, still with a perfunctory tone. ¡°Try some of this, I made it painstakingly; at least take a taste,¡± Shen Chi added food to her te. ¡°Where¡¯s your ring?¡± Suddenly, Xu Chaomu looked up and noticed his bare fingers. Nothing on them. ¡°Oh, I must have lost it by ident,¡± said Shen Chi with feigned nonchnce. He had put it away, not expecting her to notice. ¡°To lose something so valuable, you¡¯re such a careless ghost.¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re not lost, that¡¯s good,¡± Shen Chi stroked her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to eat? I want to eat shrimp again, peel them for me,¡± Mumu demanded. If he dared to yell at her, she would dare to drive him mad. She wouldn¡¯t have much time to torment him anyway, once he got engaged, she wouldn¡¯t stay by his side any longer. She was not a vixen, nor was she the other woman. ¡°You really don¡¯t stand on ceremony,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. Just having washed his hands, he now had to peel shrimp for her. Rolling up his sleeves, he continued to peel. He really had no way to deal with her. Once a shrimp was peeled, he coaxed her, ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Xu Chaomu obediently opened her mouth. She knew this man had a bad temper and always acted high and mighty; so peeling shrimp for her was indeed a great honor. It seemed, the championship she won five years ago still meant a lot to him. She had indeed sown the castor beans in the right ce. Chapter 204: Try to Have a Daughter Chapter 204: Try to Have a Daughter Trantor:549690339 He peeled shrimp after shrimp for her, and she never grew tired of eating them. Actually, she wasn¡¯t that fond of shrimp, but the ones he peeled for her somehow tasted different. He sat beside her, peeling a shrimp and then immediately feeding it to her. He quickly grew ustomed to this gesture. ¡°I want to eat fish now,¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at another dish. ¡°So you¡¯re torturing me by making me pick out the bones, aren¡¯t you?¡± Shen Chi knew she was teasing him. ¡°Four, howe you¡¯re so smart?¡± Xu Chaomu squinted her eyes yfully. When she was in a good mood, she would call him Four, as if it was just second nature. ¡°If your Four isn¡¯t smart, then who else can be considered smart?¡± he retorted unabashedly. ¡°Shameless.¡± Shen Chi chuckled, carefully picked the bones from a piece of fish, and then ced it in her bowl. He had been busy up until now and hadn¡¯t even had a bite to eat. Meanwhile, Xu Chaomu ate contentedly, not being overly polite with him at all. But truthfully, his cooking was quite good; this was the first time in all these years that she had eaten a meal he made. The first time, and also thest. She ate with relish, trying a bit of every dish. Many times, a bitter taste lodged in her throat, but she swallowed her tears down with it. She wasn¡¯t one for mncholy, so she always tried to forget unpleasant things. ¡°Four, when did you buy this vi?¡± ¡°Been a while now. Do you like it?¡± ¡°I like it. Are you going to give it to me?¡± Xu Chaomu teased on purpose. ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°You better save it for your wife; I can¡¯t ept such a thing.¡± ¡°Jealous again? Stop it. In a bit, I¡¯ll take you to the rooftop to sit, I have something to give you.¡± ¡°Is it valuable? If it¡¯s not, I don¡¯t want it,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you see it.¡± ¡°Oh, then let¡¯s take a look. Maybe on a day when I¡¯m short of cash, I can pawn it.¡± ¡°No way, you keep it properly,¡± Shen Chi said with a stern and serious face. Xu Chaomu thought to herself, the handful of croton seeds from five years ago had really paid off¡ªnot only was there dinner, but also a gift. Finally, she was full and patted her stomach, shaking her head: ¡°No more for me, I¡¯m satiated.¡± ¡°Finally managed to feed you enough. Wait a moment, I¡¯m going to eat a few bites,¡± Shen Chi replied. After speaking, Shen Chi washed his hands again, while Xu Chaomu idly swayed in her chair. When he came back, she was still sitting there, eyes whirling around. The corners of his mouth slowly curved upward. How he wished he could see her like this every day. ¡°Mumu, go upstairs and fetch me a jacket,¡± said Shen Chi, flicking the water droplets off his hands and slowly walking towards the dining table with his long legs. ¡°Don¡¯t you have hands? I won¡¯t fetch it.¡± ¡°I must have spoiled you for nothing, you ungrateful little creature. Who peeled shrimp for you just now? And now you can¡¯t even be happy to fetch a jacket for me,¡± heined. ¡°Yeah, right, I¡¯m not happy. What are you going to do, hit me?¡± Xu Chaomuughed joyfully. ¡°Such an ungrateful creature. Fine, leave it; I¡¯ll fetch it myselfter.¡± As long as he saw her smile, everything was good. Having said this, he sat down to eat his meal. Xu Chaomu, meanwhile, hugged an ugly doll pillow, amusing herself with it. Seeing that she didn¡¯t speak, he teased her, ¡°Do you like having a daughter?¡± ¡°Mmhm,¡± she replied, looking down as she continued to y. ¡°I like it too,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. Xu Chaomu gave him a contemptuous look. What¡¯s your liking got to do with me? ¡°Well, work hard to have a daughter in the future,¡± Shen Chi added. Her daughter would definitely be like her, lively and cute, optimistic and cheerful, and surely a lot of boys would chase after her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this, Fourth Brother. You should just try harder to give me a nephew instead. When the timees, my daughter might consider your son.¡± ¡°You sure think far ahead,¡± Shen Chiughed. ¡°It¡¯s just a consideration, and my daughter might not even fancy your son. I¡¯ve said it before, Fourth Brother, you really need to work on your temper, otherwise, when you have a son, no one will want him with that stinky attitude.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t anyone want your son?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your son, not mine!¡± Xu Chaomu red. ¡°What¡¯s mine is yours, and what¡¯s yours is mine.¡± ¡°What kind of crap logic is that!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed. ¡°Keep it ssy.¡± He always managed to annoy her, but thinking about it, there weren¡¯t many times she really exploded, she¡¯d just endure and it would pass. ¡°I won¡¯t bother arguing with you, you little punk.¡± Shen Chi chuckled softly, leisurely finished his dinner, then wiped his hands with a napkin and carried all the dishes into the kitchen. ¡°Xu Chaomu, can¡¯t youe over and help me out?¡± ¡°What are you going to do, hit me?¡± ¡°Come here, wash the dishes!¡± Shen Chi pulled her hand. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to wash dishes, it¡¯s bad for my hands, you¡¯re abusing a minor!¡± ¡°When you were working part-time at the hotel, howe you never said washing dishes was bad for your hands?¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly, always making excuses. Corner of Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, this man had quite the memory. ¡°When I worked part-time at the hotel, washing dishes paid!¡± ¡°Help me wash dishes, and you¡¯ll get paid too.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°One hundred per dish.¡± ¡°Too little, not doing it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve learned to haggle with me now, huh?¡± After saying that, Shen Chi pulled her hand and dragged her over to the sink, then hugged her from behind, taking her hand to wash dishes. He rested his chin on her shoulder, patiently holding her hand as they washed each dish one by one. Xu Chaomu pressed close to his chest, her breathing quickened considerably. She still liked him after all. It was only when she was close to him that she felt a different kind of heart-fluttering excitement. But suddenly, she remembered that during the press conference, he had said to Bai Man, ¡°Forever in love.¡± Now, however, things with her were unclear. Plus, these past few days, he had kissed her many times, as if he were on some sort of drug. Suddenly feeling angry, she yanked her hand away, ¡°You¡¯re about to get married, and you¡¯re so unclear with me, don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡± ¡°How do you write the word ¡®ashamed¡¯?¡± Shen Chi captured her hand, adamantly preventing her from moving. They¡¯ve already got the marriage certificate, what¡¯s unclear about that? If he swept her off to bed now, yeah¡­ that would be perfectly justified. ¡°First time seeing someone with such thick skin; shameless!¡± Facing such a scoundrel, Xu Chaomu was thoroughly out of tricks. ¡°Alright, dutifully wash the dishes for me, and afterward I¡¯ll take you to the rooftop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going. Take me back to school.¡± ¡°Not taking you.¡± ¡°Then where am I going to sleep tonight?¡± Xu Chaomumented, this man was always so domineering and unreasonable. ¡°You can choose to sleep with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in second-hand men!¡± Xu Chaomu dered self-righteously. Although, her life goal used to be to hold him, kiss him, sleep with him. But that was in the past, back when he didn¡¯t have a fianc¨¦e. ¡°Speaking of second-hand men, I have a score to settle with you,¡± Shen Chi lowered his voice. ¡°What score?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She had wronged him in so many ways, she really didn¡¯t know which score he wanted to settle. ¡°Do you know what my circle of friends think of me, Shen Chi, now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing more than dark and cold-hearted, cunning and ruthless, right? Given your unpoprity, there must be no nice words.¡± Chapter 205: Corrupting a Minor (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Chapter 205: Corrupting a Minor (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Trantor:549690339 ¡°Really? Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t you remember the nice things you said about mest time you went to Weiyang?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was hoarse as he deliberately lowered his head. His hot, ambiguous breath brushed Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek, tickling her. With a twitch of her eyelid, Xu Chaomu suddenly wanted to run away. Weiyang¡­ She indeed had said quite a few ¡°nice things¡± about him at Weiyang¡­ When facing trouble, meet it squarely. With a giggle, she said, ¡°Weiyang? I don¡¯t remember. Oh, I remember now. That night, I told you to scram, was it that?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t hold it against you for telling me to scram, but I¡¯m not so forgiving about certain things,¡± Shen Chi countered without missing a beat. ¡°Hehe, hehe¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯sughter was uglier than crying as she seized the chance to escape. ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you really think I¡¯m that incapable?¡± Damn it, how was she supposed to know? But she had climbed into his bed so many times, and hadn¡¯t he always been indifferent? ¡°I also heard them say that you imed to be the active one all night,¡± Shen Chi shamelessly said. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, I didn¡¯t say anything. Big Brother, isn¡¯t this considered leading a minor astray?¡± Xu Chaomu vehemently denied. ¡°Now you¡¯re denying it, feeling shy?¡± Shen Chi lowered his head and rubbed his cheek against hers. ¡°Shen Chi, let¡¯s talk this out properly, stop being handsy!¡± Xu Chaomu snapped. She elbowed him, but who was he, and effortlessly dodged it. ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t make up stories about me in the future, or I¡¯ll let you experience firsthand what ¡®capable¡¯ really means,¡± Shen Chi said sternly, putting on a serious face. ¡°Big Brother, is it really okay for you to talk to your sister like this? I¡¯ve been corrupted by you!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s corrupting who? Who was it that at ten years old was reading restrictedics?¡± ¡°It was you!¡± Xu Chaomu insisted confidently. ¡°Little rascal.¡± Shen Chi smiled indulgently, his eyes narrowing. He took her hand to wash the dishes, though in reality, it was mostly him doing the washing. But he just loved that feeling, as if time slowed down to a crawl. Finally, when the dishes were done, Xu Chaomu was visibly reluctant. She shook her hands and left the kitchen. Shen Chi went upstairs to fetch two coats, draping one on Xu Chaomu and donning a ck trench coat himself. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to the rooftop,¡± Shen Chi said, taking her hand. From beginning to end, this man exuded dominance, leaving no room for Xu Chaomu to refuse. If he wanted to hold her hand, she had toply obediently; if he wanted to sit beside her, she couldn¡¯t move away; if he told her to look at the stars, she couldn¡¯t look at the moon instead. ¡°Shen Chi, will you ever stop? Is it very cold today? Can you not lean so close to me?¡± So, as Shen Chi moved closer once again, Xu Chaomu erupted. ¡°It¡¯s not cold, but I am.¡± Having said that, he allowed her no chance to speak further. He hugged her tightly, bringing her into his arms. On such a good day, wasn¡¯t it okay for him to hold her? ¡°Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu burst out again. How could a man be so shameless, ¡°What exactly do you think of me? You have a fianc¨¦e yourself, why are you still being so ambiguous with me?¡± ¡°What do I think? Of course, I think of you day and night,¡± he replied. Xu Chaomu knew she couldn¡¯t outy this man. ¡°Stop arguing, just quietly watch the moon for a while.¡± Shen Chi held her in his arms, his chin resting on her head, and he could smell the elegant fragrance she emitted. A thought turned into a disaster, one that couldn¡¯t be avoided. The rooftop was very quiet, the clear and light moonlight pouring down like flowing water, onto the rooftop and onto them. The wind rustled the bamboo, casting shadows in motion, and the flowers carried their fragrance on the breeze. Xu Chaomu fell silent. Though her heart was not at ease, in this moment, she found herself unable to reject him. When could she stop loving this man? Love was one thing, marriage another. She could not marry him, but she could not convince herself to stop loving him. As she was held in his arms, tears began to flow. He did not belong to her and never would. She was willing to let go because he did not love her. Clinging on would have no meaning. Sensing her distress, he lowered his head to cradle her face: ¡°Why are you crying?¡± His brows furrowed, pained by the sight. ¡°Why would I cry? It¡¯s just the wind being too strong; my eyes hurt a little.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just you being stubborn with me,¡± sighed Shen Chi. Having said that, he hugged her even tighter: ¡°My dear, don¡¯t cry. I can¡¯t bear to see you cry.¡± Xu Chaomu said nothing more. His care for her was still that from a brother to a sister. He always made the boundaries clear. For instance, once he had a fianc¨¦e, he would never touch her again. Thest time she identally drank wineced with drugs and was in such distress, he still did noty a finger on her. He was determined to stay pure for his fianc¨¦e. ¡°Right, didn¡¯t you have something you wanted to give me? Let me see if it is valuable,¡± Xu Chaomu broke the quiet. ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep. Under the moonlight, his eyes grew even brighter and alluring¡ªespecially when he looked at her, filled with indulgence and depth. It was like fine wine: once inebriated, there was no waking up. Xu Chaomu obediently closed her eyes. The light shone on her face, her fairplexion tinged with a faint blush, her delicate and proud nose, her slightly pursed lips. Shen Chi repressed the urge inside him; he truly wanted to take her face in his hands and kiss her senseless. Silently, he watched her, just like that, for a long, long time. He took a tinum ne out of his coat pocket, hanging at the end of the chain was an immacte emerald pendant. In the moonlight, the jade pendant emitted a soft green luminescence, like a beautiful green sprite. The pendant was diamond-shaped, naturally carved, its beauty arresting and inescapable. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He stepped closer to her, lifting her hair to put the ne on for her. Xu Chaomu felt a cold touch on her neck, so she opened her eyes. As soon as she did, she met his deep, dark eyes. Touching the jade pendant, she found it cool and smooth to the touch, extremely pleasant. A sudden warmth welled up in her eyes, and she looked down at the ne in silence. ¡°Do you like it?¡± he asked tenderly. She pouted, lifting her clear and pure eyes, and tilted her head yfully: ¡°How much is it worth? If I don¡¯t want it one day, it would be nice to sell it for a good price.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want it one day, just sell it,¡± he said. Shen Chi stroked her face, his fingertips gliding over her brows and eyes, over and over. She fell silent then, expecting him to warn her dominantly, ¡°You dare.¡± ¡°The characters on this, are they my name?¡± Xu Chaomu squinted in the moonlight and noticed, for the first time, two small characters on the jade pendant. The characters were so tiny they were nearly invisible without a close look. ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize your own name?¡± Shen Chi smiled, finding her naivety increasingly endearing. Xu Chaomu looked down at the two characters. Indeed, they were ¡°Chaomu.¡± If lovests a long time, what matter is it if we¡¯re not together every moment? The characters looked very much like Shen Chi¡¯s handwriting. His writing was beautiful, firm and strong; she would not forget it with just one nce. Chapter 206: Promise You a Lifetime, Morning and Evening Chapter 206: Promise You a Lifetime, Morning and Evening Trantor:549690339 The first time she watched him write, he was writing her name. Xu Chaomu. The ¡®Xu¡¯ from ¡®Xu Nuo¡¯, and ¡®Chaomu¡¯ from ¡®day and night¡¯. ¡°This writing is so ugly, it devalues the jade,¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head to nce at him, pouting her lips. ¡°With this writing, it bes the one and only in the entire world,¡± Shen Chi wasn¡¯t annoyed either, caressing her hair. After a while, he added softly, ¡°Just like you.¡± Yes, she was Xu Chaomu, one of a kind. ¡°Then I¡¯ll reluctantly ept it, but remember to give something more valuable next time. With your wealth, Shen Chi, giving a jade pendant is hardly justifiable.¡± ¡°You little rascal,¡± Shen Chi chuckled softly. This jade was a rare treasure to begin with, and with her name carved on it, it became priceless. These two small characters were personally carven by him after seeking the advice of a jade carving master. During their recent argument, he almost wanted to stow the jade pendant away forever, but then he thought that life is long and one cannot avoid bumps along the way. He, Shen Chi, was destined to be no good, so lowering his head was of no consequence. ¡°Chaomu,¡± he called her name, staring into her eyes, ¡°The jade wasn¡¯t given for free.¡± ¡°Hm? What do you expect as a return gift?¡± Xu Chaomu tilted her head to look at him, always knowing this man would never settle for a loss. ¡°Let me kiss you.¡± He stared at her, and as soon as the words left his lips, his own followed, kissing her. He held her little head, not letting her move, and the kissnded steadily on her lips. Xu Chaomu waspletely stunned, her mind nk. How many times had he kissed her now? Why hadn¡¯t she managed to kiss him in eight years, yet he had kissed her so many times in session? Why was she such a failure? Was this the difference between sessful people and failures? Was this the legendary cunning of businessmen? The kiss muddled Xu Chaomu, and her brain couldn¡¯t catch up. It felt like an eternity, like a lifetime. Only when he had his fill did he let her go, satisfied, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu, I offer you a lifetime, day and night.¡± He didn¡¯t know when it started, but he couldn¡¯t live without her anymore. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re shameless. I don¡¯t want your jade pendant!¡± Xu Chaomu, fuming, tried to remove the ne, her face burning red. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Shen Chi held her hand, ¡°I¡¯ve already kissed you, wouldn¡¯t I be at a loss if you gave it back now?¡± Xu Chaomu thought about it and realized he wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°It¡¯ste, let¡¯s go upstairs to sleep,¡± Shen Chi took her hand. ¡°Shen Chi, I have something to ask you.¡± Xu Chaomu refused to leave; she had many, many questions for him. For instance, why he had kissed her. In his eyes, was she just a mistress clinging to a wealthy man, and he, having that need, naturally led to them sneaking around? She always remembered that he was about to get engaged. So in his eyes, she was still that contemptible. ¡°We can talk about it another time,¡± Shen Chi frowned, not giving her a chance to speak. ¡°I want to talk now! You don¡¯t seem to be drunk tonight, so let me ask you, did you bring me here just to relish the thrill of an affair? As the saying goes, ¡®A concubine isn¡¯t as good as a wife, and a thief isn¡¯t as good as a concubine,¡¯ do you enjoy this?¡± ¡°Stop making a fuss.¡± What wife or concubine, what theft. Shen Chi was helpless. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re utterly shameless! You might be rich, but I won¡¯t be your lover, go and find someone else.¡± ¡°Go to your room and sleep!¡± Shen Chi, with a dark expression, yanked her into a neat and tidy small room. He had especially kept this room for her. It had been furnished to her liking, which had taken a lot of his effort. After letting go of her hand, he was ready to close the door. ¡°Isn¡¯t this like soliciting? I can¡¯t ept such a nice room,¡± Xu Chaomu rushed over. Just as she intended to chase after him, Shen Chi casually closed the door. ¡°Bang, bang, bang,¡± she kicked the door forcefully several times. ¡°Scumbag! What do you take me for!¡± He had said before that all she could do was seduce men, was just a gold digger. Now, after giving her a little something and showing some kindness, she was supposed to let him kiss her. It felt like a transaction of money and sex, which felt horrible. Because she wasn¡¯t that kind of woman, and she didn¡¯t want to be that kind of woman. ¡°Bastard, what do you take me for¡­¡± The more she thought, the more ufortable she felt, slowly she crouched down, sitting on the floor with her knees hugged. She took a deep breath trying not to cry¡­ She wasn¡¯t that kind of woman, she wasn¡¯t his toy. She had seen many times on TV shows and magazines, rich young men who have wives but still keep mistresses. Typically, such mistresses do not have good endings. And now, she felt a chill down her spine. Wasn¡¯t her current situation indistinguishable from being a mistress? She also recalled the incident involving Wang Yu, Ning Kang, and Ju Shuya at the hospital. Ju Shuya was pitiful, as she couldn¡¯t even keep the child. But no matter how pitiful, she was still the other woman. An other woman, despised by everyone. Xu Chaomu would not be the other woman. With that thought, she forcefully tore the ne from her neck. Even if it pained her to part with it, even if she liked him, she still had her dignity. As long as he didn¡¯t love her, she wouldn¡¯t cling to him. It was his affair if he wanted to fool around, but she wouldn¡¯t be the one he did it with. And so, Xu Chaomu spent the entire night awake. She thought about Nie Chenng and wondered if his flight had reached Paris. Nie Chenng refused to take her with him; if only he had been willing, how nice that would have been¡­ The night was quiet, the moonlight gentle. At the Shen Family vi, Shen Shihan was on the balcony making a call to Xiaoma. ¡°Mhm, go ahead, I¡¯m listening,¡± he said. Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was crisp and cold, bing more profound in the chilly night breeze. ¡°Third Young Master, I¡¯ve been investigating Xu Chaomu¡¯s background and couldn¡¯t find anything. I suspect Fourth Young Master has blocked the information.¡± ¡°I know, nobody else has the means to do that but him.¡± ¡°Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master seems very determined to keep Xu Chaomu¡¯s background a secret. So, it¡¯s not just us, other parties can¡¯t find any information either.¡± ¡°So the reason you called me is to indicate there¡¯s something out of the ordinary, right?¡± Shen Shihan said with a faint smile. ¡°Yes. Recently, someone let it slip that Xu Chaomu¡¯s mother might have been harmed by Madam Zhou.¡± ¡°How widespread is this rumor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not widespread, I had to go through a lot of trouble just to hear a bit about it.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t stray far from my suspicion,¡± Shen Shihan scoffed coldly. He had been wondering, to what degree was Shen Chi¡¯s affection for Xu Chaomu? Now it seems, if Shen Chi knew the truth all along, then this affection was nothing but atonement. It¡¯s just a pity for Chaomu, loving him wholeheartedly. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Shen Shihan inquired. ¡°No, Third Young Master. The rumorsted only a few days before it was suppressed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hard to guess who suppressed it,¡± Shen Shihan stated tly. Chapter 207: Feed Me Alcohol Chapter 207: Feed Me Alcohol Trantor: 549690339 ¡°However, Third Young Master, I have not collected any relevant evidence, so I cannot provide you with a definite answer.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Shen Shihan responded indifferently. ¡°What do you n to do, Third Young Master?¡± ¡°Help me contact Zhou Peitian and tell him I have something important to discuss, same ce as usual.¡± ¡°Alright, I will contact him right away.¡± Soon, Shen Shihan drove to Weiyang, the so-called usual ce, of course, was Weiyang. This ce has good privacy, especially suitable for business entertainment; of course, it¡¯s also great for leisure and entertainment. When Shen Shihan arrived at Weiyang, Zhou Peitian was already waiting for him in the private room. Zhou Peitian was smokingzily, lounging on the sofa, puffing out smoke, and resting with his eyes closed. ¡°I¡¯ve kept Brother Peitian waiting, truly sorry about that.¡± When Shen Shihan entered the room, he took off his coat and sat down opposite Zhou Peitian. ¡°Not at all, Third Young Master, you¡¯re too polite.¡± Zhou Peitian opened his eyes, ¡°Before saying much else, let¡¯s have a few drinks first. Third Young Master, you can¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Shen Shihan curled the corner of his lips. It didn¡¯t take long for Zhou Peitian to call the waiter over. Shen Shihan lit a cigarette and crossed his legs, sitting on the sofa. Under the light, his face was slightly shadowed, his expression unclear, but his sharp, chiseled features were unmistakable. Handsome and charming, he exuded mature allure. When Mo Shuifu entered, she recognized Shen Shihan immediately, and her heart skipped a beat. She didn¡¯t know why, but there was a strange feeling in her heart whenever she saw Shen Shihan. She lowered her head, arranged the wine sses, and poured the drinks for them. As a result, being nervous, her hand trembled, and she spilled red wine onto Shen Shihan¡¯s trousers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± Mo Shuifu quickly took a paper towel to wipe the wine for him. Shen Shihan pulled back his leg, as he didn¡¯t like being touched like that. All the more so, the wine had been spilled on his trousers. He frowned: ¡°It¡¯s fine, you may go now.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Mo Shuifu said, her head bowed. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Shen Shihan suddenly recognized her voice, ¡°Is it you?¡± Mo Shuifu immediately became nervous; she knew Shen Shihan had recognized her. He had spoken on her behalf at Weiyang before, but several times she hadn¡¯t appreciated it, so he probably didn¡¯t have a good impression of her. In fact, if it weren¡¯t for his helpst time, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to continue working peacefully at Weiyang. After all, she had a cold demeanor and a hint of pride, unwilling to lower her head, and in a ce like Weiyang, what was needed was the skill of being smooth and adept at pleasing both sides. ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Shuifu responded with her head down. ¡°Long time no see, you¡¯re still working here?¡± Shen Shihan said casually. ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Shuifu gave another simple response. She was aware that the clients here were all sons of wealth and privilege. She had also heard that he was the Third Young Master Shen, a VIP customer at Weiyang. Such a man, she could not afford to provoke, nor did she wish to get entangled with them too much. ¡°Third Young Master, seems thedy is throwing you some attitude there,¡± Zhou Peitian chuckled. In this private room, when women see a wealthy man, which of them doesn¡¯t employ all their tactics? Yet this woman was neither warm nor weing, indifferent and dismissive. ¡°Not daring to.¡± Mo Shuifu spoke tly. Shen Shihan was somewhat displeased now; he was trying to have a serious conversation with her, but she was brushing him off. ¡°You¡¯re that reluctant to leave this job?¡± There was impatience and a hint of sarcasm in Shen Shihan¡¯s tone. He had once advised her not to work here. Mo Shuifu felt ufortable inside; his words were clearly mocking. Everyone knew that working here was not respectable. Even if one didn¡¯t do anything dishonorable, they would still be considered as such. Wasn¡¯t that what he meant? Mo Shuifu lifted her head, a faint trace of a cold smile crossed her delicate face: ¡°A vice president like Third Young Master Shen wouldn¡¯t understand our situation, of course.¡± Having said this, she brought the wine sses to them, still with her cool temperature: ¡°Enjoy your drinks, gentlemen.¡± Standing up, she was about to leave in her high heels. ¡°Are you throwing a little tantrum at me?¡± Shen Shihan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Dare not.¡± Mo Shuifu repeated the same words. Yes, she did not dare. These men could easily make her disappear without a trace with a simple flick of their finger. But his words just now, she found quite ufortable. Performing menial tasks of serving tea and wine, he made it sound as if she was selling herself. She, Mo Shuifu, had not fallen to that level yet. ¡°Fine, dare not, you say? Come here,¡± Shen Shihan snuffed out his cigarette, leisurely watching her, suddenly in the mood for something. Zhou Peitian, straightforward as always,ughed: ¡°Third Young Master Shen seems to be in good spirits today. It¡¯s rare to see you talk so much with these women usually.¡± ¡°Yes, I am in a good mood today.¡± Mo Shuifu stood in ce, unable to move forward. She nced at Shen Shihan: ¡°Third Young Master, please give your instructions.¡± This man was handsome, and his gestures were not as vulgar and rough as others, more of an innate elegance. But it was nothing more than a beast in sheep¡¯s clothing. ¡°My instruction is for you toe here,¡± Shen Shihanmanded. He just looked at her like that, his eyes narrowed, his face calm and collected. A slight curve formed at his lips, the dim light making him look even more imposing and alluring. Mo Shuifu was stuck between approaching and leaving. She moved a few steps closer but kept her distance from Shen Shihan. ¡°Good,e closer, pick up the ss, and feed me the drink,¡± Shen Shihan instructed. What was a tantly ungraceful request seemed light and breezying from him. ¡°Third Young Master Shen, I¡¯m sorry. I am only responsible for serving drinks,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone was ice cold. ¡°Alright then, only serving drinks, you say? Then let me tell you, if you don¡¯t feed me a drink today, you¡¯ll lose your job.¡± Zhou Peitianughed from the sidelines; Third Young Master Shen really seemed to be in good spirits today, seldom does he joke around like this. ¡°Third Young Master, don¡¯t make things difficult for the girl, it¡¯s not easy for her to find a job.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t she love her job? If she loves it so much, then by feeding me a drink, she keeps her job. What¡¯s not to be happy about,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. Shen Shihan felt he was meddling again. Whether she stayed or left her job at Weiyang, what did it have to do with him? Yet, he just couldn¡¯t stand it. Perhaps it was because he had saved her life? ¡°Third Young Master Shen, why must you y these jokes on me? I am simply earning a living,¡± Mo Shuifu frowned. Her cool face never showed a smile, and her brow furrowed, conveying myriad troubles. ¡°I am not joking with you, I am having a very serious conversation,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s thin lips parted lightly. Never having been seen closely before, today a nce revealed an air of cultured elegance about her, like the fragrance of books, understated yet captivating. Such a woman should not be working here. ¡°Fine, then I hope Third Young Master Shen means what he says,¡± Mo Shuifu clenched her teeth. Having said that, she actually picked up the wine ss from the table. Chapter 208: Serve me well Chapter 208: Serve me well Trantor: 549690339 Half a ss of red wine, glittering and intoxicating like a ruby, was held aloft by her pale, slim fingers, making the red wine even more alluring. She picked up the wine ss and walked slowly in Shen Shihan¡¯s direction. Her heart, though, was extremely calm; she needed this well-paying job, she needed to support her mother. But as she had never done something like this before, even standing right before Shen Shihan, she had no idea what to do. ¡°Dragging your feet ¨C are you going to dillydally until tomorrow?¡± Shen Shihan looked at her and said coldly. Their gazes met, and he saw anger in her eyes. Mo Shuifu had no choice but to sit next to him, raising her wrist high, ¡°Third Young Master Shen, please open your mouth.¡± A deed that should have been flirtatious, yet when spoken from her lips, sounded like feeding medicine. A speechless Shen Shihan¡¯s face was lined with ck marks, truly at a loss for words. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to feed a drink?¡± Shen Shihan looked at her. Zhou Peitian stood by, only snickering to himself, ¡°Third Young Master Shen, don¡¯t make it difficult for her; she seems not to know.¡± ¡°Brother Peitian, if she doesn¡¯t know, you can teach her.¡± Zhou Peitian choked, clearing his throat lightly, ¡°Youngdy, it¡¯s really nothing much, you just take a mouthful of wine and feed it to Third Young Master Shen. You see, our Third Young Master Shen is young and handsome, it¡¯s a good deal for you.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s temper red up instantly; she grasped the stem ss, stood up, and with force, drenched Shen Shihan¡¯s face with the entire ss of wine! Instantly, red wine sshed all over Shen Shihan¡¯s face, staining his dark shirt wet in patches! ¡°Go find someone else to serve you ¨C I¡¯m not up for the job!¡± Mo Shuifu scoffed, tossing aside the ss. Previously, she thought he was different from the other rich young masters. But now it seemed, they were all sleazy creeps! A cold feeling spread across Shen Shihan¡¯s face, followed by a faint chuckle, huh. He raised his hand, wiping away the red wine on his face, his deep eyes staring intently at her. Zhou Peitian never expected this woman to be so fiery; it was just a drink to be fed, and yet she sshed Shen Shihan in the face with red wine! He quickly stood up to intervene, ¡°Third Young Master Shen, don¡¯t stoop to her level. She¡¯s asking for trouble. It¡¯s my fault, and I¡¯ll have her dealt withter. This kind of woman, she really doesn¡¯t know how to read the room.¡± Zhou Peitian handed Shen Shihan a tissue, who didn¡¯t seem too perturbed on the surface. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re not weed at Weiyang anymore,¡± Shen Shihan remarked lightly, looking at Mo Shuifu. Mo Shuifu knew she couldn¡¯t afford to provoke this man. But the wine was already spilled, and there was no need to plead with him. ¡°Is that all?¡± Mo Shuifu stared back at him, tone unfriendly. Their eyes met again, and under the dim lighting, Mo Shuifu felt that he, Third Young Master Shen, looked like someone. Like that man¡­ If she remembered correctly, his name was Shen Chi. However, although Shen Chi was indifferent by nature, in her mind, he was like a gentleman, not at all like Shen Shihan. However, Shen Shihan, Shen Chi; the Third Young Master, the Fourth Young Master. Could it be that they were brothers? ¡°You could plead with me, or please me well. If I¡¯m in a good mood, perhaps I¡¯ll let you stay on,¡± Shen Shihan added. But he was convinced she wouldn¡¯t plead with him; this woman, despite being in a ce as chaotic as Weiyang, waspletely out of ce with her temperament. Staunch and stubborn. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Mo Shuifu was also resigned to her fate. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing left to discuss, go settle with your supervisor, and you may leave Weiyang,¡± Shen Shihan said coldly. ¡°Never let me see you again! Scum!¡± Mo Shuifu dropped the cold words. But she didn¡¯t turn and leave immediately; instead, she picked up another ss of red wine on the table. With a lift of her hand, another ss of wine washed over Shen Shihan¡¯s face! He had cut off her means of livelihood; dousing him with another ss of wine was not too much to pay. ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Zhou Peitian stood up angrily, ready to grab Mo Shuifu. The private room fell silent all of a sudden. Red wine dripped down Shen Shihan¡¯s hair. If it were anyone else, they would¡¯ve erupted in fury by now, but Shen Shihan, with his excellentposure, just wiped it away with a hand. Wiping the wine from his face, the ghostly light in his eyes grew deeper. He held Zhou Peitian back from doing anything rash. ¡°Mo Shuifu, well done,¡± Shen Shihan remarked with a chilling smile, the corners of his mouth revealing a meaningful sneer. Mo Shuifu, gritting her teeth, threw the ss to the ground and turned to leave the room! Soon after, the sound of her high heels faded away into the corridor. Bit by bit, growing fainter and fainter until it could no longer be heard. The private room remained quiet for a while, devoid of any sound. Zhou Peitian too seemed stunned. He had never thought anyone would dare to ssh Third Young Master Shen with red wine, let alone twice. ¡°Third Young Master Shen, let me wipe that for you,¡± Zhou Peitian said, hastily reaching for a tissue to wipe the wine from Shen Shihan¡¯s body. Shen Shihan didn¡¯t mind and lightly curved his lips, ¡°No worries.¡± In reality, the cor of his shirt was soaked through, and the damp clothing clinging to his body was quite ufortable. The dark shirt now had arge wet stain, looking rather unsightly. ¡°That woman really has some nerve, I¡¯ll have someone teach her a lesson someday,¡± Zhou Peitian said. ¡°It was I who was rude first,¡± Shen Shihanughed. ¡°Third Young Master Shen, you were only joking with her, but look at her, throwing two sses of red wine at you.¡± ¡°Now she¡¯s lost her job,¡± Shen Shihan said nonchntly. ¡°She deserves it! It¡¯s lucky for her that she wasn¡¯t driven out of C City! I really don¡¯t know what Ji Shengxuan is doing as a boss,¡± Zhou Peitian was obviously more incensed by the incident than Shen Shihan. ¡°That fox Ji Shengxuan, you can¡¯t expect anything from him,¡± Shen Shihan remarked as he wiped the water stains, his voice remaining calm, ¡°Find her a job tomorrow, with a higher sry preferably.¡± Zhou Peitian was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu.¡± ¡°Are you returning her bad with your good, Third Young Master Shen? This woman is ungrateful; after sshing two sses of wine at you, you still want to find her a job? If you want to find her one, do it yourself, I won¡¯t.¡± Shen Shihan smiled, ¡°Brother Peitian, you say that as if she didn¡¯t ssh you.¡± ¡°Third Young Master Shen, have you had too much to drink today? Are you drunk?¡± Zhou Peitian had always known Shen Shihan to be tit-for-tat, not one to be so good-natured. ¡°I may not be drunk, but I admit I¡¯ve been sshed plenty,¡± Shen Shihan said, his unusually good mood carrying on. He looked down, wiping the stains off his shirt, and then, picking up the bottle of wine, poured himself another ss of red wine. ¡°No way, I¡¯m not finding her a job, if Third Young Master Shen feels sorry for her, you could ce her in Shen Group.¡± ¡°Let it be, I¡¯ll arrange it,¡± said Shen Shihan, his voice devoid of warmth. ¡°Ha ha, Third Young Master Shen, that woman must hate you to death right now,¡± Zhou Peitian suddenly burst outughing. He just found it amusing. Shen Shihan red at him, his voice cool, ¡°She¡¯s always been ungrateful; I¡¯m used to it.¡± ¡°Third Young Master Shen, you¡¯re not falling for this chick, are you? For fun, maybe, but don¡¯t catch real feelings. Although, she is quite beautiful, just a bit too cold for my taste,¡± Zhou Peitian patted Shen Shihan¡¯s shoulder. Chapter 209: Success or Failure Depends on This Moment Chapter 209: Sess or Failure Depends on This Moment Trantor:549690339 ¡°Forget about her, I have something important to tell you.¡± Shen Shihan handed the red wine in his hand to Zhou Peitian. ¡°Alright, no more talking.¡± Zhou Peitian immediately became serious again. He sat down on the sofa, facing Shen Shihan directly. ¡°Peitian, you should know what I want to talk to you about.¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°You want to ask about my contact with the Feili Group?¡± ¡°Just tell me everything, I¡¯m listening.¡± Shen Shihan held his wine withposure. Under the dim light, Shen Shihan¡¯s stern face appeared particrly enchanting. Zhou Peitian took a light sip of his drink and slowly began, ¡°Lu Feili is very astute. She said she could join hands with you, Mr. Third Young Master, and even provide capital, but she made it clear that she would stay in the background and absolutely not show her face.¡± ¡°A mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; she¡¯s afraid that if things fail, Shen Chi could turn all his firepower on her, and then her Feili Group would be finished,¡± Shen Shihan chuckled. ¡°Third Young Master, not only that, this woman also said that once the project seeds, she wants a 30% stake!¡± ¡°Indeed greedy.¡± ¡°Yeah, so, Third Young Master, are we still partnering with her or looking for anotherpany?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time. Shen Chi is about to leave for South Africa.¡± ¡°Third Young Master, do you know the exact time Shen Chi will go to South Africa?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even have a clear time, let alone who he is taking and how he is going; I know nothing!¡± Suddenly, Shen Shihan¡¯s jawline stiffened, a trace of coldness forming at his lips. ¡°Shen Chi is really good at keeping secrets,¡± Zhou Peitian frowned. ¡°He¡¯s always been like this, one thing on the surface and another behind the back; no one knows what¡¯s on his mind. He held several meetings in the group publicly regarding the trip to South Africa, but secretly, he conducted countless secret meetings.¡± It seemed to be a regr affair for Shen Shihan, his tone indifferent. ¡°That won¡¯t do, Third Young Master. You must find a way to find out. Sess or failure hinges on this one action; the diamond mine in South Africa is no ordinary matter.¡± ¡°Then let Lu Feili prepare early, preferably to get a head start.¡± Shen Shihan suggested. ¡°Given Shen Chi¡¯s character, he probably has already nted spies in South Africa. Any move we make will surely prompt his response,¡± Zhou Peitian said. ¡°Then, Peitian, do you think there is anything in this world that can disturb Shen Chi¡¯s mind?¡± Zhou Peitian lifted his ss, thought for a moment, and shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it; he¡¯s so calcting, how could he let anyone easily find his weakness.¡± ¡°Then let me tell you,¡± Shen Shihan said lightly, ¡°What do you think about Bai Man?¡± Zhou Peitian shook his head again, ¡°Does Shen Chi like Bai Man? I doubt it. Although they grew up together from childhood, Shen Chi¡¯s marriage to Bai Man is purely a mutually beneficial affair for both families. If we¡¯re talking about a weakness, Bai Man probably doesn¡¯t count.¡± ¡°Peitian, you have a sharp eye,¡± Shen Shihan chuckled. ¡°Third Young Mister, you tter me.¡± Zhou Peitianughed, sittingzily on the sofa. ¡°Then Peitian, do you think Shen Chi is really invulnerable?¡± ¡°I¡­ really can¡¯t think of any weaknesses of his. It seems like there¡¯s nothing one could hold over him.¡± ¡°Peitian, does Shen Chi have a sister, you know?¡± ¡°A sister?¡± Zhou Peitian was momentarily puzzled, but after a long pondering, he suddenly realized, ¡°Eight years ago, I heard that Mrs. Zhou adopted a little girl, but I didn¡¯t hear much about it.¡± ¡°Her name is Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°Oh yes, I¡¯ve heard a little, but nobody paid attention to the little girl. Third Young Master, your point is¡­¡± ¡°She is Shen Chi¡¯s greatest weakness.¡± Clearly disbelieving, Zhou Peitian said, ¡°A girl who has no blood rtion to the Shen Family?¡± ¡°Shen Chi cares about her, even loves her,¡± Shen Shihan stated tly. Zhou Peitian was utterly confused; he had never even considered this possibility. ¡°Third Young Master, please exin more clearly, I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°To put it inly, Shen Chi would give up everything for Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°Third Young Master, you must be joking. A person like Shen Chi, cruel and ruthless, you say he¡¯s willing to give up everything for a woman, I don¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to make you believe,¡± Shen Shihan curled his lips. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait, but I certainly don¡¯t believe it,¡± Zhou Peitian said challengingly. ¡°He has protected her too well, so that almost no one knows that Xu Chaomu is the most important person in Shen Chi¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°Considering what you said, Third Young Master, does Miss Bai Man, Bai Man, know?¡± ¡°Bai Man is already suspicious, but during thest press conference, Shen Chi skillfully evaded the issue and quelled Bai Man¡¯s doubts. But Bai Man is too cunning; she probably won¡¯t let it go so easily,¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°Third Young Master, could you be mistaken? How could Shen Chi have affection for a girl picked up from an orphanage with no parents?¡± ¡°Love is a feeling.¡± ¡°Oh, since when did the Third Young Master be so romantically inclined?¡± ¡°Enough talk, just drink,¡± Shen Shihan said casually. Shen Shihan and Zhou Peitian chatted for a long time, discussing the South African diamond project, discussing Xu Chaomu, and many other topics. Before they knew it, Shen Shihan had had a few extra drinks. When he left the private room, it was already one o¡¯clock in the morning. Everything was shrouded in a fog, and the air was thick with moisture. Shen Shihan put on his coat and walked towards a nearby hotel. He drank a bit too much to drive back to the Shen Family¡¯s home. But, as he was leaning on the wall to walk, he saw a woman crouched in the corner of Weiyang. She was hugging her arms, as if shivering. Shen Shihan furrowed his brows, recognizing the figure; he stepped forward. He was drunk, and his head felt very dizzy at the moment. ¡°Mo Shuifu?¡± He squinted his eyes, bent down, and smiled faintly. Mo Shuifu, hearing the sound, quickly stood up and kept several steps¡¯ distance from Shen Shihan. In the weak light, her small face was slightly pale, herrge eyes showing panic, like a deer lost from its path. She clearly cried before; her face was streaked with tears, and even her hair was messy. She avoided Shen Shihan as if avoiding an enemy. ¡°Ha, are you afraid of me?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s lips curled slightly. He too had drunk too much, and when that happened, he tended to talk more. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m afraid of you, so stay away from me,¡± Mo Shuifu said warily, backing away. As she retreated, she prepared to run. But Shen Shihan, with quick reflexes, grabbed her wrist from behind with force. ¡°Afraid of what? I¡¯m not going to eat you, really such ungratefulness,¡± Shen Shihan spoke with slight exasperation. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you, Third Young Master Shen, to pick on me. Let go of my hand.¡± Mo Shuifu tried to pull her wrist out of his grip, but she was no match for Shen Shihan¡¯s strength. By the light, she saw that the wine stains on his shirt were almost dry. But as he approached her, she could smell a strong scent of alcohol. She frowned. She knew that a man drunk on alcohol was like a madman. Chapter 210: Falling into His Arms Chapter 210: Falling into His Arms Trantor:549690339 ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered me, why are you afraid of me? Every time you see me, you can barely avoid me quick enough,¡± Shen Shihan chuckled awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that with just a flick of your finger, I could lose my life,¡± Mo Shuifu said, her voice cold and sharp. She tried forcefully to pull her wrist free, but the harder she pulled, the tighter his grip became. ¡°What¡¯s so bad about leaving Weiyang?¡± Shen Shihan frowned. ¡°How would you, a rich young master, understand our hardships? Without a job, what do I use to support my mother? Do you know my mother needs huge amounts of money for medical expenses every month, and you, ha, with just one sentence, ruined everything for me.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone was unkind, even the nce she threw him was filled with a chilling breeze. ¡°Your mother is sick?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s eyebrows creased even more. As he looked up, he met Mo Shuifu¡¯s cool gaze and saw disdain in her eyes. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t want to get too involved with him and said indifferently, ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re short of money, take this card and use it for now.¡± Shen Shihan took out his wallet from the pocket of his trousers and slid a bank card into Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand. Without a second thought, Mo Shuifu threw the card on the ground, her eyes icy, ¡°Third Young Master Shen, the best fortune for me is for you to keep your distance. We¡¯re nothing to each other, I don¡¯t need your charity!¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s hand paused, and a self-mocking smirk curled at the corners of his lips. Ha, he was meddling again. This woman, she never knew what¡¯s good for her. ¡°Forget it if you don¡¯t want it,¡± Shen Shihan bent down to pick up the bank card. But his hand still clung to Mo Shuifu¡¯s wrist, refusing to let go. With no other choice, Mo Shuifu had to push him firmly, ¡°Please let go, Third Young Master. There are many women like me in Weiyang; if you feel so overflowing with sympathy and have nothing better to do, you could support them!¡± The man was clearly drunk; disdain filled Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes. Shen Shihan felt he had truly failed, for it was the first time anyone had found him so annoying. ¡°I must have been full and bloated toe and mess with you,¡± Shen Shihan scoffed coldly. He should have never saved her in the first ce. This woman, she would never appreciate it. Never seen anyone so ungrateful. ¡°Then let go, I need to get home,¡± Mo Shuifu said. ¡°Mo Shuifu, I advise you, don¡¯t try to outdo me. Since your mother is sick and in need of money, just take this money, don¡¯t dy her treatment. As for the debt, if you want to repay me, you can do it slowly.¡± Mo Shuifu fell silent, her heart tumultuous like rolling waves. She had to admit, Shen Shihan¡¯s words had struck a chord with her. She needed money, arge sum of it. Her mother was going to undergo major surgery soon and even if she worked day and night in Weiyang, it would be impossible to gather such an amount in a short time. Seeing her hesitation, Shen Shihan stuffed the bank card into her hand, ¡°Take it, the PIN is thest six digits of the card number.¡± Then, for the first time, Mo Shuifu lifted her beautiful eyes and looked silently at Shen Shihan. Her face always carried a peaceful beauty like still water, undisturbed, but the misty teardrops in her eyes betrayed her. ¡°Third Young Master Shen, how much money is on this card?¡± she asked, raising the bank card. She was always so serene and quiet, exuding a peaceful and tranquil charm. ¡°Eight hundred thousand in total.¡± ¡°I will repay you.¡± ¡°Ha, as you wish. I, Shen Shihan, don¡¯tck this bit of money.¡± Mo Shuifu bit her lip; yes, for Shen Shihan, this money was a drop in the ocean, equivalent to five or ten yuan. But for her, it was a fortune. Exactly the fortune she needed. Eight hundred thousand was enough. ¡°Thank you,¡± Mo Shuifu murmured, parting her crimson lips. Shen Shihanughed again, ¡°You¡¯ve finally deigned to thank me.¡± ¡°Third Young Master, it¡¯ste. You should go back now; I won¡¯t take up more of your time,¡± Mo Shuifu lowered her eyelids. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s dawn already. Have you been hiding here crying all night?¡± ¡°No,¡± Mo Shuifu denied tly. Shen Shihan chuckled awkwardly again; his face was streaked with tears, yet she still denied it, this woman¡¯s stubbornness really was something. ¡°If you say ¡®no,¡¯ then it¡¯s ¡®no,¡¯¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t force the issue, rubbing his forehead, ¡°My head hurts a little, can you help me to the hotel?¡± If it had been before, Mo Shuifu would definitely not have helped him even a little. But now¡­ she had taken his money. As the saying goes, one shouldn¡¯t bite the hand that feeds them. Suddenly, she found she could no longer stand on so-called pride. ¡°Mm,¡± Mo Shuifu responded with a single clear, cold word. She truly didn¡¯t want to get too entangled with this man, keeping it as minimal as possible. Shen Shihan shook his head helplessly; although he knew she was reluctant and only did it for the money, he didn¡¯t call her out on it. He let go of her hand, putting her wrist down. Mo Shuifu rubbed her wrist before she started helping him towards the hotel. She kept a calcted distance appropriate for strangers, neither too close nor too far. Thankfully, although Shen Shihan had had a bit too much to drink, he didn¡¯t cause a fuss nor say anything out of line, but kept quiet, letting her lead the way. There wasn¡¯t any unpleasant smell on him; on the contrary, his clothes emitted a faint scent of flowers. Being around him wasn¡¯t exactlyfortable for Mo Shuifu, but it wasn¡¯t distressing either. The two walked in silence, not speaking, just walking. The night was like water, the pre-dawn mist quietly spreading around them, bringing with it a moist chill. It was an exceptionally quiet night. Soon, she had led him into a suite. The room was filled with a light fragrance ofvender, calm and soothing to the mind. ¡°Third Young Master, I¡¯ve brought you this far, so I¡¯ll be going now,¡± Mo Shuifu withdrew her hand. ¡°Pour me a ss of water.¡± Mo Shuifu looked up, meeting Shen Shihan¡¯sposed gaze. Their eyes locked, and Mo Shuifu gritted her teeth in frustration while Shen Shihan seemed utterly rxed. Seeing a task through to the end, Mo Shuifu reluctantly bit the bullet and poured him a ss of water. ¡°Here¡¯s your water, Third Young Master. Take your time drinking it.¡± ¡°I have no strength in my arm, bring it to me.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have the strength, then wait until you do,¡± Mo Shuifu said impatiently. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now; you take care.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just going to leave like this?¡± Shen Shihan looked tired. ¡°I¡¯m drunk, can¡¯t you stay a little longer?¡± ¡°Third Young Master, whether you¡¯re drunk seems to have nothing to do with me, right? You speak as if it¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not at fault, just that you threw two sses of wine on me, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°You!¡± Mo Shuifu was so irritated she could scratch someone, ¡°Third Young Master Shen, don¡¯t make it seem like I¡¯m bullying you while you¡¯re drunk, do you believe I could ssh another faceful of water on you!¡± ¡°I believe it, of course, I do. Only you would dare,¡± Shen Shihanughed lightly. ¡°You should rest well, Third Young Master. Once you¡¯ve rested, you¡¯ll clear your head,¡± Mo Shuifu nced at him and turned to leave. Just as she had turned to the side, Shen Shihan, seated in the chair, reached out and with a tug, pulled her towards him. Caught off guard, Mo Shuifu slipped, and her bnce shifted backward! Shen Shihan stretched out an arm and softly caught her, and shended securely in his embrace! Chapter 211: If I Can’t Afford to Offend, I Can At Least Avoid Chapter 211: If I Can¡¯t Afford to Offend, I Can At Least Avoid Trantor: 549690339 Just as Mo Shuifu came to her senses and prepared to push Shen Shihan away, his right hand had already forcefully pinned her hands down, and his left hand hooked around her waist, preventing her from moving. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Mo Shuifu was clearly annoyed, and she struggled with all her might. However, she was securely embraced in Shen Shihan¡¯s arms, unable to move at all. Anger filled her delicate, oval-shaped face, and her thin lips were pressed tightly together. Rage and injustice burned in her eyes. Shen Shihan leaned close to her face, so close that he could clearly see her long eyshes. Thick and lengthy, they were quite captivating. He was so near her that his nose was almost touching her high bridge. Shen Shihan let out a ¡°heh¡± andughed, a stark contrast to Mo Shuifu¡¯s fury. The hot, male breath grazed her face, making Mo Shuifu shudder. Although she worked in a ce like Weiyang where all sorts of people mixed, this was the first time she was so close to a man. When she looked up, her eyes met Shen Shihan¡¯s. Their gazes locked, and she bit her lip. As he drew closer, she could smell the elegant scent on him more intensely; although it was mixed with the smell of alcohol, it was surprisingly pleasant. Especially when he smiled, his eyes shone like stars, brilliant and dazzling. For the first time, Mo Shuifu looked at this man seriously, and her heart skipped a beat inexplicably. But she wasn¡¯t so irrational, she turned her head, trying to distance herself from him. ¡°Let me go, and we can talk this out properly, don¡¯t be handsy. We¡¯ve had no bad blood normally, I can forgive you for drinking too much,¡± said Mo Shuifu calmly. Her tone was cold, as cold as the snow on the branches of plum trees in winter. Defiance and an unwillingness to submit were written all over her face. Shen Shihan purposely did not let go, unsure what had gotten into him that evening. Perhaps he had truly drunk too much. ¡°Mo Shuifu, you still haven¡¯t answered me, what are you afraid of me for?¡± His voice was deep and slightly husky, sounding exceptionally maic in the empty room. The light shone on his sharp-featured face, making him look even more handsome and charming than ever. This man exuded a mature aura all over, but at that moment, that maturity turned into allure. ¡°What am I afraid of you for? It¡¯s like a mouse seeing a cat, a poor person seeing a nouveau riche. Afraid that if you¡¯re not careful, even my life might be taken; I can¡¯t afford to provoke you, so of course I should hide!¡± ¡°A poor person seeing a nouveau riche? Do I really give off the air of a nouveau riche?¡± The smile on Shen Shihan¡¯s face deepened. ¡°In my eyes, all rich people are pretty much the same.¡± As she spoke, Mo Shuifu tugged harder, wanting to avoid any further entanglement with Shen Shihan. ¡°What illness does your mother have?¡± asked Shen Shihan indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, let me go, I need to go back and take care of my mother!¡± Mo Shuifu tried to push him with her elbow. Shen Shihan¡¯s chest was bumped, but he wasn¡¯t too annoyed; his temper was better than ever. He was really quite drunk today, so much so that his bad mood had vanished. ¡°If you won¡¯t say, then forget it, you¡¯re like a hedgehog,¡± he remarked. ¡°Then let go of me.¡± ¡°If I let go, you¡¯re going to fall,¡± said Shen Shihan leisurely, observing her. ¡°I¡¯d rather fall!¡± Mo Shuifu met his gaze. For some reason, these words made Shen Shihan feel extremely ufortable. His brow furrowed, growing deeper by the second. Seeing that he made no move, she used even more strength to resist him. ¡°Stop moving, I¡¯ll let you down,¡± said Shen Shihan as he released her hands. With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around her waist and ced her steadily on the ground. However, his left hand still circled her waist. He looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed. This woman was like a hedgehog. Mo Shuifu pushed him away, maintaining a distance of two steps between them. She looked at him and said indifferently, ¡°I have used the money from your bank card, but I will definitely pay you back.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Shen Shihan said impatiently. Eight hundred thousand yuan was a negligible amount for him. But it seemed she was eager to sever all ties with him. He was curious to see when she would be able to pay back the eight hundred thousand. ¡°I¡¯m leaving first.¡± Mo Shuifu turned around and ran out of the suite quickly, and she forcefully closed the door behind her. She ran so fast that she even forgot to take the elevator, fearing Shen Shihan would pursue her again. When the door mmed shut with a ¡°bang,¡± Shen Shihan felt an inexplicable sense of destion deep in his heart. His hand slowly dropped, and he silently picked up the ss of water on the table. The cup seemed to retain her scent, that elegant and fresh fragrance, reminiscent of a clear lotus. He took a sip of water and felt the alcohol surge, bringing on a headache. Gradually, he leaned against the bed and fell asleep, even forgetting to take off his clothes. Spring lingered, and the moonlit night was as cool as water. Soon, not much time passed, and the flowers by the roadside gradually withered, the scent of spring growing stronger. As mid-term exams approached, Xu Chaomu studied day and night. In ss, she still appeared nonchnt, always eager to talk back to the money-grubbing head teacher. But in private, she secretly sought tutoring from Lou Yanli, secretly staying upte to read and do practice papers. One day, afterpleting a mock exam and realizing she could do most of the questions, she happily ran to the balcony, smiling foolishly at the sun. With her palm facing the sun, its warm rays shone onto her palm. How wonderful. She liked this feeling. The breeze lifted her ck hair as she slightly squinted her eyes. The warmth of the sun suddenly reminded her of someone¡ªNie Chenng. ¡°Chaomu, are you standing here alone?¡± A pleasant voice came from behind. Lou Yanli had also stepped out onto the balcony. ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, that makes two of us,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°Have you finished all the problems I assigned you?¡± Lou Yanli walked up next to her, standing shoulder to shoulder with her on the balcony. Lou Yanli was youthful and vibrant, possessing the cheerfulness and purity typical of an eighteen-year-old boy. ¡°I¡¯ve finished. Are you going to praise me?¡± ¡°Not bad, Chaomu. I¡¯ve really started to see you in a new light. You¡¯ve made great progress these days.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too perfunctory. Won¡¯t do. Is there a reward?¡± ¡°A reward? What do you want?¡± ¡°Your mom¡¯s cooking!¡± Xu Chaomu said with a sly smile. ¡°That¡¯s easy, I¡¯ll bring you some tomorrow. After the mid-term exams, I¡¯ll take you to my ce. My mom will cook something delicious for you. You can tell her what you want to eat; she¡¯ll definitely like you.¡± ¡°Your mom is so nice,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a soft smile, but soon, ayer of mncholy covered her eyes, ¡°My mom was nice, too.¡± Lou Yanli knew she had remembered something sad again and quickly changed the subject: ¡°Chaomu, for this mid-term exam, what position are you aiming to rank from the bottom?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, not conceding, ¡°What do you mean from the bottom? I¡¯m aiming for the top ten in our ss.¡± ¡°Top ten, huh? It¡¯s not impossible, but you need to buckle down and study more.¡± Chapter 212: I’m Your Girlfriend Now Chapter 212: I¡¯m Your Girlfriend Now Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Definitely, just wait, maybe one day I¡¯ll push you off your perch as the number one in our grade. You just wait.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait,¡± Lou Yanli said with augh. ¡°Liars will turn into puppies.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ no, that¡¯s not right, liars are puppies.¡± Xu Chaomuughed loudly: ¡°Look at you, with such a long reaction time. Come on, let¡¯s pinky swear. You have to cheer me on, okay?¡± Lou Yanli smiled. He extended his finger and childishly pinky swore with her. In the sunlight, looking at the girl¡¯s pure smile, he felt it was the most beautiful sight in this world. After they pinky swore, Xu Chaomu sat down on a nearby chair and patted the spot next to her. ¡°Lou Yanli, please, take a seat.¡± ¡°Hmm? What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Lou Yanli,e sit here. I have something very important to tell you.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sit beside you. Go ahead.¡± Xu Chaomu was unusually serious, her face earnest. ¡°Lou Yanli, do you still remember the question you asked mest time? I said I¡¯d think about it and get back to you once I have an answer.¡± ¡°I remember. I¡¯ve been waiting for your answer,¡± said Lou Yanli seriously. He had been waiting for her answer, but he never pressed her. He would apany her in whatever she wanted to do, and he didn¡¯t insist on what she was reluctant to do. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through,¡± Xu Chaomu said solemnly. ¡°Lou Yanli, I might not be able to be your girlfriend.¡± She was seriously answering this question. She had thought about it for a very long time, but she knew her heart hadn¡¯tpletely let go of Shen Chi. If she agreed to Lou Yanli at this moment, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to him. ¡°Chaomu, if this is the answer you¡¯vee to after careful consideration, then I ept,¡± he said. Lou Yanli smiled faintly, always showing her the sunny side of himself, even though his heart ached quietly. For the first time, he felt this way. ¡°Lou Yanli, you see, we are both still young, just like the teacher said, we should read more, study hard, and not think about dating.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just trying to sweet-talk me,¡± Lou Yanli said with a smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask me why?¡± ¡°Would you be willing to tell me? If so, then I¡¯ll ask one more time, why?¡± Lou Yanli was actually quite curious. ¡°Because I once liked someone, liked them very, very much,¡± Xu Chaomu squinted towards the sun, her little face filled with boundless sorrow. Yes, she was the only one who knew how much she liked him. ¡°Since it was ¡®once,¡¯ do you still like him now?¡± Lou Yanli asked. ¡°I¡¯m slowly forgetting him. You see, even if words are carved on a stone, they¡¯ll eventually erode away one day. So, since it was in the past, I will forget him slowly.¡± She must walk down the path of the future without him. He was about to get married, and he would have his own happy family. And that family had nothing to do with her. His wife, Bai Man, would take care of him, and their future children would certainly be beautiful. ¡°Why not take the initiative to pursue him?¡± Lou Yanli asked. Xu Chaomuughed, herughter tinged with a bit of bitterness: ¡°He doesn¡¯t like me, and I can¡¯t force it. You¡¯re a good student. You should know, a melon forced from the vine isn¡¯t sweet. And besides, he¡¯s getting married soon.¡± Lou Yanli thought for a moment and seemed to realize who Xu Chaomu liked. So, she had always harbored feelings for someone in her heart. ¡°Over time, you¡¯ll forget about him,¡± Lou Yanli sighed. ¡°Yes, over time I will forget him. I just don¡¯t know how long it will take. So, Lou Yanli, I can¡¯t easily agree to you.¡± Lou Yanli suddenlyughed, realizing that this was the reason she wouldn¡¯t agree to him. What a silly, silly girl. Even if she were to deceive him, he wouldn¡¯t mind. ¡°Chaomu, do you really like him that much?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu said, biting her lip and looking down. She really liked him a lot. But to be liked by her was an embarrassing thing; Shen Chi despised it. Therefore, other than the time she was drunk, she dared not tell him ¡°I like you¡± again. She was truly afraid that he would look down on her with disdain and mockingly say, ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of liking me.¡± In his eyes, she was no different from those other women outside. All trying to get into his bed, all hoping to cling to him, the wealthy patron. And so, he could toy with her at will. When he wanted a woman, he would call her over for a kiss or two, to satisfy his needs. ¡°Since he¡¯s getting married, you shouldn¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Lou Yanli raised his hand, wanting to pat her head, wishing tofort her. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking about him anymore; he¡¯s not worth it. When I think about it now, what¡¯s so good about him? He has such a bad temper, speaking to me as if I owed him money every time,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Lou Yanli thought and indeed, her fourth brother did have a bad temper. ¡°Chaomu, how about we give it a try? We could show off in front of that guy, tell him that there are plenty of people who like Xu Chaomu,¡± Lou Yanli suggested with a smile. ¡°My dear idol, you¡¯re so easygoing. Are you really willing to be used like that?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her big eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m willing,¡± he said. ¡°You said it yourself, you can¡¯t take it back,¡± she reminded him. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t lose anything in this.¡± ¡°Alright then, starting from now, I¡¯m your girlfriend,¡± Xu Chaomu dered. ¡°Mhm, Chaomu, give me a smile,¡± Lou Yanli teased her. Xu Chaomu finally smiled; from now on, she would be someone with a boyfriend. And so, from that day on, Lou Yanli truly began to fulfill his duties as a boyfriend. He bought breakfast for Xu Chaomu, opened the water bottle for her, and helped her with her homework. Since Xu Chaomu had started boarding at school, no one had managed her, and she was free to do as she pleased. Sometimes, after breakfast, she went to the library to read books with Lou Yanli. It wasn¡¯t long before the entire school knew that Xu Chaomu was Lou Yanli¡¯s girlfriend. Xu Chaomu put away the ne Shen Chi had given her. She thought, if one day she trulypletely forgot him, she would throw the ne away. Yet, ever since that day she returned from the Waterside Pavilion to the school, Shen Chi seemed to have be quite busy. She hadn¡¯t seen him for many days; he was probably busy with the engagement preparations with Bai Man. After all, taking wedding photos, selecting the dress, choosing the venue, and inviting guests were all veryplex matters. To her, an outsider, she would always remain just that. Moreover, she had just ended the adoption rtionship with the Shen Family; from now on, there really wouldn¡¯t be any connection at all. But the news of Xu Chaomu bing Lou Yanli¡¯s girlfriend soon reached Shen Chi¡¯s ears. Shen Chi had long ced informants in the school; any movement and he would be informed. He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the CEO¡¯s office, listening to the school official on the phone. ¡°How long have they been dating?¡± His voice was deep. ¡°Not long, it just spread in thest few days.¡± ¡°She¡¯s quite bold. I¡¯ve been busy for a few days, and she already has a boyfriend.¡± Chapter 213 - 213 Two Words, Love Affair Chapter 213: Two Words, Love Affair Trantor:549690339 ¡°The two seem to be on good terms, often having breakfast together. Sometimes Lou Yanli even tutors her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s grades have indeed improved a lot recently.¡± ¡°Having breakfast together?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes showed a dangerous message. ¡°Yes¡­¡± The person in charge dared not say more. Actually, it was much more than just having breakfast together. ¡°I see.¡± Shen Chi quickly hung up the phone. After dealing with everything at hand, Shen Chi lifted his wrist to check his watch. It was just eight in the evening. If he remembered correctly, she didn¡¯t have a night self-study session today, so should he perhaps go and see her? Shen Chi scoffed, go and see her, to see how far things have developed with her boyfriend. With that thought, he headed to the garage, took out his Maybach, and drove over. As it happened, Xu Chaomu and Lou Yanli had just left the study room. Since Lou Yanli needed to go home, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t keep him. Side by side, they walked to the small bamboo forest at the school and said a reluctant goodbye. ¡°You should get going, if you returnte, your parents will worry,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Mhm, I¡¯m heading back now. Take good care of yourself, drink some milk tonight, don¡¯t study toote, your health is important.¡± ¡°I know, if I have any questions I¡¯ll ask you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright. Here¡¯s your book, take care of it, I¡¯m off.¡± Lou Yanli stuffed the textbooks and stationery he was carrying into Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands, but still, he was reluctant to leave. Once he left, he would have to wait until tomorrow to see her again, and he really didn¡¯t want to leave. The longer he spent with her these days, the more his fondness for her grew. ¡°Go on, bye, don¡¯t miss me,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile, waving goodbye. Lou Yanli smiled too, how could he not miss her? In the bamboo forest, they waved goodbye. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face wore a smile, looking even more pure and beautiful under the moonlight and the shadows of the bamboo. As Shen Chi approached, he heard Xu Chaomu say ¡°don¡¯t miss me,¡± and he felt goosebumps all over his body. His face darkened, and he stopped in his tracks. By the moonlight, he saw Xu Chaomu bidding farewell to Lou Yanli, her face adorned with a serene and innocent smile. Heh, now she was acting quite thedy in front of another man. Why had he never seen her shy in front of him? She was nothing but a little hoodlum. Looks like when he returned from South Africa, he would need to properly teach her what it meant for the red apricot to grow beyond the wall. Shen Chi wasn¡¯t feeling particrly impulsive that evening, waiting until Lou Yanli had disappeared from sight before he approached Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu stood in the bamboo forest, looking down and hugging her book, her reluctance evident. Just as she was about to step on the bamboo leaves and head back, her wrist was suddenly seized by a forceful grip. She was about to shout, but before a single word could escape her lips, her mouth was dominantly sealed by someone¡¯s kiss. There was no need for words with a kiss like this. He couldn¡¯t bear to hit her, nor scold her, so he might as well not let himself be at a loss, and just kiss her. In under five seconds, Xu Chaomu knew who it was. His body¡¯s light fragrance of grass and wood was etched into her mind. Who else could it be but him? Shen Chi had not seen her for many days and missed her terribly, so now, his longing was tranted into a deep kiss. The depth of his yearning was reflected in the length of the kiss. He wrapped one arm around her waist and with the other cradled her face, bent over and kissed her, passionately and selflessly. Xu Chaomu struggled hard, but her efforts were in vain before him. And who knew, perhaps this man had kissed many women, because his kissing skills were really good. Xu Chaomu felt as if currents were running through her body, wave after wave, leaving her without the strength even to struggle. The bamboo forest was dim, with the moon hidden behind clouds. Xu Chaomu immediately thought of two words, secret affair. Thinking of this, her heart twisted. Lifting her foot, she pressed it hard onto his ck dress shoe. She put all her strength into it, her heel grinding harshly on the top of his foot. Shen Chi, in pain, finally released her, gasping. ¡°Are you acting like it doesn¡¯t hurt?¡± he said, caressing her hair and looking deep into her eyes. That kick of hers really hurt, and he furrowed his brows in pain. ¡°Oh, does it hurt? Good, it should hurt!¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a sly look and stomped down again when he wasn¡¯t watching! This time, Shen Chi reacted quickly, pressing her against the wall with his knee against her legs. His actions were quick and didn¡¯t leave her a chance to strike. She was indeed getting bold, thinking Shen Chi was made of iron? He pinned her restless hands down, leaving her no chance to resist. ¡°You little rascal, you think you¡¯re all grown up? I haven¡¯t seen you in days, and you¡¯ve be wilder,¡± he said in a deep voice, echoing attractively through the night,ced with a hint of helplessness and indulgence. ¡°Shen Chi, what are you trying to do?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him warily. He was a real wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! ¡°Nothing much, just heard you got yourself a boyfriend?¡± ¡°You must have heard wrong. How could it be just one? Let me think¡­ one, two, three¡­ haha, looks like eight, no, nine.¡± ¡°Not keeping an eye on you for a few days and you¡¯re getting bolder. When did you buy this dress?¡± Shen Chi squinted his eyes, scrutinizing her under the dim moonlight. She was wearing a light green dress today, fresh and elegant like a lotus leaf, giving her an air ofdylike grace. Indeed, a few days apart and she was even wearing dresses. But, it was quite pretty; he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away. ¡°A boyfriend took me to buy it, does it look nice? Isn¡¯t he more tasteful than you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ugly,¡± Shen Chi said sternly. ¡°Ugly? If Shen Chi, the fourth young master, thinks it¡¯s ugly, then that must be right. It was never for you to see anyway. Get lost to where it¡¯s cool. Oh, by the way, did you get your wedding photos done? Have you chosen the wedding dress?¡± A twitch appeared at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth. He utters two words, and she has to retort with a barrage. ¡°Xu Chaomu, if you dare to say another word, I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t be able to speak,¡± Shen Chi warned her in a stern voice. Xu Chaomu immediately shut up, ¡®not being able to speak¡¯¡­ meant something explicit. The shameless man! Son of a turtle! Shameless! ¡°I¡¯ll ask a question, you answer one.¡± Shen Chi touched her cheek, hm, now she¡¯s being obedient. Xu Chaomu nced at him disdainfully. ¡°Are the midtermsing up?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How are the preparations? What rank are you nning to get this time?¡± ¡°None of your damn business!¡± Shen Chi was left speechless. In front of Lou Yanli, she was so refined anddylike, but in his presence, she always revealed her true self. ¡°For a girl, you should care about your image,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. ¡°Shen Chi, have you forgotten? We¡¯ve already notarized our separation, I have nothing to do with the Shen Family anymore! So, even if I disgrace myself, it¡¯s my own business, it won¡¯t tarnish your reputation as the fourth young master.¡± Chapter 214: Never Come Back In Your Lifetime Chapter 214: Never Come Back In Your Lifetime Trantor:549690339 She knew he despised her, had despised her eight years ago, and now despised her even more. Let him despise her if that¡¯s what he wants. She won¡¯t tter him, Miss Bai can tter him all she wants. She had nothing to do with him anymore. ¡°You wish,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Under the hazy moonlight, his face, sharp as if carved by a knife, became even more cold and resolute, with a hint of chillness. ¡°Shen Si Shao, it¡¯s gettingte, it¡¯s too cold at night, I need to go back to the dorm. If you¡¯recking women, just go to Boss Ji¡¯s Weiyang, I checkedst time and the girls there are pretty decent.¡± Xu Chaomu was impatient in her tone. Him sneaking around to find her in the middle of the night, what¡¯s the meaning of this? ¡°Wearing so little, of course you¡¯re cold,¡± Shen Chi frowned, automatically ignoring hertter words, and took off his own ck trench coat. He draped it over her with practiced movements, as if it were just a habitual gesture. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s temper also red up, and she threw the coat back at him. ¡°Then I don¡¯t mind warming you up in another way.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Chi pressed down on her shoulders, not giving her any chance to resist, and kissed her lips. Kisses are truly addictive. Having not seen her for a few days, he yearned for her taste, wishing he could meld her into his body. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed red. She was unwilling to be entangled with Shen Chi like this. If this continued, she would surely be the one hurt. She bit him hard, and immediately, the taste of blood spread in her mouth. Shen Chi let go of her in pain, wiped his mouth with his hand, and blood was already on the corner of his mouth. ¡°You really dare to bite,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. In the past, didn¡¯t she really want to kiss him? Now, she avoided him at all costs. ¡°What have I got to lose? Shen Chi, I¡¯m telling you, next time I¡¯ll keep a knife with me. If you pull any tricks again, don¡¯t me me if the knife doesn¡¯t have eyes.¡± Knowing she wasn¡¯t serious, his heart still ached abruptly upon hearing those words. ¡°Well, Chaomu, you stay at school and prepare well for the midterms. I might be going to South Africa soon,¡± Shen Chi changed his tone, sounding somewhat grave. ¡°Going to South Africa to get engaged? That¡¯s great. I¡¯ve heard that South Africa has many beautiful diamonds. When the timees, give Miss Bai a diamond wedding, just thinking about it is romantic,¡± Xu Chaomu sneered dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m going for business.¡± Shen Chi sighed, hisrge hand caressing her face. Although he had made meticulous ns for this trip, who could guarantee everything would go without a hitch? If something unexpected happened, he might never see her again. At that thought, his hand was even less willing to let go. Only by touching her face could he feel her warmth. ¡°Isn¡¯t getting married a serious matter? Go ahead, the sooner you leave, the better. Don¡¯te to the school before you leave. Don¡¯t you know, I don¡¯t want to see you at all.¡± ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to see me at all, then I won¡¯te. Take good care of yourself, this time, I might be gone for a long time.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice lowered, his deep voice sounded somewhat deste in the quiet bamboo forest. Hearing hisst words, Xu Chaomu finally looked up at him. She saw seriousness on his face. Was he really going to be gone for a long time? ¡°A long time? How long is a long time?¡± she retorted nonchntly, ¡°Best if you nevere back for the rest of your life.¡± Shen Chi gave a wry smile, with a trace of bitterness, but his palm refused to leave her face. ¡°A lifetime¡­ Perhaps, I really won¡¯te back for a lifetime,¡± he said in a muted voice. If something went wrong in South Africa, she wouldn¡¯t have to see him for the rest of her life. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It was a bad omen to say such things before departing. Even if he was really going to get married, even if their adoption rtionship had ended, even if he treated her poorly, she still hoped he would be well. The atmosphere suddenly turned chilly, and there was silence all around. The wind stirred the bamboo leaves, and the leaves whirled in the air before gently falling to the ground. ¡°Chaomu, do you think fate is strange? In the blink of an eye, we¡¯ve known each other for eight years,¡± Shen Chi suddenly felt sentimental. Eight years, neither long nor short. How good these eight years were, only he knew. Xu Chaomu rarely saw Shen Chi like this, to the point where she almost didn¡¯t recognize him. Before she could speak, he smiled: ¡°Eight years ago, you were undoubtedly a little troublemaker, of course, you still are. The little girl has grown so much, time flies.¡± Xu Chaomu felt an unwarranted pause in her heart, a slow and heavy dull pain. She felt a touch of sorrow, and slowly said, ¡°Yes, Si Ge, your sister is already eighteen years old this year.¡± ¡°Sister¡­¡± He chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°Si Ge, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going back to the dorm. The school is full of prying eyes. If you care about me, you won¡¯te to me. I hope you can consider my feelings a bit more.¡± She didn¡¯t want to be seen as a mistress, nor did she want to be called promiscuous by her ssmates. Unexpectedly, Shen Chi nodded, agreeing with her. He let go of her, but his gaze still held endless reluctance. Even if everything went smoothly on his trip to South Africa, he would not see her for over a month. ustomed to spending every day with her, how could he endure these endless nights without her? As soon as he let go, she quickly pushed him away and ran off. Carrying her books, she ran faster than a rabbit. For some reason, her eyes were slightly moist. She pinched her own arm, feeling pathetic. The wind stirred the bamboo leaves into a chaotic dance, and Shen Chi watched her leave before slowly walking back to his car. The moonlight was hazy, the clouds thin, and the night mist as fine as floating silk drifted about. The spring night was filled with the scent of flowers. Indeed, for the next few days, he did note to the school to see her. But he did note, Bai Man did. It just so happened that day was Saturday, Xu Chaomuy across her desk doing her homework, twirling her pen and frowning at aplex math problem. Who came up with this annoying problem? Right at this moment, Xiaofeng walked in through the door. As Xu Chaomu was the only one in the ssroom, the sound of Xiaofeng walking in with high heels was particrly noticeable. Xu Chaomu looked up, ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± ¡°Miss Xu, Miss Bai is waiting for you outside.¡± ¡°Waiting for me?¡± ¡°Yes, didn¡¯t you sayst time that you were going to pick out a dress with Miss Bai? She¡¯s free today, so let¡¯s go together,¡± Xiaofeng said. Xiaofeng¡¯s attitude was quite good today, even wearing a smile. Xu Chaomu remembered, ah yes, she had agreed to be Bai Man¡¯s bridesmaid. ¡°Okay, you wait for me downstairs, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Xu Chaomu started to tidy up her papers. ¡°Alright, Miss Bai and I will be waiting for you in the car.¡± Soon, Xu Chaomu had cleaned up her desk, closed the ssroom door, and started walking down the stairs. It was still early, the sun had just risen, and everything seemed to be awakening from sleep. The morning air was fresh andfortable, Xu Chaomu exhaled, inhaled, taking a deep breath. Chapter 215: Buying a Baby Crib (Vote for Monthly Tickets) Chapter 215: Buying a Baby Crib (Vote for Monthly Tickets) Trantor: 549690339 Indeed, as she walked out of the school gate, she saw Bai Man¡¯s sports car parked on the empty ground. Xiaofeng was driving, and Bai Man sat in the passenger seat. Bai Man was draped in a white coat, her long hair twisted into a neat bun. Wearing sunsses, she sat in the passenger seat with her arms crossed, quietly looking out the window. Soon enough, Bai Man caught sight of Xu Chaomu. The girl had her ck hair casually tied into a ponytail, wore a loose white T-shirt, and below, clean denim jeans. Although she looked neat and presentable, Bai Man still let out a coldugh. She spoke indifferently, ¡°Xiaofeng, where does she get the audacity to think she¡¯s worthy of Shen Chi?¡± Xiaofengughed too, ¡°I¡¯m afraid even a random female employee from Shen Group would be more pleasing to the eye than her. That one, dreaming every day of climbing into President Shen¡¯s bed.¡± ¡°Every woman wants to climb into Shen Chi¡¯s bed, I¡¯m used to it,¡± Bai Man said with disdain. ¡°However, Miss Bai, you should still be wary of that Xu Chaomu girl. Men, you see, after seeing too many seductive and sexy women, might want to try a different vor.¡± ¡°Xiaofeng, do you think Shen Chi actually likes her?¡± ¡°Men are fickle by nature, Miss Bai, don¡¯t overthink it. No matter how fickle, President Shen will still marry you. He is a man after all, and a particrly charming one at that, so it¡¯s normal for a few women to be circling around him.¡± Bai Man fell silent for a few seconds, her gaze calmly resting on Xu Chaomu as she walked in their direction. ¡°Xiaofeng, is everything taken care of?¡± ¡°Rest assured, there will be no issues, everything is ready.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Xu Chaomu reached the car door, bent down, and opened it: ¡°Fourth sister-inw, good morning.¡± ¡°Morning. Have a seat, are you busy today? I hope I¡¯m not dying you,¡± she said. Xu Chaomu sat in the back seat: ¡°No, it¡¯s Saturday today, it¡¯s alright if I do my homework tonight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Later, I¡¯ll take you to the mall to pick out a gown together. What color do you like?¡± Bai Man turned to ask her. Xu Chaomu smiled: ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t really know. Fourth sister-inw, what color do you think suits me?¡± She had never been a bridesmaid before; this was her first time. But to be one at his wedding, she still wanted to look her best and not embarrass him. ¡°I¡¯ve already picked out my wedding dress. We¡¯ll try it againter. At that time, we¡¯ll let the shop assistant give you some advice on which colors wouldplement my dress.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Chaomu nodded obediently. ¡°Alright,ter we¡¯ll visit a few more shops. With your beauty, Chaomu, you will certainly look gorgeous in a cocktail dress,¡± Bai Manughed. ¡°Fourth sister-inw, you tter me. No one would look anything but ashamed standing next to you,¡± she replied. Xu Chaomu¡¯s words were genuine; at her age, she hadn¡¯t learned to be slick. Bai Man was known as the most beautiful woman in C City, and Xu Chaomu truly thought she was stunning. Xiaofeng, who was driving, chuckled: ¡°Miss Xu sure knows how to sweet-talk.¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, Chaomu, after buying the dress, would you mind joining me to look around the home furnishing store? I want to pick some decorations for our new home, and you can help me decide,¡± Bai Man said. ¡°Fourth sister-inw, you could ask your husband to go with you.¡± ¡°Ah, indeed, he promised me as well, even said he¡¯d apany me to buy a baby crib. But he¡¯s so busy, he can¡¯t spare the time now.¡± Xu Chaomu felt a slight pang in her heart but maintained a faint smile on her lips. ¡°Fourth sister-inw, are you and big brother moving out soon?¡± ¡°Yes, the new house has been decorated, and after the engagement, I¡¯ll move in with your big brother. But we may move in earlier once he has free time. You haven¡¯t seen the vi yet, have you? It¡¯s a beautiful ce; I¡¯ll take you there when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Chaomu replied with a smile. ¡°Chaomu, I heard from your brother that he would love to have a daughter, so I was wondering if you could help me pick out some toys that little girls liketer.¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her eyes, blinking rapidly. ¡°Fourth sister-inw¡­ are you pregnant?¡± Bai Man smiled and her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow. ¡°Not sure yet, we¡¯ve been trying hard, hoping for a baby soon. It would be perfect if I could be pregnant by the engagement party,¡± she said. ¡°You never know, it would be wonderful if it turns out to be a double celebration,¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. She knew if there was a mirror at that moment, she would find her smile far from pleasant. ¡°He told me the same thing, that it¡¯d be great if I could be pregnant before the engagement. Lately, I¡¯ve made sure he doesn¡¯t drink alcohol; I tell him that alcohol can lead to an unhealthy baby.¡± Joy beamed from Bai Man¡¯s face, and Xu Chaomu knew who the ¡°he¡± in her words was. Just as Xu Chaomu was about to say something, Bai Man picked up a newspaper she was holding and smiled. ¡°Chaomu, look at your brother, I told him to cut down on the drinking, yet there he goes, getting drunkst night and caught by the paparazzi again.¡± Xu Chaomu took the newspaper from her hands. Finance section headline: Shen Group¡¯s CEO Drunken Late Night, Intimate Actions with Young Girl Spark Hotel Rumors. Arge photograph disyed a man¡¯s profile with a young, seductive girl by his side. They were indeed very close. This man still had such vulgar tastes, only liking bold women with ample bosoms. Xu Chaomu smiled wryly, without much expression: ¡°Fourth sister-inw, doesn¡¯t that bother you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to it,¡± Bai Man smiled, ¡°Men, getting a little too close to some young girls from time to time is nothing to be shocked about. He wouldn¡¯t really go to a hotel room with them. He has said to me, he will only ever have one woman in his life.¡± Having said that, she paused, nced at Xu Chaomu, and then added, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t really mind. These young women are only after Shen Chi¡¯s money. If he wants to y around, let him be. As his wife, I¡¯m not that petty.¡± ¡°Fourth sister-inw, you¡¯re very generous. If my husband dared to do that, I¡¯d make sure he could never check into a room again,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a huff. Bai Man burst intoughter: ¡°Then you better keep a close eye on your future husband. But really, it¡¯s nothing much. Men have their needs, and he¡¯s just ying with those girls, nothing serious; neither he nor I will take it to heart.¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent for a few dozen seconds. He was just ying with those girls. And with her, it was also nothing. So Bai Man said he wouldn¡¯t really go to a hotel with them, and he will have only Bai Man as a woman in his life. All of a sudden, Xu Chaomu understood why he had always refused to touch her¡ªit was indeed to remain pure for Bai Man. She ought to be touched, moved, or perhaps deeply moved. Well, good for her. This kind of scumbag could go as far away as possible. Thinking back, a chill ran down her spine. There was a night when she was drunk and she clung to his neck, moaning in difort¡­ But from now on, if he dared harass her again, she would definitely p him twice without hesitation! Xiaofeng, who was driving, spoke up: ¡°Miss Bai, you are truly magnanimous. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t let those women off so easily.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Shen Chi is just ying with them and not serious about it. If I were to get serious about it, that would just make me look petty,¡± Bai Man said with augh. Chapter 216: Beautiful White Wedding Dress Chapter 216: Beautiful White Wedding Dress Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Fourth Sister-inw, then you should really keep a closer eye on Fourth Brother in the future. If he keeps getting involved in scandals, it¡¯s not going to be good,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Of course, of course. Once we¡¯re engaged, I¡¯ll have to keep him in check and can¡¯t let him do as he pleases anymore. Otherwise, if we have a baby in the future, it could have a bad influence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Xu Chaomu replied indifferently. But she still felt a bit ufortable because, in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, she was no different from those gold-digging women. He had always disliked her quite a bit. They chatted sporadically, and after finishing the topic of Shen Chi, Bai Man inquired about Xu Chaomu¡¯s academic progress. As they were almost arriving at the shopping mall, Bai Man smiled and said, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s been a long time since you saw your Fourth Brother, hasn¡¯t it? Do you have time tomorrow toe home for a meal?¡± ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡± Xu Chaomu purposely pondered for a moment, ¡°I¡¯ve made ns with friends to go hiking tomorrow.¡± ¡°I see, then you go hiking. Come home when you have time; the butler also mentioned missing you.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xiaofeng parked the car in the garage, opened the door for Bai Man, and then led them into the VIP elevator. The mall was upscale and luxurious, with more attendants than customers. It was an array of stunning clothing items everywhere. Xu Chaomu was seeing so many beautiful wedding dresses for the first time and couldn¡¯t take her eyes off them. Most were white, but there was a variety of styles ¡ª off-shoulder, trailing, strapless¡­ Adorned with rhinestones, sequins, and gemstones, which sparkled under the lights with a unique brilliance. Her eyes wide, she followed the rack, examining each one closely. They really were beautiful. Especially in the disy window, the mannequin wore thetest wedding dress, graceful and elegant. Xu Chaomu stood still outside the disy window, staring intently at a white off-shoulder dress with rhinestones. The dress was truly beautiful, pure white with dazzling rhinestones. The long train gave it a noble and elegant feel. Xu Chaomu particrly liked this one, thinking about the day when she too could wear her dream wedding dress and hold a beautiful bouquet. Only, when she wore her bridal gown, who would be standing beside her¡­ ¡°Chaomu, do you really like this wedding dress?¡± Bai Man came over. Xu Chaomu nodded: ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± ¡°It seems we have quite simr tastes. The one I ordered is exactly this piece,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. Xu Chaomu was startled, her heart twinging. ¡°Later when I try it on, you can give me your opinion. If you have anyments, just tell me.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Xu Chaomu nodded hesitantly. ¡°Shop assistant, can you bring out this wedding dress for me to try again?¡± Bai Man pointed at the current season¡¯s featured dress in the window. ¡°Of course, Miss Bai, pleasee this way.¡± Bai Man followed the shopping assistant to the special VIP dressing room, while Xiaofeng waited nearby. Xu Chaomu looked around at the wedding dresses; they were all beautiful, but the one she had seen before was her favorite. Unfortunately, Bai Man also liked it. Ultimately, it was Bai Man¡¯s. Xu Chaomu sat down on a sofa, and soon a shop assistant poured her a cup of tea. The service here really was exceptional. Xu Chaomu, holding the tea, flipped through a magazine in her hands. In these fashion magazines, Bai Man had a very high appearance rate, and every photo was taken with an international ir. Only a woman like that was a match for Shen Chi. One was a high-end, popr star, the other a sought-after corporate president. Looks, family background, and knowledge were all a perfect match. She nced down at herself, realizing she really had been ungrateful before. Shen Chi¡¯s aversion to her was not without reason. Xiaofeng sat down beside Xu Chaomu, nced at the magazine in her hands, and pointed out a few photos. ¡°Miss Xu, this photoshoot was taken by Miss Bai in Switzend,¡± she said. Xu Chaomu nodded, ¡°Looks nice.¡± It really did look nice. On the photoshoot, Bai Man wore sunsses and a light green dress against the backdrop of a church. The photographer captured it well, with white doves flying up from the church at just the right moment. Doves, church, beauty ¡ª every aspect was pleasing to the eye. Xu Chaomu also wanted to have a photoshoot like that, she sometimes really envied Bai Man. ¡°These pictures were taken by Mr. Shen for Miss Bai,¡± Xiaofeng added. Xu Chaomu was slightly taken aback; he took them? She didn¡¯t know his photography skills were so good. But he had never taken photos of her. However, Xu Chaomu pouted nonchntly, ¡°Who would¡¯ve guessed, Fourth Brother can take photographs. But the quality isn¡¯t all that great, I¡¯m surprised the magazine would dare use his pictures, aren¡¯t they afraid of affecting their sales?¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Xiaofeng gave a halfugh, ¡°Mr. Shen¡¯s skills are actually pretty good, Miss Xu. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re too picky.¡± ¡°You just tter him too much,¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°After Mr. Shen and Miss Bai get engaged, they¡¯re nning to vacation in Switzend. Switzend really is a nice ce,¡± Xiaofeng continued. Xu Chaomu stopped talking, her fingers silently flipping through the magazine. Turned several pages, and for a while, the vast space was filled only with the sound of flipping paper. Soon, the door to the VIP dressing room opened, and Bai Man, now dressed in a wedding gown, came out. She walked gracefully, each step slow and elegant, with a look of seductive shyness. ¡°Does it look good?¡± Bai Man asked everyone while standing in front of the mirror. A European-style dressing mirror with rose carvings perfectly framed her wless beauty. Her figure was spectacr, and the dress seemed tailor-made for her, entuating her curves just right. The light shone upon her, making her the moon among the stars, the brightest focal point there. Xu Chaomu lifted her gaze to watch Bai Man and nodded, ¡°Fourth Sister-inw, it¡¯s pretty.¡± The wedding dress truly was beautiful; her taste wasn¡¯t bad either. But she too wished to try it on¡­ Xiaofeng immediately smiled and approached Bai Man¡¯s side, ¡°Miss Bai, you look stunning. The dress is both reserved and elegant, noble, and perfectly suits your demeanour.¡± The shop assistant chimed in, ¡°Exactly, Miss Bai has such a good eye. This wedding dress is a new creation by a top Paris fashion designer, and every detail has been meticulously researched and crafted, making it a unique piece. Wearing this wedding dress, you¡¯ll be the world¡¯s most dazzling bride.¡± The shop assistant indeed had a way with words, praising her effusively. ¡°It¡¯s a pity he¡¯s not here; if he were, I would let him give me some advice. I would like to hear his thoughts,¡± Bai Man said. When Bai Man mentioned ¡°he,¡± her face was bashful. Xiaofeng suggested with a smile, ¡°Miss Bai, with such a gorgeous wedding dress, Mr. Shen will surely love it. Why not take a photo and send it to him for his opinion?¡± The shop assistant agreed, ¡°Right, you can send a picture to Mr. Shen to have a look.¡± Bai Man thought this was a good suggestion and turned to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Chaomu, could you help me take a photo?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, set down the magazine, and walked over. Xiaofeng handed her phone to Xu Chaomu, who opened the camera app and proceeded to take a photo of Bai Man in the wedding dress. Chapter 217 - 217 Miss Bai is Pregnant Chapter 217: Miss Bai is Pregnant Trantor: 549690339 Chaomu thought, Fourth Brother must have really liked it. With a ¡°click,¡± the photo was taken. Bai Man took the phone and smiled. ¡°Chaomu, you have a good skill in taking photos. Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. The saleswoman nced at Xu Chaomu and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve never met this Miss before.¡± Xiaofeng said, ¡°She¡¯s Shen Chi¡¯s younger sister. Later, help her pick a bridesmaid dress, something prettier.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Shen Chi¡¯s younger sister, no wonder she¡¯s so pretty and has such a gentle character. I¡¯ll pick out a few dressester, guaranteed to be beautiful,¡± said the saleswoman with augh. Chaomu held her forehead, where was she gentle¡­ This was the first time someone had called her gentle; it truly blinded her titanium-alloy eyes. Bai Man didn¡¯t speak; she calmly sent the photo, probably chatting away happily with Shen Chi. Xiaofeng asked, ¡°Miss Bai, would you like to try other styles?¡± It was only then that Bai Man looked up and smiled gently, ¡°No need, I quite like this one. I¡¯ll see what Shen Chi thinks. If he doesn¡¯t think it looks good, I¡¯ll try some others.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shortly after, probably the text message arrived, Bai Man danced with joy, showing her phone. ¡°Xiaofeng, he says it looks very good, let¡¯s choose this one.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xiaofeng leaned in closer. Chaomu also saw the message, which was quite long. She nced over it briefly. The general idea was: The wedding dress is very beautiful, especially on you. You are the most beautiful bride, I love you. Chaomu curled her lips, feeling upset inside. Thest three words, especially, were ring at her. The one he liked the most, cared about the most, was indeed Bai Man. Only to Bai Man would he say those words ¡°I love you.¡± Bai Man was the cherished love he held in the palm of his hands. To other women, including her, it was just for fun. The pain in her heart grew more intense as if it were being twisted by a knife. Despite warning herself time and again not to think about him, she just couldn¡¯t change. Forgetting someone was not so easy. But she was sure she would forget him, definitely. Compared to Chaomu¡¯s dejection, Bai Man¡¯s smile appeared even brighter. Xiaofeng teased, ¡°Miss Bai, you and Shen Chi are really enviable. I wonder when I will find a man as good as Shen Chi.¡± ¡°You will, just keep trying harder,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. The salesgirl alsoughed, ¡°Miss Bai and Shen Chi are truly a match made in heaven, one stunningly gorgeous, the other handsome and dashing, truly enviable.¡± ¡°Alright, since he also likes this wedding dress, then let¡¯s go with this one, no need for alterations, and no need to try others. Help find some dresses for Chaomu,¡± Bai Man said. ¡°Alright.¡± After speaking, Bai Man went into the VIP changing room first to change out of the wedding dress. The salesgirl was picking out dresses for Chaomu by the racks, showing each one to her. ¡°Miss, what color do you like? This pale lotus-coloredce dress is nice; would you like to try it on first? It¡¯s ourtest model, exclusively customized.¡± ¡°Pretty good, I can,¡± Chaomu nodded, expressionless. Chaomu was somewhat distracted; the words ¡°I love you¡± echoed in her mind¡­ Was she caring too much? Why should she care¡­ But seeing the person she deeply loved say ¡°I love you¡± to another woman, she really cared a lot. ¡°Then okay, Miss, let¡¯s try this one first. If you¡¯re not satisfied, there are many more styles to try slowly,¡± the salesgirl was particrly enthusiastic and gentle. Just as the salesgirl had put on white gloves and was about to take the dress off the rack, suddenly there came the sound of vomiting from the VIP changing room! ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Xiaofeng was the first to react, immediately knocking on the door of the changing room. ¡°Miss Bai, what¡¯s wrong with you? Do you feel unwell? Please open the door.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Only the sound of distressing vomiting answered her. Xiaofeng knocked desperately, ¡°Miss Bai, Miss Bai¡­¡± The salesgirl also ran over anxiously, ¡°Miss Bai, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Chaomu stood there stunned, blinking herrge eyes. Wave after wave of vomiting sounds, striking fear into those who heard. It took a long while before the noise inside stopped. A feeble voice from Bai Man came from inside, ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ just suddenly felt a bit nauseous.¡± Xiaofeng knocked anxiously, ¡°Miss Bai, please open the door, should we go to the hospital? Did you get food poisoning?¡± At that moment, the door finally opened. Bai Man leaned against the door frame; she had already changed her clothes, but her face was ashen, devoid of any color. ¡°I don¡¯t know, just suddenly felt very ufortable, a fierce churning in my stomach,¡± Bai Man said, frowning and holding her chest. The salesgirl urged worriedly, ¡°Xiaofeng, we should still take Miss Bai to the hospital to check.¡± Xiaofeng helped Bai Man up, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take Miss Bai right away. Package the wedding dress carefully.¡± ¡°Sure, certainly.¡± Chaomu also followed, ¡°I¡¯ll apany my sister-inw to the hospital as well, we cane back another time to pick out dresses.¡± Xiaofeng nodded, ¡°That¡¯s good, Chaomu,e with us, you can also help me look after her.¡± Bai Man shook her head, ¡°Chaomu, you should go back to school, don¡¯t dy your time for this. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not at ease, I¡¯d rather apany you,¡± Chaomu insisted. In the end, Chaomu was too kind; despite not liking the woman in front of her, she didn¡¯t want to see her suffering. Just as Chaomu finished speaking, Bai Man broke free from Xiaofeng¡¯s hold and ¡°ugh¡­¡± once more, rushed to the trash can and vomited nonstop. After a moment of thought, Chaomu softly asked, ¡°Xiaofeng¡­ could Miss Bai be pregnant?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xiaofeng looked surprised, then after a moment, her expression turned to delight, ¡°Is it? Hey, now that you mention it, it could really be possible.¡± Chaomu forced a smile at the corners of her lips. Xiaofeng immediately went to Bai Man¡¯s side and patted her on the back. ¡°Miss Bai, feeling any better? Have some water.¡± She unscrewed the water bottle and handed it to Bai Man. Bai Man took it, finally feeling a bit morefortable. ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s go. Probably food poisoning, I felt ufortable and wanted to throw up ever since drinking milk this morning. Let¡¯s get some medicine at the hospital.¡± Xiaofeng supported Bai Man, her eyes bright with a smile, ¡°Miss Bai, maybe¡­ you¡¯re pregnant?¡± ¡°Pregnant?¡± Bai Man looked up, ¡°You mean, maybe I¡¯m pregnant?¡± ¡°Yes, you should think positively. Like, you can calcte, how long has it been since yourst period? When was thest time you and Shen Chi, you know¡­¡± Xiaofeng deliberately lowered her voice, yet Chaomu still overheard. Pain surged tumultuously in her chest; she clenched her teeth, yet her face remained calm. Bai Man blushed and pped Xiaofeng¡¯s hand lightly, ¡°Always saying such indecent things. Let¡¯s just go to the hospital to check. But to tell you the truth, I indeed didn¡¯t have my periodst month¡­¡± Chapter 218: The Baby is Very Healthy Chapter 218: The Baby is Very Healthy Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Miss Bai, isn¡¯t that just right? My sister was exactly like you are now when she was pregnant, throwing up severely.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know until I went to the hospital,¡± Bai Man said with a smile. Xu Chaomu followed behind them, taking one step at a time. Her steps were somewhat heavy. But this day would alwayse for her, it was just a matter of sooner orter. She remembered that time when she was drunk at the bar, she had slurred, ¡°Four Brother¡­ when you have a baby in the future, let him y with me, okay? Don¡¯t ignore me¡­ I¡¯ll definitely like him a lot, I¡¯ll give him all the yummy treats, I¡¯ll take him to the amusement park¡­ he¡¯ll definitely look a lot like you¡­¡± Soon, he would truly have a baby of his own. But she, she had to break her word. In the end, she didn¡¯t have the courage to watch his baby be born¡­ Once he got married, she would leave him forever. Wishing him happiness, for a lifetime. ¡°Miss Bai, slow down, here, let me help you into the car.¡± By the time they reached the garage, Xiaofeng was helping Bai Man into the passenger seat. ¡°Look at you, I can do it myself, I¡¯m not that delicate,¡± Bai Manughed. ¡°That won¡¯t do, if you get a bump or something, Mr. Shen will scold me,¡± Xiaofeng said. ¡°Always so talkative,¡± Bai Man scolded with a smile. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, she just quietly followed and sat in the back seat of the car. ¡°Miss Bai, if you feel unwell while we¡¯re driving, just tell me, I¡¯ll slow down.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, you can drive,¡± she replied. ¡°Sis-inw, why don¡¯t you call Four Brother and let him meet you at the hospital? It¡¯ll be better with him looking after you,¡± Xu Chaomu suggested. ¡°He¡¯s too busy, it¡¯s not worth disturbing him for such a small matter. Besides, he¡¯s not the type to take care of people. It¡¯d just interrupt his work,¡± Bai Man said with a sweet smile, her face exuding the gentle warmth of a wife. ¡°Right, Miss Bai, give Mr. Shen a surpriseter,¡± Xiaofeng added. ¡°Just drive, maybe I just ate something bad,¡± Bai Manughed. ¡°Alright,¡± Xiaofeng replied and drove out of the mall¡¯s garage. Xu Chaomu sped her hands together, her head lowered in silence. During the ride, most of the time it was Xiaofeng talking with Bai Man asionally responding. Bai Man kept her hand on her lower abdomen, feeling a bit ufortable. But her face was always radiant with happiness, the happiness of a newly married woman, the happiness of being a wife. While driving, Xiaofeng booked an appointment with the doctor at the hospital, and before long, they arrived at the nearest hospital. Xiaofeng opened the car door for Bai Man: ¡°Miss Bai, let me help you up, it¡¯s on the second floor.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not that frail, I can walk,¡± Bai Man said. However, as soon as she finished speaking, her stomach lurched unpleasantly again, and she hurried out of the car to the nearest trash can. Throwing up incessantly. Xu Chaomu pulled out a tissue and walked over to Bai Man. ¡°Sis-inw, here.¡± ¡°Thank you, Chaomu,¡± Bai Man epted it. After a good while, Bai Man finally felt a bit better. Xu Chaomu supported her arm: ¡°Sis-inw, let me help you upstairs.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Bai Man said with a faint smile. Xiaofeng carried Bai Man¡¯s things, while Xu Chaomu supported Bai Man as they made their way slowly to the second floor. Xiaofeng had booked an appointment with a gynecologist, and by now, a highly experienced middle-aged female doctor was already waiting inside. As Bai Man entered, the female doctor stood up and greeted her politely: ¡°Miss Bai, you¡¯vee.¡± ¡°Dr. Cheng, please check on Miss Bai for us. I guess¡­ Miss Bai is pregnant, but she doesn¡¯t believe it,¡± Xiaofeng said with augh. ¡°Miss Bai, please have a seat, and I¡¯ll take a look,¡± the doctor said. The doctor asked Bai Man a few simple questions, such as, ¡°When was thest time you had your period?¡± and, ¡°How many times have you and your husband been intimate recently?¡± Xu Chaomu was originally an unabashed ruffian, but even she felt a bit ufortable hearing these questions. Her face turned slightly red. Especially when she heard Bai Man say, ¡°Doctor, you know, young men¡­ have a lot of needs¡­tely¡­ we¡¯ve been intimate¡­ quite a few times¡­ almost daily¡­ ¡± Xu Chaomu bit her lip and left the department. The thought of Shen Chi and Bai Man entwined with each other and then him kissing her, she felt like pping Shen Chi several times. He yed with her love recklessly; he never respected her. In his eyes, she was no different from any other woman, avable at his beck and call. A sharp pain clutched at her chest. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you bastard¡­¡± Her nose tingled as she bent down slowly, crouching in front of the department door, holding her knees, her shoulders trembling. Time ticked by slowly, but the air seemed to stand still. The smell of disinfectant wafted into her nostrils, chilling her to the bone. Then, the door of the department opened. Xiaofeng handed Bai Man a form: ¡°Miss Bai, you should go get an ultrasound done quickly. Let Chaomu apany you.¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t sure whether Xiaofeng did it on purpose. Bai Man looked down and immediately saw Xu Chaomu squatting on the ground. ¡°Chaomu, why are you squatting on the floor? Are you feeling unwell?¡± she asked with concern. Xu Chaomu brushed the dust off herself and smiled: ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just got a little tired from walking earlier and squatted down to rest a while. Sis-inw, what did the doctor say?¡± ¡°The initial judgment is that I¡¯m pregnant, but they still need to do an ultrasound to confirm it,¡± Bai Man replied with a smile. Xu Chaomu feigned indifference and chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll apany you there; I¡¯m free anyway.¡± ¡°Alright, apany me for a visit. It¡¯s just one floor up,¡± Bai Man said. ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Chaomu stepped forward to help Bai Man, taking the form from her. When they got to the ultrasound room on the upper floor, Bai Man told Xu Chaomu to wait outside and went in by herself. ¡°Sis-inw, take your time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The door to the ultrasound room closed, and Xu Chaomu waited outside alone. She stood by the railing, quietly watching the people in the lobby belowe and go. She watched silently, unaware of how much time had passed. Minute by minute, it felt like an eternity. The words ¡°I love you¡± still echoed in her head¡­ This was a man¡¯s most solemn promise to a woman. ¡°Chaomu, we can go now,¡± Bai Man called after an indeterminable amount of time, emerging from the ultrasound room with high spirits. Xu Chaomu had never seen Bai Man so happy; she understood everything at once. She said with a smile, ¡°Sis-inw, you must be pregnant, right? How many months?¡± Bai Man touched her still-t abdomen tenderly, ¡°The doctor said, one and a half months.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful.¡± ¡°Chaomu, promise me one thing.¡± ¡°Sis-inw, go ahead.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell your Four Brother yet. I want to bring him to the hospital with me next time, and then tell him, to make him happy. The doctor just showed me the baby, and it felt so magical, the size of a soybean, but the doctor said the baby is very healthy.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, her smile strained, ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t tell him, you should tell him yourself, he¡¯ll surely be really happy. He¡­ really likes children.¡± Chapter 219: CEO Shen Misses You Chapter 219: CEO Shen Misses You Trantor:549690339 ¡°Thank you, Chaomu,¡± Bai Man said. ¡°Your fourth brother loves daughters, and I really hope the child I am carrying this time is a girl.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s a daughter or a son, the fourth brother will definitely love them very much.¡± ¡°Hehe, Chaomu, you are going to be an aunt soon.¡± ¡°Yes, my little nephew will surely be especially adorable.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled, but there was a bit of bitterness in her smile. They continued their conversation as they walked downstairs. When Xiaofeng heard that Bai Man was indeed pregnant, she was even happier than Bai Man herself. Bai Man also reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Shen Chi; I want to tell him in person.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I definitely won¡¯t say a word,¡± Xiaofeng said with augh. ¡°Xiaofeng, why don¡¯t you take Chaomu back to school, or go pick out a dress with her? I want to take a taxi home to rest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, sister-inw, I¡¯ll take a taxi back to school and let Xiaofeng take you back to the Shen Family.¡± Xu Chaomu was quite sensible. Bai Man smiled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s been hard on you, just let Xiaofeng take you.¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not far from the school here, I¡¯ll take a taxi back myself. Sister-inw, you need to take care of yourself.¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu headed downstairs, waving at them. She smiled naturally, as if everything had nothing to do with her. But as soon as she walked out of the hospital, she hid in a ce where no one was around and cried. She didn¡¯t want to cry, but tears are such a nuisance; they drip down despite one¡¯s wishes, and can¡¯t be stopped. As soon as Xu Chaomu left, Bai Man immediately changed her expression. Angrily tearing up the examination report in her hand, she scoffed, ¡°Xiaofeng, do you think I¡¯m tired from acting?¡± ¡°Miss Bai, didn¡¯t you see how Xu Chaomu¡¯s face changed? Calm down, it was all worth it.¡± ¡°Why should I be afraid of an eighteen-year-old girl? She has no background or support; why should I fear her?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Miss Bai, a moment of patience can prevent many problems. Any stumbling blocks on you and President Shen¡¯s marital path must be removed, as they say, strike first is stronger.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll be patient. Before the engagement, I won¡¯t allow any changes.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Miss Bai, have you and President Shen gotten your marriage certificate already?¡± ¡°Not yet; he said he¡¯s been busy with that project in South Africa recently, and after we¡¯re engaged, he¡¯ll go to the civil affairs office with me.¡± ¡°If you have time, you should still push President Shen to prioritize it. After the engagement, it is essential to get the marriage certificate. Having the marriage certificate is what officially makes you husband and wife, all else is just for show.¡± Xiaofeng¡¯s words were very clear, even a grand engagement ceremony is just a formality, all for others to see. ¡°You are right.¡± Bai Man fell silent for a few minutes. Outside the hospital, Xu Chaomu finished crying, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, sniffed, and left as if nothing had happened. All those tears for nothing, she would have to drink lots of water topensate. Wasn¡¯t it inevitable that he and Bai Man would have children? Why was she even crying? So weak. Xu Chaomu dried her tears and waited at the bus station for the bus. After returning to school, she continued to work on practice tests in the ssroom as if everything that happened today didn¡¯t involve her. She finished one test after another, and only when her mind concentrated on the problems could she stop herself from wandering off into distracting thoughts. Her pencil flew across the draft paper with drafts, and she rapidly filled the test papers with one answer after another. She didn¡¯t know since when, but the problems that used to be particrly difficult for her had be very easy. Perhaps, this uing midterm exam would be thest test she would ever take¡­ Once, someone told her that if she could rank in the top ten this midterm, he would give her something she wanted. But now, she had no interest in knowing what that something was. She thought everything he gave her, she didn¡¯t want any longer. She stayed in the ssroom, working on tests the entire day, unmindful of the darkening sky. It was only when Old Cheng came in and tapped her desk that she realized it. ¡°Miss Xu,¡± Old Cheng¡¯s voice was deep. Xu Chaomu was slightly startled as she lifted her head, ¡°Uncle Cheng.¡± Old Cheng looked down at her affectionately and smiled, ¡°Working on tests? You¡¯re very diligent.¡± ¡°Yes, the midterms are approaching.¡± ¡°Are you finished?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done geography and biology yet.¡± ¡°Then take them to the Waterside Pavilion; it¡¯s quiet there. I¡¯ll help you pack up.¡± Xu Chaomu understood Old Cheng¡¯s intention; he wanted her to go to the Waterside Pavilion. Xu Chaomu clutched the test papers tightly and shook her head firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t go; I¡¯ll just do them in the ssroom. I can¡¯t concentrate anywhere else.¡± ¡°President Shen misses you, he asked me to bring you to him,¡± Old Cheng sighed softly. ¡°Then tell him I don¡¯t miss him at all,¡± Xu Chaomu said emphatically. He himself was about to be a husband and a father, and still, he was entangling himself with her, heh, what trash. ¡°Miss Xu, President Shen is rarely free for an evening; why don¡¯t you spend some time with him? He¡¯s been caught up with corporate affairs recently; I haven¡¯t seen himugh in a long time,¡± Old Cheng sighed again. ¡°Uncle Cheng, if I go, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll make him so angry he¡¯ll smoke out of his seven orifices, and he¡¯ll be even less likely tough. So, for his health, I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Even if he smokes out of his seven orifices, it¡¯s still good,¡± Old Cheng smiled. Xu Chaomu touched her forehead; what kind of logic was that? Who would want to be infuriated on purpose? That¡¯s just masochism¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t go, Uncle Cheng, please go back. It¡¯s already dark,¡± Xu Chaomu tly refused. ¡°Miss Xu, for my sake, then. President Shen just wants to see you, nothing more. You can bring your homework and do it there, and if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, you can ask him for help,¡± Old Cheng persisted in persuading her. ¡°Uncle Cheng, please stop, I¡¯m not going,¡± she said. She didn¡¯t want to see him one bit, not at all. ¡°Sigh, Miss Xu, President Shen really misses you.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t miss me, no matter who he misses.¡± Xu Chaomu was resolute, her stubbornness not easily swayed. ¡°Miss Xu, President Shen is about to go to South Africa soon, and this time he might stay for a long time.¡± ¡°Uncle Cheng, as you know, my foster rtionship with the Shen Family has ended, and all I may owe the Shen Family is perhaps a sentiment.¡± ¡°Miss Xu, President Shen is usually quite fond of you, and he¡¯s about to leave for South Africa. Can¡¯t you see him just once?¡± Old Cheng continued his earnest entreaties. ¡°Because he¡¯s fond of me, should I owe him for a lifetime?¡± ¡°Miss Xu, that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Old Cheng said. There was another sigh from Old Cheng. Xu Chaomu was indeed stubborn. ¡°Uncle Cheng, please go back. Don¡¯t try to persuade me anymore,¡± Xu Chaomu said with determination. ¡°Well then, Miss Xu, you work on your tests. Don¡¯t strain yourself. When you have time, you should visit President Shen. He said that if you want to go to the Waterside Pavilion, you are wee at any time.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Xu Chaomu buried her head and gave an absentminded answer. She continued focusing on the test questions. Old Cheng gave Xu Chaomu a few more meaningful nces before shaking his head and leaving the ssroom. Alone, Old Cheng walked to his car and then made his solitary journey back to the Waterside Pavilion to report. When he arrived at the Waterside Pavilion, Shen Chi was cooking dinner. Chapter 220: The Person Who Kidnapped Miss Xu (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 220: The Person Who Kidnapped Miss Xu (Seeking Monthly Votes) Trantor:549690339 Old Cheng had been with Shen Chi for several years, but this was the first time he saw him making dinner. The man put on a clean, ink-colored shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His eyebrows were furrowed as if studying how to cook. This man was noble and aloof,pletely out of ce in the kitchen setting. Old Cheng felt a warmth in his eyes as he watched. Back at the Shen Family, the meals were always prepared by professional chefs, and Old Cheng didn¡¯t understand why the Waterside Pavilion had not hired a cook. When Old Cheng approached the kitchen door, he was somewhat afraid to speak out because he saw anticipation on Shen Chi¡¯s face. However, as soon as Shen Chi turned his head, he saw Old Cheng. His lips slightly curved, ¡°Has shee?¡± Old Cheng shook his head, ¡°Miss Xu has a lot of homework, so¡­¡± The color in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes instantly dimmed. He moved his lips, wanting to say something, but not a single word came out. The hands that had been chopping vegetables stopped, his eyes filled with boundless darkness. Old Cheng broke the silence, ¡°President Shen, Miss Xu and the others have midterm examsing up, there really is a lot of homework. When I went earlier, I saw that she still had several papers unfinished. Maybe¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice deepened, he waved his hand, stopping Old Cheng from continuing. He lowered his eyelids and continued to chop vegetables. ¡°President Shen, let me help you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can manage by myself,¡± Shen Chi said in a t, deep tone, calm as the water. Soon, Shen Chi had prepared several of his specialties; though they were called specialties, they were actually her favorite dishes. By the time he had brought all the dishes he¡¯d made to the table, it was precisely 7:30 in the evening. Although the table in the living room wasn¡¯trge, with only Shen Chi sitting there, it still appeared to be especially spacious and particrly bleak. ¡°Old Cheng, sit down and eat with me. There¡¯s too much food for me to finish alone.¡± Old Cheng felt a warmth in his eyes yet again. These dishes, they were all Miss Xu¡¯s favorites. In the past, Old Cheng often heard Xu Chaomu bicker with the butler, ¡°I want to eat Kung Pao chicken, I want to eat sweet and sour Mandarin fish, I want to eat fresh shrimp and egg dumplings soup¡±¡­ Back then, Shen Chi would always scold her, ¡°Eat whatever the butler makes, stop being picky!¡± But every time Shen Chi scolded her, Xu Chaomu would pretend to be angry, ¡°Fourth Brother, you¡¯re the most annoying, I¡¯m not asking you to cook, what are you shouting for, you just know to yell at me.¡± Remembering all this, Old Cheng¡¯s eyes warmed once more. Now, Shen Chi had truly made her favorite dishes by hand, but she was unwilling toe back. ¡°Come, sit down, join me for dinner,¡± Shen Chi said to Old Cheng. ¡°Alright.¡± Old Cheng sat down, afraid that Shen Chi would be lonely eating by himself. In the vast dining room, only Shen Chi and Old Cheng were eating. Old Cheng took a few bites and found that Shen Chi¡¯s culinary skills were quite good. But after only a couple of bites, Shen Chi frowned, ¡°Old Cheng, why does everything taste so nd?¡± Old Cheng¡¯s hand paused with his chopsticks, this must be what is meant by ¡°losing one¡¯s taste for food.¡± ¡°President Shen, if you miss Miss Xu so much, why not go to her school to see her? Don¡¯t keep it all bottled up inside. Eight years of affection can¡¯t just disappear because the adoption rtionship has ended.¡± In Old Cheng¡¯s heart, Xu Chaomu was the sister Shen Chi cherished most, and her temper tantrums were probably because Shen Chi had initiated the end of the adoption rtionship. Sometimes, Old Cheng genuinely felt that Shen Chi cared more about Xu Chaomu than about Miss Bai. For instance, he would make a whole table of dishes for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Eat,¡± Shen Chi said gravely. Old Cheng shook his head but did not say anything more. Nheless, Shen Chi only took a few bites of the meal and then he really couldn¡¯t eat anymore. He heavily set down his chopsticks and sat alone on the couch watching television. He switched to a channel and silently watched it. Old Cheng hastened his pace of eating, but by the time he was done, he realized that the TV channel had never changed. Shen Chi just stared at the TV screen, though the screen had long been ying a lengthy advertisement. Old Cheng truly felt sorry for Shen Chi and let out a sigh. After cleaning up the table for Shen Chi, he spoke like an elder, ¡°President Shen, you finally have a day without overtime, get some rest early.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded. ¡°Then President Shen, I¡¯ll be heading back. Call me anytime if you need anything.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Throughout it all, Old Cheng never saw any change in Shen Chi¡¯s emotions. This man was ustomed to concealing all his feelings. Sometimes Old Cheng wondered if living this way wasn¡¯t very tiring. After Old Cheng left, Shen Chi still leaned on the couch watching television. Others watched TV for the programs, but Shen Chi was truly just watching the television. He held the same position, motionless. His thin lips tightly sealed, his gaze deep and profound. That is, until his cell phone rang. ¡°Xiao Mo.¡± ¡°President Shen, you asked me to look into the matter of Miss Xu Chaomu¡¯s past abduction. I have found some leads.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t expect Xiao Mo to find leads so quickly. Before, he had handed the matter over to Li Beiting. Li Beiting had been slow to find any clues and had provided no conclusions. He was starting to doubt whether Li Beiting was keeping something from him. Therefore, he had entrusted the matter to Xiao Mo in secret. ¡°The ones who abducted Miss Xu are into human trafficking, also known as kidnappers.¡± ¡°Hmm, go on.¡± ¡°But they also act on orders from their employer; without money, they wouldn¡¯t abduct people.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°The employer is a woman. If my investigation is correct, it¡¯s none other than Miss Bai Man¡¯s mother, Jiang Zhn,¡± Xiao Mo reported. Shen Chi¡¯s hand, holding the phone, clenched tight, and a strong chill shed in his eyes. His already profound eyes were suddenly tinged with crimson. ¡°Heh, Jiang Zhn.¡± ¡°Yes, President Shen. As for the motives, it was to have these people take Miss Xu to the mountains, to be sold off as a wife, never to escape for the rest of her life.¡± Shen Chi of course knew that once sold into the isted mountains, one might never escape, doomed to be nothing but a breeding tool for coarse men. At the thought, a chill enveloped his entire being, a cold sweat broke out on his back. A throbbing in his chest. If he hadn¡¯t found her back then¡­ The consequences were unimaginable. For years, he had kept her well protected, ensuring she never appeared in any media, even using Bai Man as a shield, all to protect her. In the cutthroat world of business, if anyone found out that Xu Chaomu was his weak spot, then she would undoubtedly be the one to suffer. But he never expected the Bai Family to y a move against him first. Li Beiting had always been protective of Bai Man. No wonder¡­ ¡°Xiao Mo, afterwards, what else did Jiang Zhn do?¡± ¡°She silenced them.¡± ¡°Then why did she abduct Chaomu and not someone else? And why didn¡¯t she just kill Chaomu outright but rather nned to send her deep into the mountains?¡± Shen Chi remembered he had always disguised his feelings for Chaomu well; in everyone¡¯s eyes, Xu Chaomu was just his sister. Jiang Zhn abducting his sister, this¡­ didn¡¯t make sense. Chapter 221: I Won’t Marry You Again Chapter 221: I Won¡¯t Marry You Again Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Mr. Shen, I found out that Jiang Zhn met someone before making her move.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Your mother, Mrs. Zhou.¡± ¡°My mother does like Bai Man, but she would never act against Chaomu. If she had the guts to do anything, she wouldn¡¯t have brought Chaomu to the Shen Family eight years ago.¡± ¡°Yes, except for Jiang Zhn meeting Mrs. Zhou, I really didn¡¯t find any connection to Mrs. Zhou in this matter.¡± Xiao Mo reported truthfully. ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I have some spections.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡± Xiao Mo said: ¡°Jiang Zhn took Miss Xu away, surely for her own daughter¡¯s sake. As for taking Miss Xu to the remote mountains, perhaps she couldn¡¯t bring herself to harm an eighteen-year-old girl. Or, she thought banishing her to the mountains would be the greatest torment for a youngdy.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°And there are countless women around you, Mr. Shen, but Jiang Zhn specifically targeted Miss Xu. I guess this has to do with her conversation with Mrs. Zhou.¡± ¡°Hmm, well said.¡± ¡°I think, no one knows a child better than the mother. Mrs. Zhou must have inadvertently mentioned that you have feelings for Miss Xu during her chat with Jiang Zhn, and that¡¯s why Jiang took it to heart.¡± Shen Chiughed: ¡°Xiao Mo, I¡¯ve never told you that I have feelings for Xu Chaomu.¡± Xiao Mo alsoughed: ¡°Mr. Shen, if you had no feelings, why would you go register for a marriage certificate?¡± Shen Chi smiled and kept silent. Now, the person he trusted the most was Xiao Mo. In the past, he also trusted Li Beiting, but Li was biased towards the Bai Family, so many things, he wouldn¡¯t entrust to Li anymore. ¡°Mr. Shen, you can go to South Africa with peace of mind. I¡¯ll keep the marriage certificate safe for you. When youe back, I¡¯ll hand it to you personally.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Then, Mr. Shen, I won¡¯t disturb you any longer. You should rest early.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo, wait, I have one more question. Regarding what Jiang Zhn did, do Bai Xuan and Bai Man know about it?¡± ¡°They seem to be unaware.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He hung up the phone, and the night grew deeper. Shen Chi was thirsty, so he went to the kitchen to pour some boiled water. As he entered the kitchen, he saw the dinner he had cooked himself. He stood there, stunned, unable to snap back to reality for a long time. The night was indistinct, and the spacious vi was silent. The next morning, Bai Man called Shen Chi early. ¡°Shen Chi, where are you? I didn¡¯t see youe home on Saturday, were you working overtime?¡± ¡°Hmm, I was working overtime yesterday.¡± ¡°What about today? Today¡¯s Sunday, can you apany me for a media interview? Just for a little while, it¡¯ll be quick.¡± ¡°I have to go to the group today, I can¡¯t apany you.¡± ¡°Just take a little bit of time. They¡¯ll just ask a few questions, mainly they want you and me to stand together.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t agree to that.¡± In the past, she always wanted a grand press conference, and he gave it to her, although it was also with the intention of irritating Xu Chaomu. The Shen Family owed the Bai Family a favor, and he was almost willing to do anything she asked. In the past, he didn¡¯t think much of it, at least, marrying Bai Man was beneficial for both the Shen Bai families and for him. However, since thatst time Xu Chaomu left the hospital without a word, he finally understood that if Xu Chaomu left him, his heart would ache for a lifetime. Just likest night, he personally cooked an entire table of dishes, but she wasn¡¯t there. As for the favor owed to the Bai Family, he would repay it in other ways, but it would definitely not be marriage. ¡°Shen Chi, do you dislike me now? It¡¯s just a tiny bit of time, just apany me for a while.¡± ¡°Bai Man.¡± Shen Chi switched to a serious tone, ¡°What would you do if I said I can¡¯t marry you?¡± Clearly taken aback on the other end, after a moment, sheughed coquettishly. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you¡¯re teasing me again, we¡¯ve already sent out our engagement banquet invitations, please don¡¯t joke with me anymore¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking with you.¡± ¡°Really? Then tell me, who do you n to marry?¡± A cold, unsettlingugh came from the other end. Heh, Shen Chi, you¡¯re finallyying your cards on the table, aren¡¯t you? Bai Man always felt that Shen Chi didn¡¯t like her, living every day with an anxious heart. Now, he finally said he wasn¡¯t willing to marry her. She originally thought that after the engagement and wedding banquets, he wouldn¡¯t back out and she just had to hold on a little longer. But, unexpectedly, heh¡­ ¡°Bai Man, I can¡¯t give you love and marriage.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you answer me, who do you like, who do you want to marry? Xu Chaomu, or some other woman?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you can¡¯t possibly marry her, you¡¯re the president of Shen Group, you¡¯re even more childish than me. Haha, Shen Chi, are you drunk? It¡¯s early in the morning and all you¡¯re saying is nonsense.¡± ¡°Bai Man, in fact, you know better than anyone, I¡¯ve met all your demands, I even almost married you, you should know why.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, why are you going back on your word? Why don¡¯t you keep pretending? You¡¯re good at yacting, why won¡¯t you marry me?!¡± Bai Man¡¯s hysterical voice came through the phone,ced with sobs. He finally told her the truth, even though she always knew why, but she still deceived herself. She lied to herself by saying time would change everything, that his kindness to her wasn¡¯t to repay the Shen Family¡¯s debt to the Bai Family, but rather he was slowly falling in love with her. She had thought that once they were engaged, marriage would firmly bind them together, and they would never part for life. But, she was always just fooling herself. ¡°Originally, I was nning to discuss this with Mr. Bai after returning from South Africa.¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Weren¡¯t we fine before? We went to pick out rings, chatted in bars, you gave me a ne¡­¡± ¡°Because, I don¡¯t want to deceive myself anymore. Likewise, neither do you. The favor owed to the Bai Family, I will repay it gradually.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m telling you, other than marrying me, you have no choice. I won¡¯t allow you to repay it in any other way, I think your father and mother wouldn¡¯t agree either!¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m left all alone, risking everything, I won¡¯t agree to marry you again.¡± Shen Chi spoke very decisively, but when facing Bai Man, he reined in his emotions a bit. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re such a smart man, why didn¡¯t you wait until you came back from South Africa toy things out with me. Aren¡¯t you afraid my father will pull all the funding and not let youe back?¡± ¡°I have thought it through. If Mr. Bai wishes to cooperate with me, I will share the profits from the South Africa project with him fairly. If he pulls all the funding, I won¡¯t have any regrets.¡± Pausing, Shen Chi looked out the window at the sky, his expression deep: ¡°At most, the path will be a bit harder, but my conscience will be clear.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, heh, it¡¯s not just this project, I¡¯m telling you, you won¡¯t get a single share your father holds! Moreover, the position of president of Shen Group will change hands!¡± Chapter 222 - 222 If You Dare to Hurt Chaomu Even a Little Chapter 222: If You Dare to Hurt Chaomu Even a Little Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Bai Man, do I, Shen Chi, seem like someone who acts impulsively? Since I no longer agree to the marriage, I have considered all the consequences. No matter the oue, I will bear them myself.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, aren¡¯t you grand? Do you truly have the heart to give up the position of president of the Shen Group?¡± Bai Man sneered, she simply couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°I couldn¡¯t let go of it before,¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently. He looked out the window, taking in every grass and tree of the Waterside Pavilion. ¡°Someone as ambitious as you, even in the future, you won¡¯t be able to let it go,¡± she said. ¡°If I have ambition, then I have a thousand ways to take it back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯ve just taken over the group, and the real power is still in your father¡¯s hands. You don¡¯t need me to say more about the attitude of Shen Cexian, do you?¡± Bai Man made it very clear. In the past, Shen Cexian himself had promised her that only if Shen Chi married her would he sign off on the group¡¯s handover documents and the transfer of shares, and truly pass on Shen¡¯s entirely to Shen Chi. Now, at most, Shen Chi is managing Shen¡¯s on a temporary basis. Bai Man didn¡¯t believe that Shen Chi would give up the group. ¡°There is nothing I, Shen Chi, am unwilling to do that anyone can force upon me.¡± In his frosty voice were determination and firmness, his stance exceedingly clear. ¡°Fine, fine, Shen Chi, you¡¯re really something¡­¡± Bai Man said as her gaze became scattered, showing signs of copse. She bit her lip, almost drawing blood. Shen Chi softened his tone, saying faintly, ¡°Bai Man, if the Shen Family owes the Bai Family any favors, I will repay them.¡± ¡°Who wants your repayment! It turns out, you¡¯ve never loved me, all your kindness towards me was just perfunctory!¡± Shen Chi, holding his phone, remained silent, his gaze deep and secluded. ¡°Shen Chi,¡± Bai Man called his name coldly, ¡°let me tell you, since you won¡¯t marry me, I won¡¯t marry anyone else. In this lifetime, I will cling to you, does that scare you?¡± ¡°Why must you do this!¡± Shen Chi frowned. He didn¡¯t expect Bai Man to say something like this. ¡°Oh, right, you better not think of having anything with that little vixen. You, you won¡¯t be able to marry her.¡± Having said that, Bai Man chuckled. She didn¡¯t believe that the little vixen would not be distressed upon hearing that Shen Chi was the son of her mother¡¯s killer. If it were severe, she might even have a mental breakdown. Shen Chi was everything that little vixen had in this world, her entire support, her everything. ¡°Bai Man, I can tolerate you, I can care about you, but if you dare hurt Chaomu the slightest bit, I will ensure that the entire Bai Family has nowhere to be buried. I, Shen Chi, always do as I say.¡± The hand holding the phone tightened bit by bit, blood coursing faster through his veins. His eyes reddened gradually, he was unapologetic for disregarding past favors. Xu Chaomu was Shen Chi¡¯s ultimate boundary. ¡°Look at you, getting so agitated; I was just saying. However, Shen Chi, think it through, you might not be able to hold onto that president position. Though, it¡¯s not toote to regret your decision, I told you, I will cling to you for the rest of our lives.¡± Bai Man had never imagined that Shen Chi would say such cruel and heartless words to her. No wonder everyone in the C City business circles said that Shen Chi was cunning, ruthless, and cold-blooded. Now she had seen it firsthand. He actually said such words to her, to the Bai Family, for the sake of Xu Chaomu! ¡°To sit in that position, you have to see if you have the capability!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice carried an obvious impatience. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, since I like you so much, I won¡¯t let my dad withdraw the investment from the South Africa project.¡± ¡°In that case, after the project ispleted, I will give the Bai Family double the profits.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, your heart has always been made of stone.¡± Shen Chi fell silent for over a dozen seconds, then spoke indifferently, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Without further ado, he hung up the phone, not giving Bai Man a chance to speak. He withdrew his gaze and turned back to the living room. His entire being felt ufortable, his head aching intensely. But as soon as he looked down, he saw the girl doll on the living room sofa. She was still so silly and adorable, but just looking at her made the corners of his lips bend upwards slowly. Having lived with Xu Chaomu for so many years, his IQ had been dragged down quite a bit by her, to the point where he could smile at a silly doll. He propped up the pillow doll, making her sit upright on the sofa. After all, she was his daughter, and thus, he doted on her like a treasure. Daughter¡­ Suddenly, he really longed for a daughter. At the school, Xu Chaomu was buried in her textbooks. After doing papers all day yesterday, today she began memorizing her textbooks. For this mid-term exam, she would try her hardest. She was swinging on the swing in the yground, surrounded by blooming flowers and sweet fragrances. She enjoyed the fresh air as she swung back and forth. After memorizing history, she moved on to political studies, and from there to Chinese literature. Unbeknownst to her, her third brother, Shen Shihan, came visiting. Shen Shihan had never visited the school before, and as soon as he arrived at the yground, a group of young girls began to gossip. With infatuated faces, they seemed to drool. Xu Chaomu jumped down from the swing. Well, to be fair, the genes of the Shen Family were quite outstanding. Though she did despise Shen Yanrou, truthfully, Shen Yanrou was also very pretty. Suddenly, she thought of the child in Bai Man¡¯s belly. How beautiful would a child born to Shen Chi and Bai Man be? But she hoped the child wouldn¡¯t inherit Shen Chi¡¯s bad temper. He was quite unreasonable. ¡°Chaomu, studying?¡± Shen Shihan approached her. ¡°Third Brother, what brings you here? I haven¡¯t seen you for so long.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault. Since you started boarding at school, I haven¡¯te to see you. I¡¯ve been too caught up with the group¡¯s matters to find the time.¡± ¡°I understand, it¡¯s fine. Third Brother, I¡¯m doing very well at school. When I was at the Shen Family, there was no one to y with at night, but aftering to school, I can chat with my friends in the dorm at night, and it¡¯s really fun.¡± ¡°What do you all talk about?¡± Shen Shihan smiled. ¡°Things like what we like to eat, which boy in school is the handsomest, and which teacher has recently started dating¡­¡± ¡°Do you ever talk about boys you have liked?¡± Shen Shihan joked. Xu Chaomu looked down, yes indeed, discussing crushes was an essential dormitory gossip topic. And at such an age, to say one has never liked anyone would be untrue. Like in Xu Chaomu¡¯s dorm, six girls all had their own crushes. Some parted ways after middle school, some were in the neighboring ss, some were older neighbor boys who¡¯d gone off to join the military. Everyone had their own love stories, some were secret crushes, others were openly acknowledged. Xu Chaomu remembered that she had also mentioned having someone she liked. The result was that all five roommates unanimously eximed, ¡°Who? Where? Is he handsome?¡± She, Xu Chaomu, shrugged, ¡°He¡¯s quite handsome, but he¡¯s infertile, so I don¡¯t want him. Now, my boyfriend is Lou Yanli.¡± The girls wore expressions of disbelief, ¡°How do you know he¡¯s infertile? Did you try it out?¡± Xu Chaomu knew then that birds of a feather flock together. A bunch of little fools. Chapter 223: She Lacks the Qualities to be the Other Woman Chapter 223: She Lacks the Qualities to be the Other Woman Trantor: 549690339 It¡¯s a pity that the big flirt, Yu Weiwei, is missing. Otherwise, when topics like infertilitye up, Yu Weiwei would definitely get excited. Then she¡¯d babble on about a bunch of treatments until the inevitable conclusion: one should never shy away from a medical condition, right? ¡°Third bro, when did you start taking an interest in younger girls¡¯ topics? Are you looking for me for something? Is it to treat me to a big meal? Or invite me for a hike?¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. ¡°Yeah, to treat you to a big meal. What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Can I order anything I want?¡± ¡°Yes, what would you like?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have barbecue, I suddenly feel like having that.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± It was almost mealtime, so Shen Shihan took Xu Chaomu to look for a barbecue restaurant near the school. Shen Shihan wasn¡¯t dressed formally today, just in simple sports attire, as if he had juste back from the golf course. But walking beside him, Xu Chaomu¡¯s head-turning rate instantly ¡°whooshed¡± upward! A group of young girls whispered to each other: ¡°Look, so handsome.¡± ¡°Indeed, really handsome, tall and dashing.¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes, oppa my foot. Howe no one says, look, there¡¯s a cute little girl next to the handsome guy? At the very least, give her vanity a little satisfaction, hmph. After all, Shen Chi had never satisfied her. Whenever he came to school, he would pretend not to know her, as if knowing her was an embarrassment. But now, walking beside Shen Shihan, she did feel a sense of vanity. Unconsciously, she stood taller, her eyes shone brighter, and she felt like she could climb five flights of stairs in one go! ¡°Third bro, with such nice weather, you¡¯re not asking a beauty out buting to eat with me?¡± Xu Chaomu batted her eyshes. Teasing her third bro was also fine; he was always magnanimous. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the beauty? My little beauty.¡± Shen Shihan smiled and rubbed her head. ¡°Third bro, you tter me so, I¡¯m embarrassed and shy now.¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu deliberately covered her face and giggled nonstop. ¡°My little treasure, only you could be so talkative.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s mood cleared up instantly. Xu Chaomu was the Shen family¡¯s joy¡ªinnocent, kind, and lovable¡ªshe deserved to be treated well by others. Unfortunately, Shen Shihan had not seen her carefree smile in a long while. There was a fairlyrge and clean barbecue restaurant near the school, but Xu Chaomu shook her head. ¡°Third bro, let¡¯s not eat here. Let¡¯s keep walking.¡± ¡°Hmm? Okay.¡± Shen Shihan was always willing to satisfy Xu Chaomu¡¯s wishes. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t picky; she just¡­ wanted to walk with Shen Shihan a bit more. She thought this might be thest stretch of road she would walk with Shen Shihan. Any extra distance was good. She had a soft spot for her third bro and was somewhat reluctant to part ways. She touched her wrist, where the little cat bracelet was now a gift to Nie Chenng. Actually, Xu Chaomu felt quite blessed; many people were good to her. Like her third bro, like Nie Chenng, like the sisters in her dorm. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t you miss home? Howe you haven¡¯t gone back to the Shen family for so many days?¡± Shen Shihan asked while walking. ¡°Third bro, you know that¡¯s not my home. Besides you, third bro, I don¡¯t miss anyone.¡± ¡°What about your fourth brother, don¡¯t you miss him?¡± ¡°Third bro, don¡¯t bring him up, or you¡¯ll ruin my mood.¡± Seeing her like this, Shen Shihan knew she was having a tiff with Shen Chi again. Lately, it seemed irreconcble. ¡°Chaomu, you should actually strive for it. Since you like him, why give up so easily? You should know that once you give up, it bes very hard to turn back.¡± ¡°Third Brother, if you bring this up again, I¡¯m going to be mad.¡± Xu Chaomu was truly angry, he was about to get married, what was there left for her to fight for? To be the other woman? She wasn¡¯t qualified for that. Besides, he liked Bai Man, what was there for her to fight for? A melon forced off its vine isn¡¯t sweet. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop, I really do wish you could marry him, after all, he¡¯s the one you like the most.¡± ¡°Third Brother, you¡¯re still going on about it. I¡¯m not talking to you anymore, I won¡¯t eat barbecue with you.¡± Xu Chaomu clenched her teeth, her eyes all red. In this lifetime, she could never marry Shen Chi; she had her principles, and she firmly refused to wreck someone else¡¯s family. She thought, someday, she would stop loving him. Forgetting someone is hard, but not impossible. ¡°Not saying it, not saying it anymore, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s talk about something else, don¡¯t be mad at me. Later, I¡¯ll take care of the grilling, and you¡¯ll take care of eating, okay?¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it, I forgive you. Remember to make it tasty, add plenty of cumin and chili,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Walking all the way, the sunshine followed. Xu Chaomu walked shoulder to shoulder with Shen Shihan, those unchanging days were so nice, but sadly, there¡¯s no banquet that doesn¡¯t end. Suddenly, she deeply missed her childhood, pestering Shen Chi for stories, that guy Shen Chi, how could he have told her stories. He would walk away with a cold face: ¡°No stories, annoying!¡± She wasn¡¯t upset, she¡¯d make a funny face at him, and the next day, she¡¯d put mustard in Shen Chi¡¯s coffee cup, drinking it made Shen Chi¡¯s face change color. Back then, Shen Shihan would alwayse over to her with a smile, saying, ¡°Want to hear a story? Third Brother will tell you one.¡± Back then, she would lie on the stone table in the Shen family¡¯s garden, letting the warm sun shine on her. She¡¯d close her eyes, listening to Shen Shihan¡¯s stories. Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was maic, particrly pleasant to hear, and he told stories vividly. However, she would always fall asleep halfway through. Every time this happened, if Shen Chi happened to pass by, he would snort coldly: ¡°Truly a little piggy.¡± Now, with the sun shining on her, recalling those times, Xu Chaomu sighed deeply in her heart. The years were young, the spring clothes thin. The days of youth, after all, never return. In a blink, Shen Chi had started a family, be a father, and Shen Shihan was about to get married too, right? Everyone for their own families, each to their own ends of the earth. She tilted her little head, naturally curious, and asked: ¡°Third Brother, when are you getting married? Do you have a girl you like?¡± Shen Shihan squinted his eyes, nced at the sun, then at Xu Chaomu: ¡°No, do you want to introduce me to someone?¡± Xu Chaomu giggled: ¡°Sure, if you don¡¯t mind, Third Brother, I will introduce someone to you.¡± ¡°Little live wire, focus on your studies,¡± Shen Shihan patted her head. For some reason, the image of a cool and stubborn face unexpectedly floated into his mind, causing a slight stir in his heart. ¡°Third Brother, let¡¯s just eat here,¡± Xu Chaomu stopped walking. They had walked a long way, every journey no matter how long, has an end. ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Shihan led Xu Chaomu into the barbecue restaurant. The ce was fairly clean, and upon entering, they were greeted by an aromatic scent. Of course, for Shen Shihan, he wouldn¡¯t ordinarilye to such a humble ce. But since Xu Chaomu chose it, he would apany her. ¡°Third Brother, you haven¡¯t told me, why did you suddenlye to my school to find me today?¡± ¡°Just wanted to see you.¡± ¡°Liar, I don¡¯t believe you, there¡¯s nothing appealing about me. Two arms, two legs, two eyes, one mouth. Nothing interesting.¡± ¡°Not seeing you for a few days, you¡¯ve learned topose doggerel, that¡¯s really impressive.¡± Chapter 224: The best for her, is only Shen Chi Chapter 224: The best for her, is only Shen Chi Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Hmph, third brother, there are still many things you don¡¯t know about me, like how I¡¯ve made progress in my studies.¡± ¡°Really? Chaomu, you¡¯re so obedient. Just keep it up, with your smarts, you¡¯ll definitely be fine.¡± Shen Shihan prepared a variety of tasty grilled items for Xu Chaomu, like chicken wings, sausages, cauliflower, prawns¡­ he grilled a whole bunch. As soon as one skewer was ready, she picked it up and ate it. The moment Shen Shihan looked up, he saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s contented smile. She offered him a grilled prawn, ¡°Third brother,e on, open your mouth. You should eat too, don¡¯t just take care of everyone else.¡± Shen Shihanughed and shook his head, really at a loss when it came to Xu Chaomu. Having such a little sister, these years had indeed brought him a lot of joy. It¡¯s just¡­ his brows suddenly furrowed. ¡°Third brother, don¡¯t overthink it. Open your mouth. I¡¯m feeding you a prawn that I peeled myself.¡± Shen Shihan had no choice but to open his mouth, and Xu Chaomu popped the prawn into it. Very satisfying! However, Xu Chaomu suddenly thought of that person again. At Waterside Pavilion, he made a table full of dishes for her and peeled prawns for her. She kept asking for them, and he kept peeling without showing any annoyance. Xu Chaomu lowered her head, slightly absent-minded as she peeled the prawn shells. After peeling two or three, her fingernails started to hurt. As she continued, her fingertips became even more ufortable. She was stunned, how did he manage to peel so many prawns for her that night¡­ She shook her head. It was probably just a whim, he was in a good mood. Or maybe, he just likes peeling prawns. Considering his skilled movements, he probably peeled plenty for other women. ¡°Do your fingertips hurt from peeling? You eat, I can do it myself,¡± Shen Shihan said with a smile. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t hurt. It¡¯s rare for me to serve you, third brother, and I¡¯m very willing,¡± Xu Chaomu giggled. Shen Shihan looked at Xu Chaomu¡¯s small face, feeling much morefortable in his heart. Especially when she smiled, revealing her two cute little canines, she was especially adorable. She was like the first jasmine of spring, bright and vibrant, dispelling the chill of winter. But the brighter she smiled like spring, the more his chest pained with every beat. ¡°Third brother, do you still have those chocte cookies you used to buy for me? I really want some. Oh, I want to tell you, we¡¯ve got two pet hamsters in our dorm, really fun. I want to feed them cookies too. Though they¡¯re fun, they¡¯re also noisy, making squeaks and grunts at night, I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re nning to steal some oil to eat or not. Hmph, our dormitory doesn¡¯t have any oil for them to steal.¡± Xu Chaomu rambled on about a bunch of things while eating the grilled meat. Shen Chi hated it most when she talked nonstop while eating, always saying she had no manners. Now, ah, with Shen Chi gone, she felt the whole world was quiet. That man was so domineering. ¡°There is. If you want, I¡¯ll have someone deliver them to you tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just the best, third brother. If you were my boyfriend, whoever marries you will be so lucky.¡± ¡°You would find your fourth brother even better,¡± Shen Shihan replied with a faint smile. After all, she¡¯s an eighteen-year-old girl, what does she know of people¡¯s hearts. In this world, the one who has been the kindest to her is probably Shen Chi. And he, he couldn¡¯t be kind to her. ¡°Third brother, don¡¯t mention him. Eat the prawn!¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu, now upset, stuffed a prawn into Shen Shihan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Chaomu, I want to ask you something.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°If one day you found out that your third brother wasn¡¯t as kind or as good as you thought, what would you do?¡± Shen Shihan was serious, his gaze rested on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, waiting for an answer. She was his cherished little sister, but after all, they had no blood ties or obligations to each other. At such times, human feelings are often fragile. You¡¯ll find that at certain critical or perilous moments, many people will choose their own interests and self. In the face of great adversity, even man and wife may part ways. So, Shen Shihan thought, no one could love Xu Chaomu more than Shen Chi. He admitted, he couldn¡¯t do it. Xu Chaomu blinked, a little puzzled, eyes full of confusion. In her view, third brother was great. She took a bite of grilled meat, ¡°Third brother, why discuss such deep topics with me? No matter if you¡¯re good or bad, you¡¯re always my third brother. My dearest third brother, one of a kind.¡± Although she terminated the adoption with the Shen family, she unterally interpreted it as ending the rtionship only with Shen Chi. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t trust people so easily in the future.¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Nothing, here, eat this skewer of meat, it¡¯s really tasty.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t continue. He thought it was a bit too cruel to discuss the human heart with an eighteen-year-old girl. If possible, he hoped she could always be so carefree. Over the years, she had been protected too well by Shen Chi, not understanding how the world works. But it¡¯s best not to understand. ¡°Third brother, let¡¯s talk about something fun. For example, what do you think hamsters like to eat?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to feed them cookies? Those are imported cookies, don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll definitely like them.¡± ¡°Third brother, how¡¯s Dabai doing?¡± Xu Chaomu asked again. She missed Dabai, even though that bad dog was the most annoying, always brown-nosing and watching favors. Every time she yed with it, it would be indifferent. But as soon as Shen Chi came over, its tail would wag like a tambourine. However, Dabai had its cute moments. When she was down and talking to it, it would lie there and listen motionlessly. With so many secrets and no one to talk to, she would run to Dabai and spill them. Now, it¡¯s been many days since she left the Shen family, and many days since shest saw Dabai. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been listlesstely.¡± ¡°Ah? Why? It has always had a good appetite, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Because you left.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled, ¡°Third brother, you can coax people now, who did you learn from? Just know how to charm little girls.¡± ¡°Would you be happy if I butter you up?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then tell me, does Dabai really miss me?¡± ¡°Yeah, it misses you pretty much, but it misses your fourth brother more.¡± ¡°Fine, fine, why bring him up again? Besides, he¡¯s always at the Shen family, why would Dabai miss him?¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. ¡°It¡¯s not that, he hasn¡¯t been home to the Shen family for many days.¡± ¡°Oh, then he must be staying in hotels with other girls. That¡¯s what that man is like; full of tricks, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Actually¡­¡± ¡°Stop, third brother. I don¡¯t want to talk about him, it makes me unhappy. If you have time, third brother, take Dabai out to y, I really miss him.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go back and see it yourself?¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent, quietly gnawing on the chicken leg in her hand. Maybe she should take the time to visit the Shen family and see Dabai, perhaps for the veryst time. She¡¯s known Dabai for eight years. Even though that bad dog was as annoying as Shen Chi, at least she watched it grow up. Chapter 225: Being Kept (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 225: Being Kept (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Trantor:549690339 After the barbecue, Shen Shihan suggested going for a walk with Xu Chaomu, and the two of them visited the park and zoo together. Xu Chaomu had a lot of fun; sheughed and shook his arm, ¡°Shihan, you really are the best to me.¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not good,¡± Shen Shihan said with a faint smile. His eyes were deep and dark, imprable at a nce, as if harboring countless worries. When he looked at Xu Chaomu, a long sigh escaped from the bottom of his heart. I¡¯m sorry, Chaomu. All along the way, Shen Shihan was almost at Xu Chaomu¡¯s beck and call, buying her whatever she wanted. Xu Chaomu was also very well-behaved and did not make any unreasonable demands, just walking along with Shen Shihan. It wasn¡¯t until she was too full to walk that she began to groan while holding her stomach, wanting to go back to school. ¡°Shihan, I need to get back to school; I can¡¯t walk anymore, I¡¯m tired. You¡¯re really good to me!¡± ¡°You must be exhausted, then let me take you,¡± he offered. ¡°No need, Shihan, you go back, I can take the bus by myself!¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu hopped and skipped towards the bus stop. Halfway there, she bounced back, stood on tiptoe, and hugged Shen Shihan. After hugging him, she let go with a triumphant smile, ¡°Shihan, thank you for spending the day with me. Listen, next time we have barbecue, you should bring a girlfriend. I don¡¯t mind being the third wheel, remember, bring a girlfriend, okay? You are so outstanding, Shihan, your girlfriend is surely gorgeous.¡± She waved andughed while walking backwards towards the bus stop. ¡°You little imp, be careful walking,¡± he said. ¡°Shihan, promise me you¡¯ll find a gentle and virtuous girlfriend soon, it has to be a girlfriend, not a boyfriend, hmph,¡± Xu Chaomuughed after saying this. ¡°Look at you, not being serious,¡± Shen Shihanughed as well. The sunlight poured down, lighting up Xu Chaomu¡¯s beautiful and innocent face¡ªa sight of pure and simple beauty. Eighteen years old, free of worries. Shen Shihan thought, if not for the entanglement of interests, he truly wished Xu Chaomu could remain naive forever. ¡°I¡¯m going now, I¡¯m really going, Shihan, don¡¯t miss me¡­¡± Xu Chaomuughed mischievously and waved goodbye to Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan waved back at her, his lips slowly curling into a knowing smile. Just then, a bus to the school passed by the stop, and Xu Chaomu leapt onto it. Through the bus ss, she waved goodbye to Shen Shihan again and again. Some people, once parted, are gone forever. If one day she quietly leaves, then all people, all things, will have be the past¡­ As the gentle breeze passes through, the dust settles, and everything no longer appears as it once did. One day, they each will rush to their separate corners of the world¡­ Shen Shihan watched her leave and stood by the roadside for a long time, like a statue. The sunlight scattered on the ground, and timemented the fleeting greenery and sad passing of years. Back then, it was thought of as nothing special. Not knowing how much time had passed, Shen Shihan finally got back into his car and drove away from the ce. When he arrived at a hospital entrance, he suddenly stepped on the brake and slowly drove through the hospital gates. The hospital wasn¡¯t big, but Shen Shihan had learned something¡ªthat Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother was admitted there. Since that night, he had found out everything about Mo Shuifu: her mother had suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was now a semi-vegetative person in the hospital, in need of arge amount of money for treatment. He stopped the car and walked to the third floor of the hospital. The ward was very quiet; he quietly opened the door. The four-person ward was especially crowded and very messy. The environment was poor; upon entering, he was greeted with unpleasant smells. Aside from Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother, the other patients were chatting quietly. Shen Shihan frowned and walked to the bed at the far end. Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother was sleeping; ording to the doctors, her brain was fuzzy, and she was nearly unable to recognize anyone. ¡°Auntie Mo.¡± Shen Shihan sat by the bed and called out softly. There was no response. Instead, several other patients started whispering, ¡°Who is this man? Why have we never seen him before?¡± ¡°Right, we¡¯ve never seen him, and he is quite handsome.¡± ¡°He looks rich.¡± ¡°Could he be her son-inw? I haven¡¯t heard of that.¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu is quite pretty. Finding a rich man shouldn¡¯t be hard for her.¡± ¡°Last time a nurse said that Mo Shuifu suddenly paid off all the money she owed the hospital. Could it be this man who gave her the money?¡± ¡°Hard to say, how could Mo Shuifu, a young girl, earn so much for medical expenses, hundreds of thousands!¡± ¡°Oh, these youngdies are quite open these days. But there¡¯s no choice, her mother is in this state, it¡¯s an act of filial piety.¡± ¡°Indeed, how much can a girl earn? Relying on a man isn¡¯t a shameful thing.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s a boyfriend, that would be fine, but what if she¡¯s be a mistress, being kept by someone.¡± Shen Shihan heard these words, turned around, and gave them a cold nce. This look was as cold as ice, silencing the chattering patients immediately. Just then, a young nurse walked in. She went to the bedside of Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother, skillfully straightened the bed, then hung a new IV bag. ¡°How serious is it?¡± Shen Shihan asked. ¡°She still doesn¡¯t have much consciousness, asionally mutters a few words, but only Miss Mo can understand her,¡± the nurse shook her head. ¡°They don¡¯t have any other rtives?¡± ¡°Yes, it has been so long, and I haven¡¯t seen anyone else visit. Sir, you are the first.¡± ¡°How much do they owe in medical expenses?¡± ¡°They owed four to five hundred thousand before. The hospital was about to discharge them due to the debt, but Miss Mo suddenly paid it off a couple of days ago. However, the ongoing cost of life-sustaining medical care is too expensive, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± ¡°How much is needed per day?¡± ¡°By a conservative estimate, it¡¯s about eight or nine thousand a day.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s brows furrowed even more, and he was silent for a long while. After some time, he finally took the pen from the nurse¡¯s hand and wrote down a string of numbers on a piece of paper. ¡°If they can¡¯t afford the medical bills in the future, call me. Of course, don¡¯t tell Mo Shuifu that I have been here.¡± The nurse took the number, nodded, and said, ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± A curious patient in the room asked, ¡°Sir, what is your rtionship with the Mo Family¡¯s Miss?¡± ¡°A friend,¡± answered Shen Shihan indifferently. ¡°Friend? Boyfriend, right!¡± No sooner had she spoken than the othersughed, ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed to admit it. Let me tell you, the Mo family¡¯s youngdy is indeed pretty and has a gentle temperament. She¡¯s always very polite to us when shees by. s, it¡¯s just too sad.¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly, if you are really her boyfriend, you should be good to her. The girl is only in her twenties, it¡¯s not easy for her.¡± Shen Shihan slightly curled his lips, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°But hey, kid, if you already have a family, then don¡¯t mess with our Mo girl, or you¡¯ll be bringing her harm.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Shihan simply responded in his usual cool manner. Just then, someone walked into the ward from outside. As luck would have it, it was Mo Shuifu. Mo Shuifu arrived in a fluster, her hair slightly disheveled. Upon entering, she loosened the scarf around her neck. ¡°Ladies, what nonsense are you talking about, he¡¯s just a regr friend,¡± Mo Shuifu chided. ¡°Youngdy, we don¡¯t buy it. He is the first one to visit your mother,¡± they said. Chapter 226 - 226 I Heard You Got Married Chapter 226: I Heard You Got Married Trantor:549690339 ¡°It¡¯s only normal for friends to visit.¡± Mo Shuifu said indifferently. She was unaware that Shen Shihan was going toe, had she known, she would have definitely not let him into the ward. She disliked exining herself, and thus, she also disliked getting herself into unnecessary trouble. Shen Shihan was an exception. If possible, she would repay the money on that bank card as soon as she could. ¡°Youngdy, the gentleman just admitted it, oh, he said he¡¯s your boyfriend.¡± The olddy smiled and teased Mo Shuifu. Shen Shihan didn¡¯t bother exining and just stood to the side with his arms crossed. Even in the chaotic ward, Shen Shihan seemedpletely out of ce, but he still maintained his elegance and poise. ¡°He¡¯s fooling you all, don¡¯t believe his words.¡± Mo Shuifu nced coldly at Shen Shihan. ¡°Youngdy, there¡¯s nothing wrong with admitting it. I think you two are quite a match, one beautiful and the other handsome ¨C a truly heavenly pair. Just now, the gentleman even said he¡¯d pay your mother¡¯s medical expenses.¡± The olddy spoke without thinking and Shen Shihan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. True to form, Mo Shuifu¡¯s expression changed. The woman next to her quickly signaled with her eyes, and the talker refrained from speaking. Mo Shuifu lightly tucked her hair behind her ear. She nced at Shen Shihan but did not speak right away. She walked over to the nurse and asked softly, ¡°Nurse Miss, did my mother take her medicine on time today?¡± ¡°Yes, she did. You can rest assured, I¡¯lle over when it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Good, thank you. You can go back to your work.¡± ¡°Alright, Miss Mo, please take good care of the patient. The doctor said she¡¯s been recovering welltely. When you have time, you can talk with her more.¡± ¡°I know, I will.¡± The nurse left the ward with an armload of items. Mo Shuifu took another look at Shen Shihan standing by the bed, walked past him, and towards the bed. She fixed the quilt for her mother and touched her forehead to make sure there was nothing wrong; only then, reassured, did she go to pour water. After pouring hot water and adjusting medicine, her movements were smooth, all done in one go, very natural. An olddy in the bed next to her watched her and sighed silently, ¡°Miss Mo is really dutiful.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not easy for her.¡± Shen Shihan watched silently, not speaking. Several times he wanted to help her, but he knew she would definitely refuse. She was terribly afraid of having any connection with him. Her figure was slender and frail, even her knuckles were somewhat pale, showing how tired she really was. A strand of hair fell beside her ear, and a drop of sweat trickled down her temple. Shen Shihan handed her a handkerchief, ¡°Wipe the sweat off.¡± Mo Shuifu looked up, ¡°Thank you.¡± But she did not take it. Shen Shihan¡¯s hand lingered in mid-air, slightly embarrassed. Heughed at himself, realizing that in her presence, he had always yed the role of a fool in love. Mo Shuifu quickly finished taking care of everything and went to the sink with her mother¡¯s clothes to wash them. ¡°Mr., why is the youngdy so indifferent to you? Did you make her angry?¡± As soon as Mo Shuifu left, the olddies began gossiping again. Shen Shihan tugged at the corner of his mouth faintly, ¡°That¡¯s not the case.¡± ¡°Hey, are you ordinary friends, or boyfriend and girlfriend? Just tell us secretly.¡± ¡°Ordinary friends.¡± The olddies immediately looked disappointed, their enthusiasm dimming. ¡°Then why are you paying Miss Mo¡¯s medical bills? Her medical bills are no small amount,¡± one olddy pointed out the issue. ¡°Just helping a friend,¡± Shen Shihan replied, being a man of few words, he didn¡¯t offer any further exnation. Soon, Mo Shuifu returned after washing the clothes. She tidied up everything, then hastily grabbed her bag, ready to leave. ¡°Mr. Shen, I have something to tell you.¡± Mo Shuifu spoke in a low voice, walking towards the outside of the ward. She was very polite to Shen Shihan, calling him ¡°Mr.,¡± always maintaining a distance from him. They walked to a quiet little rest room in the hospital before Mo Shuifu stopped. Only the two of them were in the rest room, silent enough that not a hint of noise could be heard. The wind blew against the aluminum windows, making them thump, adding to the somber atmosphere. ¡°Mr. Shen,¡± she raised her head, herrge eyes fixated on Shen Shihan. Her eyes were beautiful, touching but not bewitching, pure and clear, revealing countless restraints. Shen Shihan also looked at her intently. This was the first time he seriously looked at her in daylight. He realized she was different during the day from when she was at Weiyang at night. Her aura always emitted a bookish charm, intoxicating and enchanting. Like a lotus flower that grows from the mud but remains unsoiled, fragrant even when there¡¯s no one to appreciate it. Their gazes met, and Mo Shuifu slowly began to speak. ¡°Mr. Shen, thank you for your concern. From now on, could you please not visit the hospital? I don¡¯t want anyone to disturb my mother, nor our lives.¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, have you ever considered me a friend?¡± Shen Shihan furrowed his brow. ¡°I think we¡¯re just a lender and a debtor.¡± ¡°Huh, you¡¯re washing your hands of it very cleanly,¡± Shen Shihan scoffed sarcastically. Had she forgotten that he once saved her life? Of course, how could she remember? That day she was unconscious and covered in blood. ¡°Not at all. Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll pay back your money as soon as possible. I remember it all; I won¡¯t wash my hands of it.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Shihan was also angered by her words. What sort of thing was that to say? ¡°Mr. Shen, let¡¯s not meet again in the future.¡± ¡°Then let me ask you, how do you n to handle your mother¡¯s huge medical bills? Eight hundred thousand won¡¯tst long.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find a way. You don¡¯t need to worry, Mr. Shen.¡± ¡°As if I want to worry about it.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°By the way, have you found a new job?¡± Shen Shihan asked indifferently, was she that annoyed with him? ¡°Yes, apany kindly took me in, and I¡¯ve found a job with a decent sry.¡± Mo Shuifu spoke with displeasure. It was this man before her who cost her her job, and now he was offering hollow concern. ¡°That¡¯s good. Work hard and make a good impression,¡± Shen Shihan smiled slightly. In fact, he was the one who had found the job for her. A word from him, Shen Shihan, and there would be no one who wouldn¡¯t give him face. The job, in marketing and nning ¨C a neer would earn three to four thousand a month at most. But he had thepany¡¯s CEO bump it up to thirty or forty thousand¡­ Consider it him meddling. So Shen Shihan ended up with the bad reputation of being meddlesome. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll definitely work hard to pay back Mr. Shen¡¯s money at the earliest.¡± ¡°As you please.¡± Shen Shihan sounded impatient. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Mo Shuifu was still reluctant to stay with him. ¡°Wait, I heard from the olddies in the ward that you got married?¡± Shen Shihan deliberately said. ¡°Who said that?¡± Sure enough, Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, ¡°They¡¯re always making jokes about me.¡± ¡°Oh, so you haven¡¯t gotten married yet, do you have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my personal matter.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone was displeased. ¡°It seems not, with your bad temper, no man would like that,¡± Shen Shihanughed mockingly. Chapter 227: The Fate That Can’t Be Cut Off Chapter 227: The Fate That Can¡¯t Be Cut Off Trantor:549690339 ¡°Who says that?¡± Sure enough, Mo Shuifu¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°Always making jokes at my expense.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re not married then, but you have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my private affair,¡± Mo Shuifu said displeased. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you do. With such a bad temper, no man would like you,¡± Shen Shihan said with augh. Mo Shuifu was furious, biting her teeth, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Third Young Master Shen, but I do have a boyfriend, and he¡¯s outstanding. In my heart, no one canpare to him.¡± For some reason, when she spoke these words, she thought of someone. Someone high above, dazzling like the stars and moon. If¡­ she remembered correctly, that man¡¯s name was Shen Chi. Shen Chi and Shen Shihan were brothers, weren¡¯t they? Perhaps it was fate, she met Shen Chi first, and moreover, he had saved her life. Thinking of this, she fell silent. She didn¡¯t know when she would see Shen Chi again. Some people are better admired from afar¡­ ¡°Really?¡± Shen Shihan said with a sudden interest, ¡°He¡¯s excellent? What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Mo Shuifu turned and walked away. Shen Shihan reached out his hand and stopped her just in time, his eyebrows furrowing: ¡°Talking to you is like dealing with a hedgehog.¡± ¡°Third Young Master Shen, please step aside!¡± Mo Shuifu snapped, her eyes filled with irritation. In her eyes, Shen Shihan was nothing but a dissolute rich second generation. Even though he was handsome, his style was extremely annoying! ¡°Answer my question, and I¡¯ll let you leave,¡± Shen Shihan insisted petntly. He narrowed his eyes at her, always feeling different when looking at herpared to other women. Shen Shihan was not a man of many words, but every time he saw her, he couldn¡¯t help but speak a few more. Maybe it was because he had saved her life, a connection woven by fate that he couldn¡¯t cut away? ¡°Please step aside!¡± Mo Shuifu got angry and tried to push his hand away. Her slender fingers formed into a fist, her small face turned red, and she pushed hard against Shen Shihan. But he stood immovable, his dark eyes fixated on her. He stared at her longshes, which trembled slightly with anger. He was so close to her, he could smell the faint scent of her body. The fragrance was like that of plum blossoms¡ªfresh and not overpowering. In her pupils, he saw his own reflection shrink. Gradually, he drew even closer to her. The closer he got, the clearer he could smell the fragrance emanating from her¡­ Mo Shuifu hurriedly dodged to the side, but as she retreated, he reached out with arge hand and wrapped it around her waist. He turned and pinned her against the wall, securing both her hands. ¡°Do I scare you so much that you run at the sight of me?¡± Shen Shihan spoke calmly, his voice deep. ¡°It¡¯s not that you¡¯re scary, it¡¯s that I don¡¯t want to see you at all!¡± Mo Shuifu was almost gnashing her teeth, her hatred for him was profound. ¡°You hate me that much? Maybe¡­ hating me just a little more won¡¯t hurt.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Shen Shihan grabbed her shoulders, tilted his head, and kissed her lips with unerring precision. Perhaps it was her fresh and charming scent, or perhaps it was this fate predestined, he was intoxicated, wishing for eternal inebriation. His lips were cool, and this lingering kiss was filled with boundless dominance. He would not allow her even the slightest hint of resistance; the more she struggled, the deeper he kissed. Let her hate him then. As long as she didn¡¯t hate him that much, it was okay. Not only did he not dislike her, but¡­ Did he like her? He couldn¡¯t be sure. For he had never felt like this before in his heart. It was like the beginning of spring, when the weather turned warm, and that burgeoning warmth suddenly woke up. Mo Shuifu struggled hard, her eyes filled with loathing. She had never been kissed by a man like this before, and her face instantly flushed deep red. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± she voiced softly in protest. But this did nothing to stop Shen Shihan. He was a bit disoriented, usually a man of strong self-control, but now, there seemed to be a fog before his eyes, obscuring her heart from view. He kissed her greedily. He used to be quite adverse to women, even thinking at one point that he had no interest in them. But at this moment, he didn¡¯t dislike her in the slightest. ¡°Shui Fu¡­ Mo Shuifu¡­¡± his voice was deep and hoarse, calling her name over and over, his gaze filled with dominance. ¡°Shen¡­ Mmm¡­ Shen Shihan¡­ you¡­ get lost¡­¡± she used all her strength, trembling with anger. Yet, the voice that came out was embarrassingly weak, even to herself. She clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound. But her whole body felt electrified, tingling wave after wave. ¡°Shui Fu, look, you don¡¯t have a boyfriend, and I don¡¯t have a girlfriend. So, consider me¡­¡± he rasped, speaking in a deep tone. ¡°Third Young Master, don¡¯t forget, our rtionship is that of a creditor and a debtor. I couldn¡¯t possibly like you, because my heart already belongs to someone.¡± ¡°Is that so? Has he kissed you like I have?¡± ¡°You! Get lost!¡± Mo Shuifu bit down hard, seething. The man in her heart was out of reach, would never like her, not ever. She couldn¡¯t touch him as he was like the stars, and she could only silently gaze up at him. If she could just see him once, she would be content. Sadly¡­ ¡°Mo Shuifu, think carefully. Being my girlfriend is quite prestigious,¡± he remarked. ¡°Haha, Third Young Master, I¡¯ll say it again, I can¡¯t possibly like you, let alone be one of your girlfriends!¡± She didn¡¯t want to get entangled with those heirs; they were out of her league. These men never truly invested their feelings. Women were merely their ythings, to be discarded when they grew tired of them. She, Mo Shuifu, was out of her depth. Rejected by her, Shen Shihan felt he had lost face. Women in C City chased after him by the droves, yet he had muddled his mind over her. ¡°I don¡¯t like to force women. If you¡¯re unwilling, let¡¯s just forget it,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s gaze faded abruptly. ¡°Scum!¡± Taking advantage of his briefpse of attention, Mo Shuifu forcefully pushed him away and ran out of the resting room, hurrying toward the hospital exit. She didn¡¯t want to see him again, not in the slightest! After she left, however, he just stood there, dazed and disconste. Scum? Ha, Mo Shuifu, your life is mine. He had kindly allowed her to leave Weiyang, that troublesome ce, had kindly found her a well-paying job, but she was wholly ungrateful. It seemed he was infatuated all by himself. After standing for a while, Shen Shihan also left the resting room, walking step by step out of the hospital. He threw himself into the project in South Africa, keeping close contact with Lu Feili, the chairman of Feili Group. Yet sometimes, as he looked at the documents, her face would suddenly appear before his eyes. He would get vexed and fiddle with his tie, as if under a spell. Chapter 228: His Baby Will Surely Be Very Cute Chapter 228: His Baby Will Surely Be Very Cute Trantor:549690339 Xu Chaomu sneakily returned to the Shen Family on Sunday. She missed Dabai so much, even though that naughty dog didn¡¯t favor her. Yet when she thought back to how it obedientlyy at her feet while she poured out her heart to it, she forgave all the unpleasantness. As soon as she walked through the Shen Family¡¯s gate, Butler Ling saw her. Butler Ling was very surprised and, wiping her hands on her apron, hurried over. ¡°Miss Xu, you finally came back for a visit. I¡¯ve been looking forward to it as if waiting for the stars and the moon,¡± Butler Ling said with joy, but also sighed. ¡°Butler, the midterm exams areing, so I haven¡¯t been back. I missed you, too,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°Let me have a look at you,¡± Butler Ling said, pulling Xu Chaomu closer by the shoulders. After scrutinizing her for a while, Butler Ling smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ve grown taller but a bit thinner. Aren¡¯t you eating well at school? Are you getting enough pocket money?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded: ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± Ever since the previous quarrel with Shen Chi, he had been depositing money into her bank ount every week, and the amount was quite substantial. She had decided not to use his money, but¡­ without it, she would starve. She shook her head in self-disgust. She couldn¡¯t even forgive herself. The debt she owed him was mounting; with what could she possibly repay him¡­ ¡°That¡¯s good then. I often remind the young master to send you more money. Remember to eat well and don¡¯t be frugal. Your Brother Shen has plenty of money,¡± Butler Ling said. Butler Ling was an elder, so Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t bring herself to say ¡°don¡¯t mention him¡± and simply nodded silently. ¡°Butler, I still have a lot of money. Please tell him not to transfer anymore next time. I¡¯m just a student and can¡¯t spend that much; developing such extravagant habits isn¡¯t good,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Butler Ling thought Xu Chaomu made sense andughed: ¡°Just don¡¯t wrong yourself.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded. In truth, she was just afraid of owing him more and more. That way, she increasingly felt as if she were being kept by someone. Because, she and he had already notarized their separation; she was no longer his sister in name. Still epting his money¡ªwasn¡¯t that being kept? ¡°Butler, is there no one else at home?¡± ¡°Madam Liu is here.¡± ¡°Oh, what about Sister-inw Bai?¡± ¡°Miss Bai has gone to the set. She hasn¡¯t been to the Shen Family for several days now.¡± Xu Chaomu originally wanted to ask about Sister-inw Bai¡¯s health; she was pregnant and needed special care. But then she remembered Bai Man had forbade her from talking about it, so she swallowed her words. ¡°Butler, why don¡¯t you call Sister-inw Bai ¡®Mrs. Shen¡¯? Their engagement ceremony is in just over ten days.¡± Butler Ling lowered her voice: ¡°The young master prohibited it.¡± ¡°Huh? Miss Bai isn¡¯t upset?¡± ¡°Miss Bai doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s just pretending to be proper, as usual,¡± Xu Chaomu curled her lips. What¡¯s the point in pretending? They¡¯re about to get engaged, they already have a child, yet he doesn¡¯t allow the household staff to call her ¡®Mrs. Shen¡¯. This man, he always presents one thing on the surface, another behind the scenes; he¡¯s inconsistent and especially good at putting on a show for others. In private, who knows how many times he secretly does those kinds of things with Bai Man in a single night. Heh, such a pretender. ¡°Miss Xu, ever since you started boarding at school, the young master also rarely returns to the Shen Family,¡± the butler remarked. ¡°Butler, I want to see Dabai. Is he in the little house?¡± Xu Chaomu interrupted Butler Ling, not wanting to hear more. She didn¡¯t want to hear anything about him. What did his matters have to do with her? In the past, his every frown and smile, every action, tugged at her heart. From now on, that would never happen again. His surname was Shen, and hers was Xu. From the day the adoption was annulled, they had no more ties. He personally went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to notarize the separation, cutting off all her hopes by his own hand. ¡°He is. He¡¯s probably basking in the sun; Dabai has been especiallyzytely.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look,¡± Xu Chaomu said. With that, Xu Chaomu walked toward Dabai¡¯s kennel. Dabai¡¯s kennel was exceptionally refined; he ate better than humans did. She met Dabai on her first day at the Shen Family, and Dabai had apanied her for a full eight years. True to form, Dabai was sprawled on the ground,zily soaking up the sun. That naughty dog was especiallyzy, doing nothing but fattening himself up day after day. Hey with his eyes closed, ears drooping, finding afortable position and sleeping soundly. Xu Chaomu walked over, squatted down, and stroked his fur gently with her hand. ¡°Dabai, it¡¯s Chaomu. It¡¯s been many days. Did you miss me?¡± Dabai continued to lie there without moving. ¡°Talking to you and you don¡¯t respond, who knows if you¡¯re really asleep or just pretending. You always ignore me; I don¡¯t like you anymore.¡± Only then did Dabaizily lift his eyelids, giving Xu Chaomu a disdainful look, before closing his eyes again. ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Why are you so unlikable? Dabai, maybe¡­ this is thest time I¡¯ll see you. Please live well, alright? Live to a ripe old age. In the future¡­ No matter what they feed you, make sure you eat your fill. Behave well for me, let me pet you, this is thest time¡­¡± Perhaps Dabai understood her words as he opened his eyes and quietly gazed at Xu Chaomu without closing them again to sleep. He obediently allowed Xu Chaomu to pet him, motionless. Only then did Xu Chaomu smile, revealing her pearl-like teeth: ¡°Good boy, Dabai. I¡¯ve never seen you this well-behaved in eight years.¡± ¡°Woof woof¡­¡± Dabai barked twice, showing some emotion in his eyes, as if reluctant to part. Xu Chaomu hugged his neck and leaned against his head: ¡°Do you also hate to see me go? Actually¡­ I really hate to leave you¡­ Hate to leave¡­¡± ¡°But, Dabai, do you know, he has ended all rtions with me. Sometimes I think, his heart is really tougher than anyone else¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s also my fault, I guess. I kept telling him, ¡®Go and get it notarized so that we have nothing to do with each other¡¯. Now, I truly have nothing to do with him anymore¡­¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu stole the moment to wipe away two tears first. ¡°No rtion, then no rtion. Dabai, after the midterms, after attending his engagement ceremony, I¡¯ll leave here forever¡­ forever¡­¡± ¡°Dabai, do you know, he¡¯s going to have a baby, and I bet his baby will be adorable. When his baby is born, you can¡¯t bark or yell at them, okay? Don¡¯t scare the baby.¡± ¡°Dabai, you¡¯re being so good today. Why were you so unpleasant before¡­¡± She stroked Dabai¡¯s fur, over and over again. ¡°Dabai, after listening to my troubles for so many years, are you tired of it? This really is thest time. From now on, you must behave, don¡¯t be picky with food, keep yourself healthy and strong¡­¡± ¡°Dabai,e on, give me a kiss. You won¡¯t get a chance again,¡± Xu Chaomu said, moving her little face closer to him. In the past, Dabai would ignore herpletely; every time she got close, he¡¯d turn his face away, leaving Xu Chaomu furious. But this time, as if Dabai understood all her words, he made a ¡°woof woof¡± sound and then nuzzled her cheek. Chapter 229: Chaomu, Let Me Hold You Chapter 229: Chaomu, Let Me Hold You Trantor:549690339 ¡°Dabai is such a good boy, shall I stay and sunbathe with you a bit longer?¡± ¡°Woof woof¡­¡± Xu Chaomu took it as a yes, sat beside it, stroked its head, and together they gazed at the sunset. Actually, it wasn¡¯t even time for the sunset yet, but she stayed silently by Dabai¡¯s side, head to head, watching the sky. Days like this were so peaceful, so lovely; she wished they couldst forever and ever¡­ If it were up to her, she would never want to grow up¡­ But time waits for no one. As soon as Xu Chaomu entered the dog kennel, Butler Ling immediately called Shen Chi. Shen Chi had instructed him to call as soon as Xu Chaomu returned, and Butler Ling dared not disobey. Sure enough, without a word of hesitation, Shen Chi said he woulde back immediately. Butler Ling was a bit puzzled because, Old Cheng had told him, the Shen Family had ended the adoption rtionship with Miss Xu, and it was the Fourth Young Master who had personally gone to notarize it. The whole Shen Family knew about it, and during that time, nobody regarded Xu Chaomu as Miss Xu anymore. Lady Zhou had called to confirm once, and Butler Ling had told the truth. However, Lady Zhou and the old master seemed to have no particr reaction; in fact, they seemed quite satisfied. Butler Ling decided not to think about it anymore; after all, she had never been able to see through Shen Chi. When Shen Chi returned to the Shen Family home, it was already four in the afternoon, and the warm sun bathed him, tinting the clouds a shade of orange. This color spilled over the houses, the ground, the surface of the water¡­ everything was bathed in warm tones, bringing a sense of extraordinaryfort. ¡°Where is she?¡± Shen Chi took off his sunsses and handed them to Butler Ling. ¡°In Dabai¡¯s kennel.¡± The corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips lifted in amusement. Going straight to the kennel upon returning to the Shen Family? Such a peculiar interest. He strode with his long legs toward the kennel. Upon entering the spacious courtyard, he saw a heartwarming scene. Xu Chaomu was sitting on the ground, head against Dabai¡¯s. Dabai kept its eyes open while Xu Chaomu had fallen asleep. She used Dabai as a pillow, sleeping exceptionally sweetly. Her lips turned up slightly, perhaps a sign she was having a nice dream. Eight years ago, when he had abandoned her at the dog kennel, she had nightmares, crying out ¡°help¡± in her dreams. Eight years had passed, and she finally no longer had nightmares. Shen Chi walked over slowly; it had been a long time since hest saw her. He missed her very much. He came to her side and quietly watched her, just watched. Xu Chaomu smacked her lips twice and then settled back into a peaceful sleep. ¡°Sitting on the ground, aren¡¯t you afraid of catching a cold,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly as he took off his suit jacket. He draped it over her gently, careful not to wake her. Dabai noticed Shen Chi¡¯s arrival, turned its head to look at him. It nced between him and Xu Chaomu, as if it wanted to say something. There was hope and reluctance in its eyes, but it only let out a couple of ¡°woofs.¡± After he had covered her with his jacket, he bent down and lifted her from the cold ground. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t wake, and Shen Chi often joked that she slept like a pig¡ªa statement that couldn¡¯t be truer. Carrying her from the kennel, Butler Ling¡¯s eyes widened. In Shen Chi¡¯s gaze, she saw endless doting¡­ She had never seen Shen Chi so attentive to a woman before; Xu Chaomu was the first. Sometimes, Butler Ling couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this kind of attention was really that of a brother towards a sister? Shen Chi opened the door to her room and gently ced her on the bed. Her room was as always: clean and spotless. He had instructed the servants to clean it daily, and even the nkets she used, he had people frequently air them out in the sun. It seemed like Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t slept in suchfort for a long time, as she instinctively hugged the nket, smacked her lips and continued to sleep very sweetly. Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak; he just sat beside her and watched her. He wanted to take a good look at her, for on his trip to South Africa, it would be a long time before he could see her again¡­ His slender fingers brushed aside the stray strands of hair on her forehead, his fingertips gliding over her cheek. Over and over, he couldn¡¯t get enough. Xu Chaomu turned over, tugging the nket, sleeping soundly and sweetly. Gradually, Shen Chi leaned down, getting closer to her little face. Bit by bit, he increasingly could clearly smell her youthful fragrance, like that of a pink rose, enchanting. ¡°Chaomu, let me hold you.¡± He wrapped his arms around her, holding her warm and soft body. Lowering his head, he kissed her lips precisely, tenderly lingering, savoring the fragrance that was uniquely hers. But after just a kiss, he let go of her. Because she was still asleep, and he didn¡¯t want to wake her. With his hands propped up beside her, he silently watched her, the smile on his lips growing deeper. He liked watching her like this, time moving slowly, the years feeling warm. Who knows how much time had passed when Xu Chaomu had a nightmare. In her dream, she forced a kiss upon Shen Chi, yes, forced, just like the day she was drunk. Then, this dark-hearted wolf relentlessly pursued her, insisting on kissing her back. Once was not enough, twice still insufficient¡­ It was freaking scary! Hence, with a thud, Xu Chaomu woke up! Upon awakening, she met Shen Chi¡¯s deep, tranquil eyes. ¡°Eh, how did you get back? Where¡¯s Dabai?¡± Xu Chaomu was so scared she dared not move. Dreams should not be taken lightly; they cane true. ¡°This is my house; of course, I¡¯lle back if I want to,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved into a smile. Xu Chaomu cast her eyes down, lifted the nket, and was about to get up. ¡°Oh, this is your house, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t havee, I won¡¯t next time, I just came to see Dabai, nothing else.¡± Lately, she had be extremely sensitive, especially after finding out about Bai Man¡¯s pregnancy. She cautiously kept her distance from him, fearful that any small act might be misconstrued as trying to initiate something with him. Yu Weiwei had told her, men can¡¯t withstand temptation. Although, she didn¡¯t think she had any charm of her own. But as for men, once lonely,cking a woman, they didn¡¯t care whether it was a turnip or cabbage, big-chested or small-chested. ¡°My house is your house, I¡¯ve said it before, there¡¯s no need to draw such clear lines between us.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you don¡¯t remember anything, we¡¯ve notarized, we have nothing to do with each other anymore.¡± ¡°Whether we have a rtionship or not, I¡¯m the one who decides that,¡± someone was very domineering and would not allow her to argue. ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t want to see you at all!¡± Xu Chaomu roared. She was truly angry, with no hint of joking. If this had been before, she would have certainly nuzzled his neck andughed, ¡°Fourth Brother, are you saying you can¡¯t bear to be without me?¡± However, the moment she thought about him having a child with Bai Man¡­ Heh, Bai Man probably hasn¡¯t told him yet. She pushed him away, slid off the bed, and ran quickly towards the door. His reactions were fast; he grabbed her cor from behind and pulled her to his side. ¡°Why are you running? Why don¡¯t you want to see me? I had Old Cheng go to pick you up the other day, why didn¡¯t youe?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, are you mocking me? We have nothing to do with each other anymore!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of you for eight years, for eight years of kindness, and you¡¯re just going to throw it away? Xu Chaomu, I never knew your heart was made of stone.¡± Chapter 230: How Many Times Will I Sleep With You Chapter 230: How Many Times Will I Sleep With You Trantor:549690339 What was meant as a joke, Xu Chaomu, especially sensitive these days, just couldn¡¯t detect the teasing tone. She tilts her little face up, ¡°Do you want me to pay you back? Fine, you tell me, how should I repay? Sleep with you? For one night, or ten nights?¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about!¡± Anger res in him, and the hand clutching her cor tightens, pulling her into his arms. As their eyes meet, he sees her grinding her teeth, her little cheeks so flushed with anger they¡¯re turning blue. And he felt the same way, his whole face darkening. ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, then stop talking to me about favors and ingratitude. Eight years ago, I didn¡¯t let the Shen Family im me. The biggest regret of my life ising back with Aunt Zhou!¡± She bites down, defiance zing in her big eyes. Indeed, if she hadn¡¯te back with Aunt Zhou, she wouldn¡¯t have met him. In this lifetime, loving him was her greatest mistake. Once tainted by love, it clung to her like poison, impossible to shake off. The love she treasured like a jewel, it was never worth anything to him. Their paths in the future would never cross again. ¡°I won¡¯t hold it against you, I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear that,¡± Shen Chi says with a stern face. If he could just get back from South Africa smoothly, he¡¯d definitely take care of her! He couldn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t handle her. ¡°You may pretend you didn¡¯t hear, but I have to say it,¡± Xu Chaomu retorts in anger, her wrist aching from his grip, ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯ve always treated me like a pet. I know I¡¯m lowly and not worthy of you. But could you give me a little dignity? If you¡¯re going to drive me out, then stop bothering me.¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Shen Chi frowns deeply, sighing at her words. Give me some time. When I return from South Africa, I¡¯ll exin everything properly to you. But until then, I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t give you any promises. ¡°Let go of my hand! Stop pulling and tugging at me!¡± ¡°Chaomu, ever since I sent you to boarding school, your temper has been growing by the day. In another year or so, will you be cursing my head off?¡± He¡¯s trying to lighten the mood, almost bowing his head and apologizing to her. Even though it¡¯s not his fault, he¡¯s the one who has to bow his head. Forget it, he shouldn¡¯t argue with her. After all, who argues with their own wife? ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to curse you. Who dares to curse you, Shen Chi? I¡¯ve realized something.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to hate you more and more, really.¡± The look of dislike that appears on her face is genuine, without a hint of joking. Shen Chi frowns at the look of disgust he catches in her eyes. This was something he had never seen before, and his heart suddenly felt as if it had been emptied. ¡°Shen Chi, I owe you a lot, I know that. Actually, I don¡¯t really have a way to repay you. My life is still avable, but I bet you don¡¯t care for it. I think, the only thing I can give you, is apany you to bed a few times.¡± Having said that, she disregards everything, reaching to unbutton her blouse. She¡¯d already been branded a mistress. But since he mentioned ¡°favor,¡± she had to repay it. Little did she know, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were zing like mes, his eyes blood-red, like a bloodthirsty wolf. He grasps her wrist tightly, as if he wants to break it! ¡°Xu Chaomu, who asked you to pay me back? Huh? Don¡¯t tter yourself! Just look at yourself, without a pretty face or a figure, I¡¯d have to be blind and starving to sleep with you!¡± Shen Chi is truly infuriated, his words heavier than he might have intended. Xu Chaomu lifts her swollen eyes, tears swirling within, yet she forces them back down. Right, how could she forget, he¡¯s reserving himself for Miss Bai. In his lifetime, he only loved one person: Bai Man. Bai Man was the cherished moonlight in his palms. She fastens her buttons with one hand, speaking indifferently, ¡°Then let¡¯s leave this debt unsettled for now. Maybe in the future, when I¡¯m in shape, you¡¯ll want to sleep with me again.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi is truly aggravated by her. ¡°I want to leave, let go of me,¡± Xu Chaomu looks up at him. ¡°Stay for dinner, the butler has already prepared it,¡± he insists. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Do you need the butler toe and invite you personally?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± He always knew where to strike, knowing that she couldn¡¯t bear to refuse, couldn¡¯t stand to disappoint the butler who was so kind to her. ¡°Go down,¡± Shen Chimands dominantly, pulling her small hand and dragging her downstairs. Xu Chaomu gets dragged to the dining table and indeed sees itid out with a full meal. The butler rushes over, smiling, ¡°Fourth Young Master and Miss Xu, take your time with dinner. There¡¯s a lot more fooding, all your favorites. Let me pour you some fresh juice.¡± The butler pours a ss of mango juice for Shen Chi and sweet orange juice for Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi doesn¡¯t really like drinking this stuff; what¡¯s the point for a man? But he remembers a time long ago, when Xu Chaomu sat beside him, nudging him and saying, ¡°Fourth Brother, you should drink less alcohol, it¡¯s bad for you. You¡¯re too young to not take care of yourself. Oh, and let me tell you a secret, babies conceived when drunk are not healthy. This is a tip from Weiwei, she¡¯s an expert.¡± In the past, whenever she would say these things, he¡¯d just give her a cold nce, ¡°Be serious.¡± And she¡¯d just giggle as if proud of herself for pulling off a prank. Now, she just nods at the butler, ¡°Thank you, Butler Ling.¡± Butler ling smiles, ¡°We¡¯re family, no need for formalities. Take your time. Miss Xu, why don¡¯t you sit closer over here?¡± He¡¯s referring to the seat next to Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu quickly shakes her head, ¡°I¡¯m fine where I am.¡± Seeing no other options, the butler, having said and done what he could, sighs and heads back to the kitchen. Since Xu Chaomu won¡¯t move over, Shen Chi shifts closer himself. ¡°Eat properly, have some more. When I¡¯m in South Africa, you shoulde visit the Shen Family more. I won¡¯t be around anymore,¡± Shen Chi says in a low voice. He picks out her favorite dishes for her, wishing he could give her nothing but the best. But this stubborn girl doesn¡¯t appreciate it. Which is normal, after all, she doesn¡¯t know anything. Not even that he had secretly registered their marriage, without her knowing. ¡°Shen Family¡­ Shen Family¡­ myst name isn¡¯t Shen¡­¡± Xu Chaomu mutters under her breath, biting her chopsticks. Shen Chi really wants to tell her, they¡¯re on the same family registry, so what¡¯s the difference. But no, better give it some more time¡­ Xu Chaomu pokes at the rice in her bowl, eating grain by grain, finding it tasteless. ¡°Chaomu, is Lou Yanli your boyfriend?¡± Shen Chi asks while serving her more food. ¡°Yes,¡± she responds faintly. ¡°I¡¯ve had people look into it. His family is good, his parents are nice people, and they¡¯re well-off. If¡­ if one day I can¡¯t take care of you anymore, you could be with him.¡± Xu Chaomu, expecting him tomand ¡°no dating¡± in his usual domineering manner, is surprised he has given in. Her nose suddenly stings, the thought of him not being able to take care of her anymore¡­ He was getting married, and in the future, he¡¯d have a wife and children to care for, naturally leaving no ability to care for her. Chapter 231: Wife Can Warm the Bed Chapter 231: Wife Can Warm the Bed Trantor: 549690339 But she didn¡¯t need that anymore. He didn¡¯t want her anymore, so she would leave. She would fulfill him and herself as well. ¡°Shen Chi, you don¡¯t need to arrange my life for me. You are just a passerby in my life, losing you doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Shen Chi was seriously speaking those words to her, but at this point heughed again. ¡°Looks like your studies have been going well recently; you even know how to use the word ¡®passerby¡¯ now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a solemn expression. ¡°I¡¯m serious too,¡± Shen Chi looked at her, ¡°Lou Yanli is quite good, and he¡¯s the same age as you. He will take good care of you.¡± ¡°Of course, Shen Chi, he treats me very well. From now on, I don¡¯t have to face you, an old man, every day. I am very relieved.¡± ¡°Chaomu, promise me, take good care of yourself.¡± His voice was deep, carrying a profound depth like still water, making it hard to guess what he was thinking. In fact, his thoughts were very simple. If he really couldn¡¯t return from his trip to South Africa, and couldn¡¯t take care of her for life, at least Lou Yanli was a boy worthy of her lifelong trust. ¡°Of course, I will definitely live very well. The days without you are the best days. But, in consideration of our eight years of being together day and night, I also wish you and Miss Bai happiness until old age, forever and ever.¡± ¡°Chaomu, would you really let me marry another woman?¡± ¡°All I can say is, someone willing to marry you is your good fortune.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Shen Chi touched her head and sat down tightly next to her. He served her food, poured her soup, she didn¡¯t need to lift a finger. Hand-fed and waited on. It was all his own doing, no choice, it was his favorite thing to do. ¡°Is it very cold today? Can you sit farther away from me, please? If the servants see us, they will gossip about me again,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a scowl. ¡°I just want to look at you a bit longer.¡± Xu Chaomu felt as if needles were pricking her heart, wave after wave, the pain was unbearable. She almost cried as her nose turned sour. But she still pursed her lips and said, ¡°Looking at me affects my appetite.¡± ¡°You little brat.¡± He smiled indulgently, caressing her soft and silky hair, repeating the action untiringly. Xu Chaomu thought, if only it could be like this for life, how nice it would be. Even if she couldn¡¯t marry him, it would still be good. When the butler walked in again, she saw Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu sitting closely together, heads touching. She froze for a good while, standing in ce. In the past, when Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t stay at school, the young master wasn¡¯t so close to her. At that time, it seemed as though he was quite annoyed with Xu Chaomu, and apart from treating her not too badly, he wouldn¡¯t get very close to her. It was the first time the butler had seen Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu like this. Shen Chi served Xu Chaomu a dish: ¡°We have shrimp today, do you want me to peel it for you?¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Why not? Are you not eating?¡± ¡°From now on, you can peel it for your baby, you don¡¯t have to peel it for me anymore.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice was somewhat choked. ¡°But I still have to make sure you¡¯re fed properly, don¡¯t I?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand his logic. Anyway, she had never won against this man in logical thinking. ¡°Master Shen, Miss Xu,¡± the butler stepped forward and served the freshly made dishes onto the table. Actually, she couldn¡¯t bear to disturb such a beautiful scene. ¡°Take your time eating. Let me know if you need anything else.¡± So, the butler quickly left again, and even closed the door of the dining room. Now it was just Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi left alone. Shen Chi became even more unscrupulous, with wandering hands. His hand slid from her hair down to her waist. Her waist was quite slender, just too thin, not enough to satisfy his touch. Xu Chaomu dodged like she had been electrocuted and turned her face to look at him warily: ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± ¡°Touching you a little won¡¯t get you pregnant. If you feel wronged, you can touch me back, I don¡¯t mind,¡± he responded with a shamelessly rogue expression. Xu Chaomu felt that Shen Chi used to be quite decent. From when had he be so indecent¡­ It seemed¡­ ever since she forcefully kissed him that time¡­ Or perhaps, he had always been a fake gentleman! ¡°Get your paws off me!¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. Previously, it was often Shen Chi who told her ¡°Get your dirty paws off me¡±! She had never imagined that the tables would turn and that one day she¡¯d tell him the same thing. ¡°Be genteel. Let me hold you, maybe¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, swallowing it. Maybe, there weren¡¯t many chances left to hold her. His eyes shimmered with a profound gleam, like the depths of a dark pool with no end in sight. In his pupils, her little figure was reflected upside down. As the saying goes, a nce spans a millennium, a single divests a lifetime. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, do you want me to feed you?¡± Shen Chi changed his tone. ¡°Can you stay away from me, so I can eat properly?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± So, Xu Chaomu had no choice but to speed up eating. She silently shoveled rice in her bowl, silently eating her vegetables. Then, his hand kept misbehaving, stroking her through her clothes. Some men have wives to warm their beds; he could only watch his. But he was enduring it. As long as he came back from South Africa smoothly, he would have plenty of time to train her. ¡°Mumu, you need to eat more. Look at your waist, all bones, it feels ufortable to touch,¡± Shen Chi shamelessly said, then pinched her waist. ¡°Damn it, Shen Chi, can¡¯t you just let me eat properly?¡± Xu Chaomu blew up. ¡°You eat yours; I touch mine,¡± he said, feigning innocence. ¡°Isn¡¯t your fourth brother¡¯s wife enough for you to touch? If you¡¯re that desperate, I can call her and ask her toe back for you.¡± Shen Chi remained shamelessly: ¡°With such a lovely beauty in front of me, why wouldn¡¯t I touch?¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly shameless! You jerk! I¡¯m not eating anymore!¡± Xu Chaomu threw down her chopsticks and stood up. Shen Chi held her shoulders and coaxed her: ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t touch you anymore, eat slowly.¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him warily for a few seconds, and seeing that he really had no intention of making further moves, she sat down to continue eating. Shen Chi endured the difort. Xu Chaomu, this little hooligan, didn¡¯t she realize the seven emotions and six desires that a normal man should have? That¡¯s right, in her eyes, he had always been inadequate. One day, he would pin her down and show her in various ways whether he was really inadequate or not. Even just for her, he would try his best to win the project in South Africa, not giving any other corporations the slightest opportunity. He even kept the date of his departure to South Africa secret, all for the sake of a meticulous n. Finally, Xu Chaomu finished eating dinner, but Shen Chi hadn¡¯t even moved his chopsticks once. He was afraid of missing any chance to look at her. He couldn¡¯t imagine how he would cope with being separated from her for one or two months. They had never been apart for such a long time in the eight years they¡¯d been together. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Xu Chaomu said after wiping her hands, standing up. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you missed Dabai? Take it out for a walk. After the walk, I¡¯ll take you to school,¡± Shen Chi suggested. Xu Chaomu thought of that naughty dog, yes, she couldn¡¯t bear to leave it behind. Chapter 232 - 232 Chaomu, I Love You Chapter 232: Chaomu, I Love You Trantor: 549690339 So, she nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take it for a walk.¡± In the kennel, Dabai was sprawled on the ground listlessly, not moving at all, and his big eyes were dull. Food was ced on the ground, but he hadn¡¯t eaten any of it. It seemed to smell the presence of Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi; only then did it lift its eyelids slightly. ¡°Dabai, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you sick? Weren¡¯t you fine during the day?¡± Xu Chaomu ran up and stroked its fur. ¡°It might be ack of exercise, we need to take it out for a walk,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°With so many servants in the Shen Family, hasn¡¯t anyone taken it out for a walk?¡± Xu Chaomu said unhappily. Were they all so unkind to Dabai? ¡°Dabai is particr about people. Aside from me, it doesn¡¯t really like anyone else. And I¡¯ve just been too busy recently.¡± ¡°Heh, excuses.¡± Xu Chaomu petted Dabai, her face full of disdain, ¡°You could take Dabai out for several rounds if you spent just a few less ¡®exercises¡¯ with your fourth sister-inw at night.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched. She was a true little hooligan. ¡°You don¡¯t care about it at all, it¡¯s a shame it likes you so much. If the school allowed dogs, I would have taken it away,¡± Xu Chaomu said as she stroked Dabai, displeased. ¡°Then you¡¯d have to ask Dabai if it¡¯s willing to go with you.¡± After speaking, Shen Chi also squatted down, crouching shoulder to shoulder with Xu Chaomu. Dabaiy in front of them,nguid and spiritless. Xu Chaomu held up the food bowl and said to Dabai, ¡°Dabai, do you like me? If you like me, then bark.¡± Silence. Xu Chaomu felt very embarrassed. Shen Chi reached out his hand and stroked Dabai¡¯s fur. ¡°Dabai, this is Chaomu. Haven¡¯t seen her for so many days, do you not recognize her anymore?¡± Only then did Dabai stick out its tongue and licked the back of Shen Chi¡¯s hand. Xu Chaomu became even more angry. Why was it so indifferent when seeing her but so eager to please Shen Chi the moment he arrived? ¡°Dabai,ter Chaomu will take you for a walk, would you like that?¡± Shen Chi asked. Dabai¡¯s eyelids drooped, ignoring the question. ¡°How about if I go for a walk with Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi coaxed patiently. Dabai immediately stuck out its tongue and made a ¡°zizzy¡± happy sound. ¡°Alright,e on!¡± Shen Chi utched the chain, ready to take it out for a walk together. Under the lights, the man¡¯s contour lines were distinct, his appearance both handsome and profound. When his thin lips curved, the corners tilted slightly upward, especially captivating to look at. He led Dabai out, his movements very gentle. Stripped of his title as CEO of Shen Group and his identity as the fourth young master of the Shen¡¯s family, he was just an ordinary man. An ordinary man who, when he had free time, would apany his wife for a stroll and walk the pet dog. Xu Chaomu irritably pped Dabai¡¯s head. ¡°Bad Dabai, if you don¡¯t want me to walk with you, then I won¡¯t apany you. I¡¯m leaving, for real.¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu pretended to leave, and Dabai, quite simple-minded, immediately started barking anxiously. Shen Chi smiled. ¡°It can¡¯t bear to part with you.¡± Only then did Xu Chaomu smile, touching Dabai¡¯s head. ¡°Good Dabai, bark again if you like me.¡± Indeed, Dabai obediently barked. This dog had lived with Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu day and night for half a year, and had long since acquired human nature. Of course, Shen Chi thought, it was also because he had trained it well. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Come, follow me. Let¡¯s go for a walk,¡± Xu Chaomu walked side by side with Dabai. Initially, the two were each on one side of Dabai, but Shen Chi felt awkward and moved next to Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu held the leash, in step with Dabai. ¡°Thud thud thud thud, step by step we go for a walk,¡± Xu Chaomu hopped and skipped, extremely happy. In the moonlight, she looked up at Shen Chi, and he was just looking down at her. This man with a sharply defined face was particrly charming, no wonder some people say that a man who likes animals is most attractive. ¡°Shen Chi, right, what¡¯s your favorite pet to keep?¡± Xu Chaomu broke the stillness of the night. She always talked a lot, especially when she was in a slightly good mood. ¡°Keep you,¡± he said calmly. ¡°I¡¯m talking about animals!¡± ¡°Keeping anything else would not be as good as keeping you,¡± he emphasized again. Xu Chaomu was exasperated. ¡°Woof woof.¡± Dabai, however, barked cheerfully twice, no longer listless. The moonlight was mellow, and everything around them was so tranquil and peaceful. With mountains, water, and gardens around, the wide road had few pedestrians. No one disturbed them, and the streetlights stretched their shadows very long. Dabai walked on the far left, followed by Xu Chaomu, and on the far right was Shen Chi. Shen Chi wore a long ck trench coat, his hands stuffed in his pockets, walking leisurely, neither hurried nor slow. Xu Chaomu, holding Dabai¡¯s leash, sometimes pulled it back when it got too exuberant. ¡°Dabai, are you hungry?¡± Xu Chaomu tilted her head and asked. Dabai jumped even more merrily, indicating that it wasn¡¯t hungry. ¡°Dabai, tell me, am I good to you?¡± Xu Chaomu asked again. Dabai sat down, its tail wagging, and licked the back of Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, its big eyes sparkling vivaciously. It even ingratiatingly wagged its tail for Xu Chaomu, particrly well-behaved. Xu Chaomu was quite taken aback; she knew that Dabai, the naughty dog, rarely sought to please her. It must have been because Shen Chi was by her side. ¡°Dabai,¡± Shen Chi also stopped, ¡°do you want Chaomu toe back to the Shen Family¡¯s house?¡± Immediately, Dabai¡¯s tail wagged even more vigorously, barking several times. Shen Chi then innocently turned to look at Xu Chaomu, ¡°Dabai wants you toe home.¡± ¡°I won¡¯te back. Shen Chi, it was you who sent me to board at school, you who ended the foster rtionship, and, don¡¯t you forget, you¡¯re about to get married,¡± Xu Chaomu said stubbornly, thinking Shen Chi was even more stubborn than her. ¡°You won¡¯t even give Dabai face,¡± Shen Chi sighed, ¡°Then I personally apologize to you, will youe back then?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart stirred, raising her eyes to look at him. Shen Chi actually willing to apologize? Did he feel guilty? ¡°Shen Chi, you don¡¯t need to apologize to me. Sending me to board at school is not such a bad thing. Since I no longer have any rtionship with the Shen Family, leaving the Shen¡¯s house was inevitable.¡± ¡°I told you, you¡¯re not allowed to leave!¡± Shen Chi grew slightly angry. After Xu Chaomu had left the hospital without a word thest time, he had be particrly sensitive to the word ¡°leave.¡± He wouldn¡¯t allow her to leave. Xu Chaomu, realizing she might have misspoken, chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Where could I run to? All of C City is within your grasp. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not going to return to the Shen Family.¡± ¡°Chaomu, wait for me to get back from South Africa. It won¡¯t be long.¡± Shen Chi thought that on this trip to South Africa, he would give it his all. He wouldn¡¯t neglect her; he would personally make her a promise and tell her that he loved her. Chaomu, I love you. You have merged into my life, and from now on, you are irreceable. Xu Chaomu moved her lips, wanting to say something, but eventually swallowed her words. Chapter 233: Missing a Baby (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 233: Missing a Baby (Seeking Monthly Pass) Trantor: 549690339 The one waiting for him was not her. It was Bai Man. When he returned from South Africa, Bai Man¡¯s belly would be quite big by then. At that time, the three of them standing together as a family would be the happiest. She, an outsider, what was she really? Perhaps the topic they were discussing was too mncholic, or maybe Dabai sensed something, for it kept whining ¡°woo woo¡± next to Xu Chaomu, rubbing against her hand. Xu Chaomu looked down and petted Dabai, ¡°Dabai, let¡¯s go for a walk.¡± After speaking, Xu Chaomu walked forward with Dabai, ignoring Shen Chi. Shen Chi had no choice but to catch up and took hold of her other hand, keeping her from moving about. Xu Chaomu pulled her hand away irritably, to no avail. Oh, it never worked; this man was very domineering. So Xu Chaomu gave up struggling and nced at Shen Chi indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m holding Dabai with one hand and you with the other. Shen Chi, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re acting like a little dog?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face immediately filled with ck lines. This kind of talk was something only Xu Chaomu dared to say to him, and he couldn¡¯t even get angry about it. The girl had a short temper. If he showed any anger, he would likely scare her away again. Xu Chaomu continued mischievously, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll take it as your agreement.¡± Instantly, Xu Chaomu¡¯e mood improved again. In the past, she was always at the receiving end of his teasing. ¡°Chaomu, is it really good for you to be like this?¡± Shen Chi said helplessly, gripping her hand tighter in his palm. ¡°Good, really good, exceptionally good.¡± ¡°Why are you such a jerk?¡± ¡°With the old jerk,es the little jerk. Right, Dabai?¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at the leash. Dabai immediately barked ¡°woof woof¡± twice, seemingly in full agreement with Xu Chaomu¡¯s words. Today, Dabai was exceptionally well-behaved,pletely on her side, much to Xu Chaomu¡¯s delighted surprise. Shen Chi felt even more exasperated. The so-called old jerk¡­ wasn¡¯t that a reference to him? If the little jerk was bad, then the old jerk¡­ Shen Chi was both amused and helpless; she did it on purpose. Beneath the quiet night sky, on the wide road, they walked side by side. Dabai ran around yfully as if jubnt. The evening breeze brought wafts of floral scent. Oleanders bloomed abundantly on the roadside, their red and white flowers resembling a paradise. With the wind, petals fell on Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi¡¯s shoulders, turning the whole road outside the vi into a fairnd. Just then, a pink oleander petalnded on Dabai¡¯s head. Xu Chaomu squatted down andughed merrily. ¡°Dabai, you¡¯re a boy, but I find you look quite pretty wearing flowers.¡± Dabai shook its head, trying to flick off the flower. Xu Chaomu was relentless; for every shake, she ced another petal on it. Left with no choice, Dabai looked at her with a pair of resentful eyes. ¡°Hehe.¡± Xu Chaomu keptughing, thoroughly enjoying herself. They walked shoulder to shoulder, one step at a time. ¡°Chaomu, I always feel like something¡¯s missing.¡± Shen Chi finally spoke. ¡°Missing what?¡± Xu Chaomu curled her lips. ¡°A baby.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy, just find Dabai a girlfriend.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was full of ck lines, Xu Chaomu was adorably dense. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about a puppy.¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. ¡°Hm? Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu realized, he was probably talking about a little baby. Bai Man was already pregnant, and he already had a baby on the way. Bai Man probably hadn¡¯t told him yet, and remembering Bai Man¡¯s instructions, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel it was right to say anything. But the formerly pleasant mood was suddenly shrouded in a mist. So she pulled at her hand, not wanting to be held in his palm. ¡°Don¡¯t move, it¡¯s cold at night.¡± After speaking, he gripped her hand even tighter. In the moonlight, he looked down to see Xu Chaomu¡¯s clear eyes, dazzling like stars. Every time she blinked, her long eyshes fluttered lightly. He looked down at her, his heart filled with nothing but sweetness. Love was like a cup of poison, once touched, impossible to let go. He loved her as much as life itself. He would give her a home, and only her. In the future, the three of them walking with Dabai would be so blissful. Love meant having feelings only for her. From then on, no one else could catch his eye. Having seen the vast ocean, all other waters seemed insignificant; after all the mountain magics, nothing else was a cloud. ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± Xu Chaomu said irritably. ¡°Then I am.¡± Shen Chi was helpless. ¡°There are many ways to keep warm. You could hug Dabai for warmth, you could run, you could¡­ mmm¡­¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t wait for her to finish. He grabbed her shoulders, gulped, and pinned her against the roadside guardrail. Sealing her lips with his, his kisses rained down on her, dense and unyielding as a downpour. The adorably dense Xu Chaomu had not yet reacted when he charged forth, breaching her defenses, prying open her lips, and deeply entwining with her. The streetlight cast a gentle glow upon their faces, a vision of tranquility and contentment. Shen Chi¡¯s kisses were tender and meticulous, like the soothing charm of an early spring breeze. This man was always a great kisser, and Xu Chaomu felt jolts of electricity with his touch, leaving her weak and powerless. As her grip on the leash loosened, Dabai wisely retreated to the side, lying down at the corner to keep watch for them. Her little fists pummeled Shen Chi¡¯s back, every time he kissed her, it felt like forbidden love¡­ His kisses were unstoppable, sinking deeper with each one. It had been many days since he had kissed her like this. He missed her. His kisses for her were always pure and beautiful, unadulterated. Even though he knew she didn¡¯t understand, someday, he would tell her bit by bit. He couldn¡¯t bear her worries, so the future path heid for her would be smooth. Just give him a little more time. He was going to win that project in South Africa effortlessly, he was going to properly handle the Bai Family affairs, he would convince everyone¡­ All he wanted was for her to be well. The evening wind caressed Shen Chi¡¯s face, and he slowly became intoxicated. He coveted her so much that he didn¡¯t let go until her face turned red and she was gasping for breath. ¡°Chaomu.¡± He was unflustered, his smile hinting ambiguity, ¡°There¡¯s one more way to keep warm. Hmm, I just demonstrated it to you.¡± Struggling to catch her breath, Xu Chaomu red at him, ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you, you, you are despicable and shameless¡­¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± He spread his hands, an image of innocence. In fact, there was another way, ¡®Not suitable for children¡¯ level. Mmm, he would teach her thatter. He caressed her cheek, smiling radiantly, ¡°Xu Chaomu the little hooligan, didn¡¯t you want to kiss me from the very first moment you saw me?¡± ¡°That was the Xu Chaomu of the past.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°The current Xu Chaomu, really dislikes you.¡± Xu Chaomu red, panting between each word. The word ¡°dislike¡± made Shen Chi pause, his hand lingered on her cheek. He sighed deeply in his heart¡­ Xu Chaomu swatted away his hand and pushed past him towards the roadside. Dabai was doing a good job keeping watch for them, looking around with an alert expression, utterly dutiful. ¡°Dabai, let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time for our walk.¡± Xu Chaomu took the leash. Chapter 234: Come up, I’ll carry you Chapter 234: Come up, I¡¯ll carry you Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± Dabai barked cheerfully twice, extremely happy. Shen Chi followed behind them, silently walking. This road was very long, but even the longest road has its moments where one can¡¯t walk any farther. Xu Chaomu was the first to get tired; she looked up at Shen Chi, ¡°I want to go back to school. Take the car over, I¡¯ll wait for you by the roadside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not safe at night,¡± he replied. ¡°Then call someone to drive over.¡± ¡°No one at home knows how to drive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡± Xu Chaomu was huffing and puffing. To think he could tell such a lie, he really was shameless Shen. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t go back tonight, stay,¡± he pleaded. He hadn¡¯t seen her for so long, a day apart felt like an eternity. He missed her; his dreams were haunted by her, filled only with her image. ¡°I still need to go back and do practice exams, there¡¯s a testing up.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone drive and get them for you.¡± ¡°I thought there was no one at home who could drive?¡± ¡°When it¡¯s necessary, there will be someone; when it¡¯s not, there won¡¯t be.¡± Damn shameless, Xu Chaomu was utterly defeated. There was no helping it; the ce was deserted with no taxis in sight. Xu Chaomu could only droop her head in dejection, following Shen Chi step by step back home. She¡¯d been schemed against, truly no business without crookedness. Shen Chi was even craftier, always nning something against her. Sure enough, Shen Chi immediately called someone to help Xu Chaomu retrieve the papers from school. Dabai kept rubbing against Xu Chaomu¡¯s feet, bouncing around joyfully. By the light of the streemps, Xu Chaomu saw that they had left the Splendid World viplex far behind; walking back would take a considerable amount of time. As for Shen Chi, he didn¡¯t seem tired in the slightest. She sat down on the flowerbed at the roadside, spreading her arms, ¡°I¡¯m not walking anymore; I¡¯m dead tired, and my feet hurt.¡± ¡°Be good, the ground is cold, get up,¡± Shen Chi extended his hand. ¡°No, I won¡¯t get up. Have someone drive here; I can¡¯t walk anymore,¡± Xu Chaomu said indignantly. ¡°Can you really not walk?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Shen Chi, helpless, crouched down and patted his shoulder, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Xu Chaomu was stunned for a moment, blinking her eyes. He would carry her? He was always such a precious person, so proud and aloof. How could he carry her? He was the head of a corporation. Being seen like this, how embarrassing it would be. She pouted, ¡°I¡¯m quite heavy, don¡¯t carry me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still not content with me offering to carry you? Well, enough talk, get on!¡± Without waiting for her consent, Shen Chi frowned and lifted her onto his back. She wasn¡¯t heavy at all. During these days at school, she seemed to have grown even thinner. ¡°Hold on tight, don¡¯t fall off. If you get hurt, don¡¯t cry out in pain,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone became particrly imperious. Xu Chaomu had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. When she was close to him, she could smell the pleasant scent of herbs on him. The fragrance was captivating, lingering. Her eyes were slightly moist. ¡°Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve realized you¡¯re quite good at coaxing girls.¡± ¡°Should I thank you for thepliment?¡± ¡°Men like you, it¡¯s easy to attract women. You¡¯ve cooked for many girls, you¡¯ve carried many girls, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need; I don¡¯t like you,¡± Xu Chaomu said contrary to her true feelings. ¡°I can even smell the jealousy. Be good, don¡¯t make a fuss.¡± Xu Chaomu shut her mouth; she wasn¡¯t messing with him. She leaned on his shoulder, thinking of someone¡ªNie Chenng. Back in her hometown, when crossing a small ditch that she couldn¡¯t step over, Nie Chenng had carried her across, all the way to the door of the orphanage. Xu Chaomu sighed internally. Dabai followed behind them, jumping and hopping, extremely cheerful. They created a harmonious picture with the surroundings, beautiful and warm. Halfway down the road, a red Maserati came up behind them. It was no other than Li Beiting. Initially, seeing Dabai, Li Beiting was unsure who the person walking in front was. But as he drove closer, to his surprise, the man was Shen Chi. And the one he was carrying was Xu Chaomu. Li Beiting immediately hit the brakes, quietly observing them from behind. He had known Shen Chi since they were young, and he had really never seen Shen Chi carry a girl before. He remembered back in school, when a girl sat too close to Shen Chi, about to hand him a love letter, Shen Chi would frown and m the table, ¡°Move away.¡± As a result, the girl would get so frightened she¡¯d forget to reach for the letter, stumbling away in a hurry. Of course, despite this, there were still bold girls who kept trying. But the oue was the same; none got close to Shen Chi, all getting shouted away by him. Some girls would go back and secretly cry, as if they had never seen such a fierce boy. There was one exception though, Bai Man. When she visited his ssroom, he would let her sit next to him. But that was all, just sitting. Li Beiting thought, Shen Chi¡¯s soul must have been bewitched by Xu Chaomu. Just like Shen Chi had said in the hospital, ¡°Xu Chaomu is just Xu Chaomu, irreceable by anyone else.¡± Once upon a time, Shen Chi also shouted at Xu Chaomu, told her to stay away. But now, it seemed Shen Chi himself couldn¡¯t stay away from her anymore. Li Beiting sat in his car, quietly watching the scene unfold before him. He used to think Shen Chi and Bai Man were the perfect match made in heaven. But he thought now he was mistaken. Shen Chi¡¯s heart had long belonged to Xu Chaomu, not to be shared with another woman. Even if they were a perfect match, even if they were made in heaven, it couldn¡¯t beat love. Sometimes, love was the only thing, given to just one person. After a long moment, Li Beiting picked up his phone. A petal of oleander had just fallen on the car windshield, Li Beiting looked out the window and dialed Bai Man¡¯s number. Bai Man was filming a night scene at the set when she received Li Beiting¡¯s call, a bit surprised. ¡°Hello, Li Beiting, is there something you need?¡± ¡°Bai Man, you asked mest time to secure a spot for studying abroad.¡± ¡°Yes, did you get it? Of course, this should be simple for someone like you, Mr. Li.¡± ¡°Getting a spot indeed isn¡¯t a big deal for me, but I¡¯ve decided not to go after it,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s gaze remained outside the window. ¡°What do you mean? Why?¡± Bai Man bit her lip in frustration. Even though Shen Chi had said he wouldn¡¯t marry her, she still wanted topete, topletely eliminate any women around him, especially¡­ Xu Chaomu. I¡¯m sorry, Shen Chi, you forced my hand. ¡°Bai Man, I will help you with other things, but I won¡¯t help with this one,¡± Li Beiting said firmly. If he secretly arranged for Xu Chaomu to study abroad, keeping it under wraps, he wouldn¡¯t be able to live with himself. ¡°Li Beiting, if you won¡¯t help, fine. Don¡¯t you consider me a friend?¡± ¡°Bai Man, Shen Chi is about to marry you; you have no reason to worry about Xu Chaomu.¡± Bai Man immediately gritted her teeth; marriage, huh, marriage¡­ Only she and Shen Chi knew that their marriage was impossible. Chapter 235: We’ve Come That Far Chapter 235: We¡¯ve Come That Far Trantor:549690339 ¡°Li Beiting, you¡¯re a smart man, do you think Shen Chi will marry me?¡± Li Beiting fell silent. If this question had been asked in the past, he would have believed without a doubt, but now, he knew what Shen Chi was up to¡ªit was just that he wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Li Beiting, so you won¡¯t answer me, will you?¡± Bai Man sneered. ¡°None of you are helping me.¡± ¡°Bai Man, maybe you are meant for a better man.¡± ¡°Better? But I only love Shen Chi!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t help you anymore,¡± Li Beiting said indifferently, and left it at that. As his gaze remained outside the window, Shen Chi was taking steps forward, carrying Xu Chaomu on his back. Dabai was closely following behind them, hopping and jumping around, obviously delighted. Although he couldn¡¯t see Shen Chi¡¯s face, he knew that Shen Chi must have been content. Only in Xu Chaomu¡¯s presence would Shen Chi smile and show all his tenderness. Li Beiting hung up the phone, not caring what else Bai Man wanted to say to him. However, he thought to himself that Shen Chi, if you let go of Bai Man, the path ahead of you will surely be arduous. Under the streetmp, Li Beiting put down his phone, stepped on the elerator, and took his car onto another road. Beside the road, the flowers were lush and fragrant. The vi area was beautiful, and Xu Chaomu even spotted one or two fireflies. It wasn¡¯t even summer yet, and the fireflies were already flying. After carrying her for a long stretch, she saw the sweat on his forehead by the light of the streetmps. She snorted, ¡°Shen Chi, are you tired? If you¡¯re tired, put me down and carry me againter.¡± ¡°If you talk to me, I won¡¯t be tired.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about? We have nothing inmon.¡± ¡°For example, what do you want me to give you for your birthday?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anything. I would feel guilty for no reason if I epted gifts from a stranger,¡± Xu Chaomu hummed. ¡°What stranger? After all that¡¯s happened between us, are we still strangers? Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened between us? What have I done to you? Don¡¯t talk nonsense, I¡¯m not married yet!¡± ¡°No one else can hear us, and besides, you were the one who kissed me first. What, you forgot? Trying to deny it?¡± ¡°I¡­ I was just drunk, don¡¯t keep bringing that up.¡± Xu Chaomu looked unhappy. She had kissed him once, but he had kissed her back so many times that he had long since repaid her, with interest. Truly a man who hates to be in debt. The two of them talked as they walked. Shen Chi always loved to hear Xu Chaomu talk. Even though sometimes she could be really chatty and noisy, he still liked it. Dabai followed them the entire way, his eyes filled with boundless spirit. ¡°Chaomu, help me wipe off my sweat.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You ungrateful thing, how can you be so heartless? Huh?¡± ¡°Then just leave me by the side of the road. I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Forget it, how did I get to know such an annoying brat,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. Quickly, Shen Chi carried her to the entrance of the Shen Family¡¯s vi. The road was traveled quickly, and they soon reached its end. It was like many other roads that seemed as if they would be walked together, only to end up separating¡­ ¡°My feet don¡¯t hurt anymore; put me down,¡± Xu Chaomu said, patting his shoulder. As shey on his shoulder, she felt incredibly secure, and truly wanted to stay there forever. But those shoulders weren¡¯t hers to take, and she knew she shouldn¡¯t covet what belonged to someone else. And to Shen Chi, she was nothing more than a sisterly figure. As for kissing her¡­ well, it was just so he wouldn¡¯t be at a loss. Xu Chaomu always felt that Shen Chi, a man as brilliant as the stars, would never be interested in her. In all of C City, countless people wanted to marry him, and she was the least likely of them all. Having spent eight years by his side, she was already much luckier than other women. ¡°Chaomu, are you lost in thought again?¡± Whenever she didn¡¯t speak, he knew her mind was racing with thoughts. ¡°Put me down,¡± Xu Chaomu demanded, punching his back lightly. Shen Chi had no choice but to set her down. Xu Chaomu dashed off, circling the garden from the outside and entering the living room via the steps. She was so familiar with this ce, she headed straight to her own room. The maid that came to give Chaomu her homework said, ¡°Young Master, this is what you asked for.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi took it and headed upstairs as well. Xu Chaomu ran into her room; it was her first time back since she started boarding. Everything was still familiar¡­ She walked slowly, touching the pen holder, the books, and the deskmp on her table, staring nkly at them. The ce where she had lived for eight years, she would not return to anymore. But after she was gone, would this room be cleared out for someone else? Let someone else have it. After all, she would no longer return to the Shen Family; keeping it would be a waste. However, saying she was ready to let go of eight years spent beside Shen Chi would, of course, be a lie. She sniffled, sobbed quietly, and stealthily wiped away her tears. No one¡¯s heart is made of iron; she was feeling very upset. But he was about to get married, and they already had a child; her staying would only hurt more. Besides, the Shen Family never really appreciated her. At that moment, Shen Chi also entered and caught Xu Chaomu with tears in her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, can¡¯t bear to leave this ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since it was cleaned, hasn¡¯t it? The dust has gotten into my eyes,¡± Xu Chaomu said, waving her hand to discreetly wipe away the tears. ¡°Chaomu, you just refuse toe back. Not even an apology is enough; there¡¯s just no dealing with you,¡±mented Shen Chi. ¡°Just clear out this room for someone else,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly, patting the dust off her hands. ¡°I won¡¯t being back to stay.¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Shen Chi said, as he ran his fingers through her hair. Soon, after he returned from South Africa, he nned to bring her back home and tell everyone that she would no longer be Miss Xu, but the wife of the Fourth Young Master. He was looking forward to his trip to South Africa, so he could return quickly. But he dreaded going too soon; he wanted to spend more time looking at her. Shen Chi was always a decisive man who acted swiftly, but when it came to her, he became conflicted and hesitant. ¡°Come do your homework. I¡¯m going to take a shower in my room. Behave and do it well; you can ask me if you don¡¯t understand anything.¡± Shen Chi had carried Xu Chaomu the whole way and was drenched in sweat. She appeared so unappreciative. Of course, he didn¡¯t expect her gratitude. Hmm, husbands are supposed to do these things. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu took the homework from his hand and obediently bent over the desk. This was how she always did her homework, with the deskmp on, silently pondering the answers. Sometimes she would fall asleep while working on it, and when she woke up, themp would still be on, with a spot of drool on her notebook. After Shen Chi left, she slowly took out the practice exam papers. Biology wasn¡¯t done, geography wasn¡¯t done, history wasn¡¯t done¡­ truly cruel. She started with the biology paper, given it was Yu Weiwei¡¯s favorite subject, which made her fond of it too. Chapter 236: See Him Completely Chapter 236: See Him Completely Trantor:549690339 Yu Weiwei¡¯s secret was, before taking the biology exam, she would first read a bit of ¡°Little Forbidden Book,¡± and then¡­ her interest would skyrocket. Xu Chaomu secretly tried it out and took out an encyclopedia of health knowledge tucked between her biology books. The scale of current health books sure is bold, oh my, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red after looking at it for a while. Thump, thump, her heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding. They didn¡¯t even clothe the men and women in the illustrations, it was quite embarrassing to look at. Xu Chaomu sneakily peeked, covering her mouth and snickering. Just as she couldn¡¯t stopughing, ¡°ng,¡± the door opened. It turned out to be Shen Chi, and Xu Chaomu hurriedly hid the book in the drawer. But as she looked up, she saw an explosive scene. Damn it, Shen Chi only wrapped a towel around his lower half as he entered! His wheat-colored skin still had droplets of water on it, but what attracted Xu Chaomu more was his strong physique, perfect abs, and irresistible V-line. Muscr and powerful, exceptionally charming. Xu Chaomu felt her blood surging, she was close to getting a nosebleed. She even forgot to stuff the health book back into the desk, holding it in her trembling, excited little hands. Her gaze slid down from his neck, further down, and even further down¡­ Her big eyes rolled, and she swallowed her saliva with lust. Dammit, just when her gaze reached his waist, the towel appeared! She had nearly seen him all¡­ After eight years, she finally had the chance to appreciate the sight of him without clothes. But why, oh why only half! The heavens were still so unfair to her! Unconcerned, the man closed the door and came over, ¡°The faucet in my bathroom broke, so I can only borrow yours.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Xu Chaomu responded absentmindedly, still eyeing his towel. s, the towel was too thick, she couldn¡¯t make out anything, not even an outline¡­ Swallowing her saliva, her blood raced through her veins. Shen Chi, watching her stare, slowly approached, picked up the health book in her hand, ¡°Oh? Studying the human anatomy, are we?¡± Only then did Xu Chaomu snap back to reality, reaching out to snatch it back, ¡°Give me the book.¡± ¡°The stuff in the books is too theoretical, nothing good to research, want me to be the model for you to study? Hmm?¡± His warm breath brushed her ear, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed, too excited to speak. No, no, no, she couldn¡¯t be so lecherous. This man was married, and she had to control herself. She had already done something wrong by kissing him forcefully before, and now she couldn¡¯t make another mistake by stripping off his clothes. Otherwise, knowing his character, he would surely strip her in return. However, something didn¡¯t seem right! Xu Chaomu pped her forehead. Way before, when she was kidnapped that rainy night, he had personally changed her clothes, seeing everything that shouldn¡¯t be seen. No, even before that, when she was taking a bath, he suddenly rushed in, and he saw all of her. Thinking it over carefully, it was horrifying. ¡°Get lost, I¡¯m not interested in you,¡± Xu Chaomu said vehemently, although her words didn¡¯t match her feelings. In fact, she quite wanted to rip his towel off. Endure, endure, endure, you must not be tempted by beauty. ¡°Really don¡¯t want to look? Then forget it, I¡¯m going to take a shower. Of course, you¡¯re allowed to sneak a peek,¡± he shamelessly said. ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu grabbed the book from his hand and gave him a re. Shen Chi didn¡¯t tease her anymore and turned around to enter the bathroom in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Xu Chaomu was reading the adult-rated health book while listening to the water in the bathroom, her little heart thumping non-stop. Should she sneak a peek? No, no, no, she couldn¡¯t sneak a peek. What if he caught her, she¡¯d have to pay back tenfold. But she really wanted to look, what to do? No, no, no, hold back, she must bear it even if it killed her! So, when Shen Chi came out, Xu Chaomu was acting as if she had suffered a great ordeal, as if she had endured a lot. The health book in her hand was even upside down, who knew what was going on in her mind. ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s time to check the homework!¡± Shen Chi poked her face. Xu Chaomu jolted, sitting straight, ¡°Oh. Are you done washing? If you¡¯re done, go back to your room.¡± Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t budge, he sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist, ¡°Let¡¯s see, check if there are any questions that you did wrong.¡± As soon as he got close to her, she could smell the fragrance of his shower gel. Light and refreshing, very pleasing. Just as Shen Chi was helping Xu Chaomu check her homework, a woman arrived at the gateway to the Shen Family vi. It was Mo Shuifu. She looked anxious, holding what appeared to be a stack of documents, s, she had no way to enter the vi. She called out a few times, but no one paid attention to her. She lingered outside the vi for a long time but still did not encounter anyone. The urgency on her face became clearer under the moonlight, and she was almost in tears. With no other option, she had to leave, retracing her steps back. The Shen Family, such an opulent and noble ce, was not meant for her. She should not havee to trouble Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi. She walked back step by step, her hand holding the documents shaking continuously, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her mother had just had surgery for a sudden intracranial hemorrhage. The surgery was expensive, and the money in the bank card given to her by Shen Shihan had all been spent. She could not ask Shen Shihan for more money, nor did she want to borrow from him again. She had thought of Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu; Shen Chi being Xu Chaomu¡¯s fourth brother, and Mo Shuifu being Xu Chaomu¡¯s friend¡­ Xu Chaomu would help her, wouldn¡¯t she¡­ But after walking all the way here without anyone paying attention to her, she realized that the Shen Family was not a ce where she should be. She should not trouble Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu. Clutching the expense list and the surgery report, Mo Shuifu walked back, having gone through the trouble of finding this ce without even taking a taxi to save money. If she couldn¡¯t pay the hospital fees, the doctors wouldn¡¯t be able to perform the next minor surgeries on her mother. With every day¡¯s dy, her mother would suffer. As she continued walking along the road, suddenly, a beam of light shone on her face. A car abruptly braked with a screech. She hastily covered her eyes, afraid to be hit by the re. Shen Shihan stomped on the brakes and jumped out of the car. ¡°Mo Shuifu, don¡¯t you know the traffic rules? Who walks in the middle of the road like that?¡± His eyes were red, and he scolded her heatedly. Does she not value her life? Hmm, she didn¡¯t get to decide that, not without his consent! It was his intervention that saved her life! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Shen, I wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s hands trembled, and the documents along with the papers fell to the ground. She didn¡¯t know when she had ended up in the middle of the road¡­ She squatted down, teeth clenched, picking up the papers one by one under the light. As Shen Shihan looked down, he saw the top charge slip. The amount due was one hundred and fifty-six thousand exactly. Suddenly he leaned down, catching her hand, locking eyes with her, ¡°Need money again?¡± Chapter 237: Willing to Dedicate Yourself Chapter 237: Willing to Dedicate Yourself Trantor:549690339 She struggled forcefully: ¡°Mr. Shen, this has nothing to do with you.¡± Tears of restraint filled herrge eyes, but in front of him, she did not let a single one fall. ¡°If you¡¯re short of money, just tell me. What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? Whether you owe eight hundred thousand or a million, you still owe!¡± ¡°The earlier eight hundred thousand, I will pay you back. Just give me a little time.¡± ¡°Then why are you here in this vi area? Who are you nning to borrow money from?¡± Shen Shihan was relentless. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°It seems you managed to borrow the money?¡± Shen Shihan sneered. Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t possibly tell him that she had made a fruitless trip. Gritting her teeth, she met his gaze: ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve borrowed it. You needn¡¯t worry about it any longer, Mr. Shen.¡± ¡°Is that so? I didn¡¯t expect Mo Shuifu to have an acquaintance who¡¯s a sugar daddy in this vi area. Someone you met in Weiyang?¡± ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°Was it a bank card or a cheque? Let me see it.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t believe her at all. ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± Mo Shuifu collected her things, muttered softly, and brushed past him. Shen Shihan quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist, holding it tightly. Before she could resist, he took all the papers from her hand. He checked them one by one. Hospital stay, surgery fees, medication fees, nursing costs¡­ He roughly added them up and it already amounted to more than two hundred thousand. There was also a final notice from the hospital: if she couldn¡¯t gather the funds for the surgery, they couldn¡¯t proceed with future operations. ¡°The deadline is tomorrow afternoon,¡± Shen Shihan murmured softly. Mo Shuifu clenched her teeth even harder. Yes, tomorrow afternoon, thest chance. ¡°Mo Shuifu, are you sure you¡¯ve raised the money? If so, then I¡¯ll back off. You better think carefully about tomorrow afternoon.¡± Shen Shihan handed the papers back to her, let go of her wrist, and turned to leave. Mo Shuifu bit her lip; Shen Shihan was right. She didn¡¯t know any wealthy friends; rich people disdained to befriend someone like her. By tomorrow afternoon, she definitely couldn¡¯t raise more than two hundred thousand. Missing the treatment would cost her mother¡¯s life. Owing eight hundred thousand or a million, it¡¯s still a debt. He was not wrong. Finally, Mo Shuifu made up her mind and said, ¡°Mr. Shen, would you be willing to help me?¡± ¡°Willing to lower your head?¡± He didn¡¯t turn around, giving her a stiff back to talk to. ¡°Yes,¡± she said through gritted teeth. What else could she do, what else could she do. ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to make things difficult for you. I¡¯ve said it many times; you can treat me as a friend, or even¡­ never mind. Get in the car, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t look back and headed straight for the car. Mo Shuifu opened the back door of the car, ready to get in. Shen Shihan pointed to the passenger seat: ¡°Sit here. I¡¯m not going to eat you up!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Mo Shuifu had no choice but to open the passenger-side door. Sitting next to him, she felt somewhat uneasy. After all, she had never been in such a nice car before. Her head lowered, a strand of her hair dangled beside her ear. Shen Shihan really had no way of dealing with her, driving with frustration, he turned the car around and headed towards the hospital. Such an ungrateful woman. The car drove smoothly, and Mo Shuifu, with her head down, remained silent, seemingly deep in thought. ¡°How¡¯s your mother¡¯s surgery doing?¡± ¡°The major surgery is fine, but there are a few more minor ones to do. The medication is quite expensive.¡± ¡°I told you, if you¡¯re short of money, just borrow from me. Why are you so stubborn?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to owe you.¡± ¡°Then tell me the truth, who exactly did youe to this vi area to find?¡± Shen Shihanrgely knew the residents here, and he was quite curious as to whom Mo Shuifu hade to see. Mo Shuifu bit her lip and remained silent. She had promised Shen Chi that she wouldn¡¯t cause him any trouble. Actually, she should never havee here in the first ce, acting out of sheer desperation. ¡°Why are you suddenly mute?¡± Shen Shihan was quite displeased. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°What do you mean nothing? I¡¯m asking you a question!¡± Shen Shihan raised his voice. ¡°I didn¡¯te to find anyone.¡± ¡°You really have a tough mouth,¡± Shen Shihan sneered. She had said, she wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble for Shen Chi. Since Shen Shihan and Shen Chi were brothers, she really shouldn¡¯t have said it. If Shen Shihan told Shen Chi, it would only cause trouble for him and Xu Chaomu. She fell silent, and the car was suddenly quiet. Shen Shihan turned off the light, plunging the car into darkness, making it nearly impossible to see each other¡¯s faces, and they stopped talking to one another. The drive to the hospital went on, and after an indeterminate amount of time, they finally arrived. When Shen Shihan followed Mo Shuifu out of the car, it seemed she did not reject him, but tacitly epted his presence. Shen Shihan went to the front desk and paid all of her mother¡¯s overdue bills, even prepaying for half a month¡¯s hospital stay. Mo Shuifu watched quietly from the sidelines, without saying a word. After paying all the bills, Shen Shihan went to fetch the medication for her mother. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t say anything, quietly took off her scarf, and went back to the ward. The aunties in the ward were all asleep as was her mother. Her mother, who had just undergone major surgery, looked very frail, with many strands of white hair visible on her head. Mo Shuifu touched her mother¡¯s face and leaned her head in close. ¡°Mom, your daughter is useless, I can¡¯t earn the money¡­¡± Of course, her mother did not respond, and a tear from Mo Shuifu fell onto her mother¡¯s face. Her mother¡¯s hands bore calluses; Mo Shuifu held her mother¡¯s hand in the palm of her owns, caressing it. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. This man, he gave me so much money, and I have no way to repay him. Mom, I can only¡­¡± She swallowed the words before they could leave her mouth. She couldn¡¯t tell her mother, it would make her unhappy. But the decision she made, she wouldn¡¯t change it. Tonight, she was willing to offer herself to Shen Shihan if only he would agree. The money she owed him, she could no longer repay¡­ If she could repay it, she wouldn¡¯t need to sell herself. She had preserved herself for so many years, always wanting to give herself to the man she loved most. Yet, it would never be possible now. Nevertheless, she had no regrets. Besides, the man she had longed for day and night was reportedly about to get married. She was out of Shen Chi¡¯s league, just as she was out of Shen Shihan¡¯s league. She sat beside her mother¡¯s bed in the quiet room, listening only to the uniform breathing of the other aunties. The dim light cast shadows as Mo Shuifu sat there, waiting for Shen Shihan to enter the ward. Atst, he arrived. Against the light, he slipped into the ward quietly. Carrying arge bag of medicine, he ced the handbag on the sofa and softly told Mo Shuifu, ¡°Take the medicine ording to schedule; it¡¯s all clearly written on thebels.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, thank you.¡± Mo Shuifu also lowered her voice in response. ¡°Do you really have to be so contrived when you address me? Can¡¯t you just call me Shihan?¡± Shen Shihan was annoyed. But considering they were in a hospital ward, he refrained from getting angry. Mo Shuifu shook her head: ¡°Mr. Shen, we are of different statuses.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Shihan was exasperated. Chapter 238 - 238 Her Strength, Is the Greatest Disguise Chapter 238: Her Strength, Is the Greatest Disguise Trantor:549690339 ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m really grateful to you.¡± Mo Shuifu was truly sincere. If it weren¡¯t for his money, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to prolong her mother¡¯s life. Her mother¡¯s life was, essentially, given by Shen Shihan. But she really had no way of repaying his kindness, no way at all. Even if her personality was stubborn, she had to face the facts. In the dim light, Shen Shihan watched Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes. She seemed to have cried again, with glistening tear trails at the corners of her eyes. Subconsciously, he reached out, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes with the pad of his finger. ¡°From now on, just tell me what you need,¡± Shen Shihan sighed. ¡°Mr. Shen, I owe you more and more.¡± ¡°If you want to repay it, then I have enough patience to wait,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. Her life was already his, so why would he care about anything else? He didn¡¯t need her repayment, but he knew too that she had strong self-esteem. So be it a lifetime then, he would wait for her a lifetime. Mo Shuifu moved her lips as if wanting to say something, but then swallowed her words. Shen Shihan walked to the bedside: ¡°Would you like me to get a better doctor for your mother?¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head: ¡°The doctors here are quite good.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± Shen Shihan said, somewhat annoyed. Every time he was well-intentioned, but it never seemed to win her genuine gratitude. Does she dislike him, Shen Shihan, so much? Mo Shuifu went forward, prepared the medicine, and then touched her mother¡¯s forehead. After making sure her mother was alright, she nced at Shen Shihan and said indifferently, ¡°Third Young Master Shen, I have something to tell you.¡± She turned around, wrapped in her silk scarf, and walked out of the ward. Shen Shihan, with one hand in his pocket, followed her out of the ward. It was quieter outside the ward. Mo Shuifu walked ahead, and Shen Shihan followed behind. Today she wore a burgundy woolen sweater, which from behind entuated her tall figure even more. Her ck hair was casually tied into a long ponytail, and Shen Shihan realized for the first time that her hair was very long¡­ She didn¡¯t look back, just kept walking forward. Gradually, she walked down the stairs. Shen Shihan frowned: ¡°What do you want to tell me?¡± ¡°Something important,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice was clear and cold. His deep and slightly hoarse voice, apanied by the ¡°thud thud¡± of shoes on the stairs, made the surroundings feel exceptionally hollow. Shen Shihan walked beside her, and he suddenly had the urge to touch her long hair¡­ He expected Mo Shuifu to dodge, but unexpectedly, she didn¡¯t resist today. Soon, the two of them reached the first floor, and Mo Shuifu gave Shen Shihan a light smile: ¡°Drive me home, I¡¯ll tell you there.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s brow furrowed as Mo Shuifu seemed a bit out of character today. ¡°Don¡¯t feel like driving me back?¡± She squinted her eyes, a slight smile on her face. That smile made all the surrounding scenery lose its color. She pushed the wisps of hair from her ear, and that simple movement seemed to unsettle his senses. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Walking to the car, he opened the door for her. Mo Shuifu gave a faint smile and looked down. As she looked down, her long hair brushed over her shoulders, and in that moment of tenderness, it was as if cherry blossoms were fluttering through the air, and even the air seemed to stand still. Shen Shihan turned his head to look at her, unable to look away. For a moment, he forgot to get into the car himself. One hand resting on the car door, his gaze followed her as she slowly moved. For the first time in his life, he felt something he couldn¡¯t let go of. This feeling, like spring grass sprouting in his harsh, cold heart, gradually spreading¡­ With a breeze, the spring grass covered thend. His heart slowly wasn¡¯t as cold as before. This man, who never believed in fate, now found himself in a predicament: he saved her life, only to lose himself. ¡°Third Young Master Shen, it¡¯s time to get in,¡± Mo Shuifu said with a slight smile. Her rare smile toward him made him lose hisposure. But he always felt that her smile carried endless mncholy. Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, he then closed the car door. As he turned his head, he saw that she hadn¡¯t buckled up yet, so he reached over to pull the seat belt for her. When he leaned over, Mo Shuifu instinctively moved as if to dodge, but it was only for a moment, and then she settled back into her seat. She bit her teeth, not speaking. That evening, she was prepared to repay his kindness with herself, no need to y coy any longer. As he drew near, she could smell his mature and clean male scent, and it wasn¡¯t as repulsive as she had imagined. ¡°There,¡± he lifted his head, giving her a hook of his lip corner. That slight smile warm and inviting, Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t help but return a smile. Shen Shihan seemed pleasantly surprised, slightly taken aback, the smile at the corner of his lips deepened. The air around them suddenly warmed, as if lotuses were blooming one by one in the gentle breeze. ¡°Drive,¡± Mo Shuifu said lightly. ¡°Yeah, sit tight,¡± Shen Shihan settled into his seat. Driving out of the hospital garage, the car traveled smoothly all the way. With the car lights turned off, Mo Shuifu turned slightly in the glow from outside. For the first time, she looked seriously at Shen Shihan, the man who was about to be the first man in her life. As long as he wasn¡¯t disdainful of her¡­ Her hands twisted nervously. Actually, Shen Shihan was quite handsome, his facial contours sculpted, emanating a refined air. He was still wearing a ck suit, even his tie not yet undone. He must have juste back from the grouppany. When Mo Shuifu looked at him, at first she always conjured up another face. Shen Shihan and Shen Chi looked somewhat alike, but she had never seen Shen Chi smile. Gradually, when Mo Shuifu looked at Shen Shihan, he was just Shen Shihan, and no longer someone else. Shen Shihan turned his head, just in time to catch her looking at him. He smiled: ¡°Looking at me?¡± ¡°No,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s face reddened, she lowered her head, her hands twisting together. ¡°I allow you to look.¡± ¡°Who wants to look,¡± Mo Shuifu retorted, still looking down. ¡°By the way, have you had dinner yet?¡± Shen Shihan asked with concern. This time, Mo Shuifu wasn¡¯t like a spiny hedgehog, and his mood brightened considerably. She was actually a gentle and graceful woman, yet she always liked to bear her sharp ws at him. Her strength was her greatest facade. What shecked was someone who could see through all her strength and offer her protection. He suddenly, very much wanted to be that person. ¡°Not yet, I was thinking of inviting you to dine together.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m ttered. Do you n to cook yourself, or are you inviting me out to eat?¡± ¡°I have no way of inviting you out,¡± her eyes filled with ayer of sadness. ¡°Actually, I¡¯d rather you cook yourself.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Mo Shuifu nodded, ¡°Then stop the car at the supermarket first.¡± She originally intended to go to the market, where things would be cheaper, but then she thought, Shen Shihan probably wouldn¡¯t be ustomed to that kind of ce. Chapter 239 - 239 Are We Like a Family? Chapter 239: Are We Like a Family? Trantor:549690339 ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll join you,¡± Shen Shihan turned his head and nced at her. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t refuse and nodded gently again. Soon, Shen Shihan parked the car in front of a fairlyrge supermarket. He got out of the car like a gentleman and opened the door for Mo Shuifu, who seemed slightly uneasy, especially when she walked beside him, the awkwardness grew. He was the vice president of thepany, emanating a powerful aura and excellent temperament. She, by contrast, was much less impressive. She walked with her head down, ill at ease, trying to maintain some distance from Shen Shihan, to avoid the surrounding gazes. But because Shen Shihan was so conspicuous in the crowd, from time to time, there were nces cast in their direction. Mo Shuifu tried her best to avoid him, unwilling to stand next to him. But whether Shen Shihan was doing it intentionally or not, the more she dodged, the closer he moved to her. ¡°Third Young Master Shen, you should stay away from me. It wouldn¡¯t be good if acquaintances saw us,¡± she said slowly. ¡°Then tell me, what¡¯s not good about it?¡± ¡°Everything is not good.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s fine,¡± Shen Shihan ignored her objections. Whenever she strayed a little farther from him, he would move a bit closer to her¡ªhe would never let her out of his sight by more than three steps. At first, Mo Shuifu resisted him, butter, she resigned herself to it. She kept her head down as much as possible, not wanting acquaintances to see her. When they reached the supermarket¡¯s fresh food section, Mo Shuifu started to pick vegetables row by row. After a while, she finally looked up and asked Shen Shihan, ¡°Third Young Master, what do you like to eat?¡± ¡°Buy whatever you like to eat.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not picky.¡± ¡°Neither am I.¡± Mo Shuifu smiled faintly, having thought Shen Shihan would be very picky. When they walked side by side, Shen Shihan, being tall, would often lower his head when she did. While she lowered her head to pick vegetables, he would do so to look at her. When she bowed her head, a few strands of hair would dangle down, and every time, he would reach out to tuck them behind her ear. It seemed like a very natural gesture, his fingertips always gentle. There was a moment when Shen Shihan became lost in thought. ¡°Look, is this enough?¡± Mo Shuifu raised the transparent bag in her hand. Shen Shihan was staring at her, and upon hearing her, he looked up, ¡°It¡¯s enough, it¡¯s plenty for two people. I¡¯ll carry it for you.¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can.¡± But Shen Shihan did not care about that, he grabbed the bag from her hands without any discussion, carrying it himself. As a result, she had nothing in her hands and could only follow behind him. Surrounding nces, filled with various expressions, mostly envy, were cast in their direction, but Mo Shuifu kept her head down, ignoring them. She knew that between herself and Shen Shihan, it was just one transaction after another. She was just one of the many women around him. ¡°What are you thinking about? You¡¯re so distracted, be careful of your wallet getting stolen,¡± Shen Shihanughed as he reached the checkout counter. ¡°Oh, right, I haven¡¯t given you the money for the groceries yet.¡± Mo Shuifu quickly took out a hundred-dor bill from her wallet. Shen Shihan didn¡¯t refuse; he knew this was about her dignity. Money was the most sensitive topic between them; he would not touch it lightly. After leaving the supermarket, Shen Shihan looked at the supermarket¡¯srge signboard and suddenlyughed, ¡°Shuifu, do we look like a family?¡± Mo Shuifu was stunned and did not respond. ¡°Just as I thought, you won¡¯t say anything, not even a lie,¡± Shen Shihan said helplessly. Before long, Shen Shihan had driven her to her residence, a small and inexpensive rental. The house might have been tiny, but she made it feel quitefortable; even the walls, with peeling white paint, were covered with pink wallpaper. In the corner, there was a stic vase containing several Ziwei flowers. ¡°Mr. Shihan, please sit for a while. I¡¯ll go make dinner. It¡¯ll be quick.¡± Mo Shuifu always treated Shen Shihan with utmost respect, keeping a proper distance. This caused Shen Shihan¡¯s brows to furrow again. She insisted on speaking to him with that tone! Without waiting for him to speak, she hurriedly ran off to the kitchen. Shen Shihan had no choice but to sit reluctantly in the small living room, looking around at everything. The rental was indeed very simple and outdated. Even though Mo Shuifu had decorated it with care, it still showed its age. Shen Shihan wandered around, noticing photos of Mo Shuifu with her father and mother on the table. Mo Shuifu and her mother were quite alike, both exuding a gentle and elegant charm. Her father appeared to be a schrly teacher, radiating an air of academia. Beside the photos was a small bookshelf, not many books, but neatly arranged. Shen Shihan picked up a book at random and happened to open to the page Mo Shuifu had marked. ¡°Memory is a road with no end, where all past springs no longer exist, and even the most tenacious and tumultuous love ultimately turns out to be a reality that vanishes in an instant.¡± Marquez, ¡°One Hundred Years of Solitude¡±. Shen Shihan was not one to feign sophistication. He had no interest in such pastimes. But at that moment, his heart stirred as well. There was also a photo album on the shelf, which Shen Shihan picked up and quietly opened. The young Mo Shuifu was very beautiful, and even the ck and white photos couldn¡¯t mask her delicate features. Most of the photos were of Mo Shuifu with her family. Looking at the pictures, it was evident that Mo Shuifu once had a happy family. Shen Shihan liked to focus on Mo Shuifu in the photos, and as he gazed, a smile spread across his lips. She had grown even more beautiful over the years. As he continued flipping through, suddenly, he saw a photo of Xu Chaomu in the album. Xu Chaomu? Yes, he had not seen it wrong, it was Xu Chaomu, at the age of ten. In the photo, Little Chaomu was clinging to Mo Shuifu, licking a lollipop, andughing happily. Next to Xu Chaomu stood a young woman in a floor-length dress with a lovely smile. Shen Shihan stared intently at the woman; the 18-year-old Xu Chaomu now looked very much like her. Shen Shihan carefully took out this single photo and examined it closely. This young woman resembled his mother a bit. Especially the eyes, they were very simr. Had Mo Shuifu known Xu Chaomu for a long time? As he was engrossed in the photo, Mo Shuifu just happened to walk over. Shen Shihan beckoned for her toe closer, ¡°Shui Fu, this little girl in the photo is Xu Chaomu, right?¡± Mo Shuifu nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her, taken when she was ten.¡± ¡°And this woman?¡± Shen Shihan pointed at the young and pretty woman in the photo. ¡°Chaomu¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Oh, you knew Xu Chaomu and her mother from a long time ago?¡± ¡°Yes, our families used to be neighbors. Right next door, Chaomu often came to my house to y. My father liked her very much.¡± ¡°This girl is quite mischievous, full of spirit and wit,¡± Shen Shihan said with a smile as he looked at the photo. From the first time he saw Xu Chaomu, he had found that she was particrly challenging to handle. But Chaomu didn¡¯t cling to him; she was closer to Shen Chi. Chapter 240: Who is Xu Chaomu’s father? Chapter 240: Who is Xu Chaomu¡¯s father? Trantor:549690339 Shen Chi¡¯s temperament, before he met Xu Chaomu, was almost aloof and arrogant, with no one able to catch his eye. Many a young girl pursued him, yet he would not even spare them a nce. He could even scold them to the point of driving them away. Of course, when he first encountered Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi was also exceedingly indifferent. One truly wonders how that girl managed to melt his heart of stone. It seems, fate is indeed a strange thing. In this life, that person, walking along, ends up hand in hand with you. From then on, whenever she faced the wind and rain, he would habitually shield her from the storm. ¡°She was adopted by the Shen Family, wasn¡¯t she?¡± Mo Shuifu asked indifferently. She had heard it from Xu Chaomust time. ¡°Yes, her mother passed away when she was ten, and she was then taken into our Shen Family.¡± ¡°Chaomu was orphaned, her background pitiable. But being adopted by your family was also a good thing.¡± ¡°Shui Fu, how long has the Mo Family known their family?¡± ¡°When I was very small, Chaomu¡¯s mother arrived near our home, heavily pregnant. Our area was quite remote, and the houses were not worth much. I heard that her mother sold a few pieces of jewelry and settled down near our home.¡± Perhaps because they finally had a topic inmon, Mo Shuifu began to talk more. ¡°Was her mother called Xu Mengxi?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve always called her Aunt Xu.¡± ¡°Then¡­who was Xu Chaomu¡¯s father?¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t know. During those ten years, no stranger ever came to Chaomu¡¯s home.¡± ¡°Not even one unfamiliar man?¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t believe it. Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes flickered, seemingly on the verge of saying something, yet she shook her head again: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh, Chaomu must have been quite mischievous as a child, right?¡± Shen Shihanughed. Recalling the past, Mo Shuifu rarely smiled: ¡°She was capable of all sorts of mischief, but she¡¯d always be extra good and sensible in front of Aunt Xu. The mother and daughter had an especially close bond, and Chaomu adored her mother the most.¡± ¡°How much did she adore her?¡± Shen Shihan asked again. He remembered that he had just found out that Xu Chaomu¡¯s mother had been harmed by Zhou Ran¡­ If Xu Chaomu loved her mother very much, perhaps even more than she loved Shen Chi, then how could she ept such a truth? No wonder Shen Chi had kept it a secret from Xu Chaomu for so many years. And surely, Shen Chi wanted to keep it a secret from Xu Chaomu for a lifetime. ¡°There must be an unbreakable blood bond between mother and daughter, and besides, they relied on each other for survival. Aunt Xu was especially gentle, buying beautiful clothes for Chaomu, cooking her many delicious foods, never beating or scolding her. Chaomu definitely loved her mother.¡± Mo Shuifu sighed, just as she loved her own mother. ¡°Chaomu and her mother resembled each other a lot.¡± Shen Shihan looked down at the photo. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re both very beautiful. After Chaomu arrived at the Shen Family, did she cause any trouble for the Shen Family?¡± ¡°Not at all, Chaomu is pretty good,¡± Shen Shihan curved his lips in a small smile. Apart from often infuriating Shen Chi to no end, she was, in all other ways, very good. ¡°That¡¯s good. Chaomu is very well-behaved, just a bit obstinate at times, and she has been like that since she was young.¡± ¡°I can tell. In the eight years she¡¯s been at my house, she¡¯s had quite a few temperamental moments with her fourth brother.¡± Upon hearing Shen Shihan mention ¡°fourth brother,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s brow furrowed. Shen Chi¡­ She looked up and said, ¡°Is she not on good terms with her fourth brother?¡± ¡°Not at all. Her fourth brother, ah, indulges her too much, which is why Chaomu dares to be temperamental with him.¡± ¡°Eight years have passed, and Chaomu¡¯s little temper hasn¡¯t changed at all,¡± Mo Shuifuughed softly. Recalling the past, touching the softest part of her heart, Mo Shuifu was filled with a myriad of emotions. The years gone by were so good, everything was good. Back then, her family was also very happy. ¡°We all liked her very much,¡± Shen Shihan said with a smile. ¡°Take good care of her,¡± Mo Shuifu parted her lips, ¡°I¡¯ll get back to the kitchen to continue cooking.¡± Mo Shuifu walked away again, and Shen Shihan looked at the photo in his hand for a long time. The little girl in the photo was innocent and pure, unaware of theplexities of life. Shen Shihan sighed in his heart¡­ He could not bear to tell Chaomu the truth¡­ He hoped that Chaomu could be with Shen Chi, could marry the man she loved, and be happy for the rest of her life. It wasn¡¯t long before Mo Shuifu had ready the dinner, and she brought all the dishes to the table. Although the table looked very crowded, Shen Shihan didn¡¯t mind at all. ¡°Third Young Master, it¡¯s a little cramped, please bear with it,¡± Mo Shuifu said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m not that delicate,¡± he replied. Mo Shuifu smiled and took out some wine from the storeroom. ¡°What, you¡¯re serving me wine as well now that I¡¯vee for dinner?¡± Shen Shihan asked with augh. ¡°It¡¯s old wine my dad has kept for many years, reserved for honored guests. Third Young Master, please try it, it¡¯s been many years,¡± she said. Upon finishing, Mo Shuifu took out wine sses and filled one for Shen Shihan. Instantly, the fragrance of the wine permeated, filling the entire living room with its strong aroma. She took out the wine, thinking that maybe being drunk might make things a bit easier to bear. ¡°I still hope that you can see me as a friend, or even as family, instead of as the Third Young Master of the Shen Family,¡± Shen Shihan said, looking into her eyes. Mo Shuifu slightly tugged at the corner of her lips: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s drink and eat before the dishes get cold and waste my effort.¡± ¡°Then¡­ would you like to drink a bit?¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Mo Shuifu also poured herself half a ss of wine. She rarely drank, but today, she preferred to be drunk. Her slender fingers glided over the ss, and she watched the liquid inside quietly, then tipped her head back and downed it in one gulp. The alcohol was strong; that big gulp burned her throat so much that she couldn¡¯t speak. Even while working at a ce like Weiyang, she didn¡¯t drink. Actually, she should thank Shen Shihan, shouldn¡¯t she¡­ If it weren¡¯t for him speaking up for her that time, the people at Weiyang would have definitely made things difficult for her¡­ ¡°For you to drink such arge cup, aren¡¯t you afraid it will be bad for your health? Besides, wine should be sipped slowly to be fully enjoyed, especially since, as you said, this is a wine your father has treasured for many years,¡± Shen Shihan said,ughing. Mo Shuifu frowned, feeling too ufortable to speak. Shen Shihan shook his head, moved to sit beside her, and poured her a ss of in water. ¡°First time drinking? Feeling bad? Come on, stop torturing yourself. Just try a couple of sips, drinking so much all at once will just lead to a sleepless night.¡± He held the ss of water to her lips, and Mo Shuifu instinctively shied away, but he held her hand steady. She had no choice but to drink the water. Underneath the light, her head began to throb with pain. As she looked up at Shen Shihan, the light illuminated his handsome features and soft lines, causing her to squint and take a few more nces at him. Actually, he wasn¡¯t that unpleasant, was he¡­ ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to drink anymore, eat,¡± Shen Shihan removed the wine ss from in front of her. Mo Shuifu pouted and reached out to grab the wine ss: ¡°Give it to me, I still want to drink, I have never even tried this wine my dad kept¡­he stored it for so many, many years¡­¡± Shen Shihan saw that she was already drunk¡ªotherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be talking so much to him. Chapter 241: Sorrow Fueled by Wine, Transformed into Tears of Yearning Chapter 241: Sorrow Fueled by Wine, Transformed into Tears of Yearning Trantor: 549690339 ¡°No, if you get drunk tonight, you¡¯ll feel terrible. You don¡¯t understand.¡± Shen Shihan often got drunk with clients when he went out for social engagements, and he understood that awful feeling all too well. Mo Shuifu was just a girl, how could he let her suffer that difort? ¡°Then you drink, you drink more.¡± Mo Shuifu leaned on her hand andughed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have a taste. Your dad¡¯s liquor is not bad.¡± Indeed, it was not bad, Shen Shihan took a sip. Rich and mellow, it had quite a few years on it. ¡°My dad used to store his liquor in a cer. He said, when his daughter got married, he would take it out to entertain guests. By then, this liquor would surely taste especially good. It¡¯s just a shame, his daughter hasn¡¯t gotten married yet, but he¡¯s already left all by himself¡­¡± Mo Shuifu, supporting her forehead, was reminded of the past, her tears brimming in her eyes. Getting married¡­ Who could she marry in this lifetime? ¡°Why are you crying? If you want, I can take care of you.¡± Shen Shihan put his hand on her shoulder, wiping away her tears. Mo Shuifu sobered up a bit, and with a bitter smile, she said, ¡°Shen third young master, I¡¯m out of your league.¡± She didn¡¯t like him that much either. ¡°Mo Shuifu, are you stupid or what? Aren¡¯t women who like reading books supposed to be smart? Howe you don¡¯t understand¡­¡± He sighed. Thest time he kissed her forcefully, he had said everything he wanted to say, but she still didn¡¯t understand. Was it because she simply didn¡¯t believe that Shen Shihan could fall for her¡­ or had she truly fallen for someone else? But there was no helping it, he had fallen for her. Sometimes, sitting in his office, he found himself thinking of her. That longing, that yearning, haunting his dreams. Shen Shihan had never felt so entangled before, as if there was always something in his heart that he couldn¡¯t let go of. ¡°I don¡¯t have a heart, I won¡¯t understand anything.¡± Mo Shuifu forced a smile, supporting her forehead again, her tears streaming down as sheughed. ¡°What do you feel for me?¡± Shen Shihan asked with a cold face. ¡°Feelings? We¡¯re creditor and debtor, third young master. Have you gotten muddled from the drinking too? How could you forget.¡± Shen Shihan suddenly grabbed her wrist forcefully: ¡°I¡¯ll say it one more time, we¡¯re not creditor and debtor, that money, I don¡¯t want you to repay it! Is there really nothing between us besides the money?¡± ¡°What else is there then? Third young master, do tell me¡­¡± Mo Shuifu forced augh. Her chest ached in throbs, Mo Shuifu clenched her teeth. Her wrist hurt from his grip, but that pain was nothingpared to the ache in her chest. Against the not-so-good lighting, she saw Shen Shihan¡¯s face turning ashen. They stayed in that impasse, neither of them speaking. The air around them suddenly cooled considerably, and for the first time, Shen Shihan felt a particr kind of helplessness. Some say, in love, the one who gives the most is the one who gets hurt the most. But the truth is, even knowing that the one who would be hurt the most would still go against the grain. Because love is something that can blind the eyes, cloud the mind, and drive one forward irreversibly. Those who don¡¯t understand love will neverprehend the heart-racing feeling of falling for someone. Suddenly, there came a day when he understood, but she did not. ¡°Shui Fu, tell me, is there someone in your heart?¡± Shen Shihan asked in a husky voice, his eyes as deep as pools of ck water. Mo Shuifu was startled, herrge eyes filled with confusion¡­ There is a type of love known as love at first sight. From the moment she saw that person, she fell for him, yet, she could only watch from afar¡­ That man¡¯s name was Shen Chi. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Tell me.¡± Shen Shihan was not willing to give up. ¡°No¡­ Didn¡¯t I say it? I, Mo Shuifu, have no heart. If I have no heart, how can anyone live in it¡­¡± Her eyes were bloodshot, and though she had swallowed her tears, herrge eyes were misty. On her delicate little melon-seed face, there was nothing but a forbearing smile. In this lifetime, she would bury her feelings for that man deep within her heart. Once her heart was full, it would have no room for anyone else. ¡°You just know how to give me the runaround.¡± Shen Shihan bitter-smiled, gradually releasing her hand. He returned to the table and poured a fullrge ss of liquor, downing it in one go. ¡°Shui Fu, you like reading so much, tell me, ¡®When liquor enters a sorrowful gut,¡¯ what¡¯s the next line?¡± His eyes, sharp as a hawk¡¯s, bore into her; he refused to believe she could hide all her emotions. Mo Shuifu raised her head, her face now flushed with the tipsiness from the strong drink. When liquor enters a sorrowful gut, it turns into tears of longing. She knew, but she never spoke up. Seeing her silence, Shen Shihan bitter-smiled again and reached for another ss, drinking another cup of wine. He wasn¡¯t a man who excelled in words, especially when it came to speaking to women. Since he had said so much and she still didn¡¯t understand, perhaps she was feigning ignorance. Or maybe, she truly wanted nothing to do with him. He lifted the ss, the wine inside as aromatic and smooth as if the clear liquid was a piece of transparent crystal. He looked at the wine and spoke softly, ¡°Shui Fu, this is the wine your dad prepared for your wedding, and you¡¯re just letting me drink it like this. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a pity?¡± ¡°My dad has been gone for so many years; it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Mo Shuifu said indifferently. She supported her forehead; she couldn¡¯t stomach any food, her body felt as if it was on fire. This wine was truly strong. Nobody touched the big table full of dishes. Shen Shihan was only drinking, continuously drinking. As the night deepened, Shen Shihan got more and more drunk; he took off his jacket and hung it on his arm, ready to leave. The dishes had long since gone cold, while many bottles of liquor had been drunk. Shen Shihan, holding onto the chair, was thoroughly inebriated. The aged brew truly intoxicating¡­ ¡°Shui Fu, don¡¯t keep rejecting me. I meant many of the things I said.¡± Shen Shihan looked at her face. He suddenly had the urge to hold her face and gently kiss her. This impulse grew stronger and stronger. Mo Shuifu had also drunk some wine, she stood up and shook her head: ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten the words you said¡­¡± ¡°Ha, see, you¡¯re brushing me off again. But I can wait, even if it means waiting forever¡­¡± ¡°Third young master, you¡¯re drunk.¡± ¡°Maybe, maybe I am really drunk. Or maybe, from the first day I saw you, I was pulled into another world, from then on, I was no longer myself¡­¡± The fate that¡¯s determined by the stars above, was it all predestined? Why was it that out of all the women, he just had to be drawn to her¡­ So ungrateful, so unappreciative, so foolish¡­ What was so good about her, covered in spines like a hedgehog. Shen Shihan forced augh; what was so good about her. He had said so much to her, and yet she pretended not to understand. ¡°Shui Fu, it¡¯ste, I¡¯m leaving, you should rest early. Don¡¯t worry about your mother¡¯s matter, I¡¯m here.¡± He extended his hand, caressing her cheek. Her face was delicate and smooth, tinged with a hint of rouge, looking beautiful from every angle. He looked at her and didn¡¯t want to let go. Chapter 242: Deep Kiss, Unending Entanglement Chapter 242: Deep Kiss, Unending Entanglement Trantor: 549690339 Shen Shihan gave a sheepish smile, What¡¯s so good about her anyway? He¡¯d said so much to her, yet she pretended not to understand. ¡°Shui Fu, it¡¯s gettingte, I should go. You should rest early. Don¡¯t worry about your mother¡¯s situation, I¡¯m here.¡± He reached out and caressed her face. Herplexion was delicate and smooth, tinged with a touch of rouge, making it impossible not to find her beautiful. He gazed at her, unwilling to let go. He lowered his head to look at her, his fingertips gently gliding over her cheeks and hair. This time, unexpectedly, she didn¡¯t resist or refuse. She lifted her eyelids to look at him. Her eyes were still red, but the tears were gone. As their eyes met, waves of tenderness surged in his heart. He stroked her hair gently, as the alcohol he drank slowly turned into an impulsive desire. He embraced her, holding her waist tightly. Gradually, he leaned in closer, his head lowering, inching closer to her¡­ Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t refuse; she knew that from the moment she started giving him the drinks, this moment was bound toe. She was already prepared for everything; unable to repay his money, she only had herself to give him. The treasure she wanted to save for the man she loved most¡ªafter tonight, she¡¯d be left with nothing. The decision she made allowed no room for regret. As Shen Shihan moved closer, she could smell the scent of alcohol on him, and the mature aroma of manhood. The fragrance on his shirt was soothing but ultimately, he wasn¡¯t her beloved. The suit jacket on his arm slid down as he embraced her, their faces mere two centimeters apart. ¡°Shui Fu¡­ I think, I¡¯ve fallen in love with you.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s face was met with his hot, hurried breath, making her heart suddenly race. Love? But she didn¡¯t love him. Yet what did it matter? She couldn¡¯t even repay her debt, so what was love worth¡­ She didn¡¯t respond, causing him to feel increasingly helpless, ¡°Shui Fu, can¡¯t you give me an answer? Don¡¯t you know, silence is the most terrifying thing, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± He caressed her face, seeing his own reflection in her pupils. Slowly, he reached through her hair, undoing the tie of her ponytail. Her ck hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spreading over her shoulders and onto the back of his hand. Her hair, soft and fine, carried the fragrance of flowers, intoxicating himpletely¡­ ¡°Third Master,¡± she looked up into his eyes, ¡°Love is too luxurious a thing¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t touch love; she could only look at it from a distance¡­ Love was like flowers in a mirror, the moon¡¯s reflection on water. As his fingertips brushed through her hair, she felt a jolt run through her body, like an electric current. She got up on her tiptoes, suddenly hooking his neck and kissed him. His lips were cold; this was the first time she had ever kissed someone on her own initiative. She wondered, if she had met Shen Shihan first, would she have fallen in love with him first¡­ She didn¡¯t know how to kiss, her movement awkward as she kissed Shen Shihan. A feeling stirred in Shen Shihan¡¯s heart; he had not expected Mo Shuifu to kiss him first. He cradled her head and took charge, beginning to kiss her back assertively. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t resist at all, determined to go through with her decision without changing her mind. She closed her eyes, letting Shen Shihan kiss her. His kisses were initially light as drizzle, lingering on her lips, slowly bing intertwined with her. As he kissed her, he forgot everything else, just purely kissing her with no impurities. With uncountable passion, the temperature around them soared. Her hair spread across his shoulders, and gradually, she became limp in his arms. Let it be a dream, she thought, and once awake, all would be forgotten. She regretted not drinking more that evening; she was still too conscious for her liking. The kiss, filled with passionate sparks, became increasingly uncontroble. Initially he kissed her ceaselessly, holding her face; then, no longer satisfied, he swept her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom. Sheplied, without any resistance. He gently pressed on her shoulders, kissing from her face to her earlobes. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± she frowned slightly. He looked at her with intoxicated eyes, narrowing them. At this moment, she was like a delicate and charming red rose, different from the Mo Shuifu he used to know. This side of her made him even more fascinated. Entirely captivated, only he and she existed in this ce. His tie dangled down, touching her nose. She lifted her head, sniffed, and called out, ¡°Third Master¡±¡­ She was so beautiful that he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. He thought, he must truly be drunk¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t call me Third Master, call me Shihan¡­¡± he whispered seductively into her ear. Mo Shuifu moved her lips but did not speak. Shen Shihan was discontented, nipping her as if to punish. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± She felt entirely ignited. This was her first time; she knew nothing and hadn¡¯t even imagined it would feel like this. ¡°Is it so hard to call my name just once?¡± he frowned. ¡°I¡­¡± she opened her bleary eyes. Shen Shihan chuckled bitterly, though drunk, still he maintained a trace of rity in his mind. ¡°I know you¡¯re reluctant and unwilling. If you regret it, it¡¯s still not toote¡­¡± His deep voice rang in her ear, she looked at him and under the light, his features became even more clear and handsome. She knew he was Shen Shihan, the Third Master. She shook her head and closed her eyes. Shen Shihan waspletely lost in the moment; he kissed her ever more obliviously, marking her as his¡­ In this life, from an inadvertent encounter to their current entwined state, he was destined to be unable to leave her. If that day, he had driven away, if he hadn¡¯t gone to save her, would the trajectory of their lives have changed¡­ Shen Shihan had always thought that women were dispensable, but after meeting her, he realized that life is onlyplete with love. He stopped thinking about those things. ¡°Shihan, Shen Shihan¡­ be gentle¡­¡± she pleaded with a sobbing tone. ¡°Shui Fu, meeting you truly is the knot of my life¡­¡± Two red threads bound them tightly together. But he never anticipated that inter days, this knot would be their tribtion. Their fates, entwined endlessly. He undid his tie and shirt, sank into the deep sea of love, intoxicated beyond awakening. It was always him taking the initiative, and he wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she didn¡¯t know how to respond or didn¡¯t want to. He felt a slight displeasure. ¡°Shui Fu, respond to me¡­¡± His seductive voice echoed in her ear. Mo Shuifu half-opened her dazed eyes, somewhat unsure of herself. Though she worked at Weiyang for a while, she was still clueless. Seeing confusion in her eyes, Shen Shihan chuckled lightly, kissing her eyes¡­ Chapter 243 - 243 Her First Man Chapter 243 Her First Man Trantor: 549690339 Mo Shuifu half-opened her bleary eyes, feeling somewhat at a loss. Although she had worked at Weiyang for a while, she still didn¡¯t understand. Seeing only confusion in her eyes, Shen Shihan chuckled softly, kissing her eyes¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t know anything¡­¡± he said helplessly, as the fire within him grew stronger. He undid all her clothes, his hand moving downward. His movements made her tremble, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Shen Shihan¡­¡± ¡°Shui Fu¡­ give yourself to me¡­ You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to love someone so deeply it pierces your soul,¡± he said. ¡°I¡­¡± Before she could respond, he silenced her with a kiss. He didn¡¯t want to hear her continue, he feared her response, he didn¡¯t like it. This fervent kiss made Mo Shuifu tremble incessantly, she hugged his back and silently endured. ¡°Shui Fu¡­ I will marry you,¡± he gave her a solemn promise. Shen Shihan was not one to toy with emotions, to y with women; if he said something, he would do it. He would marry her. He knew well that a woman hoped for a man to give her a promise. Mo Shuifu heard his words; she didn¡¯t know if he was drunk. He was the third young master of the Shen Family; the woman he would marry in the future would certainly not be her. Of course, all this had nothing to do with her¡­ Once her mother got a bit better, she would take her mother and disappear forever¡­ Tonight, she was merely repaying his kindness. However, Shen Shihan noticed none of her thoughts; he was already lost. ¡°Shui Fu¡­ Shui Fu¡­¡± He called her name softly, waiting for her to be fully ready, then sank his hips¡­ ¡°Hmm¡­ it hurts¡­¡± Mo Shuifu clutched his back, her eyebrows furrowing together. It hurt, truly hurt. Tears flowed down the corners of her eyes, she didn¡¯t know if it was from the pain or something else. For over twenty years, she had never imagined her first man would be Shen Shihan. With entangled interests, she gave herself to him, became his woman. From the beginning, there was no such thing as ¡°love¡± between them. He kissed away the tears at the corner of her eyes, whispering softly in her ear, ¡°Shui Fu¡­ endure it a little¡­ don¡¯t cry¡­¡± He hated to see her tears; a girl like her deserved to be treated well by someone. Mo Shuifu bit her lip and closed her eyes. A sensual room, a night of indulgence. The wind blew through the windowttices, producing a ¡°whoosh¡± sound, and the curtains drew, the shadows flowing. No one knew how much time passed, the night deepened, and only then did Shen Shihan hold her, not tormenting her anymore. He wrapped the nket around her, and as he looked down, he saw the red mark on the sheets. ¡°Shui Fu, I know you don¡¯t believe me, but I still want to say, I love you, I¡¯m serious,¡± Shen Shihan spoke so much to a woman for the first time. He was not one for sweet nothings; he was just simply stating his thoughts. He, a group vice president, now also felt at a loss. He couldmand attention at the group, debate eloquently before others with an unchanged expression. However, now, he felt his words had lost their color. Any more words were powerless and pale; he knew she did not believe him. His fingertips wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and tenderly stroked her hair. As her hair entwined around his finger, he knew she was destined to be entangled with him for life. ¡°Third Young Master,¡± she raised her head. Her eyes were still red, herrge eyes misty. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°The debt I owe you has already exceeded one million,¡± she said. She smiled faintly, but the smile made Shen Shihan¡¯s heart skip a beat. What did she want to say? His heart suddenly throbbed, and his fingers twining her hair stopped. ¡°Third Young Master, I can¡¯t repay your money. So, can we settle this tonight? I know I am being greedy. A girl¡¯s first time nowadays isn¡¯t worth a million. But¡­¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu!¡± he interrupted her, anger rising, teeth clenched, hands trembling. ¡°Third Young Master¡­¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± Shen Shihan was thoroughly enraged, pinning her shoulders down, ¡°Hah, Mo Shuifu¡­ was this your n tonight? You got me drunk, and you never even refused me, was this it?¡± ¡°Listen to me¡­¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, I fucking ask you, is it?!¡± He was annoyed, his shaking hands grabbing her shoulders as though they could dig in. He was usually so smart, but when drunk, his wits were clouded. Yes, she was sopliant tonight, even silent, without resistance. He thought she was moved by him, ha, he should have known earlier. ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t deny. From the moment she got into his car tonight, she had made up this n. ¡°You!¡± Shen Shihan raised his hand in fury. Mo Shuifu abruptly closed her eyes, ready to bear the p. She knew she had sold herself. Actually, she couldn¡¯t forgive herself either. But, that p never came down. It stopped mid-air, Shen Shihan clenched his fist and silently lowered his hand. ¡°Mo Shuifu, do you also think I¡¯m a joke?¡± Shen Shihan let out a bitterugh. Shen Shihan liked to y others in the palm of his hand, but now, a day hade where a woman yed him. What was this¡­ Tonight, he had told her so many heartfelt words, and to her, they were probably nothing but a joke. Shen Shihan, for the first time, offered someone his true heart, and what was the result¡­ ¡°Third Young Master, I won¡¯t disturb your life anymore, pretend I never appeared. After tonight, let¡¯s forget each other. I know, I was too greedy.¡± She lowered her head and tucked her hair behind her ear. ¡°You want to draw a line between us just like that? Fine, then let me tell you, Mo Shuifu, you can forget about settling a debt of over one million in one night!¡± Shen Shihan fumed, his fists pounding on the bed; he had never been so infuriated. They say Shen Shihan is mature and calm, but he also has moments of losing his cool! His chest was shaking, there was a moment when he felt a chill throughout his body. Her words were a huge irony to him. Mo Shuifu suddenly looked up, her brows tightly furrowed, she asked him, ¡°Third Young Master, then how should I repay you? How many nights?¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, do you think I, Shen Shihan, am easy to bully? You didn¡¯t pick on someone else, you picked me?!¡± His voice shook with anger, his eyes emitted a blood-red chill. Grinding his teeth, he almost wished he could devour her. ¡°I am sorry, Third Master Shen. I just feel I should repay what I owe. But I don¡¯t have that much money, so¡­ I am sorry.¡± ¡°You want to repay it, do you? Fine,e on, initiate tonight, please me. If I¡¯m happy, I might give you some extra money; if I¡¯m not mistaken, your mother still needs a lot of medical expensester on, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Chapter 244: You Can’t Escape From Me Chapter 244: You Can¡¯t Escape From Me Trantor: 549690339 As expected, as soon as he uttered those words, Mo Shuifu bit her lips tightly, remaining silent. Her eyes, red with anger, stared at him, her face a mixture of unwillingness and hatred. ¡°Unwilling? Weren¡¯t you just talking about repaying me? Is this your sincerity?¡± Shen Shihan sneered with contempt. Who was Shen Shihan? The deputy head of Shen Group, a seasoned strategist in the business world, he wouldn¡¯t tolerate such behavior from Mo Shuifu. Of course, Mo Shuifu was no match for Shen Shihan; her eyes immediately turned dim. ¡°Young Master Shen, if I take the initiative once, will you agree that we¡¯re even?¡± she looked at him and asked. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you perform first!¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± her voice was low, void of any spirit. In truth, she didn¡¯t know how to do anything¡­ She steeled herself and moved a bit closer to Shen Shihan. Her smooth skin touched his arm, and she shivered first. Still unsure of what to do, she tried to kiss him the way he had kissed her before. Initiative¡­ was this considered taking the initiative? Her kiss was exceedingly clumsy and devoid of any emotion. Shen Shihan, uninterested, pushed her away, refusing to let her touch him again. ¡°Mo Shuifu, you can¡¯t even kiss properly and you¡¯re thinking of selling yourself?¡± he scoffed. ¡°I¡­ that¡¯s not¡­ don¡¯t talk about me like that¡­¡± She lowered her head, beginning to sob softly. It was the first time anyone had spoken about her like this; Mo Shuifu felt terrible inside. She wasn¡¯t that kind of woman. Yet, she had done what that kind of woman would do. ¡°Let me tell you something, since you n to repay my kindness, then don¡¯t even think about leaving me, not for the rest of your life!¡± Shen Shihan spoke indifferently. ¡°Impossible, Young Master Shen, you¡¯ll grow tired of me, you will one day.¡± Mo Shuifu knew that for men like him, liking someone was always temporary. The day woulde when they would just discard and not want you anymore. Rather than waiting for that day, it was better not to start at all. Moreover, Mo Shuifu had no intention of starting anything with him. ¡°In your eyes, I¡¯m the kind of man who abandons women after courting them?¡± ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s just that we¡¯re not from the same world, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense. If I wish, I can pull you into my world! All I want is for you, Mo Shuifu, to say one word¡ª¡¯yes¡¯.¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head, staying silent the whole time. She was determined; after tonight, she would no longer entangle herself with him. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some time to think about it.¡± Shen Shihan left these words behind, wrapped a bath towel around himself, and went to the bathroom, leaving Mo Shuifu alone sitting on the bed. Her gaze was vacant as she stared nkly ahead. She couldn¡¯t just watch her mother suffer without doing anything; that was her only remaining family member. But she owed Shen Shihan so much; she had to repay him. Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Mo Shuifu slowly lowered her head¡­ The bedsheet was still covered in numerous marks, some of which were particrly harsh on the eyes. She clenched her teeth, remaining silent. When Shen Shihan came out, he could almost see she was about to bite through her lips. He strode forward, seized her arm: ¡°Mo Shuifu, what madness is this? Self-harm or wishing for death?¡± Immediately, tears began to stream down from the corners of her eyes¡­ ¡°Young Master Shen, give me a month¡¯s time, let me think, and when I have an answer, I will tell you.¡± ¡°A month? No way, three days is enough.¡± ¡°A lifetime matter, three days is not enough. Give me a month,¡± Mo Shuifu insisted. ¡°You¡¯re impossible to deal with. Fine, one month it is. But I hope you think about it seriously. During this month, I¡¯ll cover your mother¡¯s medical expenses,¡± he said. In the end, Mo Shuifu gritted her teeth and nodded. Faced with financial urgency, she had no other choice. One month, she thought, she would have enough time to leave with her mother. She couldn¡¯t possibly marry Shen Shihan, and she didn¡¯t believe he could fall in love with her. ¡°Then think it over carefully, and let me know if you run into any trouble,¡± Shen Shihan said, stroking her long hair. Her eyes, bereft of light, made his heart ache. ¡°Go take a shower, don¡¯t just stand there,¡± he told her. He had already prepared the hot water for her in the bathroom and had also picked out a nightgown for her. Shen Shihan had never done these things for a woman before, but somehow, doing it for the first time felt natural. She nodded, wrapping herself in her clothes and weakly got out of bed. Watching her frail figure, he shook his head and, lifting her into his arms, carried her to the bathroom. She was panicking, her heart pounding like a frightened deer. ¡°Put me down, I can walk on my own¡­¡± ¡°Not tired? If you¡¯re not, then shall we continue after your bath?¡± he teased, the corner of his lips curving into a smirk. Mo Shuifu¡¯s face turned red: ¡°Shameless.¡± ¡°Just take your shower, do you want me to help you wash?¡± ¡°You can leave, just take everything with you, and make sure to close the front door,¡± Mo Shuifu ordered him out. ¡°I¡¯ve had too much to drink at your ce tonight, if I go now, I¡¯ll get caught for drunk driving.¡± ¡°Nearby is Weiyang, you can go there,¡± Mo Shuifu said indifferently. ¡°Alright, you take your bath, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After speaking, he put her into the bathtub, where he had already prepared warm water and bath gel for her. Seeing she was fine, he finally closed the bathroom door and left. He dressed and stood by the window, lighting a cigarette, standing silently. It would be a lie to say he wasn¡¯t annoyed¡ªhe had just been shaking with anger. For the first time in his life, someone had infuriated him like this. He had said all he could, but she simply wouldn¡¯t believe him. He didn¡¯t know whether she disliked him or if perhaps she had someone else in her heart already, and he hade between them? One cigarette turned into another. By the time he had smoked four or five cigarettes, Mo Shuifu still hadn¡¯te out. He walked to the bathroom door and knocked: ¡°Shui Fu, are you done yet?¡± The response was only the sound of running water. ¡°Shui Fu, Shui Fu,¡± he called again, knocking a few more times. This time a weak voice came from inside: ¡°Almost done.¡± Hearing her voice, he finally rxed. Returning to the window, he sighed deeply. Often, fate caught you by surprise. Just as the room fell silent, suddenly, Mo Shuifu¡¯s phone vibrated. Shen Shihan walked to the desk, leaned over and picked it up. An unfamiliar number. Shen Shihan answered: ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Good day, do you know Miss Mo Shuifu?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a friend of hers, what is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a nurse at the hospital. This is the situation: Miss Mo¡¯s mother suddenly had an incident at the hospital. Could you get her to take the phone?¡± ¡°You can tell me, it¡¯s the same thing.¡± ¡°Alright, here it is. Miss Mo¡¯s mother suddenly woke up this evening, but for some reason, there was no one by her side, and she jumped from the third floor.¡± ¡°Jumped from the third floor?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice dropped. ¡°The preliminary judgment is that she jumped on her own; it doesn¡¯t look like an idental fall to her death.¡± ¡°How is her mother now?¡± ¡°We are trying to resuscitate her.¡± ¡°Make sure to do your best!¡± ¡°We will, sir.¡± Chapter 245: Full-scale Rescue (Requesting Monthly Tickets) Chapter 245: Full-scale Rescue (Requesting Monthly Tickets) Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Okay, if there¡¯s anything, call me at any time, and I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After speaking, Shen Shihan hung up the phone. He hurriedly put on his coat and immediately called his assistant. He instructed his assistant to rush to Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother¡¯s hospital and to bring a formidable medical team with him. He should have transferred Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother to another hospital long ago. Such a substandard hospital couldn¡¯t even take proper care of one person! Jumping off a building¡­ What was her mother thinking? Mo Shuifu went through all sorts of trouble for her mother, she even¡­ didn¡¯t hesitate to make a deal with him, yet her mother just went and jumped off a building. In the bathroom, Mo Shuifu heard themotion and came out dressed, ¡°What happened? I thought I heard you mention my mother¡­¡± Shen Shihan took a deep breath and steadied his emotions. After all, he was a man ustomed to seeing the world¡¯s ways, and soon, he calmly organized all his words. ¡°Shui Fu, I have something to tell you. Promise me not to get agitated and to listen to me till the end.¡± Mo Shuifu immediately had a bad feeling, her heart pounding ceaselessly. ¡°Is it about my mother? Has something happened to her?¡± ¡°Just listen to me, don¡¯t get agitated. The nurse from the hospital called just now, saying your mother jumped off the building. Of course, the doctors are now doing everything they can to save her. You have to trust the doctors; they will go all out.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s face turned white in an instant, her hands trembling. She couldn¡¯t believe it! ¡°Are you lying to me? Are you joking? Shen Shihan, you¡¯re lying to me, aren¡¯t you? How could my mother jump off the building? Wasn¡¯t she in aa?¡± ¡°The nurse said she woke up tonight, and then she jumped. But until we rify the truth, promise me not to act impulsively, absolutely not.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying to me, you¡¯re lying to me!¡± Mo Shuifu still couldn¡¯t control her emotions. She put on her coat and ran out of the bedroom. With a ¡°bang,¡± she flung open the door and dashed downstairs! Her mind was nk; all she wanted was to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. She didn¡¯t believe it, she just wouldn¡¯t believe it! Last evening, her mother was fine, sleeping soundly. Why would she have jumped off the building now? Shen Shihan was definitely deceiving her; he was such a liar. She ran swiftly under the night sky, the cold wind whistling past her face, her body shivering in waves. ¡°Mo Shuifu, get in the car!¡± Shen Shihan also followed her downstairs, quickly driving his car to her side. Compared to her, he was much calmer. She had run downstairs recklessly, grabbing nothing, and now, she was nning just to go to the hospital like this! Regardless of any grudges between Mo Shuifu and Shen Shihan, she opened the car door and jumped in: ¡°Can you please drive faster? I¡¯m begging you, drive faster, I want to see my mom¡­ she can¡¯t be in trouble¡­¡± Mo Shuifu shook his arm, tears streaming nonstop. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, everything will be all right. Sit tight; I¡¯ll take you there,¡± Shen Shihanforted her. He touched her face, started the car, pressed the elerator, and drove to the hospital as quickly as possible. ¡°Why would my mom jump off a building? She¡¯s such an optimistic person. She finally woke up, and I didn¡¯t even get to see her face. I have so many, many things I want to tell her¡­¡± Mo Shuifu finally began to calm down a bit, but her voice was choked, and she continued to sob softly. Her entire body trembled; she clutched the seat belt tightly, unwilling to believe. ¡°Shui Fu, be strong. Your mother won¡¯t have any trouble. I¡¯ve already sent a team of specialists over; they will do their utmost to save her.¡± ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ I don¡¯t hope for anything to happen to my mom either; she¡¯s the closest person to me in this world¡­ If something happens to her, what am I going to do¡­¡± ¡°Shui Fu, no matter what, remember that you have me,¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°I know you might not like me much, but always remember that whenever you need help, I¡¯ll be there at the first opportunity.¡± Shen Shihan wasn¡¯t someone for sweet talk, but whatever promise he could give her, he would. She disdained gold and jewelry, and she didn¡¯t need wealth and glory. He knew what she needed: someone who could see through all her disguises and offer her protection. ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ Thank you.¡± Mo Shuifu had never imagined that, in her times of utter despair, it was always him who appeared. ¡°Thank me for what?¡± Shen Shihan faintly curled his lips. ¡°When we get to the hospital, no matter what happens, you have to stay strong. Promise me that.¡± Mo Shuifu wiped away her tears: ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Your mother certainly wouldn¡¯t want to see you crying, so be strong.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was very gentle; he almost forgot that he could be gentle. All the way, Shen Shihan made several calls to his assistant, mobilizing all avable resources and manpower. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared; I¡¯m here,¡± Shen Shihan said as he drove, suddenly stretching out a hand to grasp Mo Shuifu¡¯s interlocked hands. Her hands were ice cold, startling even Shen Shihan. ¡°I¡¯m here, and I¡¯ll stay with you,¡± Shen Shihan reassured her. His palm was warm, and Mo Shuifu¡¯s icy body finally felt a trace of warmth. Perhaps it was the intense nervousness, or she had no energy to resist, but she let his hand grip hers tightly. This warmth made her feel an attachment. After struggling for so many years, she thought she was nearly at her limit¡­ It wasn¡¯t until her hand slowly warmed in his palm that he let go and continued to grip the steering wheel tightly. Soon, they arrived at the hospital. Indeed, several ambnces were parked at the entrance. The car had barelye to a stop when Mo Shuifu unfastened her seatbelt and was about to open the door. ¡°Don¡¯t move rashly; wait for me,¡± said Shen Shihan. Only after parking the car steadily in the garage did he open the door, authoritatively pulled her hand, and walked with her side by side to the third floor. In times like these, he had nothing else to give her but his protection andpanionship. Mo Shuifu tried to break free from his hand and head towards the operating room, frantic with urgency as if she wanted to sprint there. ¡°Shui Fu, your mother has been taken into the operating room. Next, the doctors will go all out. What we need to do is wait quietly; we must not be impatient.¡± Shen Shihan was very calm; he had seen his share of major events, and he could stay firm in such situations. ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ My mom won¡¯t be in trouble, right?¡± Mo Shuifu raised her swollen eyes, brimming with tears. When she looked at him, a sudden pain struck his heart¡ªit hurt him to see her like this. He caressed her face and nodded, ¡°She won¡¯t be in trouble. No matter how long it takes, I¡¯ll wait with you.¡± Upon reaching the third floor, Mo Shuifu found some unknown strength and broke away from Shen Shihan¡¯s grasp, running towards the operating room. ¡°Shui Fu!¡± Shen Shihan chased after her. At the operating room, there was indeed only the tightly shut door, impermeable to any air. Chapter 246: The Will Hidden Under the Pillow Chapter 246: The Will Hidden Under the Pillow Trantor: 549690339 Mo Shuifu no longer acted on impulse. She stood quietly in front of the door, gazing at it. Sometimes, life and death are only a thread apart. She did not know what consequences would follow once the door opened. She slumped back, retreating step by step. Shen Shihan came up from behind and still grabbed her hand tightly. ¡°Trust the doctors, it¡¯ll be okay,¡± Shen Shihan pulled her aside and seated her on a nearby chair. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, bringing her cold, trembling body into his embrace. She was as cold as ice, so he took off his own clothes to drape over her. Because she had rushed out, her hair was still damp. Now, Shen Shihan carefully wiped her head with a towel. Wet hair could cause a migraine, he knew. She no longer had the strength to refuse anything from Shen Shihan, her eyes were lost and empty. The hospital was very quiet, only the nurses were running back and forth incessantly. Shen Shihan, fearing that Mo Shuifu would be cold, poured her some hot water again. He had never felt such heartache for someone, and he suddenly understood why Shen Chi would rather give up the powerful backing of the Bai Family to be with Xu Chaomu. Love really does drive people mad. Some people are willing to emerge from the maze of love, while others never wish to leave. Shen Shihan wondered which type he would be. A nurse hurried over, and Shen Shihan stopped her, ¡°How long has the patient been inside?¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost been forty-five minutes.¡± ¡°How much longer will it probably be?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. If the fall was with the head facing downward and serious, it could require a whole night of rescue.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Hearing the nurse¡¯s words, Mo Shuifu suddenly burst into tears with a ¡°wa.¡± Head facing downward¡­ the fall. ¡°What should I do, what can I do¡­ I¡¯m so useless¡­ Why didn¡¯t I watch over my mother, it¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± Mo Shuifu covered her face and wept bitterly. ¡°Shuifu, it¡¯s not your fault, your mother was in aa for so long, and no one expected her to wake up tonight. It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Shen Shihan embraced her. He held her tightly in his arms, all he could offer her now was his embrace. ¡°No, I should not have left her, if I hadn¡¯t left, she wouldn¡¯t have fallen from the building. I shouldn¡¯t have left the hospital¡­¡± Mo Shuifu was mired in deep self-me. ¡°Shuifu, stop ming yourself. If you¡¯re at fault, then I¡¯m also at fault, because I was the one who took you away.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I stay by her side¡­ why¡­¡± Mo Shuifu cried uncontrobly. She could no longer speak through her tears, biting her lip close to breaking down. ¡°Shuifu, let¡¯s go to the ward and see if there¡¯s any surveince or clues.¡± Shen Shihan was still rtively calm, he empathized with Mo Shuifu¡¯s sorrow and tried his best to alleviate all of her grief. He took Mo Shuifu to the ward, which was already in chaos, with some elderly women awake and buzzing with gossip. ¡°What a pity she suddenly jumped, it¡¯s really too bad.¡± ¡°Yes, so many days without seeing her wake up, and the night she does, she jumps.¡± ¡°You all didn¡¯t know she woke up?¡± ¡°I was sleeping soundly, who would know? I just heard a noise, then someone downstairs shouted ¡®someone jumped off a building,¡¯ and I woke up.¡± ¡°We were the same; it¡¯s really scary in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°Poor girl Mo, working so hard to earn money, just to treat her mother. And now¡­ s¡­¡± The elderly women chatted one after another, not realizing that Mo Shuifu and Shen Shihan had entered. ¡°Ah, Shuifu, you¡¯re here,¡± the women shook their heads and stopped talking. ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Shuifu nodded, her eyes devoid of their former spark. In the past, despite hard times, she was always optimistic, greeting thesedies with a smile upon entering the ward. But today, her face only bore paleness and confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, girl Mo, your mother has her luck; she definitely won¡¯t die,¡± one of the elderly women consoled her. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll wait,¡± said Mo Shuifu weakly, ¡°Auntie, did no one notice when my mother awoke?¡± ¡°Everyone was asleep already; it waste at night.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Mo Shuifu nodded weakly. Approaching her mother¡¯s hospital bed, Mo Shuifu slowly sat down. She stroked the nkets, clothes, and sheets on the bed¡­ As she lowered her head, her damp hair fell over her ears, half-covering her face. Under the dim light, her figure was frail and delicate. With her pale fingers moving over everything that belonged to her mother, tears streamed down her face. Every day, she had vigntly hoped that one day her mother would wake up, but she never imagined waking up to this oue¡­ The days before were so warm, she liked to talk andugh with her mother, sharing her innermost feelings. Now, all thaty before her was an empty bed. Just as her hands moved slowly, Shen Shihan suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± His keen eyes spotted something like an envelope under the pillow. Mo Shuifu was startled, her expression froze. Shen Shihan picked it up; the envelope wasn¡¯t sealed. Opening it, inside was a thin sheet of paper. ¡°What is it?¡± Mo Shuifu asked. Shen Shihan furrowed his brow; this¡­ seemed to be the so-called suicide note¡­ He unfolded the paper, reading from the top down. Sure enough, it was addressed to Mo Shuifu. The words were sincere, every sentence revealed a mother¡¯s love for her daughter. Moving, and heavy on the heart. Shen Shihan finished reading, quickly rifying his thoughts. From the note, it appeared that Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother had awoken in the night and left this letter behind. But¡­ Shen Shihan pondered quietly, something wasn¡¯t right. In the letter, her mother only conveyed one thought, that she could no longer be a burden to her daughter Mo Shuifu. That meant, her mother must have awakened earlier and knew of the hardships Mo Shuifu faced for the medical and surgery expenses. Therefore, she made the choice to jump. Only to not drag down her own daughter. As Shen Shihan thought this through calmly, Mo Shuifu took the note from his hand. Sentence by sentence, she immediately burst into tears. Covering her face, she broke into loud sobs. ¡°Shuifu, Shuifu, cry, it¡¯ll be better after you¡¯ve cried¡­¡± Shen Shihan held her in his arms, holding her tight. He knew that at this moment, she needed to cry thoroughly; her fragile shoulders couldn¡¯t take anymore¡­ The women in the ward whispered sympathetically, shaking their heads. ¡°Girl Mo is so pitiful¡­¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s so filial; she definitely can¡¯t bear such a blow.¡± ¡°s,¡± the others sighed. Mo Shuifu clutched the letter, tears falling drop by drop. Shen Shihan cradled her in his arms, holding her head, staying with her together. At times like these, the one who suffered the most was still her. Chapter 247 - 247 Please Sign Your Name Chapter 247 Please Sign Your Name Trantor: 549690339 Even though Shen Shihan¡¯s heart was wrenching with pain, it was nothingpared to hers. At this moment, all he could do was to hold her, hoping to ease the pain in her heart. Mo Shuifu¡¯s hands were trembling, and her tears soaked the suicide note. She let Shen Shihan hold her, motionless. ¡°After you¡¯ve finished crying, you¡¯ll feel better,¡± Shen Shihan patted her on the back. The elderlydy nearby alsoforted Mo Shuifu, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t worry, the doctor is doing their best to save her.¡± ¡°Yes, you need to take good care of yourself. Your mother definitely hopes you can be okay.¡± ¡°Sir, pleasefort Shui Fu more. She has no other rtives. You must stay by her side.¡± ¡°I know, I will,¡± Shen Shihan nodded. In such a moment, he would definitely not leave Mo Shuifu¡¯s side. If he left, he would truly be lower than a beast. ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ my mother is afraid of being a burden to me¡­ but I don¡¯t feel burdened, I just want her to be okay¡­¡± Mo Shuifu finally spoke, her voice hoarse and choked. Shen Shihan knew very well that both mother and daughter were considering each other. ¡°When your mother wakes up, have a good talk with her,¡± Shen Shihan held her in his arms. ¡°I have so many, so many things I want to tell her, but why doesn¡¯t she wait for me¡­ I look forward to her waking up every day, but¡­ why doesn¡¯t she wait for me¡­ I¡¯m not afraid of being tired, I¡¯m not afraid of anything¡­¡± Mo Shuifu cried as she spoke; indeed, she was afraid of nothing. She even traded her purity for money¡­ ¡°Shui Fu, promise me that you¡¯ll also be okay, no matter what the oue of the surgery is, you have to be okay,¡± Shen Shihan said. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t speak¡­ Her mother was her only rtive in this world. If something happened to her, could she really be okay? ¡°Who is the family member of Miss Qiu, pleasee over to sign!¡± Just then, the door to the ward was knocked on by a doctor. Mo Shuifu looked up, wiped her tears, and walked toward the door, breaking away from Shen Shihan¡¯s embrace. ¡°I am, I¡¯m her daughter. How is my mother?¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes were filled with urgency. ¡°The situation is not optimistic; we need to perform craniotomy surgery. Please consider it carefully, and then sign here,¡± the doctor handed a document to Mo Shuifu. Mo Shuifu quickly took it, and the doctor added, ¡°Your mother already had an intracranial hemorrhage, and the fall with her head down caused severe brain injury. This craniotomy is crucial, but we cannot guarantee the surgery will go smoothly, so please carefully consider it before signing.¡± ¡°What are the potential consequences if the surgery doesn¡¯t go well?¡± Mo Shuifu asked. ¡°If the surgery doesn¡¯t go well, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± the doctor shook his head. Mo Shuifu immediately understood. If it didn¡¯t go well, she and her mother would be forever separated. ¡°Then what if we don¡¯t proceed with the surgery?¡± she asked. ¡°Without the surgery, your mother will slowly die from blockage due to the umtion of blood in the brain.¡± ¡°So, doctor, I have no choice, do I?¡± Mo Shuifu said with a deste, bitter smile on her lips. Shen Shihan stepped forward: ¡°Doctor, who¡¯s in charge of this surgery?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Cha from C City, the most prestigious one.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Shen Shihan nodded. He took the pen from the doctor and put it into Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand, firmly saying, ¡°Shui Fu, sign it. If even Mr. Cha can¡¯tplete this operation, then it must be fate.¡± Shen Shihan was very tactful in his words, but he knew that Mo Shuifu would understand. She was so intelligent. Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand shook, and the pen nearly fell to the ground. Shen Shihan held her hand, letting the warmth from the palm of his hand pass to the back of hers. Mo Shuifu gritted her teeth, bowed her head, and forcefully signed her name on the document. ¡°Miss, thank you. We will inform you as soon as there¡¯s any news,¡± the doctor nodded. Mo Shuifu¡¯s throat was choked, and she couldn¡¯t speak, feeling weak all over. Shen Shihan, however, was there to support her the whole time, telling the doctor, ¡°Tell Mr. Cha to do his utmost, for the person he¡¯s operating on is the future mother-inw of Shen Shihan.¡± Although the doctor did not understand, seeing the man¡¯s distinguished demeanor, she guessed he was someone important, so she nodded, took the papers, and left the ward. As soon as the doctor left, Mo Shuifu¡¯s head spun, darkness overtook her vision, and she copsed limply into Shen Shihan¡¯s arms. The pen in her hand fell to the floor with a ¡°thud.¡± ¡°Shui Fu! Shui Fu!¡± Shen Shihan held her, calling out anxiously. There was no response; Mo Shuifu had fainted in his arms, unconscious. The elderlydies in the ward also rushed over to help, ¡°The poor girl is overwhelmed with sorrow, she¡¯s really too tired¡­¡± ¡°Such a tough life, this child is so heartrending.¡± ¡°Sir, you must take good care of her; she¡¯s all alone now and has incurred so much in medical expenses, sigh.¡± Shen Shihan picked her up and carried her out of the ward. As he walked, he said to a nurse, ¡°Arrange a private room for me and call a doctor over, quickly!¡± ¡°Sir, okay, please wait a moment.¡± Soon, everything was arranged, and he carried Mo Shuifu to a bed in the private room,ying her down gently. Her face was deathly pale, without a trace of color. Her hand was clutching tightly to Shen Shihan¡¯s clothes, refusing to let go. Shen Shihan had no choice but to sit with her, not daring to leave her side for even a moment. ¡°Sir, we should start an IV with glucose. The miss is experiencing temporary shock.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The nurse set up the IV, and soon the liquid was flowing slowly down the infusion tube. Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand was still clutching Shen Shihan¡¯s clothes, but shey in bed unconscious. Shen Shihan sat by her bed, and when he bowed his head, his hand touched her face. Seeing her this way pained him deeply¡­ At her age, she shouldn¡¯t have to endure so much pain. She deserved someone to care for her properly¡­ As night deepened, the soundproofing in the private room was very good, almost silencing any noise. Since he could not remove his clothes from her grip, Shen Shihan kept his posture, staying by her side. Like an hourss, the IV bag silently marked the passage of time. When half of the glucose in the IV bag had been administered, Shen Shihan finally saw that Mo Shuifu¡¯splexion was getting better. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, and the sorrow in her brows and eyes, he couldn¡¯t smooth away for her. ¡°Shui Fu¡­ if the surgery fails, from now on, I¡¯ll be your family, forever,¡± he whispered into her ear as he bent down. Mo Shuifu remained unresponsive, lying quietly on the bed, but her hand slowly loosened his clothes. The ward was so quiet that one could hear each other¡¯s breathing. When three-quarters of the glucose had been administered, the door to the ward was suddenly pushed open. ¡°Sir, could youe out for a moment?¡± The nurse spoke in a low voice, seeing that Mo Shuifu was still asleep, and gestured to Shen Shihan. Chapter 248 - 248 The Operating Room Door Opens Chapter 248 The Operating Room Door Opens Trantor: 549690339 Shen Shihan nodded, covered Mo Shuifu with the nket, and then tiptoed out of the room. After closing the door to the hospital room, the nurse led him to a quiet ce. ¡°Sir, Doctor Zha has just sent a message through his assistant,¡± the nurse said with a grave expression. Seeing her face, Shen Shihan braced himself, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Doctor Zha said to prepare the patient¡¯s family for the worst, as the situation is not optimistic,¡± the nurse whispered gravely. Shen Shihan pursed his lips, remaining silent. ¡°Sir, I see Miss Mo is also very tired; it would be best to tell her gently and to avoid agitating her,¡± she advised. Shen Shihan nodded, ¡°I understand. Is there anything else?¡± The nurse shook her head, ¡°No, that¡¯s all. Doctor Zha¡¯s assistant said the surgery might be over in half an hour, so¡­¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s heart skipped a beat; he already had an inkling of the oue of the surgery. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡°Then sir, I¡¯ll go help out elsewhere. Call me if you need anything,¡± she said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Shihan slipped a hand into his pocket and stood by the window, silent. After a long while, he lit a cigarette and silently watched everything outside the window. In the springtime, countless willow catkins fluttered through the air. Shen Shihan¡¯s chest felt hollow as he smoked one cigarette after another. Life and death. How was he going to tell her? In the group, even with making countless major decisions, he had never hesitated like this, but at this moment, his heart was torn. How was he going to tell her? Just as Shen Shihan was about to leave the room, suddenly, the door to the operating room opened. Across the long corridor, Shen Shihan looked up. From there, it seemed like a century away, with dust obscuring the view, blurring the shape of the present world. The doctors who had finished the surgery came out, removing their gloves and masks, silently washing their hands with sanitizer by the sink. There was no smile on anyone¡¯s face; the mood was very somber. Shen Shihan recognized Doctor Zha and walked over to him. ¡°Doctor Zha, the surgery¡­¡± The bespectacled man leading the group looked up, saw that it was Shen Shihan, and gestured, ¡°Let¡¯s talk over here.¡± The two of them walked to a secluded corner where the doctor then shook his head and sighed, ¡°We did everything we could, but the patient¡¯s brain injury was too severe, and given the head impact from the fall, there was nothing more we could do.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s heart still throbbed violently, even though he was fully prepared. Asposed as he was, he felt an immense destion in his heart¡­ He truly didn¡¯t know how Mo Shuifu would react when she found out¡­ ¡°Doctor Zha, thank you for your efforts,¡± he said. ¡°No need to thank me, I couldn¡¯t save the patient¡¯s life,¡± Doctor Zha apologized with regret. ¡°Has the patient stopped breathing?¡± Shen Shihan asked. ¡°Yes, there are no signs of life left,¡± Doctor Zha replied truthfully. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Then, Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Shen Shihan nodded and Doctor Zha left, heading back to his team. Shen Shihan slowly entered the operating room and immediately saw Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother lying on the bed. Shey there just as he had seen her before, quiet and still, as if she had never woken up. She had left this world quietly. Shen Shihan slowly crouched down near the bed. ¡°You can rest in peace, I will take good care of Shuifu. All my life, I will cherish her as my own life,¡± Shen Shihan said softly. Of course, no one would respond to him, and the operating room remained just as quiet. Shen Shihan knew that Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother¡¯s suicide was entirely to alleviate Shuifu¡¯s suffering, not wanting to be a burden to her any longer. She must have seen the astronomical medical bills upon waking and knew that Shuifu¡¯s tender shoulders couldn¡¯t bear it. She had fulfilled her daughter in her own way. Of course, she also fulfilled herself. As the clock ticked on slowly, after staying a long time in the operating room, Shen Shihan finally stood up and decided to go find Mo Shuifu. No matter what, it had be a reality, and he had to make it clear to her. In the high-level ward, an IV bag of glucose was almost empty. Mo Shuifu was still in aa, not awakened. Shen Shihan sat by her bed, waiting until all the glucose had been administered. He removed the IV needle from her hand. Maybe he hurt her, her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Why did I pass out¡­ Shen Shihan, is the surgery over?¡± She supported her head, trying to sit up. Shen Shihan held her shoulders, his eyes fixed on her intensely. His expression was solemn as he quietly watched Mo Shuifu. ¡°Shuifu, I have something to tell you, and you must stay calm,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Mo Shuifu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she instantly understood what was going on. ¡°Has something happened to my mom? Was there a problem with the surgery?¡± She pushed Shen Shihan¡¯s hands away and tried to get out of bed. ¡°Shuifu, be calm, listen to me,¡± Shen Shihan held her back. ¡°Let me go see if the surgery is finished. Why didn¡¯t you wake me? Shen Shihan!¡± ¡°Shuifu! Listen to me, the surgery wasn¡¯t sessful, so your aunt has¡­ already left us.¡± Mo Shuifu froze, her vision nk, her mind echoing with Shen Shihan¡¯sst few words ¡°your aunt has already left us¡±¡­ ¡°Shen Shihan, why didn¡¯t you wake me? Why?¡± she asked. ¡°Shuifu, don¡¯t be impulsive, wait a moment, I¡¯ll take you to see your aunt, but you must ept this reality.¡± ¡°My mom must have had something to say to me. Shen Shihan, why didn¡¯t you wake me? Did you do it on purpose?¡± As she spoke, Mo Shuifu began to cry, her tears falling like a broken dam. She was on the verge of copse, and without even putting on her shoes, she ran barefoot on the cold floor towards the door¡­ Shen Shihan, afraid of her impulsive actions, quickly took arge step forward and grabbed her arm. ¡°Shuifu, don¡¯t be impulsive. Your aunt passed away suddenly, and she didn¡¯t wake up during the entire surgery process. It¡¯s a fact that cannot be changed now. I¡¯ll apany you to the operating room,¡± he said. ¡°Shen Shihan, let go! Why didn¡¯t you wake me? Why didn¡¯t you let me see my mom for thest time?¡± ¡°Your aunt¡¯s departure was very sudden,¡± he exined. ¡°Liar! Don¡¯t lie to me anymore! You could have woken me, you could have taken me to the operating room, but you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°No, Shuifu, calm down, listen to me. Your mother¡­¡± ¡°Let me go, can you let go? Shen Shihan, we never had any rtionship to begin with, not even as friends! Now, my mother is gone, I¡¯ve repaid my debt to you, and if you feel it¡¯s not enough, I will slowly repay you the money. But please, keep your distance from me, will you?!¡± Chapter 249: Falling Leaves Turn into Yellow Butterflies Chapter 249: Falling Leaves Turn into Yellow Butterflies Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Mo Shuifu, we¡¯ll talk about our issuester, I¡¯m taking you to the operating room!¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t allow her to refuse, grabbed her hand, and headed outside. His face exuded calm and stability; his thin lips lightly pursed, his gaze sharp, each step he took was unwaveringly firm. He knew that if even he lost hisposure, what would she have left to rely on? After a few steps, he noticed she was still barefoot, and with force, he picked her up. Carrying her to the operating room, Mo Shuifu naturally resisted, biting his shoulder hard. ¡°Mo Shuifu, you!¡± Shen Shihan winced in pain, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. She really was a woman who didn¡¯t appreciate kindness. After biting him, she started pounding on his shoulder: ¡°Let me down! Shen Shihan, don¡¯t meddle in my affairs, I have nothing to do with you! Stop bothering me! Are you here to gloat?¡± ¡°Why would I gloat over you? If I were here to gloat, would I be staying with you the whole time?!¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was deep and strong, raised several notches, causing the passing nurses to jump in fright. Mo Shuifu fell silent, tears streaming down her cheeks, soaking his shoulder. Her tears smeared her entire face, her hair damp and disheveled. Initially, she gritted her teeth to stop herself from crying out, and then, she bit her fingers¡­ Her fingers hurt, but she waspletely oblivious to it. The pain in her fingers couldn¡¯tpare to the heartache she felt at that moment. They reached the operating room where attendants were already cleaning Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother. Seeing Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu enter, they consciously stepped out. It was deep into the night, silence reigned, not a sound to be heard. Only after closing the operating room¡¯s door did Shen Shihan put Mo Shuifu down. ¡°Go and see your aunt,¡± he said to her. As soon as he let her go, Mo Shuifu ran to the hospital bed! With her arms around her mother, she dropped on top of her, weeping bitterly. ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you wait for your daughter? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯ve been longing every day for you to wake up? I¡¯ve been waiting every day. But you abandoned your daughter without even seeing her for thest time¡­ Mom¡­¡± Shen Shihan stood aside, fists clenched, feeling utterly helpless. He had done everything he could, but still, he wasn¡¯t able to save her mother¡¯s life. ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you say you wanted me to take you on an overseas trip? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to wait for my wedding? You also mentioned helping me take care of the baby¡­ Mom¡­ why did you go ahead alone¡­ Shui Fu only has you as her rtive in this world¡­ Mom¡­¡± Mo Shuifu was inconsble, her wails echoing. ¡°Mom, with you gone, what should I do¡­ Don¡¯t you know, I¡¯m not afraid of debt, I¡¯m not afraid of hardships, all I want is for you to be well¡­¡± Shen Shihan stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Mo Shuifu¡¯s shoulders, and sighed. ¡°Mom, would you talk to me, just like we used to whisper to each other¡­ Mom¡­ I bought you a dress, a dark green one, it¡¯s very pretty, would you try it on for me¡­ You said dark green was your favorite¡­¡± In the entire operating room, the only sound was Mo Shuifu¡¯s crying, answered by boundless loneliness. Her mother would never respond to her again, never. Fallen leaves turn to yellow butterflies; in times of life and death, the red rhododendron blooms wildly over the hills¡­ ¡°Mom¡­ why don¡¯t you answer me¡­ don¡¯t you love me? You said you would always be there for Shui Fu¡­ Mom¡­ I want to see you smile, do you know how beautiful you look when you smile¡­¡± ¡°Mom¡­ do you remember when I was very little, I was unreasonable, wanting pretty clothes, crying every day¡­ You clearly knew we couldn¡¯t afford it, yet you workedte into the night, all to buy me an expensive dress¡­ Mom¡­ do you remember, do you remember¡­¡± ¡°Mom¡­ why don¡¯t you answer me¡­ I really want to hear your voice¡­¡± In the operating room, only Mo Shuifu¡¯s hoarse cries persisted. Tears dampened her clothes; she cradled her mother¡¯s head and drew close to her. She stroked her mother¡¯s face over and over again with her fingers as if¡­ her mom was just sleeping quietly. There were new white hairs on her mother¡¯s head; she picked them out and pulled them off. After doing so, she smiled: ¡°Mom, look, you¡¯ve been worriedtely, haven¡¯t you, growing a few white hairs¡­ I¡¯ll pluck them out for you; you¡¯ll always be the most beautiful¡­¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s heart ached sharply. Mo Shuifu touched her mother¡¯s face, tirelessly. Her mother passed away peacefully without any painful expression on her face, truly as if she was just sleeping¡­ ¡°Mom¡­ your daughter has been doing pretty well recently, I just miss the food you cooked¡­ Mom, are you hungry? Shall I feed you¡­¡± Having said that, Mo Shuifu prepared to stand up. Shen Shihan strode over, crouched down, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder: ¡°Shui Fu, calm down, your aunt has passed away, you have to face reality¡­¡± Mo Shuifu froze entirely, her gaze hazy. Your aunt has passed away¡­ Her mother was gone¡­ never to return. From now on, she would never hear her mother¡¯s voice again, never see her mother smile again¡­ From now on, no one would touch the back of her hand, calling her ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± From now on, no one would repeatedly implore her: ¡°Shui Fu, it¡¯s getting cold, remember to wear more clothes, eat more, don¡¯t stay upte, don¡¯t let yourself suffer¡­¡± All that was past turned to mist, life and death hanging by a thread. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Mo Shuifu covered her face, tears streaming through her fingers. Her cries sharp, in the utter silence. ¡°Shui Fu, I¡¯ll walk the road ahead with you, believe in me,¡± Shen Shihan hugged her, only hoping it might ease some of her pain. ¡°I don¡¯t need it¡­ I don¡¯t need anyone anymore¡­¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice choked up, and her eyes reddened. Trembling, she bent down and beganbing her mother¡¯s hair with her fingers. ¡°Shui Fu, there¡¯s a long future ahead of you; you have to live well.¡± ¡°I know, I will live well,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes were devoid of any luster. Her hollow eyes stared ahead as she quietlybed her mother¡¯s hair. Her mom always loved cleanliness; she would make her leave beautifully¡­ Outside the window was the deep night sky, devoid of stars or moon, only the whistling wind making a moaning sound. In the separation of life and death, heaven and earth are apart. Shen Shihan stayed by Mo Shuifu¡¯s side the whole time, understanding the feeling of heart-wrenching pain. The only thing he had said in front of her mother was, ¡°I will cherish her as my life for this lifetime.¡± He would definitely keep his promise. All night, he apanied her, she said she wanted to sit quietly by her mother all night, so he remained silent, by her side the whole night. Chapter 250: Fourth Brother, Help Me Fold A Paper Crane Chapter 250: Fourth Brother, Help Me Fold A Paper Crane Trantor: 549690339 When Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother wasid to rest, Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi also came. Shen Chi was always well-informed; he knew that Mo Shuifu was very close friends with Xu Chaomu and that they had grown up together. Xu Chaomu was originally still in ss, but it was Shen Chi who personally went to pick her up. ¡°Mumu, I have something to tell you, Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother has passed away,¡± Shen Chi said, touching her head. Xu Chaomu immediately froze. ¡°The funeral is today, I¡¯ll take you there, Mumu, don¡¯t cry.¡± Tears swirled in her eyes, and as soon as Xu Chaomu heard Shen Chi say this, they fell, plip plop, one after another. ¡°How did she pass away? Shui Fu must be very sad, right? Why are you only telling me now?¡± ¡°Come with me, I¡¯ll exin it slowly to you.¡± Shen Chi was veryposed, he took Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and led her to the car. By the time they arrived at the cemetery, Mo Shuifu was kneeling on the ground with Shen Shihan standing beside her. The world was bleak, without even a sun in the sky. ¡°Shui Fu! Auntie!¡± Xu Chaomu broke free from Shen Chi¡¯s hand and ran over like a rabbit. Mo Shuifu turned around, her gaze blurry. She saw Xu Chaomu and she saw Shen Chi. Upon seeing Shen Chi, her expression stiffened; she hadn¡¯t expected him toe. ¡°Auntie¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had just run over and then she burst into tears. When Uncle Mo passed away, she didn¡¯t know, and now Aunt Qiu had passed away, and again she was one step toote. ¡°Auntie¡­ I¡¯m Chaomu, do you remember me? As a child, I constantly pestered you for candy¡­ Auntie¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wiped away her tears, but they kept flowing. Shen Chi walked slowly over,ing to stand by Shen Shihan¡¯s side. He furrowed his brows and said in a low voice to Shen Shihan, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Fourth brother, what makes you think I can¡¯t be here,¡± Shen Shihan replied coolly. ¡°Third brother, taking away Wantong¡¯s core technology, was that your doing?¡± Shen Chi pressed in a hushed tone. ¡°Fourth brother, today, I don¡¯t want to talk about this.¡± ¡°Shen Shihan, are you nning to move against me, Shen Chi?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was cold, but it carried an undeniable firmness. ¡°Shen Chi, haven¡¯t you been against me, Shen Shihan, all this time? Inside Shen Group, who doesn¡¯t know how you, Shen Chi, have been using every means at your disposal to suppress me, Shen Shihan?¡± ¡°You should know, there¡¯s not room in this mountain for two tigers.¡± ¡°Yes, so, let¡¯s both take our time,¡± Shen Shihan said with a cold smile on his lips. Shen Chi also had a cold face, his arms folded, saying nothing. Xu Chaomu cried for quite a while, today her tears flowed even more bitterly than Mo Shuifu¡¯s. In the spring breeze, her sobs were inconsble. Mo Shuifu could only embrace her: ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t cry anymore, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve already moved on. The dead cannot be brought back to life, I¡¯vee to terms with it.¡± ¡°Shui Fu¡­ As a child, I was always pestering Auntie, and now that she¡¯s gone, I didn¡¯t evene to see her onest time. Am I very bad, am I heartless¡­¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not, Chaomu, mom left us so suddenly, no one expected it¡­¡± Mo Shuifu said in a low voice, embracing Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chaomu, mom surely wouldn¡¯t want to see you crying, she loved seeing youugh the most. Do you remember, as a child, how much she enjoyed ying with you? She would often tell me that she didn¡¯t find me as cute as you, and back then I would be so annoyed¡­¡± Mo Shuifu gave a bitter smile, remembering the past brought only endless heartache. ¡°Shui Fu, I won¡¯t cry anymore, On my way here, I folded lots of paper cranes for Auntie¡­¡± Xu Chaomu stood up and walked to Shen Chi¡¯s side. ¡°Fourth brother,¡± she extended her hand. Shen Chi went to the trunk of the car to get the paper cranes he had just finished folding for her, colorful and abundant¡­ Xu Chaomu tossed the paper cranes one by one into the fire in front of her. ¡°Auntie, the year I was seven, you taught me to fold paper cranes. I didn¡¯t want to learn and was naughty. For every crane you folded, I would unfold one, and you often called me a little pest¡­¡± ¡°Auntie¡­ I can still fold them now, even though they¡¯re a bit ugly¡­ Would you kindly ept them¡­¡± Once Xu Chaomu had tossed all the paper cranes into the fire, Mo Shuifu¡¯s tears suddenly couldn¡¯t be stopped. Shen Chi felt moved too; he squatted down and wrapped his arms around Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t cry¡­¡± He held her close, stroking her hair. When Mo Shuifu turned around, she saw a man, gentle as jade, named Shen Chi, holding Xu Chaomu in his arms. For the first time, she saw Shen Chi reveal the tenderness of a man, even the tips of his eyebrows softened. In her memory, Shen Chi was very domineering and quite indifferent. Mo Shuifu was clever; she suddenly understood something. But what she couldn¡¯t figure out was the rumor that Shen Chi would soon get engaged to Miss Bai. Yet the look he gave Xu Chaomu was clearly one of loving indulgence. Xu Chaomu hid in Shen Chi¡¯s arms crying for a while, feeling as if a stone were lodged in her heart. She looked up at Shen Chi with red eyes: ¡°Fourth brother¡­ help me fold paper cranes¡­¡± Shen Chi thought she had something else to say, but she just wanted his help folding paper cranes. He patted her head, curved his lips into a smile, his eyes filled with endless tenderness: ¡°Okay¡­¡± Xu Chaomu divided up arge amount of paper and handed it to him: ¡°Here, take it¡ªand no cking, or Auntie will be upset. You see, the wings here need to be bent a little¡­¡± Mo Shuifu watched Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi with a slight smile; the two of them together were very loving. Xu Chaomu would toss a crane into the fire as soon as she finished folding one, sniffing and choking back sobs: ¡°Auntie, you¡¯ll receive these paper cranes, won¡¯t you¡­ Please don¡¯t be sad up there, Sister Shui Fu and I will both be okay.¡± Mo Shuifu looked at the tombstone with a serene smile: ¡°Mom, Chaomu is right, we¡¯ll continue to walk on just fine. You too, be happy up there, and if you miss your daughter,e to me in a dream¡­¡± Shen Shihan came over and stood by Mo Shuifu, letting out a sigh: ¡°It¡¯s best that you can see it that way.¡± Mo Shuifu stayed quiet, bowing her head. Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi folded paper cranes, the colorful cranes adding some hue to the cemetery. Shen Chi folded them with care, although if it wasn¡¯t for Xu Chaomu asking, he would certainly not have bothered. But Xu Chaomu was quite critical of them. She pointed at his paper cranes, frowning: ¡°Fourth brother, make it look nicer, Auntie would disapprove¡­ Look, here the wings need to be bent¡­¡± Shen Chi wore a helpless expression. Sometimes, Mo Shuifu would look up at them; a gentle smile yed at the corners of her mouth. Xu Chaomu was her friend since childhood, and she hoped that she would always be well. However, with Shen Chi by her side, she would surely be very happy. Shen Chi¡­ Mo Shuifu would look up at him sometimes; he had a stern face, and his eyes showed deep maturity andposure. Only when facing Xu Chaomu would the coldness in his brows melt away. Mo Shuifu had never thought that Shen Chi would fold paper cranes with an eighteen-year-old girl. Mo Shuifu was smart; she knew that only love could have such power, nothing else could possibly exin it. Chapter 251: Do You Like Shen Chi? Chapter 251: Do You Like Shen Chi? Trantor:549690339 By the time all the paper cranes were folded, Xu Chaomu could only reluctantly caress the tombstone. ¡°Auntie¡­ next time I¡¯lle to see you, Sister Shui Fu and I, we¡¯ll both miss you.¡± The sky today was overcast, and as soon as Xu Chaomu finished speaking, tears streamed down her cheeks. She still wanted to cry. Remembering every little detail from eight years ago was torturous for her heart. ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t cry anymore. Your aunt will hear you. She¡¯ll be very happy to know you came to see her,¡± Shen Chi spoke as he took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, unable to bear seeing her cry. When she cried, his heart would be moved in tandem. ¡°Chaomu, you go to school. I¡¯ll be fine here,¡± Mo Shuifu told Xu Chaomu. She nced at Shen Chi once more, all of his gentleness reserved only for Xu Chaomu alone. She had seen him with Bai Man in newspapers and media, but uponparison, she realized that Shen Chi¡¯s love for Xu Chaomu was the sincere one. ¡°Shui Fu, don¡¯t be too sad. Take care of yourself and be well,¡± Chaomu said to her. ¡°I will, don¡¯t worry.¡± Mo Shuifu nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going first. I¡¯lle to see Auntie another day¡­¡± ¡°Alright, go on, study hard.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Xu Chaomu replied with a nod. She stood up, but having knelt for too long, her vision blurred and her whole body wobbled. Shen Chi quickly embraced her, supporting her waist: ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, please take me back to school.¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu parted reluctantly before leaving the burial ground side by side with Shen Chi. Once Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi left, the graveyard once again fell silent. Mo Shuifu bent down to quietly pack up, ready to leave. Just when she was about to stand up, the silent Shen Shihan suddenly grabbed her wrist! ¡°Mo Shuifu, do you like Shen Chi?¡± Mo Shuifu was yanked abruptly and lost her bnce. She staggered backwards, nearly copsing behind the tombstone! Shen Shihan, with quick reflexes, caught her around the waist with his other hand, preventing her fall. ¡°Shen Shihan, what do you mean by that? This is my first time meeting Mr. Shen,¡± she retorted. ¡°First meeting? You¡¯ve never seen Shen Chi before?¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t believe her at all. He had been watching quietly for a while, and the look in Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes when she viewed Shen Chi was filled with affection, nothing like when she looked at him! That ¡®First meeting¡¯ lie couldn¡¯t fool Shen Shihan. ¡°Why should I make you believe? Shen Shihan, from now on, you go your way, and I¡¯ll cross my bridge. We have nothing to do with each other!¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu,st time you went to the Splendid World vi district, was it to find Shen Chi? Speak!¡± He gripped her wrist tight. His cold voice was chilling to the bone, chilling the air around them several degrees. ¡°Let go of me! Shen Shihan, today is my mother¡¯s funeral. Don¡¯t make me despise you, hate you!¡± ¡°Ha, what virtues does Shen Chi have, that even my woman has him in her heart¡­¡± Shen Shihanughed with despair. ¡°Shen Shihan, don¡¯t talk nonsense. It¡¯s time for you to leave; we shouldn¡¯t see each other anymore. I¡¯ve repaid what I owed you, and if that¡¯s not enough¡­¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu,¡± Shen Shihan interrupted her, ¡°Standing in front of your mother¡¯s grave, do you dare to speak about our rtionship?¡± ¡°Shen Shihan, you!¡± Mo Shuifu gritted her teeth. In front of her mother, how could she bring herself to speak the words? She had sold herself, and she despised herself for it. ¡°You don¡¯t dare, do you? Shall I do the talking then?¡± ¡°Shen Shihan, enough! Don¡¯t push me!¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s hands trembled desperately. ¡°I¡¯m not pressuring you. Then tell me, do you like Shen Chi?¡± ¡°Listen, Shen Shihan, I¡¯d rather like everyone but you! Even if I were to fall for a man in his seventies or eighties, I wouldn¡¯t like you!¡± She struggled to break free from his grasp. Her wordspletely infuriated Shen Shihan. He had been holding back the anger in his chest until now, but in that moment, it exploded. ¡°But, Mo Shuifu, have you forgotten that I am your man¡­¡± His fingers traced her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. He saw an unending hatred in her gaze and couldn¡¯t understand why. He was the one who had always been there for her, yet she had always despised him. At the sound of his words, Mo Shuifu trembled. She remembered that night when she had sold herself just to repay his money. ¡°Mo Shuifu, you really forgot? It doesn¡¯t matter, I can remind you all over again,¡± he said. ¡°Shen Shihan, that¡¯s enough; don¡¯t say any more¡­¡± Mo Shuifu covered her ears, bowing her head in agony. This was her mother¡¯s gravesite; how could he say such things¡­ If her mother knew she had sold herself, how heartbroken she would be. ¡°Then tell me, who is your man? Huh?¡± Shen Shihan pressed on. His jealousy had red when he saw her looking at Shen Chi with so much tenderness. It hurt him. ¡°Don¡¯t push me¡­ Shen Shihan, don¡¯t push me¡­¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head in pain, unwilling to face Shen Shihan. She remembered everything about that night; his kisses, him iming her. It all became vividly clear, and, in extreme agony, she shook her head trying to forget it all. ¡°Mo Shuifu, I¡¯m asking you one more time, who is your man?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me¡­¡± Mo Shuifu choked up. She couldn¡¯t say it; indeed, she couldn¡¯t voice it. She was ashamed of herself. ¡°Fine, you refuse to admit it! Still thinking about Shen Chi, aren¡¯t you?!¡± Shen Shihan erupted, dragging Mo Shuifu by the hand and starting to walk out. ¡°Let me go¡­ Shen Shihan, you maniac¡­ let me go¡­¡± Shen Shihan wouldn¡¯t listen. Yes, he was a madman; he had gone mad. He had waited by her side night after night, only to be repaid with her words, ¡®We shouldn¡¯t see each other anymore¡¯¡­ He told her so much, not asking for her to like him, but at least not to be so heartless. Shen Shihan pulled her to his Ferrari, giving her no chance to resist. ¡°Shen Shihan, where are you taking me? What will it take for you to let me go?¡± she pleaded, pounding on the car door, but Shen Shihan was unresponsive. He sat in the driver¡¯s seat, floored the elerator, and sped away. ¡°Let you go? Mo Shuifu, have you forgotten? That night, you invited me!¡± Shen Shihan mercilessly pierced the truth. Mo Shuifu shivered. Yes, that night, she had initiated it. The most shameful one was clearly herself. But what could she do about it¡­ She stopped talking, finding her words powerless. ¡°What, you just refuse to admit that you like Shen Chi, don¡¯t you? Mo Shuifu, I¡¯ve really underestimated you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like Fourth Master. Shen Shihan, please stop pushing me.¡± Chapter 252 - 252 Remember, I am your man Chapter 252 Remember, I am your man Trantor:549690339 ¡°Don¡¯t like him? The way you just looked at him was full of affection. Do you think I, Shen Shihan, am a fool, easy to deceive?¡± Shen Shihan couldn¡¯t stay calm at all. Usually, he was such aposed person. Even with major issues in the corporation, he could keep all his emotions stable. But now, he couldn¡¯t keep hisposure, and he didn¡¯t want to anymore. ¡°Mo Shuifu, that night you went to the Jinxiu Tianxia vi area, was it to see Shen Chi? You¡¯re going to exin everything to me today!¡± He was aggressively cornering her, leaving Mo Shuifu with no way out. ¡°Third Master, could you please let me go¡­ The Third Master Shen can have any woman he wants, there¡¯s no need for you to make things difficult for me¡­ What¡¯s between us has always been just a rtionship of creditor and debtor¡­¡± ¡°Shut the hell up!¡± Shen Shihan waspletely infuriated. Time and again, it was the same few sentences! That crap about creditor and debtor, he, Shen Shihan, was her man! The car sped on the road, crossing one street after another, with no intention of stopping! Even with the Ferrari¡¯s excellent performance, Shen Shihan¡¯s driving was too aggressive, making Mo Shuifu grip the seat belt tightly. She felt so sick to her stomach that she wanted to vomit. ¡°Stop the car¡­ stop the car¡­¡± she pounded on the window. Shen Shihan simply ignored her. ¡°Stop¡­ where are you taking me¡­¡± Mo Shuifu unbuckled her seat belt, crawling over, trying to snatch the steering wheel from Shen Shihan. ¡°Mo Shuifu, sit properly. Do you want to die?¡± Shen Shihan quickly pushed her away and hit the brakes. ¡°Where are you taking me? Third Master, please let me go, let me go. It¡¯s for your own good too. Look at us, we¡¯re not suited for each other¡­¡± ¡°I can let you go, as long as you answer the two questions I just asked you honestly.¡± This was Shen Shihan¡¯sst concession. If, she was still perfunctory, then he couldn¡¯t be med. ¡°I don¡¯t like the Fourth Master¡­ That night when I went to Jinxiu Tianxia, it wasn¡¯t to find the Fourth Master¡­¡± Mo Shuifu said faintly. Not a single word she said was true¡­ She couldn¡¯t speak the truth. ¡°Mo Shuifu, are you still trying to fool me?¡± Shen Shihan waspletely annoyed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Tell me, who is your real man?¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s face turned beet-red; she bit her lip hard. ¡°Won¡¯t talk?¡± Shen Shihan turned his head, his face cold. Mo Shuifu continued to bite her lip, wishing she could bite until it bled. ¡°Alright, you sure have a tough mouth. Let¡¯s see if your mouth is as tough as your body behaves honestly!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, Shen Shihan swung the steering wheel and drove the car onto a secluded path! The woond trail was wild and deserted. The sky was overcast, with a drizzle starting to fall. Rain hit the car windows, tracing beautiful arcs. ¡°Shen Shihan, let me go, what are you going to do?¡± Mo Shuifu pounded on the car door. But Shen Shihan had already locked the doors tight, no matter how much she screamed, he wouldn¡¯t open them. What¡¯s more, with the Ferrari¡¯s superb performance, people outside could neither see nor hear anything from the inside. While she was struggling, Shen Shihan abruptly stopped the car to the side of the road with a brake! No sooner had the car stopped than he undid his seat belt and moved next to her. ¡°Mo Shuifu, you just won¡¯t admit that I¡¯m your man, well, I¡¯ll just assume you were drunk that day and forgot. Today, I might as well help you recollect!¡± Before she could resist, he pounced on her. ¡°Third Master¡­ Shen Shihan¡­ don¡¯t be like this, let me go please¡­ I¡¯ll talk¡­ isn¡¯t it enough if I talk¡­¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice was tinged with tears, her whole body trembling. ¡°It¡¯s toote, I¡¯ve given you your chance.¡± Shen Shihan pinned her shoulders, unfastened her seat belt, and quickly, he began tearing away her buttons, leaving her no chance to resist! ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ I¡¯ll hate you¡­¡± ¡°Whether I treat you well or not, you still hate me. So go ahead and hate. At least, I¡¯ll make it crystal clear to you whose you are.¡± This time, without waiting for Mo Shuifu to speak, Shen Shihan¡¯s lips sealed hers. He kissed her, not giving her any chance to speak. He pinned her legs down and tightly held her hands, truly leaving her no opportunity to resist. Mo Shuifu ended up crying, her tears flowing down, wetting her clothes as well as Shen Shihan¡¯s. In this moment, Shen Shihan was like a bloodthirsty wolf, his eyes blood-red, his force immense. He tore off her clothes, pinning her onto the car seat. His mind was filled with the way she had looked at Shen Chi just before, tender and soft, full of gentle water-like affection. He was jealous, in pain. She had given herself to him, yet her heart still longed for another man. How could Shen Shihan not go mad¡­ His heart¡¯s hatred transformed into his actions; his kisses moved from her lips to her earlobe, then down to her corbone¡­ ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ I hate you¡­ I¡¯ll hate you for a lifetime¡­¡± Her voice was hoarse; she had no tears left to cry. Shen Shihan was silent, all his words turning into harsh movements of his hands! Without waiting for her to be ready, he lifted her skirt¡­ ¡°It hurts¡­ it hurts¡­¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s expression contorted in pain. It was excruciating, a thousand, ten thousand times worse than the first time¡­ ¡°It hurts? Good, remember this pain, remember, I, Shen Shihan, am your man.¡± ¡°Shen Shihan¡­ I hate you¡­ for a lifetime¡­¡± Tears gushed forth, and the pain in her body was unendurable. He grabbed her body, pressing her onto the car seat, over and over again¡­ ¡°Mo Shuifu, I want you to say it yourself, what am I to you?¡± he still wouldn¡¯t give up. Mo Shuifu bit her lip, not allowing herself to make a sound. ¡°You!¡± She wouldn¡¯t say it, and he grew furious, thrusting into her with force. At the same time, he pinched her chin. ¡°Shen¡­¡± her voice, filled with her own shame. She wanted to bite her lip, but he wouldn¡¯t allow it. So, the next second, she bit down on her own tongue. Equally, it was very painful. When the stark blood flowed out of her mouth, Shen Shihan was pressing on her body¡­ Sweat dripped onto her neck as he breathed heavily, releasing himself deep inside her. When he looked up, he saw blood streaming from the corner of her mouth, and he panicked¡­ He had never expected Mo Shuifu to be so fierce, much less for her to bite her own tongue. ¡°Mo Shuifu, what the hell are you doing!¡± He was truly panicked, and in that moment, he saw a cold, poppy-like sneer at the corner of her lips. As he dressed her, despair filled his eyes. She¡¯d rather die than acknowledge their rtionship. No matter how good he was to her, she would still hate him. ¡°Mo Shuifu, loosen your bite, just loosen it, and I promise you anything.¡± Hepromised, all he wanted was for her to be okay. Chapter 253 - 253 Live Well (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 253 Live Well (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Trantor:549690339 ¡°Mo Shuifu, didn¡¯t you want to be rid of me? If you relent, I promise to disappear from your sight forever.¡± As he spoke thest sentence, his heart suddenly ached. It was an unbearable pain as if his heart was bleeding. He thought that ever since he met her, the trajectory of his entire life had changed. Mo Shuifu stared at him, her eyes nk and lifeless, like those of a rag doll. Finally, she stopped biting herself and let out a coldugh, the fresh blood blossoming into a ring red rhododendron. He hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe the fresh blood from the corner of her mouth, but she pushed his hand away and said indifferently, ¡°Take me home.¡± The atmosphere in the car was oppressively heavy with a muddled scent and the smell of blood. He was silent for a long, long time. Finally, he parted his lips slightly and nodded, ¡°Okay¡­¡± Driving the car away from that secluded ce, he sat in the driver¡¯s seat and she in the passenger¡¯s, neither spoke again. The sky drizzled with rain, casting a gloomy air everywhere. As the wind picked up, leaves fluttered down. Mo Shuifu turned her head to look out the window, remaining silent. As the car finally entered the bustling city and was close to her home, she spoke softly, ¡°Shen Shihan, do you mean what you said? To disappear from my sight forever?¡± ¡°How could I not mean it?¡± he said with a bitter smile as bitterness spread over his heart. If he didn¡¯t mean it, would she try to end her own life in front of him next time? He wanted nothing else; he just wanted her to be well. Even if she thought of another man in her heart, all he wanted was for her to be well. ¡°That¡¯s good, Shen Shihan, I hope you keep your word,¡± she said with a cold smile. ¡°I will, but you have to promise me one thing as well,¡± he replied. ¡°What?¡± Mo Shuifu immediately became alert. ¡°I want you to live well,¡± he said hoarsely, his voice filled with endless destion. His eyes were as deep as water, and his face showed unimaginable sorrow. He had said he would marry her, treat her like a treasure, but he had broken his promise. In this life, he had no choice but to let go¡­ She simply wouldn¡¯t trust him, wouldn¡¯t give him the slightest chance. Did she even know that it was him, Shen Shihan, who had saved her life back then? She looked up, finally showing a different expression in her eyes. But without responding to him, she just sat there, silently. The car was like a grave in its silence. He drove slowly, knowing that by letting go this time, it would be a final farewell. But no matter how slowly he drove, the end woulde. The car turned a corner and stopped in front of her house. As soon as the car stopped, her cool voice rang out indifferently, ¡°Open the door.¡± ¡°Shui Fu, did you never have any feelings for me?¡± Shen Shihan asked with a heavy voice. Perhaps this was thest question he would ever ask her. Mo Shuifu¡¯s expression flickered as she stared out the window, emotionless. Feelings¡­ She remembered times in the supermarket when she had picked out vegetables with him, pushed the shopping cart alongside him, waited in line to check out with him¡­ Latter, upon leaving the supermarket, he asked her, ¡°Shui Fu, do we look like a family?¡± Do we look like a family¡­ A bitter, mocking smile crept across the corner of her mouth as she moved her lips but ultimately remained silent. Opening the car door, she did not look back and walked resolutely out of the car. Outside, light rain continued to drizzle, fine as cow hair, pale and shallow. The rain fell on Mo Shuifu¡¯s face and eyes, and as she suddenly lifted her head and blinked, tears were swallowed back. Just as she walked towards the steps, Shen Shihan jumped out of the car. ¡°Shui Fu, wait!¡± he said with steady strides as he approached her. Mo Shuifu stopped but didn¡¯t turn around. Shen Shihan walked up to her, raised his hand, and tenderly arranged the stray hairs by her ear¡­ This powerful man also had red eyes. His fingers tracing her earlobe were like the weeping whispers of the sky with rain threads falling. She finally lifted her eyelids, yet still, she said not a single word. The rain, drenched their faces¡­ ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± he said softly after fixing her hair. On the man¡¯s face was a boundless depth and despair, the likes of which he had not shown in over twenty years. Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes were also red, and she bit her lip without uttering a word. In the light rain, she brushed past him. The cool breeze followed her turn around the corner until she disappeared without a trace¡­ The air still held the fragrance of her hair, a scent he remembered so well from the many times he held her close. Shen Shihan stood in the rain, motionless. The wind whipped up his ck suit as he raised his head, swallowing his tears. His lips were tightly sealed, his handsome face etched with cold despair. From body to soul, all was cold. ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± Softly calling her name, he suddenly felt a wave of darkness in his mind, clutching the roadside tree as he spat out fresh blood. The ring blood sttered on the ground, shockingly vivid. Leaning on the tree trunk, he let out a bitter chuckle and silently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. As the rain continued to fall, he lifted his eyes toward the road ahead, unsure where his journey home was¡­ As the sky grew darker and the rain began to fall harder, Shen Shihan slowly walked back to his car. He looked up reluctantly, knowing that he would never see her again. Forever¡­ President¡¯s Office of Shen Group. After Shen Chi apanied Xu Chaomu back, he had been discussing the trip to South Africa with Xiao Mo. The timing and the route were decided in secret; Shen Chi would lead a team to South Africa while Xiao Mo would stay behind, secretly controlling everything within the group. Shen Chi tapped his slender fingers on the desk, his expression solemn as he pondered. ¡°President Shen, look at this document. It states that our Vice President is colluding with the Feili Group behind the scenes.¡± Shen Chi pursed his lips and did not speak, but his mind was racing. He picked up the document and flipped through it page by page, and indeed, Shen Shihan had been secretly conspiring with Feili Group¡¯s Lu Feili. ¡°Xiao Mo, what moves has Shen Shihan made?¡± ¡°I heard the Vice President has already sent people to South Africa and is monitoring all flights this month, as he still doesn¡¯t know on which day you will go,¡± Xiao Mo reported. ¡°Is that so? Heh, he really is capable.¡± ¡°President Shen, if we make a move, I¡¯m afraid the Vice President will act first,¡± Xiao Mo warned. ¡°That¡¯s why we need to strike first. He¡¯s watching my flights, is he? Then let¡¯s prepare and disrupt their vignce.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xiao Mo acknowledged, aware that one tactic is called the misdirection. ¡°Also, let¡¯s get our people in South Africa to start negotiations with the project partners as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯ll call them immediately,¡± Xiao Mo replied. ¡°Is Shen Shihan going to South Africa himself?¡± Shen Chi frowned, looking at Xiao Mo. ¡°Based on the recent information I¡¯ve gathered, the Vice President is unlikely to go personally,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Lu Feili is also a coward. If Shen Shihan doesn¡¯t go, and Lu Feili doesn¡¯t go, then who will they send?¡± Shen Chi scoffed coldly. Chapter 254: He Teaches Her to Play the Piano Chapter 254: He Teaches Her to y the Piano Trantor:549690339 ¡°Vice President Shen has a friend named Zhou Peitian,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°From what I see, it¡¯s very likely they each handle a different area, and if they can secure the project, they will certainly divide up the territory.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Shen Chi replied. ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ll keep an eye on Zhou Peitian.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just afraid it¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xiao Mo didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Just n ordingly, all schedules must be kept confidential. Oh, and on the days I¡¯m in South Africa, you need to find someone to look after Chaomu.¡± ¡°Miss Xu? Absolutely.¡± Only when Shen Chi mentioned Xu Chaomu would a tender expression emerge between his brows. He smiled, ¡°What Miss Xu, she¡¯s your President Shen¡¯s wife.¡± Xiao Mo rarely saw Shen Chi like this, so he quickly nodded and smiled, ¡°Yes, President Shen¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°By the way, President Shen, about the school, I heard from the person in charge that there¡¯s going to be a cultural evening soon.¡± ¡°What kind of cultural evening?¡± ¡°An event for celebrating May Day, quite a grand asion.¡± ¡°Oh, is Chaomu participating?¡± ¡°I heard¡­ Miss Xu is performing.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Chi narrowed his eyes. ¡°What could she perform?¡± As far as Shen Chi knew, Xu Chaomu¡¯s singing was limited to ¡°Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf,¡± and dancing¡­ no, she couldn¡¯t dance at all. As for the arts like chess, calligraphy, and painting, she waspletely clueless. Of course, her specialties included climbing onto roofs to remove tiles and talking back when fighting. Oh, and reading the Little Forbidden Book. Shen Chi really didn¡¯t know what he saw in her. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be helped; it was a failure of his upbringing. As a child, when he tried to teach her to y piano, she found it tiring. She spread her hands and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to learn, I don¡¯t want to learn, it¡¯s too hard.¡± At first, he kept a stern face, ¡°What¡¯s so hard about it? How hard can it be? You¡¯re so young and already afraid of hard work, what will you do in the future?¡± At that time, Xu Chaomu would roll on the floor and be petnt, ¡°How hard? Harder than giving you a kiss!¡± ¡°Come here, if you can¡¯t y this piece by today, you¡¯re not getting any dinner!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to learn, I don¡¯t want to learn, you might as well starve me¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± he was really annoyed. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± she smiled mischievously, ¡°How about this, you let me kiss you once, and I¡¯ll learn, okay, okay?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, have you no shame? If you don¡¯t learn, you might as well starve to death!¡± ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ your heart is so cruel¡­ wuwu¡­ you heartless¡­ I won¡¯t learn, I won¡¯t learn!¡± Laxer on, Xu Chaomu said she wouldn¡¯t learn, and after he starved her for a few meals, he had no choice but to let her be. Later, Shen Chi could only helplessly spread his hands andpromise, ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want to learn, then don¡¯t. In the future, when you¡¯re good for nothing, I¡¯ll see who dares to take you.¡± Remembering the past, the smile at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth grew deeper. Who would dare to take her? He had no choice but to pick her up and take her home himself. Xiao Mo knew that only when Shen Chi mentioned Xu Chaomu would his face reveal his full tenderness. Xiao Mo smiled and said, ¡°I heard it¡¯s piano ying.¡± ¡°She can y the piano? Won¡¯t that be embarrassing?¡± Shen Chi chuckled lightly. Xiao Mo cleared his throat slightly, ¡°President Shen¡­ why don¡¯t you go have a look? It¡¯s right before your South Africa trip.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing worth seeing,¡± Shen Chi said disdainfully. ¡°Oh!¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s face was full of insinuations. Usually, when Shen Chi said he wouldn¡¯t go, it meant¡­ he would definitely go. This man¡¯s tsundere side was stronger than anyone else¡¯s. Indeed, in school, Xu Chaomu had signed up for a piano performance. She couldn¡¯t y the piano. Shen Chi had taught her for a few days when she was young, but she had forgotten everything. She signed up purely for participation. Of course, it was also to give herself an 18th birthday gift. Luckily, she had Lou Yanli to teach her. That afternoon, she was practicing in the piano room, the sunlight exceptional in thete afternoon, bright and warm. The piece she practiced was ¡°Summer,¡± her favorite piano piece. As a child, since she couldn¡¯t y, she would often pester Shen Chi to y it for her. Unable to resist her, Shen Chi would fulfill her every request. Whenever he sat down at the piano, stretching out his long fingers, she would gaze at him intently. This man would get very serious when ying piano, with fluid movements that were graceful and charming. At that time, she would pull up a chair and sit quietly beside him, resting her chin on her hands and watching him. Watching his fingers dance on the keys, listening to the music echo melodiously. In the afternoons, bathed in sunlight, he, in his white shirt, looked so young and handsome that it was easy to forget the time. The man she fell in love with was always the best. Recalling the past, Xu Chaomu shook her head, her face filled with sorrow. Looking down at the piano keys, she began to learn to y. This piece was both a gift to herself and to that naive love she held, the love that would never be a reality. She had already decided that after Shen Chi left for South Africa, she would finish her midterm exams. Without leaving any regrets, she would leave C City forever and ever¡­ Goodbye, never to meet again in this lifetime. The wandering stray cat was finally returning to the wild, where she truly belonged. As she focused on practicing, night unknowingly fell. Xu Chaomu felt quite defeated, as if she still wasn¡¯t ying well. She scratched her head and continued to practice. But she didn¡¯t expect that Shen Chi woulde. This time, when he arrived, he was carrying a handbag. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Xu Chaomu stopped ying and stood up. ¡°Why can¡¯t I be?¡± Shen Chi countered, smiling leisurely. ¡°Then close the door quickly, in case some busybody takes a photo, it¡¯ll tarnish the face of the fourth young master of Shen¡¯s. Having such an irresponsible and especially clumsy sister could cause Shen Group¡¯s share price to fall. Oh, no, I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯m not your sister, there¡¯s no rtion between us anymore.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, I¡¯ve barely said a word and you¡¯re already spewing ten, where do you get all this talk from?¡± Shen Chi was truly helpless. ¡°Do you find me annoying?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. ¡°Not annoying.¡± ¡°Then what do you dislike?¡± ¡°Nothing, keep talking.¡± ¡°I have nothing left to say, what are you doing here tonight?¡± ¡°To hear you y the piano.¡± Shen Chi indeed closed the door of the piano room, settling down beside the sofa. His long legs crossed, he gently set down the handbag. ¡°How did you know I was ying piano? Are you spying on me? Shen Chi, have you no shame!¡± ¡°I¡¯m the biggest shareholder of this school, how is that spying on you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t listen to your exnation, just stay here and listen on your own, I¡¯m leaving,¡± Xu Chaomu said indignantly, picking up her book, ready to go. ¡°Sit down.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t listen. ¡°Sit down!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice raised a few notches. When this man became domineering, Xu Chaomu still felt a little scared, maybe out of habit. She pouted and sat properly in front of the piano. ¡°y it for me.¡± Unable to defy him, Xu Chaomu yed a haphazard melody, the noise was simply¡­ noise! Noise! ¡°Xu Chaomu, are you doing that on purpose?¡± Shen Chi was both amused and dismayed. He stepped forward, sitting behind her, hisrge hands covering her smaller ones, ¡°If you can¡¯t y well, then I¡¯ll teach you. Otherwise, you¡¯ll just embarrass yourself on stage.¡± Chapter 255: Eighteenth Birthday Gift Chapter 255: Eighteenth Birthday Gift Trantor: 549690339 ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a performance for you to watch, plus you, Shen Chi, certainly won¡¯te on the day of the performance.¡± Without lifting his head, Shen Chi lowered his eyelids, ¡°What would Ie for? Just listen to you y; asking me toe would be a sheer waste of time.¡± ¡°Then you teaching me piano today is also a waste of time, wasting an hour of Shen Chi¡¯s time is equivalent to wasting tens of millions of yuan. So, Shen Chi, you better leave, don¡¯t waste your time on me any longer.¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. ¡°You talk too much nonsense!¡± The person in question didn¡¯t listen to her at all and took her small hand to start ying the piano. ¡°Pay attention and learn from me.¡± Shen Chi taught her with concentrated attention. Xu Chaomu stopped talking; she had to admit, he truly yed well. Men who can y piano are especially charming, that was him. When he leaned close to her, she could smell that familiar woody fragrance on him, particrly longsting. In fact, she really wanted to burrow into his arms and act like a spoiled child with him. Just like when she was a child, every time he came near her, she would take her chance, ¡°Big brother, hug me!¡± Every time, this man would scowl, ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Big brother, if you won¡¯t hug me, I might just hug you. I don¡¯t usually hug people, but when I do, it¡¯s no joke!¡± Then, she would jump around and cling to him like a stubborn ster. Now, this man belonged to someone else. She would never y around with him again after this. Suddenly feeling spirited, Xu Chaomu broke free from hisrge hand and moved to sit on a stool to the side, ¡°Big brother, y for me.¡± ¡°Hm? y what?¡± ¡°¡®Summer,¡¯ I love listening to that.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± So, the man¡¯s long and attractive hands touched the piano keys. With a slight exertion of force, the piano let out a melodious and pleasant sound that was exceptionally nice in the empty ssroom. Xu Chaomu propped her chin and watched him, silently watching. This man¡¯s profile was particrly good to look at¡ªsharp lines, cold and decisive, with thin lips lightly pursed, curving into a shallow arc. When he looked down, she would tilt her head to look at his long eyshes. She thought to herself as a child that a man who looked like this was quite unsafe. While she was tilting her head, Shen Chi suddenly turned around, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m thinking, big brother, you y the piano so well, you should y it often for your baby. Yu Weiwei, the expert, said that listening to music is especially good for a baby¡¯s development.¡± ¡°Where do I have a baby? You giving birth?¡± ¡°Shameless, I¡¯m talking seriously with you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m also being serious.¡± ¡°Fake seriousness,¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly, thinking that men really do have thick skins. Probably Bai Man hadn¡¯t told him that she was pregnant yet; otherwise, there¡¯s no way he would have no reaction at all. Bai Man hasn¡¯t said anything, and it wasn¡¯t her ce to do so. She gave her promise to someone and she couldn¡¯t go back on her word. After the piece was finished, the reverberations lingered. Shen Chi stood up, bent down, and patted Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. ¡°Tell me, how many times better was that than when you yed?¡± ¡°About the same, just that much,¡± Xu Chaomu looked up at him. When their eyes met, heughed and ruffled her hair, ¡°It¡¯s just your stubbornness talking.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s over, you can go back now. I¡¯m going back to the dorm to sleep too; my friends miss me.¡± ¡°I have something for you.¡± ¡°Hm? I don¡¯t want it.¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly remembered the newspapers Bai Man had shown her, of someone being hugged left and right, and quite blissfully at that. ¡°Refusing a gift from me, how noble,¡± Shen Chi said while chuckling and ruffling her hair, ¡°It¡¯s for your eighteenth birthday present.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart stirred; she almost forgot about it. She was about to turn eighteen. Eighteen¡­ Originally, she thought she would happily spend her birthday at the Shen Family, then grow up without a care in the world. But in just a few short months, everything had changed. Everyone wanted her gone¡ªZhou Ran, Shen Cexian, including Shen Chi. ¡°Eighteenth birthday¡­ I¡¯ve been at the Shen Family for eight years,¡± Xu Chaomu sighed. ¡°Chaomu, wait for me. After Ie back from South Africa, I will take you back to the Shen Family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a ball that you can just kick away when you don¡¯t want it and then pick up when you want to y.¡± Xu Chaomu brushed her hair aside, annoyed. ¡°What ball? Let me feel, where does it resemble a ball?¡± Then the shameless man proceeded to give Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist a squeeze. And then, he looked disdainful. ¡°It¡¯s all bones, where is it round and plump like a ball?¡± The person expressed dissatisfaction. ¡°What are you doing? Shameless! I¡¯m going to report you for harassment!¡± Shen Chi spread his hands, ¡°If you can bear it, then go ahead and report.¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth; what did she have to be reluctant about? Pervert! Letch! Ptui, ptui, ptui! ¡°Come here and see the birthday present, see if you like it.¡± Shen Chi opened the carrying bag, and inside was a white dress and a pair of high-heeled shoes. Xu Chaomu was stunned, forgetting even to blink. A white Givenchy dress and nude-red Christian Louboutin shoes, those were the ones she had set her eyes on a long ago. She remembered sitting in his car that day, staring out the window at the electronic screen on the mall. That white dress was really beautiful, and those red shoes were also lovely; she liked them a lot. She even went to the mallter to look for them but couldn¡¯t find them. She remembered that day, she bought a tie, but he snatched it away. It was also meant as a gift for him, but the shameless guy took it for himself first. He told her, do you know what it means to give a man a tie? Of course, she didn¡¯t know, so he told her, giving a man a tie means, ¡°I want to have you.¡± Suddenly, past events flooded to her like a tide. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, too excited? Look and see if you like it.¡± Shen Chi handed her the dress. Xu Chaomu lowered her head to look at the dress in her hand. The dress was of good quality, a pure white. Holding it felt different than just looking at it. She unfolded the dress, blinked, and found it really beautiful, but what came out of her mouth was rather cheeky, ¡°How much? I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s too expensive for me.¡± ¡°Talking about money hurts feelings, try it on.¡± For some reason, Shen Chi didn¡¯t know why the current Xu Chaomu always liked to keep her distance from him. In the past, buying her clothes and snacks was a very natural thing; money was never a topic between them. ¡°I don¡¯t want it, take it back,¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips and pushed the dress back into his hands. ¡°It¡¯s a birthday gift I got for you, remember how long ago you asked me what I was going to get you for your eighteenth?¡± ¡°epting favors weakens one¡¯s position; you don¡¯t need to give me anything. We¡¯re neither rtives nor friends, and besides, didn¡¯t you say before that a birthday is just a birthday, nothing so astonishing.¡± Her nose felt sore as Xu Chaomu rememberedst year when she asked him, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ll be eighteen next year, an adult, aren¡¯t you going to give me a big present?¡± At that time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t even look up, gazing at the newspaper in his hands, he said casually, ¡°A birthday is just a birthday, nothing so astonishing.¡± She felt quite displeased then, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ve been at the Shen Family for eight years, and you¡¯ve never given me a birthday present. Aren¡¯t you going to give me one for my eighteenth either?¡± Chapter 256: He Will Hide It from Her Forever Chapter 256: He Will Hide It from Her Forever Trantor: 549690339 ¡°How would I know what trinket to get you¡ªgo y!¡± he frowned, not even lifting his head. That day, she walked away disheartened, feeling very unhappy. Shen Chi held the dress, a sense of helplessness spreading through him. He hadn¡¯t expected her to remember so well; the casual remark he made, she still kept in mind. ¡°Mumu, it¡¯s my fault, don¡¯t be angry with me anymore. Take it, go try it on,¡± he apologized to her. ¡°If it¡¯s nothing important, you should just go home. I won¡¯t ept it. The clothes and shoes, I know they¡¯re expensive.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s temper also red up, and he grabbed her hand, very dissatisfied, ¡°If I ask you to try, you try. What¡¯s with all the nonsense! Don¡¯t just stand there, take off your clothes!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Xu Chaomu was stubborn. ¡°Don¡¯t want to? Fine, I¡¯ll take them off for you!¡± Shen Chi was a man of his word, very domineering. Xu Chaomu had really annoyed him; why all the nonsense. He reached for her coat, not believing he couldn¡¯t handle her. ¡°If you keep this up, I¡¯m going to yell!¡± Xu Chaomu red. ¡°Yell all you want. If you can¡¯t, I¡¯ll help you yell.¡± ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± ¡°Take off the T-shirt, put this on!¡± ¡°You, you, you¡­ turn around!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen it before.¡± ¡°Bastard, turn around!¡± Xu Chaomu stamped her foot. Only then did Shen Chi put the dress in her hands and turn around. Dealing with Xu Chaomu, force was indeed necessary. This unruly girl, her temper was getting stronger and stronger. Xu Chaomu quickly changed into the dress, fearful that he would turn back around. Once she had changed, she was taken aback¡ªsuch a beautiful dress, and it fit¡­ perfectly. The piano room had a mirror. She walked over to it, looked at herself from the left and right, enamored. This was the first time she wore such an intellectual and elegant dress. Although it didn¡¯t match her age, she particrly liked it. ¡°Put on the high heels as well, I want to see,¡± he instructed. Shen Chi turned around and took out red-soled shoes from the shoebox. Xu Chaomu walked over and sat on a stool, bending down to pick up the shoes. Shen Chi pressed her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll do it.¡± He bent down, lowered his head, and took off the little leather shoes on her feet, recing them with the high heels. ¡°Pretty fitting,¡± he observed after the change. Her heart warmed; she hadn¡¯t expected Shen Chi to put shoes on for her. Her nose felt sour as she smiled faintly, ¡°Only my mom has ever put shoes on for me.¡± ¡°Your mom?¡± ¡°Yeah, when I was a kid, I couldn¡¯t tie shoces, so she would do it for me, never getting annoyed. Even after I learned to tie them, she still liked to put shoes on for me.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand paused, ¡°Then¡­ between your mom and me, who do you prefer?¡± ¡°How could youpare yourself to my mom?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Countless thoughts shed through Shen Chi¡¯s mind. He remembered a fact he had unearthed years before¡ªhis mother, Zhou Ran, was the culprit behind that gas explosion. It was Zhou Ran who had tampered with the gas cylinder. That was Xu Chaomu¡¯s most beloved mother. Shen Chi suppressed the matter, destroying all the clues. He feared that she would learn the truth; he hoped he could hide it from her for a lifetime. He hoped she could always be happy, carefree. He couldn¡¯t imagine how she would react if one day she discovered the truth¡­ It was something he never dared to think about. ¡°These heels are so high, I¡¯ll walk around and see,¡± Xu Chaomu said as she stood up, walking back and forth in the red-soled shoes. Initially unustomed, but after a while, she moved with ease. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve got a real knack for wearing high heels,¡± she smiled at him. Under the incandescent light, her smile was pure and beautiful, and he too smiled. ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re truly beautiful. You have to always be happy,¡± Shen Chi said as he watched her. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve been so happy without you around,¡± Xu Chaomu said teasingly. ¡°Mumu, I want to ask you something,¡± he said. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Eight years have passed. Do you still miss your mom?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes darkened, and she nodded firmly, ¡°Of course I miss her. She¡¯s my mom, one and only, irreceable. She cherished me so much; she treated me the best.¡± ¡°What about me? Don¡¯t I treat you well?¡± ¡°Pshaw, how can youpare with my mom? You¡¯re a big jerk! If my mom were here, she would never let you bully me.¡± Unexpectedly, Shen Chi did not argue with her. He would hide it from her for a lifetime¡ªhe could never let her know the truth. He might as well be selfish. He loved her, and so he was afraid she would hate him. Xu Chaomu paced back and forth in front of the mirror, feeling for the first time connected to the word ¡°elegant.¡± ¡°Such nice clothes are wasted on me. You should give them to some other girl,¡± she suggested, pouting. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a performanceing up? Wear this, you¡¯ll look beautiful,¡± he pointed out. ¡°You¡¯re right, there will be so many boys pursuing me then.¡± ¡°Is that all you think about? Boys chasing you?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got no great ambitions, I¡¯m ill-educated¡ªhit me, why don¡¯t you,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted cheekily. ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi was at a loss. She knew well enough that he couldn¡¯t bear to hit her. ¡°Turn around, I¡¯m changing back,¡± Xu Chaomu boasted. Shen Chi had no way of dealing with her; in truth, his mind was still pondering that very question he had asked. What he feared was the truth couldn¡¯t be wrapped up forever. One day, it would be revealed to her. Xu Chaomu swiftly changed back into her own clothes. ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s gettingte. You should head back to the dorm and rest. Fourth Brother is leaving, too,¡± he said. ¡°Oh, I was just about to kick you out. I¡¯ll keep the gift. I know you wouldn¡¯t want it back, so I might as well sell it,¡± she said as she grabbed her handbag and backpack and opened the door to the ssroom. ¡°Chaomu, while I¡¯m in South Africa, take good care of yourself,¡± he urged. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll fatten myself up nice and plump,¡± she quipped. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he smiled softly. Xu Chaomu, with her back to him, felt a sting in her nose. Once he left for South Africa, she would quietly depart too, and perhaps they really would never meet again. He would have his family, and she would have hers. They would eventually be nothing but parallel lines. The youthful days would quietly pass by¡­ Without looking back, Xu Chaomu walked step by step out of the piano room. The evening breeze gently blew, insects swarmed all around. She counted her steps, walking slowly along the pebble path. Halfway through her walk, she suddenly heard piano music, that same ¡°Summer.¡± She blinked her eyes, stopping in her tracks, standing still. Familiar melody, familiar ying style¡ªshe had listened to it so many times, since she was ten years old. She knew who was ying. She stood quietly in the dark corner, listening to the melody, reluctant to leave¡­ The wind tangled her hair; this young love would slowly fade away¡ªhe would ultimately not need her after all. Her departure could satisfy everyone, including herself. Chapter 257: Harmony of the Qin and Se Chapter 257: Harmony of the Qin and Se Trantor: 549690339 The performance day had finally arrived, and after many days of diligent practice, Xu Chaomu had finally mastered a piece. It didn¡¯t matter; she only needed to know one. She wanted to give her high school career a perfect curtain call. Lou Yanli had been helping her all along, and when she sometimes wanted to ck off, he would supervise her. Xu Chaomu was really grateful to Lou Yanli, but, after this, she wouldn¡¯t be able to see him anymore. On the day of the performance, Xu Chaomu wore the dress and high heels given to her by Shen Chi, which she genuinely liked, very much. She vainly stood in front of the dormitory mirror for a long time, nning to put away the dress and shoes after today. The auditorium was bustling with lots of brilliant performances, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s act was in the middle¡ªa piano solo. The program was at nine fifty in the morning. Xu Chaomu anxiously watched her watch, twenty minutes remaining before her performance. She stood backstage, peering out at the many people in the auditorium, a daunting sea of faces. Pacing back and forth, exhaling, inhaling, taking deep breaths. When the auditorium lights came on, she specifically nced at the VIP seats, filled only with school leaders and some inconsequential officials. There was no Li Beiting, nor Shen Chi. She felt a bit let down inside; after all, he hadn¡¯t really cared much about her studies since she was little. If only her mother were still here¡­ Just as she was feeling uneasy, Yu Weiwei ran up to the stage. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t be nervous, I¡¯ll p for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nervous, if I y it wrong, I¡¯ll just say my name is Yu Weiwei.¡± Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes, ¡°y it right; your little boyfriend is watching from below.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Chaomu, you seem a bit unhappy, is it because a certain someone didn¡¯te?¡± ¡°What? Weiwei, your voice is too soft, I can¡¯t hear clearly!¡± ¡°ying dumb. Chaomu, let me tell you, I remember every word you said when you were drunk that day. It¡¯s your dark history, I need to keep a good record of it.¡± It was Xu Chaomu¡¯s turn to roll her eyes. ¡°Shen Chi, that person, he¡¯s quite good, but I think he¡¯s unreliable. That kind of person, every young girl likes him. There must be many pursuing him. If you like him, Chaomu, you have to work extra hard.¡± ¡°Every girl likes him? Weiwei, you like him too?¡± ¡°What are you saying? Am I that kind of person? I¡¯m not interested in Shen Chi.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in him either. Let me tell you a secret, this guy is no good. If you find a cureter, give him a discount for my sake.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not exactly bad, but¡­¡± Yu Weiwei said suggestively, ¡°it involves undressing for the treatment, are you willing to do that?¡± ¡°Undressing?¡± ¡°Yeah, and¡­¡± ¡°Cough cough, let¡¯s forget it.¡± Xu Chaomu thought. She hadn¡¯t even seen Shen Chi without his clothes on, so she couldn¡¯t let Yu Weiwei have that advantage. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop teasing you. Aren¡¯t you nervous anymore? I¡¯m going down now, perform well, good luck!¡± Yu Weiwei blew Xu Chaomu a kiss and hopped off the stage. Xu Chaomu instantly felt less nervous but still wandered slowly behind the curtain. Finally, her name was announced on stage, and she walked up in her knee-length white dress. At this moment, she was like a tranquil kapok flower, gracefully charming, with a gentle smile. Xu Chaomu thought she must look quite beautiful today; it was a pity that he would note. She slowly walked up in her high heels, the red soles particrly striking. The lights went out, her fingers covered the piano keys, gently pressed down, and a melodious sound began to y. ¡°Summer¡±¡­ After this spring, it would be early summer. The sunshine in early summer was always beautiful, making one willing to indulge in its gentle caress, lying on the grass, sniffing the scent of leaves in the air, a rich fragrance with undertones of freshness. In the early summer of youth, time felt indefinite. As Xu Chaomu yed, she suddenly really wanted to lie quietly by the river, with her eyes closed. Letting the sunlight sprinkle across her face, she could smell the scent of the sun and enjoy this tranquil moment. Of course, she would be happier if that person could lie with her. She would call him ¡°Fourth Brother,¡± and him? Would he fiercely call her ¡°Xu Chaomu¡±? As she immersed herself in the music, down below, a man took steady strides to the backstage. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­¡± someone whispered softly. ¡°Hmm.¡± He lifted his eyes, the narrow slits narrowing further. From backstage, he could clearly see Xu Chaomu, a spotlight shining directly on her. Shen Chi had never before seen such adylike Xu Chaomu,pletely unlike his Mumu. But, as long as it was Xu Chaomu, he found her fascinating to watch. He squinted, his gaze fixed on her. The white dress was ethereal, her hair draped over her shoulders, like a fairy who had descended to earth. She was nothing like the Xu Chaomu who could infuriate him beyond words. It turned out, his Mumu also had such a docile side, like a kitten with retracted ws. He really wanted to walk up to her and y the piano together, to gently rest his forehead against hers and call her ¡°Mumu¡±. ¡°Mr. Shen, the piano is ready,¡± the person in charge backstage informed Shen Chi. ¡°Hmm.¡± He curled his lips into a faint smile and made his way towards the backstage piano. He sat at the piano, closed his eyes for a moment, and listened to the melody. The girl¡¯s piano ying wasn¡¯t mature enough, hitting several sour notes, but he smiled and pressed the keys. His fingers deftly yed, guiding her through the song with his piano. Xu Chaomu, who had been lost in the music, suddenly sensed the sounding from backstage. It was smooth and serene, trickling over the keys like flowing water, seamless from beginning to end. Her fingertips stalled, and she blinked. Was it him? Shen Chi¡¯s piano ying had long since be superb, seamlessly correcting every inurate note she yed in a way that was indiscernible. Piano and strings in harmony, the two performed so well in sync that nobody in the audience noticed the apaniment came from Shen Chi. Shall Ipare thee to a summer¡¯s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Can Ipare you to a summer day? You are lovelier and gentler. Shen Chi watched Xu Chaomu, the corners of his lips curling into a soft smile. When thest note fell, thunderous apuse filled the hall. Xu Chaomu stood up, the spotlight on her face revealing a small, gentle smile of innocence, but above all, satisfaction. Shen Chi sat at the backstage piano, silently watching her. The man in a dark shirt seemed even more mature and enigmatic at that moment, his strong-featured face adorned with an indulgent smile. With his arms folded, his gaze never left her for a second. ¡°Mr. Shen, it¡¯s over,¡± someone quietly reminded him. ¡°I know.¡± He stood up slowly, nced at his wristwatch, and the tall figure walked away from the piano. Chapter 258 - 258 Shen Chi, come out Chapter 258 Shen Chi,e out Trantor: 549690339 He walked step by step down the steps from the stage as if he had never been there. On the other hand, Xu Chaomu, amidst the apuse, rushed backstage right aftering down. ¡°Where¡¯s he?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t even catch her breath when she shouted. The backstage teacher was stunned and casually said, ¡°Xu Chaomu, who are you looking for?¡± ¡°The person who just yed the piano.¡± ¡°The one who just yed the piano, isn¡¯t that you, Xu Chaomu?¡± ¡°No, he was just here, wasn¡¯t he? Wasn¡¯t someone just ying the piano backstage?¡± ¡°Sorry, we don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± Shen Chi had already instructed them not to mention it. These people relied on Shen Chi for their livelihood, naturally, they would abide by his orders. ¡°Seriously!¡± Xu Chaomu stamped her foot in frustration. He must have been here just now! His fingering, his ying habits; she knew all of it. The person just ying the piano was him! She had listened for eight years; she couldn¡¯t be mistaken! Ignoring Xu Chaomu, she dashed out of backstage on her own. Running in high heels wasn¡¯t fast, so she took them off and carried them as she ran outside. The outside of the auditorium was deste; no one was around, but the sun was particrly nice. As Xu Chaomu ran out, she looked around but saw no one. ¡°Shen Chi,e out!¡± she called out his name, standing on the cold ground in her socks. Why had hee to the auditorium? She always had a bad feeling in her heart, suspecting that he was saying goodbye to her in his own way¡­ Suddenly, she really wanted to take back something she had said a long time ago. One day, he told her he was going to South Africa and that it might be for a long time. But she was in a huff and said, ¡°How long is a long time? It would be best if you never came back.¡± How could she say such a thing before he left? Nevering back would only mean one possibility, that is¡­ Xu Chaomu shook her head desperately, no, it couldn¡¯t be. He was Shen Chi, the President of Shen Group, a perfect god-like figure in her mind. It was just a business trip, just a trip to South Africa; nothing would happen to him. It definitely wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ Fourth Brother¡­ it was you just now, wasn¡¯t it? Where are you?¡± Xu Chaomu shouted desperately, but the only reply was her own echo. Shen Chi had not left; he stood quietly in a break room, watching through the window. When he saw Xu Chaomu standing barefoot on the ground, he wanted to go out and scold her, but he didn¡¯t; he just stood there in silence. The sunlight draped over his dark shirt, and his eyes were deep and still like water. The wind blew Xu Chaomu¡¯s long hair; from his position, he could see her slender silhouette perfectly. Her hair drifted gently; she was the greatest tenderness of his life. Xu Chaomu stood there a long, long time, calling ¡°Shen Chi¡± over and over, but she couldn¡¯t find him, couldn¡¯t see his shadow. A lush jasmine tree stood beside the path; when the breeze stirred, petals fell on Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair. Standing beneath the tree, everythingposed a beautifully picturesque scene. She searched the entire campus but saw neither Shen Chi nor his Maybach. Feeling forlorn, she returned to the dorm by herself; her roommates hadn¡¯te back yet. She took off the dress she had only worn for a few hours, grabbed a washbasin, and started to wash clothes. She washed diligently, carefully scrubbing the cuffs and cor. She thought about taking the clothes and shoes back to her room the next time she returned to the Shen family. Only after Xu Chaomu returned to the dorm did Shen Chi leave the break room and drive to the group headquarters. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to see her, he was afraid that if he did, he wouldn¡¯t have the heart to leave. The day for his trip to South Africa was set for three dayster. In three days, he wouldn¡¯t see her for over a month. Of course, if something unexpected happened, it would be a lifetime. This was her favorite piano piece. Before leaving, he yed it for her once more. During his time in South Africa, she had to be well and wait for him to return. On the day Shen Chi left for South Africa, it coincided with Xu Chaomu¡¯s midterm exams. This was an exam Xu Chaomu had prepared for a long time, and it would also be herst high school exam. Shen Chi had a flight early at seven in the morning, while Xu Chaomu had her exam at the same time. Shen Chi hadn¡¯t expected such a coincidence and felt a sense of emptiness. ¡°President Shen, everything is ready; it¡¯s time to go,¡± Old Cheng said while pulling the suitcase. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi walked out of Waterside Pavilion. Halfway through, he remembered something and turned back. Returning to his room, he found that ugly stuffed pillow. He tossed it to Old Cheng, ¡°Take this with you too.¡± Old Cheng caught it, his face lined with bewilderment; if anyone found out, it would certainly make headlines. ¡°President Shen, is this Miss Xu¡¯s?¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s hers, and it¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Old Cheng was even more speechless. Shen Chi sat in the back seat of the Maybach, the car slowly leaving Waterside Pavilion; he suddenly missed her very much. He especially missed the times when she sat with him in the car, when she was always mischievous. One moment she¡¯d be sitting, another she¡¯d be lying down, then looking out the window, and the next climbing on him. She was never settle, her little paws always liked to climb up his neck. ¡°Fourth Brother, smile for me.¡± Back then, he would always keep a straight face and shake her off, ¡°Go away!¡± She wouldugh even happier, hooking her little w around his neck, ¡°Fourth Brother, you always look so stern; you¡¯ll age fast! Then, no one will want you. But it doesn¡¯t matter, I won¡¯t mind you. Sigh, I suppose I¡¯ll reluctantly take you in then.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, if you dare climb on me again, I will throw you out!¡± ¡°You¡¯re always cross with me. Can¡¯t you speak nicely for once? Annoying devil.¡± Xu Chaomu would turn her head away in a huff every time this happened. But, well, she was always fickle. After three minutes, her little head would forget everything, and she¡¯d bounce right back next to him. ¡°Fourth Brother, buy me a few new notebooks, I want to drawics, the pretty ones!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you use the notebooks given out by the school? No!¡± ¡°So stingy, what are you doing with all the money you earn? Supporting a mistress?¡± She giggled, her eyes crescent-shaped with amusement. ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop talking, hit the truth, did I? Supporting a mistress isn¡¯t something to be ashamed of; I can keep your secret.¡± ¡°If you keep spouting nonsense¡­¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll throw me out the window, won¡¯t you?¡± Xu Chaomu was nonchnt; she had learned the script. Back then, Shen Chi was always amused by her, and Xu Chaomu was such a chatterbox. Whenever he sat with her, she¡¯d chatter nonstop, switching topics every moment. He wondered where she got so many things to talk about. After being scolded by him a few times, she would quiet down a bit. However, it didn¡¯t take long for her to forget again. For instance, she¡¯d say, ¡°Fourth Brother, you really need to earn more money.¡± Chapter 259: His Mumu, One of a Kind Chapter 259: His Mumu, One of a Kind Trantor:549690339 ¡°Hmm?¡± He would squint his eyes at her. ¡°You have so many little lovers, they¡¯ll give you lots of children, if you don¡¯t work hard to make money, you won¡¯t have enough for baby form,¡± Xu Chaomu said earnestly. When she spoke nonsense so earnestly, she was always the cutest. It¡¯s like a dog can¡¯t spit ivory, but whenever Shen Chi recalled it, a faint smile would spill over the corners of his mouth. He remembered, at that time, he grabbed her cor angrily and scolded her, ¡°Xu Chaomu, where the hell did you learn this?¡± ¡°Am I wrong? Let go, let go, you can¡¯t just get mad because I hit a nerve¡­¡± ¡°Behave yourself!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu touched her forehead in defeat. She couldn¡¯t behave herself, sulking and looking miserable after his reprimands. Yet before her seat was warm, she would act smug again! ¡°Fourth Brother, I found something fun!¡± Shen Chi was about to close his eyes and rest but was startled awake by her exmation. ¡°Fourth Brother, don¡¯t sleep, listen to me.¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Shen Chi frowned, genuinely annoyed. ¡°There¡¯s a student in our ss who brought over a ck rabbit and I noticed it has a tuft of white fur on its head, it¡¯s very interesting.¡± Shen Chi was speechless and didn¡¯t want to deal with her. ¡°Fourth brother, isn¡¯t it interesting? Why does it have white fur on its head? Gic mutation? Malnutrition? Or some other reason?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu! Are you a never-ending fountain of questions?!¡± Shen Chi got mad. ¡°If I don¡¯t understand, I should ask, right? Oh, I get it now, you don¡¯t know either, definitely.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be so vexed about?¡± ¡°Then you tell me, why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s painted with paint, got it?¡± Shen Chi said seriously. ¡°Ah? That¡¯s so cruel, how could you paint a little rabbit? They are so cute.¡± Xu Chaomu felt terrible for quite a while, her eyes turning red, but she finally quieted down. Only then did Shen Chi get some peace. The deeper the smile at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s lips grew as he remembered, that girl, so easy to deceive. His Mumu, irreceable. But, from some point, she stopped being so talkative and clingy. Even when he teased her, she would respond half-heartedly. She used to love to y with him, but now, she gets easily annoyed. Even, she said, Shen Chi, I hate you. Even, she silently left the hospital without saying a word. Even, she says, I don¡¯t want your things, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t repay them. Thinking of this, Shen Chi¡¯s heart ached. He didn¡¯t want Xu Chaomu like this. He wanted his Mumu, the spirited, cute, pure, and kind Xu Chaomu. Sitting in the back of the car, Shen Chi¡¯s gaze fixed steadily ahead. This departure, how was he to endure the long nights and each day without her¡­ ¡°President Shen, I heard from Butler Ling that today is Miss Xu¡¯s midterm exam day.¡± Shen Chi nodded: ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen Miss Xu studying so diligentlytely, she¡¯s bound to get good results.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care whether she studies well or not.¡± ¡°President Shen¡­ forgive my bold question, but if you¡¯re so reluctant to part with Miss Xu, why go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to officially end the adoption?¡± Butler Cheng had been puzzled by this question for a long time, and even Butler Ling couldn¡¯t fathom it. ¡°What do I have to miss about her? She¡¯s so annoying; why keep her in the Shen Family?¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± Butler Cheng choked up. He clearly heard from Butler Ling that President Shen always seems so happy when he¡¯s with Miss Xu, offering her food and serving her rice during meals, nearly spoon-feeding her. Yet, when asked, he gives such a contradictory answer. Butler Cheng also disdained Shen Chi. ¡°President Shen, don¡¯t you really want to go to school and say goodbye to Miss Xu?¡± ¡°Not going.¡± ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll drive directly to the airport.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Butler Cheng slowed down the car. ¡°Forget it, go to the airport.¡± Shen Chi waved his hand. Actually, he had just thought about asking Butler Cheng to drive to the school because he really wanted to see her. But, seeing her would only deepen his sense of loss. He¡¯d be back from South Africa soon. It was just a matter of time. He hoped that when he returned, she would have achieved good results. Then, he would fulfill his promise and give her what she wanted. With that thought, his lips curved upward slightly. ¡°President Shen, Butler Ling said that he will go to school to see Miss Xu today,¡± said Butler Cheng. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, Butler Ling has made a lot of delicious food and will take it there. However, he asked me to check with you if it¡¯s allowed for him to go.¡± ¡°If he wants to go, let him, if not, it¡¯s fine. She can¡¯t always be coddled.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Butler Cheng deliberately elongated his tone. What does it mean she can¡¯t always be coddled? Miss Xu¡¯s temperament was entirely spoiled by Shen Chi himself. Butler Cheng and Butler Ling reached a conclusion in private: whenever Shen Chi mentions Xu Chaomu, he acts all tsundere, denying everything with his mouth but not really feeling that way. Moreover, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes always twinkle when Xu Chaomu is mentioned. How cold and proud Shen Chi appears in the eyes of others, but only with Xu Chaomu does he bow his head and show all his tenderness. Butler Cheng and Butler Ling once thought Shen Chi could not smile. Later, they realized they were wrong. ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ve heard people say that the diamonds from South Africa are pure andrge and beautiful,¡± said Butler Cheng. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Chi smirked, ¡°this time, I¡¯ll pick the biggest, most beautiful ruby.¡± ¡°Hmm? Is it for Miss Xu?¡± Butler Cheng asked deliberately. ¡°Why give it to her? Just pick a cheap one from a roadside stall for her to y with. With her taste, she¡¯d treat a ruby like a marble.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Butler Cheng elongated his tone again. Clearly, the ruby Shen Chi was picking was definitely for Xu Chaomu. But Butler Cheng could not understand why President Shen needed to personally go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to end the adoption with Xu Chaomu. The car headed towards the airport but just as they were nearing it, Shen Chi made a call to Xiao Mo. After hanging up, Shen Chi spoke in a low voice to Butler Cheng: ¡°Change the route, take the ferry.¡± Butler Cheng quickly steered the wheel: ¡°To the dock?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°President Shen, what¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t borate. This was just one of his and Xiao Mo¡¯s ns: first, create the illusion that he was already on a ne, and then, quietly cross the Indian Ocean by ferry. Better safe than sorry. His thorough nning was all to ensure a safe return from South Africa. He couldn¡¯t abandon her, for the rest of his life he needed to be her shelter from the storm. Butler Cheng didn¡¯t pry, aware that Shen Chi was meticulous in his ns. So he promptly turned the car around, heading for the dock. Chapter 260: Goodbye, Shen Chi Chapter 260: Goodbye, Shen Chi Trantor:549690339 The weather was quite pleasant that day. Xu Chaomu worked on her test paper in the ssroom, and from time to time, squinted out the window at the sun. The morning sun was just rising, and a light mist hung in the air. Xu Chaomu squinted her eyes, quietly watching the campus. How many more nces could she take¡­ ¡°There are fifteen minutes left before the exam ends, everyone please hurry up.¡± While Xu Chaomu was lost in thought, the invigting teacher reminded everyone. Xu Chaomu quickly pulled her thoughts back and buried her head in the test paper. The first subject was math, followed by Chinese. This time¡¯s math test, supposedly set by a teacher named Ge Jun, who was dubbed the ¡°king of sadistic teachers,¡± was always aimed at failing the students. However, with Lou Yanli¡¯s help, Xu Chaomu had made rapid progress and was able to handle it even though it was Ge Jun¡¯s test paper. The entire mid-term examsted three days. After the three days, there was a four-day break. Following thest history exam, Xu Chaomu packed up her backpack slowly. ¡°Chaomu! My parents are taking me to T City for a trip during the break. Do you want to go with us?¡± Yu Weiwei was also packing up her bag. Xu Chaomu shook her head: ¡°No thanks, I¡¯ve got a date with my boyfriend.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Yu Weiwei deliberately drew out her intonation, winking mischievously, ¡°Then have a good date, I¡¯m off, see you in four days.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ see you in four days, have fun. Don¡¯t forget to bring me a souvenir!¡± Xu Chaomu waved to her. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t forget you no matter what.¡± Soon, Yu Weiwei finished packing, waved to Xu Chaomu, and left the ssroom. Xu Chaomu was packing slowly; she wanted to take her time because this was going to be herst day in the ssroom. Farewell, to everything. She knew Shen Chi had great influence in C City, and as long as she stayed there, she would definitely be caught by him. Therefore, she wanted to leave C City and go abroad. She had said she would be the bridesmaid at his engagement party, but she broke her word. She truly feared the day woulde when she would see him hand-in-hand, lovingly with Bai Man, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to stop crying. Now, with Bai Man pregnant again, the three of them were a happy family; how could she possibly keep herposure? Crying at the engagement party was inauspicious. She wanted him to be very happy, so she mustn¡¯t cry. If she left alone, she could make everyone happy. She continued to pack her books at a leisurely pace, going through everything in her desk once more. She found some magazines in the desk and a fewicsbeled Not suitable for children. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help butugh, reminiscing about the days when she and Yu Weiwei secretly read magazines during ss. Back then, the moment ss started, they¡¯d pile their books high in front of them so they wouldn¡¯t be caught looking down at the magazines. They often heatedly discussed them; for instance Yu Weiwei would often ask, ¡°Look at this male model, isn¡¯t his body great? Don¡¯t you want to touch?¡± She would respond without any shame: ¡°Not just touch, I also want to sleep with him¡­¡± And then she¡¯d cover her face first. Yu Weiwei would alsock shame: ¡°No way, no way, if anyone¡¯s going to sleep with him, it should be me first.¡± By the time their discussion heated up, the teacher would typically have alreadye with a book in hand to where they were sitting. ¡°Xu Chaomu! Yu Weiwei! Stand up, both of you!¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The two would slowly stand up, heads hanging low. But at that point, Xu Chaomu would look pitifully and say, ¡°Teacher, standing up will block the view of the students behind us, so maybe we should just stand outside¡­¡± ¡°Right, right, for the sake of the students behind us, we should make some sacrifices¡­¡± Yu Weiwei chimed in. ¡°Fine! One of you go stand in the yground, the other by the main gate! I don¡¯t want to see your faces!¡± The teacher would explode. The two of them, in perfect duet, always managed to shake the teacher with rage. Then they¡¯d exchange a look, gleefully dash out of the ssroom, and continue their discussion about sleeping with male models. At the thought of these moments, Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands paused. The days she spent in ss with Yu Weiwei were some of the happiest times of her life. She wondered whether Weiwei would miss her, or if she would cry¡­ At that moment, Xu Chaomu cried first, tears plopping down on the desk. It started with quiet sobbing and then she buried her face on the desk crying inconsbly. Thankfully the ssroom was empty, so she could cry out loud without feeling embarrassed. As darkness fell, Xu Chaomu, not wanting to leave, sat in her chair for a long time. After crying for a while, she raised her head to look at the ckboard, her gaze dull. She remembered when the teacher called her to the board to solve a problem, when she wiped the ckboard as part of the cleaning duty, and when she had nothing to do on weekends, she¡¯d scribble carelessly on the board¡­ Back then, her favorite thing was to write Shen Chi¡¯s name with chalk on the ckboard. She felt that he was the most beautiful encounter of her life. Farewell, Shen Chi. May you always be happy¡­ When the moon rose, Xu Chaomu knew that even the most reluctant feasts muste to an end. She neatly stacked the textbooks on the desk, took nothing with her, and only picked a few small items into her backpack. Small keepsakes given by Yu Weiwei, and the doll given by Lou Yanli, she took them all¡­ Finally, she stood up, walked to the ssroom door, and quietly looked at her desk. The countlesste nights ofpanionship, this farewell, meant she would never see them again. She noticed her desk was the neatest, and for the first time after so many years of schooling, she felt like a good student. She didn¡¯t know whether her books would be thrown away after she left. Standing at the door, the tears just silently streamed down. On those books, there were many drawings by her hand. For a while she was particrly addicted to reading BLics, drawing on her textbooks during ss. Lost in her thoughts, she would draw a submissive character and write Shen Chi¡¯s name, and then, directing her own little story, she imagined how Shen Chi would be trained by someone even more formidable. At that time, she was so delighted, giggling to herself, ¡°That¡¯s what you get for being so smug, for being so arrogant, you bastard, I¡¯m going to make you pick up the soap!¡± Hmph, pick up the soap. At those recollections, Xu Chaomu wiped her tears. Finally, she turned off the ssroom lights, one by one, until darkness surrounded her. With a ¡°bang¡±, the door closed. She stood at the doorway, tears falling down like relentless rain. She wasn¡¯t one to cry, buttely, she had lost count of the number of times she had cried. The pitch-ck corridor was deathly quiet, every ssroom plunged into darkness. Xu Chaomu gripped her backpack straps tightly, looking back at her ssroom as she stepped back further and further¡­ ss 2 of the second year. Farewell¡­ As she watched the ssroom slowly vanish from her sight, once she reached the stairs, she turned her head, refusing to look back at all she was leaving behind. Chapter 261: Who Gives Time to Measure the Passing Years Trantor:549690339 Descending the steps, Xu Chaomu dashed down from upstairs at breakneck speed. She feared she truly couldn¡¯t restrain herself from bursting into loud sobs, she didn¡¯t want to cry anymore, if she did, she might dehydrate, and after all, girls who cry too much will develop wrinkles. Upon reaching downstairs, she turned back to her dorm to pack her things, stuffing her small suitcase full to the brim. Once everything was packed, she tucked the suitcase into a corner, ready to drag it away on the day she would leave on a ne. After closing the door of her dorm, she came out with only a tote bag in hand¡ªthe gift Shen Chi had given her for her eighteenth birthday. The white dress and those red-soled shoes. She had washed them until they were spotless, wanting to take them back to the Shen Family. This time, she was smarter, before heading to the Shen Family, she made a call to the butler Ling from a telephone booth. If Shen Chi was at home, she would absolutely not return. ¡°Butler Ling, have you¡­ had dinner yet?¡± ¡°Oh, Miss Xu, I have, where are you? I heard your midterms just ended?¡± ¡°Yes, just finished today. I¡¯m at school right now, I¡¯ll be going mountain climbing with ssmates tomorrow.¡± ¡°Going mountain climbing, make sure you¡¯re safe, and remember to wear a hat now that the weather¡¯s hot, a youngdy like you wouldn¡¯t look good getting tanned.¡± Xu Chaomuughed: ¡°I have thick skin, I won¡¯t tan easily.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no way to speak of oneself, Miss Xu, you haven¡¯t had dinner yet, have you? Come to the Shen Family tonight, and I¡¯ll make you something delicious.¡± ¡°Butler Ling¡­ is he¡­ is Brother Si at home?¡± Upon hearing her question, Butler Ling caught on immediately: ¡°Miss Xu, the young master went to South Africa already, it¡¯s been three days.¡± ¡°He¡¯s already gone to South Africa? I didn¡¯t know that,¡± Xu Chaomu said, somewhat disconste, as she touched her head. Although she knew long ago that he was heading to South Africa, at this moment, her heart still felt a profound sense of loss. He had been gone for three days already, and she didn¡¯t know, nobody had told her. To the Shen Family, she was really¡­ being treated like an outsider, wasn¡¯t she¡­ ¡°Yes, he left three days ago. Young master left in a hurry, so he didn¡¯t tell you, Miss Xu. Don¡¯t hold it against Brother Si, in the past few days, he still called and asked me to check on you more often at school.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t really believe that, she felt Butler Ling was just trying to cheer her up. ¡°Miss Xu, are youing to the Shen house?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to pick up some stuff, just what I need for mountain climbing tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you at the Shen house. It¡¯s a good opportunity to make some food for you.¡± After hanging up the public phone, Xu Chaomu, carrying her backpack and holding her tote, headed to the bus stop. After hanging up with Xu Chaomu, Butler Ling was exceptionally happy. He didn¡¯t even realize when he had grown fond of this young girl. He used to think she was mischievous, butter discovered that this girl was particrly pure and lovely. Just like a nk sheet of paper, devoid of any guile, very likeable indeed. The moment Xu Chaomu returned to the Shen Family, Butler Ling busied himself with taking her bags. ¡°Miss Xu, you¡¯ve finallye back, Dabai has been so listless these days, not eating or drinking. The moment I said Miss Xu would return, it started jumping around energetically.¡± ¡°Dabai¡¯s be a little devil, such a naughty dog. It doesn¡¯t like me, it just feels nobody¡¯s here to bother it when I¡¯m away.¡± ¡°Miss Xu, what are you talking about? Dabai truly likes you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just assume it really likes me, and feed it some meatter.¡± ¡°Before you feed Dabai, Miss Xu, you need to fill your own stomach first.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t decline Butler Ling¡¯s offer, she had eaten meals at the Shen¡¯s for eight years, truly wanting to eat there onest time¡­ Butler Ling prepared a lot of delicious food for her, and Xu Chaomu chatted with him while eating. ¡°Butler, who else is at home right now?¡± ¡°These past few days have been very quiet at the Shen household. Your Brother Si went to South Africa, the Second Miss and Third Young Master also seem to be quite busy, haven¡¯t been back in days. Lady Liu has gone back to her parents¡¯ house, and the old master hardly ever returns here.¡± ¡°What about Sister-in-Law Si?¡± ¡°Miss Bai hasn¡¯t been visiting recently, I heard that the filming crew is very busy.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, indicating she understood. After dinner, she walked alone to her room, deciding not to leave today, to sleep one more night in the room she had slept in for eight years. The small bed was still the same bed from before, and the table was still the same one from before, nothing had changed. Sitting on the bed, a flood of memories surged before her. When she first arrived at the Shen¡¯s, she often had nightmares, and at that time, she would fuss and refuse to sleep alone. Shamelessly, she would run to Shen Chi¡¯s room, crying as she ran: ¡°Brother Si¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­ sleep with me¡­¡± Shen Chi would always have a dark expression, pushing her hand away: ¡°Xu Chaomu, can you be any more shameless? Don¡¯t you realize that girls can¡¯t just sleep with boys casually?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care, I want to sleep with you, I¡¯ll take responsibility if ites to it.¡± ¡°Then go to sleep with your Brother San!¡± Shen Chi felt aggravated. ¡°I¡¯m not close with Brother San!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not close with you either!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that, haven¡¯t we hugged before and you still say we¡¯re not close? You can¡¯t be like this as a person.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, where did you get all this nonsense from? I see you are not afraid at all, get back to your own room!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave, I want to sleep with you!¡± Back then, she was like a little tyrant, jumping onto his bed, taking possession of it. However, Shen Chi was always one step ahead, picking her up by her cor and tossing her back into her own room. ¡°Xu Chaomu! If you dare run into my room again, I¡¯ll throw you into the doghouse!¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you big jerk! Shen Chi, you bastard!¡± she grumbled angrily, what an annoying ghost he was. After cursing, she would lie on the bed counting sheep. The nightmares continued toe, and whenever she dreamed of that fire, she would wake up shocked. Feeling around, her pillow was soaked with tears. But eventually, Butler Ling started brewing her a type of tea every night, said to be calming for the nerves. After drinking it many times, she felt more tranquil and finally had nightmares less often. Once, she secretly discovered that it was actually Shen Chi who personally made it for her. She was moved to tears, shaking his arm: ¡°Brother Si, you really love me so much. If you do, just say it, I¡¯ll ept your confession!¡± Back then, Shen Chi nced at her disdainfully: ¡°Ridiculous! I¡¯m only doing this to keep you from running into my room.¡± Remembering the past, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but stroke the small bed and sigh. Time flies so quickly, eight years in the blink of an eye. Xu Chaomu, hand on her forehead, thought of a phrase, ¡°time flies.¡± Time flies, merely a flick of a finger¡¯s moment. Who grants time to flow on. From now on, she¡¯ll never run into his room again, from now on, his baby will be the one to crawl into his room. She had, after all, be a passerby¡­ Xu Chaomu was actually quite curious, when his baby crawled into his room, would he also maintain a stern face? Thinking of this, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. Not knowing how long she had sat by the bed, Xu Chaomu lingered, reluctant to stand up. Chapter 262: The Fox Spirit that Presented Itself The clock on the wall ticked by the second until the hour hand pointed at eight, only then did she shake her head and start to pack her things. First, she took out the clothes and shoes from her handbag. The white dress was hung in the wardrobe, and the red-bottomed shoes were ced on the shoe rack. These were the birthday gifts he had given her for her eighteenth birthday. She would leave them here. In the future, whether they were thrown away or given away. She opened the wardrobe and picked out a few pieces of clothing she often wore. Her clothes were really ugly. All Shen Chi¡¯s fault, the clothes he bought for her were all ugly. But from now on, she would wear whatever she wanted, and he could no longer control her. It was supposed to be quite a happy thing, but Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose slightly soured. That one piece of lingerie was still there. Xu Chaomu reached out and took it off the hanger, stuffing it into the bag. After finishing with the clothes, she started to pack shoes, small items¡­ ¡°Knock knock knock¡­¡± The door to her room was suddenly knocked. Xu Chaomu quickly zipped up her backpack, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Bai Man.¡± A voice as light as a oriole¡¯s came through. Xu Chaomu paused in her actions. Bai Man? Wasn¡¯t she at the film set? Was sheing back to sleep now? She rushed over to open the door for Bai Man, ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, you¡¯re back.¡± Bai Man had indeed just returned from the film set, still wrapped in a green coat. She gathered her hair and peeked into the room, ¡°May Ie in?¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± Wearing high heels, Bai Man stepped inside and casually closed the door to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Usually, she had no chance toe to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Ever since the incident with the nest time, Shen Chi had made it clear to everyone in the Shen Family: without his permission, no one was allowed to enter Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Bai Man felt envious now that she thought about it. ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, have you had dinner?¡± ¡°I ate at the film set. Since I wasing back to the Shen¡¯s, and I heard from Butler Ling that you¡¯d returned, I came to see you,¡± Bai Man replied. ¡°I also just got back a while ago.¡± ¡°I heard your mid-term exams are over. How did you do?¡± Bai Man sat down on a chair. ¡°Okay, I guess. The results will be out in a while anyway,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. She knew she wouldn¡¯t know the results. Whether good or bad, they didn¡¯t have much to do with her anymore. ¡°Chaomu, would you like to study abroad?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up confusedly, absentmindedly replying, ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, as you know, I don¡¯t like studying.¡± ¡°Your school has spots for studying abroad, and countless people are desperate to get one. It just so happens that I have a connection reserved for you. Won¡¯t you consider it?¡± Bai Man said in the same indifferent tone. ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, rest assured, I won¡¯t fight with you for Fourth Brother. He loves you, and I know that.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I just think studying abroad would be more beneficial for your future. Moreover, I¡¯ve discussed this with your Fourth Brother. He also thinks that it would be better for you to study abroad.¡± Hearing thest sentence, Xu Chaomu paused, not speaking for a long time. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I can have Xiaofeng make the arrangements right away.¡± ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, I can manage my own life. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just offering you a great opportunity. If you don¡¯t want it, let it be,¡± Bai Man¡¯s face looked a bit displeased. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want it,¡± Xu Chaomu replied firmly, her face showing her stubbornness. Why should they arrange her life for her? She didn¡¯t want that. ¡°Suit yourself, but let me tell you, don¡¯t keep thinking about Shen Chi. He and I are about to get married. We¡¯ve already registered our marriage. We¡¯re legally husband and wife,¡± Bai Man stated. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your man. Take good care of him yourself,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted lightly. ¡°He loves me, and I believe him. I just need to sweep away any fox spirits thate knocking at his door,¡± Bai Man said with a sting in her voice, and Xu Chaomu felt extremely ufortable. No one had ever called her a ¡°fox spirit.¡± She was not a fox spirit. She knew that after learning Shen Chi was getting married, she had never bothered him again. Why would they call her a fox spirit? ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, I don¡¯t know what you mean by that. I¡¯m notpeting with you for Fourth Brother. Why are you so insecure?¡± ¡°Chaomu, did I say you? There are no shortage of women in the Shen Group who covet your Fourth Brother. You¡¯re so nervous, could it be that I struck a nerve?¡± ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, I don¡¯t want to argue with you.¡± ¡°Actually, everyone in the Shen Family knows you like Shen Chi. Even though he is getting married, you still stick to him. Tell me, why do you like someone else¡¯s husband so much?¡± ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, did youe here to argue with me? Since you¡¯ve said it yourself, your husband loves you most, why are you still fixating on me?¡± ¡°Men are creatures with no self-control. I have to be on my guard against those little fox spirits who try to climb into other people¡¯s beds every day,¡± Bai Man said with a sneer. ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, do you really trust your husband so little? My room is just a wall away from his. If I could climb over, would I have not managed to do so in eight years? It shows just how much he loves you.¡± Xu Chaomu knew Shen Chi didn¡¯t touch other women. He kept himself pure for Bai Man alone. Even when he was drunk and kissed her, he never touched her. ¡°Xu Chaomu, of course I trust my husband, but I don¡¯t trust you,¡± Bai Man said. ¡°Whether you trust me or not, that¡¯s your problem,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep now, Fourth Sister-in-Law. Please leave.¡± She had a good temper, calling Bai Man ¡®Fourth Sister-in-Law¡¯. If she were not in a good mood, she would directly call her ¡°Bai Man¡± by her full name. ¡°By the way, why did youe back to the Shen¡¯s?¡± Bai Man said disdainfully. ¡°I just came to get some things, Fourth Sister-in-Law. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re not yet married into the Shen Family.¡± ¡°Well, Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t forget that you have no rtionship with the Shen Family at all. I heard that my husband evenpleted the annulment of the adoption with you? It was a bit heartless, but it also put an end to any little hopes you might have.¡± Bai Man¡¯s face didn¡¯t show the slightest sign of difort as she spoke. If she could get Xu Chaomu out before Shen Chi returned, then there was still a possibility for her and Shen Chi to reconcile. Sure enough, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face changed, a sour feeling spreading across her chest. Yeah, he had even processed the notarization with her, and it was more than just being heartless¡­ Everyone said Shen Chi was cold and heartless, and on the matter of the notarization, Xu Chaomu had thoroughly experienced that. He must have disliked her so much to have insistently taken her to do the notarization. Eight years of affection, even if there was no love, there was still the joy of dailypanionship¡­ He really was fed up with her. Xu Chaomu stopped arguing with Bai Man, who was sharply on point. ¡°Fourth Sister-in-Law, you don¡¯t have to worry. I won¡¯t return to the Shen Family ever again.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word. Ah, my baby just kicked me in my belly. You sleep; I¡¯m leaving now,¡± Bai Man said. After that, Bai Man touched her lower abdomen, satisfied, and left Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Chapter 263: I am your husband Chapter 263: I am your husband Trantor: 549690339 This was just the beginning; she only gave Xu Chaomu a warning. Shen Chi had been in South Africa for over a month, and she had plenty of time to deal with her. She knew Shen Chi had people watching Xu Chaomu, but she refused to believe that she couldn¡¯t handle them with her wealth and capabilities. Once Bai Man left, Xu Chaomu continued to pack her clothes in a disheartened manner. But it was no big deal, once she went overseas, there would be plenty of good men. She heard that, oh, foreign men are tall and handsome! Yu Weiwei often insinuated in her ear, ¡°Chaomu, do you know, foreign men have super great physiques! And¡­ and¡­ hehehe, they are particrly impressive in that ¡®aspect¡¯, you know what I mean!¡± Having said that, Yu Weiwei herself blushed and covered her face. Of course, Xu Chaomu understood; she had grown up immersing herself in the Little Forbidden Book. Hmph, once she went overseas, she¡¯d find a tall and handsome man with a great physique, and then, she¡¯d have a bunch of Xiaobaos. It¡¯s just pregnancy, what¡¯s so great about that, Bai Man? As she fantasized while packing, someone knocked on her door again. ¡°Who is it?¡± Xu Chaomu was on alert this time; if it was Bai Man, she wouldn¡¯t open the door. ¡°It¡¯s me, Miss Xu, are you asleep yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Xu Chaomu walked over. ¡°Miss Xu, the Fourth Master has called for you, pleasee downstairs to take it.¡± ¡°Me? Isn¡¯t it the Fourth Sister-inw?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you, I didn¡¯t hear wrong.¡± ¡°How did he know I¡¯m back at the Shen Family?¡± Xu Chaomu wondered. ¡°Oh, sorry, when the Fourth Master called, I identally let it slip, so he asked you, Miss Xu, to answer the phone. He wants to speak with you.¡± The butler told another lie; she had actually called Shen Chi herself. Reluctantly, Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°Butler, just tell him I¡¯m asleep.¡± ¡°Miss Xu, please take the call. The Fourth Master is waiting, I really can¡¯t exin myself if you don¡¯t!¡± In the end, Xu Chaomu was still kindhearted. As she heard the butler say so, she felt embarrassed to refuse any further. She went downstairs and picked up the phone. ¡°Who is it? Calling me sote, disturbing my sweet dreams.¡± She held the phone and snorted coldly. At this moment, Shen Chi was still on the ferry. He stood on the deck, quietly enjoying the sea breeze and the tumultuous sound of the waves. In the past few days, he was almost sleepless, seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s image every time he opened or closed his eyes. Now, hearing her voice, he finally smiled, ¡°Little rascal, guess who I am.¡± With Shen Chi¡¯s deep and powerful voice, how could Xu Chaomu not recognize him? She pretended to ponder for a while and shook her head helplessly, ¡°I can¡¯t tell; with such an unpleasant voice, how would I know who it is.¡± ¡°How did the midterm exams go?¡± ¡°Who are you? You still haven¡¯t told me who you are. If you don¡¯t say, I¡¯m going to hang up now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your husband!¡± Shen Chi said, annoyed. Xu Chaomu held her forehead. Did he have to be so blunt? In the past, when Xu Chaomu joked with Shen Chi, she also used to say, ¡°Fourth Brother, if no one wants me in the future, just take me in. I¡¯d be your wife and warm your bed for you.¡± At that time, Shen Chi looked at her in disgust, ¡°With that skinny body of yours, you think you can warm the bed?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I guarantee I can make the bed warm and cozy.¡± ¡°Warming the bed, a task of physical endurance, is usually a man¡¯s job.¡± ¡°Oh, then you can do it.¡± Back then, Xu Chaomu was slow to respond, and it took her a long time to realize, damn, this man¡¯s thoughts were impure; he was an outright ruffian! And yet, she had unthinkinglye back with, ¡°Oh, then you can do it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you, how did your midterm exams go?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice pulled Xu Chaomu back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m aiming for second-tost ce.¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips. ¡°Not bad, pretty good. As long as you don¡¯t get the veryst ce, I¡¯ll bring you a gift.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose tingled, wanting to smile but unable to: ¡°I don¡¯t want any gifts from you.¡± ¡°Not wanting gifts, then what do you want?¡± ¡°Right, is the Fourth Sister-inw home? I¡¯ll call her to take the phone; she misses you a lot.¡± Xu Chaomu changed the subject. The more gifts he sent her, the more uneasy she felt. After all, they had no rtionship with each other now. But, she wouldn¡¯t wait for him toe back either¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, you stop right there.¡± Shen Chi really got angry this time, ¡°Can¡¯t you have a proper conversation with me? Must you always be in a foul mood? Do you know that I miss you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who wanted me to answer the phone. Do you think I wanted to?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted irritably. Bai Man¡¯s words were still echoing in her mind. Yes, it was he who heartlessly went through with the certification with her. Moreover, he and Bai Man even had a baby on the way. Recalling Bai Man leaving her room earlier, touching her stomach with a blissful look on her face. Then, Xu Chaomu involuntarily conjured up an image of them entangled in bed together. Suddenly, Xu Chaomu wanted to hang up the phone. ¡°You sure have a temper, did I offend you again?¡± Shen Chi said in a deep tone. The sea breeze lifted his clothes as he stood on the deck, listening to the waves p against the ship. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore, hanging up.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you dare!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Xu Chaomu decisively hung up the phone and grumbled. What wouldn¡¯t she dare? Since she was young, she had always loved being contrary to him. But this time, it wasn¡¯t about being contrary; she truly felt that she was drifting further and further away from him¡­ Shen Chi got hung up on by Xu Chaomu and was so irate he almost threw his phone into the sea! Distressed, he rolled up his sleeves and undid a few buttons at his cor. No one had ever dared to hang up on him, Shen Chi, and Xu Chaomu was the first! The butler, tidying up the living room, saw that Xu Chaomu had only spoken a few words beforeing out and hurriedly approached her, ¡°Miss Xu, why didn¡¯t you talk with the Fourth Master for a bit longer?¡± ¡°Nothing to talk about.¡± The butler¡¯s face was filled with ck lines. In the past at the Shen Family, Xu Chaomu was the one who talked the most and was especially clingy to Shen Chi. Whenever she was with Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu would be aplete chatterbox, unstoppable. ¡°Butler, may I go into his room?¡± Xu Chaomu inquired. ¡°The Fourth Master¡¯s room? Of course, of course, I¡¯ll go get the keys for you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t his room off-limits to others? Doesn¡¯t he always carry the keys on him?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s off-limits to others,¡± the butler replied with a smile and turned to get the keys. Xu Chaomu was still confused about what was happening, and on impulse, she asked another question, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Fourth Sister-inw have to sleep in his room at night?¡± The butler smiled meaningfully, ¡°Miss Xu, if you want to sleep in the Fourth Master¡¯s room, that¡¯s definitely no problem.¡± ¡°Who wants to sleep in his room.¡± After speaking, Xu Chaomu pouted and went upstairs. She used to run into his room often, but the result was, many times, as soon as she climbed onto the bedside, a certain person would bluntly say, ¡°Get lost!¡± She wouldn¡¯t listen and insisted on climbing up. When he got annoyed, he would pick her up by the cor and throw her out. Thinking back, the fact that he didn¡¯t kick her out was already quite polite of him. Chapter 264: Too Much Fatigue is not Good for the Baby Chapter 264: Too Much Fatigue is not Good for the Baby Trantor: 549690339 Soon, the butler Ling had found the keys to Shen Chi¡¯s room. ¡°Butler, howe you don¡¯t even ask what I¡¯m going to do in there? There are so many valuables in his room, aren¡¯t you afraid I might steal something?¡± ¡°The Fourth Young Master has said, what¡¯s his is yours.¡± ¡°Whatever, I definitely don¡¯t want to be his wife, but I might consider his money.¡± She didn¡¯t want any of those messy mistresses of his either. Butler Ling smiled, didn¡¯t say anything, and simply opened the door for her. ¡°Miss Xu, go ahead. When youe out, just let me know, and I¡¯ll lock the door for you.¡± ¡°What kind of treasure does he have in his room that warrants such caution? Shen Chi really is a petty person.¡± Butler Ling¡¯s lips twitched. Indeed, the Fourth Young Master spoiled Xu Chaomu too much. It was just a pity that once the Fourth Young Master got married, one wouldn¡¯t be able to see them bicker and fuss anymore. Butler Ling always felt that when the two of them were together, even the air seemed joyful, like the way melting ice cream in summer is full of sweet cream. It¡¯s just a pity¡­ After Butler Ling left, Xu Chaomu closed the door to Shen Chi¡¯s room. She hadn¡¯te to his room for anything else but to look for money. Although he always called her foolish, she had her moments of cleverness too, knowing that without money, she couldn¡¯t go anywhere. Pretending to be principled was useless at a time like this. Looking around, she could not spot any money. His room was as simple as he was, utterly monotonous and boring. The only joy he had ordinarily was walking Dabai. Leaving him was the wise choice. What use was there in a man like him? ng and bang, she started to rummage through his drawers and cupboards for money. This man¡¯s room was quite tidy; his clothes were all folded meticulously. When she opened the wardrobe, there were only shirts and suits. Xu Chaomu began by searching within the wardrobe, turning his clothes into aplete mess. The fragrance of the wardrobe was the same refined woody scent on his body, unchanged for eight years. Suddenly, Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose tingled, and then¡­ she secretly wiped her tears on his suit. Nothing in the wardrobe; she continued her search. On the desk, in the cabs, she spared not even under the pillows! This man really was stingy; despite so much money, there was hardly anything of value in his room. Just when she pulled open the drawer beside his bed, the familiar little wooden puppet suddenly jumped into view. Xu Chaomu froze. The little puppet, the one he had taken from her that day¡ªshe thought he had thrown it away. This clean drawer contained only the little wooden puppet and a packet of driedvender. Xu Chaomu picked it up silently, the smell ofvender wafting to her nose. Touching the little puppet¡¯s head, Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips curved up instantly. ¡°Hehehe, tell me, why are you so cute?¡± Xu Chaomu teased the little puppet. The little wooden puppet that had been with her for eight years was hard to part with once in her hand. She remembered how Shen Chi had offered to return the puppet to her, and how she stubbornly refused. He said, ¡°If it¡¯s thrown away, it¡¯ll be gone forever¡±¡­ Remembering these things, Xu Chaomu thought about taking the little puppet with her, but then she reconsidered and decided to leave it. There was nothing worthwhile to remember. He no longer wanted her anyway, and she had already returned the dresses and high heels he gave her; she had no need to take this puppet as well. It was just as well to leave it for his future children, at least that way it wouldn¡¯t be wasted. At that moment, she remembered the Jade pendant ne he had given her at the Waterside Pavillion. That too must be returned to him. Now, she didn¡¯t want anything. All she wanted was to find some money. Putting down the little puppet, she continued her search. Atst, her eyes lit up¡ªbank cards! In a drawer, she found a bank card and a stack of papers. She was ted in secret. This man truly was extravagant; even bank cards could be thrown about carelessly, though she didn¡¯t know if there was any money in it. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, trembling as she pocketed the bank card. She started tidying his room, and as she folded his nkets, her nose tingled, and her eyes quickly reddened. The nket bore the familiar scent of him, but none of it belonged to her. Silently cleaning up everything, she walked out of Shen Chi¡¯s room. Closing door after door behind her, she knew that once she walked away, it would be forever. As she reached the top of the stairs, Bai Man, dressed in pajamas, walked toward her. ¡°What were you doing in my husband¡¯s room?¡± Bai Man demanded. ¡°Just making a mess, and also wanted to check if you¡¯ve taken wedding photos yet. If you have, maybe I could snip them apart,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really are deceiving yourself. We¡¯ve already taken wedding photos, but not here; they¡¯re in the seaside vi that Auntie gave us. Do you want to see them?¡± ¡°Sister-inw, shouldn¡¯t you be sleeping? Being too tired isn¡¯t good for the baby,¡± Xu Chaomu replied indifferently. In truth, even if she detested Bai Man, she didn¡¯t dislike Shen Chi¡¯s baby. Moreover, she had heard that the first three months of pregnancy were the most unstable. ¡°I just came out to pour a ss of water.¡± Bai Man didn¡¯t even lift her head as she walked past Xu Chaomu. However, a fire of unknown origin was burning inside her. Shen Chi¡¯s room keys were beyond her reach, yet Xu Chaomu was allowed toe and go freely. Once Bai Man was in her own room, Xu Chaomu secretly took out the ne that Shen Chi had given her. She found a sturdy wooden box and ced the ne inside. She wandered around the Shen family¡¯s vi until she found the deserted swimming pool. The old swimming pool from eight years ago had already been turned into a small flower garden, with a row of wooden fences encircling it. Flowers bloomed within the garden, fragrances wafting subtly. Xu Chaomu recalled her first day at the Shen family¡¯s home when, clumsy as she could be, she fell into the abandoned swimming pool and cried out loudly in fright. It was Shen Chi who found her, of course, not without scolding her. Thinking of the past, Xu Chaomu touched her head and sighed, noting how fast time flew. She used broken pieces on the ground to dig a hole under a Magnolia Tree next to the flower garden. After digging for a while and deeming it deep enough, she carefully ced the wooden box inside. Her ne, her love, goodbye forever. In the wind, Xu Chaomu stood for a long time, past memories vividlying to life in her mind¡­ She loved following behind him, calling out ¡°Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother,¡± but from now on, her Fourth Brother would no longer be hers. The next day, Xu Chaomu walked out of the Shen family¡¯s home with her backpack properly packed. She made a special trip to see Dabai in the kennel. Dabai was just waking up, sleepy-eyed,zily lying on the ground. Xu Chaomu went over and stroked its head: ¡°Dabai, be good, eat more, so you¡¯ll be strong. I¡¯m leaving, I¡¯m leaving forever, and I¡¯ll never see you again¡­¡± ¡°Dabai, I will miss you. Will you miss me?¡± Dabai lifted its eyelids, licked Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand with its tongue, and then let out two woeful howls with a heartbreaking sound¡­ ¡°We¡¯ve been together for eight years,¡± Xu Chaomu caressed it. ¡°Wu wu¡­¡± Dabai stood up restlessly, circling Xu Chaomu non-stop. Chapter 265: The Way We Came, The Way We Go Chapter 265: The Way We Came, The Way We Go Trantor:549690339 ¡°Dabai, I really like you, even if you don¡¯t like me. It¡¯s so annoying. Every time I talk to you, you¡¯re so indifferent. How can you be just like your owner?¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu rubbed Dabai¡¯s head. Dabai howled even more mournfully, growing increasingly restless. ¡°Oh, never mind, eat more. Don¡¯t worry about saving him money, he¡¯s got plenty of it. Dabai, this is thest time I¡¯ll see you. I didn¡¯t expect to get this final glimpse.¡± Xu Chaomu sighed deeply, she really couldn¡¯t bear to leave it. How many years can a dog live? She didn¡¯t dare to imagine the day when Dabai would grow old¡­ Well, it¡¯s better this way, she wouldn¡¯t have to see that day. She was truly afraid that she would wail uncontrobly when it came. Gradually, Xu Chaomu stood up, looked at Dabai, and started walking backwards, away from him. She waved at it and smiled, ¡°Dabai, you have to take good care of yourself, don¡¯t be picky with food. You should get plump and healthy, you have to be obedient. I¡¯ll miss you.¡± Dabai tugged on its chain, wanting to run forward, but the chain held it back, it couldn¡¯t run at all. After a few steps, it would be yanked back by the chain, and it could only howl with heart-wrenching pain. ¡°Woof woof woof¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was getting farther and farther away from it, and several times, she wanted to run back and embrace it because she couldn¡¯t bear to leave. But she knew that no matter how hard it was, she had to leave. Remembering all the moments she¡¯d shared with Dabai, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. After retreating many steps, she finally turned her head, not looking back at Dabai anymore. Behind her, Dabai ¡°woofed¡± continuously, the sound mournful and deste¡­ The barking echoed clearly in the doghouse. Xu Chaomu heartlessly refrained from looking back, slowly shouldering her bag and walking out of the doghouse. Eight years, neither long nor short, she had loved Shen Chi, and she loved Dabai. She loved everything here, even the imperfections, even the tears, it was all good. Because, here, she had her most beautiful youth. In that youth, she met him, not a moment too soon or toote, at the best age. ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m off to climb the mountain, I¡¯m about to bete!¡± she called out to Butler Ling, who was watering the garden at the entrance of the Shen Family¡¯s home. ¡°Miss Xu, have you had your breakfast? It¡¯s very hot today, don¡¯t get sunburnt!¡± Butler Ling called back across the garden. ¡°I have, I have, ate a bit too much, just perfect for mountain climbing. My friends are waiting for me!¡± ¡°Be careful when climbing mountains, okay, make sure to stay safe. Will youe back for lunch?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll eat on the mountain at noon. We¡¯ll have a dinner aftering down the mountain, and tomorrow I¡¯ll go straight to school.¡± ¡°Why not stay home a few more days?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun to y with ssmates at school, there¡¯s no one to y with at the Shen¡¯s.¡± Xu Chaomu thought, she had reached the pinnacle of lying. Without blinking an eye, she concocted a lie. ¡°Butler, I¡¯m off now, take good care of the flowers in the garden.¡± ¡°Be careful on your way!¡± Butler Ling was full of reminders, Xu Chaomu acknowledged casually and started down the road, leaving the Shen Family behind. Xu Chaomu pretended to be very happy about going mountain climbing, but in truth, she really wanted to say goodbye to Butler Ling. She had known Butler Ling for eight years, and although Butler Ling was nice to everyone, he always sided with her at the Shen¡¯s. After she left, the Shen Family would remain the same, the people of the Shen Family would still be their usual selves, and nothing would change too much. What about her, then? Would she change? Xu Chaomu continued walking down the road until a taxi came by halfway through. She got into the car and turned to look at everything behind her¡­ The deep shade of green trees, scattered blooming flowers. The scent ofte spring was growing stronger, and soon, it would be summer¡­ The mansions in Tianqi Square remained as luxurious and grand as when she firstid eyes on them. Only, it had been winter at that time, with white mist drifting everywhere. The temperature was especially low, as though one could freeze just by exhaling. She vividly remembered that day, with the perfect sun, as shey on a hay stack, meeting Shen Chi. Sitting in a car of the Shen Family, she followed them all the way to Tianqi Square. At the time, she gazed at the mansions with wide eyes, ¡°What ¡®Tianqi¡¯ Square?¡± ¡°Tianqi Square,¡± he told her. The road she hade by was this one, and the road she left by, was still the same. Yet after eight years, the road had be wider, and there were more trees and flowers along its edges. Xu Chaomuy in the back seat of the taxi, watching the mansions grow smaller and smaller until they were just a dot. ¡°Goodbye¡­¡± she murmured softly. All of it was like a dream, and after waking, eight years had passed¡­ ¡°Miss, where are you going?¡± the driver asked three times. Xu Chaomu finally snapped back to reality, turned her head, and stopped looking at what was behind her. She touched her forehead and blinked, ¡°To the airport, please.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The driver turned the steering wheel and steered towards C City Airport. ¡°Wait, go to Tianqi Square,¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly changed her mind. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fine,¡± the driver replied. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that Shen Chi¡¯s people were watching her. So, she first decided to go to a crowded square near the airport, then she would find a chance to blend into the crowd, slip away secretly, and board the ne unnoticed. Perfect. With that thought, she dared not go back to the dormitory. With such a big target as luggage, it was bound to be discovered. Soon, the taxi drove out of the residential area, and when Xu Chaomu looked back, even the tallest building in the area was out of sight. Xu Chaomu suddenly remembered a line from a text in hernguage book, ¡°Waving my sleeves I leave behind, with the whinnying horses retreating into the distance.¡± As if I had never been here¡­ The sky of C City was vast and blue, Xu Chaomu leaned against the window, looked at the sky, then at the clouds¡­ She wrote a name on the car window with her finger: Shen Chi. That winter when she met him, he had written her name; this spring, as she was leaving him, she wrote his name. Henceforth, years would pass with no further connection. The ride from the residential area to the airport was quite long, it took the taxi more than an hour to reach Tianqi Square near the airport. The square was bustling, lively with peopleing and going. Xu Chaomu jumped out of the taxi and ran into the crowd with her backpack. Looking around furtively, she didn¡¯t notice anyone watching her and confidently merged with the throng. Xu Chaomu cut through the amusement park in the square, mingling with a group of children and parents, and swiftly made her way to the deepest part of the square. She went to a nearby ATM and inserted Shen Chi¡¯s bank card. She first tried Shen Chi¡¯s own birthday, but the password was incorrect. Next, she tried Bai Man¡¯s birthday, which was also wrong. One more try left, Xu Chaomu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. In a state of distress in front of the ATM, she pondered over what the password could be. The chances of guessing it seemed slim¡­ She remembered thest time in the mall, he had casually given her a bank card, and the password was her own birthday. Could it be the same this time? Xu Chaomu was uneasy. If it was her birthday, it seemed to make no sense. Chapter 266 - 266 Hello, Mr. Shen Chapter 266 Hello, Mr. Shen Trantor:549690339 Why would he set all his bank cards to her birthday? Xu Chaomu bit her teeth, should she give it a try? If it didn¡¯t work, the card would be swallowed by the ATM. After wrestling with her thoughts for a while, Xu Chaomu decided to just try it, considering this was her only chance anyway. It¡¯s hard to guess what goes on in a man¡¯s mind. Xu Chaomu buried her head in the ATM, trembling as she pressed the six digits. When thest number was entered, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heartbeat elerated, even though she didn¡¯t hold much hope. Thump, thump, her heart was pounding in her throat. However, at that moment, the ATM screen changed¡ªthe password was actually, actually correct! Xu Chaomu was ecstatic, it seemed that men¡¯s thoughts could be simple after all. She had thought it would be aplex password, at least involving square roots, or maybe even a cubic function, but it turned out to be her birthday! Her fingers trembled even more violently as she pressed the ¡°Continue¡± and ¡°Inquire¡± buttons; suddenly, her eyes widened. Inside, there was actually five million. Xu Chaomu had never seen so much money in her life. That such a bank card with so much money could be tossed around carelessly, Xu Chaomu felt she didn¡¯t understand the world of the rich. City folks really know how to y. But no matter how surprised she was, Xu Chaomu also had her moments of rity, such as wondering whether this bank card was bound to a mobile phone. If it was, as soon as she withdrew money, Shen Chi would receive a text alert. Despite her joy, Xu Chaomu calmly took out the bank card and stuffed it into her pocket. What she needed to do was to buy a ne ticket first, and thene back to withdraw the money right before boarding. By then, even if Shen Chi noticed, it would be toote to do anything about it. Besides, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t think Shen Chi would care, just as Bai Man had said, he and Bai Man had long ago nned to send her abroad to study. So, her leaving would suit everyone just fine. Although, she still couldn¡¯t figure out why he would use her birthday for his bank card¡¯s password. Was it possibly a reserve fund prepared for her future marriage? Or maybe, her birthday was just easy to remember? Alternatively¡­ Xu Chaomu really couldn¡¯t think of any reason. Thinking too hard hurts the brain, and Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t like to think too much, nor did she like to worry, so she simply stopped wondering about it. With her head down, backpack on, she made her way through Tianqi Square towards the airport, keeping a low profile. She wanted to go to Paris¡­ Back in the orphanage, there was someone who told her so much about the ancient buildings and the culture of Paris. He said his favorite ce to go was Lufu Pce, taking a leisurely walk along the Seine River and stepping into Lufu Pce as if entering a magnificent hall. Paintings, sculptures, treasures¡­ he loved to look at each one and feel the flowing time and ancient memories of Paris. Of course, he also loved the Notre-Dame de Paris, Versailles Pce, the Eiffel Tower¡­ he had almost traveled to every corner of Paris. Back then, Xu Chaomu used to listen to him talk about all of this with a dreamy fascination, so intriguing for a girl who had never left C City. A long time ago, she used to pester Shen Chi: ¡°Fourth Brother, you often go to so many ces on business trips, why don¡¯t you take me with you?¡± Shen Chi without looking up: ¡°Why should I take you? You¡¯re so noisy.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t love me, hater.¡± ¡°I never loved you in the first ce.¡± ¡°How can you be so direct, it¡¯s so hurtful, I don¡¯t love you anymore either, don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted and ran away. How could there be such an annoying man in the world, keeping his dislike to himself; it¡¯s truly hurtful to say it out loud. Latter on, Xu Chaomu really ignored Shen Chi for several days, but then Shen Chi nonchntly walked up to her and stroked her head. ¡°Still holding a grudge? I¡¯m on a business trip to get things done, no time to y with you.¡± She didn¡¯t believe it at the time, shooing his hand away: ¡°As if you¡¯re that busy.¡± He never took her out, nor would he talk to her about anything fun. He had been to so many ces, yet when she asked him about them, he would just casually answer her, ¡°Nothing special.¡± How could there be nothing special? Clearly, he just didn¡¯t want to tell her. Remembering all this, Xu Chaomu sighed. Eight years had passed, and there would no longer be anyone to pester him; he would finally have his peace¡­ Just as he always said to her, ¡°Xu Chaomu, can¡¯t you just be quiet?¡± Of course, she could. With these thoughts, her nose turned sour, and she slightly tipped her head back to swallow the tears. But, she was too engrossed in recalling the past and didn¡¯t realize that two men were following her the whole time! The two men maintained a moderate distance, closely trailing Xu Chaomu! There was a shortcut between the square and the airport, and since it wasn¡¯t crowded, the two men plotted, waiting for the moment to make their move. The taller one whispered, ¡°Second Brother, are you sure you didn¡¯t recognize the wrong person?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no mistake, look at the photo!¡± The shorter man took out a photo from his pocket. The taller man took it, nodding, ¡°It looks like her. What¡¯s she doing at the airport?¡± ¡°Going on a trip? Ah, Big Brother, we shouldn¡¯t guess at the thoughts of a young girl; it¡¯s beyond us. We should just follow the rules and do our job.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Chaomu walked on,pletely oblivious to the fact that she was being watched, her mind preupied with many things, mostly about Shen Chi. Perhaps, many, many yearster, they would happen to meet by chance. By then, he would have a family with children, and she too would have be a mother. When all that remains of youthful memories are fragments, they¡¯d simply smile upon meeting, and perhaps neither would even remember each other. Maybe by that time, she would extend her hand and say politely and courteously, ¡°Hello, Mr. Shen.¡± The next time they met, would it be on some street, in some city, at a caf¨¦ on the corner, or maybe a quaint little tea house? Would it be raining, snowing, or a clear day¡­ Or perhaps, they would never meet again in this lifetime. Just as Xu Chaomu was walking along the shaded path, suddenly, the two men saw that no one was around. They quickly approached her, and the taller man reached out and struck Xu Chaomu¡¯s head! ¡°Ah¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s vision went dark before she could react, feeling a blunt pain on her head as she copsed backwards! ¡°Second Brother, blindfold her eyes and take her away!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The shorter man took out a ck cloth that had been prepared in advance and blindfolded Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, immediately dialing a phone number afterward. ¡°Third Brother, Third Brother, this is Second. It¡¯s done. Bring the car over to the east side of Tianqi Square on the gravel shaded path. Hurry! No dawdling!¡± ¡°Got it, right away!¡± ¡°Second Brother, drag her into the woods, don¡¯t let anyone see!¡± said the taller man. ¡°Okay!¡± Soon, the shorter man dragged Xu Chaomu into the woods, blindfolded her eyes, and fed her two sleeping pills. The taller man, seizing the opportunity, also ran into the woods from the path. Chapter 267: Don’t Kill the Person Chapter 267: Don¡¯t Kill the Person Trantor:549690339 ¡°Is it quiet now?¡± ¡°No problem at all,¡± the short man signaled ¡®OK¡¯ with his hand, ¡°Boss, rest assured, I fed her sleeping pills, she won¡¯t wake up for twelve hours for sure.¡± ¡°Alright, keep an eye on her, don¡¯t let her die.¡± ¡°Definitely not, Mr. Zhou had reiterated that many times.¡± ¡°Once we get to the warehouse, it¡¯ll be you and Number Three watching this girl. Watch her for twenty-four hours straight, and if really necessary, feed her sleeping pills!¡± ¡°Sure, no problem, leave that to me, Boss, you can count on it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The tall man patted his brother¡¯s shoulder. Suddenly, a ck car drove up, and a man with dyed deep purple hair opened the door to greet them, ¡°Boss, Number Two, hurry up and get the person in, quick!¡± ¡°Drive the damn car in a bit more, you wanna die?!¡± the boss scolded angrily. Committing such an act in broad daylight was already nerve-wracking enough without having to deal with a stupid brother. Grudgingly, Number Three pulled the car over a bit, got out of the car, and supported Xu Chaomu, ¡°Let me do it; you guys hurry up and get in the car!¡± Number Three helped Xu Chaomu into the back seat, then put the ck hood they had prepared earlier over Xu¡¯s head! The boss was meticulous, he also threw Xu Chaomu¡¯s backpack into the trunk, afraid to leave any trace at the scene. After finishing all of this, Number Three stepped on the gas and swiftly drove away from the scene. The car headed towards a remote area, driving farther and farther until it reached an abandoned factory. The factory had been demolished into ruins, probably because of relocation, with only one warehouse still intact. ¡°Get her inside! Remember, we need her alive!¡± the bossmanded coldly. ¡°Got it!¡± Number Two and Number Three responded in unison. On opening the warehouse, a burst of mustiness quickly spread out. Dust covered the ground, and both men started coughing repeatedly! ¡°Cough cough cough, damn it, who chose this ce? It¡¯s all dust!¡± Number Threeined. ¡°Stop whining, cough cough, this ce is hidden and safe, no one will find it!¡± Number Two turned on a light inside the warehouse, only to see the bulb flickering incessantly, almost blinding them. Suddenly, with a ¡°pop¡± sound, the light bulb went out, and darkness immediately enveloped the area. ¡°Pitch ck, what do we do!¡± Number Threeined again. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, the warehouse isn¡¯t big; I¡¯ll go get a shlight.¡± Number Two ran out of the warehouse. Number Three, cursing under his breath, was holding onto Xu Chaomu, ¡°Should¡¯ve just killed her and had it over with.¡± Soon, Number Two ran back into the warehouse with a shlight, turning it on and instantly casting a beam of light inside. Under the beam, all was dust, causing Number Two to cough nonstop. There was also standing water in the warehouse and a strong musty smell, so he had to cover his nose and step forward cautiously. ¡°Number Three, be careful, don¡¯t kill her, otherwise I¡¯ll see how you exin yourself!¡± Number Two shouted with his nose covered. ¡°Number Two, what¡¯s so special about this girl? I heard Mr. Zhou and Shen the Third talking secretly about her being an important bargaining chip.¡± ¡°Is that so? I didn¡¯t ask. But none of that concerns us, we just need to watch her!¡± ¡°Sure, watching someone is a trivial matter. I, Zhao Number Three, have watched all sorts of people, even the toughest ones are obedient in my hands.¡± ¡°This girl¡¯s skin is tender, be extra careful.¡± ¡°What, we can¡¯t kill her? Is it okay to hit her a few times?¡± ¡°You better take it easy, we still rely on Mr. Zhou for our livelihood.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, quit nagging, I got it.¡± Number Three said impatiently. Finally, they found a suitable spot in the warehouse using the shlight. The warehouse was small and low, half-filled with assorted stuff like cardboard boxes and wood, with sawdust and small stones scattered all over the ground. Not paying attention, Number Three kicked a piece of wood and yelped in pain, ¡°Damn this shitty ce, it¡¯s killing me, damn it!¡± ¡°Less talking, get familiar with the ce, you¡¯ll be watching her for the next few days!¡± ¡°I got it!¡± Number Two dragged Xu Chaomu into a corner and used discarded cardboard to block the surroundings. The hiding spot was excellent, making it nearly impossible for anyone who found the warehouse to discover Xu Chaomu. Number Two was very satisfied with the spot, and after everything was set up, he put down the shlight and brushed the dust off his hands. ¡°Number Two, how long do we watch her? What if she runs away?¡± ¡°Number Three, are you a fucking idiot? You, a grown man, you let her run away? As for how long, we await orders at any moment. Here, take this bottle of sleeping pills: if she¡¯s troublesome, slip a few into her water. Just don¡¯t put too many or we¡¯ll be in deep shit if she dies.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s disobedient, just whip her, no need for sleeping pills, why be so polite!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, Number Three!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I know, so annoying.¡± Number Three said, clearly dissatisfied. ¡°Here¡¯s the shlight for you, you¡¯d better take good care of her. Don¡¯t get distracted; I¡¯ll bring you meals on time.¡± Number Two tossed the shlight to Number Three. ¡°Fine, make sure the food tastes good, add more meat. Watching her is hard work; I need the strength,¡± Number Three replied. ¡°You always have the most demands!¡± Number Two retorted with dissatisfaction. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll watch over her, you and the boss can head back! Just call me if you have any instructions.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Number Two left the warehouse the way he hade. His brow was so furrowed it could kill a fly, covering his nose, coughing as he walked out. The boss was waiting outside, leaning against the car door and smoking. ¡°All set?¡± the boss asked, blowing out a puff of smoke as Number Two emerged. ¡°Boss, rest easy, it¡¯s all taken care of. Now, we just follow Mr. Zhou¡¯s orders. Until then, Number Three will be watching the girl.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, get in the car!¡± the boss got into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Alright!¡± Just as the small iron door of the warehouse closed, darkness engulfed the inside. Dying his hair purple, Number Three found the ce exceedingly dull, so he lit up a cigarette. Soon, smoke slowly rose in the warehouse. The warehouse was nearly airtight; once the iron door closed, it plunged into darkness, with only a few closed windows allowing slivers of light to peek through. While it was a sunny day outside, inside the warehouse was pitch ck. Number Three smoked and yed with his phone. After a while, getting bored, he tied Xu Chaomu to a post with a rope and walked out of the warehouse by himself. Of course, before leaving, he made sure to check that the doors were all locked¡ªonly then did hefortably stroll out with his cigarette in his mouth. Until night fell and it was dark, Butler Ling still had not seen Xu Chaomu return. Chapter 268: Nothing Will Go Wrong Chapter 268: Nothing Will Go Wrong Trantor:549690339 Although Xu Chaomu said she wouldn¡¯t being back in the evening, Ling, the butler, still couldn¡¯t help worrying and continued to wait. By seven or eight o¡¯clock, she always felt uneasy. Therefore, she hurriedly made a call to the person in charge at Xu Chaomu¡¯s school. Unexpectedly, before she could make the call, a call from Old Cheng came in first. ¡°Ling Butler, has Miss Xu returned to the Shen Family?¡± Old Cheng asked anxiously. ¡°No, I was just about to call and ask. She said this morning that she was going hiking with friends and wouldn¡¯te back tonight.¡± ¡°I just received a call from Secretary Xiao, he said he lost her.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Old Cheng, be more specific, I didn¡¯t understand.¡± Ling, the butler, was confused, but her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, listen to me. After Mr. Shen went to South Africa, he entrusted Miss Xu to Xiao Mo¡¯s supervision. However, Xiao Mo had to deal with something today, so he sent his own people to keep an eye on her, and unfortunately, they lost track of her at Tianqi Square.¡± ¡°How could they be so negligent? Have they found her yet? Miss Xu said she was going hiking, how did she end up at Tianqi Square?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not clear why Miss Xu went to Tianqi Square, but as of now, she hasn¡¯t been found.¡± ¡°Ah? Still not found? Has Xiao Mo sent more people?¡± ¡°He has. Almost all of Xiao Mo¡¯s subordinates have been mobilized. So, Ling Butler, as soon as there¡¯s any news at the Shen¡¯s, you must tell me.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll be on the lookout here at the Shen Family¡¯s.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll hang up first. I¡¯m going to join Xiao Mo in the search. By the way, don¡¯t tell Mr. Shen about this for now; he can¡¯t be distracted in South Africa.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Old Cheng hung up and continued to search for Xu Chaomu. Ling, the butler, paced back and forth anxiously within the Shen Family mansion. Although Xu Chaomu could sometimes be naughty, over the past eight years, she had never spent the night outside. If there was something going on, she would always tell Ling in advance. Xu Chaomu was a well-behaved girl, except for the times she would quarrel with her elder brother Shen Chi until they were at loggerheads; she was quite obedient. Ling, the butler, wandered alone in the living room, silently praying. ¡°Nothing must¡¯ve happened, Miss Xu is so well-behaved, nothing must¡¯ve happened.¡± Just as she was praying with closed eyes, the phone in the living room rang. She was startled and hurried to answer. ¡°Ling Butler, is Chaomu at home?¡± came Shen Chi¡¯s deep voice. Shen Chi had just arrived in South Africa today. It was still afternoon there, and the weather was very hot; he was wearing a dark-colored shirt, standing under a trellis. ¡°Four, Fourth Young Master, Miss Xu went hiking today and said she wouldn¡¯t be back tonight.¡± ¡°Noting back? Who allowed her to spend the night outside?¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brow and immediately grew angry. ¡°Miss Xu said she was with a friend, and I didn¡¯t feel it was right to stop her.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you, except for in school, she¡¯s not allowed to spend the night out. How could you ignore my instructions?!¡± ¡°Yes, Fourth Young Master, it¡¯s my dereliction of duty. I¡¯ll call someone to bring Miss Xu back.¡± ¡°If something happens to her, you will be held ountable! Get her back immediately!¡± ¡°Alright, I will have Old Cheng pick her up right away.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s anger subsided somewhat, his tone softened, ¡°Alright, just get her back safely. I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Fourth Young Master, don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine.¡± ¡°How could I not worry? Have her call me when she gets back; I want to hear her voice.¡± Shen Chi was genuinely concerned about Xu Chaomu. Firstly, he missed her deeply, and secondly, he knew that someone was targeting her. When he was in China, he would do everything in his power to protect her, but now that he was in South Africa, he couldn¡¯t guarantee anything. At that moment, the South African sun was at its zenith. Shen Chi rolled up his sleeves and loosened his tie a bit. He sat under the rtively cool trellis where breezes came by, carrying waves of fragrant flowers. There was a bottle of red wine on the table under the trellis, and Shen Chi poured himself half a ss, beginning to browse the documents on the table. South Africa, worthy of being called the Diamond Kingdom, even had shiny diamonds embedded in the corners of the tablecloth when diamond mine owners entertained Shen Chi. Small diamonds surrounded the edges, whilerge diamonds adorned the center. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires¡­ various styles, various colors, dazzled the eyes, creating a bewildering effect. This diamond mine had just been excavated this year, and every diamond from it was of superior quality. If Shen Chi could secure this diamond mine, then the jewelry supply of Shen Group would monopolize the entire market of C City. Therefore, the importance of this diamond mine goes without saying. There was a thick stack of documents, which Shen Chi looked through one by one. The weather in South Africa was just too hot. After only a few pages, Shen Chi grew restless and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. He felt an ongoing unease. Soon, Master Zuma brought an interpreter over. Master Zuma was a true South African, wearing a long ck robe and looking shrewd. ¡°Mr. Shen, how are the documents?¡± ¡°Master Zuma, give me some time; I need to study them properly,¡± responded Shen Chi with a gentlemanly hook of his lips. ¡°Sure, Mr. Shen. But remember, as long as the contract isn¡¯t signed within a day, I still have to look for another buyer. I, Zuma, have one principle: the highest bidder gets my mine.¡± ¡°Master, I must say, while having a lot of money is a principle, what¡¯s more important is the future prospects of the partneringpany. There¡¯s a term in our country called ¡®visionary.¡¯ Short-term benefits are always fleeting, whereas having a high perspective and a long-term view can bring much greater profit.¡± The interpreter quickly ryed Shen Chi¡¯s words to Master Zuma. Master Zuma¡¯s eyes darted, he fondled the agarwood beads on his wrist andughed, ¡°Mr. Shen, you do have a way with words. But as the saying in your country goes, I¡¯m ¡®short-sighted¡¯; I only recognize money, not people.¡± ¡°Then, are you not satisfied with the price I had my people offer before?¡± asked Shen Chi sternly. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not satisfied; I just feel that I can sell my diamond mine for an even better price. My diamond mine is exceptionally good.¡± Master Zuma shrugged his shoulders with open hands. His interpreter also made a helpless gesture. Shen Chi pondered for a moment then smiled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll discuss further with you after I¡¯ve reviewed all the contracts.¡± ¡°Then I ask Mr. Shen to please hurry. Enjoy the wine here; I will go attend to other guests.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± nodded Shen Chi. As soon as Master Zuma and his interpreter left, Shen Chi resumed looking at the contracts on the table, but he couldn¡¯t concentrate, as Xu Chaomu¡¯s image kept swirling in his mind. He took a few sips of red wine, but he still couldn¡¯t find peace of mind. He picked up his phone and dialed the Shen Family¡¯s number. ¡°Ling Butler, has Chaomu returned?¡± ¡°Four, Fourth Young Master¡­ not yet.¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t shee back yet? Didn¡¯t I send someone to pick her up?¡± Seeing that she could no longer hide the truth, Ling, the butler, had no choice but to confess, ¡°Fourth Young Master¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­ truly sorry¡­ Miss Xu¡­ Miss Xu is missing¡­¡± Chapter 269: Returning to Collect the Marriage Certificate Chapter 269: Returning to Collect the Marriage Certificate Trantor: 549690339 Butler Ling had made several calls to Old Cheng, but the result was the same: he wasn¡¯t found. Shen Chi¡¯s heart instantly rose to his throat, and his right hand clenched the mobile phone, his fingertips slowly turning white. ¡°Lost? When did she go missing? And you kept this from me too?! Do you have a death wish?¡± Shen Chi was thoroughly infuriated. ¡°Fo¡­Fourth Master, you were in South Africa, and we didn¡¯t want to disturb you, but¡­ we¡¯ve searched for an entire day and still haven¡¯t found her, so¡­¡± Butler Ling was trembling with fear, cautious and careful. ¡°What did I tell you before I left? I said to report anything about Xu Chaomu to me the moment it happens!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Fourth Master¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, I¡¯ll call Xiao Mo.¡± Shen Chi hung up the call, furious. He had only been away for four days. Soon after, he rapidly dialed Xiao Mo¡¯s mobile phone. But the reply was exactly the same¡ªthat Xu Chaomu was missing. ¡°Mr. Shen, don¡¯t panic, I have already sent people out to look for her. By tonight, I will certainly give you an answer.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo, you can¡¯t even keep an eye on one person?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ a fire broke out unexpectedly in thepany¡¯s western storage today, so I¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fucking make excuses for me! The storage? Compared to Xu Chaomu, which is more important?!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my negligence. I ept the punishment.¡± ¡°Focus on Jiang Zhn and Shen Shihan.¡± ¡°I know, there¡¯s been no sign from Jiang Zhn, and Deputy General Shen hasn¡¯t shown uptely.¡± ¡°I want useful answers, don¡¯t waste my time with nonsense!¡± Xiao Mo held his forehead, nodding repeatedly: ¡°Yes, I will definitely give you a response. Also, regarding the funds you need, Bai Xuan said he would support, but there is one condition¡ªhe wants to see your and Miss Bai¡¯s marriage certificate.¡± ¡°What did you say to him?¡± ¡°I said, Mr. Shen is currently in South Africa and cannote back to get the marriage certificate, and moreover, you might not even get back in time for the engagement party.¡± ¡°What did Bai Xuan say?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t agree. He said that even if you are not here, the marriage certificate can still be processed,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t get the certificate, it¡¯s unlikely you¡¯ll receive his funds.¡± ¡°Shen Chi can certainly forge a fake certificate to fool him, but I think it¡¯s unnecessary. Alright, move on to the next cooperativepany or bank.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, is the mine owner asking for a very high price? I¡¯ve long heard that mine owner is unscrupulous.¡± ¡°None of your business; just find Xu Chaomu for me!¡± Shen Chi said sternly. ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Chi hung up the call, wishing he could fly back to China at that moment. He sat in the chair, feeling sharp pains in his chest, so intense it was unbearable. When Xu Chaomu awoke, it was already night. She tried to move, but she could not budge at all; her hands and feet were tied up. At this moment, her legs were even cramping a bit. Her mouth and eyes were covered with ck cloth strips, and she called out ¡°woof woof¡± a few times, but no one responded. However, she could hear the echo in her ears. Where is this ce? She struggled desperately, trying to break free from the ropes. To no avail, she couldn¡¯t break free at all. She smelled mold, and dust kept floating into her nose, choking her. ¡°Woof¡­ woof¡­¡± She struggled forcefully, her feet kicking a piece of wood. ¡°Gurgle¡­¡± The wood rolled a couple of times, making a loud noise in this empty ce. Xu Chaomu tried hard to recall the events of the day, when she was walking along the za¡¯s small path towards the airport. Fearing being discovered, she specifically chose a secluded gravel path. But her cleverness backfired, and she never imagined someone was watching her. Last time, someone also kidnapped her, but she was careless and forgetful, and quickly forgot about it. Besides, Shen Chi had rescued her that night, and the time she spent with him, so warm and cozy, far outshone the fear. Thus, she promptly forgot about the incident. To her surprise, she was kidnapped again. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She called out with difficulty. In her daily life, she bore no grudges andmitted no wrongs, except when she secretly stuffed a ¡°snake¡± into the teacher¡¯s chalk box at school. Of course, it was definitely fake; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t dare to put it there herself. Xu Chaomu struggled fiercely, wondering if these people had kidnapped the wrong person. After struggling for about half an hour andpletely exhausted, Xu Chaomu finally gave up. Just as she lowered her head, suddenly, the doors of the warehouse opened. The moment the door was opened, Xu Chaomu felt a shlight beam shine in. She got scared and kept quiet, pretending to be asleep. The footsteps of the visitor¡¯s leather shoes echoed ¡°thud thud thud¡± on the floor, exceptionally clear in this empty space. Shortly after, another person followed into the warehouse. ¡°Is this Xu Chaomu?¡± the man behind asked in a deep, husky voice. ¡°Yes, Boss Zhou, we¡¯ve checked the photo, there¡¯s no mistake,¡± replied the subordinate. ¡°She looks young.¡± The man walked over to Xu Chaomu. Under the light of the shlight, the man studied Xu Chaomu for a few moments and reached out, lifting her chin. Although she was tied up, one could still tell from her still tender face that she was no older than eighteen or neen. Xu Chaomu moved her little head away in resistance. The manughed: ¡°She doesn¡¯t cry or make a fuss, quite interesting.¡± ¡°Boss Zhou, Number Two fed her sleeping pills. She must have just woken up,¡± said another. ¡°Number Three, what¡¯s so special about this girl? I really can¡¯t see it,¡± Zhou Peitian scrutinized Xu Chaomu, truly not believing Shen Shihan¡¯s words¡ªShen Chi liked this girl? ¡°Nothing special indeed, she¡¯s just a bit prettier, but there are many who are more so. Besides, this little body of hers isn¡¯t much to look at.¡± Hearing this, Xu Chaomu really wanted to spit in his face. Number Three continued to appraise: ¡°Her little face is quite delicate, very spirited. Boss Zhou, you wouldn¡¯t have taken a liking to this girl, would you?¡± ¡°The woman in Weiyang is no weaker than her, would I have eyes for her?¡± Zhou Peitian was quite disdainful. ¡°That¡¯s true, I thought you, Boss Zhou, wanted to change your usual taste. But then, changing tastes for a bit of fun wouldn¡¯t be bad¡ªthe word is that these young girls are ignorant, and they¡¯refortable to sleep with.¡± ¡°Number Three, don¡¯t you dare get any crooked ideas. Just look after her properly, and don¡¯t feed her sleeping pills too often; too much of that stuff is bad for the health.¡± ¡°Boss Zhou, who exactly is this girl?¡± ¡°Less nonsense, just watch her properly,¡± Zhou Peitian scolded. Only then did Number Three curl his lip and fell silent. Xu Chaomu felt a wave of anger surge in her chest, a small me flickering fiercely! The voices of these two, she was unfamiliar with, especially this ¡°Boss Zhou¡±¡ªwho was he? Zhou Peitian looked at Xu Chaomu a few more times before instructing Number Three: ¡°Keep a close watch on her, and report to me immediately at any sign of trouble!¡± ¡°Yes, Boss Zhou.¡± Zhou Peitian then left Xu Chaomu behind and exited the warehouse. As soon as Zhou Peitian was gone, Number Three shut the door of the warehouse and approached Xu Chaomu. Chapter 270: Escape, Escape Chapter 270: Escape, Escape Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Chick, I know you¡¯re awake. Come on, talk to your uncle here,¡± the third man whistled at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu inwardly spat at him in contempt¡ªher mouth was still covered, how could she speak? It took the third man quite a while before he realized his mistake and untied the ck cloth from her mouth. ¡°Chick, what grudge do you have against our Boss Zhou? He has had us watch you for quite some time, but there were always people secretly protecting you. Luckily, our Boss Zhou used a tactic today to lure away the ones watching you, giving us a chance to make our move.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your Boss Zhou?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you that, but just know he¡¯s someone very powerful.¡± ¡°Pah, kidnapping an innocent student, what¡¯s so powerful about that?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with disdain. ¡°If you dare to curse our Boss Zhou to his face, be careful or you¡¯ll lose your life,¡± the third man warned her fiercely. ¡°So what if I do it to his face? Call him here, and I¡¯ll curse him just the same! You¡¯re all heartless beasts, I have no feud with you.¡± ¡°Chick, you do have quite a fiery temper. Who¡¯s family are you from? Are you sure you have no history with our Boss Zhou?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an orphan with neither father nor mother, you¡¯ve definitely kidnapped the wrong person.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my problem.¡± ¡°Let me go, and I¡¯ll give you money.¡± ¡°You have money? How much can you give me?¡± ¡°Five million, is that enough?¡± Xu Chaomu remembered that Shen Chi¡¯s bank ount had exactly five million. ¡°Little girl, you have so much money? You think I¡¯m three years old? If I let you go, my life is over.¡± ¡°My brother has money, heh, just let me go and you can have as much as you want.¡± The third man chuckled treacherously, scrutinizing Xu Chaomu in the sh of the shlight. ¡°Chick, I¡¯m not that interested in money, but I am quite interested in you.¡± Having said that, he chuckled again and tossed away the cigarette butt he was holding. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what your Boss Zhou said just now? If you dare toy a hand on me, you won¡¯t get away with it.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was about to leap out of her throat, pounding fearfully. She wasn¡¯t fearlessness; she was very, very scared. ¡°In a ce like this, if I really did something to you, nobody would know, right?¡± ¡°First untie the cloth over my eyes, then we can talk calmly.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not afraid of your tricks.¡± The third man went to remove the cloth from Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes. Thankfully, it was quite dark inside the warehouse, and it didn¡¯t take long for Xu Chaomu to adjust to the light. Her eyes hurt fiercely, and looking around, she realized this was an abandoned warehouse. The warehouse reeked, Xu Chaomu coughing twice. ¡°Prettydy, take a look, am I handsome?¡± Xu Chaomu inwardly spat in disgust¡ªthis man sporting purple hair was all swagger and sloppiness, the epitome of a ruffian. ¡°Big Brother, could you get me something to eat? I haven¡¯t had anything to eat all day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pull any tricks.¡± ¡°Under your watch, what trick could I possibly pull? Are you that unconfident in yourself? I¡¯m just an eighteen-year-old student, unarmed. I¡¯m just hungry. Besides, if I starved to death, how would you exin to your Boss Zhou?¡± The third man found Xu Chaomu¡¯s words somewhat reasonable and warned, ¡°I¡¯ll get you something to eat, but don¡¯t try anything, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded repeatedly. Sure enough, he was still wary of this so-called Boss Zhou. The man took the shlight and left, and soon the warehouse was plunged into darkness. A foul smell permeated the air, Xu Chaomu wrinkling her nose as she began feeling for the rope binding her body. She bowed her head, attempting to bite the nearest rope. But she couldn¡¯t reach it at all. She bent her knees, stretching the rope tight and straining to break free from the pir. It was futile, still futile, Xu Chaomu was feeling desperate. For the first time, she experienced this sense of life-or-death desperation. Before, in her most helpless moments, Shen Chi would appear before her. Back then, whether in wind or rain, she was fearless because he was with her. But now, he had gone to South Africa and would not return. If she couldn¡¯t save herself, death was the only thing left to wait for. With this thought, Xu Chaomu tried hard to think of a way out. Just then, her bound hands identally touched the cement wall behind the pir. She felt around the wall, finding nothing useful. But she realized she could rub the rope against the cement wall to break it. This idea filled her with joy, and she arched her back as far as possible to reach the wall. Unexpectedly, she could actually reach it! Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart pounded wildly as she rubbed against the rope, bit by bit¡­ Fortunately, the rope wasn¡¯t very thick, but as she rubbed against it, her own hands were also wearing away. It hurt at first, but she thought if she couldn¡¯t endure this pain, then waiting for death was all she could do. Gritting her teeth, she rubbed harder. As time ticked away and the force on her hands grew, the pain intensified, but Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t care anymore. She didn¡¯t want to die or be used by anyone. Blood oozed from her chafed hands, trickling down. She had never felt such pain before. In the pitch darkness, the entire warehouse echoed only with the slight sounds of her rubbing the rope. As she continued, Xu Chaomu¡¯s patience was nearly exhausted, and she began to cry. ¡°Big Brother¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡± In every tough moment, he was always the first one she thought of. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she clenched her teeth and kept rubbing the rope. Finally, there was a loose spot that broke! It was like seeing a glimmer of dawn in the darkness; she rubbed harder. There was no light here, and Xu Chaomu knew that if there were, she would look utterly disheveled. Suddenly, the ropes binding her wrists snapped! With a hiss, the ropes fell to the ground, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s sore arms drooped down. But she dared not rx even slightly and went on to untie the ropes on her body. She felt weak and achy all over! She wished she could copse and sleep right there, but she knew she couldn¡¯t. While the man was still away, she had to escape. After freeing herself from all the ropes, she ran toward the warehouse door. She pushed against the door with all her might, only to find it was chained shut! Not wasting more energy, she quickly shifted her focus. The door was locked, but there were windows! Moonlight poured through cracks in the window, and she quickly located it. It was high, but not out of reach! Using whatever she could find¡ªwood, bricks¡ªshe piled them into a makeshift tform and climbed on top. Blood was still streaming from the scratched back of her hand; she didn¡¯t know how much longer her hands could hold on, and the pain was excruciating. Standing on the debris, she reached up to the window, pushed with all her might, and the window swung open! Now the only thing she had to do was to flee! To flee! Chapter 271: Can’t Survive, Can’t Die Chapter 271: Can¡¯t Survive, Can¡¯t Die Trantor: 549690339 The moonlight instantly shone through the window, and the night breeze brushed against her face. Xu Chaomu felt for the first time that being alive was a beautiful thing. Luckily, she had done plenty of climbing through windows and up trees as a child, so now she grabbed the window ledge with her hands and jumped up onto the windowsill in one swift motion. As she sat on the windowsill, suddenly, she saw that man returning in a car! Xu Chaomu, frightened, hurriedly jumped down and squatted on the ground. She didn¡¯t dare to move until the man drove the car inside, then she ran forward as fast as she could! Run! Run! Run! She was using every bit of strength she had! Guided by the moonlight, she found the exit from the abandoned factory! She ran out of the exit like a little rabbit! She was unfamiliar with the ce, but she knew that as long as she got away, there was hope for survival. The gym sses she often skipped finally made her realize the importance of the 800-meter run. Midway, her shoe came off, so she quickly bent down to pick it up and continued running barefoot. Not far from the factory was a highway, and beside the highway was a small grove of trees nted for greening. Xu Chaomu ran into the woods, using the dense foliage to conceal herself! It was the summer, and the leaves were thick and lush. Xu Chaomu stepped on the fallen leaves, unable to see beyond the forest. But under the silent night sky, every step she took on the leaves made a ¡°crunch¡± sound! Fearing making more noise, she had to slow down and walk on the soft earth. Indeed, after parking the car in the factory, the third brother brought a box of food to open the door. As soon as the door opened and his shlight illuminated the area, all he found was a snapped rope and a mess on the floor! ¡°Damn it!¡± The third brother, filled with rage, swore, tossed the box of food away, and quickly jumped into the car! ¡°You little brat, if I catch you, I¡¯ll fucking ughter you!¡± The third brother cursed filthily. He stepped on the gas, and the car sped out of the factory. There were two directions outside the factory, and the third brother couldn¡¯t guess which way Xu Chaomu had gone, so he hurriedly made a call to the second brother. ¡°Second brother, the little rabbit escaped, hurry up and drive over to help me look! I reckon she can¡¯t have gone far, we¡¯ll find her quickly!¡± ¡°How can you be so careless? You can¡¯t even keep an eye on a girl? What are you good for?¡± The second brother erupted. ¡°Second brother, can you juste over? It¡¯s my fault, but if you help me find her, won¡¯t everything be resolved? If we don¡¯t find her, we¡¯re both dead! Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re grasshoppers tied to the same rope!¡± ¡°Alright, stop bbering, I¡¯m on my way!¡± ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll search the southern side of the factory, you head north!¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The third brother hung up and started searching south along the main road. Xu Chaomu had gone north and kept running without a moment¡¯s pause. She knew that if she kept running like this, she would quickly be caught again. Suddenly, she saw a truck parked at the intersection ahead. The truck driver seemed to be on the phone. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Chaomu ran along the edge of the woods to the intersection, and quietly climbed onto the truck. She felt a bit grateful to her younger self now, climbing was no issue for her. Moreover, the driver didn¡¯t even notice when she climbed up. Xu Chaomu ducked down at the back of the truck, making herself virtually undetectable. Even more so, she curled up into a ball, lying there as still as a little kitten. After the driver finished his call, he started the truck. The vehicle sped away, and Xu Chaomu soon faced a serious problem¡ªit was very cold! Really very cold! The wind howled past her ears as she buried her head into her body, curling up in the corner of the truck. Xu Chaomu¡¯s blood felt like it was freezing over. The bone-chilling wind poured into her body, causing her to shiver uncontrobly. Yet, there was no way for her to jump down. But at least, she had managed to escape from that factory. At this moment, the ce she most wanted to return to was the Shen Family home. Not having experienced the cruelty of the world before, she found that although the Shen Family¡¯s gaze was cold, it still offered warmth. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t, nor did she want to return there. Huddled at the back of the truck, for the first time, she felt as if it would be better to be dead than alive. Desiring life but unable to live, desiring death, but unable to die. She clutched her head with one hand and gripped the truck¡¯s rope tightly with the other. She was afraid that in an unguarded moment, she would be flung off the truck and suffer a terrible fall. She did not want to die. Finally, when the truck stopped at a gas station, she was able to get down. Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips were purple, and her hands were trembling non-stop. She clenched her teeth and refused to let the tears fall. She climbed down from the truck cautiously and, like a little cat, bowed and walked away. She was safe, she was finally safe. Just as she picked up her shoes and ran toward where there were more people, suddenly, someone called out to her. ¡°Chaomu!¡± Xu Chaomu was startled; her nerves had been on edge the entire night. ¡°Chaomu, why are you here, why is there so much blood on your face and hands?¡± It turned out to be Mo Shuifu. Xu Chaomu¡¯s sight darkened, her legs went weak, and she almost fell over. ¡°Shui Fu, how, how is it you? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I was nning to leave C City. My ride was queuing at the gas station to get fuel, and I came down to get some air. I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here.¡± ¡°Shui Fu, don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯m alright, you go back to the car, I want to leave this ce.¡± ¡°What happened? Why are you covered in blood? Tell me quickly.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s really nothing, Shui Fu, don¡¯t bother, I need to leave quickly.¡± ¡°Leave? Where do you want to go? It¡¯s four in the morning, why are you out at this hour? Where is Shen Chi? Where is your brother?¡± To Mo Shuifu, it seemed iprehensible for Shen Chi, who adored Xu Chaomu, to allow her to be out alone sote. And she was covered in blood. What on earth had happened? ¡°Shui Fu, just leave it, please don¡¯t get involved. Go back to the car, I can manage on my own.¡± ¡°How can I ignore this, I¡¯ll call a hospital, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Mo Shuifu was frantic. She quickly took out a handkerchief to stop Xu Chaomu¡¯s bleeding. In the light, Xu Chaomu saw that she was indeed covered in blood. Although the bleeding had mostly stopped, she touched her face and wondered if she would be scarred. If she were left with scars, it would be unseemly, and she might not be able to marry. ¡°Shui Fu, don¡¯t call, I¡¯m going to the airport. I can get there by car right now.¡± ¡°Why do you need to go to the airport, Chaomu? Tell me clearly. Why have you turned out like this after not seeing each other for so many days?¡± Mo Shuifu was distressed. Why hadn¡¯t Shen Chi treated Chaomu well? Even though he was marrying Miss Bai, Xu Chaomu was still his sister after all. Could it be that Shen Chi was unaware? ¡°If you really want to know, then take me to the airport, and I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you, and you must tell me everything, no hiding anything.¡± After saying this, Mo Shuifu stepped out and hailed a taxi! Chapter 272: None of Your Business Chapter 272: None of Your Business Trantor: 549690339 She helped Xu Chaomu into the car and sat beside her in the back seat. The taxi was warm, and Xu Chaomu was nearly paralyzed. She weakly held onto the door handle, feeling nauseous in waves. Life and death hung by a thread. She remembered sawing through the ropes in the warehouse, then sprinting out of the factory, andter, climbing onto the truck¡­ It had been harrowing, a brush with death. She had never gone through such an ordeal in her life. ¡°Chaomu, your hands are so cold,¡± Mo Shuifu took off her coat and draped it over her. She then sped Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands with her own, trying to give her some warmth. ¡°Shuifu¡­ I¡¯m so tired¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush, take your time to talk. If you really can¡¯t, just sleep for a bit, I¡¯ll wake you up when we reach the airport.¡± ¡°Shuifu¡­¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly sobbed out loud. The driver was startled. ¡°Shuifu¡­ someone kidnapped me¡­ they are after me¡­¡± Mo Shuifu was shocked, ¡°Chaomu, who kidnapped you? Does your Fourth Brother know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who it is, I can¡¯t guess. Fourth Brother¡­ it has nothing to do with him.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice trailed off towards the end. Whether she lived or died, she didn¡¯t want to have anything more to do with Shen Chi. ¡°Chaomu, then tell me, why are you going to the airport? Shall I take you back to the Shen Family, would that be okay?¡± ¡°Shuifu, no, I can¡¯t go back to the Shen Family, I¡¯m scared to go back¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried terribly; she had not cried this much even when she was injured in the warehouse. Now, just the thought of everything to do with Shen Chi felt like a knife stabbing her chest. She had never told anyone that she was afraid to go back to the Shen Family¡­ Yes, she was truly afraid to go back; she was afraid of seeing Bai Man¡¯s happy smile, afraid to watch her rubbing her belly and telling her baby to behave. She remembered Bai Man¡¯s blissful face when trying on her wedding dress, she remembered the three words Shen Chi sent to Bai Man: ¡°I love you.¡± Bai Man would call Shen Chi ¡°husband¡± and wait with their baby for Shen Chi toe back. She, on the other hand, was superfluous. The Shen Family wasn¡¯t her home, it was Shen Chi and Bai Man¡¯s home. She didn¡¯t dare to face their everything, each additional word heard was like an additional stab to her heart. ¡°Chaomu, did you have a fight with your Fourth Brother? You two were fine before. I can tell, he really cares for you. Go back, don¡¯t make him worry.¡± Xu Chaomu clutched her head, shaking it in pain, ¡°I don¡¯t want to bother him anymore, Shuifu, he¡¯s getting married¡­ I¡¯m afraid to see that day¡­ I want to leave him¡­¡± ¡°Even if he gets married, you¡¯re still his sister, and he still cares for you a lot.¡± ¡°Shuifu¡­ you don¡¯t understand¡­ you just don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. Mo Shuifu was ultimately perceptive; after a few minutes, she understood¡ªXu Chaomu¡­ liked Shen Chi. Anyone who watches the person they love marry someone else would suffer greatly. She patted Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Chaomu, do you have enough money? I have some here.¡± Tears immediately welled up in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, and she burrowed into Mo Shuifu¡¯s embrace, sobbing, ¡°Shuifu¡­¡± They truly were close sisters who grew up together; she understood her. ¡°As long as you have decided, I support you.¡± ¡°Shuifu¡­ I¡¯m not short of money, take good care of yourself¡­ why are you leaving C City?¡± ¡°I¡­ it¡¯s nothing, just this ce, it¡¯s left too many unhappy memories, that¡¯s all.¡± Ever since her mother passed away, Mo Shuifu seemed to have grown more mature and steady. She wore a ck shirt, her long hair all tied up at the back of her head, her every motion serene and calm. As Xu Chaomu hid in her arms, she too was infected by the peace, her sobs quieted, her chest slowly eased. ¡°Shuifu¡­ don¡¯t be too sad, take care of yourself, Auntie would definitely want you to be happy.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Mo Shuifu stroked Xu Chaomu¡¯s head, like an older sister would. Xu Chaomu sniffled; she could smell the elegant and fresh scent of Mo Shuifu, she really had grown moreposed and mature than before. Just as Xu Chaomu¡¯s emotions had begun to calm, suddenly, the taxi driver mmed on the brakes! ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Chaomu lurched forward, and Mo Shuifu quickly caught her. ¡°Chaomu, are you okay? Did you hit somewhere?¡± Mo Shuifu feared she might have hurt herself again. Before Xu Chaomu could respond, the driver panicked first, ¡°Someone has stopped our car!¡± Mo Shuifu and Xu Chaomu both looked out the car window, and indeed, a ck Range Rover was arrogantly blocking the taxi! They were up to no good. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart immediately started racing¡ªno, it couldn¡¯t be theming to capture her, it just couldn¡¯t be. But often what one fearses to pass. Zhou Peitian stepped down from the driver¡¯s seat, mmed the car door with a ¡°bang,¡± and stood in front of the taxi. He was dressed in a long ck trench coat, his expression stern and icy. He came up and knocked on the taxi window. ¡°Don¡¯t open the door!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to stop the driver. Mo Shuifu immediately understood¡ªthis must be the person Xu Chaomu mentioned who would kidnap her. The driver¡¯s hands froze; he was torn. Zhou Peitian knocked on the window again, his face showing impatience. ¡°Don¡¯t open the door, you absolutely must not open the door. Master, reverse the car, drive away!¡± Xu Chaomu urged urgently. ¡°That¡¯s not possible, with him standing there, I have no way to drive; I could kill someone.¡± ¡°Then do it!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted. ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make it hard for me. I¡¯m opening the car door; I won¡¯t even charge for the ride,¡± the driver, timid by nature, really did open the car door. As soon as it opened, the driver jumped out and ran away from the taxi, to shelter from trouble. Zhou Peitian opened the rear door, his face cold as he looked at Mo Shuifu and Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu shook with fright, and Mo Shuifu hugged her, trying to push her further inside. Mo Shuifu recognized Zhou Peitian; he often hung out with Shen Shihan. Sure enough, Zhou Peitian was slightly taken aback when he saw Mo Shuifu. He hadn¡¯t expected Mo Shuifu to be there. Mo Shuifu looked at Zhou Peitian with wide eyes,pletely calm, ¡°Director Zhou, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, it¡¯s none of your business; get out of the car,¡± Zhou Peitian was still rtively polite. ¡°How can you say it¡¯s none of my business? Chaomu is my friend, I¡¯ve always treated her like a sister. Director Zhou, why are you out kidnapping peoplete at night instead of sleeping at home?¡± ¡°Heh, Mo Shuifu, I¡¯ve said it already, don¡¯t meddle. I won¡¯t hold it against you for the sake of Shihan.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention him!¡± Mo Shuifu said coldly. ¡°Fine, get out of the car and let me take Xu Chaomu,¡± he said. ¡°Director Zhou, do you think that¡¯s possible? Are you not afraid I¡¯ll call the police?¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, don¡¯t be a busybody. If you dare to make that call, don¡¯t me me, Zhou Peitian, for not being reasonable.¡± Chapter 273: Die Together (Request for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 273: Die Together (Request for Monthly Ticket) Trantor:549690339 Xu Chaomu hid in Mo Shuifu¡¯s embrace, catching fragments of speech. For instance, this man¡¯s name was Zhou Peitian, and he knew her third brother. ¡°President Zhou, I don¡¯t need you to talk to me about favors, and I won¡¯t speak to you about them either. Today, as long as I¡¯m here, you can forget about taking Chaomu away.¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, don¡¯t think that because Shihan treats you well, you have someone to back you up. Let me tell you, you¡¯re just one of his many women, easily discarded when he tires of you. Don¡¯t take yourself too seriously!¡± ¡°Enough! Zhou Peitian, please don¡¯t mention him. I have nothing to do with Shen Shihan anymore!¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes showed restraint and calm, but inside, she was grinding her teeth. These days, no one mentioned Shen Shihan to her anymore. Just when she thought she was about to forget those painful memories, this man named Zhou Peitian came to reopen her wounds. Wounds that were raw and bleeding. She knew she was just one of Shen Shihan¡¯s many women. She knew that being a woman meant eventually being cast aside when yed out. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t mention this. Hand over Xu Chaomu to me.¡± ¡°Ha, no way. If we¡¯re going to die, we¡¯ll die together.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone was resolute. She would never abandon Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu looked up, her eyes still brimming with fear and terror. Xu Chaomu looked at Zhou Peitian, her voice trembling, ¡°Why are you abducting me? I don¡¯t know you, I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± ¡°One encounter is a coincidence, two form familiarity. Now, don¡¯t we know each other? Xu Chaomu, Miss Xu.¡± ¡°Why are you abducting me?¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice. ¡°Why? You¡¯ll find out, but not right now.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go with you, I can¡¯t possibly go with you!¡± Xu Chaomu clung tightly to Mo Shuifu. Mo Shuifu also furrowed her brows, ¡°Zhou Peitian, I told you, I won¡¯t abandon Chaomu. If ites to it, we¡¯ll both go down together.¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, do you think you can outmatch me? Be sensible and step aside; otherwise, I¡¯ll take you too!¡± Having said that, Zhou Peitian didn¡¯t waste any more words with them and reached out to pull Xu Chaomu. He didn¡¯t care that Xu Chaomu was injured; he was forcefully dragging her. ¡°Let me go, Zhou Peitian, let me go¡­¡± Xu Chaomu, eyes reddened, struggled. Mo Shuifu pushed Zhou Peitian away, ¡°Get out, don¡¯t touch Chaomu!¡± Zhou Peitian never liked dealing with women, especially troublesome ones. He took out a gun from his pocket and instantly pressed it against Mo Shuifu¡¯s temple. ¡°Xu Chaomu, will youe with me obediently, or not? Think carefully; guns don¡¯t have eyes.¡± Xu Chaomu immediately ceased her struggling, stunned. A gun, this was a real gun. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t go with him, this man is no good,¡± Mo Shuifu said coldly. Zhou Peitian sneered in response, ¡°It¡¯s up to her; I¡¯m not forcing her.¡± Xu Chaomupromised, raising her head from Mo Shuifu¡¯s arms, her gaze distant, ¡°Zhou Peitian, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Zhou Peitian, take me too!¡± Mo Shuifu stated coldly. She couldn¡¯t possibly abandon Xu Chaomu, even if it meant death, they had to stay together. At least they would have each other¡¯s support. Zhou Peitian scoffed, ¡°What sisterly love. Mo Shuifu, since you¡¯re asking, how can I refuse? Get out of the car!¡± Xu Chaomu, holding Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand, exited the car together. ¡°Get in my car! No tricks!¡± Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu both boarded the ck Land Rover, defenseless and without recourse. Zhou Peitian finally stowed his handgun and settled into the driver¡¯s seat. The car started, and Zhou Peitian drove them toward another warehouse. ¡°I¡¯ve said it; don¡¯t even think about escaping. If you provoke me, none of you will live,¡± Zhou Peitian warned them. ¡°Where are you taking us?¡± Mo Shuifu maintained someposure. ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there. Don¡¯t ask so many questions, be quiet!¡± Irritated, Zhou Peitian lit a cigarette. He was genuinely vexed, dragged out in the middle of the night to find people. Soon, the Land Rover filled with smoke, and Xu Chaomu covered her nose, coughing repeatedly. Xu Chaomu was truly exhausted, both physically and mentally, not even having the strength to speak. She clutched Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t be scared, it¡¯s okay,¡± Mo Shuifu tried to console Xu Chaomu, despite feeling anxious herself. The vehicle continued forward, Zhou Peitian remaining silent, solemnly smoking. In the meantime, he made a phone call. ¡°Come and take your woman away; don¡¯t say I don¡¯t care about brotherly tiester. Your woman is such a nuisance.¡± There was silence on the other end for a while, then followed by a low and frigid voice, ¡°Mo Shuifu? How did she end up with you?¡± ¡°Ran into some trouble. Come and pick her up right away, the usual ce; don¡¯t hinder my businesster.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Perhaps because the car was so quiet, Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu could make out the voice on the phone. ¡°Third brother¡­ Zhou Peitian, are you close with my third brother?¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. Even if she was naive, she seemed to catch a hint of something. This time, Zhou Peitian¡¯s abduction of her, could it be rted to her third brother? A lump formed in her heart, the area around her heart ached faintly. Third brother¡­ her third brother who cared for her so much, loved her so much¡­ it must have nothing to do with him. But suddenly, she remembered that day when she and Shen Shihan went for barbecue. Shen Shihan asked her a question with a serious expression, ¡°What would you do if one day you found out your third brother isn¡¯t as kind, isn¡¯t as good as you think?¡± At that time, how could she have considered anythingplex? She replied, ¡°No matter if you¡¯re good or not, you¡¯re still my third brother. My dearest third brother, unique and irreceable.¡± Then he told her, ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t trust others so easily in the future.¡± Don¡¯t trust so easily¡­ even if it¡¯s her own third brother she¡¯s lived with for eight years? Xu Chaomu clutched her chest, feeling intermittent twinges of pain. Third brother¡­ All along, her third brother had been very kind to her. Whenever Shen Chi scolded her, she would run to Shen Shihan, and every time, Shen Shihan wouldfort her. Whenever she wanted to hear a story and approached Shen Chi but got driven away, she would turn to Shen Shihan. When she failed an exam and needed a parent¡¯s signature, she went to Shen Shihan. Back then, she ran into the western pavilion with the failed paper in hand, ¡°Third brother, sign this for me!¡± Shen Shihan would always smile and say, ¡°Another failure?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Is your fourth brother not around?¡± Shen Shihan would tease her, knowing she didn¡¯t dare seek Shen Chi out. Whenever she went to Shen Chi, he would berate her mercilessly, telling her all she did was read Little Forbidden Book and never took anything seriously. Afterward, Shen Chi would make her stay upte to do homework. ¡°How could I dare find him? To find him is to seek death.¡± Chapter 274: Liars, They’re All Liars Chapter 274: Liars, They¡¯re All Liars Trantor:549690339 Each time this happened, Shen Shihan would take the exam paper from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and sign his own name on it. And she would happily hug Shen Shihan, ¡°Third Brother, you¡¯re the best, I love you the most!¡± Of course, that kind of love was not the same as the love she had for Shen Chi, in her heart, she had only ever loved Shen Chi. But now, her Third Brother, whom she regarded as her own family, was in cahoots with Zhou Peitian. Her heart couldn¡¯t calm down for a long time. Why, why did Third Brother deceive her, why didn¡¯t she have a single person she could trust and rely on? If Shen Shihan could deceive her, then what about Shen Chi? Had Shen Chi been deceiving her all along? None of them ever really considered her family, she gave them her whole heart, confided everything to them, yet this is how they treated her. Liars, all liars. The people of the Shen Family, all liars. Her heart hurt to the point of being beyond cure, her hands icy cold, her body trembling. After listening to Xu Chaomu, Zhou Peitian touched his chin and said indifferently, ¡°I do know Shen Shihan.¡± He did not say whether their rtionship was good or bad. But Shen Shihan had instructed him to not allow harm toe to Xu Chaomu. ¡°So you are taking me away, does my Third Brother know about it?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, her voice filled with heart-rending despair and anger. Zhou Peitian stopped talking, staring forward and driving in silence. Xu Chaomu understood, she understood everything. Tears streamed down her cheeks, she covered her face, her voice hoarse and powerless, ¡°Liars¡­ you¡¯ve all deceived me¡­¡± It was like suddenly being stabbed in the heart, and the person wielding the knife was the rtive she once relied on. For eight years, she had truly treated Shen Shihan as her own brother, regardless of theck of blood rtion. When he was unwell, she would rush to his side, pour him water, fetch his medicine. She would asionally check on him, asking, ¡°Third Brother, are you feeling better?¡± Why was it that the sincere love she offered was repaid with deceit? Just like she truly liked Zhou Ran, yet eight yearster, she was told, ¡°Xu Chaomu, you should leave the Shen Family, don¡¯t try to be a homewrecker.¡± She was sincere in her kindness to everyone, yet no one was truly kind to her. There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart, everyone was deceiving her. ¡°Chaomu¡­ don¡¯t cry, you still have me.¡± Mo Shuifu hugged Xu Chaomu. She knew that Shen Shihan was Xu Chaomu¡¯s Third Brother, anyone would feel terrible hearing what she had. ¡°Shuifu¡­ why do they all treat me like this¡­ why¡­¡± Mo Shuifu sighed, an eighteen-year-old girl, still unaware of the evil nature of the human heart. Zhou Peitian became irritated at the sound, he sped up the car, driving towards a warehouse. About half an hourter, Zhou Peitian drove the car to hispany¡¯s warehouse. It was secluded and secure, hence, Xiao Mo and his men definitely wouldn¡¯te looking here. Sure enough, as soon as he arrived at the warehouse, Zhou Peitian saw Shen Shihan¡¯s Ferrari. Under the cover of night, the Ferrari was low-key luxurious, the window half open, parked quietly by the warehouse. Shen Shihan lit a cigarette, his gaze cold and deep, staring ahead. Seeing Shen Shihan¡¯s Ferrari¡¯s license te, Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand trembled, her lips pressed tightly. It had been a while since she left Shen Shihan, after that day, he indeed had note to look for her again. He had said he would let her go. But now, they were to meet again. ¡°Mo Shuifu, go to Third Young Master¡¯s car, leave with him.¡± Zhou Peitian opened the car door. ¡°I¡¯ve said it¡¯s impossible, I will stay with Chaomu.¡± Mo Shuifu remained resolute. ¡°Don¡¯t refuse the wine only to be forced to drink the penalty, you really want to get involved in this mess. And don¡¯t think just because Third Young Master still likes you, no one dares to touch you,¡± Zhou Peitian snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not relying on anything, I¡¯m just standing on the position of an older sister, I won¡¯t abandon Chaomu and not care.¡± said Mo Shuifu. Xu Chaomu felt a warmth in her eyes, maybe, it¡¯s at times like these when she would find out who was really the best for her. Yet, she still pushed Mo Shuifu away, ¡°Shuifu, don¡¯t worry about me, I don¡¯t believe Third Brother would do anything to me.¡± At worst it¡¯s death, if Shen Shihan had it in him. ¡°Chaomu, Shen Shihan and Zhou Peitian are birds of a feather, they are capable of anything!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve called him ¡®Third Brother¡¯ for eight years, if he really is cruel, then let hime, I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Xu Chaomu bit back. Zhou Peitian grew even more irritable, he hated dealing with women the most. At that moment, the door of the Ferrari opened, and Shen Shihan got out, striding towards the Land Rover. The night was morbid, he was d in a ck suit that made him even more imposing and austere, as if the temperature around him had dropped a few degrees. In the moonlight, his face showed no emotion, just endless coldness. Within a few steps, he was at the car door. His voice low and cold, he nced at Mo Shuifu, ¡°Get out.¡± Mo Shuifu held his gaze, ¡°Shen Shihan, don¡¯t forget what you said.¡± He had said he would let her go, that he would never look for her again. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten, you leave here with me, the rest, I won¡¯t deal with,¡± Shen Shihan said in a deep voice. ¡°No, all of it, you stay out of my affairs!¡± Mo Shuifu said with a coldugh. ¡°I have to deal with what¡¯s happening tonight!¡± Having said that, Shen Shihan boldly grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the car. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t hold onto Mo Shuifu anymore, she knew she couldn¡¯t drag Mo Shuifu down with her. ¡°I won¡¯t leave with you, Shen Shihan, you let someone kidnap Chaomu, do you have any humanity?¡± Mo Shuifu questioned fiercely. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was cold. Unexpectedly, Mo Shuifu was determined to stand by Chaomu, she bowed her head and bit into Shen Shihan¡¯s arm. Zhou Peitian, acting on instinct, protected Shen Shihan, striking Mo Shuifu hard and knocking her out. Mo Shuifu fell into Shen Shihan¡¯s arms, he supported her, his gaze deep. ¡°Third Brother, treat Shuifu well, don¡¯t deceive her.¡± Thest four words, Xu Chaomu said through clenched teeth. Shen Shihan¡¯s tightly pressed lips moved slightly, but he said nothing, supporting Mo Shuifu as he walked to his car. The Ferrari drove away, leaving only Zhou Peitian and Xu Chaomu behind. Zhou Peitian stood at the car door, nced at Xu Chaomu, andzily said, ¡°Aren¡¯t youing down?¡± Xu Chaomu knew she had no escape, she got out of the car, standing in the wind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, whether you live or die, the decision isn¡¯t up to us.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand. The wind tousled her disheveled hair, and she realized that her body was chilling. ¡°It¡¯s in the hands of your Fourth Brother.¡± ¡°Are you nning to use me to threaten my Fourth Brother?¡± ¡°Smart girl,¡± he remarked. ¡°Could it be that you¡¯ve miscalcted? Shen Chi doesn¡¯t care about me at all, using me as a bargaining chip is not worth it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I think too, I reckon kidnapping Bai Man would be much more effective than kidnapping you. But your Third Brother said, the person Shen Chi cares about the most, is you.¡± Chapter 275: The Person Shen Chi Loves the Most Chapter 275: The Person Shen Chi Loves the Most Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Zhou Peitian, do you not have a brain of your own? The person Shen Chi is getting engaged to is Bai Man, and moreover, you should have heard, he took the initiative to go to the civil affairs office to sever our adoption rtionship. He and I, we have nothing to do with each other anymore!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, to make sure that everything goes perfectly, Bai Man, I will not let her go either. Shen Shihan and I are making a bet, we¡¯re betting on who Shen Chi loves the most, after all.¡± ¡°Does that answer still need to be verified?¡± ¡°Without verification, Shihan won¡¯t give up.¡± ¡°Then deliver a message to Third Brother for me¡­ tell him, from today onwards, he will never be my Third Brother again.¡± ¡°Little girl, when you grow up, you¡¯ll understand. Your Third Brother, he has instructed me not to hurt you.¡± ¡°Then also tell him, deceit, that¡¯s the greatest harm. Moreover, when a family ughters each other.¡± Xu Chaomu bit her teeth. ¡°If you want to hate, then hate. You don¡¯t understand what¡¯s most important in a man¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°Interest, right? I understand. Therefore, your biggest mistake was kidnapping me. In Shen Chi¡¯s heart, I don¡¯t even register.¡± ¡°Fine,e with me to the warehouse. Stay there nicely, I won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Zhou Peitian¡¯s tone softened a bit as he took Xu Chaomu into the warehouse. This warehouse was much cleaner. After Zhou Peitian threw her in there, he took special care to inspect the doors and windows, ensuring there were no gaps, before he feltfortable shutting the door. After Shen Shihan took Mo Shuifu away, he drove straight on. Mo Shuifuy quietly in the back seat,pletely unresponsive. Shen Shihan asionally turned to look at her a few times; she looked thinner than before and was even more tranquil than usual. So tranquil that it made him feel an immense sense of distance. He was d in a ck shirt, even the hairband for his tied-up hair was ck. Having not seen her for so many days, he thought she had already left C City. He sighed heavily in his heart. Soon, Shen Shihan drove the car to a small vi registered under his name. After parking the car in the garage, Shen Shihan opened the back seat door and carried Mo Shuifu out. Zhou Peitian had been too heavy-handed; Mo Shuifu was still unconscious up to this point. Carrying Mo Shuifu into the house, where it was deep into the night and all the servants were asleep, the only sound was that of his footsteps. He carried her into a small room and gentlyid her down. Under the lights, she looked very peaceful, as if she was merely asleep. ¡°I won¡¯t let you take risks. If you want to hate me, then hate me,¡± murmured Shen Shihan with his lips barely parting. He covered her with a nket and bent down to gaze at her face, unwilling to leave for a long time. His fingers traced her face, from forehead to chin, outlining the contours of her face with his own fingertips. Gradually, he bent down and nted a kiss on her cold lips. This kiss was gentle and shallow, pure and beautiful. He just¡­ missed her. Missed her so, so much. Mo Shuifu still showed no reaction, and Shen Shihan sat beside her for a while before reluctantly standing up. He locked the door of the room; these days, he wouldn¡¯t let her leave through that door. As soon as Shen Shihan left, he called Zhou Peitian. ¡°Peitian, how are things on your end?¡± ¡°No issues, but the girl asked me to deliver a message to you, of course, it¡¯s nothing pleasant. So, do you want to hear it or not?¡± Shen Shihan fell into silence. After a long time, he spoke faintly, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°She said, from today on, you are no longer her Third Brother.¡± Even though he had braced himself, Shen Shihan¡¯s hand still shook slightly. He gripped his mobile phone, lips pressed tightly together. In front of him, the image of a pure and lovely smiling face suddenly appeared. In her childhood, her face was always filled with limitless charm. She would lie next to him listening to his stories, very obedient, just like a little kitten. Although she didn¡¯t cling to him, their rtionship was also quite good. When Shen Chi ignored her, she would run to his side toin. Every time, with just a little bit of cajoling from him, she would forget everything. There was also thest time they said goodbye after a barbecue, she came back and tiptoed into his embrace. In the sunlight, her smile was the most beautiful scenery. Yet, he ultimately wasn¡¯t as good as she imagined. ¡°Once the project is secured, I willpensate her, you take good care of her,¡± Shen Shihan spoke calmly. ¡°Afraid you¡¯ll never be able topensate her in this lifetime.¡± ¡°I hope she can be happy,¡± said Shen Shihan, his voice hoarse. ¡°Can she still be happy?¡± Zhou Peitian said. Another long silence ensued. ¡°Peitian, the main sources of Shen Chi¡¯s funds in South Africa right now, do you know?¡± ¡°From what I see, a portion from Shen Cexian, and from Bai Xuan of course, and he himself still has a chunk.¡± ¡°What if we withdraw Bai Xuan¡¯s funding?¡± ¡°Then it¡¯ll be about the same as us.¡± After finishing, Shen Shihan lowered his voice and gave Zhou Peitian a few instructions. The night grew deeper, and before long, a white mist began to rise in the air. Droplets condensed on leaves, and when birds passed by, a tremble of the leaves would send the droplets rolling down along the foliage. As dawn approached in C City, it was just turning night in South Africa. Without any news of Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi became increasingly restless. He sat in the chair of his suite, his eyes never leaving the doll ced on the bed. He wanted to hear her voice, badly wanted to. But now, even this desire had be a luxury. He was unable to sleep, sitting silently, his features sculpted, still as a statue. All night, Xiao Mo called countless times, yet the content was the same; Xu Chaomu had not been found. Pressing his fist against his forehead, Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± To his dismay, the next day, just as Shen Chi was preparing to meet with the mine owner to negotiate the diamond mine so he could return home to look for Xu Chaomu personally, another crisis emerged back home. Bai Xuan personally called Shen Chi. ¡°Shen Chi, Manman is missing.¡± Shen Chi responded gravely, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Early this morning, I received a call from the kidnappers, saying Manman is in their hands, and they need fifty million for her release.¡± ¡°Fifty million? They sure have quite the appetite.¡± ¡°Initially I didn¡¯t dare raise an uproar and secretly sent people to look for Manman, but there was no trace. The kidnappers also said, if the money isn¡¯t provided, they will harm her.¡± ¡°Uncle Bai, what are you getting at?¡± ¡°I just wanted to discuss with you, Manman will soon be engaged to you; she must be very important to you, right? So, I n to deliver the money to the kidnappers first; I can¡¯t risk Manman¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°Fifty million is no small sum.¡± ¡°Yes, and I don¡¯t have a spare fifty million at hand. I¡¯d have to take it from the funds allocated to you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple, Uncle Bai, have someone keep an eye on Shen Shihan!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t gamble Manman¡¯s life, and besides, you don¡¯t need that fifty million urgently, so I¡¯m just giving you a heads up.¡± ¡°Without that fifty million, my project in South Africa will be postponed.¡± Chapter 276: The Debt of Gratitude Owed to the Bai Family Chapter 276: The Debt of Gratitude Owed to the Bai Family Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Shen Chi, doesn¡¯t Manman¡¯s life mean more to you than your time?¡± Bai Xuan was getting angry. ¡°Enough, Uncle Bai, there¡¯s no need for you to say anything. Fifty million, you transfer it; I will figure out something else.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even hope that you would help to find Manman. Lately, whenever Manmanes back to the Bai Family, she¡¯s always crying. I ask her, but she says nothing. However, I¡¯ve heard others say that you¡¯ve got another woman outside.¡± ¡°Uncle Bai, yes, I have a woman. Originally, I thought Bai Man had discussed this with you, but it seems she hasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Bai Xuan on the phone trembled with anger, ¡°Do you not know that the engagement invitations between you and Manman have been sent out?¡± ¡°There have been arrangements for this, and everything was supposed to work out. But I didn¡¯t expect something to go wrong.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered me, who is your woman?¡± ¡°Uncle Bai, there wille a day when you¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°Fine, Shen Chi, you¡¯re really great. If I hadn¡¯t asked today, were you nning on keeping it a secret from me or not?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t keeping it a secret; I made it very clear to Bai Man, but she has not told you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I heard that the old master hasn¡¯t signed the authorization document for the group. Do you think you¡¯re pulling out of the engagement too soon? It seems unlike your calcting nature to take this loss.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to take this loss.¡± Shen Chi remembered Xu Chaomu; she was his everything. He was willing. ¡°Good, very good. Shen Chi, don¡¯t forget, why did the old master choose to hand over the group to you, if not for Manman liking you?¡± ¡°I know, the Shen Family has always owed the Bai Family a favor. But I won¡¯t repay it this way.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you still remember the favor Shen Family owes Bai Family.¡± ¡°Twenty years ago, you saved our family¡¯s lives, I, Shen Chi, remember it. However, I¡¯m not willing to sacrifice my lifelong happiness for this; I¡¯d rather be without this life.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s memories were blurry, but he remembered that day it snowed heavily, back when he was still a child. Shen Cexian had a car ident, crashing into a tree, and the entire car fell into the river. Just when their family was in despair, Bai Xuan happened to drive by and saved the three of them. Bai Xuan and Shen Cexian were old schoolmates andter, they even discussed arranging a marriage between Shen Chi and Bai Man. It wasn¡¯t taken too seriously, but unexpectedly, Bai Man really fell in love with Shen Chi. ¡°Shen Chi, I didn¡¯t want to say these things, just think well on it for yourself. Otherwise, you won¡¯t get this project, and the president of the Shen Group might need to be reced!¡± ¡°Uncle Bai, I don¡¯t need to think about it, nothing is more important than her.¡± ¡°You!¡± Bai Xuan didn¡¯t expect such a response! ¡°You, tell me, who is that woman?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out.¡± Shen Chi stuck to his answer. Bai Xuan hung up the phone angrily; he felt like he could die of anger because of Shen Chi. He only learned this morning about Bai Man¡¯s ident, and now Shen Chi had added insult to injury! Shen Chi wasn¡¯t having an easy time either, with no news of Xu Chaomu, and this abrupt withdrawal of fifty million, which did nothing to help his negotiations with the mine owner! Shen Chi calmed down, his eyes deeper. The troublemakers were certainly Shen Shihan and Zhou Peitian¡¯s people. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he took out a private seal and a cipher from the safe. Without this private seal, Shen Shihan couldn¡¯t get his hands on the funds controlled by Shen Cexian. The money from the Feili Group alone was definitely not enough. Lucky for him, he had been prepared, having reced the real seal with a fake one some time ago. Probably, Shen Shihan hasn¡¯t yet realized he¡¯s holding a fake seal in his hands. Three dayster, there was still no news from Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi knew he couldn¡¯t wait any longer; he had to return to his country. There was no more time to dy this project; the only option was to throw money at it. ¡°Master Zuma, we can talk now.¡± Under the sunlight, at the usual spot, Shen Chi sat under the arbor, as Master Zuma slowly made his way toward him. He was still dressed in that voluminous ck robe, his eyes narrowed into slits, toying with the agarwood beads in his hand. Following him was his female trantor, both of them strolling along at a leisurely pace. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a pattern of light and shadow on Shen Chi¡¯s stern face. The female trantor said to the mine owner with a smile, ¡°Zuma, President Shen is really handsome, even more so than your son.¡± The mine owner burst intoughter, replying in Afrikaans, ¡°What¡¯s the use of being handsome? Money is what¡¯s most useful.¡± ¡°Mine owner, you think about money all the time. Of course, being handsome is useful. There¡¯s a saying in our country, ¡®a feast for the eyes¡¯. If I could look at a man like President Shen every day, I¡¯d eat several more bowls of rice.¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯ve sent him a few women, and there wasn¡¯t a peep from him; he sent them all back to me.¡± ¡°Mine owner, how would he fancy women from South Africa?¡± ¡°No, no, no, in the dark, aren¡¯t they all the same?¡± The female trantor¡¯s cheeks turned red, and she covered her mouth, giggling at his words. They took their time sitting down in the chairs in front of Shen Chi, and the mine owner spoke first, ¡°President Shen, have you made up your mind? A group offered three billion, but since he didn¡¯t have cash, I didn¡¯t agree to him.¡± ¡°Then good, I¡¯ll offer three and a half billion, is that enough?¡± ¡°Enough! Of course, it¡¯s enough!¡± The mine owner¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, ¡°President Shen, you¡¯re so straightforward. However, we agreed on cash.¡± ¡°Mine owner, what era are we in? Cash isn¡¯t safe.¡± ¡°No, there has to be at least fifty million in cash,¡± he deliberately emphasized thest two words. The female trantor gave Shen Chi a helpless shrug and slowly said, ¡°This is our mine owner¡¯s usual style.¡± ¡°Alright, then mine owner, let¡¯s sign this contract first.¡± ¡°No, no, no, no way, no way.¡± Master Zuma repeated several ¡°no¡±s in his tentative Chinese, ¡°Cash on delivery, you give money, I sign. No one loses out.¡± Shen Chi knew he was dealing with a tricky old fox. But fortunately, this old fox only cared about money and was not too cunning. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s meet tomorrow night, cash on delivery.¡± Shen Chi knew that if time permitted, he could still bargain the price and terms to the lowest, but he knew he was out of time. There was still no sign of Xu Chaomu. After a bit more small talk, Shen Chi returned to his suite. The female trantor and the mine owner chatted idly while drinking. ¡°Congrattions, congrattions, mine owner, you¡¯ve got another deposit in the bank.¡± ¡°This President Shen didn¡¯t even bargain.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone say he¡¯s cunning and shrewd? I really didn¡¯t see that,¡± the female trantor said, perplexed. ¡°It seems like he¡¯s in a rush to close this project.¡± ¡°Mine owner, maybe he misses the wife at home.¡± ¡°Hahaha, only you would talk so much.¡± ¡°But congrattions, mine owner, partnering with the Shen Group is also worth celebrating, cheers.¡± The female trantor raised her ss and clinked it with the mine owner¡¯s, and the pair sat happily under the arbor, drinking and chatting. Chapter 277: Five Years Later, Taking the Diamond Chapter 277: Five Years Later, Taking the Diamond Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi knew that the contract for his project he had signed held no advantage, but he could no longer stay in South Africa. Tomorrow, after the cash-for-goods transaction waspleted, he would immediately begin his journey back to C City. Losing tens or even hundreds of millions was insignificantpared to Xu Chaomu. But he knew that the real challenge would be the payment process tomorrow night, his greatest concern. This ce was notorious for chaos; if someone got wind of the deal and set up an ambush in advance, the consequences would be dire. Fifty million in cash and bank cards, who wouldn¡¯t be tempted? Once Shen Chi returned to his suite, he got in touch with his subordinates in South Africa and had them make full preparations. Although the n was moved up, it had been meticulously arranged back home. Failure was not an option. After contacting everyone, Shen Chi remembered something. Beforeing to South Africa, he had nned to pick a diamond to take back. The diamond didn¡¯t have to berge, but it must be exquisite, because Xu Chaomu was the most beautiful encounter of his lifetime. Love, neither early norte; every moment, every drop, day and night. He visited the local Seide Pce, which was once inhabited by a young princess fond of all kinds of exotic treasures. Since she was the king¡¯s only child, he gathered the world¡¯s rarest wonders for her. But eventually, the princess fell in love with a lowly knight from her guards, and no one approved, including her loving father. The princess eloped with the knight, but they were captured by the king halfway through their escape. The king executed the knight without the princess¡¯s knowledge. Two yearster, the princess discovered that the man she loved had long been dead. On that day, with a frosty, deste chill in the air, all living things silent, the princess walked on a gold-threaded red carpet and pierced her own heart with a sharp dagger. She crawled to her beloved¡¯s tomb, clutching the headstone, her smile deste and heartbreaking. Her blood dripped down her dress one drop at a time, and it was said that that year, amidst the wintry frosts, vibrant red peach blossoms suddenly bloomed. The mountains and fields were all awash with red. The blood that flowed onto the ground turned into red diamonds. And in Seide Pce, the most beautiful red diamond was on disy. Shen Chi didn¡¯t believe in these legends; he was after the blood diamonds. Sure enough, he saw the red diamond at Seide Pce. Beside a neenth-century courtdy¡¯s bronzemp, the diamond quietly exhibited its soft and demure grace, like a serene woman with a blooming smile. He immediately took a liking to this diamond, but the price was steep. The cost of one diamond was nearly that of an entire diamond mine. He did not hesitate, since first impressions are what mattered most. Just like how he fancied Xu Chaomu, she wasn¡¯t particrly outstanding, even imperfect, but she was his one and only. This diamond was meant for her, and so was the diamond mine. By the way, he would package himself for her, too. But he didn¡¯t have enough funds for a turnover, so he could only negotiate with the owner of Seide Pce to keep the diamond there and retrieve it next time. Fortunately, although Shen Chi was usually taciturn, he was unmatched in negotiations. The owner of Seide Pce agreed and removed the diamond from the disy case. ¡°Mr. Shen, I will hold it for you, but you have five years. If you don¡¯te to im it by the fifth winter, then this diamond will never belong to you,¡± the owner said. ¡°Okay,¡± he agreed. There was no need for five years; once he returned home, he would bring Xu Chaomu to retrieve it together. The owner of Seide Pce ced the blood diamond inside a sealed brocade box and then into an ornate redwood cab iid with diamonds. It was then that Shen Chi noticed there were many such brocade boxes in the cab. ¡°Mr. Shen, leave a mark on the box,¡± the owner prompted. Shen Chi took the feather pen, thought for a moment, and wrote, ¡°Offering you a lifetime of day and nights,¡± followed by their names. Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu. ¡°The ink from this pen will be gone in five years,¡± the owner of Seide Pce remarked indifferently, as if used to all life¡¯s dramas. ¡°Brocade boxes without markings will have no owners. I¡¯ll put them back on disy for someone else to buy.¡± ¡°I will definitelye to take it,¡± Shen Chi said, his voice low and gaze profound. ¡°Many have said such things before. The items are yours. Whether you take them or not, you don¡¯t need to tell me,¡± the owner replied. Shen Chi knew that many must have said this before, or there wouldn¡¯t be so many brocade boxes there. The owner locked up the redwood cab and then unhurriedly walked back to his pce. He didn¡¯t say much to Shen Chi, seemingly indifferent to the conflict and drama around him. Shen Chi walked around Seide Pce once more before departing. He thought, next time when he came to get the diamond, he would ask Xu Chaomu if there was anything else she liked. Although he knew her taste was vulgar, unable to distinguish between ss and ze, she would surely like something here. The night of the following day arrived swiftly, Shen Chi spent the entire day on the phone, making arrangements. From withdrawing the money to arranging transportation and securing the contract site, he had people strictly guarding everything. At night, seven o¡¯clock. Shen Group¡¯s cash transport vehicle slowly moved forward under the cover of darkness¡­ Shen Chi was aware of the mine owner¡¯s tricks. The so-called cash was amon ploy of his. If Shen Chi was not mistaken, the mine owner would stage a robbery to create the illusion of the cash being hijacked, thus gaining even more money. Shen Chi had made ample preparations for this scenario. But even the wise can err, and he didn¡¯t have an absolute guarantee of sess. After all, he was on South African turf, not in C City. Under the night sky, a procession of vehicles drove in line. Shen Chi¡¯s car was in the middle, his hand holding a bank card worth three hundred million yuan. Of course, there was also a loaded gun under his seat. After thirty minutes of driving, there was silence all around. Every member of Shen Group was on edge. The convoy passed by a manor, and after the manor, therey barren fields. Beyond, a small desert. As they drove along the desert¡¯s edge, Shen Chi¡¯s hawk-like eyes were fixed ahead, vignt to any movement. Under the moonlight, the vegetation was shrouded in a thin veil, casting an aura of destion over the ce. Just as they were nearing the rendezvous location, suddenly, a gunshot rang out. With a ¡°bang,¡± the leading vehicle¡¯s tire burst! The burst tire sent the vehicle spinning on the spot, and it came to a screeching halt! The second car mmed on the brakes, followed by the othersing to an abrupt stop. Shen Chi¡¯s obsidian-like eyes instantly narrowed, pupils contracting, lips tightening, and facial expression hardening. His alertness shot up, and his hand reached for the gun on the seat. Chapter 278: Xu Chaomu, get out Chapter 278: Xu Chaomu, get out Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Director Shen, the car¡¯s tire has burst; we can¡¯t drive it out,¡± someone in the front called Shen Chi. ¡°Ensure the safe is absolutely secure and get ready to race the car!¡± Shen Chimanded coldly. No sooner had he finished speaking than several ck off-road vehicles drove up the narrow path and surrounded all of Shen¡¯s cars. The encroaching ck cars closed in like behemoths, poised to devour their prey. At this moment of drawn swords and bent bows, Shen Chi nced outside the window¡ªthese were South Africans. In the standoff, someone fired another shot¡ªa loud ¡°bang,¡± the gunshot startling the birds! Upon hearing it, the South Africans appeared to receive a silent order, uniformly opening their car doors and rushing out. ¡°Take all the money!¡± A tall South African shouted in their nativenguage. Shen Chi understood and immediately gripped his pistol, rolled down the window, and fired their first shot into the fray! After the sound of Shen Chi¡¯s gunfire, the others from Shen¡¯s grasped themand and the bodyguards in the backseat immediately opened fire. The group of South Africans charged forward frantically, sprinting and shooting wildly as if they were fearless. Their n was simple: first, blow out all of Shen¡¯s car tires, then shatter the windows, and finally grab the money! A cold smirk curled on Shen Chi¡¯s lips as he phoned the driver of another car behind him, ¡°All the cash transport vehicles prepare to turn around!¡± ¡°Yes, Director Shen.¡± Taking advantage of the tires not being blown out yet, the armored cars quickly turned around and rammed straight into the crowd! The South Africans were afraid of dying too, and when they saw the cars charging, they quickly dodged, but none gave up on stealing the money. Covering their heads, they dispersed, scampering for cover. Once in the clear, they resumed firing from behind! ¡°Bang bang bang,¡± the desert sky echoed with continuous gunfire! One shot, two shots, three shots¡­ For a moment, the scene was in utter chaos. ¡°Director Shen, what do we do? The tires have burst!¡± ¡°Prepare to exit the vehicle!¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, a bullet came flying, ¡°ng,¡± shattering the car window and leaving a gaping hole! Dodging the bullet, Shen Chi opened the door and swiftly jumped out of the car! The driver followed him out, and as they made their escape, bullets rained down on them! Shen Chi and his bodyguards were not to be underestimated; they provided cover with the vehicle as they returned fire! ¡°Bang bang bang,¡± with a few gunshots, Shen Chi and his men were no longer on the defensive. Many South Africans chased after the cash transport vehicles, neglecting Shen Chi¡¯s car. Seeing no gain to be had in pursuing Shen Chi, the majority followed the armored cars instead! ¡°Come for backup!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze darkened, calling for reinforcements who were hidden elsewhere. ¡°Yes, Director Shen.¡± Shen Chi had hardly finished the call when he started walking forward while shooting. Under the cover of night, he exuded an extra level of severity. d in a ck trench coat, he resembled the King of Asura, his eyes blood-red, pupils contracted, showing no mercy! Just then, a ck car pulled up to Shen Chi. The door opened, and Shen Chi quickly holstered his gun and jumped into the vehicle! But just as he leaped in, a sudden ¡°bang¡±¡ªa bullet from the chaos came flying. Caught off guard, the bullet grazed Shen Chi¡¯s arm! Instant pain struck, and he clenched his teeth and shut the car door. ¡°Drive!¡± hemanded in a deep, forceful voice! ¡°Yes, Director Shen. Your hand¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Drive, don¡¯t look back, just keep going forward! I want to see what kind of trick that old fox Zuma is ying!¡± ¡°Director Shen, everything is within your expectations.¡± ¡°While they still don¡¯t know those are fake bills, drive quickly to the signing location!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The ck car sped forward like an arrow released from a bow¡­ Shen Chi held his arm, looking down to see his dark shirt soaked with fresh blood. Taking a sharp breath, he tended to his own wound. ¡°Director Shen, is it serious? There¡¯s medicine in the trunk.¡± ¡°Would you stop the chit-chat and drive!¡± Shen Chi barked with a level voice! ¡°Right, right.¡± The car continued forward, soon leaving the chaotic site behind. Leaning back in his seat from the pain in his arm, Shen Chi closed his eyes with a furrowed brow. At this moment, the only person he could think of was Xu Chaomu. Her smile was his greatest constion; he had to survive, if only for her. He had promised her that once he returned from South Africa, he would take her out. Wherever she wanted to go, he would take her there. With his eyes closed, her pleasant voice seemed to echo in his ears. ¡°Brother Four, isn¡¯t this doll cute?¡± ¡°Childish, put it away.¡± ¡°Nope,e on, Brother Four, let her give you a kiss!¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, get lost!¡± ¡°Get lost?¡± Xu Chaomu mused to herself, holding the ugly doll, ¡°Get lost or not? Brother Four, the doll says she won¡¯t get lost; she wants to kiss you.¡± ¡°Annoying.¡± He gave her a cold nce and walked away. To his surprise, Xu Chaomuughed heartily, dangling the doll by its legs and teasing, ¡°Doll, Brother Four has rolled away himself.¡± Back then, he never had a way with her¡ªof course, even now, he had no way with her. Shen Chi leaned back in the seat, the corners of his mouth curling gently into a tender smile. Xu Chaomu¡ªher name was the curse of his life. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± He called her name softly, and all the pain seemed to evaporate in that instant. The car swiftly reached the designated ce, a small garden. The area outside the garden was quiet and empty, with no one around, save for a fewmpposts still lit. In the wind, the hangingmps swayed, casting dim and cold light. The garden itself had few flowers, mostly cacti and the like, nothing particrly attractive. The driver parked the car smoothly and signaled to Shen Chi that all was well: ¡°Director Shen, it looks like there¡¯s no trouble.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brows rxed, and his facial features softened considerably. He walked slowly to the center of the garden, paused, and looked up at the hangingmps. Themps were old, the silver ting had long peeled off, revealing corroded copper underneath. ¡°Director Shen, you should tend to that wound so it doesn¡¯t get infected,¡± the driver said as he fetched medicine from the trunk. Setting the medical kit on a dusty table, he dusted off his hands with a look of disgust, ¡°What a dump this old fox chose.¡± He took out bottles of medicine and iodine, then began treating Shen Chi¡¯s wound. Shen Chi extended his arm, frowning, but remained silent. In just a short while, the clothing had stuck to the wound, and the driver winced just by looking at the effort to pull it apart. But Shen Chi didn¡¯t utter a word. ¡°Director Shen, doesn¡¯t that hurt? I¡¯m wincing just looking at it.¡± ¡°Hurting? After tonight, we can return to C City.¡± Not understanding the source of happiness in going back to C City, the driver pondered, yet it made sense; securing this project would likely lead Shen Cexian to hand over the real power of Shen Group to Shen Chi. Chapter 279: Soldiers Never Tire of Deception Chapter 279: Soldiers Never Tire of Deception Trantor: 549690339 Once the wound was fully treated, a subdued ck Porsche slowly entered the small garden. Shen Chi fastened the buttons of his shirt, then put on his trench coat. He strode towards the Porsche, a cold smile ying on his face. In the darkness, Shen Chi was like an indifferent statue, radiating an icy chill from head to toe. The Porsche¡¯s driver was from Shen¡¯s, he hopped out of the car and nodded at Shen Chi, ¡°No problems at all, everything¡¯s under your control, President Shen.¡± ¡°Then bring him down,¡± Shen Chi gestured at the car. His eyes were frosty; in the dark, he remained calm andposed, his gaze firm and resolute. The wind blew up the tails of his long coat, making him seem even more like a monarch disdainfully surveying the world. ¡°Okay,¡± the driver responded and signaled to the two bodyguards inside the car. Soon, the people in the car brought a man down. The man was none other than Master Zuma. Zuma was not proficient in Chinese, rambling on in South African vernacr. Fury and anger were apparent on his face; he was almost huffing and puffing with rage. He was still wearing the same ck robe, but now it seemed less suave and more defeated. His hair was a messy tangle, and the cherished string of agarwood beads he often fiddled with was nowhere to be seen. Shen Chi understood the curses thrown at him by Zuma in his brokennguage. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved up faintly as he asked, ¡°Master Zuma, where is your female trantor?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, do you have no business principles? This is kidnapping! I¡ªI could have you arrested,¡± Master Zuma was furious and ignored his question. ¡°Arrest me? I¡¯m right in front of you, and I¡¯m not running away,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°You! You! You!¡± Master Zuma found himself at a loss for words. At that moment, he was under Shen Chi¡¯s control,pletely immobilized, unable even to save himself. ¡°Master Zuma, since you¡¯re already here, shall we talk business?¡± Although it seemed like a consultation, the way Shen Chi said it was sharp and unquestionable! ¡°You¡ªfirst let me go, Shen Chi, you are despicable, a shameless scoundrel. I shouldn¡¯t have chosen to do business with you. I¡¯d rather give the diamond mine to someone else than to you!¡± Master Zuma was indignant and quite upset. ¡°Despicable? Speaking of that word, I think, Master Zuma, you outdo me there. Oh, and let me teach you another phrase, ¡®all¡¯s fair in war.¡¯¡± Shen Chi¡¯s arm still throbbed with pain; the recent gunshot had thankfully missed its mark¡ªif not, what he would be demanding now would be his own life. ¡°Do you know that kidnapping is illegal, Shen Chi?¡± ¡°And do you know that robbery is illegal, Master Zuma?¡± ¡°You!¡± Upon seeing his crimes exposed, Master Zuma became even more blustery and shaky with anger. ¡°Enough, I won¡¯t waste words with you, let¡¯s talk business.¡± Shen Chi found a ce to sit, took out the private seal and contract from his clothes, and of course, a pen as well. ¡°Master Zuma, we agreed on three hundred and fifty million, but the thing is, I don¡¯t have that much money. So, what do you think about lowering the price?¡± Again it sounded like a negotiation with Zuma, but the tone left no room for Zuma to question. ¡°Shen Chi, you scoundrel! Shameless! If you¡¯ve got no money, then what contract are you talking about!¡± Last time, with his female trantor, Zuma was still strutting, thinking he could easily deceive and bamboozle Shen Chi. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry; anger can cause wrinkles,¡± Shen Chi tapped on the table and smiled, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say earlier that I wanted to sign a contract with you? You were the one who refused to sign, so now we might as well take this opportunity to do it.¡± Previously, Master Zuma held the upper hand, but now the tables had turned. ¡°I won¡¯t possibly sign with you, you know that I, Zuma, do not engage in Losing deals!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you one hundred million, and not a penny more. That¡¯s not a losing deal, right?¡± Master Zuma immediately went into a frenzy, punching and kicking, cursing in his limited Chinese, ¡°Shen Chi, you vile scoundrel, you want to take my diamond mine for one billion, are you utterly heartless? Impossible! I will never sign with you!¡± The two bodyguards held him down and cautioned, ¡°Show some respect to our president!¡± Shen Chi remained unflustered, his long fingers tapping on the table, smiling like a gentle spring breeze, ¡°Too much? How about fifty million? You like cash, right? I just happen to have fifty million in cash.¡± ¡°Shen Chi! You are a ck-hearted bastard, I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t sign a single word! Not signing!¡± ¡°ck-hearted? When you sent men to steal money, didn¡¯t you realize your heart was ck as well?¡± ¡°Which eye of yours saw me stealing money? Words alone prove nothing, you need evidence! I, Zuma, am an honest man; how could I engage in filthy misdeeds like you?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you, all the money in those armored vehicles was counterfeit. If you want, keep sending men after it. Of course, that¡¯s if you¡¯re not afraid to lose a few of your men,¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly. The words were spoken lightly, but they carried a resolute force. Under the night sky, his features became even more severe, his face sharply contoured. ¡°Shen Chi! You truly are shameless and vile! How can someone like you do business? You¡¯re a disgrace to the principles of our businessmunity. A person like you will have a day of downfall and disgrace!¡± Shen Chi chuckled, ¡°Master Zuma, your Chinese has improved, knowing even ¡®downfall and disgrace.¡¯ Calling me vile and shameless? I own it.¡± Zuma was at a loss whether tough or cry; he had no leverage in front of Shen Chi. ¡°Stop the nonsense ande here to sign. One billion, take the money and be content.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was icy, and he emphatically pped the pen down on the stone table. ¡°I will not sign, I just won¡¯t sign!¡± ¡°Not signing, is that so? Then I¡¯ll chop off one of your fingers and see if you sign,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face suddenly grew colder, his tone as sharp as winter ice. The bodyguards knew when Shen Chi¡¯s temper red up, there would be no more sweet-talking. Master Zuma instantly cowered; he calmed down, his shrewd eyes whirling. ¡°President Shen, you see¡­ perhaps we could negotiate further. You¡¯ve kidnapped me here; aren¡¯t you afraid I might call the police when I get back, preventing you from leaving the country?¡± ¡°Cut the bullshit, sign!¡± Shen Chi frowned, his decisions were beyond discussion. He had already considered everything; he wanted to see if he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the country! ¡°You know, Shen Chi, one must not act like you. We all¡­¡± ¡°You fucking won¡¯t sign, will you? Come on, chop off one of his fingers for me! I want to see how much more bullshit he can talk!¡± Upon hearing Shen Chi¡¯s order, the bodyguards immediately restrained Zuma, dragging him to the table. One of them took out a dagger while dragging him, cing the shiny de on Zuma¡¯s finger! Under the cold moonlight, the dagger glinted with a chilling brightness, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Frightened into trembling, Zuma immediately started wailing, ¡°Murder¡­ there¡¯s murder¡­ help¡­¡± Chapter 280: Legal couple, inseparable for life Chapter 280: Legal couple, inseparable for life Trantor: 549690339 The de was cold; Zuma felt the chill of it grazing his fingers, almost causing his legs to buckle and copse. Shen Chi, seeing his reaction, felt his mood inexplicably lifted. Heughed and said, ¡°Zuma, are you tired of shouting? Does anyone care?¡± ¡°You, you, you¡­ Shen Chi, if you dare touch a hair on my head, I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll fight you to the death!¡± Zuma stuttered in terror. He had heard that Shen Chi was ruthless and merciless when dealing with enemies. He had not believed it before, because every time he met Shen Chi, Shen Chi behaved like a perfect gentleman. He was nothing but a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Make a deal with a wolf, and you might as well wait to be devoured! Shen Chiughed again: ¡°Zuma, I won¡¯t touch your hair, your hair isn¡¯t worth anything. But your head, on the other hand, is quite valuable. The knife isn¡¯t sentient; what if¡­ what do you reckon we should do?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, let¡¯s talk this over. Let¡¯s not resort to knives and guns; we¡¯re all civilized people here.¡± ¡°No, no, no, you¡¯re civilized, I, Shen Chi, am a barbarian.¡± Zuma instantly had the look of a man who¡¯d just been screwed, while a few bodyguards snickered to themselves at the side. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ How about we add a little more? I have elders above and children below depending on me to feed a whole household. Look at this premium diamond mine¡ªhow many people are eyeing it? Your one billion¡­ it¡¯s just not justifiable¡­¡± ¡°Why do you have so much to say?¡± Zuma was on the verge of tears. Shen Chi took out a pen and pushed it into Zuma¡¯s hand: ¡°Sign it, and all will be well.¡± ¡°If I sign it, will you let me go right away?¡± Zuma¡¯s shrewd eyes darted about. ¡°Depends on my mood,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re shameless! I won¡¯t sign! I¡¯d rather die than sign!¡± Zuma said, trying to look righteous and indignant. ¡°Chop.¡± With lips barely parting, a chilling word leaped out. The de pressed against Zuma¡¯s finger, and with a twist of the knife, it sliced through Zuma¡¯s fingertip. The blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing, and soon the entire air was filled with the scent of blood. Zuma¡¯s legs gave in, and he knelt down, wailing like a ughtered pig: ¡°Let me go, let me go; I¡¯ll sign, I¡¯ll sign. Don¡¯t chop off my fingers; I¡¯ll sign, sign, sign.¡± Only when Shen Chi waved his hand did the bodyguards put away the dagger. Shen Chi¡¯s driver snorted: ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch, and he¡¯s screaming as if he¡¯s been scalded.¡± He remembered how Shen Chi didn¡¯t utter a word when a bullet had grazed his arm and felt even more disdain for this mine owner who was afraid of death. ¡°If you really had chopped off my fingers, I would¡¯ve fought you, and then nobody would¡¯ve gotten their hands on this diamond mine! Nobody would benefit!¡± Shen Chi sneered: ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, don¡¯t waste time on him. Don¡¯t you need to rush back to C City? Let him sign quickly, so we don¡¯t have to deal with more problems,¡± someone on the side said. Shen Chi nced at the pen on the table with such lethargy that he couldn¡¯t be bothered to move. The bodyguards released Zuma¡¯s right hand, and he tried to struggle, but how could his strength match that of two men? Reluctantly, he gave up. Awkwardly picking up the pen, Zuma bowed his head and signed his name on the contract. He didn¡¯t even look at it; he knew that the control of this contract wasn¡¯t in his hands. Looking at the contract was just a waste of time. Tonight,cency was to me; he had focused all his manpower on stealing money, never considering that Shen Chi would kidnap him. Just as he was feeling triumphant, a gun was pressed to his temple. He had no choice but toply and go with them, and not only did he end up with a bunch of useless fake money, but he also lost his diamond mine. Shen Chi hadn¡¯t been too ruthless; he had given Zuma a billion, yet Zuma was nearly blinded by tears. Shen Chi looked over the contract, a smile curling his lips: ¡°Zuma, if you had just signed earlier and cut the crap, wouldn¡¯t all have been fine? You even bled for nothing; it pains me to see.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you scoundrel, stop pretending to be a weeping cat. I will never work with you again!¡± ¡°Never say never. Who knows, we might coborate joyfully in the future?¡± ¡°Quit talking, let me go! If you have the guts, let me go!¡± Zuma trembled with rage. The blood on his finger finally coagted, but even a slight movement still brought a sharp pain. Under the hangingnterns, he red with wide eyes, his dark skin looking even more gloomy. Seeing him like this made Shen Chi want tough. ¡°Zuma, I, Shen Chi, am not someone you can threaten,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice dropped, ¡°Now, you will quietly apany my men for a few days¡¯ vacation; don¡¯t even think of ying tricks.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re truly despicable.¡± ¡°I know I am despicable, no need for you to keep telling me.¡± Zuma once again had the look of utter defeat. Shen Chi put away the contract and stood up. In the moonlight, his figure was tall and straight, his back¡¯s line rigid, his whole presence exuding immense authority. ¡°Watch him closely.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Shen Chi stepped forward, preparing to leave the small garden. His driver caught up and opened the car door for him. ¡°Shen Chi, scum like you will be struck by lightning! You can¡¯t conduct business like this!¡± By then, Shen Chi was already seated in the car. He turned his head, looking out the window, his cold voice resonating: ¡°Remember, all¡¯s fair in war. In the business world, it¡¯s either do or die.¡± The car window slowly rose, and soon, no sound could be heard any longer. The driver stepped on the gas and moved forward. Outside, whether it was the sound of the wind or Zuma¡¯s howls, none of it was audible anymore. In the wind, only the hangingnterns of the small garden kept spinning, their paint peeling off, revealing patches of rusty copper. ¡°Mr. Shen, are we heading back to the hotel?¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s head back to the country.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, it¡¯s gettingte, how about we leave tomorrow? Your wound also needs more rest and care.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± His wound might be fine, but his heart had long since been torn open. Xu Chaomu was out of contact, and he longed for her, to hear her voice. He missed her terribly, desperately. Without her, summer nights held no peace. Now, with the diamond mine project secured, he could return and show her the marriage certificate, and tell her he loved her. Lawful husband and wife, never to part throughout their lives. But just at this moment, she had met with trouble. Shen Chi had a vague guess who was behind it all and now, he only had to return to his country. He would find her; nothing was allowed to happen to her! In about an hour, the driver got them to the docks. ¡°Mr. Shen, I just called someone to bring your luggage here, and I¡¯ve asked Xiaopu to go with you,¡± the driver said. Xiaopu was a bodyguard; with him following Shen Chi, the driver felt more at ease. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Then Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll stay in South Africa to keep an eye on Zuma. If you need anything, call me immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be vignt,¡± Shen Chi nodded. With that, he stepped towards the cruise ship. The night breeze was cutting, the sea eerily calm. Wavespped against the shore, the sound of the surges incessant. Chapter 281: She Has Been Calling You Third Brother for Eight Years Chapter 281: She Has Been Calling You Third Brother for Eight Years Trantor: 549690339 Xiaopu indeed had been guarding Shen Chi on the cruise ship; he had taken care of all the formalities after receiving the call from the driver. The driver had also specifically instructed him that Shen Chi was injured and that the wound must not be infected. Therefore, Xiaopu had also prepared some medication. ¡°Mr. Shen, this is the first-ss cabin, you can rest assured staying here, I will keep an eye on the surroundings at all times.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Soon enough, Xiaopu had sorted out the suite for Shen Chi. It was spacious and clean¡ªjust by opening the window, one could see the deep and boundless ocean. The sea breeze was a bit briny, blowing through the window, refreshing. Inside the room was the sweet scent of orange essential oil, making the whole environmentfortable. But Shen Chi could not settle down at all. He stood at the window, his profound gaze cast upon the sea. Under the night sky, the sea was dark, only the hidden surges of the waves could be seen. The cruise ship¡¯s hull violently collided with the water, producing a deafening noise. His eyelids kept twitching, and a subtle pain kept gnawing deep in his chest. ¡°Mumu, Mumu you mustn¡¯t have any trouble, you need to wait for me to return.¡± He ced the doll that was brought to South Africa by the window, letting it watch the sea alongside him. With it by his side, it was as if Xu Chaomu was there with him. Xu Chaomu, also cute and silly like the doll. Her voice kept circling in his head¡ªthe sweet, mellow voice, sweet as the freshly hand-rolled green dumplings of spring, melting one¡¯s heart. ¡°Fourth Brother, I can¡¯t solve this problem.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, biology is so hard, I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, how could you be so dumb?¡± ¡°¡®A red color will take red, a ck color will take ck.¡¯ I used to be so smart, but since I¡¯ve known you, I¡¯ve be dumb.¡± ¡°You sure have a lot of excuses.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, are you going to teach me or not? Look, so many biology questions, I can¡¯t solve a single one!¡± Xu Chaomu even looked quite smug. ¡°I¡¯ve taught you hundreds of times, and you still can¡¯t get it; you might as well stop studying.¡± Shen Chi knew all too well her little tricks. Every time he taught her homework, she would sneak peeks at him, her mind obviously not on studying! Xu Chaomu became unhappy, edging closer to him with a smile up to no good: ¡°Fourth Brother, biology is actually easy to learn, I have a way, but you have to make a sacrifice.¡± Shen Chi knew she couldn¡¯t say anything nice, his thin lips parting lightly: ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Come on,e on, Fourth Brother just make that sacrifice, for your sister¡¯s brilliant future, for your sister¡¯s bright prospects¡­ ¡± Before she could finish, Xu Chaomu cuddled up to him, her little hand mischievously reaching for the buttons on his shirt. Herrge eyes gleamed, as if wishing they came equipped with X-ray vision. Shen Chi immediately shook off her hand and picked her up by the cor to throw her out: ¡°Xu Chaomu, behave yourself!¡± After that, he threw out all her homework as well. Xu Chaomu blinked herrge eyes in aggrievement, picking up the books from the ground with a sense of injustice. In the end, she would pout, unresigned: ¡°Taking a nce wouldn¡¯t hurt, so stingy, not considering your sister¡¯s education at all.¡± Back then, Shen Chi was always left speechless by her infuriating ways. Thinking of her, Shen Chi standing by the window reached down and touched the head of the silly doll. Its furry hair, just like hers in every way. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t her, she wasn¡¯t by his side¡­ In South Africa, it was ten o¡¯clock at night, while in C City it was already six in the morning. C City¡¯s sky was already bright, birds chirping cheerfully. The sun was not up yet, onlyrge, drifting white clouds were in the sky. At this time, Shen Shihan had finished breakfast. He did not return to the Shen Family home but stayed in his own vi. He hadn¡¯t expected Mo Shuifu to be up early, and now she was smashing things again in a flurry. She had smashed everything smashable in her room, and it seemed now she was onto the crockery. Helpless, Shen Shihan, ready to leave, had to turn back. As he turned the doorknob, right then, a shard of porcin flew towards him. He dodged it, shaking his head at the chaotic mess on the floor. Mo Shuifu, wearing only a nightgown, heard the door and threw thest bowl in her hand towards him. ¡°Shen Shihan, let me out!¡± The bowl shattered, Shen Shihan dodged, and it did not hit him. He avoided the broken pottery on the ground and approached Mo Shuifu. ¡°I will let you go, but not now,¡± he said somberly. The curtains were not pulled, the lights not on; the room was very gloomy at this moment. He red at her eyes, unwilling to give in. He had kept her confined to this room all these days. If he could let her go, he definitely would, but he couldn¡¯t. Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes were red and swollen, appearing as if she had cried. Her hair was undone, cascading over her shoulders, she looked very haggard. Shen Shihan knew, these many days, if he hadn¡¯t forced people to feed her, she probably would have starved herself to death by now. ¡°Where is Chaomu? What did you do to her?¡± Mo Shuifu asked. ¡°I won¡¯t harm her, she is safe with Zhou Peitian; there won¡¯t be any problems.¡± ¡°Why would you treat Chaomu that way? Shen Shihan, do you not have a heart?¡± ¡°Get some rest, and don¡¯t ask about the rest. I have promised to let you go, and I won¡¯t break my word,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice carried endless sorrow. He actually wished to be with her day and night, but the truth was, they were drifting further and further apart. ¡°I want you to let me go now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Shen Shihan stood firm, unyielding. ¡°Then let me see Chaomu!¡± ¡°That¡¯s also impossible.¡± ¡°Shen Shihan, do you know that doing this, Chaomu will hate you for life!¡± ¡°Breakfast is downstairs, remember to eat; if you¡¯re toozy to move, I¡¯ll have them bring it up to you.¡± Shen Shihan avoided the topic; he knew, for the rest of his life, Xu Chaomu would hate him. ¡°She called you Third Brother for eight years, Shen Shihan, is your heart made of stone?¡± ¡°Rest well, call me if you need anything.¡± Shen Shihan turned to leave. Just then, Mo Shuifu suddenly bent down, picked up a sharp piece of broken ceramic from the floor, and quickly approached Shen Shihan! ¡°Shen Shihan, if you don¡¯t let me go today, I will die before your eyes.¡± Suddenly, Shen Shihan¡¯s pupils constricted, and he anxiously took a step forward: ¡°Shui Fu, don¡¯t do anything rash!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do anything rash, I just want you to keep your promise and let me go!¡± ¡°Shui Fu, you promised me you would stay healthy and alive,¡± Shen Shihan stared at her, fearful that if he wasn¡¯t careful, she would slit her wrists. ¡°I did promise you, but the premise was that you would let me go. But you haven¡¯t done that.¡± ¡°Then I promise you, in at most five days, I will let you go.¡± ¡°No, I want it now!¡± The sharp piece of ceramic crept closer to Mo Shuifu¡¯s wrist, the pointy edge seemingly ready to pierce the skin the moment a bit more pressure was applied, ready to spurt out blood! Chapter 282 - 282 Shen Chi is also deceiving her Chapter 282: Shen Chi is also deceiving her Trantor: 549690339 ¡°I won¡¯t let you go!¡± Even at this point, Shen Shihan still refused to relent. His eyes cold, his facial contours deep and frosty, the dimness of the room only added to his iciness. He would not let her go; he could not risk her taking any chances out there. Moreover, he feared that, just as he had seized Shen Chi¡¯s weakness, someone would grasp his fatal w. Mo Shuifu was the knot in his life. ¡°Fine¡­¡± A forlorn smile spilled from Mo Shuifu¡¯s lips. She exerted force, preparing to drive the shard of porcin down. But Shen Shihan was quick to react; hisrge hand seized her wrist and, with the speed of lightning, flung the shard from her grasp! The shard struck the back of his hand, leaving an immediate bloody mark. He pressed her down by the shoulders, pinning her against the wall. ¡°Give me at most five days, and I will release you. But if you dare seek death, I will make Chaomu join you!¡± Shen Shihan gritted his teeth. He could only threaten her like this; he admitted that he was despicable. He feared her death; he would rather never see her again in his life than have her die. He wanted her to live well. This tactic did indeed work, as Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes reddened instantly, and she ceased struggling, only staring at him with wide eyes. ¡°Shen Shihan, you won¡¯t even spare Chaomu. You deceive her like this, can your conscience bear it? She is just an eighteen-year-old girl. Her world is so pure and beautiful, yet you, you have to be the shadow over her life.¡± ¡°Shui Fu, don¡¯t meddle,¡± his voice was hoarse and deep, ¡°There are many things you don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°But I know you¡¯ve lied to Chaomu. Do you understand her heartache?¡± Mo Shuifu remembered the day in the car when she held Xu Chaomu¡¯s cold hand. How desperate Xu Chaomu was then. ¡°Do you think only I have lied to her? Shen Chi is also deceiving her.¡± Mo Shuifu looked up, ¡°What do you mean? How could Shen Chi deceive her? Shen Chi is so good to Chaomu.¡± ¡°Therefore, Shui Fu, there are things you don¡¯t know. Don¡¯t meddle, just take good care of yourself,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s tone finally softened. Even as droplets of blood wept from the back of his hand, he no longer cared. ¡°No, you make it clear, what did Shen Chi lie to Chaomu about? Tell me!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell you. Since Shen Chi chooses to deceive her, then I will keep the secret for a lifetime.¡± ¡°Do you men all like to deceive? iming it¡¯s for the good of others, but do you know that sometimes honesty is more sincere than a well-intentioned lie?¡± ¡°Men often have different thoughts than women,¡± Shen Shihan sighed. He reached out to brush the untidy hair from her forehead. Mo Shuifu turned her head to avoid his touch, expressionless. ¡°Shui Fu, I will let you go, but not now. Eat well, rest well, and if you don¡¯t want to see me during these days, then I won¡¯t appear before you.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s pale lips barely moved as she lifted her eyes to look at him. His blood seemed to freeze at that moment, a cold current washing over him. A look of despair shed in his eyes, and without further entanglement, he nodded, lowering his arms. He opened the door, leaving her room, each step heavy. Mo Shuifu turned her head just in time to see his retreating figure. He wore a dark shirt, his back straight and firm. From her angle, she could only see his profile, his expressionless face only disying coldness. Mo Shuifu thought, this man was heartless. He could even utter words like ¡°If you dare seek death, I will make Chaomu join you.¡± With a desteugh, she ¡°bang¡± shut the door behind him. At the moment the door closed, Shen Shihan¡¯s steps faltered, his eyes bottomless with depth and sorrow. ¡°Third Master.¡± Seeing him descend, the servant bowed respectfully. ¡°Take good care of her.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Master. But¡­ Miss Mo has scarcely eaten these days.¡± ¡°Be patient. And go clean up the shards in her room so she doesn¡¯t get hurt.¡± ¡°Understood, Third Master.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Shihan picked up his coat and left the vi, driving towards the direction of Shen Group. As soon as he got out, he called Zhou Peitian; he had been calling Zhou Peitian every day for the past few days. ¡°Peitian, how¡¯s Chaomu doing?¡± ¡°Shihan, why don¡¯t youe and see for yourself? She¡¯s not eating, not drinking, covered in injuries, looking like neither a human nor a ghost.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go, I know she hates me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to hate or not hate? You¡¯ve always been so fussy. After all, there¡¯s no blood rtion between you and her.¡± ¡°After eight years of affection, Zhou Peitian, of course, you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to hurt her, why feel so guilty?¡± ¡°Enough, have someone take good care of her, don¡¯t let her break down from this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really not going to see her? I¡¯m telling you, now she just squats in the corner, clutches her knees, silent, not crying, and when given clean clothes, she won¡¯t change.¡± Shen Shihan frowned deeply, ¡°You talk to her properly, she can¡¯t keep going like this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the patience,¡± Zhou Peitian scoffed, ¡°And what about Bai Man? What do you n to do with her?¡± ¡°Did Bai Xuan give the money?¡± ¡°He did.¡± ¡°Then release Bai Man.¡± ¡°Impossible, what¡¯s the use of keeping Xu Chaomu? Bai Man is Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, get your facts straight.¡± ¡°Bai Man?¡± Shen Shihan scoffed, ¡°Having known Shen Chi for so many years, who understands him, me or you? The person he cares about the most, only Xu Chaomu, no one elsepares.¡± ¡°Why are you so stubborn? Sess or failure hinges on this. If you lose because of this, you will regret it!¡± ¡°Brother Peitian, if you don¡¯t believe me, you keep Bai Man and stick to the original n. Then we¡¯ll see, who is right in the end.¡± ¡°This is getting interesting, haha, how about we make a bet? If Shen Chi cares about Xu Chaomu, you win, and I¡¯ll give you a 30% cut of this project, how about that?¡± ¡°Brother Peitian, wouldn¡¯t you lose terribly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Disbelieving? Well, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s lips curved into a smile; if this had been in the past, he wouldn¡¯t have believed it either. But many facts were alreadyid out in front of his eyes. Shen Shihan drove to Shen Group, he needed to mobilize more funds. However, when he brought the privately sealed documents to thepany for funding, he discovered the seal was fake. ¡°Shen Chi, you really are crafty enough,¡± Shen Shihan smirked, tossing the fake seal into the trash can. With a ¡°thud,¡± the fake seal emitted a muffled sound in the trash can. Shen Shihan¡¯s eyes were a sea of unending depth, ¡°The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.¡± He was curious to see, in this project, which deer would fall at whose hands. Chapter 283: Whose Child Chapter 283: Whose Child Trantor:549690339 Zhou Peitian went to check on Xu Chaomu in the warehouse after finishing his call with Shen Shihan. Hispany¡¯s warehouse was still very clean, and there was a small room inside for sleeping. ¡°Ding¡­¡± The key turned, and the door opened. The lights in the warehouse were on, providing ample illumination. Hearing footsteps, Xu Chaomu, who was squatting in the corner, immediately looked up with wariness. Zhou Peitian nced at the untouched food on the table. He sneered, ¡°Still refusing to eat, huh? Do you want to starve yourself to death? Let me tell you, starving is a loss no one can afford.¡± ¡°Zhou Peitian, do you not get tired of saying these things every day?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him fiercely. In just a few short days, Xu Chaomu had lost a significant amount of weight, her chin sharpened. ¡°Do you think I want to say this? I¡¯m just telling you, after a few days, once I have used you, I will let you go. But if you starve yourself to death beforehand, what should we do then?¡± ¡°You want to use me to threaten Shen Chi? Stop dreaming, for one, Shen Chi doesn¡¯t care about me at all, and secondly, I won¡¯t let you threaten him.¡± Xu Chaomu had thought for a long time, even if Shen Chi didn¡¯t care about her, she wouldn¡¯t let anyone threaten him. She had liked him for so many years; all she wanted was for him to be well and happy forever. ¡°It seems you really do like him a lot. Unfortunately, he doesn¡¯t like you as much,¡± Zhou Peitian said. ¡°My liking him is my business, and him not liking me is his business. What business is it of a stranger like you?¡± ¡°You!¡± Zhou Peitian exploded with anger. ¡°Go away!¡± Just then, Zhou Peitian¡¯s phone rang. He shot Xu Chaomu a re before picking up the call. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Boss Zhou, Miss Bai is throwing another tantrum,ining about the food. She¡¯s got quite the temper, throwing bowls at us. Several people, including Xiaolin, got injured.¡± ¡°Be more careful next time, don¡¯t provoke her. Leave the food at the window; let her get it herself. She has to eat whether she likes it or not.¡± ¡°Boss Zhou,¡± the servant whispered, ¡°Miss Bai says she¡¯s pregnant and is asking us to move her to a different ce. She said that if her child gets hurt, the Bai Family and the Shen Family would overturn our ce.¡± ¡°Pregnant? Whose child is it?¡± ¡°It must be Mr. Shen¡¯s, I¡¯m guessing.¡± The smile around Zhou Peitian¡¯s lips deepened. Pregnant? Good. ¡°Then find her a better room and take good care of her.¡± Zhou Peitian felt triumphantly confident that he would undoubtedly win the bet between him and Shen Shihan. Xu Chaomu listened intently from the side. They¡­ really kidnapped Bai Man too? Now that Bai Man was pregnant, using her to threaten Shen Chi would definitely work. No, in that case, wouldn¡¯t Shen Chi¡¯s efforts in South Africa be in vain? Would his life be in danger? It wouldn¡¯t be, he was so smart, he would surely guess it. But a few secondster, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were misted over with ayer of water. Between her and Bai Man, Shen Chi would definitely choose Bai Man in the end. And she was just a dispensable passerby in his life. A passerby¡­ Just like her rtionship with Shen Shihan, she had called him third brother for eight years and devoted genuine emotions, but in the end, what she got in return was nothing but deceit. Shortly after, Zhou Peitian finished his phone call. He looked down at Xu Chaomu, who was sitting on the ground, quiet and not causing a scene, although somewhat temperamental. ¡°Xu Chaomu, it¡¯s up to you whether you eat or not. I won¡¯t bother with you anymore.¡± He truly didn¡¯t need to concern himself with her any longer; all he needed to do was keep an eye on Bai Man. ¡°I told you to go away. Why are you still lingering around like a bad rash?¡± snapped Xu Chaomu, irritated. ¡°You! Stubborn girl! What¡¯s the point of being so stubborn? Shen Chi surely doesn¡¯t hold you in his heart. Compared to Bai Man, of course, it¡¯s Bai Man who matters more, especially since, as you just heard, Bai Man is pregnant. So stop torturing yourself, eat more, and take care of yourself. When you¡¯re energetic enough, you should leave Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you let me go?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Zhou Peitian said with a tone that brooked no argument. ¡°Pah, then why are you bbering on and on?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up defiantly at him. ¡°You!¡± Zhou Peitian was momentarily at a loss for words. ¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to; the rest is up to you. Your life is your own, and there¡¯s no need to be so hard on yourself,¡± Zhou Peitian advised Xu Chaomu before leaving. ¡°Are you going to get lost or what? You¡¯re really annoying.¡± Suppressing the urge to curse, Zhou Peitian refrained from harming Xu Chaomu out of consideration for Shen Shihan. With an irritated m, he closed the door behind him. The warehouse returned to silence once more. The walls were thick; she couldn¡¯t hear any noise from outside. Had it not been for a clock on the table, she wouldn¡¯t even know the time. As soon as Zhou Peitian left, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes immediately lost their spark. Empty, pale, powerless. She just sat there on the ground, not caring if it was cold, content to just sit. Her eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of her, and soon, tears began to flow down her cheeks. She wasn¡¯t one to cry; crying children were disliked. But she couldn¡¯t help it¡­ She wasn¡¯t afraid of being left outside alone, nor was she afraid of getting hurt. She feared the abandonment, the betrayal. Was she not good enough? Was she too mischievous? Why did everyone abandon her¡­ Zhou Ran drove her away, Shen Shihan deceived her, and Shen Chi didn¡¯t want her either¡­ At that moment, she realized that after eighteen years, she was still all alone. Just like during her time in the orphanage, where she was brought over by Uncle Mo, alone, trying to escape in the face of everything unfamiliar. But the orphanage had many little friends, and even though it was hard, her heart was sweet. Eight years had passed. She gave her true feelings to everyone, but what she got in return was deceit and indifference. Her heart grew cold. She despaired of everyone in the Shen Family. Sitting with her knees hugged to her chest, she continued to cry endlessly. She knew her surname was Xu, and she had no blood rtion to them. She wasn¡¯t outstanding, well-behaved, quiet, ordylike; she had many ws. Perhaps, they had really been tolerating her for a long time. And still, she had no self-awareness. In her daily life, she enjoyed sticking to Shen Chi, never considering that he might be extremely annoyed with her, to the point of wanting to drive her out of the Shen Family. If she had understood earlier, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a plight. She sniffed, choking back sobs. Looking down, she saw her hands. The injuries from the previous days had formed thin scars, unattractive to look at. She knew it wasn¡¯t just her hands that looked horrible; her entire appearance must be dreadful. It was the first time in eighteen years she had been in such a sorry state. She sniffled harder, her shoulders shaking with her sobs. If someone saw her like this, would they be frightened? She touched the back of her hand; it still hurt, but after a while, it became numb. Chapter 284: Mother and Child (Request for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 284: Mother and Child (Request for Monthly Ticket) Trantor:549690339 After crying for a while, Xu Chaomu realized something important¡ªher life was her own, and she had to keep on living well. She picked herself up from the ground and sat down at the table to eat. Having sat on the floor for too long, her legs were weak, and she almost fell. When she grabbed the table to steady herself, her hand scraped against the wall, causing intense pain. Biting her lip, she lowered her head and forced down the white porridge in her bowl. When she was at the Shen Family¡¯s home, she had been particrly picky and disliked white porridge. Every time the butler Ling served her white porridge, she would push it to Shen Chi, ¡°Fourth Brother, I don¡¯t want this. I want milk and cake.¡± ¡°Today there¡¯s only this, if you don¡¯t eat, you¡¯ll go hungry!¡± He was always very fierce. Pouting, she would turn and run, ¡°If I don¡¯t eat, then I don¡¯t eat. I¡¯d rather be hungry. I refuse to eat in porridge; it has no taste. How can I eat white porridge when I¡¯m still growing?¡± ¡°Sit down properly!¡± Shen Chi would pull her back with a stern face and force her to sit down. ¡°Fourth Brother, you¡¯re abusing a child, I¡¯m going to report you!¡± ¡°Fine, go report after you finish eating. Do you even know how to get to the court?¡± ¡°You, you, you¡ªstop picking on me because I¡¯m young.¡± ¡°I¡¯m picking on you because you¡¯re t-chested,¡± someone scoffed coldly. Such remarks could only be taken seriously when they came from that person¡¯s mouth. ¡°Damn you, you¡¯re shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°So much nonsense, eat!¡± He sternly ced the chopsticks in her hand and even peeled a boiled egg for her. As these memories flooded back, Xu Chaomu, who was eating porridge, began to cry again. Her tears fell into the bowl, making the white porridge even more tasteless. Her hand shook, the chopsticks fell to the ground, and she cried, burying her face into the table, sobbing uncontrobly¡­ Zhou Peitian had left the warehouse only a short while ago when he received a call from Lu Feili. Lu Feili was still in the hospital, and for this project, she was one of Shen Shihan¡¯s financiers. ¡°Peitian, why is there still no movement from you?¡± Lu Feili sounded clearly displeased. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? In South Africa, haven¡¯t we got someone negotiating with Zuma?¡± ¡°Peitian, are you even taking this project seriously? Do you know Zuma has gone missing?¡± Lu Feili scoffed coldly. ¡°Missing? Didn¡¯t we just talk about the price with him yesterday?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been missing for hours now, and the news is still being kept under wraps. I spent a lot of money to find out.¡± ¡°How could this be? If he¡¯s missing, who do we discuss the project with?¡± ¡°Peitian, don¡¯t you think you should go to South Africa and check it out? I suspect that Shen Chi has already signed off on Zuma¡¯s diamond mine!¡± ¡°Impossible, Shen Chi doesn¡¯t have the funds to facilitate such a deal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re underestimating Shen Chi. Funds? What¡¯s impossible about that?¡± ¡°Director Lu, I understand, I will follow up immediately.¡± ¡°Move quickly, or you¡¯ll lose the project. You don¡¯t need me to tell you how much profit theter stages of the project can bring, do you?¡± ¡°Of course I know.¡± ¡°Peitian, to survive you have to be ruthless. No matter how despicable the means, as long as you don¡¯t get caught, it counts for nothing. Do you understand?¡± Zhou Peitian was silent for a few seconds; indeed, when women be ruthless, they are more dangerous than any man. Seeing that Zhou Peitian wasn¡¯t speaking, Lu Feili stoked the fire, ¡°I heard you kidnapped Bai Man; since you¡¯ve already taken her, make good use of her. I refuse to believe that Shen Chi can just watch as Bai Man dies.¡± ¡°Director Lu,pared to you, I feel quite inadequate.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act modest with me. I¡¯m still lying here in the hospital. If it weren¡¯t for my useless son, would I be in this situation now?¡± ¡°Director Lu, he¡¯s your only son, are you afraid he won¡¯te back?¡± ¡°Enough, let¡¯s not talk about these upsetting things. I¡¯ve given you the idea, now it depends on how ruthless you can be.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Zhou Peitian and Lu Feili talked for quite a while, until a nurse came to examine Lu Feili, then she finally hung up the phone. Zhou Peitian couldn¡¯t help feeling inferior to Lu Feili¡¯s schemes. Little did he know, as soon as Lu Feili¡¯s call ended, Shen Shihan¡¯s call came through. ¡°Peitian, pack up immediately and prepare to go to South Africa.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Shen Chi has already signed off on the project.¡± ¡°What? Where did he get the funds?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the specifics, but I know he has secured the project. Right now, he¡¯s on his way back to the country. Moreover, he secretly switched thepany¡¯s private seal, so I can¡¯t ess thepany¡¯s money!¡± ¡°No worries, Shihan, isn¡¯t this even better, saving us the trouble of negotiating with Zuma? Zuma is a tough and greedy negotiator. Since Shen Chi has the contract, shouldn¡¯t it be easier for us to just take it from him?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this matter to you.¡± ¡°Who else but me? You can¡¯t bear to see Xu Chaomu suffer, can you?¡± Shen Shihan remained silent. Zhou Peitian continued, ¡°So, just rx at home and wait for the project toe to you, and keep your phone on for my call. As for how I deal with Xu Chaomu and Bai Man, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her.¡± Zhou Peitian shook his head, ¡°Aren¡¯t you, Shen Shihan, always ruthless? People say that between you and Shen Chi, neither of you has a heart. Now, you can¡¯t bear to see that girl suffer?¡± ¡°She is very kind,¡± Shen Shihan said lightly. His younger sister had always been kind, he¡¯d always known that. Her world was pure and beautiful, free from any impurities. ¡°Kind? Since you¡¯ve already stepped out, you can only move forward. By the way, Shihan, let me tell you some news, good news.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Bai Man is pregnant, with Shen Chi¡¯s child.¡± ¡°Bai Man is pregnant with Shen Chi¡¯s child?¡± ¡°Yes, Bai Man said so herself. It seems true. With her and the child, I think, Shihan, you are definitely going to lose. Don¡¯t forget the wager between us when the timees.¡± ¡°How could Shen Chi touch Bai Man.¡± Shen Shihan frowned. ¡°Shihan, Bai Man is Shen Chi¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Isn¡¯t it normal for her to be pregnant?¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, Shihan, stop disbelieving. Remember the bet, I will collect on itter.¡± ¡°Peitian, no matter what, don¡¯t hurt Chaomu.¡± ¡°Alright, I know.¡± Zhou Peitian hung up the phone and immediately had someone pack up. He calcted the schedule; Shen Chi should be on the ferry by now. If he left C City immediately, he should be able to intercept Shen Chi at sea. In the warehouse, Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t finished her bowl of porridge yet, and she had already cried herself out of strength. With her chopsticks, she scraped up the rice, grain by grain, tirelessly. The tears on her face had dried, making her little face look even more haggard. Before, when she didn¡¯t want to eat, Shen Chi would always call her spoiled. She was, indeed, spoiled back then; the more he called her that, the more she refused to eat. As a result, after a few instances, Shen Chi had no way to deal with her. Chapter 285: Worse than Death Chapter 285: Worse than Death Trantor: 549690339 But that was only when she was unwell. Whenever she feigned not wanting to eat, Shen Chi never showed any mercy, pressing her to eat even if she didn¡¯t want to. Several times, they argued fiercely over meals, almosting to blows. Such arguments always ended with Shen Chi emerging victorious. Even fights, when they urred, ended with Shen Chi winning. Xu Chaomu despised him more than once, ¡°You¡¯re a grown man arguing with a young girl like me, how can you be shameless? Shame on you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know the saying, hmm?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Fighting is intimacy, scolding is love.¡± ¡°Tch, Shen Chi, your skin is even thicker than walls.¡± Counting grains of rice, Xu Chaomu recalled those sweet memories, feeling like honey melting slowly in her heart. But no matter how sweet the honey was, in the end, he grew tired of her. He grew so tired of everything about her, using her of gold-digging and loving money; he grew so tired he made her board at school, preventing her from appearing before him; he grew so tired he personally went to the civil affairs office to end their adoption rtionship. From that point on, his surname was Shen, hers was Xu. They had no further connection. Those sweet memories, in the end, led to a pitiful oue¡­ While Xu Chaomu was in a daze, the door to the warehouse opened again. A cool breeze came in, along with the ¡°squeak¡± of the door. Zhou Peitian, seeing her bowl of in congee half-finished, spoke indifferently, ¡°Finally came to your senses? Your own life is valuable, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to meddle again?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look up, continuing to poke at the rice grains in her bowl. Zhou Peitian snorted coldly, walked over to her, and extended his hand. Opening his palm, therey two white pills, resting quietly. ¡°Eat them.¡± ¡°What kind of medicine? If it¡¯s poison, I¡¯ll take it,¡± Xu Chaomu said scornfully. ¡°Sleeping pills.¡± ¡°I sleep very well every day; I don¡¯t need such things.¡± ¡°Eat them,¡± Zhou Peitian¡¯s tone left no room for refusal. ¡°Two is too few, give me a few more, then I¡¯ll eat them,¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head, calmly looking at Zhou Peitian. ¡°Stop dawdling!¡± Zhou Peitian, not wanting to waste words, grabbed her chin with his right hand, and shoved the pills into her mouth with his left. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Xu Chaomu coughed painfully. The pills got stuck in her throat; she quickly grabbed the water on the table and gulped it down, finally swallowing the lodged pills. The bitterness spread in her throat, spreading¡­ ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Xu Chaomu stared at him. ¡°Take you to a nice ce,¡± Zhou Peitian said tly. Indeed, the potency of the sleeping pills was strong; soon after, Xu Chaomu became drowsy¡­ Zhou Peitian didn¡¯t leave; instead, he sat by the table, watching Xu Chaomu. The girl was filthy, her hair a mess, still wearing the clothes she had on when he captured her days ago. The bloodstains on her clothes were stark and harrowing. Beneath the messy hair, her young face looked even more tender and naive, with an innocence characteristic of her age, something that could not be hidden no matter what. He thought of Bai Man, who was in sharp contrast to this girl. Bai Man was always adorned with jewels, even when abducted by him, presenting an attitude of pride. ¡°Sleepy¡­¡± Just a few minutester, Xu Chaomu supported her head, her eyelids too heavy to keep open. With a ¡°thud,¡± Xu Chaomu slumped over the table. ¡°Having you give up could be good, how could Shen Chi ever like someone like you,¡± Zhou Peitian muttered to himself. He blindfolded Xu Chaomu and led her out of the warehouse. With several men, Zhou Peitian escorted Xu Chaomu and Bai Man aboard a small vessel leaving C City. The sea was misty, with translucent moisture drifting everywhere. Seagulls pped their white wings, crying ¡°aah-aah¡± as they circled and swooped. The sun came out, the water shimmering like fish scales, sparkling brightly. Fish asionally leapt, arching out of the water. Some fish even hit the hull, making a ¡°thud.¡± The boat sailed through the wind and waves, pressing forward. The spray rose in thousands, with remarkable force. Zhou Peitian kept calling Shen Shihan and people in South Africa, and by the afternoon, he had finally tracked Shen Chi¡¯s itinerary. The sleeping pills were quite powerful, and Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t wake up until evening. Her eyes were blindfolded, and her hands tied. ¡°Help!¡± she cried out. No response came, only the sound of the waves! Waves? Was this at sea? She calmed herself and realized indeed, this was a ship. Perhaps because of the strong wind at sea, the ship was a bit rocky. She didn¡¯t know if it was day or night; she could only hear the howling wind beside her. The wind sobbed, the waves roared mightily! Just then, she heard footsteps and voices outside. ¡°Heard Shen Chi sent extra hands over?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I heard.¡± ¡°He¡¯s really vignt, we have to be prepared too.¡± ¡°Boss Zhou, can¡¯t we just get there before his people and be fine?¡± ¡°In theory, yes, but we still need to be fully prepared. Are the guns and bullets ready?¡± ¡°Of course, you can count on us.¡± ¡°Good. And keep an eye on those two women, don¡¯t let them escape,¡± Zhou Peitian said. ¡°They can¡¯t run away; we¡¯re surrounded by the sea. Unless they don¡¯t want to live.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t reveal them unless absolutely necessary. Let¡¯s see if Shen Chi knows what¡¯s good for him.¡± ¡°Boss Zhou, stealing meat from Shen Chi¡¯s mouth isn¡¯t going to be easy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why these two women are our trump cards. Unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary, don¡¯t show our hand prematurely or the other side will know our intentions.¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably awake by now. Boss Zhou, Bai Man has quite the temper,ter¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t amodate her, when it¡¯s time to feed sleeping pills, don¡¯t be soft. We can¡¯t let her ruin the n.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The two talked as they walked, their voices bing fainter and eventually inaudible. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart shivered; Bai Man was here too. Indeed, they were Zhou Peitian¡¯s bargaining chips. And chips are just pawns. Her and Bai Man¡­ How could shepare with Bai Man, the white lotus cherished in Shen Chi¡¯s hands, the woman Shen Chi loved most? Then she thought of that text message, where he told Bai Man ¡°I love you.¡± Moreover, they now had a child together, Bai Man¡¯s life was worth more than her own, double. Xu Chaomu despaired, she was truly afraid of that sceneing to pass. She feared Shen Chi standing before her, looking towards her with a mocking sneer, saying, ¡°Xu Chaomu, what are you worth? In my heart, you can¡¯t evenpare to a single hair on Manman.¡± That would be more painful than death. Her mind went nk, tears flowing down her cheeks¡­ The ship kept moving forward, and before long, Xu Chaomu heard the sound of rain beating against the windows, wave after wave, from gentle to strong. Chapter 286 - 286 Family Reunion Chapter 286: Family Reunion Trantor: 549690339 The wind at sea was too strong, and the windows rattled with a ¡°creak¡± from the weather, coupled with the downpour of rain. In no time, Xu Chaomu heard what sounded like a natural symphony by her side. She did not know how much time had passed when someone brought her a meal. Finally, the blindfold was removed from her eyes, and she blinked groggily, trying to make out the person in front of her. ¡°Eat quickly , and after a good meal, get some sleep. You won¡¯t have any troubles then,¡± said the visitor. ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomucked the strength to argue anymore. She picked up the bowl and chopsticks and began to eat. Since Zhou Peitian had said he would not harm her, she needed to gather her strength if she was to survive properly. She ate heartily, and the visitor was satisfied, quickly going to report back to Zhou Peitian. Zhou Peitian was monitoring the sea conditions from the disys inside the ship¡¯s cabin. ¡°Where is Shen Chi¡¯s ship?¡± ¡°Based on the information provided by our scouts, we estimate we¡¯ll see Shen Chi¡¯s ship in three days.¡± ¡°Three days¡­ Okay, n the operation for nighttime.¡± ¡°What about Bai Man and Xu Chaomu?¡± ¡°Keep them in the cabin and follow my orders.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The waves were hitting the sides of the ship, creating a ¡°whoosh¡± of massive sounds. The rains at sea never ceased, growing heavier the deeper they went into the ocean. Three days passed quickly. When Zhou Peitian¡¯s ship reached the Indian Ocean, Shen Chi¡¯s ship also arrived there. That evening, Zhou Peitian deliberately had the ship stopped at the harbor, silently awaiting Shen Chi¡¯s vessel¡¯s arrival. Zhou Peitian stood on the deck with binocrs, watching. ¡°Boss Zhou, the ship Shen Chi sent for support is almost here.¡± ¡°Then we must make our move before they arrive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve calcted precisely; in half an hour, Shen Chi¡¯s ship will pass by this harbor.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Zhou Peitian¡¯s spirits soared, ¡°Get the guns, bullets, and life jackets ready! As soon as Shen Chi¡¯s ship arrives, we¡¯ll jump on it and ¡®negotiate.¡¯¡± ¡°Boss Zhou, Shen Chi is on a passenger liner, won¡¯t this disturb the other tourists?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s in the first-ss cabin. We¡¯ll quietly infiltrate there, and it would be perfect if we could bring him to our ship!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Everyone geared up, putting on life jackets and loading their weapons. Xu Chaomu was waiting in the cabin, left and right, but no one came to deliver food. She heard uniform footsteps passing by her room. What was happening? As she pondered, the ship suddenly stopped as though it had reached a certain harbor. The next second, she heard Zhou Peitian¡¯s voice, ¡°Make sure each corner is guarded, especially the rooms of those two women! Report to me immediately if there¡¯s any disturbance!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A bad premonition rose in Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. What were they going to do? Was Shen Chi nearby? Her heart pounded relentlessly. Shen Chi¡­ It had been a very long time since she¡¯d seen him. Thest time she saw him, he had given her an 18th birthday present while she was practicing piano in the ssroom. She remembered one time in the bamboo grove when they met, and he said that he was going to South Africa. And she said, ¡°You better nevere back.¡± It was an offhand jest, but now Xu Chaomu¡¯s blood coursed faster through her veins. No, he wouldn¡¯te into harm¡¯s way. In her eyes, he was the epitome of perfection, so smart that he was bound to be alright. Once he safely returned from South Africa, he could reunite with Bai Man and his child, forming aplete family. Then he would truly be happy. She prayed silently for him in her heart; she wanted him to live well. As her mind raced through all possibilities, someone entered. The person pulled her up from the ground and, gripping her shoulders, led her outside. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± asked Xu Chaomu. ¡°Just stay put and don¡¯t make any noise. Boss Zhou said he won¡¯t harm you. But if you don¡¯t cooperate, no promises,¡± the person said. They hadn¡¯t gone far when the man kicked open the door to a room. With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the noise frightened Bai Man inside, who started screaming. ¡°What are you doing? What do you want!¡± she demanded. ¡°Be quiet!¡± the man frowned and scolded. So they were locking her up with Bai Man¡ªXu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel afraid anymore. ¡°Just sit tight and don¡¯t even think about escaping. Of course, you also can¡¯t get away; you¡¯re surrounded by the sea, so don¡¯t get any funny ideas,¡± said the man before closing the door and leaving! Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t see, so she just found afortable position and sat down. ¡°Xu Chaomu?¡± Bai Man asked tentatively. ¡°It¡¯s me. Who would¡¯ve thought we¡¯d meet again.¡± ¡°Huh, you sound pretty happy about it. Do you think being kidnapped is fun?¡± ¡°What else can I do? Throw a tantrum like Miss Bai? It won¡¯t make any difference. My family has no money, no power,¡± Xu Chaomu responded. ¡°You sound quite bitter, Xu Chaomu. How about we chat about something?¡± ¡°Do I have anything inmon with you?¡± ¡°Yes, like¡­ my husband Shen Chi,¡± Bai Man said evenly. At the mention of Shen Chi¡¯s name, Xu Chaomu fell silent. ¡°Xu Chaomu, the kidnappers asked him for a hundred million in cash for my ransom.¡± ¡°He agreed, didn¡¯t he.¡± ¡°Of course, he agreed. After all, I¡¯m carrying his child. But the kidnappers got greedy and changed the terms.¡± ¡°Alright, I get it. You love showing off. There¡¯s a saying for that, isn¡¯t there? unting love¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was joking, but she suddenly didn¡¯t continue. She truly feared that her words mighte true¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, didn¡¯t he send anyone to look for you?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°Then he didn¡¯t because, with his capabilities, finding someone in C City isn¡¯t an issue.¡± ¡°Miss Bai, what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Nothing, just wanted to let you know, you mean nothing to him.¡± ¡°I know, you don¡¯t need to tell me,¡± Xu Chaomu replied indifferently. ¡°By the way, Xu Chaomu, have you ever thought that Shen Chi might be lying to you?¡± Bai Man said with a hint of smug satisfaction. The room wasn¡¯trge, but its walls were thick, almost blocking out any external sound. Consequently, Bai Man¡¯s voice sounded particrly harsh in the space. Even Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart felt pierced. Lie? These past few days, that word had deeply wounded her. Because the brother she loved dearly had deceived her, which left her in despair and cold inside. ¡°Bai Man, what are you trying to tell me?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Nothing, just teasing you.¡± Bai Man suddenly didn¡¯t want to say anymore. Revealing a certain secret now seemed to have no worth. She still wanted to make good use of that secret! ¡°Miss Bai, that¡¯s not funny at all,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed, ¡°y by yourself, I¡¯m going to sleep. I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± Chapter 287 - 287 A Very Cute Doll Chapter 287: A Very Cute Doll Trantor:549690339 Xu Chaomu moved a bit to the side, farther away from Bai Man. She closed her eyes, leaned against the wall, and didn¡¯t move. Bai Man kicked her with her foot, a hint of fear in her voice, ¡°Hey, Xu Chaomu, talk to me, don¡¯t sleep!¡± Xu Chaomu dodged her and said disdainfully, ¡°Are you scared?¡± ¡°Scared of what? I just want to tell you, we¡¯re in the same boat now. Why don¡¯t we think of a way to escape?¡± ¡°Do you think you can escape from here? Use your brain, Miss Bai. Stop bothering me, I want to sleep.¡± Xu Chaomu ignored her and hopped to the side. Ever since she found out that it was her once beloved third brother, Shen Shihan, and Zhou Peitian who had teamed up to kidnap her, she no longer wanted to escape. She thought, if Shen Shihan¡¯s heart was ruthless enough, then just take her life. She didn¡¯t care. ¡°Xu Chaomu! Xu Chaomu!¡± Bai Man called out a few times. This time, Xu Chaomu simply ignored her. Bai Man was very afraid, trembling non-stop. Outside, the wind was strong, the rain heavy, the waves pounding, and even the most stable of ships showed signs of rocking. When the passenger ship Shen Chi was on came by, Zhou Peitian and his men quickly moved over in a small boat. They docked, threw the rope, and boarded with great speed! As soon as Zhou Peitian jumped onto the deck, he saw Shen Chi sitting alone in the coffee shop, drinking coffee not far away. In Zhou Peitian¡¯s eyes, Shen Chi was mature,posed, detached, and a rare elite in the business world. However, at that moment, with the cold rain beating against the window and the night deepening, the coffee shop was empty except for Shen Chi. But Zhou Peitian saw on the wicker chair opposite Shen Chi a stuffed doll pillow. It was a very cute doll, with curly hair, a silly face, and big, sparkling eyes, obviously something kids would like. Zhou Peitian¡¯s first reaction was that Shen Chi bought it for Bai Man¡¯s child. He gestured for his subordinates to wait outside and quietly walked into the coffee shop by himself. Approaching the coffee shop, the strong aroma of coffee wafted out. There was only a cup of coffee in front of Shen Chi, who sometimes stirred it and sometimes nced up slightly. Every time he looked up, he would just catch sight of the doll on the chair opposite him. With a twitch of his eyebrows, the corners of his lips slowly rose. Zhou Peitian had just reached the door when Shen Chi sensed something and his hand touched the gun in his coat pocket. ¡°President Shen, long time no see, hope all is well,¡± Zhou Peitian said with a sinister smile. Hearing Zhou Peitian¡¯s voice, Shen Chi also sneered coldly, unfazed. Sure enough, Zhou Peitian hade. ¡°President Zhou, do you like not sleeping at night anding out in the rain to climb aboard ships?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t be as leisurely and carefree as President Shen, can we?¡± Zhou Peitian walked up to Shen Chi and took off his half-wet coat. He was just about to move the doll away when Shen Chi barked coldly, ¡°If you want to sit, go elsewhere!¡± ¡°Oh, President Shen sure has grown quite a temper. Who¡¯s this doll for? President Shen, you went all the way to South Africa and should have brought back some diamonds. Buying a doll¡­ Heh, President Shen, you really have unique tastes.¡± ¡°Zhou Peitian, did youe here alone?¡± ¡°Otherwise, who else would President Shen like to see?¡± ¡°We can skip the nonsense, Zhou Peitian. You¡¯vee to me for the contract, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ah, President Shen, you¡¯re so straightforward. Negotiating with a person like you must be efficient and quick,¡± Zhou Peitian pped his hands, sarcastically. ¡°Zhou Peitian, if you had the capability, you would have gone directly to Zuma to negotiate. Do you really need toe here and y games with me?¡± ¡°How is that ying games? I just feel that I have more fate with this diamond mine. Why doesn¡¯t President Shen just sell it to me?¡± Shen Chi sneered coldly, his facial lines taut. ¡°Zhou Peitian, I think your wife and I also share quite a bit of fate. Do you want to consider selling her to me?¡± ¡°Motherfucker! Shen Chi! Watch yournguage!¡± Zhou Peitian was instantly furious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Isn¡¯t it true?¡± Shen Chi said with a chilly tone, his eyes as deep and dark as a bottomless pond. Just like the sea on this deep night, unfathomable. ¡°Stop fucking around! I¡¯m here sincerely to talk to you. Name your price, and if I can afford it, we¡¯ll make a deal.¡± ¡°Name my price? How about thirty billion? Do you want it?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, just how ck is your heart? Or, do you have no intention of transferring the contract to me?¡± ¡°Zhou Peitian, it¡¯s good to see you know yourself well. Can you manage the diamond mine if I give it to you? I¡¯ve heard that your subsidiaries have been failing one after another, and now you¡¯ve set your sights on this diamond mine. I¡¯m saying, Zhou Peitian, will you have to sell your son and daughter after a while?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, beware of speaking too absolutely. I want to see who will be selling their children first!¡± A sly, cold smile appeared on Zhou Peitian¡¯s face. Shen Chi didn¡¯t know Bai Man was still in his hands, did he? Otherwise, why would he still be so arrogant! ¡°Fine, Zhou Peitian. You know I, Shen Chi, won¡¯t give in. If you can, have Shen Shihane talk to me!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s patience had worn thin. He mmed his hand down on the table, his expression cold. ¡°Is that so? Shen Chi, then I¡¯ll tell you, I¡¯m here today specifically for this contract!¡± As soon as his words fell, Zhou Peitian¡¯s gun was pressed against Shen Chi¡¯s temple. Zhou Peitian let out a smug, coldugh, ¡°We can see whose hand is faster.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face did not show any disorder; he sat in the chair, a mocking smile spilling from his lips. ¡°Zhou Peitian, do you dare to make a move before getting this contract?¡± ¡°True, I won¡¯t act without the contract. But if you push me too hard, who knows what might happen.¡± ¡°Zhou Peitian, but I dare to make a move.¡± Shen Chi looked ahead calmly, his eyes crimson and ice cold¡ªa chill so piercing it could make holes in the walls. Zhou Peitian was taken aback. This man was decisive, and he had to watch out for him. His grip on the gun tightened, ¡°Shen Chi, if you dare to move, I¡¯ll pull the trigger first!¡± Shen Chi stood up, emitting a powerful aura. Zhou Peitian¡¯s gun hand shook. He didn¡¯t know what Shen Chi was nning, but he didn¡¯t dare to shoot rashly either. ¡°Zhou Peitian, why doesn¡¯t Shen Shihane himself?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bring up the irrelevant. Now, where¡¯s the contract?¡± ¡°The contract? It¡¯s been mailed back to our country,¡± Shen Chimented with a chilling smile, reminiscent of opium. ¡°That you can¡¯t fool me with. Someone witnessed you boarding the ship with the contract¡­ Bring out the contract, and we can negotiate nicely.¡± ¡°Then put down the gun, so I can get the contract, shall we, President Zhou?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Zhou Peitian only pressed the gun closer to Shen Chi¡¯s head, ¡°You walk in front, I¡¯ll follow!¡± ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go somewhere else to discuss this thoroughly.¡± Shen Chi took steps forward, and while speaking to Zhou Peitian, he had already noticed that Zhou Peitian had brought quite a few people along, hiding in the shadows. Just as Shen Chi stepped out of the coffee shop, there was a sudden power outage on the entire ship! Chapter 288: Shen Chi, Put the Gun Down Chapter 288: Shen Chi, Put the Gun Down Trantor:549690339 Shen Chi¡¯s eyes and hands moved quickly, catching Zhou Peitian¡¯s arm and delivering a side strike right to his chest! With a ¡°thud,¡± the gun flew out of Zhou Peitian¡¯s hand, tracing a messy arc through the air! Due to the enormous force, the gun hit the floor and skidded far away! Meanwhile, Shen Chi bent Zhou Peitian¡¯s arm backward and gave it a fierce twist, the sound of bones ¡°crackling¡± and ¡°snapping¡± resonating from the break. Zhou Peitian¡¯s men, sensing trouble, rushed into the caf¨¦. For a moment, the ship was as quiet as death, but a few secondster, the crowd erupted in chaos! ¡°The power¡¯s out! Why is there a ckout on the ship!¡± ¡°The wind is blowing so hard, could something have happened?¡± ¡°God, it¡¯s not going to capsize, is it? I just heard news a few days ago¡ªa ship capsized, and everyone on board died!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the captain? Where are the crew members? Why isn¡¯t anyone exining what¡¯s happening?¡± Screams from women, cries from children, and curses from men rose and fell in turn. As Zhou Peitian¡¯s men emerged, Shen Chi¡¯s men also leapt into action. No one knew who fired the first shot, but with a ¡°bang,¡± the deep silence of the night waspletely shattered! ¡°Ah!¡± Zhou Peitian let out a blood-curdling scream as one of his arms was twisted and broken. Just as Shen Chi¡¯s gun was about to press against his temple, one of Zhou Peitian¡¯s men dragged him back, shielding him with their body. Bullets came flying; Shen Chi twisted his body to dodge! The deck of the first-ss cabin instantly descended into chaos! Shen Chi fired his gun, unmercifully targeting Zhou Peitian¡¯s men. The gunshots were deafening, even Xu Chaomu could hear them. She had been resting with her eyes closed but suddenly opened them in fright at the sound of gunshots, though she could see nothing. Bai Man screamed, ¡°Ah! Where is that gunfireing from! Why are there gunshots, what¡¯s happening!¡± ¡°Gege¡­ Gege¡­¡± Xu Chaomu began to cry out. She wasn¡¯t confused now; her mind connected everything from the past few days, and suddenly, a thought shed through her mind. Bai Man was frantic, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s happening outside? Someone,e! Somebody!¡± No one responded to their calls, and the gunshots outside grew louder and louder! Initially just a sporadic few, within minutes, it had spiraled out of control. Xu Chaomu bowed her head to bite at the ropes binding her, gnawing desperately with a single thought in mind: Shen Chi must not be in trouble. She wanted him safe, always safe. The ropes that once felt thick and tough, impossible to chew through, now seemed to give way beneath her teeth, powered by an unknown strength. Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth; she cast all concerns aside, untying the ropes and pulling off the blindfold. The ring light stung her eyes as she stood up, leaning against the wall. Her legs, numb from sitting for so long, failed to support her weight. Bai Man¡¯s hearing was sharp; upon hearing themotion, she quickly shouted, ¡°Xu Chaomu, did you untie your ropes? Are you leaving? Help me untie mine, please!¡± ¡°Bai Man, they won¡¯t dare to harm you. Because the person Shen Chi cares about most is you, he won¡¯t let you be hurt in the slightest.¡± After speaking, Xu Chaomu walked towards the exit, leaning against the wall. The area around her heart suddenly ached intensely¡­ Having just bitten through the ropes, her mouth full of the taste of blood, an acrid smell assaulted her from the corner of her mouth. She wiped her hand across her mouth; her hand came away covered in blood. Steadying herself against the wall, she slowly walked forward. ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t leave me behind! Take me with you, untie the ropes on me!¡± Bai Man was in a panic, hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s footsteps fade. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, continuing forward. The sound of gunfire outside grew louder, each shot seeming to explode in her own chest! ¡°Gege¡­ Shen Chi¡­ please, don¡¯t let anything happen to you¡­¡± Her heart wrenched, the pain unbearable. After eight years of constantpanionship, she had grown ustomed to every aspect of him; she didn¡¯t want him to die, he simply couldn¡¯t die. As Xu Chaomu was about to step out of the cabin, there was a ¡°ng¡±¡ªthe cabin door swung open, and a cold wind blew in! The lights outside were blinding; Xu Chaomu instinctively shielded her eyes. ¡°To think you¡¯d dare to escape!¡± The neer was Zhou Peitian, who immediately grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm and dragged her outside. With one arm disabled by Shen Chi, he concentrated all his strength in the other¡ªhis eyes showed nothing but malicious fury, as if he was ready to devour his prey. ¡°Let me go; where are you taking me? Why are there so many gunshots outside?¡± ¡°All thanks to Shen Chi!¡± Zhou Peitian¡¯s voice was ice-cold. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wrinkled her brow in pain. Her arm throbbed where he was gripping it, and suddenly, she noticed that Zhou Peitian was covered in blood. Her eyes widened in terror¡ªwhat exactly had happened? How was Shen Chi? Zhou Peitian dragged Xu Chaomu onto the deck, his eyes bloodshot with red veins. The cold wind seeped into Xu Chaomu¡¯s clothes, sending shivers down her spine and making her shake uncontrobly. The rain outside was heavy, soaking Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair in a matter of minutes. So cold, so very cold. Her wet hair clung to her chin and forehead, refusing to be shaken off. The sea breeze brought the stench of saltwater,yered with the coppery scent of blood, causing Xu Chaomu to feel nauseous. She gagged, herrge eyes brimming with terror! As Zhou Peitian tugged Xu Chaomu onto the deck, he pulled out a pistol, pressing it against Xu Chaomu¡¯s temple! ¡°Shen Chi, drop the fucking gun! Make one more move, and I¡¯ll blow her head off!¡± Zhou Peitian¡¯s raspy, murky voice was especially grating! ¡°Everybody, cease fire!¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows, halting in his tracks. Beneath the night sky, his tall figure loomed evenrger. His sharply contoured face, colder than the sea breeze, held a chill in his gaze. The rain had drenched his clothes and hair, his lips pressed tight, eyes deep and inscrutable. Everyone stopped, Zhou Peitian¡¯s men retreating to his side. Shen Chi¡¯s men also ceased fire, standing their ground. Shen Chi¡¯s gaze fell upon Zhou Peitian¡¯s hands before slowly shifting and finally settling on Xu Chaomu. She was drenched in blood, her hair a tangled mess, her usually vibrant eyes now devoid of life. She bit her lips stubbornly, blood seeping from the corners of her mouth. ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice broke through the tension, hoarse and choked with sorrow. His Mumu, pure and precious Mumu, how had shee to this¡­ He couldn¡¯t bring himself to hit her even once on a regr day, always cherishing and protecting her, yet these people had been cruel enough to harm her. Rainwater trailed down Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair, herrge eyes fixed on Shen Chi. Without saying a word, she just looked at him. A stabbing pain tore through Shen Chi¡¯s chest, searing agony in every limb. Chapter 289: You are Going to be a Father Chapter 289: You are Going to be a Father Trantor: 549690339 All the blood in his body seemed to be racing, and he desperately wanted to hold her in his arms, using his chin to rest against her forehead. Mumu, his Chaomu, his cherished little girl for eight years, was now enduring such torment. ¡°Shen Chi, put the gun down! Don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Zhou Peitian roared, pressing the gun against Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ don¡¯t worry about me, don¡¯t worry about me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu screamed with all her might. Shen Chi¡¯s heart ached with a dull pain. How could he possibly not care about her? She was the one he had to protect with his life. ¡°Scream again, and I¡¯ll shoot!¡± Zhou Peitian threatened Xu Chaomu. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± Shen Chi said in a deep voice, his brows tightly knit. ¡°Then put the gun down!¡± Zhou Peitian shouted again. Shen Chi lowered his hand, his fingers loosening, and with a ¡°thud,¡± the gun dropped from his hand to the ground. Wary of Shen Chi ying tricks again, Zhou Peitian kept his guard up: ¡°Kick the gun into the sea!¡± Shen Chi did as he was told; she was his Achilles¡¯ heel, he would never y with her life as a joke. ¡°Good, very good. Now go get the project contract.¡± A smug smile shed at the corner of Zhou Peitian¡¯s mouth. ¡°Fourth Brother! Don¡¯t give them the contract! They won¡¯t do anything to me!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled. A helpless smile appeared on Shen Chi¡¯s lips. Silly girl, how could he take her life as a joke? ¡°Xiaopu, go get the contract.¡± Shen Chi parted his lips slightly, his tone t, but without hesitation. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ that contract¡­¡± Xiaopu was reluctant to move; the contract had been obtained with great difficulty. ¡°Go!¡± Shen Chi ordered again. ¡°Yes.¡± Xiaopu could not go against him, finally nodded, and left. The scene was tense and charged, like a tightly drawn bowstring. ¡°Help, help!¡± Just then, suddenly, Bai Man burst out from somewhere, crying for help. Her voice was hoarse, she screamed with all her might, and a man was clutching her arm tightly! ¡°Shen Chi, save me! Shen Chi!¡± She yelled in the direction of Shen Chi. Soon, the man brought Bai Man over: ¡°Boss Zhou, she tried to escape, but I caught her and brought her back.¡± ¡°Good, very good. I was just about to have Bai Man brought over too,¡± Zhou Peitian¡¯s face showed even more smugness. ¡°Zhou Peitian, what the fuck do you want to do? Can you only use such despicable means?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were blood red, his fists clenched tightly. ¡°Being despicable is not a problem. As long as I can achieve my goal, what does being despicable matter?¡± Zhou Peitian gloated. Bai Man¡¯s arm was held so tightly it hurt, and she cried tearfully, ¡°Shen Chi, save me, save me. I don¡¯t want to die yet, I really don¡¯t want to die.¡± Zhou Peitian nced at Bai Man andughed loudly, ¡°Bai Man, let¡¯s see if your husband wants to save you.¡± ¡°No, he will definitely want me. Right, Shen Chi? Say something. Save me, save me!¡± ¡°That might not be certain. Miss Bai, haven¡¯t you noticed another woman beside me? It seems Mr. Shen is very fond of her.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be, it won¡¯t be! Shen Chi, you will save me, won¡¯t you?¡± Bai Man lost her senses, she just wanted to survive. She didn¡¯t want to die yet! Xu Chaomu bit her lip without saying a word. She saw the troubled look on Shen Chi¡¯s face and moved her lips slightly, ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ you don¡¯t need to worry about me, my life isn¡¯t worth much. Save Miss Bai¡­ she¡­ is carrying your child¡­¡± Xu Chaomu finally spoke; she did not want him to be troubled. Her heart ached with every furrow of his brow. Despite her knowing he was annoyed by her. But she wasn¡¯t annoyed by him, she loved him. No sooner had Xu Chaomu spoken than an indecisive expression shed across Shen Chi¡¯s face. Bai Man, fearing her lie would be exposed, immediately yelled, ¡°Yes, Shen Chi, you can¡¯t abandon the baby in my belly. It¡¯s your child too, a tiny life!¡± Zhou Peitianughed loudly, ¡°Shen Chi, your wife is pregnant, surely you must know that?¡± ¡°Impossible! Bai Man, stop talking nonsense!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was frosty, and his voice was cold. He had never touched Bai Man; he was very clear about that. ¡°Shen Chi, have you forgotten? That night, you were drunk. You ran to my room, you held me, saying ¡®love me¡¯ over and over, wanting me. I am your fianc¨¦e, of course I didn¡¯t refuse, and we made love. It was that night that I became pregnant with this child!¡± Bai Man threw caution to the wind, just wanting to survive. Even if Shen Chi would seek an exnation after tonight, that would be a future concern. All she wanted was to live. Xu Chaomu shook her head in agony, her head pounding. Bai Man¡¯s voice was like a thorn, stabbing her nerves sentence by sentence. Scenes shed through her mind quickly: Shen Chi hugging Bai Man, on the broad bed, their passionate love. ¡°Stop talking¡­¡± Xu Chaomu covered her head, her face pale, her lips trembling. It was as if she had witnessed such a scene herself¡­ ¡°Bai Man, have you fucking lost your mind?!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes turned blood red. Bai Man coldly said, ¡°Shen Chi, it¡¯s your child. You can¡¯t just abandon it, can you? You¡¯re going to be a father.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi shouted coldly. He saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s face twisted in pain, and his own heart ached. At that moment, blood spilled from the corners of Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth; she had bitten through her lip, biting it until it bled. Just as he was about to speak, Xiaopu ran over with a thick file in hand. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ the contract.¡± Xiaopu said with great sorrow. As soon as Zhou Peitian saw the contract, his eyes lit up, and he almost wanted to snatch it! But he had learned his lesson; as long as he kept Bai Man and Xu Chaomu as hostages, he wasn¡¯t worried about not getting the contract. He wanted to see if this man really had no heart! Shen Chi took the contract, his gaze sharp, and he swept it over everyone present. ¡°Shen Chi, give me the contract! And sign this voluntary transfer document!¡± Zhou Peitian took out a document he had prepared earlier. ¡°Let Chaomu and Bai Man go, and I¡¯ll sign everything over to you,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Haha.¡± Zhou Peitianughed, ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re trying to bargain. Releasing two people for one contract, wouldn¡¯t I be at a great loss?¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Choose one, and I¡¯ll release whoever you choose. As for the remaining one¡­ I¡¯ll take her back and torment her well.¡± Zhou Peitian smiled happily, ¡°I love seeing you in this living hell. Is it hard? Not really, is it?¡± Zhou Peitian paused, ¡°Or shall I make the choice for you? Look, if I were you, I would definitely choose my own wife. After all, it¡¯s two lives at stake. Regarding Xu Chaomu, she has no blood ties to you, choosing her wouldn¡¯t make much sense!¡± ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ don¡¯t worry about me. Miss Bai is carrying your child; he¡¯s right, two lives at stake.¡± Xu Chaomu said faintly. Bai Man also began to shout, ¡°Shen Chi, you can¡¯t leave me alone. Exchange me with them for the contract, you must save me!¡± Chapter 290 - 290 His Own Flesh and Blood Chapter 290: His Own Flesh and Blood Trantor: 549690339 In the cold wind, Shen Chi moved his lips but didn¡¯t speak. Rain fell on his face, yet his eyes never left Xu Chaomu. For eight years with her, he had protected her well, not allowing anyone to hurt even a strand of her hair. But now, the dirty girl in front of him was his Mumu. Her hands and face were covered in blood, and she stared with wide eyes filled with pain, panic, and confusion. The wind blew her hair as he pursed his lips looking at her, unable to distinguish whether it was rain or tears on her face. They locked eyes, and though they were only a dozen steps apart, it felt as though there were mountains and seas between them. ¡°Shen Chi, say something!¡± Bai Man called out again, ¡°Give them the contract and save me, I don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°Big brother¡­ save Bai Man, after all, the child in her womb is your own flesh and blood. You like children so much, you wouldn¡¯t want to watch Zhou Peitian torment Bai Man like this, would you? That way, the child will be miscarried.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice was hoarse and fragile, but in that moment, it sounded exceptionally powerful. Shen Chi had just wanted to say that Bai Man couldn¡¯t possibly be pregnant, but Bai Man was clever, she spoke first, not giving Shen Chi a chance to talk. ¡°Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi won¡¯t save you, no need to pretend to be so pitiful. You have no blood rtion with him and besides, if I¡¯m not wrong, he dislikes you quite a bit, doesn¡¯t he? He always told me he wanted to send you out of the country, saying that just seeing you annoyed him greatly. You can¡¯t do anything right and just keep clinging to him; he finds it bothersome.¡± Bai Man said it all in one go, she didn¡¯t care about anything else, she just wanted to save herself, her own life. Shen Chi loved Xu Chaomu so much, she thought, if she didn¡¯t act first, she would definitely lose her life. Simrly, without waiting for Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu to speak, Bai Man rattled off another speech. ¡°Xu Chaomu, the Shen Family has already done their duty by you, stop ying innocent here. You¡¯ve been with the Shen Family for eight years, isn¡¯t it time to repay their kindness? Now, there¡¯s a child in my womb, Shen Chi¡¯s own blood, and you, an orphan adopted without parents, should know your ce, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± Every word, every syble from Bai Man was like a needle, deeply piercing Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. She was right, Shen Chi didn¡¯t like her, he even found her annoying. The Shen Family had taken her in for eight years, giving her a life of luxury, she should repay this kindness. She had always known she owed Shen Chi a lot, and she wanted to repay him¡­ Once she had repaid this kindness, she would no longer owe him anything. She had not found an opportunity before, but now, there was one right in front of her. And besides, the child in Bai Man¡¯s womb was innocent. The baby must be adorable and beautiful. To exchange her life for the baby¡¯s life seemed worthwhile. ¡°Bai Man, what makes you so confident? What makes you think I, Shen Chi, don¡¯t care about Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Bai Man lifted her eyes, meeting Shen Chi¡¯s gaze, and the smile on her lips grew deeper. ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t forget that your Shen Family owes the Bai Family a great favor. Twenty years ago, if my father hadn¡¯t saved your entire family, would you still be able to speak to me like this?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were full of astonishment; it turned out¡­ the Shen Family still owed the Bai Family a favor. ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t forget our marriage arrangement either. If you don¡¯t save me today, neither my dad nor your dad will let you off!¡± At this moment, the cold wind cut across Xu Chaomu¡¯s face as if it were slicing with a knife. Xu Chaomu was already numb; once her heart was dead, she felt nothing anymore. Pain and despair filled Shen Chi¡¯s eyes; in his heart, no one could rece Xu Chaomu. But, the Shen Family owed the Bai Family a favor, and he couldn¡¯t just ignore Bai Man. He only med himself for not being ruthless enough to abandon Bai Man. Zhou Peitian coldly curled his lips at the side, his eyes full of craftiness: ¡°Shen Chi, is it so hard to make a decision? I¡¯ll give you three more minutes. If you can¡¯t provide an answer after three minutes, I¡¯ll execute both women!¡± Zhou Peitian sneered. Indeed, Shen Chi, a man known for his decisive killing, had moments of hesitation too. These two women were indeed trump cards. But at this moment, his arm throbbed with pain, the price of which he nned to make Shen Chi pay back double! Bai Man also noticed the indecision in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes and tried desperately to struggle free. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, a cold curve formed at the corners of her mouth. It was like the gloomy sky, pouring with rain. Bai Man waspletely soaked; she didn¡¯t want to stay in this godforsaken ce any longer, and she definitely didn¡¯t want to go back with Zhou Peitian. This wasn¡¯t a life fit for a human! She never wanted to endure such pain again in her life! ¡°Zhou Peitian,¡± Shen Chi finally spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the contract, and I¡¯ll sign the transfer papers. Just let go of¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± At that moment, Bai Man shouted out loud, interrupting Shen Chi! She didn¡¯t care who he meant to name, she had to seize thisst chance. She turned her head, her peach blossom eyes with red veins staring tightly at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu lifted her eyelids and the rain slid down right from her hair. A dropnded on her eyshes, looking like teardrops. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I have a secret to tell you, do you want to hear it? It¡¯s about your mother, Xu Mengxi. A secret rted to her death¡­¡± Suddenly, Shen Chi¡¯s face changed dramatically! His stern face instantly darkened, his heart pounding wildly as he said coldly, ¡°Bai Man, shut your damn mouth!¡± How could Bai Man know that secret? Ever since he had found out about that matter years ago, he had destroyed all traces of it, no one knew that it was Zhou Ran who killed Xu Mengxi. Where had Bai Man heard it? The numbed heart of Xu Chaomu suddenly leapt: ¡°What? What happened to my mother? Tell me, Bai Man, tell me! What happened to my mother? What¡¯s the secret?¡± Why was Shen Chi so anxious? Wasn¡¯t her mother¡¯s death due to an idental fire? And furthermore, she had never quite understood why the Shen Family wanted to adopt her¡­ She was mischievous, stubborn, ignorant, full of ws; why would the Shen Family take her in? Why would Shen Chi, so proud and arrogant, treat her so kindly? She couldn¡¯t make sense of it; she had never been able to. ¡°Xu Chaomu, since you want to listen so much, then I¡¯ll tell you. Listen carefully, don¡¯t miss a single word.¡± ¡°Bai Man, shut your fucking mouth!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened as he strode forward. The tension on his usually calm and icy face was unprecedented, and his heart raced like never before! Just as he was about to move forward, Zhou Peitian¡¯s men stopped him, and Zhou Peitian¡¯s gun moved a centimeter closer to Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. Chapter 291: The Son of the Mother’s Murderer Chapter 291: The Son of the Mother¡¯s Murderer Trantor:549690339 ¡°Shen Chi! Don¡¯t move! If you move again, I¡¯ll kill this girl!¡± Zhou Peitian warned. Shen Chi stopped in his tracks, no longer moving forward, as he wouldn¡¯t joke about Xu Chaomu¡¯s life. Bai Manughed,ugh unrestrained, indeed, Shen Chi had known this secret for a long time. She looked at Xu Chaomu and chuckled, ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you really like your fourth brother? Are you so in love that you can¡¯t help yourself? Are you in love to the point where you would give your life for him?¡± ¡°Bai Man¡­ what do you want to say?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, blinking herrge eyes. With each blink, droplets fell from hershes, indistinguishable from tears or rainwater. Her whole body was trembling, trembling violently. ¡°Bai Man! If you dare say¡­¡± Shen Chi shouted fiercely. ¡°Shen Chi!¡± Bai Man cut him off immediately, ¡°What am I afraid to say? Do I still care? Let me tell you, if today only one person can be saved, it must be me!¡± ¡°Bai Man, tell me, what happened to my mother? Tell me!¡± Xu Chaomu screamed hysterically. Her voice soared through the air, hovered,nded on Shen Chi¡¯s heart like countless sharp knives plunging down. ¡°Xu Chaomu, listen well, your most beloved fourth brother, Shen Chi, is the son of the enemy who killed your mother. Don¡¯t understand? It¡¯s okay, let me exin to you. Eight years ago, Shen Chi¡¯s mother, Zhou Ran, tampered with the gas tank, which directly led to the explosion of the gas, causing your mother to die in a sea of mes.¡± Upon reaching this point in her revtion, Shen Chi¡¯s face was filled with despair. In the rain, a tear slid down from the corner of his eye¡­ He had hidden this from her for so many years, and he had originally nned to keep it from her for a lifetime. Never to let her know this secret, to always watch her smile carefree. She was the treasured piece of candy in his palm that he feared would melt; he loved to see her smile, her antics, but he never wanted to see her sad, despairing. He liked it when she chased after him calling ¡°Fourth Brother;¡± he liked to see her rest her chin in her hands and smile sweetly, sweetly wrapping her arms around his neck. He liked when she hid in his embrace like a little kitten. He also liked to stroke her hair and call her ¡°Mumu.¡± However, all of that was gone¡­ It would never be again¡­ As expected, Xu Chaomu was stunned, frozen in ce as if she were petrified. Her dull,rge eyes showed no spark of life, filled instead with nothing but despair¡­ Bai Man was proud, continuing, ¡°Still don¡¯t understand? Then I¡¯ll keep telling you. Shen Chi¡¯s father, Shen Cexian, was fond of your mother, Xu Mengxi. So, Zhou Ran became jealous, which is more frightening than anything when a woman is consumed by it. To extinguish all of Shen Cexian¡¯s lingering thoughts, Zhou Ran executed this murder in silence, causing your mother to perish in the fire.¡± ¡°Consumed by the fire, not even a corpse was left clean. Xu Chaomu, wouldn¡¯t you say a woman¡¯s jealousy is frightening?¡± Bai Man gloated. Xu Chaomu covered her head, rocking it painfully, ¡°No¡­ it wasn¡¯t¡­ it was an ident¡­ please, stop talking¡­ stop¡­¡± How could Bai Man not continue? She smugly curved the corners of her lips, eager to witness Xu Chaomu¡¯s agony. ¡°Xu Chaomu, stop deluding yourself. Zhou Ran killed your mother. Shen Chi is the son of the enemy who murdered your mother! Look at yourself, how foolish you became, loving Shen Chi for so many years. Do you still love Zhou Ran? If so, wouldn¡¯t your mother be heartbroken? She might think, how could she give birth to such an unfilial daughter¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, tell me, am I right or not?¡± ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not¡­ I love my mother, I love her¡­ I won¡¯t make her sad¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head in agony, her head felt as if it were about to split open. Her entire head felt like it was about to explode, countless sentences swirling in her mind: Shen Chi is the son of your mother¡¯s killer¡­ you¡¯ve loved Shen Chi for so many years¡­ She covered her head, gritted her teeth, as her nervespletely copsed in an instant! ¡°It isn¡¯t¡­ why is it like this¡­ why¡­ why have you all been lying to me¡­¡± ¡°Mumu!¡± Across the crowd, Shen Chi cried out in grief. Bai Manughed loudly, ¡°Can¡¯t ept it? Nobody can. It¡¯s normal. Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t me me. If you must me someone, me Shen Chi. He knew this secret for a long time, yet he never told you. He¡¯s been deceiving you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, do you know why Shen Chi has been so kind to you? Because he is atoning for sins, atoning for his mother¡¯s sins!¡± Bai Man emphasized thest two words intentionally. Atonement¡­ Atonement¡­ Bai Man¡¯s shrill voice swirled through the air. So, that was it. Xu Chaomu understood, she finally understood. He had pampered her for eight years, been so kind to her, all just to atone. He would tie her shoces, serve her soup, peel shrimp for her¡­ everything, everything was just to atone. Atonement and love are two different things: the former is endlessly kind to you, kind to the point of numbness, yet it never delivers the heart; it never will for a lifetime.Y0u can read sh0rt, t0uching, and r0mantic st0ries ab0ut c0uples, as well as children¡¯s st0ries f0r free 0n sitest0rys . c0m Just like when she wanted to kiss him, he would avoid it, simply because he distinguished atonement from love very clearly. He always knew; he didn¡¯t love her. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ why¡­ why did you deceive me¡­ even you betrayed me, even you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head in pain. That was her most beloved mother, her mother who doted on her, who left her all that was good. Why¡­ why was she actually murdered? And it was by Zhou Ran. She had called Zhou Ran ¡°Aunt¡± so many times; she had called Shen Chi ¡°Fourth Brother¡± countless times¡­ Isn¡¯t it ironic? ¡°Mumu, Mumu. Listen to me¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep and hoarse, his whole heart pounding violently. His pain was not one bit less than Xu Chaomu¡¯s. ¡°Enough! Shen Chi, I just want to ask you one question: did your mother kill mine? Did she?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips trembled. For the first time, she addressed Shen Chi with such a cold and despairing tone. Her whole body was ice-cold, even her shoulders couldn¡¯t stop shivering. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± he wanted to exin. He wanted to tell her that he hadn¡¯t intentionally kept it from her, he just wanted her to be happy. He wanted to tell her that he loved her, and it wasn¡¯t about so-called atonement! He had never considered his kindness to her as atoning; he was kind to her simply because he wanted to be, he loved her, he cared for her. ¡°Shen Chi, I just want to ask you, is it or isn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± ¡°Answer me, is it or isn¡¯t it!¡± ¡°It is.¡± As the word escaped, tears flowed down Shen Chi¡¯s face. Even though he was cold and ruthless, cunning and relentless, at this moment, he was utterly devastated. ¡°Heh¡­ you really have been lying to me, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯ve lied to me for eight years, haven¡¯t you? Why have you been kind to me, why didn¡¯t you just set me on fire and burn me to death as well? Shen Chi, I hate you, I will hate you for the rest of my life!¡± Chapter 292: Shen Chi, I Hate You (Request for Monthly Tickets) Chapter 292: Shen Chi, I Hate You (Request for Monthly Tickets) Trantor:549690339 Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice was hoarse and exhausted as she screamed. Her head felt like it was about to explode as she let out a ¡°wah¡± and burst into heart-wrenching sobs¡­ shes of images raced through her mind, her mother¡¯s smiling face, the bright red glow of the sky during the fire, the first time she met Shen Chi in her life¡­ So many images were passing through her mind that she grabbed her hair, shaking her head in agony. ¡°Even you lied to me¡­ you all have been deceiving me¡­ you¡¯ve treated me like a dispensable pet, never once considering my feelings, you¡¯ve never given me any dignity¡­¡± The cold rain hit her face as she clutched her hair desperately, feeling like she¡¯d rather die than live this way. Why did it have to be this way, she would rather have not met anyone eight years ago, she would rather have died with her mother¡­ Bai Man¡¯s smile grew deeper and deeper; she had no intention of letting Xu Chaomu go. She wanted to drive Xu Chaomu to her death; that way, no one would everpete with her for Shen Chi again. What was Xu Chaomu? Did she even deserve to like Shen Chi? ¡°Xu Chaomu, doesn¡¯t it thrill you? Look at you, so in love with him, haha, do you realize how cheap you are? Loving the son of your enemy, your mother wouldn¡¯t rest in peace if she knew, tell me, do you think your mother would hate you to death in the underworld¡­¡± ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not like that¡­ don¡¯t say that anymore, please stop¡­ mother¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head in agony, her nerves acutely stimted. This stimulus, wave after wave, was so intense it gave her an excruciating headache. She¡­ had fallen for the son of her mother¡¯s murderer; she was utterly reprehensible, deserving of death¡­ The man named Shen Chi had deceived her, making her look like a fool¡­ And yet, she still stuck to him, clung to him, liked to call him fourth brother, even shamelessly stuck close to him. But him, he watched her as one would watch a clown or a fool. Probably, he had been sneering inside, cursing her as an idiot a thousand times over. To him, she meant nothing. It was only she who mindlessly clung to him, calling him fourth brother, silently loving him for so many years¡­ He, just like Shen Shihan, was a liar, a liar! He had her going in circles with his deceit; did he feel a sense of aplishment watching her jump about like a foolish cat? ¡°Shen Chi¡­ I hate you¡­ I hate you¡­¡± She bit her lips, drawing blood. The taste of blood spread in her mouth, and a fresh stream of crimson trickled down the corners of her lips. Blood, mixed with the raindrops, fell on her clothes, leaving startling patches of red everywhere. ¡°Mumu! Mumu!¡± Shen Chi was beside himself with grief, ¡°Let go, please don¡¯t do this¡­ do you have any idea how much this hurts me¡­¡± ¡°Shen Chi,¡± Bai Man said with a smile, ¡°you¡¯ve been deceiving her for so many years, you¡¯re an absolutely sinful man. Look at her, she¡¯s on the verge of a mental breakdown. Tell me, what will we do if she goes mad?¡± ¡°Bai Man, if anything happens to Chaomu, I will take your life!¡± Shen Chi radiated an icy aura. ¡°I told her the truth, she should be grateful to me, otherwise, she would have been in the dark all her life, how painful would that have been? She should thank me for letting her see the true faces of her ¡®Auntie¡¯ and ¡®Fourth Brother¡¯ in time. You see, you¡¯re all beasts in human clothing, all you can do is deceive her.¡± Once she finished speaking, Bai Man burst outughing. Seeing Xu Chaomu in this state, she felt truly delighted. Zhou Peitian heard every single word, uncovering this enormous secret. However, what intrigued him the most was the diamond mine, the grudges between these three people were their own business! ¡°Shen Chi, are you going to hand over the contract or not? If you don¡¯t make a decision soon, I¡¯m afraid I might have to put a bullet in this girl¡¯s head,¡± Zhou Peitian sneered. Shen Chi¡¯s lips were pressed tightly together; he remained silent. He had made a decision; he would exchange the contract for Bai Man and his own life for Xu Chaomu¡¯s. Seeing that Shen Chi remained silent, Bai Man panicked, ¡°Shen Chi, give them the contract! Let them release me! Don¡¯t forget, you still owe the Bai Family a favor!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Shen Chi finally spoke. He lifted his eyes, dark and profound, ¡°Zhou Peitian, release Bai Man.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I knew you loved me, I just knew it. I love you too, forever,¡± Bai Man was overjoyed. ¡°Fine, hand me the contract, let¡¯s get that transfer document signed! I won¡¯t make things difficult for Bai Man!¡± Zhou Peitian said coldly. Standing outside for so long, he was practically frozen. But atst, he had achieved his goal! The contract! The contract for the diamond mine! His eyes immediately lit up with excitement. Shen Chi walked forward step by heavy, sluggish step. His gaze never left Xu Chaomu; his heart bled for her. His chest felt as though it was being torn apart, an unbearable pain. As he brushed past Bai Man¡¯s side, he handed over the contract. Zhou Peitian¡¯s subordinate took it immediately, then tossed a voluntary transfer agreement at him to sign. Xu Chaomu stood there dazed, like a fool, watching everything unfold, her eyes vacant and dting more and more¡­ She had always known, Shen Chi didn¡¯t care for her life. Eight years, what else had been left between them in these eight years apart from deception? Mutual disdain, he hated her, and she detested him. Between them, there was nothing left. Shen Chi picked up the pen to sign his name. He turned slowly to look at Bai Man. ¡°Bai Man, from now on, the Shen Family no longer owes the Bai Family anything.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you still care about me, don¡¯t you? You didn¡¯t exchange the contract for that girl¡¯s life. Do you realize, she will be heartbroken? Her beloved fourth brother, haha.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak, she just stood there like a puppet, motionless in the rain. Shen Chi turned away, no longer giving Bai Man a nce. He said calmly to Zhou Peitian, ¡°Let her go.¡± Zhou Peitian was still basking in the joy of obtaining the contract. He waved his hand, ¡°Release her. I said I wouldn¡¯t make it difficult for her. I, Zhou Peitian, am a man of my word.¡± Upon hearing themand, Zhou Peitian¡¯s subordinate untied Bai Man. Bai Man finally gained her freedom, almost crying out loud. She wrapped her arms around Shen Chi¡¯s waist, crying on his back, ¡°Shen Chi¡­ I knew you cared for me, cared for our baby¡­ Can we go home? Let¡¯s go home together. I¡¯ll have my mother cook for you, didn¡¯t you sayst time that you liked her cooking?¡± Shen Chi said nothing, just pried Bai Man¡¯s fingers off of him one by one. Xu Chaomu was still in their grasp; he had to save her. If the worst came to the worst, they would die together. Zhou Peitian was still engrossed in the contract, indifferent even to the pouring rain. The hand holding the gun had also rxed, he probably thought Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t escape. The sky was overcast, and the rain poured down without cease, soaking everyone to the bone. Chapter 293: Taking the Bullet for Him Chapter 293: Taking the Bullet for Him Trantor: 549690339 Zhou Peitian flipped through the contract, and upon seeing the authentic signature, heughed wildly with joy. Bai Man was so frightened that her face turned pale and her lips trembled. She still wanted to embrace Shen Chi and speak, ¡°Shen Chi, can we go home? It¡¯s just one project, it¡¯s not a big deal, just let him have it. As long as we are safe and sound, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Shen Chi, annoyed, pushed away her hand, his hawk-like eyes shining with a fierce light, and a cold frost radiated from his entire being. He signaled to Xiaopu, and the next second, taking advantage of Zhou Peitian¡¯s focus on the contract, he stepped forward, brushed past Zhou Peitian¡¯s arm, and snatched the gun from his hand! Zhou Peitian was also on high alert. Just as Shen Chi¡¯s hand touched the gun, he clutched the contract and reached for the firearm! Neither of them got the gun, and with a ¡°plop,¡± the gun drew an arc in the air and dropped into the sea! Shen Chi twisted Zhou Peitian¡¯s arm; at that moment, Xiaopu and his men opened fire! A bullet hit Zhou Peitian squarely in the scap bone, and he clutched his shoulder, his face twisting in pain. Zhou Peitian¡¯s subordinates were not to be trifled with either. Upon seeing Shen Chi¡¯s men shooting, they immediately returned fire. Bai Man¡¯s face turned deathly white, and she stumbled and ran into the cabin, hiding in the coffee shop, too afraid to even breathe. She clutched her chest, gasping for air. She had lost one of her shoes in the chaos, but Bai Man couldn¡¯t care less about that now. All she knew was that she was safe. Xu Chaomu was still in shock, a buzzing like thousands of bees ringing in her ears. Everything Bai Man said moments ago echoed word for word in her mind: Shen Chi is the son of the person who killed your mother; Shen Chi¡¯s kindness to you is just atonement; Zhou Ran caused your mother¡¯s death; Shen Chi has been deceiving you for eight years¡­ She clutched her head, at a loss, oblivious even to the gunshot-strewn scene around her. Why did the true feelings she had to offer only result in deceit? Zhou Ran lied to her, Shen Shihan lied to her, and now, even Shen Chi¡­ he lied to her too¡­ They could dislike her, but why did they lie to her, why¡­ Suddenly, a bullet whizzed through the air! ¡°Mumu, dodge!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were red with urgency. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear any of it; she covered her ears, tears streaming down her face. Shen Chi pushed her aside, and the bullet grazed his arm, blood gushed out instantly! Xu Chaomu, pushed by Shen Chi, hit her head hard on the deck. The cold rain streamed down her cheeks, and she finally began to sober up a bit. ¡°Mumu, follow me!¡± Shen Chi strode forward and bent down to grab her arm. ¡°I¡¯m not going, I¡¯m not going, liar¡­ Shen Chi¡­ you¡¯re a liar¡­ I don¡¯t want to see you ever again¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had her head down as she bit into his arm. Before she could bite down hard, the blood from his arm dripped onto her face, the air itself reeking of blood. Shen Chi gritted his teeth, silent. He forcefully dragged her, trying to take her away with him. ¡°Mumu, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you¡¯re just a big liar¡­ I¡¯ll never forgive you for the rest of my life¡­ I hate you, I despise you¡­¡± ¡°Mumu, be sensible, leave this ce with me. You can yell at me or hit meter, but right now, you muste with me, okay?¡± He didn¡¯t know how to exin to her, all exnations seemed pale and powerless. Because, the fact was, Zhou Ran caused the death of Xu Chaomu¡¯s mother, Xu Mengxi. In the face of this reality, no amount of words could contest it. As Shen Chi spoke, several more bullets flew past. Gale-force winds, a storm of bullets; the deck was filled with the stench of blood and stained with red stters. ¡°Shen Chi, just let me die, let me die¡­ I don¡¯t want to see you again¡­ Even death is better than seeing you again¡­¡± He¡¯d never cared for her. ¡°I won¡¯t abandon you. Come with me!¡± Shen Chi knew there was no more time to waste; he had to take Xu Chaomu away with him. As long as he could get her to safety, everything else, he could exin to her slowly. Whether she hated him or cursed him, all that mattered was that she continued to live. Xu Chaomu struggled in agony, refusing to leave. Suddenly, her eyes widened in terror, as a bullet aimed straight for Shen Chi¡¯s back! Her pupils dted, widened! In that instant, with all her strength, she didn¡¯t hesitate as the bullet approached; almost subconsciously, she pushed Shen Chi forcefully away and threw herself on top of him! She didn¡¯t understand. Despite hating him to the core, why was she instinctively blocking the bullet for him? Why was she taking a bullet for him? Why was she being so foolish¡­ ¡°Mumu, Mumu!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes turned red, his blood boiled with rage, his normally cold, proud face was now stricken with panic. ¡°It hurts¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Xu Chaomuy in his arms, her little hands clutching his cor tightly. The bullet had struck her squarely in the back, embedding itself into her flesh and bone. Blood surged out, staining her clothes red. She cried, truly in pain¡­ She clung to his cor tightly as if it could alleviate her pain. His scent was still that pleasant woody freshness she hadn¡¯t smelled in so long. Once, his chest, his breath, they gave her endlessfort. Now, there was only heartbreak. She might die, and in death, she would forget everything¡­ ¡°Mumu, why are you so foolish? Why did you take the bullet for me? I don¡¯t need that. I just need you to be well, I just need you to live¡­¡± Tears followed the contours of his face, and as he pursed his lips, prideful and aloof, his visage was only tormented. It hurt so much that his entire world seemed to be copsing¡­ He picked her up; he had to get her away. But Xu Chaomu clung to him, refusing to leave. She was seeing Shen Chi cry for the first time, even this man could shed tears¡­ She curved her lips into a smile and reached out a small hand to wipe his tears. ¡°Fourth Brother, you can cry too, huh? You¡¯re such a grown man, why cry? You know, I¡¯ve met you for eight years now, and I don¡¯t regret these eight years. I truly loved you¡­ But from now on, not anymore.¡± Shen Chi grabbed her tender little hand as he used to. In the past, when her little paws climbed onto his neck and face, he would always scowl and grab them before throwing her away: ¡°Xu Chaomu, stay away.¡± Now, he held her hand in his, and never wished to let go again. ¡°Mumu, I love you too.¡± As the words left his mouth, tears fell onto the back of his hand. She, in turn,ughed, though not as prettily as before. ¡°I don¡¯t want your reluctant love¡­ Just live on properly, and take good care of Bai Man and your child. You say you have a bad temper; what will you do when you have a baby? He¡¯ll be so annoyed he¡¯ll run away from home.¡± ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t talk, please don¡¯t speak. I¡¯ll take you to see the doctor, just hold on, you have to hold on.¡± Shen Chi kissed her hand and clenched his teeth, trying to lift her. Chapter 294 - 294 The kindness of eight years, repaid Chapter 294: The kindness of eight years, repaid Trantor: 549690339 He knew his ¡°I love you¡± was ill-timed. Could she still believe him now? Xu Chaomu resisted, her small hands pushing him with force. Her big eyes stared at him, truly wanting to take one more look at him. The man in front of her, she had loved him for so many years¡­ Her hand brushed his brows; he always liked to furrow them, yet when he smiled, he was so handsome. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ listen to me until the end¡­ Maybe you¡¯ll never hear me speak again. Fourth Brother¡­ even if you hate me, can you listen to me thisst time¡­ I know you find me annoying¡­¡± Her voice was very weak. Rain fell on her face, and he hugged her even tighter into his arms. ¡°Mumu, I don¡¯t find you noisy. Just live well,e back home with me. Even if you talk in my ear every day, I won¡¯t find it noisy. Do you still remember what I said? I want to take you to the amusement park, wherever you want to go, I¡¯ll take you¡­¡± ¡°I remember¡­ but I don¡¯t want it anymore. All your kindness towards me is out of guilt, even now it still is. I don¡¯t want it, not one bit.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were still filled with despair, endless and boundless. ¡°Fourth Brother, the eight years of indebtedness I owe the Shen Family, I¡¯ve now repaid.¡± Xu Chaomu said calmly, and as soon as she finished speaking, a faint smile spread across her lips. That smile, it stung Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. Eight years of indebtedness, repaid¡­ ¡°No, Mumu, I¡¯ve never wanted you to repay anything. My kindness to you was never out of guilt; it was because I care about you.¡± He kissed the back of her hand, and his tears fell onto her face. Xu Chaomu felt her eyelids growing heavy; her back hurt so much¡­ Her voice grew fainter and fainter: ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ let me say onest thing¡­ just onest thing, okay?¡± ¡°Mumu, I¡¯ll take you with me!¡± Even if she refused to go, he would still take her. He dominantly grabbed her arm, lifting her off the ground. Shey on his shoulder, close to his ear. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ just onest thing¡­ if I die¡­ please bury me next to my mom¡­ andter¡­ when your baby grows up¡­ let her visit me¡­ she must be very pretty¡­ let her call me ¡®Auntie¡¯¡­ I like¡­ like little girls¡­¡± As she spoke, her strength waned; her voice as fragile as a thread. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you listen to me goddammit, I love you, I won¡¯t let you die! And besides, if we¡¯re having a daughter, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s going to bear her!¡± Xu Chaomu closed her eyes, weakly lifting the corners of her mouth¡­ This man, always so overbearing, not even in this moment, would he indulge her. Forget it, she wouldn¡¯t argue with him anymore, she was leaving¡­ This time, she was leaving him forever and ever. Her head grew heavier and heavier; she no longer had the strength to speak, her eyelids too heavy to lift, only feeling rainwater on her face. Her hands, which had been wrapped around his neck, slowly¡­ she was so tired, so tired¡­ ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ Fourth Brother¡­¡± She called out in her heart, her head hanging heavily. ¡°Mumu! Xu Chaomu! You wake the hell up, don¡¯t sleep!¡± Shen Chi shook her body, he couldn¡¯t let her fall asleep. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind was muddled, now she only felt pain in her chest and back. Which hurt more, she did not know. Closing her eyes, about to fall deeply asleep, she was shaken awake again. This man was so annoying¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t sleep! Open your eyes! Don¡¯t you like telling stories? Tell me a story to listen to.¡± Fear filled Shen Chi¡¯s eyes; he was afraid that once she fell asleep, she would never wake up again. No¡­ he still had a lifetime to spend with her. Eight years had passed, and he was so ustomed to having her every goddamn night, he couldn¡¯t bear to imagine what life would be like without her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s head ached, subconsciously hearing his calls, wanting to open her eyes, but no matter what, she couldn¡¯t manage it. Her whole body hurt so much¡­ Shen Chi held her tightly in his arms, walking toward the cabin. Outside, the sound of gunfire was relentless; shattered ss littered the ground! The crowd was full of screams, some even grabbed lifeboats and left the cruise ship. Men, women, in utter chaos, shouting everywhere. Thankfully, the power had been restored, though the lighting remained dim. ¡°Chaomu, you mustn¡¯t sleep, do you hear me? I¡¯m talking to you, do you hear me?¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to speak, but her consciousness was growing blurrier; she desperately tried to open her eyes, only catching Shen Chi¡¯s profile. She saw the urgency in his eyes, his facial lines tense. While he carried her to the suite, she suddenly lifted her hand, pointing at something. Initially, Shen Chi didn¡¯t realize what she meant, just frantically carrying her. Xu Chaomu got anxious; she tried to speak but hadn¡¯t the strength, tried to lift her hand higher but still had no energy. Her eyes fixed on that ce, she moved her lips. Finally, she weakly squeezed out two words: ¡°Baby¡­ baby¡­¡± She saw her little doll; the doll was smiling at her, its eyes seemingly blinking. She so wanted to hold her¡­ Shen Chi finally understood what she wanted, looked in the direction she pointed, and saw the doll sitting in the chair at the caf¨¦. In the recent gunfight, he had almost left that doll behind. He walked into the caf¨¦ with her in his arms, grabbed the doll from the chair, and tucked it into her arms. Indeed, Xu Chaomu smiled, her lips sweetly curving up, holding the doll tightly, refusing to let go. Seeing that she finally stopped trying to sleep, Shen Chi¡¯s anxious heart rxed. ¡°Hold her nicely, tell her a story. Okay?¡± Shen Chi lowered his head, rubbing his chin against her forehead. As he did so, he smelled the blood from her body, and his heart clenched suddenly. That bullet just now¡­ how much it must have hurt her. She, who even feared tooth extraction, took a bullet for him without hesitation. This foolish girl¡­ When Shen Chi left with Xu Chaomu, Bai Man was still hiding in the caf¨¦. She watched him leave with Xu Chaomu, her teeth clenched in resentment. Xu Chaomu rubbed her doll, the doll still carried a faint scent ofvender. Just that, she had somehow made it onto the cruise ship¡­ She wanted to speak, but her eyelids grew heavier and heavier¡­ She had no idea how much longer she could hold on¡­ ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t sleep, we¡¯re almost there. Hold on. Does it hurt? If it hurts, bite me!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s ears rang; she could barely hear what he was saying¡­ Suddenly, arge mouthful of fresh blood gushed from her mouth! The blood sshed onto Shen Chi, shocking him; he hurriedly carried her toward the suite. ¡°Mumu, you absolutely can¡¯t let anything happen. If you do, I¡¯ll just have to shoot myself in the head.¡± Chapter 295: The Little Girl at the Heart’s Apex Chapter 295: The Little Girl at the Heart¡¯s Apex Trantor: 549690339 He was serious, if she really ended up in trouble and never returned, he would only be left with the option of pointing a gun at his own head. ¡°It hurts¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Xu Chaomu clutched at her chest, her facial features almost squishing together, her small face contorted in pain. Shen Chi could not take away any of this pain for her, why did she have to take a bullet for him, it hurt worse than if he had been shot countless times himself. Finally, he ran to the suite and kicked open the door. He quickly dialed for emergency help, not knowing if, amidst the chaos on the cruise ship, any doctors were still around. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before a doctor carrying a medicine box arrived! ¡°Doctor, save her, help her remove the bullet,¡± Shen Chi clenched his fists, hisplexion grave and calm. After examining Xu Chaomu¡¯s injuries, the doctor found them to be severe; the bullet had passed through the left side of her back and lodged itself in the flesh. He helped Xu Chaomu up and sighed deeply, ¡°The injury is not light, ah. A girl¡¯s body, that must hurt a lot.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s heart ached even more; he had not protected her well, he deserved to die a thousand deaths. Now, even if it meant trading his own life for hers, he would spare no effort. ¡°Sir, could you help steady her a bit while I administer anesthesia and perform the surgery to remove the bullet?¡± ¡°Doctor, is it doable here?¡± Outside, everything was turned upside down, and medical care was clearlygging. He feared something might go wrong in the middle of the operation¡­ ¡°We have to make it work, do you want to watch her die before your eyes? I heard the rescue ship won¡¯t arrive for another half an hour.¡± ¡°Alright, administer the anesthesia,¡± he replied. ¡°Mm.¡± The doctor quickly took out his tools and Shen Chi watched the gleaming scalpels, his whole heart trembling. Chaomu¡­ his Chaomu must be in so much pain. If they both could safely return, he would definitely spend his lifetime loving her properly. The room was unusually quiet, only the sound of gunfire and the waves could be heard outside. The lighting was dim; the doctor donned his mask, prepared the anesthesia for Xu Chaomu, and picked up the scalpel once everything was ready. The blood on her back was already coagting with her skin, and it flowed nonstop with the slightest movement. Even though Shen Chi was a cold and heartless person, his eyes heated up and tears almost spilled out. For anyone else, he could remain unmoved, but this was Xu Chaomu, the girl he treasured above all else. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± His voice was deep as he called out her nickname. The doctor was fully focused on performing surgery on Xu Chaomu, while she had already closed her eyes. Shey in Shen Chi¡¯s arms, initially her body was cold, but halfway through the surgery, she began to develop a high fever. Shen Chi took a wet towel to wipe the rainwater and blood off her face; he wiped silently, his heart bleeding inwardly. Time kept ticking by, and Shen Chi was almost driven mad when Xu Chaomu¡¯s fever spiked. The doctor was exerting his full effort, using a scalpel and tweezers to extract the bullet from Xu Chaomu¡¯s back. Thankfully, the bullet was finally removed, and the doctor let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s okay now, though the wound is quite deep, at least the bullet is out,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Is there still a risk to her life?¡± ¡°No more, I¡¯ll take care of her wound and she¡¯ll be fine. However, there will be a scar,¡± he exined. Shen Chi nodded slightly and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s good that it¡¯s not on her face.¡± In fact, even if it were on her face, he would never mind. In his life, he had chosen Xu Chaomu. The doctor continued to treat Xu Chaomu¡¯s wound, applying medicine, and wrapping it with gauze. After about half an hour, the wound was finally taken care of. Only then did the doctor notice that Shen Chi¡¯s arm was still bleeding; he hurriedly said, ¡°Sir, your arm is still bleeding, let me take care of it, otherwise if it gets infected, it won¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me for now, she has a fever,¡± Shen Chi touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s forehead. The doctor also felt Xu Chaomu¡¯s forehead, which was burning up. ¡°I¡¯ll give her an injection to see if it will reduce the fever.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The doctor hurriedly took out a vial from the medicine box and gave Xu Chaomu an injection. Just then, the rescue ship finally arrived! The doctor quickly contacted the medical team on the ship to bring emergency medicine over quickly. As the medical staff and officers boarded, Shen Chi and Zhou Peitian¡¯s people had already withdrawn. The sound of gunfire on the ship finally ceased, leaving only the whooshing of the rain and roaring waves. Everything was peaceful once more. Xiaopu rushed in, ¡°Boss Shen, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I couldn¡¯t retrieve the contract.¡± ¡°Keep it down; now, go outside,¡± Shen Chi frowned. He was afraid of disturbing Xu Chaomu. ¡°Alright,¡± Xiaopu quietly backed out. Soon, several doctors from the rescue team rushed over. The doctor in the lead wore a whiteb coat, and even though he had a mask on, his youthful and good looks could not be hidden. Upon seeing Xu Chaomu, his eyebrows lightly knitted together, and he quickly opened his medical box. Shen Chi recognized him at a nce: ¡°Wen Zhiyuan?¡± Without looking up, Wen Zhiyuan meticulously adjusted the medication, his dark gaze fixed on the syringe. He simply replied with a ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± his voice clear, cool, and deep. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you with my elder sister?¡± Shen Chi asked with a puzzled look on his face. Wen Zhiyuan was Shen Di¡¯s private family doctor, who had always been in charge of Shen Di¡¯s care abroad due to her poor health. Shen Chi was surprised that he had returned to the country. ¡°My sister¡¯s temper is too fierce; I couldn¡¯t serve her,¡± said Wen Zhiyuan indifferently, though his face showed no emotion. He continued to prepare the medication, opening one bottle after another. ¡°How is that possible,¡± Shen Chi said in disbelief. Shen Di had always been ady, educated very well from a young age, always quiet and gentle, both in public and in private. Shen Chi had never seen her lose her temper. Shen Di¡¯s character was more like their mother, Zhou Ran¡ªserene like a quiet orchid. But when she was stubborn, no one could persuade her. Still, it wasn¡¯t a matter of having a fierce temper. ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of her for five whole years. It¡¯s about time someone else took over. Perhaps, I wasn¡¯t good enough,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said. Since his graduation, Wen Zhiyuan had worked as Shen Di¡¯s family doctor, caring for her for five years. Five years on, he was now twenty-nine years old. ¡°So, you¡¯ve returned to the country?¡± ¡°Yes, I still need to make a living,¡± responded Wen Zhiyuan without any expression, just doing what a doctor should do. ¡°What about my big sister?¡± Lately, Shen Chi had been busy with this project and had not called Shen Di for a while, nor had he had the chance to visit her abroad. ¡°She has already hired a new family doctor, so you don¡¯t need to worry,¡± said Wen Zhiyuan in a light tone. After adjusting the medication, he injected Xu Chaomu. Then he took a thermometer to measure her temperature, his actions natural. ¡°This youngdy¡¯s injury is not light,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said in a grave voice. Chapter 296: Xu Chaomu, you are so cunning Chapter 296: Xu Chaomu, you are so cunning Trantor: 549690339 ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Who is she to you?¡± ¡°Wife.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Zhiyuan, who had been expressionless all this while, finally raised his eyes. Wife? Clearly, this girl was not Bai Man. ¡°You¡¯ll all find out eventually, but for now, Wen Zhiyuan, you must ensure shees to no harm!¡± ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu?¡± Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s memory was a bit hazy, but if he remembered correctly, Xu Chaomu was a little girl adopted by the Shen Family. ¡°Yeah.¡± Wen Zhiyuan did not ask any further. Since he had left Shen Di, he hadn¡¯t been that concerned about the Shen Family¡¯s affairs. Soon, Wen Zhiyuan cleaned Xu Chaomu¡¯s wounds and hung up a drip. Xu Chaomu was still under anesthesia and was groggy. Aside from frowning, she showed no other expression. Her little hand was clutching the bedsheet as if she was in pain. After everything was taken care of, Wen Zhiyuan removed his mask: ¡°Just take good care of her, and check if her fever has subsided after an hour. Also, change her into a clean set of clothes to prevent infection of the wound.¡± ¡°Yeah. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to help the other injured.¡± Wen Zhiyuan was never one for many words, and soon he was out of the suite with his medical kit in hand. Shen Chi shook his head; it had been a while, and Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s temperament had certainly grown stronger. As soon as he left, Shen Chi had someone send a set of clothes over. He changed Xu Chaomu into clean clothes and ced the doll by her pillow. Bending over, he brushed away the stray hair from her forehead with his fingers. He had finally saved her life. Thankfully, she was brought back to safety. As the medicine flowed down from the IV bottle, it was only when he saw Xu Chaomu sleeping quietly that he felt at ease. After leaving a kiss on her forehead and covering her properly with a nket, he went to another room to change and find Xiaopu. As soon as Shen Chi left, Bai Man, who had been hiding in the shadows, quietly entered Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. She sneered and nced at Xu Chaomu lying on the bed, slowly walking towards the bedside. ¡°Xu Chaomu, howe you¡¯re so lucky? Howe you didn¡¯t die? Why is life so unfair? A homewrecker like you who steals someone else¡¯s husband is still living freely.¡± Her tone dripped with mockery; in her eyes, Xu Chaomu was the home-wrecker who destroyed her rtionship with Shen Chi. If it hadn¡¯t been for Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t have been so cold towards her, he wouldn¡¯t have mentioned breaking off the engagement. Therefore, Xu Chaomu was the root cause of all troubles! She approached the bed, staring at Xu Chaomu, a thought rising in her mind. Her hand covered Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, gently stroking the needle. She was still wearing the engagement ring from Shen Chi, but now it appeared particrly ironic. ¡°Shen Chi won¡¯t be back for a while; what if I pulled out your IV? Do you think you would die?¡± She touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm; indeed, it was burning up. Of course, Xu Chaomu showed no reaction; her eyes were closed, quietly asleep. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re quite something, blocking a bullet for Shen Chi. Do you think you can secure his heart forever that way? Why didn¡¯t I think of such a tactic? You¡¯ve hidden your schemes so deeply. This risky move, very impressive.¡± ¡°But let me tell you, it¡¯s impossible!¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than Bai Man pursed her lips and forcefully pulled out the IV from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand! Blood and medicine mingled as they flowed out¡ª a ghastly sight! Bai Man sneered triumphantly as she stood up. ¡°You just wait to die. Once you¡¯re dead, I¡¯ll be at peace.¡± Bai Man walked towards the door, intending to leave the scene before anyone noticed. The cruise ship was already in chaos, and no one was paying attention to her, not even Shen Chi. She tiptoed forward but just as she was about to leave the suite, suddenly, with a ¡°bang,¡± the door opened! ¡°Ah.¡± Bai Man turned pale with fright, ¡°You, why are you back?¡± It was Shen Chi. He had returned to retrieve something and had not expected Bai Man to be there! His gaze shifted to Xu Chaomu, and he saw the IV had been thrown to the ground! ¡°Bai Man, did you do this?¡± Shen Chi grabbed her wrist with one hand! ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me¡­ It was like this when I came¡­ really, it wasn¡¯t me¡­¡± ¡°I only left for a moment, Bai Man, do you really think I would indulge you?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were fierce, filled with red blood vessels that rmed Bai Man! Bai Man struggled to break free from his hold: ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, it was already like this when I came in! Let me go¡­ Shen Chi!¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t loosen his grip on her wrist and made a call to Wen Zhiyuan. Soon, Wen Zhiyuan came running over. ¡°Help Chaomu get the IV reconnected.¡± After dropping that line, Shen Chi dragged Bai Man out of the suite! Bai Man¡¯s wrist hurt terribly from his grasp, but she couldn¡¯t overpower Shen Chi! ¡°Shen Chi, where are you taking me? Let me go, what just happened has nothing to do with me! Calm down, will you!¡± Bai Man said in a rush. She continued to argue her innocence. Shen Chi gritted his teeth, his face growing colder. He strode forward, dragging Bai Man into an empty warehouse! With a ¡°ng,¡± he locked the door, throwing Bai Man to the ground without mercy! ¡°Ah! It hurts! Shen Chi, have you gone mad!¡± Bai Man was thrown to the floor, her back hitting a nk in the warehouse, causing her to scream in pain. ¡°What madness? Bai Man, isn¡¯t it time we settled our score?¡± Shen Chi advanced towards her, step by step. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer, let¡¯s talk this over. What just happened, really, has nothing to do with me.¡± Bai Man was scared; she had never seen Shen Chi like this before. At this very moment, Shen Chi was terrifying. He was like the King of Asura in the dark of night, radiating a chilling aura. The Shen Chi who used to care for and indulge her was gone. This Shen Chi frightened her¡­ ¡°You won¡¯t admit it? Bai Man, you really think I, Shen Chi, have to pamper you forever, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I think. Shen Chi, don¡¯t treat me like this, you¡¯re so strange to me now. We¡¯ve known each other since we were kids, we were once such an enviable couple, childhood sweethearts.¡± ¡°You really have the nerve to say that.¡± Shen Chi sneered, ¡°We¡¯ve known each other since we were kids, and had it not been for tonight, I would never have realized just how venomous you can be.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, Shen Chi, don¡¯t nder me! In your eyes, is it that besides Xu Chaomu, everyone else is in the wrong?!¡± ¡°Yes, at least between you and Mumu, what she does is right.¡± ¡°Hah, you pamper her so much, does she appreciate it? I¡¯m telling you, she not only doesn¡¯t appreciate it, but she also hates you. Hate, do you understand the meaning of hate?¡± ¡°Bai Man, to save your own skin, you really can say whateveres to your mind.¡± Chapter 297: You Want to Get Pregnant so Much (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 297: You Want to Get Pregnant so Much (Seeking Monthly Pass) Trantor: 549690339 ¡°What¡¯s wrong, am I not speaking the truth? Hah, Zhou Ran did indeed kill Xu Mengxi, that¡¯s a fact you can¡¯t cover up! You can hide it for a moment, but can you hide it for a lifetime? Xu Chaomu will find out sooner orter, so, you should be thankful to me, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± Bai Man sneered coldly. ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s not your ce to speak of it.¡± ¡°I yed the viin for you, aren¡¯t you going to thank me?¡± ¡°Bai Man, you really are shameless.¡± Shen Chi took a step forward and crouched in front of Bai Man, his slender fingers lifting her chin. At such a close distance, Bai Man could see the burning rage in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. He was like a bloodthirsty lion in his entirety. Bai Man wasn¡¯t stupid; she was well aware that if the Bai Family hadn¡¯t owed the Shen Family a favor, Shen Chi would have probably already allowed her, Bai Man, to die several times over by now. She had seen Shen Chi¡¯s methods herself. Her cousin Zheng Lin had only provocatively cursed out Xu Chaomu a few times and ended up stripped of her clothes, thrown out in front of everyone! Shen Chi¡¯s bottom line was Xu Chaomu. Bai Man turned her head away, shaking off Shen Chi¡¯s hand, and she indeed felt guilty. ¡°Shen Chi, what do you want to do? This so-called secret of yours, I¡¯ve already spoken it for you. Spilled water can¡¯t be retrieved.¡± ¡°Bai Man, it is more than just this. I really underestimated you. You even dared to lie about being pregnant!¡± Shen Chi squeezed Bai Man¡¯s jaw; with just a little more strength, he could make her suffer unbearable pain. ¡°But Xu Chaomu believed it, didn¡¯t she? Look, you treat her so well, yet she doesn¡¯t trust you. She¡¯d rather believe me, Bai Man. Isn¡¯t it ridiculous? Shen Chi, doesn¡¯t your heart hurt right here?¡± A smug smile spread across Bai Man¡¯s delicate melon-seed-shaped face. Her eyes widened, she looked, apparently, very innocent. ¡°Bai Man, since you¡¯re so eager to be pregnant, shouldn¡¯t I help you achieve that?¡± He gritted his teeth, and the words that came out were sharper than the de of a knife, each word carving into Bai Man¡¯s heart. Bai Man panicked, fear showing in her eyes: ¡°Shen Chi, what are you doing? You can¡¯t forget, the Bai Family has done a huge favor for the Shen family!¡± ¡°I told you, when I handed over that contract to Zhou Peitian to exchange for your life, the favor the Bai Family owed the Shen Family was paid off! Don¡¯t think you can threaten me with that! I, Shen Chi, am not someone who can be threatened by you!¡± ¡°Fine, let me go, let me go now, let me leave with the rescue team¡­¡± Bai Man was scared; she knew this man wasn¡¯t someone she could threaten. It was like an egg striking a rock; the oue would be disastrous. ¡°And just let you go like that, how can I be fair to Mumu?¡± ¡°Shen Chi¡­ we¡¯ve known each other for so many years. I¡¯m begging you, don¡¯t do anything reckless. Let me go, will you? Once I get back, I¡¯ll talk to my father about calling off the engagement. I won¡¯t cling to you any longer.¡± ¡°Bai Man, I don¡¯t believe a word you say.¡± Shen Chi was utterly disappointed in Bai Man! Bai Man was always two-faced, one way in front of others and another behind the scenes. ¡°Then what do I need to do for you to believe me? How can you not trust me? I have always been true and sincere toward you. Do you know how deeply I love you? Sometimes, to wait for your return, I would stay up until the early hours of the morning. I never cook, but to make a meal for you with my own hands, even if I burn my hand with oil, I would endure the pain.¡± ¡°Have you ever thought about how painful it was for Chaomu to take that bullet for me?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t be fooled by her. She just wants to win your sympathy by taking a bullet for you, to make you feel more guilty, to make you treat her well for a lifetime! She¡¯s so young yet so scheming. Can¡¯t you see that?¡± ¡°Bai Man! Why don¡¯t you take a fucking bullet for me?¡± Shen Chi roared in fury. Bai Man instantly backed down. She admitted that she couldn¡¯t do it; she was afraid of death, afraid of pain. ¡°Bai Man.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, bloodshot, stared at her, ¡°Do you know when people make mistakes, they have to pay the price?¡± ¡°Shen¡­ Shen Chi¡­ what exactly do you want to do? Let me go, please let me go¡­¡± ¡°You really want to be pregnant, don¡¯t you? If I don¡¯t help you, how are you going to continue this lie?¡± ¡°You, you want to be with me¡­ No, not here¡­¡± Bai Man was trembling all over, her jaw aching from Shen Chi¡¯s grip. This was a warehouse, a dirty and chaotic warehouse! Rotten smells were even wafting from all around; she didn¡¯t want it here¡­ ¡°Heh.¡± Shen Chi sneered, ¡°Stop dreaming. Do you think I would want you?¡± Bai Man¡¯s pupils dted, and her peach blossom eyes were filled with terror! What does he mean by that? He can¡¯t do this! ¡°Shen Chi, you can¡¯t do this to me. We grew up together; the Bai Family and the Shen Family are old family friends, and my father and your parents were ssmates! If you do this, you¡¯ll be struck by heavenly lightning!¡± ¡°How am I doing this? What do you want me to do?¡± Shen Chi looked at her leisurely. Yes, the Shen and Bai families were old family friends, but so what? He stared into her eyes, his smile sinister and ice-cold. ¡°Bai Man, I¡¯ve already told you, but you took it for granted. So don¡¯t me me for being heartless. I said, if you dared to hurt Chaomu by the slightest, I would ensure that the entire Bai Family has no graves to be buried in. I, Shen Chi, keep my word.¡± Bai Man was trembling all over; yes, Shen Chi had warned her. Yet, relying on the amity between the two families, she thought Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t dare toy a finger on her, so she acted recklessly. But she was well aware of Shen Chi¡¯s tactics. To anger him was to have no good end. His patience with her had beenpletely exhausted! ¡°No, you have to let me go. I haven¡¯t hurt Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi, please let me leave. Once we return to C City, you can ask me to do anything.¡± ¡°Bai Man, you say you are so pretty, is everyone after you?¡± Shen Chi pinched her chin, locking eyes with hers. His face was bleak! Cold! Fierce! More terrifying than the Grim Reaper. ¡°Shen Chi, you can¡¯t treat me like this. If you dare to treat me this way, my father won¡¯t let you off! Of course, neither will he let off Xu Chaomu! You can protect her for a while, but can you protect her forever?!¡± ¡°Is that so? Is that a threat?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m just stating the facts¡­¡± ¡°You should know, I¡¯m the kind of person who dislikes being threatened the most.¡± ¡°You¡­ let me go!¡± Suddenly, Bai Man¡¯s hand came into contact with a ss bottle and with a ¡°ng,¡± she smashed it! Shen Chi¡¯s pupils contracted; he reached out to grab the ss bottle! But, he was a step toote. Bai Man took a piece of broken ss, holding it to her neck. ¡°Shen Chi, if you don¡¯t let me go, I¡¯ll die right before your eyes!¡± Bai Man dered with righteous indignation. Shen Chi, who at first had a hint of tension on his face, now looked utterly calm and collected. He let go of her and was expressionless. Chapter 298: Willing to be Enemy of the World Chapter 298: Willing to be Enemy of the World Trantor: 549690339 ¡°How do you n to die for me to see? Do you need my help?¡± Shen Chi stood up, looking down at Bai Man who was slumped on the ground. Her grace andposure had long vanished; now, she stared with terrified eyes, her hair disheveled, her lips pale. Her hand, holding a shard of ss, trembled as she stared back at Shen Chi. The words that Shen Chi had spoken undoubtedly struck her hard, her heart pounding heavily. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ is your heart really so cold?¡± ¡°Can itpare to yours, Miss Bai?¡± ¡°You are willing to be enemies with the Bai Family, even with your own parents, all for Xu Chaomu?¡± ¡°Even if it means being enemies with the whole world, I am willing.¡± This promise was resounding! Bai Man was suddenly speechless; it seemed that anything she said would be futile. She understood that it wasn¡¯t that the man had no heart, but that he had given his whole heart to one person. From then on, his every emotion was tied to her alone. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ let me go just this once, and I promise I won¡¯t bother you again, okay?¡± ¡°Bai Man, didn¡¯t you want to die?¡± Shen Chi scoffed. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± she stammered, suddenly breaking into tears. If she really wanted to die, she wouldn¡¯t have concocted a bunch of lies to protect herself; she wouldn¡¯t have revealed that secret, causing Xu Chaomu to utterly copse; she wouldn¡¯t have sneaked into the suite to remove the IV from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. She didn¡¯t want to die, she really didn¡¯t want to die. As long as she was alive, there was still hope. ¡°Don¡¯t want to die? Not wanting to die is fine too. Just take that ss shard and make a cut across your pretty face, how about that?¡± Bai Man was stunned: ¡°Shen Chi, are you really going to be so ruthless?¡± ¡°No, if I were really that ruthless, do you think you¡¯d still be here talking to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m begging you, please let me go, I promise I won¡¯t bother you again.¡± ¡°No.¡± Bai Man clenched her teeth, her hand pressing against her neck continued to tremble. He was convinced she wouldn¡¯tmit suicide, and she knew that she didn¡¯t have the courage to do so. Suddenly, she sprang to her feet, threw away the ss shard, pushed Shen Chi aside, and ran toward the main door! Like the grim reaper was chasing her, she ran desperately, not caring about anything else. She didn¡¯t want to die; she wanted to live! This time, Shen Chi did not pursue her; he gave her a chance at life, onest opportunity. When Bai Man opened the warehouse door, she stumbled and, due to the dim lighting, crashed heavily against it. Not daring to breathe heavily, she pressed her hand to her forehead and continued running. Her messy footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor, leaving only ruin in the warehouse. Suddenly, all around was quiet. Shen Chi stood still, clenching his fists, his deep, dark eyes fixated on the doorway. The air still lingered with the scent of Bai Man¡¯s light cherry blossom perfume, but soon, everything vanished like smoke¡­ When Shen Chi returned to the suite, Wen Zhiyuan was still there, measuring Xu Chaomu¡¯s temperature. His handsome brows were furrowed, his eyes tightly fixed on the thermometer. Hearing footsteps, he did not look up, just silently put away the thermometer and wrote a string of medicine names on a prescription. ¡°Has the fever gone down?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°Not yet, we¡¯ll see again at night. If it really doesn¡¯t improve, we¡¯ll have to bring the boat ashore.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Shortly after, Wen Zhiyuan finished the prescription and tossed it to Shen Chi: ¡°Go get the medicine yourself.¡± Shen Chi frowned but still silently took it. This Wen Zhiyuan, he really dared to order him around. Just when Wen Zhiyuan was packing up to leave, Shen Chi called out to him. ¡°You, have you decided not to return to Australia?¡± ¡°I n to return to the country to develop my career. To treat and save people, it¡¯s the same everywhere,¡± Wen Zhiyuan replied quietly. ¡°To develop your career, and then get married and have children?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Zhiyuan showed no expression, ¡°Recently, I met a girlfriend, and if things go well, we¡¯ll marry by the end of the year.¡± This man always carried a calm,posed demeanor, always polite, smooth like jade. His white coat entuated his elegance and tranquility; even his speech was unhurried. ¡°What girlfriend, end it!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was sharp. Wen Zhiyuan smiled faintly: ¡°Fourth Young Master, I¡¯m twenty-nine this year, not neen. Besides, I have my personal choices, and you have no right to interfere.¡± ¡°You! Wen Zhiyuan, after apanying my sister for five years, don¡¯t you have any lingering feelings or affection?¡± Wen Zhiyuan smiled indifferently: ¡°I was her doctor, and she was my patient. Who says that being together day and night for five years necessarily leads to emotional attachment?¡± ¡°Did you two have a fight?¡± Wen Zhiyuan pursed his lips, shook his head, and smiled somewhat helplessly: ¡°Perhaps my medical skills really aren¡¯t excellent, and Miss Shen has quite a fewints about me. Therefore, I chose to leave, and she chose to seek another expert. She doesn¡¯t owe me wages, so there¡¯s no talk of a quarrel.¡± ¡°She¡­ nevermind, you go on.¡± Shen Chi said no more. How could Shen Di haveints against Wen Zhiyuan? Shen Di was known for her good temper, and furthermore, whenever he spoke with her over the phone and mentioned Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s name, Shen Di always seemed especially tender. Wen Zhiyuan nodded and left the suite. Shen Chi went to Xu Chaomu¡¯s bedside and touched her forehead; indeed, it was still very hot. There was no rush, only to wait quietly. In the middle of the night, Xu Chaomu¡¯s fever worsened, her entire body like a piece of hot iron. She had nightmares again, murmuring in a daze: ¡°Mom¡­ don¡¯t leave me¡­ Mom¡­¡± Shen Chi dozed off on a couch, always a light sleeper. Hearing Xu Chaomu talking in her sleep, his eyes snapped open. ¡°Mumu, I¡¯m here¡­¡± Shen Chi grabbed her hand, ¡°Why is it so hot.¡± ¡°I hate you¡­ I hate you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu thrashed around. Her little face was red hot, and Shen Chi was frightened; he immediately went to call Wen Zhiyuan. Wen Zhiyuan was asleep when Shen Chi¡¯s call woke him, and he hurriedly put on his coat toe over. ¡°The fever is quite severe.¡± ¡°Let me check.¡± Wen Zhiyuan touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s forehead and confirmed, ¡°Prepare to go ashore, the medical equipment in the cabin is insufficient.¡± ¡°Alright, you go find the captain, I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Zhiyuan left the room immediately, and soon he called Shen Chi: ¡°Bring Chaomu to the rescue boat, I¡¯ve arranged for the captain to send her to a nearby hospital tonight!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Shen Chi wrapped an overcoat around Xu Chaomu, picked her up, and hurriedly walked outside. It was the early hours of the morning, and the sea was shrouded in misty vapor. The rain had temporarily stopped, but the wind howled relentlessly. Outside the cabin, the sounds of gunfire and the scent of blood had vanished, reced by the salty smell of the sea carried by the wind. The waves crashed against the hull with deafening noise. ¡°Fourth Young Master, bring Chaomu over, the captain is ready,¡± Wen Zhiyuan called out to Shen Chi. ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Chi, carrying Xu Chaomu, exited from the stairwell and made his way along the passage to the rescue boat. Chapter 299: Spending a Lifetime with Shen Di Chapter 299: Spending a Lifetime with Shen Di Trantor: 549690339 The rescue boat was rtively small, and Wen Zhiyuan had arranged a small room for them. ¡°I¡¯ll give her another shot, which should hold her until we reach the shore,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said. ¡°You do what you must, I want her to stay alive!¡± ¡°Young Master Shen, I can only do my best,¡± Wen Zhiyuan shook his head, this man was as domineering as ever. ¡°What do you mean ¡®do your best¡¯? If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll throw you into the sea to feed the sharks!¡± ¡°Really now.¡± Wen Zhiyuanughed helplessly. Wen Zhiyuan gave Xu Chaomu another injection, and Shen Chi watched the needle punctures on her body, wishing he could strangle himself. Why hadn¡¯t he protected her properly¡­ ¡°Shen Chi¡­ I hate you¡­ I hate you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled indistinctly. Wen Zhiyuan happened to look down, his good-looking brows knitting together, because he heard her clearly. Shen Chi heard it too, and for a moment, the room was silent. ¡°Why does she hate you?¡± Wen Zhiyuan lifted his head and asked softly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just some minor quarrels. She¡¯s just angry,¡± Shen Chi replied. ¡°Really? Just minor quarrels that got her hurt this badly?¡± Wen Zhiyuan chuckled lightly, clearly not believing it. Shen Chi pursed his lips and remained silent. Seeing that he refused to talk, Wen Zhiyuan didn¡¯t press further. He had met this man a few times and found his temper and nature to be unpredictable. After administering the injection, Wen Zhiyuan went to the captain¡¯s office, leaving Shen Chi alone to care for Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was burning up, initially kicking off the covers, so Shen Chi had to hold them down for fear she would catch a cold. ¡°Hmm, hmm¡­ hot¡­ Mom¡­ where are you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu muttered deliriously, talking in her sleep. ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here. Just hold on a little longer,¡± Shen Chi gripped her hand. His hand was icy, while hers was burning hot. It was a contrast of fire and ice, and he only hated that he wasn¡¯t the one lying in the bed instead. The boat sped towards the dock, and Shen Chi hugged Xu Chaomu, holding her in his arms. His body was cold, and he wished this would make her feel a little better. At the stroke of ten, the boat docked at the nearest pier. Wen Zhiyuan came over as soon as they docked. ¡°Young Master Shen, carry her and go to the hospital together,¡± he instructed. ¡°Okay!¡± Shen Chi tightened his hold on Xu Chaomu and followed Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s pace, taking a taxi from the dock to the hospital. Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hand hooked onto Shen Chi¡¯s neck, mistaking it for a nket, and clutched it tightly. Her soft little head nuzzled into the nape of his neck, Shen Chi wore a helpless expression, yet he also felt an exceptional warmth. In the past, Xu Chaomu liked to nuzzle against him like this, but every time she touched him, he would push her away¡­ At the hospital, Shen Chi carried her into the examination room and handed her over to the doctors. ¡°Take it easy, she¡¯ll be fine. Though I know my medical skills aren¡¯t the best, I am confident about this problem,¡± Wen Zhiyuan patted Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Sit down with me, let¡¯s talk,¡± Shen Chi chose a bench in the hallway and sat down. ¡°Sure, what do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°My sister, how has her health been this past year?¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing quite well. She¡¯s studying at school and sometimes holds her own concerts. She also has many ssmatesing to the house, and they often take her out for meals and trips.¡± ¡°Being her family doctor, don¡¯t you apany her?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. One of her friends is a medical student who always apanies her, so I don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Really? A medical student?¡± ¡°Yes, her current family doctor, her boyfriend,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said. There was no expression on Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s face, which remained calm as if he were talking about someone else¡¯s story, unrted to him. ¡°Did you return to the country because of this?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s just that your sister can have quite the temper, and honestly, I couldn¡¯t serve her well. It¡¯s better for someone else to look after her,¡± Wen Zhiyuan shook his head. ¡°Do you really have no feelings for my sister?¡± ¡°None,¡± Wen Zhiyuan replied indifferently, his face untroubled and his eyes calm, with no hint of emotion when he spoke. Shen Chi fell silent for a long time. Actually, he had always hoped Wen Zhiyuan could stay by Shen Di¡¯s side. After all, Wen Zhiyuan was meticulous and gentle with a good temper, and his medical expertise was excellent in taking care of others. With Wen Zhiyuan by Shen Di¡¯s side, Shen Chi would have beenpletely reassured. But now, Wen Zhiyuan had left Australia. Indeed, nothing could be predicted. He had thought Wen Zhiyuan would stay with Shen Di for a lifetime. That night, Xu Chaomu did not wake up, but after the doctors¡¯ treatment, her fever finally subsided. Shen Chi stayed with her in the hospital, never leaving her side. Apart from him, she had no other rtives. Three dayster, Xu Chaomu finally woke up, moving her lips slowly as her eyes gradually opened. It was noon, and Shen Chi, having had his lunch, was now guarding Xu Chaomu in the ward. At that moment, he was resting his head on his hand with his eyes closed. These past few days he had not slept well, his face showing signs of exhaustion. ¡°Water¡­ so thirsty¡­¡± Xu Chaomu vaguely opened her eyes and mumbled thirstily. Shen Chi, ever vignt, immediately opened his eyes and went to her side, overjoyed, ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re finally awake, Mumu!¡± ¡°Water¡­ I¡¯m thirsty¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get you some water.¡± The water on the table had been readied, neither cold nor hot, just right. He handed her the cup and propped her up as well. Xu Chaomu looked at Shen Chi with wide eyes as she held the cup, her once innocent and bright eyes nowckluster. She drank the water sip by sip without speaking to Shen Chi. ¡°Mumu, does the wound still hurt a lot? Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here,¡± Shen Chi hugged her. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t respond, just held the cup and drank. After finishing, she pushed the cup into his hand. ¡°Are you hungry? Should I get someone to bring some food?¡± ¡°I want to sleep, you go out,¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him away, struggling to lie down on the bed. She noticed the calendar on the table, realizing that she had been asleep for three entire days. But three days of sleep did not mean amnesia; she remembered everything about those three days. Clear and vivid, etched in her mind. That night, amidst the howling wind and rain, gunfire ringing in her ears, she learned a secret that would haunt her for life. She saw Shen Chi trade Bai Man¡¯s life for a contract. And she took a bullet for him, repaying the eight years of kindness she owed the Shen family. She felt unburdened¡ªafter this, she would no longer owe the Shen family anything. She had always been determined to repay that kindness¡­ ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t sleep, let¡¯s talk. You¡¯ve already slept for three days and three nights,¡± Shen Chi urged. ¡°I told you to get out!¡± Xu Chaomu clenched her teeth. Shen Chi could only nod, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go out. You rest well, and if you need anything, just press this button.¡± Shen Chi pointed at a small button beside the bed, but Xu Chaomu still showed no reaction, as if she hadn¡¯t heard him speak. Due to the injury on her back, Xu Chaomu could only lie on her side. She closed her eyes, ignoring Shen Chi. His kindness towards her was merely out of guilt, and it served only to lighten the burden on his conscience. Chapter 300: The Last Meeting (Ask for Monthly Tickets) Chapter 300: The Last Meeting (Ask for Monthly Tickets) Trantor: 549690339 Actually, he didn¡¯t need to do this, she didn¡¯t care anymore. Shen Chi saw that she ignored him and was somewhat caught betweenughter and tears. ¡°Behave,¡± he said as he touched her cheek and tucked her in properly before tiptoeing out of the ward. As soon as he left, Xu Chaomu opened her eyes and reached out to hug the doll beside the pillow. There were still a few drops of blood on the little dress of the doll. She hugged it, cracking a smile that revealed her pearly white teeth. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I still have you with me,¡± murmured Xu Chaomu, hugging the doll. Of course, the doll couldn¡¯t speak, and Xu Chaomu busied herself bybing its hair. ¡°Am I really silly¡­ If I¡¯m not silly, why does everyone like to deceive me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said as she touched the doll¡¯s head, her gaze vacant. ¡°How about I take you away with me? As long as you¡¯re with me, I won¡¯t be afraid.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t bear to leave you alone at the Shen Family; they will bully you, throw you into the trash can.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to face him anymore. All his kindness toward me is just to atone, and I don¡¯t need it. You saw too, that to him, Miss Bai is the most important, the one he loves the most. He traded her life with such a precious contract.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t me him, I know he¡¯s in a difficult position. Him choosing Miss Bai, I think it¡¯s right. After all, Miss Bai is his wife, and she¡¯s carrying his child in her womb. My life isn¡¯t worth that much.¡± ¡°Actually, after that gunshot, I really thought I wouldn¡¯t survive. Ah, had I not survived, I would¡¯ve been free from all worries.¡± ¡°Doll, I¡¯m taking you away with me, if you don¡¯t speak, it means you agree.¡± Of course, the doll wouldn¡¯t talk, so Xu Chaomu just giggled foolishly. ¡°Then we¡¯ll leave at night and nevere back, never ever again. But following me, you¡¯re going to suffer hardships.¡± Xu Chaomu talked to herself for a while, but soon her back began to ache. Sweat beaded down her forehead as she bit her teeth and held the doll tight without letting go. After a long time, the pain in her back subsided, and she struggled to sit up. There were medications on the table; she quickly packed them up and threw them into a carry bag. It was just past four in the afternoon. She looked around, and everywhere on the walls and outside the window were characters she didn¡¯t recognize. Blinking her bewildered big eyes, she wondered, what country was this? But Xu Chaomu knew that as long as she was not in C City, he wouldn¡¯t be able to find her. Shen Chi might have the power to cover the sky with one hand, but he was not yet powerful enough to cover the earth. Just as she was rummaging for some daily necessities, suddenly, the doorknob was turned. ¡°Why are you out of bed? What are you looking for? I¡¯ll help you.¡± The person who came was Wen Zhiyuan. Xu Chaomu blinked, finding the doctor in the white coat quite a sight for sore eyes. These days, hospitals really are upscale, with all doctors looking so handsome. ¡°Hm? Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Wen Zhiyuan frowned. ¡°Nothing, just hungry, are you going to help me buy something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a nanny,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with an exasperated shrug, teasing her. ¡°Then why are you asking, go stay wherever it¡¯s cool,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted dissatisfiedly. ¡°Quite a temper there. Do you have this much attitude with Shen Chi too?¡± Wen Zhiyuan said. Wen Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t quite believe it because he knew that Shen Chi also had a quick temper. If two stubborn people were together, wouldn¡¯t they turn heaven upside down? ¡°Mind your own business,¡± Xu Chaomu snapped back irritably. She continued to climb back into bed, turning her back to Wen Zhiyuan and pretending to sleep. Wen Zhiyuan thought he was being nosy as well, so he just shook his head and went ahead to prepare her medicine. In less than ten minutes, Wen Zhiyuan left. That day, no matter who visited, Xu Chaomu just pretended to sleep. Shen Chi came several times, waking her up each time to take her medicine. After taking her medicine, she continued to ¡°sleep.¡± By evening, Shen Chi came again to feed her. ¡°Mumu, get up, it¡¯s time to eat, don¡¯t starve yourself.¡± Shen Chi sat by the bed, in his hand the stir-fried sausage ypot rice she loved to eat. ¡°You can leave the food here, I can eat by myself.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll feed you; your wounds haven¡¯t healed yet.¡± ¡°I have hands and feet, I don¡¯t need you to feed me. Aren¡¯t you annoying?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s attitude was not very good. Shen Chi was taken aback, filled with helplessness, he silently put down the cutlery, ¡°Fine¡­ then eat by yourself, eat more.¡± ¡°Leave! If I don¡¯t call you, don¡¯te back in! I get annoyed just looking at you,¡± Xu Chaomu said in an unfriendly tone. Shen Chi stood up, wanting to say more, but Xu Chaomu had already closed her eyes. He could only helplessly shake his head and tiptoe out of the ward. Before leaving, he gave her onest look, but all she gave him was a cold back. His body stiffened; without saying anything more, he closed the door softly and turned the lock gently. When he left, he never would have thought that this would be thest time he and Xu Chaomu would see each other, and after thisst nce, she would leave without a word for a whole five years. The night was serene, infused with the scent of summer. In the evening breeze, the fragrance of flowers was delightful, wafting over in waves, refreshing the spirit. In the grass, summer insects hid and sang, their melodies beautiful. After leaving the ward, Shen Chi went to the rest area to work on papers like he usually did. He sat there working on documents and would sleep when he felt tired. The next morning, he would go to take care of Xu Chaomu. It was as if it was a very natural habit. However, he never considered that Xu Chaomu might disappear! Like always, he pushed open the door to Xu Chaomu¡¯s ward and called out ¡°Mumu.¡± There was no response; the bedding was disheveled on the bed. ¡°Get up, it¡¯s time for breakfast, if you don¡¯t eat, you won¡¯t have the strength to argue with me,¡± Shen Chi walked in, his voice low and powerful. He thought Xu Chaomu was hiding under the covers, ready to lift them off. Suddenly, he came to a halt, his pupils constricting sharply! The bedding was spread out messily on the bed, but inside, there was no one at all! ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± he called out in a panic. His face turned pale in an instant, blood rushing through his body, and he almost instinctively bolted out! ¡°Xu Chaomu! Where have you run off to?!¡± He felt a chill throughout his body; even his hands were trembling. The bed was already cold; where could she have gone so early?! It only meant one thing; she had left long ago. ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± he called hoarsely a few times. Nurses rushed out and shouted ¡°Quiet!¡± in English. It was still morning, many patients were resting, so doctors quickly came out to stop Shen Chi. ¡°Sir, please be quiet; this is the ward area; no shouting is allowed.¡± ¡°Where is she? I¡¯m asking you, where¡¯s the patient from this ward?!¡± Shen Chi yelled, his eyes red, fists clenched tight. A few nurses looked at each other, clearly unaware. ¡°I¡¯m bloody asking you all! Where did the patient from this ward go?¡± Shen Chi roared angrily, grabbing the doctor¡¯s shoulder as if he wished to dig his fingers into his bones! Chapter 301: You Are the Sun in My Life Chapter 301: You Are the Sun in My Life Trantor:549690339 The doctor was utterly confused and said in English, ¡°Sir, please calm down, what happened?¡± Shen Chi did not waste words with him and grabbed the doctor¡¯s cor, marching straight into the ward. He pointed at the empty bed and said, ¡°Where¡¯s the patient? Where¡¯s that girl?¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes widened too, and several young nurses also ran in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I didn¡¯t see the patient leave. Please calm down for a moment, we¡¯ll have someone help you look for her. Maybe, she went to the restroom or stepped out to buy breakfast.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Even the refined Shen Chi could not help but curse at this moment, ¡°For such a big hospital, aren¡¯t there any doctors on duty? Are you using this kind of excuse to fob me off?¡± ¡°Sir, our hospital is rtively liberal, and moreover, this kind of thing has hardly ever happened. Please wait a moment, we¡¯ll definitely get back to you with an answer.¡± The doctor was also very anxious, but no matter how anxious, there was nothing they could do. All he could do was give the nurses some instructions in the localnguage, and soon, the young nurses immediately dashed out of the ward to look for the missing person. Wen Zhiyuan had also arrived, not expecting such a thing to happen. Xu Chaomu still had injuries, how could she have run off on her own? ¡°Fourth Young Master Shen, don¡¯t panic, let them look for her. I¡¯ll also send people to help you search.¡± ¡°Wen Zhiyuan¡­ do you know, that feeling hase back.¡± Shen Chi suddenly seemed very dejected, clenching his fists as he stood in the ward, his eyes deep, his thin lips tightly pressed together. Looking up from behind, Wen Zhiyuan saw the straight and slender line of his back, which now appeared exceptionally forlorn and deste. This was the proud and assertive Fourth Young Master Shen, seen by outsiders as a favored son of heaven who always maintained a calm and collected demeanor no matter the time or ce. But now, he had crumbled. The importance of Xu Chaomu in Shen Chi¡¯s heart was self-evident. Wen Zhiyuan stepped forward and patted Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Fourth Young Master Shen, I¡¯ll stay with you to search. She¡¯s still injured and couldn¡¯t have gone far.¡± ¡°Last time, she left without saying goodbye, and this time, she left without a word again. It¡¯s all the same, here in the hospital, we can¡¯t break this curse. Tell me, does she really hate me that much?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think nonsense, maybe she just went out to clear her mind.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Shen Chi let his hands drop powerlessly, his gaze losing its focus and shine. This time the feeling was even stronger than thest, carrying a sense of final parting. His mind shed back to the words she said when she took a bullet for him; back then, she clearly did not intend to survive. Anyone would probably go mad under such circumstances. The two people she had been closest to, her third and fourth brothers, had deceived her sopletely that she was battered and bruised. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± He walked over to the bed, she had hardly taken anything, only the medication and a doll. ¡°Sir!¡± A few of the young nurses ran in, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯ve searched the nearby area and haven¡¯t found Miss Xu.¡± ¡°We also checked the surveince, but¡­ it was too dark at night, so¡­¡± The lower they spoke, the softer their voices became; they did not even dare to lift their heads. Shen Chi gave them a cold nce, his eyes filled with an icy chill. A chilling re swept over, and the young nurses immediately fell silent, frozen like cicadas in winter. ¡°What use are you then?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Sir, after I came to change Miss Xu¡¯s dressing yesterday, she fell asleep. I really didn¡¯t expect her to disappear,¡± one nurse defended herself. ¡°If a hospital can¡¯t keep an eye on one person, they might as well burn it down!¡± Another nurse lost her patience and, mustering courage, looked at Shen Chi, ¡°I¡¯m saying, sir, you¡¯re the patient¡¯s family, and it¡¯s your responsibility if the patient goes missing. Why didn¡¯t you yourself watch her twenty-four hours a day?¡± Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent, the atmosphere growing extremely tense. The ticking of the clock on the wall sounded clear and distinct. Wen Zhiyuan stepped forward and shot them a look: ¡°Why are you not leaving yet?¡± The nurses left with a pout, visibly displeased. Shen Chi stopped talking, his face showing nothing but boundless sorrow. Yes, they were right. He was her husband, yet he had failed to look after her. What right did he have to me others? The coldness in his face slowly turned to profound pain and self-reproach; his eyes filled with a limitless destion. ¡°Fourth Young Master Shen, don¡¯t mind what they said, they¡¯re just trying to shift the me,¡± Wen Zhiyuan tried to console him. ¡°They¡¯re right. I, Shen Chi, am the root cause of the disaster.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to me yourself like this, we can¡¯t control this. I¡¯ll call the police,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Wen Zhiyuan stepped out of the ward to call the police and his friends. Shen Chi was left alone in the ward, overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness. As he stared at the bedsheets, Xu Chaomu¡¯s smiling face appeared before his eyes; her sweet voice spread in his ears as memories unfurled one by one. ¡°Fourth brother¡­ my head hurts.¡± ¡°Endure it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Endure it even if you can¡¯t!¡± ¡°It really hurts, wuwuwu, I¡¯m gonna die¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was filled with exasperation as he finally reached out to rub her forehead. ¡°Does this feel a bit morefortable?¡± She moved closer to him gradually, inching toward his side, slyly taking advantage of him. Thump, she wrapped her arms around him, hiding in his embrace,ughing mischievously: ¡°Now it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore!¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Back then, he always felt teased by her, full of frustration, getting up and walking away. Shen Chi felt as though a millstone was grinding over his heart, back and forth, over and over, the pain unbearable. Feeling a heat in his eye sockets, he pursed his lips tightly as tears began to flow from the corners of his eyes. In his life, he had never shed tears for anyone. ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± He called her name, the pain in his chest unrelenting. Never before had he felt such pain, as if his heart was being gouged out with a knife. ¡°Mumu¡­ do you remember our first meeting? I said you were skinny and ugly, just like a monkey. I found you annoying, troublesome, and everything about you irksome. But only I know, you are the sun in my life, the eight years I spent with you, you have no idea how happy I was¡­¡± ¡°Eight years have gone by¡­ just like that, eight years. But Mumu, what I wanted was a lifetime¡­¡± With his face streaming with tears, Shen Chi¡¯s sobbing could no longer be heard. A strong feeling in his chest told him that this time Xu Chaomu had really left him forever. Her smiling face still floated before his eyes, he reached out a hand, wanting to touch her, but what he grasped was only the air. The voices from his memories echoed in his mind. ¡°Xu Chaomu, what right do you have to order me around?¡± ¡°Right, I have no right. You are a Shen, and I am a Xu. So, from now on, don¡¯t you dare order me either!¡± ¡°It seems you haven¡¯t had enough of the sun!¡± ¡°Bastard Shen Chi, I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t listen to you anymore; you think you¡¯re somebody because you¡¯re rich and capable. I was just someone adopted by the Shen family. One day, I will leave you!¡± Chapter 302: Once Promised Years in Chang’an Chapter 302: Once Promised Years in Chang¡¯an Trantor:549690339 Noisy and boisterous, Shen Chi found her annoying and she hated him. In fact, was it really true annoyance and hatred? Clearly, she loved him and he loved her too. Eight years passed in mutual disdain, and he thought he could hold her hand and walk the same path together until they turned grey and old. Looking at the sunlight dappled through the branches, looking at the evesting mountains and flowing waters. He could hold her, kiss her forehead, promise a lifetime of day and night together. You are my Mumu, the most beautiful encounter of my life. But he truly never thought she would leave him without a word. Once he promised her years of peace in Chang¡¯an, but now all he has is her saying ¡°I hate you, Shen Chi.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes reddened, his hands tightly clutching the sheets. He, a grown man, just sat there crying, helpless. All the mature and stable, the business group CEO, the elite of the business world¡­ Now he was just Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu¡¯s husband. The clock on the wall ticked ¡°tick tock, tick tock,¡± the sunlight through the mist gradually moving onto him. In the light, dust mites danced. Beneath the dust, this man in a ck suit stood tall and straight, the lines of the suit entuating his tall and magnificent build, but his shadow¡­ was particrly deste. It wasn¡¯t long before Wen Zhiyuan came in. When he entered, Shen Chi was already standing by the window, with a cigarette between his fingers. In the haze of smoke, Shen Chi¡¯s brows were tightly knit, his cold facial features sharp as if carved by a knife. Wen Zhiyuan saw that the hospital room floor was littered with cigarette butts! ¡°Young Master Shen, I just called the police and have sent people out to search, but there¡¯s still no news. The police surveyed the area and said that Chaomu climbed down along the water pipe.¡± A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth, ¡°She¡¯s just like a little wildcat¡­¡± A mischievous little wildcat that could climb on roofs, jump over walls, and fight like no other. ¡°Don¡¯t be too sentimental, she will be found.¡± ¡°My intuition tells me that I will never see her again in my life.¡± ¡°No way, how can someone vanish without a trace in this world? I¡¯ll keep sending people out to search.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡± Shen Chi turned his head, threw away the unfinished cigarette, stamped it out with his foot, and strode forward, walking out of the hospital room. The hospital was small, and before long, they had turned the entire ce upside down. Spies were everywhere, but there was utterly no clue! Shen Chi was not one to give up; he immediately hired people to expand the search and patrol the surrounding area! What worried him most was that she was still injured; if it got infected and there was no one by her side, she could die. No, that wouldn¡¯t happen. The Jade pendant ne he gave her would surely keep her safe. Spreading out a dra-style search, Shen Chi even drove his own car from the hospital to search along the way. Any ce he thought she might go, he wouldn¡¯t miss. But, after searching the whole day, until the night fell, Shen Chi still hadn¡¯t found any trace of Xu Chaomu. He had even searched along the coastline, dreading that she might have had suicidal thoughts¡­ At around ten o¡¯ clock at night, everything was pitch-dark. Wen Zhiyuan drove to find Shen Chi, who was sitting on a big rock by the sea, eyes looking forward, holding a cigarette. The ocean under the moonlight was beautiful, shimmering with light, and asionally fish would leap from the surface, making a ¡°plop¡± sound in the vast night sky. And Shen Chi¡¯s cigarette butt flickered on and off in the dark night. ¡°Young Master Shen, let¡¯s go back. It¡¯s already ten at night, I¡¯ll keep an eye on the news for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not right for you to be the one keeping watch.¡± After a long silence, Shen Chi replied tly. His profound eyes stared into the distance, bing one with the dark night. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten all day, if this keeps up and Chaomu isn¡¯t found, you¡¯ll break down first.¡± ¡°Missing a few meals is normal, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You really are¡­¡± Wen Zhiyuan shook his head, at a loss for words. That night, Wen Zhiyuan sat with Shen Chi on the rock all night long. No one spoke again, Shen Chi smoked, Wen Zhiyuan initially sat quietly, but he seemed to be reminded of some worrisome matter, borrowed a lighter from Shen Chi, and began smoking as well. But for a day and a night, there was no news. The police quickly came to report the progress to Shen Chi, ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m sorry, we still have no news about Miss Xu.¡± ¡°She¡¯s such a big person, and just like that, she has evaporated from the earth?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was cold. Because he had smoked quite a few cigarettes, his voice was a bit hoarse when he spoke. ¡°We¡­ we initially suspect that Miss Xu has fallen into the sea,¡± the police exined. ¡°After all, the hospital is near the sea, and it¡¯s quite remote. Theoretically speaking, with the speed and effort of our search, we should have found Miss Xu by now. But now¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®should¡¯?¡± An icy gaze shot from Shen Chi, ¡°If she¡¯s alive, I want to see her. If she¡¯s dead, I want to see her body.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Shen, today we will ask for cooperation from the relevant departments to dispatch boats to search the sea. If we can¡¯t find her by the end of today, then I ask you, Mr. Shen, to prepare yourself mentally.¡± Shen Chi fell silent, a dull pain throbbed in his chest. Prepare myself mentally¡­ If she truly had an ident, he had said before that he would put a gun to his head and pull the trigger. He couldn¡¯t imagine a lively Xu Chaomu lying cold in front of him¡­ She was his most beautiful angel, the only one he vowed to protect with his life. However, a day went by swiftly. The news the police brought was that they found no trace of her. Since it was at night, no one saw the little girl walking by the sea or jumping into it tomit suicide. The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day¡­ the news was the same, Xu Chaomu had disappeared without a trace. After hearing all the news, Shen Chi was silent, walking alone into his room. Wen Zhiyuan, fearing Shen Chi might do something drastic, also followed him in. ¡°Zhiyuan, what should I do?¡± Shen Chi stood by the window, looking at the misty distance, his eyes were stern. ¡°There¡¯s still a long way to go. Chaomu is definitely fine; we will certainly find her.¡± ¡°She still has injuries, and she can¡¯t swim, it was pitch-dark at night, where could she go¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice grew deeper. ¡°Perhaps there was a passing boat she climbed onto.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s been kidnapped, or sold, or if she slipped into the sea, tell me, what should I do?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t be so pessimistic, you have to see the bigger picture.¡± ¡°I¡¯m speaking hypothetically.¡± ¡°If these idents really happened, life still has to go on, doesn¡¯t it? Yourpany still needs you, you have a long future ahead, what are you thinking?¡± Wen Zhiyuan frowned, his words resounding. ¡°But without her, none of this means anything to me.¡± Suddenly, Shen Chi pulled out a handgun from his pocket, aimed it steadily at his own temple. Chapter 303: She is the Joy of the Shen Family Chapter 303: She is the Joy of the Shen Family Trantor:549690339 ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re insane!¡± Wen Zhiyuan stepped forward, trying to snatch the gun from Shen Chi¡¯s hand! The usually gentle and jade-like Wen Zhiyuan now appeared somewhat impatient. A hint of unrest shimmered on his baster-carved face. But who was Shen Chi? How could he let Wen Zhiyuan take the gun from his hand? ¡°Shen Chi, put the gun down! Xu Chaomu is only missing, her fate unknown. Have you ever thought about this¡ªif you die and she¡¯s still alive, how worthless your death would be? Such a simple truth, how can you not understand it?¡± Wen Zhiyuan urged, ¡°There¡¯s plenty of time in the future. If you stay alive, and she does too, what could you not discuss properly?¡± Silence, a deathly silence. Sunlight streamed through the mist, shining on Shen Chi and Wen Zhiyuan. For a long, long time, Shen Chi finally lowered the gun in his hand. Letting his hand fall, he ced the gun on the balcony. Wen Zhiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, patting his shoulder with a solemn look in his eyes. Shen Chi thought, Wen Zhiyuan was right, Xu Chaomu was only missing. Even if he had to spend a lifetime looking for her, it was better than dying such a wretched death. Half a monthter, Xu Chaomu was still nowhere to be found. On a rainy morning, Shen Chi and Wen Zhiyuan finally boarded a ship home and left Sumatra Ind. The heavy rain easily reminded Shen Chi of the night of the gunfight. He stood under the corridor of the ship, watching the rain merging with the sea. The raindrops sshed onto the deck, bouncing into tiny beads. Wen Zhiyuan had been reading a medical book for a while in the cabin. It was cold today, so he wore a thin gray sweater. When he put down the book and stepped out of the cabin, he saw Shen Chi standing outside. In the past half month, this man had be even more brooding and cold, hardly ever cracking a smile. Sometimes, he barely uttered a few words in a day, and no one could fathom the depth and mystery in his gaze. Wen Zhiyuan thought, Shen Chi must truly love Xu Chaomu to the marrow of his bones. Another half-month passed, and the ship finally arrived in C City. Upon reaching C City, Xiao Mo came with a resignation in hand to apologize and take the me. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m sorry, I failed to watch over Miss Xu, the main responsibility lies with me. So¡­ I choose to leave thepany.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo, you¡¯re making it sound too easy. You lost Chaomu and you think resigning is enough?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Xiao Mo fell silent for dozens of seconds: ¡°Mr. Shen, then I can trade my life for hers.¡± ¡°Is your life as valuable as Chaomu¡¯s?¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Unable to think of any other solution, Xiao Mo was at a loss. ¡°Take people to Sumatra Ind and keep watch for me. The same rule applies: alive, I want to see her; dead, I want to see the body.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shen.¡± Xiao Mo knew this was indeed Shen Chi¡¯s greatest leniency. If Shen Chi hadn¡¯t treated him like a brother, then there would be a thousand ways for Xiao Mo to die. Shen Chi strode off the dock where Lao Cheng was waiting to pick him up. Inside the car was not just Lao Cheng but also Butler Ling. Butler Ling was a woman. As soon as she saw Shen Chi, tears burst forth, streaming down relentlessly. ¡°Fourth Young Master¡­ I heard that Chaomu is missing, is that true?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi stared straight ahead, his eyes betraying no emotion. From Butler Ling¡¯s seat, she could see Shen Chi¡¯s stern profile, chiseled like a sculpture, resolute and handsome, yet it bore a kind of ruthlessness different from before. ¡°I heard the youngdy left of her own ord, is that true? How can a grown person just disappear like that? She was just fine a while ago. I even told her that if she wanted to return to the Shen Family, she coulde back anytime; her fourth brother has kept her room ready for her.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, sitting in the passenger seat, his lips pressed tightly together. ¡°I really liked that girl, so pure and adorable. When she made meugh, you wouldn¡¯t believe how fun it was. She was the Shen Family¡¯s joy, and with her, life was so simple and happy¡­¡± Unable to control her emotions, Butler Ling began to sob. Sitting in the passenger seat, Shen Chi still showed little expression, prompting Lao Cheng to quickly signal Butler Ling with his eyes. Butler Ling then stopped speaking, quietly wiping her tears with a tissue. The Maybach quickly left the dock and headed toward the Shen Family¡¯s vi. Suddenly, as the car was about to reach the Shen Family¡¯s ce, a figure emerged from around the corner. It was none other than Mo Shuifu. In the sunlight, a gentle breeze lightly lifted Mo Shuifu¡¯s long hair. As it was the start of summer, she wore a long-sleeved blue maxi dress, and over it, a thin white knitted cardigan. At that moment, Mo Shuifu looked like a quiet white lotus. Shen Chi remembered the first time he met Mo Shuifu; she had stopped his car. Shen Chi said nothing, his face expressionless. Lao Cheng had no choice but to apply the brakes and lower the car window. ¡°Miss, why are you standing at the intersection? Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for the Fourth Young Master,¡± Mo Shuifu replied coolly. Lao Cheng turned back and reported to Shen Chi, ¡°Mr. Shen, she¡¯s looking for you.¡± ¡°Send her to the Shen Family,¡± Shen Chi said. Lao Cheng then told Mo Shuifu, ¡°Miss, if you have something to say to the Fourth Young Master,e to the Shen Family.¡± ¡°OK,¡± Mo Shuifu nodded and followed the Maybach into the Shen Family vi. Ten days ago, Zhou Peitian had released her, but she had not left. She had heard that Xu Chaomu had disappeared, her fate unknown. The Maybach quickly went into the garage of the Shen Family vi, and Mo Shuifu followed slowly into the Shen residence. This was her first time at the Shen Family vi; thest time she was outside, no one had let her in. The Shen Family vi was even more luxurious and splendid than she had imagined. What she liked most was a garden,plete with swings, the Goldfish Pond, reading desks, and pavilions¡­ ¡°Miss Mo, this way, please.¡± A servant quickly led her into the living room. Mo Shuifu lifted her skirt and followed the servant across the garden, up the steps, and into the living room. Shen Chi was already sitting on the sofa,zily leaning on a cushion, holding a financial magazine. ¡°Fourth Young Master,¡± Mo Shuifu called out softly. ¡°I know what you want to ask,¡± Shen Chi flipped a page, ¡°Chaomu is indeed missing.¡± ¡°How did she go missing? I¡¯ve heard people say she jumped into the sea, and others say she was taken away.¡± In fact, the more unpleasant rumor was that Xu Chaomu had run off with another man. ¡°Do you think I know?¡± Mo Shuifu was at a loss for words, and after a while, she said, ¡°Fourth Young Master, I know it was Zhou Peitian and Shen Shihan who conspired to kidnap Chaomu. If you need a witness, then I can testify.¡± Only then did Shen Chi look up from the magazine, ¡°Don¡¯t get involved in this mess.¡± ¡°I know the crimes of Zhou Peitian and Shen Shihan are unforgivable. Chaomu always regarded Shen Shihan as her third brother, and for him to do such a thing, he¡¯s lower than a beast.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, don¡¯t meddle, and I don¡¯t need your testimony.¡± Just then, someone else entered the living room. It was none other than Shen Shihan! Chapter 304 - 304 Deeper and Deeper Kisses Chapter 304: Deeper and Deeper Kisses Trantor:549690339 ¡°Mo Shuifu, who are you going to testify for?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was cold as he approached her step by step, like the Grim Reaper. Already tall, his face now bore signs of anger; it was gloomy and dark, adding an especially oppressive atmosphere to the room. Mo Shuifu quickly stood up in fright, her lips pale and even her fingertips trembling. Her heart was like a frightened deer, thumping uncontrobly. Shen Chi also looked up, meeting Shen Shihan¡¯s gaze head-on. Their four shadowed eyes collided, sparking a fierce fire. ¡°Y-you, why are you here¡­¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice shook. ¡°This is my home, why can¡¯t I be here? I should be the one asking you, why are you here?¡± Shen Shihan moved his gaze onto her face and sneered coldly. Mo Shuifu evaded his gaze, avoiding him, ¡°I¡¯m here to see the Fourth Young Master; I have business with him.¡± Shen Chi spoke indifferently, ¡°Third Brother, what a coincidence, youe back just as I return.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Shen Shihan turned his head. ¡°Say what?¡± Shen Chi sneered coldly, ¡°Chaomu¡¯s life and death are uncertain. Are you happy, Shen Shihan? Have you finally scored a point against me, Shen Chi?¡± Shen Shihan frowned, his ck suit entuating his cold and forbidding air. ¡°Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu is your sister, and she is also my sister. Putting aside our struggles over interests, I have always hoped for her to be safe.¡± Mo Shuifu found it ludicrous, as she mercilessly pierced through the pretense, ¡°Shen Shihan, if you really considered Chaomu your sister, would you have let Zhou Peitian kidnap her? Do you know the trouble she went through to escape from one ce, covered in blood, and freezing cold? Even then, you had her captured again; do you even have a heart?¡± Hearing Mo Shuifu¡¯s words reopened the gash in Shen Chi¡¯s heart, the pain throbbing nonstop. He had seen Xu Chaomu in her wretched state, covered in injuries, her clothes stained with blood. Shen Chi¡¯s face grew even colder and more frigid, ¡°Shen Shihan, you¡¯ve always been more ruthless than I am.¡± Shen Shihan responded dispassionately, ¡°I never intended to hurt Chaomu, but many things in this world are unpredictable.¡± ¡°Shen Shihan, you¡¯re really good at making excuses for yourself,¡± Shen Chi sneered coldly, ¡°Kidnapping her isn¡¯t enough, then what is? Personally killing her with a knife?¡± Mo Shuifu also became angry, ¡°Shen Shihan, you¡¯re nothing but a heartless, cold-blooded devil.¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, shut up!¡± Shen Shihan snapped angrily. Shen Chi stood up abruptly, his movementrge enough to overturn the coffee table in front of him, and gave Shen Shihan a cold re, ¡°Shen Shihan, rest assured, if I can¡¯t find Chaomu in this lifetime, I¡¯ll make sure you pay the price.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, in thepetition for interests, it¡¯s either you die or I live. Put your hand on your heart and ask, don¡¯t you feel you¡¯ve wronged Chaomu even a little?¡± Shen Shihan thought, Shen Chi knew what he meant. Suddenly, Shen Chi stood up, but due to the extent of his movement, the coffee table flipped over with a loud crash, ss cups and a purple y pot shattered on the ground! ¡°Shen Shihan, get out.¡± That incident became an unspeakable pain in Shen Chi¡¯s heart. Shen Shihan sneered and turned to leave, but as he was going, he grabbed Mo Shuifu¡¯s wrist. ¡°Shen Shihan, let go of me¡­¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, you daree to the Shen Family again? You really take my words as a breeze past your ears, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d let me go and wouldn¡¯t interfere with me. You truly are a man of empty promises!¡± ¡°I said I¡¯d let you go, but I never said I¡¯d let youe to the Shen Family, let youe looking for Shen Chi! If it weren¡¯t for someone alerting me today, were you nning to get involved with Shen Chi again? Huh?¡± Crossing the small garden, passing a stone path, Shen Shihan dragged Mo Shuifu towards the west wing. Upon entering his room, he forcefully closed the door! Only then did he let go of her, flinging Mo Shuifu onto the bed! Shen Shihan, his face steely, looked down at Mo Shuifu from above. ¡°Shen Shihan, don¡¯t assume everyone¡¯s as despicable as you!¡± ¡°Is that so? You¡¯ve been trying every possible way to leave me, yet you can¡¯t bear to part with Shen Chi. Do you like him that much? Now that Chaomu has vanished and Bai Man has called off the engagement, are you nning to seize the opportunity?¡± Mo Shuifu was so angry she grit her teeth, ¡°Shen Shihan, how can you say such a thing? Yes, I like Shen Chi, but I have never thought of destroying his rtionship with anyone!¡± Shen Shihan leaned in close, pinning her chin, ¡°True, but one way or another, we have been intimate, haven¡¯t we?¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s face immediately turned pale, that was her silent agony. Forced by the need to repay debts, she had given herself to him, and from then on, she could never go back. She lost all right to love someone else. Mo Shuifu bit her lips hard, herrge eyes filled with hatred. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that; I¡¯m only stating the facts. I can let you go, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯d let you be with another man. In this life, you either marry me or remain alone until you die.¡± To remain alone until death¡­ such a cruel curse. Mo Shuifu¡¯s heart grew colder bit by bit as her eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°Shuifu¡­¡± He hated seeing her like this, this version of her made him feel helpless. He bent down, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, leaning in to kiss her brows and eyes¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± Mo Shuifu turned her head away with disgust, refusing his touch. Shen Shihan looked at her, just two centimeters away. ¡°Shuifu, why can¡¯t you just amodate me a bit? Is marrying me really that bad?¡± ¡°Third Master, I, Mo Shuifu, am not worthy of you. A scion like you, who can resort to any despicable means as a ¡®business elite,¡¯ what do I have that matches you?¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu, you!¡± Shen Shihan was truly angered by her. He lowered his head to stroke her cheek, helpless, ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with business matters.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, why should I bother with someone unrted to me? Third Master Shen, take your hand away and let me go.¡± ¡°In the future, don¡¯t see Shen Chi again!¡± His fingers caressed her chin and cheek, missing her for more than a dozen days, his yearning grew day by day. If he had the choice, he truly didn¡¯t want to let her go. ¡°Fine¡­ I won¡¯t see him, nor will I see you,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice was filled with sorrow. Shen Shihan couldn¡¯t control his emotions, and he felt a pain in his chest. He cradled her cheeks and kissed her cool lips. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t expect him to touch her, and she struggled desperately¡­ Shen Shihan buried himself deeper, quickly intensifying the kiss. He was addicted to the fragrance of her hair, the sweet taste of her, addicted to everything about her¡­ ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Mo Shuifu tried to push him away, but to no avail. Shen Shihan pressed down on her body, kissing her deeper and deeper, with no intention of letting her go. There¡¯s a type of longing described as, ¡®One day apart feels like madness.¡¯ Chapter 305: A Pool of Blood on the Ground Chapter 305: A Pool of Blood on the Ground Trantor:549690339 Shen Shihan thought that in his lifetime, he had been poisoned by something, and the name of that poison was ¡°Mo Shuifu¡±. He pried open her pearly teeth, deeply entangling with her. Slowly, he pressed her hands down with his left hand, and with his right hand, he lifted her dress¡­ She looked very pretty today, in a blue dress, as if a fairy had descended to earth. Especially in Shen Shihan¡¯s eyes, she was always so pleasing to look at. See, the poison was so deeply embedded that after this, no one else could catch his eye. When his cold hand slid over her leg, she realized what he was going to do and kicked him with her leg! Shen Shihan pinned her down, his right hand sliding to the inside of her thigh¡­ ¡°Shen Shihan, you go back on your word, you¡¯re not keeping your promise! You said you¡¯d let me go, what are you doing now! Don¡¯t touch me, I hate you.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not afraid of others hearing, you can scream louder, I don¡¯t mind.¡± After saying that, his fingers pulled down the zipper of her dress. He gave her no chance to resist, rendering her immobile. Mo Shuifu mustered all her strength, and just as his hand touched her smooth skin and sank in, she bit down hard on his shoulder. Her treatment of him was always merciless. Like this bite, she did it with nopassion! Shen Shihan¡¯s blood seemed to freeze, and instinctively, he let go of his hands. Mo Shuifu pulled her hands free, reached for a vase by the bed, and without hesitation, smashed it! Shen Shihan quickly tried to dodge, but his forehead was still hit. When he touched it with his hand, it was all blood. Pushing him away, Mo Shuifu ran out as fast as she could! As if the grim reaper was chasing her, she ran desperately¡­ Not daring to stop for a breath, she only wanted to escape, to escape! She ran out of the Shen Family¡¯s garden, out of the vi, all the way to the main road of the Jinxiu Tianxia vi district! She knew that if Shen Shihan came after her in his car, she would be dead. She also did not know where she got the courage to hit him with the vase¡­ Knowing Shen Shihan¡¯s character, angering him would certainly not end well. She kept running, using all her strength, not knowing how long she had run, until she looked back and realized she had already gotten very far from Jinxiu Tianxia. Fortunately, no one had followed her. Mo Shuifu was so exhausted that she saw ck spots and was gasping for breath, supporting herself against a camphor tree by the roadside. It felt as if there were mes jumping in her throat, and her lower abdomen was cramping even more. Suddenly, she felt nauseous and covered her mouth, crouching under the tree and vomiting uncontrobly. After vomiting for a while, her dress was already soaked with sweat, even her forehead was sweaty. She leaned weakly against the tree trunk, moving slowly forward. There weren¡¯t many vehiclesing and going in this area, so she had no choice but to keep walking. Her legs were weak, and the sun overhead made her feelpletely exhausted. Mo Shuifu really did not know how much longer she could hold on as she dragged her body step by step. Luckily, there were rows of trees by the roadside to lean on as she moved along¡­ However, she hadn¡¯t walked far when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, like she was being cut by a knife. ¡°Pain¡­ it¡¯s so painful¡­¡± Mo Shuifu furrowed her brows as she squatted down, leaning against the tree, and clutched her abdomen tightly. Whether it was because she had run too fast or the pain was too intense, her face turned pale immediately, even her lips became white. The sun shone on her body, and sweat wet her hair. Her ck hair stuck to her face, and she didn¡¯t even have the strength to brush it away. Pressing her hand against her stomach, she wanted to ask for help from passersby. But there were so few vehicles in this ce, let alone pedestrians. Mo Shuifu was out of strength, in pain so intense she felt better off dead. She was about to copse on the ground, and also, in her rush, she had left her bag at the Shen Family. She felt an overwhelming despair, with sorrow evident in her eyes. In pain, she became numb, her brain nk, only knowing to clutch her abdomen tightly. As she dragged herself forward, suddenly, she saw blood trickling down her thigh! Blood, bright red blood! Mo Shuifu felt dizzy and immediately panicked, calling out desperately into the middle of the road for ¡°help¡±! ¡°Help! Help!¡± The voice was weak, but finally caught the attention of a car owner. The car owner stopped the vehicle and quickly came over to check on Mo Shuifu¡¯s injury. ¡°Miss, what happened to you?¡± The car owner was a kind middle-aged man. ¡°Sir¡­ please¡­ take me¡­ to the hospital¡­ it¡¯s so painful¡­¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s hands, white at the knuckles, grasped the man¡¯s sleeve. The man looked down and saw that Mo Shuifu¡¯s dress was soaked red. Blood, it was all blood! ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right now.¡± The man also got anxious; he supported Mo Shuifu, trying to get her into the car. But the woman in the passenger seat immediately jumped out, pushing the man¡¯s hands away, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? You want to get her into our car? Didn¡¯t you see, she¡¯s covered in blood, it¡¯s bad luck to have her in our car! When will you stop being so meddlesome? Let me tell you, stop dawdling, or we¡¯ll bete, my parents are waiting to have lunch with us!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t turn a blind eye to someone in need, look¡­ she¡¯s like this, what if she¡¯s in danger and we didn¡¯t help?¡± The man was still reluctant. ¡°Nonsense, call 120 and let the ambncee! Anyway, I¡¯m telling you, you are not to get her into our car! We¡¯ve only just bought this car; if it gets stained with blood, do we still keep it?¡± The woman was fierce and unyielding. The man was in a quandary, not knowing whether to help or not. The woman simply pulled him away, ¡°Come on, get in the car! Stop being so nosy!¡± Mo Shuifu was desperate, trying to call out to them, but she truly had no strength left¡­ Her lips moved weakly, without a wording out. The middle-aged man and woman really didn¡¯t save her; they left her there and drove away. Perhaps the man felt guilty, because halfway through the drive, he called 120. By the time the emergency services found Mo Shuifu, she had already fainted by the roadside. Her hand was still on her abdomen, and her blue dress had turned to red. A pool of fresh bloody on the ground, a shocking sight. ¡°Quick, save her!¡± Several nurses lifted Mo Shuifu onto a stretcher. The ambnce sped to the hospital with sirens ring! After arriving at the hospital, they rushed Mo Shuifu into the operating room. It wasn¡¯t until evening, as the setting sun cast a glow on the curtains of the ward, that Mo Shuifu barely lifted her heavy eyelids. She wanted to move but had no strength, so she gave up the effort. It was no longer as painful, and with the sunshine on her face, she closed her eyes and felt a trace of warmth she hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. She clutched the soft nket; after the pain, there was a rare calm. Chapter 306: The Child is Gone Chapter 306: The Child is Gone Trantor:549690339 The dying sunlight cast its remnants across her face and the nket as shey still, unwilling to move again. The white nket and sheets were tinged with a golden hue, exuding extra warmth. Such colors always brought aforting feeling. The sun slowly sank in the west, quickly dipping below the horizon. Mo Shuifu wasn¡¯t a child anymore, lying on the bed for a long time, she had likely begun to understand why she was bleeding. She never expected¡­ Even without any feelings left for that man, the thought brought tears to her eyes. The tears soaked her pillowcase, just as a nurse walked in carrying a bottle of medicine. ¡°Miss, are you awake?¡± The nurse noticed Mo Shuifu¡¯s tears. Mo Shuifu wiped away her tears and opened her eyes: ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Miss¡­ you¡¯re going to be fine. You were operated on by our department¡¯s most famous surgeon today, so don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll recover very well.¡± ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re here for; it¡¯s what hospitals are for¡ªsaving people.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Mo Shuifu swallowed, still asking, ¡°Then¡­ my baby¡­¡± The nurse wanted tofort her but didn¡¯t know what to say and could only nod truthfully: ¡°Miss¡­ your baby¡­ is gone¡­ But don¡¯t be sad, you can still have another one, you¡¯re still young. In fact, if you had arrived half an hour earlier, your baby could have been saved¡­¡± Mo Shuifu had braced herself; she had lost so much blood, how could the baby have survived. But perhaps due to a mother¡¯s inherent nature, she still felt an emptiness inside. It was as if a chunk of her flesh had been gouged out, a feeling iprehensible to most. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Mo Shuifu faintly moved the corners of her lips. Her gaze was unfocused as she quietly stared at the wall, no longer speaking. The nurse changed her IV and wiped her hand with alcohol swabs. When she finished, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Miss, where is your family? I haven¡¯t seen them at all today.¡± ¡°Family¡­ I have no family¡­¡± Mo Shuifu said woodenly, ¡°Is it time to pay the medical bill?¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it. I just noticed how alone you are. It¡¯d be much better if your rtives came. Or should I call a friend of yours, to keep youpany?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need, thank you,¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, you¡¯ll be physically fine after a few days of rest. It¡¯s just¡­ the doctor said your uterine wall is a bit thin, so in the future¡­¡± ¡°The chances of getting pregnant are smaller?¡± Mo Shuifu finished for her. ¡°You¡­ you already know?¡± The nurse scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed. Mo Shuifu gave a weak smile, her face pale: ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t n to have children anymore.¡± She didn¡¯t n on having children, nor getting married. Just as Shen Shihan had said, she¡¯d end up alone. ¡°Miss, children are so adorable, you should consider having one after all. A slim chance doesn¡¯t mean no chance. If you take good care of yourself, it can still happen,¡± the naive young nurse said. Mo Shuifu shook her head: ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t feel much about losing this child, because I really hate his father, really hate¡­¡± As she spoke, Mo Shuifu caressed her stomach. No feelings? Of course, that was a lie. How could a mother have no affection for her own flesh and blood, especially when it was her first child. In the past, when she was younger, she¡¯d fantasized about the future. Back then, all she wanted from love was for someone to be genuinely kind to her; not necessarily rich, but deeply devoted. Someone to warm her when she was cold; to humor her when she was upset. Just a little pampering was all she asked for. Then, they would live happily ever after, having a healthy baby. A simple and ordinary life, everything would be fine. That was all she had ever fantasized about for the future, but from the day she met Shen Shihan, her destiny shifted profoundly. Everything changed, beyond recognition. The nurse was at a loss for words after hearing Mo Shuifu¡¯s statement. A bit awkward, Mo Shuifu smiled at her: ¡°Go on with your duties, I¡¯ll call if I need anything.¡± ¡°Okay, good. Then I¡¯ll leave for now, just call if you need me.¡± The nurse left with a sweet smile. For a moment, Mo Shuifu was deluded, thinking the nurse¡¯s smile resembled Xu Chaomu¡¯s. Both were sweet, leaving a pleasant impression on anyone who saw them. Xu Chaomu¡­ Just thinking of Xu Chaomu addedyers to Mo Shuifu¡¯s resentment towards Shen Shihan. He wouldn¡¯t even spare an eighteen-year-old girl; Shen Shihan was so cold-blooded, so heartless. That¡¯s why she never believed his words. She couldn¡¯t believe that a man like Shen Shihan could have feelings for her. Just as Zhou Peitian once said: ¡°Mo Shuifu, don¡¯t think that because Shihan shows you a little kindness, you have his support. I tell you, you¡¯re just one of his many women, easily discarded when he¡¯s tired of you. Don¡¯t overestimate yourself.¡± She always saw herself as insignificant, fully aware that she was just one among many for Shen Shihan. With that thought, Mo Shuifu stroked her stomach again. ¡°Xiaobao¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know she was pregnant. If she had known, she would never have run desperately; she would surely have preserved the child¡¯s life. Even if it meant being connected to Shen Shihan. The hospital room was quiet; as the sun set and darkness stealthily arrived. The bustle of the hospital waned, visitors intermittently checking on patients in the next bed, while her space remained destely empty. After three days in the hospital, the nurse told her she was well enough to be discharged. Mo Shuifu silently packed her things, knowing this time she truly had to flee far from C City. Shen Shihan and Shen Chi would both be relics of her past. She intended to start over in another city, to live a new life. After leaving the hospital, Mo Shuifu hailed a cab to the train station. No sooner had she stepped onto the train bound for another city than Shen Shihan arrived at the hospital. He burst into the room and grabbed the nurse by the cor: ¡°Where is she? Where is she?¡± The nurse thought he was a lunatic, but then she figured lunatics don¡¯t look as neatly dressed. She quickly said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure who you¡¯re asking about?¡± ¡°Mo Shuifu!¡± ¡°Oh, Miss Mo? She¡¯s been discharged, she¡¯s already left.¡± ¡°How long ago did she leave?¡± ¡°About two hours ago, I guess.¡± All of a sudden, Shen Shihan felt as if the strength had drained from his body, letting go of the nurse¡¯s cor. ¡°Sir, why did youe sote? She was here for three days and nights with not a single visitor.¡± Chapter 307: Don’t Want to Have Kids Anymore Chapter 307: Don¡¯t Want to Have Kids Anymore Trantor: 549690339 The young nurse didn¡¯t care how ugly Shen Shihan¡¯s face looked; she just felt it was quite unfair to Mo Shuifu. Moreover, a woman¡¯s intuition told her that this man very likely was the father of the child. The young nurse sighed, ¡°Shey in the ward for three days and three nights, hardly eating anything, hardly speaking. Only when I asionally asked her something, would she respond. Today, when I told her she could be discharged, she silently packed her things and left.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything? How is her health?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say much; just that she really dislikes the child¡¯s father and that she doesn¡¯t want to have children anymore,¡± the young nurse said, ¡°When she left, her health had mostly recovered; there weren¡¯t any problems. It¡¯s just that¡­¡± The young nurse hesitated, unsure whether she should continue. ¡°Just what?¡± Shen Shihan frowned. ¡°It¡¯s just that, our department¡¯s senior doctor said after the surgery, her uterine lining is too thin, and she might not be able to conceive again in the future¡­¡± Those words struck Shen Shihan like a bolt of lightning. Was this the retribution heaven had dealt him? Coming so swiftly¡­ Why hadn¡¯t he caught up with her that day? If he had, such a thing would not have happened. If he had known she was pregnant, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have let her go. From head to toe, he felt ice-cold. ¡°Sir, what is your rtionship with Miss Mo? Her husband?¡± The young nurse was still very curious. From the man¡¯s expression, it was clear he cared a lot about Mo Shuifu. But if he cared so much, why hadn¡¯t hee to see Miss Mo at the hospital one time in three days and three nights? The young nurse thought the people nowadays were really interesting. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Shihan nodded and responded, his gaze filled with endless sorrow. The young nurse was confused, ¡°What does ¡®hmm¡¯ mean? Yes or no?¡± Forget it, if the young nurse couldn¡¯t figure it out, she just said to him, ¡°Sir, if there¡¯s nothing else, then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t speak again, and the young nurse pouted and ran off. Slowly, Shen Shihan walked to the bedside. The bed had already been cleaned, without leaving a single trace. Shen Shihan¡¯s heart ached; a miscarriage¡­ she must have been in so much pain. Why, why did she be pregnant at this time, when he waspletely unaware? And yet, the child was lost. Shen Shihan had never imagined that he was only a step away from fatherhood. Did heaven really have to punish him in such a way? His fist clenched gradually, his face etched with pain. ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± His voice was hoarse andden with agony, his eyes filled with tears. That day, Shen Shihan sat in the hospital ward for an entire day. He recalled every moment he had spent with her, yet the warm memories were very few. When she was with him, it was mostly out of dislike¡­ Only that day in the supermarket, there was no such distance between them. She always treated him as a debtor, but for him, she was a poison etched into his fate, one that could not be removed even in an eternal cycle of lifetimes. Night fell, the on-duty doctor came to check the wards, urging Shen Shihan to leave, and only then did he slowly stand up, his eyes reluctant. But in the end, he left the ward, his steps extraordinarily heavy. He returned to his car, where a handbagy quietly on the passenger seat. Beige, with a diamond pattern. It was Mo Shuifu¡¯s bag¡­ He couldn¡¯t give it back to her now, not ever again. He had said he would let her go, so this lifetime, there would be no more chances to meet. But never had he imagined, to let her go with such pain. Leaving himself with endless sorrow¡­ He remained in the hospital parking lot, sitting silently in his car. The handbagy quietly beside him, as if she were still there, as if the air still carried her light fragrance. With eyes closed, his handsome and resolute face was all grief and despair. The nurse¡¯s words echoed in his ears: she said she really dislikes the child¡¯s father and that she doesn¡¯t want to have children anymore. She hated him, he had always known. But he never imagined she could hate him to such an extent. Three days ago, he had said, this lifetime, you¡¯ll either marry me or be alone forever. But all those words were just said in anger, if possible, he hoped she could be happy and marry a good man. At least not like him, who never learned how to love a woman¡­ Cars came and went in the hospital parking lot, one arriving and another leaving. Shen Shihan¡¯s Ferrari sat motionless, lights off, until there were hardly any cars left in the parking lot, and then he nced at his wristwatch. It turned out to be two in the morning; he had been sitting there for several hours. He drove the car into the night, lowering the window, letting thete spring breeze pour in. He didn¡¯t go looking for Mo Shuifu again; from then on, they would no longer cross paths¡­ She must take care, live a happy and secure life. Shen Shihan¡¯s heart felt like there was a knife twisting inside it, the thought of never seeing her again made his eyes slowly redden¡­ A separation, a lifetime. In early summer, the lush greenery was dense. The sunlight streamed through tall trees, casting patchy shadows on the ground through the gaps between leaves and branches. Such times were peaceful and tranquil. Weiyang, VIP room. Shen Chi had already ordered his fifth bottle of alcohol for the day. He sat on the sofa, silent, just continuously pouring himself more drink. It had been many days since he returned to the country, and almost every day he woulde to Weiyang. The white liquid flowed slowly against the clear ss, Shen Chi would fill the ss to the brim as soon as he arrived. It was a pity that one bottle of alcohol was too little; soon, the bottle was empty. ¡°Ji Shengxuan, you really know how to do business.¡± Shen Chi smirked half-drunk, his face showing signs of intoxication. There was so little alcohol in one bottle; every time he would helplessly shake the empty bottle. When the fifth bottle was emptied and there was no more alcohol on the table, he had to press the phone to call the waiter over. He drank thest ss of alcohol, and soon, it was down his throat. His head hurt, his whole body was heating up; he had to take off his outer suit jacket. Just as he was impatiently about to call someone, Ji Shengxuan pushed open the door to the room. With only one bottle of alcohol in his hand, Ji Shengxuan closed the door, walked with long strides towards Shen Chi. ¡°Bringing just one bottle of alcohol can take so long, is this how you usually train your staff, Ji Shengxuan?!¡± Shen Chi was half-drunk and mistook Ji Shengxuan for a waiter, not even lifting his head as he muttered impatiently. He reached out to grab the bottle, but Ji Shengxuan pulled his hand back. ¡°Shen Chi, this is your fifth day at Weiyang, the twenty-ninth bottle of alcohol. You really are reckless with your life.¡± Only then did Shen Chi lift up his bleary eyes, and smirking at Ji Shengxuan, he said, ¡°You care about me that much?¡± Chapter 308 - 308 Xu Chaomu’s Midterm Exam Paper Chapter 308: Xu Chaomu¡¯s Midterm Exam Paper Trantor: 549690339 ¡°I just don¡¯t want anyone dying on my turf.¡± Ji Shengxuan sat down expressionlessly on the sofa opposite him. Hezily crossed his legs and lit a cigarette. This man was always so elegant, and everything he did was extra charming. The white shirt made him seemposed and unruffled, and his face showed no sign of any emotion. A perfect bnce of tension and rxation, he held himself with exquisite control. ¡°Ji Shengxuan, you really are a coward. You should think, if Shen Chi buys a bottle of wine from you, you could make a good amount of money. Isn¡¯t making money about being ruthless?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t reached the level of Shen Chi yet,¡± Ji Shengxuan responded indifferently. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. Your Weiyang wouldn¡¯t have gotten to where it is today without being cold-blooded and heartless. If I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯ve driven more than a few small entertainment city owners to their deaths, haven¡¯t you? Many people have been destroyed by you.¡± Ji Shengxuan responded as if discussing the weather, ¡°Survival of the fittest, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Fine, give me the wine,¡± Shen Chi reached out his hand. ¡°Shen Chi, how much do you love Xu Chaomu? You don¡¯t even go to thepany and drink here every day instead?¡± Ji Shengxuan looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°I suggest you sober up. There has been no news of her for nearly a month, and you should realize what that means. Stop deluding yourself.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me. I¡¯m a guest, the god, here to drink, not to listen to your nonsense!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face clearly showed annoyance. Many people had hinted in various ways that Xu Chaomu was dead, but he did not believe it. Such an optimistic and cheerful girl, how could she seek death? Now, Ji Shengxuan was telling him the same thing. ¡°If you want to drink, then drink. Drink until you have a gastric hemorrhage, but don¡¯t me it on me,¡± Ji Shengxuan said. Ji Shengxuan slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and ced a bottle of wine on the table, simply to see what state Shen Chi would drink himself into. Shen Chi grabbed the bottle and poured the wine into the ss. As soon as it was full, he downed it in one gulp. Ji Shengxuan smoked and watched Shen Chi, thinking that the man truly had gone mad. Previously, he had felt that Shen Chi had a special feeling for Xu Chaomu, and now, it was confirmed. ¡°Ji Shengxuan, you can leave now. Oh, and one bottle isn¡¯t enough. Get me a few more. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll pay,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Shen Chi, she¡¯s just a woman. Is she really worth it?¡± ¡°Ji Shengxuan, you¡¯re thest person who has the right to say that,¡± Shen Chi looked up and said mockingly. Suddenly, Ji Shengxuan fell silent, the cigarette pinched between his fingers burning slowly. A blurry image in his mind gradually became clearer: a woman with a joyful smile, eyebrows like willow leaves, and her beautifully fair face well-formed. As the vague image became sharp, Ji Shengxuan¡¯s frown deepened. The room suddenly fell silent, and Shen Chi knew that by mentioning Ji Shengxuan¡¯s ex-wife, he was left with nothing to say. After filling another ss of wine to the brim, Shen Chi tilted his head back and swallowed it in one gulp. Soon, with the wine bottle nearly empty, Shen Chi was noticeably drunk. At that moment, his phone started vibrating on the table. ¡°What is it?¡± Shen Chi answered, his face full of drunkenness. The caller was Old Cheng: ¡°President Shen, the school teacher asked me to pick up Chaomu¡¯s things.¡± A surge of intense sadness spread from head to toe. Shen Chi, holding the phone, couldn¡¯t utter a word. His hands trembled, and it took him all the willpower he could muster to control his emotions. His throat was choked, and he felt wave after wave of acidity. Old Cheng, receiving no response from the other end of the phone, feltpelled to continue, ¡°President Shen¡­ would you like to pick them up yourself? They said Chaomu organized her books neatly, and her midterm exam papers were also issued. The teacher said she ranked fifth in the ss.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s nose stung, his eyes reddening as he listened. He tried to speak, but couldn¡¯t make a sound. He just held the phone, frozen in the same position without moving. ¡°President Shen, President Shen,¡± Old Cheng called a few times. Still silence. After a while, Shen Chi finally managed to control all his emotions, though his hand shook terribly. ¡°Drive to Weiyang, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Old Cheng nodded, aware that Shen Chi had been drinking again. When Old Cheng arrived, Shen Chi had already left the private room. Under the sunlight, he stood at the entrance of Weiyang, his eyes slightly squinted, but his face bore an inescapable despair. Old Cheng had never before seen Shen Chi in such a state of decay, ignoring the group and night after night, drowning himself in alcohol at Weiyang. He had never seen Shen Chi drink so desperately; it could be described as alcohol abuse. Of course, besides drinking, there was also smoking¡ªa lot of it. At times, he would stand by the window alone, not talking, just silently smoking. The cigarette butts would litter the floor, and no one¡¯s persuasion made any difference. Old Cheng stepped out of the Maybach, and under the sunlight, he saw a deste look on the man¡¯s face that went beyond his usual coldness. The stubble on his face, now a greenish hue, hadn¡¯t been groomed for many days. At this point, even Old Cheng felt like he was seeing a stranger in Shen Chi. ¡°President Shen, get in the car. The students will be leaving school right now,¡± said Old Cheng. Old Cheng opened the passenger door and, without a word, Shen Chi got into the passenger seat. ¡°President Shen, they said Chaomu¡¯s dormitory contained her neatly packed suitcase,¡± Old Cheng reported as he drove. ¡°It seems that Chaomu had been nning to leave for a while.¡± On hearing this, a different look finally appeared in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. He slowly clenched his fist; she had intended to leave all along. ¡°She really made something of herself,¡± Shen Chi said with an icy tone. ¡°President Shen, someone said that Chaomu took a taxi to the airport area the day after the midterm exams. So, it appears she really intended to leave. Only, afterwards those things happened¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s thin lips pressed tighter, a cold glint in his eyes. ¡°Therefore, President Shen, I suspect that Chaomu wouldn¡¯t have taken her own life on Sumatra Ind; she just left,¡± Old Cheng opined. Shen Chi remained silent, exuding intense coldness. His heart was conflicted with both joy and unbearable pain. The joy came from a faint glimpse of hope for life, yet the pain was excruciating. Xu Chaomu, you really considered leaving for a long time, did you even think of me, Shen Chi? When did I, Shen Chi, ever wrong you, that you would leave without a word! ¡°President Shen, I believe we will find Chaomu. Don¡¯t give up,¡± Old Cheng consoled. ¡°We can increase the staff in C City and around Sumatra Ind, especially in C City. After all, it¡¯s where Chaomu grew up. If she has any sentiment, she will definitely return.¡± ¡°If she darese back to C City, I will never let her off the hook,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°President Shen¡­¡± Old Cheng sighed inwardly, but did not speak. The car continued driving along the wide road. Halfway through, Old Cheng suddenly remembered something. Chapter 309: Intact Marriage Certificate Chapter 309: Intact Marriage Certificate Trantor: 549690339 He found a paper bag, inside of which was something wrapped in kraft paper. Old Cheng handed the bag to Shen Chi, ¡°President Shen, Xiao Mo originally nned to give this to you in person before he left, but he was in a hurry and couldn¡¯t find you, so he gave it to me instead. He said it was very important that I make sure it gets to you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s chest heaved with emotion as he reached out and took it¡­ Peeling backyer uponyer of kraft paper, once the finalyer was unfolded, inside were two intact marriage certificates. The red marriage certificate, that color, it was piercing to the eyes. Memories suddenly flooded in like a rushing stream; he had nned to throw the marriage certificate at her after returning from South Africa. However, he hade back, and she had vanished¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, have you started to hate me, Shen Chi, for a long time now? Otherwise, how could you have such a cold heart to just leave without a word?¡± Shen Chi murmured. Old Cheng turned his head and caught sight of the three bold characters ¡°Marriage Certificate,¡± and he was genuinely taken aback. Shen Chi¡¯s slender fingers traced over the cover of the marriage certificate, gently flipping it open. Inside was a photo of him and her together. In the photo, his lips curved upward, and she, disying teeth white as pearls, wasughing carefree. Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu. All of this, it seemed like just yesterday. Old Cheng also saw the names on the marriage certificate and eximed in surprise, ¡°President Shen, is this your marriage certificate?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°When did you get the marriage certificate? Does Chaomu know about it?¡± ¡°It was the day we went to the Civil Affairs Bureau, you should remember.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Old Cheng was truly astonished, ¡°But weren¡¯t you and Chaomu going to terminate the adoption rtionship that day? How did it turn into a marriage certificate?¡± ¡°Otherwise, who do you think I should marry?¡± ¡°President Shen, it¡¯s a pity that Chaomu doesn¡¯t know. She likes you so much, if she knew you got a marriage certificate with her, she would have been so happy,¡± Old Cheng said, resolving many doubts he had harbored. He had long felt that Shen Chi¡¯s feelings for Xu Chaomu were out of the ordinary. Butler Ling often quietly mentioned to him that President Shen had again served Xu Chaomu a meal; that President Shen had personally prepared several dishes Xu Chaomu liked; that Xu Chaomu was unhappy today, and President Shen hadforted her again¡­ ¡°She hates me, it¡¯s toote for anything else.¡± The sparkle in Shen Chi¡¯s gaze dimmed as he carefully wrapped the marriage certificate in kraft paper again,yer byyer. Before wrapping it, he stared at Xu Chaomu in the photo for a long time. He really liked to see herugh, but what about in the future? Was he never going to see her again? The car soon arrived at the school, students were dispersing, heading toward the school entrance in dribs and drabs. The Maybach turned into the parking lot, and Shen Chi opened the car door and got out. He headed straight for ssroom Four of the Second Year! He remembered crystal clear in which row she sat, and exactly what her spot looked like. He knew she didn¡¯t like to study, that her desk would always be piled high with books, because it would block the teacher¡¯s line of sight and allow her to sneakily make mischief. In fact, he knew everything. But it really didn¡¯t matter to him whether she studied well or not. All he wanted was for her to be happy. Entering the ssroom, Xu Chaomu¡¯s desk was spotless, not a speck of dust, her books also neatly stacked. Maybe it was the alcohol that was too strong, but Shen Chi seemed to see her smiling. ¡°Fourth Brother, look how neatly I¡¯ve stacked my books, don¡¯t you want to praise me?¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, I can¡¯t figure out this problem, oh, and I can¡¯t do this one either. And also¡­ this one, this one, this one, I can¡¯t do any of them, none at all!¡± ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ how do I handle another examing up¡­ it¡¯s absolutely exhausting¡­ the water of the West Lake, my tears¡­ ahhh ahhh ahhh¡­¡± Shen Chi walked up to Xu Chaomu¡¯s desk, his lips slowly turning upwards. He seemed to see her again, pathetically sprawled across the desk, the picture of misery. He stretched out his hand, instinctively wanting to stroke her head. But when his hand came down, it touched the icy, cold surface of the desk! Walking alongside Shen Chi, Old Cheng¡¯s heart ached with him. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much pain Shen Chi must be in. Shen Chi mockingly lowered his eyes and his fingers moved to pick up the exam paper on the desk. The exam papers were a neatly stacked pile, neatly ordered with a math paper on top. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t solved thest part of the final question, but she had written a small note: ¡°If lovests through time, what does it matter about the morning and the evening? Without love, even being together all day long is just like being worlds apart.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand that was holding the paper trembled, his heart shattered in an instant. The atmosphere was so cold; Old Cheng had to break the silence. ¡°President Shen, let¡¯s take Chaomu¡¯s things back. And her luggage from the dorm, I¡¯ll go get that too.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Chi finally snapped back to reality. He took all her belongings, and in her drawer, he discovered a scribbled notebook. On it, she had written his name many times. Shen Chi, Shen Chi, Shen Chi¡­ Her handwriting was quite pretty, but whenever she was with him, she would deliberately make it look ugly. Then, she¡¯d scamper over to him: ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ you always say my handwriting is so ugly, what should I do? Teach me, please.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s ugly then practice, I¡¯m not a copybook!¡± ¡°But if you teach me by hand, it¡¯ll be more effective than any copybook, your handwriting is so nice, it beats all the copybooks!¡± Every time, Xu Chaomu would be a total sycophant at this point. At first, he would kindly teach her, hand by hand. As a result, her writing got worse and worse. It was onlyter that Shen Chi found out, she just wanted to be held by his hand. The little thoughts of a young girl, simple and sweet. Seeing Shen Chi lost in thought again, Old Cheng quickly helped him gather the books. ¡°President Shen, let¡¯s go back. It¡¯s getting dark, and the school is about to close.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Shen Chi sighed and said. He turned his head and left the ssroom. This time, her midterm exam score ranked fifth in the ss, but she hadn¡¯t waited for him¡­ To this day, her fate remains unknown. Back at the Shen Family, Shen Chi ced all her books and luggage in her room. Also, the dress she left in his room, and her high heels, he ced them carefully in her room as well. He refused to believe that she had met with an ident. He would rather believe she had left him on purpose. He also believed he would certainly find her. If necessary, he would spend a lifetime searching. Summer ends and winter arrives; soon, C City entered winter. Half a year after Xu Chaomu¡¯s disappearance, C City saw its first heavy snowfall of the year. The snowkes danced wildly in the air, straggling down like catkins. Everywhere was a vast expanse of whiteness, devoid of any color. The birds and beasts had hidden themselves away; in the snowy weather, everything was deathly still. The snow bent the tree branches, and with a ¡°creak,¡± a bough snapped, the snow leaped up, sending out flurries of snowkes. The cold wind howled, cutting against people¡¯s faces like knives, forcing its way into their cors relentlessly. Chapter 310 - 310 Winter in Paris Chapter 310: Winter in Paris Trantor: 549690339 Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach stopped in front of the door, and he, dressed in a ck coat, got out of the passenger side. He walked while answering the phone, ¡°It¡¯s been half a year, what exnation are you going to give me, Xiao Mo?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve almost turned over the entire Sumatra Ind, and there isn¡¯t a single clue. Moreover, as time goes on, it bes less favorable for¡­¡± The words were cut off halfway, not continuing further. It¡¯s a truth known to all that as time passes, even dripping water can wear away a stone, let alone a clue. ¡°Keep searching.¡± ¡°But, Mr. Shen, to continue searching like this might be endless¡­¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive for one more day, you¡¯ll have to search for one more day!¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Shen Chi entered the house, took off his ck gloves, and threw his cell phone on the sofa. The butler Ling approached tentatively to take Shen Chi¡¯s coat and gloves, witnessing the change in his temper over the past half year. The current Shen Chi had an increasingly bad temper. She hadn¡¯t seen Shen Chi smile for a full half year; every day he returned, his face was colder than frost. Not daring to speak further, Butler Ling hurried to serve the steaming hot meal. In the past, Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi would dine together, but for the past half year, it had always been just Shen Chi alone. When Chaomu was around, no matter howrge the living room, it nevercked liveliness. She could chatter nonstop, jumping from topic to topic, from their mathematics teacher to little hamsters. Even then, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t speak or join in, and he might even yell at her a few times. But Butler Ling could see the faint smile that always lingered on the corners of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth. The best kind of love in this world is when she¡¯s acting up, and he¡¯s smiling. Now, however, the living room had only Shen Chi by himself. He didn¡¯t have much of an appetite, in fact, ever since Chaomu left, his stomach had never been quite right. He barely touched the food, sometimes not even eating at all. It worried Butler Ling to see this, for over the past half year, she had to call old Cheng several times in the middle of the night, saying that the young master¡¯s stomach was upset again and urgently needed to be taken to the hospital. He would always drink a lot of alcohol in the middle of the night, only stopping when he caused his stomach to bleed. Yet, not many days after being hospitalized, he would forget and resume smoking and heavy drinking. Butler Ling watched as Shen Chi grew thinner and thinner, feelingpletely helpless. Sure enough, today, after only a few bites, Shen Chi put his utensils down and, without turning his head, walked upstairs. ¡°Young Master, please eat some more; you didn¡¯t have breakfast this morning either,¡± Butler Ling said, truly worried. ¡°I have no appetite,¡± said Shen Chi, his thin lips parting to leave behind those three cold words. Butler Ling didn¡¯t dare to press further, knowing all too well the temperament of Shen Chi and unable to think of any solution. Once Shen Chi went upstairs, his steps paused outside Chaomu¡¯s room. An ingrained habit of many years, hard to break. He reached out to push open her door, but the thought of her absence brought a fresh wave of emptiness. He withdrew his hand and returned to his own room. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, he pulled back the curtains to see the world nketed in snow, a flurry of snowkes. The Shen family¡¯s vi had long turned white, with the garden¡¯s few plum trees buried in snow, everything covered in a white mist. This year¡¯s snowfall was indeed heavy. He knew she loved snow. When it snowed in winter, she would rush outside to build snowmen, no matter how cold it got. He remembered one time when she couldn¡¯t find anything to use for the snowman¡¯s eyes, she secretly tore off two buttons from the sleeve of his suit. After much difficulty in getting the buttons off, just when she was gloating, she was dragged indoors by him and severely reprimanded. Not long after the scolding, she forgot all about it and continued to build snowmen the next day. He watched her face turn red with cold and felt pity, so she slipped her icy hands into his pocket, ¡°Fourth Brother, warm them for me. Your pocket is so cozy, I think¡­¡± Before she could finish, she slyly smiled and quickly lifted his shirt to reach into his chest. He was faster, pping her hand away and coldly reprimanding, ¡°Youngdy, have some shame.¡± At the memory, he lit another cigarette¡­ While C City was covered in heavy snow these days, Paris was also experiencing snowfall. In the biting cold, it seemed that even a few steps could lead to a fall. Passersby hurried along, bundled in scarves and masks, heads down and umbres open. Everyone wanted to get home quickly so they could sit in front of a firece to warm up. The snow fell so heavily that it stung and chilled one¡¯s face. Xu Chaomu used the little money she had to buy a cotton coat; she was nearly out of food. Shivering, she cupped her hands to her lips to warm them with her breath, braving the heavy snow to look for part-time work from one ce to another. Half a year ago, she had run away from the hospital in the middle of the night and, upon reaching the harbor, ndestinely boarded a ship bound for parts unknown. At that time, she hid on the ship for many days, not knowing where it was headed. Fortunately, she had brought medicine with her when she left, allowing her wound to gradually heal, but leaving an ugly scar on her back. The scar made her once-smooth back seem particrly jarring. Xu Chaomu thought it was a relief it wasn¡¯t on her face. When the ship docked in Paris, her joy was uncontainable because this was the city she wanted to reach. What she was even more grateful for was that she wasn¡¯t dead, she was still very much alive. But her tion didn¡¯tst two days before she encountered a serious problem: she had no money. The bank card Shen Chi gave her had long been lost, and her pockets held only enough change for a few meals. She began looking everywhere for odd jobs, minding shops, administering injections to pets; she had done almost every kind of work avable. But these jobs were often both tiring and low-paying, and moreover, they wouldn¡¯tst more than a few days before she was out of work again. So she continued piecing together odd jobs here and there, until winter arrived and she barely managed to find a ce to stay. Weather like this brought out a strong dislike in Xu Chaomu. Previously, at the Shen residence, she was as joyous as a little rabbit on snowy days. She would bounce and hop into the garden to build snowmen, an activity she did every winter. ying until her face turned red and her hands grew stiff, she wasn¡¯t scared as the Shen home had plenty of heating and people to prepare all sorts of warming devices for her. But now, snowy days were her nightmare. In such weather, it was difficult to move even an inch, and finding part-time work was especially hard. She didn¡¯t have central heating, a thick cotton coat, or even enough food to eat. Thinking back on her days in the Shen family, a bitter smile touched her lips. But she had no regrets about leaving, not one bit. Because the person she once loved most didn¡¯t want her anymore. He was annoyed by her, hated her, misled by her¡­ She would rather walk alone in the bitter cold of winter; she wouldn¡¯t go back to the Shen residence to see him. She wanted to slowly forget him, erase himpletely from her heart, as if she had never met him in this lifetime. She knew there woulde a day when she could do it, and it wouldn¡¯t be very hard. Chapter 311: Isn’t This Girl Beautiful? Chapter 311: Isn¡¯t This Girl Beautiful? Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu rubbed her hands, continuously bringing them to her mouth to breathe warm air on them. But when the cold snowkes fell on her face, her nose tingled, and she felt like crying again. Cold, a cold that seeped into her skin. She crossed her arms over her chest, her small face red with frost. This morning, while it was still dark, she had been woken by the cold and then had been unable to fall asleep again no matter how much she tossed and turned. When she got up, she didn¡¯t bother much with her hair and went out to look for odd jobs. Burrowing her head into her cor, she walked forward in the snow. She was so insignificant, no one noticed her, and nobody would sympathize with her, even though she had gone without food for two meals now. Just when she thought she was at the end of her rope, she suddenly looked up and saw a help wanted sign in a small restaurant. The informal restaurant was looking for temporary workers. Xu Chaomu read the job posting from top to bottom and found that the only thing she could do was wash dishes, but washing dishes for an hour only earned her one euro. One euro, that¡¯s just a little over six yuan. Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth, having money was better than none at all, she was almost out of options. She mustered her courage and went in to ask; fortunately, the boss didn¡¯t reject her. After sizing her up, he agreed to let her stay. The boss was a Mysian, with shrewd eyes that were always shifting, his intentions never quite clear. ¡°Your name is Xu Chaomu? How old are you?¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± ¡°Oh, not bad, pretty vivacious. Pink and tender little face, hands look soft and lush too.¡± Having said that, the boss reached out with his fat palm intending to touch Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. Xu Chaomu instinctively dodged, her expression unreadable, ¡°Boss, can I start working now?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, look at you, you seem unused to hardship. Can you really wash dishes? I also have work that doesn¡¯t require much effort but pays well, would you like to do it?¡± ¡°Boss, I can wash dishes,¡± Xu Chaomu insisted through gritted teeth. ¡°Look at your little hands. I would feel sorry for them if you had to wash dishes. Think about it carefully, I have something much more profitable for you to do. Eighteen years old, tsk tsk, such a good age, it would be a waste not to make the most of it, right?¡± ¡°Boss, I just want to wash dishes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re saying, washing for an hour is just one euro, think it through. If you¡¯re willing to do something else, an hour can be worth more than a thousand euros.¡± ¡°Boss, I just want to wash dishes,¡± Xu Chaomu repeated firmly, determination in herrge eyes. ¡°Stubborn! Alright, you want to wash dishes? Go wash them in the backyard, after an hour go to the front desk to get your euro!¡± The boss lit a cigarette, looking at Xu Chaomu with dissatisfaction. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head and walked towards the backyard. Under a shed in the backyard were indeed many, many dishes to be washed, with several girls younger than her doing the washing. These girls looked even more pitiable than her, shivering in the cold wind, their small hands red from the freezing cold. Xu Chaomu walked over and squatted down. The nearby girls nced at her but continued washing. As soon as Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands touched the water, she recoiled¡ªdamn it, it was so cold out, and they only provided cold water. Just as she was about to stand up, the girls looked at her again, but said nothing. After hesitating for a moment, Xu Chaomu finallypromised, bending over and half-squatting on the ground, reaching for the grimy dishes with her hands. The water in winter was truly cold, so cold it numbed her fingers. After washing just one dish, Xu Chaomu¡¯s fingers were already frozen red. At first, she felt like crying, but then she became numb to it. She tried to speak to the girl next to her in English, but the girl knew only a few words. It took Xu Chaomu a great deal of effort to understand that they had been tricked into working abroad and hadter escaped, ending up on the streets. Without money for food, they had no choice but to wash dishes and do odd jobs. Just then, a woman who appeared to be the boss¡¯s wife came over and kicked a dozing girl without mercy. ¡°Are you here to work or to sleep? You can even fall asleep washing dishes, you might as well get lost!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± The girl couldn¡¯t say anything else but kept apologizing. ¡°If I catch you sleeping again, you¡¯re out,¡± the woman said aggressively. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± The girl let out a sob and continued washing dishes. The surroundings became even quieter, so quiet that one could hear the snowkes fluttering to the ground. After surveying everyone, the boss¡¯s wife walked away. Xu Chaomu continued to wash dishes with her head down. She suddenly remembered a time in C City when she had just run out and started washing a few dishes before Shen Chi caught her and dragged her back. He didn¡¯t allow her to wash dishes, forcefully taking her away, and in the darkness of night, he washed the filth from her hands. This memory shed by and soon, Xu Chaomu stopped thinking about it. Someone with no ties left in her life was not worth reminiscing about. After washing dishes for a full hour, Xu Chaomu went to the front desk to collect her one euro. The boss sat under a heater, puffing on a cigarette while looking at Xu Chaomu, ¡°Enjoy washing dishes?¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°Yo, seems like you really like washing dishes.¡± ¡°Boss, I¡¯m going to continue washing,¡± she said. Xu Chaomu wiped the water from her hands, preparing to head back to the backyard. The boss discarded the cigarette in his hand, crushing the butt under his foot. He grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm and yanked her toward him. ¡°Little girl, why bother with this? It¡¯s heartbreaking to watch. I¡¯ve got other work here that pays more and, what¡¯s more, it doesn¡¯t involve hardbor and is actually quitefortable. Don¡¯t you want to give it a try? You¡¯re so beautiful, you know?¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him away and backed up two steps, leaning against the wall. ¡°Boss, I just want to wash dishes.¡± ¡°But what if I don¡¯t let you wash dishes anymore, what then?¡± ¡°Are you firing me?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re fired.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave,¡± Xu Chaomu said defiantly, the determination evident in herrge eyes. She wasn¡¯t a child anymore; what the boss implied, she understood perfectly. ¡°But I am not letting you go, so what will you do?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t listen, she just lowered her head and tried to leave, heading for the door. But then the boss whistled, and suddenly several men entered, blocking Xu Chaomu¡¯s path. Xu Chaomu stepped back twice, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The boss whistled triumphantly again toward the men, ¡°See? I told you this chick is pretty, right?¡± The men leered at Xu Chaomu andughed, ¡°Boss, your eye is always spot on. These Eastern beauties are stunning. Tsk, look at that little face, look at those big eyes, tsk tsk, truly adorable.¡± ¡°Then you guys should take good care of our little girl here,¡± the boss said with a sleazy grin. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xu Chaomu raised her guard. ¡°What are we doing? Come with us and you¡¯ll find out. We guarantee it¡¯ll be an eye-opener for you! Hahaha!¡± The men grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrist firmly, dragging her outside the room. Xu Chaomu refused to go, grabbing onto the doorframe, clinging tightly and not letting go. Chapter 312: The Place Where That Kind of Movie is Shot Chapter 312: The ce Where That Kind of Movie is Shot Trantor: 549690339 But how could a young girl¡¯s strength match several men? They pulled her hands away from the door frame. The bossughed slyly from behind, ¡°Little girl, just go with them. They are all old acquaintances of mine and won¡¯t mistreat you. Look, I¡¯ve already told them to be nice to you. Stop struggling, it¡¯s useless. No one has ever escaped from my ce.¡± The boss spoke again with a secretive tone, ¡°And, little girl, I¡¯ll tell you, once you¡¯ve gone there, you¡¯ll be addicted. The job is not onlyfortable, but it also pays well. One hour can earn you more than washing many dishes. Don¡¯t be foolish, listen to my advice. I won¡¯t harm you.¡± ¡°Pah!¡± Xu Chaomu spat at him, ¡°You heartless bastard, let me go, or I¡¯ll report you all.¡± ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s your fortune that I¡¯ve taken a fancy to you. Look at those girls in the yard, they¡¯re begging me to rmend them, but I can¡¯t be bothered with them,¡± the boss said. ¡°Stop wasting time talking with her. Let¡¯s take her away. Boss, keep an eye out for any more beauties, and keep them for us. We¡¯re short on people!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, take her away. But don¡¯t forget to give me my share,¡± the boss said. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± Several men escorted Xu Chaomu out of the restaurant. ¡°What are you doing? Help!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted. ¡°Cover her mouth, don¡¯t let her scream!¡± One of the men quickly ordered. At that moment, another man used a cloth strip to gag Xu Chaomu and cover her eyes as well. Plunged into a dark world, the panic she felt half a year ago returned. They threw Xu Chaomu onto the back seat of a car and drove off, braving the snow ahead. After an unknown period of time, the car came to a halt with a couple of ¡°thuds,¡± and one of the men dragged Xu Chaomu along. ¡°Mmm, mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled. Soon, they brought her into a warm room. Xu Chaomu heard some particrly nauseating soundsing from the next room¡­ ¡°Hmm¡­ Ah¡­ Mmm¡­ Harder¡­ Ah¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was never naive, and she understood immediately! While the neighboring room was in the throes of excitement, suddenly, a discordant voice interrupted, ¡°Stop, stop, stop, her expression¡¯s not right, do it again!¡± Indeed, the neighboring room quieted down for a few seconds before erupting once more into even more exhrating moans! ¡°Harder¡­ Ah¡­ Yes¡­ Just like that¡­ Ah, ah¡­¡± ¡°Little Fairy¡­¡± The men in the same room listened, their pulses racing, rubbing shoulders in anticipation. They untied the cloth strips from Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes and mouth and pushed her to the side. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, struggling to adjust to the light, squinted out through her fingers. The ce was very crude, almost empty, just a bare room with a table and a few chairs, and a few teacups on the table. ¡°Screaming so loudly, I¡¯m tempted to jump in myself!¡± said one of the men. Another man pointed at Xu Chaomu and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give this little girl a try first?¡± ¡°How can I, with you guys right here?¡± ¡°Then why not do it together?¡± ¡°Hahaha, good idea!¡± Xu Chaomu felt nauseated, realizing that this was one of those shabby workshops famous for making pornographic films! Poorly made, low cost, high profit! Xu Chaomu truly broadened her horizons that day. As they inched closer, Xu Chaomu smashed the teacups on the table and swiftly bent down to pick up a broken shard! ¡°If youe any closer, I¡¯ll kill myself!¡± Xu Chaomu opened her eyes wide, and she was certainly not joking. ¡°Kill yourself? That wouldn¡¯t be fun at all. Tell me, little girl, listening to those sounds inside, don¡¯t you feel anything? Aren¡¯t you still a virgin?¡± Feelings my ass! Xu Chaomu said righteously, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m not afraid of you. I¡¯m without food, drink, or shelter now; at most, I have only my life left. But it¡¯s different for you. If I die, I¡¯m of no use to you at all! Plus, that would bring the police on you. You¡¯d better think this through!¡± Indeed, the men no longer acted rashly. They conceded that Xu Chaomu was right. If they brought the police down on them, it really wouldn¡¯t be fun. ¡°Little girl, put down the shard, and let¡¯s sit down and have a good talk,¡± they said. ¡°Impossible! Let me go!¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. It¡¯s not every day we catch someone like you. Brother, have you never thought about being in a movie and bing a star? It¡¯s fun to make movies. And shooting our type of movies is not only fun but also gratifying.¡± ¡°Gratifying? Well, I have a suggestion for you. Aren¡¯t there more men than women here? Why don¡¯t you men pair up and save a lot of money? Wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Hahaha, the little girl is funny. Come on,e here and put down the shard. We won¡¯t let you down!¡± Having said that, several men approached her. ¡°Back off!¡± Xu Chaomu stepped back and yelled with all her might. ¡°What¡¯s the noise?!¡± Suddenly, the door to the next room swung open. A man stepped out, shirtless. Xu Chaomu turned her head, catching the full scene inside. A naked womany half-reclining on the bed, leisurely watching themotion outside. The room also housed several crew members, who red at Xu Chaomu and the others with indignant faces. The set was indeed makeshift, with hardly any scene decorations beyond some basic equipment. They were filming a night scene of a court drama; inside, it was pitch dark with only a single candle lit. Suddenly, Xu Chaomu spotted a glimmer of opportunity! ¡°Is she new? Doesn¡¯t seem to know much,¡± the woman inside gave Xu Chaomu a nce, her tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Meimei, it looks like you need to train her,¡± the men outsideughed. ¡°No problem, let me train her for a few days, and I guarantee she¡¯ll be obedient. Then, she¡¯ll be begging us to put her in a movie!¡± the woman said, lifting her eyelids. ¡°Meimei, huh? You¡¯re really pretty, and the equipment here looks fun. May Ie in and have a look?¡± Xu Chaomu batted herrge eyes innocently. The woman¡¯s expression changed to a smile, ¡°Of course, you can. Getting ustomed ahead of time is good too.¡± Although the men exchanged nces, they didn¡¯t stop Xu Chaomu. With their own people all around, where could the girl possibly escape to? The moment Xu Chaomu entered, she began to heap praise on the woman. ¡°Meimei, not only are you attractive, but you also have a great figure. I¡¯m so envious. How do you maintain yourself? I want to learn from you!¡± ¡°Really? Such a sweet-talker, you are. No special maintenance needed, really. Just watch your diet; that¡¯s all. If you want to learn, I can teach you. However, you have to be obedient.¡± ¡°Sure, Meimei is naturally gorgeous. I will definitely obey you. Those guys over there are so fierce, but you, Meimei, you¡¯re the best.¡± Such words always came easily to Xu Chaomu. Chapter 313: Big Fire, Burning Fiercely Chapter 313: Big Fire, Burning Fiercely Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Aiyo, where did you find this little gem?¡± she eximed. ¡°She really knows how to talk. You¡¯ve instantly lifted my spirits.¡± The men outside hurriedly nodded and smiled, ¡°Mei Mei, as long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters. You should take this girl under your wing and train her well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely teach her. Little sister, you agree, don¡¯t you?¡± the womanughed behind her hand. Xu Chaomu had a stampede of imaginary alpacas racing through her mind. Why can¡¯t you wear some clothes and talk like a normal person? ¡°Sister, they¡¯re really scary, I¡¯m afraid of people. Make them go out, and I¡¯ll talk to you,¡± she pleaded. Xu Chaomu deliberately moved closer to the woman, darting nces at the surrounding environment while pretending to hide. As expected, the woman patted Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulder and said to the others, ¡°It¡¯s rare that I hit it off with this little sister. All of you go out; I want to talk to her for a while. Besides, I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Sure, Mei Mei. Take a break then. We¡¯ll go have some dinner.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu, still avoiding eye contact, was putting on quite the act, a skill she had well in hand. Once everyone had left, the woman finally put on some clothes. Standing up from the bed, she asked Xu Chaomu, ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± ¡°Oh, so young. No wonder you look so fresh and vibrant. No one left in your family?¡± ¡°Yeah, I came out to find work.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯vee to the right ce. Our film crew has both fame and fortune. Work hard, and we won¡¯t treat you unfairly. It¡¯s much better than those odd jobs out there. Stick around, and who knows, you might even be famous.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was striped with imaginary ck lines, and all she could do was nod along. ¡°Look at our equipment here; it¡¯s the highest-end stuff in the world. Stick with us, and you won¡¯t lose out,¡± she boasted. ¡°Amazing. I¡¯ve never seen these things before. They look so high-end, so luxurious!¡± Xu Chaomu thought, this woman is quite a character. Touring around, Xu Chaomu spotted the candle on the table. The woman led the way, and she followed, running behind her. Whatever the woman said, she echoed, always picking the most pleasant things to say. Just as the woman was engrossed in bragging about a camera, Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand reached for the table. ¡°Look at this camera, even the tripod is top-grade. The effects it captures can rival Hollywood blockbusters. Every time it points at me for a shot, I just really enjoy it,¡± the woman said blissfully. ¡°Look at these props, they¡¯re made to look so real. This tiger-skin coat, this golden nanmu wood bed, they¡¯re worth a fortune. But they spare no expense when ites to me. There¡¯s also this dressing table, all the best stuff in the world¡­¡± Xu Chaomu thought, this woman has been utterly brainwashed. While the woman¡¯s eyes were closed, lost in the ¡°high-end¡± technology, Xu Chaomu took her chance. She grabbed the candle and violently threw it onto the bed! Soon, a ze erupted! The nkets and pillows caught fire in an instant! No sooner had the fire lit than Xu Chaomu jumped out the window! She dared not exit through the door for fear of being caught red-handed, but the window was a fine escape route. Snow was falling outside, the road was narrow, and in the distance, there was a forest¡ªa clear avenue for escape. ¡°Ah! Help!¡± The woman, finally realizing what was happening as Xu Chaomunded with a ¡°thump¡± from the window, started screaming hysterically! ¡°Help, help!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly covered her ears and ran forward without looking back. The snow in the woods was deep, making every step difficult. Her shoes were quickly soaked through with snow. She ran fast, without stopping, just kept running¡­ After covering quite a distance without seeing anyone following her, she looked back. The fire was zing, casting the sky in crimson hues. The snowkes falling on the burning house did nothing to tame the fierce mes. Even from a great distance, Xu Chaomu could no longer hear any cries for help. She nced back, clutched her thumping heart, and kept running forward. The fire brought back her worst nightmare. When she was ten, a simr ze had left an indelible mark on her. That fire, which lingered in her mind, had be the nightmare of her life. She remembered, in the time that followed, she¡¯d often have nightmares where she¡¯d cry and shout for her ¡°mother¡±, screaming to rush into the mes. If Uncle Mo hadn¡¯t held her back, she thought, she might have joined her mother that year¡­ After which, none of this would have happened. The Shen Family had given her hope, only to sever it again. Her step faltered as a cold snowkended on her brow¡­ The cutting wind sted against her, and her exposed eyes quickly fogged up with moisture. After escaping that ce, she had been wandering alone. Not only was she hungry, but she was also bitterly cold, with her little hands numb from the freeze. Her steps were faltering, as if she might be blown away by the wind at any moment. She leaned against the trees beside the road, moving slowly¡­ Soon, her little face turned a ghastly shade of blue-gray, and she struggled to breathe. She was so hungry that she couldn¡¯t walk anymore. The snow was falling more heavily, and her feet had lost all sensation. She had no choice but to stop and rest by the roadside. As darkness fell, she didn¡¯t know where she was. Staring at distant neon lights, her consciousness began to fade. Was it a dream or reality? She could no longer tell. She squatted down, curling into a ball, huddling against the cold stone wall behind her, drawing on it for a bit of strength. As her gaze drifted and her mind nked, she thought she saw someone. A familiar figure from six months ago¡­ She almost called out, Nie Chenng! But her head grew heavier, and she could no longer distinguish between dreams and reality¡­ ¡°Cheng¡­¡± She had barely uttered a word when Xu Chaomu passed out on the roadside. Snowkes settled on her face and tangled in her hair, quickly covering her with ayer of pristine white snow. Nie Chenng was out on a project. After he finished, captivated by the particrly appealing snowfall, he lingered, strolling along with his umbre. It had been years since hest saw such heavy snow. His mood was buoyant as he strolled along the roadside with his hands in his coat pockets. There¡¯s a unique pleasure in walking through the snow. He loved snow, always feeling it was the purest thing in the world, unblemished and unstained. Suddenly, as he reached the roadside, he found a girl lying on the ground! He hurried over, ¡°Miss, wake up!¡± Brushing the snow off her face and hair, his eyes widened in surprise¡ªit was Xu Chaomu. How could it be her¡­ He was certain he wasn¡¯t mistaken; this was Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chaomu, what brought you to Paris?!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s eyes were full of urgency as he held her up. Chapter 314 - 314 Chenglang, it’s so cold Chapter 314: Chenng, it¡¯s so cold Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu stood motionless, letting Nie Chenng support her without any reaction. Nie Chenng quickly took off his coat and draped it over her, carrying her quickly toward the hospital! The snow was falling heavily; he had never thought that he would meet Xu Chaomu again in this ce, at this time. Half a year had gone by, a full six months. Back then, he hadn¡¯t left her any message, thinking they would never see each other again in this lifetime¡­ Fate really is a wonderful thing. ¡°Chaomu, hold on a little longer, we¡¯re almost at the hospital.¡± Nie Chenng hugged her tightly, holding her close in his arms as if afraid the snowkes would fall on her. As for him, his hair had quickly turned white. ¡°Cold¡­¡± Halfway there, Xu Chaomu suddenly murmured, her voice extremely weak. Nie Chenng¡¯s brows furrowed. Why was she alone in Paris? And her clothes were so thin, her body so frail. After they said goodbye at the airport that day, had she really never gone back home? When he held her, he could clearly feel that she had lost weight! He hastened his pace toward the nearest hospital! ¡°Doctor, save her!¡± Nie Chenng said anxiously as he carried her into the ward. Xu Chaomu was in and out of consciousness, and at that moment, she seemed to hear a familiar voice¡­ Whose voice was that, was it¡­ Nie Chenng? Was it really him? She tried hard to open her eyes, but the harder she tried, the more difficult it became¡­ She wanted to see if it was Nie Chenng¡­ Having not seen him for half a year, she thought she would never see him again in her life¡­ ¡°Doctor,e over here quickly, there is a patient!¡± Nie Chenng called out again! This time, Xu Chaomu heard clearly, it was him, it was his voice¡­ ¡°Cheng¡­ Chenng¡­ so cold¡­¡± Xu Chaomu murmured, her breath as fine as gossamer, desperately trying to open her eyes. The light above flickered, she reached out and grabbed Nie Chenng¡¯s sweater as if that would make her warmer. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t be afraid, we are at the hospital, hold on a little longer, the doctor will be here soon. Hold onto me, don¡¯t let go.¡± He pulled Xu Chaomu a bit tighter into his embrace, but he could feel her entire body shivering. Once in the warm ward, he held both her hands tightly, hoping it would make her feel better. A nket was ced over Xu Chaomu, and she finally felt warmth, as well as the warmth emanating from Nie Chenng holding her hands. ¡°Teacher Nie¡­ Am I dreaming¡­ Is it you¡­?¡± Xu Chaomu made an effort to lift her eyes; she finally saw the person in front of her clearly. He still looked handsome after half a year, his brows carrying the serenity of a bright moon. She particrly liked this feeling of looking at him; it was different from looking at anyone else. He gave her a sense of security, a kind that meant, ¡°Spare you a life of hardship without a branch to lean on.¡± Suddenly, she was very attached to this sense of security and warmth, different from what anyone else offered. Just like now, as he warmed her hands and her body gradually warmed up, the ce over her heart seemed to be revived¡­ The heart that had been ¡®dead¡¯ for half a year finally felt a throb of life. ¡°It¡¯s me, Nie Chenng. Chaomu, it¡¯s been half a year, I never thought we¡¯d meet again in a foreignnd.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯m still dreaming, pinch me.¡± Nie Chenng was helpless, shaking his head, ¡°It¡¯s not a dream.¡± ¡°Pinch me¡­ pinch me¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said stubbornly. No sooner had she finished speaking than she started coughing, feeling very ufortable in her throat. ¡°Alright, alright, there¡¯s no talking sense with you.¡± After saying that, Nie Chenng really did pinch her lightly. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomuughed, not a dream. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t a dream, to see an old friend in a foreign country. What great happiness that is! ¡°Of course, it hurts, silly!¡± Nie Chenng said with augh as he pinched her cheek. After not seeing her for half a year, he still loved to see herugh. Herughter was always pure and lovely, like the sun in winter, instantly cheering up the heart. But, having not seen her for half a year, she had be terribly thin. This particrly pained him. Soon, the doctor came to check on Xu Chaomu and instructed Nie Chenng to take good care of her. ¡°Chaomu, how did you end up in Paris? Tell me the truth.¡± ¡°I missed you, so I came to see you.¡± ¡°Impossible, you¡¯re not telling the truth. If you don¡¯t, tomorrow you¡¯ll be punished under the sun.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Tiantian, that trick won¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°Have you be so audacious that you won¡¯t listen to me anymore? Then I¡¯ll leave you here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t, Teacher Nie, I¡¯ll behave, I¡¯m a perfect student.¡± Even though Xu Chaomu knew he was joking, she still enjoyed ying along with him. ¡°Hmm, then tell me, why did youe to Paris? Alone? How did you get here?¡± ¡°Can I not say?¡± Remembering the past events from half a year ago, Xu Chaomu felt a stab of pain in her chest. That night, on the cruise ship, gunshots, bullets, bloodstains¡­ Everything was as if it had happened just yesterday, slowly bing clear again. She didn¡¯t want to remember those things, but they persistently followed her like a shadow! The less she wanted to recall, the clearer they became. In the pouring rain, Bai Man told her she was pregnant with Shen Chi¡¯s child, and Shen Chi¡¯s true love was her, Bai Man! Her mother, Xu Mengxi, was killed by Shen Chi¡¯s mother, Zhou Ran! Her beloved fourth brother was actually a ruthless swindler! Later¡­ she took a bullet for him, and as she fell into his arms, she said, ¡°Shen Chi, eight years of debt has been repaid.¡± From then on, she owed Shen Chi nothing. Thinking of these things, she painfully withdrew her hands from Nie Chenng¡¯s, covering her head. Her head ached terribly¡­ ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong? If you don¡¯t want to talk, don¡¯t talk, I won¡¯t pressure you. Don¡¯t think about unhappy things, rx a little,¡± Nie Chenng quickly embraced her. ¡°My head hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said with a pained expression. ¡°I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t ask you anymore. Don¡¯t think about those unhappy things, get a good night¡¯s sleep, get better. Do you remember I told you about the ces in Paris that are fun? When you¡¯re feeling better, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu nodded weakly. ¡°Alright, Chaomu, don¡¯t be afraid, from now on in Paris, I¡¯ll be with you. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want, just tell me.¡± ¡°Chenng¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was in too much pain to speak, so she softly called out his name. ¡°Hmm, don¡¯t speak, rest well. Lie down, sleep a while, I¡¯ll cover you with a nket.¡± He gentlyid Xu Chaomu down on the hospital bed, then went to fill a hot water bottle and ce it beside her. His warm palm brushed over her forehead, gently pushing away the messy strands of hair. ¡°Good, now close your eyes,¡± Nie Chenng coaxed her as if soothing a child. He knew that she was just a child who never grew up. And a child, well, they need to be tenderly coaxed. Chapter 315: If your heart is towards the sun, there is no need for sorrow Chapter 315: If your heart is towards the sun, there is no need for sorrow Trantor: 549690339 Xu Chaomu truly listened to Nie Chenng¡¯s words and obediently closed her eyes. Tucked in the warm and cozy nkets, her body slowly warmed up. The hot water bottle Nie Chenng gave her was very warm; she held it with both hands, unwilling to let go. ¡°Have a good sleep, and if there¡¯s anything troubling you, you¡¯ll forget it all when you wake up.¡± He gently stroked her soft hair, and despite not seeing her for half a year, she still had that small, pitiful appearance that made people want to care for her. Especially when she hid under the covers, she was like a little kitten, curled up into a ball, drawing warmth from her own body. Suddenly, Xu Chaomu opened her eyes again, raised her gaze to look at him, paused, and then said, ¡°Chenng¡­ will you leave? I¡¯m afraid when I wake up, you¡¯ll be gone¡­¡± Nie Chenng looked into her watery eyes, feeling a pang of heartache: ¡°Rest assured and sleep, I definitely won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll be right here watching over you, and when you open your eyes, you¡¯ll still see me.¡± Xu Chaomu stretched out her hand, wanting to touch him, as she was truly afraid he would leave. She could no longer bear the pain of being forsaken and abandoned; those people always said they would stay by her side, but in the end, they all left her far behind. They had abandoned her, no longer wanting her. Nie Chenng grabbed her small hand, his eyebrows slightly furrowed: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ve left a message with the doctor, no matter what, you will be able to find me. If you¡¯re not reassured, I¡¯ll also write down the address of my school for you, okay?¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not that timid; what I¡¯m afraid of is that without you, there won¡¯t be anyone to pay for my medical and hospital expenses,¡± Xu Chaomu said with augh. When sheughed, her rows of small white teeth were always so endearing. Nie Chenng alsoughed: ¡°Your medical expenses, hospital expenses, including your food and drinks, I¡¯ve got it all covered.¡± ¡°Rich man Nie,¡± Xu Chaomu giggled, finally a little sparkle appeared in her big eyes. ¡°When you¡¯re feeling a bit better, Rich man Nie will take you for a walk along the Seine River. At sunset, the reddening sun will cast a shimmering glow on the Seine ¨C it¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°I can be quite clingy, you won¡¯t find me annoying, will you?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. Her heart had settled a lot; having escaped the clutches of evil during the day, the ze that seemed to fill the sky was still swirling in her mind. The fire she had set with her own hands had turned half the sky red. She was still a bit scared now; if she hadn¡¯t found a chance, or if those people had caught her again, what would she be doing right now¡­ Would she be dead? Nie Chenng tucked her small hand back under the covers and neatly arranged the bedding for her: ¡°That suits me well because I like to be clung to.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled: ¡°Who likes to be clung to, it¡¯s so annoying.¡± At that moment, an image of someone shed through her mind. Indeed, who likes to be clung to? Every time she clung to him, he would impatiently tell her to go away. As he wished, she had finally left. And she would never cling to him again for the rest of her life. ¡°I like it,¡± Nie Chenng said softly. ¡°Really? Okay, then you¡¯re not allowed to leave. Once I get better, I promise to cling to you so much you¡¯ll want to hide,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a mischievous look, her eyes curving into crescents. ¡°Then take good care of your health, and fatten yourself up so you¡¯ll have the energy to cling to me.¡± ¡°I have so many things I want to do, once I¡¯m better, can you send me to school?¡± ¡°What do you want to study?¡± ¡°Study what? Let me think¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, first get some sleep; once you wake up, maybe you will have decided. Close your eyes, be good.¡± ¡°Oh, then I¡¯m going to sleep, and you¡¯re not allowed to leave, you definitely must not leave.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t worry, if I leave, then I¡¯m a dog, alright?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded happily and then contentedly closed her eyes. This half-year in Paris had been the most blessed moment of hers. No longer needing to worry about food and warmth, no longer fearing harm, and no more worrying about whether she would see tomorrow¡¯s sun¡­ She slept very soundly. She was truly exhausted, and in just a few minutes, she fell into a deep sleep, sleeping so soundly. Nie Chenng stayed by her side, taking care of her the whole time. He peeled an apple for her and bought her lots of food to eat. Having spent some time with her at the orphanage, he knew what she liked. Returning, he wrote down a line on a slip of paper: If your heart is in the sunlight, there¡¯s no need for sadness. He pressed the slip of paper under a very pretty teacup, then ced the teacup on her bedside table. He didn¡¯t leave that night. She didn¡¯t allow him to leave, so he wouldn¡¯t. Xu Chaomu slept deeply; Nie Chenng sat beside the bed, looking at her with a heart full of tenderness. Where had she been for this half-year? Why had shee to Paris alone? There were many doubts, but Nie Chenng found that she seemed unwilling to talk. He wouldn¡¯t press her; there was plenty of time ahead, and he would wait for her to open up to him voluntarily. The night grew deeper, and the moon rose in the sky. The snow kept falling, though much lighter now. The world was a vast expanse of whiteness, and the bright moonlight on the snow made everything around so quiet. The snowy night was serene, and even a person¡¯s state of mind seemed to rx along with it. When the wind blew, the treetops swayed, and clumps of snow fell from the branches. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked a few times, making the snowy night even more peaceful. Nie Chenng loved snowy nights; he stood by the window for a long time. His tall, dark coat entuated his upright and handsome figure. By midnight, he sat on the sofa and dozed off for a while. The next day, early in the morning, the sun came out, and the sunlight streamed through the ss windows and the curtains into the room. Xu Chaomu was the first to wake up; as she opened her eyes, she saw Nie Chenng half-reclining on the sofa asleep. Feeling thirsty but not wanting to wake him, she tiptoed down from the bed to pour a cup of tea. Just as she picked up the teacup, she suddenly noticed a paper slip pressed under it. Out of curiosity, she picked it up and saw eight words: If your heart is in the sunlight, there¡¯s no need for sadness. The words and the sun outside the window warmed her heart instantly. If your heart is in the sunlight, there¡¯s no need for sadness. How wonderful. She held the steaming cup of water and walked to the window, her eyes gazing outside. Because of the temperature difference, the ss had ayer of blurry condensation. Some of the moisture gathered into droplets and slid down the smooth ss. As Xu Chaomu held the teacup, she lifted her hand, suddenly feeling a strong urge to write on the window ss. However, as she raised her hand, she didn¡¯t know what to write. In the past, she loved to write that person¡¯s name, and every time she did, she would conceitedly add her own name to it afterward. As if by doing this, they could be together forever; as if this meant that she and he would indeed be together forever. The thoughts and actions of a young girl are always so naive. Naive to the point of not knowing the great height of the heaven and the vastness of the earth, unaware of the hardships and dangers¡­ Chapter 316: The Beautiful Sister is a Tiger Chapter 316: The Beautiful Sister is a Tiger Trantor: 549690339 Such unwarranted dedication like a moth to the me only leads to deception and a sorrow greater than heart death. She stopped her hand mid-air and, ultimately, ced it on the ss, gently wiping away a small patch of condensation. She wrote nothing, simply clearing the mist. Instantly, the piece of ss became much clearer, and sunlight streamed in, falling onto her face. It was a warm sensation, and in no time, her cheeks were bathed in sunlight. ¡°When did you wake up?¡± Nie Chenng opened his eyes just in time to see Xu Chaomu standing by the window. He threw off the nket from his body and walked over to her. Xu Chaomu turned her head, ¡°Just woke up. The sun is really nice.¡± ¡°Has the snow stopped?¡± ¡°Yeah, it probably stopped a while ago. Shall we go downstairs and make a snowman? Look, there are some kids over there!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed out. Nie Chenng smiled helplessly, ¡°You realize they¡¯re kids, right? How old are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m forever eighteen!¡± Xu Chaomuughed, ¡°Besides, making snowmen isn¡¯t age-specific. You can¡¯t discriminate against me.¡± ¡°Do you know how to make a snowman?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy! I¡¯ll direct you, and you¡¯ll build!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s face was lined with exasperation. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, if we don¡¯t, the snow will start to melt.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run too fast, don¡¯t fall!¡± Nie Chenng hurriedly dressed in his coat and chased after her. Xu Chaomu drank a few sips of water, ced the cup on the table, and ran out. She had always loved making snowmen, ever since she was a child. In the Shen Family home during winter, she was the only one who would make snowmen; no one joined her. The people of the Shen family disdained such childish games, always believing it to be a waste of time. They would go and learn piano or attend various banquets, while she, alone and in silence, would make snowmen in the courtyard. They would never take her to the banquets either. Every time Shen Yanrou saw her making a snowman, she would sneer with ill intent. She would even kick the snowman Xu Chaomu had built, seeming quite pleased with herself after kicking it, then walking away with a strut. Back then, Xu Chaomu would get very angry and would argue with Shen Yanrou, who ignored her, always repeating the same line, ¡°A mongrel from the outside that can only stack snow. You can¡¯t y the piano, can¡¯t dance, utterly useless. A sparrow can never be a phoenix.¡± Despite Xu Chaomu¡¯s quick-wit, she never knew how to retort. Lost in thought, Xu Chaomu ran down to the hospital¡¯s ground floor. A few golden-haired and blue-eyed kids had already made a small snowman and were now starting a snowball fight. They rolled up the snow with their red-frozen little hands into big snowballs and flung them at each other, having a st. ¡°Hit, hit, oh, hit!¡± These kids spoke English fluently. Snowballs flew through the air, some missing their targets and hitting trees, others striking the side of a building. Of course, some hit innocent passersby, like Xu Chaomu! ¡°You little guys, you¡¯re hitting me on purpose!¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to be ¡°angry.¡± She had juste downstairs when arge snowball struck her head, instantly making her appear battle-scarred. ¡°Big sister got hit, there¡¯s a big white flower on big sister¡¯s head.¡± The kids were especially delighted, pping their hands in approval. The few golden-haired, blue-eyed tykes were incredibly adorable, with curly hair, long eyshes, and hopping and skipping while pping their hands. While Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t paying attention, a few children bent down to scoop up more snowballs, aiming to throw them at her. How could Xu Chaomu let herself be at a disadvantage? When a snowball was thrown her way, she swiftly ducked, dodging it! With the swiftness of a thunderbolt, she grabbed a handful of snow and hurled it toward the opposite side! First she feigned a throw, which made the little brats hurry to run away, only to realize a few stepster that the snowball hadn¡¯te at all. Only then did Chaomu quickly smash it towards them! ¡°Ow, ow, ow, cold, cold, cold!¡± the little brats immediately screamed. The snowball hit one of the kids smack on the head without deviation. The little guy thrashed about, reaching up to dig out the snow on his head. As he dug, he also grumbled, ¡°Bad sister¡­ no¡­ bad auntie¡­ bad auntie¡­ the mean auntie who bullies people¡­¡± Cheering herself with a p of her hands, Chaomu boasted proudly, ¡°Still dare to throw at your sister now?¡± ¡°Dare!¡± After saying that, the little guy, unconvinced, pouted his lips, bent over, and with his little palm rolled a tiny snowball. He tossed the little snowball at Chaomu, who was ready this time, and dodged it with an agile sidestep. She ran over to this kid, bent down, and with a smile, gently touched his tender, pink cheeks. ¡°Little guy, how old are you?¡± ¡°Five.¡± ¡°And where are you from?¡± ¡°My home is right here in Paris.¡± ¡°Where are your mommy and daddy?¡± ¡°Why do you want to know? If I say my mommy and daddy aren¡¯t here, are you going to bully me again?¡± The kid pouted, his big eyes rolling around. ¡°Sister is a good person, I won¡¯t bully you. Look at sister, do I look like a bad person? Have you ever seen a bad person this pretty?¡± ¡°My mommy says, pretty sisters are like tigers. Don¡¯t y with tigers; tigers eat people.¡± Chaomu¡¯s eyes twitched, then she quickly countered, ¡°Then your mommy is also a tiger, right?¡± ¡°My mommy is not a tiger, my mommy is so nice, I love her the most.¡± The little guy protested. ¡°Beautiful women are all tigers, and if your mother isn¡¯t a tiger, then doesn¡¯t that mean your mother isn¡¯t pretty?¡± The little one held his head, huh, that seemed to make sense. Patting his head, Chaomu said, ¡°So you see, sister is not a tiger. Come on, let sister give you a hug, okay?¡± Chaomu really liked this child; she felt affection for him from the first nce. Foreign kids were like little dolls, surely just asfy to hold. Seeing that Chaomu was quite friendly, the kid blinked his big eyes a few times and stretched out his arms: ¡°Pretty sister, hug.¡± ¡°Yeah, hug!¡± Chaomu picked him up. She herself was still a kid at heart, so she really didn¡¯t hold kids very often. And there, she almost dropped the little guy. Nie Chenng quickly came to her side and supported the kid from behind,ughing, ¡°If you had dropped him, you really would have been a tiger.¡± ¡°Holding a kid is so much fun, just look at him, so adorable. Do you think his hair is naturally curly or permed? It¡¯s like a wig!¡± Chaomu touched his hair, then his little hands, full of joy. Kids are really cute. And their little chubby faces. Foreign kids are so fun, with their blond hair, blue eyes, big watery eyes. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s naturally curly.¡± Nie Chenng alsoughed. ¡°Who would perm a child¡¯s hair?¡± ¡°Bad sister, you¡¯re pulling my hair; it hurts. I don¡¯t want to y with you anymore; you can¡¯t hold kids.¡± The little one began to squirm in Chaomu¡¯s embrace. Chapter 317: Birth of a Mixed-Race Baby Chapter 317: Birth of a Mixed-Race Baby Trantor:549690339 ¡°Ah, just let me hold you a little longer. Come on, do you want some candy from your sister?¡± ¡°No, you think you can buy me off with candy? No way,¡± the little guy shook his head. ¡°Oh, what do you want then?¡± Xu Chaomu asked patiently. For the first time, she felt so patient, thoroughly enjoying ying with a child. It was also the first time she realized how much she liked kids. ¡°I want to y with that little sister¡­¡± The little guy pointed to a dark-haired little girl not far away, giggling ¡°geez geez¡± withughter. When Xu Chaomu turned to look, she saw that the little girl was really pretty, with big eyes, a mushroom haircut, and a red dress. She was focused on ying with a little dog, sometimes lifting it up, sometimes teaching it math, and sometimes lying down to y games with it. Xu Chaomu patted the little guy¡¯s head, ¡°Do you like that little sister?¡± ¡°No.¡± He denied it, turning his head away to stop looking. But after a few seconds, he couldn¡¯t help but turn back, covering his eyes, peeking at the little sister through his fingers. ¡°Still say you don¡¯t like her, look, your face is all red.¡± ¡°Bad sister, my face isn¡¯t red. Let me down, I don¡¯t want you to hold me, you don¡¯t know how to hold kids, my butt hurts from your holding,¡± heined. Xu Chaomu was speechless with a face full of ck lines, ¡°Just let me hold you for a while, you say you¡¯re this cute, there¡¯s no loss in letting me hold you.¡± ¡°Sister, are you a pedophile? You¡¯re not falling for me, are you? I don¡¯t like olddies, I like that little sister!¡± Olddy¡­ Xu Chaomu really wanted to strangle him. She¡¯s only eighteen, alright! After the new year, she¡¯d only be neen. It was the first time someone had called her an olddy. Nie Chenngughed on the side, ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯ve be an olddy.¡± ¡°You little brat, with a mouth that knows no bounds, your sister won¡¯t hold it against you. Call me ¡®nice sister,¡¯ and I¡¯ll take you to y with the little sister.¡± ¡°Bad sister, bad sister. Let me go, waaaa¡­¡± After saying that, the little guy covered his eyes and started ¡°crying.¡± While crying, he wriggled in Xu Chaomu¡¯s arms, wrinkling her clothes. But Xu Chaomu really wanted to hug him; she suddenly wondered if her future kids could be this cute too. ¡°Come on, if you don¡¯t want the bad sister to hold you, how about letting brother hold you?¡± Nie Chenng reached out his hand. The little brat blinked, staring at Nie Chenng for several seconds. The brother looked pretty handsome, so he stretched out his arms. Nie Chenng took him from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands and held him in his arms. Xu Chaomu was so annoyed, she gave the little guy¡¯s butt a pat and scolded, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want me to hold you?¡± ¡°Brother¡¯s handsome, just as handsome as me!¡± The little guy said proudly. ¡°You¡¯re so vain at five years old; what will you be like when you grow up!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be even more vain,¡± the little guy said, not at all ashamed but proud. A look of pride was all over his little face, just short of a smug cover-up. ¡°Bad sister, have you ever heard this saying?¡± ¡°What saying?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, curious. ¡°When I was young, I thought I was the most handsome person in the world, but when I grew up¡­¡± the little guy deliberately paused. ¡°When you grew up, you found out there were many more handsome than you?¡± Xu Chaomu joined in. ¡°No, when I grew up I found out, it was the whole universe!¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes. Nie Chenngughed heartily, and seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s exasperated expression, the little guy pped andughed as well, feeling very smug. Xu Chaomu raised her hand, pretending to spank him. ¡°The bad sister¡¯s going to hit someone¡­¡± The little guy quickly hid in Nie Chenng¡¯s arms, rubbing his little face against Nie Chenng¡¯s coat. He smudged Nie Chenng¡¯s clothes with snot and mud, all the while giggling muffledughter. Of course, Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t going to hit him; she just really wanted to hug him. Nie Chenng, seeing the affection in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, said with a smile, ¡°Do you like him a lot?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded repeatedly, ¡°I think he¡¯s really cute, with curly hair and chubby little cheeks.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of having one yourself now?¡± Nie Chenng teased. Being the little rascal she is, Xu Chaomu replied, ¡°Yeah, yeah, it would be great if my future baby could be this cute. If it¡¯s mixed-race, that would be beyond praise!¡± Xu Chaomu had a dreamy look on her face, fantasizing about having a wonderful mixed-race baby. ¡°So you have a thing for this, a mixed-race baby, hahaha,¡± Nie Chenngughed. ¡°What¡¯s so funny? You¡¯ve got to have dreams, what if theye true? If I had a baby like this, I wouldn¡¯t need to eat every day, just looking at him would make me happy,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°What if the dad¡¯s genes aren¡¯t good and the mixed-race baby turns out ugly?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a good eye.¡± Xu Chaomuughed happily, and the little guy, hiding in Nie Chenng¡¯s arms, yed as she tried to yfully torment him. Sometimes she pinched his cheek, sometimes she touched his arm. The little guy couldn¡¯t dodge fast enough, and so he started to w back: ¡°Bad sister, bad sister! I don¡¯t like you¡­¡± Nie Chenng looked down to console him, ¡°Sister¡¯s not a bad sister, she likes you a lot. Shall we let her hold you for a bit?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± The little fellow deliberately extended the sound, shaking his head like a rattle-drum. In the sunlight, Nie Chenng held the little guy while Xu Chaomu stood by, feeling both annoyed and amused. Was she really that bad? But in that moment, Nie Chenng did look very pleasing to the eye, with the dappled light shining on his face, with a vast expanse of white snow behind him. The young and handsome face revealed a sense of stability and gentleness, and even the blinking of his long eyshes was attractive. ¡°You little rascal, let me tell you, if you won¡¯t let me hold you, I¡¯m going to hold that little sister,¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at the girl ying with the dog. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hold the little sister, she¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°Let me hold you for a moment, and I won¡¯t go hug her.¡± ¡°Why do you always want to hold me? Are you a human trafficker, or maybe you¡¯re a pedophile?¡± ¡°I just like you,¡± Xu Chaomu said helplessly. ¡°Then why do you call me ¡®little brat¡¯? I¡¯m not a little brat.¡± ¡°Oh, little handsome guy, does that work for you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it¡­¡± The little guy was satisfied and then turned to seek Nie Chenng¡¯s opinion, ¡°Big handsome guy, do you think she¡¯s a bad person? She wants to hold me.¡± ¡°Of course not, she¡¯s a pretty sister,¡± Nie Chenng said, pinching his little cheek with a smile. Only then did the little guy reluctantly extend his hand, and Xu Chaomu, overjoyed, took him from Nie Chenng¡¯s arms. Having held him once, this time she was evidently more experienced, holding him steadily, and the little guy wasn¡¯t annoyed anymore, ying on his own. Xu Chaomu said to Nie Chenng with a smile, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t said you were unmarried, I¡¯d really suspect you already had kids.¡± This man held a child so skillfully and was so good at pampering them, so gentle. In the future, he would definitely make a verypetent dad. Chapter 318 - 318 Who Will She Marry Chapter 318: Who Will She Marry Trantor:549690339 ¡°Is that so?¡± Nie Chenng hadn¡¯t noticed it himself, andughed, ¡°Do you mean that I look a bit anxious?¡± ¡°No no no, that¡¯s not what I meant at all!¡± Xu Chaomuughed too. The little fellow was hiding in Xu Chaomu¡¯s embrace, ying with anything he could get his hands on, even a button being enough to entertain him immensely. ¡°Chaomu, haven¡¯t you had breakfast yet? Are you hungry?¡± ¡°I had some water¡­ But now that you mention it, I¡¯m actually really hungry.¡± ¡°Then put him down, and I¡¯ll take you to have breakfast. After that, we cane back here.¡± ¡°No, why don¡¯t you go buy it for me, huh? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to bring it here for me to eat?¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t with you. Then wait here for me, don¡¯t run around, I¡¯ll be back. What do you want to eat?¡± Nie Chenng asked. ¡°As long as it¡¯s bought by you, I love it. If it¡¯s made by your own hands, I¡¯ll love it even more.¡± Xu Chaomu said with a mischievous smile. ¡°You sure know how to please someone,¡± Nie Chenngughed. ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m just telling the truth. Rich Nie, that¡¯s why you¡¯re so popr!¡± ¡°You really know how to give me nicknames. One moment you call me Teacher Nie, another moment Rich Nie. Just call me Chenng.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Chenng, go and buy breakfast quickly, I¡¯ll wait for you here. Oh, and buy one for him too.¡± Xu Chaomu pointed to the little rascal in her arms. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t run around. By the way, memorize my phone number. If something happens, call me.¡± Yesterday, Xu Chaomu had really scared him, and he thought, he wouldn¡¯t leave her behind again. Nie Chenng tossed her a piece of paper with his phone number on it before he went to buy breakfast with peace of mind. Xu Chaomu, holding the little fellow, smiled and waved at him. Soon, Nie Chenng turned the corner of a building, and his figure disappeared from sight. In the sunlight, Xu Chaomu, holding a five-year-old child, radiated maternal warmth in her eyes. ¡°Little guy, you still haven¡¯t told me your name.¡± Xu Chaomu looked down at the little brat in her arms. Her arms were a bit sore from holding him, but she still wanted to keep him in her embrace. In a few years, would she also have a cute child like him? ¡­Child¡­ In the future, whom would she marry? Who would want her? ¡°My name is Lulu, that¡¯s my nickname. My parents are superzy because when I was just born, all I could say was ¡®lulululu,¡¯ and as a result, they gave me the nickname ¡®Lulu.¡¯ It¡¯s so annoying and sounds terrible.¡± Lulululu? Xu Chaomuughed out loud. ¡°Howe you speak English so well?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°My mom is French, and my dad is English. I can speak both English and French. I can also speak Chinese!¡± ¡°Hm? You can speak Chinese? What can you say?¡± ¡°Big sister, you¡¯re so pretty. Auntie, you¡¯re so pretty. Granny, you¡¯re so pretty.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was lined with exasperation, ¡°Besides those, what else can you say?¡± ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re so handsome. Uncle, you¡¯re so handsome¡­¡± ¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t listen any longer. ¡°Lulu, do you like your dad or your mom more?¡± Xu Chaomu quickly changed the subject. ¡°Mom.¡± The little guy answered without hesitation. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because my dad is too busy and never ys with me. I don¡¯t like him anymore.¡± ¡°Dad is too busy? That must be because he¡¯s busy making money. He needs to earn a whole lot of money to take care of you and mom, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want him to make so much money; I want him to y with me. I want him to y with me and mom together.¡± At this, a trace of sadness appeared in the little guy¡¯s eyes. Xu Chaomu knew that, at this age, what children want most is to have their parents with them. Her nose tingled with emotion. Without a father, she had never known what paternal love was. At the age of ten, even the maternal love she had was gone. Bai Man said that Zhou Ran had caused the death of her mother, and Shen Chi had not denied it himself. Huh, her mother was killed by the Shen family, yet she had stayed in the Shen family for eight years without knowing anything. Even more, she had loved the son of her enemy so deeply and unreservedly. She was truly foolish, incurably so. And yet, all the kindness that man showed her was simply out of guilt. At this thought, she stopped talking, her eyes suddenly red. ¡°Mean sister, what¡¯s wrong with you? Why are your eyes red? Don¡¯t cry, I won¡¯t call you mean sister anymore¡­ good sister¡­¡± The little guy stretched out his plump little hand to Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, trying to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes. ¡°Good sister, are you missing your dad and mom?¡± Xu Chaomu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and smiled, ¡°The winter wind is too strong, it stings the eyes.¡± ¡°Shall I blow on them for you?¡± The little guy really got close to Xu Chaomu and blew gently for her. Xu Chaomu thought, children really are so innocent. The world of children is pure and beautiful. Bathed in sunlight, she felt warm at that moment. She wanted to live a good life,plete her studies, do things she loved, find someone who loved her, live together, and have a cute little baby. To live a happy, simple life like that for the rest of her life. When Nie Chenng arrived, he saw Xu Chaomu and the little guy having a great time. He ced the breakfast on a bench and called them over. ¡°Come have breakfast, and after that, let¡¯s build a snowman together!¡± Nie Chenng was treating Xu Chaomu like a child, but when he looked up and saw Xu Chaomu leading the little guy by the hand, he saw a womanly tenderness on her face. The little guy was obediently led by her, their footsteps in sync as they walked forward together. Nie Chenng squinted, watching them quietly. One so beautiful, the other so adorable, Nie Chenng suddenly felt a sense of family. ¡°One two one, big sister, you got the step wrong!¡± The little guy instructed Xu Chaomu while marching. ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s wrong,¡± Xu Chaomu looked down. ¡°No, it¡¯s you who¡¯s wrong. Don¡¯t believe me? Let¡¯s do it again!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it then. Watch closely, you¡¯ll see it¡¯s you who¡¯s wrong.¡± The pair marched towards Nie Chenng, and within a few steps, they were in front of him. Nie Chenng noticed the little guy was all sweaty from ying and quickly pulled him to his side. ¡°Look at you, all sweaty. Hungry?¡± Nie Chenng wiped the sweat beads off his forehead. ¡°I am, I didn¡¯t have breakfast. Big brother, what yummy things did you buy?¡± The little guy rummaged through Nie Chenng¡¯s bag, almost sticking his head into it. Soon, he fished out an egg tart, but he still offered it to Xu Chaomu first. ¡°Big sister, you eat one first.¡± ¡°When did you be so well-behaved?¡± Xu Chaomu stroked his head. ¡°I¡¯ve always been good.¡± The little guy sat down on the bench and, pulling Xu Chaomu¡¯s clothes, coaxed her to sit down too. He then consciously sat to one side, allowing Xu Chaomu and Nie Chenng to sit next to each other. Very understandingly, the little guy held a piece of pizza on the side, eating without disturbing Nie Chenng from getting breakfast for Xu Chaomu. Chapter 319: Your Husband is Really Gentle Chapter 319: Your Husband is Really Gentle Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Lulu, drink some milk, eat slowly, don¡¯t choke!¡± Xu Chaomu handed a carton of milk to the little guy. ¡°Hmm!¡± The little one stretched out his hand to receive it. He ate breakfast very obediently, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart melted watching him. Especially when his long, dark eyshes fluttered, the more she looked, the happier she became. The sunlight shone on the little fellow, making his little face blush like a red apple. The warmth in Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart also rose bit by bit. Nie Chenng was right, ¡®if your heart is toward the sun, there is no need for sadness.¡¯ Nie Chenng gently touched the little guy¡¯s head and tenderly asked, ¡°Where are your mom and dad?¡± The little fellow paused, pouted his lips and said, ¡°My dad is at work. He had surgery to do early in the morning, very busy, very busy. My mom is waiting for him outside the surgery room. They just left me outside to y by myself.¡± Right after the little one finished speaking, a man and a woman walked over. Both the man and the woman were tall, with the man wearing a whiteb coat and having the typical look of an Englishman. The woman, on the other hand, was in high spirits, dressed in a blue coat and exuded style. When the little fellow saw these two peopleing, he turned his back, sticking his butt up high. Humph, not talking to them. Xu Chaomu immediately understood, these might be Lulu¡¯s parents! The woman, upon seeing Lulu having breakfast, came over and smiled at Nie Chenng and Xu Chaomu. She sat down beside the little guy: ¡°Lulu, having breakfast? Are you having fun? Is the snowman ready?¡± The little fellow just wouldn¡¯t acknowledge her, burying his head and continuously munching on his pizza. ¡°Still angry at daddy? Daddy¡¯s surgery is done. He¡¯se out to y with you, and mommy will apany you too.¡± ¡°Liar! You¡¯re all liars! You won¡¯t y for even five minutes before daddy gets called away to surgery again! Cheaters, you¡¯re all cheaters! I don¡¯t believe you anymore! Go away.¡± The little fellow was particrly angry and ignored them. The woman helplessly shrugged her shoulders: ¡°Lulu, daddy has turned off his phone this time, he won¡¯t be called away again. Do you want to build a snowman or go skiing? Daddy and mommy will take you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going with you, I want to y with sister and brother.¡± The little guy refused to agree. Nie Chenng tried to persuade him: ¡°Lulu, your dad works so hard for the family. Think about it, where does the money for your breakfast every daye from? Where does the money for your clothese from? Besides, your dad¡¯s job is very noble, saving lives. Just think, each time your dad operates, he might save a person¡¯s life, which is so great.¡± Only then did the little fellow keep quiet, nibbling on the pizza. ¡°Lulu, don¡¯t you think what brother is saying is right?¡± Nie Chenng said. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but give Nie Chenng a thumbs-up, not expecting that he really knew how to coax kids. The little fellow seemed to be persuaded, but still pouted. Nie Chenng continued to convince him: ¡°Look, your dad hase over as soon as he had time, which shows he always keeps you in mind. But performing surgeries is his job, and it¡¯s also about a patient¡¯s life. So, you need to understand your dad. Now, he has time, and he hase to y with you voluntarily, so why not go and have fun with dad and mom, okay?¡± The little guy was finally convinced and nodded his head. The little fellow¡¯s dad came over and picked him up from the chair: ¡°Daddy will apany you all day today.¡± ¡°Mommy will too,¡± the woman said. Only then did the little fellow burst intoughter. The woman walked up to Nie Chenng and Xu Chaomu and smiled slightly: ¡°Thank you for taking care of Lulu and even buying him breakfast. I really appreciate it. Sorry to have bothered you.¡± Nie Chenngughed: ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s a kind of fate that we get along so well with Lulu.¡± The woman gave Nie Chenng a thumbs-up, then smiled at Xu Chaomu: ¡°Your husband is really gentle.¡± Err¡­ Xu Chaomu was at a loss for a response. Husband? It was Nie Chenng who exined: ¡°I¡¯m not her husband. We¡¯re just ordinary friends.¡± ¡°Oh, oh,¡± the woman apologized with a smile, ¡°I thought you two matched so well, I assumed you were a couple.¡± Nie Chenng didn¡¯t want Xu Chaomu to feel awkward andughed: ¡°I¡¯m an older man, and she is much younger than me.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re joking.¡± Just then, Lulu¡¯s dad picked Lulu up, carrying him on his shoulders. Lulu probably hadn¡¯t felt like this in a long time, and he was especially overjoyed, holding his slice of pizza high! ¡°Oh oh oh, going out to y, dad is taking me out to y, I¡¯m going skiing!¡± The little guy was extremely excited, almost jumping on the man¡¯s shoulders. Although the man wasn¡¯t very talkative, his love for his son was not diminished in the slightest. Seeing his son so happy made him feel much more at ease. The woman waved at them and followed the father and son away. In the sunlight, in the snowy ground, a family of three happily left. Seeing this, Xu Chaomu felt envious. As a child, her biggest dream was to sit on her father¡¯s shoulders,ughing and frolicking. Now that she was older, such a thought wouldn¡¯t ur to her, but in the future, she definitely wanted her own children to be happy. ¡°Still watching? Have breakfast, or it¡¯ll get cold.¡± Nie Chenng dipped a piece of bread in strawberry jam and handed it to her. Xu Chaomu was still in a daze when Nie Chenngughed: ¡°Do I need to feed you? Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu came back to her senses and rolled her eyes, ¡°Stop being a tease.¡± ¡°Eat up, and after you¡¯re full, I¡¯ll take you out for a walk.¡± Nie Chenng also took a piece of bread and sat on the bench, eating and watching everything in the snowy field. In the snowy field, children were ying with snow, and the ground was covered in a series of messy footprints. All around were sounds ofughter and the children¡¯s bell-like shouts. ¡°Chenng, I want to sleep, I¡¯ll go to sleep for a while after I¡¯m full. You don¡¯t know, I haven¡¯t slept so peacefully for a long time.¡± Xu Chaomu nibbled on the bread, with happiness written all over her face. For the past half a year, she felt that just seeing the sun the next day was a luxury. Every night she struggled to sleep, her biggest worry was whether she would wake up the next day. If she did wake up, she worried about how she would manage her three meals¡­ Fortunately, she was grateful to have met Nie Chenng. In a foreignnd, a long-awaited reunion. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s words, Nie Chenng felt a dull pain in his chest. He wondered what she had gone through this past half year to say such things. ¡°Okay¡­ then you have a good rest, and when you wake up, it¡¯s not toote to go out and y,¡± Nie Chenng said. He looked at the girl with sympathy, this innocent and beautiful girl who clearly deserved to be treated well. ¡°Okay, but you¡¯re not allowed to leave. After I¡¯ve rested, wherever I want to go, you have to take me,¡± she said. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°However, if you still have ss, then you should go ahead. I¡¯m not that unreasonable,¡± said Xu Chaomu, even though she didn¡¯t want him to leave. Nie Chenng saw through her thoughts at a nce: ¡°I don¡¯t have ss.¡± Chapter 320 - 320 The Fourth Young Master Goes to Paris Chapter 320: The Fourth Young Master Goes to Paris Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Do you really have no sses?¡± Xu Chaomu feared he was telling a white lie. ¡°Yeah, no sses for real. In a few months, I¡¯ll graduate, truly no sses.¡± ¡°Graduation¡­ I really want to go to college too¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes held a trace of destion. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. Just tell me what you want to study, and I¡¯ll arrange it for you,¡± Nie Chenngforted her. Hisrge hand rested on her head, gently touching her soft hair. ¡°I¡¯ll give it serious thought, but¡­ can you really arrange it for me?¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°Of course not, I trust you,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. In the sunlight, her smile looked especially beautiful, revealing a pair of shallow dimples. After breakfast, Xu Chaomu walked several circles around the hospital courtyard. If she had to describe her current feelings in four words, she thought it would be: survival after a cmity. Since it was her life thereafter, she was determined to live it well. Taking advantage of the snow that hadn¡¯t yetpletely melted, Xu Chaomu still went and built a very tiny snowman. She used two jujube pits for the snowman¡¯s eyes, and picked up a milk bottle cap from the ground to use as the snowman¡¯s mouth. From a distance, it indeed looked like a silly little snowman. ¡°Look at you, your hands must be freezing, right? Put on some gloves,¡± Nie Chenng said, pulling out a pair of gloves and insistently putting them on for her. Xu Chaomu pointed at her creation andughed, ¡°How about it? Give me your feedback.¡± ¡°Just like you.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Clueless, but very cute.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you anymore; you don¡¯t even know how topliment someone.¡± ¡°That was apliment. I said it¡¯s just like you, which means the snowman you made is lifelike. It also reflects your dexterity and thoughtfulness.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Smooth-talking scammer.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, aren¡¯t you supposed to rest? Let me take you upstairs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu reluctantly said goodbye to her snowman, ncing back a few times as if the snowman was bidding her farewell too. Returning to the ward and once Xu Chaomu fell asleep, Nie Chenng called the family driver. He asked the driver to take him to the mall; he wanted to buy a few clothes for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Young Master, the madam called today, and I told her you went out with your mentor on a project.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°The madam urged you toe back to the country again. She said that Feili Group¡¯s business is looking up and wanted your help toe back and manage things.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s looking up, then there¡¯s no need for me to go back,¡± Nie Chenng repliednguidly. ¡°But¡­ the madam also wants the group to do better.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help her with that; I don¡¯t like managing a group. By the way, wasn¡¯t there a problem with the group recently? Howe it¡¯s suddenly looking up?¡± ¡°That, I¡¯m not too clear about. ording to the madam, six months ago, she and a business partner secured a project. This project brought in considerable revenue.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s good for the group to look up.¡± ¡°Young Master, are you not going back to the country?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about itter.¡± The driver didn¡¯t pry further and drove on. Shen Group, president¡¯s private elevator. Shen Chi stepped into the elevator, straightened his cuffs, and buttoned up his suit, traveling downwards. This was his private elevator, but just after descending one floor, the elevator doors suddenly opened. Shen Shihan entered, followed by his assistant. ¡°Shen Shihan, if I remember correctly, isn¡¯t your elevator on the east side?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Shen Shihan didn¡¯t speak or pay attention to Shen Chi, just lowering his head to look at the documents he held. His assistant said, ¡°President Shen, Director Shen has already said, from now on, our Vice President Shen can freely use this elevator.¡± ¡°Director Shen? Let him say that to my face!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression turned icy. Half a year ago, simply because Shen Shihan was handed the diamond mine project, Shen Cexian began to treat him differently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Shen, if you don¡¯t believe it, you can ask Director Shen.¡± ¡°My things are not for others to meddle with!¡± ¡°President Shen, don¡¯t forget, at the board meeting a few days ago, the shareholders were trying to persuade you¡­ to abdicate in favor of a more capable person.¡± The assistant¡¯s words were already quite tactful. Shen Chi had no desire to waste words with him. He pressed the elevator button and as the doors opened, he said in a cold voice, ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°President Shen, why bother¡­¡± ¡°Do you want me to kick you out?¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Vice President Shen, let¡¯s go. After all, sooner orter, this elevator will be ours anyway, there¡¯s no rush at this moment.¡± Shen Chi was truly pissed off; he found his temper getting worsetely. He knew that if they dared to talk back even once more, he really would kick them out. Thankfully, Shen Shihan and his assistant exited, and Shen Chi irritably adjusted his tie. Once out of the elevator, he called his assistant, ¡°Is everything for the Paris trip arranged?¡± ¡°Arranged. We can depart this afternoon.¡± ¡°Good, make sure to contact the partners there and try to secure as much funding as you can.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Chi hung up and drove back to the Shen Family from the group. After a quick lunch, he nned to head to Paris. Butler Ling, seeing how Shen Chi had been flying from one country to another non-stop, felt truly sorry for him. Being so busy with various engagements, how can one¡¯s body stand it? All she could do was earnestly advise, ¡°Fourth Young Master, are you going to Paris? Eat a bit more, and take a nap after lunch. After all, you only came back at dawn.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently. Butler Ling couldn¡¯t persuade him otherwise. Coming back stumbling drunk near dawn¡ªhow could he be alright? ¡°Fourth Young Master, how long will you be in Paris?¡± ¡°Two days.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said to be very cold in Paris right now. Be careful and make sure to wear more.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Soon after, Driver Lao Cheng arrived at the Shen Family house to take Shen Chi to the airport. ¡°President Shen, take care of yourself and try to drink less during gatherings. I heard there¡¯s been some trouble in the group¡­¡± It was more than just trouble. Lao Cheng knew that at the board meeting, some shareholders even asked Shen Chi to step down from the president position! Of course, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t yield. Shen Cexian transferred all his shares to Shen Shihan and removed the financial power from Shen Chi¡¯s hands. With no other choice, Shen Chi had to personally take on various projects to secure funding. ¡°It¡¯s nothing; I can handle it,¡± Shen Chi said, hand on his forehead. Lao Cheng sighed; if Chaomu were here, things would be better. She was Shen Chi¡¯s source of joy, the only one who could make him smile. However, she had been gone for an entire half-year, and it was likely that¡­ Lao Cheng couldn¡¯t bear to think further; such a lively and carefree girl, just like that¡­ Another long sigh escaped Lao Cheng. He even wondered whether Shen Chi would ever smile again in his life. Without Xu Chaomu, what would Shen Chi do in the future? It wasn¡¯t long before Lao Cheng drove Shen Chi to the airport, where his assistant was already waiting. As the ne took off, he was bound for Paris to negotiate an important project. Chapter 321: Shen Chi, Deeply in Love with Xu Chaomu Chapter 321: Shen Chi, Deeply in Love with Xu Chaomu Trantor: 549690339 The snow in Paris had begun to melt, and the sunzily shone on the ground, casting a lustrous sheen on the white snow. The biting wind was still blowing, cutting across faces like a knife. The number of pedestrians on the streets was gradually increasing, but most were hurrying on their way. Shen Chi arrived in Paris, and after preliminarily concluding the project negotiations, it was already the evening of the second day. The other party had booked a banquet and insisted on drinking and chatting with Shen Chi at the dinner table. ¡°President Shen, we are the hosts today, so let me toast you first,¡± said the man in a suit as he came over, insisting on filling Shen Chi¡¯s ss to the brim. ¡°If President Pei toasts me, of course I can¡¯t refuse. Allow me to drink first as a sign of respect,¡± Shen Chi replied. After speaking, Shen Chi tilted his head back and downed the ss of wine in one go. ¡°Oh, is this the President Shen of Shen Group? Fame really does fall short of meeting such a man in person.¡± A woman in a red low-cut evening gown approached and sidled up to Shen Chi. The woman, in her twenties, had her hair coiled into a bun, looking capable and shrewd, yet seductively charming. ¡°Hello, Miss Jiang.¡± Shen Chi slightly hooked his lips with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of your reputation, and I must toast you first. Seeing you today, President Shen truly lives up to being the prince in countless young girls¡¯ hearts; even I find myself quite smitten after meeting you,¡± she said. The woman had a good tolerance for alcohol as she unhesitatingly gulped down her drink. ¡°Miss Jiang is joking,¡± Shen Chi said. Then Shen Chi downed another strong drink. A little whileter, several people from the cooperating party came over to toast Shen Chi. Shen Chi¡¯s assistant hurriedly interjected, ¡°President Shen, if you¡¯re not feeling well, please go and rest in the suite. Just a few days ago, back home, you ended up in the hospital after drinking, and this is no joke. The doctor said you can¡¯t drink anymore.¡± ¡°Not drink? Then why don¡¯t you tell me whether we still need this project or not?¡± Shen Chi said, his face as cold as frost. ¡°President Shen, but how can your body take this? Besides, if we can¡¯t reach an agreement on the project, then let¡¯s not talk about it. Shen Chi retorted sharply, ¡°Is that something you should be saying? The things I, Shen Chi, have lost, I will take back one by one!¡± ¡°President Shen¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Shen Chi no longer paid him any heed. He needed arge sum of money. Only with sufficient funding could he stand against Shen Shihan. Otherwise, for such a project, there would be no need for Shen Chi to personally conduct the negotiations! After about an hour of drinking, Shen Chi¡¯s head began to throb with pain, a persistent issue recently. Several vice presidents came over to relentlessly coax Shen Chi into drinking more: ¡°President Shen,e on, do us the honor, one more drink!¡± Honor had to be given, and so Shen Chi drank it all down in one gulp. After a while, some people brought over a few voluptuous women. The women sprawled beside the men, their seductive hands holding wine sses as they joined the drinking. Suddenly, the banquet descended into chaos. Shen Chi¡¯s head was splitting with pain, and just as he finally decided to leave, a sharp pain twisted in his stomach. ¡°President Shen, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell again? Is it serious?¡± the assistant rushed over to ask. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just an old issue,¡± Shen Chi replied. ¡°How can you call it an old issue? You didn¡¯t have this problem six months ago.¡± ¡°If I say it¡¯s nothing, then it¡¯s nothing! What¡¯s with all the nonsense!¡± Shen Chi snapped, irate. The assistant¡¯s face fell, and he fell silent, not daring to speak further. He was only looking out for Shen Chi¡¯s well-being. In the past six months, Shen Chi had either been hospitalized for gastric bleeding or suffered from severe headaches that kept him awake all night. He had lost weight, and naturally, his temper had be increasingly irritable. Enduring the pain, Shen Chi once again joined the partners for drinks. Thus, forcing himself to persevere until midnight, the assistant finally dragged the heavily drunken Shen Chi back to the hotel. ¡°I have never seen someone drink like this, as if they have a death wish,¡± the assistant muttered softly. He helped Shen Chi into the suite, and as soon as they were inside, Shen Chi made his way to the bathroom to throw up non-stop. ¡°Chaomu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± ¡°President Shen, what did you say?¡± the assistant asked, not catching the words clearly. After vomiting for a while, Shen Chi turned the faucet on full st and held onto the sink, his face twisted in agony. The sharp suit he wore was crumpled as he propped himself up on the sink¡¯s edge, heavily intoxicated. ¡°Mumu, Mumu¡­¡± ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ll get you a ss of water.¡± ¡°Why did you leave me without saying a word, Mumu¡­¡± Shen Chi was ovee with grief. Six months had passed, and the anguish hadn¡¯t lessened at all; it had only intensified with time. In the still of the night, her voice would always echo in his ears. She called him ¡°Fourth Brother,¡± herughter carefree and hearty¡­ Yet now, she had vanished forever from his world¡­ For the rest of his life, he would never see her again. Never again would there be someone following behind him, teasingly saying, ¡°Fourth Brother, y with me for a while¡­¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, I can¡¯t figure out this problem again¡­¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, let¡¯s take Dabai out for a walk¡­¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, why are you so annoying¡­¡± A knife-like pain gripped his chest. Clutching his chest, his other hand tightly gripped the edge of the sink. It wasn¡¯t just his chest; his stomach was churning with unbearable pain. His knuckles turned white as he grasped the sink, and his face was devoid of color! ¡°Mumu¡­¡± His brow furrowed deeply, and with one vomit, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood! When the assistant arrived, he was so shocked his eyes bulged, and the ss he was holding fell to the floor. He immediately rushed to dial emergency number 120. Shen Chi¡¯s face was extremely pale; by the time the doctor arrived, he had no strength left. ¡°Doctor, what¡¯s wrong with our president?¡± ¡°To drink to this state, I preliminarily suspect gastric bleeding,¡± said the doctor. ¡°s, he just got out of the hospital a few days ago. This¡­¡± ¡°He just got out of the hospital and started drinking again? He really doesn¡¯t care about his life. Let me tell you, unless he rests properly in the hospital this time, I can¡¯t guarantee he¡¯ll survive,¡± the doctor warned. The assistant was almost in tears; Shen Chi was stubborn and listened to no one. After Shen Chi was taken to the hospital, the assistant made a call to Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo was his mentor who had always been with him during his time at Shen¡¯s. ¡°Master, how have you been over there?¡± the assistant asked. ¡°Fine, fine, why the sudden phone call? It¡¯ste at night there, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xiao Mo replied. ¡°Yeah. You see, didn¡¯t I just tell you a few days ago about President Shen being in the hospital? Well, today he drank too much again, and now he¡¯s in the hospital. Master, what should we do?¡± ¡°President Shen didn¡¯t say anything?¡± ¡°He just said the project was important, and that a little drinking is nothing.¡± ¡°What else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ all. Oh, it seems that every time President Shen gets drunk, he calls out a name.¡± ¡°What name?¡± ¡°Chaomu.¡± On the other end of the line, Xiao Mo went silent for a moment, holding the phone without speaking. Shen Chi truly loved Xu Chaomu to death. ¡°Master, who exactly is Chaomu? I¡¯ve never heard of her before.¡± ¡°President Shen¡¯s most beloved woman.¡± ¡°What? President Shen¡¯s most beloved woman? I¡¯ve never heard of her, so where is she now?¡± ¡°You think I came to Sumatra Ind for what?¡± Chapter 322: Mumu, Is That You? Chapter 322: Mumu, Is That You? Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Master, weren¡¯t you going to look for someone?¡± the little assistant blinked, suddenly pped his forehead, and realized, ¡°Ah, could it be that you were looking for this woman?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I see, so Master, what should I say to persuade President Shen?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t persuade him. Xu Chaomu, missing for half a year, maybe¡­¡± The assistant fell silent. How likely was it for someone missing for half a year to still be alive in this world? ¡°President Shen loves her too much,¡± Xiao Mo sighed. The assistant wondered, what kind of woman could make Shen Chi remember her so fondly, love her to the bone? After all, Shen Chi had all kinds of women by his side. Once a man has seen enough women, it¡¯s hard for him to be devoted to just one. Many times at banquets, business partners would overtly and covertly send a few women to apany Shen Chi, but every time, Shen Chi cursed them and sent them back. Now that I think about it, Shen Chi truly loved Xu Chaomu too much. The next day, Shen Chi woke up in the hospital ward. The weather was good, and sunlight streamed in through the window. His body felt much better, only his head was still in pain. He got up from the bed and stood by the window. There was ayer of misty vapor on the ss. He remembered how at times like this, Xu Chaomu used to love writing on the ss. But now, she was not by his side. And she never would be again for the rest of his life. His eyes instantly reddened, and hisrge palm slowly covered the window, not caring how cold the ss was. Wearing hospital gowns, he was stripped of all his assertiveness and dominance, looking exceptionally forlorn from any angle. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± There would never again be a little girl sitting by his side, chattering away. Just as Shen Chi stared nkly out of the window, Xu Chaomu was packing her belongings in another hospital room. ¡°Chenng, I¡¯ve packed everything. I need to pick up something at the ce I¡¯ll be stayingter.¡± ¡°What treasure?¡± ¡°My treasure.¡± ¡°So secretive, you still won¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, just a doll.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so fond of it.¡± ¡°Where are we headed to next?¡± Xu Chaomu swung her backpack over her shoulders. Nie Chenng had bought her many things, coats, skirts, backpacks, and lots and lots of snacks¡­ At the moment, she wore a pink woolen coat and carried a cute,rge-faced cat backpack. She had stuffed a lot of snacks into her backpack. ¡°We¡¯ll go to the ce you stayed first, and then I¡¯ll take you to our new home. After we¡¯re settled in, we¡¯ll go out for fun.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Xu Chaomu responded cheerfully. ¡°Let¡¯s go, downstairs.¡± Nie Chenng put his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulder, walking side by side with her toward the stairs. Nie Chenng was much taller than Xu Chaomu. Walking by his side, she felt very safe. ¡°Chenng, will your drivere to pick us up? Is your family very rich?¡± ¡°Just average.¡± ¡°Are you afraid to say because you think I¡¯ll rob your house?¡± ¡°With your little frame, you think you can rob?¡± The two joked andughed as they headed downstairs together. A Cayenne was parked in the lot downstairs, belonging to Nie Chenng¡¯s family. As Xu Chaomu turned the corner of the corridor, her shoce came loose, so she bent down. ¡°Chenng, hold my bag for me. I¡¯ll tie myces.¡± She squatted down after speaking. Shen Chi, standing by the window, suddenly heard her voice. His whole nervous system was as if it had been jolted. Xu Chaomu! He quickly pushed open the door and rushed out! ¡°Mumu, Mumu!¡± No one responded to him; the hallway was still full of nurses and patients walking back and forth. He was running in the wrong direction, even the opposite direction from which Xu Chaomu had left¡­ After Xu Chaomu tied herces, she took her backpack from Nie Chenng¡¯s hands: ¡°All set, let¡¯s go!¡± She happily bounded down the stairs, heading toward Nie Chenng¡¯s car. ¡°Walk slower, no need to rush.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen my treasure for days, I miss her!¡± Xu Chaomu was referring to the silly and adorable doll. It was the only thing she had taken with her when she left C City and the only thing that remained after eighteen years of wandering. Xu Chaomu got into the backseat of the Cayenne. As soon as she was seated, Nie Chenng also entered the car. ¡°Young master, where to?¡± ¡°To the ce I live!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted first. The driver was confused: ¡°Miss, where do you live?¡± ¡°Broze Road!¡± ¡°Oh, alright,¡± the driver replied indifferently. The driver pressed the elerator, and the Cayenne started and moved forward. Just as the Cayenne was driving out of the hospital gates, Shen Chi was running down from upstairs! ¡°Mumu, is that you? Mumu,e out¡­¡± Ignoring the gazes of all others, he stood below the building, facing the sun, looking around. The voice he had just heard was definitely Xu Chaomu¡¯s, it had to be! ¡°Mumu!¡± Shen Chi called and searched anxiously, his eyes and brow revealing a desperate look! People around him cast strange nces and whispered among themselves. However, in the crowded throng, he did not see Xu Chaomu. He believed he could recognize her in a crowd in a single nce, but, looking around, there was nothing¡­ ¡°Chaomu! Chaomu, where are you?! I just heard your voice¡­ Mumu¡­¡± Shen Chi shouted Xu Chaomu¡¯s name until his voice was hoarse! No one responded to him. He grabbed a nurse and asked, ¡°Did you just see a little girl, about this tall, with a sweet smile when sheughs?¡± ¡°Sir, sorry, I have no idea.¡± ¡°How could you not know? I just saw her¡­¡± ¡°Sir, how would I know.¡± The nurse was getting impatient. ¡°Help me look for her.¡± ¡°Sorry, sir, I¡¯m busy with work.¡± After speaking, the nurse left without much emotion. When Shen Chi¡¯s assistant went to the ward and didn¡¯t find Shen Chi, he hurriedly came out to look for him. As soon as he arrived downstairs, he saw Shen Chi wearing hospital clothes and standing under the sun, asking anyone if they had seen a little girl, his face full of anxiety. He looked particrly foolish. This was nowhere near the image of Shen Chi, dressed in a ck suit,manding the stage with a spirited and confident air. The assistant thought to himself that love really can make a person foolish. Foolishly and incurably so. ¡°President Shen,e upstairs with me. It¡¯s time for your medication,¡± the assistant approached Shen Chi. Shen Chi wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°You go find Xu Chaomu! I just heard her voice!¡± ¡°President Shen, why would Miss Xue to Paris? Did you see her with your own eyes?¡± ¡°I heard her voice, it was her. Eight years, I would not mistake it!¡± ¡°President Shen, could you be¡­ hallucinating¡­¡± The assistant dared not continue. Cases of hearing delusions due to deep yearning were all toomon. ¡°It¡¯s her, it must be her. Go look for her!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll go look. President Shen, please go upstairs first, and I¡¯ll go find her.¡± The assistant didn¡¯t really believe Xu Chaomu would be in Paris; he was certain Shen Chi was hallucinating. Paris and Sumatra Ind were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers. Chapter 323: She’s Dead Chapter 323: She¡¯s Dead Trantor: 549690339 But Shen Chi had given the order, and he didn¡¯t dare disobey, so he went looking for a while. The result, of course, was self-evident. Shen Chi, not giving up hope, searched the hospital for a long time, but found no trace of Xu Chaomu. Just as he was about to mobilize more people to search for her, Xiao Mo made a phone call! ¡°Mr. Shen, I found a skeleton on Sumatra Ind. Are you avable toe and take a look? From every aspect, it very much resembles¡­ Miss Xu.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice suddenly turned ice cold. A chill ran from head to toe, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him! ¡°Fishermen found it on the beach this morning, washed ashore with the waves. The public security departmentpared it and said the woman¡¯s time of death was about half a year ago, roughly¡­ just a few days after Miss Xu left.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo, how can you be so sure it¡¯s Xu Chaomu!¡± Shen Chi roared into the phone, his teeth clenched, furiously annoyed. Rage clogged his chest, and his body suddenly felt a mix of ice and fire. No, it simply couldn¡¯t be possible. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m not a hundred percent certain, so I want to ask you toe in person. The forensic doctor gave a rough estimate of the skeleton¡¯s height and age, and it doesn¡¯t differ much from Miss Xu. I think such a coincidence may not happen often.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo, she won¡¯t die, she must still be alive in this world! How the hell could what you saw be her!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, if you don¡¯t believe it¡­ I¡¯ll just let the public security department handle it. I¡¯ll keep looking.¡± Regret filled Xiao Mo¡¯s voice. Shen Chi¡¯s lips were tightly pressed, his eyes red with fury. At that moment, he was like a bloodthirsty lion. His entire body felt bone-chillingly cold, and even the words that left his mouth were trembling. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Finally, after those two ice-cold words, his whole being felt drained of strength. ¡°Okay, Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After hanging up the phone, Shen Chi took a ne to Sumatra Ind! He refused to believe it was Xu Chaomu; his Mumu, how could she cruelly leave him like this¡­ She used to love clinging to him, saying she wanted to stay by his side for a lifetime. He simply couldn¡¯t believe that the lively Xu Chaomu¡­ was dead. It was like a dream. In the dream, she would nuzzle her fluffy little head in his embrace, hugging him: ¡°Fourth Brother, would you go to a parent-teacher conference for me, please¡­¡± ¡°No way!¡± He would frown with distaste, pushing her away. If time could flow backward, he would hold her tight, never letting go! Never let go! Never. Some people, once you let go, it¡¯s for a lifetime¡­ The nended at the airport on Sumatra Ind, and Xiao Mo was already waiting for him. Having not seen Shen Chi for half a year, Xiao Mo was stunned at first sight. The man had lost a lot of weight; his already stern face bore added maturity and a colder, more intimidating charm. Colder than before, enough to send shivers down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Where is she?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°The public security bureau,¡± Xiao Mo said. Xiao Mo had followed Shen Chi for so long, he knew the effort it took Shen Chi to simply utter those three words ¡°where is she.¡± Sure enough, Shen Chi fell silent, his lips tightly sealed, his pupils constricted. His hands were clenched into fists, and it took a long time for him to calm down. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said indifferently. Pulling his legs into the car, his gaze was icy, fixed ahead, his deep eyes seeing nothing. ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Mo replied with a single word and got into the car as well. Sitting beside this man, as always, he could feel his powerful aura. ¡°Mr. Shen, I heard that you¡¯ve been hospitalized several times recently.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, you should drink less at social events; too much is bad for your health.¡± Without a reply from Shen Chi, Xiao Mo didn¡¯t dare to say more. Each time he spoke with Shen Chi over the past half year, he could sense the obvious changes in him. This man was bing increasingly irritable and stubbornly searched for Xu Chaomu alone. Nobody¡¯s words could reach him, even though all the clues pointed to one fact: Xu Chaomu was dead. The car turned down a street and into the precinct of the public security bureau. Shen Chi¡¯s heart was in his throat! His fists clenched tighter, and he could even feel his body getting colder. ¡°Mr. Shen, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± Xiao Mo ventured cautiously. Shen Chi didn¡¯t respond, his entire body stiffened. ¡°Mr. Shen, we¡¯ve reached the public security bureau,¡± Xiao Mo raised his voice. Only then did Shen Chi move, stepping out of the opened car door. ¡°Mr. Shen, you must not be too sad. The people at the bureau said she went peacefully, they preliminarily believe it was an idental fall into the sea.¡± Thunder seemed to roar in Shen Chi¡¯s ears¡­ An idental fall into the sea, went peacefully¡­ ¡°Bullshit, how could she die, how could she die¡­¡± Shen Chi pushed Xiao Mo away, bellowing. His fists were clenched tight, his eyes bloodshot. Veins on the back of his hands stood out, his entire being struggling to contain a fury. Xiao Mo shook his head, this normally rational man only lost all reason when it came to Xu Chaomu! Xiao Mo led the way, taking Shen Chi around a corner. Soon, they arrived at a ce where corpses were kept. The air, filled with the smell of formalin, was nauseating, and Xiao Mo quickly handed Shen Chi a mask. ¡°Mr. Shen, this is the one.¡± Xiao Mo pointed to a skeleton, turning his eyes away with difficulty. Xiao Mo had seen Xu Chaomu before, and even the sight of this skeleton was heart-wrenching and painful for him. He dared not imagine the pain Shen Chi was enduring. This was Xu Chaomu, the lively Xu Chaomu. If she was upset, Shen Chi would be distressed for days. Now¡­ shey there, cold. ¡°Impossible¡­ impossible¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips trembled. How could this skeleton, stripped down to the bone, be Xu Chaomu! ¡°Xiao Mo, how the hell can you be sure it¡¯s Xu Chaomu!¡± Suddenly, Shen Chi turned, grabbing Xiao Mo by the cor! ¡°Mr. Shen, please stay calm, calm down!¡± Xiao Mo shouted. ¡°How can I stay calm? You point to any skeleton and tell me it¡¯s Xu Chaomu, how can I stay calm?!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, you should have prepared yourself from six months ago.¡± Xiao Mo grabbed Shen Chi¡¯s hand, ¡°Miss Xu has been missing without a trace for half a year, where else could a girl like her go? I¡¯ve searched the entire Sumatra Ind!¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s neck was in pain from being throttled, he was nearly choking¡­ How could such a rational man as Shen Chi not understand. ¡°Then tell me, how can you be certain she¡¯s Xu Chaomu?!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was cold, he released his hold, pointing at the pile of bones. ¡°Listen to me, the forensic doctor found traces of drugs in her bones, the sameponents of the drugs Miss Xu was taking before she left.¡± ¡°Drugponents? What else?!¡± Chapter 324: The person who is deeply in love Chapter 324: The person who is deeply in love Trantor: 549690339 ¡°It¡¯s gone. Height, age, time of death, plus the drugponents¡ªI think they exin quite a few things.¡± Shen Chi fell silent, no longer speaking, as if all his strength had been drained from his body! His gaze was empty as he stared quietly at the skeleton¡­ ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± Muttering under his breath, he walked over. Was this the little girl who liked to do her homework by his side, who enjoyed ying pranks, who liked to pull at his clothes? The little imp? She was very much alive, calling him ¡°Fourth Brother¡± sweetly, shamelessly hugging his neck and begging for a kiss, ¡°Kiss me, kiss me¡±¡­ She wouldugh, make a fuss, cry, get angry¡­ How could she possibly be this cold, lifeless corpse in front of him¡­ He walked over, slowly walked over¡­ ¡°CEO Shen, don¡¯t go over there¡­¡± Xiao Mo warned with concern. How could Shen Chi listen? He approached, and separated by the protective barrier, he wanted to reach out and touch her. ¡°Mumu¡­ why would you rather die than stay by my side? Why?¡± His voice was full of sorrow, tears flowing down from the corners of his eyes as his shoulders trembled. ¡°Mumu¡­ if there¡¯s a next life, marry me, I will use all of me to love you. Marry me, I want you to be happy all your life, let¡¯s have several children, don¡¯t you really like daughters? When our daughter is born, she will call you ¡®mommy¡¯ and me ¡®daddy¡¯¡­¡± ¡°Mumu, promise me, even if you don¡¯t want to, just get up and promise me¡­¡± ¡°Can you hear me?! Have you gotten too proud to listen to me now, haven¡¯t you? Xu Chaomu, tell me, do you want to marry me?¡± Even as a man himself, Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t help but shed tears at these words. ¡°CEO Shen¡­ Please be rational, the dead cannot be brought back to life.¡± ¡°I want to hold her¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was hoarse. Through the ss, his gaze could not hide the sorrow. ¡°CEO Shen, it¡¯s not possible, if the bacteria spread, it could be lethal!¡± Xiao Mo insisted righteously. ¡°What does it matter if I die? Without her, I¡¯ve been living a life worse than death.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were unfocused and drifting. ¡°CEO Shen, don¡¯t think like that. There¡¯s still a long way to go. What¡¯s past will pass, we have to look forward!¡± ¡°Xiao Mo, find someone to open the ss, go!¡± ¡°CEO Shen, it¡¯s impossible, I won¡¯t do it, it¡¯s too dangerous!¡± ¡°You won¡¯t do it, will you? Do you believe I will break this ss right now?¡± ¡°CEO Shen, please be calm!¡± Xiao Mo embraced Shen Chi tightly, ¡°If you agree, you can take the ashes back to the Shen Family, but you mustn¡¯t do anything too dangerous!¡± ¡°Let go of me!¡± While Shen Chi fixated on the skeleton, a thought suddenly struck him! ¡°No, I will not let go! CEO Shen, please ept my condolences.¡± ¡°Call the forensic doctor!¡± ¡°The forensic doctor?¡± Xiao Mo was stunned. ¡°I know how to confirm if it¡¯s Chaomu. Call the forensic doctor!¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Xiao Mo, with determined eyes, swiftly ran off. Shen Chi had lived with Xu Chaomu for eight years; if he said there was a way, then there must be one! Soon, the forensic doctor arrived. ¡°Forensic doctor, check to see if there¡¯s a gunshot wound on her back!¡± The fully-equipped forensic doctor, with only his eyes visible, nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± And thus began the tense examination. Time ticked away by the second, and Shen Chi¡¯s heart nearly leapt out of his throat. This was hisst hope¡­ It must not be there. After what felt like an eternity, the forensic doctor came out! He shook his head calmly: ¡°There are no signs of injury, let alone a gunshot wound.¡± At that moment, Shen Chi was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, floundering like a child. No signs of injury meant that it wasn¡¯t Xu Chaomu, it couldn¡¯t be. He just knew it; she was still alive, she had to be! ¡°Xiao Mo! Keep searching for me!¡± Shen Chi strode out of the room, not looking back! ¡°CEO Shen, is it possible that Miss Xu didn¡¯t have a gunshot wound?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± That was the one thing Shen Chi was certain of, because Wen Zhiyuan had said that the bullet had grazed Xu Chaomu¡¯s bone. Remembering that bullet, Shen Chi¡¯s chest ached dully once more. She had taken that bullet for him; it must have hurt her so much¡­ ¡°It¡¯s good that it¡¯s impossible.¡± Xiao Mo wiped off his sweat. He too hoped it wasn¡¯t Xu Chaomu. ¡°Keep searching.¡± Those were thest three words Shen Chi left for Xiao Mo before departing from Sumatra Ind. Keep searching, until he reached the end of life. After returning to the country, it began to snow again. Everywhere was gloomy, the snowfall growing heavier. At first, it drifted down like willow fluff, then, it turned into paper kes,rge chunks swirling about. Shen Chi¡¯s stomach was failing him; he no longer stubbornly persisted but chose to be hospitalized. Admitted to the hospital, he watched the falling snowkes outside the window, watched the shifting of the sun, the moon, and the stars. Sometimes, he would read the newspaper, sometimes, he would take out old photos, never looking at anything but Xu Chaomu. And the puppet too, the one he gave her when she was ten years old. He had brought it with him, cing it beside his bed. He stayed in that hospital for a month. His stomach was thoroughly damaged from alcohol. The snow seemed to be endless this winter, still falling on the day he was discharged. C City hadn¡¯t seen such a heavy snowfall in a long time; the news reported it as a once-in-fifty-years blizzard. Everywhere was white, as if the world had been stripped of all color but this monotonous one. Shen Chi donned his ck coat and stood by the window lighting up a cigarette. As the world changed, it had been exactly seven months since she left him. He knew that whether it was seven months or seven years, or even seventy years, he would never forget her. The person whose love had seeped into his marrow, he would never forget for eternity. His fingers holding the cigarette, he slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. His gaze never left the front, far awayy the endless white snow. On the empty ground, he seemed to see that lively little figure again. ¡°Fourth Brother,e make a snowman with me.¡± ¡°Childish.¡± ¡°Did you ever have a childhood? If you don¡¯t make a snowman with me today, it means you like me!¡± ¡°Boring.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you jerk, no matter what I do you find it bothersome, do you hate me?!¡± She angrily formed a snowball and hurled it right at him. Later, he didn¡¯t know that she had cried an entire afternoon in her room. It was the butler who told him, her room¡¯s wastebasket was full of soaked tissues. If he could choose again, he would apany her¡­ After finishing one cigarette, he lit another. The smoke curled by the window, blurring his vision. Beneath his feet, the cigarette butts piled up, too many to count. And so he watched the hospital¡¯s vacant lot, saw the pure white snow covering the ground. Memory scattered, disordered an entire winter. Disordered five full springs and autumns. Chapter 325: Five Years, People and Things Have Changed Chapter 325: Five Years, People and Things Have Changed Trantor: 549690339 The cigarette burned to his fingers before Shen Chi withdrew his gaze from the window. He discarded the cigarette butt, his eyes icy cold. Picking up his phone, he dialed a number. ¡°Director Tan, arrange an abortion surgery, immediately!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ President Shen, I¡¯ll bring people over right away.¡± Shen Chi lifted his toes and ground the not yet fully consumed cigarette butt fiercely a few times. Soon, the cigarette was extinguished! He strode towards the hospital bed, his eyes only resting on her. ¡°It hurts¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± She writhed in pain with her eyes closed, her un-IV-ed hand clutching her stomach tightly. ¡°Xu Chaomu, these past five years, you¡¯ve really lived it up.¡± Shen Chi sneered, hisrge hand brushing against her face. She had a man, she had a child; she truly was a winner in life. ¡°Xu Chaomu, where the hell did you die these past five years?¡± Shen Chi grabbed her hand and refused to let go! Five years, a full five years, he had searched for her for five years! ¡°Chenng¡­ Chenng¡­¡± she murmured, her cheeks twisted in pain. ¡°Open your eyes and see who is in front of you!¡± ¡°Shen¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡± ¡°Tell me, whose child is it?¡± Xu Chaomucked the strength to speak, but when she heard his words, her eyes still widened in horror. Did he know? She too had only found out about the child¡¯s existence a few days ago. Unexpectedly, he knew! She shook her head desperately, trying to use her hands to protect her stomach. Her actions only inmed his anger further, he seized her hand, warning her word by word, ¡°Xu Chaomu, listen well, I don¡¯t care whose child this is, today, it¡¯s not going to leave this hospital alive!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my child.¡± ¡°Your child? Then tell me, with which man did you have this bastard?¡± Shen Chi said with a cold voice and a chilling gaze. Xu Chaomu never expected that after five years, he would be even more inhumane. That face, already cold, was now frostier after five years! ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t forget, I¡¯ve paid back everything I owe you. You have no right to interfere with me anymore.¡± ¡°I have more right to interfere with you than anyone else!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still so domineering. In these five years, I¡¯vepletely forgotten you, President Shen. Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t live without you. I¡¯ve been doing very well.¡± This sentence once again stoked Shen Chi¡¯s fury. She was doing very well, while he was living a miserable life. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re doing very well, about to get engaged, with a child, too.¡± ¡°How about it, if I¡¯m not mistaken, isn¡¯t President Shen¡¯s child five years old now? A boy or a girl? What¡¯s the name?¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, I won¡¯t waste words with you. Today, if you abort this child, I will let go of everything from these five years.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, shielding her stomach¡ªthis was her child, how could she let Shen Chi take her child away! ¡°It¡¯s not up to you.¡± Shen Chi seized her wrist, not allowing her a chance to resist. ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t make me hate you more! Let go of me, if you dare to touch my child, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± ¡°Kill me?¡± Shen Chi sneered, his eyes brimming with despair. For five years, he had madly searched for Xu Chaomu, and now, after finally finding her, he was met with a ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were defiant, just as they were five years ago. Utterly upromising! ¡°You can kill me if you want, but this child, I will absolutely not let it stay!¡± Shen Chi was also upromising. If he had known that five yearster she would be pregnant with another man¡¯s child, he would have taken her five years ago at all costs¡ªit was better than letting other men benefit for nothing! Suddenly, Xu Chaomu propped herself up and bit Shen Chi¡¯s hand with all her might. Her bite was quick, precise, and fierce! Shen Chi had no time to dodge, and a row of engorged bite marks instantly appeared on the back of his hand! He had underestimated the strength of a mother; he had forgotten that she was no longer the eighteen-year-old girl. She was a mother, and there was another little life inside her stomach. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡ª!¡± He frowned and pushed her away. Immediately, Xu Chaomu pulled out the IV and threw off the covers, leaping out of bed. Just as she jumped down from the side of the bed and ran towards the door, several doctors and nurses happened to arrive at the entrance. ¡°Stop her,¡± Shen Chi ordered coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, I have nothing to do with him¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head vigorously. With nowhere to go, she could only press herself against the wall. ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ve brought the team over. This operation¡ªdo you want to do it now, or¡­¡± The middle-aged man in front spoke out, and he wasn¡¯t just anyone; he was Director Tan. Xu Chaomu shook her head desperately: ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to have the surgery, he has no power over me, he¡¯s a devil.¡± ¡°Now!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, his voice emphatic. Xu Chaomu turned around, facing Shen Chi. As their eyes met, hatred filled hers. Such hatred was like a raging fire, burning fiercely. ¡°Shen Chi, are you trying to drive me to death before you¡¯ll be satisfied? You weren¡¯t happy that I didn¡¯t die five years ago, right? Your mother killed my mother, and now you, you want to kill both me and my child?¡± ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± Meeting her gaze, he called her name urgently. No, it wasn¡¯t like this. She had no idea how he had survived these five years, worse than death. ¡°Mumu, listen to me, abort this child, and I will continue to cherish you.¡± ¡°Impossible! I don¡¯t want your pity!¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t me me for being ruthless. Director Tan, take her to the operating room.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face hardened, chilling the air around him. Director Tan was still polite, signaling with his eyes to a female doctor behind him. ¡°Take her to the operating room.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The female doctor and a few nurses approached Xu Chaomu to grab her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes reddened, this was her child. ¡°Take her away, stop dawdling,¡± Shen Chi said, annoyed. A few nurses restrained Xu Chaomu, and one of them administered an anesthetic into her arm. ¡°Shen Chi, you are a bastard! If my child is gone, I¡¯ll fight you with my life!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Shen Chi replied coldly. As the drug took effect, Xu Chaomu¡¯s body slowly rxed. She had forgotten that this man was heartless. How could he possibly care about a small life? There¡¯s nothing he couldn¡¯t do. After five years, he was still as ruthless as ever. A few nurses pushed Xu Chaomu from the ward into the operating room. The door to the operating room closed. Confused, Old Cheng outside the ward walked in, just in time to see Shen Chi looking utterly dejected. ¡°President Shen, what happened to Chaomu? I saw them take her into the operating room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Shen Chi said ndly. He walked out with long strides, intending to wait for her at the door of the operating room. Even if when she came out, she would aim a scalpel at his chest¡­ As soon as the operating room door closed, Xu Chaomu clutched her stomach in agony. Chapter 326: Shen Chi, You Are Not Human Chapter 326: Shen Chi, You Are Not Human Trantor: 549690339 ¡°Don¡¯t touch my child, don¡¯t abort him, he¡¯s only two months old¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes shed two lines of tears. Lying on the operating table, she looked at those cold instruments and shook her head desperately. Don¡¯t, don¡¯t¡­ The doctors and nurses had all put on surgical gowns and donned masks and gloves, ready to perform the surgery on Xu Chaomu. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯re just following orders,¡± the female doctor said. ¡°Don¡¯t, my baby is only two months old. Don¡¯t listen to that devil, he¡¯s not human, he¡¯s not human.¡± Xu Chaomu painfully shook her head, Shen Chi you¡¯re not human! ¡°Miss, it won¡¯t hurt. Close your eyes, really, it¡¯ll be over soon,¡± the female doctorforted her. She picked up the shiny tweezers from the operating table and grabbed a piece of alcohol cotton. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, I beg you, don¡¯t touch my child, let me go¡­¡± Xu Chaomu kicked and punched; she was using all the strength she could muster. This was the strength of a mother who only wanted to protect her own child. She kicked over a stand, and ¡°tter¡±, scalpels and other surgical instruments fell to the ground. ¡°Hold her down, don¡¯t let her move around,¡± the female doctormanded. ¡°Okay.¡± Several nurses hurriedly held down Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands and feet to stop her from moving. ¡°Miss, bear with it for a bit, it¡¯ll be over soon. It really won¡¯t hurt,¡± the nurses also tried to persuade Xu Chaomu. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re not human, I hate you, I will kill you¡­¡± Her face was covered with tears, soaking her hair and dress. This little face was all twisted in pain. She wanted to struggle, but she had no strength to do so; she had been given an anesthetic and couldn¡¯t even feel the pain when things hit her face. ¡°My child¡­ my child¡­¡± Tears streamed down relentlessly. Of course, none of the noises inside the operating room could be heard outside. At first, Shen Chi sat in his chair, then stood up restlessly. Her words kept echoing in his mind, ¡°Your mother killed my mother, and you, are you going to kill me and my child too?¡± ¡°If my child is gone, I will seek you out in desperation!¡± She would seek him in desperation. Scene after scene shed quickly through his mind. Five years ago, he took her to the hospital to have a tooth pulled and happened to see three people quarreling outside the hospital. At that time, Wang Yu insisted on aborting the child in Ju Shuya¡¯s belly. Xu Chaomu, holding onto the hem of his shirt, asked, ¡°Brother Si, does an abortion hurt a lot? The child is so innocent.¡± Does an abortion hurt a lot¡­ Of course, it hurts¡­ A child is a piece of flesh torn from the mother¡¯s body. Xu Chaomu from that year would cry out in pain from just having a tooth extracted; now, how could she not be afraid of pain? His fists gradually clenched; suddenly, he recalled the skeleton from five years ago. When Xiao Mo told him that it was Xu Chaomu, he felt as if someone had poured a basin of cold water over him; a chill spread from his head to his feet! His heart seemed to stop. He was distraught with grief and told himself more than once that in the next life, if he could meet her, he would use all his energy to love her. Now, she was not dead, she was alive and well, so why couldn¡¯t he keep his promise¡­ If the child in her belly were to be lost, she would definitely hate him. Definitely. He didn¡¯t want her to hate him. He stood up and strode towards the door of the operating room. He pounded on the operating room door with force: ¡°Open the door! Open the door!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, the surgery is underway, you can¡¯t go in!¡± Director Tan hurriedly came over to pull him back. ¡°Let them open the door! The surgery is canceled!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were unfathomably deep, filled with urgency in that depth. No, he didn¡¯t want her to hate him for a lifetime! He had already lost her for a whole five years; he didn¡¯t want to lose her for a lifetime. A lifetime, how many five years are there¡­ ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s toote. If you disturb the doctors now, it won¡¯t be good for the surgery.¡± ¡°Did you hear me? I told you to open the door!¡± Shen Chi roared. ¡°Alright, alright, Mr. Shen, please wait a moment.¡± Soon, Director Tan personally made a phone call. Those minutes felt as long as a century. Shen Chi was afraid, terrified that once the door of the operating room opened, the surgery would have already begun, and her child would be gone¡­ He clenched his fists tightly, knocking on the operating room door, his face showing endless sorrow. ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu, we¡¯re not having the surgery, let¡¯s go home¡­¡± The surgeons in the operating room were about to proceed with Xu Chaomu¡¯s abortion when they received a call from Director Tan. Surgery requires concentration, and she was nning to wait until after the surgery to take this call. However, Director Tan pressed the emergency button in the operating room, and the rm sounded loudly. ¡°Chief, the director seems to have something urgent for you,¡± a nurse handed the phone to the doctor. The female doctor put down her instruments and answered the phone: ¡°Director.¡± ¡°Has the surgery been done? If it hasn¡¯t, hurry up and bring her out!¡± ¡°The surgery is canceled?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s canceled! Her husband changed his mind.¡± ¡°How can there be such a husband, so indecisive. If the child isn¡¯t his, get rid of it, if it is, definitely cannot abort it,¡± the female doctorined irritably. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, that¡¯s not for you to concern yourself with, just make sure she is safely brought out,¡± the director said. ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± the female doctor replied. She hung up the phone and turned off the lights on the instruments. ¡°End the surgery, prepare to transport the patient out.¡± ¡°Chief¡­ we¡¯re not going ahead with the surgery?¡± the nurses asked, their eyes wide in astonishment. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s canceled.¡± ¡°Chief, was that man in the suit outside her husband?¡± ¡°I guess so; probably was cuckolded. That¡¯s why he was forcing her to abort this child,¡± the female doctor spected while removing her gloves and going to the sink to pour the hand soap, starting to wash her hands. Such matters, the female doctor had seen too many to be surprised anymore. ¡°Probably, nowadays, girls are too open, no wonder her husband was angry. Just now I saw him with a dark face, quite scary,¡± a nursemented. ¡°The man is quite handsome, and even our director is very polite to him; his background must be not ordinary,¡± another nurse said. ¡°Exactly, with a man that handsome, what more could she want?¡± Having said that, several nurses nced sideways at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomuy weakly on the operating table; she had no strength, but her ears could still hear. The jeers reached her ears and Xu Chaomu faintly said, ¡°He¡¯s not my husband.¡± Her voice was weak, but everyone heard it. The room was filled with bewilderment, as people exchanged nces. Shen Chi waited outside the operating room for a long time, each second as long as a year. ¡°Open the door, why won¡¯t you open the door!¡± he pounded on the door. Director Tan hurried over: ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯ve called the doctors inside, the surgery hasn¡¯t been performed, don¡¯t worry, both the child and the adult are fine.¡± Finally, Shen Chi let out a sigh of relief. The surgery hadn¡¯t been performed¡­ Chapter 327 - 327 The Little Rascal Became a Big Rascal Chapter 327: The Little Rascal Became a Big Rascal A faint smile actually appeared on his face, the surgery wasn¡¯t done, and her child was saved. About ten minutester, the door to the operating room opened, and the doctors and nurses all walked out. Shen Chi pushed everyone aside and rushed into the operating room, heading straight for the operating table! ¡°Mumu, Mumu, it¡¯s okay now; if you want to keep this child, I won¡¯t touch him anymore.¡± He grabbed her ice-cold hand and ced it against his lips, gently kissing it. Xu Chaomuy on the operating table with her eyes closed, herplexion pale. Tears still marked her cheeks, and shey there quietly, like a powerless rag doll. ¡°Should I also thank you for sparing my child¡¯s life, Mr. Shen?¡± Xu Chaomu said weakly. A pain more severe than a knife wound suddenly pierced Shen Chi¡¯s heart, and his face was full of astonishment. ¡°Mumu, five years have passed, do you still hate me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about hate; if it weren¡¯t for today¡¯s encounter, I think I would have forgotten what you looked like.¡± Those words struck him like thunder. Indifference is more terrifying than hatred. Shen Chi was instantly stunned; he didn¡¯t know what to say. All words seemed pale inparison. Xu Chaomu kept her eyes closed, resting quietly. Her hand brushed her lower abdomen, relieved that the little life was still there. She didn¡¯t know whether it was a boy or a girl, though she preferred a girl a little more. The operating room was silent, Shen Chi holding Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand tightly, unwilling to let go¡­ During that time, the weather was exceptionally good, with the blinding sun hanging in the sky, the summer air especially intense. Xu Chaomu had been recuperating in the hospital for three days, with Shen Chi constantly by her side, refusing to let her be discharged. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t seem to care at all; one day¡¯s dy was no loss to her. But it was different for him; one wasted day for him meant losing billions in assets. Alright then, let¡¯s just drag it out. ¡°Mr. Shen, aren¡¯t you bored?¡± Xu Chaomu, holding a magazine, shot him a disdainful nce. Shen Chi was sitting on the sofa opposite her, doing nothing but watching her. Five years had not seen each other, a full five years. No amount of looking seemed enough. ¡°Why would I be bored?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a toy, nor am I food; you talk as if one look at me would satisfy you,¡± Xu Chaomu said with disdain. ¡°A toy can be yed with, you can too; food can be eaten, you can too. It¡¯s the same principle really,¡± said someone with a smirk. ¡°Get lost!¡± Damn it, Xu Chaomu threw the magazine at him with a ¡°thud¡±! A dog can¡¯t spit out ivory! The magazine headed straight for Shen Chi¡¯s handsome face without deviation! Fortunately, Shen Chi¡¯s reflexes were fast enough to catch it before it hit his face. ¡°Mumu, you really have a heavy hand,¡± Shen Chi tugged at the corner of his mouth, not annoyed at all. ¡°Mr. Shen, do you n to just sit here in the hospital and watch me?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± he replied earnestly, ¡°what would I do if you ran away?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying, Mr. Shen, have you not had any sex life for these five years?¡± Xu Chaomu opened her bag nonchntly and took out a small mirror, looking at herself from different angles. ¡°Xu Chaomu, have you no shame, how can a girl say such things?!¡± ¡°Yo yo yo, enraged with embarrassment? Oh¡­ I forgot, you can¡¯t do it, Mr. Shen. I¡¯ve heard from Weiyang¡¯s clients that women could sit on yourp, and you¡¯d have no reaction,¡± Xu Chaomu said, not raising her head, continuing to look at her little mirror. ¡°Xu Chaomu, would you like to try now or right away?¡± Shen Chi got angry; he could bear being scolded, he could bear being hit, but being told he was inadequate, he couldn¡¯t bear! He stepped forward, his hands braced on either side of her, trapping her under his chest. ¡°Hm? Why so quiet now? Want to try it on the bed, on the floor, or maybe¡­ in the bathtub?¡± He was merely inches away from her, his gaze smiling and full of innuendo. The delicate fragrance of a young woman wafted through the air, now matured since five years before. Being close to her, he was enveloped by that familiar scent. Just a slight bend of the head, and he could touch the tip of her nose! He scrutinized her closely; five years had passed, and without the greenness of youth, she¡¯d be more enduring to the gaze. She was his Mumu, Xu Chaomu, whom he¡¯d made a lifelong promise to. Suddenly, he missed her taste; he wanted to kiss her. ¡°Move, move, move aside, I¡¯m not interested in you. Abroad, I¡¯ve seen all kinds of men,¡± Xu Chaomu said, pushing him away as if it was nothing. Shen Chi¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he suddenly remembered the child in her belly. But that child was a line he wouldn¡¯t easily cross. Once crossed, their rtionship would be a full-blown battle! No problem, she¡¯s young, he could be a bit indulgent. ¡°Mumu, you¡¯ve gone from being a little hooligan to a big one,¡± he said as he touched her cheek, a habitual action that he hadn¡¯t changed even after five years. ¡°No, I used to y the hooligan only in words, but now I really am one,¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°Is that so? y the hooligan with me then.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not interested in you,¡± Xu Chaomu said, continuing to look into her little mirror. After she finished, she took a small embroidered box from her bag. A red embroidered box, small and exquisite, decorated with a beautifully stitched peony pattern, bright and captivating. She gently opened the embroidered box, and upon opening it, a diamond ring was revealed! A tinum diamond ring, iid with a dazzling diamond. Xu Chaomu took off the ring and put it on her finger. She looked at it from the left, then from the right, unable to put it down. ¡°Mr. Shen, is the diamond ring pretty?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty, and then what?¡± ¡°My husband gave it to me.¡± ¡°Hmm? I never gave you this ring.¡± ¡°Shameless.¡± Xu Chaomu mmed the jewelry box shut with a ¡°bang¡± and lifted her hand to admire her ring. The sunlight streamed in through the curtains just right; the summer sun was especially pleasant, even the dust particles carried a warm scent. She liked summer because it always gave people countless hopes. Light hit the ring, and the diamond reflected a myriad of colors. Xu Chaomu, realizing btedly while looking at the ring, suddenly touched her neck, ¡°Where¡¯s my ne? What happened to my ne?¡± Her neck was bare, no sign of a ne. ¡°Your ne is missing? What does it look like? I¡¯ll help you look for it.¡± Someone immediately put on a concerned expression, pretending to search around the bed and everywhere else. He was skilled at feigning a scene. On the bed, in the cab, on the sofa, inside the clothes¡­ No trace was found anywhere! Xu Chaomu became anxious: ¡°It¡¯s a pendant ne with a rose design, very beautiful.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯ve never seen this ne; could you have lost it at some point?¡± ¡°Lost it? Impossible, I¡¯ve always worn it around my neck,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking puzzled. ¡°Think harder; could you have ced it somewhere? Bathroom? Washroom?¡± Xu Chaomu grew more anxious: ¡°I¡¯ve always worn it around my neck, how could it just disappear?¡± Chapter 328: Wardrobe Malfunction Chapter 328: Wardrobe Malfunction Xu Chaomu rolled out of bed and began searching. On the bed, under the bed, even inside the shoes¡ªshe searched everywhere! Her face anxious, she eximed, ¡°Where¡¯s my ne? It¡¯s valuable, worth eight thousand¡­¡± ¡°Another gift from your husband?¡± Shen Chi, seemingly indifferent, searched along with her while asking in a nd tone. Xu Chaomu nodded, ¡°Yes, a gift from my husband. I¡¯m so attached to it; I always wear it around my neck.¡± Still so attached to it, Shen Chi couldn¡¯t help but look down on her. Well, it didn¡¯t matter anyway. He had already thrown the ne away, so it was impossible to find it now. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s probably lost. I¡¯ll give you another one; don¡¯t be sad. It¡¯s just eight thousand.¡± ¡°Just eight thousand? What do you know? It¡¯s the token of love from my husband, priceless. Do you understand? Vulgar.¡± ¡°A token of love? Only worth eight thousand? Your husband is really stingy. Why note to me instead? You could pick from nes worth eighty thousand, even eight million.¡± ¡°Come with you? Are you sure you can give me sexual bliss?¡± Xu Chaomu curled her lips yfully. Her charming big eyes blinked enticingly. At first, Shen Chi thought she meant ¡°happiness,¡± but given Xu Chaomu¡¯s rogue nature, it was probably ¡°sexual bliss¡± instead. So, he moved closer, cornering her as she knelt on the floor searching for the ne. ¡°How about¡­ I give you some sexual bliss right now? If you¡¯re not satisfied, you can return it.¡± After speaking, Shen Chi¡¯s hand reached for Xu Chaomu¡¯s shirt buttons. With a nimble flick of his long fingers, the top button came undone. Her snow-white neck was immediately exposed to the air! If it were any other woman, she would have pped him. But who is Xu Chaomu topete with in hooliganism? She smiled and hooked her arm around Shen Chi¡¯s neck, ¡°Boss Shen, you¡¯re not picky, huh? I¡¯ve been in bed with other men, and you don¡¯t mind?¡± Sure enough, Shen Chi¡¯s expression grew cold, though he quickly regainedposure, Xu Chaomu still caught the unusual look in his eyes. He raised his lips into a smile, ¡°Great, you have experience. No need for me to teach you.¡± Dammit, what does he mean by having experience? Xu Chaomu pushed him away, ¡°I won¡¯t bicker with you. I still need to find my ne.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still questioning if I can give you sexual bliss?¡± His eyes curved into crescents, brimming with amusement. ¡°You jerk.¡± Xu Chaomu continued to kneel on the floor searching for the ne, her skirt soon bing a rag. Wiping back and forth, again and again. Shen Chi stopped searching, since it was vain. He had thrown it away three days prior; where to find it now? While Xu Chaomu knelt on the floor, Shen Chi¡¯s gaze fell on the brocade box. Xu Chaomu had already put the diamond ring inside; now, the sunlighting in made it look particrly ring. He thought he should find an opportunity to throw the ring away too. Dizzy from searching, Xu Chaomumented, ¡°Where has my ne gone? Could someone have stolen it¡­?¡± Shen Chi, leisurely sitting on the sofa, simply observed her. With the woman sprawling on the ground like a bear cub, Shen Chi¡¯s smile deepened as he watched her through narrowed eyes. The sunlight shone on her, and for a moment, he was transported back five years. Back then, she would often be crawling on the floor searching for things: ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ I can¡¯t find my eraser.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, my watercolor pens are missing too.¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, my snacks are gone; did you eat them?¡± Back then, she used to like crawling on the floor searching for things, not caring if it was dirty. Now, Shen Chi watched her quietly¡­ Such a feeling was good. A feeling he hadn¡¯t had in the past five years. Luckily, that feeling had returned now. Well, when a certain little woman¡¯s skirt lifted while sprawling on the ground, that feeling¡­ was even better. So, the man simply squinted his eyes and kept watching her. Xu Chaomu turned her head, and her gaze met Shen Chi¡¯s lecherous eyes! She quickly adjusted her skirt, ¡°Damn it, where are you looking?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen everything there is to see,¡± shrugged Shen Chi. This little woman, as always, was so dumb and cute. Her reaction time, invariably slow. He crossed his legs, loungingzily on the sofa, just watching her. ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu snapped, throwing a pillow from the bed at him! However, she strained her abdomen in the process, causing pain. Clenching her teeth, she climbed onto the bed. ¡°Ouch, it hurts, my stomach hurts¡­¡± ¡°Let me rub it for you.¡± Shen Chi approached, not taking no for an answer, and pulled her into his embrace. Xu Chaomu was truly in distress, her abdomen aching intensely. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans fell from her forehead, turning her face pale. Shen Chi held her in his arms, hisrge palm resting on her belly and gently massaging. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± Xu Chaomu, in so much pain she could barely speak, nodded vigorously. Shen Chi held her tighter, his hand continuing the gentle massage. ¡°All this fuss over a ne worth eight thousand,¡± Shen Chi said softly, his chin resting against her forehead. Xu Chaomu had no energy to argue. Hisrge hand soothing her belly, the pain she felt started to ease. A warm sensation rose from her abdomen as his movements became incredibly gentle. ¡°Feeling better now? Does it still hurt?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded and then shook her head. ¡°Look at you, acting like a child who hasn¡¯t grown up. How are you going to be a mother?¡± Shen Chi said tly. Lifting her eyes, Xu Chaomu wondered, was this really Shen Chi? Had he not, just three days prior, fiercely wished he could tear both her and the child apart? If she had had a knife in her hand then, she might have reallymitted a crime. Shen Chi hade to terms with it; he couldn¡¯t harm her child anymore. Because, it was her child. He was scared, afraid she would once again leave him¡­ This lifetime, how many sets of five years can one have? He couldn¡¯t afford to waste anymore. ¡°Do you think our baby is a boy or a girl?¡± Suddenly in a good mood, Xu Chaomu felt like chatting a bit more with Shen Chi. ¡°One of each, perfect,¡± hemented. ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant with twins.¡± ¡°Then first a son, then a daughter.¡± ¡°What about your family? Did they have a boy or a girl?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes curved like crescents. ¡°Let me feel and find out.¡± Shen Chi touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s belly seriously; her t stomach showed no visible bulge nor could the heartbeat of the child be felt. ¡°Stop groping me,¡± Xu Chaomu swatted his hand away. Shen Chi looked particrly innocent, ¡°I just want to see if it¡¯s a boy or a girl.¡± ¡°You have no idea if your own child is a boy or a girl? A five-year-old of unknown gender?¡± ¡°Where do I have a child?¡± ¡°Five years ago, Bai Man was pregnant with your child, and you¡¯re still pretending?¡± ¡°You really believe her? Only you would. Hopelessly naive, silly girl,¡± Shen Chi stroked her head. Xu Chaomu suddenly choked up. Five years ago, Bai Man wasn¡¯t pregnant? Impossible! Chapter 329 - 329 Let’s Get a Divorce Chapter 329: Let¡¯s Get a Divorce She had personally apanied Bai Man to the hospital and watched with her own eyes as she entered the ultrasound room, where Bai Man pointed at a soybean-sized image on the screen with exceptional joy. Bai Man said she was going to be a mother, and that it was Shen Chi¡¯s baby. ¡°Mumu, how could you be so naive? Just because she said she was pregnant, you believed her?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot. You¡¯re incapable.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was full of ck lines, the conversation circled back to this issue again and again. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it. Bai Man was clearly pregnant and, logically, Shen Chi¡¯s child should be five years old by now. But, what did the age of his child have to do with her? Shen Chi touched her belly and asked with his chin resting on her forehead, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. You can take your paw off now.¡± Xu Chaomu tried to swat away hisrge hand. ¡°Kick me away once you¡¯ve used me? Huh?¡± Shen Chi wasn¡¯t so easy to use. As he spoke, hisrge palm moved upward from her abdomen and, when she wasn¡¯t paying attention, he sneaked a squeeze at a soft spot through her shirt. The feel of it¡­ wasn¡¯t bad. Xu Chaomu immediately shrieked and pushed him away forcefully: ¡°Shen Chi! You freaking roll away!¡± ¡°Keep your voice down. People who don¡¯t know better might think I did something to you. If you feel like you¡¯ve lost out, I¡¯ll let you touch me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fancy it. I¡¯ve touched plenty of men abroad. I¡¯m not into the likes of you.¡± ¡°But I am into you.¡± Having said that, that person¡¯s mischievous hand reached out again. ¡°Keep up this hooliganism and I¡¯ll call the police! I¡¯ll charge you with harassing a decent woman!¡± Xu Chaomu leaped aside, warily watching Shen Chi. ¡°Speaking of hooliganism,e here, I have something to show you.¡± Shen Chi beckoned her over with a not-so-innocent smile. ¡°What are you up to?¡± ¡°Just suddenly remembered something.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting engaged?¡± ¡°Yes, at the end of next month. Mr. Shen, would you honor us with your presence at the banquet? My fianc¨¦ is very handsome.¡± ¡°How handsome?¡± ¡°He puts you a hundred streets behind.¡± ¡°Have you registered your marriage?¡± ¡°We have. Why, are you envious? Jealous?¡± ¡°Really registered?¡± Shen Chi looked at her, impressed by her ability to lie without blushing. Xu Chaomu felt a bit guilty under his scrutiny. Actually, she and Nie Chenng hadn¡¯t registered their marriage yet; they were just going to get engaged next month. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly. ¡°If you really registered, then that would be a crime,¡± Shen Chi remarked while staring at her. ¡°What do you mean? Don¡¯t think that just because you have the power to cover the sky with one hand in C City, you can spout nonsense.¡± ¡°Just wait, I have something to show you.¡± After saying that, Shen Chi made a call to old Cheng. As soon as old Cheng received Shen Chi¡¯s call, he hurried over and handed a handbag to Shen Chi. Shen Chi took the item from the bag and tossed it to Xu Chaomu: ¡°Take a look for yourself!¡± ¡°What is this?¡± Xu Chaomu was puzzled as she unwrapped theyers of kraft paper. As she unwrapped, she eventually found herself looking at two bright red marriage certificates! Xu Chaomu was shocked and quickly opened them. Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu. Genuine marriage certificates! ¡°What¡¯s going on here?! Where did these marriage certificatese from?! When did I marry you?!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened as she fired off a series of questions! Since when had she be a married woman? ¡°Obviously, it¡¯s a marriage certificate issued by the civil affairs bureau.¡± Xu Chaomu looked closer and saw that the photos on the marriage certificate were from five years ago¡ªthat pink dress! Yes, it was that day! That wasn¡¯t right; they had gone to obtain a notarization that day, hadn¡¯t they? How had it turned into a marriage certificate?! Xu Chaomu waspletely baffled, her eyes widened, while someone beside her was smiling as if basking in a spring breeze. ¡°Mumu,mitting bigamy is a criminal offense.¡± ¡°Damn it, Shen Chi, get lost! This is serious coercion! You took advantage of me! I was clueless! Weren¡¯t we supposed to get a notarization that day? How did it turn into a marriage certificate!¡± ¡°Unaware? But you looked quite happy in the photo.¡± Shen Chi took the marriage certificate and pointed at the Xu Chaomu in it. In these past five years, whenever it was quiet at night, he would lie in bed holding this marriage certificate. He remembered them holding hands, walking into the civil affairs bureau together, taking this photo together. Bound by hair, they were husband and wife, never to part in this life. Xu Chaomu was so angry that she trembled, and her belly started to hurt again. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re the most shameless man in history. I¡¯ve never seen anyone as shameless as you, and I will not recognize this marriage certificate!¡± ¡°No matter, thew recognizes it.¡± Shen Chi extended his long fingers and slowly wrapped up the marriage certificate again. ¡°We¡¯re getting a divorce.¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, let me tell you, you¡¯ve been out of my heart for a long time. What¡¯s the point of holding onto a marriage certificate? If I¡¯m not happy, neither will you be, so it¡¯s better to divorce.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even enjoyed the rights of a husband yet. How can I possibly get a divorce?¡± Shen Chi looked at her indifferently. ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m pregnant with my husband¡¯s child. I can¡¯t possibly be with you! Don¡¯t ruin us! And don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re the son of the man who killed my mother. Let me tell you, I¡¯ll never forget that for as long as I live.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s heart ached, and any good mood he had had disappeared in an instant. He had always had a short temper over these five years, and hearing her say this, he suddenly stood up! ¡°Shen Chi, I will not be with you. If you still want to atone¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Shen Chi shouted coldly, ¡°Xu Chaomu, let me tell you, this marriage is not going to end!¡± Agitated, he flung his hand, sending a teacup on the table crashing to the floor! With a ¡°ng,¡± the cup smashed, and the pieces flew everywhere. Xu Chaomu, frightened, quickly covered her belly, afraid of startling the baby inside her. The man¡¯s eyes were blood-red, exuding a chilling air that inspired fear. As he turned his head, he saw her protecting her belly, holding it tight, afraid of any harming to the child. ¡°You care that much about this baby? Who is the baby¡¯s father?¡± He walked toward her withrge strides, bent down, and trapped her in a corner of the bed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, her hands around her belly. She was reminded of three days prior when this man had taken her to the operating room. ¡°Tell me, who is the father of the child.¡± ¡°My husband.¡± ¡°There is only me as your husband!¡± ¡°You know very well that this baby has nothing to do with you. As for who the father is, sorry, but I had such a chaotic personal life abroad that I really need to think about who the father is.¡± ¡°You slept with more than one man?¡± Shen Chi waspletely enraged, grabbing her cor as if he wished he could strangle her. ¡°Yes. Surprised? Alone and stranded abroad, with no rtives, and no money, I had to survive. You know what it¡¯s like, being pampered by the Shen Family, I didn¡¯t know how to do anything. Later they told me, go act in adult movies, they pay well.¡± ¡°I had no acting skills, so I worked as a body double. My first time was given to a male actor.¡± Chapter 330: Anger is not Good for the Baby Chapter 330: Anger is not Good for the Baby Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were filled with a bloody hue, cold to the marrow. His grip on Xu Chaomu¡¯s cor tightened gradually, with an ever deepening chill at the corners of his mouth. ¡°At first, I would cry, especially the first time, it hurt so much. I almost wanted to die, but I survived. Later, when I had money, I went to university. So, when you ask if I¡¯ve been to bed with more than one man, of course.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was full of rage as he raised his right hand, about to p her! But, just like five years ago, the p hung in the air, never able tond on her face. He couldn¡¯t bear to hit her, couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°You want to hit me?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand retracted and slowly clenched into a fist. ¡°Is everything you said true?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice caught in his throat. ¡°I have no need to lie to you. Besides, it was just for survival, if you look down on me, then don¡¯t look.¡± ¡°Mumu¡­¡± He voiced his sorrow, if only he had held onto her a little tighter five years ago, how could she have left¡­ He didn¡¯t know she had such a tough time abroad, it pained him more than a stab in the heart. He pulled her into his arms, ¡°Mumu, no matter what you be, no matter whose child this is, I won¡¯t let you leave again.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen really is magnanimous, I¡¯m like this, and you still want me?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was filled with disgust, her mouth twitching, wasn¡¯t this disgusting enough for him? ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Those four words, deep and powerful, resounded with conviction! ¡°But I don¡¯t want you,¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. She stretched out her hand, ¡°Give me back my phone, I want to go home.¡± ¡°Want to go home? I¡¯ll take you out of the hospital, don¡¯t you know, the Butler Cheng also misses you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, stop pretending, I¡¯m not talking about the Shen Family. I will never step into the Shen Family again in my life!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you miss Dabai? Your room is still there¡­¡± ¡°People change their affections, no matter how cute Dabai is, I¡¯ve long lost my affection for it. Now I have an even cuter dog, and as for Dabai, forget it. Oh right, my new dog is called ¡®Wealth,¡¯ really adorable.¡± Xu Chaomu spoke indifferently, her face expressionless. ¡°After you left, Dabai missed you every day, sometimes it wouldn¡¯t eat for several meals¡­¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t listen to him, just stretched out her hand, ¡°What does that have to do with me, give me the phone!¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± Just then, Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone happened to ring. Shen Chi pulled it out of his pocket; the previous few times, he had just hung up. But this time, he answered. The screen only disyed two characters: Hubby. ¡°Chaomu, where are you? Why aren¡¯t you picking up my calls? Did something happen?¡± On the other end was an anxious voice. Xu Chaomu slid off the bed, reaching to snatch the phone, but Shen Chi avoided her. On the line was none other than Nie Chenng. Shen Chi spoke lightly, ¡°Are you looking for Xu Chaomu?¡± ¡°Who are you? Where is Chaomu? Why is her phone with you?¡± ¡°Of course, I am Xu Chaomu¡¯s husband. Are you looking for her? She¡­ is taking a shower.¡± Shen Chi curved his lips into a wry smile, gazing at Xu Chaomu as he spoke. Xu Chaomu grew furious immediately; who takes a shower in broad daylight at the hospital? ¡°Chenng¡­¡± Before Xu Chaomu could continue, Shen Chi carelessly continued, ¡°She just came out of the shower, she¡¯s changing now. Do you want to talk to her?¡± Xu Chaomu kicked out, ¡°Shen Chi, you roll the hell away from me!¡± There was no sound from the phone; Shen Chi pressed to hang up. ¡°So that was the man named Nie Chenng? The name sounds somewhat familiar,¡± Shen Chi muttered. Shen Chi browsed the phone, saved his own number in it, and brazenly wrote the two characters ¡°Hubby.¡± As for Nie Chenng, he casually added him to the cklist. ¡°Give me back my phone!¡± ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t be angry, getting angry is bad for the baby,¡± Shen Chi approached, wrapping his arms around her waist, ¡°Look at you, still so thin, and pregnant now, how can you bear it. Do you want hubby to give you a little boost?¡± ¡°Keep away from me, Mr. Shen, everything between us ended five years ago. You have your life, and I have my new life, why can¡¯t we just act as if we never met, wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡± ¡°No good. I¡¯ve known you for thirteen years, you¡¯ve climbed into my bed, you¡¯ve stripped my clothes, and also, haven¡¯t you forgotten, you have forcefully kissed me. All these things, you don¡¯t want to take responsibility for? It¡¯s not that simple!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, truly shameless. She did climb into his bed, but each time before she even reached the edge, she was kicked out; she did strip his clothes, but every time she saw nothing before he pushed her away; she did identally kiss him, but he had long since returned the favor with interest! He really had the nerve to talk like he was at a loss! Utterly shameless! Just then, Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang. It was Xiao Mo. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, pleasee to thepany building, there¡¯s trouble, Miss Jian is threatening to jump off the building!¡± ¡°Jump off? Let her jump. I want to see if she dares,¡± he scoffed. ¡°But¡­ you shoulde, the media has blockaded the building, Miss Jian is crying on the balcony, saying you are ungrateful. Her parents are also here, they want you to give an exnation.¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t go?¡± ¡°This time Miss Jian seems serious, if someone dies, that wouldn¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°She always seems serious every time she makes a fuss, with this spectacle, does she think she can discredit me, Shen Chi?¡± Shen Chi snorted. ¡°You shoulde in person anyway because Miss Jian said¡­¡± ¡°Said what?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you get here.¡± Xiao Mo hesitated for a few seconds before responding. Shen Chi then said calmly, ¡°This is thest time, I¡¯ll be over in a bit.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After hanging up, Shen Chi nced at Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu looked on with schadenfreude. She hadn¡¯t heard everything clearly but had caught the gist of it. Miss Jian? Shen Chi¡¯s life was never short of women; he changed them more frequently than clothes. ¡°Mumu, I have to step out for a bit, wait for me in the hospital, don¡¯t wander off.¡± ¡°My legs are my own, it¡¯s my business whether I run or not. If you try to control me like you did five years ago, watch out, I might blind your eyes, break your legs, and turn you into a eunuch!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, he nced at her stomach and said coolly, ¡°Mind the prenatal education.¡± After speaking, Shen Chi picked up his coat, draped it over his arm, and left the hospital. He drove himself to thepany. To his surprise, before he could even reach the entrance, a swarm of reporters chased after him, blocking his way! A dense mass,posed entirely of journalists from major media outlets and onlookers! ¡°Mr. Shen, may we interview you? What is your rtionship with Miss Jian Sisi?¡± Chapter 331 - 331 Accompanied You All Night Chapter 331: Apanied You All Night ¡°Mr. Shen, Miss Jian Sisi ims you¡¯re her husband. Is that true?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, Miss Jian Sisi says she¡¯s been by your side for four years, and now you¡¯re abandoning her, leaving her in the lurch. Is that true?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, Miss Jian has been sitting on the balcony for half an hour now, but you¡¯ve only just arrived. Does this mean, as rumored, that you no longer care about Miss Jian?¡± The questions surged like tide water, and the journalists swarmed over like ants. Each person held a microphone, all pointed toward Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach. The public rtions team of Shen Group had already been deployed, and Xiao Mo was maintaining order, but everyone¡¯s faces were filled with helplessness. Shen Chi wore sunsses, and as he looked up, he saw Jian Sisi sitting on the balcony of the tenth floor. Jian Sisi wore a white dress, with one leg already hanging over the edge of the balcony. She looked like a fragile porcin cup teetering on the edge, or a white butterfly that might fall with a gust of wind! Shen Chi hooked up the corner of his lips; she did have guts. Xiao Mo saw Shen Chi¡¯s car arrive and quickly brought over some bodyguards to clear the journalists away from the Maybach. He opened the car door for Shen Chi and said in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Shen, what should we do? This incident is having a huge impact on the group.¡± ¡°What CEO doesn¡¯t have a scandal or two?¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. After that, Shen Chi got out of the car, removed his sunsses, and strode toward the group building. As soon as Jian Sisi saw Shen Chiing, she moved her body a centimeter further out over the balcony! Downstairs, Jian Sisi¡¯s parents suddenly started shouting, ¡°Sisi, don¡¯t be rash, Mr. Shen is here now, please talk to him properly.¡± Once Jian Sisi heard their words, she burst into tears. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m unfilial. I¡¯ll have to take care of you in my next life. After I die, please take me back to our hometown, I¡¯ve always liked it there¡­¡± ¡°Sisi,e down, pleasee down! Don¡¯t do anything rash!¡± ¡°Click¡± ¡°Click,¡± the journalists¡¯ shbulbs frantically flickered! One moment they focused on Shen Chi, the next on Jian Sisi; everyone seemed eager to watch the drama unfold. Soon, Shen Chi took the elevator up to the tenth floor! His gaze was icy as he strode toward the balcony! ¡°Had enough of a scene?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Jian Sisi quickly grabbed the balcony, turned around, and faced Shen Chi¡¯s cold, stern face. Her eyes were red, and with a sniffle, she cried, ¡°Mr. Shen, why didn¡¯t you answer my calls? Don¡¯t you want me anymore? I heard you¡¯ve gotten involved with another woman.¡± ¡°There have been plenty of women for Shen Chi to get involved with; which one are you talking about?¡± ¡°I heard herst name is Xu¡­ Mr. Shen, you can¡¯t leave me; have you forgotten? I am your woman.¡± ¡°You sure are well-informed. Jian Sisi, I believe I¡¯ve warned you not to threaten me. Because those who do, do not fare well,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°How can you lump me with the others? I¡¯ve been your secretary for four years, and don¡¯t you remember? We¡¯ve had the most intimate husband and wife rtionship; I gave my first time to you, Mr. Shen.¡± Jian Sisi said this between sobs, her eyes turning red from the tears. ¡°What do you want?!¡± Shen Chi felt irritated at the sound of her crying. ¡°Mr. Shen, I don¡¯t want anything. Please, just don¡¯t be so cold to me, okay? Please answer my calls, or I¡¯ll start having all kinds of wild thoughts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too greedy, know when to stop!¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not greedy. Mr. Shen, I truly love you more than anyone. Other women love your money, but not me; I don¡¯t want your money.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want money, then get out of C City. Do you know how much damage your little stunt today will cost thepany?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I didn¡¯t mean to, please don¡¯t be angry, I just wanted to see you. But I had no other way, so I just¡­ I just¡­¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s parents also cried on the side, ¡°Mr. Shen, Sisi has been with you; you can¡¯t treat her like this. Now, the whole of C City knows she¡¯s your woman¡­¡± ¡°The whole of C City knows? Whose fault is that?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Mr. Shen, you can¡¯t be so heartless. At the beginning, it was you who drunkenly clung to me. I haven¡¯t asked for anything unreasonable. I haven¡¯t asked to marry you; all I want is for you to talk to me, to acknowledge me, all right?¡± Jian Sisi covered her face, weeping bitterly. Her parents also said, ¡°Mr. Shen, Sisi really hasn¡¯t asked for much. As a girl, now that she¡¯s been with you, how can she marry someone else¡­¡± ¡°Come down first!¡± Shen Chi said in a deep, upromising voice. ¡°No¡­ Mr. Shen, I just want you to agree to my small request. Don¡¯t ignore me no matter what¡­¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t dare, I¡¯m not threatening you.¡± ¡°Then Jian Sisi, let me tell you, ten stories is too low. If you want to threaten me in the future, try climbing to the fiftieth floor!¡± Upon hearing Shen Chi¡¯s words, Jian Sisi shuddered, leaning a few centimeters farther over the edge. Her parents immediately shouted, ¡°Sisi, don¡¯t despair, we only have you as our daughter; if you die, what will we do¡­¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, living is harder for me now than dying. Just let me die; I don¡¯t want to live¡­ My purity is gone, what else can I do¡­¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s parents ran to Shen Chi immediately and knelt before him with a thud! ¡°Mr. Shen, please, just agree to Sisi¡¯s request. She¡¯s our only daughter; if she dies, what will we old folks do¡­¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, if you want to jump, then jump. Stop dillydallying! To Shen Chi, a single life means nothing!¡± Shen Chi sneered. He crossed his arms and just coldly watched Jian Sisi. Looking at that face colder than frost, Jian Sisi lost all hope. Jian Sisi¡¯s parents were still kneeling; they continued to beg Shen Chi, ¡°Mr. Shen, please let Sisie down, she can¡¯t take the shock. She mustn¡¯t jump, she¡¯s our only daughter. Mr. Shen, if you don¡¯t agree, we won¡¯t insist; we¡¯ll take Sisi back to our hometown.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not possible, I won¡¯t go back to my hometown!¡± Jian Sisi refused to back down. ¡°Jian Sisi, keep it up, I have no time to apany your boredom!¡± After saying that, Shen Chi turned and prepared to leave! ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re so heartless¡­¡± Jian Sisimented. ¡°Is this your first day knowing Shen Chi?¡± ¡°If I really jump from here, would you not shed a single tear?¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t respond, just left her with a cold silhouette. ¡°Fine then, what kind of woman can¡¯t Shen Chi have? I was just with you for one night; I have no right to stay by your side. I¡¯ll leave, is that not enough?¡± Having said that, Jian Sisi climbed back over the balcony and gave up any thought of suicide. Chapter 332 - 332 Sharp-tongued Chapter 332: Sharp-tongued ¡°I will give you arge sum of money,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Jian Sisi¡¯s parents hurried to her aid, pulling her back in from the balcony. They cried voicelessly, ¡°Sisi, let¡¯s go home. This kind of man is not worth it¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your money!¡± Jian Sisi sneered coldly, ¡°What do you take me for, Shen Chi!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, forget it.¡± Shen Chi wasn¡¯t about to waste words with her. Dropping four icy words, he turned and left. As soon as Shen Chi came out, reporters swarmed up, surrounding him! ¡°President Shen, what did you say to Miss Jian Sisi? Can you share anything?¡± ¡°President Shen, is Miss Jian Sisi one of your lovers?¡± ¡°President Shen, is this incident a publicity stunt by Shen Group?¡± Shen Chi kept his mouth shut, his expression severe, and headed straight out! ¡°Click click¡±, the cameras shed incessantly! If it hadn¡¯t been for drinking too much at that banquet and losing consciousness, how would he have be so entangled with this Jian Sisi! Thinking of that night, Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed. Xiao Mo protected Shen Chi all the way to the group¡¯s garage. ¡°Keep a close eye on that Jian Sisi,¡± Shen Chi told Xiao Mo. ¡°I understand. President Shen, don¡¯t take it to heart. These kinds of girls are just hoping to marry into the Shen Family. After all, marrying into the Shen Family means a life without worries.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so good about the Shen Family? Some people are trying every means possible to leave it.¡± Xiao Mo was silent; he knew whom Shen Chi was referring to. ¡°So, President Shen, where to now?¡± ¡°Where else?¡± Immediately understanding, Xiao Mo drove the car out of the garage and headed towards the hospital. In the hospital, Xu Chaomu was about to leave when several nurses stopped her, refusing to budge. With no other choice, Xu Chaomu turned on the television. She couldn¡¯t, after all, climb down the water pipes as she once did. Just like when she escaped from a hospital on Sumatra Ind five years ago, scaling down the building via the water pipes. But now, there was a little baby inside her. Her baby was only two months old, not strong enough to endure such rough handling. With no other option, she switched on the TV, only to find several stations broadcasting live from Shen Group! ¡°Hello, viewers. At the moment, President Shen Chi of Shen Group has arrived at the scene.¡± ¡°Miss Jian Sisi has been with Shen Group for four years and has been linked to President Shen in numerous scandals. This time, Miss Jian even threatened to jump off a building to pressure President Shen.¡± ¡°There are rumors that President Shen dotes on Miss Jian, but others say that Miss Jian is merely his secretary. The woman President Shen truly loves is Miss Bai Man.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take another look at the situation on site. President Shen has now reached the tenth floor.¡± Tsk, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t catch a word; she was fixated on the woman on the screen. The woman was above average in looks and figure, but had one exceptional feature¡ªvoluptuous! Xu Chaomu watched with envy. She looked down at herself and then back up, her face the picture of despair. Five years had passed, and she thought this man would have changed his tastes. But no, he still liked them busty. Tacky! ¡°In less than ten minutes, President Shen came down from the tenth floor, and Miss Jian also left the balcony. Now, let¡¯s specte, what exactly did President Shen say to Miss Jian?¡± Xu Chaomu murmured to herself while watching the TV, ¡°What else could he say, just sweet-talking the youngdy. Girls are easy to deceive, just promising them that he will definitely marry themter. Heh, such a scoundrel would have been beaten up long ago if he weren¡¯t somewhat rich and good-looking.¡± ¡°At this very moment, President Shen has left Shen Group¡¯s building, but the scene outside is still bustling. Next, we will follow up with an interview with Miss Jian.¡± Xu Chaomu watched the screen intently; sure enough, a crowd of reporters began to stop Jian Sisi. Jian Sisi was crying so hard she could barely speak, her makeup all smeared, refusing to face the camera, constantly covering her face with her hands. Her white dress was quite pretty¡­ and even¡­ somewhat familiar. White dress¡­ Her eyes lit up. Wasn¡¯t that dress from Givenchy¡¯s collection from five years ago? She had liked it very much too. Later, Shen Chi bought one for her eighteenth birthday. Heh, it was just an old model from five years ago. Shen Chi sure knew how to economize when chasing women; probably, he had just given her the same dress he had bought for Jian Sisi. Under the scorching sun, Jian Sisi, escorted by a group of people from Shen Group, was ready to leave the scene. But the reporters swarmed like bees, following close behind. ¡°Miss Jian, can you reveal what President Shen said to you?¡± ¡°Miss Jian, there was talk that President Shen nned to marry you. Is it true?¡± ¡°Miss Jian, there are rumors that you are pregnant. Is it true?¡± ¡°Miss Jian¡­¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. Marry her? Pregnant? She had just returned to C City and was already witnessing such an exciting drama. Probably, there hadn¡¯t been ack of it over thest five years. Shen Chi¡¯s life was indeed never short of women. Even knowing his reputation, there would still be girls eager to throw themselves at him like moths to a me. Just like she had been five years ago, well aware it was a fire yet still diving in without a second thought. In the end, the one who got hurt was always herself. In the screen, whether it was due to the sweltering heat or the dense crowd, Jian Sisi held her forehead, her lips white andrge sweat beads forming. Suddenly, she copsed forward! ¡°Miss Jian!¡± ¡°Miss Jian!¡± The crowd was in chaos, with shes of cameras ¡°clicking¡± non-stop! ¡°Quick, take Miss Jian to the hospital!¡± ¡°Snap!¡± Just as Xu Chaomu was engrossed in the scene, a long, slender hand reached over forcefully turning off the TV switch! ¡°Even watching TV has to be regted?¡± Xu Chaomu stood up and turned around immediately. It was none other than Shen Chi. His face was cold, having just returned from the group, and hisplexion was still not very good. ¡°What¡¯s there to see?¡± he said gravely. ¡°If you don¡¯t find it interesting, don¡¯t watch. It¡¯s not on for you to watch. Of course, President Shen, havinge straight from the scene, certainly doesn¡¯t care about such broadcasts.¡± ¡°Sharp-tongued and quick-witted.¡± Shen Chi actually smiled, his lips curving slightly upwards. ¡°President Shen, your woman has just fainted. Aren¡¯t you going to see her?¡± ¡°My woman is standing right in front of me, isn¡¯t she?¡± Having said that, Shen Chi stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Take your hands off!¡± ¡°Stop making a fuss. I¡¯m taking you home. I¡¯ve had Butler Ling prepare a table full of dishes, just waiting for you toe back.¡± As soon as Shen Chi mentioned Butler Ling, Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind conjured the image of that kindly middle-aged woman. Gentle and kind-hearted. Although she often liked to tattle to Shen Chi, she had always looked out for her in the Shen Family. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was not made of iron. To say she didn¡¯t miss her would be a lie. She had been motherless since the age of ten and after arriving at the Shen Family, Butler Ling had been like a mother to her, treating her very well. Chapter 333: Calling You Uncle Four Chapter 333: Calling You Uncle Four ¡°There¡¯s your favorite dish, and I even had her make chicken soup for you. I told her, ¡®Chaomu is pregnant with a baby.¡¯¡± Shen Chi spoke in an indifferent tone, with a smile on his face, ¡°The butler couldn¡¯t believe it. In her eyes, you are still the little girl who never grew up. She just couldn¡¯t believe that you were pregnant, about to be a mother.¡± ¡°She told me that she must take you back, she wants to see you. These five years, she kept nagging me to find you and bring you back.¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent, feeling a touch of emotion in her heart. After all, it had been five years. Even though she had said she would rather die than return to the Shen Family, those were words spoken in anger; a living person couldn¡¯t bepletely devoid of feelings. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Shen Chi wrapped his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, leading her out of the hospital. ¡°I¡¯ll go back, but don¡¯t touch me!¡± Xu Chaomu swatted his hand away disdainfully. ¡°A hug won¡¯t get you pregnant.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, we had an agreement, three rules. First, you give me back my cell phone; second, stay three steps away from me; third, no touching or grabbing! You agree to these three things, and I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± ¡°Mm, I agree,¡± Shen Chiplied obediently. Agreeing was one thing, but whether he could do it was another matter. Only then did Xu Chaomu give him a disdainful nce and got into his Maybach. The two of them sat in the back, neither speaking. One sat on the far right, the other on the far left. Old Cheng, the driver, was truly anxious, but his anxiety was useless, so he could only sigh. After the car started, it headed from the hospital toward the Shen Family home. But even with the superior performance of the Maybach, Xu Chaomu still felt nauseous. Initially, she looked out the window, but when her stomach churned, she quickly covered her mouth. Furrowing her brows, she felt extremely ufortable in her abdomen at that moment. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt the urge to vomit. ¡°Stop the car!¡± Shen Chi hurriedly called out to Old Cheng. ¡°Mumu, are you feeling unwell? Let me hold you, lie in my arms for a while.¡± Shen Chi wrapped his arms around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, pulling her into his embrace. Xu Chaomu was too weak to argue with him. She was like a rag doll in his arms. It had been five years, yet the scent of him remained unchanged, and as shey against his chest, her eyes grew hot, her nose stung, and she felt like crying. In years past, his chest had provided her with endlessfort. But now, it was nothing more than a regretful memory. ¡°Mumu, if you feel like vomiting, tell me. If it¡¯s really unbearable, we can go back to the hospital.¡± Shen Chi hadn¡¯t been a father before and was quite inexperienced, unsure of what to do. ¡°Give me the cell phone, I need to call my husband¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was in difort. Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed. No matter how kind he was to her, he would never surpass her husband. Seeing that Shen Chi didn¡¯t react, Xu Chaomu grabbed the cor of his shirt, ¡°Give me back my cell phone, you just promised me, you give me back my cell phone¡­¡± ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t be impulsive! Getting worked up is bad for the baby! Do you have to call that man? Isn¡¯t it enough that I¡¯m by your side?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, you mean nothing to me. If you have spare time, you should spend it with Miss Jian Sisi instead.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t return the phone to you, so stop thinking about it!¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re going back on your word, you¡¯re despicable and shameless!¡± ¡°Mm, I admit that. Anything else?¡± Having said that, Shen Chi held Xu Chaomu even tighter. One hand rested on her belly, knowing there was a little life inside. This child must look a lot like her, cute and adorable. Of course, it must be beautiful as well. After five years, she hade back¡­ and was pregnant, but the child wasn¡¯t his. His heart ached, thinking that if he had known it would end up like this after five years, he would have never gone to South Africa; he would have never left her. ¡°Shen Chi, I want to call my husband. Before, whenever I was vomiting, he¡¯d cook millet porridge for me, but you can¡¯t do that.¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head weakly, herrge eyes covered with a thinyer of moisture. ¡°How can I not?¡± ¡°Fine, today I want millet porridge, Mr. Shen. Will you make it for me? If it¡¯s tasty, I might consider letting my baby call you ¡®Uncle Four¡¯ someday.¡± The words ¡°Uncle Four¡± struck a deep nerve in Shen Chi! ¡°I won¡¯t allow it!¡± His voice suddenly turned cold. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck; it¡¯s a sign of respect for him to call you ¡®Uncle Four.¡¯ Mr. Shen, don¡¯t forget, your mother¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi shouted. Xu Chaomu¡¯s words were like needles, stabbing at his nerves. He knew his mother had caused the death of her mother. Between them was a chasm they could never cross. ¡°Xu Chaomu, listen carefully! I am your husband; this child can only call me daddy!¡± ¡°Stop deluding yourself. Do you want to meet the child¡¯s father that badly? Let¡¯s set a time, and I¡¯ll arrange a meeting.¡± ¡°Our marriage certificate is right there; if you dare to marry someone else, I wouldn¡¯t mind throwing your man into jail!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m surprised at you. You seem so fond of stepping in. But every day, looking at someone else¡¯s child, do you feelfortable? Also, don¡¯t think about threatening Chenng. If you dare to do anything to Chenng or my child, I will not let you off the hook!¡± ¡°Chenng? You say it so affectionately, but as long as we¡¯re not divorced, don¡¯t even think about marrying another man!¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I really hate you. You¡¯re still the same, no change at all. Pretentious and arrogant. Do you still think I¡¯m the little girl who enjoyed clinging to you every day?¡± ¡°Mumu, how can you not be my little girl anymore? We¡¯ve known each other for thirteen years.¡± After saying that, Shen Chi hugged her even tighter. He was afraid she would leave again, afraid it would be another five years. How many five-year periods can one have in a lifetime? ¡°Annoying, it¡¯s so hot today, let me go,¡± Xu Chaomu struggled. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just lie here in my arms and sleep awhile. When we reach the Shen Family home, I¡¯ll make you millet porridge.¡± ¡°Make millet porridge? Alright, but it can¡¯t be too soft or too hard. Can you do that, pampered Young Master Shen?¡± ¡°Call me husband.¡± ¡°Husband my foot.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you be more polite?¡± ¡°Annoyed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with it. A lifelongmitment, I have to get used to it if I don¡¯t like it. I can¡¯t help it; I¡¯ve raised a wild girl myself, now it¡¯s time to tame her.¡± The two of them bickered all the way from the hospital to the Shen Family home. Throughout the journey, Shen Chi insisted on holding Xu Chaomu, refusing to let go. Xu Chaomu, unable to contend with him and not daring to, let him hold her. But Xu Chaomu was anything but docile: ¡°Mr. Shen, could you lift your arm a bit? It¡¯s ufortable as a pillow!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, could you please talk less? You¡¯re getting on my nerves!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, would you stop moving your hand around? Perverted pig!¡± Chapter 334: The Kiss That Was Five Years Late Chapter 334: The Kiss That Was Five Years Late They argued all the way from the hospital to the Shen Family. On the way, Shen Chi insisted on holding Xu Chaomu and refused to let go. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t outstubborn him, nor dared to, so she could only let him hold her. But Xu Chaomu was far frompliant, ¡°President Shen, could you raise your arm a bit? It¡¯s ufortable for me to rest on it!¡± ¡°President Shen, could you talk less? You¡¯re annoying me!¡± ¡°President Shen, could you stop moving your hand? Hands off!¡± About forty minutes of drivingter, the Maybach finally entered the viplex of Splendid World. ¡°Mumu, we¡¯re home. Haven¡¯t been here in five years, do you still remember?¡± Shen Chi lifted his eyes to look at the road ahead. Xu Chaomu, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly opened them. In front of her was the familiar road, unchanged in the slightest. Except that the trees by the road had grown taller, and a few buildings in the viplex had been renovated, there was virtually no change. Every detail from five years ago shed before her eyes, like smoke in the wind. She remembered, on the day she left, looking back at this road, never imagining that there would be a day when she would return. As she silently uttered the word ¡°goodbye¡± in her heart, what she was truly thinking was: never see you again. Yet, it was merely five years, and she hadn¡¯t expected, she woulde back¡­ Her eyes blinked, five years had passed, things had changed, and people too. She was no longer the Xu Chaomu of the past, and Shen Chi was no longer the big brother she knew. She would no longer cling to him, saying, ¡°Big Brother, take me to school,¡± nor tug at his arm, begging, ¡°Big Brother, will youe to the amusement park with me?¡± He was no longer her reliance, and she was no longer that resolute little girl. Just like that, she gazed at that familiar road, which she had walked down since she was ten years old. And now it had been thirteen years. The sun was always bright, the years warm. Yet thirteen years, in the blink of an eye, had transformed an ocean into a droplet of water. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Chi, his arm around her waist, couldn¡¯t help but rest hisrge palm on her head. This habitual gesture, even after five years, had not changed. It was deeply ingrained. ¡°Nothing much, just that this road should be widened. And these trees, so tall now, could be cut down for money.¡± ¡°Yes, the road does need some work. But, every time a construction teames, I send them away. Mumu, you don¡¯t know, when I walk on this road, I feel like you¡¯ve never left.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite touched.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then? That¡¯s it.¡± Shen Chi turned his head, moving his gaze from the window to her face. His deep eyes stared at her, unblinking. ¡°Is there rice on my face?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him contemptuously. ¡°Mumu, I just want to take a good look at you,¡± Shen Chi curved his lips into a smile. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was covered with lines of frustration. In the hospital for three days, he had looked at her for three full days. And now, after all that, it came down to the same sentence, ¡°I want to take a good look at you.¡± As the car took a turn, deep in his emotions, Shen Chi suddenly recalled the scene five years ago on this road, where he walked her and Dabai on a leisurely stroll. As the memory intensified, he pulled her into his embrace, sping her waist tightly. ¡°I¡¯m surely not as pretty as Miss Bai, nor as attractive as Miss Jian. If you look too much, you¡¯ll lose your appetite.¡± ¡°Looking too little is what kills the appetite.¡± ¡°President Shen, aren¡¯t you feeling hot? Or is it in your nature to love holding women?¡± Xu Chaomu attempted to break free from his hands, but s, she dared not use too much force. ¡°Women? Let me feel whether you¡¯re a little woman or a big woman.¡± With shameless indiscretion, he felt her up. The touch felt quite nice, albeit a bit small. Xu Chaomu felt a shiver run through her as if struck by electricity, and she grabbed his hand fiercely, ¡°Shen Chi, what do you take me for?¡± ¡°Wife, feeling up one¡¯s own wife is only natural.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I have a husband. I am a married woman, so please show some self-respect!¡± ¡°How do you write ¡®self-respect¡¯? Like this? Or like this¡­¡± Having said that, he reached out with his wandering hands again, grabbing here and there. His own wife, who he could touch but not possess, he felt aggrieved! Xu Chaomu trembled all over. She tried pushing Shen Chi away, but he was quick to seize her hands, trapping her tightly in his embrace. The next second, he gripped her chin, and his cool lips tightly pressed against hers. A kiss five years overdue. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, as she struggled fiercely in his arms. ¡°Umm¡­¡± Damnit Shen Chi, there are people in the car! Moreover, with countless women by his side, what was he trying to do with her? Shen Chi kissed her lips fiercely, lingering and unwilling to let go. For five years, he had missed this taste. He didn¡¯t give her a chance to breathe, the kiss domineering, drawing him in helplessly. Chaomu, Chaomu, day and night. Xu Chaomu¡¯s body went limp like mud, shaking all over. Shen Chi held her tight, preventing her from slipping from his embrace. The scent on her was captivating, lingering in his nose, sweet like nectar, which intoxicated him for a long time. The kiss turned into a tempest, fierce at times and gentle at others, their breath intertwining endlessly. Shen Chi was far from satisfied, his strong arms grasping Xu Chaomu¡¯s body, intensifying, deepening. Xu Chaomu desperately tried to dodge him, to escape, but Shen Chi gave her no chance, the air thick with innuendo. Old Cheng had long pulled up the partition, pretending to see nothing. Xu Chaomu, her cheeks flushed with urgency, tried to speak but couldn¡¯t utter a sound. asionally, he gave her a moment to breathe, and when she tried to cry out, she found even the most pressing words reduced to faint whimpers. In this moment, Shen Chi was like a wolf, wishing he could consume Xu Chaomupletely. His hands grew more unruly slowly. The cold touch on her skin made Xu Chaomu shiver, struggling desperately. Her squirming in his arms only fueled a man¡¯s most primal desires. ¡°Mumu¡­ you¡¯re ying with fire¡­¡± Xu Chaomu, speechless, it was your damn ying with fire; it¡¯s you who are lighting the fire! He drew closer, closer still, and in his eyes, she saw an insatiable desire, like a rampaging fire, growing more intense by the moment, impossible to extinguish. This kind of man was the most dangerous! Sure enough, his hand reached behind her clothes. Xu Chaomu, panicked, started to beat on his back with her fists, but it was as effective as a tickle, utterly useless. He couldn¡¯t do this, she was pregnant. Moreover, she was a married woman, she was about to have an engagement ceremony, she would have her own baby, have her own family; how could she get entangled with a man surrounded by numerous women? He had so many women, one more or less made no difference to him. But it was different for her. Chapter 335 - 335 If You Dare Touch My Baby Chapter 335: If You Dare Touch My Baby ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re a little fairy¡­¡± His hot breath spilled into her ear, his breathing rapid and rough. He couldn¡¯t control himself anymore. He had restrained himself for so many years, so many times he¡¯d rather take a cold shower than touch her. Initially, it was because he thought she was too young. If he took her then, it would be the same as soliciting a minor. Later, because he was going to South Africa and his life was uncertain, he wanted to leave her untouched. If he didn¡¯te back, at least she could still marry someone else. But now, look what happened¡ªshe came back with another man¡¯s child in her womb. Thinking of this, he bit down hard on her lips. ¡°Shen Chi, do you not despise me for sleeping with so many men?¡± Xu Chaomu was out of breath, her words intended to be forceful, but they came out sounding almost coquettish. ¡°Good, you¡¯ve got experience. Let me have a taste of thatter¡­¡± ¡°I¡ªI¡¯ve even done adult films. Can you¡ªcan you still go through with it?¡± ¡°Oh? Then show a bit more enthusiasmter¡­¡± A man out of his mind is like a wolf; no amount of disgust can deter him. ¡°You¡ªyou let me go¡­ I¡¯m still carrying a baby¡­ You can¡¯t do this to me¡­¡± ¡°The baby won¡¯t be harmed. Besides, I have no need to care about this child!¡± Shen Chi was somewhat infuriated. Saying he didn¡¯t care was a lie¡ªhow could any man be indifferent upon seeing the woman he loved most carrying someone else¡¯s child? He admitted that he wasn¡¯t magnanimous enough for that. He was a normal man, after all. ¡°If you dare touch my baby, I swear to you, I¡¯ll fight to the death!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes reddened in panic, she raised her hand, ready to p Shen Chi across the face! Shen Chi reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist, preventing her from moving! Her unded strike was like a bucket of cold water that instantly put out all of his desire. Had things between them really reached the point of physical confrontation? Their eyes met, and he saw hatred in hers; she saw indifference in his. Xu Chaomu bit her lip, her big eyes unblinking as she continued to stare at him. Pain coursed through her wrist where he held her, while the other hand covered her belly, fiercely protecting her child. The two remained in a deadlock for five minutes until, finally, Shen Chi let go of her hand! With a flick of his wrist, he turned his face away, refusing to look at her again. His back was ramrod straight, facial lines tense, not even a hint of a smile to be seen. His whole being radiated a chilling air. The man now waspletely different from the one he had been moments earlier. Xu Chaomu somewhat rxed; this man¡¯s mood was like the weather in June, unpredictable. But as long as he didn¡¯t touch her child, she wouldn¡¯t hold any grudges. The Maybach drove into the Shen Family vi and made its way to the garage. During the drive, nobody spoke a word. Shen Chi¡¯s lips were firmly set, his eyes fixed ahead of him filled with endless coldness. Meanwhile, Xu Chaomu straightened her clothes and hair, then took out a small mirror to check herself. Damn it, there were marks all over her neck left by him. And it just had to be summer when the cors are low-cut; how was she supposed to face Butler Lingter? Returning after five years to be seen like this? She leaned back in the seat, stealing nces at the man who sulked with pursed lips, silent, without a single movement. Old Cheng parked the car in the garage. Throughout the drive, he had not once put down the partition. Only now did he lower it, ncing back: ¡°Mr. Shen, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± Neither person in the back said a word, as if they were both in a bad mood again. Old Cheng thought, a little spat is okay; it¡¯s better than its distance between them. In Old Cheng¡¯s eyes, he of course hoped Xu Chaomu would end up with Shen Chi. After all, over the past five years, he had watched Shen Chi torment himself over Xu Chaomu. Now Xu Chaomu was back. If they could be together, how wonderful that would be. But¡­ Xu Chaomu was carrying another man¡¯s child and was about to get engaged. Could they stille together? To the Xu Chaomu of five yearster, there was no more clinginess or fondness for Shen Chi. Previously, Old Cheng saw in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes nothing but adoration for Shen Chi, always sticking close by his side. But now¡­ ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently. Old Cheng, having received Shen Chi¡¯s acknowledgment, hurriedly got out to open the door for him. ¡°Mr. Shen, please.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t even nce at Xu Chaomu. Adjusting his tie, he stepped out of the car and walked out of the garage. His anger had not yet subsided, and his whole demeanor seemed tense and upset. His stride was unwavering as he walked out of the garage, silent. Old Cheng hurried to open the door for Xu Chaomu: ¡°Miss Xu, pleasee out. Go with Mr. Shen; he won¡¯t be mad at you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going. I¡¯ve changed my mind. I have nothing to do with him; why should I care about his mood? He always puts on such a face¡ªwho¡¯s he doing it for?¡± ¡°Miss Xu, Mr. Shen cares about you.¡± ¡°Uncle Cheng, you¡¯re with him every day, you should know. Shen Chi has so many women he can¡¯t count them all. Oh, right, wasn¡¯t there a woman named Jian Sisi today making a scene?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood Mr. Shen. In his heart, other than you, there is no one else. Please believe in him.¡± ¡°He just tried to hit me. Tell him to apologize to me. If he apologizes, then I¡¯ll get out.¡± Xu Chaomu yed the victim, acting stubbornly. She was certain Shen Chi would never apologize to her. ¡°Hit you? Impossible. How could Mr. Shen bear to hit you¡­¡± Old Cheng shook his head, not believing it. ¡°I don¡¯t care, he tried to hit me. If he doesn¡¯t apologize, I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Miss Xu, this is a residential area, it¡¯s hard to get a cab here.¡± ¡°Then you could drive me, Uncle Cheng, or I could walk back on my own.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just leave the Shen Family like that.¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth; Old Cheng¡¯s implication was clear: either walk back by herself or go along with Shen Chi. Just as she was about to speak, Shen Chi, who had reached the garage door, stopped. He frowned and said, ¡°What are you muttering about?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, Miss Xu refuses toe down¡­¡± Old Cheng replied. ¡°Then leave her in the car. If she feels stifled, she¡¯ll get out on her own!¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re a real piece of work!¡± Xu Chaomu roared and hurled a cushion from the car at Shen Chi¡¯s back! ¡°Mr. Shen, this isn¡¯t right. Miss Xu¡­ she¡¯s still pregnant¡­¡± Old Cheng¡¯s voice dropped. After all, it wasn¡¯t Shen Chi¡¯s child, and he feared further words would only anger him. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing her. It¡¯s a multiple-choice question that she has to answer for herself,¡± said Shen Chi indifferently. ¡°Fine, you want to make a choice for me? Can¡¯t I walk out by myself?¡± Xu Chaomu was also stubborn, and as soon as the words left her mouth, she flung open the car door and leaped out! ¡°Miss Xu, where are you heading? You¡¯vee all this way. Don¡¯t you want to see Butler Ling? She¡¯s missed you so much over the past five years that her hair has almost turned white¡­¡± Old Cheng said. Chapter 336: It’s Not Like I Haven’t Touched it Before Chapter 336: It¡¯s Not Like I Haven¡¯t Touched it Before ¡°Of course, I want to see Butler Ling, but if he doesn¡¯t apologize to me, I¡¯m leaving! If he apologizes, I will go see Butler Ling. The multiple-choice question is for him to decide!¡± Xu Chaomu retaliated, pointing her finger at Shen Chi. Old Cheng was really choked up. Five years had passed, and Xu Chaomu was still the same, always at odds with Shen Chi. In this world, probably no one else dared to be at odds with Shen Chi except for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Fine, Xu Chaomu, let¡¯s see how many steps you can take.¡± Shen Chi was not someone to be threatened by others; he knew Xu Chaomu¡¯s biggest weakness now was that child! In the past, she could whimsically climb walls and leave on a whim, but now, he¡¯d like to see how she could possibly leave! Old Cheng understood the meaning behind Shen Chi¡¯s words and stopped talking. Shen Chi walked out of the garage without looking back. ¡°Bastard!¡± Xu Chaomu clenched her teeth! ¡°Miss Xu, you should get out of the car. President Shen won¡¯t do anything to you. He¡¯s tough on the outside but soft on the inside, don¡¯t take it to heart. Say a few nice words, and he¡¯ll naturally smile.¡± ¡°Uncle Cheng, don¡¯t try to persuade me. I¡¯m leaving. I shouldn¡¯t havee today.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe that both Shen Chi and Old Cheng could be so heartless. Having said that, she got out of the car and, without looking back, walked away from the garage toward the Shen Family¡¯s main gate. After five years away, she still knew which direction the main gate of the Shen Family was. ¡°Miss Xu, don¡¯t be rash. You¡¯re carrying a child, don¡¯t joke around with the child¡¯s life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being rash,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. Just as Shen Chi was about to walk into the Shen Family¡¯s living room, he looked back and saw Xu Chaomu actually daring to run away. Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re really something. ¡°Miss Xu, if you hurt the child, you¡¯re going to regret it.¡± Old Cheng ran up to her and tried to persuade her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my child is not that delicate,¡± Xu Chaomu said unheeding, ¡°I think he also doesn¡¯t want to see certain people¡¯s cold faces.¡± Old Cheng was at a loss, so he had no choice but to run to Shen Chi¡¯s side: ¡°President Shen, please talk to Miss Xu, this is no joking matter.¡± ¡°If she wants to y games with her child, let her be, what does that have to do with me? I would rather her child didn¡¯t exist!¡± Old Cheng didn¡¯t know what to say. Of course, Shen Chi didn¡¯t have much affection for that child in his heart. What man could be that generous. But¡­ While they were talking, Xu Chaomu had already run out of the Shen Family¡¯s property; the further she went, the angrier she became. At that moment, Old Cheng suddenly thought of Lady Shen, and he became agitated, urging Shen Chi, ¡°President Shen, think about Lady Shen. She miscarried a child back then, which left her uterine wall too thin, and she hasn¡¯t conceived since. If Miss Xu¡­¡± Indeed, Old Cheng saw Shen Chi¡¯s fists slowly clench. ¡°Please reconsider,¡± Old Cheng said. ¡°Bing more and more indiscernible!¡± Shen Chi dropped a cold remark. Having said that, he strode towards the Shen Family¡¯s main gate. Xu Chaomu had already walked fifty meters away, moving slowly with one hand constantly on her belly. The blinding sun hung in the sky, and not far into her walk, Xu Chaomu¡¯s forehead began to glisten with sweat. ¡°Baby, were you frightened? Don¡¯t be afraid, Mommy will protect you,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking down. ¡°Baby, shall Mommy tell you a story?¡± ¡°Once upon a time, there was an old and ugly monk on a mountain who had eyes for a girl in the vige below. The girl, ah, she was as beautiful as flowers¡­ Hey, hey, what are you doing, let go¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was enthusiastically telling the story when her cor was suddenly grabbed. ¡°Come home with me!¡± a voice dered, its owner sporting a dark expression. ¡°I¡¯m not going back!¡± ¡°Getting bold, are we? You really think I can¡¯t deal with you?¡± ¡°How are you going to ¡®treat¡¯ me? With insecticide or disinfectant?¡± ¡°Do you believe that I¡­¡± ¡°What do I believe? That you¡¯ve been deceiving me for a whole eight years?¡± Xu Chaomu interrupted him, raising her head to look at him. Shen Chi was caught off guard by her bringing up the past, and he was suddenly at a loss for words. ¡°You fool me once, I¡¯ll never believe you again for the rest of my life. Because, I trusted you wholeheartedly, yet you used all your might to deceive me.¡± Xu Chaomu sneered and shook off his hand. ¡°I had my difficulties,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. ¡°Difficulties are just excuses,¡± Xu Chaomu replied coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t me me for bringing up the past, I only hope we can stay far away from each other in the future. I can¡¯t climb up to you, I¡¯m not worthy of you. I¡¯ve long realized that, I was delusional before, and I¡¯ve paid the price for my youth and ignorance. From now on, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Do we really have toe to this?¡± ¡°No, I said before, let¡¯s sit down and have a good talk. In the future, my child can still call you ¡®Uncle Four,¡¯ and your child can still call me ¡®Auntie.¡¯ We won¡¯t be too stiff with each other.¡± ¡°Are you determined to marry someone else?¡± ¡°I just want to live a peaceful life. I can¡¯t reach your circle.¡± ¡°Alright, stop being mad. Didn¡¯t you want me to apologize? Isn¡¯t it enough that I apologize to you?¡± ¡°Your attitude is really bad,¡± Xu Chaomu nced at him and sneered. ¡°You! Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re pushing your luck!¡± Shen Chi was angry. ¡°I am pushing my luck, so what? You unhappy now?¡± ¡°Fine, I was wrong, I apologize to you. I shouldn¡¯t have said those things to you today. Whatever the wife says is right.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your wife? Look at you, there¡¯s no sincerity in your apology. Have you never apologized before? Proud Shen Si Shao [Fourth Young Master Shen], you¡­ Hey, what are you doing, put me down!¡± ¡°You talk too much!¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Chi frowned and scooped her up in his arms! ¡°A gentleman uses his tongue, a viin uses his fists. You start using force because you can¡¯t win an argument, are you even a man?¡± ¡°You can have a feel and see if I¡¯m a man,¡± he said. This man, when it came to dirty jokes, was always unaffected. When making such remarks, he was as solemn as if reading a news bulletin, utterly serious and straight-faced. ¡°Shameless to the extreme!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve touched me before, why blush?¡± ¡°Get lost, will you!¡± Xu Chaomu exploded. ¡°Lost? Rolling in the sheets?¡± ¡°Get lost, you jerk!¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s still rolling with you.¡± Compared to being shameless, Xu Chaomu always felt she was still reserved. Soon, Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu back to the Shen Family home. Seeing this, Old Cheng finally walked away with ease. In his eyes, there was nothing Shen Chi couldn¡¯t handle, including Xu Chaomu¡ªit was just a matter of time. Old Cheng had just left when Butler Ling rushed over from the kitchen in a hurry. She didn¡¯t even know that Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu had returned! As soon as she entered the living room, she caught sight of Xu Chaomu! Tears swooshed out, ¡°Miss Xu, is that you? Is it really you?¡± Xu Chaomu hurried forward: ¡°Butler Ling, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Girl, why didn¡¯t youe back for five years? Do you know how much I¡¯ve missed you?¡± Butler Ling quietly wiped away a tear. Chapter 337 - 337 Taking Precautionary Measures Chapter 337: Taking Precautionary Measures ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xu Chaomu took her hand, ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too, it¡¯s my fault for noting back to see you.¡± ¡°Miss, what are you apologizing for? It¡¯s good that you cane back, it¡¯s good that you can.¡± Butler Ling¡¯s tears streamed down his face, ¡°You don¡¯t know, after you disappeared for five years, without any news, both I and the Fourth Young Master thought you¡­¡± Butler Ling didn¡¯t finish, everyone knew what was left unsaid. ¡°Butler Ling, here I am back, right? Don¡¯t cry, I¡¯ve been doing well.¡± Xu Chaomu pulled out a tissue to wipe her tears. ¡°Miss, have you really been doing well these five years? How have you been getting by?¡± ¡°Quite well, really. I¡¯ll tell you all about it when I have the time!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, I¡¯ve lived long enough not to be easily fooled. Just look at yourself, how did you get so thin?¡± Butler Ling took her hand, looking it over from left to right, eyes filled with concern. ¡°No, I¡¯ve been losing weight!¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. ¡°Losing weight while pregnant? Are you trying to say I have nomon sense?¡± Xu Chaomu found herself speechless. ¡°How many months is it?¡± ¡°Two months.¡± ¡°Do you know if it¡¯s a boy or a girl?¡± ¡°Not yet, I don¡¯t mind either, I like both.¡± ¡°Sigh, five years not seen, and you, Miss, are pregnant. Time flies so fast; I still remember your days in the Shen Family, back then, you were a mischievous little scamp. It¡¯s unbelievable¡­ how fast time flies, really fast.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯ve been doing well. By the way, I¡¯m about to get engaged, you muste.¡± Butler Ling went silent, casting a sidelong nce at Shen Chi. Sure enough, Shen Chi¡¯s face was ashen, looking very unpleasant. ¡°Getting married? What does your boyfriend do?¡± Butler Ling asked faintly. ¡°Yes, we will start nning the wedding after the engagement. My boyfriend is just an ordinary office worker, a manager in a marketing department of apany. Mainly, we just get along well, and he often takes me out traveling, he¡¯s really good to me.¡± ¡°You¡­ have you really decided to get married?¡± Butler Ling nced again at Shen Chi; only she and Old Cheng knew how Shen Chi had fared over these five years. Now, it had been a tough search to find Xu Chaomu, only for her to say that she was going to get married. ¡°There¡¯s a child, of course, I have to get married,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. As she spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but touch her belly. ¡°You¡­ have you really considered this seriously?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve known him for five years, and we¡¯ve been good together.¡± ¡°So, will you be staying at the Shen house this time? I still have a lot to tell you.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see, if there¡¯s time, I¡¯ll stay and chat more.¡± ¡°Miss, do you know? After you left, Dabai didn¡¯t eat or drink for three whole days. That creature, so very human-like.¡± ¡°Really?¡± There was a tinge of mncholy in Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice. Dabai hadn¡¯t eaten anything for three days and nights after she left? Thinking of that mischievous dog, Xu Chaomu felt a twinge of sorrow in her heart. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s still listless. When you have time, go and see it, take it for a walk.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Butler Ling kept talking to Xu Chaomu for a while, but no matter what was said, it all avoided Shen Chi. For instance, she wouldn¡¯t bring up the child in Xu Chaomu¡¯s belly. At first, Shen Chi listened to their conversation, but soon he grew impatient, especially when Xu Chaomu mentioned her fiance in that supremely gentle tone. In Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, Xu Chaomu and the word ¡°gentle¡± were miles apart! Perhaps, she wasn¡¯t ungentle, it¡¯s just that all her tenderness was bestowed upon someone else. ¡°Butler Ling, go and make dinner,¡± Shen Chi interrupted with a frown. Butler Ling changed the subject, nodding, ¡°Alright, Fourth Young Master, I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Butler Ling left for the kitchen to prepare dinner. In the vast living room, only Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi remained. With no one to talk to, Xu Chaomu turned on the TV to watch some programs, while Shen Chi opened hisptop and sat on the sofa to check the stock market. Neither spoke a word; Xu Chaomu switched channels out of boredom. Shen Chi rested theptop on his legs, his fingers constantly tapping on the keyboard. For a time, only two sounds filled the living room: the noise from the TV programs and the tapping of the keyboard. Xu Chaomu clicked through one channel after another, finding nothing she liked. With no other choice, she switched off the TV with a ¡®click¡¯ and prepared to head upstairs to sleep. She felt that being around Shen Chi was talkless and even boring. Even if they asionally struck up a conversation, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they started arguing. As she began ascending the spiral staircase to go up, Shen Chi lifted his eyelids and called out to her, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel well; I¡¯m going upstairs to sleep.¡± ¡°We¡¯re about to have dinner soon, eat first then sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, I won¡¯t eat,¡± Xu Chaomu said obstinately, continuing her way upstairs. ¡°Butler Ling is specially making dinner for you, and you¡¯d let her good intentions go to waste?¡± ¡°I can still eat after I¡¯ve slept,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. Whenever he couldn¡¯t win an argument with her, he¡¯d bring up Butler Ling to pressure her. Xu Chaomu walked up the stairs to her room, instinctively stopping at her door. That¡¯s when she realized, she no longer had the key. In that moment, she neither knew whether to stand or sit, to go downstairs or stay put. She awkwardly stood at the door, somewhat at a loss. ¡°My room¡¯s door is open; if you want to sleep, go there,¡± Shen Chi said without looking up, typing away at his keyboard. Xu Chaomu looked up, and indeed, his room was unlocked. Five years ago, she¡¯d have been tossed out if she even thought about entering his room. Now, he was willing to let her sleep there. But what did it mean for her to sleep in his room? She walked to the head of the stairs and said, ¡°Mr. Shen, doesn¡¯t your house have many guest rooms? Just give me one.¡± ¡°Only my room is avable. If you want to sleep, sleep; if not,e down!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone brooked no argument. ¡°What an attitude,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered, ¡°With your room, and your bed, who knows how many women have slept there, I find it disgusting.¡± Only then did Shen Chi stop typing, cing hisptop aside, standing up, and lifting his gaze to Xu Chaomu upstairs. His eyes were sharp, emitting a chilling light. Xu Chaomu, startled, quickly covered her belly and stepped back a few paces. ¡°Xu Chaomu, your talent for talking nonsense sure has grown,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m speaking the truth,¡± Xu Chaomu responded, ¡°Oh, by the way, Mr. Shen, your Miss Jian Sisi fainted and was hospitalized, aren¡¯t you going to see her? Oh, and Miss Bai, howe I didn¡¯t see her?¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Why would I be jealous? I¡¯m just reminding Mr. Shen, with too many women, you¡¯d better take precautions. Otherwise, in twenty years, a bunch of illegitimate children might appear to im your inheritance.¡± ¡°Youe down here, and I promise I won¡¯t kill you,¡± Shen Chi said as he rolled up his sleeves, pushing his shirt up to his elbows. Chapter 338: You Guys, Continue Chapter 338: You Guys, Continue ¡°Why would I be jealous? I¡¯m just reminding President Shen to be careful when you¡¯re surrounded by women. You wouldn¡¯t want a bunch of illegitimate children popping up twenty yearster to im your inheritance, right?¡± ¡°Get down here and I promise I won¡¯t beat you to death.¡± Shen Chi rolled up his cuffs and pushed his shirt sleeves up to his elbows. ¡°Are you even a man? Men who hit women are scum!¡± Xu Chaomu, frightened, took a few more steps back. Looking up at her like that, Shen Chi found his mood inexplicably lifting. If she wouldn¡¯te down, then he would have to go up himself. Step by step, Shen Chi walked up the stairs toward her. Xu Chaomu hurriedly ran, but when she had nowhere else to retreat, she looked at him in terror, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Nothing, I just want to ask you a question.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°When do you n on fulfilling your duties as a wife?¡± ¡°That marriage certificate was obtained under duress and deception, I could sue you.¡± ¡°Sue me? Do you need awyer? I can rmend mine to you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, what will it take for you to agree to a divorce?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± ¡°Then you might as well sleep with your marriage certificate because I won¡¯t recognize you as my husband.¡± ¡°No¡­ I can sleep holding you.¡± Having said that, the man walked over to her, cornered her against the wall, pinned her shoulders with one hand, and, before she could protest, nted a kiss on her. Landing directly on her lips! ¡°Mmm¡­.¡± Xu Chaomu resisted. But the stronger her resistance, the more fervent became his desire. He kissed her, deeply and passionately. In the thin fabrics of summer, Shen Chi¡¯s and Xu Chaomu¡¯s bodies pressed together. The scent of the young girl enveloped his nostrils, and with arge hand, he held her even tighter. Their bodies together, Shen Chi could feel through the clothes the ¡°thump, thump¡± of Xu Chaomu¡¯s heartbeat. In a panic, Xu Chaomu pushed against him with her small hands. Five years apart, this man constantly behaved as if he was in dire need of a woman. Didn¡¯t any of the numerous women by his side satisfy him? Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed red, her breathing constricted, she felt like she was being electrified, a tingling sensation all over. She had to admit, the man was an excellent kisser. His lips gently caressed hers, drawing out her sweet essence. Xu Chaomu¡¯s back against the wall, she wanted to kick him, but he had her pinned down firmly. Seeing Xu Chaomu gasping for air, Shen Chi finally released her lips and slowly moved his kisses downward. ¡°Shen, Shen Chi¡­ you are, you are a beast¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to scold him, but instead, her words made even her own cheeks burn. ¡°Shen, Shen Chi¡­ I¡¯ve been to bed with so many men, would you still, stilly your hands on me?¡± Indeed, Shen Chi¡¯s body stiffened, and he halted all his movements. He lifted his head from her neck, his falcon-like eyes deep and unfathomable. Xu Chaomu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that as a prized son of heaven, he could have as many young girls as he wanted. How could he possibly continue after she said something like that? ¡°So many men, how many?¡± his voice was icy. ¡°Five or six,¡± Xu Chaomu blurted out without thinking. ¡°Then one more won¡¯t matter!¡± After saying that, Shen Chi became even more aggressive, and forcefully began to untie theces on her dress. His actions were somewhat fueled by anger. The girl he had cherished under his wing for eight years ¡ª how could it be that he hadn¡¯t had a taste, while other men had taken advantage of her? ¡°Shen Chi, are you really not picky? Are you that desperate¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m desperate.¡± His hot breath wafted over her neck, sending shivers through her entire body. He was trying to undo her dress, but identally got theces tangled, making them impossible to untie. The more he tried, the more irritated he became¡­ ¡°Shen Chi, you freaking beast, if you dare¡­¡± ¡°So noisy.¡± Shen Chi silenced her with a kiss on the lips, giving her no chance to talk nonsense! Just as Shen Chi touched her dress, Butler Chenng pushed open the living room door. ¡°Fourth Young Master, Chaomu, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand stopped abruptly, releasing Xu Chaomu reluctantly. Butler Chenng, unaware of where the two had gone, had looked around for them. Then, ncing up, he caught sight of the two in a corner, entwined in an unending embrace. Butler Chenng¡¯s face reddened, and he quickly looked down. Young people, really choosing no ce. Shen Chi withdrew his hand, all his enthusiasm dashed. A piercing re shot through the air, and Butler Chenng¡¯s face was lined with ck, as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°You¡­ continue, continue, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡± He quickly lowered his head and left. Meanwhile, he closed the living room door and instructed that no one was allowed to go in. Continue? Shen Chi looked down at Xu Chaomu, how to continue? ¡°Shameless.¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her eyelids, pushed him away, and started to walk downstairs, straightening her clothes. Shen Chi hooked the corner of his mouth, adjusted his tie, and followed her down the stairs. On the dining table, Butler Chenng had arranged several dishes, all of which were Xu Chaomu¡¯s favorites. But Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t have much of an appetite. She took a seat at the table and said indifferently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to make me millet porridge?¡± ¡°You want it now?¡± ¡°Yes, right now.¡± ¡°You want me to make it personally?¡± ¡°Yes, you make it for me.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go make it for you. You just sit tight and don¡¯t wander off.¡± Shen Chi looked at her affectionately, reached out, and gently touched her hair. Xu Chaomu turned her head away, dodging him. Shen Chi could only smile helplessly and walked out of the living room toward the kitchen. As soon as Shen Chi was gone, Xu Chaomu started searching everywhere for a phone! Her cellphone had been taken by Shen Chi, and she wanted to call Nie Chenng. After looking everywhere, she clearly remembered there were phones in the living room and the bathroom, but after searching, she couldn¡¯t find a single one. She was desperate, anxiously pacing in circles in the living room. Without a phone, how could she contact the outside world? Nie Chenng must be looking for her nonstop, plus today¡¯s call was answered by Shen Chi. What would Nie Chenng think? Xu Chaomu paced in frustration; indeed, there was not a single phone to be found in the living room. She irritably sat on the couch, resting her cheek in her hand, and stared nkly at the wall. Five years had passed and she was still no match for this man. After spacing out for twenty minutes, Shen Chi came in, carrying a bowl of steaming hot millet porridge. ¡°Come here, I made it myself. I¡¯ll feed it to you.¡± Shen Chi beckoned Xu Chaomu over, cing the bowl on the dining table. ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite, I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten much all day.¡± ¡°Because I lose my appetite the moment I see you.¡± Xu Chaomu barely lifted her eyes, hugging a pillow,zily spoke. Ever since she got pregnant, she became veryzy, sometimes even toozy to speak. Chapter 339: Jian Sisi is Pregnant Chapter 339: Jian Sisi is Pregnant Shen Chi frowned, ¡°You hardly ate anything all day today.¡± ¡°Because I lose my appetite when I see you,¡± Xu Chaomu said, without lifting her eyelids, hugging a pillowzily. Ever since she got pregnant, she had be veryzy, sometimes not even wanting to talk. But Shen Chi was so annoying, disturbing her peace. ¡°Don¡¯t be wilful,e here. Even if you don¡¯t want to eat, you have to think about the child in your belly! I¡¯m telling you, if the child is malnourished, it could be born prematurely, or even worse, miscarried, even¡­¡± ¡°Damn Shen Chi, you¡¯re cursing my child!¡± Xu Chaomu threw the pillow away and stood up abruptly. ¡°I also wish for your child to be born safe and healthy,¡± Shen Chi said, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°Really? Is that what you really think? Why do I find it so hard to believe?¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. That day in the hospital, he was desperate to terminate her pregnancy. If he hadn¡¯t had a change of heart that day, her child would be gone now. ¡°As long as you¡¯re fine, I don¡¯t care whose child it is, I will treat it as my own.¡± There was no expression on Shen Chi¡¯s face, but his eyes were sincere. Xu Chaomu was moved to say something, yet she remained silent. ¡°Come have some porridge, I¡¯ll feed you, it¡¯ll be cold soon.¡± Shen Chi walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. Pulling out the chair at the dining table, he sat down beside her. Shen Chi picked up the bowl of porridge and lightly stirred it with a spoon. The steam rose along with the aroma, a whole bowl of millet porridge looked sweet and tempting. Xu Chaomu touched her stomach, she was actually a bit hungry. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself,¡± she said, reaching for the bowl. ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll feed you.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t give her the chance to do it herself, scooping up a little bit of porridge, blowing on it to cool it down, and brought it to her lips. ¡°Be good, eat it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to feed me, I can do it myself¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was awkward. This man had changedpletely after not seeing him for five years. In the past, even if she was sick and begged him to feed her, he would never agree. ¡°Just give me one chance. It¡¯s been five years, I would rather feed you like this every day than have you leave again.¡± Xu Chaomu truly found it rare to hear such cheesy words from this man, and her heart felt strangely stirred. ¡°Open your mouth, okay?¡± Shen Chi brought the spoon to her lips, and only then did Xu Chaomu open her mouth, looking up at him. He fed her a spoonful of porridge, and only after she swallowed it did he curve his lips contentedly. ¡°How¡¯s your husband¡¯s cooking?¡± ¡°Not great,¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. Although, she had to admit to herself, it was quite delicious. ¡°You¡¯re just stubborn,¡± he said. Shen Chi quickly scooped another spoonful of millet porridge for her. She ate slowly, so he waited patiently. ¡°Chaomu, can youe back to the Shen Family?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What about the Waterside Pavilion? Let¡¯s go back to Waterside Pavilion together, nobody will disturb us.¡± ¡°I stopped liking you a long time ago.¡± ¡°But I like you,¡± Shen Chi sighed. Xu Chaomu looked up, a memory surfacing of five years ago, amidst the gunfire and bullets, when he said, ¡°Chaomu, I love you.¡± She never believed that he could fall in love with her. How could he possibly love her? He was just unable to distinguish what was love and what was atonement. All he felt for her was guilt. ¡°Shen Chi, let¡¯s discuss something,¡± she said. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked. ¡°Find time for us to get a divorce. I¡¯m marrying Chenng, and we can¡¯t do it without a marriage certificate; otherwise, what about my child¡¯s future?¡± The warmth in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes instantly cooled: ¡°That¡¯s impossible. If you stay by my side, I will treat this child as my own.¡± ¡°I never knew that President Shen is so noble and great, raising someone else¡¯s child.¡± ¡°Your child is my child.¡± ¡°But he will call you ¡®Uncle Four¡¯ in the future.¡± ¡°Are you insisting on tormenting me?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew darker and darker. ¡°I¡¯m not tormenting you, it¡¯s you who¡¯s tormenting me. Why won¡¯t you let me go? I can live the life I want,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice lowered. ¡°Enough,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened early on. Each time, they couldn¡¯t talk without arguing. He had a temper too, but he could only indulge her. Xu Chaomu kept silent. When Shen Chi brought the spoon to her again, she turned her head away, refusing to eat. ¡°Eat a little more, otherwise, your child will suffer,¡± he urged. ¡°I don¡¯t want any more. Feed whoever you want,¡± she retorted, standing up and pushing back her chair. Perhaps the movement was too sudden¡ªthe chair didn¡¯t stay upright and with a ¡°thud,¡± it fell to the floor, making a loud noise! ¡°Forget it!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s patience wore thin. Xu Chaomu turned and walked out of the living room. Shen Chi called out coldly, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to ask the butler for the guest room key to stay one night, okay?¡± she replied. ¡°Your room is still kept for you.¡± Upon saying that, Shen Chi took out a key and pped it on the table¡ªit was the key to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Xu Chaomu walked over, picked up the key, and said indifferently, ¡°Thank you.¡± After that, she took the key and walked upstairs. Shen Chi grew particrly irritable. After watching Xu Chaomu go upstairs, he lit a cigarette. After five years of not seeing her, she treated him like aplete stranger. Eight years of being together every day and night¡ªeven if there was no love, there were still feelings. He took a drag from his cigarette, frowning deeply. At that moment, his phone rang. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked. ¡°President Shen, pleasee to the First Hospital. It¡¯s urgent,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°First Hospital? What urgent matter? Tell me first.¡± ¡°Jian Sisi is pregnant.¡± ¡°Terminate it!¡± ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s¡­ your child,¡± Xiao Mo hesitated. ¡°Do I need to say it again?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it right away. Aren¡¯t youing over, President Shen?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you handle this kind of thing?¡± ¡°Okay, you¡¯re busy.¡± After hanging up the phone, Shen Chi felt even more agitated. He took off his tie and threw it aside, then he casually unbuttoned a few from his cor. This summer was particrly irksome. Jian Sisi¡­ She was his biggest mistake. If it hadn¡¯t been for that spring in Paris when he was plied with too much alcohol, he would never have slept with his secretary. He had always been a man of self-discipline, except¡­ that time. Even if there were regret pills, it was no use now, he could only manage the aftereffects. He stepped out onto the porch, staring at the stars while smoking. Before he could finish his cigarette, Xiao Mo¡¯s call came in again. ¡°President Shen, Jian Sisi refuses to abort the baby. She says if we dare to touch her child, she will call the media and expose everything,¡± Xiao Mo reported. ¡°She must have eaten the guts of a leopard,¡± Shen Chi remarked. ¡°President Shen, we¡¯re at a standstill right now, waiting for your decision,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°I¡¯lle over,¡± he decided. ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Chi discarded the cigarette butt and headed towards the garage. Chapter 340: The Fourth Young Master Really Loves You Chapter 340: The Fourth Young Master Really Loves You Jian Sisi seemed simple and straightforward on normal days, yet I never expected her to harbor countless schemes. It was nothing more than seeing that Shen Chi was unmarried and childless, wanting to exploit the situation for her benefit through her child. Indeed, she yed her cards well. But anyone who dares to gamble on Shen Chi¡¯s head will only meet a tragic end, no matter who it is! Shen Chi, with a stony expression, drove a Lamborghini into the night, heading for the hospital. When Xu Chaomu drew the curtains, she just so happened to see Shen Chi¡¯s car leaving the Shen Family estate. Going out sote, Xu Chaomu snorted and closed the curtains, pacing back and forth in her room. Unexpectedly, after five years, this ce hadn¡¯t changed at all¡ªit was still the same as before. The table was stacked with books, which she flipped through carelessly, the very ones she had left on her desk without a second thought five years ago. Atop the booksy several test papers. They weren¡¯t just any papers but the ones from the midterm exam right before she left. Xu Chaomu felt a surge of warmth in her eyes and a sourness in her nose as tears began to flow. Those high school memories and bygone days couldn¡¯t be returned to. In those years, so carefree and naive, truly unaware of the taste of worry. She randomly flipped through the test papers, her eyes lingering on the immature and naive handwriting as her tears flowed more freely. As she flipped the papers, a faint scent of paper wafted up. Five years had passed, and the papers had yellowed slightly. ¡°Weiwei, lend me your homework to copy, I¡¯ll bring you breakfast tomorrow!¡± ¡°Take it, take it, I copied it from someone else too.¡± ¡°Weiwei, what rank are you aiming for in this midterm exam?¡± ¡°I want to best.¡± ¡°Last ce is mine, don¡¯t you dare take it.¡± The years of youth passed too quickly. ¡°Thud, thud, thud.¡± Suddenly, the door to her bedroom was knocked. Xu Chaomu hurriedly wiped away her tears with a tissue, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The butler¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Coming.¡± Xu Chaomu quickly went to open the door for the butler. The butler held a ss of milk in his hand, ¡°The Fourth Young Master just went out, and he asked me to warm a ss of milk for you. I added some honey. Drinking a cup before bed is good for your health.¡± Xu Chaomu reached out to take it, ¡°Thank you, butler.¡± ¡°What are you being polite with me for? The Fourth Young Master said you refused to eat dinner, so he had me bring you some milk. He said, you might not give him face, but you would at least give me face.¡± ¡°Butler, there are many things that you don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I may not understand, but I still trust what I see,¡± the butler sighed, ¡°Miss, let¡¯s sit down and have a talk, shall we?¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, moved a chair for the butler to sit on, and then sat on the bed herself, facing the butler. ¡°Miss, are you really going to get married? To that man who works at thepany?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve decided. We were nning on getting engaged anyway.¡± ¡°In your heart, is there really no ce for the Fourth Young Master anymore?¡± ¡°I was young and ignorant before, like any other girl, I had a crush on him. But gradually I realized that we¡¯re not from the same world, it was all my wishful thinking.¡± ¡°Miss, if the Fourth Young Master liked you too, would you change your mind?¡± ¡°No one would stay stuck in the same ce,¡± Xu Chaomu said lightly. ¡°Miss, you really have no idea, the Fourth Young Master loves you, he truly does.¡± Xu Chaomu took a sip of milk, remaining silent. ¡°These five years, you can¡¯t imagine what he¡¯s been through. That period right after you left the Shen Family, he was like a madman searching for you. Every morning, when I went to clean his room, I¡¯d find a pile of cigarette butts on the balcony floor.¡± The butler continued, ¡°I always thought the Fourth Young Master liked Miss Bai, until I found outter, the one he loved¡­ was you.¡± Xu Chaomu spoke faintly, ¡°Butler, he and I are not suitable.¡± The butler became anxious, ¡°What¡¯s unsuitable? You like him, he likes you, isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°Butler, there are some things you don¡¯t understand.¡± Xu Chaomu was reminded of that night five years ago, the storm, the gunfire ringing in her ears. The waves swallowed up the ship, the rain drenched their clothes. Bai Man painstakingly told her that her mother, Xu Mengxi, had been killed by Shen Chi¡¯s mother, Zhou Ran. When she asked him about it, he didn¡¯t deny it. He had known all along, yet he deceived her for so many years. Latter, she took a bullet for him. She thought she would die, but to her surprise, she didn¡¯t. She lived. Since she lived, she had to live well. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk to me about it?¡± the butler said. ¡°Butler, how about Miss Bai? Didn¡¯t they get married afterward?¡± ¡°No, the Fourth Young Master and Miss Bai called off their engagement, and neither of them remarried. When that happened, it was well known throughout C City.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Miss Bai pregnant?¡± ¡°Pregnant? I haven¡¯t heard anything about that.¡± Xu Chaomu was stunned. Could it be true that she wasn¡¯t pregnant? A few days ago, when she brought up the matter, Shen Chi said Bai Man had deceived her, and now the butler was telling her the same, that Bai Man wasn¡¯t pregnant. Could it be that, five years ago, Bai Man really had lied to her? ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been a pregnancy. If Miss Bai really had been carrying the Fourth Young Master¡¯s child, Mr. Bai would never have agreed to cancel the wedding.¡± ¡°So, she really did deceive me,¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head. Back then, Bai Man went from the shopping mall to the hospital, with vomiting and medical check-ups, every step meticulously executed. She had never once considered that Bai Man was deceiving her. Not bad for an actress, such impressive acting skills. ¡°Miss, you have to believe the Fourth Young Master, he wouldn¡¯t deceive you.¡± ¡°Not deceive me?¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. ¡°You have to believe him.¡± ¡°Butler, it¡¯ste, you should go back and sleep,¡± Xu Chaomu was tired of hearing these words. She had believed him for eight years, but what had that led to¡­ Knowing she didn¡¯t want to discuss it further, the butler didn¡¯t insist and stood up, ¡°Then you should rest well. Your room has been the same for five years; if you need anything, just call me.¡± ¡°Butler, I want to make a phone call.¡± ¡°This¡­ this is not allowed.¡± Xu Chaomu let out a coldugh, ¡°Is it his order again?¡± The butler was silent. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak again, turning to tidy up the things on the desk. Understanding, the butler tactfully left, closing the door to her room behind him. As soon as the butler left, Xu Chaomu took a shower, turned off the lights, and went to bed. Shey on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. The bed was the same one she had slept in for eight years. In the past, she could fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but now she found it impossible to drift off¡­ She kept touching her stomach, talking to the child inside. ¡°Baby, keep mompany and talk to me. Tell me, do you also really dislike your fourth uncle? You see, your mom grew up under his oppressive control.¡± ¡°Baby, mom will make sure to keep you away from him in the future. He has a terrible temper, prone to flips of anger as if the whole world should cater to his moods.¡± Chapter 341 - 341 He is your own flesh and blood Chapter 341: He is your own flesh and blood ¡°Baby, daddy¡¯s good to us, isn¡¯t he? Do you miss him?¡± ¡°Be good, go to sleep, mommy will find a way to take you home.¡± The First Hospital. When Shen Chi arrived, Jian Sisi was clutching the nket and hiding on the hospital bed, looking at everyone in front of her with a wary face. ¡°If you abort this child, I¡¯ll go to the media tomorrow!¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, don¡¯t forget, it was President Shen who kept you. Without him, you¡¯d still be drowning in a sea of debts! Don¡¯t be an ingrate,¡± Xiao Mo said coldly. ¡°Then you also have no right to abort my child. He¡¯s my child, a little life!¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, we know what you¡¯re scheming. Don¡¯t think we¡¯re clueless!¡± ¡°What am I scheming? All I want is for the child to be born healthy. Once he¡¯s born, I¡¯ll take him away from C City and go back to my hometown.¡± ¡°Really? Who would believe that you¡¯d return to your hometown carrying the child of the president of Shen Group?¡± Scorn was written all over Xiao Mo¡¯s face, and his eyes were filled with indifference. ¡°Why won¡¯t you believe me? I just want this child, nothing else! Can you understand a mother¡¯s feelings?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want the position of Mrs. President, either?¡± ¡°Of course not. I won¡¯t disrupt President Shen¡¯s life. I¡¯ll take this child and flee far away.¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s emotions were a bit stirred, and she confronted Xiao Mo while sitting on the bed. Her slender form was wrapped in an oversized hospital gown, and her shoulders trembled. Xiao Mo frowned:¡±Jian Sisi, don¡¯t think President Shen wouldn¡¯t dare to do something to you. Now, if you obediently go with me to the operating room, there¡¯s still room for negotiation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible, don¡¯t force me!¡± Just then, Shen Chi kicked open the door of the ward, his face an ashen hue, his eyes filled with coldness and icy disdain. ¡°Jian Sisi, don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Presi¡­ President Shen¡­¡± Jian Sisi widened her eyes in fear, retreating until her back was almost against the bed. Her hands were trembling as she grasped the nket. She didn¡¯t expect Shen Chi toe so quickly. ¡°Here¡¯s a check for ten million. Is that enough?!¡± Shen Chi strode to her bed and threw a check onto the sheets. Jian Sisi shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears: ¡°No, no, President Shen¡­ I really don¡¯t want your money, I don¡¯t care about money¡­ Just let me keep this child, I want him¡­¡± ¡°Is it not enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about money, President Shen, I don¡¯t want money¡­¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s face was a picture of distress, she clutched the nket, and tears ¡°plinked¡± and ¡°plinked¡± as they fell. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three more minutes to decide. Either take the money and leave, or be expelled from C City!¡± ¡°President Shen¡­ How can you be like this? If it hadn¡¯t been for that intoxicated night, I would still be pure and innocent. But now, you¡¯re cing all the me on me. Is your heart made of ice? I¡¯m not asking for anypensation from you; all I want now is for this child, and I¡¯m only begging you to let me take him away.¡± ¡°You have two minutes left.¡± ¡°President Shen, you¡­!¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s body shook with anger, her face turning pale. Xiao Mo tried to persuade her: ¡°Jian Sisi, you¡¯ve been with President Shen for four years; you should know his way of doing things.¡± Of course, Jian Sisi knew. He was ruthless and emotionless. Somehow, Zhou Peitian had offended him in the past, and Shen Chi made Zhou Peitian¡¯s family run like stray dogs, scurrying from ce to ce. Eventually, with nowhere to go, Zhou Peitian jumped from a building in despair, causing a sensation at the time. But she never thought he could be this heartless. Just as Jian Sisi was about to speak, Shen Chi nced up and spotted something beneath her nket. He strode forward, reached out, and lifted her nket! Jian Sisi¡¯s face turned deathly pale with fright; she immediately stood up, racing to grab the object! ¡°Jian Sisi, clever move.¡± But Shen Chi snatched it first, not something else but a small recorder. Jian Sisi¡¯s lips quivered, she was doomed¡­ Indeed, Shen Chi sneered coldly, like a provoked lion, his eyes filled with a blood-red tinge. Xiao Mo¡¯s face also changed, impressed by Jian Sisi¡¯s audacity to hide a recorder under the bed. And here she was, iming she wanted nothing, but in truth, she aimed to use it to threaten Shen Chi for greater benefits! This woman¡¯s thoughts were hidden deep. ¡°President Shen¡­ I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Jian Sisi stuttered, unable to speak coherently. Shen Chi mercilessly crushed the recorder under his foot, lifted his shoe, and ground it with force. Soon, the recorder was smashed to bits. ¡°Jian Sisi, whose courage did you borrow? Huh?¡± Shen Chi thundered in rage. ¡°President Shen¡­ I was wrong¡­ I was wrong¡­¡± Jian Sisi crawled from the head of the bed to Shen Chi¡¯s side, trying to embrace him. Shen Chi shook her off impatiently. ¡°Clueless!¡± he eximed. ¡°Take her to the operating room!¡± As ordered, Xiao Mo came over to pull Jian Sisi away. But Jian Sisi wouldn¡¯t let Xiao Mo touch her: ¡°President Shen, I was momentarily bewitched, listening to someone else¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t intentional. Forgive me and let me keep the child, please¡­ President Shen, he¡¯s your own flesh and blood¡­ Look at this, look.¡± Jian Sisi picked up a sonogram from the head of the bed, pointing to the middle of it: ¡°President Shen, look, look at your baby, he¡¯s already two months old, he¡¯s your child. Do you really want to abort him? Once he¡¯s born, he will call you daddy, he¡¯ll smile at you, and act spoiled with you. If you let him live, I¡¯ll even let him stay with you in the future, and I can stay far away.¡± Shen Chi looked down and saw the sonogram. That little bean-sized shape was barely distinguishable. ¡°President Shen, look here, though it¡¯s not fully formed yet, but look how cute. The doctor said the baby is very healthy.¡± Shen Chi said nothing, his gaze fixed on the sonogram. ¡°The doctor said, it won¡¯t be long before the child grows. Come back for another sonogramter on, and you¡¯ll be able to see his little head¡­ I really love him¡­¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s eyes revealed a mother¡¯s tenderness, which didn¡¯t seem feigned. She kept staring at the sonogram, her fingers gently caressing where the childy. For a moment, the hospital room fell silent. Shen Chi¡¯s fists clenched tighter, his pupils constricting further and further¡­ His frigid face became even icier, but he knew clearly in his heart that this child¡¯s mother was Jian Sisi. He didn¡¯t need a child born from this woman! ¡°President Shen, if you really despise me, then please don¡¯t abort this child, okay? He¡¯s your child, a little life. This child is innocent; he has juste into this world.¡± ¡°President Shen, I can leave, as long as you spare this child¡¯s life. If you want this child, I¡¯ll give him to you, just don¡¯t abort him, please?¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s tone was gentle and choked, tinged with weeping. Chapter 342 - 342 She Won the Bet Chapter 342: She Won the Bet ¡°Do you really have the heart to leave this child?¡± Shen Chi tentatively asked. ¡°As long as you, President Shen, spare his life, I can go my whole life without seeing him, really. President Shen, look at this little guy, he must resemble you a lot. He will pester you, calling you ¡®Daddy¡¯ in the future. Just treat him well. I only want him to be happy in the future.¡± ¡°President Shen, after you get married in the future, just don¡¯t tell anyone who his mother is, that¡¯s all. I believe you can do it, President Shen.¡± Jian Sisi didn¡¯t catch the probing tone in Shen Chi¡¯s voice at all; she really thought Shen Chi had softened. Shen Chi stopped speaking, his fists clenching tighter and tighter. Jian Sisi, the fall, the child, the recorder¡ªhis mind reyed each snippet over and over. ¡°President Shen, people say that there is a special bond between mother and child, but isn¡¯t the bond between father and son just as strong? He¡¯s your child, and if you get rid of him, it would hurt you, wouldn¡¯t it? No one¡¯s heart is made of iron.¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s eyes were red. When she said these words, she was purely gambling on just how hard Shen Chi¡¯s heart really was. She didn¡¯t dare to look up, just glimpsing Shen Chi out of the corner of her eye. She could tell that his stance wasn¡¯t as rigid anymore. Finally, after much contemtion, Shen Chi¡¯s tone softened, ¡°First take her to the hotel, and keep a good eye on her.¡± Xiao Mo quickly stepped forward, persuading, ¡°President Shen, you can¡¯t keep this child. She has agreed now, but what aboutter? What if Jian Sisi threatens you with the child in the future? What would you do then?¡± ¡°Threaten me? That depends on whether she has the guts to do so,¡± said Shen Chi, his voice grave. ¡°President Shen, believe me, I won¡¯t deceive you. I¡¯m a mother; I just want my child to be well. Xiao Mo, how can you say such things about me? After all, we¡¯ve been colleagues for four years!¡± Xiao Mo said, ¡°President Shen, think it through! If the child is gone, you can always conceive another, but if Jian Sisi has something over you, in the future¡­¡± ¡°Enough, Xiao Mo! This is also a life. You¡¯ve never been a father; you obviously can¡¯t understand,¡± Jian Sisi interrupted Xiao Mo. ¡°Alright, Xiao Mo, first take her to the hotel. Find an apartment for her to stay in a few days. I have my own ns,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Got it,¡± Xiao Mo replied. He could see that Shen Chi seemed to be pondering something, yet Xiao Mo could never fully fathom Shen Chi¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi nced at the crushed recorder on the floor and left the hospital. The corners of Jian Sisi¡¯s mouth lifted into a smile; she knew she had won the bet. Leaving the hospital and getting into his car, Shen Chi¡¯s heart was still unsettled. The ultrasound image and the two-month-old little one kept appearing before his eyes. For many years, he had wanted a child of his own, especially a daughter. He could chat with the child, take walks, and when the child started to babble, listen to them sweetly call him ¡°Daddy.¡± He would love them so much¡­ At the thought, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips. But soon, the smile froze. He remembered Xu Chaomu and the child in her womb. He had been very good to her for thest few days, even telling her that he would treat her child as his own. But Xu Chaomu was ungrateful. If only the child Xu Chaomu carried was his, how wonderful that would be¡­ Unfortunately, it was not. Unfortunately, it was not. His hands gripped the steering wheel, a troubled feeling washing over him. The evening breeze blew in through the window, and he sat in the car, exceptionally agitated. Because of this, he decided not to go back to the Shen Family home but drove directly to Weiyang. The wind blew in through the open window as he loosened his shirt cor and stared down the road with his deep eyes. C City was bustling at this hour, with glittering lights and crowdedmercial streets. He drove straight into Weiyang¡¯s garage and went directly to his VIP suite. He habitually ordered a few bottles of red wine and called Ji Shengxuan to join him for a drink. ¡°Young Master Shen, worried about something again? I haven¡¯t seen you at Weiyang these past few days. I heard you found Xu Chaomu?¡± Ji Shengxuan patted Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder and took a seat beside him. Shen Chi passed a cigarette to Ji Shengxuan, lighting it for him and then lighting one for himself. ¡°Hmm,¡± he hummed nomittally. ¡°That girl dares toe back to C City, unaware that you, Young Master Shen, had already cast a huge here. But now that she¡¯s back, I¡¯m going to earn a lot less money,¡± Ji Shengxuan said, squinting his eyes as he took a drag of the cigarette and leaned back on the sofa elegantly. ¡°Do you prefer her toe back or not?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°You, Young Master Shen, once said something: to earn money, be as ruthless as possible. So, of course, I hope Xu Chaomu doesn¡¯te back. That way, I can earn a bit more of your money, right?¡± ¡°You still remember what I said five years ago.¡± ¡°You are a business elite, Master Shen; I have to ponder over your words,¡± Ji Shengxuan replied. ¡°You¡¯re so focused on these things; no wonder you¡¯re still single,¡± Shen Chi teased him. ¡°What¡¯s so bad about being single? When you¡¯re single, a bunch of girlse flinging themselves at you.¡± ¡°Really? It sounds like you¡¯vepletely forgotten about your ex-wife.¡± At the mention of the words ¡°ex-wife,¡± Ji Shengxuan¡¯s eyes turned dark. Annoyed, he poured Shen Chi arge cup of wine: ¡°Drink.¡± Shen Chi did not continue on the subject; after all these years, Ji Shengxuan¡¯s ex-wife remained a taboo topic for him. The two of them chatted and drank, as usual. For the past five years, every time Shen Chi came to Weiyang, Ji Shengxuan would apany him for drinks. Every time, Shen Chi would be drunk, and Ji Shengxuan would take him home. Today was no exception. When they drank until midnight and it was quiet all around, Ji Shengxuan wasn¡¯t drunk, but Shen Chi was. ¡°Ji Shengxuan, why didn¡¯t you have a child when you were married?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like kids.¡± ¡°Kids are a nuisance, aren¡¯t they¡­¡± Shen Chiughed ironically. ¡°Why bring this up all of a sudden? What, Young Master Shen, do you want a child? That¡¯s perfect, Xu Chaomu just came back. Let her have one for you.¡± ¡°Her? Hah,¡± Shen Chi scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? If I¡¯m not mistaken, she used to like you a lot, didn¡¯t she? Doesn¡¯t she want to?¡± ¡°With her intelligence, what kind of smart kid can she produce.¡± ¡°And you, President Shen, are not satisfied? But speaking of which, you¡¯re twenty-eight this year; it¡¯s time to have a child.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in no position to advise me.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯m not in a position. I won¡¯t advise you anymore, it¡¯s time for you to go home.¡± Ji Shengxuan snatched the wine ss from his hand, helped him up, and intended to escort him out of Weiyang. Shen Chi had a headache and felt a bit queasy in the stomach, so he just let Ji Shengxuan support him as they walked outside Weiyang. The sky was pitch ck, and the night wind was cool on the skin. Ji Shengxuan had already called for the driver, instructing him to take Shen Chi safely home. ¡°Young Master Shen, take it easy. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself.¡± ¡°Ji Shengxuan, stop advising me. If you had let go, would you have stayed single for five years?¡± Chapter 343 - 343 Let’s Take a Bath Together Chapter 343: Let¡¯s Take a Bath Together ¡°Alright, you can¡¯t speak properly anymore; just go!¡± Ji Shengxuan signaled the driver with a gesture, and the driver drove out of Weiyang. The driver was already very familiar with the route and didn¡¯t take long to bring Shen Chi back to the Shen Family residence. It was Butler Ling who opened the door, as Ji Shengxuan had called her in advance. Butler Ling and another servant helped Shen Chi into the house. Over the past five years, Butler Ling had grown ustomed to Shen Chi¡¯s drunkenness. But now that Xu Chaomu had returned, why would he still get so drunk? ¡°Young Master, are you feeling unwell? Your brows are all furrowed,¡± expressed Butler Ling, concerned. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shen Chi still had a bit of consciousness. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back to your room; you should sleep early.¡± ¡°Shh, keep it down. Is she asleep?¡± Shen Chi asked while ncing towards Xu Chaomu¡¯s room as he walked. The light in Xu Chaomu¡¯s room was already off. At this hour, she should be asleep. ¡°Yes, Miss Xu is asleep. I brought her some milk earlier tonight; I don¡¯t know if she drank it,¡± Butler Ling replied. ¡°Did she ask you to borrow a phone?¡± ¡°She did¡­ but I didn¡¯t lend her mine.¡± ¡°Keep an eye on her.¡± ¡°I understand, Young Master.¡± Butler Ling escorted Shen Chi upstairs, and as they passed Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, Shen Chi put his hand on the doorknob. He wanted to open the door and look at her, but ultimately, he let go of the handle. He held his head, indeed feeling a headache from the excess drinking. ¡°You should rest soon, Young Master. In the early morning, you¡¯ll see Miss Xu,¡± Butler Ling said, understanding Shen Chi¡¯s feelings while sighing internally. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi returned to his own room, and upon entering, he copsed onto the bed face down. His head was throbbing painfully, so much that his eyebrows knitted together. After tidying up a bit for him, Butler Ling turned off the light and went downstairs. It was now the middle of the night, all was quiet, and the low hum of summer insects was incessant, chirping non-stop. The cool breeze of the summer night feltfortable against the skin. Butler Ling tiptoed down the stairs, turned off all the lights, and then returned to her own room. Lying in bed, Shen Chi could not fall asleep with his headache. He tried to think through some things, but the more he thought, the more his head hurt. In the next room, Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t fallen asleep either. She tossed and turned, sometimes opening her eyes, sometimes closing them. She listened to the chirping of insects for a while, then listened to the hum of the air conditioning. Perhaps she wasn¡¯t used to the bed, having not slept in it for five years¡ªit felt so unfamiliar. ¡°One, two, three, four¡­¡± she began to count sheep. When she reached one hundred and eighty-eight, she heard the sound of a car. In the quiet of the night, the sound seemed oddly intrusive. After that, she overheard the conversation between Butler Ling and Shen Chi. A man seemed to be drunkenly muttering something iprehensible. In Xu Chaomu¡¯s memory, he rarely got drunk. Could it be that after five years, his tolerance had decreased? Just as she closed her eyes, trying hard to sleep, she heard a noise from the room next door. With a ¡°ng,¡± Shen Chi tried to grab a ss of water in the dark, missed, and knocked it to the floor, making a loud noise! Xu Chaomu¡¯s first reaction was to jump out of bed! She ran to the door in her slippers, and just as her hand touched the doorknob, she remembered that she was no longer rted to him. In the next room, Shen Chi, who was probably really drunk, stumbled into the bathroom. Soon, Xu Chaomu heard the loud sound of running water. Amidst the sound of water, she heard Shen Chi vomiting, causing her eyebrows to furrow involuntarily. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± As Xu Chaomu was lost in thought, she suddenly heard these two sybles. Was he calling for her? ¡°Mumu¡­¡± This time, Xu Chaomu heard it clearly; he was indeed calling her. She could no longer resist and opened her door, then knocked on his. ¡°Who is it?¡± Shen Chi was still somewhat lucid. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± A smile suddenly spread across Shen Chi¡¯s lips¡ªit was Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice. He came out of the bathroom and opened the room¡¯s door. There she stood, in the dark corner, wearing a light pink long nightgown, her long hair draped over her shoulders, a look of disgust on her face. ¡°Am I¡­ dreaming?¡± Shen Chi stared at her intently. For five years, countless times after he got drunk, he would imagine Xu Chaomu¡¯s figure in front of him. Each time, he reached out to touch her, but ended up grasping only air. That despair was bone-chilling. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t answer him, instead stepped forward, seized his arm, and bit down! Shen Chi winced from the pain, his brow furrowing. But after a few seconds, his brow smoothed again, his smile growing deeper. He wasn¡¯t dreaming; his Mumu was standing right before him, alive and real. With a long embrace, he wrapped her in his arms: ¡°Mumu¡­ it is really you¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re like an idiot,¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes disparagingly and curled her lips. The smell of alcohol on him, now even more distasteful to her, prompted her to push him away forcefully. But Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t let go. He held her tightly, his chin resting on her forehead. If only they could stay this way forever. Why had they missed five years? Why, after five years, was everything so changed? ¡°Don¡¯t leave me again¡­ Mumu.¡± ¡°Can you go take a shower? You¡¯re covered in the smell of alcohol, oh, and the scent of women¡¯s perfume too.¡± Shen Chi frowned, feeling innocent, ¡°Where did the perfumee from? I was drinking with Ji Shengxuan; if you don¡¯t believe me, ask Ji Shengxuan.¡± ¡°Why are you exining to me? I can¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t hear? How about this then¡­¡± The man lowered his head close to her ear, and a warm breath brushed her earlobe instantly. ¡°Mumu, never leave me again for the rest of our lives, okay?¡± ¡°Can you please go take a bath? It¡¯s really annoying.¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him away. Thankfully, a drunk person is somewhat like a child, fairly easy to appease. Shen Chi was pushed into the bathroom, but he refused to let her go. He cornered her, with a wickedly charming smile: ¡°Wife¡­ let¡¯s shower together¡­¡± ¡°Shower your sister! Old pervert! Shameless! Roll as far as you can!¡± ¡°Then you help your husband wash¡­¡± Shen Chi refused to let her leave, keeping her cornered. His squinted eyes stared at her face; her little face was irresistibly charming. Especially now, in her pink nightgown resembling her look from five years ago, not as obedient, but he liked it all the same. Love reduced to this extent made her every pout and irritation the most beautiful scenery in the world to him. ¡°You want me to help you wash?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes twinkled mischievously, a sly smile ying around her brows. ¡°Yeah.¡± Shen Chi nodded obediently, like a child. ¡°All right, it would be an honor to serve President Shen.¡± Then Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes swiveled craftily, and she picked up a basin of cold water and with a hearty ssh, flung it onto someone¡¯s body. Shen Chi was drenched from head to toe, squeezing his eyes shut and quickly wiping the water from his face. Chapter 344: You are the most beautiful punishment in my life Chapter 344: You are the most beautiful punishment in my life The buzz from the alcohol instantly sobered up by arge margin, Shen Chi was at a loss whether tough or cry. ¡°Mumu¡­ you¡¯ve gone from a little brat to a big brat. Drenching your husband in water, having fun are you?¡± Shen Chi was chilled to the bone, his wet shirt clinging tightly to his body, and he sneezed. ¡°Overjoyed.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes crinkled with mirth. ¡°Not well-behaved at all.¡± With that said, someone took a violent approach, pinning Xu Chaomu against the wall, and with a dip of his head, nted a precise kiss on her. The kiss, influenced by intoxication, was somewhat domineering, assertively prying apart her lips and plunging deep. Xu Chaomu was immediately dumbfounded. Not having seen him in five years, it seemed this man had only learned one thing, stealing kisses! Unable to argue with her, steal a kiss. Unable to beat her, steal a kiss. Whenever he found himself at a disadvantage, he¡¯d resort to stealing a kiss. Damn, was he even a man? Shen Chi didn¡¯t care, you can¡¯t hit or scold your wife, but a kiss¡­ that must be allowed, right¡­ Thus, he intensified the kiss, his lips grinding over her red ones, their teeth entwining, lingering for a long time¡­ It wasn¡¯t much longer until she felt Shen Chi¡¯s forceful reaction. Her hands fumbled around until, atst, she found the shower head! With a twist, ¡°whoosh,¡± water gushed out of the shower head like a fountain! Stimted by the cold water, Shen Chi instantly let go of Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu jumped aside triumphantly, watching Shen Chi, drenched like a drowned rat, and pped her hands inughter. Shen Chi hurriedly turned off the shower, now his buzz waspletely gone. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I really want to kill you.¡± Shen Chiughed helplessly. Droplets dripped from his hair, and he nced at the mirror; at this moment, he was utterly disheveled. However, seeing herugh so hard she doubled over, his heart warmed like the early summer. Mumu, you are the most beautiful punishment of my life. ¡°President Shen, say, if I took a photo of you looking like this and posted it online, do you think I¡¯d be instantly famous?¡± ¡°If you tell others you¡¯re Mrs. Shen, you¡¯d definitely be even more famous.¡± ¡°Let someone else have the position of Mrs. Shen.¡± Xu Chaomu shrugged. ¡°Mumu, go get me some clothes, I need to shower. After that, let¡¯s have a good chat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your maid, get them yourself. I¡¯m going back to bed, my baby is tired.¡± Xu Chaomu gently rubbed her belly, her face full of affection. Had she not mentioned the child, Shen Chi would have almost forgotten, she was pregnant. She was no longer the Chaomu from five years ago; inside her, there was a child from another man. She also said that she had slept with many men. His eyes immediately darkened, his fists clenched tight. ¡°Chaomu, would it be okay if this child called me dad?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was somewhat hoarse, seemingly with a tinge of pleading. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize President Shen had a hobby of joyfully bing a father.¡± ¡°You know, I really like children.¡± ¡°Waiting to bear your children, there¡¯s a bunch of women, right? If you want one, just have one. If you really can¡¯t, go get treated by Yu Weiwei, it¡¯s not shameful.¡± ¡°I only want the children you bear!¡± Shen Chi raised his voice, his tone very domineering. ¡°Hysteric, raising another man¡¯s child, aren¡¯t you humiliated? If someone asked me to raise another man¡¯s child and be a stepmother, I¡¯d wipe him out in a minute.¡± Shen Chi fell silent at once, remembering the child of Jian Sisi. If he took Jian Sisi¡¯s child, then Chaomu would have to be the stepmother in the future¡­ ¡°Mumu, if I, Shen Chi, would marry only you in this lifetime, would you be willing to bear another child for me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re willing to marry? I¡¯m not even willing to wed.¡± ¡°You want me to die without a heir.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your own choice, don¡¯t me me for it.¡± ¡°No children then, no children. Let it be my punishment.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi pulled Xu Chaomu close, enfolding her in his embrace. Let itpensate for that night when he made a mistake. This price, he was willing to pay. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, ¡°Just having you is enough for me.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was deeply touched. This man would rather remain childless, preferring the extinction of his lineage over divorce, and still wanted her? Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes grew moist, and she lowered her head, pushing him away abruptly: ¡°Don¡¯t lean on me, you¡¯re getting my pajamas wet.¡± ¡°Being wet is just fine, join me in the shower.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu shoved him, pushing him toward the bathroom. ¡°Smell yourself, all reeking of alcohol, hurry up and shower.¡± After finishing her words, Xu Chaomu turned on the shower, adjusting the water to a lukewarm temperature. Shen Chi smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness, like the ocean, deep enough to drown in. Thus, he began to undress right in front of her. Xu Chaomu was bending down to check the water temperature, and when she raised her head, her face went nk¡­ The man had already unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a sexy and solid chest. His muscr build, perfect abs, and malt-colored skin. Feeling unrestrained, Xu Chaomu swallowed hard, forgetting even to blink. Shen Chi removed his shirtpletely and hung it on the rack. Then¡­ he began to unbuckle his belt. Xu Chaomu, her face flushed, quickly turned her head and closed the bathroom door with a ¡°bang.¡± ¡°Five years apart, and Chaomu, your skin¡¯s gotten thinner.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice came from inside. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face reddened like a persimmon, her hands twisting her pajamas. After a while, she heard the sound of the metal belt buckle from within, and her face grew even more flushed. His persistent image haunted her, damn it, what a hooligan. Inside the bathroom, Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled upwards. The Xu Chaomu from five years ago who had climbed on top of him and started to take off his clothes was nowhere to be seen. He thought, her im that she had been with five or six men must have been a lie. Indeed, with her personality, even if she was desperate, she wouldn¡¯t make that kind of movie. Still, he was somewhat envious of the father of the child in her belly. That man must have gained herplete trust, enabling her to give herself to him without reservations. Feeling a tightness in his chest, Shen Chi simply closed his eyes and showered. After a few minutes, he spoke, ¡°Mumu, are you still there? Get me some clothes.¡± ¡°I got it, so annoying.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. She walked into his bedroom, stood by the wardrobe, and began looking for clothes for him. She hadn¡¯t been here for five years, yet his room was still as it used to be. Very simple, with very few decorations. The crystalmp overhead emitted an orange glow, making the room all the more warm and cozy. She looked around and on impulse, opened the drawer of his bedside table. She remembered that this drawer held her little wooden puppet. Having not returned for five years, was the little wooden puppet still there? Upon opening the drawer, in that instant, she saw the wooden puppet lying there intact. She picked it up, smiled at it, and it seemed to smile back at her. ¡°Little guy, you¡¯re thirteen years old this year.¡± Its age matched the amount of time she had known Shen Chi. Touching the little wooden puppet, she felt a sense of reluctance to part with it. Chapter 345: Her Suspicions Chapter 345: Her Suspicions But she was afraid that Shen Chi would soon finish his bath ande out, so she put down the puppet and closed the drawer. In the drawer by his bedside, she didn¡¯t find any messy items, just a few books, some pens, and a few trinkets. It seemed there wasn¡¯t anything like lipstick, facial masks, or nail polish that a woman would use. Of course, there were neither condoms nor birth control pills. Xu Chaomu closed the drawer, what was in his drawer had nothing to do with her. She walked over to the wardrobe and casually flipped through it. This man¡¯s wardrobe was still the same as it was five years ago, forever limited to ck, white, and gray, very monotonous. The neatly pressed suits, the clean shirts, all exuded that familiar scent. That scent, which she had smelled for eight years, hadn¡¯t changed at all, even after five years. Just as she buried her small head in the pile of clothes, a thought suddenly shed through her mind¡ªthis scent, she seemed to have smelled it not long ago¡­ She closed her eyes, and rapid scenes passed through her mind. But, perhaps her life had been too rich, she couldn¡¯t recall it. In these five years, Nie Chenng had taken her to many ces. Maybe¡­ she had brushed past Shen Chi? Could it be that night? She had always been suspicious¡­ ¡°Mumu, did you get it? If you don¡¯te over, I¡¯m going out.¡± The shameless voice of someone rose in the bathroom, indifferent. ¡°You, don¡¯te out! I¡¯m almost finished finding it,¡± Xu Chaomu said in a panic, forgetting the matter at hand as she hurriedly looked for his pajamas. ¡°Mumu, actually even if I did go out, it¡¯s not such a big deal, you¡¯ll have to see it sooner orter anyway¡­¡± the person continued unabashedly. ¡°Damn it, have you no shame? Who wants to see you!¡± She was not familiar with his closet, and after searching for quite a while, she finally found a gray bathrobe. She walked over to the bathroom to hand it over to him. ¡°Open the door, take your clothes!¡± Xu Chaomu said impatiently, knocking hard on the bathroom door. ¡°Mumu, your attitude isn¡¯t very good, be careful or I¡¯ll pull you in to help me dress.¡± ¡°If you dare to be indecent, I¡¯ll dare to take nude pictures of you!¡± ¡°Would you really let other women see your husband?¡± Shen Chi opened the door and took the clothes from her hand. Looking up, he saw that Xu Chaomu had already turned around, her back facing him. Having not seen her for five years, she seemed to have be much more reserved. Shen Chi didn¡¯t y around anymore, he slightly curved the corners of his lips and put on the bathrobe. ¡°I¡¯m going back now, I¡¯m sleepy.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look back, she was afraid that this man would wander around without clothes. She opened the room door and ran off like a wisp of smoke. Actually, her heart was in turmoil because of that familiar scent on him¡­ She left, and he didn¡¯t stop her. The light cast on him, making his facial features ever more distinct. He walked to the balcony, opening the window. Immediately, moonlight poured over him like flowing water. The cool evening breeze gently caressed him. He lit a cigarette and phoned Xiao Mo. ¡°Mr. Shen, you haven¡¯t slept yet?¡± Xiao Mo sounded groggy. ¡°Mhm, can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Is it because of Xu Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi was silent for a few seconds, not speaking. Xiao Mo knew that aside from Xu Chaomu, nothing would keep Shen Chi awake. ¡°Xiao Mo, has Jian Sisi been taken care of?¡± ¡°I followed your instructions to the letter.¡± ¡°What about the bug situation?¡± ¡°I looked into it right after arranging for her.¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°After I got her the hotel room, she immediately made a call to a man.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°She said the baby was saved and told him not to worry.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°The rest is still to be investigated. Mr. Shen, do you really intend to keep Jian Sisi¡¯s child?¡± ¡°Keep it for now, it¡¯ll be useful when the fish takes the bait.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xiao Mo was confused. He thought that after seeing Shen Chi¡¯s expression in the hospital that evening, Shen Chi truly couldn¡¯t bear to part with Jian Sisi¡¯s child. ¡°Keep tracking her, monitor her every word and action.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°But Mr. Shen, about the child¡­¡± ¡°After we catch the fish, dispose of it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want the child?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Chaomu pregnant? Why would I want another woman¡¯s child.¡± He¡¯d rather be a stepfather himself than to have Xu Chaomu be a stepmother. Because, she had just said in the bathroom that she didn¡¯t want to be a stepmother. The words she said, he always took to heart. ¡°But¡­ Mr. Shen, Xu Chaomu¡¯s child is someone else¡¯s¡­¡± Xiao Mo quietly reminded him. No man could stand the thought of raising another¡¯s child, could they? Was Shen Chi willing to bear such a burden? How deeply must he be in love with Xu Chaomu¡­ ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, just take care of the things I¡¯ve entrusted you with.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m going to sleep now¡­¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xiao Mo hung up the phone and yawned, going back to sleep. Shen Chi extinguished his cigarette and stood on the balcony a while longer; he knew she was right next door. Wearing the bathrobe that she personally handed to him, he savored every day that she was with him, and that was enough. Nondscape could rival the joy of her beaming smile¡­ The next morning, Xu Chaomu overslept and couldn¡¯t wake up early. Shen Chi asked the butler, Ling, to make her a light breakfast. After straightening out his clothes, he nned to head to the corporation. ¡°Young Master Four, why don¡¯t you sleep in a bit more? You came back sotest night,¡± the butler Ling said. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just take good care of her.¡± Shen Chi slightly curved his lips, ncing upstairs. ¡°Of course, I will certainly take good care of Miss Xu. You can rest assured.¡± ¡°With Butler Ling looking after her, of course I¡¯m at ease,¡± Shen Chi said. After speaking, Shen Chi walked out of the Shen Family vi. In this season, greenery was lush everywhere, and the air was heavy with the scent of summer. The Ziwei flowers in the garden were in full bloom, clusters after clusters, quite a sight to behold. Old Cheng had been waiting outside the Shen Family vi. Seeing Shen Chi, he quickly opened the passenger door. ¡°Mr. Shen, please.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi got in the car, and as Old Cheng settled in the driver¡¯s seat, they set off toward the corporation. Not long after the car left the Shen Family vi, Shen Chi received a call from an unfamiliar number. He usually didn¡¯t answer such calls, but he suddenly felt that this number seemed familiar. Frowning, he thought for a while, right, it was that man¡¯s cell phone number, the one called Nie Chenng. With a sneer curling at the corner of his lips, he slowly answered the call. Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak upon picking up, waiting for the other party to speak first. ¡°May I ask if this is Mr. Shen Chi?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you free today? Let¡¯s set a time to meet and talk.¡± The man¡¯s voice on the phone was very gentle and didn¡¯t betray any particr emotions. Shen Chi found it interesting; this man was not like what he had imagined. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m booked for the near future.¡± ¡°I mean no offense, I just want to talk to you,¡± Nie Chenng said calmly. ¡°Then speak now, it¡¯s the same thing.¡± ¡°You should know what I want to talk about, is Chaomu with you?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Is she doing well?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t need to worry about her.¡± ¡°Let me see her, or at least, let me talk to her on the phone.¡± Chapter 346: Baby, You’re Not Behaving Chapter 346: Baby, You¡¯re Not Behaving ¡°There will be a chance, but not anytime soon,¡± Shen Chi said calmly. After he finished speaking, Shen Chi didn¡¯t wait for Nie Chenng to say anything more and hung up the phone. Soon after, he made a call to Xiao Mo. ¡°Xiao Mo, help me look into a man named Nie Chenng. Also, follow the vine to the melon, and check what Xu Chaomu was up to abroad during those five years.¡± ¡°Okay, I will give President Shen a response soon.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± After hanging up the phone, Shen Chi closed his eyes and sat in the passenger seat lost in thought. ¡°President Shen, I heard that Jian Sisi¡¯s suicide has caused an uproar. Some shareholders are demanding an exnation from you,¡± Old Cheng said. ¡°No need to bother with it.¡± ¡°Then, President Shen, are we going to the A City Exchange soon?¡± ¡°Yes, drive there now, and we won¡¯t pass by the corporation.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Listening to the instructions, Old Cheng drove the car straight towards the direction of A City. The trees outside the car were lush with greenery, and the sun zed down fiercely. Cicadas in the tree tops were buzzing incessantly, the scent of summer particrly intense. The Maybach drove on, slowly leaving C City behind. By the time Xu Chaomu woke up, Shen Chi¡¯s car had long since left C City. She felt groggy all over, as if she could never get enough sleep. When she opened her eyes and nced at the clock, it was already ten in the morning. She sat upzily and started to get dressed. Lately, she had been gettingzier andzier, sometimes too lethargic to even get out of bed in the morning. Her eyelids were heavy, and she still felt particrly sleepy. Just as she casually put on a loose T-shirt and was about to leave the room, the baby in her belly suddenly became extremely restless. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± She covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom. She turned on the tap and bent over the sink, vomiting repeatedly. This baby was particrly troublesome. Others might vomit asionally during pregnancy, but she had to endure violent nausea almost every day. Especially in the morning, it was rare for her not to vomit. At the moment, she leaned over the sink, the water wetting her hair. ¡°Baby, mom is about to be worn out by your antics,¡± Xu Chaomu said, touching her belly helplessly, but her brows and eyes were full of indulgence. How did she end up carrying such a troublesome child? Would it start kicking her in just a few months? She wondered whom this child took after¡­ Could it be¡­ her? She propped herself up on her waist, washed her face weakly with a towel, but she had just thought about straightening up and going downstairs when a wave of turmoil hit her belly again. Xu Chaomu could only bend over once more, leaning against the sink as she vomited again. ¡°This is so ufortable¡­¡± Tears were almost spilling out as Xu Chaomu held onto the edge of the sink, wishing she could just die. She had never imagined that being pregnant could be so difficult¡­ Feeling weak all over and unable to lift her eyelids, she had no choice but to slowly make her way along the wall and back to lie down on the bed. ¡°Ah, this is so miserable¡­ Baby, can¡¯t you settle down a bit¡­ if you keep this up, mom might not want you anymore¡­¡± Xu Chaomu stroked her belly, her small face full of pain, with beads of sweat the size of soybeans on her forehead. However, the child didn¡¯t listen to her at all. Xu Chaomu had justin down for a while when she felt the urge to vomit once more. She hastily climbed out of bed again and ran to the bathroom. She was vomiting so intensely that bile was nearlying up. Xu Chaomu clung to the towel rack, hanging like a rag doll. ¡°If you don¡¯t behave, baby, wait until you¡¯re born. I¡¯ll spank your bottom,¡± Xu Chaomu snorted, looking down at her belly. She stood in the bathroom for quite a while. Only when the urge to vomit subsided did she return to bed to lie down. Outside the window, the summer breeze rustled the sycamore leaves, making a ¡°shushing¡± sound. Cicadas chirped on top of the leaves, filling the air with the taste of summer. Xu Chaomu turned on the air conditioner andy quietly on the bed, closing her eyes to listen to the sounds outside the window. All of this felt like a long, long dream. When the dream ended, she was still lying in her own bed. It¡¯s just a pity that when she woke up from the dream, she was no longer eighteen. The wind passed without stirring any dust from memories. The sunlight shone through the half-drawn curtains into the room. asionally, Xu Chaomu would sluggishly lift her eyelids and feel that everything was just delightful. Shey back, looking out the window. Outside there were mountains, waters, and splendid flowers, dragonflies skimming over the surface of the water, and lotuses swaying gracefully. At eleven o¡¯clock, Butler Ling, seeing that Xu Chaomu had note downstairs, hurriedly went up and knocked on her bedroom door. ¡°Chaomu, are you awake?¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t fallen back asleep. Hearing Butler Ling¡¯s voice, shezily turned over: ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± ¡°Where does it hurt? May Ie in?¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Butler Ling, her face filled with concern, got Xu Chaomu¡¯s permission and turned the doorknob to her room. As she came in, she saw Xu Chaomu lying on the bed, her eyes half-closed, herplexion pale. One hand was on her belly, the other propping herself up on the bed. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Butler Ling shook her head and sighed. Having not seen Xu Chaomu for five years, she truly had changed a lot. Perhaps it was because of this child; now, she no longer seemed as yful and willful as she used to be. Just like at this very moment, she was bing even more like a mother, quietly protecting her own child. ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s diforting you? Shall I call the doctor for you?¡± ¡°No strength, just feel like vomiting¡­ this baby is a real handful¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s head drooped, her voice weak. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. It¡¯s your first pregnancy, all of this is normal. If the vomiting is too severe and ufortable, I¡¯ll have the doctor prescribe some antiemetic medication.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, taking medicine is bad for the baby, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The doctor will be very careful. They definitely won¡¯t prescribe anything with side effects.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not, then. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s mostly just the early stages when you vomit, it gets betterter, right?¡± ¡°Yes, once your baby grows a bit, you won¡¯t vomit anymore.¡± ¡°When he¡¯s bigger, he¡¯ll start kicking me,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°Chaomu¡­ A question I shouldn¡¯t ask, but when you feel better, are you going to take this child to find his father?¡± ¡°His father is very good at taking care of people. I¡¯m only reassured with him by my side.¡± ¡°You could stay with the Shen family, and I would take care of you too. I¡¯ve taken care of many children, and I¡¯ve got experience.¡± ¡°A father¡¯s love is different,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly. Butler Ling fell silent, knowing that Xu Chaomu was right. Both mother¡¯s love and father¡¯s love are indispensable. But in this way, what would happen to the Young Master Shen in the future¡­ Young Master Shen was stubborn; having set his heart on Xu Chaomu, he would not fall in love with anyone else. She had seen everything that had happened over these five years. Now, Xu Chaomu was not dead; she hade back. Could he really let go? ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ll go and get you something to eat. You must be hungry?¡± ¡°Yeah, a bit hungry, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll vomit after eating.¡± ¡°You still need to eat, otherwise, you won¡¯t get enough nutrition.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded obediently and gave Butler Ling a smile. Butler Ling truly felt sorry for Xu Chaomu, unsure of how she had managed these past five years on her own. ustomed to a life of luxury at the Shen family, what had her days been like during the five years away? Chapter 347: Dabai is Still Alive Chapter 347: Dabai is Still Alive Butler Ling went downstairs to get Xu Chaomu a bowl of pork rib soup noodles, a dish she had specially prepared for Chaomu, having started to simmer it sincest night; now, its fragrance was overwhelming, the bone broth thick and hearty. She had added corn and red dates, making it even sweeter to smell. ¡°Chaomu,e, have some noodles.¡± Butler Ling helped Xu Chaomu sit up, leaning her against a giant panda pillow. Feeling the aroma, Xu Chaomu got hungry and smiled, ¡°Butler Ling¡¯s cooking skills are truly amazing.¡± ¡°Does it still have that familiar scent? Just like five years ago?¡± Five years ago, Butler Ling would often make pork rib soup for Xu Chaomu because the young master often said that if she didn¡¯t eat more, how could she improve her grades fromst to secondst. At the mention of five years ago, her eyes fluttered a few times, and a wave of sourness washed over her heart. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll feed you, so you don¡¯t starve the baby.¡± Butler Ling picked up some noodles with chopsticks, trying to feed Xu Chaomu. ¡°No need, I can do it myself. I¡¯m a grown-up now; there¡¯s no need for Butler Ling to feed me,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. She took the bowl from Butler Ling¡¯s hand, refusing to be fed. ¡°In my eyes, you¡¯re still that naughty little girl,¡± Butler Lingughed as well. ¡°Butler Ling, was I really annoying back then?¡± ¡°Not at all, you were kind-hearted and innocent. It¡¯s okay to be a bit mischievous, which child isn¡¯t at that age?¡± ¡°Kind-hearted¡­¡± Xu Chaomu mulled over these words in silence, thinking that to be kind-hearted probably just meant being easy to deceive. ¡°Of course, the young master is an exception. You and him are exact opposites; one active, one quiet. To me, you two couldn¡¯t be morepatible.¡± ¡°A man like him should marry a gentle and elegant wife. One day, he will meet such a woman. Then, he¡¯ll realize that she¡¯s the one who¡¯s truly suited for him; it¡¯s just that fate arrived a littlete,¡± Xu Chaomu said lightly. ¡°Fate has alreadye; what more fate do you want? Chaomu, you are the young master¡¯s greatest destiny,¡± Butler Ling said. Xu Chaomu continued to eat her noodles, remaining silent. She and Shen Chi weren¡¯t suitable for each other. One was as dazzling as the stars; the other was as insignificant as dust. Heaven and earth apart, even if she stretched her arms, she couldn¡¯t reach him. Moreover, between themy a gulf they couldn¡¯t cross. In his presence, she couldn¡¯t forget his deception, the fire from thirteen years ago, or be at ease. Even if she took a step back, a thousand or ten thousand steps, she had no family background, no rtives to speak of. She couldn¡¯t help him in any business, she would only be a burden. Xu Chaomu slowly ate the noodles, her stomach gradually filling up. ¡°Chaomu, get up and walk around; it¡¯s not good for the baby to always lie in bed. Let me help you,¡± Butler Ling suggested, taking the bowl from her hands, supporting her arm. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s walk in the garden. I want to see Dabai too,¡± Xu Chaomu suggested, her lips curving slightly. She hadn¡¯t seen Dabai for five years; he also lingered in her thoughts. ¡°Sure, Chaomu, Dabai has missed you. After you left, it stopped eating and drinking for a while and just stared at the doghouse door all day long, waiting for you,¡± Butler Ling said. ¡°How¡¯s its health?¡± ¡°After you left, it fell ill. Since then it hasn¡¯t been very well. The young master has rarely taken care of it; it just stays in the doghouse looking gloomy all day.¡± ¡°Dabai is so attached to him, and yet he doesn¡¯t care for it. It would be better to give Dabai away.¡± ¡°In these five years, the young master could barely take care of himself, let alone Dabai. You don¡¯t know, after you left, he drank every day until his stomach was bleeding and he was hospitalized; only then did he stop,¡± Butler Ling said. ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu responded expressionlessly. Uh¡­ Butler Ling choked. What did ¡°oh¡± mean? Butler Ling helped Xu Chaomu down the stairs and toward Dabai¡¯s kennel. The familiar path, the familiar doghouse, everything was familiar. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes immediately welled up with tears, scenes from the past shing before her eyes. Five years ago, it was here that she had bid Dabai a reluctant farewell. She remembered she didn¡¯t want to leave, really didn¡¯t want to, because she thought she would never see Dabai again in her lifetime¡­ When she said goodbye to everything at the Shen family¡¯s, she thought it was forever. She never imagined that there would be a day of reunion. She remembered that when she left the kennel, Dabai¡¯s howls were particrly heart-wrenching. And just like that, five years had passed¡­ Fortunately, Dabai was still alive. Xu Chaomu herself pushed open the gate to the doghouse, and as soon as she did, she saw Dabai lying inside! Perhaps it was too hot, Dabaiy listlessly, eyes closed, not moving an inch. ¡°Chaomu, Dabai¡¯s asleep,¡± Butler Ling whispered. ¡°Shh, Butler Ling, don¡¯t wake it. I¡¯ll just take a quick look,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Alright, Chaomu, be careful. You¡¯re still carrying a baby,¡± Butler Ling cautioned. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu walked over to Dabai, gently as if the scorching sun overhead bothered her not at all. When Xu Chaomu was still a good distance away from Dabai, to her surprise, Dabai suddenly opened its eyes! Dabai fixed its gaze on Xu Chaomu, its eyes bright with life! ¡°Woof, woof¡­,¡± Dabai barked and started to run toward her, full of joy. But s, its neck was chained, and it couldn¡¯t run. Thus, it kept barking, ¡°Woof, woof, woof¡­ Woof, woof, woof¡­¡± Xu Chaomuughed too: ¡°Dabai, Dabai, do you recognize me?¡± Dabai let out two more ¡°woofs¡± as if in response. Xu Chaomu saw that aside from being a bit thinner, Dabai hadn¡¯t changed much from before. Xu Chaomu ran over, squatted in front of him, and stroked his fur. ¡°Why have you lost weight? Are you on a diet too?¡± Xu Chaomu joked. Dabai allowed her to pet him, behaving and enjoying it. ¡°I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime,¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°It¡¯s been five years; did you miss me a lot?¡± ¡°You big naughty dog, you always ignored me in the past in the Shen family, and now you know how to be nice to me? Huh?¡± Dabai stuck out its tongue to lick Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and appeasingly wagged its tail. Butler Ling walked over andughed, ¡°This dog knows people. When several young servants from the Shen family came to y with it, it didn¡¯t care at all, sometimes even scaring them away.¡± ¡°It used to ignore me too; Dabai was very bad,¡± Xu Chaomu lightly pped Dabai¡¯s back, ¡°Dabai, tell me, weren¡¯t you always bullying me before?¡± ¡°Woof, woof¡­¡± Dabai barked twice, seemingly in protest. Butler Ling added, ¡°Dabai was closest to the young master, and probably to you next, Chaomu. This dog has a fierce temper; no one dares to touch it. Look at you and the young master; not only does it let you touch him, but he also actively licks you.¡± ¡°I think, in a few more days, it¡¯ll ignore me again.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t, why don¡¯t you stay, Chaomu, and see?¡± Butler Ling suggested. Chapter 348: The Fourth Young Master’s Wife is Unwell Chapter 348: The Fourth Young Master¡¯s Wife is Unwell The butler had spoken without thinking, but upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu paused her movements. How could she stay at the Shen family¡¯s house. The butler quickly changed the subject, addressing Dabai, ¡°Dabai, you must always be good to Chaomu, understand?¡± Dabai licked Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and squinted its eyes contentedly. Xu Chaomu smiled, ¡°Dabai, how can you still be so adorable? When I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll take you for a walk.¡± Dabai barked twice in response to Xu Chaomu, as if it understood her words. Xu Chaomu remembered a night five years ago when she was walking with Dabai and Shen Chi. They were strolling along a path lined with peach blossoms. Dabai ran happily in front, while she followed with its leash in her hand, and Shen Chi walked by her side, a light smile on his handsome face. But five years had passed, and everything had changed. Xu Chaomu leaned her head against Dabai, ¡°Dabai, have you not been eating well these past five years? You look thinner. You¡¯re not allowed to do that anymore.¡± ¡°Dabai, did someone find you a mate?¡± The butlerughed at that, while Dabai barked twice, as though in protest. With that protest, Xu Chaomu understood. ¡°That blockhead doesn¡¯t know how to look after our Dabai¡¯s life. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find you a good match. Oh, and I¡¯ve got a new puppy named ¡®Wealth¡¯. I¡¯ll bring it to y with you someday.¡± Dabai barked discontentedly, this time even louder. The butler chuckled, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s jealous because you have a new puppy, and Dabai thinks you don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Xu Chaomu rubbed its fur and said with augh, ¡°So petty.¡± That day, Xu Chaomu spent all her time ying with Dabai. Later on, she took Dabai alone for a walk in the Shen family¡¯s back garden. Dabai acted as though it hadn¡¯t been out in a long time, sniffing the wildflowers along the path and smelling the bark of trees, like a little child fascinated by everything. Xu Chaomu was also enjoying herself, apanying Dabai from noon until evening. Even though the weather was hot, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel it at all. Dabai was having a great time, and so was she. Sometimes when she got tired, she would sit on a stone bench to rest. Once rested, she would continue walking with Dabai. However, by evening, maybe because she had walked a bit too much, she started to feel some pain in her stomach. She had no choice but to take Dabai back to its kennel, but her stomach still hurt a lot. The butler noticed something was wrong and hurried over, ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°My stomach hurts¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said, covering her abdomen, sweat beads forming on her forehead. ¡°Is it because you walked too much? I¡¯ll call the doctor to have a look at you.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded her head, she didn¡¯t want anything to happen to her child. The butler helped her to the sofa, removed her apron, and hastily dialed the doctor¡¯s number on her mobile. ¡°Dr. Wen, pleasee over, our Fourth Young Madam is feeling unwell.¡± ¡°Hmm? Fourth Young Madam?¡± Wen Zhiyuan on the other end of the phone sounded startled. When did Shen Chi get married? Why didn¡¯t he know? ¡°Stop asking so many questions, juste over.¡± ¡°Okay, just give me a moment.¡± After returning from abroad five years ago, Wen Zhiyuan had bought a small vi in Splendid World and was living alone. asionally, if the Shen family needed something, they would ask for his help. Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before Wen Zhiyuan arrived. The butler looked from side to side on the steps, waiting for him. ¡°The Shen family has a Fourth Young Madam now, howe I didn¡¯t know?¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re so busy, Dr. Wen, of course you wouldn¡¯t know,¡± the butler joked. ¡°Oh? It seems like there was no one who could capture Shen Chi¡¯s heart, right?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense, our Fourth Young Master is not a monk.¡± ¡°With the way he is, he¡¯s nearly a monk,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with augh. Carrying his medical kit, he followed the butler into the house. On the sofa, Xu Chaomu was holding her stomach with a pained expression, her beautiful features almost contorted from the difort. As soon as Wen Zhiyuan entered, he saw a woman with long hair draped over her shoulders, and he didn¡¯t react immediately. ¡°What¡¯s troubling you?¡± Wen Zhiyuan asked gently, putting his medical kit down and speaking softly. ¡°My stomach hurts so much,¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head. As their eyes met, both were taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Wen Zhiyuan was the first to speak. ¡°Long time no see, Dr. Wen,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a faint smile, despite the pain in her stomach. Wen Zhiyuan was initially surprised, but soon, his astonishment faded away. This title of ¡°Fourth Young Madam¡± could only belong to the woman before him. It was Xu Chaomu, the woman for whom Shen Chi had searched so desperately for five whole years, like a madman. He had never known that Shen Chi could love someone so deeply. The butler was taken aback for a moment: ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve met before,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with a slight curve of his lips. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good, no need for introductions then. Dr. Wen, please check on Chaomu, she¡¯s pregnant and feeling some stomach pain now.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s smooth, handsome face showed a hint of confusion. Pregnant? He initially thought that Xu Chaomu might have had a bad stomach ache, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated a pregnancy. But Chen Chi hadn¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu for five full years, so this child¡­ ¡°Dr. Wen, please check on Chaomu first, I¡¯ll exin to youter,¡± the butler said urgently. ¡°Mhm.¡± Wen Zhiyuan asked Xu Chaomu a few simple questions, such as what she had done that afternoon and what she had eaten, then examined herplexion. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor case of fetal distress. Rest well and it¡¯ll be fine, there¡¯s no problem. Make sure there¡¯s someone to take care of you, and you¡¯ll be good,¡± Wen Zhiyuan advised. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s nothing serious?¡± Xu Chaomu inquired. Because of the stomach pain, her face was deathly pale,pletely devoid of color. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be okay. Just go to the bed and lie down to rest,¡± Wen Zhiyuan assured. ¡°Should I take any medicine?¡± the butler asked. ¡°It¡¯s better not to if it¡¯s not necessary. There¡¯s no problem. Just remember to eat nutritious food and take good care of yourself,¡± Wen Zhiyuan instructed. ¡°You should probably have a full prenatal checkup at the hospital in the next few days.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I got it. I¡¯ll take good care of Chaomu,¡± the butler responded. ¡°Mhm.¡± Wen Zhiyuan packed up his medical kit, ¡°Where¡¯s the Fourth Young Master?¡± ¡°The Fourth Young Master has gone to A City for business and probably won¡¯t be back for a while.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not worried, even though his wife is pregnant?¡± ¡°Well¡­it can¡¯t be helped. He can¡¯t stay by her side twenty-four hours a day,¡± the butler exined. ¡°Mhm, then butler, you should apany her for the prenatal checkup in the next few days. Don¡¯t let her go alone,¡± Wen Zhiyuan suggested. ¡°Of course not. With so many people here at the Shen family, we definitely won¡¯t let Chaomu go alone.¡± Xu Chaomu was still clutching her stomach, and she looked up, ¡°Dr. Wen, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee, Chaomu, it¡¯s been five years.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Chapter 349: What Could Be More Important Than Her Chapter 349: What Could Be More Important Than Her ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see you again,¡± Wen Zhiyuan still remembered the events from five years ago when he had treated Xu Chaomu¡¯s gunshot wound and taken her to a hospital on Sumatra Ind. Yet, she left without saying a word. He even thought she had left this world. Unexpectedly, five yearster, she was sitting safely in the Shen Family home. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought I would see Dr. Wen again either,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°It¡¯s good that you coulde back,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with a faint smile. Xu Chaomu pulled up the corners of her mouth, returning the smile. Five years had passed, and Wen Zhiyuan hadn¡¯t changed much, exuding a mature aura. Gentle, modest, mature, that was Wen Zhiyuan. ¡°I should head back now. If there¡¯s anything, give me a call,¡± Wen Zhiyuan picked up his medical kit. ¡°Dr. Wen, let me see you out,¡± the butler said. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself.¡± The butler apanied Wen Zhiyuan right out of the Shen residence. Since Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s vi wasn¡¯t far from the Shen home, he asked the butler to stop at the gate. Carrying his medical kit, he walked back to his own house while the butler turned around and returned to the living room. Xu Chaomu¡¯s stomach was feeling a bit better now, though she was sweaty all over and didn¡¯t dare to turn on the air conditioning. ¡°Chaomu, let me help you upstairs to rest. I¡¯ll send up your dinnerter,¡± the butler said. ¡°Thank you for the trouble, butler.¡± ¡°Why be so polite with me?¡± the butler chuckled. ¡°Take good care these days, and if you need anything, just call me. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital for a pregnancy checkup tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary, I¡¯m not that fragile, and Dr. Wen said the baby is fine just now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to be careful. Otherwise, when the young master returns, he might y me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not his child; he wouldn¡¯t care,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her head lowered as she touched her belly. ¡°How so? I can tell the young master is really concerned about this child. He often reminds me to prepare nutritious food for the baby.¡± Xu Chaomu, her hand on her belly, did not speak again. ¡°Chaomu, let me take you up. Lie in bed and rest, don¡¯t move around. If you want something, tell me.¡± ¡°Butler, may I use your phone?¡± ¡°This¡­ Chaomu, please don¡¯t make it difficult for me.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face immediately showed disappointment. She steadied herself on the couch and stood up, her head down as she walked up the stairs to her room. ¡°Chaomu, take it slow,¡± the butler said,ing over to support her arm. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t resist and walked into the room with the butler. She turned on the room¡¯s light and quietly walked to her own small bed. ¡°Here, let me help you,¡± the butler made the bed for her and turned on the air conditioning, ¡°Lie down for a while, and once I have dinner ready, I¡¯ll bring it to you.¡± ¡°Thank you, butler.¡± Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s subdued voice, the butler knew she was probably unhappy for not lending her the phone. After lying in bed, Xu Chaomu picked up a book to read casually. One hand rested on her belly and the other held the book. ¡°Baby, let me tell you a story. In the forest, there was a wolf¡­¡± The butler smiled, didn¡¯t disturb her any longer, gently closed the door to Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, and walked downstairs. It had been five years without seeing Xu Chaomu, and she had really changed a lot. Apart from behaving the same way in front of the young master, she had be much more polite and gentle in the presence of others. The butler really didn¡¯t know how Xu Chaomu had managed over these past five years. Just as the butler was preparing dinner for Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi made a call. ¡°Butler, has she had dinner yet?¡± ¡°Not yet, I¡¯m getting it ready for Chaomu.¡± ¡°What has she been doing today?¡± ¡°Young master, Chaomu has been having some strong pregnancy reactions, she was throwing up all morning. This afternoon, I took her to y with Dabai. In the evening, sheined of stomach pains, so I asked Dr. Wen toe over and have a look,¡± the butler reported truthfully. ¡°Any problems?¡± Shen Chi immediately tensed up. ¡°No problems as such. Dr. Wen mentioned he wants to take Chaomu to the hospital for a checkup soon. I was thinking of taking her tomorrow.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take her.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± the butler was surprised, ¡°Young master, didn¡¯t you go to A City?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ming back right away.¡± ¡°Young master, it¡¯s fine, I can take Chaomu just as well. You just left for A City today;plete your work beforeing back.¡± ¡°Is there anything more important than her?¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Uh¡­ the butler was at a loss for words. In the young master¡¯s heart, there was only Xu Chaomu. His entire heart was led by her. It was a journey of several hours by car from A City to C City, he would probably get back by midnight. But the butler didn¡¯t dare to persuade him and simply nodded, ¡°Then young master, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After hanging up, the butler went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for Xu Chaomu, making her some silver ear and lotus seed soup in case she found the evening meal too rich. Xu Chaomu, after reading for a while and telling stories for a while, felt stuffy. The weather in summer was especially irritable, and she couldn¡¯t calm her heart. It had been several days since shest saw Nie Chenng, and she wanted to see him; she had many questions to ask him. However, the butler was strict, and she had no chance of leaving the Shen home, not even to make a phone call. She tossed the book aside in irritation andy on the bed in a huff. ¡°Baby, I really hate your uncle, How can he be like this, such poor character,¡± she said. ¡°Baby, when you grow up, you need to make up for all the grievances your mother has suffered. For example, if you evere across his child on the street, just beat them up good, and Mommy will pay for the medical expenses.¡± After mumbling a few words to her baby, Xu Chaomu finally felt much morefortable; her stomach no longer hurt. In such a quiet summer night, she suddenly really wanted to listen to ¡°Summer.¡± As the piano sounded, the summer night was peaceful. ¡°Chaomu,e have some lotus seed soup.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before the butler pushed open Xu Chaomu¡¯s room door. Xu Chaomu was getting sleepy, but she was startled by the butler, her eyes opened again, and she sat up from the bed. The butler brought the lotus seed soup to her and tenderly moved aside her messy hair with her fingers. ¡°Is the temperature of the air conditioner okay? If there¡¯s anything wrong, just tell me,¡± the butler said. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. ¡°Good, have something to eat before you sleep, and rest well. I¡¯ll apany you to the hospital tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chaomu picked up the lotus seed soup from the table, stirred it a few times with a spoon, blew on it, and began to eat slowly. Seeing that she had some appetite, the butler felt reassured. ¡°Chaomu, over the past five years abroad, what have you been doing?¡± ¡°Studying, traveling, dating.¡± ¡°Dating? With the father of this baby?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°In these five years, did you really not miss the young master at all?¡± ¡°What is there to miss about him? Bad temper, poor character, too many scandals. Thinking about him gives me a headache.¡± Chapter 350: Knitting a Sweater Chapter 350: Knitting a Sweater Butler Ling couldn¡¯t help but smile; it was only when mentioning the young master that Xu Chaomu¡¯s words became unusually plentiful. What a pity, she was pregnant with someone else¡¯s child. Could she still end up together with the young master in this lifetime? Xu Chaomu ate half a bowl of lotus seed soup and really couldn¡¯t eat any more, so she ced the bowl on the table. ¡°Butler Ling, it¡¯s only half past seven, I can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°How about watching TV for a while, or I can keep youpany and have a chat.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, teach me how to knit a sweater. I¡¯ll learn slowly, and by the time winteres, I¡¯ll have finished knitting one.¡± ¡°Chaomu, do you want to learn to knit a sweater?¡± Butler Ling was quite surprised. In her eyes, Xu Chaomu was lively and active; how could she quiet down to knit a sweater. ¡°Yes, I want to knit a sweater for the baby. Ah, no matter if it looks good or not, I will make him wear it, and he¡¯s not allowed to dislike it.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get the wool. I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Having said that, Butler Ling happily went to look for the yarn. She brought over a few colors for Xu Chaomu to choose from. Xu Chaomu picked a bundle of pink, tender and delicate like peach blossoms in March. ¡°This color is beautiful. Let¡¯s go with this one. A little girl will definitely look lovely in it!¡± ¡°Chaomu, what if you have a boy in your belly¡­¡± Butler Ling was full of worry; the probability was one to one. ¡°Boys can wear this too, let him dare to be picky.¡± ¡°He will dislike you as a mother.¡± ¡°If he dares to dislike it, I will throw him away. Just right, I¡¯ll have another little girl.¡± ¡°Having one son and one daughter, wouldn¡¯t that be even better?¡± Butler Lingughed. After Xu Chaomu picked the yarn, Butler Ling began to teach her how to knit a sweater. Xu Chaomu learned very seriously, hooking yarn, picking patterns, knotting¡­ step by step, she watched Butler Ling knit. Time passed without notice, and suddenly it went from half past seven to half past ten. Butler Ling quickly put down the yarn in her hands, ¡°Chaomu, let¡¯s continue learning tomorrow. It¡¯ste now, you should rest quickly, poor rest affects the baby.¡± ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll learn tomorrow.¡± Xu Chaomu was very excited; she picked up the sweater that had just been started and kept looking at it, loving it. The pink color was charming. After cing the sweater on the bedside, Xu Chaomu pulled over theforter, ready to sleep. ¡°Butler Ling, good night.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked and closed her eyes. ¡°Alright, good night.¡± Butler Ling smiled, tidied up her room for her, then turned off the lights and tiptoed downstairs. After tidying up a bit, Butler Ling hadn¡¯t expected Shen Chi¡¯s car to have arrived outside the vi. Old Cheng made a meaningful nce at her, and Butler Ling hurried over to open the car door for Shen Chi. ¡°Young Master, you actually came back.¡± ¡°Everything was taken care of, and it was Uncle Cheng who had a hard journey,¡± said Shen Chi as he got out of the car, wearing a faint smile on his face. His gentleness was as profound as water. Butler Ling hadn¡¯t seen Shen Chi smile in a long time. ¡°Master Shen, why say such a thing? I am always at your disposal,¡± replied Old Cheng. ¡°Has she slept?¡± Shen Chi nced upstairs; the lights were already out. In the night, his cold face gained a touch of tenderness, sweet as honey, which could immerse one into it. ¡°She justid down not long ago.¡± ¡°Was she feeling a bit better tonight?¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong, Chaomu was learning to knit with me tonight. She said she wants to knit a little sweater for the baby.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s smile curled up. ¡°Yes, Chaomu was really serious about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to check on her.¡± Having said so, Shen Chi walked inward from the gate of the Shen family vi. The dim light outside the vi shone on him, casting a hazy shadow on his white shirt. His back was straight as a rod, and his clothes were impable. He lightened his footsteps and slowly made his way upstairs. As he reached Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, he turned the doorknob. Indeed, Xu Chaomu had already fallen asleep; the room was quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner whirring. In fact, Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t fallen asleep at all. Her heart was full of thoughts, and as soon as she heard the door, she hurriedly closed her eyes. She held her breath, listening to the footsteps growing nearer. Perhaps because they had been together dawn to dusk for eight years, she could easily recognize the owner of the footsteps. Who else could it be but him. Yet, she was curious; why had he rushed back from A City sote? Shen Chi bent down in the moonlight streaming in from the window, his gaze never leaving her face. At this moment, Xu Chaomu, holding theforter,y quietly sleeping. Long eyshes, a prominent nose, tender lips, and hair ck as a waterfall. Everything about her was mesmerizing to him. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± he called her name gently and felt that the moment was especially precious. His fingertips glided through her soft hair; he watched her like this, feeling time slow significantly. Reluctant to be apart from her for even a day, he wished he could see her at every moment. Just like today in A City, her image was constantly before his eyes. Hearing his deep and husky voice, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart stirred. Then, Shen Chi saw the partly knitted sweater by the bedside, in pink, dainty and endearing. He took it in his hands, his lips curved in a smile. He had never imagined that Xu Chaomu would knit a sweater. Before his eyes, he envisioned Xu Chaomu holding their child, wearing the pink sweater she knitted, certainly very cute. But what if it were a boy? Worrisome. He looked at the sweater in his hands for a long time, then gently set it down. Leaning over, he gave her forehead a soft goodnight kiss. As he bent down, Xu Chaomu caught his scent, fresh and clean like the lush greenery in summer air. His lips were cool, and as they touched her forehead, Xu Chaomu tightened her grip on theforter. ¡°Good night,¡± he whispered in her ear. After speaking, he reluctantly stood up and left her room. As he left, Xu Chaomu opened her eyes. If not for the lingering scent of him in the air, she might have wondered if she had been dreaming. In a drowsy haze, she suddenly remembered that night over two months ago¡­ The summer wind blew calmly, the insects sang softly, and the summer night was peaceful. In the middle of the night, Xu Chaomu was awakened by cramps in her stomach. ¡°Baby¡­ please stop causing trouble¡­¡± Xu Chaomu covered her stomach, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. But the child in her belly was not at all considerate, causing Xu Chaomu pain as she tossed and turned. She wanted to call for someone, but she waspletely out of strength; she wanted to get out of bed, but she couldn¡¯t muster the energy. Remembering that Shen Chi was sleeping in the next room, she struggled to call out, ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Her voice was very weak, and she didn¡¯t know if Shen Chi heard her. She struggled to turn on the light, but her hand shook, and she knocked over a ss of water on the table! With a ¡°ng,¡± the sound woke Shen Chi in the next room. Chapter 351: Hold Tight, Don’t Move Chapter 351: Hold Tight, Don¡¯t Move Shen Chi slept lightly, and as soon as he heard a noiseing from Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, his eyes snapped open. He practically threw off the nket and ran over, pushing open the door to her room. When he turned on the light, he just caught Xu Chaomu clutching her stomach in agony. The floor was littered with broken ss, shards scattering everywhere. ¡°Mumu!¡± he called out anxiously, striding to her bedside to support her. ¡°My stomach hurts¡­¡± Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she looked at Shen Chi with watery,rge eyes, biting her lip weakly. ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor for you.¡± Shen Chi propped her up with a cushion and hurried to call Wen Zhiyuan. Wen Zhiyuan lived close to the Shen Family, but being summoned by Shen Chi in the middle of the night was still somewhat disconcerting. Fortunately, he was good-natured and came over with a medicine box upon receiving Shen Chi¡¯s call. Shen Chi draped a coat over Xu Chaomu, allowing her to lean into his embrace. ¡°Does it hurt a lot? Did you eat something bad?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because I¡¯m feeling upset.¡± ¡°Upset? What happened? Didn¡¯t Butler Cheng take you out to have some fun?¡± ¡°Just give me my phone back and let me leave the Shen Family, and I¡¯m sure my mood will improve.¡± Shen Chi fell silent, his austere face under the light taking on a few shades of gloom. His piercing eyes hid unseen depths, like the bottomless waters of a dark pool. It was a long while before he spoke indifferently, ¡°Chaomu, if I let go this time, it¡¯s for a lifetime.¡± ¡°You know full well I¡¯m about to get engaged.¡± ¡°But we married five years ago.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve to bring that up. That marriage certificate, with its significant deception and coercion, is invalid!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. All I know is that it¡¯s legally recognized, stamped by the Civil Affairs Bureau.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± Xu Chaomu huffily nced at Shen Chi, finding him utterly shameless. But her stomach pain kept her from arguing further. Shen Chi held her in his arms, resting hisrge hand gently on her belly, and whispered, ¡°Say less, or your baby will find you noisy and start protesting again.¡± That¡¯s when Wen Zhiyuan arrived. The butler led him into Xu Chaomu¡¯s room just in time to see Xu Chaomu nestled in Shen Chi¡¯s arms. Wen Zhiyuan chuckled to himself; they were really torturing a single guy like him. ¡°Alright, Mumu, Zhiyuan is here. Let him take a look at you,¡± Shen Chi said, helping her sit up. ¡°Sote, and I¡¯m still calling Dr. Wen over,¡± Xu Chaomu said, feeling somewhat guilty. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll put this on Young Master Four¡¯s tab,¡± Wen Zhiyuan replied with a smile. He approached with the medicine box. This time, he had specifically brought medicine for pregnancy protection. ¡°Take this medicine three times a day, two pills each time. Take one dose now, and go to the hospital for a pregnancy check-up tomorrow,¡± Wen Zhiyuan instructed. ¡°Take medicine? Can she even take medicine?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°This is medication to prevent miscarriage, of course it¡¯s fine,¡± Xu Chaomu pushed Shen Chi away as if he were ignorant. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fine,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with a smile. Wen Zhiyuan, although not very chatty, was serious about his work and performed a cursory exam on Xu Chaomu. The moment Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s hand touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s, a certain man¡¯s long, clean hand blocked the way: ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Wen Zhiyuan¡¯s face was covered with ck lines. So dominant. ¡°What are you doing? Can you even treat illness? Do you really believe you¡¯re a jack-of-all-trades?¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. ¡°Quiet,¡± Shen Chi said, knitting his brows. ¡°Fine, Young Master Four, you do it. Start by taking Chaomu¡¯s temperature,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with the gentle,ughing demeanor of a refined character. ¡°Mm, turn your head away,¡± Shen Chi looked at Wen Zhiyuan. Wen Zhiyuan was speechless. Turn his head away for a temperature check? Heplied, turning his head away to prepare the medicine for Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi pressed Xu Chaomu down and slid the thermometer up from under her clothing. She could have done this herself, but for some reason, he wouldn¡¯t let her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him with wide eyes. When his cool hand brushed against her warm body, she shivered all over. ¡°Hold it tight, don¡¯t move.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red: ¡°Hurry up, will you?¡± ¡°Almost done, it¡¯ll be out in a minute.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face grew even redder. Couldn¡¯t he speak properly? These few sentences sounded particrly suggestive, especially the, ¡°Hold it tight, don¡¯t move¡± part¡­ utterly absurd. Indeed, when Xu Chaomu saw Wen Zhiyuan trying to suppress augh without saying a word, she felt confirmed. As Shen Chi¡¯s hand emerged from under her clothing, he took the opportunity to give a certain part of her a squeeze. Mmm¡­ the feel wasn¡¯t bad¡ªprobably would be better if she ate more. Xu Chaomu hurriedly pushed him away, but when she nced up, he seemed calm,pletely unaware of the flirtatious act. ¡°Don¡¯t wiggle around,¡± Shen Chi warned her. ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu hissed in a low voice, ring at him. Shen Chi lifted the corner of his mouth; Xu Chaomu really had be much more reserved after five years. If it were in the past, she would¡¯ve probably been moring to pinch him back by now. Wen Zhiyuan chuckled again, ¡°Are you two deliberately unting your love in front of this single guy?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking for it,¡± Shen Chi stood up, ¡°Didn¡¯t you rant about getting married five years ago? Howe, after five years, you¡¯re still a single guy?¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you sure know how to repay kindness with enmity. Roused from sleep by your phone call, and this is what I get?¡± Xu Chaomu spoke up, ¡°Dr. Wen, go back to sleep. I feel better.¡± ¡°Fine, but since your husband is all-powerful, you don¡¯t need me. I¡¯ll instruct him for a bit, and then I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Mmhmm, I¡¯m listening,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°During the first three months of pregnancy, it¡¯s easy to miscarry. Pay attention to a bnced diet, avoid physicalbor, and limit contact with animals. Rest more. Go for a pregnancy check-up tomorrow, and when youe back, I¡¯ll create a nutrition n for you. Just follow the diet n, and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± Shen Chi frowned, finding it all troublesome. ¡°Ahem, avoid¡­ intercourse.¡± As soon as Wen Zhiyuan uttered those words, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turnedpletely red. In fact, except for the night she conceived the child, she had not been with any man in bed. Moreover, that night, she was drunk, and didn¡¯t remember any feelings¡­ She only vaguely remembered that the first time was painful, and yet the man showed no pity, wanting her several times over. She only woke up groggy the following afternoon. At that time, Nie Chenng sat on the couch in the suite, his eyes somewhatplicated. He said: ¡°Chaomu, I had too much to drinkst night. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll take responsibility for you.¡± Xu Chaomu had never doubted it, she always trusted Nie Chenng. But ever since that day, when she smelled that familiar scent in Shen Chi¡¯s closet, and thought back to that night, her heart was filled with doubts. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Wen Zhiyuan, you can go,¡± Shen Chi said. Shen Chi helped Wen Zhiyuan pack the medicine box, handing it to him, wishing he would leave immediately. ¡°After reaching the other shore, dismantling the bridge,¡± Wen Zhiyuan sighed resignedly. He picked up the medicine box and went downstairs, conveniently closing the room door for them as he left. Chapter 352: He Loves Her as His Life Chapter 352: He Loves Her as His Life As soon as Wen Zhiyuan left, Shen Chi moved closer again with ill intentions. ¡°Mumu, does your stomach still hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve taken some medicine, it¡¯s better now, you can leave,¡± Xu Chaomu mimicked his tone. ¡°That won¡¯t do, I need to watch over you. Tonight, I¡¯ll sleep beside you, so I can look after you more easily.¡± ¡°You could give me your phone, so if there¡¯s anything, I can just call you directly,¡± Xu Chaomu suggested smartly. ¡°That¡¯s too slow.¡± Without waiting for Xu Chaomu¡¯s agreement, he sat on the bed, took off his shoes, and lifted her quilt. ¡°Shen Chi, what the hell are you doing? I am a married woman, my engagement is just around the corner. Just now, Dr. Wen also said that I should avoid animals! Animals!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Your husband here is a human, not an animal.¡± With a long arm, he pulled her into his arms and pressed down her head, ¡°Stop fussing, it¡¯s time to sleep.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, if you keep this up, I will¡­¡± ¡°You will what?¡± ¡°I will¡­¡± Xu Chaomu thought for a long time but couldn¡¯te up with anything that would threaten this shameless man. ¡°Alright, stop fussing, and sleep. It¡¯s not easy for your husband to get up in the middle of the night because of you.¡± He hugged her and turned off the light in the room. The room plunged into darkness instantly, so dark one couldn¡¯t see the back of their hand, Xu Chaomu eximed, ¡°The thermometer hasn¡¯t been taken out yet.¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot about that. It¡¯s about time, let me do it.¡± Shen Chi was very, particrly, especially willing to serve her for this task. Before Xu Chaomu could agree, hisrge hand was already inside her clothes. What should have taken only a few seconds, he was deliberately up to no good, groping around with one hand¡­ Inside Xu Chaomu¡¯s loose pajamas was nothing else. His roving hands caressed her stomach, going upwards, taking advantage of every opportunity, and even innocently murmured, ¡°Where¡¯s the thermometer¡­¡± ¡°Take your hand out! I have my own hands! Shameless, what are you doing!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled out loud because, that man¡¯s hand was covering her softness, casually kneading it. Only then did Shen Chi take out the thermometer and, finally, moved his lips to her ear and whispered softly, ¡°Keep it down, the servants are asleep. They might get startled and think that I, Shen Chi, am so desperate as to not even spare a pregnant woman.¡± ¡°Can you go back to your own room? If you don¡¯t, then I¡¯m leaving!¡± Xu Chaomu threatened. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, it¡¯s not good for the baby if you get upset. I promise, I won¡¯t move recklessly anymore, really.¡± ¡°What good is your promise!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed,pletely losing herposure. ¡°Mind the prenatal education,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched again. He turned on the light again and checked the thermometer seriously; thankfully, there were no abnormalities. Only then did he feel relieved, put the thermometer down, turned off the light again, and hugged her, preventing her from moving. ¡°Mumu, let¡¯s sleep, it¡¯ste.¡± Xu Chaomu was tightly held in his arms, unable to move. Since it was summer, both were wearing only thin pajamas. Now, with their bodies pressed together, Xu Chaomu felt particrly ufortable. Shen Chi had stopped moving recklessly. His strong arms wrapped around her from behind, keeping her head protected against his chest. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hot in this weather?¡± Xu Chaomu just felt particrly awkward. She had never slept cuddled up with someone like this before in her life, and she didn¡¯t know quite what to feel about it. ¡°The air conditioning is on, go to sleep, no more talking.¡± Shen Chi was indeed tired, having rushed back from A City overnight and being woken up by her in the middle of the night. Actually, he had never been so patient before, but he was powerless when it came to Xu Chaomu. Not long after he closed his eyes, Shen Chi fell asleep. Xu Chaomu had wanted to struggle but seeing that he was asleep, she stopped moving. She could tell he was very tired. But this man, even in his sleep, still held onto her tightly, as if fearing she would leave. His strong arms wrapped snugly around her waist, unwilling to let go. Xu Chaomu, with no other choice, allowed him to hold her as she slept. The night grew deep, and all was quiet around. Xu Chaomu still couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Her head cradled in his arms, she could hear his steady breathing and the regr beating of his heart. With her eyes closed, Xu Chaomu pondered many things for a long time, and slowly, she too grew tired¡­ The days of summer dawn early. Around four o¡¯clock, the sky began to lighten, as birds chirped ceaselessly outside, and the sunrise seeped through the clouds onto the earth. Golden sunlight spilled over branches, hills, and lotus leaves, everywhere exuding a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The surface of the water shimmered with glistening light; a breeze stirred, and the lotus leaves swayed gently, while the lotus flowers emitted a faint fragrance. Dragonflies skimmed over the water, lightly touching it and causing ripples to spread out in all directions. Shen Chi usually woke up at around five o¡¯clock, and today was no exception. When he woke up, Xu Chaomu was still sleeping. She used his arm as a pillow, resting on it, sleeping sweetly. Shen Chi¡¯s half-arm was numb, yet he persisted, not moving haphazardly. Xu Chaomu slept soundly, her back to Shen Chi, curled up in his embrace. The corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips slowly curled upwards, his smile growing deeper and deeper. In this moment, Xu Chaomu truly seemed like a little kitten, nestled in his chest. He stretched out his other hand, gently stroking her hair. Whether his eyes were open or closed, he could smell her faint fragrance. Perhaps one of life¡¯s greatest happinesses is being able to see the person you love every time you open your eyes. He loved her, as much as life itself. Time ticked away, and Xu Chaomu continued to sleep. Shen Chi maintained the same position, motionless. Although his arm was numb without sensation, he still felt blissful. His hand brushed over her hair and slowly slid down, over her waistline. When itnded on her belly, his hand paused. The smile at his lips stiffened a bit; there was another man¡¯s child in her belly, already more than two months along. Her child would surely look a lot like her, but¡­ would also resemble its father. Shen Chi felt as if there were countless needles pricking his heart, causing a dull ache. If only the child were his, but sadly¡­ it wasn¡¯t. His hand rested on her abdomen, his expression bing somewhat solemn. The second hand of the clock ticked steadily, and as the sun slowly rose from the east, shining through the room¡¯s light-colored curtains, it cast a brilliant sunlight onto the interior. Xu Chaomu slept deeply,pletely still. Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang several times, but as soon as it did, he would immediately hang up, not wanting to disturb her. Xu Chaomu slept all the way until past nine o¡¯clock. Around nine o¡¯clock, still groggy, Xu Chaomu turned over as usual but forgot that there was another person in bed with her. As she turned, her eyes snapped open,ing face to face with Shen Chi, both staring at each other. ¡°Awake?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was husky as he spoke. ¡°Uh¡­ haven¡¯t you gone to work yet?¡± Xu Chaomu was somewhat incoherent. Chapter 353: Simple Happiness Chapter 353: Simple Happiness This was the first time in her life she woke up to find a man sleeping beside her, and a remarkably handsome one at that. Even though his face showed some traces of fatigue, it didn¡¯t detract from his charm. Xu Chaomu had to admit he was the most handsome man she¡¯d ever seen in her life. His sharp facial contours, handsome brows and eyes, deep-set gaze, and those lightly pursed lips all exuded the allure of a mature man. His robe was loosely open at the cor, and with a quick nce, Xu Chaomu caught sight of his wheat-colored skin. ¡°Whether I go to work or not, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Shen Chi said with a smile. ¡°Be careful, or the board might fire you.¡± ¡°That depends on whether they dare or not.¡± ¡°From the sound of it, it seems like no one can control you,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. ¡°No¡­ My wife can. If you ask me to go east, I would never go west,¡± Shen Chi said, his eyes smiling. ¡°Save such sweet nothings for your lovers,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with another cold huff, utterly unconvinced. She didn¡¯t believe for a second that a domineering man like Shen Chi could be reduced to a devotedpdog. She pushed away his arm, intending to get dressed and out of bed. Shen Chi quickly caught hold of her: ¡°Won¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡± ¡°No more sleep for me. The sun is up; I need to get to the hospital for a check-up.¡± ¡°Wait, I have something to tell you.¡± Shen Chi held her down with a serious expression on his face. Xu Chaomu, pinned and unable to move,y back down and locked eyes with him. ¡°What is it that has to be said right now?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t say it, it won¡¯t sit right with me.¡± ¡°What is it? So secretive. Hang on, let me guess.¡± ¡°Go ahead and guess.¡± Xu Chaomu did take his challenge seriously and began to guess. After a while, her expression turned serious: ¡°Shen Chi, did you trick me again?¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Shen Chi nodded, opting for full disclosure. He wanted to tell her about Jian Sisi¡¯s situation. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face darkened instantly, and she pushed him away angrily, trying to get out of bed. Shen Chi caught her arm: ¡°Mumu, listen to me till the end. It¡¯s not toote for me to be upfront with you now.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned ashen as she tried to shake off his grip. His deception had left her unable to step out of the shadows for a full five years, and now, he still had something to hide from her? The word ¡°deception¡± had already cut her deeply. Zhou Ran did, Shen Shihan did, Shen Chi did. She was particrly sensitive to that word, sensitive like a fuse, ready to ignite at the slightest touch! ¡°Mumu, hear me out. Give me a chance. You know, I could have kept many issues to myself and dealt with them quietly, but the incident from five years ago taught me a lesson. Now that we¡¯re married, we should face things together, right?¡± ¡°Who wants to confront anything with you? I¡¯ve said it before, I don¡¯t recognize that marriage certificate! Not one bit! By the way, where is it?¡± ¡°In my room.¡± Annoyed, Xu Chaomu shook off his hand, slipped on her slippers, and got out of bed, heading straight for his room. ¡°Mumu, where are you going?¡± Shen Chi quickly followed her, not even taking the time to put on his shoes. Xu Chaomu pushed open the door to his room and dashed towards his bed, rummaging through every drawer in search of the marriage certificate. Often, she also wanted to forget everything from five years ago, and often, she wanted to tell herself that her mother¡¯s death had nothing to do with him. But she simply couldn¡¯t get over that hurdle in her heart. ¡°Where is it? Where¡¯s the marriage certificate?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, unable to find it. ¡°I put it away.¡± ¡°Give it to me!¡± Xu Chaomu stretched out her hand. ¡°What are you going to do with it?¡± ¡°Tear it up, of course.¡± ¡°Mumu, let me finish what I¡¯m saying. Don¡¯t be impulsive.¡± Shen Chi hurriedly approached and stood before her. ¡°Shen Chi, what good is keeping that marriage certificate for you? Aren¡¯t you always profit-oriented? I, Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t seem to have anything worth exploiting.¡± ¡°How can you say that?¡± Shen Chi frowned deeply, as if pierced by a needle to the heart, ¡°You know perfectly well that I love you.¡± ¡°If you truly loved me, you should consider my feelings in every situation, right?¡± ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°Give me my phone back, let me leave the Shen Family, and don¡¯t stop me from my engagement.¡± ¡°So you still want to leave.¡± ¡°Yes, every second I yearn to get away from you.¡± Shen Chi fell silent. Over these past few days, on searching his heart, he knew he treated her very well. Sadly, her heart was no longer with him. Seeing his silence, Xu Chaomu rattled off, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you loved me? Is this how you love me? Don¡¯t you want to see me happy?¡± ¡°Chaomu, I won¡¯t let you go again. If I let go this time, it¡¯ll be forever. Let¡¯s talk this through properly,¡± Shen Chi dered firmly. ¡°Want to talk? Show me some sincerity.¡± ¡°Sincerity?¡± Shen Chi thought for a moment, silently went to the wardrobe, and pulled out a wallet from the pocket of a hanging suit. He drew out a bank card and stuffed it into Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand: ¡°Wife, here¡¯s one million, spend it freely, the PIN is your birthday.¡± Xu Chaomu was stunned on the spot; this man was really straightforward and rough. Seeing her hesitate, Shen Chi took out another card and ced it in her hand: ¡°Wife, this is five million, spend it freely, the PIN is your birthday.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Is that enough? If it¡¯s not, there¡¯s more.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± ¡°Oh? Enough? That¡¯s good then.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Shen Chi, you¡¯re too much!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed, hands on her hips, caught betweenughter and tears. She had been seriously discussing the issue of the marriage certificate with him, only for him to turn it into a joke like this. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know whether he was really naive or just pretending. ¡°Wife, your husband is quite capable of making money. Buy whatever you want; don¡¯t hold back with me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your money. Do you think money can buy everything?¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± ¡°All I want is simple happiness. Can you give me that?¡± ¡°Simple happiness? Oh¡­ I get it.¡± The certain gentleman¡¯s face disyed sudden understanding, and then he began to untie the sash of his robe. ¡°You, what are you doing?¡± Xu Chaomu backed away, dismayed at this man¡¯s impropriety so early in the morning. ¡°To prove that I can also provide you with simple happiness.¡± After saying that, he pounced forward, pinning Xu Chaomu to therge bed with the posture of a big bad wolf overpowering a little white rabbit. ¡°You¡¯re calling this indecency, goddamn it, get off me!¡± Xu Chaomu was beside herself with a mix ofughter and tears. Her idea of happiness was nothing like what he was implying, okay?! And hadn¡¯t she been in a stronger negotiating position just a moment ago? How did she end up at a disadvantage now? Shen Chi pressed down on her, his eyes full of hazy desire, and he held her head down as his lips found hers. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was kissed unexpectedly, her eyes wide open, staring straight at him. Chapter 354: Wedding Anniversary Chapter 354: Wedding Anniversary Shen Chi felt that he had hugged her, kissed her, obtained the marriage certificate with her, and even shared a bed with her, but¡­ he had never truly possessed her. It seemed a bit unreasonable, no? It was as if he really wasn¡¯t up to par. ¡°Mumu, would you like to be my woman?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was husky, his gaze hazy, as he kissed her from her lips down to her neck. His kisses were passionate and lingering, at first like a light drizzle and then, like a sudden downpour, they fell upon her in waves. ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± In the depths of his emotion, he called out her name, unable to extricate himself. ¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu angrily retaliated, kicking him with her foot. ¡°Shameless? Then I won¡¯t kiss the face¡­¡± And so, Shen Chi¡¯s lips found hers. He admitted that she was like a poppy¡ªonce touched, he couldn¡¯t shake her off. She was an addiction he could never rid himself of this lifetime. They had known each other for thirteen years, and they were meant to be together forever. ¡°Mm¡­ Shen, Shen Chi, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m pregnant, don¡¯t mess around¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled to push him away. Hearing the words ¡°pregnant,¡± all of Shen Chi¡¯s desires faded. His hands stilled, and his eyes returned to their usual calmness, without a ripple of emotion. Sure enough, he let go of her, straightening out his robe. Xu Chaomu quickly got up from the bed, thinking this man was nothing but a beast. Damn beast! She fixed her hair and pulled her nightgown together. Knowing he was unwilling to give her the marriage certificate, she simply decided to go downstairs. ¡°Mumu, wait, I haven¡¯t finished talking. Sit by me, and let¡¯s have a proper conversation.¡± Shen Chi pulled her hand, dragging her beside him. ¡°Fine then, you talk, I¡¯m listening.¡± Xu Chaomu really wanted to act like those dramatic scenes in TV shows, covering her ears and yelling, ¡°I won¡¯t listen, won¡¯t listen, you¡¯re just a liar.¡± But she wasn¡¯t so childish. ¡°Mumu, Jian Sisi¡­ you know about her, right?¡± Shen Chi had thought a lot yesterday. He knew he could not make the same mistake he made five years ago. Many misunderstandings needed to be voiced to be resolved. Since they were now husband and wife, they should be honest with each other. After all, how many five-year periods could one have in a lifetime? ¡°That little lover who sought death by threatening to jump off a building? Quite pretty, exactly your type,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. That man, his tastes were just so. ¡°She¡¯s my secretary, hired just four years ago.¡± ¡°Oh, no surprise there. Secretaries usually end up developing into little lovers,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly, fiddling with her nails. ¡°Mumu, there¡¯s actually nothing between her and me. She¡¯s only been helping me manage the business affairs of the group. She¡¯s diligent and has good performance, so I¡¯ve kept her around.¡± ¡°Even if there was something between you two, it¡¯s none of my business. You have so many women, one more doesn¡¯t make a difference.¡± ¡°Mumu, I don¡¯t have that many women¡­¡± Shen Chi felt particrly wronged. ¡°Done talking? If you¡¯re done, I¡¯m leaving, I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Wait, I haven¡¯t gotten to the main point yet.¡± ¡°The main point? Oh, there¡¯s a main point? Let¡¯s hear it, I¡¯m all ears,¡± said Xu Chaomu, suddenly intrigued. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t get angry first.¡± ¡°Are you going to talk or not?¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll talk. There was really nothing between Jian Sisi and me; she handled my affairs, and I gave her a generous sry. She never troubled me. Xiao Mo stayed on Sumatra Ind around that time, and she helped solve many problems for me.¡± ¡°Damn it, do you have a main point?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, finding the man incredibly long-winded. ¡°The main point is¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes darkened, his expression turning somber. He had no idea what Xu Chaomu¡¯s reaction would be after he spoke. After all, five years ago she had said, ¡°I don¡¯t want a secondhand man.¡± Now, how would she feel about him, given her lukewarm attitude towards him? He cared deeply about her thoughts. Xu Chaomu waited, but what was the main point? ¡°Shen Chi, are you going to speak or not? If not, I¡¯m leaving!¡± ¡°The main point is, over two months ago, I got too drunk and identally slept with her,¡± Shen Chi finally confessed. After saying this, he felt a lot more relieved. He didn¡¯t want to hide it from her; they should be honest with each other. Yet Xu Chaomu appearedpletely nonchnt, as if she didn¡¯t care at all. In fact, her eyes shined with mischief as she looked at him, ¡°Could you describe the details more vividly? I quite enjoy hearing about that¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Come on, tell me. That¡¯s the crucial point, and I love listening.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll give birth to a perverted son or a hooligan daughter? Is this really how you want to do pre-natal education?¡± ¡°Are you going to speak or not? Speak or not!¡± Xu Chaomu put her hands on her hips, threatening him, ¡°I want to hear that!¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Chi refused, his expression darkening. How could he brazenly speak of such matters? ¡°Not going to talk? Then from now on, you must not speak to me!¡± As Xu Chaomu stood to leave, she hadn¡¯t taken a step before Shen Chi pulled her back down onto the seat. ¡°Growing up with adultics, and now you¡¯re telling me this,¡± Shen Chi had a headache but then slyly smirked, ¡°No matter how much you know in theory¡­ we could actually practice it.¡± ¡°Practice with your great uncle!¡± Struggling, pulling, Xu Chaomu tried to free her hand! ¡°Mumu, that one time, I really drank too much. Do you know what day it was?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°It was our wedding anniversary.¡± Shen Chi reached out to caress her hair, his eyes brimming with endless tenderness. His long, clean fingers brushed away the stray strands from her forehead¡­ Wedding anniversary? Xu Chaomu thought about it. Five years earlier on that day, she had gone with Shen Chi to get a notarization; that night, he took her back to Waterside Pavilion and personally cooked a whole table of dishes. Btedly, she hadn¡¯t thought much of it. He said it was to celebrate some award he had won years ago, and she didn¡¯t suspect anything. Latter, he also gave her a ne with a jade pendant¡­ He said: I promise you a lifetime, day and night. Back then, she had never imagined that it was their wedding day. Wait, something¡¯s wrong. Five yearster on their wedding anniversary, he got drunk? ¡°Mumu, you left for five years; I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime. Really, I thought it was for a lifetime.¡± A wave of sorrow welled up in his heart. Those five years, every day, were shrouded in sadness. The lively Xu Chaomu was gone. Back then, his heart felt as though it had turned to ashes. Fortunately, after five years, she came back. Xu Chaomu was a bit dazed, their wedding anniversary¡­ Turning her head, she looked at him seriously: ¡°What day is our wedding anniversary? Wait, not ours, just the anniversary day?¡± ¡°How is it not ¡®ours¡¯?¡± Shen Chi looked at her affectionately, ¡°Remember it well, April 18th.¡± Chapter 355: Infidelity in Marriage Chapter 355: Infidelity in Marriage April 18, April 18! Xu Chaomu remembered it clearly, this spring¡¯s April 18! That was the first time in her life she went to negotiate a contract with a partner, the first major task after her internship! The general manager said if she couldnd that contract and sign it sessfully, he would agree to make her a permanent staff member and give her a raise. April 18! She remembered it very clearly! The partners she was drinking with were utterly merciless. Xu Chaomu, who naturally had a low tolerance for alcohol, had no choice but to steel her nerves and drink with several of the vice presidents in order to secure the contract. After drinking for about fifteen minutes, she felt numbness in her scalp and weakness in her limbs. The vice presidents from the other party had exceptional skills in encouraging her to drink, and no sooner had Xu Chaomu¡¯s ss emptied than someone would enthusiastically refill it for her. She drank until she was dizzy and wanted to escape, but every time this happened the general manager would whisper to her, ¡°Hang in there a little longer. We¡¯re about to sign the contract. Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you to a hotel to rest.¡± For the sake of the contract, Xu Chaomu thought, she clenched her teeth and persevered. What¡¯s a little alcohol? She continued to drink through sheer willpower, going to the restroom to throw up many times. But the other group simply wouldn¡¯t call it quits, constantlying up with new ways to ply her with more drinks. Whenever Xu Chaomu tried to refuse, they would say, ¡°Miss Xu, you¡¯re really not giving us face.¡± Alright, I¡¯ll give face, not just a little but a lot. So, that evening, she ended up puking her guts out¡­ By the end, everyone appeared to her as a blurry mess; she couldn¡¯t distinguish eyes, noses, mouths¡­ Even when leaving, she managed to m herself hard against a wooden door. But she remembered the date of that day very clearly. April 18, no mistake. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Chi touched her head. ¡°Shen Chi, then why don¡¯t youe clean about where you were on April 18 this year?¡± Xu Chaomu pulled back her emotions, pretending to be indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ll confess, with nothing hidden. I was in Paris discussing a project with clients, and as it happened, Jian Sisi was there with me. So¡­¡± Shen Chi hesitated, his face full of guilt. He didn¡¯t know if Xu Chaomu could forgive him, after all, this was a very, very big mistake he had made. Xu Chaomu waspletely stunned! Dammit! Paris! It really was Paris! She had suspected as much; when she woke up that day, Nie Chenng sat on the sofa, unreadable. With a guilty expression, Nie Chenng said to her, ¡°Chaomu, I drank too muchst night, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll take responsibility for you.¡± But when she left the suite with him, she noticed that there wasn¡¯t a trace of alcohol on Nie Chenng¡¯s breath. At the time, she had thought maybe Nie Chenng had already sobered up and taken a bath and changed into clean clothes. So, he didn¡¯t seem drunk at all. Without much suspicion, her doubts were just a fleeting thought. A few dayster, Nie Chenng proposed to her with a ring, even picking out a particrly auspicious day for the engagement. Nie Chenng¡¯s family was in C City, and they nned to return to C City for their engagement. But then, unexpectedly, just after she hadnded back in C City, Shen Chi¡¯s had caught her. Five years had passed and she had thought that Shen Chi had already started his own family and forgotten about her. After all, five years earlier, Bai Man was already carrying his child. If she hadn¡¯t miscalcted, his child would be five years old by now; she just didn¡¯t know if it was a boy or a girl. Yet to her surprise, not only had he not forgotten her, he had also taken liberties with her! The moment they met, he misbehaved in the elevator, as if he was incredibly starved over the past five years! ¡°Mumu.¡± Seeing she wasn¡¯t speaking, Shen Chi took it upon himself to admit his faults, ¡°I know, this mistake is unforgivable, and I won¡¯t try to defend it. Even though I was drunk, I truly couldn¡¯t control myself. Mumu, you have no idea, that night, in my muddled state, I always thought Jian Sisi was you, but sadly she wasn¡¯t.¡± Xu Chaomu gnashed her teeth, dammit, how could it not be. The time and ce matched perfectly. At this very moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was almost copsing; she couldn¡¯t believe that after five years, she would fall for the same man again. ¡°Mumu, whether you forgive me or not, at least say something,¡± Shen Chi became a bit frantic, his brows furrowed. Xu Chaomu came back to her senses, lifted her eyes, and stared at Shen Chi for several dozen seconds. ¡°Shen Scumbag, you haven¡¯t yet told me how you and your little mistress went round and round,¡± Xu Chaomuughed scoundrelly, shamelessly, and with utter disregard for decorum. Shen Chi was speechless. His face turned dark, and he really wanted to throw Xu Chaomu out! ¡°Xu Chaomu, I¡¯m discussing a serious matter with you.¡± ¡°Shen Scumbag, I¡¯m also talking to you about a serious matter.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, I¡¯m very seriously apologizing to you.¡± ¡°Shen Scumbag, I¡¯m very seriously asking you for advice.¡± Shen Chi wanted to grab her by the clothes and throw her out the window, but he held back. He grabbed her arm and pinned her to the bed, ¡°Asking for advice? Are you sure you want advice? Do you want theoretical advice or practical experience?¡± ¡°Theoretical will do, it has to be detailed and lively,¡± Xu Chaomu blinked innocently, looking like a harmlessly natural little white rabbit. ¡°You! You¡¯re not mad at me for telling you all this?¡± ¡°Why would I be angry? If you don¡¯t tell me, then I¡¯ll be angry.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you truly don¡¯t care about me,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were filled with boundless sorrow, a sorrow that enveloped his gaze. For a woman to listen to all this and be indifferent, she truly didn¡¯t care for him anymore. If she had even a little bit of care for him in her heart, at least she would show some emotion. But now, she was almost calm, even quite happy, as if she were listening to a joke. ¡°So many women care about you; you won¡¯t miss one,¡± Xu Chaomu quipped with a nce in his direction. Her long eyshes trembled slightly, like delicate butterfly wings. ¡°Xu Chaomu, and another thing, because of that one time, Jian Sisi got pregnant. But when I found out that she was being instructed by someone, I kept her child, waiting to see who was behind her. Of course, if you don¡¯t like it, I can have someone take care of her child at any time.¡± ¡°Wow, General Shen is really capable, even fathering a child.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± Shen Chi was truly furious, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any reaction?¡± ¡°My reaction is, I¡¯m very happy.¡± ¡°What is there for you to be happy about?¡± ¡°It shows General Shen you have no problems in that department. Also, you cheated during our marriage; shouldn¡¯t I get awyer and discuss divorce?¡± ¡°Divorce! Divorce! Divorce! Is that all you think about? How to divorce?!¡± ¡°You just admitted it yourself, you cheated during our marriage, aren¡¯t you ashamed not to divorce?¡± ¡°Yes, I admitted it.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes lost all their sparkle, bing dim. He knew, Xu Chaomu was determined to discuss divorce. Chapter 356: Growing More and More Shameless Chapter 356: Growing More and More Shameless ¡°How do you n on discussing the divorce? Part ways amicably, or will we be tearing each other apart?¡± Xu Chaomu remained nonchnt. ¡°Do you really not have any feelings for me at all?¡± ¡°I never had feelings for you.¡± ¡°Then what was the deal with you climbing into my bed five years ago? What about writing in your diary that you liked me? And forcibly kissing me when you were drunk¡ªwhat was that all about?¡± ¡°Call it youthful ignorance.¡± Shen Chi was so furious he was shaking all over. Everything was just dismissed by her with those four words¡ª¡±youthful ignorance.¡± ¡°Fine, no matter what you say, I¡¯m telling you, divorce is not happening.¡± Shen Chi spoke with a hint of helplessness, but he stuck to his statement. ¡°You have an affair during our marriage, and you won¡¯t allow a divorce?¡± ¡°You can ask me to do anything, but not that.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°Um.¡± ¡°Then tell me, how did it feel that night with your little mistress?¡± ¡°I forgot.¡± Damn it, he forgot! Alright, Xu Chaomu admitted, she forgot too. ¡°Then tell me, how many women have you been with before her? Tell the truth!¡± ¡°The first one.¡± Xu Chaomu snorted disdainfully, ¡°Not truthful! You¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t have a single woman until you were twenty-eight?! Who the hell would believe that!¡± Who is he, Shen Chi? The Shen Fourth Master, who attracts stars like the moon, the great Mr. Shen! Women flock to him like bees. And now, he¡¯s iming that was his first time¡ªXu Chaomu found it ludicrously funny. ¡°Actually¡­ five years ago, I really wanted to make you my woman. I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it.¡± Shen Chi had an innocent look on his face. ¡°I was only eighteen at that time, and you had those thoughts about me!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression was full of crossed lines. Back then, it was clearly her who always had those thoughts about him. Now, he¡¯d be the prime culprit. ¡°That¡¯s why I said, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it.¡± Shen Chi spread his hands. ¡°Shen Chi, Shen Trash, Shen Shameless, just go live your life with Jian Sisi, Miss. I think Miss Jian is pretty good, at least she measures up to your requirements in size.¡± Xu Chaomu had Jian Sisi¡¯s image pop up in her mind again, unable to forget after catching a few glimpses of her on TV the other day. Because, Jian Sisi was also a woman of ample bosom. This man¡¯s tastes have always been so vulgar. ¡°Mumu, you also feel quite nice¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep, hinting at intimacy. He drew closer, hisrge hand lifted, his intentions transparent. Xu Chaomu quickly dodged, nearly letting him take advantage of her again. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me with the hand that¡¯s touched other women, Shen Chi I¡¯m warning you, if you refuse to divorce me, then don¡¯t touch me!¡± ¡°You mean I can touch you after we get divorced?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, what kind of faulty logic was that. ¡°By the way, Shen Chi, which hotel was it that night with Jian Sisi?¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to confirm. ¡°The Paris Hotel.¡± Xu Chaomu understoodpletely, there was no mistake¡ªthere was no doubt that the man that night wasn¡¯t Nie Chenng, it was Shen Chi! But, in the end, the answer¡ªshe still needed to ask Nie Chenng! Suppose, on that same night, at the same hotel, it was possible for her and Nie Chenng, Shen Chi and Jian Sisi to be there. Though, this possibility seemed extremely slim at the moment. If it really was Shen Chi that night, then the child in her belly was unquestionably his! Damn, what about Jian Sisi then? ¡°Mumu, I confessed honestly, can¡¯t you not be angry?¡± ¡°I want to hear¡­ details.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, still sporting a lecherous expression. ¡°Details¡­ there aren¡¯t any, I really drank too much, forgetting even how I took off my clothes. You don¡¯t know, that night, I just kept thinking about our wedding anniversary, and unwittingly, I drank too much.¡± ¡°So carefree, even forgetting how your clothes came off.¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. ¡°Mumu, seeing as I¡¯m sincere, can you not be angry?¡± ¡°Me, angry? What rtionship do I have with you that¡¯s worth getting angry about?¡± ¡°I am your husband!¡± Shen Chi was irritated. He could repeat it eight hundred times, and she still wouldn¡¯t remember. Once their child grew older, he would have to prove to her physically, that he is her husband! Her man! ¡°Why the yelling?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. Shen Chi instantly deted, his tone mellowing down: ¡°Mumu, forgive me. I¡¯ll handle the child with Jian Sisi.¡± ¡°Keep it, it¡¯s your own flesh and blood. If you can keep this child in my belly, how could you not want to keep your own, right?¡± When she said this, Xu Chaomu felt it strange¡ªwho was the child with Jian Sisi? ¡°I won¡¯t keep it. For now, it¡¯s just to find out who is pulling strings behind the scenes, don¡¯t overthink it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, keep it. It¡¯s your own flesh and blood, can you really give it up?¡± Xu Chaomu was still indifferent. She was now also curious about the identity of Jian Sisi¡¯s child, keeping the child would offer the chance for a paternity test in the future. ¡°You¡¯re going to bear children for me in the future, right?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was hoarse and low. ¡°Don¡¯t dream, I won¡¯t bear children for you.¡± ¡°Chaomu, can you really bear to see me without a sessor?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you to keep Jian Sisi¡¯s child.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t keep it.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s no longer my business.¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him away, ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital for a check-up, are you nning to have Butler Ling watch over me, or Uncle Cheng?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll apany you.¡± ¡°Oh, personally watching me?¡± ¡°Not watching, fulfilling a husband¡¯s duty.¡± Shen Chi spoke lightly. So, Shen Chi began to change his clothes. He naturally started undressing in front of Xu Chaomu, his long, clean fingers untying the robe sash, slipping off the robe, and reaching for a shirt from the wardrobe. He undressed so fast that Xu Chaomu ended up seeing everything. Especially when he untied his robe¡ªwearing nothing on top, and on the bottom¡­ just one piece. Then, her eyes identally drifted downward, and she saw what she shouldn¡¯t have. Shen Chi, however, was shameless, buckling his belt while curling his lips up, ¡°Wife, are you still satisfied with your husband¡¯s size?¡± ¡°Holy shit! Back off!¡± Xu Chaomu cursed, her face immediately turning red. This man, seems to have no shame, getting more and more shameless! ¡°Mumu, the little thug, you still know how to be shy?¡± Shen Chi teased as he approached, bending down and lifting her chin with his long fingers. Xu Chaomu blushed, which looked quite alluring. ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu pped his hand away. Shen Chi¡¯s smile deepened, and then he began to get dressed unconcerned, buttoning up his shirt. He had picked a dark-colored shirt for today, and when he had buttoned up all the buttons and stood in front of the mirror, Xu Chaomu looked up and inwardly scorned him. Indeed, a beast in clothes is still a beast, and a beast without clothes is a nude beast! Either way, just a beast! A beast with capital letters! Chapter 357 - 357 Little Rascal Chapter 357: Little Rascal In the past, she waspletely mesmerized by his appearance for a whole eight years. From the first time she saw him, she set three targets: to tease him, kiss him, and sleep with him. It seemed¡­ they were all aplished? At this moment, Shen Chi had already dressed and when he came out after washing up, Xu Chaomu was still in a daze. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Chi rubbed her hair, his eyes filled with indulgence. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyelids drooped as she rose to her feet and headed to her own room. Today, Shen Chi personally drove Xu Chaomu to the hospital. After having breakfast, he was already waiting in the driver¡¯s seat, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. He wanted to light up a cigarette, but remembering that Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t breathe in secondhand smoke, he reluctantly refrained. The weather was very nice today, with a clear azure sky and not a cloud in sight. asionally, a few birds flew past, pping their wings, swiftly disappearing into the distance. The stream in the vi area sparkled, the lotus flowers bloomed in abundance. When the sun shone down, the water¡¯s surface glinted with silver ripples and when the wind blew, it ruffled up small ripples. The sunlight was a bit ring, so Shen Chi wore sunsses, his handszily resting on the steering wheel as he waited for Xu Chaomu. He waited left and right, but Xu Chaomu just did not appear. Shen Chi had no choice but to get out of the car and head back to the Shen Family residence. ¡°Mumu, Mumu!¡± he called twice. The response came from the butler, who hurried over: ¡°Fourth Young Master, Chaomu just had a little something to eat, but unfortunately her pregnancy is making her so sick, she threw up again.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi ran anxiously into the washroom, his face full of worry. In the washroom, Xu Chaomu was leaning over the basin, clutching her belly in difort. ¡°Being pregnant is so annoying, I don¡¯t want to have this child anymore¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was close to tears. These past few days, she had been vomiting so much she was hardly human; she never knew pregnancy could be so painful. And it so happened that her morning sickness was especially severe. ¡°Mumu, are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled weakly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try it?¡± ¡°If I could, how could I bear to see you suffer like this,¡± said Shen Chi, clearly at a loss. ¡°I don¡¯t want this child anymore, it really hurts so much, I don¡¯t want it¡­¡± ¡°Stop it, Mumu, just bear with it, bear with it a little longer, and it will be fine. Once this period is over, everything will be okay.¡± ¡°What ¡®okay¡¯? When my belly grows bigger, I won¡¯t be able to sleep at night. And childbirth, I heard it¡¯s really painful!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like children anymore? It¡¯s only hard for seven more months, and then it will be fine. Think about it, the child will be so cute, and you¡¯ve even knitted a sweater for him.¡± Shen Chi tried to persuade her gently. He knew that pregnancy was indeed a sweet torment for a woman. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her eyelids to look at him. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you feel sorry for me or the child?¡± ¡°Both,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± Xu Chaomuughed, showing two rows of small white teeth, her face filled with sweet happiness, ¡°Where is a man who would feel sorry for raising another man¡¯s child?¡± ¡°I will treat him as my own child.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m still going to make him call you ¡®Uncle Four¡¯.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi looked at Xu Chaomu¡¯s face blooming withughter, torn betweenughter and tears. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± Xu Chaomu straightened up from the edge of the basin, still wearing a trace of a smile on her face. Although she had argued with Shen Chi all morning, for some reason, her mood was still pretty good. Perhaps it was because of the nice weather today? ¡°If you don¡¯t upset me for a day, you¡¯re not happy for a day,¡± Shen Chi said with increasing helplessness, ¡°I¡¯ll support you.¡± He supported Xu Chaomu by the arm and used a towel to wipe her face. This girl, after five years, was polite to everyone else, but with him, she was still the same as always. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted and shook off his hand, not allowing him to support her. ¡°Still this stubborn temperament,¡± Shen Chi shook his head. Xu Chaomu walked towards the door; just as she stepped out, she was scorched by the zing sun. She retreated shyly two steps and used her hand to shield her forehead. Shen Chi was thoughful as always; he brought a shawl for her and carefully draped it over her: ¡°Don¡¯t get sunburned and be a little ck cat, that wouldn¡¯t be nice.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the little ck cat; your whole family are little ck cats,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°My family includes you,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. Xu Chaomu thought about it, and it seemed right. After all, their marriage certificate was written in ck and white. And then, there was this child¡­ ¡°Put on the sunsses too,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Oh.¡± It was then that Shen Chi led her towards the Maybach. Walking across the cobblestone path, passing by the garden and the pond, as they were about to reach the gate, Xu Chaomu noticed that her shoces hade undone. She tugged at Shen Chi¡¯s sleeve, pointed to her shoes, then looked up at him with eyes fluttering innocently and utterly harmless. Shen Chi stopped in his tracks when she tugged, and upon looking down, he realized her shoces were undone, a silent request for him to tie them for her! She was already shorter than him, and Shen Chi looked down at her with a mix of helplessness and fondness, smoothing her hair as if petting a kitten. ¡°You little pest,¡± he chuckled, his smile bright under the sun, the corners of his thin lips uplifted gently. Xu Chaomu extended the foot with the undonece, pointing at it again. ¡°Got it,¡± Shen Chi chuckled and knelt down. Dressed in a dark shirt, he looked particrly handsome at this moment, especially as he bent down, the whole world seemed to be filled with sweet affection. Xu Chaomu was perfectly content, a spontaneous smile spreading at the corners of her mouth. The summer breeze lightly lifted her hair, which she gently pushed back with her hand. She remembered, five years ago, there was a time when he had also bent down to tie her shoces. She remembered, after returning home from school that day, she had been reluctant to take off her shoes. Just that she hadn¡¯t expected, five yearster, he would still be tying her shoces. She thought that time had moved on far away, only to turn around and find him still there. The sunlight was warm, the years tranquil. Shen Chi¡¯s hands were neatly trimmed, clean and slender. His fingertips slid over her white shoces, tying them deftly. After a thorough check, he stood up. They stood face to face, and hisrge hand rested on top of her head. ¡°There, no need to thank me,¡± he smiled. Xu Chaomu pouted and brushed away his hands: ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± ¡°Sure, this is what I should do,¡± Shen Chi smirked, wrapping his arm around her waist and walking towards the car. Shen Chi¡¯s act of tying Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoces had been seen by the butler. At that time, the butler was considering the flowers. ncing up unintentionally, he caught Shen Chi bending down to tie Xu Chaomu¡¯sces. The butler pushed up his reading sses and smiled too. Xu Chaomu was indeed Shen Chi¡¯s lifelong entanglement. From the first meeting thirteen years ago, they were destined to be intertwined for life. It¡¯s just a pity that Xu Chaomu was carrying another man¡¯s child and was about to get engaged to someone else. In the future, he wondered if he¡¯d ever see the two of them bickering and fussing again. Chapter 358 - 358 Xu Chaomu, you are ruthless Chapter 358: Xu Chaomu, you are ruthless The butler really hoped that they could be together for a lifetime. She was not very clear about the events that happened five years ago, but these past few days, she could tell that Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was not as hard, and Shen Chi¡¯s love for Xu Chaomu had never diminished by half. Moreover, Shen Chi, who was so proud and aloof, hadpletely given up all his stubbornness. She had practically watched Shen Chi grow up and had never seen him care about someone so much, so much so that he wished he could give his all to her. Over the years, countless women had been around Shen Chi, and the butler had truly seen many, of all types. She had seen those more beautiful than Xu Chaomu, sexier than Xu Chaomu, and more feminine than Xu Chaomu, but all of them were just fleeting sceneries, passing clouds. The only one who could truly make a stop in Shen Chi¡¯s heart was Xu Chaomu. When they approached the car, Shen Chi enthusiastically opened the passenger side door for Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu nced at the passenger seat, then at Shen Chi, ¡°Has it been sat in by many women?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so jealous.¡± Shen Chiughed and pushed her into the seat. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips, looking very reluctant. Shen Chi bent down, fastened her seatbelt carefully and attentively, just like he had five years ago. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t let other women sit in this seat.¡± After he fastened her seatbelt, he then walked around the car to the driver¡¯s seat. Xu Chaomu, hugging a small bag, settled herself into afortable position. She turned her head and nced at Shen Chi. He was starting the car seriously, turned the steering wheel, and drove out of the luxurious estate. The man looked really handsome when he was driving seriously; his clean and crisp short hair, his slightly cold eyes shone with a sharp light, his thin lips lightly pursed, eyes focused ahead. The sleek handmade ink-colored shirt highlighted his extraordinary spirit. With a slight movement of his wrist, the watch also radiated a stunning brilliance. Xu Chaomu looked at him disdainfully, wearing clothes he really looked like a respectable person. When Shen Chi turned his head, he met Xu Chaomu¡¯s big eyes. ¡°Am I that good-looking?¡± The man shamelessly teased with a smirk at the corner of his lips. ¡°Pfft, who¡¯s looking at you. Look, airne!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed at the sky with a finger, then turned her head away, refusing to look at him anymore. ¡°An airne? It¡¯s more like I¡¯m pacifying the little one in your belly.¡± Shen Chi reached out, taking the opportunity to touch her belly, and then¡­ moved up, sneaking a quick caress. ¡°Shen Chi, can¡¯t you behave even when you¡¯re driving?¡± Xu Chaomu snapped, batting away his hand. A tiny me suddenly red up, just like the zing sun, unable to be calmed down. Shen Chi withdrew his hand and continued driving. ¡°Touching my own wife is perfectly justified.¡± ¡°Divorce! We¡¯re getting a divorce!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t find the marriage certificate, can¡¯t find the household registration book either.¡± ¡°Fine! You¡¯re bullying me, aren¡¯t you? Just wait!¡± Xu Chaomu was furious. It didn¡¯t matter, if she really confirmed that the child in her belly was his, she would see how she wouldn¡¯t sort him out. Xu Chaomu, angered, turned her head away and simply stopped talking to him, leaning her head to sleep. After a few minutes, Xu Chaomu began to doze off in a daze. ¡°Mumu, Mumu,¡± Shen Chi, finding it boring without someone to talk to, called her name a few times. ¡°Don¡¯t make noise.¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. ¡°Your husband is working hard driving, keep mepany and talk.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about divorce¡­¡± ¡°Forget it, just keep sleeping.¡± Shen Chi twitched the corner of his mouth. It took nearly forty minutes to drive to the hospital. At this time, the sun was scorching, everywhere seemed to be ignited, as if even the ground was emitting heat. Inside the car with the air conditioning on, it was quite cool, and Shen Chi was still worried that Xu Chaomu would catch a cold from sleeping too much. But Xu Chaomu loved sleeping in the car the most, every time they rode in it, she would fall asleep, truly just like a little pig. Only that this little pig had grown up, and her chubby baby face had long since slimmed down, looking more refined and mature. But no matter how she changed, she was his Mumu, the person he was meant to walk through life with in this lifetime. No matter what, through sickness and health, till their hair turns white. Some people are destined the day they meet to be together for life. They pulled into the hospital parking lot, and only then did Shen Chi shake Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mumu, wake up, we¡¯ve arrived at the hospital, get down for the checkup.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother me, want to sleep¡­¡± ¡°Stop sleeping, if you keep sleeping, the doctor will get off work.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t know whether to cry orugh. Xu Chaomu ignored him, still wanting to sleep. Shen Chi had no choice but to threaten her, ¡°It¡¯s better for the baby if we check earlier, and we can also get the doctor to prescribe some medicine. That way, you won¡¯t feel so sick in the mornings.¡± When it came to the baby, Xu Chaomu really did open her eyes. She took off her sunsses, looking at him in a daze, ¡°Oh, to the hospital.¡± ¡°Yeah, good girl,¡± Shen Chi unfastened her seat belt, really wanting to carry her out of the car. However, when his gaze touched her abdomen, he felt an unusual sensation in his chest. After all, the child belonged to someone else. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m already out of the car, why aren¡¯t youing down?¡± Xu Chaomu walked to the driver¡¯s side after exiting the car. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi agreed, locked the car, and put an arm around her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, it feels so awkward.¡± Xu Chaomu pped his hand away. ¡°Mumu, I want to ask you a question.¡± ¡°When are we getting divorced?¡± ¡°Can you stop obsessing about divorce?¡± Shen Chi said helplessly, ¡°Can you¡­ tell me who the father of the child is?¡± ¡°The guy next door, Old Wang.¡± Shen Chi knew he wouldn¡¯t get an answer from her, the girl was just stubborn. ¡°Mumu, wait a second, I¡¯ll call the dean to arrange a doctor directly for us.¡± As they stepped into the hospital, Shen Chi took out his phone. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to snatch his phone, ¡°Look at you, you have no sincerity at all. Apanying me for a pregnancy check, is it that hard? Opening backdoors is not allowed, go stand in line!¡± Shen Chi hadn¡¯t even made the call when he heard Xu Chaomu say this, and again his mouth twitched fiercely. Stand in line? Register and stand in line? Check and stand in line? Pay and stand in line? Get medicine and stand in line? He looked up at the hospital crowded like a sea of people, a dark expression crossing his face, really, to stand in line? When had Shen Chi ever lined up before? ¡°Director Shen, if you don¡¯t get in line now, the doctor is really going to get off work,¡± Xu Chaomu mimicked his tone from earlier, imitating him perfectly. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re ruthless,¡± Shen Chi rubbed his forehead. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Mumu, let¡¯s discuss this, can we not stand in line? Think about it, if we get checked earlier, we can go back sooner, and you can rest early, the baby can also sleep peacefully. This way¡­¡± ¡°Are you going or not?¡± Xu Chaomu red, threatening him. ¡°Mumu, look at this line¡­¡± Shen Chi pointed casually. The hospital, after all, was simr to a marketce. Almost every window was crowded with people, a mix of all sorts. Chapter 359 - 359 Shen Chi’s Little Lover Chapter 359: Shen Chi¡¯s Little Lover The scrolling electronic screen disyed the names of patients along with some real-time messages. Children were crying loudly, elderly people sighed in dismay, and sleazy middle-aged men cursed at others. The mor of voices was everywhere, making it particrly distressing. Shen Chi frowned, his face reluctant. Shen Chi, are you going or not? If you¡¯re not going, then let¡¯s sit down and discuss the divorce first. This first use of the divorce¡­ Fine, fine, I¡¯ll go. A wife¡¯s words must be heeded, he answered. Good, go and get a number first, Xu Chaomu finally said, satisfied, directing him. Mumu, you sit there and wait for me. I¡¯lle to find you after I finish the paperwork, Shen Chi pointed to a vacant seat nearby. Alright, but be quick. Who knows, I might spot a handsome guy and run away with him, she retorted. I don¡¯t think anyone could be more handsome than me, he boasted. Pfff, are you going to get in line or not? Are you going or not? Go or not! I¡¯m going, I¡¯m going, Shen Chi said, admitting defeat. He reluctantly left her side and queued up at the counter to get a number, feeling like he owed her from a past life. While standing in line, he kept turning his head to check on her, fearing that she might run away the moment he looked away. Xu Chaomu, on the other hand, seemed carefree, chatting with an olddy sitting nearby. My girl, is that your husband? the olddy asked, pointing at Shen Chi. No, he¡¯s my brother, she lied. Your brother? How old is he? Does he have a girlfriend? Big sis, my brother is twenty-eight and hasn¡¯t found someone yet, I¡¯m really worried. Do you know any suitable matches for him? she yed along. You don¡¯t say, I actually do know someone. First tell me, what does your brother do? I¡¯ll help you filter, the olddy offered. Xu Chaomu pressed her forehead, amazed at how trendy the olddy was, as if she had a database of singles. Well, he¡­ works at apany, she replied vaguely. Oh, he works for apany? What position is he at? Assistant manager? Manager? Or maybe a director? I tell you, the position makes a difference; the kind of person he can date depends on it, the olddy exined. Ha, ha, president¡­ Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but let out. Ha ha ha, youngdy, you sure have a sense of humor. The young girls nowadays are so funny, talking to you makes me feel years younger! the olddyughed. Ha, yes, just joking, Xu Chaomu chuckled, covering her mouth. But seriously, my girl, your family has good genes. Look at yourself, so bright and lovely, and your brother is quite good-looking. But howe he doesn¡¯t have a partner yet? Could it be¡­ The olddy trailed off suggestively. He¡¯s just too busy with work, but don¡¯t worry, my brother is definitely healthy in body and mind, she assured her. Littledy, then leave me your contact information. I¡¯ll call you if I see a good match. We really hit it off, the olddy said happily. I must say, I quite like your brother. If I were a few decades younger, I¡¯d chase after him. Pfft¡­ Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. Here, leave me your number; I¡¯ll take note of it, the olddy insisted. Sure¡­ Just as Xu Chaomu was about to give the olddy her number, Shen Chi suddenly stepped forward quickly, his lips curling affectionately, Wife, stop messing around. Your husband¡¯s number isn¡¯t something you can just give away. The olddy choked, Uh, wasn¡¯t he your brother? Yes, a brother-inw, Shen Chi quickly interjected, while casually stroking Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. The olddy was clearly annoyed, snapping her phone shut with a loud click! Youngdies these days are not at all honest; can¡¯t even tell husbands from lovers from brothers, she huffed. It¡¯s not that¡­ Xu Chaomu tried to speak. Wife, let¡¯s go. The registration is done; we head to the fourth floor, Shen Chi cut her off. Without giving Xu Chaomu a chance to speak further, Shen Chi wrapped his arm around her shoulder and forcibly dragged her away. I finally get a chance to talk to someone else, and you drag me away, Xu Chaomuined unhappily. If we don¡¯t leave now, the doctor will be off duty. Besides, there¡¯s nothing worth chatting about, he responded. Only then did Xu Chaomu drop the matter. Indeed, if they didn¡¯t hurry, the doctor would be off duty. Shen Chi nced at the screen holding the number and saw there were still thirty ahead of him; he massaged his forehead in frustration. You sit here and wait; I¡¯ll go get some air. The smell of disinfectant is overwhelming, Xu Chaomu said. Don¡¯t go far, he cautioned. Got it, she acknowledged. And don¡¯t talk to any more olddies, he added. Understood, understood. Stop nagging, or you¡¯ll turn into an olddy yourself, she teased, covering her ears as she ran off. She made her way from the fourth floor down to the first. She really disliked hospitals, especially the strong scent of disinfectant. Moreover, at this moment, she wanted to find a phone booth to give Nie Chenng a call! It had been days since she¡¯d seen him, and he must be worried, and to top it off, Shen Chi, that man, had taken her phone away! In the vast hospital, she had no idea where to find a phone booth. She walked out of the lobby on the first floor and started searching for one. She was afraid of being caught by Shen Chi, but then again, why worry if caught? She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Looking around with wide eyes, suddenly, she collided with full force into a woman! Ouch! the woman quickly steadied herself against the wall. Xu Chaomu was startled too and hastily jumped to the side. How do you walk? Don¡¯t your eyes look forward? If you had hurt someone, how would you have taken responsibility? the woman admonished before Xu Chaomu could even speak. Her nurse also steadied her, fearing any mishap. It was just a brush-by, what¡¯s the big deal? Xu Chaomu scoffed. But¡­ wait, that woman looked so familiar! Extremely familiar! Utterly familiar! Yes, Jian Sisi! Shen Chi¡¯s mistress, Jian Sisi! Xu Chaomu surveyed her from head to toe. Jian Sisi wore a light pink cheongsam that day, which seemed a bit tight. Xu Chaomu¡¯s gaze instinctively fell on her belly. It was slightly protruding. She looked down at herself; no sign of anything. What brush-by? Miss Jian is pregnant. If she hadn¡¯t reacted quickly just now, you could have knocked her to the ground, the nurse backed up Jian Sisi. How dramatic, Xu Chaomu dismissed them, intent on finding a phone booth. What kind of attitude is that? Jian Sisi clearly had a temper. You were in the wrong just now. Apologize to me. Jian Sisi and her nurse both blocked Xu Chaomu¡¯s path, not allowing her to leave. Just now, no one touched anyone. So how did it be my fault? Xu Chaomu debated. Miss, I saw the whole thing. It was clearly your fault. Don¡¯t make excuses; making excuses is just a cover-up, the nurse argued. A cover-up is like telling stories? Xu Chaomu quipped. Miss Jian really knows how to tell stories. You recognize me? Jian Sisi frowned. Who doesn¡¯t recognize you, Miss Jian Sisi, the fianc¨¦e of the president of Shen Group? Xu Chaomu said with a smile. Chapter 360 - 360 My Husband is Coming Soon Chapter 360: My Husband is Coming Soon Clearly, being called ¡°fianc¨¦e¡± greatly pleased Jian Sisi. The glow on the nurse¡¯s face seemed to brighten, ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you apologized to Miss Jian yet? Otherwise, let Shen Chi find out, and you won¡¯t be able to walk away from the consequences.¡± Xu Chaomu nced at the nurse whose face was full of smugness, really, a case of the dog acting fierce because it has its master¡¯s support. ¡°What kind of walk is not being able to ¡®walk away from the consequences¡¯? I¡¯m not well-read, please enlighten me, Miss Jian,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Jian Sisi, unwilling to be outdone by Xu Chaomu¡¯s sharp tongue, sneered, ¡°It may be a small matter to bump into me, but if you mess with the child in my belly, you¡¯d better weigh the consequences. This is Shen Chi¡¯s own flesh and blood. You know who Shen Chi is. Offend him and beware that you don¡¯t even leave behind bones.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Shen Chi has plenty of women, everyone ims that their child is his own flesh and blood, and now even I can say that I¡¯m carrying his flesh and blood. Are you convinced?¡± ¡°What a shameless woman, Shen Chi is someone you can get your hands on?¡± Jian Sisi looked at her with disdain, ¡°Look at yourself, no figure, no looks, you¡¯d better save your energy!¡± With that, Jian Sisi looked Xu Chaomu up and down. This little woman, with no make-up on, wearing an oversized T-shirt with a silly rabbit printed on it. Her hair was casually tied up, and even though her face was quite delicate, such a woman would not draw any extra attention in a crowd. The nurse also fanned the mes, ¡°Even if Shen Chi was desperate for women, he wouldn¡¯t take a second nce at you. A toad lusting after a swan¡¯s meat doesn¡¯t even look at its own reflection.¡± Stay calm, stay calm, Xu Chaomu took a deep breath, she needed to remain calm. ¡°Enough, we¡¯re all busy. I don¡¯t have the time to dawdle with you here. Apologize, and you can leave,¡± Jian Sisi said, arms folded and with an air of arrogance. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not busy. We just bumped into each other just now. You apologize to me first, and then I¡¯ll apologize to you, how about that?¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Impossible,¡± Jian Sisi snorted coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to waste words with you. I¡¯ve got to go up for a prenatal checkup. But it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll call Shen Chi and have him send someone to deal with you.¡± ¡°How do you n to have Shen Chi deal with me?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s small hand was in her pocket as she looked at Jian Sisi nonchntly. ¡°Since you refuse to apologize, then when Shen Chi¡¯s people arrive, a few ps are necessary to teach you a lesson,¡± Jian Sisi stepped forward menacingly towards Xu Chaomu. ¡°But Miss Jian, I have heard that Shen Chi has a new favoritetely and doesn¡¯t like you much anymore. Are you sure he will care about you?¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t afraid to stir the pot. ¡°Just for ndering and causing trouble here, ten ps isn¡¯t too much!¡± ¡°Is Miss Jian losing her temper because she¡¯s upset? So what were you doing climbing onto the balcony a few days ago?¡± The nurse stepped forward again in support, ¡°Which young couple doesn¡¯t fight? Shen Chi is just showing his concern for Miss Jian!¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s still uncertain whose child she¡¯s carrying in her belly.¡± Xu Chaomu nced indifferently at Jian Sisi¡¯s stomach and said casually. After all, Shen Chi was upstairs. What was there to worry about? However, once Xu Chaomu finished speaking, Jian Sisi¡¯splexion changed for an instant. But it was just for a few seconds before she regained herposure. Even as casual as Xu Chaomu usually was, she quickly caught this subtle change in Jian Sisi. ¡°Do you know that talking nonsense will get you pped?¡± Jian Sisi stood before Xu Chaomu, imperious, and raised her hand as if to strike! Xu Chaomu dodged nimbly, ¡°Miss Jian, with such a nasty temper, how could Shen Chi fall for you? Could it be because you¡¯re good at certain ¡®positions¡¯?¡± Bai Man might as well be forgotten, besides being a bit selfish, at least she appeared to have some upbringing. This Jian Sisi¡­ Damn, Shen Chi¡¯s taste is really getting worse. Aside from liking busty women, what else does he see? ¡°You!¡± Jian Sisi was shaking with anger, this little woman really dared to say anything. ¡°Miss Jian, go ahead and call Shen Chi,¡± the nurse pulled at Jian Sisi¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time with her, get people over here to give her a beating, she¡¯ll behave then, and she¡¯ll remember the lesson in the future.¡± ¡°Right, hitting her would dirty my hands,¡± Jian Sisi withdrew her hand, ¡°Give me the phone.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The nurse proudly unzipped her handbag and pulled out a phone. Xu Chaomu clicked her tongue twice, noting an expensive handbag and a limited edition phone. Howe Shen Chi never gave her these? She felt displeased. Jian Sisi dialed Shen Chi¡¯s number, ring at Xu Chaomu fiercely. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ it¡¯s Sisi, I¡¯m being bullied, won¡¯t you stand up for me¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s this really arrogant woman here, she pushed me down and refuses to apologize, cursing me without restraint¡­ You know I¡¯m soft-hearted and don¡¯t argue with others¡­¡± ¡°Shen Chi, can you send someone to help me¡­ First Hospital, yes, downstairs¡­¡± While talking, Jian Sisi even wiped away a couple of tears. Xu Chaomu was really astonished. Tears on demand? Howe she couldn¡¯t do that? After Jian Sisi said a few words, the call seemed to be disconnected on the other end. Jian Sisi¡¯s face was filled with satisfaction as she tossed the phone back to the nurse. ¡°Consider it again, whether you¡¯d like to apologize to me. If you apologize, maybe you¡¯ll get fewer ps,¡± she said, delighted, happy, and excited. Even the tips of her brows were filled with joy, smiling more brilliantly than any flower. ¡°How many ps will you give me?¡± Xu Chaomu asked as if it didn¡¯t concern her. ¡°As I said, ten ps, but it also depends on my mood. If I¡¯m in a better mood, seven or eight will do, but if I¡¯m not, hitting you with a dozen or more, and you won¡¯t have a leg to stand on,¡± Jian Sisi replied. ¡°You said it yourself.¡± ¡°So, have you decided?¡± Jian Sisi asked. The nurse incited further, ¡°Miss Jian, you¡¯re too kind. With women like her, being lenient towards them is being cruel to yourself. In my opinion, it¡¯s best to beat her until she can¡¯t show her face to anyone.¡± ¡°Are you bullying me because I¡¯m alone and unprotected?¡± Xu Chaomu said calmly. ¡°How can it be called bullying? We¡¯re merely seeking justice,¡± Jian Sisi sneered. ¡°My husband will be here soon,¡± Xu Chaomu said innocently, batting her eyelids. ¡°Ha, husband? What does your husband do?¡± Jian Sisi folded her arms. The nursemented, ¡°Looking at her cheap clothes, what do you think her husband could do?¡± ¡°My husband is a taekwondo instructor, are you scared?¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly became interested. Jian Sisi and the nurse bothughed, especially Jian Sisi who couldn¡¯t stop, ¡°A taekwondo instructor? Do you believe Shen Chi could make him leave C City within minutes? You clearly don¡¯t understand who owns C City.¡± ¡°So scary, you make this Shen Chi sound so powerful,¡± Xu Chaomu feigned panic. Chapter 361: What Wife Says, Goes Chapter 361: What Wife Says, Goes ¡°Scared now?¡± Jian Sisi sneered coldly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not the kind of person who bullies others. Come on, apologize to me, and I¡¯ll plead with Mr. Shen on your behalf.¡± ¡°How is an apology enough?¡± the nurse added fuel to the fire, ¡°Miss Jian, don¡¯t be too kind-hearted toward her. Otherwise, in the future, every Tom, Dick, and Harry will dare to bully you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Look, my leather shoes are dirty. Come here and clean them for me. Clean them well, and maybe I¡¯ll be in a better mood.¡± Jian Sisi lifted her skirt, looking down at her white leather shoes. Xu Chaomu also nced at them for a moment. These white leather shoes were custom made by hand, surely not cheap. And there was also the jade bracelet and White Pearls on Jian Sisi¡¯s hands, the blue diamond on her neck¡­ Xu Chaomu felt displeased again. ¡°If your shoes are dirty, just take them off. Walking barefoot won¡¯t waste the shoes,¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°You!¡± Jian Sisi was choked by Xu Chaomu again, ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, not knowing when to step down gracefully.¡± ¡°Please make another call to hurry it up; is Mr. Shen not concerned about you? Why hasn¡¯t hee yet? It¡¯s so hot.¡± Xu Chaomu said as if nothing was happening. ¡°He¡¯s always very busy, unlike your husband, a Taekwondo instructor, how much can he earn a day?¡± ¡°Even though he doesn¡¯t earn much, he only has one wife, me. Unlike your Mr. Shen of the Shen Group, surrounded by mistresses left and right, too many to count on one hand. Miss Jian, have you ever counted, which number mistress are you?¡± ¡°Trying to make me angry? Rest assured, I¡¯m broad-minded, I won¡¯t get angry with someone like you. You¡¯re just sour because you can¡¯t eat the grapes; I understandpletely. Of course, Mr. Shen wouldn¡¯t like you either.¡± Jian Sisi touched her belly, curving her lips into a smile. ¡°That Shen Chi, dark and moody with a poisonous tongue and without morals, vulgar and shameless. Even if he came begging to me, I wouldn¡¯t want him,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Shen Chi arrived just in time, quite coincidentally, to hear Xu Chaomu¡¯s words. The corner of his mouth twitched; couldn¡¯t she spare him some worry? The good image he had built over the past twenty years was almostpletely ruined by her. She was a professional at sabotaging him! ¡°Wife, stop making trouble!¡± Shen Chi frowned, looked at Xu Chaomu dotingly, and strode toward them. When he received Jian Sisi¡¯s call, he worried it might be a quarrel with Xu Chaomu, but as it turned out, it really was. Indeed, it¡¯s a small world for enemies. Jian Sisi was actually taken aback; she thought Shen Chi was calling her. He had never called her that in all this time! She was full of surprise. Was Shen Chi epting her? It must be, she knew she would be able to change him. Just as Jian Sisi was about to speak, Xu Chaomu red at Shen Chi resentfully: ¡°Your mistress is quite arrogant.¡± Shen Chi stepped forward, put his arm around her shoulder, and spoke in a low voice, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°She said she wants to hit me.¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly, immediately tattling. Jian Sisi was utterly stunned, staring nkly, her face one of disbelief. This¡­ could this young woman be the rumored new favorite of Shen Chi, the surnamed Xu vixen? The nurse was also shocked, stepping back two steps in a hurry. They were done for,pletely done for. ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi looked up, his gaze sharp and frosty as he swept it toward Jian Sisi, strikingly imposing. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it, Mr. Shen, don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. I didn¡¯t know who she was to you, but she did bump into me, and I only asked for an apology, she is just ying the victim here,¡± Jian Sisi argued insistently, her face red. ¡°I didn¡¯t bump into her,¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her head and stared into Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mmm, you didn¡¯t,¡± Shen Chi touched her little head. Xu Chaomu looked especially obedient and innocent like this, and Shen Chi particrly liked her this way, his heart melting. ¡°Mr. Shen, how can you not distinguish right from wrong? She did bump into me,¡± Jian Sisi protested. ¡°Whatever my wife says is what it is,¡± Shen Chi scolded. ¡°Wife? Mr. Shen, when did I not know you got married?¡± Jian Sisi couldn¡¯t believe it and was defiant. She looked at the man in the dark shirt under the sunshine, far from the cold and ruthless, decisive character in Shen¡¯s Group, obviously in a protective disy. In four years, she had never seen Shen Chi like this. ¡°Do I need to report to you about my marriage?¡± Shen Chi shot an icy nce. The surrounding temperature seemed to drop sharply! ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. She just said her husband is a Taekwondo instructor. Mr. Shen, are you now willing to stoop so low to get involved with a married woman? You have quite the taste,¡± Jian Sisi scoffed. ¡°Wife, that¡¯s not nice,¡± Shen Chi purposely touched her head and whispered, lowering his voice, ¡°Be careful, or I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t be able to get out of bed tomorrow.¡± Damn it! Broad daylight! At this very moment, Xu Chaomu felt like there were millions of grass-mud horses roaring inside her! She wished she could kick Shen Chi a few times. ¡°Tell her, what are you to me?¡± Shen Chi wrapped his hand around her waist again. Xu Chaomu was in a dilemma; this man was doing it on purpose. To say it, she wasn¡¯t willing; not to say it, and Jian Sisi would be smug. ¡°Mmm?¡± Shen Chi pinched her waist secretly again. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, she had no choice¡­ ¡°Husband.¡± She spat out the word quickly and indistinctly. ¡°Mmm,¡± Shen Chi was satisfied, his lips curving upward. The nurse really wanted to run away; this was how a couple should unt their love, openly and proudly. Done for,pletely done for¡­ ¡°Shen, Mr. Shen, I¡­¡± Jian Sisi was a bit incoherent. Shen Chi simply didn¡¯t bother with her at all, his attention was solely on Xu Chaomu. ¡°Mumu, did she just say she wanted to hit you?¡± ¡°Yeah, she wants to p me ten times, I¡¯m so scared.¡± Xu Chaomu dropped all her inhibitions, ¡°She also asked me to clean her shoes, so scary. They also said the clothes you buy are like from a street stall, but looking at them, they do seem like street stall goods¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I was just joking with her,¡± Jian Sisi quickly exined. ¡°Mumu, if she wants to p you ten times, you p her twenty times. If she wants you to clean her shoes, make her walk barefoot on a pebble road. An eye for an eye; howe you just can¡¯t remember that.¡± Shen Chi ruffled her hair, his gaze filled with tenderness for her alone. Jian Sisi stepped back two steps, her face pale with shock, covering her belly: ¡°Mr. Shen, you can¡¯t do this to me, I¡¯m carrying your child in my belly!¡± She knew that Shen Chi was a man of his word. ¡°Forget it, let her apologize and leave,¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t interested in squabbling with Jian Sisi. In fact, she was curious about whose child Jian Sisi was carrying. If it really was Shen Chi¡¯s¡­ ¡°Mumu¡­¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows, about to say something. But Jian Sisi spoke first: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± After uttering these words, she didn¡¯t care about anything else and ran off flustered. So this young woman was Xu Chaomu. But really, was she married to Shen Chi? Impossible, Shen Chi had never told anyone he was married. Chapter 362: Exactly Thirteen Years Chapter 362: Exactly Thirteen Years ¡°Shen Chi, you really have poor taste.¡± As soon as Jian Sisi left, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but tease Shen Chi while looking at him. ¡°As long as the wife is the right choice, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Shen Chi knew what she was referring to and couldn¡¯t help but pat her head again. ¡°However, Shen Chi, your little lover¡¯s bag does look pretty nice.¡± Xu Chaomu nonchntly remarked, as if it were an offhandment. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, your little lover has really pretty leather shoes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy them.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, your little lover¡¯s bracelet, ne¡­¡± ¡°Buy, buy, buy.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face was covered in ck lines. He grabbed her waist and hugged her as they walked upstairs, ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs, or we¡¯ll miss it.¡± ¡°Your little lover said my clothes look like flea market stuff. Did you buy them at a flea market?¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at her T-shirt, grumbling as they walked. She pouted and couldn¡¯t help but take another two nces at her T-shirt, which did seem to resemble that. ¡°Your husband doesn¡¯tck this kind of money.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You never know; maybe you spent all your money on buying clothes and jewelry for your little lover. I¡¯ve heard that keeping a mistress costs a lot of money. With you, there¡¯s bound to be more than just a mistress, like a number four, number five, number six, little¡­¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, shut up!¡± Shen Chi felt as if a row of crows had flown over his head¡­ ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. By the time they reached the waiting area, there were still a lot of people, but they were only a few numbers away from being called. It would be soon. The ce was crowded with people, and even the seats were almost all taken. Shen Chi finally spotted a seat and quickly pulled Xu Chaomu to sit down, ¡°Sit tight and don¡¯t tire yourself out. Talk a bit less.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you sitting?¡± Xu Chaomu rarely saw Shen Chi being so thoughtful and kind. ¡°How can I sit when there¡¯s only one seat? Unless you want to sit on myp.¡± ¡°In broad daylight, you¡¯re being a hooligan!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve talked so much; aren¡¯t you thirsty?¡± ¡°Thirsty. Are you going to buy me a drink?¡± ¡°Yes, wait here, don¡¯t run off. I¡¯ll go buy you a drink.¡± After speaking, Shen Chi handed her bag to her and reminded her repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t run off.¡± As he walked away, Xu Chaomu sat still and watched his figure slowly disappear¡­ His back was straight and tall, with his dark shirt entuating his perfect figure. It had been five years, and he had be even more profound and steady, but in her presence, all his haughtiness and aloofness melted away. In these days, had he been good to her? The answer was very good, indeed. Even knowing that the child in her womb was not his, he still treated her very well. If he wanted to atone to her, there were a thousand ways he could have done so, as he had money and power. Yet, he chose to bind her with marriage for a lifetime. Actually¡­ she understood. The sunlight streamed through the hospital¡¯s spacious floor-to-ceiling windows, splintering into mosaics and refracting seven colors through the ss, a spectrum of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. She squinted her eyes as she stared out the window; on the road beneath the fourth floor, vehicles flowed like water and horses galloped like dragons. ¡°Please, patient number 0096 Xu Chaomu,e to consultation room 3.¡± Just then, she heard her name. She picked up her bag and her number card and headed toward consultation room 3. Consultation room 3 was at the very end, and Xu Chaomu looked at the door numbers as she walked. Just as she was walking, an elegantly and nobly dressed woman came out of a small meeting room, holding a handbag. A female doctor escorted her out, ¡°Zhou Ran,e visit when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Definitely, definitely. You go on, surgery is important. Next time I¡¯ll treat your whole family to a meal.¡± ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll all get together then.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Chaomu paused mid-step. That voice, she knew all too well, even after a gap of five years. Zhou Ran. It was Zhou Ran. When she looked up, she just happened to see Zhou Ran walking straight toward her. A whitece-up blouse, a ck pencil skirt, and a meticulous bun. Dangling from her ears were White Pearls earrings that gently quivered with each step she took. Seeing Zhou Ran after five years gave Xu Chaomu a feeling as if lifetimes had passed. It was as if it were that winter year when she stood before her, quiet and serene, leaving Xu Chaomu in awe. How could there be such a beautifully exquisite woman in the world? The years had left no trace on her face. The fragrance that wafted off her was like the iris in spring, quiet and demure. From their first meeting to the present, thirteen years had passed. Xu Chaomu still remembered, thirteen years ago, how Zhou Ran had crouched down to brush the dust from her with those tender white jade-like hands. She still clearly remembered the tranquil scent of Zhou Ran. When she smiled, she seemed like a delicate beauty stepping out of a painting, outshining the blossoms of spring. Even now, thirteen yearster, Zhou Ran approaching her still carried that same grace and nobility. The moment Zhou Ran saw Xu Chaomu, she too stopped in her tracks. Herposure was impable; nothing could fluster her. Just a brief moment of surprise, and her eyes went back to their usual state. She carried an off-white handbag, and she looked elegant andposed, appearing as a young woman in her thirties, still youthful. Xu Chaomu and Zhou Ran were less than ten steps apart. Zhou Ran¡¯s face was expressionless as she nced at Xu Chaomu. This girl had disappeared for a full five years. Five yearster, she had bloomed even more beautifully, her delicate face even more refined. Herrge eyes stared at Zhou Ran, the same as five years ago, unable to hide too much emotion. Xu Chaomu was still that girl with little guile, but Zhou Ran had not expected her to still be alive after five years. Not too far away, Zhou Ran saw that she had indeed grown up, looking more and more like her mother, Xu Mengxi, especially those eyes, which resembled hers the most. Yet, Xu Chaomu¡¯s personality was quite different from Xu Mengxi¡¯s; while Xu Mengxi was more reserved, Xu Chaomu was livelier. People passed by them, but Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t move her feet. The electronic disy kept announcing, ¡°Please, patient number 0096 Xu Chaomu,e to consultation room 3.¡± But Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a bitterness spread from her throat, which slowly turned into a taste of blood. Zhou Ran, Aunt Zhou, the Fairy she once considered peerless in her mind. In her heart, Zhou Ran was so transcendent and otherworldly, as if untouched by the mundane. Xu Chaomu had liked her, but only once. Even when five years earlier, she had told her, ¡°Xu Chaomu, leave the Shen Family when you turn eighteen,¡± Xu Chaomu had never disliked her for that¡­ But then came that tumultuous, stormy night of gunfire and bullets, during which she plunged into deep despair. That kind of despair felt like the end of the heart. Five yearster, the feeling after that great sorrow had not been forgotten¡­ Yet Zhou Ran gradually approached her, walking on ck kitten heels, each step firm and steady. The noisy, chaotic sounds of the surroundings were drowned out, but to Xu Chaomu, the sound of Zhou Ran¡¯s high heels tapping the floor was exceptionally clear. ¡°Thud, thud, thud¡­¡± One after another, until those heels came to a stop in front of her. Chapter 363: Aunt Zhou, Long Time No See Chapter 363: Aunt Zhou, Long Time No See The familiar scent of perfume wafted to her nostrils just like that. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t worn high heels and seemed just a tad shorter than Zhou Ran. She slightly lifted her eyelids, and her lips trembled ever so slightly. It felt as if there was always something stuck in her throat, rendering her speechless. However, Zhou Ran, ustomed to seeing the world, was the first to speak, ¡°Chaomu.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s voice was clear and elegant, alwaysfortable to the ear, but Xu Chaomu felt far fromfortable inside. Xu Chaomu bit her lip, biting until it hurt, only then did she realize that all of this was real. The Zhou Ran standing right in front of her was indeed real, not the Zhou Ran who had appeared numerous times in nightmares over the past five years. Yes, she had many nightmares over these five years. She would dream of Bai Man telling her word for word, ¡°Xu Chaomu, your mother was killed by Shen Chi¡¯s mother.¡± She would dream of bullets piercing her back, staining her clothes red with blood, the pain unbearable. She would dream of Zhou Ran tampering with the gas cylinder, leading to an explosion and raging mes. She would dream of being ten years old again, crying and making a fuss to rush into the ze only to be forcibly held back by Uncle Mo, who covered her eyes. Each time she woke from these nightmares, she was always drenched in cold sweat. Being in a foreignnd, the hardest was the first half year after arriving in Paris, when she brushed shoulders with death countless times. How many people knew of what she had gone through? She also was not ustomed to talking about it to anyone. ¡°Aunt Zhou, long time no see.¡± Xu Chaomu finally managed to suppress all her emotions, but when she spoke, her voice still came out hoarse and choked up. She still called her ¡°Aunt Zhou.¡± ¡°When did youe back? I heard Achi has been looking for you for five years,¡± Zhou Ran said indifferently. ¡°Not many days.¡± ¡°Where have you been these five years? Have you been well?¡± ¡°Quite well,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice was alsocking in vor and brief in words. She didn¡¯t know what else she could say to Zhou Ran. Zhou Ran seemed to sigh, gazing at Xu Chaomu¡¯s face with aplex look in her eyes. ¡°Did youe to the hospital because you¡¯re not feeling well?¡± Zhou Ran asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Xu Chaomu responded. Seeing that Xu Chaomu was very calm and didn¡¯t exhibit any particr emotion, Zhou Ran didn¡¯t know what else to say. Between them, it was as if they were strangers familiar with each other. Xu Chaomu looked up at the No. 3 consultation room and said indifferently, ¡°Aunt Zhou, it¡¯s my turn. I¡¯m going in first.¡± Without waiting for her consent, Xu Chaomu lowered her head and walked towards the consultation room, brushing past Zhou Ran. Zhou Ran stood still, her lips pursed slightly. Five years had passed, and Xu Chaomu hade back. Everything seemed inevitable, unable to escape destiny. Zhou Ran held her bag, her heart filled with myriad emotions,plex, veryplex. ¡°Mumu, Mumu¡­¡± Just then, Shen Chi came over with a bottle of drink in his hand. He first nced at the seats, didn¡¯t find Xu Chaomu, then scanned the electronic screen and saw her name. Just as he was about to sit down and wait for her toe out, he saw Zhou Ran, his mother. Since Zhou Ran¡¯s divorce from Shen Cexian thirteen years ago, Shen Chi didn¡¯t have many opportunities to see her each year. In fact, it could be said they were scant. Like this year, this was their first meeting. Zhou Ran finally showed a hint of different emotions on her face, surprise and confusion. Were Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu still together? ¡°Mom,¡± Shen Chi called out in a deep voice. ¡°Achi, you¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°Yeah, Chaomu¡¯s not feeling well, so I came with her.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she juste back a few days ago?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you still love her?¡± ¡°Yes, I love her,¡± he said with unwavering confidence and no room for negotiation. Zhou Ran looked up; her son was still the same. Stubborn and unyielding, once he made up his mind, there was no changing it. If she could have foreseen the future, thirteen years ago, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have brought Xu Chaomu back to the Shen Family. She never thought that the girl Shen Chi once called ¡°skinny and ugly¡± would, thirteen yearster, upy his whole heart. ¡°Achi,¡± Zhou Ran sighed, ¡°you clearly know that you can¡¯t marry her.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve held out alone in thepany for five years, nearly isted and powerless, and I¡¯m not afraid to hold out for a lifetime more.¡± ¡°Your father only allows you to marry a daughter of the Bai Family, so if you marry Xu Chaomu, he will sign Shen Shihan¡¯s name on thepany¡¯s authorization document. You know this better than I do.¡± ¡°If ites to choosing between thepany and her, I will choose her.¡± ¡°Your father is as stubborn as you. Once he decides something, it¡¯s impossible to change. You need to think this through,¡± Zhou Ran said faintly. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through,¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°I have long since had no rtion with the Shen Family. Thirteen years ago, I forced him to hand over the position ofpany president to you. Now, I can¡¯t make him sign the authorization document. In his heart, he has probably forgotten about me a long time ago.¡± ¡°I have my own ns. Power is something you slowly wrestle back for yourself. By the way, Father¡¯s health is very poor, you shoulde back to see him when you have the time.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to see me.¡± ¡°You are always this stubborn.¡± ¡°I understand him better than you.¡± ¡°If you insist on thinking that way, I won¡¯t persuade you further.¡± Shen Chi knew not only was his father headstrong, but his mother was even more so. If they could both be a bit more forgiving, they wouldn¡¯t be in the current situation. So, he and Xu Chaomu would definitely not walk the same old path again. Xu Chaomu was stubborn, and he could bow his head. In love and marriage, there always has to be one who backs down. If both people maintain their pride, how could they peacefully andfortably walk through life together? ¡°Achi, I¡¯m going back first. You should wait for Chaomu here. Honestly, I don¡¯t hope for you to marry her, and don¡¯t expect me to facilitate your rtionship with her,¡± Zhou Ran said. The crease in Shen Chi¡¯s brow deepened, and he remained silent. Zhou Ran didn¡¯t say anything more. She went on her way, taking the elevator from the fourth floor to the first. Shen Chi watched her leave without attempting to keep her there. In these thirteen years, almost every meeting with his mother had been like this, hurried ining and going. The sun moved slowly to its zenith, approaching the hottest part of the day. The hospital was pervaded with an air of irritation and unease, and even though it was almost noon, many people were still queueing. If it weren¡¯t for Xu Chaomu not allowing him to make a call, he would never have experienced such amonce and tedious process in his whole life. Sometimes this ordinariness was precious. But as long as she was by his side, whether ordinary or extraordinary, it was all blissful. Soon, Xu Chaomu came out with a piece of paper in her hand. She walked forward with a stern face, not looking very happy. ¡°Mumu!¡± Shen Chi called out to her, taking long strides toward her. Xu Chaomu raised her eyelids slightly. Perhaps because she had just seen Zhou Ran, she didn¡¯t feel much like talking to Shen Chi at the moment. Chapter 364: When Love is Deep, it Goes Deep Chapter 364: When Love is Deep, it Goes Deep Shen Chi was clever, he had already guessed what was going on from her expression. Just now, Xu Chaomu probably saw his mother. ¡°Mumu.¡± Shen Chi walked up to her side. ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Chaomu responded faintly, not even lifting her head. ¡°Are you thirsty? Have some water.¡± Shen Chi twisted open the orange juice for her and passed it to her hand, then tried to take her handbag from her wrist. Xu Chaomu was still holding a list in her hand, but she didn¡¯t take Shen Chi¡¯s drink, nor did she hand over her handbag, just kept her head low and moved forward. At this moment, there were tremendous fluctuations in her heart. Like waves, they kepting back and forth. ¡°What did my mother say to you?¡± Shen Chi had fully understood. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t very nice. ¡°No matter what she said to you, don¡¯t listen; just hand over your heart to me, and I¡¯ll take care of everything for you. You just need to be responsible for being happy every day, promise me, okay?¡± Shen Chi was very serious when he said these words, his solemn face was meticulously earnest. ¡°How can I dare to give my heart to you? Once, it was so badly tricked by you that it was scarred.¡± Xu Chaomu raised her head, there was no doubt, Zhou Ran¡¯s appearance had evoked all her memories from five years ago. The night five years ago was a pain she would never forget in her lifetime. If that night, the bullet had passed through her back, and she had died, it might have been better. But unfortunately, she survived, and thus she had to suffer the sorrow in her memory that she couldn¡¯t forget. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you on purpose.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been five years, to me, it doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± The tone of Xu Chaomu was very calm, and her whole being seemed unusually serene. Only when she talked about these things did she seem especially deste. She kept walking forward, not taking his drink or handing over her handbag. She followed the checklist item by item, proceeding with each step. Electrocardiogram,plete blood count, ultrasound¡­ Shen Chi followed by her side the whole time, although she didn¡¯t speak, he silently apanied her. After the full set of procedures werepleted, the doctor informed her toe back for the pregnancy test report tomorrow. Xu Chaomu silently left the hospital, walking down from the fourth floor to the ground floor, her face devoid of too much emotion. When they got to the lobby downstairs, she suddenly turned her head and looked at Shen Chi who had been following her all the time. ¡°Shen Chi, I don¡¯t want to go back to the Shen Family anymore.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s handsome eyebrows furrowed, ¡°Did my mom say something nasty to you?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with your mother; I just don¡¯t want to go back to the Shen Family anymore, stop forcing me.¡± Under the sunlight, Xu Chaomu¡¯srge eyescked any sparkle, somewhat empty and weak, and herplexion was a bit pale. Shen Chi feared most this version of her; it didn¡¯t matter to him how much she fought with him, but he was afraid when she suddenly became quiet. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go back to the Shen Family, then I will take you to Waterside Pavillion, okay?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t be like this, let¡¯s talk it out. Don¡¯t leave me again, I can¡¯t bear to live a life without you.¡± He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, his gaze filled with tenderness and hope, his young and handsome face devoid of the usual ice and indifference under the sunlight. His arms tightly enclosed her waist, resting her small head against his chest. He was terribly afraid of her leaving again. All the sadness from five years ago slowly spread, like seaweed, wrapping around his heart making it difficult for him to breathe. Xu Chaomu fell silent, her small head pressed against his chest, she could smell his familiar and pleasant scent. The sun shone on her, and she closed her eyes, simply allowing Shen Chi to hold her against his chest. Passersby came and went around them, but he just held her, refusing to let go. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± After a long, long time, she sniffled and called out his name. His name was once the most beautiful two words during the best years of her life, each time she uttered it, it was like a spring breeze, causing ripples in the heart of her teenage self. ¡°Mumu¡­¡± his grip on her tightened. Her sweet and sticky voice melted every corner of his heart. People say that Shen Chi is cold and heartless, but who understands that he simply gave all his tenderness to one person. Just that, and nothing more. When love intensified, it deepened profoundly. He lifted her face, and with a bow of his head, he pressed a deep kiss upon her lips. This kiss, like the pure sunlight, was untainted, gentle and lovely. And like the rain in the season of blossoming peach trees in March, it was refreshing and enduring. The deep kiss continued, intertwining endlessly. From her lips to inside her mouth, his kisses remained somewhat domineering. Because Xu Chaomu, this fool, had been kissed by him so many times yet still stood there stunned, not knowing how to respond. Every time he kissed her, she was silly, sometimes blinking her eyes, sometimes closing them, but her foolish expression never changed. Shen Chi kissed her, touched her small head, growing more helpless. The little rascal Xu Chaomu, with a whole bunch of theoretical knowledge. His kisses always had a hint of cool and refreshing taste, like freshly brewed spring tea. Xu Chaomu was initially dazed, and it wasn¡¯t until several minutes into his kiss that she remembered they were at the hospital entrance, amidst a sea of people, under countless pairs of eyes¡­ Her face turned red at once, wishing she could bury her head into a crack in the ground. However, the man held her small head dominantly, not allowing her the chance to bow it. After a full ten minutes of kissing, when Xu Chaomu was almost out of breath, he finally released her lips, ¡°After so much ¡®training¡¯, you still haven¡¯t learned.¡± ¡°You, of course, have plenty of experience¡­¡± Xu Chaomu caught her breath and red at him. ¡°Don¡¯t wrong me, I¡¯m entirely self-taught.¡± ¡°Shameless.¡± Xu Chaomu muttered softly. Her face still showed displeasure, butpared to earlier, it had improved a lot. ¡°Mumu, didn¡¯t you want to buy handbags and bracelets? I¡¯ll take you shopping.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, unwilling. Shen Chi hugged her shoulders again and coaxed her, ¡°Whatever you like, we¡¯ll buy it, all right? I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Xu Chaomu still didn¡¯t speak, so Shen Chi had no choice but to coax her again, ¡°Hubby will go shopping with you, and we can also buy something for the baby, okay?¡± Xu Chaomu remained silent, so Shen Chi wrapped his arm around her shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go then, time to shop.¡± He opened the passenger door for her, let her sit down, and as always, buckled her seatbelt for her. As the Maybach left the hospital, it was noon; the sunzily hung in the sky, clear and cloudless everywhere. Shen Chi drove the car towards thergest upscale shopping mall in C City; he had already turned off his phone. He wanted to devote his time to Xu Chaomu. As he drove, Xu Chaomu habitually turned her head to look at him. If, just now, she hadn¡¯t seen Zhou Ran, perhaps the memory of five years ago would slowly settle down. But the fact was, she had seen Zhou Ran. Chapter 365: Older Bull Eats Tender Grass Chapter 365: Older Bull Eats Tender Grass Zhou Ran¡¯s appearance had stirred up everything that had been buried deep within her memory. A voice constantly circled in her ears: Zhou Ran killed your mother Xu Mengxi, and Shen Chi is Zhou Ran¡¯s biological son. Yes, she couldn¡¯t forget that Shen Chi was Zhou Ran¡¯s son, her biological son. It was an undeniable fact. The chasm inside her heart was one she couldn¡¯t cross. The sun was warm, and she turned her head slightly to look at Shen Chi¡¯s profile, which was so handsome, still the most familiar face¡­ Soon, the car arrived at the shopping za, and Shen Chi parked it in the underground garage. ¡°Come on, get out, are you hungry? Let¡¯s eat something first.¡± Shen Chi took her hand domineeringly this time, fingers inteced, as they walked out of the sunless underground garage together. He was tall, a good head and more taller than her. Even though five years had passed and she had grown quite a bit, when he held her hand, it still felt like holding that little girl from five years ago. He wanted to protect her in the palm of his hand for a lifetime, leading her, until they grew old together. Xu Chaomu awkwardly tugged at her own hand, her little face flushing red. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± she called his name. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Let go of my hand¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°People will talk like this.¡± ¡°Talk about what?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll say that I¡¯m clinging to a sugar daddy¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched violently, this girl really couldn¡¯t say anything nice. ¡°After all, look, I am much younger than you, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, you are young, and I am old, I¡¯m like an old bull eating tender grass.¡± However, even though he said this, Shen Chi held her hand even tighter. He feared he might carelessly let this tender grass be snatched away by someone else. ¡°You¡¯re not old, you¡¯re ancient,¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Old or ancient, you¡¯d only know after trying,¡± Shen Chi said in a low voice, softly by her ear. His hot breath tickled her, making her feel all tingly, and she quickly dodged him. Err¡­ this man, after five years, has be even more shameless. She used to think he was aloof, mature, unapproachable¡ªjust a facade to fool others, it turned out. She often saw him on TV attending various high-end meetings in a custom-tailored ck suit, where he wouldn¡¯t smile at the cameras, exuding a coldness that chilled to the bone. You know a person¡¯s face but not their heart; he was just cold on the outside, but beastly at heart. ¡°Can you be serious for once? Or else I will expose you to the media!¡± ¡°I clearly haven¡¯t said anything. It¡¯s you whose thoughts are impure, you little hooligan Xu Chaomu.¡± Shen Chi fondly lowered his head and pinched her cheek. The two took the elevator to the first floor, which was right where various jewelry stores were located. The dazzling array of pieces was mesmerizing. She hadn¡¯t walked far before Xu Chaomu stopped in front of a gold shop¡¯s counter. This gold shop was elegantly decorated in a retro style, all the gold shimmering under crystal lights with a tranquil and serene brilliance. There was a delicate longevity lock in the ss case, exquisitely carved and particrly alluring. She leaned on the ss case, cupped her chin, and gazed unblinkingly at the longevity lock. She thought that if she gave her baby this longevity lock after it was born, it would be adorable. A lifetime of happiness and carefreeness, may you live to a ripe old age. ¡°Do you like this one?¡± Shen Chi also came over, his slender, pale finger pointed at the longevity lock as he spoke to Xu Chaomu. In Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, he could see her reluctance to part with it. ¡°My baby says he likes it,¡± Xu Chaomu touched her belly and looked up with a small smile for him. ¡°Then let¡¯s have them take it out for you to see,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled up in a smile. When Xu Chaomu smiled, his heart melted. If they were living in ancient times, she would be the femme fatale, and he the foolish emperor. He finally understood why some people would rather have beauty than the realm itself. Because her every smile and frown was the most beautiful scenery of this time, what is the vast territory inparison? ¡°Okay,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips curled up, and she waved over the saleswoman. ¡°I want to see this one.¡± ¡°Sure, Miss. This longevity lock is handcrafted from pure gold, and if you buy it today, you get another small one for free.¡± The saleswoman took out the longevity lock and presented another smaller box containing a tiny peanut-sized mini longevity lock. Onerge and one small, Xu Chaomu was even more enamored, with adoration shining in her eyes. She took the longevity lock out of the box, inspecting it closely, and the more she looked, the more she liked it. If it were worn around the neck of her baby, surely the baby would love it. Under the light, the longevity lock emitted a bright shine, made of pure gold, even the minute details were handled perfectly. Just then, a pair of greasy, fat hands reached out for Xu Chaomu¡¯s longevity lock: ¡°Let me take a look, I want one of these too!¡± Xu Chaomu hastily sped the longevity lock in her palm, not letting the man touch it. The man was oily-faced, fat and big-eared, clearly wealthy. The gold ne around his neck was as thick as a finger, and the gold ring on his hand, oh how big it was! Inparison, Xu Chaomu nced back at Shen Chi, and felt dwarfed. He only wore a single watch, and even that didn¡¯t seem to be anything special. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished looking at it yet,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. She held the longevity lock in her palm, in fact, she really liked it, an item she loved at first sight she couldn¡¯t bear to let others even peek at. The man, brash with wealth, said, ¡°Just let me have a look first, and if I like it, I¡¯ll buy it straight away!¡± ¡°Sir, we have other styles of longevity locks here,¡± the saleswoman quickly said with a smile. ¡°The same kind?¡± A woman beside the man spoke up, her voice crisp and musical like a silver bell. Xu Chaomu raised her eyes, the woman by the fat man¡¯s side seemed petite and charming. She was clinging to the fat man¡¯s arm, leaning her head against his body. The woman was dressed boldly, her neck adorned with a sparkling diamond ne, several different bracelets jingling on the same wrist. If Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t mistaken, they appeared to be jade, amber, and agarwood bracelets. d in a sexy red hip-wrapped pencil skirt that entuated the woman¡¯s sultry figure. In contrast, Xu Chaomu looked at herself and again felt inferior. She wasn¡¯t even wearing a single wristwatch. ¡°No, Miss. Our store¡¯s items are all one-of-a-kind designs. Actually, I can show you some other peace locks, all very exquisite,¡± the saleswoman smiled, trying to defuse the situation. ¡°That won¡¯t do, I¡¯ve taken a fancy to this design just now,¡± the woman shook her head, seemingly displeased. ¡°We were here first,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth curled up defiantly, guarding the longevity lock, refusing to let them see it. The woman started to act coquettishly to the fat man: ¡°Honey, buy that one for me, our baby will definitely like it, I want to see that one, I want that one! Honey¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt goosebumps all over. Was this kind of coquetry really necessary? Chapter 366: Come, Give Me a Kiss Chapter 366: Come, Give Me a Kiss ¡°Husband, look, with that longevity lock, they also provide a smaller longevity lock for free¡ªhow great is that? You can give the big one to me and the small one to our baby. One for each of us, mother and son. Isn¡¯t that great, isn¡¯t it great?¡± The woman clung to the man¡¯s arm, acting coquettishly. ¡°Great, great, great. If my darling says it¡¯s good, then it¡¯s good.¡± The man pinched the woman¡¯s nose affectionately, oblivious to their surroundings. The saleswoman stood to one side, looking rather embarrassed, but she didn¡¯t say anything out of politeness. Xu Chaomu could see that these two were obviously not of the same age group. The pudgy man was in his forties, while the woman, at most, was thirty. In this day and age, women who know how to flirt and fuss indeed get their way. ¡°Shen Chi, I want this¡­¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes, raised her little hand, turned around, and looked up at Shen Chi. She also wanted to act spoiled¡ªjust to see if she¡¯d get any sweet treats. The longevity lock in her hands glistened, emanating a sense of well-being and harmony. Shen Chi¡¯srge hand rested on her head, and he also curved his lips into a smile, his eyes gleaming like stars in the night: ¡°Okay.¡± The pudgy man gave Xu Chaomu a disdainful nce and said in an overbearing negotiating tone, ¡°Miss, let¡¯s make a deal¡ªlet my wife have a look at it. If she likes it, you give it to us; if she doesn¡¯t, you can have it. How about that?¡± ¡°Am I supposed to wait and see if your wife likes something I want to buy? Besides, I was here first, I¡¯m going to buy it.¡± Xu Chaomu was not convinced. She wasn¡¯t going to let them look at it, much less let them touch it. ¡°Just have a look, Miss. You¡¯re not that petty, are you?¡± The man said as he started to flex his wrist. With a twist of his wrist, it emitted a ¡°creak, creak¡± sound. The atmosphere around them instantly cooled down, and the pudgy man¡¯s woman looked at Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi with a sneer. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be? I just won¡¯t let you look.¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. The saleswoman hurriedly tried to smooth things over, pulling out a few other longevity lock designs: ¡°Sir, you might want to consider these other styles. They¡¯re uniquely designed and just released to the market.¡± The woman, tugging on the pudgy man¡¯s arm, cooed, ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, I really want this one. You buy it for me¡ªif you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll get angry! Our baby has just turned three months old, and you don¡¯t love me anymore¡­¡± ¡°Darling, don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ll buy it for you. Getting angry will cause wrinkles, and then you won¡¯t look pretty anymore,¡± the man cajoled. Xu Chaomu ignored them, neatly cing the longevity lock back into its brocade box. The two brocade boxes, onerge and one small, were neatly ced side by side. Shen Chi wrapped an arm around her shoulder: ¡°Have you decided?¡± ¡°Mhm, this one. I like it.¡± ¡°Mhm, I like it too,¡± Shen Chi smiled and said, ¡°the big one for your baby in the belly, and the small one for his sister or brother.¡± ¡°Both for the baby in my belly¡ªone for wearing and one for ying with!¡± Xu Chaomu yfully protested. ¡°Okay, okay, all for him,¡± Shen Chiughed indulgently. Just as Shen Chi was about to pay, the pudgy man reached out with his fat hand, intending to snatch the longevity lock¡¯s brocade box. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly protected it, ring at the man. ¡°Miss, if you won¡¯t listen to reason, must I use force?¡± The pudgy man was particrly unreasonable. ¡°I already said I was buying it; I¡¯m not giving it to you.¡± Xu Chaomu stated. ¡°But you haven¡¯t paid yet, have you?¡± sneered the pudgy man¡¯s woman. ¡°We¡¯re paying now,¡± Xu Chaomu refused to yield. The pudgy man immediately halted the saleswoman, his attitude firm: ¡°Don¡¯t swipe their card; I¡¯m calling your manager now. I¡¯m his regr customer, and he won¡¯t even give me this much face! If you dare swipe, I¡¯ll have him fire you tomorrow!¡± The saleswoman was in a tough spot, her smile bing stiff. She could only persuade, ¡°Sir, truthfully, the other longevity locks are also very exquisite. They¡¯re all from the same designer and just went on sale.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk, I¡¯m calling your manager now!¡± The pudgy man, with a stern face, just wouldn¡¯t listen. His woman also put on a proud demeanor, looking down on the saleswoman with a sneering look that seemed to say, ¡°Just you wait.¡± The man indeed took out his phone and dialed a number. While he was on the phone, his woman approached Xu Chaomu and pointed at the price tag under the ss counter. ¡°This longevity lock is eighty-eight thousand. Can you afford it?¡± Her face was full of scorn. Xu Chaomu nced at her, then at Shen Chi, innocence brimming in herrge eyes: ¡°She says you can¡¯t afford it.¡± Shen Chiughed, holding her hand and whispering in her ear, ¡°What should we do, since your husband indeed can¡¯t afford it?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t afford it, then I¡¯ll sell you,¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled. ¡°Would you really?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°What is there to hesitate about? It should fetch a good price. You don¡¯t know, but those richdies like someone exactly like you.¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu pinched Shen Chi¡¯s waist. Hmm, his robust physique, firm abs¡ªveryfortable to the touch, and that handsome face. Hmm, it would definitely fetch a good price. ¡°Not being serious,¡± Shen Chi pinched her cheek in return. The pudgy man¡¯s woman seeing herself ignored, felt a bit embarrassed. Thus, she spoke up again, trying to assert her presence. ¡°If you can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t pretend you can. If you¡¯re leaving, then leave quickly. Otherwise, when my husband¡¯s friend gets here, it¡¯s going to be awkward for you.¡± Xu Chaomu pinched Shen Chi¡¯s waist again: ¡°Shen Chi, she¡¯s threatening you.¡± She was addicted to pinching, having discovered that Shen Chi had a really nice build. After so many years without the chance to touch, she hadn¡¯t expected him to feel this good. ¡°Call me ¡®husband,¡¯¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Brother-inw¡­ we¡¯re not married yet. If my sister finds out, wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate?¡± Xu Chaomu coyly said, curving her brows in amusement. Sure enough, Shen Chi was sweaty, and what was that about brother-inw. After five years apart, Xu Chaomu was still as mischievous. It¡¯s just that the woman did not understand any husband-wife affection, and she took it seriously. Sheughed, ¡°Turns out they¡¯re illicit lovers, having an affair? A little affair with her sister¡¯s man, pretty thrilling. People in the city really know how to y.¡± ¡°Brother-inw, she says we¡¯re out having an affair, aren¡¯t you angry? I am,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°Chaomu, we¡¯re openly in love, aren¡¯t we? Come here, give me a kiss.¡± ¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head away, not expecting Shen Chi to be so brazen. In broad daylight, though there weren¡¯t many people, it was still a public ce. ¡°Not going to kiss?¡± ¡°Go away.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m going to kiss you.¡± As soon as Shen Chi finished speaking, he made a surprise move, bending down and nting a kiss on Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek. Though it was a fleeting touch, Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek immediately blushed as red as an apple. When Shen Chi decided to be shameless, he really went all out, sweeping everything before him with no rival in sight. The woman¡¯s tone instantly turned sour: ¡°Wow, the young men and women of today are really shameless, kissing in public like that. Are they going to start undressing next?¡± ¡°Where did this doge from, barking nonstop?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened as he cast a cold nce their way. Chapter 367: Dare to Touch My Woman, You’re Looking for Death Chapter 367: Dare to Touch My Woman, You¡¯re Looking for Death Shen Chi¡¯s tone was sharp, icy, and deep enough to intimidate the whole room. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart also skipped a beat, knowing that when this man lost his temper, he was not one to be trifled with. Once he lost his temper, even she would tremble. Sure enough, the woman was frightened into silence, daring not to utter another word. The saleswoman had long since been too scared to speak. This man¡¯s presence wasmanding and intimidating, even without anger. At this moment, only the fat man continued to loudly speak on the phone, ¡°Yes, yes,e over right now. Yes, eighty-eight thousand. You know I can afford it, don¡¯t you? My wife has her heart set on this, so hurry up, do as I just told you!¡± ¡°Ten minutes, I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to get here!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal if this works out, I¡¯m being generous, right?¡± ¡°Now, if you¡¯re not here in ten minutes, you wait for me to find your chairman! I¡¯ve dined at the same table as him!¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at Shen Chi¡¯s sleeve when she heard the fat man on the phone, ¡°Brother-inw¡­ I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°Mumu you little rascal, keep pretending,¡± Shen Chi bent down and whispered in her ear. His eyes were full of doting, and his gaze tender, a stark contrast to the fiery Shen Chi from moments before. ¡°Oh, you know how to be scared now?¡± the woman said with a touch of pride, ¡°Weren¡¯t you acting tough just now? Hand over the longevity lock, or it¡¯ll be ugly when we really have a falling out.¡± The fat man finished his call and walked over, draping an arm over the woman¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Honey, what¡¯s going on, they still won¡¯t budge?¡± ¡°Yeah, these young people nowadays don¡¯t know their ce,¡± the woman sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t waste words with them, just take it!¡± The fat man acted as if he had backing. He walked over to Xu Chaomu, pushed her, and reached out to snatch the brocade box from her hand! Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected him to push her, lost her footing, and staggered backward. Fortunately, Shen Chi was quick to act, catching her waist with one hand! ¡°Looking for trouble, are you?¡± Shen Chi said coldly as he grabbed the fat man¡¯s wrist and gave it a hard twist! A ¡°crack¡± was heard, followed by a wail from the fat man! ¡°Ah!¡± Shen Chi gripped his wrist andpletely crippled the hand that had pushed Xu Chaomu. The fat man¡¯s eyes squeezed shut as he wailed like a ughtered pig, his face contorted with pain in myriad colors as if he were in a dye factory. His woman was so frightened that she lost color, covering her mouth, unable to make a sound. With a shove, Shen Chi pushed the man away. A loud ¡°thud¡± echoed as the man fell to the ground! In an instant, Shen Chi covered Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, pressing her close to his chest. ¡°Mumu, close your eyes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu obediently closed her eyes, leaning on Shen Chi¡¯s chest, her small hands tightly gripping his shirt. Her little heart was still thumping wildly. If it hadn¡¯t been for Shen Chi¡¯s quick reflexes, she would have been pushed to the ground. The fat many on the ground, groaning with pain. ¡°Husband, husband¡­¡± The woman finally reacted, crying as she went to help her man. ¡°Husband, what¡¯s wrong with you, are you okay?¡± The woman was panicked, seemingly stunned by fear. ¡°Ah! Ah!¡± The man¡¯s features twisted in agony, clutching at his broken hand with the other. The saleswoman was also shocked. She looked at Shen Chi, his face cold as death, emanating a chilling aura. All themotion attracted a crowd, but with a single nce from Shen Chi, everyone quickly dispersed. Just then, the manager of the gold store arrived. He approached with a cheery cluelessness, only to freeze when he saw his friend on the floor. ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Wang Manager, my husband was injured on your turf, you need to give us an exnation. This man is too arrogant, he actually hit my husband! Call the police!¡± ¡°Sister-inw, hurry and take big brother to the hospital, what are you waiting for?¡± The manager was quick to react, ¡°Leave the rest to me!¡± ¡°Okay, okay¡­¡± The woman finally snapped out of it, helping her man up. Shen Chi, with a cold expression, took out a card from his wallet and pped it down on the counter, ¡°Charge it.¡± ¡°Sir, you assaulted someone, you¡¯re going to need to exin yourself,¡± the manager said, blocking Shen Chi¡¯s way. ¡°Dare touch my woman, and you¡¯re asking for it,¡± Shen Chi said coolly. Just now, if Xu Chaomu had been pushed to the ground, the consequences would have been unimaginable! She was carrying a two-month-old baby in her belly. ¡°You have to be responsible, this is¡­¡± ¡°Enough with the nonsense. Problem? If there is, have your chairmane find me! President Shen Chi of Shen Group!¡± Shen Chi mmed his hand down on the counter, his face livid with rage, his voice icy cold. No one was permitted to bully Xu Chaomu, not an action, not a look! The manager was stunned upon hearing Shen Chi¡¯s name, blinking several times before recognizing him. Yes, it was Shen Chi! He was so scared he nearly copsed on the spot; provoking Shen Chi was truly biting off more than he could chew. ¡°You, you, Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen, please proceed¡­¡± The manager gestured for him to go ahead, not daring to utter another word. The saleswoman was also stunned. What was going on? But hearing the manager speak, she quickly took out the card machine, ¡°Your total is eighty-eight thousand.¡± The manager hastily scolded the saleswoman, ¡°What eighty-eight thousand? With Mr. Shen here, give a discount of ten percent. I will report to the chairman.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m not that familiar with your chairman.¡± Shen Chi extended his long hand, with his index and middle finger pinching the bank card, and handed it to the sales associate, who nodded and epted it. The manager said a lot more, but Shen Chi did not respond. Xu Chaomu, still hiding in Shen Chi¡¯s embrace, was not willing toe out. Only after the card was processed, and the saleswoman packed the longevity lock did Shen Chi look down and say, ¡°Mumu,e out, let¡¯s go buy a handbag.¡± Xu Chaomu covering her eyes, looked up at Shen Chi through her fingers, ¡°Brother-inw, you¡¯re too violent¡­¡± ¡°Hmm? Still calling me brother-inw?¡± Shen Chi adored her in this state, like a little kitten, making him want to hold her in his arms again. ¡°Nah, brother-inw rolls off the tongue nicely.¡± Shen Chi dangled the bag containing the longevity lock in front of her, ¡°Call me husband, or I won¡¯t give it to you.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t give it to me, you¡¯re making trouble with my baby. It¡¯s for him.¡± ¡°Then what do you n for this child to call me?¡± ¡°Brother-inw, my child should of course call you uncle.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, are youwless now? One moment calling me ¡®fourth uncle,¡¯ another ¡®uncle,¡¯ I won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°My baby, I¡¯ll let him call me whatever I want.¡± ¡°Call me ¡®husband¡¯ once, and I won¡¯t hold it against you, or else¡­¡± Shen Chi pretended to look stern, threatening her. Chapter 368 - 368 Your Wife Will Be Jealous Chapter 368: Your Wife Will Be Jealous ¡°Or else what?¡± Xu Chaomu was not intimidated by his threat. ¡°Or else¡­ believe it or not, I¡¯ll kiss you?¡± ¡°Shameless¡­¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu covered her face and ran away¡­ This beast, he did what he said he would. Just now, in front of everyone, he had already kissed her once; she didn¡¯t want to lose face again. It was truly embarrassing. Shen Chi lengthened his stride and followed her. He was just joking with her and didn¡¯t expect her to be shy. Actually, he was quite surprised today because Xu Chaomu, after seeing Zhou Ran, did not get very angry with him, which was really unexpected. He walked up and took her hand, holding it tightly. Their palms touched, warmth breeding warmth. Xu Chaomu instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but that man was always overbearing in these matters. ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me hold your hand,¡± Shen Chi said with the corners of his lips raised, his eyes deep yet filled with tenderness. ¡°Does it feel like holding Dabai¡¯s hand?¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. ¡°If you think thatparison is fitting, then I¡¯ll say ¡®yes,¡¯¡± Shen Chi said, looking down with a smile. As he looked down, she looked up, and their eyes met, full of sweet affection. Even the air around them seemed to be coated with ayer of candy vor, as if one taste would slowly spread sweetness across the tongue¡­ Xu Chaomu also curled her lips into a smile, avoiding his gaze before looking down again. The two of them, hand in hand, began shopping from the first floor up. There were not many people in this high-end mall, but it was not few either. Xu Chaomu looked up and saw beautiful women everywhere, some wearing heavy makeup, others naturally gorgeous, almost all fashionably dressed. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but look down at herself, then at Shen Chi. Shen Chi was still okay; this man was naturally well-built and exuded a noble and elegant demeanor with every move, a strong presence, high attractiveness. But she was different, standing next to Shen Chi, she really wanted to cover her face. In fact, she had lived in Paris for five years, and she had many beautiful clothes, but she hadn¡¯t had time to pick them up when her luggage was shipped back. She could only wear the ugly T-shirt Shen Chi had bought her. ¡°Shen Chi.¡± She called his name. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°That man just now, he looked so rich, not like you at all.¡± ¡°What does ¡®looking rich¡¯ look like?¡± Shen Chi asked back. ¡°Just look at his gold chain around his neck, so thick, and that big ring on his hand, truly massive!¡± Xu Chaomu exaggerated, ¡°Look at you, with just a watch on your hand, it¡¯s so tacky.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi, after being told this, indeed looked down at himself, hmm, there really was only a watch. ¡°Do you know how much this watch costs?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xu Chaomu honestly shook her head. ¡°If you don¡¯t know, then never mind, it¡¯s from a street stand, not worth much,¡± Shen Chi said with a smile, pulling her hand as they continued to walk. ¡°From a street stand? Then give it to me?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you one from a street standter.¡± Shen Chi led Xu Chaomu forward, and when they passed a shoe store, they stopped again. ¡°Mumu, pick whatever you like, try on anything that catches your eye,¡± he said. ¡°President Shen, you¡¯re going to spend more money, how embarrassing. What if your wife finds out¡­¡± Xu Chaomu walked into the shoe store, murmuring with mischievousughter. Sure enough, all eyes turned towards them swiftly, and soon those looks started to show all kinds ofplexity. Shen Chi held his forehead. This Xu Chaomu was never going to let him have peace of mind. They were rightfully married husband and wife, yet they looked like adulterous mandarin ducks sneaking around behind the wife¡¯s back. Xu Chaomu was unfazed and went inside to look around. The shoe cab had many new models, high-heeled, t, all kinds, dazzling to the eye. ¡°President Shen, what do you think of these shoes?¡± Xu Chaomu walked into the store and immediately saw a pair of pure white high heels with eight-inch heels, adorned with a few rhinestones. The white was pure and wless, the rhinestones glittering brilliantly. Although, they were not custom-made shoes, but Xu Chaomu saw the price, which was also quite high. Having lived in the fashion capital Paris for five years, and having chosen a major in design at university, she actually understood. Just like Shen Chi¡¯s watch, humph, if it could be bought from a street stand, she would buy a dozen to take home. She held the shoes in her hands, and they were hard to let go of. Many things, once you have fallen for them at first sight, tend to be right and unforgettable. Many people are the same, such as, a certain someone. ¡°A beautiful pair of high heels. The design of the shoe sides will make your feet look slender, and they¡¯ll match well with various colors of bags and dresses. You should try them on, but you¡¯re not allowed to wear them,¡± Shen Chi said as he approached. The sales associate also came over: ¡°This gentleman is right, these shoes are particrly slimming on the feet, very stylish when worn. Miss, I can help you try them on.¡± After speaking, the sales associate bent down to help Xu Chaomu change into the shoes. Shen Chi was ahead of her, crouching down: ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°President Shen, you¡¯re so enthusiastic. If your wife finds out, she¡¯s going to be jealous,¡± Xu Chaomu teased with a sly smile, sitting down with the shoes. ¡°I¡¯m so enthusiastic, of course there¡¯s a reason,¡± Shen Chi said, looking at her with a beast-like glint in his eyes. ¡°You, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Work hard when we get home tonight, huh? Little girl?¡± Shen Chi yfully lifted Xu Chaomu¡¯s chin, watching her with a rascal¡¯s lustful gaze. ¡°Jesus, with so many people watching in the store, have you no shame?!¡± Xu Chaomu pped his hand away. The sales associate covered her mouth and sneaked off to the side tough. Shen Chi looked innocent: ¡°You called me brother-inw and said my wife would be angry; I just made your lies sound more convincing.¡± Xu Chaomu was itching with irritation; arguing with a beast was futile, losing made her feel less than a beast, winning would still make her more beastly than the beast itself. ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll help you change your shoes.¡± Shen Chi lowered his head earnestly, and the white light shone on his stern face, softening the lines of his face significantly. He lifted one of her feet with one hand, gently gripping her ankle and loosening the straps, slipping off the t shoes she was wearing. From Xu Chaomu¡¯s angle, she could perfectly see Shen Chi¡¯s handsome and rxed profile, his chiseled features sharp, neat, manly, and youthful. Having matured at twenty-eight, he now had the maturity and steadiness a man of his age should have. After taking off her shoes, he picked up the white high heels. Neither too big nor too small, they were a perfect fit. He fit the shoes on her feet, watching her feet as if admiring a piece of art, observing intently. These shoes, worn by Xu Chaomu, suited her perfectly, looked beautiful. Xu Chaomu also looked down, they indeed looked nice. ¡°Mumu, after five years, your taste has improved a lot,¡± Shen Chiughed. ¡°Not like you, who¡¯s still stuck in the same ce.¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu tugged at her loose T-shirt, looking disdainfully at him. Chapter 369: Familiar Figure Chapter 369: Familiar Figure ¡°What I mean is, Mumu, you look good in anything. Of course¡­even better without anything,¡± someone exined. His exnation was worse than no exnation at all. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, and the smile of the saleswoman standing aside widened even more. ¡°Shut up!¡± Xu Chaomu red at her angrily and, ignoring him, stood up and walked towards the mirror in high heels. These shoes were truly beautiful, just as beautiful as the pair he had given her five years ago. Only, those shoes and that dress¡­ she wondered where they had gone¡­ Her eighteenth birthday. That performance, that piano melody¡­ The memories of being eighteen were filled with pain, wistfulness, and purity. She stood in front of the mirror, vainly walking back and forth; she really did like these shoes. But before she had walked far, Shen Chi pressed on her shoulders, urging her to sit down: ¡°You can¡¯t walk any more, you¡¯re still carrying the baby.¡± ¡°Do they look good?¡± Xu Chaomu squinted and looked up at him. ¡°They look good.¡± ¡°Which pair looks better, these or your little lover¡¯s?¡± ¡°First, she is not my little lover; second, she can¡¯tpare to you; third, are you satisfied now?¡± Shen Chi curved his lips slightly, hisrge hand falling on her head, gently ruffling her ck hair. ¡°By the way, your little lover wanted to jump off the balcony. What if one day I also climb up there and want to jump off?¡± ¡°What could possibly make you want to give up?¡± ¡°Nothing, just threatening you to hand over all the family property to me!¡± ¡°Mine is yours, and yours is mine; we don¡¯t need to be so clear-cut about it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y games with me,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. ¡°Stretch out your foot, I¡¯ll help you take off the shoes,¡± Shen Chi said as he knelt down again. Xu Chaomu obediently remained silent and stretched out her foot. Shen Chi, as usual, pressed down near her ankle and carefully removed the white high-heeled shoe from her foot. After cing the heels aside, he helped her into another pair of shoes and tied theces. When his hand touched her foot, she felt as if an electric current passed through her. In her life, he was the first to touch her foot. ¡°I want these shoes; go pay for them,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°I can pay, but you must agree not to wear them for a year,¡± Shen Chi warned her seriously. ¡°Not wearing them for a year would make them go out of style.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll buy them just to look at.¡± ¡°Fine, buy them just for me to look at, since it¡¯s not my money anyway,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. In truth, she really wanted to wear them. But for the sake of the baby in her belly, she had to resist. Shen Chi handed the shoes to the saleswoman and went to the cash register to pay. Xu Chaomu sat in the chair, quietly waiting for him to return. Just as he turned towards the cash register, Xu Chaomu looked up and suddenly saw a familiar figure! Mo Shuifu! It was Mo Shuifu! Across several counters and some distance away, but Xu Chaomu recognized Mo Shuifu¡¯s figure all too well! Mo Shuifu was also choosing shoes, sometimes bending over to look, sometimes sitting on the sofa to try them on. At this moment, she was holding a red high-heeled shoe, scrutinizing it intently, her expression particrly serious. She was as usual, expressionless, undisturbed by praise or criticism. Her delicate, oval face maintained its usual indifference, as if nothing had anything to do with her. But as Xu Chaomu watched her silently, she could sense that she had changed. For instance, five years ago, she didn¡¯t wear makeup, like a lotus flower just out of water, natural without adornment. But now, Mo Shuifu wore light makeup, resembling a mature lotus. Her ck hair was pinned up into a bun behind her head, and in her ears hung a pair of sapphire earrings. Dressed in an elegant light purple cheongsam, she entuated her beautiful curves and exquisite figure. Her demeanor and the way she moved were indistinguishable from those of a refineddy, extremely well-mannered, giving no hint that she once was just an ordinary girl. She had matured over the past five years, bing more womanly. Mo Shuifu at this moment was like a beauty from the misty rain of Jiangnan, who had stepped out of a painting, ethereally detached, untainted by the dust of the world. One smile from her could captivate all. Apparently liking the red high heels, she smiled softly and said a few words to the saleswoman. But her smile was always fleeting,sting only a second or two before fading away. Five years, indeed, things have changed, people are no longer the same. Xu Chaomu stood up, she wanted to go over and greet Mo Shuifu. It had been five years, and she didn¡¯t know what Mo Shuifu was doing, whether she was doing well or not. Five years ago, her mothermitted suicide by jumping off a building, which must have been a tremendous shock to her. She should have moved past those memories by now, didn¡¯t she? Also, Shihan¡­ She had realized five years ago that Shihan liked Mo Shuifu. Even though she knew almost nothing about what happened between them. So, what about now? Having been back in C City for several days already, Xu Chaomu had yet to see Shihan Shen Shihan. Thinking of Shen Shihan, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart suddenly felt as if it was being torn apart, pain radiating throughout her limbs. During those years in the Shen Family, she always treated Shen Shihan like a real older brother, that brother was warmer than the spring breeze. Whenever she faced troubles, just to turn to him, and he would help her. When she was bullied by Shen Chi, she would hide in the west wing and have Shen Shihan protect her. Even for failed exam grades, she would only dare to have Shen Shihan sign them. Maybe she was too oblivious, so much so that she never thought that her Shihan could deceive her. Together with Zhou Peitian, they kidnapped her to threaten Shen Chi, and even when she escaped the first time, covered in wounds and bloodied, he still had Zhou Peitian capture her again. A man, once heartless, is more ruthless than anyone. To Shen Shihan, she must have not been as important as his interests. Actually, she really wanted to know if she was also like this in Shen Chi¡¯s heart. Xu Chaomu got up, and just as she thought about approaching Mo Shuifu, suddenly, a man beat her to it, walking up to Mo Shuifu¡¯s side. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise; that man was none other than Shen Shihan. After five years, Shen Shihan was still as mature and cold as ever, his face devoid of any smile, even when facing the woman he loved. Today, Shen Shihan wore a ck shirt, which made him look especially understated and profound. Through the crowd, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying; she only saw Shen Shihan approach Mo Shuifu, bend down, and examine the shoes. Right at that moment, Shen Chi came from the cash register. He saw Xu Chaomu staring intently ahead and followed her gaze. It turned out to be Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu. ¡°Mumu, the shoes are bought. Let¡¯s go look at other things,¡± Shen Chi took her hand. ¡°Shen Chi, that¡¯s Shihan and Shui Fu.¡± Xu Chaomu still couldn¡¯t snap out of it, staring in that direction. Mo Shuifu had already gone to try on the shoes, with Shen Shihan standing by with arms crossed. From behind, the cold, stiff lines of Shen Shihan¡¯s back were in in view, devoid of any warmth. Chapter 370: We’ve Been Married for Over Two Years Chapter 370: We¡¯ve Been Married for Over Two Years ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t say much, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I haven¡¯t seen them in five years.¡± ¡°And you haven¡¯t seen me in five years, either, have you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being serious with you.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, sounding dissatisfied. Just as Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi stepped out of the shoe store, Mo Shuifu, wearing those red high heels, was turning around in front of a mirror. She had intended to show them to Shen Shihan, but when she looked up, she saw Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu instead. Shen Chi was tall, so she spotted him first. Mo Shuifu was somewhat surprised when she didn¡¯t see Xu Chaomu beside him at first, because for the past five years, she had never seen Shen Chi with his arm around another woman. Although there were constant rumors about Shen Chi, she had never actually witnessed any. But within a few seconds, she saw Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu! It was Xu Chaomu! Five years had passed, and although Xu Chaomu had changed, she recognized her immediately! She hadn¡¯t expected Xu Chaomu to return. No wonder Shen Chi was with a woman; it turned out that the woman was none other than Xu Chaomu. Mo Shuifu was immediately stunned, her heart a mix of sorrow and joy; she had always thought that Xu Chaomu was no longer of this world. ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu!¡± Mo Shuifu forgot to take off the new shoes on her feet and ran straight toward Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu looked up and saw Mo Shuifu running towards her in high heels. She pulled away from Shen Chi and walked toward Mo Shuifu, ¡°Shui Fu.¡± Shen Shihan also turned his head, and when he saw Xu Chaomu, his eyes showed aplex expression. He hadn¡¯t expected her toe back. What surprised him even more was that she was standing by Shen Chi¡¯s side, just like five years ago¡­ The girl had grown a lot taller, her little face had lost its immaturity, and she looked more like a young woman. Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu hugged each other, and tears streamed down from Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes. Mo Shuifu cried, and so did Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chaomu, when did youe back? Where have you been these five years?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been back for a few days, and for these five years, I¡¯ve been in Paris.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯te back to C City even once? How has life been for you out there?¡± ¡°Yeah, I never came back. I was afraid to return, but I¡¯ve been quite well in Paris. What about you, Shui Fu? Have you been in C City for these five years? How have you been?¡± Xu Chaomu spoke, and Shen Chi listened silently, never having asked Xu Chaomu about these things because he feared the past would touch her wounds. He hadn¡¯t been part of those five years, but he was determined not to be absent from her future. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve been quite well too.¡± As Mo Shuifu spoke, her head dipped slightly, avoiding eye contact. She knew that Shen Shihan was watching her. These five years, she had actually had it pretty good. Shen Shihan was very kind to her, giving her whatever she wanted. ¡°Shui Fu, you and Shihan¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to know how far they had progressed. Before Mo Shuifu could speak, Shen Shihan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had thought that Xu Chaomu would be so angry that she would call him by his name; instead, she still referred to him as ¡°third brother.¡± He knew he had wronged her. ¡°We got married.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone was very calm, devoid of any joy; it was in and emotionless. Xu Chaomu was slightly taken aback. Married? ¡°When¡­ when did you get married?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been married for over two years,¡± Mo Shuifu said. ¡°Over two years?¡± Xu Chaomu was even more surprised. Then, did Mo Shuifu and Shen Shihan truly love each other? But because Shen Shihan was there, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel it was appropriate to ask too much. They had actually been married for over two years. What exactly had happened in these five years? She always felt like she had been cut off from their world. Everyone was moving forward, and it seemed only Shen Chi still stood in ce waiting for her. ¡°I¡¯ve been at the Shen Family¡¯s ce these past few days and didn¡¯t see you.¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Shihan bought a vi outside, and we live there. We haven¡¯t been back to the Shen Family¡¯s ce for a long time.¡± Then, Shen Shihan stepped forward, wrapped his arm around Mo Shuifu¡¯s waist, and said to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯re wee toe and keep Shui Fupany when you have time.¡± He knew he shouldn¡¯t hope; Xu Chaomu must despise him. Sure enough, Xu Chaomu did not respond but just bit her lip lightly. She, Xu Chaomu, wasn¡¯t that magnanimous, but she still treated Mo Shuifu like a sister. Shen Chi took a step forward and said, ¡°If third sister-inw feels bored, she cane to the Shen Family to chat with Chaomu.¡± Mo Shuifu genuinely missed Xu Chaomu and nodded, ¡°Definitely, when I have time, I will definitelye to visit Chaomu at the Shen Family¡¯s.¡± She had many questions for her. Why had she been able to stay away from C City for five years in Paris? And why, after five years, did she suddenly return? However, Shen Chi¡¯s words were undoubtedly a provocation toward Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan raised his head, his piercing gaze meeting Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. Shen Chi was not intimidated and met his gaze head-on, ready for a confrontation! The two men, with outward calm, barely showing any ripples, but the tension between them was palpable only to each other. ¡°We won¡¯t disturb third brother and third sister-inw any longer, we¡¯ll be going now.¡± With that, Shen Chi took Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and pulled her aside. ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± Xu Chaomu still wanted to talk to Mo Shuifu. ¡°Chaomu, let¡¯s talk another day, another day,¡± Mo Shuifu said, waving her hand. Shen Chi forcefully dragged Xu Chaomu into the elevator, like pulling along a little white rabbit. Once the elevator doors closed, he pressed the button for the fifth floor. Xu Chaomu, not minding the presence of many people in the elevator, snapped at Shen Chi, ¡°I wanted to talk more with Shui Fu; why did you pull me away?¡± ¡°Shen Shihan is standing next to Mo Shuifu, and you really feel nothing?¡± ¡°Of course I feel something! He deceived me back then and even teamed up with Zhou Peitian to kidnap me, but you¡¯re not much better, are you? If you pull me away, does it mean I should stay away from you too?¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to control me!¡± Xu Chaomu shook him off. The people in the elevator were all watching them with uniform nces, filled with various expressions. Confusion, disdain, curiosity. The elevator moved swiftly and with a ¡°ding,¡± it reached the third floor, just as someone was getting off. Xu Chaomu knew Shen Chi had pressed for the fifth floor, but when someone exited on the third, she quickly dashed out just as the doors were closing! She went down, and Shen Chi rushed to press the door open button. ¡°Mumu, Mumu, be careful!¡± Shen Chi bolted from the elevator. Xu Chaomu ran quickly ahead, feeling ufortable inside. Five years had passed, and she was no longer the carefree young girl; she had her own ns and thoughts. And Shen Chi? He still liked to control her! During those five years in Paris, no one had controlled her, and she had been just fine. Yet once back in her home country, he still behaved the same way. Couldn¡¯t he change? She had her own thoughts; she didn¡¯t need him watching over her all the time. Chapter 371: You’re Simply Unreasonable Chapter 371: You¡¯re Simply Unreasonable The third floor is where clothes are sold; rtively speaking, there are more people. There are more sales associates and more customers alike. Xu Chaomu made her way through the central aisle, with Shen Chi chasing after her from behind. As soon as he called her name, a crowd of people turned their heads to look at them. Just like the people in the elevator just now, their gazes wereplex, filled with confusion, disdain, and curiosity! But as soon as they saw Shen Chi, countless girls¡¯ eyes lit up, staring at him intently! This man was too handsome, radiating a forceful form of handsomeness, with a chiseled face, resolute lines, and deep-set eyes, without a hint of effeminacy, emanating a strong presence all over! What a pity, it seemed like he was chasing after his girlfriend, so the girls could only look on with longing. ¡°Mumu, don¡¯t run, you¡¯re still carrying a baby!¡± Shen Chi reminded her! Xu Chaomu was naturally slow due to her pregnancy; she was quite aware that she was still carrying a baby. After a few steps, she was caught by Shen Chi. Shen Chi grabbed her arm and pulled her toward himself. He was still holding two shopping bags; Shen Chi had indeed thrown all caution to the wind for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Mumu, let¡¯s talk this through properly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk things out with you anymore!¡± Xu Chaomu threw off his hand, ¡°Shen Chi, these past few days, I¡¯ve been trying to get along with you, after all, it doesn¡¯t look good to make a scene, after all, I¡¯ve lived in the Shen Family for eight years. You know very well that I¡¯ve repaid the kindness you showed me a long time ago, so you have no right to tell me what to do, do you understand?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not telling you what to do, I¡¯m just reminding you to keep your distance from Shen Shihan!¡± Frustration was evident on Shen Chi¡¯s face. She¡¯s ungrateful! ¡°Wasn¡¯t what I just said correct? You¡¯re asking me to stay away from Shen Shihan, so I¡¯ll stay away from you too; that¡¯s not wrong, right?¡± ¡°How can youpare me with Shen Shihan? He could hurt you, but I would never!¡± ¡°Mental torment is also a form of harm!¡± ¡°Fine, you seem to be in great spirits to me, bouncing around energetically.¡± Xu Chaomu was always very serious when she got angry with him, but then he could choke her with just a sentence! This man was beyond redemption when it came to his sharp tongue. ¡°Shen Chi, stop interfering in my life. Give me back my phone.¡± Xu Chaomu extended her hand with a stern face, devoid of any smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go home and talk about this; it¡¯s not proper here in public,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°You give me back my phone today, and we can still talk properly. If you don¡¯t return it, you¡¯ll see what happens!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you when we get home.¡± ¡°No, right here.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it, your phone is at the Shen home.¡± ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± ¡°How would I dare deceive you.¡± Shen Chi took her hand and dragged her toward the staircase. This time they didn¡¯t take the elevator; he led her up the stairs, step by step. Anyway, it was only two floors from the third to the fifth, and it was more romantic to walk. ¡°Mumu, pregnant women need to regte their emotions and can¡¯t get angry.¡± ¡°Stay away from me, and my mood will immediately improve a lot!¡± ¡°No, if I don¡¯t take care of you, no one else will.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t forget, the father of my baby is right here in C City. He is more considerate than you, gentler than you, better at taking care of people! You¡¯re the one clinging to me!¡± ¡°Nie Chenng?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone suddenly turned cold. ¡°Yes, Nie Chenng is my fianc¨¦, the father of the baby in my belly!¡± ¡°What does fianc¨¦ matter? Don¡¯t forget that we were married first!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t acknowledge that we ever got married, I deny it! We¡¯re getting a divorce.¡± That marriage certificate was originally obtained without her knowledge, involving significant deceit! ¡°Let¡¯s go buy handbags. We¡¯ll talk about other thingster.¡± Shen Chi still held her tightly in an overbearing manner, not allowing her the chance to escape. He wouldn¡¯t let go, and he wouldn¡¯t divorce. So he held onto her and led her up to the fifth floor, walking all the way up the stairs. On the first floor, after Xu Chaomu was taken away by Shen Chi, Mo Shuifu found it difficult to recover from her shock. She couldn¡¯t believe that Xu Chaomu was still alive, but why, when she was clearly still alive, could she bear to stay away for five years? What exactly happened after she was taken away by Zhou Peitian five years ago? She didn¡¯t dare ask Shen Shihan, because every time she did, he would coldly throw a few words at her: ¡°A woman should not meddle in these affairs.¡± But now, Xu Chaomu had returned, and she wanted to understand. It had been five years, and she no longer wanted things to be so unclear. ¡°Regretting Xu Chaomu?¡± Shen Shihan turned his head, his voice indifferent as he looked at Mo Shuifu. His gaze was filled with chill and depth, unfathomable at a nce. ¡°Of course, I haven¡¯t seen her for five years, I missed her a lot,¡± Mo Shuifu said ndly. ¡°Really? Is it Xu Chaomu you can¡¯t bear to part with, or is it Shen Chi?¡± Shen Shihan chuckled coldly, his eyes filled with a bloody aura. He suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his side! ¡°What are you doing, let me go, are you insane!¡± Mo Shuifu struggled. Ever since they moved to their own vi and seldom returned to the Shen home, Mo Shuifu hardly saw Shen Chi. She figured that it had been almost half a year since she¡¯dst seen him. This time, she barely caught a glimpse of Shen Chi, without even speaking a word, and Shen Shihan erupted into madness! Of course, this wasn¡¯t the first time. Whenever she met Shen Chi, Shen Shihan¡¯s demeanor darkened. On normal days, they could treat each other with courtesy, but whenever this issue arose, Shen Shihan¡¯s face would fall instantly. ¡°Every time you look at him, your eyes are filled with ambiguity. We¡¯ve been married for two years, yet you¡¯ve never let go of him?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? How many times have I told you, I have no inappropriate thoughts about Shen Chi; he belongs to Chaomu, and they will be together in the end.¡± ¡°You always say that, but the moment you see him, you lose your senses! I¡¯ve been married to you for two years, and you¡¯ve been indifferent and humorless. Where do you ce me, Shen Shihan?¡± ¡°Shen Shihan, you¡¯re beingpletely unreasonable!¡± Mo Shuifu shook off his hand, took off the new shoes from her feet to return them to the store, and walked out. She didn¡¯t want to argue about this with Shen Shihan. Normally, he was quite rational, but as soon as these issues came up, his intelligence and emotional quotient fell to zero! Negative! Two years had passed, and she had been married to him for two years, yet it was still the same oue. He didn¡¯t trust her, and she didn¡¯t trust him either. Their rtionship was always strained. Mo Shuifu ran out of the shopping mall alone, with Shen Shihan quickly following her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± His cold voice rang out from behind. ¡°Shen Shihan, you better calm down. I, Mo Shuifu, don¡¯t owe you!¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t look back. ¡°There¡¯s a ball tonight, what are you throwing a fit for!¡± ¡°Is it me throwing a fit or are you being unreasonable? Shen Shihan, get your facts straight!¡± Shen Shihan caught up to her quickly, grabbing Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand forcefully, not allowing her to leave. Chapter 372: She is his Destiny Chapter 372: She is his Destiny ¡°Come with me to the mall to buy clothes for the ball tonight. Dress up and look pretty!¡± Shen Shihan grabbed her wrist, his grip was very firm, leaving no chance for her to break free. ¡°You, Vice President Shen, have so many secretaries and lovers. You could easily bring any one of them with you, and there is no need to take me. I¡¯ll only embarrass you.¡± Mo Shuifu also had a temper. For more than two years, she and Shen Shihan had truly been sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams. Shen Shihan gripped her hand even tighter and directly took her back to the mall, regardless of whether she agreed or not. Initially, he was holding her wrist, but gradually, hisrge hand slid down and tightly held her icy hand. ¡°No one canpare to you,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. His voice was very soft, almost inaudible. Mo Shuifu thought she heard it, yet she also felt like she hadn¡¯t, merely struggling to believe it. She turned her head slightly and, under the sunlight, she could properly see Shen Shihan¡¯s face, stern and profound, yet a little more rxed. Shen Shihan and Shen Chi indeed resembled each other, but Shen Chi was Shen Chi and Shen Shihan was Shen Shihan; she was very clear about that. Shen Shihan very domineeringly pulled Mo Shuifu into the mall and back to the shoe store they had just left. He picked up the pair of red high heels that had been ced back in their spot, ¡°Do you like these ones you tried earlier?¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t speak, turning her head away, not wanting to pay him any attention. ¡°Shuifu, try them on again, let me see,¡± Shen Shihan coaxed as he ced the shoes on the ground. ¡°Shen Shihan, aren¡¯t you going to apologize to me?¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone softened a bit. Shen Shihan wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shuifu. I was impulsive just now. Forgive me. I truly¡­ care about you too much.¡± He truly cared about her, to the point where he lost all reason. He held her in his embrace, using his chin to rest against her forehead. Gently caressing her shoulders, he wished he could keep holding her forever. Mo Shuifu knew that Shen Shihan was a man of his word. It was already rare for him to apologize. She just had no clue how many more times they would argue over Shen Chi in the future¡­ She lowered her head and spoke faintly, ¡°Let¡¯s try on the shoes.¡± Only then did Shen Shihan let go of her, bending down to rece the old shoes on her feet with the new red high heels. After putting on the new shoes, Mo Shuifu stood in front of the mirror. The red high-heeled shoes with tie straps were very pretty, and theyplemented her cheongsam nicely, entuating Mo Shuifu¡¯s tall and slender figure. Shen Shihan stared at her, unable to take his eyes off her, his lips curling into a faint smile. ¡°Very beautiful, Shuifu. Every pair of shoes you try looks beautiful on you,¡± his smile widened at the corners of his lips. ¡°If you think they¡¯re good, then they¡¯re good,¡± Mo Shuifu said indifferently. Her nature was serene. Apart from managing her piano store, she would either y the piano or read books during her free time. She didn¡¯t like crowded ces, and Shen Shihan knew that. Therefore, she turned down many gatherings and balls; but this time, Shen Shihan insisted it was important and demanded she apany him. After all, they had been married for two years, and many of his friends had yet to meet her. Two years ago, they didn¡¯t hold a wedding ceremony; they just got married after getting their marriage certificate. He had always wanted to make up for that with a wedding ceremony, always wanted to tell his friends that she, Mo Shuifu, was his wife. Taking advantage of tonight¡¯s ball, he also wanted to confess his feelings to her. Mo Shuifu looked at herself in the mirror, then sat down on the sofa to take off the shoes. ¡°I¡¯ll take these,¡± she said, looking up at the saledy. ¡°Certainly, Miss.¡± Shen Shihan had given her many bank cards, and she immediately followed the saledy to the checkout. ¡°I¡¯ll carry them,¡± Shen Shihan insisted, taking the shoes from her. Mo Shuifu paused for a moment, surprised by Shen Shihan¡¯s actions today. Although they were married, he was always busy and rarely apanied her shopping; of course, she didn¡¯t go out shopping much either. At home, he always came back at night, but he would return veryte. She went to bed early and seldom had the chance to talk to him. Most of the time, they had little to talk about. Two years had passed just like that. ¡°Let¡¯s go pick out a cocktail dress. What color do you like?¡± Shen Shihan asked. ¡°Any is fine.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s try on a few, and once you pick one, can you help me pick out one too? Can you, Shuifu?¡± he coaxed her. ¡°Okay,¡± Mo Shuifu responded emotionlessly, her eyes dull. Shen Shihan rarely coaxed her. This man seemed neither to cajole nor to speak much in the way of sweet nothings. But still, women like to be indulged. No one wants to pretend to be strong all the time; no one has a heart of iron. Shen Shihan took Mo Shuifu to pick out a dress and jewelry. He had never treated a woman this way before. She was his destiny, a fate that not even reincarnation over three lifetimes could expunge. While they were picking out clothes in the mall, they didn¡¯t see Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu again. Mo Shuifu missed Xu Chaomu terribly; it had been five whole years since theyst saw each other, and she longed to sit down and have a proper talk with her. By the time they finished picking out clothes, it was already 5 p.m. Shen Shihan drove Mo Shuifu back home. ¡°Shuifu, go take a bathter, change into your dress, and I will take you to the ball,¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°Is this ball very important?¡± ¡°A social ball organized by a friend. I want to introduce you to them.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t like crowds. Besides, I¡¯m afraid I might not fit into your circle.¡± ¡°Do it for my sake, Mrs. Shen.¡± Shen Shihan had just parked the car at the vi¡¯s entrance, and his hand fell gently on Mo Shuifu¡¯s head. The title ¡°Mrs. Shen¡± softened her heart¡­ She nodded, negotiating, ¡°Then you need to stay with me. I¡¯m not good at drinking or dancing.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t put you in an ufortable position. As for drinking, Mr. Shen will be there to cover for you, and for dancing, just dance with me. I won¡¯t mind,¡± he said. ¡°Just don¡¯t make promises you can¡¯t keep,¡± Mo Shuifu curved her lips into a smile, the first time she had ever heard Shen Shihan speak such pleasing words. ¡°What I say I can do.¡± She smiled, and he smiled back. His gaze lingered on her face, unable to look away. She rarely smiled, but whenever she did, the softest part of his heart would be touched; he wished she could smile happily every day. Shen Shihan escorted her to the upstairs bathroom to take a bath, and then he waited for her in the bedroom. Half-leaning on the bed, he casually flipped through a book. She always kept a variety of books by the bed, of all genres, and he could imagine her leaning against the bed and reading every night. The warm orange light fell upon her, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, a face as beautiful as blooming peach blossoms. About half an hourter, Mo Shuifu came out of the bathroom, her hair half-dried after blow-drying, now wearing her pajamas as she walked into the bedroom. She had expected Shen Shihan to be downstairs, but instead, she found him sitting on their marriage bed, reading. Chapter 373: A Gentle Kiss, Sweet as Honey Chapter 373: A Gentle Kiss, Sweet as Honey He was especially serious when reading, his brows faintly furrowed, clean fingers tracing over the white paper. Because the curtains in the bedroom were closed, he had turned on the bedsidemp and was quietly leaning against the bed, reading. Mo Shuifu approached while he was engrossed in his book, and she couldn¡¯t help but squint her eyes. This man was naturally extremely handsome. Smelling Mo Shuifu¡¯s fragrance, Shen Shihan finally raised his head, slightly curling his lips. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Hmm, let me change my clothes.¡± She reached for clothes in the wardrobe, and from behind her, her figure was delicate and graceful, with her half-dry hair draped over her shoulders, exuding an enticing floral scent. While Mo Shuifu was retrieving clothes from the wardrobe, she didn¡¯t realize when Shen Shihan hade up behind her. ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He lowered his head, burying his face in her hair. The floral scent on her hair became even more refreshing, stirring his emotions. He inhaled the fragrance in her hair and the smell of the essential oil on her body, bing increasingly intoxicated. ¡°We still have to go to the ballter.¡± She pushed him, trying to pry his hands off, but his grip was too strong. He turned her around, hisrge hands repeatedly caressing her hair. Once, her hair was very long, but after marrying him, she cut it short. He didn¡¯t like her short hair and hadn¡¯t allowed her to cut it again. Thus, over the past two years, her hair had slowly grown back¡­ Desire clouded his eyes, her presence left him insatiable. His warm hands caressed her hair, her back, her waist¡­ each touch sent shivers down her spine. After more than two years of being together, he knew exactly where her sensitive spots were. Bowing his head, he kissed her earlobe. This ce was her most sensitive. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± As expected, she moaned softly, pushing against him with more force. He held her even tighter, preventing her from moving. His cool lips slowly moved from her earlobe down to her lips. He captured her lips, not giving her a chance to speak. Their lips pressed tightly together, their breaths entwining, lingering, refusing to part. His skillful tongue pried her lips apart, tangling intimately with hers¡­ ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± In the depths of passion, he always enjoyed calling her name. His voice was rich and deep, resonating in Mo Shuifu¡¯s ears. Initially, he kissed her lightly, and as she grew ustomed, his kisses rained down like a deluge. Her fragrance wafted to his nose in waves, mesmerizing him. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s body gradually softened, her hands clutching at his waist. Her kisses were still so inexperienced, even though he had been teaching her for two years, it remained the same. The orange glow of the light fell upon them, the luxuriously decorated bedroom made them feel as though they were in a pce, radiating beauty everywhere. Mo Shuifu gasped for breath from his kisses, blinking up at him, wanting him to let her go. However, Shen Shihan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and after releasing her lips, he kissed her neck, her earlobes again. Just as she caught her breath, his lips pressed down again, firmly against her red lips. ¡°Shen, Shen Shihan¡­¡± She wanted to push him away, but his kisses left her disheveled. He was already immersed in her allure, unwilling to let go. He held her face, the kisses deepening. ¡°Shihan¡­ tonight¡­¡± She wanted to say that there was a ball tonight, and with the way he was kissing her, how could she attend the ballter in the evening. But each time she started to speak, Shen Shihan kissed her more intensely, not giving her the chance to talk. It took her a great effort to utter the words. ¡°Shihan¡­ There¡¯s¡­ a ball tonight¡­¡± Gasping for breath, Shen Shihan finally let her go, but his forehead was still resting against hers. ¡°Then shall we¡­ continue after we return tonight?¡± he said with a mischievous smile. Seeing such a submissive Mo Shuifu, he was even more reluctant to let go. If it hadn¡¯t been for her reminder, he surely wouldn¡¯t have stopped¡­ But waiting until tonight was also good. After all, the night offered the most time. ¡°Are you still going to the ball?¡± Mo Shuifu pushed him away and reached for clothes again in the wardrobe. She turned and took the new clothes out, ignoring Shen Shihan. This time, when she turned around, he didn¡¯t embrace her again; he feared one more hug, and he would be addicted. Mo Shuifu quickly changed into her clothes. Afterward, she sat in front of the mirror to arrange her hair. Shen Shihan walked up behind her, took theb from her hands, and said softly, ¡°Let meb your hair for you.¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s hands paused, and she was stunned for a long time. In her younger years, she had fantasized about someone who wouldb her hair, who would style it for her. Later, after she had given herself to him for money, she thought she¡¯d never meet such a person again in this lifetime. But now, under the light, he held theb and whispered next to her ear, ¡°Let meb your hair for you.¡± His voice seemed toe from a distant past, almost like a dream. She didn¡¯t move again, sitting quietly at the vanity, allowing theb to pass through her hair over and over again. After two years of marriage, this was the first time Shen Shihan hadbed her hair, and he felt quite remorseful. This time, he held theb and meticulously took care of her hair. Her ck hair was long and smooth, easy to manage, never knotting as theb glided through. ¡°Shui Fu, may we be together forever,¡± Shen Shihan whispered softly. The orange light was like the color of dreams, his vow reminiscent of an oath in a dream; Mo Shuifu wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to him. Forever is an indefinite distance, and she didn¡¯t know how far it was. His movements were gentle, and every time his fingers slid through her hair, her entire body would tremble slightly. ¡°Done,¡± he said with a slight curl of his lips afterbing her hair. ¡°I want to put my hair up,¡± Mo Shuifu said, looking at the mirror. ¡°Let me try.¡± Shen Shihan wouldn¡¯t let her move, his hands lifting her hair. Her hair was soft and supple, and to his surprise, he was truly able to twist it into a simple bun for her. ¡°Take a look, how¡¯s your husband¡¯s handiwork?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s hands rested lightly on her shoulders. ¡°It will do.¡± ¡°Hmm? Can¡¯t you justpliment me?¡± Shen Shihan pretended to be upset. But Mo Shuifu chuckled, touching the bun and smiling at the mirror, ¡°It¡¯s quite good, I was just teasing you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Shen Shihan turned her shoulders to face him, and as their eyes met, he leaned in and kissed her lips gently. The tender kiss was as sweet as honey. She pushed him, ¡°If we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll bete.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He released her, his eyes shining like stars and the moon. She cherished the way ¡°we¡± sounded to him. As they descended the stairs, the sky had just darkened, and the summer night was very serene. Mo Shuifu actually quite liked such summer nights. But peaceful summer nights also held restless memories, like five years ago. That summer night five years ago, she had nearly endured through pain and torment. Chapter 374: My Wife Chapter 374: My Wife In the spring, she lost her first child, and afterward, she boarded a train leaving C City. Before long, summer arrived. Without anyone to take care of her and with little money, her health was very poor after the miscarriage. That summer, each day felt like an eternity. Every night, the thought that upied her mind the most was that if she couldn¡¯t see tomorrow¡¯s sun, perhaps that might be a blessing too. As these memories surfaced, her head bowed. Shen Shihan, afraid she would be cold, had specially brought her a knitted coat. He caught her shoulder and led her towards the car. After the car started, it headed southward. Indeed, the few young maids in Shen Shihan¡¯s vi looked at Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu with envy, ¡°The Third Young Master and the Third Young Mistress are so happy.¡± ¡°Of course. The Third Young Master treats the Third Young Mistress so well, it makes people envious and jealous.¡± ¡°Look at them, married for two years now and they hardly argue.¡± ¡°Although they haven¡¯t argued much, they also haven¡¯t been particrly close either. Tonight seems to be an exception.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± they agreed. ¡°Right, you say the Third Young Master and the Third Young Mistress have been married for more than two years, why isn¡¯t there any movement in the Third Young Mistress¡¯s stomach?¡± ¡°I heard the Third Young Mistress had a miscarriage before and her health isn¡¯t very good.¡± The maids became spirited as they gossiped. On normal days, when Mo Shuifu was home, they dared not talk so openly, keeping to a certain decorum. But today was different, with Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu both out, even the butler had gone home. In the whole vi, there were only these few maids left, and with all the work done, they gathered to chat. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve also heard it was because the Third Young Mistress had lost a child before.¡± ¡°That child¡­ was it the Third Young Master¡¯s?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some say yes, some say no. The child the Third Young Mistress lost was five years ago; it¡¯s really not clear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the Third Young Mistress has no family background, no support, just like us.¡± ¡°Then you guys say, how did the Third Young Master take a fancy to the Third Young Mistress? The Third Young Master is so outstanding.¡± ¡°No idea.¡± The maids spoke in unison, then all shrugged at the same time. ¡°We¡¯ve been here for several years, and speaking of which, besides the Third Young Mistress, we¡¯ve really never seen the Third Young Master bring any other woman back home.¡± ¡°This ce is the home of the Third Young Master and the Third Young Mistress, of course, no other woman woulde. Moreover, the Third Young Mistress is often at home, how could the Third Young Master bring other women back?¡± ¡°Makes sense. Still, I believe the Third Young Master isn¡¯t that type of person.¡± ¡°You say, the Third Young Master is so faithful to the Third Young Mistress, why is it that we never see a smile on her face?¡± asked one of the younger maids, particrly curious. ¡°Who knows, maybe the Third Young Mistress doesn¡¯t like the Third Young Master?¡± ¡°Why though? The Third Young Master is so outstanding, sessful in business, good in character, and treats the Third Young Mistress so well. What¡¯s there for her to be dissatisfied about?¡± ¡°Liking someone is unpredictable. If the Third Young Mistress just doesn¡¯t like the Third Young Master, that can¡¯t be forced.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t seen the Third Young Mistress show interest in anyone else either.¡± ¡°Are you stupid? If it was all out in the open for you to see, wouldn¡¯t the Third Young Master be aware of it too? Are these matters to be broadcasted to the world?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s true.¡± When Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu arrived at the ball, it was precisely seven-thirty, not a minute too soon or toote, just right. This ball was actually hosted by Shen Shihan. He also wanted to use this opportunity to tell everyone that Mo Shuifu was his wife. For more than two years, their rtionship had been neither warm nor cold, and he didn¡¯t want to keep going on like this. ¡°The Third Young Master has arrived!¡± As they entered, someone came over to greet them. ¡°Yo, early arrival doesn¡¯tpare to timely arrival. How opportune that the Third Young Master hase!¡± ¡°Seven-thirty, just perfect!¡± ¡°Got held up by something, hope everyone doesn¡¯t mind,¡± Shen Shihan said as he walked with Mo Shuifu toward the banquet hall. After taking a few steps, he lowered his head, whispering into Mo Shuifu¡¯s ear, ¡°Hold onto my arm.¡± ¡°Hm? Oh¡­¡± Upon his reminder, Mo Shuifu looped her arm through his; it wasn¡¯t a habit of hers. It wasn¡¯t until then, with the dazzling lights shining upon her face and her eyes slightly squinting, that she felt as if she was living in a dream. She was married, and her husband was Shen Shihan, the Third Young Master. The first time she met him was at Weiyang, when she was bullied by a guest and he pleaded on her behalf. At that time, she was actually quite grateful to him. ¡°Third Young Master, who is this by your side? Won¡¯t you introduce her? It¡¯s our first time seeing her.¡± Someone sharp-eyed approached Shen Shihan. The two of them, one dressed in a ck shirt, the other in a beige dress, looked particrly suitable standing together. Especially when Mo Shuifu held onto Shen Shihan¡¯s arm, his eyes curved into smiles. ¡°Wow, the Third Young Master even brings ady to a ball? Has the sun risen from the west today?¡± someone joked. ¡°She is my wife, Mo Shuifu,¡± Shen Shihan raised his eyebrows. When he said the word ¡°wife,¡± he even looked down at Mo Shuifu for a moment, his gaze tender as water. ¡°Wife? Are you nning to get married, Third Young Master? Not going on adventures with the brothers anymore?¡± ¡°No, Shuifu and I have been married for more than two years already. She doesn¡¯t like lively ces, so I haven¡¯t brought her out until now,¡± Shen Shihan said. In truth, during the early days of their marriage, their rtionship became very strained, and even the marriage certificate was obtained under his coercion. During that time, even a simple kiss from him would result in her biting his lips, not letting him get close. Later, he would leave after mming the doors, not returning to the vi for several months. At that time, let alone taking her out to a ball. ¡°Whoa, Third Young Master, you actually kept such a big matter from us? You got married? I was still hoping to set you up!¡± ¡°It¡¯s your ownck of attention,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently, ¡°I often take Shuifu out, it¡¯s just that she likes quieter ces.¡± ¡°It turns out to be our fault? That¡¯s really not cool of you. You must ept punishment tonight, you need to drink, and drink a lot! Sister-inw, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Mo Shuifu curved her lips slightly: ¡°His alcohol tolerance is good, you guys should punish him with a few more drinks.¡± Hearing Mo Shuifu¡¯s words, the crowd got even more excited and began heckling: ¡°See, sister-inw agrees! Tonight, the Third Young Master doesn¡¯t get to leave unless he¡¯s drunk!¡± Shen Shihan looked helpless, smiling at Mo Shuifu, ¡°Why are you elbowing me out?¡± Mo Shuifu looked up, her lips moved slightly, her eyes sparkled, almost smiling. The crowd riled up again: ¡°Sister-inw, you must make the Third Young Master drink with us until he¡¯s drunk. Otherwise, let him sleep in the study for a week!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you guys¡­¡± Mo Shuifu crooked her elbow outpletely. Chapter 375: Shui Fu, I Love You Chapter 375: Shui Fu, I Love You Shen Shihan tugged her hand gently and whispered, ¡°You really don¡¯t mind letting me sleep in the study?¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s face turned red. With over two years of marriage, he actually never spoke to her so tenderly. Especially with such flirtatious words. She didn¡¯t reply, just lowered her head, and Shen Shihan just smiled. Soon, Shen Shihan was pulled away by a few brothers to drink, and Mo Shuifu was dragged into conversation by several Misses. Ever since marrying Shen Shihan, Mo Shuifu rarely frequented such lively ces. Most of the time, she just hid in her piano shop, ying the piano herself. This time, suddenly surrounded by so many people, she felt somewhat unustomed. Unexpectedly, his friends were all easy to talk to, and no one looked down on her. Particrly an eighteen-year-old girl, who was not only cute but also very literate and sensible. ¡°Sister Shuifu, have you and Brother Third been married for over two years? I¡¯ve never seen you before!¡± The girl, resting her cheek in her palm, sat beside Mo Shuifu. ¡°I don¡¯t go out much, so you haven¡¯t seen me.¡± ¡°So, what do you do now? Does Brother Third treat you well?¡± ¡°He¡¯s very kind to me. I¡¯ve opened a piano shop where lots of kidse to learn.¡± ¡°A piano shop? I can y the piano and the pipa. Are you looking for a teacher? Hire me, hire me, please.¡± ¡°You cane and y; hiring you as a teacher would bury your talent.¡± Mo Shuifuughed and patted her on the head. This girl suddenly reminded her of Xu Chaomu; the Chaomu of yesteryear was just as innocent and lovely. But five years had passed, and from their hurried encounter in the mall that afternoon, she missed her very much. In these five years, she didn¡¯t know if she had fared well. All she knew was that for five years, Shen Chi had reached twenty-eight and remained unmarried. While seated and chatting with everyone, Mo Shuifu was asionally encouraged to drink, but each time she barely lifted the cup, Shen Shihan woulde over. He would reach out, take the cup from her, and then say with a smile to everyone, ¡°Shuifu is allergic to alcohol. I¡¯ll drink for her.¡± Everyone had a good impression of Mo Shuifu and were friendly, so they all believed Shen Shihan¡¯s white lie. After drinking, Shen Shihan would go to the front desk to get a bottle of juice or water for Mo Shuifu and ce it in front of her. Mo Shuifu felt that this man must have an extra pair of eyes, otherwise, how could he always notice whenever someone was about to offer her a drink? After some drinks, people started dancing again. So, someone came to invite Mo Shuifu to dance, but just as the hand reached out, before the words could be spoken, Shen Shihan intercepted. He would smile at the man, ¡°Mr. Qian, why don¡¯t you ask me to dance instead?¡± The man, exasperated, said, ¡°Third Young Master, you have peculiar tastes.¡± The man beat a hasty retreat, and Shen Shihan turned back to Mo Shuifu with a slight smile. ¡°You scared him away,¡± Mo Shuifu said softly. Her eyes shone like the bright stars in the sky, dazzling. When her long eyshes fluttered slightly, it was as if her eyes could speak. Shen Shihan, a bit tipsy, looked at her, and suddenly had an urge to kiss her. Slowly, he lowered his head, intending to press a kiss to her forehead. Mo Shuifu probably knew what he was about to do and slightly dodged, ¡°Miss Sang is waving at you, go dance.¡± ¡°Who pushes their own husband towards another woman? Are you really that confident in me?¡± Shen Shihan propped his hands on either side of her, his eyes smiling and filled with tenderness as he looked at her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good for me to trust you?¡± ¡°Good, good, whatever you say is good. But Mrs. Shen, I would like to invite you to dance. May I?¡± ¡°You know very well that I¡¯m not good at dancing.¡± ¡°No matter, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Shen Shihan, without further ado, pulled Mo Shuifu up from her seat and led her by the hand towards the dance floor. Soft, slow music began to y, and Shen Shihan wrapped his arm around Mo Shuifu¡¯s waist, leading her into the dance. Her steps weren¡¯t graceful enough, but her dancing figure was stunningly beautiful. Slowly, under his guidance, she too began to dance better and better. Their coordination improved, bing silently in sync. Under the crisscrossing lights, Shen Shihan looked at her face and felt utterly fulfilled. He lowered his head, forehead touching hers, and gently called her name, ¡°Shuifu, Shuifu¡­¡± The music, slow like flowing water, wasforting and stirring. When emotions ran deep, Shen Shihan couldn¡¯t control himself anymore, and with a strong pull, he brought her into his embrace. The next second, under the lights and amidst the music, slightly intoxicated, he kissed her lips¡­ Mo Shuifu instinctively tried to push him away, because there were so many people watching! But Shen Shihan didn¡¯t care about that at all; wanting to kiss her, he did so even more intensely. Lights, music, the clinking of sses, their kiss was long and rich, like fine wine, like honey. Mo Shuifu felt dizzy from his kisses, her hands pushing on his chest, embarrassed as if wishing to bury her face in his clothes. This was the first time she had been kissed in front of so many people. But it was as if Shen Shihan did it on purpose; he wouldn¡¯t let go, holding her waist and kissing deeper¡­ The soft sound of music still floated around gently. Some saw Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu kissing and snickered secretly, and some even took pictures of them. With a sh of the camera, Mo Shuifu¡¯s face turned even redder with embarrassment. She patted Shen Shihan¡¯s back with her hand, signaling him to let go. Only then did Shen Shihan end this assertive and dominating kiss, and whispered lowly, ¡°Shuifu, I love you.¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice, maic and deep, was filled with endless tenderness. Mo Shuifu pursed her lips, too moved to speak. No sooner had he finished his confession thanrge rose petals began to fall from above the stage, mostly bright red, interspersed with pink, yellow, blue¡­ The petals piled upon each other, fluttering down like snowkes from above the stage. The stage, lively just moments before, now cleared, leaving only Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu. Petals gently drifted from the air,nding on the stage, on the crystal lights, on Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu¡­ The lighting dimmed by much; at this moment, the two of them were like a prince and princess in a pce, enveloped in a dream clear as crystal. Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t snap back to reality for a long time. She raised her head and saw vibrant petals falling from the sky. So beautiful it was beyond words, like a dream. She was stunned, looking up at the petals, then back at Shen Shihan, hardly believing her own eyes. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Shen Shihan asked softly in her ear. ¡°Mhm,¡± Mo Shuifu nodded, herrge eyes still filled with astonishment. Everything was just too beautiful. Countless petals had covered the stage. More and more petals kept falling from above, this endless shower of petals seemed unceasing. As the petals amassed, the scent of roses permeated everywhere. Chapter 376: A Lifetime Together Chapter 376: A Lifetime Together The fragrance wafted through the air, reaching her nostrils. She reached out to catch the petal, and slowly, arge, crimson rose petalnded in her palm. Light and delicate, just like a feather. Petals also fell on her head, and Shen Shihan reached out, gently brushing them away. ¡°Shuifu, promise me that you¡¯ll be with me for a lifetime, okay?¡± He wrapped his arms around her waist, his eyes filled with deep affection. The tenderness he offered her was unique. This tenderness, like the strings of a violin, plucked at her heartstrings one note at a time. She lowered her eyelids, a blush spreading across her face. ¡°In this lifetime, my heart will only belong to you. No matter the hardships, I will always be by your side,¡± he promised her. He was serious, as he had never been so serious about any woman before. What¡¯s said to be ¡®a look thatsts a thousand years¡¯ is probably like this. Five years ago, he saved her life; five yearster, she fell body and soul. Yet, he was willing. Mo Shuifu looked beautiful under the lights, a smile ying on Shen Shihan¡¯s lips. He gently ran his fingers through her hair, sweeping the locks away from her ear. No matter the hardships, I will always be by your side. People around started to tease, ¡°Kiss her!¡± ¡°Shihan, give Shuifu a kiss!¡± Mo Shuifu lowered her head even more, wishing she could crawl into a hole. Her hand clutched Shen Shihan¡¯s shirt, and she whispered softly, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to their teasing.¡± ¡°I think¡­ we should listen to them for once.¡± Having said that, Shen Shihan pulled her into his embrace, lifted her chin, and nted another kiss on her. The crowd below immediately erupted in cheering, whistling, and apuse! In the air, rose petals continued to fall, and on the stage, they had umted into a thickyer, almost covering their ankles. Shen Shihan held Mo Shuifu tightly in his arms, reluctant to let go. His kisses tasted like fresh tea, leading her again and again until she, too, learned to respond¡­ For over two years, he had kissed her many times, but she rarely consented willingly. Receiving her response, he was overjoyed, hisrge hand tightening around her waist as he deepened the kiss¡­ Together in knowing and in guarding, a pair for life and eternity. The promise I make to you is evesting. The party continued until past eleven o¡¯clock at night. Shen Shihan was especially happy tonight and couldn¡¯t help but drink many drinks. He seemed to wee everyone who came to toast. Mo Shuifu, on the other hand, did not touch a single drop of alcohol, with Shen Shihan blocking it all for her. By the end of the party, Mo Shuifu was still sober, while Shen Shihan waspletely intoxicated. Amidst the joy andughter everywhere, Mo Shuifu was also quite happy inside. She had not enjoyed herself in a crowd like this in a long time. She thought she couldn¡¯t blend into such a party, but she never expected Shen Shihan had considered everything for her. No one made it difficult for her, and even many well-meaning misses and madams came to chat with her, inviting her to throw dice and y games. ¡°Shuifu, you have to hang out with us more, I really like you,¡± said the eighteen-year-old girl, holding Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll look for you when I¡¯m free, and you can also drop by my piano shop,¡± she replied. ¡°Great, it¡¯s a deal. Next time I visit your piano shop, you have to y the piano for me.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Mo Shuifu patted her hair. That girl really did resemble Xu Chaomu, especially when she blinked¡ªit was uncanny. The guests at the party gradually left, and Mo Shuifu saw them off. The girl kept holding her hand, ¡°Shuifu, if Shihan doesn¡¯t treat you well, tell me. My brother is good friends with him and will discipline him for you!¡± ¡°With you saying that, how would he dare not to treat me well?¡± Mo Shuifuughed. ¡°Mhm! Shuifu, I¡¯ll get going first. You should rest early. I wish you and Shihan a lifetime of happiness and an early birth of a noble child!¡± The young girl blew Mo Shuifu a kiss and hopped excitedly into her brother¡¯s car. Her brother was already seated in the back, his gaze never leaving the girl. The young man in the car was noble and aloof, with a distant expression on his face. Mo Shuifu waved to her until their car slowly disappeared into the distance. ¡°Let¡¯s go home too,¡± Shen Shihan stepped forward and draped his arm over her shoulder. ¡°Mhm,¡± Mo Shuifu nodded. The two walked together toward the garage, and Shen Shihan draped his knitted jacket over her shoulders. ¡°Shihan, Peach doesn¡¯t look much like her brother,¡± Mo Shuifu said about the eighteen-year-old girl, whose nickname was Peach. ¡°They¡¯re not blood siblings,¡± Shen Shihan said. ¡°Ah? Is that so?¡± Mo Shuifu seemed to half understand, but Shen Shihan did not borate. Just then, they had only walked a few steps when they reached the garage, and Shen Shihan¡¯s driver had already arrived. He opened the car door for Shen Shihan and Mo Shuifu, and she helped the inebriated Shen Shihan into the car. Shen Shihan really had drunk too much, and now he was leaning back, holding his head in his hands. Mo Shuifu sat beside him, initially just sitting side by side. When she turned and saw his pale face, knowing he had drunk too much, she slowly moved closer to his side. She let him lean against her shoulder, and only then did Shen Shihan wrap his arm around her waist and pull her tightly against him. Fog had risen in the night, misty and veil-like. Her scent was lovely, and he closed his eyes beside her. If only it could be like this for a lifetime¡­ After driving for about half an hour, the driver arrived at Shen Shihan¡¯s vi. The vi was quiet and serene, with only the streetlights flickering with specks of light. The light spilled onto the ground and the bushes, everywhere exuding peace and tranquility. Mo Shuifu got out of the car first, and then bent down to help Shen Shihan out. ¡°Be careful, I¡¯ve got you,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shen Shihan still had some awareness, and under the streetlights, he couldn¡¯t resist touching her face. Mo Shuifu helped Shen Shihan all the way to the house. As they went up the stairs to the bedroom, Shen Shihan was conscious, but he enjoyed the feeling of being supported by her. ¡°You lie down and rest for a while, I¡¯ll go make you some sobering tea,¡± Mo Shuifu told him after helping him to the big bed. She turned on the air conditioning, took off his shoes, and was about to cover him with a thin nket when his hand stretched out and pulled her into his embrace. The next second, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him. ¡°Shuifu¡­ you look so beautiful tonight¡­¡± He was drunk, his eyes hazy with inebriation. His hand brushed through her hair, over and over, sweeping the strands from her forehead. Beneath the orange glow of the deskmp, she was graceful and gentle¡ªnot the best, perhaps, but in his eyes, she was the only one. Mo Shuifu tried to move, but she was tightly pinned by him. Having no other choice, she tried to negotiate, ¡°Shihan, I¡¯m going to make you some sobering tea. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight.¡± ¡°But if I let you go, I won¡¯t be able to sleep either.¡± Chapter 377: 377: Making a Serious Confession to Her Mo Shuifu wanted to move her body, but she was tightly pressed by him. Left with no choice, she had to negotiate, ¡°Shihan, I¡¯ll go make you some sobering tea. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight.¡± ¡°But if I let you go, I won¡¯t be able to sleep either.¡± Mo Shuifu looked at him helplessly, the man now ying the rogue. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk¡­¡± Shen Shihan leaned down and ced a kiss on her forehead. Gradually, that kiss moved to her lips. Shen Shihan thought, the things he hadn¡¯t finished doing before, now, he would make up for them all. The long night was still young. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t resist anymore, she closed her eyes and let him kiss her. His kisses were sometimes gentle, sometimes wild, but each time they gave her a different sensation. ¡°Shihan¡­¡± she called out, her hands uncontrobly wrapping around him.
She intoxicated him, and at the peak of passion, it was like drowning in the ocean. His kisses stirred waves in her heart, and her eyes quickly became veiled with ayer of mist and confusion. ¡°Shuifu, I love you¡­¡± he told her. He had said these three words many, many times, though she had never once said them back to him. In her ears were his breaths, along with the increasingly intense scent of him and the alcohol. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Shihan¡­¡± There was a hint of panic in her eyes. She lightly resisted him, but her resistance only kindled his desire further. He basked in all of her beauty, growing more intoxicated by the moment. He thought, he truly was drunk. That night, he was very happy, having spoken all the words he wanted to say to her. It was the first time he had confessed to her seriously in the more than two years they were married. Her hair still seemed to carry the fragrance of roses; he greedily inhaled all the scents from her¡­ ¡°Shuifu, from now on, let¡¯s be together happily¡­¡± Shen Shihan whispered by her ear until he felt she was ready. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Mo Shuifu winced in pain. His kisses quickly followed, soothing her difort. In the bedroom, the orange light spilled all around, filled with lingering love. The long night stretched on, with the delicate chirping of insects outside the window, the moonlight hazy, Qingqing and shallow. Mist wafted through the air, and with a gust of wind, moisture enveloped everything.
However, Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi¡¯s rtionship was far from harmonious. Aftering back from the shopping mall during the day, no matter how many things Shen Chi bought Xu Chaomu, she wasn¡¯t very happy. She demanded her cell phone from him, but he tly refused to give it back, initially saying it was at the Shen Family home. After returning to the Shen Family home, he imed it was lost. Xu Chaomu was livid with anger, snorted coldly, and went to her room to sleep, vexed.
In the end, she also mmed the door with a bang. It wasn¡¯t that she was being petty, but Shen Chi¡¯s behavior really made her angry! Now, in the middle of the night, Xu Chaomu woke up, unable to sleep, tossing and turning in bed. When she lifted her head and looked towards the window, she didn¡¯t expect to see that the light was still on next door! Groping to themp beside the bed, she turned it on, and it was somewhat dazzling. It was already one in the morning. What was he doing, not sleeping? Just then, she heard the sound of soft, discrete footsteps and voices. Holding her breath, she listened quietly. ¡°Young Master, the house is out of those headache pills from before; all we have left is this one. To get that specific kind, we¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow to go to the hospital.¡± It was the butler¡¯s voice. ¡°Just this one, it¡¯s nothing, you go to sleep,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was somewhat low. ¡°Young Master Chi, does your head hurt a lot?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Shen Chi did not wish to talk much.
Butler Ling knew that this was just his temperament, so he didn¡¯t ask further and simply ced the hot water beside him, ¡°Then Young Master Chi, after you take the medicine, you should go to bed. Tomorrow I¡¯ll go to the hospital to see about that medication, its effects are much better.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi still didn¡¯t have much to say. The butler had not yet left when Shen Chi took the medicine with the warm water. ¡°Young Master Chi, you should worry less about thepany¡¯s business. Isn¡¯t Xiao Mo handling it for you?¡± Butler Ling felt distressed seeing Shen Chi with a headache. ¡°I know.¡± Shen Chi clenched his fist against his forehead, his brows deeply furrowed. Butler Ling couldn¡¯t help but sigh; she knew it wasn¡¯t just thepany¡¯s affairs troubling him. Ever since Chaomu left him five years ago, he often drank until he had a headache. Later on, this headache problem became chronic. And this illness was also a heartache. ¡°Young Master Chi, if there¡¯s anything else you need, just call for me.¡± ¡°Mhm, you go back to rest.¡± Butler Ling nodded, left Shen Chi¡¯s room, and closed the door behind her. She didn¡¯t expect that when she came out, she would see that the light was on in Chaomu¡¯s room. When she hade over earlier, the room¡¯s light had been off; could it be, Chaomu was awake? Butler Ling didn¡¯t dwell on it and quietly went downstairs.
As soon as Butler Ling left, Chaomu opened the door. She had heard their entire conversation. Taking medicine? Why did he need to take medicine? Standing at his door in her slippers, her hands had been in her pajama pockets, but now she stretched out one hand, wanting to knock. After hesitating for a long time and fiddling with the hem of her clothes, she finally knocked lightly on his door. ¡°Knock, knock,¡± two sounds, neither loud nor soft. Thinking it was Butler Ling, Shen Chi frowned and spoke in a cold voice, ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s talk tomorrow.¡± Chaomu hesitated about whether or not to go in to see him. After a few seconds, she knocked on the bedroom door again. Shen Chi was suffering from a severe headache, and the knocking only added to his irritation, but he still got up and went to open the door. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Upon opening the door, he saw Chaomu standing there in a pink pajama set, herrge doe-like eyes filled with panic. ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone softened a bit, ¡°Come in.¡± Shen Chi turned and walked back into the bedroom, with Chaomu following behind. She saw a box of medicine and a cup of hot water, still steaming, on his desk.
His room always had a faint scent ofvender, and as soon as she entered, she feltforted. Unlike her own room, which was a mess and cluttered with all kinds of things, his room was immacte. ¡°Why are you still up sote?¡± Shen Chi asked indifferently. He knew it was already one in the morning. ¡°You aren¡¯t sleeping either,¡± Chaomu said. ¡°Thinking of me in the middle of the night?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved slightly. Despite the headache, he smiled and walked over to the desk, secretly putting away the painkillers. ¡°Why would I be thinking of you?¡± Chaomu had seen it all, and she quickly stepped forward, grabbing his hand, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he tried to lock the drawer. However, Chaomu still managed to snatch the medicine box out, turning it over in her hands; it turned out to be for headaches. Seeing that she had already seen it, Shen Chi stopped trying to take it back, but his brows remained furrowed. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± Chaomu looked up at him with raised eyes. He was tall, and she had to look up slightly to meet his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he took the medicine box from her hands and with a ¡°thud¡± tossed it into the drawer, avoiding her gaze. Chapter 378: 378: Flaunting Wealth But Xu Chaomu still snatched the medicine box from him, flipped it over in her hands, and saw it was for treating headaches. Shen Chi saw that she had already seen it and didn¡¯t try to take it back, but his brows were still furrowed. ¡°Does your head hurt a lot?¡± Xu Chaomu raised her eyes to look at him. He was tall, and she needed to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He took the medicine box from her hands and threw it into the drawer with a ¡°dong,¡± avoiding her gaze. She saw that his face was somewhat pale and knew that this man was too stubborn to admit it. ¡°I heard everything you said to Butler Ling just now,¡± Xu Chaomu said discontentedly, ¡°Would it kill you to admit it? Would admitting it get you pregnant?¡± She pouted, very dissatisfied. This man was just too proud! Proud my brother-inw, proud my grandfather! As soon as Shen Chi saw her like this, his pain seemed to lessen. He lifted the corners of his lips, and hisrge handnded on her head. In the afternoon returning to the Shen Family home, she was still huffing with anger, mming the door loudly, looking as if she¡¯d never associate with him again. Yet now, she was concerned about him.
¡°Seeing you, the pain goes away,¡± he said, squinting at her. ¡°Can¡¯t spit out ivory from a dog¡¯s mouth,¡± Xu Chaomu shook off his hand, ¡°Taking medicine isn¡¯t a long-term solution, have you been to the hospital?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Maybe if you help me massage it, it¡¯ll stop hurting.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Well if you can¡¯t, that¡¯s it. Go to sleep, it¡¯s already one o¡¯clock; sleeping toote is bad for your health, and you¡¯re pregnant.¡± ¡°I can still try even if I can¡¯t do it,¡± Xu Chaomu said stubbornly, her head raised, staring into his eyes. Shen Chi also lowered his head, this time not refusing: ¡°Alright, you try.¡± His voice was deep, and his brows were still knit, the pain really was severe at the moment. ¡°You sit down, I¡¯ll massage you. Consider it a repayment for buying the peace charm for my baby,¡± she said. ¡°What repayment, do you really have to talk about this?¡± irritation showed on Shen Chi¡¯s face. Emotionally stirred, his head began to ache again. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips: ¡°Just sit when I tell you to, what¡¯s with all the talk.¡± Well, actually, he wasn¡¯t at a loss. Her baby was also his baby. Buying things for his own child, how could he lose? Xu Chaomu tugged at his wrist, pulling him over to the chair. Having seated him, she gently massaged his head with her hands, very softly, fearing she might hurt him. ¡°When I was at Shen¡¯s ce before, I never saw you have a headache. You¡¯re so young, when did you develop this problem?¡± Xu Chaomu stood behind him, speaking softly. In the quiet of the night, her words sounded especially pleasant andforting to him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shen Chi, eyes closed, opened his lips slightly, then remained silent.
¡°Ask you this, you say ¡®it¡¯s nothing,¡¯ ask you that, you say ¡®none of your business.¡¯ Fine, let¡¯s leave it if you don¡¯t want to talk. Anyway, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m rted to you; I don¡¯t need to care about you.¡± ¡°Angry?¡± He hadn¡¯t opened his eyes but slightly curled the corners of his lips. ¡°Where did you see me getting angry? Why would I be angry? I¡¯m thrilled to see you have a headache.¡± ¡°Heartless little thing.¡± Shen Chi stretched out his hand, touching her fluffy little head.
His face broke into a smile, a smile that came only with her presence. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, okay? If by mistake you press too hard, you¡¯ll be the one suffering,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°As long as you¡¯re here, everything is fine,¡± he murmured, almost with a sigh. During those five years, every time his headache kept him awake at night, he¡¯d think of her, and the more he thought of her, the more his head hurt. Especially when he woke up each morning and couldn¡¯t see her, it wasn¡¯t just his head that hurt¡ªhis mood was incredibly irritable too. Now that she had finally returned, he was determined never to let go again. Xu Chaomu¡¯s gentle hands massaged his forehead and temples; it was her first time, and she dared not apply too much pressure. When she saw his frowning brows, her heart actually skipped a beat. Before, Shen Chi was quite healthy, rarely sick with even a cold, let alone headaches. What had he gone through in these five years? Was it because the business was too much for him? And, about that diamond mine contract from five years ago that he handed to Zhou Peitian, what happened to him after he returned to Shen¡¯spany? So many questions, and she wanted to know the answers. But she knew if she asked him, he would definitely reply with ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± so she simply didn¡¯t ask. Shen Chi, with his eyes closed, let Xu Chaomu massage his head. Her hands were neither cold nor hot, just the right temperature,forting on his head. ¡°Feeling any better?¡± Xu Chaomu asked.
Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but in the silence of the night, it seemed somewhat abrupt. ¡°Mhm, quite good. Have you done this for others before?¡± ¡°Yeah, I met a lot of boyfriends abroad, one, two, three, four¡­¡± ¡°Alright, stop the nonsense.¡± Shen Chi had already figured out she was bbering. She muttered dissatisfied: ¡°Really, I had a lot of boyfriends abroad, just not quite satisfied with any, so we broke upter.¡± ¡°So, are you satisfied with me?¡± Shen Chi spoke faintly, his eyes closed, a hint of detachment in his tone. ¡°Not satisfied.¡± ¡°What are you not satisfied with?¡± ¡°Dark-hearted, pretending, poisonous tongue, shameless¡ªwhat¡¯s the use of having such a mane back?¡± ¡°Your husband has one very obvious advantage.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Chaomu was curious. ¡°Wealthy and bold.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Xu Chaomu snapped back.
Shen Chi couldn¡¯t helpughing, opened his eyes, and caught her arm, ¡°Sitting on the chair is ufortable, I¡¯ll go lie on the bed, and you keep massaging.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t forgotten, they just had a quarrel that afternoon. ¡°You¡­ if you¡¯re tired, go to sleep,¡± he said. Shen Chi got up from the chair, rubbing his temples, ready to rest on the bed. ¡°I¡­ forget it, considering the things you bought for my baby. Lie down,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. Shen Chiy down on the bed, and Xu Chaomu sat beside him, ready to continue massaging his forehead. But Shen Chi pulled her down to lie beside him, saying indifferently, ¡°Sitting too long is bad for your health, lie down and massage me.¡± Xu Chaomu thought there didn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong with that. But as soon as shey down, why did this man switch off the light? Why?! The bedroom immediately fell into darkness, and Xu Chaomu crawled wanting to turn on the light. But Shen Chi¡¯s bed was toorge; after crawling for a while and not reaching it, she was pulled back by him. ¡°Don¡¯t move around in the dark,¡± Shen Chi pulled at her. His head actually still hurt, but with her by his side, it was already much morefortable.
Xu Chaomu, feeling helpless and afraid of straining herself, justy next to him. ¡°I¡¯ll massage you for a few more minutes, and then I¡¯m going back to sleep,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°No need, let¡¯s sleep now.¡± Chapter 379: 379 Mumu, Let’s Sleep His arms were incredibly strong, hugging her tightly and preventing her from moving. ¡°Are you really having a headache or are you faking it? You seem to be doing quite well,¡± Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth. ¡°Who would take medicine for no reason?¡± In the darkness, Shen Chi¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply, the dull pain in his heading in waves. However, with her by his side, the pain seemed to diminish. He held her in his arms, smelling the unique fragrance of her body, and his heart instantly calmed. No matter the torment, it seemed worthwhile, as long as she was still by his side. ¡°Then let¡¯s make a deal, you release your hand first? It¡¯s dark and we shouldn¡¯t move rashly,¡± Xu Chaomu suggested, mimicking his tone. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved up in a smile, his voiceced withughter, ¡°Right, don¡¯t move around, or else I can¡¯t guarantee anything. You should know, I am a normal man.¡± In fact, when he held her, his body had already ignited a fire, but firstly, she was pregnant, so he couldn¡¯t do anything to her, and secondly, his headache was so severe that he really wasn¡¯t in the mood. ¡°Liar,¡± Xu Chaomu whispered reproachfully. She regretteding to see him at night; why was she so kind-hearted? This liar.
Now she was held in his arms, unable to move. Moreover, as they were pressed close together, she could clearly hear his steady heartbeat, unhurried and strong. It was her, embarrassingly, whose heart was thumping wildly. Why was it doing that? Shen Chi¡¯s head still ached faintly, but holding Xu Chaomu close had eased much of the pain. Hearing the thumping of her heart, he couldn¡¯t help but smile deeply and ask, ¡°How does it feel to be held by a ¡®male god¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was still racing, and his words made her even more irritated, ¡°What male god? More like a male lunatic. Shen Chi, your vanity is beyond cure.¡± He didn¡¯t take offense, instead hugging her even tighter, the smile on his face bing even more pronounced. ¡°Shen Chi, can you loosen your grip a bit? It¡¯s summer! Summer!¡± Xu Chaomu protested indignantly. ¡°The air conditioning is on.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find it hot?¡± ¡°I find it cold.¡± Having said that, he wrapped his arms even tighter around her. Xu Chaomu was at a loss for words. There was no point in arguing with someone so shameless. ¡°Mumu, let¡¯s go to sleep, it¡¯ste,¡± he suggested. ¡°Does your head still hurt?¡± she asked, sounding annoyed. She didn¡¯t really want to ask, but then she thought about how he bought a peace-lock for their baby today. Well¡­ it wouldn¡¯t hurt just to ask, it¡¯s not like it would cost her anything. ¡°If you don¡¯t talk, it doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Shen Chi replied. Why did she care about him? Whether his head hurt or not, what did it have to do with her? Why should she care?! Consequently, Xu Chaomu became truly silent, refusing to speak with him any longer.
However, this was her first time sleeping in his bed, and she felt incredibly awkward. During those eight years, she spared no effort trying to get close to him, trying desperately to crawl into his bed, only to be thrown out just before she could snuggle up. And now, ironically, she couldn¡¯t leave if she wanted to. She closed her eyes, but truthfully, she couldn¡¯t sleep at all. Shen Chi wasn¡¯t asleep either. Even with the medication, his head was still aching. He could only frown and endure it. Endure a little longer and it would pass.
The summer night was peaceful, without a whisper of sound. asionally, a breeze would stir, causing the tree leaves to rustle softly. Time ticked by second by second, and when the clock on the wall pointed to ¡°3,¡± neither of them were asleep, each preupied with their own thoughts. Xu Chaomu moved slightly, trying to gently withdraw her arm, only for him to whisper in her ear, ¡°Can¡¯t sleep? Am I pressing on you?¡± Xu Chaomu was startled, ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± ¡°When I have a headache, I often can¡¯t sleep all night,¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly. ¡°Has it been like this for the past five years?¡± she inquired. ¡°It¡¯s like this whenever I miss you,¡± Shen Chi touched her head and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m asking you a serious question here.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m giving you a serious answer,¡± he replied. Xu Chaomu was left speechless; he always did this. ¡°Since you can¡¯t sleep and neither can I, why don¡¯t you tell a story to our baby?¡± Xu Chaomu suggested. ¡°Sure, what story do you want to hear?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what story he¡¯d want to hear, so¡­ just tell any story, as long as it¡¯s good.¡±
¡°Then I will just tell any story,¡± Shen Chi became enthusiastic, ¡°Once upon a time, there was a very dumb, very dumb rabbit, as dumb as¡­ let me think¡­ oh, as dumb as you.¡± ¡°Damn it, Shen Chi, can¡¯t you tell a proper story?¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but tug at his hair, irritated that even storytelling had to bring her down! ¡°Don¡¯t move, don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll continue, I¡¯ll tell it properly.¡± ¡°Yes, go on,¡± Xu Chaomu said, letting go of his hair. ¡°One day, this dumb rabbit went down the mountain to sell a basket of vegetables, and he happened to encounter a wolf dressed as a sheep.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Xu Chaomu asked from under the covers. ¡°Then, the wolf squatted in front of the dumb rabbit¡¯s vegetable stall and muttered to itself, ¡®What should I eat today?¡¯ The dumb rabbit picked up a bunch of grass, ¡®Need grass? Two bucks a bunch, two bucks, and you won¡¯t be fooled; two bucks, and you can¡¯t go wrong.¡¯¡± ¡°The wolf rolled its eyes, ¡®No thanks.¡¯ The dumb rabbit then grabbed a bunch of greens, ¡®How about the greens?¡¯ The wolf shook its head again, ¡®No.¡¯ The dumb rabbit became anxious, ¡®What about the carrots, fresh, I haven¡¯t even had the heart to eat them myself,¡¯ and the wolf kept shaking its head, no.¡± ¡°Frustrated, the dumb rabbit flipped its stall, ¡®What the hell do you want? What do you want?!¡¯ The wolf grabbed it firmly and smiled slyly, ¡®I want to eat you.¡¯¡± Upon hearing the story, Xu Chaomu scoffed, ¡°That¡¯s too violent! Not nice at all!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t finished yet,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Oh, then continue.¡±
¡°Of course, the dumb rabbit struggled, saying, ¡®My meat doesn¡¯t taste good,¡¯ but the wolf picked it up by the ears and took it home.¡± ¡°So, did the wolf have a change of heart? Or maybe there were other rabbits to save it?¡± Xu Chaomu inquired. Shen Chi chuckled wryly; wrapping his arms around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, he whispered softly, ¡°Come a bit closer, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu was curious. As she moved closer to him, Shen Chi whispered in her ear, ¡°The big bad wolf fell in love with the dumb rabbit, and when he said ¡®I want to eat you,¡¯ he meant¡­ I want you in every way. From then on¡­ the big bad wolf and dumb rabbit lived happily, blissfully, thudding and wall-thudding lives together¡­¡± ¡­ Damn! Xu Chaomu was instantly at a loss for words, feeling as if a flock of crows swooshed overhead. She smacked his shoulder, ¡°Yellow and violent stories, Shen Chi, mind the influence! You¡¯re corrupting my baby!¡± Chapter 380: 380: What can a lone man and woman do ¡°She¡¯ll never get married!¡± Xu Chaomu wrung her wrists. ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a daughter? Even if it is, don¡¯t worry, someone will want her. Like you, didn¡¯t I pick you up?¡± ¡°Hmm, but her daddy is handsome, so this kid will definitely have good genes. Who knows, there may be a whole bunch of people chasing after her.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know whether the child would take after Shen Chi more or her, but it would be best if the child resembled Shen Chi more. This man had high IQ and good looks; if she took after him, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about hercking suitors. Just hope she doesn¡¯t inherit his temper. However, to Shen Chi, her remark ¡°her daddy is handsome¡± was quite grating to the ear. ¡°Mumu, close your eyes and sleep. If you don¡¯t sleep now, it¡¯ll be daylight soon.¡± He avoided the topic of the baby, hugging her and coaxing her to sleep like one would with a child. Years ago, he couldn¡¯t even utter a word of concern, and yearster, he learned to coax her to sleep. But, it was only for her. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. Tell me another story, and make it pure this time.¡± Shen Chi lowered his voice,manding, ¡°Sleep!¡± ¡°But¡­¡±
¡°Sleep!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± This time, Xu Chaomu obediently closed her mouth. Shey awkwardly in his embrace and gradually, she truly fell asleep. She slept until nine in the morning. Shen Chi barely slept all night; sometimes he managed to drift off only to wake up minutester with an intense headache, which chased away any drowsiness. Later, he simply held her in his arms, no longer trying to sleep. For five years, he hadn¡¯t properly held her; now, he only resented that the night was too short. The days in summer begin early, and after just a few hours, the sky began to lighten. Gradually, the dawn rose from the east, and the sunlight pierced through the clouds to illuminate the earth, sprinkling light onto the balcony of Shen Chi¡¯s room. The moment he opened his eyes, it was already half-past five in the morning. He carefully moved Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm away and tucked her in before getting out of bed to dress. He chose a white shirt from the wardrobe and, not to disturb her, he took all the clothes into the bathroom to put on. His movements were so gentle that Xu Chaomu smacked her lips without any awareness. It wasn¡¯t until Shen Chi went downstairs that she clung to the bedding and slept soundly. Her ck hair spread out on the pillow, and Shen Chi watched, reluctant to leave. ¡°Young Master Four, good morning. Is your headache any better? Why didn¡¯t you sleep a bit longer?¡± The butler was preparing breakfast. ¡°It¡¯s fine, much better now.¡± ¡°Breakfast is ready. Would you like to eat now?¡± ¡°Yes, that would be good.¡± ¡°By the way, Young Master Four, early this morning, a ck Cayenne was parked outside, lingering not far from the Shen Family¡¯s vi.¡± ¡°How long has it been there?¡±
¡°About half an hour.¡± ¡°Let it stay there,¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently. ¡°Is it someone here to see you about business?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡±
A servant delivered breakfast, coffee and sandwiches. Shen Chi sat at the table, absent-mindedly stirring his coffee with a spoon. In an instant, the aroma of the coffee spread with the steam, filling the air. While the coffee was still hot, he stirred it with the spoon and made a call to Xiao Mo. ¡°How¡¯s the thing I asked you to check outst time going?¡± ¡°Good morning, Mr. Shen. Are you asking about Nie Chenng? I checked, but guess, whose son is he?¡± ¡°Nie Chenng¡­¡± Shen Chi chewed over the name, ¡°There aren¡¯t many prominent families in C City with the Nie surname.¡± ¡°Indeed not many, so you should be able to guess it,¡± said Xiao Mo. After pondering for a few seconds, Shen Chi spoke solemnly, ¡°Could it be Lu Feili¡¯s son?¡± ¡°Yes, you guessed right, Mr. Shen. Lu Feili¡¯s son is Nie Chenng. She has only one biological son, who has always been studying in Paris and worked there after graduation. It wasn¡¯t until recently that he returned to the country.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s coffee-stirring hand paused, ¡°Oh? What else?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you asking me to check on your wife¡¯s affairs from those five years?¡± Xiao Mo had been with Shen Chi for a while and knew what he liked to hear, so he continued with ¡°your wife¡±¡­ Sure enough, Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a smile¡­
¡°I looked into it, but it¡¯s been five years, and a lot of things are untraceable. However¡­¡± Xiao Mo hesitated. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What I¡¯ve found out is definitive.¡± ¡°Good, I know you¡¯re capable. Report it!¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°During those five years, your wife¡­ should I really say this?¡± ¡°If you beat around the bush again, hand in your resignation tomorrow!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll speak, just don¡¯t get angry, please. During those five years, your wife was always with Nie Chenng, almost¡­ inseparable.¡± Xiao Mo shut his eyes and blurted it out in one breath, looking as if he was facing certain doom. With a ¡°ng,¡± Shen Chi mmed the spoon down into his coffee cup. Xiao Mo heard the noise even through the phone! ¡°What else?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°There¡¯s more¡­ should I really tell you?¡± ¡°If you hesitate one more time, try me!¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll continue. Please put any fragile objects at least a meter away from you. During those five years, your wife went to a university to study design, courtesy of Nie Chenng¡¯s arrangements. Initially, your wife lived on campus, but towards graduationst year, Nie Chenng moved her into his own apartment. As for what they did there¡­ I can¡¯t find that out.¡± ¡°What could they possibly do?!¡± Shen Chi fumed. ¡°Well¡­ when a man and a woman are alone, what do you think?¡± Xiao Mo deliberately prodded. ¡°Shut up!¡± Xiao Mo flinched and became very silent. Then the phone was quiet for a long while until Shen Chi, irritated, spoke up, ¡°What else? Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± ¡°You told me¡­ to shut up.¡± ¡°If you keep this up, by afternoon go settle your sry with finance!¡± Shen Chi was on the verge of flipping the table. ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue. As for your wife, sheter interned at apany where Nie Chenng happened to be the marketing director. So, your wife must be especially grateful to Nie Chenng, or perhaps, harbor some other feelings. Later, Nie Chenng proposed to your wife, and she epted¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips tightened noticeably, but Xiao Mo continued, ¡°Mr. Shen, that¡¯s the general situation, I¡¯ll keep investigating for specifics.¡± ¡°Right, how did she get by those five years?¡± Shen Chi remembered, she once bullshitted him about surviving by acting in ¡®those kinds of movies.¡¯ ¡°I guess for the most part¡­ by Nie Chenng¡¯s support. However, ording to her college teachers, your wife worked part-time at night and during holidays, and the sry from her internship after graduation was decent.¡± Hearing Xiao Mo say she worked part-time at night and during holidays, Shen Chi really couldn¡¯t bring himself to be mad at her.
Back at the Shen Family, he had always wanted to serve her every meal, he really couldn¡¯t imagine her working part-time. Chapter 381: 381: Rivals Meet ¡°What kind of part-time jobs does she primarily do?¡± Shen Chi asked indifferently. ¡°Just washing dishes in restaurants or helping out in the library, you shouldn¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°I can worry myself sick just watching her sweep the floor, and you tell me not to worry?!¡± Shen Chi smacked the table and roared into the phone. ¡°Er¡­¡± Xiao Mo was speechless, after all, it was Shen Chi himself who had spoiled her. ¡°Mr. Shen, is there anything else you want to know?¡± Xiao Mo spread his hands. ¡°Go find someone to keep a close eye on Lu Feili.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After hanging up, Shen Chi¡¯s heart seethed with rage. During those five years, had Xu Chaomu really been spending each day and night with Nie Chenng? Day and night, day and night¡­ These words were the greatest irony to him. Thinking of this, his head started to ache again, he clenched his fist and pressed it against his forehead, falling silent. He didn¡¯t eat much for breakfast and started to walk out of the Shen family¡¯s vi.
Old Cheng had been waiting outside the door for a while; it was just after six o¡¯clock, the sunrise was just beginning, and the weather was mild. Looking out, theke shone with rippling waves, and the sky was a vast expanse of azure. Old Cheng genuinely felt sorry for Shen Chi, getting up early every morning to go to thepany. Now that Xu Chaomu had returned, he didn¡¯t take more time to rest. Shen Chi, with his overcoat, walked out of the Shen family¡¯s gate. Just as he approached his Maybach, the door of the Cayenne parked in front flung open. A young man stepped down from the passenger side, elegant and warm as bright jade. The man was also dressed in a white shirt, standing beside the car door. The sunlight streamed directly down from above his head. His long, fair hand was still half-resting on the car door, and his whole presence resembled a statue, a very attractive one. Shen Chi didn¡¯t rush to get into the car. Clearly, the man hade for him. He squinted his eyes, taking a close look at the man before him. This man, he seemed to have seen him somewhere before. Nie Chenng lowered his hand and took steps towards Shen Chi. Old Cheng was still standing behind Shen Chi. Both men were eye-catching, both exuding noble and elegant demeanors, yet their auras were entirely different. Shen Chi had one hand in his pocket, calmly waiting for the man to approach. ¡°Hello, my name is Nie Chenng.¡± Nie Chenng extended his hand. Shen Chi twitched the corners of his lips. It was indeed him. ¡°Shen Chi.¡± He also stretched out his hand, saying in a deep voice. Their firm handshakes seemed harmonious and bright to outsiders, but only they knew that it was like drawn swords and bows at the ready. Nie Chenng had finallye looking for him, just as Shen Chi had expected. He had been holding back for quite a few days. ¡°Mr. Shen, do you have the time to talk for a moment?¡± Nie Chenng asked politely. ¡°Sure, Jazz Cafe.¡± Shen Chi, keeping it short and to the point, finished speaking, nced at Nie Chenng, and then turned to board his car. Nie Chenng gave a faint smile. This man was indeed as the rumors described, cold and aloof.
He also turned and got into his Cayenne. The two cars left the Shen family¡¯s vi and headed towards the cafe one after the other. On the way, Old Cheng couldn¡¯t help but feel curious, ¡°Mr. Shen, is he Nie Chenng?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡±
Old Cheng was filled with emotion. To speak bluntly, the two were romantic rivals. When rivals met, sparks were bound to fly. One was Shen Chi, whom Xu Chaomu had once deeply loved, and the other was the father of Xu Chaomu¡¯s baby. Their rtionship was soplicated it was impossible to separate cleanly. If it had been five years ago, Old Cheng would have been certain that not even ten Nie Chenngs couldpete with Shen Chi, because Xu Chaomu¡¯s true love was Shen Chi. But now, with five years having passed, the sea could turn into mulberry fields, and how could a person¡¯s heart remain in the same ce? Old Cheng had also heard that Xu Chaomu intended to get engaged to Nie Chenng on her return. Furthermore, Xu Chaomu¡¯s child was already over two months old¡­ Sometimes, even he couldn¡¯t help but advise Shen Chi to let go. But this man, as always, was obstinate. Just as he had been for five years, despite being surrounded by many women, he remained unchanged. The two cars drove one after the other to the Jazz Cafe, a well-known establishment in C City¡¯s upper circles, also owned by the Ji Shengxuan family. After more than half an hour, the two cars parked in the parking lot separately. Shen Chi and Nie Chenng got out of their cars and walked into the cafe. ¡°Mr. Shen, what would you like to drink?¡± Nie Chenng asked after they were seated. ¡°No need, let¡¯s keep it short and sweet, we¡¯re all busy people,¡± Shen Chi replied, ncing at his watch. In the cafe, the tables were vintage rosewood with delicately carved floral patterns. The lights were vintage bronze lotus chandeliers, casting a soft light that poured down like milk, illuminating the white shirts of both men. One man, cold and distant, his face never showing a smile; the other warm and bright, with a hint of a smile on his face.
¡°Okay, let¡¯s keep it short then,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Chaomu, where is she?¡± ¡°Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi then curled his lips into a smile, ¡°At my ce.¡± To be precise, in his bed. ¡°Did you¡­ confine her?¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t put it so harshly. She lived in my house for eight years. It¡¯s just a return to familiar surroundings, reluctant to leave. Where does the idea of confinemente from?¡± Shen Chi remained cool andposed. ¡°Did you get her consent?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then you should also know that she and I are getting engaged.¡± ¡°I know, but you haven¡¯t gotten a marriage license yet, have you?¡± Shen Chi countered, his eyes sharpening. ¡°After the engagement, the marriage license is naturally just a matter of time.¡± ¡°ording to Article 258 of the Criminal Law, those with a spouse whomit bigamy are subject to imprisonment of up to two years or criminal detention.¡± Shen Chi stared intently into Nie Chenng¡¯s eyes, his gaze lethal. The chill in his eyes seemed to make the surrounding air drop a few degrees. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s tone grew tense.
¡°She and I got our marriage certificate five years ago. What, does Young Master Nie intend to meddle in someone else¡¯s marriage?¡± ¡°Chaomu never told me about this.¡± ¡°She¡¯s always been mischievous, probably finds the thrill of an extramarital affair amusing; I don¡¯t me her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just your side of the story. Bring Chaomu out, let me talk to her for a minute.¡± Nie Chenng didn¡¯t believe this man; he knew Shen Chi was crafty and cunning. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can check with the Civil Affairs Bureau. With your status as Young Master Nie, it should be no trouble.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, with your means, forging one wouldn¡¯t be too difficult either.¡± They were each as firm as the other, neither willing to give in. ¡°It seems we have nothing else to talk about then,¡± Shen Chi said, appearing indifferent. ¡°Chaomu has her interests and hobbies. Moreover, she enjoys going to work and doing design. You keep her cooped up at home all day, why don¡¯t you ask about her thoughts?¡± With this remark, Shen Chi frowned. These were things he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Mr. Shen, if I¡¯m not mistaken, your girlfriend Jian Sisi was threatening to jump off a building just a few days ago, wasn¡¯t she? With so many women around you, are you sure you can treat Chaomu well?¡±
Chapter 382: 382: Slept Together Last Night ¡°But have you ever asked Chaomu what she thinks? Does she want to follow you? And the baby in her stomach, can you treat them wholeheartedly?¡± ¡°That¡¯s between me and her.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s eyes suddenly became stern, ¡°Do you think, Chaomu can get over that hurdle in her heart?¡± Shen Chi was silent; he was very clear about the so-called hurdle Nie Chenng mentioned. ¡°To let herself be with the son of the man who killed her mother, can she do it?¡± Nie Chenng asked back. Can she do it? Shen Chi didn¡¯t know. The confidence that was there on normal days was gone at this moment. He really didn¡¯t know. After all, life and death are big matters. And Xu Chaomu, she loved her mother so much. ¡°So, President Shen, you should think it over carefully. Nie and Chaomu, we¡¯re about to get engaged soon, and I hope you won¡¯t obstruct us anymore,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Shen Chi retorted dominantly. Although he couldn¡¯t make Xu Chaomu forget those past events, it didn¡¯t mean he would let go.
Shen Chi stood up and walked towards the door. ¡°Do you n to keep Chaomu from seeing me?¡± Nie Chenng also stood up. ¡°Depends on my mood!¡± Shen Chi left those words behind and walked out of the caf¨¦, his tone cold. This conversation with Nie Chenng didn¡¯t go in Shen Chi¡¯s favor. Whenever Zhou Ran and Xu Mengxi¡¯s matter was mentioned, his heart felt like it was being hit by a stone, unable to settle down. Didn¡¯t Xu Chaomu leave him for five years because of this? No matter how powerful he was, he couldn¡¯t alter this fact! He strode towards his car, opened the passenger door, and said to Mr. Cheng, ¡°Drive, to the corporation!¡± ¡°Yes, President Shen.¡± Mr. Cheng didn¡¯t dare dy a second, sitting up straight the moment he received Shen Chi¡¯smand. He started the car and drove away from the caf¨¦. As they were leaving, Mr. Cheng nced outside the window and saw Nie Chenng standing at the entrance, his expression one of helplessness. Mr. Cheng guessed Nie Chenng was pretty angry. Whenever Shen Chi talked with his rival, he always managed to crush the opposition. Nevertheless, he nced at Shen Chi out of the corner of his eye and noticed hisplexion wasn¡¯t looking that great either. Could it be that this time it was a loss for both sides? At the Shen Family, Xu Chaomu slept until after nine o¡¯clock in the morning. She either couldn¡¯t sleep or didn¡¯t get enough. She still wanted to sleep as she yawned and reached out under the covers. But as soon as she touched it, the material of the bedding and pillow was different from usual. Upon opening her eyes, she remembered this was Shen Chi¡¯s room. She had taken all his pillows, not knowing if he had slept wellst night. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but touch her stomach,st night Shen Chi had held both of them as they slept. Oh, and he had also told a story that was both crude and violent.
¡°Baby, you must never learn from your fourth uncle. He just pretends to be decent. Prim and proper in public, a scoundrel in private. You must never imitate him. We have to be model students.¡± ¡°Mmm, it¡¯s gettingte, let¡¯s get up.¡± Xu Chaomu touched her stomach, sat up, and began to dress. Today wasn¡¯t too bad, she didn¡¯t feel nauseous. However, she still had to make a trip to the hospitalter.
¡°Chaomu,e downstairs and eat something. Are you feeling any better today?¡± Butler Ling hurried over when he saw Xu Chaomu descend the stairs. But, did he just see Xu Chaomuing out of Shen Chi¡¯s room? Did these two¡­ sleep togetherst night? This development¡­ was indeed congrattory. ¡°Much better, Butler, he¡­ when did he leave?¡± ¡°Are you asking about the young master? He went to the corporation early in the morning, around six.¡± ¡°So early, has his headache gotten any better?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dare ask¡­ maybe you should give him a call and find out.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare either,¡± pouted Xu Chaomu. Butler Ling¡¯s mouth twitched, Xu Chaomu was still such a tease. ¡°Butler Ling, I need to go to the hospitalter. Can you ask the family driver to take me there?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll speak to the driver right away,¡± said Butler Ling, who didn¡¯t stop her. However, he still needed to report to Shen Chi. After eating a little, Xu Chaomu grabbed her handbag and headed out.
Xiaogao, another driver of the Shen Family, was already waiting at the door. The weather was still very clear today, and the sun shone on Xu Chaomu, causing a few beads of sweat to form on her nose soon after. But just as she was about to get into the car, she suddenly saw a familiar vehicle! A Cayenne! Nie Chenng¡¯s Cayenne! She excitedly opened the car door and ran down, heading straight for Nie Chenng¡¯s car! It had been several days, she hadn¡¯t seen Nie Chenng for many days, and she had so much to tell him. Nie Chenng, upon seeing Xu Chaomuing towards him, told his driver to stop. Aftering out of the caf¨¦, he had returned to Jinxiu Tianxia. He was just waiting here, thinking that if he persisted, he would definitely see Xu Chaomu. He didn¡¯t believe Shen Chi would be so heartless as to put Xu Chaomu under house arrest. ¡°Chenng!¡± Xu Chaomu called out. Butler Ling hadn¡¯t even turned back yet, and when he saw Xu Chaomu running towards Nie Chenng, he inwardly screamed that this wasn¡¯t good. He looked around, not daring toe close, just watching Xu Chaomu and Nie Chenng. If anything happened, he needed to immediately report to Shen Chi. ¡°Chaomu,¡± Nie Chenng also called her name, stepping out of the car. Xu Chaomu was thrilled; she ran over and stood on her tiptoes to hug Nie Chenng. Just a habitual gesture, but Butler Ling, catching sight of it, widened his eyes in surprise. Could this man be the father of the baby in Xu Chaomu¡¯s stomach?
Though Butler Ling knew about Xu Chaomu¡¯s tomboyish nature and her carefree ways, in all the years, aside from Shen Chi, he had never seen her embrace another man. ¡°Chaomu, how have the past few days been for you? Is the baby still causing trouble?¡± Seeing Nie Chenng, Xu Chaomu was exceptionally happy and excited. She let go of him, stood in front of him, and smiled, ¡°Very good, the baby is well-behaved too.¡± ¡°You look thinner.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve missed you so much, longing makes one lean, you know!¡± Xu Chaomu giggled. Her smile revealed small, pearl-like white teeth, exceptionally beautiful under the sunlight. Nie Chenng smiled as well, this was the Xu Chaomu he wanted to see¡ªcarefree and innocent. Unlike that winter five years ago when he met her in Paris. Back then, Xu Chaomu had truly frightened him. ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ll take you back to the Nie Family, and introduce you to my mother. You haven¡¯t met her yet.¡± ¡°But I have to go to the hospital first, will you apany me?¡± Xu Chaomu solicited his opinion. Nie Chenng told her that his mother was easy-going, although not talkative, was amiable and approachable. Xu Chaomu also really wanted to meet his mother, probably¡­ it would be easier than getting along with Zhou Ran, right? ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll apany you. It¡¯s my day off today,¡± Nie Chenng said, smiling as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Chapter 383: 383: I’m Not Worthy of Him ¡°Anything for you, and I¡¯ll buy you delicious food, right?¡± Nie Chenngughed. ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s the main point.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled secretly. Nie Chenng wrapped his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulder and walked toward his Cayenne, but the situation seemed off to the butler, who hurried out. ¡°Chaomu, weren¡¯t you going to the hospital?¡± Xu Chaomu looked back, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going with my Chenng. With him by my side, you can rest easy, Butler Ling.¡± ¡°It would be better if Xiaogao took you. Look, he¡¯s got the car ready. Oh, I also called Fourth Young Master just now; he said he¡¯s going to the hospitalter as well.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, it¡¯s fine with Chenng apanying me.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t exin this to Fourth Young Master,¡± Butler Ling said bluntly. Nie Chenng frowned and asked Xu Chaomu, ¡°This person is¡­?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the butler of the Shen Family¡­ the Shen Family¡­ Consider it my maternal home,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°Hello,¡± Nie Chenng extended his hand politely.
Butler Ling had no choice but to shake hands with Nie Chenng. But Xu Chaomu¡¯s phrase ¡°the Shen Family is considered my maternal home¡± puzzled her¡ªclearly, the Shen Family was Xu Chaomu¡¯s husband¡¯s family. ¡°Butler Ling, there is no need to worry about exining anything. If Shen Chi speaks with reason, he wouldn¡¯t make it difficult for you,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Butler Ling was at a loss for words. When it came to Xu Chaomu¡¯s affairs, Shen Chi had always been unreasonable. ¡°Butler Ling, Chenng and I are leaving now. If there¡¯s nothing important, I might note back.¡± ¡°Chaomu, that won¡¯t do. You can go to the hospital with Mr. Nie, but you muste back. Otherwise, Fourth Young Master will y my skin.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, I believe he is reasonable. Yes, I believe in him,¡± Xu Chaomu pulled a face while saying this and walked off with Nie Chenng. ¡°Chaomu!¡± Butler Ling couldn¡¯t persuade her; it¡¯s true what they say, when kids grow up, they do as they please. Once they got into Nie Chenng¡¯s Cayenne, the driver immediately turned the car around and drove out of the splendid estate. Nie Chenng and Xu Chaomu sat in the back, side by side, just like in Paris. Back in Paris, Nie Chenng often asked the driver to take them out for a ride. At that time, they would sit together, side by side, chatting. Nie Chenng was very familiar with Paris and would tell her many interesting customs. Sometimes, he would even bring his own homemade gourmet food, and they¡¯d find awn, bask in the sun, and enjoy the meal together. Those five years, Xu Chaomu was really very happy. That kind of carefree feeling,pletely without any burden. Meeting Nie Chenng was probably the biggest stroke of luck in those five years, treating her meticulously like a brother would. Perhaps, she could slowly forget certain people and then, gradually, let others take their ce in her heart. But, five years have passed¡ªhas she done it? ¡°Chaomu, tell me the truth, how has Shen Chi been treating you these past few days?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just his usual self,¡± Xu Chaomu responded ndly.
Dominant, arrogant, unreasonable. ¡°Have you got a marriage certificate with him?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head, surprised that Nie Chenng already knew. Had Shen Chi called him or even met him? ¡°I did get a marriage certificate with him, but it waspletely without my knowledge, involving significant deceit.¡±
¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Nie Chenng sighed, showing no signs of ming her. ¡°I can¡¯t be at ease being with him, and besides, I¡¯m not worthy of him. I would only burden his career and his family.¡± Five years ago, Zhou Peitian had kidnapped her to threaten Shen Chi; five yearster, who knows if there will be ten or twenty Zhou Peitians. Shen Chi was ruthless in the business world, but with her around, he always had to hold back against his opponents. Not marrying him is for the best¡ªfor everyone. ¡°Chenng, I need to ask you something. That night at the Grand Hotel in Paris, when I was negotiating a contract with our partner andter gotpletely drunk¡­ tell me honestly, was it you that night?¡± ¡°Why would you doubt that? I¡¯m sorry, I was the one who got drunk that night, so¡­¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s handnded on Xu Chaomu¡¯s head. In truth, he wasn¡¯t the one who entered Xu Chaomu¡¯s room that night at all, but he didn¡¯t know who it was. When he pushed the door open, only Xu Chaomu was left on the bed. But if he told Xu Chaomu the truth, it would hurt her, wouldn¡¯t it¡­ Besides, after those five years of being together day and night, he didn¡¯t know exactly when he had fallen for her¡­ He loved her. Maybe¡­ it started back in the orphanage? ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± Xu Chaomu still didn¡¯t believe him.
The scent on Nie Chenng was a faint aroma of green tea, starkly different from that of the man that night. That scent was identical to Shen Chi¡¯s. And coincidentally, Shen Chi also happened to be at the Grand Hotel in Paris that night. What are the odds of such a coincidence? ¡°Why would I lie to you,¡± Nie Chenng stroked her head, not wanting to see her sad. It didn¡¯t matter to him who she first became intimate with; he was willing to treat her well regardless. Xu Chaomu fell silent. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t trust Nie Chenng. ¡°Chaomu, stop overthinking and try to rx. By the way, how¡¯s your appetite these days? If you¡¯re not keen on eating, I can cook for you.¡± ¡°Chenng, it¡¯s been quite good. So, after we go to the hospital, make me some tomato sauce steak. Yours is the tastiest.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cook it for you. That¡¯s also a chance for the baby to taste my cooking.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled; she wanted to forget the unpleasant things for the time being. ¡°Also, Chaomu, Wealth hasn¡¯t seen you for many days now and misses you a lot,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°I miss it too, but unfortunately, I can¡¯t y with it now that I¡¯m pregnant,¡± Xu Chaomu felt a bit sad. Wealth, that little dog, was very clingy, unlike Dabai at all. Dabai, the dog, was cold towards everyone, just like Shen Chi. But Wealth was different; the little dog was not only affectionate but also likable, always eager to nuzzle anyone it saw.
Xu Chaomu thought it would be fun to put Wealth and Dabai together. ¡°Well, you¡¯re pregnant, so it¡¯s better to stay away from animals for the time being. You can apany it some other time,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Wealth, the little fellow, has been with me for a year and is still the size of Douding no matter how much I feed it¡ªit just won¡¯t grow,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°Exactly, I feed it everything and it never gains weight, but being small is also cute.¡± ¡°Now you say it, I really want to see it, and hug it,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll visit it after the hospital, and I¡¯ll make tomato sauce steak for you¡ªand bring a portion for it too.¡± ¡°Chenng, you¡¯re treating me just like a little dog,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you my little dog?¡± Nie Chenngughed heartily, pulling her close. Chapter 384: 384: Suitability is more Important than Love ¡°Besides tomato sauce steak, what else do you want to eat? The weather is really nice today, and I heard that good weather goes hand in hand with good food,¡± Nie Chenng asked. ¡°I can¡¯t eat any more, just make me another ss of fresh fruit juice, the fresh kind.¡± ¡°Okay,ter we¡¯ll go to the fruit shop and pick some fruit. Eating more fruit benefits the pregnancy.¡± ¡°Great! Chenng, howe you know how to do everything? I¡¯m even jealous,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just making a steak and juicing some fruit. I can teach you, and you¡¯ll certainly be able to do it, too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t teach me, if you do, then you won¡¯t make it for me anymore,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. Nie Chenngughed too. How could that be? As long as she wanted to eat, he would cook for her. They chatted all the way to the hospital. Xu Chaomu, with her bag on her back, headed straight for the fourth floor, with Nie Chenng following by her side. After retrieving the test results and the ultrasound scans, Xu Chaomu walked toward the doctor¡¯s office. ¡°Doctor, I was here yesterday. Could you please help me check how my body is doing? Is everything all right?¡± Xu Chaomu handed over all her documents.
The female doctor with sses took Xu Chaomu¡¯s documents, pushed her sses up, and started to examine them closely. Xu Chaomu patiently waited, and Nie Chenng also stood by her side. ¡°Things look quite good, only your blood sugar is a bit low. Pay attention to a bnced diet, eat more nutritious food. Your baby is also doing well, very healthy, so don¡¯t worry. From now on, you should exercise appropriately each day, walk more as it¡¯s good for both the baby and you. Just avoid vigorous exercise. Also, don¡¯t overwork yourself and avoid staying upte.¡± Nie Chenng nodded: ¡°I will, from now on I¡¯ll take her out for walks every day, and I¡¯ll make sure to take care of her.¡± The doctor looked up, smiling: ¡°This must be your husband, right? He¡¯s good. Men should spend more time with their wives. No matter how busy you are with work, it doesn¡¯tpare to having a healthy family. Peaceful and harmonious.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Nie Chenng responded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen too many cases like this. Some husbands are so busy every day. The wife gets pregnant, about to give birth, and he doesn¡¯t even apany her to the hospital once,¡± the doctor sighed. ¡°I will take her to do regr health check-ups from now on,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°That¡¯s right, the health of the child and the adults is what¡¯s most important,¡± the doctor said. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Nie Chenng nodded. Xu Chaomu smiled, she knew that once Nie Chenng said he¡¯d remember, he definitely would. Being with Nie Chenng, she didn¡¯t have to worry about anything. Just like when she was in college, many things were settled by Nie Chenng for her. He helped her contact her advisor, helped her rent a house, helped her sign up for various activities¡­ Sometimes, she felt very secure with Nie Chenng. It¡¯s just that she didn¡¯t know when this sense of security could turn into love¡­ Give her some time. After all, in marriage, suitability is more important than love. She and Shen Chi were doomed to be unsuitable. After listening to the female doctor¡¯s nagging for a while, Nie Chenng finally took Xu Chaomu out of the office.
Xu Chaomu touched her t belly, feeling a bit disappointed: ¡°You still can¡¯t tell I¡¯m pregnant. I must have been too tired recently, which prevented the baby from growing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a little over two months. It¡¯s very normal.¡± ¡°When we get home, I want to eat and eat, to supply the baby with more nutrients.¡± But just as Xu Chaomu was mumbling with her head down, Nie Chenng suddenly stopped walking, and Xu Chaomu also stopped.
A freezing yet powerful aura hit them, causing Xu Chaomu to take a step back involuntarily. Without looking up, she already knew who hade! She knew that as long as she was in C City, she couldn¡¯t escape his hold. ¡°Mumu,ing to the hospital and not calling your husband?¡± Shen Chi said lightly, his tone nheless imperiously decisive. Xu Chaomu quickly clung to Nie Chenng¡¯s arm. She was most afraid of Shen Chi like this. The calmer he seemed, the more likely a storm was brewing. ¡°Chenng is my husband.¡± ¡°Mumu, stop joking. Have you had enough of the affair? Come home with me.¡± Nie Chenng stepped forward, staring into Shen Chi¡¯s eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t push her, listen to what she wants. She¡¯s not your puppet; you don¡¯t always have to be so domineering.¡± ¡°Really? I was asking her in a negotiating tone. How did it turn into forcing her?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Nie Chenng¡¯s words struck right at Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart¡ªShen Chi really was too domineering. ¡°Then let me tell you, I don¡¯t want to go back to the Shen family,¡± Xu Chaomu said calmly, ¡°whenever you have time, let¡¯s get the divorce settled.¡± The expression on Shen Chi¡¯s face suddenly darkened; every time she mentioned divorce, his entire face would scowl.
Justst night, they were fine. Today, as soon as Nie Chenng appeared, it was as if Shen Chi had lost her soul. ¡°Stop making a fuss; let¡¯s go home,¡± Shen Chi looked at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Mr. Shen, I heard from Chaomu that your marriage certificate was obtained through illegal means,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Illegal means? Xu Chaomu,e here; I promise I won¡¯t kill you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, I was unaware of that marriage certificate. Of course, if you insist on not divorcing me, then go ahead and sue me for bigamy. I don¡¯t mind!¡± ¡°How touching, you¡¯d rather go to jail than be apart from him?¡± Shen Chi pointed at Nie Chenng. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu responded. ¡°Then don¡¯t regret it!¡± Shen Chi was annoyed and raised his voice. ¡°I won¡¯t regret it,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°Fine, get lost!¡± Shen Chi was furious. Xu Chaomu knew that when this man was angry, all his patience and good temper must have been exhausted. These past few days, he had treated her quite well, and she hadn¡¯t given him any trouble. But now, let him be angry. She and he weren¡¯t meant to be anyway. He deserved someone better by his side. And she, too, couldn¡¯t get over the hurdle in her heart.
So, let it be. ¡°Chenng, let¡¯s go,¡± Xu Chaomu whispered, pulling Nie Chenng¡¯s arm as they passed by Shen Chi. Shen Chi¡¯s fists clenched tight, his eyes reddened, a demonic chill on his face. While Shen Chi didn¡¯t change his mind, Xu Chaomu hurriedly pulled Nie Chenng down the stairs, rushing to the parking lot, and without pause got back into the car. ¡°Drive!¡± Xu Chaomu told the driver. Nie Chenngforted her: ¡°Don¡¯t let Shen Chi intimidate you.¡± Nie Chenng had been back in C City for a while now, and he had heard about Shen Chi from others early on. ¡°I¡¯ve been scared by him for eight years; I¡¯m immune to it now,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Then why did you run?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t run, should I wait to be ughtered? That man is very frightening.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t do anything to you, after all, you¡¯ve called him ¡®big brother¡¯ for eight years.¡± ¡°Big brother¡±¡­ The term once again silenced Xu Chaomu. Five yearster, returning to C City, she never called him ¡°Fourth Brother¡± again. The title ¡°Fourth Brother¡± was once unique to them.
But five years ago, after she took the bullet for him, she paid off her debt to him. Chapter 385: 385: Nie Chenglang’s Mother Chapter 385: Nie Chenng¡¯s Mother The sunshine streamed through the car window onto her face, and she tipped her head back slightly, revealing glistening teardrops rolling in her eyes. Indeed, by tilting her head back, she could prevent the tears from falling. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him anymore, let¡¯s go,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. Chenng nodded, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take you to the high-rise apartment I bought. You¡¯ll see if you like the interior decoration and arrangement.¡± The car continued on, and when they reached the supermarket, Xu Chaomu asked to stop by the roadside, and she and Chenng got out to buy some fruits and snacks. As she pushed the shopping cart, Chenng stayed by her side throughout. This simple and ordinary life stirred Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. Back at the Shen Family, she never needed to go to ces like supermarkets. After all, the Shen Family was not the right ce for her. She was just an ordinary person, amon girl in the most mundane sense. What she wanted was simple¡ªa normal life, a happy family, to quietly spend her life in contentment. That would be enough. ¡°Do you want this chocte?¡± While she was lost in thought, Chenng took a jar of chocte that looked delicious from the shelf and shook it in front of her.
¡°Take that one!¡± Xu Chaomuughed and pointed at another box of choctes. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same thing?¡± Nie Chenng took a closer look. ¡°No, look at the boxed one, it¡¯s cheaper!¡± Xu Chaomu said. Chenng saw the boxed chocte was on promotion andughed as he switched it out, saying, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take this one then.¡± ¡°Right, the money we save can get us a few more apples.¡± Xu Chaomu was visibly happy. ¡°Exactly. Come on, let¡¯s continue to look around, see if there¡¯s anything else to buy.¡± In fact, Chenng was not short on cash, but he found this kind of lifestyle amusing, only this was what living truly meant. The two wandered around the supermarket for a long time and ended up buying two bags full of various things. There really was a bit of everything. Xu Chaomu took a fancy to a very small bowl and bought it too, thinking it would be just right for her baby to eat from in the future. After returning from the supermarket, Chenng took her to his house. The apartment was on the twentieth floor, not too big or too small, three bedrooms, and two living rooms¡ªperfect for a family of three. As soon as Xu Chaomu opened the door, she was greeted by pale blue wallpaper reminiscent of the ocean or the sky, filled with tranquility and serenity. ¡°Here¡¯s the kitchen, here¡¯s the bathroom, here¡¯s the balcony. Here, is the master bedroom,¡± Chenng introduced each room one by one. ¡°Did you design all this?¡± Xu Chaomu looked around curiously. ¡°I just designed the overall framework. The details inside, you can decorate them. Perfect, consider it a practice opportunity,¡± Chenng said with a smile. ¡°Great, just you wait, I¡¯ll make sure to design it beautifully.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯m looking forward to it, Designer Xu.¡± ¡°Stop joking around, Director Nie. Speaking of which, where¡¯s my steak? I¡¯m hungry¡­¡± Xu Chaomu sat on the couch, rubbing her belly as she looked at him. ¡°I¡¯ll make it for you right now, just sit here and wait for me.¡± Worried she might be hungry, Chenng hurriedly put things away and went to the kitchen to make a tomato sauce steak for her.
Xu Chaomu wandered around the house by herself, thinking how nice it was. The ce wasn¡¯t too big or too small, just right for two people to live in. When she saw Chenng busying himself in the kitchen, she was suddenly reminded of the bowl of noodles he made for her five years ago. Just like that, five years had passed. If not for Chenng, she¡­ might not have been in this world anymore. Half an hourter, Chenng¡¯s steak was finally ready. He even cut it up for her and ced it in front of her.
¡°Try it and see if it tastes the same,¡± he said. Back in Paris, he often made her all sorts of delicious things, and of course, his specialty was tomato sauce steak. ¡°Delicious!¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t stop after the first bite. Chenng made her some juice and seeing her satisfied made him feel a sense of contentment erupt within. ¡°Eat slowly, if it¡¯s not enough, I can make more.¡± ¡°You¡¯re treating me like a pig,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°Sure enough, there¡¯s a little piggy in your belly.¡± After both of them had finished their steaks and were full, Xu Chaomuy on the couch watching TV. As she watched, she started to feel drowsy. It was easy to want to nap in the middle of a summer¡¯s day. She propped up her head, and her eyes began to droop shut. Chenng was in the kitchen washing dishes when suddenly the front door was knocked. ¡°Dong dong,¡± two knocks, not too loud but loud enough to be heard. Xu Chaomu woke from her dozing, ¡°Chenng, is someone knocking at the door?¡± ¡°It seems so, go check it out.¡± Chenng was still holding a dish and couldn¡¯t open the door.
Xu Chaomu got up and walked toward the door, peeking through the peephole, she saw two women. One seemed to be around fifty years old, and the other in her twenties. She turned to Chenng, ¡°I don¡¯t recognize them.¡± The people outside were getting impatient and knocked again. ¡°Open it, it¡¯s fine, I¡¯m here,¡± Chenng called from the kitchen. Reassured by Chenng¡¯s words, Xu Chaomu twisted the doorknob. Unexpectedly, as soon as the door cracked open, the woman outside shoved Xu Chaomu to the side! ¡°What¡¯s with the dawdling to open the door?¡± the middle-aged woman released all her pent-up anger on Xu Chaomu! Xu Chaomu was pushed against the wall; wearing little in the summer heat, her back struck hard! She hurriedly clutched at anything she could to prevent herself from falling. ¡°Who are you?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, frowning. ¡°Who am I? Chenng,e out here and tell her who I am!¡± The woman red at Xu Chaomu and strode into the living room, settling herself on the couch with amanding presence. She crossed her legs with an assertive demeanor.
The younger woman trailing her seemed gentle and fragile, somewhat overwhelmed, quickly stepping forward to rub the woman¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Auntie, please don¡¯t be angry.¡± Chenng hurried out of the kitchen, steadied Xu Chaomu, and looked at the woman with dissatisfaction, ¡°Mom, how did you get here?¡± ¡°How can I note here? Chenng, do I need to report to you in advance when I visit your house? Tell me, should I write you a request or file a report?¡± Lu Feili mmed her hand on the table. The table ttered under her strike, and the younger woman flinched. Chenng frowned, ¡°Why are you still so temperamental? I¡¯ll get you some juice.¡± ¡°Youe here! Don¡¯t move!¡± Lu Feili called out to Chenng, ¡°What¡¯s with the apron? And what¡¯s with all the dish soap on your hands?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just washing dishes. Is it worth making such a fuss?¡± Xu Chaomu, leaning against the wall, sized up the woman realizing this was Chenng¡¯s mother. Chapter 386: 386 Let This Woman Go Chapter 386: Let This Woman Go The woman had a short bob haircut with no apparent jewelry, sporting an efficient-looking white OL shirt. With just one nce, Xu Chaomu could tell that this woman was assertive. Xu Chaomu was initially a little surprised, but now, there was not a hint of surprise left. Nie Chenng¡¯s father had passed away a long time ago, and his mother had been managing the vast household alone, which probably shaped her strong character over the years. ¡°Doing the dishes? Why should a man do the dishes? Did this woman ask you to wash them?¡± Lu Feili pointed at Xu Chaomu. ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend, not ¡®this woman¡¯.¡± Dissatisfaction spread across Nie Chenng¡¯s face. ¡°Having spent a few years abroad, you¡¯ve be less and less obedient. I can forgive you for not returning to the group, but now you¡¯ve secretly got a girlfriend and even bought a house on the sly. nning to keep a mistress?¡± ¡°I was nning to take Chaomu to meet you, I had no idea you woulde today.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s my fault now? Fine, it¡¯s my fault foring, is it? Then I¡¯ll just leave.¡± Lu Feili was very angry, she mmed the table and suddenly stood up. ¡°Aunt, please don¡¯t be angry, Brother Chenng didn¡¯t mean that. It¡¯s just that he probably thought it would be better to visit you another day when things could be properly arranged,¡± the young woman beside her quickly urged, grabbing Lu Feili¡¯s arm. ¡°Nana, it¡¯s none of your business, let go of my hand.¡± Lu Feili said.
Qi Na could only release her hand. To tell the truth, she was quite afraid of Lu Feili. It was Xu Chaomu, though, who had remained silent this whole time; she just quietly watched Lu Feili and Nie Chenng, and the girl called ¡°Nana.¡± ¡°Mom, sit down, let¡¯s talk this through slowly,¡± Nie Chenng could only go and pull her back to her seat personally. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Lu Feili shook off Nie Chenng¡¯s hand, ¡°Talk slowly? You know I¡¯m impatient, I can¡¯t possibly have a slow conversation with you!¡± ¡°Okay, to make a long story short, Mom, what brings you here today?¡± Nie Chenng spoke calmly. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with this woman?¡± Lu Feili pointed at Xu Chaomu. With a furious expression on her face, it was clear she disapproved of Xu Chaomu. ¡°I just said, she¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± Nie Chenng walked over to Xu Chaomu and took her hand, only then noticing how cold her hands were. ¡°Hello, Auntie,¡± Xu Chaomu greeted. ¡°Don¡¯t call me auntie, I don¡¯t deserve it. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯re Xu Chaomu, twenty-three years old, and already married?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened. It turned out that Nie Chenng¡¯s mother had note unprepared. Qi Na appeared shocked on the side, ¡°My goodness, you¡¯ve been married?¡± ¡°Mom, Chaomu has never been married, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Nie Chenng rified for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Never been married? The marriage records at the civil affairs office show her as married. Are they lying to me?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡¯ll exin it to youter,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°A misunderstanding about something as significant as marriage? What do you intend to exin to me? That she was tricked into a marriage? Ha, she¡¯s not a six-year-old child!¡± ¡°It indeed is a misunderstanding, and it¡¯s not something that can be exined in just a few words. With your temperament, I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t listen to the end.¡± ¡°Good that you know. You and your girlfriend, break up immediately. I don¡¯t approve!¡± Lu Feili¡¯s attitude was firm.
Xu Chaomu felt somewhat sad inside. Previously, Nie Chenng had said his mother was very kind and approachable. However, seeing her today, she seemed quite the opposite. ¡°Whom I marry is my business since I¡¯ll be with them for a lifetime. I will, of course, choose who I want. So if you don¡¯t approve, there¡¯s nothing I can do,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°So now you¡¯re defiant? You won¡¯t return to the group when I ask, and you won¡¯t break up when I tell you to. Why don¡¯t you just disown me as your mother altogether? It¡¯s as if I raised you for nothing.¡± ¡°Mom, please calm down; it¡¯s better for everyone,¡± he urged.
¡°Calm down? Fine, tell this woman to leave, and then we can sit down and have a proper talk. I¡¯m not unreasonable, but you know how I can be,¡± Lu Feilimanded without a hint ofpromise in her tone. ¡°Mom! If you really want to take it this far, then you stay here, and I¡¯ll leave with Chaomu!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s face also showed displeasure. Qi Na ran over to hold Nie Chenng back, ¡°Brother Chenng, don¡¯t be mad at mom, please don¡¯t be impulsive. You and your mother haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time; can¡¯t you just discuss things calmly?¡± ¡°No room for discussion!¡± Lu Feili pped the table again, ¡°Either this woman leaves, or I leave. Make up your mind, Nie Chenng. If I go, you can forget about calling me mom for the rest of your life!¡± Seeing Lu Feili¡¯s upromising stance, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want Nie Chenng to be put in a difficult position, so she stepped forward, ¡°No need to drive me out. I¡¯ll leave on my own.¡± ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t leave! It¡¯s not about you!¡± Nie Chenng hurriedly tried to pull Xu Chaomu back. He had truly not expected his mother to show up today! ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head, opened the door, and walked toward the elevator. Just as Nie Chenng was about to run after her, Lu Feili stood in front of the door and mmed it shut with a ¡°bang,¡± separating him and Xu Chaomu. One was outside, the other inside. ¡°Mom, do you really have to make such a scene? Do I have to fall out with you to exin this?¡± Nie Chenng was furious. ¡°Chenng, do you genuinely not know or are you pretending? Her husband is Shen Chi!¡± Lu Feili sneered. This news even made Qi Na gasp in surprise, ¡°My God, her husband is actually Shen Chi, the CEO of Shen Group! Brother Chenng, this man is not someone to mess with.¡± ¡°Of course I know, Mom. I¡¯m not less informed than you are. But so what?¡±
¡°And you still dare to get involved with her!¡± Lu Feili roared. That roar frightened Qi Na so much she almost covered her ears. ¡°Mom, watch yournguage! During these five years in Paris, I was with her day and night. Where was Shen Chi? Where else was he, if not around?¡± Chapter 387: 387: The Wife Must Be Won Back Chapter 387: The Wife Must Be Won Back ¡°Chenng, have you been living toofortably that you¡¯re looking to get yourself thrown in jail?¡± Lu Feili sneered coldly, ¡°Do you realize that bigamy is against thew?¡± ¡°Enough, Mom, don¡¯t try to persuade me anymore. Step aside and let me go downstairs.¡± ¡°Impossible! As long as I¡¯m here today, you¡¯re not walking out that door!¡± Lu Feili stood her ground without yielding a single inch. Nie Chenng was extremely anxious, his forehead beaded with sweat. Xu Chaomu was still pregnant; if she went downstairs alone, something might happen¡­ But his mother was blocking the way, and he had no solution¡ªafter all, he couldn¡¯ty a hand on his own mother! The standoffsted a long while before Nie Chenng exhaled with resignation, his gaze stern. ¡°Mom, do you really want me toy all my cards on the table and talk about what happened at the Paris hotel? You know what you did, right? You¡¯ve had someone watching me all along; you¡¯ve known that Xu Chaomu is my girlfriend, haven¡¯t you?¡± Lu Feili was taken aback at first but recovered to normal in a few seconds. ¡°My son is quite smart, I see.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let Chaomu suffer any grievances.¡± ¡°Grievances? A woman like her, having a husband and still ¡®out ying the field¡¯, what grievances does she have?¡±
¡°You¡¯re beingpletely unreasonable!¡± Nie Chenng was furious. Xu Chaomu had descended from the twentieth floor and rode the elevator down to the first floor, feeling very sad. She truly did not expect that Nie Chenng¡¯s mother would dislike her as well. When Nie Chenng said she was amiable and kind, she was quite looking forward to it, but she never expected¡­ She wasn¡¯t asking for much, only for an ordinary, peaceful life without deceit or hypocrisy, yet fate seemed to enjoy ying jokes on her. She ran along the pebble path of the residentialmunity towards the exit, running until she started to cry. Hiding in a secluded spot under a lush tree, she squatted down and sobbed uncontrobly. The summer air was stuffy and hot, cicadas incessantly chirped at the treetops. With the cacophony of people and cars around her, Xu Chaomu felt overwhelmed by the noise. She covered her ears and buried her head in the crook of her knees. At that moment, she could only hear her own crying. She was like a cat, a forsaken little cat hiding in a corner, silent. Summer was too long; when she had wanted to start a good life with someone, things just couldn¡¯t go smoothly. Was she destined to be alone for the rest of her life¡­ She sniffled and fiercely wiped away her tears. It didn¡¯t matter; she was the unbreakable cockroach, alone or not, she was determined to live well. As she dried her tears and tried to stand while leaning on the tree trunk, that¡¯s when she noticed a pair of ck men¡¯s dress shoes in front of her. Without even looking up, she knew who it was! Shen Chi had already been standing there for a while; to be precise, his car had followed Nie Chenng¡¯s into the neighborhood some time ago. ¡°Why are you crying, did your boyfriend dump you?¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°None of your damn business.¡±
Xu Chaomu patted her hands, trying to get up from the ground, hearing the schadenfreude in his tone. But having squatted for too long, she felt dizzy and lightheaded as she tried to stand. Stumbling, Shen Chi simply pulled her up and incidentally¡­ pulled her into his arms. ¡°Xu Chaomu, your baby¡¯s almost three months along, so behave. Otherwise, if your child argues with you in the future and retorts with ¡®none of your damn business¡¯, I bet you¡¯d be mad enough to die!¡±
¡°Shen Chi, broad daylight here, get your hands off me!¡± Xu Chaomu struggled. ¡°Come home with me!¡± Shen Chi dragged her toward his Maybach. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t keep up with his pace, yet he refused to let go. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? Weren¡¯t you the one telling me to get lost at the hospital? Aren¡¯t you contradicting yourself? Does your dad know about this? Does your mom? Do your seven aunts and eight uncles know?!¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, who did you pick up this nonsense from? Such a chatterbox!¡± Shen Chi frowned, his strong arms scooped her up in an instant, and with a whirl, he hoisted her horizontally. It had been a long time since he carried her, and he hadn¡¯t expected that she, even pregnant, was still so light. Xu Chaomu quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, scared that she might fall. ¡°Mmm, good.¡± Shen Chi was exceptionally pleased with her reaction. ¡°Shen Chi, do you notprehend the phrases ¡®words spoken, water thrown¡¯ [meaning words can¡¯t be taken back]? By telling me to get lost at the hospital today, didn¡¯t you agree to a divorce?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m no gentleman. I¡¯ve gone back on my word, so what are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so shameless, are you even a man?¡± Xu Chaomu felt that Shen Chi could really be infuriating at times. ¡°However, there is one thing I will never go back on in my life.¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I love you.¡± His voice was light, like the summer breeze gently stirring, so intangible. Xu Chaomu was startled, momentarily lost for words. On the other hand, Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved in a smile as he arrived at the Maybach, opening the passenger door and gently cing her inside. But he didn¡¯t leave. His hand caressed her lips, stroking them over and over. ¡°Alright, Mumu, are you eager to discuss whether I¡¯m a man or not?¡± The conversation took an unexpected turn, and Xu Chaomu spat at him, ¡°Your skin is thicker than city walls.¡± ¡°Actually¡­ we can ¡®delve into¡¯ this topic further.¡± Xu Chaomu thought to herself that if she backed down, she wouldn¡¯t be the little rascal she was known to be. Thus, she took hold of his hand, smiling seductively. ¡°Are you sure you can satisfy me? You should know that when I was abroad, with so many foreign men, I didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Perfect, you have ample experience, plenty of moves, so our exchange should be effortless.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled, fuming.
¡°Mumu, the baby¡¯s almost three months old, I looked into it, and by four months there should be no problems. So, I was thinking, we can have a good ¡®discussion¡¯ soon.¡± ¡°Dammit, Shen Chi, where¡¯s your shame? You actually looked this up?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all to love you properly.¡± Shen Chi looked utterly innocent. ¡°Get out, get out, get out!¡± Xu Chaomu had never seen anyone as shameless as he was. Only then did Shen Chi close the passenger door, smiling as he walked to the driver¡¯s seat. Once seated, he started the car, pressed the brake, and prepared to drive out of the neighborhood. What he said at the hospital today was obviously said in anger; divorce was his bottom line, and when that was crossed, his anger was justified. But once his temper cooled, he still needed to win his wife back. ¡°Mumu, did your boyfriend¡¯s mome over?¡± Shen Chi drove casually, his tone light. Xu Chaomu was resting her head looking at the scenery outside the window when she heard this and turned her head. ¡°How did you know?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up, puzzled. ¡°I had Xiao Mo call her over.¡± In an instant, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned a series of colors, enraged from red to purple! ¡°Shen Chi! I curse your second great-uncle! You¡¯re so despicable and shameless, always up to no good! Watch out for lightning to strike you down, thunder to roar upon you, bringing eternal cmity¡­¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be cursing your own husband like that.¡±
Chapter 388: 388: Who Do You Want to Have a Son With? Chapter 388: Who Do You Want to Have a Son With? Xu Chaomu was really furious, damn it! How could there be such a scoundrel as Shen Chi in the world? Doing all sorts of immoral and hical things! ¡°Shen Chi, do you know, it¡¯s better to demolish ten temples than to destroy a marriage! Do you understand?!¡± ¡°I know, but, you should be telling this to your boyfriend,¡± said Shen Chi indifferently. ¡°Fine, fine, fine, you¡¯re handsome so you must be right.¡± Xu Chaomu red angrily. She leaned her head on her hand as she sat by the window, intently watching the view outside. The green trees outside brushed past as the car quickly left the neighborhood and headed onto the smooth highway. After driving on the elevated highway, one could reach the Shen family¡¯s ce. This neighborhood was still some distance from the Shen family¡¯s, which was just as well; otherwise, Shen Chi thought, Xu Chaomu would probably run over there every single day. The summer sun was too ring, so Shen Chi put on sunsses and tossed a small hat to Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu caught the hat and nced at Shen Chi. This man was quite a sight when not speaking, with his tall nose, slightly pursed thin lips, a faint frown on his brow, and sharp, knife-cut facial lines. Especially when he wore sunsses, he looked even colder.
If Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t known him for thirteen years, she might have been fooled by his looks, but now, she knew he was nothing but a beast in human clothing. Pulling the hat down over her face, Xu Chaomu rested her head in her hand and closed her eyes to rest. As long as she was in C City, she couldn¡¯t escape his grasp. As Shen Chi drove past a red light, he nced at her, this little brat who acted coy in front of other men but showed her ws in front of him. Just as he was waiting with both hands on the steering wheel for the red light to turn green, a call came in. ¡°Xiao Mo.¡± He lowered his voice. ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ve tracked down several sources of funding for the vice president,¡± Xiao Mo also spoke in a hushed tone. ¡°The only thing I know about is his underground bank. Anything else? Let¡¯s hear it,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Vice President Shen¡¯s ability to deceive is truly formidable. I¡¯ve been investigating for years and only recently discovered that, in secret, he¡¯s also involved in arms and drug trafficking.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s sharp gaze suddenly hardened, and a terrifying light shone from his ck pupils. Arms and drug trafficking¡­ Shen Shihan, you really have some nerve. ¡°President Shen, with these three sources of funding, the vice president will soon have enough capital to challenge the Shen Group,¡± Xiao Mo noted. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Chi replied solemnly. Those activities are extremely profitable. Over the years, his seat as the president was far fromfortable. First, Shen Cexian had given all his shares to Shen Shihan. He had to gather funds from all around just to secure his presidency. But within the group, he had many supporters, and almost all of Shen Group¡¯s veterans were on Shen Chi¡¯s side. This was also why Shen Cexian dared not sign the authorization letter lightly. Knowing that he had no chance of bing the president of Shen Group, Shen Shihan thought of starting his own group. In the market of C City, or even the entire country, challenging Shen¡¯s was by no means an easy task. Therefore, Shen Shihan started by tackling the financial aspect first!
¡°President Shen, arms and drug trafficking are illegal. We can collect evidence and seize the opportunity to destroy all his dens,¡± Xiao Mo suggested. ¡°We can¡¯t rush this; we must n it out carefully.¡± ¡°I know, but if the vice president acts first and we are not prepared¡­¡± Xiao Mo stopped speaking. If they were not prepared, it would be waiting for death.
¡°I understand this matter. Find some people to keep watch, see exactly who he¡¯s doing business with,¡± Shen Chi instructed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m keeping an eye out all the time.¡± ¡°Be careful and make sure you¡¯re not discovered.¡± ¡°Hmm, President Shen, I understand.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi hung up the call, not wanting to wake Xu Chaomu. Actually, Xu Chaomu had been awake the whole time; it¡¯s just that she didn¡¯t understand what he was talking about. The air conditioning in the car was a little too cold, but the sun felt warm on her skin. All of a sudden, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was seized by a sense of panic, an inexplicable intuition akin to a sixth sense. She removed the hat from her face and turned to look at him. ¡°Shen Chi, how¡¯s Shen¡¯s been doingtely?¡± she asked. ¡°Why ask all of a sudden?¡± Shen Chi nced at her as well. He had been stern while talking to Xiao Mo, but his lips curved into a slight smile upon seeing her.
¡°No reason, just asking,¡± said Xu Chaomu dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s doing quite well. Are you looking to be a shareholder, to invest, or to apply for a job? Your husband can sell you some inside information, ensuring you only profit, never lose.¡± ¡°If you y it like that, you better be careful not to bring down the entire group.¡± ¡°No worries, I can indulge my wife a bit, what¡¯s mine is yours.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, speaking of jobs, I want to start working,¡± Xu Chaomu said, propping her head up and feeling somewhat dejected. If it weren¡¯t for Nie Chenng saying he wasing back to C City for his engagement, she would have already been promoted in that Paris advertisingpany. ¡°Sure,e to Shen¡¯s. You can pick any position you want,¡± Shen Chi had no objection. He remembered something Nie Chenng had said: Chaomu has her own interests and hobbies. Plus, she really likes going to work to do design; why do you keep her cooped up at home every day without asking what she wants? ¡°Pick any position I want? Then I want to be the president,¡± Xu Chaomu said with renewed enthusiasm. ¡°The position of president is out of the question. You¡¯re already the president¡¯s wife, which is quite nice.¡± ¡°No, I want to be the president; give me your position.¡± ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll reserve the position for our son. What do you think? By then, you¡¯ll be the wife of the former president and the mother of the current president. Pretty impressive.¡± Xu Chaomu thought that did sound quite impressive.
¡°Okay, it¡¯s settled then,¡± Shen Chi said, reaching out to pat her head. But something seemed off. It took Xu Chaomu a couple of dozen seconds to realize, ¡°Wait, why would I have a son with you?¡± ¡°Then with whom do you want to have a son?¡± ¡°A tall, rich, and handsome guy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still me.¡± Shameless! ¡°Here, take this! Don¡¯t lose it!¡± said Shen Chi, as if performing a magic trick, pulling out an ugly doll from beside the driver¡¯s seat. Xu Chaomu took a closer look and recognized it as the doll that had apanied her for five years in Paris. She thought it was lost with her luggage, but to her surprise, Shen Chi had retrieved it for her. She epted it, hugging it to her chest, and sniffed its faint fragrance. ¡°You still kept it,¡± Shen Chi remarked somewhat sentimentally. He had taken the doll to South Africa; seeing it was like seeing Xu Chaomu.
Later, amidst gunfire, Xu Chaomu clung to the doll and refused to let go. When she left, she took nothing but the doll. Unexpectedly, after five years, she still kept it. ¡°My daughter, how could I just carelessly throw her away?¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°Hmm, good to keep it. We can give it to our daughter to y withter. When the older one grows tired of it, give it to the younger one, and when the younger one has had enough¡­¡± Chapter 389: 389 What is Love Chapter 389: What is Love ¡°Shen Chi, apart from having daughters, what else can you do¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eye twitched, cutting him off. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved into a captivating smile, lowering his voice, ¡°I can also have sons.¡± ¡°Are you nning to have an entire ser team?¡± ¡°Two kids first, plus the two of us, we can y mahjong together. Then, we can slowly have more while ying mahjong.¡± Xu Chaomu leaned her hand against her forehead. What does he mean by having more while ying mahjong? That image¡­ so beautiful. What happened to being aloof? What happened to being tsundere? Why does she only see an extremely ck-hearted¡­ wolf. ¡°Shen Chi, your head doesn¡¯t hurt anymore?¡± Xu Chaomu tilted her head and asked. ¡°How could it not hurt when you flirt with other men every day and I spend every day wondering how to pluck your rotten suitors?¡± ¡°You are my biggest rotten suitor.¡± Xu Chaomu huffed and poked his arm with her finger. Not just a rotten suitor, but one that can¡¯t be shaken off no matter how hard she tries.
¡°Mumu, tell me, why did you go with Nie Chenng? Even at the risk of going to prison?¡± Shen Chi asked her this very seriously. ¡°Because of love.¡± ¡°Bullshit love.¡± Shen Chi exploded in anger, letting loose a curse. ¡°Mind your influence, will you? You¡¯re corrupting my baby.¡± Xu Chaomu stroked her belly, hmphing coldly. ¡°I apologize, being near vermillion one bes red, being near ink one bes ck. Being around you too long, it¡¯s hard to control myself.¡± ¡°ming me now?¡± ¡°No, no, no, the wife is always right.¡± ¡°Your pandering has improved, seems like these years haven¡¯t been spent idly, charming women left and right.¡± Xu Chaomu teased. She hugged the doll, crossing her hands on herp, and looked down, fiddling with the doll¡¯s arms. ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered me, why did you go with Nie Chenng?¡± ¡°I did answer you.¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows, his voice unavoidably raised: ¡°Don¡¯t brush me off!¡± ¡°How am I brushing you off, can¡¯t I experience love?¡± Xu Chaomu was dissatisfied. ¡°You can experience love, but only with me!¡± His overbearing temperament was surfacing again. ¡°Can we have a proper conversation? If not, then stop the car and let me out.¡± The man was instantly deted, softening his tone, ¡°Then tell me, what¡¯s your love with him like? Let me hear if it¡¯s earth-shattering or ghost-weeping.¡± ¡°Just simple happiness, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°For instance?¡± ¡°In Paris, no matter how busy he was, he would take me out every week to see different sceneries. He had a lot of patience, and he would tell me all kinds of interesting customs and cultures. He¡¯d take me to church to hear the Bible recited, would teach me to ski¡­ I was very clumsy, but he neverined about my clumsiness.¡±
Reminiscing, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes became moist. Nie Chenng was indeed very good to her. Not only that, if it weren¡¯t for Nie Chenng, she probably wouldn¡¯t have survived until now. Her first winter in Paris, she almost froze to death on the streets.
That hunger and cold, she remembers like it was engraved in her bones. ¡°Yes, you are stupid, too stupid to even know what love is.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low. ¡°How do I not know?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed as she argued with him. ¡°Do you know what love is, what warmth is?¡± Shen Chi retorted, ¡°Let me tell you, love is when a day apart feels like three years, even in dreams you¡¯ll think of him, when you see him smile, you smile too, when he¡¯s in pain, you feel it too. It¡¯s an obsession that haunts your dreams, an emotion. You can only feel this when you truly love someone.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen has quite the eloquence, truly worthy of a CEO.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, defeatedly sitting back in her seat. ¡°I¡¯m being serious with you, stop talking nonsense!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not listening, I won¡¯t listen!¡± Now it was Shen Chi¡¯s turn to feel defeated. Turns out all his long speech was just monologue from his part? ¡°You need to think for yourself, do you actually like Nie Chenng or not. You have to be clear, take a good look at your own heart. If you just feel warm with him, don¡¯t have to worry about anything, and he happens to treat you well, then let me tell you clearly, that¡¯s not love!¡± Shen Chi added. ¡°I¡¯m too dumb, I can¡¯t tell.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi was so angry he was at a loss for words. He wasn¡¯t sure whether she was genuinely naive or just pretending to be.
¡°Xu Chaomu, are you trying to anger me to death, huh?¡± ¡°If you die from anger, my son can be the CEO,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. Shen Chi¡¯s face was a picture of exasperation. Xu Chaomu, on the other hand, was quite proud of herself, finally scoring a point, wasn¡¯t she! Shen Chi was so irritated he stopped talking to her, pursing his lips and focusing on driving. One day, this wretched girl would drive him to his grave! After much talking, it turned out he was the one babbling. In the end, she didn¡¯t take in a single word he said. Xu Chaomu cradled the doll, quietly watching ahead. The car was silent, the air scented with eucalyptus. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind swirled with Shen Chi¡¯s words; actually¡­ she understood everything, but then, what of it¡­ The car kept driving, taking a long time to finally reach the Shen Family¡¯s residence. He dropped her off at the gates of the Shen Family¡¯s house, didn¡¯t get out of the car and only told her, ¡°Go rest well at home, tell Butler Ling anything you want to eat, I¡¯lle back in the evening. Need anything? I¡¯ll bring it for you.¡± ¡°I want you not toe back tonight,¡± Xu Chaomu jumped out of the car, clutching her doll and walked away. ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi shook his head, amused yet exasperated.
He stayed at the gate for a while, watching her enter the Shen Family house before turning his car around to leave. It was the hottest time of the day, with the sun zing high in the sky, scorching the earth. The roadside trees seemed wilted, their leaves drooping and turning yellow from the sun. Even the cicadas were toozy to chirp, and the whole street was silent. Shen Chi¡¯s car continued towards the Group, his mind still pondering the matter reported to him by Xiao Mo. Shen Shihan¡¯s three financial lifelines¡­ the underground bank, arms, drugs. All three, almost illegal, yet Shen Shihan dared hugely! But Shen Chi had to admit, these three would bring immense profits to Shen Shihan! Shen Shihan was not dumb; he was skilled and daring. Knowing these profits would be unavable through ordinary means, he would surely think about how to hollow out Shen¡¯s next. But Shen Chi, he was no fool either. After returning to the Shen Family house, Xu Chaomu kept her head down as she walked through the living room towards the stairs. Butler Ling was tidying things in the living room and was surprised to see Xu Chaomu return. In less than half a day, the Fourth Master had brought Xu Chaomu back home. In her eyes, no matter what fianc¨¦ Nie Chenng, the Fourth Master was the most charming.
¡°Chaomu, you¡¯re back. Are you tired? The baby is healthy, right?¡± ¡°Hello, Butler Ling. The baby is doing well.¡± Xu Chaomu greeted and continued upstairs. Chapter 390: 390: Shen Chi is Hopelessly Foolish Chapter 390: Shen Chi is Hopelessly Foolish ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯ve been working hardtely. Take some good rest these days, and I¡¯ll teach you how to knit a sweater.¡± the butler said. Speaking of knitting, Xu Chaomu suddenly remembered the pink sweater she had just started, which was still lying on her bed. Now, her interest piqued: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go upstairs and get it. I¡¯ll start knitting the sweater sooner so the baby can wear it as soon as they¡¯re born!¡± The thought of her baby wearing the sweater she knitted made her unusually happy. In the past, she didn¡¯t feel much for children, finding them naughty and hard to manage. But now that she had her own baby, she felt nothing but joy. She wondered what the little one would look like and suddenly felt so full of anticipation. If it¡¯s a girl, she¡¯ll surely be cute and rosy. If it¡¯s a boy¡­ will he look like his father? She stopped in her tracks. The baby¡¯s father¡­ why was Nie Chenng so adamant that it was him that night? Even though she had been drugged, somewhere in her subconscious, she always remembered the scent of the man. It was very distinct, identical to the scent of Shen Chi. Right, the video! She remembered now. If possible, she could find someone to get the hotel surveince footage!
This thought sent her heart surging with emotion. Walking to her room to fetch the yarn, her steps became much lighter. But why was she excited? If the child was Shen Chi¡¯s, why did she feel excited? No, no, no, she had to stay calm, she and he were not suitable for each other. She came downstairs holding the wool, quiteposed, and ced a ball of yarn on the living room sofa. The butler had gone to wash his hands: ¡°Come on, Chaomu, let¡¯s continue your lesson.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The butler sat patiently beside Xu Chaomu, teaching her stitch by stitch. ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯re really clever, you learn so fast.¡± ¡°You¡¯re teasing me again, butler. You¡¯re a good teacher.¡± ¡°Not at all, you¡¯ve been bright since you were young. Let me tell you, you¡¯re the only one who could make Young Master Four so angry that he would steam up. Anyone else would have died a dozen times over by now,¡± the butlerughed. ¡°I appreciate his mercy in not killing me,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t know, since his childhood, Young Master Four was particrly aloof, and nobody dared to approach him. There were fearless girls who tried to y with him, but they would almost always run back crying within a minute.¡± ¡°Butler, do you think he¡¯s really helpless? All he knows is how to bully little girls.¡± ¡°Haha, soter on, no young girls dared to y with Young Master Four, and of course, now there are no women who dare to provoke him either.¡± ¡°With his temper, my poor young heart was severely traumatized, yet I still managed to grow up healthy and strong¡ªit¡¯s a miracle.¡± ¡°Young Master Four was also quite frustrated by you, so I always say, you two are a match made in heaven.¡± ¡°Enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road.¡± ¡°I remember, at that time, no other girl dared to y with him again after being scolded, except for you. You really had the guts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s called thick skin,¡± Xu Chaomu said, somewhat embarrassed.
Thinking back, it was truly a pitiful sight. He would tell her to ¡°scram,¡± and she would still stick to him. At the age of ten, she had set lofty goals: tease him, kiss him, sleep with him. ¡°It¡¯s not thick skin, it¡¯s fate. You don¡¯t know what Young Master Four has gone through these five years¡­¡± As the butler began to speak about these matters, her voice dropped, choking a little. Xu Chaomu was knitting her sweater, head down, and paused when she heard this.
She had never asked him about those five years, but she could tell from his condition that he hadn¡¯t been well. For instance, it was well known that he never used to get headaches, but now, he suffered so much that he couldn¡¯t sleep all night. ¡°When you disappeared, Young Master Four searched the entire Sumatra Ind, even sending his most capable assistant, Xiao Mo, to look for you there for five years,¡± the butler said, ¡°But you were without a trace, and everyone was indirectly telling Young Master Four that you had left this world. But he didn¡¯t believe it, andter on, no one else dared to bring it up.¡± ¡°During that time, Young Master Four smoked and drank incessantly, often brought home by that boss Weiyang from nighttime outings.¡± ¡°He missed you terribly. When he was drunk, he would continuously call out your name¡­ but no one could answer him.¡± Xu Chaomu remained silent and listened quietly as the butler spoke. ¡°You have no idea, in the vastness of the Shen family estate, on those dark nights, when he was helped home, he would hoarsely call out ¡®Chaomu, Mumu¡¯ over and over, and I cried several times.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think Young Master Four is the same now, as if nothing has changed. The truth is, with you back, he¡¯s hidden all his sorrow. He doesn¡¯t want to share his grief with you.¡± ¡°These five years, he really thought that he might never see you again for the rest of his life.¡± The butler sighed as she spoke, knowing all the details of those five years. ¡°About his headaches, that started then too, either ending the night with a headache from drinking or with a stomach bleeding before he stopped. Just before you came back, he spent a few days in the hospital.¡± Xu Chaomu became even more silent, realizing that this was how he had spent hisst five years. If she really hadn¡¯te back for a lifetime, what then?
Shen Chi, aren¡¯t you smart? How could you be so foolishly incurable over these five years? ¡°Fortunately, Chaomu, you came back. Otherwise, I can¡¯t imagine how Young Master Four would manage to go on,¡± the butler said. ¡°He¡¯s really foolish,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly, looking down. The yarn on her fingers was warmer than sunlight, softer than a spring breeze. As she wound it over and over, the softest ce in her heart was touched deeply. ¡°Chaomu, you must stay with Young Master Four from now on. You two must be together,¡± the butler pleaded. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t answer but simply lifted the yarn in her hands and asked with a smile, ¡°Butler, what color scarf do you think is best for a man to wear?¡± ¡°ck, grey, khaki, white¡ªall are good choices.¡± ¡°Butler, is there any more grey yarn avable?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll go get it for you right now,¡± the butler replied. The butler was a beat slow in her reaction, realizing Xu Chaomu¡¯s intention only after pping her forehead. In less than a minute, the butler brought over the newly bought grey yarn. ¡°Chaomu, see this yarn, it¡¯s particrly warm and feels very good for knitting scarves.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Xu Chaomu responded with a smile, ¡°Then, butler, I¡¯m going to need your help to teach me some more.¡±
¡°Sure, no problem. By the way, girl, are you¡­ knitting a scarf for Young Master Four?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s knitting for him?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, lowering her head to start weaving the yarn. The butlerughed as well, understanding Xu Chaomu for many years; she knew her temperament and disposition clearly. Oftentimes, her actions spoke contrary to her words, just like Young Master Four. ¡°Here, let me teach you,¡± the butler began instructing Xu Chaomu on how to knit a scarf. As Xu Chaomu knitted, she thought, if she made him a pink scarf, he would still have to wear it. Chapter 391: 391: The Lost Child (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 391: The Lost Child (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Hmm¡­ but Xu Chaomu thought that even if he were wrapped in a pink scarf, there would still be beautiful women tumbling over each other to get to him. Alright, she admitted it, someone had a lot of charm.
The butler personally taught her how to knit scarves and sweaters, and Xu Chaomu found it extraordinarily fun. Before, she hated this kind of handcraft work; she couldn¡¯t sit still, but now, she felt exceptionally happy about it. After several hours of knitting, it was the butler who snatched the yarn from her hands, ¡°Chaomu, you can¡¯t tire yourself out anymore, rest for a while, stand up and walk around. We¡¯ll continue knitting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t mention that I¡¯m knitting a scarf,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. The butler also smiled secretly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll deliver it myself once you¡¯ve finished knitting it.¡±
Seeing her like this, the butler was even more certain that the scarf was intended as a personal gift for the Fourth Young Master.
At this moment, the butler was even happier than the Fourth Young Master himself. She hoped things would turn out well for both of them. Just as Xu Chaomu stood up and began walking back and forth in the living room, the door was suddenly pushed open. The entrance brought a wave of warmth, followed by the dazzling sunset.
It turned out to be evening, and everything was bathed in a light orange hue. It was a very warm color that made Xu Chaomu squint her eyes. At the doorway, Mo Shuifu held up a sun umbre, and after pushing the door open, she smiled gently and then closed her deep blue sun umbre.
Today, Mo Shuifu was as beautiful as ever, dressed in a carmine short-sleeved cheongsam, with her long hair done up in a bun at the back of her head. Already quite tall, she appeared even more so in a pair of white high heels. The setting sun draped over her, entuating her gracefulness and gentleness, like a woman stepping out of a painting. Her hair, cheongsam, and shoes were all tinged with ayer of light orange. ¡°Chaomu,¡± she called softly, passing the umbre to a servant standing beside her.
¡°Shuifu, you¡¯re here!¡± Xu Chaomu was especially surprised, her eyes sparkling as she hurried over. The butler also respectfully greeted, ¡°Third Young Madam.¡± ¡°I had some things to take care of at the piano shop, and I was nning to visit you in a few days, but the Fourth Young Master called me this afternoon to apany you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a child,¡± Xu Chaomu countered with a flush on her face. Everyone still treated her like a child, when in fact, she was about to be a mother herself. ¡°I missed you too, so I closed the piano shop early and came over,¡± said Mo Shuifu with a smile. ¡°Shuifu, sit here and let¡¯s talk. Don¡¯t leave tonight; you can sleep with me.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do, the Fourth Young Master would skin me alive,¡± Mo Shuifuughed. They sat side by side on the couch, and the butler, seeing that they wanted to talk in private, left the room. In the spacious living room, only Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu remained. ¡°I think it¡¯s not the Fourth Young Master who would skin you, but Third Brother who woulde looking,¡± Xu Chaomu also chuckled, covering her mouth. At this moment, she couldn¡¯t remember the things Shen Shihan had done, not out of insensitivity, but deep down, she hoped everyone could be well. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate Shen Shihan, just as she couldn¡¯t hate Shen Chi. They were people she had spent eight years with day and night. Mo Shuifu listened to Xu Chaomu¡¯s words and lowered her eyelids without saying anything. In fact, Shen Shihan had never allowed her toe to the Shen Family alone for over two years because¡­ Shen Chi was there. Her exceptional visit today was only because Xu Chaomu had returned. Andter, she had to leave early, otherwise, who knows if Shen Shihan woulde looking for her personally. ¡°Shuifu, we only had a brief encounter in the mallst time and didn¡¯t even get to talk properly; you must keep mepany and have a good catch-up today.¡± ¡°Okay, I haven¡¯t seen you for five years, and I have a lot to tell you, too.¡± ¡°Shuifu, how did you and Third Brother get married after just over two years?¡± Xu Chaomu was particrly curious about this. Initially, it was Shen Shihan who took Mo Shuifu away, but at that time, Shuifu and Shen Shihan were almost at loggerheads. How could they have ended up getting married? ¡°I met your Third Brother a long time ago; our first meeting was at Weiyang,¡± said Mo Shuifu. ¡°I know you knew each other a long time ago,¡± Xu Chaomu nodded. Earlier, at Mo Shuifu¡¯s mother¡¯s funeral, Xu Chaomu had seen Mo Shuifu and Shen Shihan together, but at that time, she hadn¡¯t thought much of it. ¡°It¡¯s better not to talk about the details,¡± Mo Shuifu said, her head lowered. Remembering the past, there was an ache in her heart. That year, she needed money, and he became her creditor. They had no other connections, but somehow, two unrted people got tangled up. ¡°Before you left, I was already with your Third Brother. It¡¯s just that there was no such thing as willingness.¡± ¡°Did Third Brother force you?¡± asked Xu Chaomu, blinking. She knew Shen Shihan¡¯s character; although he was reticent, he was just as domineering as Shen Chi. He would have what he wanted. ¡°At first he didn¡¯t force me, butter on, many of the things he did went too far,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice choked up as she recalled. Thinking back to five years earlier, the pain seemed minorpared to the loss of her child. Also, because of that miscarriage, she hadn¡¯t gotten pregnant again in more than two years. ¡°That night when Zhou Peitian kidnapped us, did Third Brother do anything to you?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything to me; he just confined me, not allowing me to leave the house.¡± ¡°And what happened afterward?¡± ¡°After you disappeared and were gone, I found out it was all orchestrated by him and Zhou Peitian. I went to the Fourth Young Master, and at that time, I truly despised Shen Shihan; how could he treat you like that.¡± ¡°I went to the Fourth Young Master to report his crimes, but before I could say much, I was taken away by him. Later, however, I managed to escape.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± Xu Chaomu listened anxiously; so much had happened after she left. ¡°I never imagined I was pregnant at the time. I ran away and¡­ eventually had a miscarriage by ident.¡± As she spoke of this, Mo Shuifu¡¯s voice softened. She still remembered every detail of that moment: the ground covered in bright red blood, streaming down her thigh¡­ ¡°Was it Third Brother¡¯s child?!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed, covering her mouth in shock. So, there was such a story! ¡°Yes,¡± Mo Shuifu nodded gently, looking somber, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s karma. Now, after being married for more than two years, I haven¡¯t gotten pregnant again. The doctor says that because of that miscarriage, my chances of conceiving a child are very small¡­¡± A wave of sadness surged through Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. Mo Shuifu was such a good person; why did fate have to be so cruel to her. Being unable to conceive was a severe punishment for a woman. Listening to Mo Shuifu speak, Xu Chaomu could feel her deep helplessness¡­ Chapter 392: 392 – I Want to Be His Third Aunt Chapter 392: ¨C I Want to Be His Third Aunt ¡°Shui Fu, it won¡¯t happen, medical science is so advanced these days, you and third brother will have your own children in the future,¡± Xu Chaomu consoled Mo Shuifu. Mo Shuifu sighed softly but didn¡¯t speak. ¡°When you had the miscarriage, did third brother know about it then?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. After Mo Shuifu was discharged from the hospital following her miscarriage, she took a train leaving C City. She learnedter that Shen Shihan had really made up his mind to let her go at that time. ¡°He found out after I was discharged and left C City,¡± Mo Shuifu said lightly. ¡°That must have been really hard on him,¡± Xu Chaomu sighed as well. Even if one¡¯s heart is hard and one¡¯s hands are ruthless, even if one can be so harsh toward her sister with whom she had lived for eight years, Mo Shuifu¡¯s child was, after all, his own flesh and blood. ¡°Later, when I asked him, he said it was also because of that child that he didn¡¯t want to let me go anymore. Afterward, he searched for me for over a year and brought me back from another city.¡± When Mo Shuifu talked about these things, her face was still shrouded in ayer of sadness. ¡°By the way, Shui Fu, try these grapes, the butler just bought them today, they¡¯re really sweet!¡± Xu Chaomu changed the subject. Although there were many things she still didn¡¯t understand, at that moment, she couldn¡¯t bear to peel away Mo Shuifu¡¯s wounds anymore.
Some wounds bleed afresh every time they¡¯re peeled back. Just like her own, the many events from five years before. On that passenger ship, the sound of gunfire still chills her heart whenever she thinks of it. And the pain of the bullet piercing her back, even in the sunny summer days, could chill her to the marrow. The scar from the bullet wound on her back is still there today, and sometimes, when she touches it while bathing, she can feel its frightful ferocity. Even though she can¡¯t see it herself, she imagines it must be quite ugly. That¡¯s merely the physical pain. Then there¡¯s that night with the torrential downpour, when the sea waves were towering, and she kept hearing Bai Man¡¯s voice in her ears¡­ Bai Man had told her that Zhou Ran had tampered with the gas canister, causing an explosion; her mother died in the inferno¡­ That was, for many years, the blow that struck closest to her heart. If she hadn¡¯t been so optimistic, she thought maybe she would have had a mental breakdown. When she was taken to the hospital, she didn¡¯t even want to see Shen Chi, not in the slightest; even the sound of his voice felt like a screeching noise to her. That night, unbeknownst to him, she fled along the hospital¡¯s pipes, enduring her pain and desperately trying to escape¡­ In the eyes of others, she, Xu Chaomu, appeared indifferent to warmth or sorrow, when in fact, she simply preferred to bury her sadness deep in her heart. Mo Shuifu took the grapes from Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, peeled one, and offered it to Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth: ¡°Here, have one too.¡± Xu Chaomuughed and bit into the small grape. As they chatted and ate grapes, Xu Chaomu shook her head after a while: ¡°I can¡¯t eat anymore, if I eat too much my baby will protest.¡± Mo Shuifu was taken aback: ¡°Chaomu, are you pregnant?¡± She had never expected Xu Chaomu to be pregnant. During this time, she had been busy with the piano shop and didn¡¯t consider the possibility that Xu Chaomu might be pregnant.
In her eyes, Xu Chaomu was still that carefree, na?ve girl! ¡°You can¡¯t tell, can you? How many months along are you?¡± Mo Shuifu stared at her stomach for quite a while; despite the thin clothes of summer, it really wasn¡¯t apparent that Xu Chaomu was pregnant. Xu Chaomuughed: ¡°A little over two months.¡±
A little over two months¡­ Mo Shuifu¡¯s brow furrowed. Was that when Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t back yet? Then¡­ the father of the child¡­ She suddenly felt a wave of emotion, as she had thought that Xu Chaomu would be with Shen Chi upon her return. But she had not expected¡­ ¡°Shui Fu, I just started knitting a sweater for the baby, what do you think, is it cute?¡± Xu Chaomu picked up the knitting from the sofa, her face beaming with a smile. Mo Shuifu came back to her senses andughed: ¡°You¡¯ve just started; how could you tell if it¡¯s cute yet?¡± ¡°It will be just right by the time this baby is born,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile, ¡°Shui Fu, do you still remember? My mom used to knit us a lot of beautiful sweaters. She once knitted one for each of us, a matching pair.¡± ¡°I remember, I remember, the matching kitten sweaters. But the kitten on yours was a little bigger than mine, and you got upset over it.¡± Mo Shuifu smiled happily, she remembered all those childhood moments. It was hard to believe that so many years had passed, and now Xu Chaomu was about to be a mother herself. If her own child had not met with an ident five years ago, he or she would be able to speak and walk by now¡­ ¡°Yeah, I remember fighting with my mom because I wanted the bigger cat. She said it was cuter for you to wear the smaller one because you were younger.¡±
¡°Auntie pacified you for several days before you stopped crying,¡± Mo Shuifu said. Thinking back to the little Xu Chaomu of her childhood, Mo Shuifu found her exceptionally adorable. In the future, if the baby in her belly were to be born, surely they¡¯d be very cute as well. ¡°My mom was so good to me; if she were still here, she would definitely knit many, many beautiful sweaters for my baby, in all sorts of colors,¡± Xu Chaomu said, somewhat wistfully, the gentle and graceful image of her mom surfacing in her mind. Thirteen years had passed¡­ Mo Shuifu fell silent too. Aunt Xu really loved Xu Chaomu. But Xu Chaomu¡¯s dad¡­ had never visited even once. However, she did recall a strange man who came looking for Xu Chaomu¡¯s mom, but Aunt Xu always said, if anyone asked for Xu Mengxi, to say they didn¡¯t recognize her, they¡¯d never seen her. ¡°Chaomu, I can knit too. How about this, when the timees, I¡¯ll knit a hat for your baby,¡± Mo Shuifu said with a smile. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great, then my baby won¡¯t need to buy any clothes, and I¡¯ll save a lot of money.¡± ¡°Thinking about it, I¡¯ll be his third aunt too,¡± Mo Shuifu said, subconsciously regarding Xu Chaomu as Shen Chi¡¯s wife. ¡°Not at all, I don¡¯t have anything going on with Shen Chi,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°Be my baby¡¯s godmother!¡± ¡°No¡­ I want to be his third aunt,¡± Mo Shuifu smiled.
¡°So annoying, Shui Fu, I¡¯m not talking to you anymore, you all pick on me,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°Chaomu, the sun is setting now, the view here at Splendid World is so beautiful, let¡¯s go for a walk,¡± Mo Shuifu suggested. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ve been sitting in the living room for half the day, going out for a walk sounds great, let¡¯s take Dabai with us,¡± Chaomu agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Mo Shuifu was in a good mood today as well; it had been many days since she had felt this perfectly content. Having been married for over two years, the number of times she visited the Shen Family could be counted on one hand, let alone taking a proper look around. Splendid World was a ce with beautiful scenery, yet she had barely had the chance to enjoy it. Every time she wanted to stay overnight at the Shen Family, Shen Shihan didn¡¯t seem too happy about it. As Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu walked shoulder to shoulder out of the living room, the setting sun was perfect. The round sun hung like a duck egg on the hillside of the Splendid World vi area. Chapter 393: 393: Such a Great Day Chapter 393: Such a Great Day When Shen Chi returned, Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu were sitting by the water, watching the sunset. Within the Splendid World Viplex, there was arge naturalke which had been purchased by the Shen Family more than twenty years ago, therefore, theke now belonged entirely to the Shen Family. Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu coulde and go as they pleased, and at this moment, they were sitting in a small pavilion by theke, drinking tea. ¡°Shuifu, look at these lotus flowers, whether lightly or heavily made up, they are always suitable,¡± Xu Chaomu said with augh, pointing to the center of theke. There was also a pavilion in the center of theke, connected to the shore by a long corridor. Theke full of lotus flowers swayed gracefully in the evening breeze, emanating bursts of lotus fragrance, as the water¡¯s ripples gently undted. ¡°Indeed, such days are lovely, peaceful and ordinary,¡± a serene smile also spilled over Mo Shuifu¡¯s lips. Although her rtionship with Shen Shihan remained lukewarm, she always knew that Shen Shihan was not bad to her. Even if she could no longer bear him children, he had neverined, nor had there been any whiff of scandal. Since marrying him, she never again faced a life of wandering or reliance on others. However, she still couldn¡¯t convince herself to fall in love with him¡­
Give her more time, and let time fill in the trenches between them. Xu Chaomu squinted her eyes, yes, such days were truly nice. Shen Chi walked towards this ce from the Shen Family¡¯s home, while Xu Chaomu was indulging in the sunset. The pale orange light fell on her white T-shirt, causing her small face to appear even more blushing. Shen Chi, with his long legs, walked towards her, his eyes never leaving Xu Chaomu. It was Mo Shuifu who noticed Shen Chi and nodded subtly in greeting. Shen Chi quietly approached Xu Chaomu from behind, hisrge hand covering her eyes. ¡°Ah, who is it? So naughty!¡± Her vision went dark as Xu Chaomu felt a pair of warm,rge palms covering her eyes. Mo Shuifu chuckled softly, while Shen Chi remained silent. ¡°Quick, announce your name!¡± Xu Chaomu yfully demanded. As soon as she calmed down, she recognized the faint, pleasant scent of herbs emanating from Shen Chi. His scent was truly unique. Shen Chi, of course, stayed quiet, and so she cunningly smiled and stepped on Shen Chi¡¯s leather shoe. It seems¡­ she didn¡¯t miss! ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re really cruel, getting mischievous, aren¡¯t you?¡± Shen Chi frowned, releasing his hands, but¡­ she had already stepped on his foot, and it hurt quite a bit. He smiled and pinched her rosy cheek before letting go. ¡°It¡¯s because you were picking on me,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered.
Mo Shuifu also smiled, lifting her eyes; at that moment, Shen Chi, backlit by the sun, stood next to Xu Chaomu. The sharp angles of his usually cold and icy face softened, a subtle smile curling at his lips. Mo Shuifu so seldom saw such a version of Shen Chi. All of this man¡¯s tenderness was reserved for Xu Chaomu.
It was true: ¡°Hard to redirect the waters in rivers and seas, except for Wushan, there¡¯s no other cloud.¡± ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Shen Chi also sat down next to Xu Chaomu. ¡°This beautifulke scenery, of course I am looking at the scenery! Are you blind?¡± ¡°I am blind, otherwise, how would I have fallen for you?¡± Shen Chi pinched her soft and tender cheek again; it felt especially good in his hand. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red, Mo Shuifu was still there, yet this man had no sense to restrain himself. She awkwardly swatted away hisrge hand and gave him a re. Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t help but sneak a few chuckles and stood up, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, I should head home. Shihan is probably back by now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go, Shui Fu, stay with me tonight. I still have so much to tell you.¡± Xu Chaomu also stood up, tugging at the corner of Mo Shuifu¡¯s clothes. Shen Chi finally spoke up as well, ¡°Stay and keep Chaomupany.¡± With Shen Chi speaking out, Mo Shuifu found it hard to decline and nodded her head in agreement. So, Xu Chaomu, linking arms with Mo Shuifu, left the pavilion.
¡°Shui Fu, let¡¯s go.¡± Of course, her words were intended for Shen Chi to hear. Shen Chi had no choice but to follow, but as he was about to do so, Xu Chaomu suddenly turned around and warned him, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to follow us! The sunset is so beautiful, and the lotus flowers are so lovely. Just stay here and quietly appreciate them. Once you¡¯re done, write a reflection¡­ ¡± Xu Chaomu went on, ncing back threateningly at Shen Chi. Mo Shuifu alsoughed. When she turned her head, she caught sight of the look of exasperated amusement on Shen Chi¡¯s face. The sun slowly set behind him, and the afterglow of the sunset draped over him, stretching his tall figure into a long shadow¡­ Amidst the intery of light and shadow, Mo Shuifu remembered, she had once loved him too. As a gentle breeze blew, Mo Shuifu brushed her stray hair away from her ear and turned away. She would keep this secret forever buried in her heart, as long as Shen Shihan never brought it up again. Xu Chaomu, still holding onto Mo Shuifu, walked around the ce, even going to the kennel to feed Dabai. The butler was thrilled to see Mo Shuifu visit the Shen Family after such a long time; she was especially happy today and had instructed the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes. The butler was quite fond of this third young madam too. Even though her background was not much better than Xu Chaomu¡¯s, she was just as kind. ¡°Dinner time, third young madam, fourth young madam, it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± The butler called them from the garden.
She deliberately referred to Xu Chaomu as ¡°fourth young madam.¡± Xu Chaomu, being a bit thick-skinned, didn¡¯t notice at first and even responded with a ¡°yeah.¡± However, it was Shen Chi who walked over with a sly smile ying on the corners of his mouth. Fourth young madam¡­ That title was quite fitting. The Shen Family home, which had been quiet for so long, was lively once again. For the past five years, the Shen Family House had been quiet and deste, but Xu Chaomu was always able to fill the vast residence withughter and joy. The butler really adored Xu Chaomu, secretly hoping that she would marry Shen Chi. The long dining table wasden with a variety of dishes, mostly traditional Chinese homemade dishes, and the butler had also specially prepared a bottle of red wine for Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifu sat together, and Shen Chi had no choice but to take the seat across from them. That way, with just a lift of his head, he could see her. Even if he didn¡¯t feel like eating, just looking at her was good enough. Shen Chi poured himself half a ss of red wine; the red liquid shone like a red diamond in the clear stemmed ss. Mo Shuifu was in a good mood today and passed her ss over, ¡°Shen Chi, pour me a little as well, would you?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Shen Chi poured a small amount for Mo Shuifu.
Xu Chaomu watched with envy and deliberately extended her ss as well, ¡°Shen Chi, pour some for me too.¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Shen Chi nced at her coldly and moved her ss away. Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes. But a momentter, someone went to pour her a ss of juice. ¡°Drink this.¡± Shen Chi pushed the ss towards her, leaving no room for negotiation. ¡°So annoying.¡± Xu Chaomu muttered under her breath, but took the juice anyway. With a smile on her face, Mo Shuifu saw that Shen Chi was indeed very fond of Xu Chaomu. However, with Xu Chaomu carrying someone else¡¯s child, what was Shen Chi to do¡­ Chapter 394: 394: Alright, I’ll feed you Chapter 394: Alright, I¡¯ll feed you Although there were only three people at the dinner table, the atmosphere was very harmonious. Xu Chaomu chattered incessantly, but most of the time she was talking to Mo Shuifu. Shen Chi always had a smile on his lips; he didn¡¯t talk much, but he liked listening to Xu Chaomu. Five yearster, he was d she was still the same. Sometimes he was really afraid¡ªwhat if she became silent and reserved, what if she became inferior and indifferent¡ªwhat would he do then? Xu Chaomu and Mo Shuifuughed and talked so much that they even forgot to eat. ¡°Mumu, try this.¡± Shen Chi picked up a piece of braised pork for her. The braised pork was not fatty or greasy, and it had a rich, juicy fragrance. Shen Chi had specifically picked out the best piece. Who knew Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t appreciate it: ¡°I¡¯m too busy to eat.¡±
Ever since she was young, Shen Chi had warned her not to talk at the dinner table, but this mischievous girl had never remembered it once. He remembered many years ago, there was a time when he was in a very bad mood and had no interest in eating with Xu Chaomu. As for Xu Chaomu, she was always carefree and never paid attention to other people¡¯s expressions. She talked non-stop during meals: ¡°Fourth Brother, I discovered a secret today.¡± At that time, he frowned and didn¡¯t want to bother with her. Her so-called secrets were nothing more than ¡°Wow, Fourth Brother, I found out that horses sleep standing up¡± ¡°Wow, Fourth Brother, I found out that Americans have blue eyes¡±¡­ Sometimes he even had to wonder if the girl had an IQ issue. Yet that day, she kept going on at the table: ¡°Fourth Brother, I discovered a huge secret, wow, our math teacher and our Chinese teacher are dating!¡± His mouth twitched; indeed, it was just as he had expected. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I secretly followed our math teacher, and he puts a beautiful rose on our Chinese teacher¡¯s table every day! And sometimes, they sneak off to the woods¡­ to kiss.¡± At this point, Xu Chaomu covered her mouth and started giggling. His face suddenly pulled tight, and with a ¡°snap,¡± he put down his chopsticks and lifted her away from the table. ¡°Xu Chaomu, at your young age, you should not be focusing on such nonsense. Get out and reflect on yourself!¡± After saying that, he literally threw her out and didn¡¯t allow her to eat. It was winter back then, in the bitter December, and he let her stand outside for half an hour. But of course, she didn¡¯t stand for the full half hour; as soon as Xu Chaomu saw him enter the living room, she ran off to the warm doghouse. Shen Chi really had no way to handle her. Now, as he recalled the past, the corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled deeper. He firmly ced the braised pork in front of her, and asserted dominantly, ¡°Eat first, then talk!¡±
¡°I won¡¯t eat!¡± Xu Chaomu red back at him. ¡°Are you going to eat it or not?¡± ¡°If I say I won¡¯t eat it, I won¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll feed you.¡±
Having said that, Shen Chi quickly walked over to her and raised his chopsticks; he promptly stuffed the piece of braised pork into her mouth. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened as she wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t; she could only stare at him with big watery eyes. She had no choice but to eat the braised pork. Sweet and savory, neither too salty nor too nd, it was indeed¡­ quite delicious. However, Mo Shuifu was still sitting beside them, and Shen Chi didn¡¯t seem to know how to restrain himself at all! Only when she had swallowed the braised pork did he sit back down satisfactorily, while Xu Chaomu¡¯s little face had already turned bright red. ¡°Talk less, eat more,¡± Shen Chi said lightly, as if nothing had happened. Mo Shuifu chuckled: ¡°Fourth Young Master is right, Chaomu, you really should listen to Fourth Young Master more.¡± ¡°Tyrant,¡± Xu Chaomuined. ¡°Eat some more vegetables.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s chopsticks picked up more greens and ced them in her bowl without giving her a chance to object. His tone and actions left no room for negotiation!
Xu Chaomu knew if she dared to resist, he might just ¡°personally¡± feed her the next second! Thus, for the first half of the meal, Xu Chaomu talked non-stop; for thetter half, shepletely lost the opportunity to speak. Eat, eat, eat¡ª that was her only option. Mo Shuifu had a few drinks and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Fearing she would get drunk, Shen Chi quickly stood up to support her: ¡°Third sister-inw, let me help you to the sofa to sit for a bit.¡± This address of ¡°third sister-inw¡± made the slightly drunken Mo Shuifu freeze for a long, long time¡­ She wasn¡¯t much older than him, but by seniority, she indeed was his third sister-inw. This title was like shackles and bonds, constantly reminding her that she should slowly forget about him¡­ Give her¡­a bit more time. Perhaps she really was a bit drunk, because she couldn¡¯t make out anything else he said afterward; the words ¡°third sister-inw¡± kept echoing in her ears. His deep voice lingered for a long time. Shen Chi helped Mo Shuifu to the sofa and poured her a ss of boiled water. ¡°Shui Fu, take a seat; I¡¯ll ask the butler Ling to make you some sobering tea,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Butler Ling¡¯s sobering tea is especially effective. Whenever someone gets drunk, I make him drink it, and it eases the difort right away.¡±
Shen Chi gave Xu Chaomu a cold look. What did she mean by ¡°someone¡±? If not reined in for half a day, she gets ahead of herself. Shen Chi handed the ss he was holding to Mo Shuifu and prepared to sit next to Xu Chaomu. Suddenly, the living room door burst open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in! Following that, a pair of sharp gazes and an aura of coldness. Mo Shuifu¡¯s hand shook and with a ¡°ng,¡± the ss dropped from her hand! She looked up, her eyes showing the panic of a startled deer. Shen Shihan! At that moment, Shen Chi was standing by her side. Although there was nothing between them, Mo Shuifu knew that Shen Shihan was very suspicious and wouldn¡¯t allow her even a word with Shen Chi. Let alone that she hade to the Shen Family today and even had dinner with Shen Chi. When Shen Chi saw Shen Shihan arrive, his eyes grew sharp, and the smile at the corner of his lips vanished instantly. The sound of the breaking ss startled Xu Chaomu as well. A young maid followed behind Shen Shihan, not reading the room¡¯s mood and unaware of what was happening as the whole ce quieted down at once.
¡°Third young master, the third young mistress is here,¡± the maid said. ¡°Get lost!¡± Shen Shihan lowered his voice and barked at her, his eyes filled with anger. The young maid trembled with fear and quickly stepped back a few paces, still clueless about how she had angered Shen Shihan. Mo Shuifu quickly stood up, her eyes on Shen Shihan. He probably saw Shen Chi giving her boiled water and might think again that she was being flirtatious with Shen Chi. ¡°Shihan¡­¡± she softly called his name. Shen Shihan, with red eyes, strode over, heading straight for Mo Shuifu. Seeing that the atmosphere was off, Xu Chaomu got in front of Mo Shuifu before Shen Shihan did, blocking him. ¡°Third brother, you¡¯ve arrived just in time. How about joining us for dinner?¡± Shen Shihan clenched his fists, ring at Xu Chaomu: ¡°I¡¯m here to take Shui Fu home.¡± Chapter 395: 395 Let me Kiss You (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Chapter 395: Let me Kiss You (Seeking Monthly Ticket) ¡°Third brother, Shui Fu has only been here for half a day, and you already can¡¯t bear to let her go? I¡¯ve already discussed it with her, and she¡¯s staying the night.¡± Xu Chaomu raised his eyes to meet Shen Shihan¡¯s. Five years had passed, and her third brother had be more mature, but those deep, unfathomable eyes remained inscrutable. At the moment, Shen Shihan was dressed in a dark shirt, exuding a chilling aura. Indeed, five years change everything. Five years ago, she remembered going out for barbecue with him. When leaving, unable to part easily, she even turned around to hug him. Five yearster, she would no longer make such a gesture. ¡°I have matters to discuss with Shui Fu; I must take her back with me. Chaomu, step aside,¡± Shen Shihan insisted firmly. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that it can¡¯t wait until tomorrow? You cane back then,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. She could tell that Shen Shihan was not in a good mood, and she was worried that Mo Shuifu might be at a disadvantage. ¡°Chaomu, you needn¡¯t interfere with the matters between me and Shui Fu,¡± Shen Shihan said with furrowed brows. Mo Shuifu knew that if she didn¡¯t go with Shen Shihan tonight, his anger would only grow by tomorrow.
How could he allow her to spend the night at the Shen Family¡¯s house! She steadied her gaze and softly said to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Chaomu, since Shihan says he has matters to discuss with me, then I¡¯ll go back with him first.¡± ¡°Shui Fu!¡± Xu Chaomu was genuinely anxious. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Mo Shuifu smiled and squeezed Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. Shen Shihan clenched his fists tighter and tighter, clearly smelling the scent of alcohol on Mo Shuifu. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t giving in; if she gave in, who knew what sort of stormy confrontation they might have when the two went back! Although she didn¡¯t know exactly what Shen Shihan felt for Mo Shuifu, she wouldn¡¯t let Shuifu suffer any immediate loss. ¡°Shui Fu, didn¡¯t we agree to sleep together and chat tonight? If you go back with third brother, you¡¯re going back on your word,¡± Xu Chaomu protested. ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ll keep youpany another day,¡± Shui Fu had no choice but to say. Shen Shihan, growing impatient, gently pushed Xu Chaomu aside, trying to pull Mo Shuifu, who was behind her, back to him. But he didn¡¯t notice the broken ss behind Xu Chaomu¡¯s feet, and with his push, Xu Chaomu stepped back dangerously close to the shards! Just as she was about to step on the broken ss, Shen Chi quickly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist! Hisrge hand firmly circled Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist and pulled her to safety with force. ¡°Ah!¡± Xu Chaomu cried out in shock, patting her chest. That was close, too close. If she had actually stepped on the ss, the pain would have been unbearable. Shen Chi hadn¡¯t wanted to get involved, but since Shen Shihan hadid hands on Xu Chaomu, he couldn¡¯t be used of being unkind. He grabbed Shen Shihan¡¯s wrist, his eyes filled with icy coldness: ¡°Shen Shihan, who allowed you to touch Chaomu?¡± Five years ago, he hadn¡¯t protected her well; five yearster, he would do everything in his power to protect her.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Shen Shihan apologized gravely. It wasn¡¯t intentional, but he didn¡¯t expect Shen Chi to react so strongly. Even more so than five years ago. ¡°In the future, if you dare toy a finger on Chaomu, I, Shen Chi, won¡¯t hesitate to see it through to the end.¡±
His words were a clear warning and also contained all the anger from that incident five years ago. Between him and Shen Shihan, a real confrontation had yet to begin. At this moment, the atmosphere was taut with tension. Xu Chaomu remained silent; indeed, Shen Shihan had gone too far five years ago, breaking her heart thoroughly. Therefore, she made no furtherment on Shen Chi¡¯s words. Shen Shihan pulled his wrist from Shen Chi¡¯s grip, his eyes also filled with cool detachment. The recent incident was indeed his fault, and he had no rebuttal. Mo Shuifu hurried to Shen Shihan¡¯s side, looking up at him she said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± Shen Shihan, face set in a stern expression, remained silent, grabbing Mo Shuifu¡¯s right wrist and dragging her towards the main door! Mo Shuifu, wearing high heels, stumbled and nearly fell as he pulled her along. ¡°Shihan!¡± Mo Shuifu twisted her ankle, anger creasing her brows. But her nature was gentle, so even in anger, she couldn¡¯t spit out harsh words. Shen Shihan bent down, picked her up, and carried her to the car!
Their silhouettes quickly disappeared into the night, leaving the living room in silence. Shen Chi clenched his fists and stood in ce, while Xu Chaomu, from behind him, sneakily stared at his straight back for a moment. Suddenly, she smiled, breaking the quiet. ¡°President Shen, do you really care about me?¡± she teased. His behavior just now had indeed pleased her. Only then did Shen Chi turn around, and upon seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s smiling face, his anger dissipated. He lowered his head, pinched her cheek, and smiled slightly: ¡°Say ¡®husband¡¯.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu swatted his hand away and red at him. ¡°Ungrateful girl.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t move away; instead, he moved closer, touching here and there, and suddenly pulled her into his arms, pressing her down on the sofa. Leaning over her, he pinned her beneath him; as he lowered his head, their noses barely touched. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened, and just as she was about to push him away, he caught her hands. ¡°Mumu, let me give you a kiss. You should know that your husband loves you,¡± he said.
¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu retorted indignantly. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t kiss your face then.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips met hers, delivering a gentle bite, and the sweetness of her lips was like delicious summer ice cream, irresistible. Xu Chaomu shivered, trying to speak. With a twist of her body, the beast pinned her even deeper; another move, and he kissed her with even more fervor. The deeper the kiss, the words she wanted to say were sealed within that kiss. Having not seen her for five years, he felt an urge to meld her into his being. Xu Chaomu too was exasperated; this man always seemed insatiable. Shen Chi captured her lips, assaulting the citadel. Their teeth entwined, their breathing grew heavy. But what frustrated him was that the girl beneath him never seemed to learn how to respond to him. Silly beyond cure; fine, he¡¯d just need to put in more effort, willing to teach her more in the future. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed. The door to the living room was still open. If a servant walked inter, how would she ever hold her head up again? Their current position couldn¡¯t be more suggestive.
Shen Chi, having had a few drinks, found her demeanor even more endearing. Amidst his surging emotions, his hands started to misbehave, gliding and exploring. Lifting her T-shirt, his palm followed her abdomen upwards. Every touch ignited a fierce warmth within her. Hisrge hand slowly slid to her back, and with a deft flick of his finger, he unhooked her bra. The air conditioning and the breeze from outside were cool, but Shen Chi emanated an unsettling heat. Chapter 396: 396 Mumu, You’re Lighting a Fire Chapter 396: Mumu, You¡¯re Lighting a Fire While kissing her, he was also fiddling around with his hands. Xu Chaomu found it absolutely intolerable; she lifted her foot to kick him. Pervert, hooligan, shameless! The air conditioner exhaled a ¡°whoosh¡± of cold air, and the evening breeze blowing in from outside carried a faint scent of herbs. Shen Chi¡¯s scorching breath wrapped around her neck, sending a tingling shiver through her body. Whenever she moved, he would pin her legs down, not allowing her to move. He had always been domineering in such matters. But no matter how domineering, he had never seeded. Shen Chi felt utterly defeated. So, he kissed her fiercely, the only thing he could do now was to kiss her, and that was it. The summer fabric was thin, his muscr chest rubbing against her body, and as they were drawn so close together, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face gradually turned apple red. Add to that the difficulty of breathing; her little face became even more flushed and dewy.
Damn it! Just when she felt like she was about to asphyxiate, the man finally satisfied himself and released her lips. But, his hand was still sliding inside her underwear, causing Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulders to tremble¡­ ¡°Shen, Shen Chi, you beast in human clothing!¡± Xu Chaomu finally cursed at him and took advantage of the moment he lowered his head toward her to bite down fiercely on his chin! Shen Chi winced in pain, and his movements ceased instantly. She didn¡¯t hold back with that bite, and Shen Chi touched his chin in pain. As soon as he let go of her, Xu Chaomu pulled her hands free and red at him. ¡°Little wildcat.¡± Seeing her expression, he actuallyughed, ¡°I haven¡¯t really done anything yet.¡± His long, clean fingers caressed her cheek, tracing the lovely contours of her face. ¡°Shen Chi, get off me!¡± Xu Chaomuined. ¡°What if I don¡¯t? You bit me, so how do we settle this, hmm?¡± His deep, mellow voice was very pleasant to hear. When he looked down, his gaze met her watery,rge eyes. Her longshes trembled lightly like the delicate wings of a butterfly, eliciting sympathy. He saw his own reflection in her pupils, his eyes brimming with joy as his fingers gently touched her face. ¡°So what if I bit you? I stillin that your bones are too hard,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted disdainfully. Facing him, she could clearly see the two rows of teeth marks on his chin. This exceptionally handsome face was now marred by her. ¡°Sharp-tongued, you just refuse to suffer any loss at my hands.¡± He pinched her cheek.
¡°Are you going to get up or not? I¡¯ll count to three, and if you¡¯re not up, don¡¯t me me for being rough, one¡­¡± Xu Chaomu stared at him, not backing down in the slightest. At this moment, Shen Chi was lying on top of her, making it hard for her to breathe. So close he was, Xu Chaomu swallowed hard; she had to admit¡­ this man was infuriatingly handsome.
The firm lines of his face, the deep gaze, the prominent nose, and the cool lips, perfection at every angle. Disgraceful Xu Chaomu, pathetic Xu Chaomu, the Xu Chaomu who couldn¡¯t take her eyes off a beautiful man! She inwardly cursed herself several times. But before she could yell ¡°three,¡± Shen Chi pressed another kiss onto her lips. This kiss was a punishment, for her daring to bite him, and for even daring¡­ to threaten him. He squinted his eyes, observing the expression of the little cat beneath him as he kissed her. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu looked utterly panicked. Enough already! As their lips and teeth met, Xu Chaomu yed dirty, lightly biting with her teeth, aiming to catch his tongue. But he clearly saw through her intentions and withdrew perfectly from her mouth just as she was about to bite down. The kiss had just ended, and Xu Chaomu was about to speak when a young maid suddenly entered the living room. ¡°Ah! I didn¡¯t see anything¡­ didn¡¯t see anything¡­¡± The young girl immediately covered her eyes, blushing as she ran away. In the end, she even considerately closed the door for them. In fact¡­ she saw everything, Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu were being so intimate.
Their posture, their movements, their gaze¡­ Especially Xu Chaomu, with her clothes in disarray, hair tousled, and breathing rapid, while their family¡¯s Fourth Young Master¡¯s hands were still mischievously roaming¡­ Did she just interrupt something important? It¡¯s all over, all over¡­ The little girl¡¯s face was even redder than Xu Chaomu¡¯s. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face also reddened, pushing against Shen Chi¡¯s chest with her hands, ¡°Get up! This is so embarrassing, how am I going to face people after this!¡± ¡°Mumu, I just love you like this, you will always be mine.¡± The man dered his dominion with assertiveness; she must be his, and only his. Fighting with this man, Xu Chaomu would lose nine out of ten times, and she was very unwilling to ept that. So, she tugged at his cor, smiling seductively, a smile full of allure. Her nimble hand lifted, unfastening the top button of his shirt. One button, two buttons¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s throat moved, the fire that had just been extinguished in his body was rekindled, his reasonpletely beguiled by Xu Chaomu. She really was a femme fatale¡­ By the time she had undone three buttons, his wheat-colored, sturdy chest was exposed, sexy and firm.
Even Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva. By the time she had unfastened all the buttons on his shirt, her delicate, boneless hands began to glide over his chest. Damn it, as if she didn¡¯t know how? She was once a connoisseur of Little Forbidden Books! She mightck practical experience, but her theoretical experience was considerable, indeed plentiful! Moreover, having been teased by him so many times, she should have learned by now. It must be said, this man had a really great body, an excellent feel to the touch. Sure enough, Shen Chi¡¯s throat moved again, his eyes now veiled with a deepyer of desire, hazy and profound as if it could erupt at any moment. Her hand slid over his waist, over his abs¡­ Damn it, with a body like that, how were women supposed to live. ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re ying with fire,¡± Shen Chi said in a husky voice, grabbing her hand, the narrowing of his eyes sending a message of danger. ¡°Yo, President Shen, you¡¯re reacting to this?¡± Xu Chaomuughed. Through the thinyer of clothing, she could feel something pressing against her abdomen.
She was dead set on the belief that he wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to her, which is why she was so unbridled. ¡°Mumu, do you believe I¡¯ll bring you to justice on the spot? Huh?¡± Shen Chi looked at her, eyes narrowing. This girl, she¡¯s really bold. And where did she learn all this? ¡°If you dare to touch me, we¡¯ll get a divorce tomorrow, with the reason being domestic violence.¡± ¡°Domestic violence? I¡¯m going to give you a taste of domestic violence right now.¡± With a hoarse voice, Shen Chi pressed down her hands with onerge hand, while his other hand went to unbuckle her denim pants. ¡°Stop it! Shen Chi, if you really want to take care of your needs, go find a woman! Your Jian Sisi is so beautiful and likes you so much, she¡¯ll surely attend to you well,¡± Xu Chaomu urged in panic. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a woman?¡± Shen Chi made no further moves, his narrowed eyes gazing down at her. Chapter 397: I Want You to Kiss Me Voluntarily Chapter 397: I Want You to Kiss Me Voluntarily The little white rabbit beneath him was cuter than ever before. She stoked all the fire within him, yet didn¡¯t want to take responsibility, truly naughty. But¡­ he liked it. ¡°Shen Chi, you dare to touch me?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°Are you sure you want to try? Men at this time, have no rationale, and what¡¯s more, I¡¯ve been drinking. I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯m a normal man.¡± Shen Chi looked at her seriously. When he became serious, she shivered. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m still carrying our baby, you can¡¯t mess around.¡± Her words were a little incoherent. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can be gentle, light and shallow.¡± Someone wore a wicked smile. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not allowed¡­¡± Xu Chaomu saw he was serious, her small hands hurriedly pushed him, her face showing panic. Shen Chi purposely kept a straight face, his fingers deliberately reaching towards her waistband. ¡°Mumu, the fire you started, you have to put it out. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be gentle¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t touch me, it will harm the baby. If you touch me, I won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± Xu Chaomu became frantic. ¡°No way.¡± He kept a stern face, his attitude very firm. When he turned cold, she became frightened. ¡°Then what will it take for you to let me go, you beast!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled at him. ¡°You want me to let you go?¡± Shen Chi narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hmm¡­ You¡¯re not allowed to touch me.¡± ¡°I want you to kiss me actively, take the initiative.¡± ¡°I refuse!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Having said that, Shen Chi¡¯s hand explored a centimeter lower, nearly there¡­ ¡°Stop moving, I¡¯ll kiss you, okay?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes reddened in urgency. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice deepened, as he changed his tone. In fact, his request wasn¡¯t excessive at all, he hadn¡¯t yet made an even more excessive demand, like¡­ having her extinguish his fire in another way. Xu Chaomu looked like she was about to make a noble sacrifice, her expression uglier than crying. Shen Chi was displeased, ¡°Is kissing me that difficult?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t bring myself to do it.¡± Xu Chaomu wore a mournful expression. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you are a beast.¡± She deliberately sniffled. Now it was Shen Chi¡¯s turn to have a face full of ck lines. Xu Chaomu closed her eyes, aimed at Shen Chi¡¯s cheek, and kissed it like a dragonfly skimming the water! It was more of a peck than a kiss. The kiss was so brief that Shen Chi hardly felt anything before it ended. ¡°Xu Chaomu, do I need to teach you how to kiss? Is that what you call a kiss?!¡± Shen Chi was angry. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to cheat, cheaters won¡¯t have sexual happiness in the future,¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. Herrge eyes fluttered, an image of pure, natural harmlessness. ¡°So you think you have a reason now, do you?!¡± Shen Chi was furious. ¡°I was right to begin with, you said ¡®kiss you once,¡¯ you didn¡¯t specify how to kiss, if you cheat, you won¡¯t have sexual happiness! No sexual happiness! No sexual happiness!¡± Xu Chaomu mored. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you!¡± Clearly, she was the one cheating, and cheating very seriously at that! ¡°I haven¡¯t finished eating yet, let me go have my meal, I¡¯m so hungry.¡± Hearing her words, Shen Chi had no choice but to let go of her; he couldn¡¯t bear to let her go hungry. With a release of his hand, she pushed him away and jumped off the couch. Damn it, she was now inplete disarray, with messy clothes and hair. She quickly fastened her bra and tidied up her hair. Living under the same roof as this wolf in the future, she was sure to be bullied terribly. She sat at the dining table, picking at the unfinished food. ¡°The dishes are cold, I¡¯ll have Ling the butler reheat them,¡± Shen Chi frowned. As he walked, he fastened the buttons on his shirt, his actions extremely graceful. ¡°It¡¯s okay, not too cold, it¡¯s summer after all, it¡¯ll do to just eat as is,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°No, it¡¯s still not okay, if the vegetables are cold that might be fine, but eating cold meat dishes can cause a stomachache.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi pressed a call button without further ado. Soon, Ling the butler pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Young Master Shen.¡± ¡°Pick a few dishes Chaomu likes and warm them up.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ling the butler nodded her head. Following Shen Chi¡¯s instructions, she took away several dishes to the kitchen. As Ling the butler walked out of the living room with the tray, she happened to see several young maids gathered together, chatting. When she was not busy, Ling the butler didn¡¯t care about them, letting them chat as they pleased. She didn¡¯t pay much attention at the moment either. However, when the young maids saw Ling the butler passing by, they quickly fell silent. Once Ling the butler had passed, they resumed their heated conversation. ¡°Xiao Zhi, is what you just said really true?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be true, I saw it with my own eyes, Young Master Shen and Young Madam were doing that thing, you know what I mean.¡± ¡°Then you must have had quite the eyeful.¡± The fellow maids were particrly envious, their faces dreamy, ¡°So tell us, does Young Master Shen have a really good body?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious, even with his clothes on, you can tell!¡± ¡°Oh my, why didn¡¯t I go just now, it¡¯s such a loss, such a loss.¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t add up. Young Madam has not returned for five years, yet she came back pregnant, it¡¯s puzzling.¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯ve also been troubled by this question. I think there are two possibilities, first is that Young Master Shen had met Young Madam before, and it¡¯s only recently that he brought her back; second is, the child Young Madam is carrying belongs to another man¡­¡± As she said this, the maid¡¯s voice dropped lower. The others gasped, covering their mouths in shock, echoing, ¡°We thought the same thing, we all think the child in Young Madam¡¯s stomach isn¡¯t Young Master Shen¡¯s.¡± ¡°Right, right, right, wasn¡¯t there a man who came to the Shen Family today? I saw Young Madam get into the car with him, they seemed chatty and happy.¡± ¡°You mean to say, that man is the biological father of the child in Young Madam¡¯s stomach?¡± ¡°Very likely.¡± ¡°But this doesn¡¯t make sense. With Young Master Shen¡¯s character, could he tolerate someone else¡¯s child?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Young Master Shen loves Young Madam a lot.¡± ¡°Still, he wouldn¡¯t go as far as to raise another man¡¯s child, right? How torturous, no man could endure that, let alone a man like Young Master Shen who isn¡¯tcking women.¡± ¡°Yes, the child isn¡¯t even born yet, let alone years, decadester, seeing his wife with someone else¡¯s child would make anyone bitter, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Right, by that time, Young Master Shen would definitely fall in love with other women. Love, after all, has no shelf life. It¡¯s nothing but ¡®I¡¯m taken with your beauty, you¡¯re taken with my wealth.¡¯ ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡± ¡°But when you think about it, there are many women around President Shen who are prettier than Young Madam, right? I think Miss Bai Man is very beautiful.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ it¡¯s because Young Madam is good in bed?¡± ¡°Who knows, could be.¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem.¡± The group was chatting merrily when Ling the butler passed by them and coughed lightly. Startled, they all scattered like rabbits. Ling the butler red at them, they were full of idle gossip, it seemed they didn¡¯t want to work anymore. Ling the butler entered the living room with the reheated food, only to see Shen Chi with his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, their heads together, looking very intimate. Ling the butler paused, wondering whether she should go in or not¡­ Chapter 398: She Once Loved Someone Like That Chapter 398: She Once Loved Someone Like That After a few seconds of thought, the butler entered with determination. She didn¡¯t raise her head, but headed straight to the dining table, cing the tray on it and serving the hot dishes one by one. ¡°Fourth Young Master, Fourth Young Madam, please enjoy your meal,¡± the butler said after setting the table and quickly made her exit, not daring to linger. Likewise, she closed the door for them. ¡°Shen Chi, can¡¯t you be a little more proper? You¡¯ve made me lose all my face!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed angrily. Earlier, it was a young maid who came in, and just now, it was the butler herself. It seemed like everyone up and down the Shen Family believed she, Xu Chaomu, was insatiable and utterly parched. At this moment, Shen Chi was sitting beside Xu Chaomu, tightly wrapping his arm around her waist, preventing her from moving. Previously, with Mo Shuifu present, he refrained from sitting next to her, but now that it was just the two of them in the living room, he felt free. His head rested against hers as he continuously offered her food with chopsticks. ¡°Young couples are like that. The butler is worldly; surely, she¡¯ll understand,¡± Shen Chi responded with utter ease. ¡°First, you and I aren¡¯t a couple; second, you¡¯re not exactly young anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re young, you make the rules,¡± Shen Chi pinched her cheek, his eyes filled with doting amusement. Then, he popped a piece of lean meat into her mouth. Xu Chaomu red at him temporarily, conceding to let her eat in peace. After she finished the meat, Xu Chaomu turned and said, ¡°Can you let go of my hand? I have hands and feet, I can eat by myself.¡± ¡°A husband is meant to be used.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t let go, instead reached around from her back, encircling both her hands without loosening his grip. Xu Chaomu was exasperated. Shameless. The summer breeze was crisp and warm, bringing with it waves of insect chirps and floral scents. The weather was good today, and the moon was particrly round. There were no stars in the night sky, only thin clouds floating around the moon. ¡°The Milky Way is clear yet shallow, how much distance apart are we? It¡¯s on nights like these that we meet, surpassing countless encounters in the world.¡± Moonlight shone on the Shen Family vi and onto the courtyard while the wind rustled the bamboo, causing the delicate leaves to make a ¡°shasha¡± sound. Lotus fragrance spread throughout, mingling with the scent of other flowers and nts, turning this summer night tranquil and serene. As soon as Xu Chaomu had her fill, Shen Chi took her hand and they went for a stroll. She was entirely unwilling, shaking off his hand every time he took hold. He initially allowed her to fuss, but after the fourth or fifth time, his patience waned, and instead of holding her hand, he interlocked their fingers firmly, leaving her no chance to pull away. Xu Chaomu had no choice but to give in. ¡°You know I¡¯m physically weaker than you, yet you still bully me,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°You¡¯re not just physically weaker than me,¡± Shen Chi chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled, expecting him to spew nonsense. Sure enough, he stated solemnly, ¡°Your IQ is also not as high as mine.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, that¡¯s personal attack!¡± Xu Chaomu looked up indignantly, and beneath the moonlight, her gaze met his clear eyes. And there were¡­ the faint bite marks on his chin. Her mood suddenly lifted considerably, eager to see how he would go to thepany tomorrow, how he would conduct a meeting without being ridiculed by his subordinates. ¡°What I said is the truth,¡± Shen Chi tightened his grip on her hand. He lowered his head to meet her watery eyes, which under the moonlight, were veiled with ayer of pale moon glow. She was so beautiful that he felt his entire life was filled with sunshine. Mumu, she was his Mumu, one of a kind. Hand in hand, they strolled under the moonlight, stepping out of the living room and walking through the garden. On the stone path, Xu Chaomu hopped along yfully. Shen Chi could only follow her lead, asionally pulling her back to ensure she didn¡¯t walk too fast. He was willing to indulge her like this forever. The garden was filled with floral scents, from the strong essence of hibiscus, the subtle fragrance of water lilies, to the delicate aroma of jasmine¡­ Retro lilymp street lights lined the path, casting a bright light. This light, softly shimmering on the ground, rivaled the moonlight. The evening breeze gently caressed Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair, dancing in the wind. She adored the summer nights, the evening breeze carrying with it the scent of memories. Such summer nights brought back thoughts of her unreturnable youth, her na?ve eighteen-year-old self, and even earlier, the flush of being sixteen, the innocence of being ten. Love also, like these summer nights, stirred the tenderness in her heart. She had once loved a person so deeply, and this person was now walking by her side, holding her hand. If there had been no detours, no ups and downs, would their love still be the same as it was at the beginning? From now on, she would have no interest in admiring the lovely night; let the bright moon hang over the Western Pavilion alone. They walked and stopped around the garden. Sometimes, when Xu Chaomu grew tired, she would stubbornly refuse to move a step further. ¡°Shen Chi, let go of my hand. I want to sit on the stone bench for a while.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too cold on the stone bench, you¡¯re not allowed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s summer now, not autumn, let alone winter. How can it be cold?¡± ¡°I said you¡¯re not allowed,¡± Shen Chi was firm. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was defeated and resorted to clinging to Shen Chi¡¯s arm, refusing to walk. She remembered a scene from five years ago when they took Dabai for a walk together; she was also too tired to walk and pretended to be stubborn, sitting on the roadside. Back then, he had carried her slowly back to the Shen Family¡¯s house¡­ It turned out that five years had passed. Five years ago, she didn¡¯t yet have this little bun in her belly. Time was indeed a mysterious thing. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the billiard room to rest, I can teach you how to y pool,¡± Shen Chi suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the piano room. You can y the piano for me.¡± Remembering the old times, Xu Chaomu thought of ¡°Summer¡± which was fitting for this season of calm evenings and clear summer moons. ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Chi replied, his lips parting slightly, hisrge hand resting on her head. He lowered his gaze, his eyes reflecting the light and he appeared particrly rxed and handsome. Xu Chaomu also lifted her head, and in his eyes, she saw a miniature version of herself, along with the depth of adoration in his gaze, as profound as the ocean. Holding onto his arm, Shen Chi led her toward the piano room. At that moment, she became a docile kitten, retracting her sharp ws, herrge eyes brimming with cuteness. They didn¡¯t have to walk far to reach the piano room, which wasrge and elegantly decorated. The fresh floral curtains, the light green wallpaper, it was all understated and discreet, revealing a sophisticated and tasteful air throughout. A costly piano stood not far from the floor-to-ceiling window, itscquered surface reflecting a serene luster under the light. Shen Chi led her to the couch beside the piano, his lips curling into a smile, ¡°You sit here, I¡¯ll y for you.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Xu Chaomu responded, propping her head with one hand, staring at him intently. Why after thirteen years of looking at him, did he still look so captivating? They say people who are attractive as children don¡¯t look as good when they grow up, but Shen Chi not only didn¡¯t look worse, he seemed to grow even more handsome? It wasn¡¯t fair. Shen Chi released her hand; he loved to see the sweet smile on her face, like honey basking in the sunlight. Chapter 399: 399 His Piano Sound Chapter 399: His Piano Sound As he let go, Xu Chaomu half leaned on the armrest of the sofa. She was about ten steps away from him, neither short nor long. Shen Chi settled himself beside the piano, opened it, and turned his head to look at her once more. Lying on the sofa and staring at him, Xu Chaomu truly resembled an obedient and adorable kitty. Whenever he looked at her, she would give a silly smile, fluttering her big eyes. Her ck, soft hair loosely fell over her shoulders, and under the light, she looked like a little princess. A smile graced Shen Chi¡¯s lips; he turned his head and pressed his long, clean fingers onto the piano keys. Xu Chaomu wondered which piece he would y; deep down, she hoped for ¡°Summer,¡± as it was the same piece she¡¯d yed five years ago before leaving. Perhaps it was their minds sharing the same wavelength, for just as she thought of it, as soon as the piano keys were struck, she heard that familiar melody. It was ¡°Summer¡±¡­ A deeper smile hooked at the corners of her lips.
The way he yed the piano was probably the most perfect she had ever seen. From her angle, she had a perfect view of his profile, chiseled andposed, youthful and handsome. His upright figure, perfect lines, even his shadow was pleasing to the eye. The usually indifferent and aloof expression on his face now held not a trace of coldness but was instead brimming with warmth. When he yed the piano, he was very serious, his brows slightly furrowed, fingers dancing across the keys. An epitome of elegance in a man. The sound of the piano filled the vast music room, a lively tune permeating every corner as if the air itself was pulsing with joy. Xu Chaomu hummed the tune in time with the beat, her eyes squinted, never straying from the man ying the piano. A lifetime of regret with just one glimpse of Shen Chi. Minutester, as thest note was yed, his piano ying ceased, though its echoes seemed to linger on endlessly. Xu Chaomu was still immersed in the sound of the piano, her eyes slightly lowered as she listened to the beautiful piece. Shen Chi walked over, tousling her fluffy head: ¡°How was your husband¡¯s ying?¡± ¡°Ah, oh, not so good,¡± Xu Chaomu replied as she looked up. ¡°You little liar,¡± heughed lightly. Clearly enchanted, yet still stubborn. ¡°Shen Chi, I want to ask you a question,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking at him. Her expression was serious, and so were her eyes. ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Five years ago, at our school¡¯s g, I yed this piece on stage. Was it you who yed backstage?¡±
So that was her question¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s narrow eyes suddenly narrowed further; who else could it be but him? Her words transported him back to that day, five years ago, when they had harmonized perfectly on stage, almost as if they were in perfect concord, wless. ¡°Call me ¡®husband,¡¯ and I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Shen Chi said as he stroked her head.
¡°Such a schemer,¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. Even asking a question required conditions; this man, a crafty old fox, always calcting, shrewd and cunning. ¡°Then I won¡¯t tell you,¡± Shen Chi said leisurely as he watched her. He sat next to her, crossed his legs, leaning back on the sofa. With one long arm, he wrapped her tight in his embrace. ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your hands to yourself?¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°Hands and feet are meant to be used, babe, give me a smile,¡± he said. Shen Chi lifted her chin with his finger and watched her eyes with a yful glint. ¡°Smile my ass,¡± Xu Chaomu swatted his hand away. This beastly man, at this moment, smiling so¡­sciviously. The next second, Xu Chaomu grasped his neck with her hand, threatening him on purpose: ¡°Will you talk or not, was it you ying the piano that day?¡± ¡°Would you prefer it was me, or not me?¡± ¡°Stop beating around the bush, just answer yes or no!¡±
Shen Chiughed: ¡°Give me a smile, then I¡¯ll answer you.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, can you stop fooling around and just answer the question!¡± Xu Chaomu angrily clutched his neck, climbing atop him. She rubbed against him, the man already struggling to hold back. Set ame by her countless times tonight, yet he still couldn¡¯ty a hand on her. One day, he would devour her whole, leaving not even crumbs behind. ¡°Xu Chaomu, this is called murdering your husband. Let go, and I will tell you if you release me,¡± he said. ¡°The murderer would be you. If I killed you, I could take your money to find a pretty boy. I¡¯d get as many as I want, any type I want,¡± she retorted. ¡°Ambitious,¡± hemented. ¡°Out with it!¡± ¡°It was me.¡± ¡°I knew it was you. So why didn¡¯t you respond when I called out to you that day?¡± That day, she had called his name, urging him toe out, but he never appeared. She was left standing alone on the vast ground, feeling a primordial sense of destion.
¡°You only asked for a yes or no, and I have answered,¡± Shen Chi said innocently. ¡°You, you, you! Swindler!¡± ¡°Chaomu, do you think you might consider getting off me?¡± Shen Chi nced at her. Only then did Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turn bright red; she¡¯d actually¡­straddled him. How embarrassing¡­ Scrambling off him, she sat beside him like a little monkey. ¡°Good girl,¡± he pulled her into his arms, wrapping her close. She was tired and simply let him hold her, without a struggle. As she leaned against his solid chest, she slightly squinted her eyes, feeling his steady heartbeat. For a long while, no one spoke, and the great piano room was silent. Shen Chi held her, and she leaned on him, just like that, huddled close together. After what felt like ages, she finally spoke. ¡°Shen Chi, I need to ask you a serious question, and I need a serious answer from you,¡± she said.
¡°When have I not answered you seriously?¡± Shen Chi ruffled her hair, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Xu Chaomu ced her hands on her t belly, touching it lightly. ¡°Shen Chi, can you ept the child in my belly?¡± She was truly serious when asking him this; she was also afraid, for once the novelty of love passed, what would be of them¡­ Shen Chi lowered his gaze, his eyes deep and resolute; hisrge hand glided from her head to her abdomen. Her t belly showed no signs of pregnancy, and had she not suddenly brought it up, he almost forgot she was pregnant. She was no longer the Xu Chaomu from five years ago; she was now a little bun¡¯s mother. Touching her belly, he sought to feel the heartbeat of the little life inside her. ¡°Mumu, I love you, which means I will love everything about you, including your child.¡± His deep, pleasant voice echoed like a cello, stirring Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. Her heart pounded fiercely, and she looked up to meet his eyes. She saw resolve in his gaze. Chapter 400: 400: Make Him Call Me Dad Chapter 400: Make Him Call Me Dad Sheughed, a smile as clean and pure as the Gardenia flowers of summer. ¡°Are you really not just brushing me off?¡± she asked, tilting her head. ¡°When it¡¯s a question that deserves a serious answer, why would I brush you off? Besides, I promised you that I would treat this child as if they were my own,¡± Shen Chi looked at her. ¡°How exactly will you treat them as your own?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Shen Chi pondered for a few seconds, ¡°I¡¯ll make money for their milk powder.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°If he wants to chase after little girls, I will teach him how to be a hooligan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a look, ¡°You can get lost now.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t finished yet. I will also give him a bunch of brothers and sisters to y with.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡±
¡°That¡¯s still not enough?¡± Shen Chi looked aggrieved. As he spoke, his hand lying on her stomach moved up a few centimeters. ¡°Mumu, promise me two things.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xu Chaomu pushed his hand away. ¡°After this child is born, let them take my surname, and also, let them call me Dad.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it fine for them to call you Fourth Uncle?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s not!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice deepened. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed. Who can say what will happen in the future? If she really got together with him, how many people would bless them¡­ Even without the incident between Zhou Ran and her mother, they¡­ were not suitable for each other. He was an aloof corporate president, from a good family, talented, powerful, andmanding. Sometimes, when she saw him on TV, she felt inferior. She wasn¡¯t worthy of him; she couldn¡¯t help him in any way. After all, she was just an orphan with no parents. In the face of reality, love tends to falter. Perhaps, she and he were destined to part ways¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mumu, not happy?¡± Shen Chi lowered his head and tousled her hair. Had his tone just now scared her? ¡°Not at all.¡± She lowered her head, her voice t. ¡°If you¡¯re really unhappy about him calling me Dad, then he doesn¡¯t have to. As for the surname, it¡¯s up to you, okay?¡± Shen Chi was a bit panicked; he hated seeing Xu Chaomu like this. He would acquiesce to anything as long as she was cheerful.
The heart-wrenching pain of the past five years had made life almost unbearable for him. Xu Chaomu moved her lips, wanting to speak, but didn¡¯t know what to say. His arms tightened around her, and as Xu Chaomu pressed against his chest, she extended a finger and quietly traced circles on the fabric of his shirt. ¡°Can I marry whoever I want too?¡± she asked.
¡°Not that.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone left no room for negotiation. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu responded faintly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with marrying me? Your husband has looks, money, physique. Tell me, what¡¯s not to be satisfied with?¡± Xu Chaomu moved her lips but ultimately didn¡¯t speak. Probably because he was so perfect, it all seemed like a dream to her. The imperfect her beside the too perfect him inevitably felt disgraceful. She was no longer the fearless, bold little girl she once was¡­ ¡°Why won¡¯t you speak again?¡± Shen Chi felt her head, expecting that she should be blushing and calling him ¡°shameless¡± ording to her usual habit. ¡°I¡¯m speechless with you, that¡¯s all.¡± Xu Chaomu forced a smile. ¡°Tired? I¡¯ll carry you to the bedroom to sleep,¡± Shen Chi whispered in her ear as he lowered his head. His warm breath lingered near her ear, and he tickled her ribs again with his hand. ¡°So annoying.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled and quickly dodged him. Seeing herugh eased his heart; he loved to see her smile and wanted her to be smiling like this every day.
He knew she was pregnant and could be moody sometimes; no problem, he¡¯d indulge her. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, and with one long arm, he swept her up in his arms sidelong. As the world seemed to spin, Xu Chaomu quickly clung to his neck. ¡°y the piano for me again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Nurturing an artistic cell should start from childhood,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re finally acquiring some taste.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that? Shen Chi, do you have any other skills besides being a smart aleck?¡± Xu Chaomu thought, when her baby was born, they must not take after his sharp tongue or she¡¯d be driven mad by the big and small at home. ¡°I can also kiss you.¡± ¡°Then I can bite you too!¡± Xu Chaomu exhaled angrily. ¡°You sharp-tongued little wild cat, one of these days, I must train you into a well-behaved little house cat.¡± ¡­
Shen Chi carried Xu Chaomu from the piano room, through the garden, into the living room, and up the spiral staircase towards his bedroom. Passing Xu Chaomu¡¯s room, she protested anxiously: ¡°We¡¯re here, here, my room is here. Put me down.¡± Shen Chi, however, paid her no mind, opened his bedroom door, and carried her straight inside. ¡°I want to go back to my room,¡± Xu Chaomuined. But Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t listen to her and firmly closed the bedroom door. ¡°Sleep here, I can take care of you. Besides, what kind of young couple sleeps in separate beds? Hmm?¡± ¡°It means you¡¯re not man enough,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. ¡°¡­¡± Again, Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, thinking he would need to prove himself to her soon. ¡°Shen Chi, you sleep on the sofa, I¡¯ll take the bed,¡± Xu Chaomumanded. ¡°No, we¡¯ll sleep in the same bed.¡± ¡°No way, you have to listen to me!¡± ¡°Listen to me,¡± Shen Chi was upromising. ¡°No! If you don¡¯t sleep on the sofa, I¡¯ll sleep on the floor!¡± Xu Chaomu threatened.
That tactic worked. Shen Chi begrudgingly ced her on the bed: ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa, you take the bed.¡± Xu Chaomu happily rolled over, hugging a pillow and batting her eyshes at him: ¡°Good.¡± Shen Chi was exasperated with her, but sleeping on the sofa didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t ¡°sleepwalk¡± to her bed in the middle of the night¡­ In any case, he felt Xu Chaomu was very easy to please. ¡°You go take a shower first. I want to read, tell our baby a story,¡± Xu Chaomu told him. After speaking, Xu Chaomuy down at the head of his bed and started flipping through his books. All of them, what are these? Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Mary Studies, Stock Market Research¡­ How could he be interested in these things? Xu Chaomu flipped from cover to cover, with no interest in any of them. Shen Chi chuckled: ¡°I¡¯ll bring you some storybooks tomorrow. For tonight, just make up a few stories to soothe our baby. If you can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll take over.¡± ¡°No, no, no, you just go take a shower,¡± Xu Chaomu balked. She had had enough of his storytelling; thest story about the little bunny was lurid and violent, enough to corrupt a child. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go shower.¡± Shen Chi curved his lips, offering her a reluctant nce before heading into the bathroom. Xu Chaomu simplyy on her side, one hand on her stomach, slowly closing her eyes. Shen Chi¡¯s bedroom always had a subtle and enchanting fragrance, a scent that was soothing to the soul. Chapter 401: 401: How Did It Go Wrong? Chapter 401: How Did It Go Wrong? In such a summer night, memories turned into yellowing ginkgo leaves that, once touched by the fragmented sunlight piercing through the clouds, would faintly turn pale. The sound of the air conditioner was very soft, and Xu Chaomu, with eyes closed from exhaustion, slowly fell asleep. However, when Mo Shuifu was pulled back by Shen Shihan, his face remained stern throughout. ¡°Mo Shuifu, why didn¡¯t you report to me when you came to the Shen Family today?¡± ¡°I have my freedom,¡± Mo Shuifu said indifferently. ¡°Is it freedom, or can¡¯t you stop thinking about him?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was deep and gloomy, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine in the pitch-dark car. Mo Shuifu instinctively shrank to the side of the passenger seat, afraid to stir up the man¡¯s temper. This man¡¯s mood was as fickle as the weather in June, changing at a moment¡¯s notice. One second, he could confess his love to you in front of everyone, building you a dream of love; the next second, he would personally destroy that dream. She knew that Shen Chi was his bottom line. It wasn¡¯t that she deliberately wanted to touch that line, but rather that he had be overly sensitive.
¡°You¡¯re still so unreasonable.¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t want to deal with him. The light inside the car went out and Mo Shuifu rested her head, sighing. ¡°Mo Shuifu, sometimes, I really want to ask you a question,¡± Shen Shihan said in a low, hoarse voice. ¡°What?¡± Mo Shuifu grew wary. ¡°If one day, both Shen Chi and I were in trouble at the same time, who would you feel sorry for?¡± He had wanted to ask her this question a long time ago. But he feared her answer, feared the disappointment. His low voice echoed in the confined space of the car, and also in Mo Shuifu¡¯s ears. In trouble¡­ how could they be in trouble? Mo Shuifu felt her heart race, her hands twisting together, her face reflecting her unease. ¡°What trouble? Shen Shihan, don¡¯t curse yourself,¡± Mo Shuifu said coldly. ¡°Why won¡¯t you answer me¡­¡± No expression could be read on Shen Shihan¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t know whether to feel disappointed by her words or not. ¡°What do you want to hear?¡± Mo Shuifu turned her face away. She nced at him, but it was too dark in the car to see the expression on his face or the joy and sorrow in his eyes. ¡°Forget it, you don¡¯t have to say anything,¡± Shen Shihan pressed his lips together and looked ahead. Many things, especially love, cannot be forced. ¡°Shihan, you should be happier. If you like, I can go travelling with you. We could go to the beach or hiking,¡± she suggested. Mo Shuifu had been married to him for over two years, having known him for five, and she rarely saw him smile.
His face was always shrouded with sorrow, as if no amount of sunlight could ever lift it away. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time,¡± Shen Shihan rejected the idea. Mo Shuifu sighed internally without furtherment, uncertain if he was just being moody. Their car drove from the splendid world towards their vi, passing through the bustling area. Mo Shuifu opened her eyes and looked outside through the window.
The lights outside were brilliant, throngs of people moving about; she was rather envious of those arm-in-arm couples,ughing and chatting freely. A faint smile formed on her lips as she rested her head and quietly watched the world outside the window. ¡°Shuifu, don¡¯t visit Shen Chi at the Shen Family behind my back anymore,¡± Shen Shihan spoke up again. ¡°You are being unreasonable again. I didn¡¯te to see Shen Chi; I came to see Chaomu,¡± Mo Shuifu said tly, looking out the window. ¡°You really have to provoke me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your own wishful thinking,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s tone was alsoced with displeasure. Just mentioning Shen Chi would tighten every nerve in this man. Even after so many years¡­ ¡°If you want toe to the Shen Family in the future, you cane with me. Otherwise, you¡¯re not allowed,¡± he dictated. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, so be it.¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t want to argue anymore. Shen Shihan didn¡¯t speak again. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust her, but rather¡­ their love was too fragile. He was genuinely fearful that if the day came when he and Shen Chi inevitably shed, she would sympathize with Shen Chi instead of him. Even imagining such an oue made his heart wrench every time. About half an hourter, Shen Shihan¡¯s car entered the driveway of their vi.
It wasn¡¯t toote at this hour; the servants were still tidying up the vi, and the lights were bright everywhere. As soon as Shen Shihan¡¯s car stopped in the garage, Mo Shuifu reached for the door, eager to get out. She had drunk a bit of alcohol that evening, her head ached a little, and she had argued with Shen Shihan all the way; now, all she wanted was to sleep. After parking the car and unbuckling his seat belt, Shen Shihan leaned over her. ¡°Shuifu, listen to me, please listen to me?¡± he implored, his usuallyposed face showing emotion. The garage was dim, lit only by a faint light. Mo Shuifu pushed against him with force, ¡°Obedience has its limits; I¡¯m your wife, not your pet.¡± ¡°I know; it¡¯s often my impulsive actions, but deep down, I don¡¯t want you to see Shen Chi.¡± ¡°I can tell, which just proves you don¡¯t trust me.¡± ¡°Shuifu, how can I not trust you?¡± Shen Shihan became frantic and, with a swift move, leaned down and kissed her lips. Her slightly alcohol-tainted lips were irresistible, assaulting all his reason, yet his mind was filled with the scene of her standing with Shen Chi when he pushed open the living room door of the Shen Family house. Sometimes he was jealous, because she rarely looked at him with such tender eyes, seldom smiled at him.
Inside, jealousy made him want to possess her even more. Kissing her lips fiercely, Mo Shuifu could hardly bear it. She tried to push him away, knowing what he would want to do next. ¡°Hmm¡­ Shi, Shihan¡­¡± she dodged his kiss. But he wouldn¡¯t let her escape, kissing her more domineeringly, nibbling her lips. He mped down her iling hands and ttened the passenger seat. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t do this,¡± Mo Shuifu¡¯s cheeks flushed. Panic-stricken, she resisted him strongly. But he never allowed her to get the upper hand in such matters, and he quickly subdued her restless body again. By the dim light, she saw the possessiveness in his eyes. She closed her eyes, giving in, and stopped resisting. Resistance was futile anyway. Only when she becamepliant did his actions soften. His fingers undid the buttons on her cheongsam, and his cool kisses followed on her pale skin.
In the dusky light, the car was filled with the scent ofvender and an ambiguous atmosphere¡­ It was uncertain how much time passed before Shen Shihan let her go. He dressed himself and adjusted her wrinkled cheongsam, which his force had creased beyond recognition. Finding no alternative, he took a suit jacket from the back seat to drape over her. Mo Shuifu¡¯s face was still flushed, her neatly coiffed hair now loosened and falling over her shoulder. Wrapped in the suit jacket, with lingering pain on her body from hisck of gentleness in these matters, she sat still. Chapter 402: 402: Love at First Sight, Affection Grows Over Time Chapter 402: Love at First Sight, Affection Grows Over Time ¡°` He did get out of the car and walked a few steps before opening the passenger-side door, hisrge palm resting on her hair. His fingers gently straightened her hair as he remembered the times hebed her hair for her. Wrapped in his suit, Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t make a sound. After a few brushes, he used a hair tie to gather her messy hair up. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you down.¡± With an outstretched arm and a princess carry, he lifted her from the passenger seat. In the past two years, if they had an argument, he would certainly have lost his temper. But now, he had reined in his temper, except for a trace of residual resentment. Mo Shuifu had nothing to say; she simply let him carry her, just clutching the suit tight for fear that it might fall off. He walked into the vi, into the bedroom, and then carried her into the bathroom.
After testing the water temperature and adjusting the hot water, he filled the bathtub with water. He sprinkled in some essential oil and helped her undress before cing her in the bathtub. ¡°Don¡¯t move, get out,¡± Mo Shuifu demanded, wrapped up in a bath towel, her face flushed red. She wasn¡¯t the type of woman who was exceptionally open, even within the confines of a marital rtionship. Shen Shihan curved his lips slightly: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go out. Take your time bathing; I¡¯ll go get your clothes ready.¡± After closing the bathroom door, he went to the wardrobe to find her pajamas. Just as he had everything ready and was sitting on the sofa waiting for Mo Shuifu to finish, his phone suddenly rang. ¡°Xiaoma.¡± ¡°Boss, a new shipment is about to arrive.¡± ¡°Oh? Where is it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about to arrive at C City¡¯s big pier; it¡¯s therge order we cedst time.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it. Send more people to keep an eye out, make sure customs is taken care of properly, and be very careful.¡± ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve been feeling a bit uneasytely.¡± Understanding his meaning, Shen Shihan spoke in a deep voice: ¡°That¡¯s all the more reason to be cautious.¡± ¡°Mm, I know. I¡¯ll send more people to watch over it.¡± ¡°Is there anything else you need to tell me?¡± ¡°Boss, I heard that your father¡¯s health is getting worse.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing else for now, I¡¯ll make sure the shipment is secure.¡±
¡°Good, be careful,¡± Shen Shihan said. After hanging up, he checked a few text messages. As he looked down at his phone intently, Mo Shuifu suddenly walked out. She was wrapped in a thick bath towel, and her long hair was also bundled up.
Upon her appearance, a fresh scent emanated from her body, but herplexion wasn¡¯t very good, and confusion filled herrge eyes. ¡°Shihan, who were you talking to just now?¡± ¡°A subordinate.¡± ¡°What about being careful?¡± ¡°Nothing important, you don¡¯t need to worry about it; it¡¯s just business affairs.¡± ¡°Are you keeping something from me?¡± Mo Shuifu frowned and approached him. As she came over, he put away his phone. Standing in front of her, towering much taller, he touched her damp hair and said indifferently, ¡°What could I possibly keep from you? It¡¯s just some business matters; you wouldn¡¯t understand even if I told you.¡± Business dealings were something Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t understand, and half-convinced, she didn¡¯t ask anymore. ¡°Sit here; I¡¯ll dry your hair.¡± He pressed her onto the sofa and went to fetch the hairdryer. Feeling unable to ask further, Mo Shuifu refrained, not wanting to appear narrow-minded by querying matters she didn¡¯tprehend. The hairdryer was turned on, making a ¡°buzzing¡± noise, and his fingers slid through her soft hair.
¡°Are you tired standing up? Come sit by me,¡± Mo Shuifu tugged at his clothes. Shen Shihan cracked a slight smile and sat down next to her, propping her against his legs as he continued to dry her hair. Mo Shuifu closed her eyes, feeling a tingling sensation all over as his fingers brushed through her hair. This was the first time he had dried her hair with such dedication. The spacious room was quiet, only filled with the noise of the hairdryer. The summer night was peaceful, and as shey on his legs, she grew tired and yearned to sleep well. A faint scent of his cologne surrounded him, so light it could hardly be detected without close attention. Inhaling his scent, she gradually closed her eyes, feeling a sudden sense of security within her heart. After all, there are two kinds of love in this world: love at first sight and love that grows over time. The former is a stunning encounter in the passage of time, while thetter is a gentle, lengthy stream of affection. However, oftentimes, love at first sight bears more intense and unforgettable memories. Like when she first saw Shen Chi outside the hospital, stopping his car. The sunlight illuminated his cold and captivating face. She fell for him at first sight, and by a stroke of fate learned that he was also her lifesaver¡­
Perhaps at that moment, like many other girls, she fell in love with him yet didn¡¯t understand what she loved about him. Thinking this, Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t dwell on the past anymore. She thought that in the future, she would gradually ept Shen Shihan and would have a good life with him. Although he had done many things wrong, his love for her was sincere. Just like now, as he dried her hair with attentiveness and care. Not all women have a man who loves them wholeheartedly, and in this, she was very fortunate to have met him. She slightly opened her eyes and looked up to meet Shen Shihan¡¯s clear gaze, offering him a smile. Shen Shihan, seemingly overwhelmed, paused with the hairdryer in hand. Catching his expression, sheughed softly and closed her eyes again, quietlyying on his legs. Time flew swiftly by, the summer night calm and serene. Unaware of how much time had passed, Mo Shuifu fell asleep to the ¡°buzzing¡± of the hairdryer. She didn¡¯t know when he had carried her to bed, nor when he had changed her into pajamas. What she did know was that she slept exceptionally soundly that night.
The subtle scent ofvender essential oil wafted to her nose as she clutched the softforter and drifted into a deep slumber. ¡­ Meanwhile, since the day Xu Chaomu saw Shen Shihan forcefully take Mo Shuifu home, he had been quite worried. Five years had passed, and her elder brother was no longer the man he used to be. The current Shen Shihan was scheming and shrewd. A few dayster, Xu Chaomu called Mo Shuifu, only to find out that nothing was wrong. It was Mo Shuifu on the phone who said, ¡°Fourth Master cares a lot about you. I was really taken aback by his temper that day.¡± ¡°I was scared too, almost worried they would start fighting,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t really fight; they¡¯re not children anymore,¡± Mo Shuifuughed. ¡°How could they not? With Shen Chi¡¯s bad temper, he¡¯s ready to fight at the drop of a hat. No different from a child.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s only when you¡¯re hurt; that¡¯s when he shows such behavior.¡± Normally, Shen Chi keeps all his emotions very well in check. Let alone showing anger, even a little irritation wouldn¡¯t be apparent on his face. Chapter 403: 403: Old Friend Reunion Chapter 403: Old Friend Reunion ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Shen Chi is really childish,¡± Xu Chaomu said as she startedining to Mo Shui Fu on the phone. ¡°Childish?¡± Mo Shui Fu was hearing someone describe Shen Chi as childish for the first time. Shen Chi, a person known for his maturity and rationality, was being called childish. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take the time to exin it to you in detail when I¡¯m free. I have to expose his true colors, having him strut around ying the male god, deceiving young girls every day,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. Those young girls, the moment they saw Shen Chi on TV, looking like a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing, would cheer and get starry-eyed. In reality, he was nothing but a beast, a childish ghost. For instance, he would crawl from the sofa to her bed in the middle of the night, and when caught, he¡¯d put on an innocent face, pretending to be the victim. Mo Shui Fu couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°You¡¯ve destroyed your Shen family¡¯s CEO¡¯s image, be careful he might bully you when he gets back.¡± ¡°Wuu wuu, Shui Fu¡­ if he dares to bully me, you have to stand by my side,¡± Xu Chaomu feigned crying. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll definitely stand by your side,¡± Mo Shui Fu said with augh, ¡°But you know, the fourth young master wouldn¡¯t bear to bully you.¡±
Xu Chaomu pouted, as if. Shen Chi often bullied her, sometimes throwing personal attacks about her low IQ; sometimes stealing a kiss when she wasn¡¯t paying attention; sometimes reaching out his ¡®salty pig hand¡¯ and groping her. After he kissed and touched her, she surely couldn¡¯t¡­ kiss and touch back, could she? Xu Chaomu spent nearly half an hour pouring out her troubles to Mo Shui Fu. Had the phone call not remained connected, Butler Ling would have suspected that Xu Chaomu was chatting up a pretty boy, they wereughing and talking so merrily. After hanging up, Xu Chaomu was in a particrly good mood. She hummed a tune as she went upstairs, searching for something nice to wear with great enthusiasm. Shen Chi had already picked up the luggage she brought back from Paris for her, but that sly wolf had already inspected the suitcase for her. The little gifts Nie Chenng had given her were all taken by him. Some of her own little purchases were also taken by him. What was left in the suitcase were some clothes, books, daily necessities, and snacks. There was even a notebook with a lock she had, and that pervert had taken it too¡ªit was brand new! She went through the suitcase and realized something was amiss¡ªher clothes were missing too. Sure enough, all those off-shoulder, strapless, backless, and ultra-short dresses were gone. What remained were very conservative, traditional dresses and shirts. Damn it! Xu Chaomu was so annoyed she was twitching. If only she had known, she would have packed a few boxes of birth control pills and condoms; but this grudge must be avenged to be a gentleman. Xu Chaomu browsed through her options and eventually settled on a rtively nicer beigece long dress. She took off her pajamas, put on the long dress, and matched it with a pretty little handbag.
Her own clothes were always nicer than those Shen Chi bought, so much nicer. And he alwaysined about her poor taste; his own taste was the worst. She casually tied up her hair and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, looking quite nice. After all, she had mixed in Paris for five years and studied design.
¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m going out shopping,¡± Xu Chaomu called out as she walked downstairs, swinging her handbag at Butler Ling who was finalizing some ounts. Butler Ling took off his reading sses and gave Xu Chaomu a look, wow, Xu Chaomu was really beautifully dressed today. Hence, he became a bit more cautious. ¡°Madam Fourth Young Master, where are you going shopping? Do you want the Fourth Young Master to apany you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s busy with a thousand things every day, let¡¯s not disturb him. I¡¯ll just have a casual stroll. I¡¯m quite familiar with C City, you don¡¯t have to worry,¡± she replied. ¡°Chaomu, you haven¡¯t been back for five years. I think it¡¯s best to have the Fourth Young Master apany you. C City has changed a lot in these five years. Plus, look at you, pregnant. It¡¯s always good to have someone with you.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go find Weiwei and have her apany me while shopping.¡± ¡°The Fourth Young Master could carry your bags and swipe his card for you,¡± Butler Ling insisted. ¡°Really, don¡¯t tell him. With him by my side, I won¡¯t even think about shopping,¡± she argued. ¡°Then¡­ Madam Fourth Young Master, are you really going to find Weiwei?¡± ¡°Yep, if I can¡¯t find her, I¡¯ll just shop alone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not actually going shopping with another man?¡± Butler Ling probed. ¡°Definitely not,¡± Xu Chaomu twitched the corner of her mouth.
¡°That¡¯s good, then go ahead, do you want Xiaogao to drive you?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just take a taxi.¡± After that, Xu Chaomu quickly ran out. Butler Ling blinked and Xu Chaomu was gone, she sure ran fast. But then again, she probably felt really bored these days. After leaving the Shen family residence, Xu Chaomu walked out of the luxurious Vi District, standing by the side of the road waiting for a taxi. Taxis were hard toe by in this area, but she might spot an acquaintance who could give her a lift for a stretch, which wouldn¡¯t be bad at all. She stood under the shade of a tree with a parasol, idly fiddling with the bracelet on her wrist, bored. She was reminded again of her lost rose ne sinceing to C City; she had no idea how she lost it, it was so baffling. The ne wasn¡¯t a gift from Nie Chenng, but something she bought with her own sry. Even though it was only eight thousand yuan and Shen Chi had ridiculed her for it, it was still purchased with her hard-earned money, and she treasured it dearly. While she was ying with her bracelet, she suddenly heard the ¡°beep beep beep¡± of a car horn in front of her. Xu Chaomu lifted her head and squinted into the distance, recognizing the familiar license te number C9999! That shy red Maserati! Excited, thrilled!
Xu Chaomu ran over, right up to the driver¡¯s side of the vehicle. Although Li Beiting didn¡¯t think much of her before and she eventually felt the same about him, she now thought that Li Beiting sincerely treated Shen Chi as a brother and had his best interests at heart. The things she couldn¡¯t understand before, she now realized were right. Li Beiting was correct. She truly couldn¡¯t help Shen Chi with anything, she even dragged him down. Li Beiting¡¯s insistence that she leave Shen Chi wasn¡¯t wrong. However, five years had passed, and the past had dissipated with the wind¡­ Now meeting an old friend again, she was still happy. But, as she approached the Maserati, she froze. Li Beiting indeed was in the driver¡¯s seat, but there was a delicate, graceful young woman sitting in the passenger seat. She rubbed her eyes, definitely not Yu Weiwei, absolutely not. So who was she? Li Beiting lowered the window and took off his sunsses, ¡°Chaomu, I heard you were back. I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here today.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded slightly, caught off-guard, somewhat regretful.
Compared to five years ago, Li Beiting looked moreposed, and he didn¡¯t smile much when he spoke, let alone exhibit the yful demeanor he had back then. ¡°Where are you off to? Want me to give you a lift?¡± Li Beiting asked again. Xu Chaomu hesitated for quite a while before she finally came to her senses, ¡°No trouble, I¡¯ll just wait for a taxi here.¡± Chapter 404: 404: Li Beiting’s Fiancée Chapter 404: Li Beiting¡¯s Fianc¨¦e ¡°Why the formality with me?¡± Li Beiting finally smiled. Having not seen Xu Chaomu for five years, she had be even more beautiful. From her appearance, she didn¡¯t look like an eighteen-year-old girl anymore, with more of a young woman¡¯s charm and restraint. Especially when she smiled, she looked exceptionally lovely. He only knew Xu Chaomu had returned, but because he had been busy with the Li Family¡¯spany affairs, he hadn¡¯t had time to ask about her. He hadn¡¯t expected to run into her today by chance. ¡°Beiting, this is¡­¡± The girl in the passenger seat began to ask. She had been staring at Xu Chaomu for quite a while, looking left and right, not recognizing her. But anyone appearing in this vi area was sure to be of no ordinary status. Li Beiting turned his head and said to her, ¡°This is Xu Chaomu, an old friend of mine, Shen Chi¡¯s sister.¡± Upon hearing Shen Chi¡¯s name, the girl suddenly understood; she smiled gracefully, ¡°Hello, Miss Xu, my name is Mi Fei, ¡®Mi¡¯ as in rice, ¡®Fei¡¯ as in fragrance. You can call me Feifei or Xiaomi, whichever you prefer.¡± Seeing the smile on Mi Fei¡¯s face, Xu Chaomu, for some reason, found she couldn¡¯t smile.
Her heart felt a pang of mncholy; she stood there, dazed. The hand holding the parasol trembled slightly; Mi Fei¡­ she didn¡¯t know her. ¡°Miss Xu, hello.¡± Mi Fei greeted her smilingly once more. Xu Chaomu snapped out of it and gave a polite smile in response, ¡°Hello, Miss Mi.¡± ¡°Just call me Feifei, that¡¯s what everyone calls me.¡± Mi Fei was a pretty girl, easy-going and well-mannered. Xu Chaomu took a careful look at her; this girl couldn¡¯t be more than twenty-three or twenty-four at most. She wore a light yellow dress and light makeup, looking very elegant and carrying the air of ady from a well-established family. ¡°Li, you haven¡¯t introduced me yet. Who is this beautiful miss?¡± Xu Chaomu inquired of Li Beiting. ¡°Fianc¨¦e,¡± Li Beiting said indifferently. Fianc¨¦e¡­ what an ironic term. A sting shot through Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart at that word¡ªfianc¨¦e, fianc¨¦e¡­ This Mi Fei was Li Beiting¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Five years had passed, indeed things and people change. Li Beiting was still Li Beiting, but he had be much moreposed and reserved, and the girl by his side had changed to Mi Fei. Perhaps she had misunderstood. She had always thought that Li Beiting liked Yu Weiwei. Maybe, she had read it wrong all along. ¡°Your fianc¨¦e is very beautiful,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile in the sunlight. She knew her smile was forced, but she couldn¡¯t really bring herself to dislike this girl in front of her. At least she wasn¡¯t like Jian Sisi.
The girl was petite and cute, and very polite; Xu Chaomu just couldn¡¯t find it in her to dislike her. ¡°Thank you,¡± Mi Fei smiled again, ¡°Miss Xu, you are also very beautiful. Are you going out somewhere?¡± ¡°Just Chaomu is fine,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for a taxi, you guys go ahead.¡± ¡°Beiting, why don¡¯t you give Chaomu a ride? Look at this sun, it¡¯s terribly hot, and she¡¯s a girl, she might get tanned. Plus, it¡¯s difficult to hail a cab around here, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Mi Fei shook Li Beiting¡¯s arm, seeking his opinion. ¡°No need, really, I¡¯ll keep waiting a bit longer. If there¡¯s still no taxi, I¡¯ll ask Xiaogao to drive me,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Li Beiting spoke up, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s been a long time. Let me give you a lift.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to disturb the couple¡¯s atmosphere, and besides, she was feeling somewhat unsettled. Conveniently, just at that moment, a taxi emerged from inside the vi area, apparently having just dropped off a customer. Xu Chaomu hurried to the roadside to g it down, truly a lifesaver. ¡°Mr. Li, Miss Mi, goodbye, I¡¯m getting in the taxi now!¡± Xu Chaomu turned and waved at them. Mi Fei also smiled and waved back, while Li Beiting rested his hands on the steering wheel, merely smiling back as a gesture. As soon as Xu Chaomu got into the taxi, she put away the parasol. Li Beiting¡¯s car was still in ce, but the taxi drove off first. ¡°This Splendid World ce really is full of rich people; I¡¯ve never seen a car worth less than two million,¡± the taxi driver remarked after having just seen Li Beiting¡¯s Maserati. ¡°Mister, there are poor people too, like me,¡± Xu Chaomu said,ughing. ¡°Youngdy, you must be joking. How many poor people can there be thate here?¡±
Besides, the driver had seen clearly enough; the youngdy had just been speaking with the owner of the Maserati. ¡°Mister, you¡¯re wrong there. Think about it, the Jia Residence in ¡®Dream of the Red Chamber¡¯ was rich, wasn¡¯t it? And yet, they had poor rtives like Granny Liu. I¡¯m that Granny Liu.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s words made the driverugh heartily, and they actually made some sense. After chatting with the driver for a bit, she still felt a little anxious inside. Mi Fei was Li Beiting¡¯s fianc¨¦e, but what about Weiwei? How was Weiwei doing now? When she had called Weiwei back then, it was through a number obtained from someone else; she wasn¡¯t very clear about Weiwei¡¯s current situation. ¡°Miss, where are you going?¡± the driver asked. ¡°Oh, to the Sunshine Institute,¡± Xu Chaomu came back to reality. Shen Chi had taken her phone, so she couldn¡¯t call Yu Weiwei, but thankfully she remembered the name of her institute; she could just go there directly. She wondered if, after five years apart, Yu Weiwei still remembered her. Er¡­ the driver was a bit taken aback. A youngdy heading to a male research institute? Still, it wasn¡¯t his ce to pry too much. But Xu Chaomu was proactive in asking, ¡°Mister, what¡¯s the Sunshine Institute like?¡± ¡°Er¡­ I haven¡¯t been there, so I don¡¯t know much about it,¡± the driver quickly disimed any connection.
¡°I mean, like, its reputation, its level of service?¡± ¡°That institute is new, but it quickly gathered some fame, and they put a lot of effort into their advertising.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled; that kid really did well for herself. Back in school, Yu Weiwei was always buried in an anatomy book, determined to specialize in andrology. At that time, Xu Chaomu thought it was just a whim, something impulsive, and didn¡¯t take it seriously, but it turned out she indeed realized her dream. In contrast to Yu Weiwei, she seemed to have achieved nothing. But she had her dreams too. It¡¯s just thatpared to Yu Weiwei, they seemed ratherckluster. Her dream was to tease Shen Chi, kiss Shen Chi, and knock Shen Chi over. If that could count as a dream, then she seemed to have¡­ aplished it? Pfft, she chuckled at herself, trulycking ambition. So should her next dream be to knock over all sorts of pretty-faced guys? Tall ones with long legs, those with good looks¡­ Try each one in turn?
The sun shone through the window onto her face; she lifted her hand slightly to block some of the light. She leaned against the window, her lips continually adorned with a faint smile. She wondered how Yu Weiwei had changed. She must still be optimistic, surely. That was their promise¡ªto be roaches that couldn¡¯t be squashed. But leaving her for five years, not saying goodbye when she left, she felt rather apologetic about that. Chapter 405: 405: There’s Such a Girl Chapter 405: There¡¯s Such a Girl ¡°` As soon as Xu Chaomu¡¯s taxi left, Li Beiting drove his Maserati into the viplex of Jinxiu Tianxia. Mi Fei was still looking back, asking Li Beiting a few questions from time to time. ¡°Beiting, that girl just now wasn¡¯t Shen¡¯s biological sister, was she?¡± ¡°Hmm, adopted.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard people mention her before, but there hasn¡¯t been much news about Shen¡¯s sister. I guess many people don¡¯t even know Shen has a sister.¡± ¡°Shen Chi has protected her very well.¡± ¡°I can tell. How old is she? Is she married?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the same age as you, not married yet.¡± Mi Fei asked questions, and Li Beiting answered each one. Soon, the car entered the Li Familypound, and Li Beiting got out of the car to open the door for her.
¡°Beiting, are your uncle and aunt at home? Look at meing here out of nowhere, without even bringing a gift.¡± Mi Fei said apologetically. ¡°It¡¯s okay, my parents don¡¯t care about that,¡± Li Beiting said indifferently. Mi Fei smiled at him, then took his arm, and they walked shoulder to shoulder toward the Li Family vi. Although Mi Fei wore white high heels, she was still much shorter than Li Beiting. She leaned on him as they walked. Having been here several times, she was still very nervous. Unexpectedly, both of Li Beiting¡¯s parents were home, sitting under a sun umbre, one reading a newspaper and the other making silk flowers. ¡°Uncle, Aunt!¡± Mi Fei called out happily. ¡°Oh, Feifei is here,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother put aside her work first. ¡°Yes, Aunt, I haven¡¯t seen you for so long; I¡¯ve missed you. The silk flowers you made are so beautiful. Are these lilies? They¡¯re gorgeous.¡± Mi Fei picked up a lily from the table and kept praising it. ¡°Feifei, you always sweet-talk like this. Aunt missed you too. Come,e, sit next to me,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother said, pulling Mi Fei¡¯s hand to make her sit down, and instructed the servant to make her some flower tea. Li Beiting¡¯s father also put down his reading sses. ¡°Feifei, your aunt was just mentioning you, and here you are!¡± ¡°I knew it, I sneezed several times this morning; it must have been Aunt thinking about me,¡± Mi Feiughed. ¡°Feifei, has Beiting been treating you well recently?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father asked. ¡°Quite well, actually. He went out of his way to pick me up this morning.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t treat you well, just tell me, and I¡¯ll scold him for you,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father said. Li Beiting said, ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve been scolding me since I was young. I¡¯ve finally escaped your clutches in adulthood, and you¡¯re still thinking about scolding me.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t treat Feifei well, then Feifei you just hit him yourself,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s motherughed. ¡°No need, Brother Beiting treats me very well. He said he would take me shopping this afternoon.¡±
¡°That¡¯s just perfect. After lunch, you two can go shopping, and I¡¯ll personally cook a few dishes!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father was quite happy. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re too kind. But I often hear Brother Beiting praising you. He says the dishes you cook are delicious, as good as a hotel chef¡¯s,¡± Mi Feiughed. Li Beiting¡¯s father was very pleased. ¡°I just throw something together; this kid sure talks big.¡± Li Beiting stood aside and didn¡¯t say much. Right when the servant brought the tea, he sat down to drink.
Mi Fei was clever and sensible, making his parents very happy. Everyone sat under the sun umbre,ughing and talking, enjoying a harmonious time together. Li Beiting held a cup of tea, his gaze resting quietly on the distance. The distance revealed a mountain range within the vi area, lush with summer vegetation, birds flying to and fro, giving the entire range a verdant, vibrant look. ¡°Feifei, when are your parents free? I¡¯d like to invite them over,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father asked Mi Fei. Mi Feiughed. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re too kind. No matter how busy they are, they¡¯ll make time with your invitation.¡± ¡°How about this, when you and Beiting are free, go ahead and take your wedding photos. It¡¯s summer now; the scenery is nice,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother suggested. ¡°Exactly, this season, Maldives, Phuket Ind are also good choices. Feifei, you pick,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father said. ¡°I¡¯ll go with whatever Brother Beiting arranges,¡± Mi Fei¡¯s cheeks flushed as she nced at Li Beiting. ¡°Beiting, what do you say?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father asked. Li Beiting set down his teacup and said faintly, ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± ¡°Uncle, Aunt, Brother Beiting has been quite busy with work at hispanytely. Let¡¯s wait until after he¡¯s not so busy before going to take the wedding photos,¡± Mi Fei suggested. ¡°That¡¯s true, thepany has been a bit busytely. But it¡¯s thoughtful of you, Feifei. I ampletely at ease knowing Beiting has you,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother said.
¡°Feifei is so sensible. Feifei¡¯s parents deserve much credit for how well they raised her,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father praised. Being praised continuously made Mi Fei even more embarrassed. ¡°Having Feifei as a daughter-inw puts my mind at ease. Not like that¡­¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father cleared his throat, interrupting his wife¡¯s words. Everyone understood, and Li Beiting¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Here, Feifei, are you thirsty? Have some tea. This is rose tea your aunt just bought; taste it,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father said. Li Beiting¡¯s mother also quickly changed the subject. ¡°That¡¯s right, I just got it from someone. It¡¯s great for beauty and health; perfect for a girl to drink.¡± ¡°Sure, any flower tea picked by Aunt must be great,¡± Mi Fei said as she lifted the cup, gently blowing the steam away. The fragrance of roses lingered in the air. Li Beiting suddenly felt a headacheing on; he closed his eyes, and his right hand formed a fist against his forehead. The summer heat wasn¡¯t so cooling on his skin, and a thinyer of sweat had formed on his back. A few minutester, Mi Fei approached him, bending down: ¡°Beiting, are you not feeling well? Should I help you to your bedroom to rest a bit?¡± As Li Beiting opened his eyes, he saw Mi Fei¡¯s face close up.
Her face was delicate and beautiful, her enchanting eyes sparkling brightly. Li Beiting was somewhat dazed; he remembered another girl whose big eyes were also especially beautiful¡­ Every blink seemed as if they could speak. A sense of mncholy washed over his heart¡­ ¡°You stay with my parents; I can go to the bedroom myself.¡± Li Beiting stood up, no longer lingering. ¡°All right, you rest more and don¡¯t tire yourself out,¡± Mi Fei said. She knew he had been busy with a project at thepany recently. Often, he, the president, would work overtime until midnight. ¡°Hmm.¡± Li Beiting responded and left, heading inside the house. Mi Fei stayed seated next to Li Beiting¡¯s parents, continuing the conversation. ¡°Brother Beiting really has been a bit worn outtely; I won¡¯t have him apany me shopping this afternoon,¡± Mi Fei said. ¡°This kid, always working all hours, I¡¯ve told him, aren¡¯t the underlings there to do the work? If the CEO handles everything, what¡¯s left for them to do?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father said with some annoyance.
Chapter 406: 406: The Number You’ve Dialed is Switched Off Chapter 406: The Number You¡¯ve Dialed is Switched Off ¡°Brother Beiting probably wanted to handle things personally because, after all, for many things, doing them oneself feels more reassuring,¡± Mi Fei said. ¡°Feifei, you really are indulging him,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s momughed. ¡°Brother Beiting is very responsible. Sometimes when I go to the Li Familypany, I see all the employees well-trained, working diligently and conscientiously.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t keep praising him. I¡¯m clear about what this kid weighs,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s dadughed heartily. Mi Fei smiled, then picked up the tea in front of her and took a sip. Li Beiting¡¯s mom continued with her silk flower-making. Mi Fei helped with cutting paper, passing glue, and the rtionship between them was particrly harmonious. The atmosphere was exceptionally warm, and it wasn¡¯t too hot on this patch of grass. Whenever the wind blew, the aroma of green grass drifted over. In the midst of light-heartedughter, Mi Fei suddenly asked casually, ¡°Auntie, I heard that Brother Beiting had a girlfriend before?¡± ¡°They broke up, three years ago now, don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Mi Fei had been with Li Beiting for just over a year and he rarely talked about his ex-girlfriend. She had looked into it herself and discovered that the girl studied andrology at C City Medical College andter raised money to open a male research institute.
When Mi Fei found out about this, she actually found it quite funny. It wasn¡¯t intentional, but she couldn¡¯t helpughing out loud. A girl running an institute for male studies was indeed an oddity to her, something she had never seen before. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s nothing, I was just asking. But I heard that girl opened a research institute, seems quite amusing,¡± Mi Fei said with augh. ¡°Ridiculous stuff,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother¡¯s face suddenly fell. For a girl to open such an institute and for Li Beiting to have broken up with her early on, she wouldn¡¯t have agreed to such a rtionship in the first ce. The Li Family wasn¡¯t conservative, but they weren¡¯t that liberal either. ¡°That¡¯s quite idealistic,¡± Mi Fei said with a smile, lowering her head. She continued to help Li Beiting¡¯s mom fold paper and learned to make silk flowers from her. At this point, it was just past nine in the morning, the most vibrant and energetic part of the day. But after Li Beiting slowly walked back to the bedroom, he felt an intense headache and suddenly very tired in his heart. He didn¡¯t know if it was because he had been too busytely. He had often workedte into the night before, but never felt such fatigue. At this moment, he very much wanted to hear that familiar voice. The voice that was sweet, yful, but also stubborn. Hey on therge bed in the bedroom, took out his phone, and dialed that familiar number. He had saved this number for many years and had never deleted it. But since three years ago, he had never dialed it again. Knowing it wouldn¡¯t connect, he dialed persistently anyway. As expected, there was no surprise. The voice on the other end was a mechanical female voice: ¡°Hello, the number you have dialed is switched off, please try againter.¡±
Switched off, for three years now. Li Beiting put down his phone, his fingers silently scrolling through the screen. He flipped through the contacts from start to finish¡­ Soon, he came across the number of her research institute again.
It was less of andline number, and more of a mechanical customer service number. As soon as he dialed, a melodious tune yed: ¡°Wee to Sunshine Institute, here¡­¡± ¡°Hello, this is Sunshine Institute. May I help you with any particr issue?¡± The voice on the other end was a sweet, generic greeting. Li Beiting was silent for a long time, without speaking. ¡°Hello? May I assist you with anything?¡± Only then did Li Beiting deepen his voice, ¡°Is Yu Weiwei there?¡± ¡°Hello, do you have an appointment?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you can make an appointment first. Tell me the details, and I can get you registered.¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Li Beiting said indifferently, his tone as fleeting as the breeze. For a long time, he neither spoke nor hung up the phone. The customer service on the other end initially didn¡¯t dare to hang up either, persistently inquiring if he had any questions.
He remained silent, and after a long time, the customer service mmed down the phone in frustration. In the end, they couldn¡¯t help but mutter ¡°nutcase.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with these men, creating issues out of nothing, really,¡± the customer serviceined to the phone before grumbling a few more sentences. ¡°Who¡¯s got our Xiuxiu upset again?¡± another clerk asked as she walked over. ¡°Just a nutcase. He called looking for Director Yu, and when I suggested he make an appointment, he said nothing,¡± the customer service replied. ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± The clerk went over to the phone and checked. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the same number,¡± said the youngdy. ¡°Hmm? What about it? Does this number call often?¡± ¡°Yes, Xiuxiu, you don¡¯t know, but when I was the customer service here, I frequently received calls from this man. Every time, either he said nothing or he would ask for Director Yu.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°After that, when I saw that number, I just stopped answering.¡± ¡°Does Director Yu know about this?¡± ¡°I reported it to her; she asked me what the number was. After I told her, she had two words for me¡­¡±
¡°What, what?¡± ¡°cklist.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± The customer service burst intoughter, ¡°If only you could cklist from andline.¡± ¡°I asked Director Yu if she knew this man, guess what she said?¡± ¡°She knows him? She doesn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Director Yu said that the man is a patient who escaped from the psychiatric hospital, someone she met during her visit there for a lecture, and he¡¯s been pestering her since.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± The customer service doubled over inughter, hitting the table. ¡°Director Yu also said that after the man¡¯s nerves went haywire, he couldn¡¯t even tell the difference between ck and white, or men from women.¡± ¡°Gee, that serious?¡± ¡°Who knows, that¡¯s what Director Yu said.¡± ¡°He still calls, but honestly, he does have a nice voice.¡± ¡°Ohe on, Xiuxiu, what good is a nice voice from a loony?¡± ¡°Next time this nutcase calls, maybe we should tease him a bit.¡±
¡°Hey, that¡¯s a good idea. Why didn¡¯t I think of that! Xiuxiu, you¡¯re so clever. But isn¡¯t it a bit mean to tease a fool?¡± ¡°Who asked for him to keep harassing us with his calls?¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t we call him back now and give it a try? I¡¯m telling you, the nutcase does have a pretty nice voice.¡± ¡°Sure, but Xiuxiu, I¡¯m scared to do it. I don¡¯t want him totch on to me¡­¡± ¡°For shame! I¡¯ll do it!¡± Xiuxiu tapped the other clerk¡¯s forehead and pulled the phone towards her. They whispered together for a bit, then Xiuxiu dialed that number again. Li Beiting had already ced his phone beside the pillow andy down with his eyes closed. A stone seemed to be lodged in his heart, leaving him breathless. His head also throbbed with a faint pain, an ufortable feeling. At that moment, he turned on the air conditioner, but a thinyer of sweat still broke out on his forehead. Just as he was feeling frustrated, his phone rang. Picking up the phone, he cracked open his eyes and to his surprise, it was the research institute¡¯sndline number. Chapter 407: 407: Pleasant Cooperation in Bed Chapter 407: Pleasant Cooperation in Bed ¡°` ¡°Hello.¡± Li Beiting answered with a deep voice. ¡°Hello, good morning. This is the Sunshine Institute; you wanted to see Director Yu just now, didn¡¯t you?¡± A glimmer of light shed across Li Beiting¡¯s dim eyes: ¡°She¡¯s here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯ve reported to her and she said she can see you, but we still have to follow the procedures here. Could you please cooperate?¡± ¡°What procedures?¡± Li Beiting frowned. ¡°Just a few simple questions, do you engage in sexual activity on a regr basis?¡± ¡°Put her on the phone!¡± Li Beiting snapped, raising his voice. What kind of nonsense is this! ¡°You¡­ Do you know what sexual activity is?¡± The person on the other end seemed to be holding backughter. ¡°Get Yu Weiwei on the phone!¡± Li Beiting was truly angry now.
¡°Sir, please don¡¯t be angry. Are you perhaps not very clear on what differentiates a man from a woman?¡± ¡°Get Yu Weiwei over here to talk to me!¡± Li Beiting, now furious, was sweating all over. What does it mean that he can¡¯t tell men from women? ¡°No worries, we can educate you. You see, sexual activity is one of the very important activities for humans. Harmonious sexual experiences are helpful for both physical and mental health¡ªwhat¡¯smonly known as delightful cooperation in bed.¡± ¡°Is this how Yu Weiwei teaches you all?! Does she have a delightful cooperation in bed with men?!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s voice was low and icy cold, which seemed to cool down even the oppressively hot air around. Err¡­ There was a pause at the other end¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a typical response, and whoever it was seemed capable of arguing back. Maybe¡­ not beyond help? ¡°Get Yu Weiwei toe over here and take the phone,¡± Li Beiting shouted again. It had been three years since they split. During these three years, he had hardly heard her voice again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Director Yu just stepped out.¡± The two women at the institute hung up the phone quickly, patting their chests in relief; that was terrifying. Having been hung up on, Li Beiting grew even more irate. Already restless, he began to unbutton his shirt cor, feeling an urge to storm into the institute. The two young women at the institute looked at each other, scared. ¡°That scared the hell out of me. Director Yu didn¡¯t say that this madman could get so scary when he¡¯s angry.¡± ¡°Xiao Sister, I somehow feel he¡¯s not that foolish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, don¡¯t know, let¡¯s get back to work and try not to provoke this man in the future.¡± ¡°By the way, could this man have had an affair with our Director Yu?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I think that might actually be a possibility.¡±
¡°Ah, my goodness, that¡¯s not a madman, that¡¯s an ex-boyfriend!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The young girl held her forehead, thinking¡­ there might be some truth to that. Did they just stir up trouble? The two of them chattered randomly while the institute was still quite busy with peopleing in to make inquiries.
Whenever there was downtime, the two women would chat. The topics among women often jump without bounds, and soon they had moved from men to airports and duty-free shops. ¡°Could you tell me which office Yu Weiwei is in?¡± Xu Chaomu got out of the car and walked a few steps to reach the Sunshine Institute, an easy ce to find, not too secluded. Yet the institute was far from the luxurious Xinxiu Tianxia vi area¡ªit took a long taxi ride to get there. ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± Upon seeing Xu Chaomu approach, the receptionist greeted her with a smile. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll need to schedule an appointment in advance. Here¡¯s a form for you to fill out,¡± said the receptionist to Xu Chaomu. What the hell? She needs an appointment to see Yu Weiwei? Her phone had been taken away by Shen Chi, so she couldn¡¯t call Yu Weiwei. ¡°By the way, do you happen to know Yu Weiwei¡¯s mobile number?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. She had no intention of filling out any damn form!
¡°We¡¯re not at liberty to disclose that information.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face fell. She casually picked up a form, which was filled with numerous questions. ¡°How soon can I see Yu Weiwei if I book an appointment?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°There are a few hundred people ahead of you. After booking, you can see her in two weeks.¡± Two weeks! Xu Chaomu truly hadn¡¯t anticipated that Yu Weiwei¡¯s business was booming. Perhaps more men were having problems these days? In that case, Yu Weiwei must be quite the wealthy little tycoon by now, right? The hell she needs Li Beiting for then. Xu Chaomu had no intention of booking an appointment like some kind of schmuck when she had such a resource at her disposal for free. So, she borrowed the reception¡¯s phone to call Shen Chi. She remembered his number quite well. Normally, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t answer such chaotic calls. And this time was no different.
So, Xu Chaomu called again, but still no answer. Three times, four times, five times! Finally, Shen Chi picked up the phone with impatience. ¡°Why did you take so long to answer the phone?¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. ¡°Hmm? Chaomu? What number is this?¡± ¡°Do me a favor and find Yu Weiwei¡¯s mobile number for me.¡± Shen Chi chuckled on the other end. She rarely asked him for favors. ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡± ¡°Nothing, you figure it out.¡± ¡°Hmm, not interested without a perk. Here are your options,¡± he proposed. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly. This man alwaysplicates things. It¡¯s just asking for a number, for heaven¡¯s sake! Such a mercenary. ¡°First option, let me sleep with you tonight and I¡¯ll get you the number in a minute; second option, kiss me through the phone and I¡¯ll get it for you in three minutes; third option, call me ¡®hubby¡¯ and it¡¯s yours in three minutes. Otherwise, we¡¯ve got nothing to talk about.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡±
¡°Mind the baby.¡± ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips twitched on the other end of the phone. ¡°Shen Chi, can¡¯t you be serious for once? Speak properly, I¡¯m pretending I didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± ¡°Pick one, otherwise, we¡¯ve got nothing to talk about.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re sleeping on the floor tonight! The floor!¡± Xu Chaomu exploded. ¡°So you don¡¯t need the number then? I¡¯ll hang up if you¡¯re not interested,¡± said Shen Chi, sounding very provocative. In reality, Shen Chi, ready for a meeting, had put it on hold to take Xu Chaomu¡¯s call. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t¡­ are there any other options aside from those three?¡± Xu Chaomu asked irritably. She¡¯de all this way to the institute and didn¡¯t want to return empty-handed. ¡°No,¡± said Shen Chi in a teasing tone. Xiao Mo was searching for Shen Chi and found him not far from the meeting room, leaning against the wall. The usually stern and cold man from the corporation was now smiling. ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Mo held his forehead, knowing full well who Shen Chi was speaking to. In this whole world, the only person who could make Shen Chi smile like that was Xu Chaomu. So, he silently retreated back to the meeting room and postponed the meeting. ¡°Shen Chi, fine, you win,¡± Xu Chaomu thought. A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him. ¡°Hmm? Which one do you choose?¡± Shen Chi deliberately deepened his voice. Truthfully, it didn¡¯t matter which she chose. He wouldn¡¯t lose out. This was a lucrative deal. Sleep with him? Kiss him? Call him ¡®hubby¡¯? ¡°` Chapter 408: 408 Your Husband is Exceptionally Capable Chapter 408: Your Husband is Exceptionally Capable ¡°` Just thinking about these three options, Xu Chaomu was covered in goosebumps. How could this man say these things? ¡°Mumu, have you decided yet?¡± Shen Chi looked at his watch, for this girl¡¯s sake, he had already dyed a meeting. ¡°I¡­ I choose the third option,¡± Xu Chaomu stammered. She felt that she could at least bear with this one. Just yell out ¡°Hubby¡± and silently curse ¡°jerk¡± in her heart to make it even. ¡°Fine, say it louder, with more affection.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting.¡± Xu Chaomu took a deep breath, with so many people around, how could she say it out loud.
Her face turned red; when she got home that night, she would definitely make him sleep on the floor! On the floor! ¡°Mumu, I¡¯ll count to three, one¡­¡± ¡°Two.¡± Before he could say ¡°three,¡± Xu Chaomu braced herself and blurted out as if resigning to her fate: ¡°Hubby.¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± Shen Chi deliberately asked. ¡°Shen Chi! Are you done or not? Are you freaking done?!¡± If there weren¡¯t so many people around, Xu Chaomu would have mmed the table! ¡°I didn¡¯t hear it, doesn¡¯t count.¡± Xu Chaomu endured, endured, endured. Forcing herself, she raised her voice: ¡°Hubby.¡± Shen Chi held his forehead; the way she said those two words sounded so pitiful, as if a knife was held to her neck. That call was far from tender, sounding like rote memorization. ¡°Shen Chi, send me Weiwei¡¯s number within three minutes!¡± ¡°Mumu, that¡¯s burning bridges after crossing,¡± he hadn¡¯t even had time to savor her calling him ¡°hubby.¡± ¡°No number within three minutes, I¡¯m going to Shen Group.¡± ¡°Fine,e, I¡¯ll have everyonee out to wee the president¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu forgot, Shen Chi was not a man to be threatened. If she was shameless, he would be even more so. Of course she couldn¡¯t go to Shen¡¯s, she hadn¡¯t been there in twenty-three years, and wouldn¡¯t just rush over impulsively.
¡°Shen Chi! So are you giving it or not? If you¡¯re not, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± ¡°Give, give,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly, conceding. He knew Xu Chaomu¡¯s skill at hanging up the phone was quite reliable. ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll wait three minutes, and you call this number to tell me.¡±
With a ¡°m,¡± Xu Chaomu hung up the phone in frustration. Every time she asked Shen Chi for something, she always ended up on the losing side. Doing business with a smart and cunning businessman only led to losses. As soon as Xu Chaomu hung up the phone, it took Shen Chi less than a minute to get Yu Weiwei¡¯s mobile number. For him, such a minor matter was really nothing. Xu Chaomu¡¯s anger hadn¡¯t subsided when her phone rang. She saw it was Shen Chi¡¯s mobile number. ¡°Take a pen and write it down,¡± Shen Chi said. Xu Chaomu quickly took a pen from the reception desk and listened as Shen Chi read off the numbers. After writing them down, she couldn¡¯t help butpliment him, ¡°President Shen is quite capable, responding to my call in just a few seconds.¡± ¡°Your husband has always been very capable, but the most capable part you haven¡¯t discovered yet.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°In bed¡­ very¡­ skillful.¡± ¡°Get lost! Get lost!¡±
Xu Chaomu roared, feeling as if millions of alpacas were stampeding through her heart. Damn it, why was there such a shameless, such lewd person in the world. With a ¡°m,¡± Xu Chaomu hung up the phone hard. It¡¯s not just a matter of sleeping on the floor anymore; she was going to make him sleep on the streets, on the streets! ¡°Miss, please do not make loud noises,¡± the receptionist said to Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu quickly covered her mouth and nodded. Her image¡­ waspletely ruined. Looking down, she held the number, pressing the phone keys one by one. If she found out the number was fake, Shen Chi could sleep in an ice cer. Just as she was two digits away from dialing, suddenly a familiar scream sounded from behind! ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu!¡± She was all too familiar with that voice, even after five years, she could distinguish it instantly! Yu Weiwei! It was Yu Weiwei! With a rush of excitement in her heart, Xu Chaomu put down the phone and turned around.
Yu Weiwei had just returned from outside, and Xu Chaomu noticed how much the girl had changed in five years. If not for that familiar voice, Xu Chaomu might not even have recognized her! Excitement shone in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, on her face, at the corners of her mouth, and her heart felt like it held a small rabbit, thumping non-stop! After five years, the two unruly girls were reunited! It was as if she had finally crossed mountains and rivers, and the excitement in her heart was beyond words. Yu Weiwei really had changed, she had grown so much taller, and she was also wearing a pair of ck high heels which made Xu Chaomu have to look up. Yu Weiwei had just returned from the outside and hadn¡¯t even had time to take off her sunsses; she almost ran towards Xu Chaomu! Being careful with her baby, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare to run, so she stood still and waited. Their distance was getting closer and closer. Yu Weiwei had changed a lot today, wearing a dark green sleeveless dress with a white coat over it. She had grown her hair long, and now as she walked, it elegantly fluttered about. If not for Yu Weiwei calling out her name, if not for the voice being so familiar, Xu Chaomu might not have been able to recognize her. ¡°ck ck ck,¡± Yu Weiwei approached wearing high heels.
Just as Yu Weiwei was about to reach Xu Chaomu, Xu Chaomu opened her arms. Yu Weiwei understood! She hugged her tightly! ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ve missed you so much,¡± Yu Weiwei said excitedly. ¡°Me too, Weiwei, I missed you so much,¡± Xu Chaomu hugged her tight. Moved, Yu Weiwei almost kissed Xu Chaomu. ¡°You ungrateful thing, why did you onlye back after five years! They¡­ they all said you were no longer here¡­¡± Yu Weiwei sobbed again. One momentughing, the next crying, at this moment Yu Weiwei¡¯s emotions were fluctuating greatly. ¡°Weiwei, Weiwei, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, haven¡¯t Ie back?¡± ¡°You heartless one, how could you bear to leave me alone? My intuition told me that you were still alive, these five years, I believed you were alive and woulde back for me,¡± Yu Weiwei choked up. ¡°We¡¯ve always been in sync with each other, look at me, I¡¯m fine, living well and lively,¡± Xu Chaomu consoled her. ¡°Where have you been these five years? When did youe back? Did you fall in love?¡± One question after another, Yu Weiwei was truly excited. ¡°How about inviting me to your office, Director Yu?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°Right, right, let¡¯s go to my office, I¡¯ll make tea for you,¡± Yu Weiwei wiped her tears. Standing beside Yu Weiwei in t shoes, Xu Chaomu felt the pressure. She didn¡¯t expect the girl to grow so tall, really starting to look like the head of a research institute. And herself¡­ she looked down, still the same as before. In fact, she had been quite sessful as a designer in Paris, winning many awards there. ¡°Chaomu, you¡¯ve lost weight,¡± Yu Weiwei took her into the elevator. ¡°` Chapter 409: 409: The Model Without Clothes Chapter 409: The Model Without Clothes ¡°Really? Oh, haha, I¡¯m on a diet,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a grin. She didn¡¯t want to worry Yu Weiwei. ¡°If you lose any more weight, there will be nothing left but bones. I would be heartbroken.¡± ¡°Cut it out!¡± ¡°For real, for real, Mumu, you have no idea how much I¡¯ve missed you these past five years.¡± Yu Weiwei hugged Xu Chaomu tightly, wishing she could cling to her forever. She was so happy today. ¡°Weiwei, you¡¯re hugging me so tight. Have you fallen in love with me? Have you started to dislike men?¡± Xu Chaomu joked. ¡°Yeah, yeah, the person I love most is you! Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Yu Weiweiughed loudly. ¡°Then I must be very fortunate. Miss Yu, you have to keep me, you have to give me a credit card, you have to buy me a luxury car, you have to buy me designer bags¡­¡± ¡°Get lost, go ask your sweetheart for that.¡± ¡°Weiwei, you don¡¯t love me that much. Your baby is unhappy now, your baby is having a mood!¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to wipe away tears. ¡°There, there, Chaomu, don¡¯t be upset. What luxury car do you want? What designer bags?¡±
¡°I saw a white Bentley the other day that was quite nice. Buy it for me!¡± ¡°What do I get if I buy it for you?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu pondered for a few seconds, ¡°I¡¯ll bear you monkeys!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s lips twitched, but then she smiled brightly, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll call your darling sweetheart right now and tell him exactly what you said.¡± ¡°No way! Yu Weiwei, you cheater! You can¡¯t call him!¡± Yu Weiwei pretended to take out her phone, flipping through her contacts list. Xu Chaomu hurried to snatch the phone away from her, and just as she was about to get it, Yu Weiwei burst intoughter and put away the phone: ¡°I don¡¯t have your darling¡¯s number.¡± ¡°What sweetheart, he¡¯s more like a beast,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. ¡°The moment you got back, you must have seen him first, your darling sweetheart.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched resentfully; damn it, that man had alreadyid a trap in C City, just waiting for her to fall into it. As soon as she was back, she was immediately caught by him! Yu Weiwei hade to know pretty much everything about the incident from five years ago. It was while she was dating Li Beiting that he told her. Back then, even Li Beiting thought Xu Chaomu was no longer of this world. After all, if Shen Chi, with all his resources, couldn¡¯t find her, it meant she was practically untraceable. But Yu Weiwei never believed that. She always felt that Xu Chaomu woulde back to her one day. Now, she really had returned, and seemed to be without any psychological shadows, quite sunny actually. Yu Weiwei was truly overjoyed. She was really afraid Xu Chaomu had changed, because, after all, such an ordeal would be a heavy blow to anyone. Who could imagine that the brother who had loved her for eight years was the son of his mother¡¯s killer? Under the same roof, living together day and night for eight years.
No one could ept such a truth, could they? Yu Weiwei knew that Xu Chaomu loved Shen Chi deeply and indelibly. The year Xu Chaomu found out Shen Chi was getting engaged, she got drunk at a bar and her words were all blessings. If you love someone to the depths, even letting go is done willing heart.
Also, she knew that five years ago, Xu Chaomu took a bullet for Shen Chi and nearly died. Xu Chaomu¡¯s love for Shen Chi was heavier than life itself. She would rather die herself than let him live well. ¡°Weiwei, let¡¯s not talk about men. Tell me about your path to wealth and prosperity, I¡¯m still counting on following in your footsteps,¡± Xu Chaomu said, linking arms with her. The two walked along the corridor from the elevator to arge office, where Yu Weiwei stopped, opened the office door. ¡°What path to wealth and prosperity? I still owe the bank a lot of loans,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s quite normal, after all your research institute has just been established.¡± ¡°Miss Chaomu, I¡¯m counting on clinging to your powerful coattails. Your dear brother is so wealthy, just blow a little pillow talk his way and get him to lend me some, will you?¡± ¡°Damn it, we agreed not to talk about men!¡± Xu Chaomu hands on hips, red. ¡°Haven¡¯t you always been telling me your dear brother isn¡¯t up to scratch? Then he can¡¯t be counted as a man.¡± Yu Weiwei teased with a wiggle of her eyebrows, ¡°But I see he¡¯s twenty-eight already, still not married, I¡¯m afraid there might be a real issue there.¡± ¡°Some day I¡¯ll have hime take a look at your institute, maybe get a discount, huh?¡± ¡°Sure thing, no problem.¡± Xu Chaomu murmured to herself, if Shen Chi really had an issue, could she possibly have this bun in her oven? ¡°Here, Chaomu, take a seat, I¡¯ll make you a cup of tea.¡±
Yu Weiwei pulled Xu Chaomu to the office sofa, then turned to make tea for her. Xu Chaomu looked around, the office was really spacious, and the decor matched Weiwei¡¯s style. It was minimal where it needed to be, shy where it could afford to be, quite nice indeed. There were quite a few magazines on the coffee table. Xu Chaomu casually picked one up and immediately her blood surged, almost causing a nosebleed. All male models! And almost all of them were scarcely d! Xu Chaomu swallowed hard and flipped through the pages. Indeed, she knew Weiwei had the good stuff. From now on, she¡¯d have toe by more often. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened as she gazed, her eyes blossoming like peach flowers, unable to look away, reluctant to put the magazine down. These male models, with sturdy chests and excellent figures, plus handsome faces and long legs¡­ Xu Chaomu instantly got sucked in,pletely absorbed. ¡°Look at you, all drool, you¡¯re about to drool all over!¡± Yu Weiwei tapped her on the head and handed her a cup of tea. ¡°Weiwei, you always keep it ssy, with so many goodies like these, I¡¯m taking a few.¡± ¡°Take them, go ahead, I¡¯ve got plenty.¡± ¡°Weiwei¡­¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her eyes, filled with mirth, ¡°Do you have any¡­ fully ¡®nude¡¯ ones?¡±
Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, as she giggled, ¡°I do, actually.¡± ¡°Share the good stuff quickly!¡± Xu Chaomu almost drooled. Back in school, Yu Weiwei could almost alwayse up with good-looking magazines every day. Following Weiwei around, Xu Chaomu really reaped the benefits. In the following five years, when she went to Paris, she devoted herself to her major and extracurricr activities, almost forgetting to cultivate this ¡°hobby.¡± ¡°Wait here.¡± After saying this, Weiwei started rummaging through a cab, one book, two books, three books, and in no time, she brought over a whole stack! ¡°Treasures from the bottom of the chest, wouldn¡¯t show them to anyone but you,¡± Yu Weiwei dered. ¡°Of course, you can only show them to me, I¡¯m your dearest darling!¡± ¡°Get out of here, I¡¯m not interested in women.¡± Xu Chaomu flipped open a magazine, huh, something was off about the style. She turned several pages, huh, the style was still off. They were definitely nude, but who told her there would be animals on these pages! Naked bunnies, naked tigers, naked turtles¡­ Damn it!
Looking up, Yu Weiwei was covering her mouth, snickering. ¡°I want to see men! Men!¡± Xu Chaomu threw the animal illustrated magazine back at Yu Weiwei. ¡°There are men¡­ but I dare not show you,¡± Yu Weiwei said, feigning distress. ¡°Aren¡¯t we besties? Shouldn¡¯t we be ready to take a knife for each other? Shouldn¡¯t we share weal and woe? Shouldn¡¯t we work together? We¡­¡± ¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡± Chapter 410: 410: Xu Chaomu, You Are So Colorful Chapter 410: Xu Chaomu, You Are So Colorful ¡°Grandma, if I showed it to you, your darling Shen Chi would close down my research institute,¡± Yu Weiwei said, quite innocently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I absolutely won¡¯t let him see it. My book-hiding skills are top-notch. Under the bed, inside the box, beneath the pillow, torn into individual pages, folded into little squares¡ªyou name a ce I can¡¯t think of, and I¡¯ll find a ce you won¡¯t find!¡± Yu Weiwei looked at Xu Chaomu with disdain: ¡°Wonder who was the one that got scolded until they cried their eyes out.¡± ¡°Who told you that?¡± Xu Chaomu held her forehead. She had kept it a secret that, back in the day, she was scolded many times by Shen Chi for reading ¡®Little Forbidden Books¡¯. ¡°You said it yourself when you were drunk,¡± Yu Weiwei said. In truth, it was during the time she dated Li Beiting that he had told her. But now she had long broken up with Li Beiting, and it was better left unmentioned. ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Chaomu held her forehead, thinking that alcohol was really something to avoid. ¡°Chaomu, where are you living now?¡± ¡°The Shen Family.¡± ¡°I guessed as much. With your overly domineering brother Shen, it makes sense he wouldn¡¯t let you live anywhere else.¡±
¡°I went back because I didn¡¯t want to leave the butler!¡± ¡°Oh ho ho, I believe¡­ not!¡± Yu Weiweiughed in a teasing manner, clearly asking for trouble. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu held her forehead. What happened to the friendship that was supposed to be higher than the sky and deeper than the sea? Why did she only see full-measured malice! ¡°Weiwei, are you going to give it to me or not, the magazine!¡± ¡°Not giving.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯m going to cry for you to see!¡± ¡°¡­¡± This time, it was Yu Weiwei¡¯s turn to hold her forehead. ¡°Beautiful Weiwei, gentle Weiwei, kind-hearted Weiwei¡­¡± ¡°Fine, fine, fine, but we agreed that you¡¯d hide it well.¡± ¡°No problem! Don¡¯t worry, a certain someone definitely won¡¯t see it, and besides, after I¡¯m done reading it, I¡¯ll return it to you. I won¡¯t hog it!¡± Xu Chaomu promised solemnly. But why didn¡¯t Yu Weiwei believe her at all? She turned and rummaged inside a locked cab for a couple ofic books, tossing them to Xu Chaomu. ¡°Hmph,ics, treasures from the bottom of my chest!¡± Upon seeing the cover, Xu Chaomu was thrilled, and flipping through the pages, she loved Yu Weiwei even more. Ha ha ha, demons fighting! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re so lecherous, watch out or you¡¯ll never get married.¡± ¡°No worries, you¡¯ll definitely marry me, right!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to. But, your brother Shen will.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention him.¡±
At the moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s attention was entirely on theic book, absorbed in reading. It felt as if she was back in her school days again, it was wonderful! Agitated, Yu Weiwei grabbed her magazine and tossed it into Xu Chaomu¡¯s bag: ¡°So it seems, after I give you the magazine, I¡¯m useless, huh?¡± ¡°Weiwei, good Weiwei, don¡¯t be mad. Let¡¯s talk about life,¡± Xu Chaomu said, trying to appease her.
Xu Chaomu pulled Yu Weiwei¡¯s arm, coaxing her to sit down beside her. Side by side, they sat as they had during school days, like old desk mates. ¡°Weiwei, have you started dating anyone?¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly thought of Li Beiting and Mi Fei she saw in the morning. Could it be that Li Beiting really didn¡¯t like Yu Weiwei? ¡°Isn¡¯t my partner you?¡± Yu Weiwei asked with a smile, pinching Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯m not into women either, so spill it¡ª if you¡¯re single, I¡¯ll find you someone!¡± ¡°You sort out your own affairs first, then you can y matchmaker for me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell, are you? Friendship over!¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°I, Yu Weiwei, am a servant of the people, how could I engage in such frivolous things as dating,¡± Yu Weiwei said, pouting and looking down. She thought of Li Beiting. The time they had spent dating was probably one of the happiest in her life. During her senior year of high school and freshman year of college, he was her everything. But now, what¡¯s done is done, it was not a big deal. ¡°So, you aren¡¯t dating anyone? Let me help you look around, what type are you into?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have time for dating,¡± Yu Weiwei said indifferently. ¡°Not talking? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll just randomly set you up! What do you think about¡­ Shen Chi?¡± ¡°Missy, cut it out. Even if I stay single for life, I wouldn¡¯t dare to covet Shen Chi. He¡¯s your man.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what about Li Beiting?¡± Xu Chaomu asked casually. ¡°Chaomu, look, this is thetest internal publication from our institute. Take it home and have a look. Didn¡¯t you say your brother Shen is having some issues? There¡¯s a self-test chart; try to match it up for him.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu held her forehead, ¡°Weiwei, I was talking about Li¡­¡± ¡°Look at this machine, imported from abroad. After testing, the therapeutic effects are really good.¡± ¡°Weiwei, I¡­¡± ¡°Here¡¯s a CD bonus, you might want to watch it. Your brother Shen isn¡¯t old; early treatment means a healthy sex life.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Xu Chaomu bellowed, clearly seeing there was an issue. There was definitely something between Yu Weiwei and Li Beiting! ¡°Tell me! What¡¯s going on with you and Li Beiting?!¡± Xu Chaomu mmed her hand on the table, adopting a regal demeanor. ¡°What¡¯s going on? He¡¯s my uncle, and we haven¡¯t been in contact for a long time,¡± Yu Weiwei said. ¡°Yu Weiwei, you¡¯re not being honest!¡±
¡°I¡¯m as honest as can be,¡± Yu Weiwei looked at Xu Chaomu innocently. ¡°If you don¡¯t spill the beans today, I¡¯ll just park myself here and not leave,¡± Xu Chaomu dered, looking at her. In Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes, she saw a dodgy look, and all her previous confidence vanished. It was in guilt! There was a major issue between her and Li Beiting! Xu Chaomu remembered back to their school days, how Li Beiting was rather caring towards Yu Weiwei, even giving her a coat once. At that time, Xu Chaomu was envious¡­ ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just dated for two years and then broke up,¡± Yu Weiwei said, bringing a cup of tea, her head lowered. ¡°Why break up? Was it your infidelity or his?¡± ¡°Personality sh,¡± she said. ¡°Excuses, everyone who breaks up iming personality differences is just a cop-out.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a cop-out, it¡¯s a cop-out, we broke up. But hey, I now know a bunch of male models, with faces and figures if you want.¡± ¡°Then bring one over for me to see!¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t buy it.
¡°Just wait, I¡¯ll bring one over for you to see soon. If you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll bring another one for you.¡± You think men are snacks, to be brought over whenever you like,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. ¡°Why not snacks, eat them and then toss them,¡± Yu Weiwei said lightly. ¡°What about Li Beiting¡­ did you ¡®eat¡¯ him?¡± Yu Weiwei held her forehead: ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree not to talk about men? You¡¯re going back on your word; I¡¯ll have to make you drink as a penalty!¡± With that, Yu Weiwei really pulled out a bottle of red wine and sses from the drawer. She remembered five years ago when she took Xu Chaomu to a bar for drinks. Back then, both of them were girls who got drunk at the slightest touch of alcohol. Now, she, Yu Weiwei, could handle a few drinks with no problem. She just wasn¡¯t sure if Xu Chaomu was still a teetotaler. Seeing that Yu Weiwei had brought out the red wine and sses, Xu Chaomu quickly held her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°Still can¡¯t drink? Haven¡¯t these past five years been really boring for you?¡± Yu Weiwei snorted coldly. Chapter 411: 411: A Gust of Wind by the Pillow Chapter 411: A Gust of Wind by the Pillow After saying that, Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t wait for a response and took two wine sses. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can drink all you want here at my ce today. If you really get drunk, I¡¯ll send you back to the Shen family. The worst I¡¯ll get is a scolding.¡± Although Yu Weiwei was quite afraid of Shen Chi, she hadn¡¯t seen Shen Chi in many years and figured that Shen Chi would somewhat care about saving her face. ¡°No, Weiwei, I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Xu Chaomu had no choice but to look at Yu Weiwei innocently. She wanted to drink with her good friend as well! Yu Weiwei¡¯s hand, holding the wine ss, paused, and her facial expression went through countless changes! Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet ¨C it was like a dye workshop had opened on her face! ¡°Xu Chaomu, say that again!¡± She blinked furiously and stared at Xu Chaomu¡¯s stomach, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of pregnancy! This girl couldn¡¯t be tricking her, could she? Today wasn¡¯t April Fool¡¯s Day! ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m pregnant, almost three months now.¡±
¡°Holy shit, Xu Chaomu, are you, are you, are you serious?¡± Yu Weiwei was a bit incoherent. Her face was a canvas of countless expressions ¨C joy, surprise, doubt! ¡°Really, being pregnant is so annoying,¡± Xu Chaomu said, resting her head in her hands, looking utterly distressed. Yu Weiwei waspletely stunned: ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re sure you¡¯re not tricking me?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare trick anyone, much less you.¡± ¡°Then whose child is it?¡± ¡°My fianc¨¦¡¯s.¡± ¡°Fianc¨¦? Who¡¯s your fianc¨¦?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your ¡®dear brother¡¯ Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips moved slightly, and she said indifferently, ¡°No.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re really having someone else¡¯s child?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I have a child with someone else?¡± Yu Weiwei still couldn¡¯t believe it. Xu Chaomu loved Shen Chi so much; how could she have a child with someone else, how could she willingly marry someone else. Five yearster, has everyone changed? Even if everyone else had changed, she couldn¡¯t believe Xu Chaomu would change. Xu Chaomu really, really loved Shen Chi¡­ Perhaps the incident five years ago had been too big a blow for Xu Chaomu? ¡°Does Shen Chi know about this?¡± Yu Weiwei felt a twinge of pain in her heart. ¡°He knows.¡±
¡°He knows? What did he say?¡± ¡°He congratted me and wished me well. He wished me a happy marriage with my fianc¨¦, to grow old together. He¡¯s quite happy that his sister is getting married. After all, he¡¯s always felt that I was unmarriageable.¡± ¡°What ¡®sister¡¯? He likes you a lot; do you know that?¡± ¡°Weiwei, you¡¯re being silly. Would you be with a man who isn¡¯t up to the mark?¡± Xu Chaomu rambled on, trying to sound serious.
¡°It can be treated, I¡¯ll get you an expert,¡± Yu Weiwei said earnestly. Oh no, how could Xu Chaomu hold back herughter now¡­ No, hold it in, hold it in. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ not talk about this. It¡¯s almost time for dinner; you should treat me to a feast!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly changed the subject. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take you to a feast. We can talk more while we eat,¡± Yu Weiwei just wouldn¡¯t let Xu Chaomu off the hook. What¡¯s going on with this girl? Shees back after five years, and she¡¯s pregnant, with a child from a man she doesn¡¯t even know. What about Shen Chi? She loved Shen Chi so much, and Shen Chi loved her just as much, had they really just drifted apart? Did the incident five years ago truly leave an indelible scar on Xu Chaomu? They left the research institute, and it was almost exactly half-past eleven. Yu Weiwei drove out her own little car and took Xu Chaomu to a French restaurant. ¡°Weiwei, you¡¯re really rich.¡± Xu Chaomu clicked her tongue as she looked at the white BMW. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me, littledy. Your sweetheart¡¯s car tires are worth more than my whole car. A little flick of your little finger, and you get whatever you want. If the pillow talkes into y and a certain man gets a hot head, he might end up giving you the entire Shen Group.¡±
¡°What pillow talk? Do I look like the kind of catastrophic beauty that brings down nations?¡± ¡°In someone¡¯s eyes, you¡¯re more than that. But in my eyes, you¡¯re just a female hooligan.¡± ¡°So annoying.¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly. ¡°By the way, Weiwei, isn¡¯t the medical college a five-year program? How did you graduate early?¡± ¡°I finished all the courses ahead of time.¡± ¡°Weiwei, you¡¯re so amazing, I¡¯m proud of you. Indeed, interest is the best teacher.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Weiwei, I don¡¯t want to go to a French restaurant; I want to eat hot pot!¡± Xu Chaomu thought, having spent five years in Paris, she had been eating French food for five years. Now that she finally returned home, she especially missed hot pot. She had been back for many days, yet no one had taken her out for a good meal. Every time she said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat hot pot!¡± Shen Chi would roll his eyes and respond indifferently, ¡°Gutter oil.¡± Was this man doing it on purpose? With his wealth, finding a high-end hot pot restaurant was no problem at all, okay?
He just didn¡¯t want to spend the money, didn¡¯t want to take her out to eat, andcked any sense of romance. ¡°Okay, as you wish.¡± Yu Weiwei said, ¡°It just so happens that a friend of mine has recently opened a hot pot restaurant. I¡¯ve heard the taste is quite good, and they offer a wide variety of dishes. She has been inviting me to eat there; I just haven¡¯t had the time.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go eat.¡± Xu Chaomu was particrly happy. When they arrived at the hot pot restaurant, Yu Weiwei¡¯s friend even specially opened a private room for the two of them. The aromatic steam from the hot pot wafted up, and the business of the restaurant was apparently booming, with people everywhere. Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei made their way to the private room, where the base soup and the menu had already been prepared for them, and even the air conditioning had been thoughtfully turned on. As expected of a friend¡¯s store, they received all sorts of special treatment. Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei ordered plenty of their favorite dishes¡ªenoki mushrooms, rice cakes, tenderloin, ribs, shrimp paste¡­ a whole table was filled to the brim. Steam rose from the bubbling hot pot, but because the air conditioning was on, they didn¡¯t feel hot. Instead, the atmosphere felt particrly good. No wonder people say eating hot pot in summer and ice cream in winter is the ultimate enjoyment. ¡°Weiwei, did you look for me when I left school back then?¡± ¡°Of course I did, but everyone said you had disappeared. Later, your sweetheart came to school and took all your stuff away. To be honest, I cried so many times. I couldn¡¯t believe a living person could just vanish like that.¡± At this point, Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes also reddened. During that time, she was truly distressed to the point of crying in her sleep.
Xu Chaomu was such a lively and adorable girl; it was unthinkable that she would just disappear without a trace. But she knew, no one in the world felt more heartache than Shen Chi. From start to finish, Shen Chi was the one who suffered the most from Xu Chaomu¡¯s disappearance. She had heard from Li Beiting that during that period, Shen Chi had be so despondent that he drank almost every day, using alcohol to numb his senses, as if being intoxicated meant he wouldn¡¯t have to remember Xu Chaomu. ¡°Weiwei, I¡¯m so touched. I knew you loved me.¡± ¡°The person who loves you the most is Shen Chi, not me.¡± ¡°Why bring him up again,¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. Ironically enough, as Yu Weiwei was using the remote to switch channels, she just happened to tune into the financial channel. The program featured shing cameras non-stop, and the main figure was none other than Shen Chi. Chapter 412: 412 Clearly Have Shen Chi in Mind Chapter 412: Clearly Have Shen Chi in Mind The key point is¡­ there was a woman standing next to Shen Chi, a very beautiful and dignified woman. The most important thing is¡­ this woman¡¯s hand was hooked onto Shen Chi¡¯s arm! And the ultimate key point is¡­ both of them were smiling really happily! Yu Weiwei wanted to change the channel quickly while Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t paying attention. Who knew that Xu Chaomu caught sight of it, dropped the fish ball she was about to pop into her mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t touch it, don¡¯t touch it, turn it back one channel.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s smile looked rather forced, but there was nothing she could do; she had to turn it back to the financial channel they had been on before. It turned out to be a press conference, where Shen Group was signing a contract with somepany. Yu Weiwei checked the date; it was a show from several months ago. Perhaps they thought Shen Chi was easy on the eyes, so they kept reying it? At this moment, the signing ceremony was almost finished, and a group of people stood in a row for a photo op. Shen Chi and that woman stood in the center, the womanughing very joyfully, and Shen Chi, also quite happy. The woman¡¯s hand had never left Shen Chi¡¯s arm from start to finish, remaining looped through it. ¡°Chaomu, look, that woman is so ugly, her eyes almost disappear when she smiles. And her clothes, that taste, tsk tsk, she¡¯s probably not that young anymore!¡± Yu Weiwei said disdainfully.
¡°She looks pretty good,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently, eyes fixed on the TV. ¡°No way, look at her chin, so sharp, she probably just got back from stic surgery. No ss, not a single redeeming quality.¡± In the program, the shbulbs ¡°click-click¡± went off non-stop, and the stage lights were especially twinkling. A group of elite men in suits and ties looked impably dressed and extraordinary in temperament. The photo session didn¡¯tst long, and then it was time for a Q&A with the journalists. This segment was rtively rxed; some even joked about Shen Chi and that woman. Xu Chaomu lowered her eyelids, stopped talking, and stopped watching the TV, feeling a bit ufortable in her chest. She picked up an octopus ball and bit into it slowly, one bite at a time. Really hot. She lowered her head to dip the ball into the sauce, bit harshly into it, and pondered over what she was feeling so upset about. Seeing her lower her head, Yu Weiwei quickly changed the channel. She served Xu Chaomu some delicious ribs and dished out a bowl of fragrant soup for her. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, eat more nutritious food. My friend said that their family¡¯s rib soup is specially prepared, no additives at all, pure, nutritious, and even beautifying.¡± ¡°It smells delicious,¡± Xu Chaomu replied without much expression, taking the soup and stirring it gently with a spoon. There were goji berries and red dates in the soup, which looked very nutritious. However, after watching that program, Xu Chaomu had be much quieter, just constantly eating. Yu Weiwei felt guilty for carelessly flipping through TV channels. Besides, that girl clearly still had Shen Chi in her heart, so why had she told her that she was about to get married? Was she ying a joke? Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t believe it. How could you just let go of someone you¡¯ve loved for so many years? Initially, Xu Chaomu had loved Shen Chi with her whole life.
For a long time, Xu Chaomu just kept eating, head down; Yu Weiwei would ask something, and she would only answer then. After eating for a while, afraid that Xu Chaomu would overeat, Yu Weiwei took her bowl away: ¡°Chaomu, you can¡¯t eat anymore, too much food will cause indigestion.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t overeaten, I need to eat for two now. Weiwei, are you being stingy with your money?¡± ¡°Cut it out,¡± Yu Weiwei responded. ¡°I¡¯m serious, for the sake of the baby, you can¡¯t overeat that much, you might get an upset stomach. Don¡¯t me me if your belly achester.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t, I haven¡¯t even eaten my fill. Otherwise, my baby will protest.¡± Xu Chaomu grabbed the bowl back from Yu Weiwei¡¯s hands and continued to eat. She touched her stomach; her child was being quiet today. ¡°Chaomu,¡± Yu Weiwei sighed, ¡°are you still thinking about that show we just saw? That¡¯s nothing to worry about, there¡¯s definitely nothing going on between Shen Chi and that woman.¡± ¡°Weiwei,¡± Xu Chaomu called out to her, her tone suddenly a bit heavy. Stirring the soup in front of her, she watched quietly as the white steam slowly rose. ¡°Hm?¡± Yu Weiwei looked towards Xu Chaomu. There was a misty and confused look in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, unclear whether it was because of the steam or because her vision was blurred. ¡°Do you believe it¡­ I¡¯ve known Shen Chi for thirteen years, and he has never taken me to Shen¡¯s.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice was understated, even her voice slightly choked. Yu Weiwei was also taken aback for a moment, even she had been there. Had Xu Chaomu really never visited? That¡¯s¡­ quite unbelievable. After saying that, Xu Chaomu bowed her head again and continued to stir her bone broth.
The fragrance lingered at her nostrils as she watched the broth quietly; a thinyer of mist slowly gathered on her eyshes, and she slowly reined in her emotions. The dinner, Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t enjoy it much either, but for fear that Xu Chaomu was sad, she suggested they go shopping together in the afternoon. Xu Chaomu hade out today precisely to shop, so when she heard the suggestion, she agreed. Yu Weiwei drove her little white BMW towards thergestmercial center in C City. Themercial center was bustling, and they bought to their hearts¡¯ content. Xu Chaomu bought piles of clothes, picking the most expensive ones. She knew she was pregnant and wouldn¡¯t be able to fit into these clothes soon, they¡¯d be out of fashion by next year. But she wanted to buy them anyway. Not just clothes, she also bought a heap of useless things, like sportswear, sneakers, sleeping bags, sheets¡­ Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyelid twitched, Xu Chaomu was clearly buying whatever she didn¡¯t need. In the end, Yu Weiwei ended up carrying bags big and small for Xu Chaomu. The pair shopped until dark, and it was close to eight o¡¯clock before Yu Weiwei finally pulled Xu Chaomu away. In the car, there was everything Xu Chaomu had purchased; most of it was unnecessary. For example, she had bought twenty-one skirts for herself! That was practically the pace for opening a store!
Watching Xu Chaomu spend a six-figure sum, Yu Weiwei realized that having a wealthy admirer sure made someone capricious. Faced with so much stuff, Yu Weiwei couldn¡¯t just leave Xu Chaomu to carry it all home. She had to offer a ride. The little white BMW headed towards the direction of Splendid Paradise¡­ Yu Weiwei¡¯s home was not far from Splendid Paradise, but since graduation, she had bought her own little apartment not far from her research institute. She didn¡¯t want to return to Splendid Paradise because the world is small; you never know when you might run into someone you don¡¯t want to see. And just as fate would have it. As her little BMW turned into the viplex, a man and a woman were walking out, one after the other. It was none other than Li Beiting and Mi Fei. Summer evenings, perfect for walks, especially for couples. Chapter 413: Sharing a Bed Chapter 413: Sharing a Bed Mi Fei chatted andughed, following alongside Li Beiting. When he quickened his pace slightly, she held on to his arm, preventing him from walking too fast. The summer breeze brushed against them, causing Mi Fei¡¯s ck hair to flutter lightly. From time to time, she used her fingers to sift a few strands of hair behind her ear. Mi Fei¡¯sugh was fresh and bright, like a rose blossoming quietly on a midsummer night. At first nce, Li Beiting and Mi Fei seemed quite well-matched. Yu Weiwei turned the steering wheel, driving past them without even lifting her eyelids. Xu Chaomu turned her head to look at Yu Weiwei, who had a calm expression on her face, as if she had just seen an old friend she hadn¡¯t met in a long time, with no ripples in her eyes. When the small BMW brushed past Li Beiting, he just happened to turn his head. His gaze fell on the driver¡¯s seat, where, illuminated by the streetlights, he saw Yu Weiwei at the wheel. He froze in his steps, not expecting to see Yu Weiwei here, at this time. ¡°Beiting, what¡¯s wrong? What are you looking at?¡± Mi Fei waved her right hand in front of his eyes, still wearing a bright smile. The white car sped away like a beam of light. Only then did Li Beiting lower his eyelids and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Mi Fei didn¡¯t care much either; she made an ¡°Oh¡± sound and continued walking forward with Li Beiting¡¯s arm in hers. Yu Weiwei¡¯s car drove along the winding roads of the vi area toward the Shen Family¡¯s vi, where Xu Chaomu pointed out, ¡°Here we are.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± replied Yu Weiwei with a smile, parking the car. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t hurry to get out; she kept staring at Yu Weiwei. Feeling awkward under her gaze, Yu Weiwei touched her face, ¡°Is there something strange on my face?¡± ¡°Your face shows unhappiness,¡± Xu Chaomu said seriously. ¡°I¡¯m worried about whether to go to the academic conference the day after tomorrow. If I go, it¡¯ll just be another session of listening to a bunch of old men ramble.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Really,¡± Yu Weiwei insisted lightly. She turned her head away, staring straight ahead. Not far away stood the Li Family¡¯s vi, as brightly lit as ever, shadows of trees dancing in the moonlight with few stars to be seen. Yu Weiwei had only been to the Li Family¡¯s vi once, and after that single visit, she didn¡¯t want toe again. She thought she would never set foot there for the rest of her life. ¡°Weiwei, are you still unable to let go of Li Beiting?¡± Xu Chaomu asked directly. ¡°Men are like snacks; once you¡¯re done with them, you throw them away. What¡¯s there to hold on to?¡± Yu Weiwei replied with her usual insipid tone. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it; Yu Weiwei wasn¡¯t that unemotional. Yet, often the girls who seemed the most carefree and nonchnt were the ones who got hurt the most easily. Everyone thought they didn¡¯t care, but in fact, they were just like any average girl. It¡¯s just that, often, they didn¡¯t show it as clearly. The crying child gets the candy, but they were destined to be the kind who never cried. ¡°Weiwei, actually¡­¡± ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s gettingte. Tell the butler toe out and help you carry the things back, I need to leave,¡± Yu Weiwei cut her off. She didn¡¯t really want to linger in Jinxiu Tiandi any longer; the memories of this ce were not so pleasant. ¡°Won¡¯t youe in and sit?¡± ¡°Some other time,¡± said Yu Weiwei with a smile, ¡°Remember to return my magazine.¡± Xu Chaomu squinted her eyes yfully, ¡°Remember to share the good stuff.¡± ¡°Actually, every time I get something nice, I think of you first. It¡¯s just a pity that you weren¡¯t in C City over these past five years; I didn¡¯t even know who to share things with.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s tone conveyed disappointment. ¡°I¡¯m back now.¡± ¡°Chaomu, you mustn¡¯t leave again. Promise me, you¡¯ll never leave again.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded her head, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s emotions fluctuated, but she quickly controlled herself. Just then, Butler Ling saw the car parked at the gate for a while and came over. Xu Chaomu moved all the shopping out, and Butler Ling watched dazzled. ¡°Young Madam, how much money did you spend on all this? What are these?¡± Butler Ling asked as he moved the items. ¡°Quite a lot of stuff here, Butler. Later on, call everyone toe and pick up a few things,¡± she replied. ¡°Young Madam, these are very valuable items; we dare not ept them,¡± said Butler Ling, who recognized the shopping bags as being from one of C City¡¯s most upscale shopping malls. Yu Weiwei was still there, and upon hearing Butler Ling call Xu Chaomu ¡°Young Madam,¡± she felt something was off. ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± Yu Weiwei demanded, ¡°You give me a straight answer, what¡¯s the exact nature of your rtionship with Shen Chi? If you don¡¯te clean, I¡¯m tossing you out to feed the sharks!¡± ¡°Weiwei, I¡­¡± ¡°This youngdy,¡± Butler Ling interjected before Xu Chaomu could respond, ¡°Chaomu is the fourth young master¡¯s wife, the kind with a marriage certificate.¡± Upon hearing Butler Ling¡¯s words, Yu Weiwei¡¯s facial expression changed countless times! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re dead to me, you even dared to lie to me!¡± Yu Weiwei huffed angrily. What about getting married to someone else? Being almost three months pregnant? It turns out all those were lies to deceive her, weren¡¯t they?! ¡°No, no, no, that¡¯s not it. This is tooplicated, my rtionship with Shen Chi, it¡¯s really nothing,¡± Xu Chaomu protested. Butler Ling undercut Xu Chaomu again, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, it¡¯s nothing much. It¡¯s just that they share a bedroom,¡± he said with a smile. Xu Chaomu cradled her forehead as a row of crows swooshed over her head¡­ ¡°Damn it, Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re so done for. Wait till I deal with you someday.¡± If they were sharing a bedroom, it was definitely the same bed. What could a man and a woman possibly do on the same bed? Pretend, Chaomu, keep pretending. ¡°Weiwei, it¡¯s not what you think, I, I¡­¡± ¡°What ¡®I, I¡¯¡­ I¡¯m angry, I¡¯m leaving. Just wait, I¡¯ll deal with you another day, you be careful!¡± With that, Yu Weiwei snorted, red at Xu Chaomu, stepped on the brake, and left the Shen Family¡¯s vi. The small BMW whooshed away, leaving Xu Chaomu standing there, her face a rainbow of expressions. ¡°Young Madam, there¡¯s too much stuff. I¡¯ll get a few people to help carry it,¡± said Butler Ling, also cradling his forehead. He had never seen Xu Chaomu buy this much before. After everything was moved into the house, Xu Chaomu copsed onto her bed in her own bedroom. She was tired from a day of shopping, and casually pulled out aic magazine from her bag. Readingics somehow dispelled all fatigue. It was as if she were back in her school days when she used to sneak magazines home to read. Sometimes, she would hide in her nket with a shlight, carefully hiding the magazine after reading it. At first, she would always get caught by Shen Chi, butter, she learned to tear each page out, fold them into small squares, and stuff them in the pockets of her clothes. Where one magic soars, another grows higher. Of course, there were tragic times, like when she forgot to check her pockets while changing clothes one day. As a result, when the little maid found the pages of demons fighting in theundry, she blushed and yelled and screamed. Inevitably, Xu Chaomu would then be beaten by Shen Chi. Having lived with such a fierce and brutal man for eight years without any psychological shadows was indeed a miracle. Chapter 414: 414: The Pregnant Woman is a Bit Grumpy Chapter 414: The Pregnant Woman is a Bit Grumpy ¡°` Sitting on the bed, she flipped through theic book for a while, and before she knew it, she had finished it. Thinking to save some for tomorrow, she sat on the bed and turned on the TV. But once the TV was on¡ªsuddenly, she remembered the scene she had witnessed at the hotpot restaurant. Shen Chi stood side by side with another woman¡­ A sort of sourness crept into her heart, as if a stone had struck it. Absentmindedly flipping through channels, she remembered the question she¡¯d asked Weiwei that afternoon: ¡°Do you believe it? I¡¯ve known Shen Chi for thirteen years, and he has never taken me to Shen¡¯s.¡± No one would believe it, and yet he truly never had. Maybe, whenever she stood beside him, she was just not suitable. In truth, she had worked hard over these past five years, diligently studying her major in school and even receiving praise from leaders during her internships. But no matter how hard she worked, even if she were to stand on adder, she still couldn¡¯t reach the stars.
That was the distance between them. As a child, she hadn¡¯t understood, but as an adult, she understood all too well. Once she understood, she became scared¡­ Scared that she would shatter to pieces before she could even reach him. She didn¡¯t want to experience that kind of pain ever again. Just like five years ago, when she took a bullet for him and would have rather died than open her eyes to see him again. Her chest felt entangled in waterweeds, clump upon clump of breathless agony. She got out of bed, drew the curtains, turned off the TV, and turned out the light. Lying in bed, perhaps because she was so tired from the day, she soon fell asleep. She held the softforter in her grip, and slept quite soundly. Shen Chi didn¡¯t return to the Shen Family home until after midnight. He had drunk quite a bit with a group of partners that evening and was slightly intoxicated. The butler had brought him home and seeing him frown, let out a sigh, ¡°President Shen, must you drink with these people yourself? Can¡¯t you send Xiao Mo and the others?¡± ¡°With the president of the partnerpany here personally, I can¡¯t just not join them,¡± Shen Chi said, holding his forehead, his voice hoarse. ¡°You could¡¯ve drunk less.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shen Chi got out of the car, and it was now the most peaceful part of the night, the entire vi area quiet, without a peep of noise. The night breeze was neither warm nor cold against his face. Butler Ling came out to help Shen Chi, but he didn¡¯t let her. ¡°Is she asleep?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been asleep a long time.¡± Butler Ling knew who Shen Chi was asking about.
Shen Chi walked up the steps and through the living room to the upstairs. The vast Shen home was extraordinarily quiet. He hadn¡¯t seen her all day and missed her deeply, especially while apanying partners for drinks in the evening, when all he wanted was toe back early to see her. He first went to his own bedroom, finding the bed empty, which made him smile wryly. He knew she had gone back to her own room again. She was just so disobedient.
Turning back to the next room, he only turned on a wallmp, which cast a gentle, not harsh, light. Under the dim light, there she was, indeed, sleeping soundly, her hand tightly clutching the nket, appearing just like a child. Shen Chi¡¯s slender, clean fingers brushed her hair, and he leaned down, slowly drawing closer to her. Perhaps it was too warm under the covers, her cheeks were flushed red, like blooming cherry blossoms. Her slightly pouting lips looked tender and inviting, as if zed with honey. Shen Chi propped his arms around her, his head lowering further and further. He really wanted to kiss her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s brow furrowed as she sniffed a strong scent of alcohol, quite heavy. Then there was Shen Chi¡¯s hot breath mixed with his unique woody fragrance, invading her nostrils. Just as Shen Chi was about to kiss her lips, Xu Chaomu pulled out a hand from the nket and pushed against his shoulder. ¡°Awake?¡± Shen Chi squinted at her. ¡°Mm,¡± Xu Chaomu grunted softly. She turned over, away from him, and closed her eyes again.
He gazed at her cold back and felt somewhat disappointed. Without further disturbance, he went to take a hot shower in the bathroom. Hearing the sound of running water in the bathroom, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t fall asleep. She had just had a dream where they argued fiercely, he pushed her, and then she woke up. Upon waking, she saw him bending down wanting to kiss her, which irritated her. It didn¡¯t take long for Shen Chi toe out of the bathroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, about to turn off the light and hold her to sleep, when Xu Chaomu spoke. ¡°Go sleep in your own room.¡± Her eyes remained shut, her voice indifferent. Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed as he leaned down to turn her over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you angry?¡± He still thought she was angry from the morning when he asked her to call him ¡°husband.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°There is something. Your eyebrows are all knotted.¡± As his hand touched her face, Xu Chaomu brushed it away, ¡°Are you annoying or what? Can you go sleep in your own room?¡± ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±
¡°I just don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Xu Chaomu kept her eyes closed. Even though he had taken a shower, she could still smell the strong scent of alcohol on him. Wining and dining, who knows how many women his hand had touched, or how many had touched him. Just like the scene she saw during the day, that woman hooking his arm, and he didn¡¯t refuse. Although Shen Chi was a bit drunk that evening, seeing her temper re, he didn¡¯t take it to heart, knowing from others that pregnant women could be temperamental. ¡°Mumu, stop this, let¡¯s sleep.¡± Hey beside her, reaching to turn off the light. He had drunk quite a bit, and his head ached. Just as hey down beside her, Xu Chaomu¡¯s temper red, and she abruptly sat up. Herrge eyes fixed on Shen Chi, annoyance written on her face: ¡°Didn¡¯t I say to go and sleep in your own room?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with you today?¡± Shen Chi said in a deep voice, also sitting up. His sharp gaze met hers, his expression colored with emotion. ¡°I told you to go to your room to sleep, didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice. Xu Chaomu¡¯splexion was off, and suddenly she was so, so tired of this version of Shen Chi. He doted on her in front of her, but who knew if he was sweet-talking another woman behind her back.
¡°What provoked you? You sleep, I won¡¯t touch you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so annoyed, leave!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face set in anger, she grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face. Although Shen Chi caught it, her fit left him irate. He was already tired and headachy from drinking, and he didn¡¯t have the patience to coddle her. He threw down the pillow and left. ¡°Making a scene for nothing!¡± His icy voice echoed in the air as Shen Chi went out with a ¡°bang,¡± mming Xu Chaomu¡¯s bedroom door behind him. Her outburst only intensified Shen Chi¡¯s irritation, and sleep eluded him. He returned to his own room, casually lit a cigarette, and stood on the balcony in the breeze. Stirred up by him, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t sleep either. She snapped off the wallmp and buried herself under the covers. Tossing and turning inside the nket, sleep evaded her. The good night¡¯s sleep he had interrupted left her feeling utterly vexed. ¡°` Chapter 415: 415: Calm Down, Calm Down Chapter 415: Calm Down, Calm Down She reached for a teacup on the bedside table in frustration and threw it to the ground, shattering it. ¡°Whye to me drunk and incoherent!¡± With a ¡°ng,¡± Shen Chi heard everything clearly from next door, and his temper almost red up. There was no reason for her tosh out at him like this; it was utterly unreasonable. He really didn¡¯t know what had upset her. Shen Chi smoked several cigarettes in a row before finally turning off the light and going to bed. That night, he didn¡¯t sleep at all. He woke up in the morning with a severe headache and had no choice but to rest at home. In the morning, he went downstairs first. ¡°Young Master Four, good morning,¡± the butler greeted him as he came down, quickly bringing over a steaming hot breakfast. Shen Chi pulled out a chair, perhaps a bit too forcefully, as it made a significant noise. The butler jumped, because Shen Chi was usually an extremely graceful man who would never pull a chair out like that. Upon closer inspection, Shen Chi¡¯splexion seemed off.
¡°Young Master Four, you don¡¯t look so good. Did you drink too muchst night?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shen Chi spoke in a deep voice, casually picking up a ss of milk and selecting a piece of oatmeal cake. ¡°This¡­ I don¡¯t know if Chaomu is awake yet. I¡¯ll go upstairs and bring her breakfast,¡± said the butler. ¡°Does she need someone to bring her breakfast to bed every day?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. He left early every day and didn¡¯t know what time she would get up; he never asked. ¡°Chaomu is pregnant, and she¡¯s prone to sleepiness, but she can¡¯t skip breakfast, so I usually bring it up to her.¡± ¡°Spoiled! From now on, wake her up at eight every morning!¡± ¡°This¡­ Young Master Four, let Chaomu sleep a bit more, she is pregnant after all. Besides, it¡¯s not a trouble for me to bring breakfast upstairs,¡± the butler said, clearly feeling uneasy. ¡°Being pregnant means maintaining regr hours, too. If you keep indulging her, she¡¯ll only getzier!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± the butler was inwardly contemptuous¡ªit was you who spoiled her first. The butler fell silent, and so did Shen Chi. He quietly ate his breakfast, and halfway through, he looked at his wristwatch. It was well past eight, and Xu Chaomu was utterly silent. He didn¡¯t want to intrude; after finishing his breakfast, he took hisptop and sat on the couch to work. The butler was ready to take the hot breakfast upstairs to Xu Chaomu. When Shen Chi saw this, he immediately stopped him: ¡°From today on, let her get up and eat by herself!¡± ¡°This¡­ Young Master Four, keeping early hours is good, but Chaomu is in a special condition now, isn¡¯t she? Maybe we can talk about this after a while,¡± the butler suggested. The butler was in a bind, whether to go upstairs or not.
What was going on with the two of them? Had they fought? ¡°No need.¡± Just then, Xu Chaomu¡¯s clear but weary voice came from the top of the stairs. ¡°From now on, there¡¯s no need to bring me anything,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently.
¡°Chaomu, what are you doing? Put down the suitcase, what¡¯s going on here,¡± the butler panicked as Xu Chaomu emerged in the morning holding a suitcase, ready toe downstairs. The butler hurried upstairs, she couldn¡¯t dare let Xu Chaomu carry the suitcase herself. Shen Chi raised his head, and his sharp gaze met Xu Chaomu¡¯s. Throwing tantrums, always throwing tantrums! Yesterday morning everything was fine, but by evening she had be a different person. ¡°Butler, this is none of your business. I just don¡¯t want to live in the Shen Family home anymore,¡± Xu Chaomu said without looking up. ¡°Is it because the food I cook isn¡¯t to your liking, or is there something else I¡¯m not taking care of properly?¡± the butler asked anxiously. ¡°No, butler, please let me go,¡± Xu Chaomu insisted. The butler grasped her hand, refusing to let her move. At that moment, Shen Chi set down hisptop and walked over with long strides from the spiral staircase! He exuded a chill, and the look in his eyes was as cold as ice. ¡°Young Master Four¡­¡± the butler saw him approaching and dared not say another word. Shen Chi stood in front of Xu Chaomu, looking at her coldly.
Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t raise her head, but she felt the strong presence and the austere coldnessing from him. ¡°You, get out,¡± Shen Chi said coldly to the butler. ¡°Ah, Young Master Four, let¡¯s talk this out calmly. Chaomu¡¯s still pregnant, be calm,¡± the butler advised. However, she didn¡¯t know if her words were effective at all, because, after all, the child Xu Chaomu was carrying wasn¡¯t Shen Chi¡¯s. Shen Chi was a normal man, and it was unlikely he held no resentment towards the child. The butler had no choice but to make several meaningful nces at Xu Chaomu, but Xu Chaomu kept her head down, looking at her suitcase. With no other option, the butler left slowly. As soon as the butler left, the atmosphere upstairs grew even colder. Shen Chi blocked Xu Chaomu¡¯s way, his piercing gaze fixed on her face. Xu Chaomu gripped the handle of the suitcase, nning to walk past him down the stairs. But the moment she moved, Shen Chi forcefully grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him! ¡°Xu Chaomu, what tantrum is this?¡± he said in a deep voice, his gaze stern. Her wrist hurt from his grip, and Xu Chaomu winced in pain. ¡°I¡¯m not throwing a tantrum.¡±
¡°Still denying it? Want me to show you in a mirror? Huh?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± ¡°Fine, if you weren¡¯t my wife, I would be toozy to talk to you.¡± When Shen Chi hade upstairs, he had intended to reproach her sternly, but he greatly overestimated himself. In front of others, he could keep a stern face, and anyone who dared to provoke him would be sent rolling out the door. But when it came to Xu Chaomu, he¡¯d hold back his temper, and all his aura would be reined in. Last night he couldn¡¯t be bothered to cajole her; now he had no choice but to do so. If he didn¡¯t take care of his own wife well, who knows, she might run off with someone else. She was a slippery one, faster than anybody. Forget it, he was a man, and a man should not quarrel with a woman, especially not with a pregnant woman. ¡°Shen Chi, I want a divorce.¡± ¡°Fine, I got it,¡± Shen Chi said expressionlessly. ¡°When shall we go to the civil affairs bureau?¡± ¡°When I feel better about it.¡±
¡°Then until you feel better, we should not see each other.¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly and grabbed the handle of her suitcase, ready to drag it away. Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t let her go and pulled her back: ¡°Were you upset by something yesterday?¡± ¡°No,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, head down, not looking at him. ¡°Won¡¯t tell me the truth? Huh?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you annoying, Shen Chi? Can¡¯t you be a man and stop nagging?¡± There it was again¡­ Infuriated, Shen Chi cupped her chin and nted a kiss on her. She¡¯d told him countless times whether he was really a man; in a month, he¡¯d definitely show her whether he was a man or not. Xu Chaomu was dumbstruck; every time she couldn¡¯t be argued down, he¡¯d resort to kissing her. If he yelled at her, she could yell back; if he dared to hit her, she could hit back; but when he kissed her, she certainly wouldn¡¯t kiss back. Beast, bastard. Shen Chi¡¯s kiss was punitive from the very start, heavy and forceful. Chapter 416: 416: President Shen, Your Kissing Technique is Really Good Chapter 416: President Shen, Your Kissing Technique is Really Good Xu Chaomu was flustered, always like this, unable to outtalk her, he would kiss her instead. If he scolded her, she could scold back, if he dared to hit her, she could hit back, but frustratingly, he kissed her, and she certainly couldn¡¯t kiss him back. Beast, bastard. Shen Chi¡¯s kiss carried a punitive meaning, intense from the very start. As soon as he kissed her, she couldn¡¯t handle it. Moreover, this man¡¯s kissing technique seemed to be improving, as soon as he touched her lips, it was like an electric current surged through her body. ¡°Shen, Shen Chi¡­¡± She pped his back, but Shen Chi simply pinned her against the wall, wrapping one arm around her waist and cupping her head with his hand. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed, her body nearly going limp. His kiss carried the mild sweetness of milk, Xu Chaomu¡¯s mind nked out, forgetting everything. And Shen Chi himself was also lost in the kiss, each time deeply fond of her taste, wishing he could meld her into his body.
As the kiss lingered, he became immersed in it. The fabric of summer clothes is thin to begin with, and he was already overwhelmed with desire. As a normal man, he was setting himself on fire. Xu Chaomu was about to go limp, having no choice, she hooked her arms around his neck. With just a small move, Shen Chi found himself even less able to contain himself. Xu Chaomu gathered all her strength, bending her knee and aiming a kick at the man¡¯s most vulnerable spot! One, two, three, swift, urate, and ruthless! Shen Chi was still indulging in her allure, thinking she had be apliant and meek kitty within this kiss, but she was, in fact, an undomesticated wildcat! Luckily, he reacted quickly, and as soon as her knee touched him, he lifted his right leg and pressed it down! Dammit, Xu Chaomu cursed inwardly. This man lived up to his ck belt in taekwondo, with quick reflexes! He finally released her lips, and Xu Chaomu, unwilling to lose out, wrapped her hands around his neck, stood on tip-toes, and bit down on his chin! And so, his chin nobly bore another set of teeth marks. ¡°Xu Chaomu, one day I will grind your sharp teeth t,¡± Shen Chi said indignantly as he touched his chin. ¡°Mr. Shen, your kissing technique is really good,¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°That kind of thing, just practice more, you¡¯ll practice with me every day from now on.¡± His tone was now domineering. ¡°It looks like Mr. Shen has developed experience over the years,¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed. Before, she would have taken it as a joke, but now, she didn¡¯t think so. He must have kissed many women, huh. ¡°Then I should thank you for the practice.¡±
¡°Get out of my way.¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him aside, her face devoid of expression. Who knows how many times he¡¯s said these things to other women. She had long realized that this man was quite capable of sweet talk. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°None of your damn business.¡±
¡°Enough, stop making a scene ande downstairs for breakfast!¡± Shen Chi said sternly. Shen Chi¡¯s head throbbed faintly, women are truly hard to appease. If the woman in front of him weren¡¯t Xu Chaomu, he would have told her to get lost so many times already. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m not messing with you. Let¡¯s find some time to go through with the divorce. After that, you can marry a gentler girl. Don¡¯t go for someone like me again.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone was nd, her voice lower and lower, she didn¡¯t even look at Shen Chi, turning instead to grab her suitcase. ¡°I think you¡¯re quite gentle,¡± Shen Chi said earnestly. ¡°¡­¡± It was the first time Xu Chaomu heard anyone call her gentle, Shen Chi must be blind. ¡°Don¡¯t block me.¡± Xu Chaomu still wanted to leave. ¡°Shut up.¡± Shen Chi frowned and in a princess carry, he scooped her up. With firm steps, he carried her down the stairs. Luckily, breakfast hadn¡¯t gone cold. He made her sit down in the chair and kept her from moving. Before her, he ced a cup of milk and a te of meat floss rolls: ¡°Eat breakfast.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to stand up. Shen Chi pressed down on her shoulders, not letting her leave.
¡°Are you annoying or what!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face looked terrible. She reached for the milk cup and ¡°ng¡± it went as she smashed it on the floor. The white milk immediately flowed along the ridges of the floor, the scent spreading, with ss shards scattered all around! Shen Chi really had been patient in coaxing her, but now, he was at a loss for words. ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± he said in a deep voice, ¡°do you really think I, Shen Chi, have no temper?¡± ¡°Of course you, Shen Chi, have a temper, and I, Xu Chaomu, do too. So, we are not suitable for each other, divorce would be good for both of us.¡± Xu Chaomu stood up, looking him in the eye. ¡°You calm down for a couple of days before speaking!¡± Shen Chi rebuked. ¡°Shen Chi, I think it¡¯s you who should calm down. You say I can¡¯t distinguish love from warmth, so have you figured out what is love and what is atonement?¡± ¡°Bullshit! I don¡¯t owe you a thing, atone for what? Even if it was atonement, throwing you a check would be enough to get rid of you. Why should I spend a lifetime with you in matrimony just to make up for something? Xu Chaomu, can you use your brain for once? Has your IQ been eaten by a dog?!¡± Shen Chi really got angry, and when angry, he cursed. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was momentarily rendered speechless. His words left her with nothing to refute. ¡°Xu Chaomu, make yourself clear, what the hell is with this sudden moodiness?¡±
¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Fine, you won¡¯t speak? Were you with Yu Weiwei yesterday? Fine, if you won¡¯t talk, I¡¯ll call Yu Weiwei. But her research institute better not think about continuing in C City!¡± Without another word, Shen Chi took out his phone. He didn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t deal with her. ¡°Shen Chi you despicable coward, you¡¯re out flirting with other women, all smiles, and you still have the face to criticize me?¡± Xu Chaomu finally blurted out. Flirting? All smiles? ¡°Who told you that?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°So¡­ jealous?¡± ¡°Jealous of your grandpa, I just saw through your true colors and wanted to expose you. Pretentious on the surface, but different behind the back.¡± What really upset her was that he never took her to Shen¡¯s in thirteen years. ¡°In the business world, it¡¯s inevitable to engage with women. Sometimes, a fa?ade is unavoidable,¡± Shen Chi exined patiently. He hadn¡¯t thought it was because of this, and indeed, there were countless asions where he had to interact with women.
¡°No need to exin, it¡¯s nothing. How many women you have is your business. If you cheat and I catch you, we can divorce without any fuss.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi grew furious. After a long silence, neither spoke. The living room was again enveloped in silence; they could even hear the birds chirping outside. It was unclear how much time passed before Shen Chi finally spoke slowly, ¡°You¡¯ve been back in C City for a while now, and I can see that all this time it has been just me hoping. No matter how much I pamper you, you feel nothing for me anymore. Since that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Chapter 417: 417: Heartbeat Chapter 417: Heartbeat Xu Chaomu held her breath, waiting for him to continue. Shen Chi looked at her, his voice low and hoarse, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I absolutely can¡¯t divorce you. A woman might not be convinced by words, but she can definitely be conquered in bed. So, don¡¯t even think about it.¡± After speaking, Shen Chi pinched her cheek. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu had thought he was going to say something profound given his somber look, but to her dismay, it was the same old vulgarity. ¡°Shen Chi, you have no shame!¡± ¡°I admit it.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you toy with emotions!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t admit that. My intentions towards you are serious.¡± Xu Chaomu felt a surge of frustration in her stomach but she was at a loss for how to deal with someone like Shen Chi, unable to either cry orugh. ¡°First eat your breakfast,¡± Shen Chi said as he brought the breakfast on the table in front of her.
Xu Chaomu stopped talking, sat down at the dining table, bowed her head, and quietly ate her breakfast. Throughout the process, Shen Chi sat by her side. He passed her napkins, peeled eggs for her, very patient. ¡°Eat slowly, no one is fighting you for it.¡± Shen Chi asionally wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. From the way she was eating, it was clear she was very angry. Shen Chi thought that as a man, sometimes you have to be shameless. If he had really argued with her this morning, refusing to give in, they would both end up hurt. While Xu Chaomu ate breakfast, Shen Chi had the butler Linge in to clean up the floor and even took the opportunity to have Xu Chaomu¡¯s suitcase taken back. The butler Ling gave Shen Chi a look, convinced there was nothing Shen Chi couldn¡¯t handle. After the butler Ling did all this, she consciously retreated, closing the door behind them. ¡°Shen Chi, a lot of things are missing from my suitcase,¡± said Xu Chaomu, still fuming. ¡°Is that so? Maybe they were lost during check-in.¡± ¡°Lost? Only small gifts and my beautiful dresses? Shen Chi, do you really think I¡¯m that naive?¡± ¡°Your intelligence, with it or without it, doesn¡¯t make much difference. Sweetheart, if anything¡¯s missing, your husband will go shopping with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The breakfast passed reasonably harmoniously. Seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s mood stabilize, Shen Chi nned to go back to his bedroom to sleep. Just as he was about to head upstairs, Xu Chaomu stopped him, ¡°Shen Chi, give me back my phone.¡± ¡°The phone is in the third drawer of the piano room, go get it yourself,¡± Shen Chi paused, not wanting to trouble her anymore and just walked upstairs. Xu Chaomu was surprised he was so agreeable this time. Watching him ascend the stairs, she suddenly dashed off. Running all the way to the piano room, she feared her friends must have been very worried after so many days of her phone being off.
As expected, as soon as she retrieved her phone and plugged it in, the screen lit up with numerous notifications. Missed calls, text messages, various messages¡­ From the day she returned to the country, they flooded in, and among them, Nie Chenng¡¯s calls took up the majority. Standing in the piano room, she read each message one by one, and among them, she was even notified that her design had won an award.
Shen Chi was really holding her back, Xu Chaomu thought indignantly. But getting angry with him wasn¡¯t entirely ineffective¡ªfor example, now she had her phone back. She first called Nie Chenng, having left the Nie Family without saying goodbyest time, she wondered how the situation had unfolded since then. ¡°Chaomu?¡± Nie Chenng was surprised to receive the call. He didn¡¯t speak recklessly, fearing it might be Shen Chi again. ¡°Chenng, it¡¯s Chaomu.¡± ¡°Chaomu, are you still at the Shen Family¡¯s ce?¡± ¡°Yes, I apologize for running off that day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, my mother was too aggressive. It¡¯s all settled now. Should Ie get you?¡± ¡°No need, no need. I just found my phone and wanted to let you know.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Nie Chenng sounded somewhat disappointed, ¡°Is it because of my mother that you¡¯re disappointed?¡± ¡°No, your mother was also looking out for you. After all, I did register for marriage with Shen Chi.¡± ¡°I lied to you. I always told you my mother was easygoing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a lie.¡± Xu Chaomuughed, ¡°Which mother isn¡¯t easygoing and kind in the eyes of her own son? It¡¯s just that we view things from different perspectives.¡±
¡°Would you still be willing to marry me?¡± Nie Chenng asked quietly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Shen Chi refuses to divorce me. And your mother, she certainly wouldn¡¯t want you to marry a woman who¡¯s been married before.¡± ¡°But the child in your womb is mine, and as for my mother, I can convince her.¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu fell silent. The sunlight streamed in from the spacious French windows, and Xu Chaomu paced to the windows, reaching out to catch the sunlight. Threads of golden light fell upon her hand, refracting a spectrum of colors through the ss. She squinted slightly, the sun proving too bright to gaze upon. ¡°Chenng, tell me the truth¡ªis this child really yours?¡± This was the second time Xu Chaomu had asked Nie Chenng this question. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t trust him, but there were too many uncertainties¡­ And her intuition was getting stronger. ¡°It¡¯s mine. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can take you for a paternity test.¡± Xu Chaomu still didn¡¯t believe it since paternity test results could be tampered with at will. She wanted to secretly find the hotel¡¯s video from that night; only that could serve as evidence.
¡°Chaomu, I love you.¡± On the other end of the phone, Nie Chenng¡¯s voice was deep, yet assertive. Although Xu Chaomu¡¯s child wasn¡¯t his, as long as she was happy and free from mental burdens, that was all that mattered to him. During their time in Paris, he didn¡¯t know when he had started to fall for her. This feeling grew deeper and deeper until he couldn¡¯t extract himself. Even now, knowing the child wasn¡¯t his, he didn¡¯t want to let go. ¡°Chenng, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her eyshes. In those five years in Paris, he had looked after her like an older brother. From their initial meeting in the orphanage to the idental encounter on the streetster, there was always a strange fate between them. She relied on him, but as Shen Chi had said, while warmth could bring spring, it didn¡¯t necessarily turn into love. She didn¡¯t feel her heart flutter with his every smile and frown¡ªthat was probably what love was. Initially, she had epted Nie Chenng¡¯s proposal because she had assumed the child in her womb was his from that night. ¡°Do you¡­ still have feelings for Shen Chi?¡± Nie Chenng asked faintly. ¡°He and I are not suited for each other,¡± Xu Chaomu looked down. ¡°So you n to never marry?¡±
¡°Chenng, let¡¯s not talk about this. You focus on your work and get promoted soon.¡± ¡°Maybe, I shouldn¡¯t have let youe back to the country.¡± Nie Chenng sighed softly on the phone, his voice light. But Xu Chaomu still heard it. If she hadn¡¯t returned from Paris days before, perhaps her life with Nie Chenng would have followed apletely different trajectory? Nie Chenng and Shen Chi were entirely different in character; it was unclear who was the better match. Chapter 418: 418: What is ‘Woman on Top, Man on Bottom’? Chapter 418: What is ¡®Woman on Top, Man on Bottom¡¯? After she hung up with Nie Chenng, Xu Chaomu felt an emptiness inside. Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, she found the sunlight too ring. She raised her arm, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been standing there in the piano room when, gradually, she walked over to the piano and pressed her fingers on the keys. The piano made a crisp sound, like a mountain spring, tinkling melodiously. Sitting at the piano, she thought of the piano piece he had yed for her. It had been a long time since she had touched the piano. She flipped through the music scores casually and found ¡°Summer.¡± After looking at it for a while, she started to y the piano following the score. The pleasant and melodious tune echoed around the piano room, as if even the air was filled with joy. This was a piece that could make one¡¯s heart open, just like this lush summer, with flowers like a curtain. When Xu Chaomu returned to the living room, Shen Chi was already awake. He was sitting on the sofa with hisptop, typing away, and did not look up when he heard Xu Chaomu¡¯s footsteps. ¡°Got your phone?¡±
¡°Mm,¡± Xu Chaomu responded slowly as she walked from the entrance to the sofa. When she reached the sofa, she chose the spot farthest from Shen Chi and lowered her head to fiddle with her phone. ¡°You don¡¯t need a husband now that you have your phone?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you happily chatting with a youngdy?¡± Xu Chaomu said disdainfully. ¡°You seem quite jealous.¡± Only then did Shen Chi stop typing and turn his head to stare at her. Sitting so far away, he wasn¡¯t a wolf. He moved a few steps closer to her, sitting side by side with her. Xu Chaomu jumped, quickly putting away her phone. She was chatting with a ssmate in Paris and trying to get them to contact the person in charge of the Paris hotel. The matter of the child was always like a thorn, stuck in her throat. When Shen Chi moved closer, she jumped big time, but fortunately, he hadn¡¯t seen anything. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows. Xu Chaomu hurriedly turned off her phone: ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t think that just because you turned off the phone I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± he said. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart lurched, could it be that he had seen it? That shouldn¡¯t be. The next second, Shen Chi tossed several Not suitable for childrenic books onto her. ¡°When you had no phone, you readics, and now with a phone, you can¡¯t wait to search for Not suitable for children content?¡± he said. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed, so it was about this¡­
¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was at a loss for words, thankfully, he hadn¡¯t found out. ¡°These drawings are pretty explosive,¡± Shen Chi said with his legs crossed, leaningzily on the sofa and casually flipping through a book. He flipped another page and, staring at it, a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He looked at a title on the page and began to read seriously, ¡°¡®What is called a woman on top and a man on the bottom¡¯.¡±
Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned even redder¡ªshe had just read this bookst night, and this page, in particr, was extremely explosive. It was about a man teasing his wife¡ªno¡­ training her, then the man teaching his wife a new position¡ªwoman on top and man on the bottom. Theic taught it in great detail, every step was crystal clear; Xu Chaomu herself was quite aroused reading itst night. Although, with an extra ball in her belly, she had forgotten all about how it felt that night. All she remembered was that it hurt a lot¡­ Shen Chi flipped through the pages with a meaningful look, his slender index finger tracing the pages. Truly explosive indeed, not even pixted. Xu Chaomu was twisting her hands, waiting for him to scold her. In the past, if she read this kind of book, she would at least be starved for three days. To her surprise, he just flipped through it casually and didn¡¯t speak for a long time. Xu Chaomu sneaked a nce at him¡ªcould it be he was getting addicted to it? This man used to be a notoriously good student. Unexpectedly, Xu Chaomu really saw a hint of a smile on his lips, getting deeper and deeper¡­ ¡°President Shen, I picked up this book by chance,¡± Xu Chaomu timidly confessed. ¡°Mm.¡±
¡°President Shen, I haven¡¯t actually read this book,¡± Xu Chaomu confessed honestly. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°President Shen, I swear, I definitely won¡¯t read it,¡± she vowed. ¡°Hm?¡± Only then did he look up at her, his eyes as deep as obsidian staring at her. ¡°Really, I won¡¯t read it,¡± Xu Chaomu swore earnestly. Shen Chi had just finished that page and tossed the book to her with a voice that was low yet unexpectedly melodious, ¡°Learn, it¡¯s good.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It will save your husband from having to teach you,¡± Shen Chi said with a meaningful and cheerful smile, his eyes also smiling. In the past, reading such books was called Not suitable for children, but now? Now that she was pregnant, what was there to be suitable or unsuitable about? ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°After learning this, you can let your husband rest more,¡± Shen Chi continued shamelessly. ¡°Get lost! Get lost!¡± Xu Chaomu finally exploded.
Shen Chi, unfazed, said calmly, ¡°One of these days, I¡¯ll have someone find you a few more to look at.¡± ¡°What the hell do you think I am!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed angrily. ¡°In my eyes, you¡¯ve always been a little hooligan,¡± Shen Chi said, looking directly into her eyes. For so many years, her eyes were still clear and sparkling, without a hint of impurity. He remembered the first time he saw her, her eyes were full of mischief. She was arguing and fussing to be held by him, even wanting to kiss him. ¡°Shen Chi, I have something to tell you too¡ªyou¡¯ve always been a polite beast in my eyes,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°A hooligan paired with a beast?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°Then we won¡¯t have to get out of bed every day.¡± Xu Chaomu really wanted to smash the phone in her hand into his handsome face. What happened to the cold, dignified male god? ¡°Deserves a beating,¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but go crazy. ¡°Mumu, let¡¯s talk about something serious,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression became solemn. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Do you want to go to work?¡± he asked. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu was surprised; wasn¡¯t this man always domineering, disliking to discuss anything with her?
¡°Nothing, just thought the baby form is getting low, so suggested you go to work,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. His dark eyes, still carrying augh, looked at her while he maintained an air of nobility. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart leaped. She had studied design for four years in Paris; she really wanted to showcase her talents. In the past, she had even won awards for her design work. She wanted to design a wedding dress and a pair of crystal shoes for herself. Whether she was Cindere or not, she wanted her own wedding. Like that time when she was helping Bai Man choose a wedding dress, she enviously watched Bai Man wear that unique wedding dress. At that time, she also wanted to try it on. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at Shen Chi. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t go back on your word?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go back on my word.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t I believe you,¡± Xu Chaomu doubted, thinking the man in front of her was a wolf, unaware of his ulterior motives. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to work, forget it,¡± Shen Chi stood up. ¡°Sit down, sit down, let¡¯s talk it over. How did you suddenly be so enlightened?¡± Chapter 419: 419: Cuddle Each Other Chapter 419: Cuddle Each Other ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, and all you need to answer is whether you want to or not! One¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded repeatedly, like a pecking chicken. ¡°Hmm, go to Shen¡¯s for an interview tomorrow.¡± ¡°Why should I go to Shen¡¯s?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered, ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who resented me for not taking you to Shen¡¯s for thirteen years?¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Damn! A multitude of expressions instantly flickered across Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. Had Yu Weiwei betrayed her so quickly? What happened to the friendship that was supposed to be higher than the sky and deeper than the ocean? Why did she only see two characters, betrayal! ¡°I was just speaking offhand, don¡¯t take it to heart, just offhand, just offhand¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was dripping with sweat. ¡°Go to Shen¡¯s for an interview tomorrow.¡± Shen Chi was very domineering. In fact, the reason he hadn¡¯t taken her to Shen¡¯s all these years was simply to avoid exposing her to the public eye. In the business arena, it was inevitable to offend many people. If someone found his Achilles¡¯ heel, both he and she would fall into danger.
However, he had never anticipated that Shen Shihan would target Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi had always been on guard against Shen Shihan at Shen¡¯s, and Shen Shihan was well aware of his feelings for Xu Chaomu. But he had never imagined that Shen Shihan would use Xu Chaomu as a bargaining chip to threaten him, even though Shen Shihan hadn¡¯t personally taken any action. For eight years, Xu Chaomu had called Shen Shihan ¡®Third Brother¡¯ for eight whole years. As ruthless as he was, Shen Chi would never use Mo Shuifu as a bargaining chip; he would never use a woman as a chip. Perhaps Shen Shihan was even more cold-blooded and heartless than he had imagined. So, in the future, there was bound to be a showdown between him and Shen Shihan. This showdown might not be bloody, or perhaps¡­ it could be a life-or-death struggle. Actually, he didn¡¯t want Xu Chaomu to see all this. Even though five years ago Shen Shihan had used Xu Chaomu as a bargaining chip, he could tell that five yearster, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t harbor too strong a hatred towards Shen Shihan. At most, it was just indifference, and that was it. Shen Chi knew Xu Chaomu all too well; her mouth was tough, but her heart was soft. She was truly kind, so kind that he was willing to protect her for the rest of his life. He didn¡¯t want her to see the ugliness between him and Shen Shihan, the fierce battles they fought. Because, in his eyes, she was so wonderful, absolutely perfect. Suddenly, he remembered a night five years ago, when she sat side by side with Shen Shihan on a mountain, squeezed among the crowd, watching a performance. She wasughing so happily, telling stories to Shen Shihan, and he had given her a cute cat bracelet. However, time never stays put at the moment we wish it would. Time always moves forward like the wheels of a car, rolling over memories, pressing on¡­ No one can predict the future. Gathering his thoughts, Shen Chi¡¯s hand fell on her head.
¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t want to? So many people wish they could join Shen Group and don¡¯t get the chance, I¡¯m offering it to you and you refuse.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go, but we need to set some ground rules.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chiughed as if she was the one begging to be part of it. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone you know me, don¡¯t greet me if you see me, let¡¯s keep to our own paths, walk our separate ways on the sunny road.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s talk about that after you pass the interview.¡± ¡°I still have to interview? No green light?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Sure, we can. Just tell the interviewer you¡¯re Shen Chi¡¯s wife, they¡¯ll definitely consider my opinion.¡± ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll choose to interview.¡± ¡°Hmm, perform well. It¡¯s not easy getting into Shen¡¯s.¡± Shen Chi leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes. After a long while, nobody spoke. Shen Chi¡¯s mind wandered to other matters because he had received a call saying that Shen Shihan recently had a shipment that was about to be transported into C City from the docks. This shipment was nothing else but drugs. He had to track down the whereabouts of this shipment; if Shen Shihan managed to get it into Shen¡¯s, then Shen¡¯s would be doomed. But he didn¡¯t think that Shen Shihan had the guts to do that. Yet, the more he pondered, the more unfathomable Shen Shihan became. Xu Chaomu was also preupied with her thoughts. She had just sent a message to a friend in Paris, asking her to help procure a video.
She had no idea if it would be possible, or how many days it might take. Her mind was in turmoil as well; she was almost certain the child belonged to Shen Chi, but she needed onest piece of evidence. If the child was indeed Shen Chi¡¯s, she wondered what she should do; if not, what then? ¡°Mumu, my head hurts, give me a massage.¡± After a long silence, Shen Chi was the first to speak. Upon hearing his voice, Xu Chaomu turned her head and saw his furrowed brows. ¡°Is your head hurting again?¡± Xu Chaomu asked faintly. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi leaned on the couch, eyes not opening, simply nodding slightly. ¡°Since you¡¯ve arranged for me to interview at Shen¡¯s.¡± Xu Chaomu stood up. She pulled a chair up behind the sofa, positioning herself right behind him. The corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips twitched slightly; she was just stubborn. Such incidents became easier over time, and this time, her massage technique was clearly much improved over thest.
Not too light nor too heavy, Shen Chi was bing somewhat reliant on it. As she bent over to massage him, she inhaled the faint woody fragrance from his hair. Approaching noon, the outside was very quiet, and the room was even quieter. The air conditioning was blowing on their bodies, particrlyfortable. In such a season, it was easy to nod off and feel sleepy. Initially, Xu Chaomu was seriously massaging his temples but gradually, she began to doze off on the sofa, massaging him intermittently. Afterward, with no reaction from Shen Chi, she was the first to fall asleep¡­ Lying on the sofa, her head next to his, breathing evenly, she slept soundly. Shen Chi opened his eyes, turned his head, and saw her cheek right next to him. This little face was getting prettier and prettier; looking at her, a deep smile spread across his lips. Gradually, he too closed his eyes, whether he fell asleep or not, they were there, head against head. The green trees of summer are lush and verdant, the time is leisurely and lengthy; you and I in summer, nestled close together. The sunlight weaves, the vegetation thrives; may we hold hands in this life, inseparable till the end. A few dayster, Xu Chaomu got herself together and headed to Shen¡¯s.
She even put on light makeup and picked a particrly stable white shirt, tying her hair into a high ponytail. This was her first visit to Shen¡¯s, and she did want to see what Shen¡¯s was really like. Hmm¡­ and how a certain beast behaved in front of his subordinates. Taking a cab to Shen¡¯s, Xu Chaomu held a stack of personal documents, standing in front of the Shen Group building. The Shen Group building indeed had an imposing presence, situated in the prime location of C City, towering above the surrounding high-rise buildings, though there were many, Shen¡¯s building was the tallest. Gilded in gold lettering at the top read four characters: Shen Group. Looking up, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°So tall.¡± Chapter 420: 420: The Current Young Girls are really Unserious Chapter 420: The Current Young Girls are really Unserious Looking at the building, a smile spilled over the corners of her mouth. She hoped that Shen¡¯s would keep getting better and that his career would reach even greater heights. No matter how many barriers stood between them, no matter how often they had fought, whether in the past or the future, she always hoped he was doing well, and she hoped Shen¡¯s was doing well too. As for everything else, well¡­ leave it to fate. Xu Chaomu took the elevator from the first floor to the human resources department on the tenth floor, as per the arranged meeting ce. The lobby of Shen¡¯s on the first floor was very impressive, with dazzling crystal chandeliers, towering columns, and sleek, bright floor tiles. When Xu Chaomu walked across them in her leather shoes, she could see her own reflection. The lobby was constantly bustling with people, and several handsome young men stood as greeters at the entrance. There was also the reception, staffed by orderly youngdies, each wearing a blue name tag and sporting a slight smile, the standard corporate expression. Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t interested in thedies, but she was quite intrigued by the handsome men. She noticed that Shen¡¯s had a real abundance of good-looking guys, and they were all quite tall. Their perfect physiques were framed by crisp suits, and their handsome faces were hard to look away from.
Xu Chaomu swallowed hard, her eyes practically glued to them. Indeed, domestic hunks were more attractive. After being in Paris and seeing an abundance of blond-haired, blue-eyed handsome men, she always felt that theycked something. Perhaps it was the blood coursing through their veins that was different; she didn¡¯t find foreign hunks particrly pleasing to the eye. It had been five years since she had seen so many handsome men, so she couldn¡¯t help taking a few extra peeks while on the first floor. But that was all she did¡ªafter a few nces, she headed up to the tenth floor. No matter how much she denied it verbally, in her heart, there was still one man who she thought was the most attractive. She hadn¡¯t expected so many people toe for job interviews. The waiting room was packed full of people; there weren¡¯t enough sofas and chairs to seat everyone, some were standing, and others simply sat on the floor. Everyone was holding a stack of thick documents, some quietly reviewing interview questions, others chatting softly, and some were sorting through their own materials. But one young woman, dressed in a cool camisole dress, was holding forth impressively. ¡°My dad has already put in a good word for me; the chief examiner for this interview has been a friend of my dad¡¯s for many years¡ªthey are really tight. Justst night, they were drinking together. Of course, that¡¯s not all, I also graduated as a high-achieving student from Harvard University.¡± ¡°My design work has even been praised by Mr. Geoff Fitzpatrick, and I have attended various international design conferences multiple times.¡± The woman looked down on the other interviewees with arrogant disdain. Everyone looked on with admiration, ¡°Oh, what position are you interviewing for?¡± ¡°Design.¡± Those not applying to the design department sighed in relief, ¡°Good thing I¡¯m not in design; I¡¯m applying for the marketing department.¡± ¡°Me neither, I¡¯m applying for the publicity department. Otherwise, with such a formidable opponent, there would be no chance.¡± ¡°Luckily for me as well, I¡¯m applying for the copywriting department.¡± Each seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as if to calm themselves because the woman did not seem easy topete with. The few applying for the design department had gloomy expressions: ¡°Oh no, we definitely have no chance.¡±
Just then, the door to the interview room opened, and a girl came out, looking dejected and pinching her resume. ¡°How did it go, how did it go?¡± a crowd rushed up to ask. The boastful woman said with disdain, ¡°What else could it be? I told you, those who applied for design might as well go home early, go home and get an early dinner, pack up and apply to otherpanies. Can anything change after my dad¡¯s involvement? Besides, they¡¯re only hiring one person for the design department this time.¡± The woman flicked her nails, not even bothering to look up.
Xu Chaomu nced down and saw, oh, she had applied for the design department too. Hearing the woman speak like that, the others began whispering among themselves, ¡°Even Shen Group engages in such nepotism, pre-arranging interviews?¡± ¡°Seems like the girls applying for the design department don¡¯t stand a chance now.¡± ¡°Exactly, who knows what this woman¡¯s background is?¡± ¡°Might as well go home and sleep it off.¡± Some people began to leave the waiting room, and the morale quickly scattered; the boastful woman was even more triumphant. Just then, a guy approached Xu Chaomu and nced at her resume, ¡°That¡¯s a pretty good university. I have a very good friend who is from that school.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well, the school is great in every other way, but the academic atmosphere is so intense, it¡¯s hard not to study even if you don¡¯t want to,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°True, my friend was just hired there as a teacher, and he¡¯s told me the same thing.¡± The guy casually struck up a conversation with Xu Chaomu, and suddenly she didn¡¯t feel so bored anymore. Meanwhile, the boastful woman came over and nced at Xu Chaomu, ¡°Yo, what kind of university is it that you¡¯re blowing it up like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to deal with her. But the woman was surprisingly forward, grabbing Xu Chaomu¡¯s resume to look at it, ¡°Yo, also applying for design, huh? There really are those who aren¡¯t afraid of death. But this resume is really subpar. Hey, isn¡¯t it stated in the application requirements that you should have at least two years of experience? You¡¯ve only had less than a year of internships, how did you even get in?¡±
Xu Chaomu snatched back her resume and snorted with augh, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Ugh, it must have been Shen Chi pulling some strings. The guy frowned slightly and hinted pointedly, ¡°Shen Group has always valued capability;ck of experience can be gradually umted, but character and manners can¡¯t be changed overnight. Besides, the two years of work experience isn¡¯t a strict requirement. I¡¯ve heard that as long as someone performs exceptionally well, they can be hired regardless of normal standards.¡± ¡°Oh, you just met her and you¡¯re already speaking up for her? Are you two hooking up? Girls these days really aren¡¯t proper,¡± the woman sneered. ¡°Enough already, youcanyouup, nocannobb! Just stop barking,¡± Xu Chaomu snapped, annoyed. She had just learned a fancy and trendy new saying, ¡°youcanyouup, nocannobb,¡± which seemed quite fitting to use in this situation. The guy chuckled; to deal with such a woman, you had to be ruthless. Indeed, the woman¡¯s face turned from red to white, looking highly embarrassed. But the woman had already bragged quite a bit, so of course, she had to stand by it. She looked Xu Chaomu up and down, smirking, ¡°Your name is Xu Chaomu, right? I¡¯ll remember you. By the way, do you know who my dad is? He¡¯s the Director of the C City Business Bureau, someone whom even the President of Shen Group wouldn¡¯t dare to offend! Dare to insult me? Just wait until Ie out of the interview; I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡± Xu Chaomu racked her brains; were there really people in C City that Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t dare to offend? ¡°Just look at yourself, can¡¯t you even bother to use a mirror?¡± The woman shot her words out rapidly, ¡°Applying for a design position and you can¡¯t even wear high heels properly. Coming to a job interview dressed like this, aren¡¯t you embarrassed to say you studied design?¡±
Chapter 421: 421: Shen Chi’s Heart has Melted Down Chapter 421: Shen Chi¡¯s Heart has Melted Down Xu Chaomu sauntered over and gave her a cursory nce. The next second, Xu Chaomu rather rascally pinched her thin strap, gave it a flick, and then released it. A crisp ¡°snap¡± echoed as the strap struck the woman¡¯s skin! The rest of the people in the interview room covered their mouths, stifling their giggles, but they dared notugh out loud. ¡°You think wearing spaghetti straps is showing respect for the workce? Why don¡¯t you just shoot for the stars?¡± Xu Chaomu said, and flicked her strap again. Given the recent poprity of ¡°Why don¡¯t you just shoot for the stars,¡± and how fitting it was in this situation, someone finally couldn¡¯t hold back and let out a snort ofughter. The woman was seething with humiliation. Damn it, Xu Chaomu actually dared toy his hands on her. ¡°Who gave you the audacity? I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m calling my dad now. He knows the executives at Shen¡¯s, and I¡¯ll have them kick you out right this instant!¡± The woman was incredibly arrogant. But her anger outweighed everything else, her face turning red and then white with rage. Yet Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t let go¡ªshe found the woman¡¯s straps to be quite stic; flicking them made a ¡°snap, snap¡± sound. Unable to resist, she flicked them a few more times, causing the woman great pain.
She took out her phone and pushed Xu Chaomu away: ¡°You just wait. I¡¯ll have them throw you out right now!¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting. Why would I run?¡± Xu Chaomu was surprisingly calm, ¡°If Shen Group¡¯s executives are that unreasonable, I think Shen Group might as well quit doing business altogether. If Shen Group¡¯s CEO can¡¯t distinguish good from bad, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.¡± Xu Chaomu began to gather her resume, neatly cing them into a folder. Xu Chaomu remained calm, as did the young man who had been chatting with her. ¡°Ignore her,¡± the young man said. ¡°I¡¯m scared though,¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to say. ¡°No worries, Shen Group is a bigpany, they won¡¯t be unreasonable.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Shen Group¡¯s CEO can¡¯t distinguish right from wrong, confuses ck and white, abuses his power¡­ and, and, and, and¡­¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly became stuttering, her eyes widening. Because, at the entrance of the waiting room, suddenly, a man appeared. A man with no expression, cold as ice, especially when he entered from the doorway, his powerful presence enough to silence everyone. So, Xu Chaomu became stuttering in a second. Shen Chi, dressed in a crisp ink-colored shirt, stood by the doorway, his piercing gaze sweeping over everyone, wordless yet intimidating. A few executives, including Xiao Mo, followed him. Sure enough, when Shen Chi stood at the door like a stoic god, no one dared to speak. The room fell silent! Xu Chaomu¡¯s stammering instantly turned her mute, her face a kaleidoscope of expressions. She had just imed that he didn¡¯t know right from wrong, was topsy-turvy, and abused his power¡­ Herrge eyes rapidly scanning around, indeed, after Shen Chi swept his gaze over the crowd, it settled on her. Xu Chaomu really wanted to cover her face and sneak away¡­
Run¡­ Run¡­ Run¡­ Xiao Mo held back hisughter¡ªthe world might only have Xu Chaomu who dared to scold Shen Chi. The brazen woman, seemingly seeing her savior, joyously ran behind Shen Chi toward a middle-aged man. ¡°Uncle Qin, you¡¯re just in time. I¡¯ve been bullied. You have to stand up for me. That woman cursed at me!¡±
Her fair little hand pointed directly and firmly at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Nannan, how did you get here?¡± the middle-aged man mopped his brow, the CEO hadn¡¯t even spoken yet. ¡°Uncle Qin, Nannan is here for an interview. Nannan wants to join Shen¡¯s design department!¡± The woman pouted and acted coquettishly with the middle-aged man. Everyone present felt goosebumps, and Xu Chaomu was even more creeped out. But Shen Chi was a man with steelyposure. His profound gaze was fixed entirely on Xu Chaomu. Inability to discern right from wrong, topsy-turvy, abuse of power¡­ Very well. ¡°Nannan, stop it, Shen Group isn¡¯t a ce you can just waltz into,¡± the middle-aged man mopped his brow again. ¡°Uncle Qin, let¡¯s not talk about that now. This woman cursed at me, won¡¯t you help me?¡± the woman pointed at Xu Chaomu again. ¡°There¡¯s no need to make a fuss. We¡¯re just ships passing in the night. Take a step back and the sea will be wide and the sky boundless. Nannan, go home, don¡¯t worry your father.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not going home. I want to join the design department. I¡¯ve heard Shen Group¡¯s CEO is very handsome,¡± the woman giggled shyly. The middle-aged man¡¯s face contorted with embarrassment, and the executives all facepalmed¡ªShen Group¡¯s CEO was right there at the door. Sure enough, at that moment, Shen Chi¡¯s face turned an iron shade of blue.
The woman clearly didn¡¯t recognize Shen Chi. She clung to the middle-aged man¡¯s arm, cooing, ¡°Uncle Qin, let me in, please let me in. Go say hi to the interviewers, waive the interview for me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ not talk about that now,¡± the man really wanted to cover his face. ¡°Not talk about it? Fine, then Uncle Qin, have that woman thrown out! Let security boot her out! Help me out, it¡¯s just a tiny little favor. If you don¡¯t help, I¡¯ll never call you ¡®uncle¡¯ again!¡± At that moment, Xu Chaomu stepped forward and positioned herself in front of Shen Chi. Wearing x, she stood much shorter than Shen Chi. She looked up and shed him a smile. Her smile was gentle, pretty, and sharine, reminiscent of a swaying, resplendent red rose caressed by a summer breeze. Shen Chi almost had a moment of weakness, unable to resist her charm. She truly was his poison. ¡°Handsome,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes turned into crescents as she called out to him. That voice, like that of a songbird, melted Shen Chi¡¯s heart. Although, it would¡¯ve been better if she had called him ¡°hubby.¡± But he needed to maintain hisposure. He still wore an expressionless, iceberg face. That cry of ¡°Handsome¡± made the Shen Group executives widen their eyes. Was this tant flirtation? ¡°Handsome, do you think I would curse at someone?¡± Xu Chaomu batted her innocent eyes at Shen Chi.
Thoserge eyes seemed to speak volumes, fluttering with each blink, making Shen Chi want to pull her into his arms and tame her properly. Before Shen Chi could speak up, the woman started moring, ¡°Look, just look, I told you this woman is shameless. She just flirted with one man, and now she¡¯s flirting with another. I really can¡¯tpare with such tactics.¡± ¡°This kind of woman cannot be hired by thepany; she¡¯ll turn the design department upside down. At this rate, I guess it¡¯ll take her three days to climb into the design manager¡¯s bed,¡± the woman sneered, arms crossed. Xu Chaomu was just staring at Shen Chi, curious to see if someone would insult his wife and whether he could remain as immovable as a mountain. ¡°Enough, don¡¯t be disrespectful. Keep it down,¡± the middle-aged man red at the woman. ¡°Handsome, you haven¡¯t answered me yet. Do you think I would curse at someone?¡± Xu Chaomu put on a face of pure, natural innocence. Chapter 422: 422: The strap fell down Chapter 422: The strap fell down A man behind Shen Chi pointed at Xu Chaomu and said, ¡°Hurry up and drag her away.¡± shing with Mr. Shen, who could bear that? The girls nowadays really are audacious and shameless. With a cold gesture, Xiao Mo stopped everyone behind Shen Chi. Seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s gesture, the others didn¡¯t dare to speak and consciously stepped back. Xu Chaomu was deliberately making things difficult for Shen Chi, staring into his eyes. Shen Chi¡¯s sharp eyes were profound, like a fathomless dark pool with no end in sight! ¡°No.¡± Finally, he spoke indifferently. His pleasant voice was deep and rich, akin to a cello echoing in every corner of the waiting room. Only then did Xu Chaomu smile. Hmm, not bad performance. A woman called ¡°Nannan¡± burst out in anger and yelled at Shen Chi, ¡°Are you blind?¡± Xu Chaomu ignored her, lifting her head and smiling at Shen Chi, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Herrge eyes were filled with innocence and curiosity.
¡°Because you are beautiful.¡± Shen Chi maintained a poker face on the surface, stern, but inwardly cursed, Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re asking for a beating again. ¡°Damn it!¡± The woman swore, ¡°You¡¯re not blind, you just don¡¯t have eyes at all!¡± The middle-aged man behind her quickly came over to cover her mouth, ¡°Nannan, have you lost your mind? Do you know who he is?¡± ¡°Who?¡± The woman was clueless. Before anyone could speak, Xu Chaomu said to Shen Chi again, ¡°She just cursed at me, everyone heard it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, you provoked me first!¡± The woman started arguing with Xu Chaomu. ¡°If a dog doesn¡¯t bark at me, I wouldn¡¯t need to curse at a dog,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently, ¡°Handsome, do you think I¡¯m right?¡± ¡°Very reasonable,¡± Shen Chi mildlymented, still expressionless as if he were a bystander. But his sharp eyes fiercely red at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Reasonable my ass!¡± The woman shook off the middle-aged man¡¯s hand and stood right in front of Shen Chi. The middle-aged man covered his face, wishing he could just disappear. He didn¡¯t dare look at Shen Chi¡¯s face anymore. He was really done for. ¡°Handsome, she cursed at you,¡± Xu Chaomu egged on. Before Shen Chi could say anything, the woman turned her head toward Xu Chaomu and pushed her, ¡°You little hussy, stop stirring up trouble. All these eyes saw you flirting with the man; was I wrong to say you have no taste? I told you not toe to the interview; was that wrong?¡± ¡°Was I wrong to say you bark too much?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t back down. After finishing, Xu Chaomu stood next to Shen Chi and said, ¡°Handsome, between me and her, who¡¯s right?¡± ¡°You are,¡± Shen Chi said expressionlessly, his voice low and hoarse, exceptionally pleasant to the ear. The two of them had a kind of back-and-forth rapport. Xu Chaomu was delighted, her heart pleased.
So, she couldn¡¯t help but tease Shen Chi a few more times, ¡°Then who do you think should be thrown out?¡± ¡°Her,¡± Shen Chi slowly uttered a word, radiating murderous intent, and suddenly the surroundings fell into a very quiet state. ¡°I think she should roll out of here; what do you think?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes as she stared at Shen Chi. She held her head high, smiling exceptionally beautifully.
Every time she blinked her big eyes at Shen Chi, it was as if honey melted in his heart. He truly wished he could see her smile every second; her smile was the most beautiful scenery in the world. As long as she smiled, he felt everything else didn¡¯t matter. Seeing that Shen Chi didn¡¯t say anything, Xu Chaomu hesitated for a moment. Did she tease him too much? Just when she had a slight doubt, Shen Chi finally said, ¡°Fine.¡± At that moment, Xu Chaomu felt like a little bunny was hopping in her chest, thump thump. ¡°What a joke you guys are making,¡± the woman scorned, ¡°all in cahoots, hooking up so quickly. Did youe to perform aedy sketch?¡± ¡°Xiao Mo!¡± Shen Chi shouted angrily. Xiao Mo was engrossed in watching themotion and jumped with fright, quickly saying, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°The little beauty said to let her roll out, can¡¯t you hear?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Little beauty? Xu Chaomu was thrilled inside. Little beauty¡­ Blind indeed, Shen Chi really was blind! Xiao Mo¡¯s lips twitched, city folks sure know how to y.
¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Mo reluctantly agreed, dragging the woman out. Xiao Mo, who had been with Shen Chi for many years, managed to perform even this unrefined act of dragging a woman with elegance. ¡°Let go of me! Uncle Qin, you can¡¯t ignore this. I¡¯m going to call my dad, call him!¡± the woman shouted while walking. ¡°Wait!¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly called out to Xiao Mo. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯smand, Xiao Mo naturally didn¡¯t dare disobey and stopped in ce. Xu Chaomu walked up with ill intentions, scrutinizing the woman from left to right, up and down, sporting a mischievous smile on her face. ¡°Did you just say you understand fashion?¡± Xu Chaomu asked her. ¡°Spit, of course I understand better than you, you country bumpkin. Look at yourself, not a single valuable item on you. And you dare to challenge me; admit your mistake, and I¡¯ll ask my dad for leniency,¡± the woman believed Xu Chaomu was scared. ¡°Want me to teach you what fashion is?¡± Xu Chaomu smiled at her. Shen Chi didn¡¯t intervene, watching her make a scene. ¡°Get lost, look at yourself in a mirror,¡± the woman said, feeling uneasy as she saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s smile. ¡°Miss here will teach you what fashion is today, for free, no charge.¡± After speaking, Xu Chaomu took out a pair of scissors from a folder and with a swift motion akin to a tinum customer seizing a sh sale, ¡°snip!¡± she cut off the woman¡¯s right strap.
¡°Ah!¡± The woman hastily covered her chest. Xu Chaomu knew; she only had a bra underneath the strap! She had noticed it when she flicked her strap earlier, and it was nude pink. Everyone held back theirughter. Many people who came for the interview were fed up with this woman but didn¡¯t dare to speak out. Now, someone was teaching her a lesson. It was a real pleasure for them. The woman¡¯s face turned pale, one hand sping her chest, the other fumbling for her phone. ¡°I¡¯m going to call my dad, you all wait, just wait! And my boyfriend, I will call my boyfriend, you wait! I¡¯ll make sure none of you can walk away unscathed!¡± Her right strap had fallen, partially revealing the color of her bra. The woman was in a frantic state, her face going from red to pale. Xu Chaomu still held the scissors,ughing innocently, ¡°Do you understand what fashion is now?¡± The woman red at Xu Chaomu and stumbled toward the exit of the waiting room. She wanted to find a restroom to hide in; she had lost all face. Her so-called Uncle Qin also wished the ground would swallow him up. The scene was in chaos, everyone talking.
Xu Chaomu approached Shen Chi, stood on tiptoes, lowered her voice, and threatened, ¡°Don¡¯t look at the naked woman, or I¡¯ll cut you too!¡± Chapter 423: 423: I Don’t Like Hitting Women Chapter 423: I Don¡¯t Like Hitting Women Shen Chi¡¯s face was lined with frustration as he lowered his head and lowered his voice, ¡°Xu Chaomu, am I spoiling you too much?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t like it? If you can¡¯t stand it, don¡¯t look,¡± Xu Chaomu murmured. Just at this moment, several high-ranking executives dressed in ck suits walked past behind Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu quickly put some distance between herself and Shen Chi, her demeanor changing instantly as she smiled brightly, ¡°Handsome, thank you, thank you for saying I¡¯m pretty, for saying I¡¯m kind and just.¡± In this manner, Xu Chaomu seemed utterly harmless, deceiving neither old nor young. The corner of Shen Chi¡¯s eye twitched. Damn, Xu Chaomu was really pushing her luck; he would have to discipline her properly in the future. The executives exchanged nces, unsure whether to approach or not. But Shen Chi paid no more attention to Xu Chaomu and turned coldly, casting a nce over the people behind him. ¡°Was that woman just now the daughter of the Director of the Business Bureau?¡± Shen Chi asked, giving a particrly piercing look to that middle-aged man surnamed Qin. The middle-aged man was sweating profusely, ¡°The deputy¡¯s.¡± ¡°Well, he can return to his hometown and enjoy his retirement tomorrow,¡± Shen Chi said coldly.
¡°Shen¡­¡± the middle-aged man wanted to plead, his face full of helplessness. ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡± Shen Chi shot him a cold re. ¡°No¡­no problems¡­¡± The middle-aged man wiped the sweat from his forehead, aware that Shen Chi was a man of his word. If he dared to utter another word, he was likely to be the one to retire early the next day. ¡°As for that woman¡­¡± Shen Chi paused for a few seconds. ¡°President Shen, she¡¯s just young and foolish, please let her off this time,¡± the middle-aged man pleaded. ¡°I don¡¯t like hitting women,¡± Shen Chi stated indifferently. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± the middle-aged man said, his face showing a trace of relief. However, in the next second, Shen Chi turned to Xiao Mo and said, ¡°So, Xiao Mo, I¡¯ll leave it in your hands. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched. President Shen might not hit women, but Xiao Mo didn¡¯t hit women either! ¡°Back to the conference room.¡± Shen Chi strode towards the waiting room¡¯s exit. He knew she had an interview today and it was just as well he came to check; otherwise, she would have already been thrown out by security. As he walked, Shen Chi casually said to Xiao Mo, ¡°That guy who was talking to Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t hire him.¡± After speaking, without waiting for Xiao Mo to respond, Shen Chi walked away stylishly. Xiao Mo stood there stunned, massaging his forehead and sighing. What happened to fairness and justice? What about hiring purely on merit?! Inside the waiting room, Xu Chaomu was smiling splendidly, her mood significantly improved. She casually arranged her documents, casually nced over a few interview questions, and casually chatted with the male candidate next to her. Later, the male candidate went in for his interview but came out very quickly, looking somewhat dejected. Xu Chaomu found it odd, as during their brief chat, she had found the young man to be quite eloquent, logical, and well-educated.
She only found out upon asking that he hadn¡¯t passed the preliminary round. Still optimistic, the young man patted her shoulder, ¡°All the best to you. Looks like we won¡¯t be colleagues after all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad, you¡¯re so capable, there¡¯s no need to worry,¡± Xu Chaomuforted him. After a bit more conversation, it wasn¡¯t long before the interview usher called her name.
She entered the interview room to find seven examiners, six men and one woman, all with stern expressions and very serious. Each had aptop at their fingertips, and the room was also staffed with secretaries and statisticians. Xu Chaomu presented her resume, design work, and awards certificates, and answered all the questions posed by the interviewers. The questions weren¡¯t too difficult but were quite sophisticated, such as discussing her understanding of aesthetic psychology in decoration and the trend of modern decoration. After twenty minutes, the main examiner told her, ¡°Go back and wait for the notification of the re-examination.¡± Xu Chaomu bowed in thanks and left the interview room. She felt that her performance was not bad and that she hadn¡¯t embarrassed Shen Chi. In fact, when she graduated from college, she had been first in her ss. Shen Chi had never asked, and she had never mentioned it to him. As Xu Chaomu left Human Resources on the tenth floor, her mood lightened considerably. She hadn¡¯t expected that Shen¡¯s corporation was even more impressive than she¡¯d imagined, and its employees were more rigorous and serious than she had anticipated. She thought the interview would just be a formality, but the interviewers were all very earnest. Xu Chaomu had high regard for Shen Chi¡¯s work ethic and was certain of his capabilities. She thought he was just a showman, always carrying an air of authority and using his poker face to intimidate others, but in reality, he trulymanded respect. No wonder Xiao Mo had been loyal to him for so many years, not minding his bad temper and always working diligently and withoutint.
However, when she got the chance, she wanted to see for herself what Shen Chi was like at work. And she wanted to witness how he banged the table and lost his temper with his subordinates! Even though she would never admit aloud that she found him attractive, deep down, she was genuinely impressed; the man was undeniably handsome, without a single bad angle. She stood by the elevator waiting for it to arrive, turning to look out the window. The sunlight outside was just perfect, the traffic flowed like water, and cars moved like charging horses. She quietly watched the light reflect on the ss, filling her heart with a sweet vor. It was like ice cream under the sun, melting and dripping onto her heart. Xu Chaomu rode the elevator from the tenth floor to the first. With a ¡°ding,¡± the elevator doors opened. She squeezed through the crowd, took a deep breath, and prepared to walk out with her folder of documents in hand. The crowd was so dense that as she walked with her head down and taking care, suddenly a familiar voice reached her ears. Even amidst the noise of the crowded lobby, despite the uproar, despite the cacophony of male and female voices, she clearly heard that familiar voice! ¡°This is thetest draft of the ne design, and I need to discuss it again today with the person in charge from Shen¡¯s, we must finalize it by this week at thetest.¡± The voice embodied steadiness, an air of authority, and the maturity of a man. As the voice drifted by, several men in white shirts brushed past her.
Lou Yanli! It was Lou Yanli! Yes, she had not misheard! She turned and her gaze swiftly swept through the crowd. But with so many people on the first floor, as the elevator doors opened, everyone crowded towards them. Stretching onto her tiptoes, Xu Chaomu tried to spot him! She pushed through thepact mass of people, but it was just too crowded, especially near the elevators. Unable to make it forward and fearing for her child¡¯s safety, she decided not to push any further. Disappointed, her eyelids drooped as she clutched her folder of documents, sighing and preparing to leave. After returning to C City for so many days, she really hadn¡¯t seen Lou Yanli. She had left without a word five years ago and wondered how he had been after that¡­ Just when she was about to turn away in disappointment, that familiar voice once again rang in her ears. This time, the voice carried a teasingugh. ¡°It¡¯s not easy getting into a Shen¡¯s elevator,¡± the voice joked. ¡°Right, Mr. Lou, it¡¯s always like going to battle every time wee here. Look, we didn¡¯t make it onto the elevator again,¡± another voice chimed in.
¡°One of these days we¡¯ll have to borrow their president¡¯s private elevator,¡± Mr. Lou suggested. The menughed, showing patience as they waited by the elevator. Chapter 424: 424: Time is Warm, Years Are Yet Old Chapter 424: Time is Warm, Years Are Yet Old A few young men in white shirts stood out in the crowd, as gazes frequently fixed upon them. Among them was Xu Chaomu. She turned her head and finally located that familiar figure within the crowd. Lou Yanli, yes, it was Lou Yanli! Having not seen him for five years, he had changed a lot! Back in high school, he was already tall, and now he seemed to have grown a lot taller. He wore a clean white shirt, his face bearing a clear, cheerful smile. Xu Chaomu slowly raised her head to meet his face. With handsome brows and eyes, a gentle smile, he was lively and spirited. His warm voice carried through the noisy crowd, with every word reaching Xu Chaomu¡¯s ears. Looking at him through the crowd, Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips also curved into a sweet smile. Time moved gently; the years were still young.
Many people came and went around them. Figures of men and women passed before her, but her gaze remained on Lou Yanli and never left. She suddenly felt the urge to keep watching him, just as she had five years ago when she sat on the swing in spring, and he gently swayed it for her. Then, with a gentle spring breeze and the warm, sunlight, she only needed to lift her head slightly while leaning on the swing frame to see his clear eyes and gentle smile. The spring was florid as brocade, the sky at eighteen was azure and peaceful. Who would have thought that five yearster, he¡¯d still be so standout, especially distinctive among the crowd. ¡°If we can finalize it today, we¡¯ll have their president sign the contract.¡± Lou Yanli flipped through the folder in his hands, furrowing his brows as he pondered thoroughly. The elevator was still ascending, and Xu Chaomu decided to lean against the wall with a smile, holding her document bag and tilting her head to look at Lou Yanli. God-like was god-like indeed, pleasing to the eye. She was not far from him, but because there were too many people, Lou Yanli did not see Xu Chaomu. When the elevator reached the top floor, it finally stopped and then, slowly descended. Through the crowd, Xu Chaomu finally called out softly and gently, ¡°Lou Yanli!¡± Lou Yanli was discussing ns with a colleague, absorbed and did not hear Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice. Xu Chaomu then walked over, through the bustling crowd, and stood right in front of him. ¡°Lou Yanli.¡± She smiled and softly called his name again. Lou Yanli paused, then suddenly looked up. That voice was too familiar, echoing in his ears many times before. It had been five years since anyone had called him that way. Lou Yanli froze in ce, his gaze fixed on Xu Chaomu. Yes, it was Xu Chaomu, it was her.
Now, there was only a two-step distance between him and her. He watched her quietly, her voice lingering in his ears. Lou Yanli, Lou Yanli¡­ It had been a full five seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Xu Chaomu tilted her head and took another step forward, ¡°God-like man, long time no see.¡±
Lou Yanli, holding the folder, came back to his senses, his face showing great surprise, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. ¡®How much hatred does the west wind have, for it cannot scatter the brows arched,¡¯¡± Xu Chaomu softly recited. In those days, as the drizzle fell, she and he stood side by side outside the ssroom. She held hernguage textbook, pestering him to recite the poem. Lou Yanli had a pleasant voice, clear and well-pronounced, as he recited softly for her: ¡°Where do the flying fluff and petals belong, the harsh winterscape, a sparse tree shivers pre-dawn cold. Fond of the bright moon, yet careworn at heart it¡¯s told. After the intricate threads have fluttered down, they nudge memories of spring mountains profound. To continue dreams ripped apart, surely must be hard. How much hatred does the west wind have, for it cannot scatter the brows arched.¡± Back then, the rain was heavy, a blur of white vapor rose, the air enshrouded in mist, the eyes brimming with indescribable sorrow and separation. Most remembered are the days of youth. At this moment, upon hearing her recite those lines, Lou Yanli smiled, his smile as gentle as the spring breeze, stretching across his lips. Five years had passed; she still remembered. In fact, he remembered too. As their eyes met, memories surged like the tide¡­ Xu Chaomu took another small step forward, nearly standing right before him, ¡°Yanli, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±
Lou Yanli too finally snapped out of it, yes, he¡¯d never imagined he would meet her here. Five years ago, he had thought whether he would never see her again in this lifetime, whether there would no longer be a girl with a radiant smile saying to him, ¡°Lou, the genius, I can¡¯t solve these problems.¡± ¡°Lou, the genius, the scenery is so beautiful, describe it for me.¡± He said, ¡°To be safe in this world, to have peaceful years.¡± Just like now, she stood before him, truly to be safe in this world, to have peaceful years. As long as it wasn¡¯t the worst possible oue, he felt that heaven was still kind. In this lifetime, to meet again. ¡°Chaomu, you finally came back,¡± Lou Yanli¡¯s lips curved upward. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t leave again?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Lou Yanliughed, she still had the same old look, her smile radiant, her brows and eyes clear and elegant. The green and sweet first love was like a sour candy, astringent when first tasted, and sweet as honey upon the second taste.
Right then, the elevator came down, and anotherrge wave of people surged out. ¡°The elevator¡¯s here,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a lifting gaze and a smile. ¡°May I buy you a coffee?¡± Lou Yanli asked. ¡°No need. You go on the elevator; we¡¯ll do it another day.¡± Xu Chaomu waved at him, just as Lou Yanli¡¯s colleague also suggested, ¡°Lou, take the elevator now or you¡¯ll bete.¡± Xu Chaomu imitated their tone, ¡°Lou, go ahead, work is important, I won¡¯t run away.¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu also gave him a series of phone numbers. Only then did Lou Yanli wave his hand, ¡°Wait for my call!¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she smiled sweetly, waving in return. s, time was too short, she had yet to ask what he was doing now, whichpany he was with, and how he came to Shen¡¯s. She also didn¡¯t know whether he had fared well over these five years, but such a kind and optimistic man surely wouldn¡¯t do badly. Perhaps he already had a girlfriend? If so, nothing could be better.
Xu Chaomu kept waving until the elevator doors closed, then turned around with augh and left. Feeling increasingly cheerful and bright, Xu Chaomu was very happy today. She walked happily through the lobby on the first floor of Shen Group, yfully teasing the receptionist in passing. ¡°Miss, your makeup looks really good.¡± ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve applied your light makeup quite well too,¡± the receptionist answered politely. ¡°Your skin is so fair. Which skincare product have you been usingtely?¡± ¡°Just randomly using whatever,¡± the receptionist answered with a smile. Pregnant with Shen Chi¡¯s child, Xu Chaomu was not allowed to wear makeup, and she could only use the most basic, pure natural skincare products, which made her feel somewhat frustrated. After teasing the receptionist, she then went to jest with a handsome guy nearby. Being in a good mood, she just couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°Handsome, you¡¯re so tall. I guess you¡¯re 185 cm?¡± The handsome manughed, ¡°Close, 186.¡± ¡°Your work badge looks very impressive. By the way, does Shen Group have any unspoken rules?¡± Xu Chaomu inquired, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him. Chapter 425: 425: Take Off Your Own Clothes Chapter 425: Take Off Your Own Clothes ¡°Miss, Shen¡¯s has always been fair and just with strict discipline,¡± the handsome young man said politely and with a refined air. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard your president has a lot of scandals,¡± Xu Chaomu propped her chin and looked at him with big eyes full of confusion and skepticism. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. I¡¯m not interested in our president,¡± the young man said with a smile. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a sideways nce, ¡°Lack of ambition.¡± ¡°By the way, has anyone climbed up the ranks through the ¡®hidden rules¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu asked again. ¡°Miss, are you thinking about joining Shen¡¯s?¡± the young man asked. ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s right, I not only want to join Shen¡¯s, but I also want to see if there¡¯s a shortcut. I¡¯m pretty ambitious, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Miss, at Shen¡¯s, everything is based on ability. It¡¯s quite difficult if you¡¯re looking for a shortcut,¡± the handsome guy said with a smile. Difficult? Is Shen Chi very strict with his subordinates? Actually, it seemed so. She had wandered around the first floor for quite a while and noticed that everyone was energetic and took their work seriously. No one was chatting idly, and certainly, no one was sneaking around engaging in romance. In this respect, Yu Weiwei still had a lot to learn. During her visit to the research institute, she saw several girls at the reception gossiping.
Now Xu Chaomu was curious, how exactly did Jian Sisind the position of Shen Chi¡¯s secretary? After thinking it over, there was only one reason: a big chest. ¡°Handsome guy, I heard your president is young and sessful, and also single. Don¡¯t many girls in your group pursue him?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± the young man smiled awkwardly, hesitant to speak. But it was a girl next to him who spoke up, chuckling, ¡°Our president doesn¡¯t fancy just any girl.¡± ¡°So, what type does he fancy? Someone like Jian Sisi?¡± ¡°Miss, I need to get back to work. Do you have any other questions or need further assistance?¡± the girl said with a smile, preferring not to borate further. Xu Chaomu pouted and shrugged, ¡°No, you go ahead.¡± She was in a good mood today, after flirting with the girls and teasing the handsome guy, her spirits were even higher. The thought of working at Shen Group in the future did excite her. Shen Group was the most powerful group in C City, and a leader in the industry. When she woulde to work there, she definitely nned to make a good impression. She continued her visit in the lobby, and at that moment, she suddenly received a phone call. A call from Paris. ¡°Chaomu, are you there?¡± ¡°Fenfen, is that you? Aren¡¯t you in ss today?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have sses today. By the way, weren¡¯t you looking for the surveince footage from the Grand Paris Hotel?¡± ¡°Any progress?¡± ¡°I asked a senior student to help, although it¡¯s a bit difficult because the surveince footage is from a while back and may not be avable anymore.¡± ¡°The best would be to find the footage, but if not, I also need the guest list of check-ins for that day.¡±
¡°Chaomu, those are private information,¡± she lowered her voice on the other end. ¡°Fenfen¡­ don¡¯t you want the signature of the movie star? I can pull some strings. Oh, and about the tickets for the Parisian high society gathering, I seem to have one. Oh, I remember now, the boy you like enjoys chess, right? I happen to know a chess master, and he has a chess book¡­¡± Xu Chaomu went on nonchntly. ¡°No need to say more! I¡¯ll get the video material for you within a week!¡± ¡°Fenfen, I knew you were the most capable.¡±
¡°Wait, Chaomu, you can really get the signatures and all that? Do you have the means?¡± ¡°Within a week, I¡¯ll send it to you,¡± Xu Chaomu said confidently. ¡°Deal, it¡¯s a trade then.¡± ¡°Damn, Fenfen, are we good sisters or not?! I was nning to give these to you as a gift out of our deep friendship.¡± ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± a sweet, sugary voice came through, ¡°With a material foundation, our friendship grows even stronger¡­ oh¡­ oh¡­ oh¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± On the other end, sheughed so hard her stomach hurt. They talked on the phone for quite a while, until Xu Chaomu got hungry and remembered it was time for lunch. Signature, admission ticket, chess book ¨C where was she going to find all that? She would need to charm Shen Chi again? But considering the video, sacrificing a bit of charm¡­ was not entirely out of the question. If she could obtain the video, if she could confirm the child was Shen Chi¡¯s, she would have something to hold over him in the future. That evening, she personally made a bowl of tomato and egg soup. She couldn¡¯t be med; it was the only thing she knew how to make.
During her five years in Paris, she either ate in the school cafeteria or had meals made by Nie Chenng, rarely cooking for herself. Shen Chi didn¡¯t workte that day and came home on time. As soon as he entered, Xu Chaomu, who had been watching TV on the couch, sprang up, beaming with joy. ¡°President Shen, let me change your shoes.¡± Xu Chaomu obediently brought a pair of slippers to him and squatted at his feet. Shen Chi looked down at Xu Chaomu, who was squatting on the ground, with an expression that seemed to say he had had enough, but he was curious. At that moment, Xu Chaomu was like a domesticated pet cat that had run over from the couch and squatted at his feet, gentle and well-behaved. Xu Chaomu also looked up at him and smiled, ¡°President Shen, please lift your foot.¡± Of course, Shen Chi wasn¡¯t going to lift his foot. He slowly squatted down to her level, and his long fingers lifted her chin. ¡°Haven¡¯t been taking your medicine?¡± he asked with a smirk. Based on Xu Chaomu¡¯s usual temperament, she would have pped his hand away and snapped, ¡°You¡¯re the one who hasn¡¯t been taking your medicine. Your entire family hasn¡¯t!¡± But today she needed a favor, so she had to bow her head under someone else¡¯s roof. ¡°Thank you for helping me out today,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile.
¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Shen Chi said in a deep voice, ¡°Spill it, what do you fancy?¡± ¡°I fancy handsome guys. Can you get me one?¡± Xu Chaomu cooed, hooking one hand around his neck. After acting coquettishly, she shuddered at her own behavior. Shen Chi twitched a corner of his mouth and said coldly, ¡°Stop that. You have three seconds to talk or you¡¯ll miss your chance! One¡­¡± ¡°President Shen¡­ don¡¯t be so fierce¡­ I just fancy you and think you work so hard every day; I want to take care of you¡­ ¡± ¡°Take care? Fine, strip then.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xu Chaomu was taken aback. This was not going ording to the script. ¡°How else do you take care if you don¡¯t strip? Hurry up and strip.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s sharp eyes, like ck onyx, were fixated on her, giving her no chance to dodge. ¡°I meant taking off your shoes¡­¡± ¡°Strip off your clothes and lie on the bed!¡± hemanded. ¡°Damn, Shen Chi, your mind is in the gutter! You¡¯ve been watching too many quick broadcasts,¡± Xu Chaomu pped his hand away, and stood up briskly, angry, ¡°Go find someone else to take care of you!¡± Now that seemed more like it.
Shen Chi also elegantly stood up, a hint of amusement on his face. ¡°Out with it, what caught your eye? Your husband will buy it for you.¡± ¡°I fancy good-looking guys, will you buy one for me?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s handsomer than your husband, I¡¯ll buy one,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. This man always had a way of discussing improper matters with a serious tone. Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°I want the signed photo of the movie star!¡± ¡°That¡­ ah¡­¡± Shen Chi sat back down on the couch, pondering for a moment. Chapter 426: 426: I’m Not Pure Chapter 426: I¡¯m Not Pure ¡°Difficult?¡± Xu Chaomu walked over to the sofa. Could it be? Shen Group has had movie stars as spokespeople before, right? There shouldn¡¯t be a problem, should there? ¡°Come here,¡± Shen Chi beckoned with his hand. Xu Chaomu scampered over, drawing close to his face. ¡°Want it?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and husky. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Kiss me here, and I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± Shen Chi pointed to his right cheek, but his handsome face remained serious. ¡°Shameless!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed. The tiny me in her heart red up, dealing with this beast, there¡¯s no good ending! ¡°Shameless? Fine, kiss here then,¡± Shen Chi pointed to his lips. ¡°Get lost! Shen Chi, you are the most despicable man I¡¯ve ever seen!¡±
¡°Alright, then let¡¯s eat,¡± he said. After speaking, Shen Chi seemed to lose interest, leaving the back of the sofa, preparing to stand up. Xu Chaomu pushed him down, pinned him to the sofa, steeled her heart, closed her eyes, and with a do-or-die attitude, nted a kiss on his cheek. Just as she prepared to retreat fully, Shen Chi suddenly grabbed her shoulders, turned over, and pinned her down on the sofa. The next second, his cold lips pressed against hers. This kiss, from the start, wasn¡¯t gentle at all, crushing her lips, she could feel Shen Chi¡¯s roughness. Shen Chi closed his eyes, unheedingly, grinding and kissing her moist, red lips repeatedly. Kissing her deeper and deeper, he ravished her lips, savoring her fragrance. Xu Chaomu was stunned, her shoulders aching from his grip. She had just kissed him, was her posture incorrect? Why such an extreme reaction from him. This not-so-gentle kiss nearly made it hard for Xu Chaomu to breathe. She punched and kicked, but Shen Chi was holding her down, immobile. Xu Chaomu had no choice but to let him kiss her. She should avoid provoking this beast in the future. His kiss was very rough, domineering, and overbearing, and carried a hint of dissatisfaction. After what felt like an eternity, the man finally seemed satisfied, releasing her slightly swollen lips, and hovered above her, looking down at her. ¡°You¡­ will keep your word?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. ¡°What?¡± he asked indifferently. ¡°The autographed photo,¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. Had he forgotten so quickly? ¡°Back overseas, if you wanted something, would you do the same?¡± he coldly raised his finger, stroking her swollen red lips.
His eyes were filled with cold sharpness, and his tone was very displeased. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s smiling face also faded. What does his question imply? What does he take her for? ¡°Can¡¯t understand?¡± Shen Chi said coldly.
Xu Chaomu felt as if electricity surged through her body, even her lips quivering. ¡°Shen Chi, I get it. You mean to say that to get what I want, I¡¯m willing to sell my looks and body, right? Yes, that¡¯s right, overseas, if I really wanted something, I¡¯d find an old man, they have money, power, and connections, whatever you want, they have.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you despise me?¡± Xu Chaomu saw his disdain as he furrowed his brow, ¡°Have you forgotten that I¡¯m carrying another man¡¯s child?¡± Xu Chaomu was angry too. How could he act like this? He himself flirted with other women, she hadn¡¯t said a word. She had done nothing, and yet he despised her. Shen Chi pursed his lips tightly, not speaking, his eyes fixed on her. ¡°You have plenty of women pining after you, notcking pure and innocent ones. I¡¯m not pure, why don¡¯t you just find someone pure? It doesn¡¯t matter if you look down on me or not; after all, I¡¯ve slept with a man, even have a child, think what you will!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s shoulders shook slightly, obviously enraged by Xu Chaomu. His eyes reddening, as if wishing he could tear Xu Chaomu apart and devour her. ¡°It was you who brought me back to the Shen¡¯s. Regret it? Embarrassed by me? No problem, we can part ways amicably, I can leave right now. Anyway, you already know my situation, I never lied to you. If I hadn¡¯t slept with a man, I wouldn¡¯t have this child. If you feel embarrassed, there¡¯s no need to speak, I can leave on my own.¡± Shen Chi fiercely grasped her shoulders, the strength making Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulders hurt. HIs bloodshot eyes stared at her as a leopard would, looking down on its prey.
He knew, she had slept with another man; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be carrying this child. ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you think I could not live without you?¡± he said coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t have that much charm. Honestly, Shen Chi, with your awful temper, staying with you is like living on the edge, and I don¡¯t want to be around you for a second!¡± Xu Chaomu was furious. Why had she provoked this unpredictable man again? ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you think I wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to you?¡± Shen Chi continued. He gripped her chin, his icy gaze drilling into her. ¡°Shen Chi, I know, being with me is humiliating for you. You have always been adored and showered with praise from everyone since childhood. You want for nothing. I, Xu Chaomu, am just a wild child, and now, I¡¯m even carrying someone else¡¯s child. You, Shen Chi, must feel humiliated. If that¡¯s the case, if you despise and look down on me, then divorce me. I never forced you.¡± ¡°Even if we could be together fine for three or five years, you would still feel uneasy. Maybe I¡¯ve been away for five years and now that I¡¯m back, you think you won¡¯t let go, but what about in five years, seven years, ten years?¡± ¡°You can say that you¡¯ll treat my child as your own now, but what aboutter? You, a man who is sessful in every aspect, who has numerous women, wouldn¡¯t you want your own flesh and blood? A man¡¯s heart is the most vulnerable to the ravages of time.¡± ¡°If you feel humiliated, if you despise and look down on me, then let¡¯s divorce sooner rather than waiting for a few years to kick me out!¡± Xu Chaomu thought, she was just an ordinary girl, who also feared instability. Often, due to the vast disparity between them, she hardly felt secure at all. ¡°What is this attitude?¡± Shen Chi asked with a cold voice.
¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see my attitude? Fine, let me make it clearer. I, Xu Chaomu, am not worthy of you, Shen Chi. No need to pick on me further. I lived very freely and promiscuously overseas, are you satisfied now?¡± Xu Chaomu was truly angry. In his mind, she was just a casual person. If that¡¯s what he thought, why keep her around? Simply because he wants what he can¡¯t have? Without waiting for Shen Chi to speak, Xu Chaomu pushed him forcefully, her face alternating between red and pale. She was deeply unhappy, ufortable, and choked up inside. If it had been a small quarrel before, she might have listened to him coax her, but this time, she was genuinely distressed. It was just about asking for an autograph, and he had to bring up all these usations. If this wasn¡¯t making trouble out of nothing, then what was? Chapter 427: She was driven away by his anger Chapter 427: She was driven away by his anger Moreover, it was he himself who allowed her to kiss him! How would she behave when she wanted something abroad? Ha! Did she at least have some bottom line, okay? Even though Nie Chenng had helped her so much, she and Nie Chenng had never had anything between them. What right did Shen Chi have to question her? Abroad, whenever she wanted to buy anything, she would earn it on her own. Sometimes she helped out in the library, sometimes she worked on projects with her advisor, and sometimes Nie Chenng would even take some design drafts for her. Only he, Shen Chi, thought she was disdainful. Perhaps he had always felt ufortable about it in his heart. She pushed him, pushed him with all her might, but he didn¡¯t budge. He pinned down her shoulders, still without a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. Today on my turf, you just couldn¡¯t take your eyes off your first love, lingering and reluctant! You really epitomize the idea of lovers¡¯ affections.¡± So he was talking about Lou Yanli? Damn it, that¡¯s such a stretch. However, he did get the news fast. But there was nothing to exin. Xu Chaomu lowered her head and bit his arm, biting deep, ¡°Yeah, lovers¡¯ affections, so affectionate. Lou Yanli is younger than you, more handsome than you, and has a better temper than you. I¡¯ll tell you, if you don¡¯t divorce me, I will cuckold you day after day.¡± Shen Chi grimaced from the bite. There were two deep bite marks. ¡°You can¡¯t live without a man?!¡± Shen Chi was furious. ¡°Yep, got a problem with that? It¡¯s not toote to start disliking me now; not many people know we got married.¡± Beingpletely unreasonable, it was entirely him being unreasonable today! Is this the mature, wise, calm, and decisive CEO Shen? Heh, a joke, aplete joke. ¡°You¡¯re really eager for a divorce, aren¡¯t you?¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Yes, eagerly so, now get lost.¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head and bit his arm again! This time, she did not hold back at all. She bit until she tasted blood in her mouth before letting go and shoving him onto the couch. She quickly ran upstairs from the living room, her shoes ttering on the staircase with a ¡°thud thud¡± sound! Today, she kindly wanted to talk to him and incidentally ask for an autograph, an entry ticket, and also a chess manual. This way, many things could have been settled. She was also in a particrly good mood today, wanting to speak calmly with him. But this man, so unreasonable, was utterly detestable! She knew that one day he would resent her, no matter how reluctant he seemed now. Men are all good for nothing. He¡¯s a normal man, so he¡¯s no different. Love is a perishable good of youth, a thing that expires after a few years of y. Xu Chaomu pushed open the bedroom door, then ¡°bang¡± and shut it! Once back in the bedroom, she copsed onto the bed and buried her head in the pillow. Her heart felt tight, as if entwined with waterweeds, wrapping around in dense coils. After Xu Chaomu shoved him away, Shen Chi remained seated, maintaining the same posture as before. His arm still had two bite marks, one very deep, and the other had already started to bleed. Xu Chaomu really didn¡¯t hold back with her bites. He would have to dull those fangs of this wildcat one day! The vast living room fell into a deep quiet without their arguing, so quiet you couldn¡¯t hear a sound. It was already seven o¡¯clock in the evening, and the clock ticked away, second by second. Shen Chi clenched his fist to his forehead, his brows tightly knitted. The scene that just unfolded was all his own doing. She had been happily talking to him this evening, even bringing him slippers, although¡­ she had her requests. But for some reason, his temper suddenly red up, really¡­ beyond his control. He rubbed his forehead, feeling very annoyed. He didn¡¯t mean to disdain her. How could he disdain her? He didn¡¯t care about her past; he only wanted her to be with him properly in the future. She said, ¡°With us like this, even if we can be together nicely for three or five years, you still won¡¯t be content. Maybe I left for five years and now that I¡¯m back, you feel you can¡¯t let go, but what about in five years, seven years, ten years?¡± ¡°You can say now that you see my child as your own, but what aboutter? You, a man who¡¯s sessful in everything and surrounded by women, wouldn¡¯t you want your own flesh and blood? A man¡¯s heart is the least resistant to the test of time.¡± It wasn¡¯t as she imagined. Five years, seven years, a lifetime, he would only love her and her alone. And her child, he would treat as his own as well. It¡¯s just that he¡¯d been a bit impulsive earlier, inexplicably so. He sat alone on the couch, his handsome face filled with loneliness. How nice it would have been if she had been sitting there with him, even if it meant fussing and fighting. How could it be lonely then? But she had stormed off because of him¡­ Stormed off. Not knowing how long it had been, Butler Ling, seeing that Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu had yet to give any orders, cautiously came in. Upon entering, she only saw Shen Chi sitting alone on the sofa, his expression not looking so great. ¡°Young Master Shen, what would you like to eat tonight?¡± Butler Ling asked tentatively. ¡°I¡¯m not eating.¡± Shen Chi replied indifferently. ¡°Ah? How could that be? You¡¯ve been working all day, you should eat at least a little. If you don¡¯t feel like eating much, I could make something light.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Shen Chi stood up, preparing to leave. ¡°Young Master Shen¡­¡± Butler Ling called out helplessly. But she knew Shen Chi¡¯s temper all too well. He was always decisive, and she dared not go against his wishes. But where was Chaomu? Where had Xu Chaomu gone? She looked around, scanning the area but didn¡¯t see Xu Chaomu. She could only turn to Shen Chi, who was preparing to go upstairs, ¡°Young Master Shen¡­ Have you seen Miss Xu?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the bedroom.¡± ¡°Is she feeling unwell? I¡¯ll bring her something to eat.¡± ¡°Yeah, just make her something.¡± Shen Chi said ndly. Without looking back, he continued walking upstairs, pausing only for a moment before Xu Chaomu¡¯s bedroom. But it was just a moment before he walked a few more steps and pushed open his own bedroom door. Butler Ling guessed, had they quarreled again? She wondered what the reason was this time. Butler Ling shook her head; the thoughts of the younger generation were tooplicated toprehend, especially that of the Shen Family couple. Thus, Butler Ling went to the kitchen and prepared a bowl of lotus seed, red date, and longan soup. It wasn¡¯t too rich and was nutritious for a pregnant woman. ¡°Knock, knock, knock,¡± she knocked on Xu Chaomu¡¯s room door. ¡°No one is allowed toe in.¡± Xu Chaomu protested. ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s me, I¡¯ve brought you something to eat.¡± ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m not eating.¡± ¡°How can you skip dinner? Even if you don¡¯t feel like eating, there¡¯s still the baby in your belly to think about.¡± ¡°Missing one meal won¡¯t kill me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Butler Ling found herself at a loss for words. Thinking it over, Butler Ling decided to coax her, ¡°Chaomu, the baby is at a critical stage of growth. If you don¡¯t keep up with nutrition, the baby¡¯s development will be dyed. If born, the child might be small, with a sallowplexion and frail body.¡± Chapter 428: Going for an Abortion Chapter 428: Going for an Abortion This sudden scare indeed silenced the person inside. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands moved involuntarily to her belly, but after calming down, she still said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s okay to skip a meal.¡± The butler held his forehead, ¡°Chaomu, it¡¯s not okay, not even for one meal. Pregnant women should eat more, not less. Otherwise, if the child¡¯s development is dyed and their intelligence does not keep up, and moreover, the first three months are the most crucial time, you need to boost your nutrition.¡± ¡°Butler, stop talking, I won¡¯t eat. I¡¯m going to sleep, good night.¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu actually turned off the light in the bedroom. The light was off, but how could she possibly sleep at this point? She just quietly listened to the sound of the air conditioning, the chirping of birds and insects outside the window, and the rustling noise of the summer breeze blowing through the leaves. Grasping the air conditioning nket, shey on the bed with her eyes closed, feeling very upset inside. Shen Chi, you bastard of an uncle! Outside the door, Butler Ling held a bowl of longan soup, hesitating to leave. Knowing Xu Chaomu was awake, she gently knocked on the door again. ¡°Chaomu, have some, it¡¯s still warm. Besides, going to sleep at this hour is too early, it¡¯s not good for the baby. Have something to eat, and when you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll keep youpany knitting a sweater. You¡¯ve only knitted a little for the baby¡¯s sweater, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to finish it before the baby¡¯s born?¡± Xu Chaomu hugged the nket, remaining silent. Butler Ling continued to persuade, ¡°Chaomu, you want to give birth to a healthy and lively baby, don¡¯t you? If you want the baby to be healthy, you absolutely can¡¯t skip meals three times a day. I¡¯ve been through this; I wouldn¡¯t lie to you, you have to listen.¡± Butler Ling coaxed Xu Chaomu patiently, just like a mother. Suddenly, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. If her mother were still here, how nice that would be. Her mother was also very gentle; if she were still here, she definitely wouldn¡¯t let her suffer any grievances. If her mother were still here, when bullied by Shen Chi, she could still go back to her parental home. But all of these were just ifs¡­ She was aggrieved, with nowhere to go, wasn¡¯t Shen Chi just taking advantage of her perceived meekness? Her eyes teared up, and soon, two streams of tears flowed down. Other girls, when bullied by their inws, would still have their own families to protect them. But she could only swallow her grievances, and even the baby had to suffer with her. Butler Ling was good to her, but after all, she was the Shen Family¡¯s butler; her heart must be more with Shen Chi. ¡°Chaomu¡­¡± Butler Ling said anxiously from outside the door. It¡¯s okay if Shen Chi doesn¡¯t eat, but Xu Chaomu can¡¯t do the same. Just then, the door of the neighboring bedroom opened, and Shen Chi walked out with a cold face. This man was tall, and his presence alone created an invisible pressure and aura. He took the bowl from Butler Ling¡¯s hands and said indifferently, ¡°Give me the key and go downstairs.¡± Butler Ling couldn¡¯t refute and simply nodded, handing the key to Shen Chi, ¡°Young Master, you must persuade Chaomu to eat. Don¡¯t get angry, don¡¯t get angry. Chaomu is a pregnant woman now, she might be a bit temperamental, which is very normal. You mustn¡¯t get angry with her.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi stood at the door as Butler Ling slowly descended the stairs. But she was still worried. Xu Chaomu had been quite happy earlier that night, even personally cooking tomato and egg soup; how had the two of them be at loggerheads so suddenly? Normally speaking, the young master was a very mature and calm person. How could he have started quarreling with Xu Chaomu? She couldn¡¯t understand, just couldn¡¯t figure it out. No sooner had Butler Ling walked away than Shen Chi used the key to open Xu Chaomu¡¯s door. The room was in darkness, and then with a ¡°snap,¡± Shen Chi turned on the light. Xu Chaomu kept her eyes closed, not moving an inch. ¡°Get up!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Xu Chaomu snorted and pulled the nket over her head, covering it. Shen Chi, somewhat amused yet frustrated, ced the bowl on the table, then took steps toward the bed. Moving over, sitting down, he nudged her with his hand. ¡°Get up and eat!¡± ¡°Scram.¡± Xu Chaomu cursed from within the nket. ¡°Xu Chaomu, it looks like you don¡¯t care about this child. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right now to abort it!¡± After speaking, he roughly pulled off her nket and yanked her by her small arm, dragging her out from underneath it. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± Xu Chaomu red at him. ¡°To get an abortion!¡± ¡°You dare! Shen Chi, if you fucking dare to touch my child, I swear I¡¯ll burn the Shen Family down to the ground, believe it or not?¡± Anger zed in Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, and her eyes were bloodshot as she stared at Shen Chi. How could Shen Chi not believe her? He knew this child was her bottom line; he couldn¡¯t touch it, no one could. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, the child won¡¯t be healthy when born; might as well get rid of it,¡± Shen Chi said without any expression on his face. ¡°Are you not eager for me and my child to be unwell?¡± ¡°Stop babbling, you eat if you want, or forget it! The child isn¡¯t mine anyway, what the fuck do I care!¡± Shen Chi stood up, put the bowl on the bedside table with a ¡°snap,¡± and itnded heavily. ¡°Shen Chi, what is this attitude?¡± His tone, his expression, it was as if she was the one in the wrong today. ¡°Xu Chaomu, I¡¯ll ask you one more time, are you going to eat or not?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t eat!¡± ¡°Fine, be stubborn. I¡¯ll leave the bowl here, whether you eat it or not is up to you!¡± Shen Chi had lost his patience, gave her a scornful look, and walked straight away from her bedside. Reaching the door, he closed it; with a ¡°ng,¡± it startled Butler Ling downstairs, who was pretending to be busy. Xu Chaomu¡¯s stubborn temper also red up; this man was simply unreasonable. Out of the blue, he suspected her of misconduct overseas, and now that she had a reunion with Lou Yanli today, he saw it, and it upset him again. This man, as narrow-minded as the eye of a needle. ¡°Shen Chi, you bastard of an uncle!¡± Xu Chaomu cursed, and with a push of her hand, she knocked the bedside bowl onto the floor! With a ¡°ng,¡± the porcin bowl hit the floor tiles and shattered. The dates, silver fungus, longan¡­ scattered all over, still steaming and fragrant. If she got hold of the video, and if, just if, the child in her belly really turns out to be Shen Chi¡¯s, she would make him suffer. Just for his attitude today, she would ensure her baby calls him ¡°Uncle Four,¡± Uncle Four! She would make him be called Uncle Four for the rest of his life! That night, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t care a bit about Shen Chi; she locked the door from the inside, securely and tightly. If she couldn¡¯t get the autographed photo, she might as well find someone else. As for Shen Chi, hearing themotion on her side, he came over to push at her door, pushed a few times but couldn¡¯t budge it; he knew she was angry. He admitted that he was wrong tonight, but thinking of apologizing, he just couldn¡¯t open his mouth. With a snort, he went downstairs. He had not noticed earlier that a bowl of tomato and egg soup was ced on the dining table downstairs. The soup was still steaming, and from a distance, it looked passable. Shen Chi approached the dining table and observed the bowl of soup for a good while. Butler Ling, who was cleaning on the side, quickly approached and said with a smile, ¡°Young Master, this was personally made by Chaomu¡­¡± Chapter 429: 429: The Arrogant Man Chapter 429: The Arrogant Man Shen Chi sneered coldly, ¡°All you could make is a tomato and egg soup, and you still managed to mess it up, Dabai wouldn¡¯t even eat it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Butler Ling¡¯s face was lined with embarrassment, ¡°Then Young Master Shen, I¡¯ll throw this soup away and make you a new one.¡± After finishing speaking, Butler Ling went to pick up the soup bowl. The soup was still hot. Butler Ling picked it up and sighed, ¡°Chaomu put a lot of effort into it, nearly slicing her finger while cutting the tomatoes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because she¡¯s clumsy.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Butler Ling was at a loss for words. She had no choice but to carry the soup bowl and prepare to leave, having said her pleasantries, but Shen Chi seemed truly unappreciative. In fact, she wasn¡¯t telling a lie; today, when Xu Chaomu went to make the soup in the kitchen, she was so excited that she almost cut her finger. It pained her heart for a while, but Xu Chaomu still seriously finished making the soup. ¡°Wait.¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows and called her back. Butler Ling stood still with delight, turning her head back, ¡°Young Master Shen¡­¡±
¡°Throwing away the soup would be such a waste, the Shen family may be rich, but we shouldn¡¯t squander, leave it here.¡± The man spoke earnestly, his expression severe. Butler Ling quickly agreed, ¡°You¡¯re right, Young Master Shen, we mustn¡¯t be wasteful. I¡¯ll go heat up the soup and bring it over in a bit.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Butler Ling carried the soup downstairs. What a tsundere man; he obviously wanted to drink the soup. Would admitting it kill him? And talking about not being wasteful¡­ He really could say one thing and do another. A few days ago, Xu Chaomu brought home a bunch of useless stuff, and he didn¡¯t utter a word against it, in fact, he seemed quite happy. Now, he¡¯s making a big deal over a bowl of soup. He just couldn¡¯t bear to waste it. Young Master Shen, is it really that good to be so tsundere? Butler Ling rolled her eyes internally, went to the kitchen to reheat the soup, and brought a few dishes back to the dining table. Shen Chi was already sitting there, but the elegant dining table was empty except for him. Without Xu Chaomu, it was indeed bleak and lonely. Shen Chi ate his meal without much enjoyment, which Butler Ling saw clearly. He barely touched the other dishes, but the tomato and egg soup¡­ Shen Chi¡­ finished it all. Just now, who was it that said, ¡°All you could make is a tomato and egg soup, and you still managed to mess it up, Dabai wouldn¡¯t even eat it¡±? In popr terms, this was a p in the face. After dinner, Shen Chi sat on the couch, absentmindedly watching television for a while. He didn¡¯t watch for long before he picked up his phone and made a call to Xiao Mo. ¡°Xiao Mo.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, it¡¯s quitete, is there something you need?¡±
¡°Go get an autographed photo from that movie star, and bring it over right away.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xiao Mo held his forehead, wondering what this was all about at such ate hour. ¡°Can¡¯t do it?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°Right away, right away, it can be done, it can be done. Mr. Shen, it¡¯s for your wife, right?¡±
Xiao Mo could guess without a doubt; apart from Xu Chaomu¡¯s request, Shen Chi would not be so concerned. ¡°No more nonsense.¡± Shen Chi frowned and hung up the call. Xiao Mo wore an expression as if he had been struck by lightning; their Mr. Shen was truly the epitome of tsundere. To please his wife, he was making him go after a movie star¡¯s autograph sote at night? Luckily for Xiao Mo, he was highly capable, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to deliver the signed photo to the Shen family. The next morning, Xu Chaomu woke up to the sound of birds chirping. She hadn¡¯t slept well at the beginning ofst night, her heart was in turmoil and she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Eventually, probably due to exhaustion and sleepiness, she slowly drifted off. However, she woke up hungry once or twice during the night. Patting her shriveled stomach, toozy to get up, she simply continued to sleep. When she awoke the next day, it was already past eight in the morning. Rubbing her eyes, she washed up and went downstairs for breakfast. ¡°Chaomu, good morning,¡± Butler Ling said with a smile. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Breakfast is ready, Chaomu. This is cheese made by Young Master Shen himself. And this sandwich and egg tart, all made by Young Master Shen who got up early just to prepare them.¡± ¡°He made them? Then I¡¯m not eating,¡± Xu Chaomu turned on her heel and ran.
¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t, Chaomu. Young Master Shen got up early just to make this. Show a little appreciation, otherwise, I¡¯ll have a hard time exining if Young Master Shen asks,¡± Butler Ling said. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips and reluctantly sat down. It looked okay, and she took a piece of the egg tart, slowly eating it. Suddenly, she noticed a light blue card tucked under the milk bottle at the breakfast table. Out of curiosity, she pulled it out. The light blue card carried a hint of the ocean¡¯s scent, fresh but not overpowering, and quite pleasant to smell. Upon opening it, the fragrance spread. The card was elegant, with simple flowers and nts drawn on the outside, and a tasseled Jade Ear Bookmark inside the card. Inside the card, there wasn¡¯t just a bookmark, but also an autographed photo of the movie star! The movie star looked handsome in the photo, decked in a white shirt, even holding a camera in his hand. This photo was clearly not a promotional shot but a precious candid life photo! Xu Chaomu was no star-chaser, because, since childhood, she had treated a certain someone as her star. No helping it, someone was better looking than a movie star, and she was just superficial.
The photo was boldly signed by the movie star, and it also had a blessing! ¡°Wishing all lovers in the world a happily ever after.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was thrilled. If her star-crazed friend Fenfen saw this photo, who knows how happy she would be! She held the photo in her hands, looking at it over and over again. Butler Ling whispered to her, ¡°Chaomu, this was delivered by Xiao Mo justst night.¡± Xu Chaomu stifled her joy, uttering an indifferent ¡°Oh,¡± feigning nonchnce. She put down the photo and lowered her head to see a few lines written on the blue card. The handwriting was assured and bold, showing vigor in every stroke, obviously penned by that someone. The gist was ¡°Mumu, I¡¯m sorry,¡± and at the end, there was a line of very tiny English text: ILOVEYOU. This English, if not examined closely, was hard to make out¡ªseriouslycking in sincerity. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the photo, but you can throw away the card,¡± Xu Chaomu handed the card to Butler Ling without a second thought. Butler Ling caught it hurriedly; the card had been personally written by Young Master Shen just the night before. To throw it away just like that?
¡°Chaomu, look, the card is quite nice, why not keep it?¡± Butler Ling suggested. ¡°The handwriting is too ugly; I don¡¯t want to keep it.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Butler Ling was speechless because Young Master Shen¡¯s handwriting was generally acknowledged to be bold, steady, and powerful. Yet in Xu Chaomu¡¯s view, it was deemed way too ugly. Would acknowledging its beauty result in pregnancy? These two, they truly were a match made in heaven. So, Butler Ling used the same strategy she applied to Young Master Shen the night before on Xu Chaomu. With an air of nonchnce, she took the card and started to walk away, ¡°Oh, alright then, I¡¯ll go throw it away.¡± After saying this, she turned and began to walk off. As expected, Butler Ling had only taken two steps before Xu Chaomu called out to her. ¡°Wait, Butler.¡± ¡°Chaomu, is there anything else?¡± ¡°Throwing away paper carelessly pollutes the environment. Leave it here; let¡¯s contribute to environmental protection.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face showed casual indifference, seemingly unconcerned. Chapter 430: 430: You Mustn’t Spoil Him Chapter 430: You Mustn¡¯t Spoil Him ¡°No problem, paper is recyble waste,¡± Butler Ling deliberately said. Butler Ling knew Xu Chaomu had a good temper and wouldn¡¯t mind a bit of teasing, but if it had been the fourth young master, she wouldn¡¯t dare to say such things. Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°Then let¡¯s repurpose the waste. I¡¯ll use it as scrap paper, throwing it away would be too wasteful.¡± She still had a carefree look, as if she was really going to use it as scratch paper. Only then did Butler Ling smile and ce the card on the table, noting how well the couple matched each other, even in making excuses. One talked about being thrifty, the other about repurposing waste¡ªa pair of treasures. In the end, neither could bear to discard it. Looking at the card, Xu Chaomu noticed that someone¡¯s handwriting had grown more mature and refined in the past thirteen years, shedding its naivety for a sense of stability. However, for crying out loud, he wrote ¡°I LOVE YOU¡± so small¡ª who was it meant for? The scent of perfume on the card was refreshingly pleasant to smell, bringing a sense of peace as it wafted gently around. While eating breakfast, Xu Chaomu¡¯s little brain was bustling with thoughts.
Butler Ling was very pleased as he spoke from the side, ¡°Chaomu, the tomato egg soup you madest night, the fourth young master said it was very tasty.¡± ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t buy it.¡± That man couldn¡¯t spit anything good out of his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s true. Chaomu, you should cook more often. I think the fourth young master really enjoys your cooking.¡± ¡°So he can eat his fill, then have the energy to argue with me?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Butler Ling held his forehead, that¡¯s not what he meant. ¡°Butler, do you know what he didst night?¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. Often, she had worries of her own, but didn¡¯t know whom to confide in. When she was little and got bullied, she could hide in her mother¡¯s arms and act spoiled. Later, when she was bullied, she could only cry quietly on her own. Just like when she first arrived at the Shen Family, Shen Chi often bullied her. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone, Butler Ling thought for a moment and realized that indeed, the fourth young master must have upset Chaomust night. ¡°The fourth young master is just like that, Chaomu, don¡¯t be mad at him.¡± ¡°Sometimes, I wonder if it¡¯s because I never get angry that he always likes to bully me,¡± Xu Chaomu forced augh, her heart aching slightly. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. You still don¡¯t understand the fourth young master¡¯s feelings for you? He¡¯s just talk, but in his heart, he cares for you more than anyone else does.¡± ¡°Butler, after carrying a child anding back, do you think he harbors absolutely no resentment in his heart?¡± Uh¡­ Butler Ling fell silent. Shen Chi was also a man, what man could feelfortable seeing his wife carrying another man¡¯s child? Was that what they argued aboutst night? If so, there could be more such arguments in the future.
When Xu Chaomu¡¯s child is born, how could Shen Chi feel at ease looking at someone else¡¯s child every day? However, Xu Chaomu said lightly, ¡°Butler, you¡¯re speechless now. I know he¡¯s not happy, but I didn¡¯t force him. I¡¯ve suggested divorce, I don¡¯t care about being the wife of the Shen Family¡¯s fourth son.¡± ¡°Chaomu, you can¡¯t talk like that. Did you two argue about the childst night?¡± ¡°Not exactly, but it was simr,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking down and poking at the sandwich in front of her with her fork, ¡°He said that I lived a dissolute life abroad, and he despises it a lot.¡±
¡°That¡¯s where the fourth young master is wrong. How could he say that about you?¡± Butler Ling was really anxious for Shen Chi, this child. During the five years Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t around, had he forgotten how he survived? Now that Xu Chaomu had returned, he even dared to say such things. And now when Xu Chaomu had finally chosen not to leave with her fianc¨¦ and stay by his side, he resented Chaomu instead? Every time he got drunk over those five years, he would call out Xu Chaomu¡¯s name, in utter misery. In the end¡­ Butler Ling shook his head and sighed. He was truly worried. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just in love with the simple and lovely Xu Chaomu, so he can¡¯t ept the current me. He¡¯s also a man as normal as any other. I understand,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her head down as she absentmindedly spread tomato sauce on the bread. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t think like that. The fourth young master really loves you. I understand his character better than anyone. If he¡¯s willing to apologize, it means he cares about you.¡± ¡°How long can he care, though? Butler Ling, tell me the truth. Are he and I really suitable?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you be suitable? You love him, and he loves you. The fourth young master is happiest only with you.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t respond, sighing inwardly at how Butler Ling, despite his age, still couldn¡¯t see things clearly. ¡°Chaomu, if the fourth young master really said those thingsst night, you can¡¯t keep coddling him. You need to teach him a good lesson. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got your back,¡±
Xu Chaomu was still absentmindedly spreading tomato sauce, and said faintly, ¡°Who dares to discipline him.¡± ¡°But you also can¡¯t keep indulging his bad temper. Let me tell you, men are no good¡ªyou spoil them, and they care even less about you,¡± Butler Ling spoke with a belly full of experience. ¡°Chaomu, let me tell you a true story.¡± Butler Ling became quite engaged as he started talking about these matters. Xu Chaomu was still eating breakfast anyway, so she ate while listening to Butler Ling. ¡°I have a cousin who is exceptionally beautiful and gentle, as well as highly educated. Many people pursued her, including the sons of deputy mayors and nephews of CEOs, but she ended up marrying an unknown white-cor worker from apany.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Xu Chaomu asked while sipping milk. ¡°Because her husband was especially good to her. You know, women tend to marry whoever treats them a little better, and even though we tried to persuade her, she wouldn¡¯t listen. After they got married, my cousin got pregnant, but one day her husband, drunk and without reason, quarreled with her and pushed her, causing her to lose the baby.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°Then the doctors said she could no longer get pregnant, and the man started to dislike my cousin more and more. My cousin, because she loved him, kept reassuring him. She didn¡¯t talk back when he insulted her and always considered his feelings. And the result? A mistress showed up at their door, pregnant.¡± Butler Ling skipped a lot, but Xu Chaomu still understood. ¡°So, men are no good, once they have what they want, they don¡¯t cherish it anymore. Of course, our fourth young master isn¡¯t like that.¡± Xu Chaomu held her forehead. Butler, your words contradict each other. Or, Butler, are you automatically excluding Shen Chi from the category of men?
¡°Chaomu, even though our fourth young master isn¡¯t like that, you still shouldn¡¯t spoil men. It¡¯s the girls who should be spoiled.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Butler, but you know Shen Chi¡¯s temper as well as I do. He¡¯s very domineering and won¡¯t be threatened by anyone. I have no standing in front of him.¡± ¡°With what he said to you yesterday, you should ignore him for three days, and wait until hees to you, of his own volition, to apologize.¡± Chapter 431: Discussing Yearning on the Yearning Tower Chapter 431: Discussing Yearning on the Yearning Tower ¡°` ¡°Butler, you think he¡¯s being unreasonable too, don¡¯t you?¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s simply too much, how could he say such things to you.¡± Butler Ling sighed. Shen Chi was good in every aspect, it¡¯s just that sometimes he could be so foolish it was as if he had a negative IQ. ¡°Then I won¡¯t pay attention to him for three days, butler, you have to back me up on this.¡± ¡°I will back you up, this time, I won¡¯t take Shen Chi¡¯s side either, he really went too far.¡± Xu Chaomu chatted with Butler Ling for a while, and her mood had significantly improved. She had been in a bad mood since Shen Chi lost his temper at her for no good reasonst night. She ate her breakfast slowly, and after finishing, she took a walk with Butler Ling in the garden. She had put away that blue small card. Apologies that aren¡¯t spoken out loud are just hooliganism; she won¡¯t acknowledge it, acting as if she never saw it. At noon, Shen Chi did note back for lunch, and Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. The midday heat of summer tends to make people drowsy, and after having lunch, Xu Chaomu ended up dozing off alone on the living room sofa. She was so sleepy, her head nodding like a pecking chicken, and finally, unable to stay awake, sheid down on the sofa to sleep. She didn¡¯t have to worry about her sleeping position, as the Shen Family¡¯s home was now almost exclusively Shen Chi¡¯s. Shen Cexian¡¯s health had always been poor, and he had long since moved to a summer vi, buying a small vi there where he would stay during the summer to escape the heat and recuperate. Liu Rumei had also gone with him to take care of Shen Cexian and rarely returned to the west wing. As for Shen Shihan, he moved out of the Shen Family home five years ago and started his own little family with Mo Shuifu. Shen Yanrou, too, bought her own apartment outside. The big family had scattered, each going their separate ways, no longer resembling its state from five years ago. It¡¯s still the same summer, but the flowers and trees in the garden have grown taller, and the green bricks of the vi are now covered with creeping vines. Times change but people don¡¯t. It seemed as if she had just had a long dream¡­ She still remembered the day she came to the Shen Family¡¯s house thirteen years ago, how lively the Shen Family was back then¡­ Listening to the chirps of cicadas outside the window, Xu Chaomu fell asleep hugging a pillow. This kind of summer was so tranquil, every corner exuding an aura of serene and peaceful years. When she woke up, it was already two in the afternoon. After a long sleep, she felt even better. With no one to apany her, she thought of giving Lou Yanli a call. Having met Lou Yanli yesterday, Shen Chi had be jealous, and Xu Chaomu thought Butler Ling was right, men should not be pampered. She shouldn¡¯t have to avoid seeing the people she wants to see just because he¡¯s unhappy. She had only given her number to Lou Yanli yesterday but forgot to ask for his. Consequently, she had to resort to asking Weiwei for help. To her surprise, Yu Weiwei actually had Lou Yanli¡¯s number and sent it over within a few seconds. When Lou Yanli received Xu Chaomu¡¯s call, he was in the office working on design drafts. ¡°Male god, are you busy?¡± Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°Not busy, Chaomu, what¡¯s up, missed me already after a day?¡± Lou Yanliughed as well. ¡°Yeah, yeah, missed you a lot, howe you didn¡¯t call me?¡± ¡°I didst night, but you didn¡¯t answer,¡± Lou Yanli shrugged. Xu Chaomu then remembered that there were several missed calls fromst night. However, she had put her phone on silent mode earlyst night, so she didn¡¯t bother to check. ¡°Hehe, sorry about that, male god. Are you free now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m free.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m inviting you for afternoon tea, will youe?¡± Lou Yanli checked his watch and smiled, ¡°Sure, where to?¡± ¡°How about Xiangsi Teahouse near the school, what do you say?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be so nostalgic.¡± Xu Chaomuughed, ¡°Yep, yep, I¡¯m just a nostalgic person. Let me tell you, I¡¯ve made it big now, but I haven¡¯t forgotten you old friends.¡± ¡°Made it big?¡± Lou Yanliughed out loud, ¡°How big? Suddenly struck it rich? Or made it onto Forbes?¡± ¡°Come over, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°Alright, see you at Xiangsi Teahouse.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s bad mood had almostpletely disappeared; her moods came quickly and left quickly. She thought if she wasn¡¯t optimistic enough, she would have probably been driven to death by Shen Chi¡¯s actions years ago. Shen Chi, she figured, must have left many a young girl with profound psychological shadows. After sprucing up a bit, Xu Chaomu grabbed her handbag and headed out. Since Butler Ling had pledged to stand with Xu Chaomu these next few days, Xu Chaomu left without reporting to Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu hailed a taxi and went to the school. The Shen Family¡¯s home was neither close nor far from the school. When she arrived at Xiangsi Teahouse, she spotted Lou Yanli pulling up in his car. It was the hottest part of the day, the nched sun scorching the earth mercilessly. The streets were nearly empty, giving a clear view of their former school. The high school was still the same, and so was therge building; nothing had changed. Now during the summer break, the entire high school seemed somewhat deserted. She shielded her eyes from the sunlight and looked up at the ssroom where she once stayed. There, many, many memoriesy buried¡­ She wondered if the high school homeroom teacher was still there, that opportunistic olddy. Back then, she despised her enough to grind her teeth in anger, but now it didn¡¯t seem like much at all. Who didn¡¯t have a few teachers they loathed in school, after all? ¡°Chaomu,¡± Lou Yanli called out after parking his car. He saw her too; coincidentally, they arrived at the teahouse at the same time. ¡°Male god!¡± Xu Chaomu waved at him with augh. Lou Yanli came over to her side, taking her bag, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, it¡¯s too hot out here.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Walking alongside Lou Yanli, Xu Chaomu noticed how much taller he had grown; he was now almost as tall as Shen Chi. He wasn¡¯t the little boy of the past anymore. As they passed by Lou Yanli¡¯s car, Xu Chaomu deliberately paused and snickered. ¡°Male god, is your car a Land Rover? It¡¯s a very domineering car, nice. Later, take me for a ride in it.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯ve made it big? Why did youe in a cab?¡± ¡°I only have the No. 11 bus,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°Then you lied to me about making it big.¡± ¡°Ah, I was worried you¡¯d look down on me and refuse toe out,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Just your usual chatter,¡± Lou Yanliughed. He led Xu Chaomu into Xiangsi Teahouse, where the proprietress immediately greeted them with a smile. Given the time, the teahouse was exceptionally quiet, a rare urrence for a customer toe by. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± the proprietress asked. Xiangsi Teahouse¡¯s upper floor spoke of longing. Xu Chaomu observed that the proprietress was still the same one from five years ago; she hadn¡¯t changed at all. Back in high school, she couldn¡¯t have afforded such a fancy ce; she had only passed by it several times with her ssmates. ¡°You choose,¡± Lou Yanli said, ncing at Xu Chaomu. After five years without seeing her, this girl had grown even prettier, her features delicate, her face unadorned, radiant like a rose. Chapter 432: Caused a Stir Chapter 432: Caused a Stir Xu Chaomu and Lou Yanli chatted andughed, choosing a spot by the window. The location was excellent, not only shielded from the sun but also offering a view of the scenery below. The tea house wasn¡¯t tall, just two stories, but from the second floor, one could almost see the entire view ahead. For instance, the high school ssroom building, which seemed so close, made it feel like one could touch it just by reaching out. On the redwood table they had chosen, there was a lush pot of gentleman orchids. The breeze that came through the window carried a faint scent of grass and trees. Filled with the fragrance of summer, she liked it very much. In front of this wooden window, there hung a string of retro-style bronze wind chimes. When the wind blew, they twirled continuously like little fairies dancing, ringing with a clear ¡°ding-a-ling, dong-a-dong.¡± The tea house was beautiful, the entire building fashioned in a ssical garden style. The tinkling of crystal curtains as the breeze picked up carried with it the fragrance of roses, filling the courtyard. Xu Chaomu rested her chin on her hand as she watched the view downstairs, not feeling the heat at all. Soon, the proprietress brought over the Longjing tea they had ordered. Lou Yanli graciously poured Xu Chaomu a small cup and smiled, ¡°Try this, it¡¯s pre-Qingming Longjing.¡± No sooner had the tea been poured into the white porcin cup than the intoxicating aroma began to waft subtly into the air¡­ The green color of the teaplemented the white cup just perfectly. Xu Chaomu propped her cheek, her bright eyes staring at him. She smiled, ¡°Great talent, you know, it¡¯s wasted on me when you talk about these things.¡± ¡°Then you still dare to invite me to the tea house?¡± Lou Yanli chuckled. ¡°To show that I have taste.¡± ¡°So, what have you been doing these past five years?¡± Lou Yanli asked with a calm demeanor. Xu Chaomu scratched her head and came clean. There were many things she didn¡¯t want to say in front of Shen Chi, didn¡¯t dare to say in front of Yu Weiwei, but she told it all to Lou Yanli. For example, when she first arrived in Paris, she had been so destitute that she nearly had to beg on the streets. That half a year was truly the darkest half a year of her more than two decades of life. She had never told Shen Chi, nor had Shen Chi ever asked her. As for Yu Weiwei, she was afraid Weiwei would worry, so she didn¡¯t say anything. But now, having said it all, she felt much more relieved. Lou Yanli truly hadn¡¯t expected this; he felt very sad. He hadn¡¯t imagined Xu Chaomu¡¯s life abroad was like that. ¡°Great talent, now it¡¯s your turn. What have you been doing these past five years?¡± ¡°Right after high school graduation, I went to study in Washington and returned to the country earlier this year.¡± ¡°Not bad. So, did you date any girlfriends in college?¡± ¡°There were mostly foreigners there, nothing much to speak of,¡± Lou Yanliughed. ¡°Dating a foreigner isn¡¯t bad, you know. Foreign girls are beautiful, blue eyes, high nose bridges, not too crafty.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thatter,¡± Lou Yanli fell silent. ¡°Whichpany are you working for now? Why did I see you at Shen¡¯s yesterday?¡± ¡°My father¡¯spany, I¡¯m mainly responsible for the design. Our family has had a longstanding partnership with Shen¡¯s, and our rtionship has been pretty good. I was personally delivering the design drafts to Shen¡¯s yesterday.¡± Xu Chaomu was taken aback: ¡°Isn¡¯t your family in the doll-making business?¡± Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t forgotten; back in the day, Lou Yanli made a doll for her. ¡°I was just kidding you,¡± Lou Yanliughed, remembering the incident. ¡°Then, what was with that doll you gave me back then?¡± ¡°Just to make you happy. But that doll was personally designed by me.¡± ¡°So, you studied design too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Me too! Well then, great talent Lou, it looks like you can teach me again. I look forward to learning from you, a lot.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t asked you yet, howe you were at Shen¡¯s yesterday?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you, Shen Chi caught me and brought me back home.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with you being at Shen¡¯s yesterday?¡± ¡°I said I wanted to work, so he told me to give Shen¡¯s a try. So yesterday, it just happened.¡± Lou Yanli sighed. As expected, Xu Chaomu still couldn¡¯t escape from Shen Chi¡¯s grip. It was the same five years ago, and it still was now. ¡°God, since your family owns apany, does that mean you¡¯re quite wealthy?¡± Xu Chaomu asked slyly. ¡°Not as wealthy as Shen¡¯s.¡± ¡°God, how about Ie work for yourpany?¡± ¡°No, that won¡¯t do,¡± Lou Yanli seriously refused her, ¡°If I were to shelter you, my family¡¯spany probably wouldn¡¯t be able to continue operating in C City.¡± Xu Chaomu thought about it and figured he was probably right. She picked up the tea cup in front of her, gently swirled it, and sniffed the dissipating fragrance of the tea, feeling especially good. ¡°Chaomu, you don¡¯t know, after you left five years ago, the Lou Family and Shen¡¯s had a big fallout,¡± Lou Yanli said lightly. He turned his head to look out the window, his gaze somewhat distant. Recalling the past, it felt as if everything had happened a long time ago¡­ He had thought he wouldn¡¯t see Xu Chaomu again, but now in his lifetime, they had met once more. Seeing her was the best thing. ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Chaomu was puzzled. What did he mean by a big fallout? ¡°The Lou Family and Shen¡¯s have been partners, and our rtionship has always been quite good. After your disappearance, I heard it was because of Shen Chi, so I was really angry with him during that period, wondering why he couldn¡¯t treat you well.¡± Lou Yanli spoke calmly, while Xu Chaomuughed. ¡°I know, you loved him, but he didn¡¯t give you his true heart. During that time, I was furious. Once, I went to my dad¡¯spany and destroyed thetest design drafts we made for Shen¡¯s.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. To her, Lou Yanli always seemed to be aposed person. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be so impulsive. ¡°Chaomu, you don¡¯t know, back then, the school was spreading rumors that you had passed away. The feeling of never being able to see you again in this lifetime was one of despair, and I really hated Shen Chi. If he was going to keep you so possessively, why couldn¡¯t he protect you?¡± ¡°But by destroying the design drafts, wouldn¡¯t that mean you had to pay a hefty penalty fee?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. ¡°Yes, I had considered it at the time; the Lou Family just had to pay a penalty fee. But Shen¡¯s was different ¨C if the designs were ruined, Shen¡¯s wouldn¡¯t be able to deliver on time, resulting in both financial losses and a hit to their reputation.¡± ¡°Lou ssmate, that¡¯s pretty ruthless,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. But she liked it. ¡°Later, it was confirmed that Shen¡¯s suffered a direct loss of over a hundred million due to the design drafts problem of the Lou Family. That was secondary, though. The main thing was that the project was one Shen Chi had struggled to secure, and he was counting on it to reestablish his authority and prestige in the group. In the end, it crumbled into nothing.¡± ¡°Well done, Lou ssmate,¡± Xu Chaomu was pleased to hear this. ¡°No,¡± Lou Yanli shook his head, ¡°wait until you hear the full story, then you won¡¯t feel the same.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him curiously. ¡°At the time, I felt just like you do now, very happy, and it felt like I was avenging you. During that period, I heard Shen Chi was under immense pressure. He failed to secure the diamond mine in South Africa, and now the big project had been destroyed by my hands.¡± Chapter 433: 433: He, as a person, is very narrow-minded Chapter 433: He, as a person, is very narrow-minded Lou Yanli took a sip of tea and continued speaking. ¡°I heard from my dad during that time Shen Group was very unstable internally; the board of directors held meetings over and over again, iming Shen Chicked the ability and Shen Shihan should take over as president.¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t smile anymore; it felt like a stone hit her chest, a dull paining in waves. She hadn¡¯t known about those events from five years ago; she had been back in C City for so long, yet Shen Chi never mentioned anything to her. All she saw was still a very impressive Shen Chi, unaware that five years before, he had faced such enormous pressure. No wonder the butler said that for the past five years, he often suffered from headaches so severe he couldn¡¯t sleep all night. Seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s face change, Lou Yanli also sighed. ¡°Later, I heard that it was Shen Chi¡¯s brothers, Li Beiting, Ji Shengxuan, and others who secretly helped him by providing arge sum of funds. Just then, Shen Chi caught Zhou Peitian, so Shen Shihan didn¡¯t dare to make a move recklessly, and the internal turmoil calmed down.¡± ¡°Zhou Peitian? Didn¡¯t he jump off a buildingter?¡± Xu Chaomu wondered. Xu Chaomu could barely recall what Zhou Peitian looked like, but what stood out the most was being captured by Zhou Peitian andter, on that cruise ship, Shen Chi crippled one of Zhou Peitian¡¯s arms. But she didn¡¯t know what happened afterward. She thought she would die in the gunfire that day.
¡°Yes, Zhou Peitian was close with Shen Shihan and knew too much. So, after Zhou Peitian jumped, nobody knew if Shen Chi or Shen Shihan pushed him.¡± Xu Chaomu felt mixed emotions, letting out a sigh. Back then, Shen Shihan kept to the shadows, and it had always been Zhou Peitian making the moves. But if it weren¡¯t for Shen Shihan and Zhou Peitian, perhaps, everything would be different. However, what happened has happened. The wheels of time roll forward, never turning back. If there are only ¡®ifs¡¯, fate is irreversible. ¡°What happened then?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Then? Shen Chi continued as president, but his talents were indeed convincing, and his methods harsh enough. After securing his position, he used various reasons to dismiss all those who opposed him within thepany; the transfers out of headquarters were transfers, and now Shen¡¯s is pretty much filled with his own people.¡± ¡°That time back then¡­ did your dad beat you up?¡± Xu Chaomu rested her chin in her hand, curious about this in particr. She had never doubted Shen Chi¡¯s capabilities; the man was entirely capable of managing Shen¡¯s. Only if it weren¡¯t for the diamond mine incident back then, he wouldn¡¯t have had to struggle so hard thesest five years. Lou Yanli finallyughed, ¡°At first I did get beaten up by my dad; after all, that breach of contract penalty was no small sum.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± Xu Chaomu was curious. ¡°There¡¯s not much ¡®then what¡¯. I actually thought that breach would bankrupt the Lou Family. After all, you know very well how Shen Chi operates.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not ¡®my Shen¡¯.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face reddened, slightly irritated. Why did Lou Yanli seem to lean towards Shen Chi¡­ Lou Yanli chuckled, ¡°But when Shen Chiter found out it was me, he didn¡¯t hold a grudge. He told my dad to let it go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hard to believe,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a slight pout.
For a petty person like Shen Chi to show such generous magnanimity. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it either; even my dad was prepared for bankruptcy. Maybe, he considered the fact that we were ssmates with you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a very narrow-minded person, best not to provoke him,¡± said Xu Chaomu indignantly. ¡°Actually¡­ it¡¯s not like that. After that incident, my dad was quite grateful to Shen Chi; he funded Shen Chi with arge sum and provided free technical support for a long while. That¡¯s how the Lou Family and Shen¡¯s began coborating till today.¡±
¡°Shen Chi is indeed untouchable, but he¡¯s no viin. On the contrary, after working this long with him, I found that this man is quite charismatic, a true gentleman. He has capabilities, methods, and magnanimity.¡± ¡°Yo, yo, yo.¡± Xu Chaomuughed snidely, ¡°Lou, the literary genius, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve fallen for him¡­¡± ¡°Only you love making trouble!¡± Lou Yanli smiled and lightly smacked the top of her head. ¡°Lou, the literary genius, does that mean you don¡¯t love me anymore?¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to be hurt. ¡°You¡¯re a married woman, do you think I dare to love you? Besides, I¡¯d never dare topete with Shen Chi for a woman; if I did, I¡¯d die a terrible death.¡± ¡°You just said he¡¯s a true gentleman,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°That depends on who it is. Should someone steal his wife and he remains magnanimous? Hm?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re handsome, you¡¯re right.¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head to take a sip of tea; the fresh aroma of Longjing tea immediately spread across her taste buds¡­ The summer breeze wafted through the window, ringing the bells on the ledge ¡°ding, ding, ding, ding.¡± A ray of sunshine seemed to shine into Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart, and the corners of her lips lifted in a faint smile. Her mood improved, but the thought of Shen Chi¡¯s attitude from the night before irritated her again. ¡°Chaomu, tell me if you have any trouble in the future, I¡¯ll always help you,¡± Lou Yanli said.
¡°First tell me, how did you know I¡¯m Shen Chi¡¯s wife? We haven¡¯t even had a wedding.¡± ¡°I guessed,¡± Lou Yanli replied, ¡°He loves you so much; it wouldn¡¯t make sense not to marry you.¡± ¡°Can love be eaten?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. ¡°Why not, with Shen Chi as your meal ticket, you won¡¯t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°Lou Yanli, my ssmate, do you still want to be my boyfriend?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lou Yanli rejected her without hesitation, so resolutely that Xu Chaomu began to doubt her life. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu red at him, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for five years, and you¡¯ve changed, huh.¡± ¡°Life is so beautiful; I want to enjoy it more,¡± Lou Yanliughed heartily. In matters of love, seeing her smile and be happy was truly the best oue. Moreover, after five years, she was still standing before him, chatting happily; the feeling was beyond what the word ¡°happiness¡± could describe. Maybe it could be called ¡°regaining what was lost¡±? ¡°You don¡¯t love me anymore; you must be in love with Shen Chi, definitely, definitely¡­¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to cry with a ¡°woo, woo, woo.¡±
¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re beautiful, you¡¯re right,¡± Lou Yanli mimicked her tone, looking helpless. ¡°Then you tell me, if I argue with Shen Chi, whose side will you take?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll take yours,¡± Lou Yanli said, amused. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell you, Shen Chi has a lot of women outside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just gossip, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fair, I want many, many boyfriends too.¡± ¡°I get it, get it, I¡¯ll pretend to be your boyfriend, as long as it makes you happy.¡± Chapter 434: 434: Good Dogs Don’t Block the Way Chapter 434: Good Dogs Don¡¯t Block the Way ¡°My god, you¡¯re so handsome! Handsome to the point of having no friends!¡± ¡°Helping you, I¡¯m afraid I really won¡¯t have any friends in the future,¡± Lou Yanli held his forehead. ¡°My god, five years ago you promised to take me to your house for dinner, didn¡¯t you? You said your mom¡¯s cooking was delicious.¡± ¡°Her cooking isn¡¯t delicious anymore.¡± Xu Chaomu looked at Lou Yanli with disdain; this was the second time he had rejected her today. ¡°Lou Yanli, you¡¯ve changed, you are not the same Lou Yanli anymore, you¡¯ve be so stingy,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. ¡°If I take you home, Shen Chi probably wouldn¡¯t be as magnanimous as he was five years ago. My parents are old; they can¡¯t take this kind ofmotion anymore.¡± ¡°Coward!¡± Lou Yanliughed. He was actually just joking with her. Shen Chi maybe, probably, might not be that petty? Maybe, probably, might¡­ well. The ring sun hungzily in the sky, while the wind chime at the window kept spinning in the breeze.
The teahouse was quiet inside, and it was just as silent outside, with the scent of tea drifting all around. Longing is an endless frost and snow, countless yearnings on the tower of longing. At the Sunshine Institute, Yu Weiwei had dealt with some matters in the morning and nned to ask Xu Chaomu out. She hadn¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu in several days and missed her terribly. Five years had passed since theirst parting, and she still had so many things she hadn¡¯t said. She just didn¡¯t know whether Xu Chaomu had gone home angry after watching TV in the hot pot restaurant that day. Yu Weiwei concluded that if Xu Chaomu still cared about Shen Chi, she would undoubtedly be angry. But judging from Xu Chaomu¡¯s expression in the hot pot restaurant, she probably held back a bellyful of fire. The weather today was nice, with a gentle breeze and beautiful sunshine, perfect for a drive. Yu Weiwei put on sunsses and prepared to leave the institute. When she got to the front desk of the institute, she knocked on the counter: ¡°Work hard and don¡¯t gossip.¡± ¡°Got it, Director Yu.¡± The girls at the front desk stuck out their tongues; they weren¡¯t really afraid of Yu Weiwei. Since she had a good temper and as long as they didn¡¯t do something particrly outrageous, she wouldn¡¯t get angry. ¡°Hmm.¡± Yu Weiwei was in a good mood today as she hooked her set of BMW keys and headed outside the institute. Her institute was built quite grandly, designed specially by an architect. Walking through her own institute, she felt a particr sense of achievement, although she still owed the bank a lot of money. But she thought that one must have dreams¡ªwhat if they came true? Like now, she felt very fortunate.
Her BMW was parked outside the institute, and she spotted it among the many cars at a nce. The sun was a bit harsh, but the wind was strong today, making it ratherfortable. She looked up at the sun and adjusted her beige shawl. Walking to the car in high heels, just as she was about to open the door, a gust of cold air struck, and a man in a white shirt approached her steadily.
Yu Weiwei was first taken aback and then inwardly cursed, ¡°Damn it.¡± Li Beiting was much tallerpared to Yu Weiwei. When he stood beside her, he had to slightly lower his head to amodate her. He wasn¡¯t wearing sunsses. Under the sun, his eyes squinted slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on her face. He didn¡¯t like her wearing sunsses; they hid her clear eyes and the expressions at the bottom of them. So without waiting for Yu Weiwei to speak, he frowned and reached out to remove her sunsses. ¡°A good dog doesn¡¯t stand in the way, move aside,¡± Yu Weiwei said, trying to block his hand with an unfriendly tone. ¡°Don¡¯t wear sunsses in the future, they don¡¯t look good on you.¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t bother with him and pushed him away, opening the driver¡¯s door. Li Beiting rested his hand on the car door, stubbornly preventing her from closing it. She pulled at it twice and couldn¡¯t move it. She also didn¡¯t want to damage her BMW, so she dared not force it. With a cold face, she looked at him standing in front of the car door. ¡°Li Beiting, what the hell is wrong with you? We had a good agreement three years ago, to not see each other! Don¡¯t fucking go back on your word!¡± Yu Weiwei was furious. She really wanted to m the car door shut, breaking his fingers!
Under the sunlight, Li Beiting¡¯s frown grew deeper. His gaze never left her face. Yes, they had made this agreement. But after three years, Xu Chaomu had returned, and he wanted to break his promise. ¡°Mr. Li, you¡¯d better let go, or else I will count to three, and if by then your precious fingers get smashed, don¡¯t me me,¡± Yu Weiwei asserted, and she meant it. For dealing with this kind of man, perhaps there¡¯s nothing to feel sorry for. ¡°One¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± ¡°Weiwei,¡± Li Beiting called her name in a deep and hoarse voice, ¡°can we talk?¡± ¡°Three.¡± As soon as the words fell, Yu Weiwei forcefully pulled at the car door. It didn¡¯t matter if the door broke; if it did break and it injured this man¡¯s finger, so be it. At worst, she¡¯d get the car washed if it got stained with blood. With that thought, she gritted her teeth and desperately yanked at the door. Li Beiting, on the other hand, forcefully held the door, not letting her close it. Yu Weiwei was incredibly frustrated. As she exerted her strength to pull the door, Li Beiting pulled a wild card and suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her hand off the door handle.
Taken by surprise, Yu Weiwei fell back into the driver¡¯s seat. Luckily the seat was made of genuine leather, otherwise, the fall would have really hurt. She really wanted to throw Li Beiting out. As she was about to get up, pressing against the seat, Li Beiting got into the car, pressed down on her shoulders, and pinned her to the seat. Without giving her a chance to resist, this man¡¯s cold and domineering kissnded on her lips! Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes widened as she tried to yank at Li Beiting¡¯s shirt! However, the man hade with the resolution to not let go, kissing her so forcefully, rolling over her lips, then prying open her mouth. The kiss was devoid of any gentleness, its intensity making it difficult for Yu Weiwei to breathe. Yu Weiwei was both angry and annoyed, her face flushed red. This was still a public ce, surrounded by carsing and going. By now, who knew how many people were secretly watching. As Li Beiting kissed her, he withstood her beating. Hisrge frame pressed into the car, pinning her to the seat. Yu Weiwei resisted fiercely. She wanted to kick the car, but then she thought, this was her own car, and it wouldn¡¯t be worth it if she caused damage. She pushed against him hard with her hands, but when Li Beiting grew annoyed, he grasped her wrists, lifted them over her head, and his entire body weighed down on hers.
He was quite familiar with the car¡¯s features, pushing a button to make the seat recline. Yu Weiwei red at him, but no matter how strong she thought she was, she didn¡¯t have the physical strength of Li Beiting. Entering Yu Weiwei¡¯s car, Li Beiting closed the car door with a ¡°m¡±! The outside noise was gone, and the interior fell silent, only the sounds of their mingled breaths could be heard. Chapter 435: 435 We’ve Broken Up, It’s Over Chapter 435: We¡¯ve Broken Up, It¡¯s Over Yu Weiwei¡¯s face turned as red as if it were bleeding, and although the window provided some sound instion, she could still hear the murmurs of conversation outside. ¡°Young people these days are so open, and it¡¯s still broad daylight.¡± ¡°Not just daylight, this is a bustling downtown area.¡± ¡°With so many peopleing and going, aren¡¯t they afraid of children seeing them?¡± ¡°Rich people really know how to live it up, this is all about the thrill.¡± ¡­ In Yu Weiwei¡¯s vehement resistance, her little BMW rocked violently, creating an illusion for the onlookers that was not suitable for children. The research institute wasn¡¯t far away, and shortly after, a few young girls came out to see what was happening. When the girls saw it, didn¡¯t that car belong to their Director Yu¡¯s little BMW? The girls covered their mouths, widened their eyes in surprise, and despite themselves, kept trying to peek inside the car. They all knew that Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t have a boyfriend, so what was happening now¡­ Could it be that she was being attacked by a pervert?
But where would you find such a brazen pervert? After all, it was broad daylight. The girls looked at each other, unsure of whether to approach. Yu Weiwei couldn¡¯t stand to lose face like this, so she bit down on Li Beiting¡¯s tongue hard, tasting the thick metallic tang of blood in her mouth before finally letting go. Li Beiting, in pain, rxed his grip, wiping away the fresh blood from the corner of his lip. He stared into her eyes. Kissing used to be the most natural thing between them, he¡¯d never imagined there¡¯de a day when she would bite him. And bite him so hard. Yu Weiwei¡¯s mouth was also filled with the taste of blood as she frowned and kicked Li Beiting. ¡°Get away from me!¡± Her kicknded right on Li Beiting¡¯s sr plexus, and what¡¯s more, it was with the pointed heel of her high-heeled shoe. Rage burned in Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes, zing furiously. Immediately, a footprint marked Li Beiting¡¯s white shirt¡ªshe had not held back with that kick, either. ¡°Weiwei,¡± he said, furrowing his brow, his voice slow and deep, ¡°Can¡¯t we talk this out calmly? I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, listen to me, we¡¯re over, done! It¡¯s been three years! Even a good horse doesn¡¯t eat the grass behind it, what makes you think I, Yu Weiwei, would want a weed that can¡¯t even stand up straight against a wall?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been three years. Look, Chaomu hase back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, Li Beiting. I, Yu Weiwei, have met countless handsome guys. I don¡¯t give a damn about you, not one bit. Do me a favor and stay the hell away from me. Go marry your Miss Mi Fei peacefully, and be a good husband. Don¡¯t drag me, Yu Weiwei, down with you!¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t know what had gotten into Li Beiting today. Three years ago, they had agreed that after breaking up, they would never see each other again. It was Li Beiting who had initiated the break-up. For three years, they truly hadn¡¯t seen each other again. She heard he had a new girlfriend, the daughter of somepany president, named Mi Fei. She also heard they were about to get married.
Aside from that, she didn¡¯t bother to find out anything else and couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. Everything was fine as it was. But today, Li Beiting suddenly came looking for her, and in such an aggressive manner, leaving herpletely unprepared. ¡°Weiwei, I¡¯ve missed you so much since we broke up. Three years have passed, and I just can¡¯t forget you,¡± Li Beiting said, his tone fraught with helplessness.
His deep and dark eyes were fixed on Yu Weiwei, in the same city, under the same sky, yet he hadn¡¯t seen her for three years. Now, he felt it was good just to be able to look at her properly. She was the same, just without the youthful naivety of their college days, now more mature like a little woman. ¡°Li Beiting, hear this, I¡¯vepletely forgotten you a long time ago. What do you take me for? Li Beiting, unless I¡¯m mistaken, your wedding is soon, right? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting your legs broken by your father and father-inw foring to see me so brazenly?¡± Li Beiting furrowed his brow, about to speak, but Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t give him the chance. ¡°Li Beiting, three years have passed, and if you can¡¯t forget me, that¡¯s your problem. Why should I, Yu Weiwei, bother with a man who¡¯s about to get married? I¡¯m young and have plenty of resources, with loads of young, fresh meat at my disposal. What do I need you for? You¡¯re at most an ex! Get it? An ex!¡± ¡°Right, and an ex who¡¯s a total jerk at that. One minute you¡¯re about to marry Miss Mi, and the next you¡¯re here looking for me. What do you take me for? Mr. Li Beiting, President Li?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve opened a male research institute, which might be somewhat embarrassingpared to your fancy Li Familypany. Is it embarrassing to stand next to me? Also, if you¡¯re just feeling lonely and empty, Mr. Li, feel free to visit Weiyang Club. Of course, just make sure Miss Mi of the Mi Family doesn¡¯t catch you.¡± ¡°Weiwei¡­¡± ¡°President Li.¡± Before Li Beiting could speak, Yu Weiwei cut him off, ¡°I¡¯m not someone you can summon or dismiss at will. Forget about three years, even in the first week after we broke up, I had forgotten youpletely. Now, to me, you¡¯re nothing more than an ex.¡± ¡°Weiwei, then why haven¡¯t you found a boyfriend in three years?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m busy with my career! Understand? Busy with my career! Stop ttering yourself! Li Beiting, if you don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯ll call the police! Then it won¡¯t only be the Li Family that looks bad, but the Mi Family as well. Think about it.¡± ¡°Weiwei, Mi Fei and I¡­¡±
¡°Get out!¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t give Li Beiting a chance to speak. He had been the one to pursue her initially, and he was the one to suggest breaking upter. Now, about to be married, he was pestering her again? Yu Weiwei got up from her seat, but Li Beiting still showed no sign of leaving. ¡°Weiwei, in all these years, you¡¯re the only person I¡¯ve ever loved.¡± ¡°I told you to get lost, can¡¯t you hear?!¡± Yu Weiwei yelled at him. Her eyes were red with emotion. Love? She pushed him, and in the confined space of the car, Li Beiting didn¡¯t steady himself. His arm brushed against a thin piece of paper and was sliced open, blood welling up from his hand. The blood drops were somewhat terrifying, continuing to seep out. Yu Weiwei felt unsettled, especially deep in her heart where there was a faint sting. She opened the car door and pushed him out. ¡°Go away!¡± She then threw a pack of tissues down after him.
There were still many onlookers around, as Yu Weiwei started her little BMW. As the car started, the crowd dispersed, and Yu Weiwei drove away from the front of the institute, somewhat awkwardly. Li Beiting stood in the sunlight, his gaze lingering on the direction her car vanished. His upright figure under the sun was quite a sight, especially after he stepped out, provoking even more discussion among the crowd. Li Beiting covered his bleeding arm, the wound still oozing blood. A young girl offered him a tissue, saying kindly, ¡°Sir, wipe it off with this.¡± Li Beiting, looking rather unhappy, pushed her away: ¡°Move.¡± Chapter 436: 436: Don’t Be Unreasonable Chapter 436: Don¡¯t Be Unreasonable The little girl was truly a picture of frustration, this man didn¡¯t know what was good for him. Li Beiting, holding his arm, strode toward his car. His Maserati was parked not far away; he opened the car door, started the vehicle, and left the institute. The girls at the institute watched with wide eyes from start to finish ¨C who was this man? Could it be that this man was their director¡¯s boyfriend? His arm was injured; it seemed things had been intense in the car just now. The girls were the biggest gossips, conjuring up a bunch of scenarios in their heads. ¡°Hey hey, what do you think, could that man be our director¡¯s boyfriend?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never seen him before, looks like our director has been keeping him under wraps.¡± ¡°That man is quite handsome, and tall, he matches our director pretty well.¡± ¡°Not just handsome, oh! A Maserati! He must be rich, right?!¡±
¡°Just look at him, a bona fide tall, rich, and handsome guy!¡± ¡°Haha, if he really is our director¡¯s boyfriend, we gotta extort them good when they get married.¡± ¡°But it looks like things weren¡¯t too harmonious between them in the car just now.¡± ¡°Our institute isn¡¯t for nothing, discord? Come to Sunshine Institute!¡± The girls stood under the sun, chatting up a storm without feeling the heat. Under the sunshine, Li Beiting¡¯s red Maserati was particrly dazzling, like a red arrow speeding forward! He wiped the wound on his arm and then drove directly in the direction where Yu Weiwei¡¯s car had disappeared! He had to see her today, there were things he wanted to tell her properly. They lived under the same city¡¯s sky; it¡¯s been three whole years since he had seen her. He opened the Maserati¡¯s convertible top, with the summer wind howling past his ears. He squinted his eyes, not caring how scorching the sun was; he kept chasing the white figure amidst the traffic. His mind was filled with images of Yu Weiwei, especially thatst time, when they broke up. He remembered it clearly, the breakup was also in the summertime¡­ Only back then, the sun wasn¡¯t as burning, the trees weren¡¯t as lush, it was early summer when everything was just beginning to stir. The early summer in the campus was exceptionally beautiful; the crabapple flowers had just recently wilted, and gardenias exuded a charming fragrance. The university campus was dotted with students everywhere; some were studying by theke, some were chatting in pavilions, and others were sunbathing on the grass. The less trodden paths were littered with petals and leaves, making a ¡°creak, creak¡± sound when stepped on. That day, it was just evening, and the sunset glow shone on the back mountain of Yu Weiwei¡¯s school. It bathed everything in ayer of gold, as if it were fall.
That evening, he drove his car to her school again. Yu Weiwei was sitting on a stone at the foot of the mountain, revising her work, engrossed in reciting and taking notes. The sunset draped her body and turned her light blue dress golden yellow. When she studied, she was very focused, not even noticing Li Beiting¡¯s approach.
Not far from the stone, there was a gardenia tree, its fragrance pleasing to the senses; the wind carried its scent over, even infusing the stone with its fragrance. Yu Weiwei was reciting while holding a pen, doodling in her book. As she read, Li Beiting came over with a frosty face. He snatched the book from her hands and took it in his own. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± Yu Weiwei, seeing it was Li Beiting, was quite angry. ¡°Give me back my book!¡± Yu Weiwei stood up and reached out to grab the book from Li Beiting¡¯s hand! Just now when he snatched it away, the notes that were stuffed in the book fell out, scattering all over the ground. The wind blew, some even flew into the river! Yu Weiwei was very unhappy. Li Beiting was much taller than Yu Weiwei, he held the book, and she simply couldn¡¯t snatch it back. ¡°You seem pretty focused.¡± Li Beiting did not look too pleased. The warm yellow of the sunset fell on his face, but it couldn¡¯t warm up his stern expression. These five words, if spoken by someone else, would be considered praise, but from Li Beiting¡¯s mouth, they had a different taste.
He nced at the cover of the book, and there it was again, the specialized medical book. Yu Weiwei was looking at a page that Li Beiting also nced at; it contained images that made one¡¯s cheeks burn with blush. ¡°I still have to study, Li Beiting! Give me the book back! We have an exam for our major soon!¡± Yu Weiwei struggled to get it back. ¡°What¡¯s so great about this stuff!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s attitude was not good, his face ashen as he tightly clutched Yu Weiwei¡¯s textbook. Yu Weiwei¡¯s sticky notes also fell from the book, and she was so angry that her face turned pale. She quickly bent down to pick up the notes on the ground, but she had made so many notes that she couldn¡¯t gather them as the wind scattered them. Her blue dress trailed on the grass, not caring if the ground was dirty or not, she kept bending over to pick them up. She had worked hard on these notes, how could Li Beiting do this! Angry, annoyed, fuming with rage! Some of the notes were blown into the river, and Yu Weiwei leaned over, trying to reach them. She stretched out her arm, but still couldn¡¯t reach. She almost slipped into the water.
Luckily, she held onto the railing by the water. But seeing her painstaking notes fall into the water, her heart ached. Seeing her like this, Li Beiting seemed even more displeased, his face growing colder. ¡°What¡¯s so great about it!¡± Li Beiting emphasized again, pulling her back! ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t be unreasonable! This is for my major, and I have an exam!¡± Yu Weiwei stood in front of him, sternly warning him. She¡¯s not one to be pushed around, how could she let Li Beiting control her. They had just had a fight a few days ago, and now, Li Beiting was here again! ¡°What crappy major, you¡¯reing with me to the administrative office to change it right now!¡± Li Beiting grabbed her hand, very angry. ¡°Impossible! Li Beiting, we¡¯ve fought over this so many times. I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s not happening! Not happening!¡± ¡°Not possible, is it?¡± Li Beiting, out of anger, threw Yu Weiwei¡¯s book into the river! The pages arched through the sky, tracing a curve, andnded precisely in the middle of the water. With a ¡°plop,¡± the thick professional textbook hit the water and waspletely submerged.
Birds at the water¡¯s edge, startled, flew up to the sky, leaving the surroundings suddenly quiet. After the quiet, came Yu Weiwei¡¯s outburst! She dashed to the edge of the railing, trying to reach for her professional book. Unable to reach it, she was almost ready to jump into the river. Li Beiting restrained her, grabbing her dress and carrying her to safety! ¡°Yu Weiwei, have you gone mad? It¡¯s just a damn book, are you throwing your life away?!¡± ¡°Li Beiting, this isn¡¯t over between us! You go fetch my book back, get it now!¡± Chapter 437: 437: I’ve Had Enough of You Long Ago Chapter 437: I¡¯ve Had Enough of You Long Ago ¡°Yu Weiwei, let¡¯s have a serious talk today, and don¡¯t you argue with me!¡± Li Beiting gripped her clothes tightly, refusing to let go. ¡°Li Beiting, if you don¡¯t go down and get my books back, there¡¯s nothing to talk about! Let go of me, let go!¡± Weiwei¡¯s eyes were red with urgency as she watched her books slowly getting wet and sinking, pain gripping her chest. She tried to pull Li Beiting¡¯s hands off, attempting to pry his fingers open! But Li Beiting¡¯s grip was firm, not allowing her to pull away at all. ¡°Li Beiting, let the fuck go, let go!¡± Weiwei screamed hysterically at Li Beiting. Her voice was hoarse, but right then, she was frantic with urgency. Ever since she started dating Li Beiting, she hardly ever cursed, but this time, Li Beiting truly pushed her to the edge. Even a cornered rabbit will bite, did he really think she was so easy to bully? ¡°Yu Weiwei, calm down!¡± ¡°Go fetch my books from the water, you bastard Li Beiting!¡±
¡°Just calm down a bit!¡± ¡°To hell with calm, Li Beiting, unhand me!¡± Li Beiting did not let go, and as Weiwei continued to struggle, he raised his right hand. With a ¡°smack,¡± his palmnded on Yu Weiwei¡¯s face! Not too heavy, but neither was it light, instantly leaving a red mark on her face. Weiwei was stunned, and so was Li Beiting. Suddenly, everything around them became silent, as if even time had stopped! Weiwei stared steadily at Li Beiting, looking at him as if she didn¡¯t recognize the man before her, her reddened eyes fixated on him. Her lips were pressed tightly together, her face still stinging from the p. Li Beiting¡¯s hold on her hand loosened; he had not expected that, in a moment of impulsiveness, he would¡­ hit her. The surrounding silence was so profound that Weiwei could even hear Li Beiting¡¯s rapid breathing. Silence, a deathlike stillness. Weiwei¡¯s shoulders trembled, her lips shook, Li Beiting¡­ he hadid hands on her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Weiwei, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Li Beiting apologized, his eyes brimming with regret. Weiwei shook off his hand, acting as if she didn¡¯t recognize him. She stepped back, not wanting to get close to him, not in the slightest! ¡°Li Beiting, you really despise me, don¡¯t you?¡± Weiwei slowly calmed down. Her face still hurt, and by now, there must be the imprint of a palm on her cheek. Li Beiting¡¯s gaze lingered on her face, his heart aching so much he wanted to approach her.
But Weiwei wouldn¡¯t let him near; he moved one step forward, she stepped one back. ¡°Weiwei, listen to me, let¡¯s go to the academic affairs office and change your major. There¡¯s no use studying this subject.¡± ¡°Li Beiting!¡± Yu Weiwei interrupted him, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Does my choice of major have anything to do with you?¡± ¡°If you¡­¡±
¡°If I insist on it we break up, right? Li Beiting, you¡¯ve said it many times before; alright, then today I¡¯ll tell you, we can break up if you want, I¡¯m not keen on it!¡± Previously, every time this topic came up, Li Beiting would say ¡°break up.¡± Weiwei, being quite straightforward, wouldughingly say, ¡°Beiting, I just like this subject. Passion is the best teacher, I¡¯m sure I can be an expert in the field one day¡±! Many times, Li Beiting would get angry, but she wouldugh it off and coax him into letting go. But this time, she didn¡¯t feel like cating him, she was tired! ¡°Li Beiting, being with you is truly exhausting. If you really cared for me, these trivial things wouldn¡¯t matter. Your concern shows that you don¡¯t truly love me!¡± ¡°Since high school, you¡¯ve always forbidden me to do this and that. Fine, I¡¯m tired, let¡¯s break up then.¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei!¡± Li Beiting shouted coldly, ¡°I forbid you to do this or that, but when have you ever listened? In the end, you still do as you please!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t stand it? If you can¡¯t stand it, I didn¡¯t ask you to look. Alright then, today you¡¯ll get your wish, let¡¯s break up! You¡¯ve been wanting to break up for a while now, having a girlfriend like me is embarrassing, isn¡¯t it?!¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, don¡¯t be unreasonable!¡± ¡°I¡¯m being unreasonable? Who the hell came over, without a word, and threw all my books into the river?¡± Weiwei was really furious, trembling with anger while talking to Li Beiting. She knew if there was a mirror in front of her, her appearance would certainly be unpleasant. But she didn¡¯t care anymore.
If Li Beiting had long wanted to break up, then so be it. You can¡¯t force love. ¡°Li Beiting, I know you¡¯ve been looking down on me for days. So today, let me make it clear to you, no matter what, I won¡¯t change my major!¡± Weiwei usually indulged Li Beiting. When he casually mentioned breaking up, she would just smile and let it go. But today, it was different. Why, why should Li Beiting get to p her? Just because she chose this major? Since he had long wanted to break up, then fine, let¡¯s break up. It¡¯s not a big deal. ¡°Yu Weiwei, just calm down a moment, I did this because¡­¡± ¡°You did it for my own good? I¡¯ve heard it countless times, I don¡¯t want to listen anymore! If you really cared for me, you would support me, not treat my choices with such an attitude!¡± Usually, Weiwei hardly ever argued with Li Beiting. She believed that since they were together in a loving rtionship, they should understand and tolerate each other. But she never expected Li Beiting to be so unreasonable! So, once they started arguing, Li Beiting was no match for Weiwei! ¡°Li Beiting, since things have already been said, let¡¯s break up. Starting from today, don¡¯te to the school to see me, don¡¯t call me, and don¡¯t interfere with me again! Do you hear me?!¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, don¡¯t be so obstinate, I said, let¡¯s talk this over properly.¡±
¡°Talk? Talk about what? Changing majors? I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°You¡¯d still not change it even if we break up?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, think it through!¡± ¡°What is there to think through? I¡¯ve always been clear about where I stand! If it means that much to you, let¡¯s break up, Li Beiting, you think I really care that much about you?¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, are you seriously saying you want to break up?¡± ¡°Breaking up has always been your suggestion, I¡¯m just fulfilling your long-standing wish now. That¡¯s it, let¡¯s break up. After breaking up, I can find a new boyfriend.¡± Weiwei spoke indifferently, ¡°There are so many guys around my age at our school, many of whom pursue me. I don¡¯t need to be with an old man like you. Honestly, I¡¯m fed up with you.¡± Chapter 438: 438: From Now On, We’ll Never Meet Again Chapter 438: From Now On, We¡¯ll Never Meet Again ¡°Li Beiting, ever since high school, you¡¯ve been controlling me, forbidding me from pursuing this major. When have you ever respected me? We¡¯ve fought over this for two years. Let¡¯s just call it quits today; if it¡¯s over, it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei¡­¡± Li Beiting called her name helplessly. He simply couldn¡¯t argue with Yu Weiwei; every time he tried to speak, the words he wanted to say were interrupted by her. ¡°Enough, Li Beiting. Be a man and speak inly. Starting today, let¡¯s not see each other again!¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t give Li Beiting any chance to retort. Originally, he was the one who pursued her, but repeatedly, he was the one who brought up breaking up. She, Yu Weiwei, had had enough. And today, his actions were even more outrageous. Without saying a word, he had thrown her books into the river, showing no respect for her feelings. ¡°Yu Weiwei, don¡¯t be so unreasonable. I told you not to study this major for a reason. You¡¯re a girl, what will people think if you study this?¡± ¡°Li Beiting, are you still living in thest century? What¡¯s wrong with this major? Please take science seriously! Let me tell you, there are lots of girls in our ss; are you saying they can¡¯t all get married? Don¡¯t think that I, Yu Weiwei, won¡¯t be wanted by anyone else after leaving you.¡± ¡°Fine, Yu Weiwei, you¡¯re capable, you¡¯re beautiful. After breaking up with me, there will be a bunch of guys chasing after you, right?¡±
¡°Yes, breaking up is my freedom! I¡¯ve had enough of this life! With you, there¡¯s no such thing as freedom! After we break up, I can focus on my studies, follow what I desire, and have a beautiful romance. So, the sooner we break up, the better off I¡¯ll be.¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, have you been thinking about breaking up for a long time now?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve wanted to break up for a long time!¡± ¡°Fine, if to you it¡¯s a relief, then let¡¯s break up.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, let¡¯s be clear, from now on, please Mr. Li, don¡¯te looking for Yu Weiwei at the Medical College. Did you hear me?¡± ¡°Heh, after breaking up, why would I bother to look for you? Let¡¯s never see each other again!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s words were emphatic, tinged with clear anger. But, as soon as he uttered thest few words, Li Beiting¡¯s heart began to ache. Yu Weiwei was stunned too, as if another p had struck her face. Time stood still, and no sound could be heard around them. After a long, long time, Yu Weiwei finally spoke. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s never see each other again for a lifetime. We agreed, whoever goes back on their word is a dog.¡± For some reason, Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice choked as she said this. What¡¯s a lifetime anyway? Who you spend it with doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re living it. She really was fed up with Li Beiting! ¡°Then let¡¯s break up,¡± Li Beiting said, regaining hisposure. His deep eyes stared at Yu Weiwei, but he couldn¡¯t see any reluctance in her eyes. Perhaps, just as she wished, after their breakup, a bunch of guys were indeed waiting in line for her. Perhaps she really had the intention to break up all along.
¡°From now on, let¡¯s never see each other again,¡± Yu Weiwei said with a coldugh. The summer breeze stirred the leaves, the leaves whimpered, the sun set in the west ¨C when would it return? Birds flew carefreely, ripples asionally disturbed the water¡¯s surface, the surroundings were as picturesque as a painting, serene as water. However, neither Li Beiting¡¯s nor Yu Weiwei¡¯s heart was at peace.
After uttering thest eight words, Yu Weiwei grabbed her backpack and ran off. From now on, let¡¯s never see each other again. Please, Mr. Li, do note to the Medical College looking for Yu Weiwei again. Yu Weiwei ran over the fallen leaves, and with her footsteps, the leaves rustled, but the sound grew fainter and fainter¡­ Until it was no longer heard. Her figure also gradually blended into a dot¡­ He remembered she was wearing a blue dress that day. A few dayster, when Li Beiting called Yu Weiwei again, the voice on the other end of the phone announced, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off.¡± Later, he visited her school many times, always standing silently in the distance, watching her. He never blocked her number, but she truly never called him again. Her life seemed to return to normal; sheughed with ssmates about gossip, discussed academia with her advisers. Many times, he saw her walking shoulder to shoulder with the same boy, behaving very intimately. Afterward, he stopped visiting the school¡­ Until two years post-breakup, at a dance, his family introduced Mi Fei to him.
It was not that Mi Fei was particrly outstanding, nor was sheckluster. Seeing the eager eyes of his parents, he decided to give dating Mi Fei a try. He used to think that forever, he¡¯d have no more to do with Yu Weiwei. Sure enough, from the time they split, they had never met again. He used to think he would just live a in life forever. Until, Xu Chaomu returned, and it was as if his ashen heart was reignited. Turns out, everything can circle back to the beginning. ¡­ The sun was still scorching, Li Beiting¡¯s convertible was driving as he encountered several red lights. Every time he hit a red light, Li Beiting felt particrly impatient, even the summer breeze from the convertible top couldn¡¯t soothe his heart. Yu Weiwei¡¯s little BMW shed past in front, Li Beiting felt anxious, but with red lights ahead, there was nothing he could do. As soon as the red light turned green, Li Beiting stepped on the gas and sped off. But Yu Weiwei¡¯s car turned a corner and suddenly disappeared from sight. Li Beiting looked for a while but couldn¡¯t find Yu Weiwei¡¯s car.
Just as he was about to turn the corner in disappointment and head in another direction, a ck Mercedes blocked his way. He was very familiar with this Mercedes. It was Mi Fei¡¯s father¡¯s car, indeed, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat at this moment was Mi Fei¡¯s father. And in the passenger seat was Mi Fei herself. The car came to a halt, and Mi Fei smiled and rolled down her window: ¡°Beiting, what a coincidence, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here. Aren¡¯t you going to thepany today?¡± Li Beiting replied indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m meeting a client.¡± ¡°You must be busy, right? My dad is taking me to a party, would you like to join us?¡± ¡°No, the client is waiting for me,¡± Li Beiting declined calmly. ¡°Okay, then you be busy,¡± Mi Fei smiled and waved her hand. However, the middle-aged man driving kept a stern expression and remained silent. As Li Beiting¡¯s car brushed past the ck Mercedes, the driver¡¯s window suddenly lowered. ¡°Beiting,¡± the man said in a deep voice. ¡°Uncle,¡± Li Beiting greeted respectfully.
¡°Is thepany keeping you very busytely? Why haven¡¯t I seen your secretary?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit busy, my secretary is at the office helping with work.¡± ¡°Oh, well, what a coincidence, my secretary just called me, saying there¡¯s a document that needs to be reviewedter, regarding the project that the Li and Mi families are coborating on.¡± Chapter 439: 439 A Lifetime Together Chapter 439: A Lifetime Together ¡°Okay, Uncle Mi, I understand,¡± ¡°He might have already arrived at yourpany. Look, can you make some time to go there now? After all, this material is very important. I can only be at ease if it passes through your hands,¡± The man in the driver¡¯s seat of the Mercedes showed little emotion, but his presencemanded respect. His personality was quite different from the Mi Fei beside him. Li Beiting clearly felt troubled inside. He needed to find Yu Weiwei, but he couldn¡¯t neglect the project either. ¡°Beiting, is there a problem? If it¡¯s troublesome, I can call my secretary and have him go another day,¡± The man didn¡¯t show any dissatisfaction, but his words applied invisible pressure on Li Beiting, sentence by sentence. After weighing his options, Li Beiting agreed. ¡°There¡¯s no trouble. I¡¯ll make a trip now, so there¡¯s no need to bother your secretary to make another,¡± ¡°Good.¡± The man in the driver¡¯s seat nodded gravely, ¡°Then I¡¯m sorry to trouble Beiting to go back once more,¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite, Uncle Mi,¡± Li Beiting said with a faint smile. It was at this moment that Mi Fei eximed in surprise, ¡°Beiting, why is your hand bleeding?¡±
She threw open the passenger door without a second thought, jumping out of the car and walking toward Li Beiting. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just hurt myself by ident,¡± he said. Li Beiting dodged, not wanting her to see his wound. Instead, Mi Fei peered through the window, her face filled with tension and anxiety. ¡°Beiting, how can you be so careless? Look at you, not even treating your wound. It¡¯s summer; you could get an infection,¡± Mi Fei frowned, clearly worried. She took out a pale yellow handkerchief from her bag and leaned through the window to dress Li Beiting¡¯s wound. Li Beiting had no choice but to open the car door. As soon as the door opened, Mi Fei leaned over to bandage him. It was not that serious¡ªthe blood had already dried; it was just unsightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Feifei, I can do it myself,¡± ¡°How can you do it by yourself? Let me do it. Next time be more careful and don¡¯t worry me,¡± With her head lowered, Mi Fei earnestly tended to his wound. Her delicate hands glided over his arm, and Li Beiting instinctively wanted to withdraw it. A faint scent of iris wafted from Mi Fei, and when she leaned close, he could smell it particrly clearly. He wanted to escape, but could not. ¡°There, it¡¯s done. It¡¯s just unsightly; don¡¯t mind it,¡± Mi Fei said with a smile. Li Beiting looked down to see the thin handkerchief wrapped around the injured area. He smiled faintly, ¡°Go ahead with your dad to the party,¡±
¡°Don¡¯t work too hard, and remember to call me if you get tired,¡± Mi Fei said with a smile. Her smile was pure and elegant, without any pretense, and under the bright sunlight, it was captivating. Li Beiting nodded. Just when Li Beiting thought Mi Fei was about to leave, suddenly, she bent down and nted a light kiss on his cheek, fleeting like a dragonfly touching water.
That kiss was brief, but Li Beiting was momentarily lost. Mi Fei was ady of high breeding; although she had studied abroad, her behavior was never unrestrained. Yet now, in full view of the public, in front of her father, she gently kissed him. It wasn¡¯t much, but Li Beiting was caught off guard and lost in thought. His gaze met hers, and in her eyes, he saw mirth like the blooming of spring flowers, vivacious and enchanting. A blush crept over her face, and she waved goodbye with a smile, ¡°Then I¡¯m off. Don¡¯t overwork yourself. When you have time, we should go take wedding pictures,¡± Before Li Beiting could speak, Mi Fei coyly closed the car door for him. She ran back to her father¡¯s car where the man in the driver¡¯s seat still wore a stern expression. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go,¡± Mi Fei said with a smile. ¡°M-hm,¡± her father¡¯s face remained impassive as he started the car, preparing to leave. Mi Fei waved at Li Beiting continuously, the sunlight making her pure and beautiful features even more stunning. Li Beiting had always acknowledged that Mi Fei was beautiful, sensible, gentle, from a good family, and well-educated. However, a wife is someone to spend a lifetime with.
Toward her, he alwayscked that one crucial feeling. The ck Mercedes drove off, leaving Li Beiting¡¯s Maserati stationary in its ce. Once the car had been gone for a while, the middle-aged man on the driver¡¯s seat finally spoke indifferently, ¡°Do you like him a lot?¡± Hugging her purse, Mi Fei was clearly a bit unhappy. She looked down, silently fiddling with a rabbit charm on her bag. Silence filled the car, and the man sighed. ¡°Feifei, Li Beiting is a good man, but if he can¡¯t let go of his ex-girlfriend, I suggest you back out. Today, I was able to intervene on your behalf, to make him give up chasing after that girl, but I can¡¯t do that for you for the rest of your life,¡± ¡°Dad, over this year that I¡¯ve known him, he hardly ever mentions his ex-girlfriend. But I don¡¯t know why,tely, he¡¯s been acting strangely,¡± ¡°Maybe, with the wedding approaching, he¡¯se to realize his own heart,¡± the man said coldly. ¡°Dad, Beiting is not that kind of person. Maybe it¡¯s just a moment of impulse. I believe in him,¡± ¡°What do you believe about him?¡± the man scoffed, ¡°If someone hadn¡¯t told me today that his car was parked near the research institute for a very long time, would you still think he was over his ex-girlfriend?¡± Mi Fei looked down, rendered speechless by her father¡¯s words. ¡°Feifei, I will have someone keep an eye on him,¡± Mi Fei¡¯s father said with a stern and cold expression.
¡°Dad, Beiting will definitely take the bigger picture into ount. As for his ex-girlfriend, his parents will surely not ept her, so we don¡¯t need to worry too much,¡± ¡°Feifei, you are still so young,¡± the man said gravely. ¡°Okay, okay, Dad, I get it,¡± ¡°Keep a close eye on your man,¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Mi Fei stuck out her tongue and winked, ¡°Dad, isn¡¯t this how mom always keeps an eye on you?¡± ¡°Stop fooling around,¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Mi Fei giggled. She yed with the rabbit charm on her bag, her mood slightly lifting. By the time the ck Mercedes had driven far away, Li Beiting¡¯s car was still parked at the same spot. His hands clenched the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. The hot summer wind blew in through the window, across his face, stirring unrest in his heart. What should he do, what could he do¡­ With Mi Fei¡¯s pale yellow handkerchief still wrapped around his hand, he looked down, unwound it, and threw it out of the window.
The handkerchief was caught by the wind, like a withered leaf, spinning slowly as it fell to the ground. Before long, the handkerchiefid covered with ayer of dust, quietly resting in a corner. A pained expression crossed Li Beiting¡¯s face; he frowned deeply, and without a word, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. He picked up his phone and dialed that familiar number. He knew that the call would always be met with that mechanical female voice, ¡°Hello, the phone you are trying to reach is switched off.¡± ¡°Weiwei¡­ Weiwei¡­¡± His voice choked up as he called her name, missing her more than ever. Cars swirled around him like a river of steel and a parade of horses, but at this moment, it seemed he could even hear his own heartbeat, chaotic and out of rhythm. Chapter 440: 440: Alternatively, Perish Together Chapter 440: Alternatively, Perish Together Just at this time, a ck Maybach pulled up. The window of the Maybach slowly descended, revealing Shen Chi¡¯s lips, which faintly hooked at the corners. He drove his car next to Li Beiting¡¯s, resting an arm on the window. ¡°Miss Mi has long gone. What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t bear to see her leave?¡± Shen Chi had just passed by this area and had seen everything. Though he couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, he saw all their actions clearly. He had seen Miss Mi Fei¡¯s father talking to Li Beiting,ter, she got out of the car to bandage Li Beiting¡¯s arm, and then¡­ Miss Mi Fei even gave Li Beiting a kiss. Li Beiting reined in his emotions; he was no longer the impulsive Li Beiting from five years ago. ¡°I was just pondering some issues,¡± Li Beiting said indifferently. ¡°Pondering issues? Fine, you keep pondering then; I won¡¯t disturb you,¡± Shen Chi couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. Clearly, Li Beiting was heavy with worries, yet he wouldn¡¯t speak of them.
So let him stew in them. Just as Shen Chi was about to raise the car window, Li Beiting gave him a look. ¡°Shen Chi, I have a question for you.¡± Shen Chi leaned backzily in his seat, tilting his head to look at Li Beiting, his voice uncaring as he uttered a single word, ¡°Ask.¡± ¡°If Chaomu doesn¡¯te back, whom will you marry?¡± After Li Beiting¡¯s question, silence enveloped them. Shen Chi remained silent for a long time before he finally spoke softly, ¡°I am grateful that she has returned, at this time that isn¡¯t toote.¡± Although she had returned pregnant with another¡¯s child, the fact that she had returned was his greatest fortune. Compared to life and death, this already counted as divine favor. He still remembered the moment Xiao Mo pointed to a pile of bones and told him that they belonged to Xu Chaomu. That was the ultimate despair in life. Therefore, he was grateful that she hade back. Everything else, he didn¡¯t care about. Li Beiting knew Shen Chi was sly as a fox and would never answer his questions directly. ¡°Li Beiting, drive your car to Weiyang. I have something to tell you,¡± Shen Chi said tly. After speaking, he closed the car window. It was unnecessary to have their conversation on the street. Starting the car, Shen Chi turned the steering wheel first and drove off. Not long after, he saw Yu Weiwei¡¯s research institute, imposingly built, with eye-catching and lively advertisements. Li Beiting had been looking for a ce to calm his mind. Weiyang seemed perfect.
Both cars, one following the other, drove down the road. One ck, steady andposed; the other red, passionate like fire. Soon, the two cars entered Weiyang¡¯s premises. As it happened, Ji Shengxuan wasn¡¯t there today, so Shen Chi took Li Beiting into his VIP room.
Shen Chi nonchntly opened a bottle of wine and poured a ss for Li Beiting. The red liquid slowly streamed down the transparent ss walls, shining like glittering rubies under the light. Li Beiting took the wine and drank quietly, without speaking. ¡°If you have worries, just talk. Is there still a need for secrets between us?¡± Shen Chi nced at Li Beiting. He held his wine and leaned against the couch, gently swirling the ss, his sharp eyes observing Li Beiting¡¯s facial expressions. ¡°Shen Chi, what do you think of Mi Fei?¡± ¡°Quite good, gentle and thoughtful.¡± Shen Chi had met Mi Fei a few times; these were his general impressions of her. ¡°Then you¡­¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Shen Chi interrupted, ¡°There are two types of marriages: one where you marry the person you love and grow old together; the other, you marry someone you don¡¯t love and let the rtionship develop gradually. Weigh it for yourself.¡± Shen Chi clearly understood Li Beiting¡¯s worries. He had gone through the same experiences, how could he not understand Li Beiting? ¡°Li Beiting, if you marry Mi Fei, then give up on Yu Weiwei. If you¡¯re unwilling to marry Mi Fei, then muster the courage to win back Yu Weiwei,¡± said Shen Chi in a resolute tone, his voice low and forceful.
¡°You¡¯ve seen through it,¡± Li Beiting sheepishly admitted. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯ve known each other for over twenty years.¡± ¡°When I broke up with Weiwei back then, I had my difficulties, of course, I was also provoked by her,¡± Li Beiting said bitterly. ¡°Weigh it for yourself,¡± Shen Chi repeated. This time, it was Li Beiting¡¯s turn to be silent. In truth, he understood, but many things were difficult to bnce. The breakup with Yu Weiwei back then had been partly due to pressure from his parents. Li¡¯s father had made it clear that if Yu Weiwei did not change her major, they would break up. Otherwise, he would make sure the Yu family could not stay in all of C City. Yu Weiwei¡¯s family was just an ordinary working-ss household; Li Beiting had weighed his options for a long time before deciding to have a serious talk with Yu Weiwei. Yet Yu Weiwei never allowed him the chance to have a proper discussion. Every time he brought up changing majors, Yu Weiwei was adamant. Unyielding, absolutely refusing to change. There was no room for negotiation. She said they would never meet again from then on.
That separationsted an entire three years. The room fell into silence, Li Beiting furrowed his brow deeply, while Shen Chi remainedposed. After a long while, Li Beiting finally lifted his head and looked at Shen Chi. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say earlier that you had something to tell me? What is it?¡± ¡°I need your help.¡± ¡°Help between brothers doesn¡¯t need pleasantries. Just say it.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo found out for me that Shen Shihan has a shipment arriving at C City¡¯s seaport docks soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Shen¡¯s shipment?¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Chi sipped his wine. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°If I send people to watch, it will surely arouse his suspicion, so I need you to find someone to keep an eye on it for me. Report back to me immediately if anything happens.¡± Li Beiting understood all too well that the unfinished business between Shen Chi and Shen Shihan was yet to be settled. If not for Shen Shihan, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t have separated from Xu Chaomu for an entire five years.
Moreover, five years ago, Xu Chaomu narrowly escaped death, almost parting with Shen Chi forever. ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± Li Beiting nodded. ¡°Shen Shihan¡¯s dealings are illegal; one day, I will find all his dens,¡± Shen Chi dered. ¡°And then, round them all up in one swoop?¡± Shen Chi said no more; if such a day truly came, would it be a matter of life and death, or perhaps¡­ mutual destruction? These were things one couldn¡¯t predict. ¡°For now, let¡¯s start with this shipment,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes deepened, his voice low and powerful. ¡°Whatever you need, just let me know.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The two of them discussed the uing operation and specific strategies in a low voice, with Shen Chi sketching out the specific position and general shape of the dock on a piece of paper. Pointing out the directions¡ªnorth, south, east, and west¡ªShen Chi clearly marked for Li Beiting where to enter and where to exit. This was thergest dock in C City, teeming with mixed characters. If they could catch a few of Shen Shihan¡¯s men this time, they might be able to trace back and find all his dens. By then, he would go with the police to catch the culprits. But, Shen Shihan was a man of meticulous thoughts, definitely cautious in his actions. Hence, Shen Chi must also act carefully. After a lengthy discussion, Li Beiting memorized the routes and strategies in his head. Chapter 441: 441: How Many Times in a Night? Chapter 441: How Many Times in a Night? ¡°Shen Chi, you need to be careful too. What you can think of, Shen Shihan might not fail to consider,¡± said Li Beiting. ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi nodded. ¡°Take good care of Chaomu,¡± Li Beiting patted Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I will.¡± The mistake he made five years ago, he wouldn¡¯t repeat. She was his everything. If she could love him with her life, then he, too, could protect her with his. Having said that, Shen Chi took out a lighter and set the paper, which had the routes and ns drawn on it, on fire. The mes danced, and the white paper burned bit by bit. ¡°Shen Chi, I made mistakes back then too. I advised Chaomu to leave you¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past,¡± Shen Chi responded quite calmly, ¡°after all, you were standing in my shoes.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t understand your feelings before, but now, I do. What could be better than spending a lifetime with the person you deeply love?¡± Li Beiting sighed deeply. ¡°Yes, no matter the harsh wind, frost, rain or snow, as long as she¡¯s there, it¡¯s enough,¡± said Shen Chi, his eyes deep, his stern faceposed and steady.
Her smile was the best scenery in the world, something he never tired of looking at. Joining hands, fingers intertwined. This life alone is sufficient. Inside the Weiyang Club, the two of them drank several bottles of red wine together again. As they talked, they became more and more open with each other. After a few sses of red wine, Shen Chi looked around the opulent Weiyang Club and couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Beiting, so many years have passed, Ji Shengxuan has everything, yet he still isn¡¯t married,¡± he said. The Weiyang Club was the most famous club in C City, frequented by the rich and powerful. Not only the Weiyang Club, but Ji Shengxuan had his hands on several other business chains, owning billions in assets. This young man had the skill and courage, and no one in the higher circles dared to provoke Ji Shengxuan. Therefore, even though the Weiyang Club had had countless disputes, Ji Shengxuan could easily settle all of them. ¡°Not only is he unmarried, but you also never hear any scandals about him,¡± Li Beiting said with augh. ¡°He sure can endure solitude and desirelessness,¡± Shen Chi said with a smirk. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the same?¡± Speaking of these things, the two men lost their seriousness. Li Beiting was the first to speak: ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re twenty-eight this year, have you ever touched a woman?¡± ¡°Stop messing around,¡± Shen Chi replied coldly. He picked up his ss and took a sip of red wine. ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, you can speak out, and only I would know. Aren¡¯t we brothers who can talk about anything?¡± Li Beiting was somewhat tipsy, and he simply moved to sit beside Shen Chi.
¡°Brothers don¡¯t talk about that.¡± ¡°Why not? Are you shy? Oh¡­ I get it. You must have never touched a woman.¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense,¡± Shen Chi said with a face as stiff as a board. In fact, Shen Chi did feel quite uneasy talking about this.
He had touched a woman, but that woman¡­ Just thinking about what happened more than two months ago made him extremely uneasy. It was the anniversary of his marriage to Xu Chaomu, but¡­ With a frown, he irritably unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re twenty-eight, not eighteen. What¡¯s there to hide? There¡¯s no one else here, just us two. I¡¯m telling you, nowadays little guys at sixteen or seventeen have been with women. Big brother, you see so many women every day, don¡¯t you have any physical reactions?¡± Li Beiting, slightly drunk, slung an arm around Shen Chi¡¯s neck. Shen Chi unceremoniously pushed his arm away and asked without any courtesy, ¡°So, by that logic, you, President Li, must have been with a woman at sixteen or seventeen, right?¡± ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m a person of integrity.¡± ¡°Then that settles it, I¡¯m also a person of integrity.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mood improved greatly, ¡°after all, the women surrounding you are countless. What kind don¡¯t you have?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t all women the same? Of course, my Mumu is the exception,¡± Shen Chi said, with the corners of his lips curved up, a smile ying on his face without a sound. Li Beiting was truly soured by that remark, tsk tsk, it seemed this man really only had eyes for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Tsk tsk, but you still haven¡¯t answered my question, have you ever been with a woman? Don¡¯t tell me, at twenty-eight you¡¯re still a virgin¡­¡± ¡°Get lost.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not right either. Xu Chaomu is so sticky with you; five years ago, or even earlier, you must have slept with her, right?¡± ¡°Do I look like someone who would sleep with an underage girl?¡± ¡°You have the face of a hypocritical beast,¡± Li Beiting said with augh. At this moment, he was really feeling much better. Several sses of wine downed, he and Shen Chi got into unabashed mode. ¡°Li Beiting, you seem quite confident, maybe you¡¯ve had plenty of women? Tell me, how many a week?¡± ¡°What do you take me for, Shen Chi? As you know, I¡¯ve always been an upright gentleman.¡± ¡°Really? You have the face of a hypocritical beast,¡± Shen Chi mimicked him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you; have you been with a woman or not?¡± Li Beiting prodded his arm. ¡°Stop annoying me.¡± Shen Chi felt troubled recalling the events of a little more than two months ago¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t really have some issue, do you? At your age, it wouldn¡¯t be strange to change women every day.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, will you ever stop your nonsense?¡± Shen Chi grew angry.
¡°If there¡¯s a problem,e to the Sunshine Institute. I know people there, you¡¯ll get a discount.¡± ¡°Well then, Li Beiting, let me ask you, how many times a night? How long does each timest?¡± It was Li Beiting¡¯s turn to facepalm. Shen Chi was so direct, it was written all over his animalistic face in big bold letters ¡°SHAMELESS.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this¡­¡± ¡°Looks like you can¡¯t do it? You should stop by the Sunshine Institute sometime.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re the one who can¡¯t do it!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You¡¯re the one who started being shameless,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m serious with you, since you and Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t have anything five years ago, now that she¡¯s back, have you two done that thing?¡± Another ss of wine and Li Beiting¡¯s mood got even better. Hearing Li Beiting talk about this, Shen Chi was truly fuming. They were married, he had held her, kissed her, slept in the same bed, but he had never once taken Xu Chaomu. Seeing the shift in Shen Chi¡¯s expression, Li Beiting guessed a bit of the truth. ¡°Still saying you have no problem?¡± Li Beiting mocked.
¡°Xu Chaomu¡¯s damn pregnant for over two months, how could I touch her?¡± Shen Chi blurted out angrily. Li Beiting jumped, startled by the outburst. Li Beiting quickly took his ss away from Shen Chi. After all, Xu Chaomu returned this time two months pregnant. The resentment in Shen Chi¡¯s heart, probably, only a man could understand. The girl who clung to him for eight years suddenly, one day, slept with another man and even had a child¡­ If it were him, he¡¯d feel no better. Shen Chi¡¯s hand holding the ss trembled, probably, this was the most nauseating thing to him. Raising his head, he downed the ss of red wine in his hand. ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t me Chaomu or do anything rash,¡± cautioned Li Beiting. Li Beiting knew this man was domineering; now that his wife was carrying another man¡¯s child, who knows, one day in a drunk rage, he might do something impulsive. Chapter 442: 442: Who is the First Woman? Chapter 442: Who is the First Woman? ¡°What did I do impulsively?¡± Shen Chi asked with no expression on his face, ¡°I told her I would treat her child as if he were my own.¡± ¡°You really think you can do that?¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± The promises he made to her, there were few he couldn¡¯t keep. ¡°So, you don¡¯t have anyints in your heart? I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Li Beiting shook his head. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t believe in Shen Chi, but as a normal man, it seemed impossible to be so open-hearted. Shen Chi fell silent,zily swaying his wine ss, leaningfortably on the sofa without speaking. Li Beiting understood, a man like Shen Chi had always been the pride of the heavens, getting whatever he wanted. Yet¡­ After a long time, Shen Chi shot over a cold look. Li Beiting shivered. What was that supposed to mean? ¡°Mind your own business, nosy parker,¡± Shen Chi said in a cool and indifferent tone.
¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched. The room fell silent for a while, but Li Beiting couldn¡¯t help but speak up again. He had been drinking, and naturally, he became more talkative. ¡°Let¡¯s change the subject to women,¡± Li Beiting shamelessly said, ¡°Apart from your Xu Chaomu, what kind of woman do you like? A beautiful one? Or one with a good figure? Or a smart one?¡± ¡°Like my Mumu.¡± ¡°I said, apart from your Xu Chaomu.¡± ¡°Then forget it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting was at a loss for words; he felt that it had be impossible tomunicate with this man. In the past, when the guys got together, they could talk about women. Now, Shen Chi only had Xu Chaomu in his eyes. ¡°Li Beiting, don¡¯t just talk about me, who was your first woman?¡± Li Beiting fell silent. Who else could it be? The lighting in the room was a bit dim, and suddenly he remembered something that happened four years ago. Four years ago in June, it was right after Yu Weiwei finished her high school exams. That kind of summer always carried a faint restlessness. Students post-exams are always at their most frenzied. Thus, there were shredded test papers littering the floors, as lonely as snowkes. In the summer, the trees were green, the cicadas noisy. Ziwei flowers bloomed in clusters, and the petals of the oleander fell all over the ground, the lotuses in the school pond also bloomed. Everywhere was filled with the rich scent of summer.
Thest exam was biology, Yu Weiwei¡¯s favorite subject. After the test, it was five in the afternoon. Yu Weiwei walked while ripping her textbooks, test papers, and study guides to shreds. ¡°Ohahaha, I¡¯m finally done with exams, university, here Ie!¡±
Yu Weiwei was brimming with confidence, especially about thest biology test¡ªshe was sure she would score high! Li Beiting was the one waiting outside the exam hall to pick her up. As soon as the exam-ending bell rang, all the students poured out like a swarm of bees. Cheers were everywhere! The papers this year were generally not very difficult, and everyone seemed very confident. Yu Weiwei was in the crowd, tearing up textbooks. Li Beiting approached her and said with a smile, ¡°Stop littering.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so happy; exams are finally over, I¡¯m liberated!¡± Yu Weiwei spun aroundughing. She balled up all her test papers and kicked them around joyfully. ¡°To hell with English, and damn mathematics, goodbye! I don¡¯t have to look after you anymore!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t throw them all away, just in case you have to retake the year, you¡¯ll have to buy them again,¡± Li Beiting said. ¡°Go away!¡± Yu Weiweiughed as she hit Li Beiting, ¡°No pearlsing out of a dog¡¯s mouth!¡± That evening Yu Weiwei looked especially pretty, radiating the purity and beauty unique to neen-year-olds. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail, she carried the most student-like backpack, and did what others her age would do.
As she walked out of school alongside Li Beiting, on an impulse, she threw her arms around his neck. ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯m so happy today. Treat me to a meal.¡± ¡°Sure, what do you want to eat?¡± By that time, Li Beiting had been pursuing Yu Weiwei for a year. They were somewhat boyfriend and girlfriend, except that Yu Weiwei wouldn¡¯t admit it out loud. ¡°The most expensive thing!¡± ¡°The expensive stuff isn¡¯t tasty.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, are you stingy, huh? Are you?!¡± ¡°Really, the expensive stuff isn¡¯t tasty.¡± ¡°Then take me to a bar, I want to drink. I need to celebrate, finally no more seeing that old witch of a headteacher!¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you to a bar just this once. But remember, you can¡¯t drink too much.¡± ¡°So noisy, Li Beiting, you¡¯re fussy than that old witch.¡± ¡°But, I¡¯ll take you there on one condition¡ªyou have to tell me, who am I to you, hmm?¡± Li Beiting was also in an exceptional good mood that day, wrapping his arm around Yu Weiwei¡¯s waist as they strolled along the school paths.
Even though he graduated a long time ago, that feeling seemed to return. ¡°You¡¯re my second uncle,¡± Yu Weiwei beamed radiantly. ¡°What second uncle, be good, or you¡¯re going for hot and spicy skewers.¡± The ¡°second uncle¡± was just a story they made up; he never took it seriously, nor did Yu Weiwei. ¡°Second Uncle¡­¡± Yu Weiwei hooked her arm around his neck, ¡°The hot and spicy skewers aren¡¯t tasty, I want to y at the bar.¡± ¡°Then tell me, who am I to you?¡± ¡°Boyfriend, tehee,¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s cheeks flushed, feeling a bit shy. Li Beiting was very nice to her, and she depended on him a lot. Her family home was not far from Jinxiu Tianxia, and many times, it was Li Beiting who would pick her up and drop her off. Under the setting sun, she hooked her arm around his neck, her watery big eyes staring into his. The warm, orange light spilled over them, and Li Beiting couldn¡¯t resist, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. Normally very bold and carefree, Yu Weiwei felt even more embarrassed at that moment. She pushed him away, her cheeks burning red. ¡°Someone from school might see us.¡±
¡°So what, your ssmates probably have boyfriends already.¡± ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯m getting corrupted by you, is this considered puppy love?¡± ¡°In two months you¡¯ll be in university, no such thing as puppy love.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, I heard university is full of couples, it¡¯s a loss not to date.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to apply to universities outside of C City, otherwise, I¡¯ll drag you back to retake the year,¡± Li Beiting warned her. ¡°Take me to a nice bar, and I¡¯ll listen to you; otherwise¡­ I¡¯ll flee far away and get one, two, three, four, five, six, seven boyfriends.¡± ¡°Such a bold im.¡± Li Beiting grabbed Yu Weiwei¡¯s hand and pulled her towards his car. His car was parked not far from the exam hall, he walked in front, and she followed behind. Fingers intertwined, the evening sun serene and pleasant. Orange light cast upon the ground, the roadside camphor trees emitted a faint fragrance. Stepping on the leaves, they left the noisy exam hall behind. The mor gradually faded away as thest test ended, bringing to a close a student¡¯s era. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Li Beiting opened the door and shoved Yu Weiwei in. Yu Weiwei grumbled, ¡°Not a shred of gentlemanly behavior, you should say ¡®Miss Weiwei, please¡¯.¡± ¡°Get lost, another word and you¡¯re eating hot and spicy skewers.¡± Chapter 443: 443: Holding You Feels So Comfortable Chapter 443: Holding You Feels So Comfortable Yu Weiwei sat in his passenger seat, especially delighted. She looked around, now at the outside of the test center, now at Li Beiting, feeling very happy. ¡°Li Beiting, this is the first time I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯re actually quite handsome,¡± Yu Weiwei said with a joyful smile. That day, Li Beiting wore a white shirt, looking sunny and spirited. Mingled among the group of exam candidates, he didn¡¯t look any different from them. ¡°Are you blind, Yu Weiwei?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the blind one.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m blind too, otherwise why would I have fallen for you?¡± ¡°Regretting it?¡± ¡°No regrets, life is better with two blind people.¡± Having said that, Li Beitingughed and pinched her cheek. At that time, Yu Weiwei still had the unshed youthful air of a student on her face, something Li Beiting greatly adored.
¡°Taking advantage of me again,¡± Yu Weiwei pushed his hand away and snorted. Li Beiting started the car with augh, taking Yu Weiwei away from the test center. The setting sun slowly sank below the horizon, and thefortable evening breeze blew onto their faces, carrying the distinctive scent of summer. Throughout the entire senior year, Yu Weiwei had been buried in heavy books; now she could truly rx atst. She was in an exceptionally good mood, humming little tunes all the way. Knowing it was the first night after the college entrance exam, Li Beiting didn¡¯t say much and simply took her to a bar. ¡°Li Beiting, you¡¯re taking me to pull an all-nighter tonight.¡± ¡°Okay, but we¡¯ve agreed, no yelling, and no getting drunk.¡± ¡°Who are you to control me?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t look after you, who will? If you don¡¯t agree, then I won¡¯t take you.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I agree,¡± Yu Weiwei thought disdainfully to herself, ¡®Psh, just wait, I¡¯ll drink, and drink, and drink.¡¯ Li Beiting took her to a rather atmospheric bar, and they sat together drinking. Yu Weiwei was especially talkative; most of the time, it was her talking and him listening. He didn¡¯t mind her chattiness; he liked listening to her speak, especially seeing herugh. ¡°Li Beiting, what do you see in me?¡± When she had drunk a bit too much, Yu Weiwei rested her chin on her hands and stared at him. Those dazed, big eyes looked at him, glistening with a tipsy blur. ¡°Beautiful, elegant, gentle, well-read and reasonable.¡± ¡°You¡¯re blind.¡± ¡°Then why do you ask?¡± Li Beitingughed with a snort. What did he see in her? He couldn¡¯t pinpoint what was good about her, but he just liked her. Perhaps, this is the most pure form of love?
They drank and drank, not knowing what time it became. Yu Weiwei, in a hazy daze, squinted at the wall clock; it seemed to be eleven at night. She was drunk and slowly moved closer to Li Beiting. She rubbed her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
¡°Li Beiting, you¡¯re like a big tabby cat, it¡¯s sofortable to hold you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mouth twitched; it was his first time being described in such a way. If his buddies found out, he didn¡¯t know how much they would tease him. A big tabby cat? Where did he resemble one¡­ Li Beiting also drank quite a bit, but not as much as Yu Weiwei. At least, he still clearly recognized Yu Weiwei. But to Yu Weiwei, the Li Beiting of the moment was indeed a big tabby cat. She rubbed against him, and whether from heat or intoxication, her flushed face became even redder. ¡°Weiwei, are you drunk? I told you to drink less, but you didn¡¯t listen,¡± Li Beiting said as he looked down at her, his eyes gentle. ¡°No, I¡¯m not drunk. Don¡¯t nder me, big tabby cat¡ªI¡¯m very sober,¡± she said. ¡°Then tell me, who am I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a big tabby cat,¡± ¡°Huh? Take another look, who I am, what¡¯s my name. If you can¡¯t say it, you¡¯ll be punished.¡± Yu Weiwei opened her blurry eyes and looked up at him, ¡°You¡¯re just a big tabby cat¡­¡±
¡°¡­¡± Li Beiting was also tipsy. He leaned down, grabbed her little head, and nted a kiss on her lips as punishment. Caught off guard, Yu Weiwei nearly fell to the ground, but Li Beiting wrapped his arms around her waist. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Yu Weiwei tried to beat on his back with her hands to stop him from kissing her. But Li Beiting was not about to let her go, and the kiss deepened. At first, it lingered on the edges of her lips, but slowly, he delved deeper into her mouth¡­ When Yu Weiwei was in school, he had kissed her too, but always sneakily, because, as Yu Weiwei said, it was embarrassing. Li Beiting didn¡¯t believe it, could someone like Yu Weiwei actually be shy? His kisses left her in aplete mess, with Yu Weiwei¡¯s face flushed red as if aze¡­ Li Beiting was a bit intoxicated too, looking at her red cheeks, he became even more addicted. The unique fragrance of a young girl on her body also left him deeply intoxicated. After kissing for a long, long time, he finally let her go, but his big hands still pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Weiwei¡­ you still haven¡¯t said you love me¡­¡± Li Beiting teased her with a smile.
Yu Weiwei couldn¡¯t help butugh, drunkenly wrapping her arms around his neck, ¡°That¡¯s something women like to hear, you¡¯re a big man and still asking.¡± ¡°Is there a difference between men and women on this?¡± ¡°Of course, there is, I won¡¯t say it,¡± Yu Weiwei snorted coldly. ¡°I think you¡¯re not drunk,¡± Li Beiting lowered his head. Only a few centimeters apart, he could clearly see her long eyshes, and her cheeks, redder than cherries. As he leaned down, his warm breath brushed her face. Sheughed, ¡°Giggling,¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t drunk to begin with.¡± ¡°Not saying it? Really not saying it?¡± Li Beiting started to tickle her, and Yu Weiwei couldn¡¯t help butugh continuously, ¡°Giggling.¡± ¡°Weiwei, are you going to say it or not?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say it, I¡¯ll say it. Li Beiting, listen carefully, I, Yu Weiwei, love you very much. If you ever dare to do me wrong, I will chop you into pieces.¡± ¡°Say it again.¡± Li Beiting hadn¡¯t had enough. His eyes were fixed on her clear pupils, where he saw a miniaturized version of himself.
Times like these were very happy, very happy. ¡°Yu Weiwei loves Li Beiting.¡± ¡°Mmm, I love you too.¡± Li Beiting leaned down and kissed her red lips urately¡­ Later, he took her to a private room. Originally, it was to let her rest, but her hands clung to his neck like an octopus. ¡°Li Beiting¡­ Li Beiting¡­ they all say first love isn¡¯t reliable¡­¡± Yu Weiwei, half-conscious, hung on his neck and looked at him seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to what others say, use your own brain more. What do you think a head on your shoulders is for? If you just listen to what others say, you might as well not use your brain at all.¡± ¡°Then tell me, is it reliable or not¡­¡± ¡°I, Li Beiting, am not that kind of frivolous person.¡± ¡°Does bing frivolous mean you¡¯re not a person?¡± Yu Weiweiughed. ¡°Not a person? I like that one, I¡¯ll let you see what I¡¯m like when I¡¯m ¡®not a person¡¯¡­¡± Li Beiting jokingly put her on the bed, initially tickling her, while sheughed and rolled on the bed, begging for mercy. ¡°Li Beiting, all you know is to bully me, I hate it¡­¡± Chapter 444: 444: Deeply Sad and Heartbreaking Chapter 444: Deeply Sad and Heartbreaking ¡°Do you dare say I¡¯m not human?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a beast,¡± Yu Weiweiughed. The room was filled with Yu Weiwei¡¯s crisp and sweetughter, like the tinkling of silver bells. Latter on, it was unclear who took the initiative first, but their yfulness soon turned it into something more. Li Beiting kissed Yu Weiwei¡¯s cheeks and neck, fingers undoing the hair tie of her ponytail. Her ck hair spread out on the white bedsheets, and Li Beiting, not too drunk, found himself sinking deeper and deeper. Wet, scorching kissesnded on her neck, and initially, Yu Weiwei struggled a bit, but gradually, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Li Beiting¡¯s fingers undid the buttons of her shirt, one by one, from top to bottom¡­ ¡°Beiting, we agreed to be together forever.¡± ¡°Yeah, forever.¡± Yu Weiwei was no longer a child, she knew what he was going to do next.
Since she loved him, then she was willing¡­ She was willing to give herself to him, for a lifetime. Back then, love was very simple in her eyes. To love someone was to give it your all. Love was like a moth to a me, reckless and passionate. He kissed her, and that kiss was like the gentle rain of spring¡ªtender, passionate, burning, and enduring. Their clothes entangled, he sped her hands, kept kissing her, guiding her. She trembled anxiously beneath him, her face still flushed red. After a long time, when she was fully ready, he finally thrust. ¡°Beiting¡­ it hurts¡­¡± When he entered her, Yu Weiwei¡¯s brow furrowed in pain. She clung to Li Beiting¡¯s back, fingers almost digging into his skin. She clenched her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead from the pain. Li Beiting was no different, ayer of dense sweat appearing on his forehead and back as well. ¡°Weiwei¡­ rx a bit, rx¡­¡± Heforted her, his face close to her ear. ¡°Stop, please¡­ it¡¯s so painful¡­¡± She frowned, pping his back, the pain too much for words. ¡°Weiwei, it¡¯ll always hurt the first time. Just rx, I¡¯ll be gentle¡­¡± He kept kissing her, afraid to move and hurt her further. It was a long time before Li Beiting, after enduring for so long, when her pain lessened and she began to writhe beneath him, started to thrust with effort¡­ ¡°Beiting, be gentle¡­¡±
¡°Hmm¡­ Weiwei¡­¡± The room was filled with an enchanting atmosphere, tender and poignant, even the air was heavy with suggestive scents. The air conditioner blew cool air, humming softly, the summer night outside the private room exceptionally long. Cicadas chirped finely and continuously, the bright moonlight shone on the dark curtains, bathing them in brilliant moonlight.
The shadows of trees swayed, the clouds were light and ethereal. It was a summer night filled with countless joys and intoxication. Muchter, Yu Weiwei curled up in Li Beiting¡¯s embrace, her body coiled like an insecure kitten. Li Beiting gently patted her back, letting her rest peacefully in his arms. Under the dim light, he saw a trace of red on the pure white bedsheets. He held her even tighter, he had promised to treat her well for his whole life. ¡­ Shen Chi didn¡¯t know when he had lit up a cigarette; white smoke curled up in the VIP room. The smell of smoke brought Li Beiting back to reality, and he too reached for a cigarette from the table. Li Beiting then sat on the sofa in silence, somewhat dejectedly. ¡°I¡¯m asking you something, why don¡¯t you answer?¡± Shen Chi curled his lips. ¡°Who else could it be.¡± Li Beiting threw four words at him ndly. Shen Chi caught on immediately. Who else could it be indeed. But looking at everyone, it seemed like Shen Chi was the biggest loser.
The two of them smoked in silence for a while in the room. Just then, Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from Xiao Mo. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Shen Chi asked indifferently. ¡°Mr. Shen, where are you right now?¡± Xiao Mo lowered his voice. Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed: ¡°Weiyang.¡± ¡°You asked me to check on Jian Sisi, and recently I¡¯ve noticed she¡¯s been in close contact with a man. I¡¯ve checked her call records; she and this man often talk on the phe into the night.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Chi fell into thought, ¡°Who is this man?¡± ¡°A small business owner of a transportpany, apparently he used to be Jian Sisi¡¯s lover, named Zhuo Fan.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi scoffed coldly. ¡°Yes. Mr. Shen, I will keep watching them.¡± ¡°Mhm, keep a close watch, and take photos.¡± ¡°I know. Also, Mr. Shen, I found that this Zhuo Fan is also closely associated with the third young master Shen.¡± A transportpany closely connected to Shen Shihan¡­ Shen Chi fell deep into thought.
Could it be that the goods at the dock handled by Shen Shihan were being managed by this Zhuo Fan? That Zhuo Fan was Jian Sisi¡¯s lover, which meant she might also be betraying Shen Chi¡­ The matter of the recording device seemed to be easier to exin now. And speaking of it, that child¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s gaze sharpened; indeed, it was almost exactly as he had surmised. All of this was a trap. ¡°Xiao Mo, continue to track Jian Sisi and this Zhuo Fan. Don¡¯t let them notice anything. At thepany, start to pull important work from Jian Sisi¡¯s hands. Remember, it needs to be done with no trace.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I understand. These few days, I¡¯ve already stopped letting her touch any core documents and materials. What I¡¯ve given her are insignificant tasks and some fake information.¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, truly a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing.¡± ¡°No kidding.¡± Xiao Mo sounded resigned. Back in the day, Jian Sisi imed her brother was seriously ill, desperate for a job, pleading for help. Shen Chi, moved by her apparent sincerity, believed she could work well and thus kept her at Shen¡¯s. Latter on, Jian Sisi indeed worked diligently and ambitiously. Often, when everyone else had left, she would still be working overtime, not just for extra pay, but also for the experience.
Eventually, her abilities were acknowledged by both Xiao Mo and Shen Chi, which led to her promotion to secretary. At that time, Xiao Mo was busy with Sumatra Ind affairs, and Shen Chi decided to keep Jian Sisi close by, making her an important member of the secretarial team. Now, she dared to do such a thing. Quite audacious. He had said in the hospital before; threatening Shen Chi took a certain level of audacity. ¡°Keep a tight watch, report to me immediately if anything happens,¡± Shen Chi instructed. A bloodthirsty cold smile yed at the edge of his lips; if the facts were indeed as he spected, then they couldn¡¯t me Shen Chi for being ruthless towards a woman. ¡°Alright,¡± affirmed Xiao Mo. After hanging up, Li Beiting seemed amused. He gently swirled the wine in his ss, teasing, ¡°Shen Chi, got into a love mess?¡± ¡°Scram.¡± ¡°I just heard you mention Jian Sisi. Isn¡¯t she the secretary who threatened to jump off a building and demanded that you take responsibility?¡± Li Beiting looked on as if watching a good joke, loving a good scandal. Chapter 445: Wash Up and Let You Tease Chapter 445: Wash Up and Let You Tease Shen Chi remained silent; his mind still reyed the words Xiao Mo had just said. ¡°Don¡¯t stay quiet.¡± Seeing Shen Chi¡¯s bad mood made Li Beiting surprisingly cheerful, ¡°That woman, how do you n to deal with her?¡± ¡°y the long game to catch the big fish.¡± From Jian Sisi, one could lead to Zhuo Fan, and from Zhuo Fan, to Shen Shihan¡¯s goods, and from Shen Shihan¡¯s goods, all of Shen Shihan¡¯s hideouts¡­ Indeed, this line needed to be cast long. But Shen Shihan was always meticulous in his thoughts; perhaps, even with Zhuo Fan lured out, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to snag Shen Shihan¡¯s goods. The fish had to be caught slowly. Before this, he couldn¡¯t allow Shen Shihan to find an opening to exploit within Shen Group. ¡°Shen Chi, no one else is here today,e clean with me¡ªdo you have an affair with that Jian Sisi or not?¡± ¡°Piss off!¡± Mentioning this matter irritated Shen Chi deeply. ¡°Come on, tell me, there¡¯s no one else here. Seeing how desperate Jian Sisi looks, you must have really let her down, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Li Beiting, are you asking for a beating?¡± ¡°Consider me asking for it. Don¡¯t feel bad about it; with your status, it would be abnormal if you didn¡¯t have women around you.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°Looking at your reaction, did you really sleep with Jian Sisi?¡± Seeing Shen Chi annoyed, Li Beiting could not help but feel delighted. His bad mood seemed to vanish with the added effect of a few more drinks, prompting him to joke around with Shen Chi. ¡°It was just a drunken mistake,¡± Shen Chi said tly. Li Beiting was astonished; Shen Chi was known for his self-control, it was unexpected that¡­ ¡°When did this happen?¡± Li Beiting curiously asked. ¡°This spring, the trip to Paris for the project,¡± Shen Chi disclosed. ¡°Shen Chi, impressive. Does your Mumu know about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve confessed.¡± ¡°What was her reaction?¡± ¡°No reaction, seemed quite happy actually, as if she couldn¡¯t wait for me to cheat.¡± Remembering Xu Chaomu¡¯s reaction at the time, Shen Chi felt irritated. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Infidelity makes for an easier divorce.¡± Li Beiting rubbed his forehead. Wasn¡¯t Xu Chaomu particrly attached to Shen Chi back then? Could it be that she no longer had any feelings for Shen Chi after five years? ¡°Then Shen Chi, Jian Sisi is not a person without schemes. That night you got drunk, could it be her n all along, to take you down and then use it to threaten you?¡± ¡°I drank too much on my own that night,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep. That day, if it hadn¡¯t been his marriage anniversary with Xu Chaomu, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up so drunk that he couldn¡¯t tell night from day. ¡°You know, Shen Chi, there¡¯s something in this world called ¡®drugging¡¯, and it¡¯s not your first time getting drunk all these years. That it just happened to ur on the night you were with Jian Sisi doesn¡¯t strike you as odd?¡± As Li Beiting put it that way, Shen Chi fell silent. Drugged? That night, he did feel an abnormal heat. He thought it was from drinking too much, but now with Li Beiting¡¯s reminder¡­ Could it truly have been Jian Sisi¡¯s plotting? To have a rtionship, and then use it to threaten him, Shen Chi? This meant that Jian Sisi might have had this nned out for a while. ¡°Shen Chi, even you can be schemed against?¡± Li Beitingughed. ¡°Piss off.¡± Once again, Shen Chipsed into deep thought. It looked like he would have to rethink this when he had the time. Or, if necessary, he might need to pull up the video from that night at the hotel in Paris. This time, using the excuse of checking goods at the docks, he could clear up this thread of the case. If Jian Sisi dared to plot against Shen Chi, he would make sure she had nowhere toy her body when she died. ¡­ The sun had been brutally scorching those days, searing the earth with its heat. With the approach of the hottest days of the summer, the green trees and grass drooped their heads in a wilted manner. The strands of cloud in the sky also remained motionless, while the sun relentlessly hung high, emitting piercing rays of light and heat. Even the cicadas perched on the tree tops were toozy to chirp; at noon in summer, the heat made walking a few steps tiresome. Xu Chaomu had been waiting for the notice of Shen¡¯s second interview, after which she could attend the follow-up interview. Apparently, there was a final interview after the second one, which was particrlyplicated. On this midday, she was so hot she didn¡¯t even feel like eating lunch. She hung her head listlessly, just like the flowers and grass in the garden. She sat on the couch, bored, watching television. Although it was Saturday, Shen Chi had left for work at the Group early in the morning. Xu Chaomu stared at the door for a while; the doorway remained still, and she didn¡¯t know what she was looking for. Just as she felt no desire to eat and only wanted to sleep, her phone rang. To her surprise, it was Fenfen calling. ¡°Fenfen¡­¡± ¡°Are the autographed pictures sorted? What about the entry tickets? The game records?¡± The barrage of three questions left Xu Chaomu at a loss for words. ¡°Fenfen, um¡­¡± ¡°Um what? Don¡¯t dodge the question, don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t sorted out any of it? Who was it that swore they would handle everything?¡± ¡°Not like that, actually, um¡­¡± ¡°Humming and hawing, there must be deceit.¡± ¡°The entry tickets and the game records¡­ I didn¡¯t get them¡­ But I did get you the autographed photo of the film emperor! A handsome autographed photo! A genuine autographed photo! Want it or not? Do you?!¡± ¡°You think you can appease me with just an autographed photo?¡± the voice on the other end scoffed. ¡°Fenfen, we are the best friends from college. To discuss these things between us¡­ it¡¯s too mundane,¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled. ¡°So insincere? Well, let me think about it. Should I send you this video, or should I not¡­¡± ¡°Send it, send it, today. The fastest delivery!¡± ¡°Oh, in such a hurry? Then give me a sweet deal.¡± ¡°Fenfen¡­ I¡¯ll do my best, really, it¡¯s just entry tickets and game records, right? I promise¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of your promises.¡± The woman on the other end ¡°tsked¡± and said, ¡°Forget it, say something nice and I¡¯ll go send it for you right now.¡± ¡°Fenfen, you are breathtakingly beautiful, gentle and virtuous, knowledgeable and reasonable, understanding of others¡­¡± ¡°Enough, enough! Xu Chaomu, you always pull this stunt, very insincere, you know?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m very sincere, my dearest is you Miss Fenfen. My love for you is evesting, enduring beyond the destion of the seas and the rocks. If need be¡­¡± Xu Chaomu coquettishly said, ¡°When I get to Paris, just let me wash up and I¡¯ll be all yours to tease¡­ So, send me the video¡­ darling¡­¡± With a ¡°ng¡±, before the person on the phone could respond, the living room door swung open. Xu Chaomu jumped, turning her head to see, it was that beast who had returned. He rushed back from the outside, dusty and tired, his expression emotionless. Hurriedly, Xu Chaomu lowered her voice, ¡°Send it today, did you hear? Otherwise, when I go to Paris, I¡¯ll throw you into the Seine River to feed the fish!¡± ¡°Dear Miss Xu, about the courier fee¡­¡± ¡°Click,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t wait for a reply from the other end before hurriedly pressing the end call button. Because the person had already approached her. His brows furrowed, his cold face was filled with a chilly air. ¡°Who were you calling?¡± Shen Chi asked tly. Xu Chaomu pocketed her phone: ¡°A friend.¡± ¡°What friend? One that loves you forever, through thick and thin?¡± Chapter 446: How Many Loved Ones Do You Have Chapter 446: How Many Loved Ones Do You Have ¡°` Shen Chi was extremely jealous, but she had never told him about lovesting forever, until the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled. ¡°Friends are just friends,¡± said Xu Chaomu, rolling her eyes at him. Such a petty man. She still hadn¡¯t gotten over the anger fromst time, and these past few days, she had been cold to him. On top of that, he seemed especially busy these days; by the time he came back at night, she was already asleep, and when she got up in the morning, he had already gone to thepany. There hadn¡¯t been much interaction between them these days, and they had hardly spoken a few words. This man was naturally stubborn, so she thought he wouldn¡¯t take the initiative to apologize to her. Even if he did apologize, tsk, tsk, he¡¯d write a card that required a magnifying ss to read, tsk, tsk. There wasn¡¯t a shred of sincerity. ¡°And you just had to take a clean shower for someone to tease you?¡± Shen Chi said with indifferent sarcasm. He sat down next to her, right up close to her, yet she had never taken a clean shower for him to tease her. Xu Chaomu sensed a dangerous signal from this man and quickly moved further away from him. As soon as she moved to the side, he moved closer. When there was no ce left to move to, Shen Chi leisurely looked at her, his stern face bearing therge words ¡°Let¡¯s see where you can hide.¡± ¡°Try shifting again,¡± Shen Chi said with a nd voice that carried a warning in every word. ¡°Annoying,¡± murmured Xu Chaomu, turning her gaze away indignantly. ¡°What friend? What video?¡± Shen Chi pressed on. He had heard these few sentences just as he pushed the door open a moment ago. Xu Chaomu felt a tug at her heart. Had he heard everything? Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t said anything just then. ¡°Why do you care about my friends?¡± Xu Chaomu casually picked up a magazine from the sofa and tore out a page. She silently tore the paper, piece by piece, as if she was tearing Shen Chi apart, and she did it with glee. ¡°Scratch,¡± ¡°scratch,¡± the only sound in the spacious living room was her tearing paper. ¡°Are you trying to reach the heavens?¡± said Shen Chi with a frosty tone. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Xu Chaomu, now furious, threw the pieces of magazine into the air, scattering them all over him. After throwing them, she felt much more relieved. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you!¡± Shen Chi was not lightly angered, brushing off the fragments from his body. ¡°What about me? I¡¯m talking on the phone with my friend, does it concern you?¡± Xu Chaomu replied, annoyed. ¡°How many ¡®dear¡¯ friends do you have? You sure sound sweet,¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°Jealous? Admit you¡¯re jealous, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°What jealousy? Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Xu Chaomu hated this man¡¯s arrogant refusal to admit his feelings, so she stood up and left the sofa. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To sleep.¡± ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°Seeing you fills me up.¡± ¡°You stop right there.¡± ¡°Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu turned around, ¡°Are you looking for a fight again? Are you upset about something that happened at thepany or did your mistress make you angry? Did youe back to take it out on me?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s anger from a few days ago had not yet subsided, and seeing his attitude now, she became even more enraged. ¡°Think about the child in your womb if you don¡¯t want to eat!¡± ¡°My child doesn¡¯t need you to care!¡± ¡°You think I want to? This child has nothing to do with me, Shen Chi! Just don¡¯te crying when you have to abort the baby because you can¡¯t keep up with the nutrition!¡± ¡°What do you mean, Shen Chi? Are you so eager for my child to be gone? I¡¯m telling you, no matter what, I will never have a child with you! So think it over, if you want a divorce, do it sooner rather thanter.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± Shen Chi was also provoked to anger. He was clearly trying to look out for her and her child, but in her eyes, he had be an unforgivably wicked person. ¡°My mood is good today, girl, and I don¡¯t feel like arguing with you.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted and turned to head upstairs. But what good mood could she possibly be in? ¡°Come back down here!¡± Shen Chimanded sternly. Her refusal to eat when upset would surely affect the health of the child. But her words ¡°I will never have a child with you¡± pierced him like a needle straight to the heart. Even if he treated the child as his own, she didn¡¯t want to bear him one in the future. Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t listen, of course. If she came down just because he asked, it would look like she had no dignity. Besides, it had been him causing all the unreasonable trouble thesest few days, and now he was using her of being unreasonable. It was like he was the king of being unreasonable¡ªa most unreasonable arrival at an unreasonable home! Such a shameless man! Xu Chaomu kept walking towards the staircase, ignoring him, but Shen Chi strode over and grabbed her hand! Their fingers interlocked, his grip was always domineering. He dragged her over to the dining table. He pressed a button, and had the butler Ling bring up their meal. Soon after, Butler Ling arrived. Seeing Butler Ling, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes blinked, and she felt reassured. Butler Ling had said he would be on her side. ¡°Fourth Young Master, Madam Four, enjoy your meal,¡± Butler Ling said as he ced the food on the table. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi gave no expression, his face wearing a look of indifference. However, that man¡¯s hand was still mped around Xu Chaomu, preventing her from moving. Tug, tug, tug. Xu Chaomu tugged hard, damn it, to no avail. So, Xu Chaomu mustered a feeling of being wronged and grabbed Butler Ling¡¯s arm with her other hand. Her watery,rge eyes stared at Butler Ling, at that moment, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t have looked more pitiful, innocent, and heart-wrenchingly adorable. ¡°Butler Ling, he hit me,¡± Xu Chaomu hinted at Shen Chi with her eyes. ¡°You!¡± Shen Chi was caught off guard, wearing a face as if he¡¯d been cursed. Butler Ling got the message at once. The Fourth Young Master would never hit Xu Chaomu; clearly, the two were in an argument. It seems this time, Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t won the argument against Shen Chi? Xu Chaomu sniffed, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°What happened, what happened? Fourth Young Master, how could you hit Chaomu? Where did you hit her? Let me see,¡± Butler Ling cooed her. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡­¡± ¡°He pped me,¡± she said, pointing at her right cheek, cutting Shen Chi off before he could speak. Underneath the table, since Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t let go, she pinched his hand with her fingers. Shen Chi¡¯s face turned dark. That little wretch, he thought, just wait until he gets his chance, he¡¯ll have her crying for her parents. ¡°Oh dear, let¡¯s have a look, her skin is so delicate, how could you hit it. Let me see, let me see,¡± said Butler Ling, bending down to check Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheek, of course, there was nothing to see. ¡°Does it look bruised? Does it look bad?¡± Xu Chaomu sobbed. ¡°Oh my, her cheek is red. Fourth Young Master, how hard did you hit her? Why did you have another fight with Chaomu? Though couples might fight, you mustn¡¯t get physical! The moment you do, it damages the rtionship too much,¡± Butler Ling advised. Xu Chaomu cast her eyes down, looking like a little white rabbit that had been mistreated. Damn it, Shen Chi¡¯s stern face grew even darker. ¡°Butler Ling, will I be disfigured? It hurts a lot,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll rub it for you,¡±forted Butler Ling. ¡°` Chapter 447: 447: Arrogance is a disease, it needs treatment Chapter 447: Arrogance is a disease, it needs treatment Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand was still pinching Shen Chi below, let go already! ¡°Butler, it hurts so much,¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to be a pig in order to eat a tiger, starting to y dumb. ¡°Ah, such a heavy hand.¡± Butler Ling touched Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. Xu Chaomu simply grabbed Butler Ling¡¯s arm and rubbed against it, ¡°Butler, I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore, this man is simply a tyrant.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, say that one more time and see what happens!¡± Shen Chi could no longer bear it. ¡°Butler, look, he just used that tone when talking to me. And when he couldn¡¯t win the argument, he pped me.¡± With pitiful charm, Xu Chaomu tugged at Butler Ling¡¯s arm, her petite figure was pitiable. ¡°Fourth Young Master, girls should be cherished, not hit. Girls are most afraid of pain. How about you apologize to Chaomu?¡± Butler Ling advised earnestly. ¡°Xu Chaomu, cut the crap. Come here and tell me where and how I hit you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s sharp gaze shot towards her, causing Xu Chaomu to shudder. Breathe out, breathe in, deep breaths.
Steadying her nerves, she let out a ¡°wa¡± and hid in Butler Ling¡¯s arms. ¡°Butler, see, he won¡¯t even admit it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t feel bad. Fourth Young Master, just apologize to Chaomu. Look, her face is all red, you were¡­ a bit too forceful.¡± Butler Ling and Xu Chaomu yed off each other. Being haughty is an illness, it needs to be cured. If once doesn¡¯t cure it, then twice, three times, a lifetime, there will always be a time when it¡¯s healed. Butler Ling had watched Shen Chi¡¯s haughty behavior for twenty-eight years, and she just wanted to see when this man would stop being haughty. ¡°Xu Chaomu, roll over here and I promise I won¡¯t beat you to death!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s sharp, deep eyes fixed on Xu Chaomu as if she were a little white rabbit. The girl actually managed to win over Butler Ling as well. ¡°Butler Ling¡­ he¡¯s going to hit me again¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried. Dammit, she couldn¡¯t squeeze out any tears! ¡°Fourth Young Master, it¡¯s wrong to hit women. Apologize to Chaomu. Look, Chaomu is pregnant. Your actions and words can also affect the baby in her womb.¡± A twitch formed at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth, as he really wished he could strangle Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu had pinched Shen Chi¡¯s hand for a good while, finally, the man let go. Once he let go, she dodged away, keeping her distance from him. ¡°Shen Chi, domestic violence is illegal. If you don¡¯t apologize to me, I¡¯ll sue you. Men who engage in domestic violence all have psychological issues. My baby definitely can¡¯t be around someone like you.¡± ¡°Domestic violence? Do you want to get a taste of what domestic violence is?¡± Shen Chi raised his eyebrow. ¡°You¡­ what do you mean¡­¡± Xu Chaomu jumped away, dodging. His eyes were full of ill-intent, and moreover, he was taking steps toward her.
Xu Chaomu kept hiding in Butler Ling¡¯s embrace until that man stood right in front of her. ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re still pregnant right now. Let¡¯s wait until the baby is a bit older before we y domestic violence, okay? Just try not to scream too loud then,¡± he said. Although the man maintained a serious expression, the words that came out of his mouth were anything but. Butler Ling understood and covered his face, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, you two talk.¡±
Once Butler Ling left, Xu Chaomu lost her support and became a helpless little white rabbit. Xu Chaomu felt vexed inside, Butler, could yourbat power be any weaker¡­ ¡°Shen Chi, have you no shame?¡± ¡°Who was the first to have no shame?¡± he shot back coldly, his smile fading. ¡°It was always you! I¡¯m just on the phone with my friend, and you have to butt in. I don¡¯t care, if you don¡¯t apologize today, don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Xu Chaomu stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to look at him. ¡°Impossible!¡± Shen Chi said gravely. Grinding her teeth, Xu Chaomu thought, impossible, huh? Then don¡¯t talk to her. She sat down at the dining table, took a bowl of white rice for herself, and sat far away, eating silently. Shen Chi originally stood still, but seeing her go and obediently eat, he also took a bowl and sat down opposite her. Xu Chaomu inwardly sneered, with such a long table, he had to sit opposite her. Shen Chi was still as elegant as ever when eating, even though he was angry. As for Xu Chaomu, she just kept her head down and ate without saying a word.
Shen Chi thought, his parenting was truly a failure. Eight years of raising a girl and not one of his good qualities rubbed off on her? ¡°Eat slower,¡± Shen Chi frowned and reminded her. Xu Chaomu ignored him. Even though Shen Chi didn¡¯t apologize, his chopsticks naturally started to pick up food for her. This habit, eight years long, probably couldn¡¯t be changed in a lifetime. And of course, he had no desire to change it. ¡°Eat more nutritious things,¡± Shen Chimented faintly. Just as Xu Chaomu reached out with her chopsticks to take a piece of crispy fried bone, Shen Chi blocked her chopsticks. ¡°You can¡¯t eat this.¡± Xu Chaomu red at him fiercely, while he looked serious and earnest. But his chopsticks were adamant. Left without options, Xu Chaomu gave in. She pulled back her hand and sullenly shoveled white rice into her mouth. Seeing her quiet, he picked a rib out of the rib soup and offered it to her, ¡°You can¡¯t eat fried food, eat this instead.¡±
Xu Chaomu ignored him and pushed the rib aside. ¡°Angry?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow and looked at her. Xu Chaomu refused to speak, wondering if she could hold it in until he suffocated. A deep smile formed on Shen Chi¡¯s lips, and he simply moved to sit beside her, stuffing a piece of meat into her mouth. ¡°Swallow it,¡± hemanded as domineering as ever. Xu Chaomu swallowed it, nearly choking. Her eyes widened, staring unblinkingly at him. ¡°Shen Chi, you really think I have no temper? Get lost, don¡¯t let me see you.¡± Just the other day, it was clearly him being unreasonable, and to this day, he still refused to directly apologize, still finding fault with her. ¡°Mumu, unless I¡¯m mistaken, have you ever called me ¡®dear¡¯? Hm?¡± ¡°You and I are neither dear nor loved. If you know how fast the speed of light is, that¡¯s how far you should roll away from me!¡± Xu Chaomu was still fuming inside. This man refused to simply apologize and yet had the nerve to make demands of her. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll disappear for a few days after we finish eating,¡± he said seriously, without a hint of joking on his face.
He watched her quietly, seeing his own reflection in her dark pupils. Xu Chaomu paused, feeling a bit at a loss when Shen Chi became earnest, although she would have been angry if he was just fooling around. He bowed his head, took her bowl, and after picking out the bones from a piece of fish, offered it to her mouth, ¡°Open up, I¡¯ll feed you.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Xu Chaomu refused to open her mouth. He didn¡¯t seem to be joking. ¡°Nowhere in particr. I just thought you might want some peace. As for me, I¡¯m going to find a few little lovers, okay?¡± ¡°Choose some pretty ones with substance, not just those with big chests all the time,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with a pout. Chapter 448: 448: Earning Milk Powder Money Chapter 448: Earning Milk Powder Money ¡°` ¡°In this world, who could be more beautiful or more cultured than you?¡± Shen Chiughed. He watched her, never tiring of looking at this girl. She was lovely when she was angry, and just as lovely when she wasn¡¯t. It turned out that when you truly love someone, every smile, every frown, every chuckle, every burst of anger is the best, endlessly fascinating. In fact, wasn¡¯t he the luckiest man? From now on, she could always stay by his side. ¡°Are you trying to tter me?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a pout. ¡°No, I am simply stating a very correct fact,¡± Shen Chi replied with utmost seriousness. ¡°Save your sweet talk for the young girls; I won¡¯t fall for that,¡± she retorted. ¡°My sweet talk is reserved for you for a lifetime. Are you prepared to hear me nag for a lifetime?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow. He gazed at her, and while it seemed to affect him little, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed slightly. It was a fleeting blush that returned to normal almost instantly.
But even in that brief moment, he caught it. He liked her like this, blooming quietly like a red lotus. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened. Xu Chaomu lowered her eyelids; she really couldn¡¯t resist this man¡¯s sweet talk. How pathetic. Just moments ago, she was all bold talk, resolving not to bother with him, not to talk to him, to show him what¡¯s what. And now, with just a bit of his tenderness, she had fallen for it. How pathetic she was. ¡°Pathetic Xu Chaomu,¡± she scolded herself secretly in her heart and pinched her thigh, trying to snap herself out of it. ¡°Shen Chi, weren¡¯t you quite fierce when you just came back? Why aren¡¯t you continuing to be fierce?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, truly. If he was a bit more fierce, she could have retorted, but she found herself unustomed to his gentleness. ¡°Do you like it a bit fierce?¡± he asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­¡± ¡°Then, Xu Chaomu, listen to me, in this lifetime, you can only belong to me. If you¡¯re unhappy, I¡¯m here to cheer you up. If someone bullies you, I¡¯m here to stand up for you. Do you understand?¡± he dered dominantly. Suchmanding words,ing from Shen Chi, sounded surprisingly normal and not awkward at all. Xu Chaomu, on the other hand, smiled. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± she looked into his eyes, ¡°Right now, the person bullying me the most is you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu waited for him to continue.
Instead, Shen Chi picked up a fish ball with his chopsticks and popped it into her mouth, saying lightly, ¡°I love you.¡± Before she could speak, he continued to feed her. Xu Chaomu ate and ate, and just as Shen Chi picked up some greens with his chopsticks, she finally stopped him, her eyes twinkling with mirth, ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Eat more,¡± he responded.
¡°No, those three words you just said?¡± ¡°Eat more!¡± ¡°Come on, Shen Chi, don¡¯t be a coward. Say it again if you dare.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°If you dare¡­ mmph¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth was stuffed with delicious food by Shen Chi, who then conveniently refrained from repeating his words. Really, such a coward; it¡¯s not like saying it again would get her pregnant. The meal consisted of Shen Chi feeding, and Xu Chaomu eating. ¡°Shen Chi, I have hands; I can do it myself!¡± Xu Chaomu protested. ¡°Just now, the butler said that women should be cherished,¡± he replied. ¡°The butler also said you should apologize,¡± she reminded him. ¡°Did Imit domestic violence?¡± Shen Chi asked her with a serious face. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu faltered.
Now, she couldn¡¯t face the term ¡®domestic violence¡¯ anymore; previously, the term was a purely derogative phrase, but ever since Shen Chi, that scoundrel, had used it, it took on a whole different connotation. ¡°If you want domestic violence, just say so. Your husband will be obedient and satisfy any¡­ hard request,¡± he said, then embraced Xu Chaomu around the waist. For the moment, all he could do was to hug her waist. Anything else, no matter how much he wanted to, was out of the question. Consider it looking forward to something out of reach. ¡°Shameless, you better disappear for a few days.¡± ¡°Hmm, will you miss me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll miss¡­ as if,¡± Xu Chaomu looked away. ¡°Eat up!¡± Shen Chi feigned annoyance and continued feeding her. Halfway through the meal, butler Manman became apprehensive about the couple¡¯s dynamics and specifically came over pretending to add dishes. She was worried these two might start quarreling again. If Shen Chi managed to drive Xu Chaomu away in his stubbornness, what would they do? To her surprise, upon opening the door, she found Shen Chi feeding Xu Chaomu. Butler Manman blushed, covered her head, and asked in a whisper, ¡°Young Master, Chaomu, would you like more dishes?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Shen Chi answered indifferently.
¡°Alright,¡± butler Manman quickly left and closed the door behind her. Her worries were evidently redundant. It seemed that the Young Master¡¯s stubbornness had long been set aside. Once the door closed, she breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Chaomu blushed with embarrassment as soon as butler Manman entered. She really didn¡¯t want Shen Chi to feed her¡­ Struggling through the meal, Shen Chi then went to serve her soup. The soup of the day from butler Manman was corn and goji berry with rib soup, and Shen Chi filled a bowl to the brim for her. Of course, the bone soup was very nutritious, and he didn¡¯t know why he felt the need to be so good to this child. After all, this child wasn¡¯t his. She had even said she wouldn¡¯t have his children. He knew that if she truly didn¡¯t want to bear his children, he couldn¡¯t force her. He only hoped it was a spur-of-the-moment sentiment because he loved her and wanted her to give birth to a child for him. Whether a boy or a girl, he yearned for a child born of her. He would treat her well, and the child too. If, if she truly didn¡¯t want to, then he would love the child she was carrying now as his own.
He loved her, including everything about her. Seizing the moment while he was getting the soup, she spoke up, her tone lukewarm and indifferent, ¡°Do you really n to disappear for a few days right in front of me?¡± ¡°What, can¡¯t bear to let me go?¡± he smirked. ¡°No, I was just wondering, why only a few days? Why not a few dozen days? A hundred days? Or even a year, two years, N years?¡± ¡°Then who would earn the money for our baby¡¯s milk powder?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, for the sake of earning milk powder money for our baby,e back early,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, feigning indifference. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he touched her head, his eyes full of doting affection, ¡°it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°How can you tell I¡¯m worried?¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head, scoffing. Shen Chiughed, ced the bowl in front of her, and stirred the rib soup with a spoon. After a silence, Xu Chaomu finally lifted her head, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a closed-door meeting at thepany that requires my presence, so I probably won¡¯t be able toe back these days,¡± he exined. ¡°Really?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face showed concern, though she tried to sound nonchnt. She always called him pretentious to butler Manman, but truth be told, after knowing him for so many years, she too had picked up a bit of his haughtiness. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Chi confirmed. The meeting wasn¡¯t the only reason; he nned to personally check the cargo at the docks. That visit to the docks would undoubtedly involve danger, and he didn¡¯t want her to worry. Chapter 449: 449: Love is a Kind of Poison Chapter 449: Love is a Kind of Poison In those days, Shen Chi truly never came back, but it was Xu Chaomu who took a trip to Shen Group. She went to participate in a second interview after receiving the notification, tsk, Shen¡¯s really is strict, Shen Chi didn¡¯t give her any backdoor favors. When she went to the group for the re-interview, she didn¡¯t see Shen Chi, so she teased the handsome guy at the reception desk once again. When mealtime came, she sat in a milk tea shop next to the group¡¯s office, sipping on milk tea. While drinking her milk tea, she stared at the lobby of the first floor of the Shen Group building. She didn¡¯t know how long she watched, but finally, she saw the executives of Shen Groupe out from the building. Walking at the very front was Shen Chi. This was the first time she saw such a serious, earnest, and stern Shen Chi, with not even a trace of a smile on his cold face, imposing without anger. A tailored ck suit entuated his perfect figure, and he strode out of the lobby and down the steps with his long legs. Several men in ck suits followed him, all with stern looks on their faces, none of themughing or joking. Among them was Xiao Mo. When he descended the steps, someone opened the door to a Maybach for Shen Chi, and he got in.
The car started, and a row of ck cars drove away. From the moment Shen Chi appeared, Xu Chaomu watched him unwaveringly, this man, truly different in front of others and behind their backs. A hypocritical beast in a gentleman¡¯s clothing. However, having not seen him return home for several days, she felt an unexpected sense of loss. Now, she sat in the milk tea shop, and his car had left a long time ago, but only then did she retract her gaze. Her finger slid across the phone screen, flipping through the contacts. As itnded on Shen Chi¡¯s number, she looked at it for a long time. The contact name for Shen Chi¡¯s number was saved as ¡°Husband,¡± which he had changed himself when he took her phone back in the day. Xu Chaomu always thought about changing it, but after a long time, she gave up. While flipping through the contacts, she saw Nie Chenng¡¯s name. After thest call, they hadn¡¯t been in contact again. Xu Chaomu thought, maybe she had been a bit too unfeeling. During those five years in Paris, if it weren¡¯t for Nie Chenng, she would have frozen to death on the streets long ago. She always believed that time is the best medicine, and that one day, she wouldn¡¯t love Shen Chi so much, that one day, she woulde to love Nie Chenng too. Unfortunately, she had overestimated the healing power of time, as five years passed without avail. Love is a poison; only when it seeps into the marrow do you realize it¡¯s incurable. Her finger pressed the familiar number, and she dialed it. After a few seconds, the call connected. ¡°Chenng,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice conveyed hesitation.
¡°Chaomu?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, how have you been recently?¡± ¡°Pretty good, just a bit busy with work.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head, fiddling with the straw in her milk tea cup, suddenly at a loss for words.
In those five years in Paris, they could talk about anything. He would tell her many interesting stories and take her to many intriguing ces. Whatever interesting people she encountered or events that happened at school, she would share with him as well. Perhaps because she hadn¡¯t let go of her past scars during those five years, she always regarded him as her most sincere older brother. It wasn¡¯t until one drunken night, thinking she had be intimate with him, that she agreed to his marriage proposal. Both ends of the phone fell into prolonged silence, especially Xu Chaomu, not knowing what to say. ¡°Chaomu,¡± Nie Chenng broke the silence, ¡°Ourpany recently released a batch of new jewelry, quite beautiful. I know you like them. Come take a look when you¡¯re free.¡± Xu Chaomu felt choked up. Back in Paris, every time he went on a business trip, he would bring her something fresh and fun. No matter when, she was always the first one he thought of. Now, it was still the same. ¡°Chenng,¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her eyelids, a touch of sadness in her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± There was a gentle chuckle from Nie Chenng on the other end, ¡°What¡¯s there to be sorry about? If you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s the best. If you face trouble at the Shen family,e find me. I¡¯ll help you settle it.¡± ¡°Chenng¡­¡±
Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice shook, and she felt helplessly overwhelmed. He had been very kind to her, from the first time they met to those five years in Paris. ¡°If you can¡¯t make it, I can send a bracelet to you; it¡¯s very pretty,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still so formal with me?¡± ¡°Chenng, can I ask you something, and you answer me truthfully?¡± Xu Chaomu slowly began. On the other end, there was silence once again, for a very long time. Only after a sigh did Nie Chenng speak, ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask. I¡¯ll tell you truthfully. That night at the Paris hotel¡­ it wasn¡¯t me.¡± For a moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes held aplex emotion, and her hand gripping the phone tightened. She was afraid that with a slight slip, the phone would fall from her ear. ¡°Chaomu, will Shen Chi treat that child well?¡± Her heart skipped wildly, and it took her quite a while to calm down. ¡°He said, he would treat this child as his own,¡± Xu Chaomu said tly.
So it turned out that Nie Chenng imed it was him that night, and that the child in her womb was his, just to spare her from sadness and heartbreak. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then nothing could be better.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s voice held no particr emotion. ¡°Chenng, thank you,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart finally settled. ¡°Why thank me¡­¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Xu Chaomu hesitated, suddenly at a loss for words. ¡°Alright,¡± Nie Chenng chuckled, ¡°when I¡¯m free, I¡¯lle to give you the bracelet.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t feel burdened, if Shen Chi truly loves you, he will love everything about you.¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent, always quick-witted with words, today she kept not knowing what to say. Nie Chenng had been really good to her, taking her into consideration in almost every aspect. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll hang up then.¡± Nie Chenng hung up first, and Xu Chaomu took a long time to snap out of it. Sunlight shone through the window onto her table, illuminating a pot of red flowers on it.
The milk tea shop was filled with an enticing aroma. She put down her phone and turned to look out the window. Not far outside the window was Shen Group, and she stared at the building, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. She didn¡¯t know how long she gazed at it, as Shen Chi¡¯s car had long since left. She slowly lowered her head, found Shen Chi¡¯s number on her phone, and picked it up. She typed a text message: I miss you. After sending it, she ced the phone on the corner of the table. The clear screen disyed that message, those three words drifting away like a gentle breeze, carrying with them her faint longing¡­ The light streamed in, casting prismatic colors. Xu Chaomu extended her hand, palm up, letting the light shine on her palm lines, warmth slowly spreading. Like joyous sprites, the light danced and fluttered at her fingertips. A day apart feels like three months have passed. At this moment, she particrly missed him. She thought, she herself wasn¡¯t as proud as Shen Chi. Writing ¡°I LOVE YOU¡± smaller than ants ¡ª she just couldn¡¯t do such a thing. Chapter 450: 450 I Miss You Too Chapter 450: I Miss You Too Shen Chi was discussing matters with Xiao Mo in the car when he received the text message. Right at a crucial point in their discussion, Shen Chi fell into deep thought. Just then, his phone screen lit up. He nced down and to his surprise, it was a text from Xu Chaomu. These days, because he had been returning homete at night, she would already be asleep, and so during the day, he would always make a call home. As a result, she was indifferent, seemingly still angry. Every time, not even a few minutes into the conversation, she would urge him irritably, ¡°Is there nothing else? If there¡¯s no other matter, I¡¯m going to hang up! Don¡¯t call tomorrow.¡± So, these past few days, she had been the first to hang up the phone. After all these years, only Xu Chaomu dared to hang up on him like that. In the end, he couldn¡¯t do anything about her, and he would still shamelessly call her the next day. This time, receiving her text, he was rather curious. Does she need money?
A smile made its way to the corners of his mouth as he opened the text message. But at the sight of the text, he was momentarily stunned. Gradually, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened, deeper and deeper. ¡°I miss you.¡± The text message had only these three simple and straightforward words. Yet it was these three words that made the curve on his lips rise gradually¡­ He missed her too. He just stared at that text message, feeling as if honey was melting in his chest. At that moment, he wished he could turn the car around and head straight back to the Shen family home, to hold her in his arms. A sweet taste spread across the tip of his heart, bit by bit, filling his entire heart. Xiao Mo called out ¡°President Shen,¡± but got no response. He raised his voice and called out ¡°President Shen¡± again, still no response. ncing up, he saw Shen Chi looking at his phone, his face full of smiles. A gentleness like the bright moon, soft like the spring breeze. This kind of smile was extremely rare for Xiao Mo to see. But without thinking, he knew that it must be something from Xu Chaomu. He tried calling out again, ¡°President Shen, what do you think about the proposal we were just discussing?¡± Still no response, Xiao Mo had no choice but to give up. Shen Chi looked down and wrote a text message, with four words: I miss you too. After writing it, he looked at it twice, then deleted it. After pondering for a while, he frowned and wrote ¡°I miss you too¡± again.
After writing it, he looked at it twice, then deleted it again. If he replied just after she had sent her message, wouldn¡¯t it seem like he was very concerned about her? That would becking in dignity. Don¡¯t reply. So, the drafted text message was deleted over and over again but never sent.
Yet even though he decided not to reply, his eyes never left those three words, ¡°I miss you.¡± As if it was the most beautiful thing he had seen in many days. Xiao Mo simply closed the file and, without a word, rested his forehead on his hand, looking out the window, wondering if they would ever be able to properly discuss the meeting¡¯s content¡­ At this moment, Xiao Mo was almost on the verge of copse. A long time had passed, and just when Xiao Mo was almost dozing off, Shen Chi finally spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Xiao Mo, where were we just now?¡± ¡°The new product requires a diverse range of marketing strategies¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, continue, give me the file.¡± Xiao Mo then handed over the file that he had been holding, his face full of scorn. So you still remember that we have a meeting? This Xu Chaomu, truly a femme fatale. However, as Shen Chi discussed the issue with Xiao Mo, his mind was still constantly thinking of Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was sitting on the second floor of a milk tea shop, now ncing at the scenery, now gazing at Shen¡¯s building, and of course, asionally staring at her phone as well. Five minutes passed, Shen Chi didn¡¯t reply to her text; half an hour passed, Shen Chi still hadn¡¯t replied; an hour went by, still no movement.
Xu Chaomu was furious; she had finally mustered up the courage to send him such a text, and he, for his part, didn¡¯t reply. She drank two cups of milk tea, ate a pile of snacks, and yet her phone remained deathly still. The sun quickly moved from its zenith towards the west, and the guests around her came and went in waves. She listlessly stirred her milk tea with a straw, aggressively poking the cup. Really, such an unromantic man. After sitting for a while longer, she angrily picked up her phone, gathered her purse, and left the milk tea shop. It seemed that men, as creatures, should not be forgiven easily. Reaching the roadside, she hailed a taxi back to the Shen family home. Despite feeling indignant, she still took out her phone from time to time to check it. She wondered whether she should send another text to him? No, that would make it seem like she cared about his thoughts too much, no, she didn¡¯t care about him at all. Torn all the way there, the little deer in her chest thumped the entire journey. Suddenly, the screen lit up¡ªit was a text message! Xu Chaomu opened it with joyful anticipation, only to curse when she saw it was a spam message about winning an Appleptop.
She decided to switch off her phone, no longer interested in paying attention to that unromantic man. When she returned to the Shen family home, it was just two o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The tasks were all done, and many servants were loungingzily. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t bother with them. After all, she didn¡¯t have to handle their sries. The gardenia in the Shen family garden released a rich fragrance. Xu Chaomu walked past with a parasol, her hair even catching the scent. The aroma was intense and particrly pleasant. She casually picked a flower, held it in her hand, and cheerfully entered the living room. The living room was cool. She pushed the door open and saw a package of moderate size on the table. Xu Chaomu, curious, walked over to it. Upon seeing the names of the sender and recipient, she widened her eyes in shock and quickly stashed the package in her arms, looking around. Thankfully, no one had seen. This package was none other than the one Fenfen had sent from Paris! She hadn¡¯t expected it to arrive so quickly; fortunately, Shen Chi had not been home these days. Xu Chaomu hurriedly held onto her package and dashed upstairs, ¡°thump, thump, thump,¡± even leaving the gardenia on the table, forgotten.
Back in her room, she locked the door and used scissors to open the package. She was a bit hasty, and the sound of ripping tape filled the air. As soon as she opened the package, out tumbled plenty of snacks and trinkets. Normally, the sight of snacks and amusing trinkets would¡¯ve made her jump for joy, eagerly picking up each one to look. But this time, Xu Chaomu tossed the jumbled boxes aside. She was searching for that video material! Feverishly digging through the box, it was snacks all the way down until she finally saw a ck cloth bag. It had to be it! If Fenfen dared to y her, she would fly over and beat her up! Beat her! Beat her! Xu Chaomu excitedly went to untie the cloth bag, but the more anxious she was, the more her hands shook. At that moment, her heart felt like waves of tides incessantly crashing against her chest. Her emotions wereplicated, filled with excitement and nervousness. She tried hard to untie the cloth bag, which, as if it were defying her, refused to open. In desperation, she snipped it open with scissors. Indeed, inside the cloth bag was the surveince footage. Chapter 451: 451: Pull up the Video of That Day Chapter 451: Pull up the Video of That Day Fenfen lived up to being her good friend, as she had also written down specific dates, categories, and viewing methods for the video footage on a slip of paper inside the cloth bag. Right when Xu Chaomu was about to use theputer to view the videos ording to the instructions, Fenfen happened to call. ¡°Chaomu, did you get the package? I saw it was signed for,¡± Fenfen said with augh. ¡°Just got it, your call is really timely.¡± ¡°Chaomu, tell me, what do you need these surveince videos for?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ nothing much, just that, about three months ago, I lost a very expensive bag in this hotel, which had valuable jewelry and design drawings inside.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call the police at the time?¡± ¡°I had an emergency at the time, so I let it be.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯re back in the country, you remembered it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a design drawing I need to use, so yes, I remembered it.¡± Xu Chaomu was sweating bullets, she really was not cut out for lying. This lie sounded totally fake no matter how one heard it.
Fortunately, Fenfen didn¡¯t think too much of it or ask any further, instead, she just shared her troubles with her. ¡°Chaomu, let me tell you, I¡¯ve talked my mouth off trying to get this surveince footage for you. Although my senior is working at the hotel, he just wouldn¡¯t relent, saying it was about guests¡¯ privacy.¡± Xu Chaomu could understand; such things certainly couldn¡¯t be given away. ¡°Then what? Fenfen, you didn¡¯t offer yourself in exchange, did you?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Is there anything in this world I, Fenfen, can¡¯t get?¡± ¡°Yes. For example, entrance tickets and chess manuals, you don¡¯t have those.¡± ¡°Screw off, speaking of which, when are you going to send me the autographed photo?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, tomorrow, I will definitely mail it to you tomorrow. Thank you for your big gift bag.¡± ¡°Why thank me, hurry up and sort out the entrance tickets and the chess manuals for me! Do you hear me?!¡± Fenfen threatened Xu Chaomu. ¡°Okay, okay, yes, Miss Fenfen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± ¡°Fenfen¡­¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes and lowered her voice, ¡°Is there only one copy of this surveince video?¡± ¡°Of course, now that you have it, the hotel doesn¡¯t have it anymore. It¡¯s a good thing it¡¯s from three months ago, they don¡¯t need it now and were nning to destroy it soon. Their video is very high-definition, and, it has audio.¡± ¡°Your senior is really slick,¡± Xu Chaomu praised. ¡°He¡¯s the hotel manager, his dad is one of the hotel¡¯s top executives, you tell me, is he slick?¡± ¡°Slick,¡± Xu Chaomu praised again, then asked, ¡°So that video¡­ have you watched it?¡± ¡°Why would I watch such a tedious and boring video? Take your time and don¡¯t fall asleep.¡± Fenfen on the other end yawned first, ¡°I¡¯m going to catch some more sleep, bye.¡± ¡°Sleep well, peacefully wait for the signed photo, I promise it will dazzle your titanium-alloy eyes.¡±
After hanging up the phone, Xu Chaomu took another look at her text messages; still, no activity whatsoever. She couldn¡¯t believe Shen Chi hadn¡¯t checked his phone after all this time. Really, she shouldn¡¯t have sent that message; it just made it seem like she was anxiously hoping for his reply. Although, at that time, she really did miss him.
She put the phone down, turned on theputer, and brought up the video. Xu Chaomu drew the bedroom curtains and started watching. Just as expected, the video was lengthy and dull; people just kepting and going, and that was it. She fast-forwarded until suddenly, she saw the part where she, drunk, was helped into the room. That day, her only memory was being fed too much wine, and in the end, she couldn¡¯t even remember who had helped her into her room. From the video, it looked like her coworker was helping her in. After they came in, they closed the door behind them. She wanted to ess the video inside the room, thinking there wouldn¡¯t be such private footage, but to her surprise, after searching, there was indeed! Fenfen¡¯s senior was really slick! Xu Chaomu stared unblinkingly at theputer screen. After being helped into the room by her female coworker, they changed her clothes for her and then tucked her in bed. During this time, she was babbling nonsense. Xu Chaomu turned the volume up to the maximum, never expecting that, when she was drunkenly inebriated, she would be calling out Shen Chi¡¯s name!
At that time, she had been away from him for a full five years. She hadn¡¯t expected that, once drunk, the person etched deepest into her mind was still him. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ Shen Chi¡­ you liar, bastard¡­ Shen Chi¡­ why did you deceive me for eight years¡­ why¡­¡± Her coworkers looked at each other in bewilderment: ¡°Who is Xu Chaomu calling for?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°This girl really drank a lot today.¡± ¡°Yeah, she wants to be regrized, she had no choice but to drink with the partners.¡± ¡°Shh, keep your voice down. I heard that the vice president of the partners seemed to have taken a liking to Chaomu, he kept praising her.¡± ¡°Oh? Then what?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, but you all understand. If our managernds this project, themission will be in the seven figures.¡± ¡°So¡­ will our manager¡­¡± They nced at Xu Chaomu as they said this. ¡°Who knows what means he might use, let¡¯s hurry and leave.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re just going to leave Chaomu here by herself?¡± ¡°What else can we do? If those people really have any bad intentions, we can¡¯t stop them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s not invite trouble for ourselves.¡± The group turned off the lights of the room and left the scene. The room that was bustling just moments ago suddenly fell into silence and darkness. In the room, only Xu Chaomuy on the bed, crying in pain. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you¡¯re a bastard¡­ you¡¯re so heartless¡­¡± Xu Chaomu cried in agony, nearly suffocating several times. She cried and threw things around and, after a long while, fell asleep in a daze. Watching the surveince, Xu Chaomu rested her forehead in her hand. Indeed, alcohol was something not to be trifled with. She hadn¡¯t expected to be like this when drunk, calling Shen Chi¡¯s name. In those five years in Paris, she had very rarely mentioned him. But unexpectedly, once drunk, it was his name she called out. The room was plunged into darkness, but luckily there was a moon that night. The shallow moonlight streaming through the window allowed Xu Chaomu to make out the video clearly. In the video, she clutched the nket and fell deeply asleep; for over half an hour, there was no movement. Watching this part, Xu Chaomu dared not fast-forward, fearing she would miss a detail.
For that half hour, nothing unusual, no one entered the room. She didn¡¯t sleep very deeply, asionally turning over and muttering in her sleep. Later, she couldn¡¯t make out what she was saying anymore. When nearly an hour had passed, suddenly, the door of her room opened. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart clenched, she held her breath and watched the video intently. The room was dark, but there was moonlight. By the weak light of the moon that filtered in, she clearly saw the face of the person who came in! Shen Chi, it was Shen Chi! Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart nearly leapt to her throat. It really was him¡­ Chapter 452: 452: Scenes not suitable for children Chapter 452: Scenes not suitable for children Her hand trembled as she clutched the mouse; it turned out her intuition was right. That night, Shen Chi wore a formal ck business suit. But because he was drunk, his tie and shirt were pulled into a mess. As soon as he came in, he started to frantically tug at his clothes, very ufortably. ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± he called out her name, sounding very pained. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart tightened; she remembered that he had said it was their wedding anniversary that day. She had always thought he was married and had children. She never expected that, after all these five years, she would learn it had all been lies from Bai Man. Shen Chi took off his suit and then recklessly pulled off his tie; at that moment, he drew the room¡¯s curtains. ¡°Damn!¡± Xu Chaomu, who was watching intently, flicked the mouse away. With the curtains drawn, the whole room plunged into darkness, leaving nothing on the video visible. The entire screen was engulfed in ckness!
She could only rely on the sounds to discern what happened afterward. This hotel¡¯s surveince video was really advanced; not only was it high-definition, but it also included audio. It¡¯s just that the camera was mounted outside the room, fortunately capturing this room, but the angle was a bit skewed. Now, good job to Shen Chi for drawing the curtains, making it so that nothing could be seen at all. She could only hear the not-so-loud noises. Xu Chaomu turned the volume up to maximum and held her breath. ¡°Mumu¡­ today is our wedding anniversary¡­ do you know that¡­¡± ¡°How would you know¡­ you¡¯ve always been a heartless little thing¡­¡± ¡°Mumu¡­ you¡¯ve been gone for a full five years¡­¡± ¡°Do you know¡­ how much I¡¯ve missed you¡­¡± Hearing this, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes grew moist, and for reasons she couldn¡¯t pinpoint, she felt an unbearable tightness in her chest. That ce in her heart felt as though it were entangled by strands of waterweed, constricting her breath. Her hand gripping the mouse was clenched tight, tighter¡­ At some point, he had stripped and climbed into bed, disturbing her there. ¡°Ah¡­ who¡­ it¡¯s so hot¡­¡± She, too, was drunk as a lord¡­ With the video shrouded in darkness and the room pitch ck, it was no wonder that three months ago, when they had been together, they knew nothing at all. ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± he stopped talking after that, just repeatedly calling her name. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± she made a sound from the video. Xu Chaomu blushed, her heart ¡°thumping¡± wildly, as her mind automatically filled in countless scenarios.
¡°Mumu¡­ give it to me¡­ I love you¡­¡± That was Shen Chi¡¯s voice, heavily drunk but brimming with ambiguity. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ go away¡­¡± ¡°Mumu¡­ today is our wedding anniversary¡­ we are husband and wife¡­ give it to me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s so hot¡­ don¡¯t¡­ mmm¡­¡±
Xu Chaomu covered her burning cheeks, listening to the Not suitable for children dialogue and sounds, imagining scenes that were equally Not suitable for children. Shen Chi probably kissed her, and now the room was filled with heavy breathing. For quite a long time, the video was filled with nothing but the sound of their mingling breaths. ¡°Mmm¡­ don¡¯t¡­ ah¡­¡± Xu Chaomu heard her own voice and her face flushed red with shame; she¡­ she had cried out so loudly, it was mortifying. And she had no recollection of any of it. ¡°Mumu, Mumu¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know when, but he had entered her, and she cried out in pain: ¡°It hurts¡­ it hurts¡­ ah¡­¡± The breathing sounds became more suggestive and heavier, the room filled with Not suitable for children noises. Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheeks turned as red as apples, burning hot. She didn¡¯t even want to acknowledge that it was her in the video¡­ ¡°It hurts¡­ be gentle¡­ mmm¡­ ah¡­ ah¡­¡± Xu Chaomu covered her face, her heart ¡°pounding¡±, ¡°pounding¡±. Was this woman her? No, she wouldn¡¯t ept it! Absolutely not!
She looked at the time disyed on the video; nearly an hour had passed before those Not suitable for children sounds finally ceased. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but wonder; was it his first time? His first time tost so¡­ long¡­ Uh¡­ Just thinking about this made her face turn so red it was nearly bleeding. Wrong, why was she even thinking about this? She read plenty of Little Forbidden Books in her normal life, but theory is one thing, practice is another. Although, she couldn¡¯t remember her first time at all. But she remembered that Shen Chi¡¯s familiar scent always lingered in her nose. Over those eight years, how many times she had clung to him, she would always like to nuzzle against his chest, taking in his familiar scent. Back then, it was good when she rubbed against him. After rubbing against him for eight years, every part of him was imprinted in her consciousness. Perhaps it was precisely because that scent was too familiar that, even while drunk, she didn¡¯t reject him in her subconscious. After a moment of silence in the video, the quiet was just for a moment! In less than ten minutes, the man was kissing her again, and she heard the sound of a kiss. And then, she heard the hoarse and sexy voice of the man: ¡°Do you want more?¡±
Confusedly, she murmured in agreement¡­ Xu Chaomu was close to smashing the mouse onto theputer, she actually gave a murmur of assent; what on earth was she agreeing to? With her response, the man became even more presumptuous¡­ In no time at all, Xu Chaomu heard Not suitable for children noises again. Initially, it was slow, then it elerated¡­ ¡°Gentle, gentle¡­ ah¡­ ah¡­ don¡¯t¡­ slow down¡­¡± The room was filled with ambiguous noises that made anyone listening flustered. Only when he let out a deep growl did the round of blushing and heart-throbbing end. ¡°Satisfied?¡± he asked in a husky voice. Upon hearing that, Xu Chaomu flew into a rage; how shameless could this man be! And just how drunk had he been that night? In that state, it was almost as if he had been drugged. But her own response drove her even crazier. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She ¡°mmm¡±-ed again, Xu Chaomu facepalmed; she must have been incredibly drunk.
That night, they entwined numerous times. Sometimes the duration was long, sometimes short. He constantly called out her name, not knowing that it was indeed her that night. Later, they both became tired and fell into a deep sleep. For several hours, the video was silent. In the middle of the night, when it was still dark, Shen Chi probably felt too unwell from drinking too much; he got out of bed. Xu Chaomu heard the rustling of clothes being put on, then the sound of a door; did he leave? No wonder, when she woke up in the morning, Shen Chi was missing¡­ Xu Chaomu quickly switched to the hotel corridor surveince. The lights were on in the corridor, but to save electricity, they were dim. Shen Chi walked aimlessly along the corridor, leaning against the wall. He clutched his head in agony, as if he wanted to go down for some cold air. The corridor was quiet, no sound at all, just Shen Chi walking alone. Chapter 453: 453: The Appearance of Jian Sisi Chapter 453: The Appearance of Jian Sisi By the time he reached the elevator, his eyebrows were tightly furrowed as he ¡°smack-smack¡± pped the elevator call button. The elevator quickly arrived, and the expression on his face was one of agony. Xu Chaomu watched the video with a heavy heart and was certain that that night, he had drunk too much alcohol. This man typically held his liquor well and wasn¡¯t easily intoxicated, but at this moment, not only was he drunk, he waspletely stered. Just as the elevator reached this floor and came to a stop, the doors opened, and Shen Chi, leaning against the wall, staggered inside. The elevator doors closed swiftly. As the elevator began its descent and Xu Chaomu was about to switch the video, suddenly, she saw a figure appear in the corridor. She quickly hit the zoom button, staring unblinkingly at the screen. It was a woman in a white dress! Xu Chaomu was so startled she nearly screamed. A ghost from the legends?! A cold sweat broke out on her back, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands trembled.
At this point, the surveince video waspletely silent, and Xu Chaomu was too frightened to keep looking at the screen. This was scarier than any horror movie she usually watched! She hurriedly shrunk the video, wanting to click the ¡°X¡± and close it. But upon reflection, if she didn¡¯t continue watching, she wouldn¡¯t know what happened. There was no choice but to brace herself and continue watching. The white-d woman remained hidden in a corner, the video only revealing a blur of white; nothing else could be made out. The elevator soon reached the ground floor and stopped. Xu Chaomu stared at the screen, careful not to miss any detail. When Shen Chi had firste out, she hadn¡¯t noticed the woman hiding in the corner. Could it really be¡­ a ghost?! Xu Chaomu shivered uncontrobly, no¡­ it wasn¡¯t possible, she couldn¡¯t scare herself like this. Yet at this moment, her whole body was cold, her icy hands crossed over each other, her shoulders shaking. The image was very dark, her whole body trembling slightly. Even though it was a summer afternoon, she felt the cold of winter. A long time passed, and the woman was still there. Xu Chaomu had no choice but to hit the fast forward button, her hand on the mouse trembling slightly¡­. Five minutester, the woman in white finally came out of the corner and walked towards the room where she was staying. Closer and closer she got, until¡­ when the woman walked under the camera, Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened. Jian Sisi! It was Jian Sisi! A jolt shot through her chest, her heart pounding away.
Jian Sisi was wearing a white dress and her face was devoid of expression. Xu Chaomu finally patted her chest and took a deep breath, damn, that scared the crap out of her. She held her breath and continued to gaze at the screen. Jian Sisi lingered at the door of her room for quite some time, asionally looking up at the room number.
At first, Jian Sisi¡¯s face was expressionless, but after a while, she bit her lip, her face filled with an indignant look. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand what she had to be so angry about but was curious about the child in Jian Sisi¡¯s belly. Could it be, after Shen Chi had returned from outside, he had been with Jian Sisi¡­? Uh¡­ Surely, the man didn¡¯t have that much stamina, right? And besides, getting pregnant on the same day was way too unlikely. pping her forehead, Xu Chaomu rubbed her temples, wondering what she was thinking. She was supposed to be reviewing serious investigation videos, yet her mind asionally wandered off track. Especially since, the sounds she had just heard in the room were still echoing in her ears. No, no, no, she was a pure person. On the video, Jian Sisi lingered at the door for a long time, seemingly contemting something. Xu Chaomu watched her intently, wondering what she was up to. Time ticked away second by second, and the numbers on the video kept jumping. After a while, Jian Sisi finally walked away from the door.
She didn¡¯t take the elevator; she chose to walk down the stairs. Xu Chaomu was torn, with only oneputer at her disposal, should she watch Shen Chi first, or keep an eye on Jian Sisi¡­? After some thought, she figured Shen Chi must have gone down to get some fresh air; it would be better to continue watching Jian Sisi. Jian Sisi¡¯s appearance plunged Xu Chaomu into deep thought. This woman, Jian Sisi, she had seen her once at the hospital, and she didn¡¯t seem like a pushover. Therefore, Xu Chaomu continued to switch through the videos. She was honestly grateful to Fenfen for getting her hands on all the videos from that day. There was only a dim light at the stairwell, and Jian Sisi switched on her phone. The phone¡¯s light illuminated the path beneath her feet, making it visible. Xu Chaomu had to admire her courage; wandering around the hotel in the dead of night, garbed in a white dress, was truly frightening. While ascending the stairs, Jian Sisi entered a room and then dialed a number on her phone. Once the door closed, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t see anything and hurriedly checked other videos to see if any happened to monitor that room. She searchedboriously for a good while but found none.
There was one camera near the window of that room, and Xu Chaomu clicked it opened with a try-and-see attitude. She couldn¡¯t see the video, but she could faintly hear sound. Xu Chaomu was really thankful to Fenfen, but had to admit, the hotel¡¯s surveince was quite intense. Xu Chaomu turned the volume up to the highest, eager to listen to whom Jian Sisi was talking. Atst, she heard something, even though the voice was very soft. ¡°Zhuo Fan, he was helped into a room downstairs.¡± ¡°Yeah, it was I who drugged his drink, but he didn¡¯te to my room, did he?¡± ¡°Right, he was severely intoxicated.¡± ¡°What? You want me to pretend¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an issue, but what if Shen Chi finds out¡­ He¡¯s ruthless, and if I¡¯m exposed, I¡¯m done for.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay, I¡¯ll go test the waters first, see if he remembers entering someone¡¯s room just now.¡± ¡°I got it, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°Mm.¡±
The voice faded and Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear any more. As expected, Jian Sisi had drugged Shen Chi. No wonder Shen Chi lost control tonight. But what did her words mean? What was Jian Sisi nning to do? Looking at this, the child in Jian Sisi¡¯s belly was probably not Shen Chi¡¯s. Gradually, she could no longer hear anything¡­ About ten minutester, Jian Sisi emerged from the room, draped in a light gray shawl, her hair disheveled, her face looking as if she had been crying. She was entirely different from the Jian Sisi from earlier. Xu Chaomu was curious. What exactly was Jian Sisi causing a fuss about? She closed the room¡¯s door and lingered in the doorway for a long time before wrapping half of her face with a scarf and walking towards the elevator. Xu Chaomu watched her intently, not daring to fast-forward, growing more curious. Shen Chi always thought the woman from that night was Jian Sisi, so what exactly did this Jian Sisi do? Damn it, she was the real victim here. And it wasn¡¯t just once. Now, there was an extra little bun in her belly. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand involuntarily brushed her abdomen, gently touching it, feeling the changes in the child already. Chapter 454: 454: Slept with Shen Chi Chapter 454: Slept with Shen Chi Her belly had been quite t before and nothing seemed amiss, but in recent days, probably because Butler Ling had cooked too many delicious dishes, her stomach had begun to show a faint but noticeable bulge. While one hand caressed her belly, the corners of her lips slowly curved into a deep arc. This child, she was undoubtedly certain, was Shen Chi¡¯s. But then she fell into deep thought again, how could such coincidences exist in this world¡­ Shen Chi had entered the wrong room, and that room, just happened to be hers. Why¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s brain couldn¡¯t figure it out. She continued to watch the footage; by this time, Jian Sisi had already taken the elevator down to the first floor. Xu Chaomu switched the video, calling up the surveince footage from downstairs. It was quiet downstairs as well; as soon as Jian Sisi got off, she started looking for someone. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t need to guess to know that she was definitely looking for Shen Chi. Sure enough, after running around for a while and not seeing Shen Chi, she began to call out softly, ¡°President Shen¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡±
Xu Chaomu watched with a gritting of teeth, snorted coldly; was Shen Chi someone she should be calling out for?! Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but in the stillness of the night, it sounded quite clear. Under the pitch-ck night sky, Jian Sisi¡¯s voice echoed. She started her search from behind the hotel and after a while, still hadn¡¯t found Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu nced at the time on the video; it was exactly 3 AM. It was pitch dark everywhere, so dark that one couldn¡¯t see their own hands in front of them. asionally, a gust of wind would blow through, causing the leaves to rustle with a ¡°shasha¡± sound. At this moment, Xu Chaomu felt chills running down her spine, far more thrilling than any horror movie she usually watched. She had to admire Sisi¡¯s courage; she was really brave. The lights outside the hotel were on, but they were so dim that Jian Sisi¡¯s face was barely visible. ¡°President Shen¡­ President Shen¡­ ¡± She kept on calling Shen Chi¡¯s name with a persistent sob in her voice. Eventually, she heard the sound of Shen Chi vomiting by the sink outside the restroom. She hurried over and reached his side. Xu Chaomu switched the surveince again, bringing up a video from the closest camera to the restroom. ¡°President Shen¡­ are you okay?¡± Jian Sisi quickly pulled out some tissues to wipe Shen Chi¡¯s face. As she wiped, she also wrapped an arm around Shen Chi¡¯s waist. ¡°Damn!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s teeth itched with hatred again; Jian Sisi actually dared to touch Shen Chi! After Shen Chi finished vomiting, he looked miserable. He turned the tap on full st, almost burying his face in the sink. ¡°Mumu¡­ Mumu¡­¡± His voice was full of agony.
He grabbed the edge of the sink, holding on tightly. Xu Chaomu saw that his eyes were bloodshot, and his face even paler than usual. Through the screen, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. The sound of running water was loud in the empty restroom, making extra noise in the silence.
Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected that, on this entire night, the two words he said the most would still be ¡°Mumu.¡± And at that time, five full years had passed since she had left him¡­ Watching the video, Xu Chaomu¡¯s nose tingled, and her eyes unexpectedly welled up with tears. She covered her face, not letting them fall. Her gaze stayed fixed on Shen Chi on the screen, her chest wrenching with pain. Butler Ling had said that during those five years, Shen Chi often suffered from headaches that kept him awake all night, often drinking to the point of hospitalization¡­ This foolish man, he really was a fool through and through¡­ He always said she was silly, but in fact, he was silly too. So it turned out, love could indeed make people foolish, foolish beyond cure, foolish to the point of negative intelligence. Jian Sisi wasn¡¯t as tall as Shen Chi, so she had to tiptoe slightly to wipe the water from his face. ¡°President Shen¡­ just now in the room¡­¡± Jian Sisi spoke halfway, then lowered her head. ¡°Just now¡­¡± Shen Chi was bewildered. His head hurt so much, what had he done just now? ¡°President Shen, just now in the room, we¡­¡± Jian Sisi still only said half of it.
Shen Chi seemed to remember, he painfully held his head, he probably recalled that he had not controlled himself just now in the room. And then, with a woman¡­ At this moment, he was holding his forehead, full of remorse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Shen Chi sobered up a bit and said three words to Jian Sisi. ¡°Damn!¡± Xu Chaomu almost wanted to smash the mouse onto Shen Chi¡¯s face! What the hell! What the freak! What the cousin! You had nothing happen with Jian Sisi, okay! Why the hell are you apologizing to her! ¡°Shen Chi, how much did you freaking drink?!¡± Xu Chaomu cursed at the screen. All that sentimentality just now hadpletely dissipated! She wished she could point at Shen Chi and drag him out of the screen to beat him up! Upon hearing Shen Chi¡¯s ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s lips revealed a triumphant smile. Xu Chaomu remembered now, no wonder, when Jian Sisi called just now, she said: Okay, okay, I¡¯ll go and test him first to see if he remembers who he entered the room with. Jian Sisi¡¯s hand around Shen Chi¡¯s waist became even more unrestrained, and she leaned her head against Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder.
¡°President Shen, I know you¡¯ve had too much to drink, I¡­ it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Jian Sisi lowered her head, biting her lower lip, her face showing a bit of grievance and innocence. Xu Chaomu on this end of theputer was so frustrated that her teeth itched. Jian Sisi was really too good at pretending! Damn it, it¡¯s like shees with an innate ability to y the white lotus, a deadly ultimate skill against men. Xu Chaomu really wished she could rush in and beat her up! Shen Chi didn¡¯t speak, his hands still propped on the edge of the sink. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his head seemed to hurt a lot, and he didn¡¯t look very sober. But Jian Sisi was wiping his face with a tissue: ¡°President Shen, does your head hurt a lot? Let me help you upstairs.¡± ¡°The first time?¡± Shen Chi spoke up, turning his head, his deep eyes staring at her. His voice was low and hoarse. Jian Sisi was stunned for a moment, and it took her several seconds to react before she shyly nodded her head. Seeing this, Xu Chaomu was so furious she nearly threw herputer to the floor! No, hold back, hold back.
A moment of patience may calm the waves, a moment of patience may reveal the truth. Hold on! Xu Chaomu, just hold on! ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was nd, devoid of emotion. Turning his head, he leaned on the edge of the sink, letting the cold tap water ssh onto his face. For the first time, Xu Chaomu felt that this man could be incredibly foolish! Damn, Shen Chi, why didn¡¯t you think to turn on the light when you left the room? Why didn¡¯t you take a look at who was on the bed? You deserve to be ckmailed by Jian Sisi, you deserve to be called Uncle Four by the baby! ¡°Shen Chi, is your IQ in the negatives?!¡± Xu Chaomu raged, again tempted to smash theputer! But Xu Chaomu thought about it and realized that, were she in Shen Chi¡¯s position, with Jian Sisi standing before her at this moment, she probably wouldn¡¯t think too much of it either. Shen Chi would never guess that the person he slept with that night was her, Xu Chaomu! No, no, no, it was her, Xu Chaomu, who slept with Shen Chi. ¡°President Shen, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean I wantedpensation¡­ that¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡± Suddenly, Jian Sisi started crying. She covered her face, her shoulders trembling. Chapter 455: 455 Can We Do It Again? Chapter 455: Can We Do It Again? Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. How¡­ how was she able to cry on cue? Xu Chaomu was so impressed, she was figuratively floored. Those tears were truly streaming down her cheeks, her eyes turning red, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart ¡°ached¡± for her. Men are supposedly most afraid of a woman¡¯s tears, even if the woman is of no significance to them. Indeed, Shen Chi furrowed his brows, clearly flustered, ¡°Stop crying¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Shen¡­¡± The next second, Jian Sisi threw herself into Shen Chi¡¯s arms, hugging his waist and burying her head in his chest. Jian Sisi¡¯s eyes were bright red, and tears fell like pearls off a broken string, incessantly. Xu Chaomu watched, grinding her teeth. Jian Sisi was really a good actress. This woman, not bing an actress, was truly a waste. She hugged Shen Chi tighter and tighter.
Xu Chaomu watched another woman cling to her husband, feeling a bitterness in her heart. And it seemed that Jian Sisi had no thoughts of letting go. Shen Chi pushed her, but having drunk too much, he felt dizzy, and as Jian Sisi was clinging tightly, his several attempts to push her away were unsessful. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ will you let me hug you, please¡­ you held me¡­ just like thisst night¡­¡± ¡°Let go.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep and low. ¡°Shen¡­¡± ¡°Let go.¡± His cold voice, filled with anger, reverberated in her ear. Probably startled, Jian Sisi finally, shakily, let go. She looked up at Shen Chi with misty eyes, full of grievance. Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips curved into a smirk. It seemed this man truly had no interest in other women. Alright, alright, she forgave him. In a posture of utter grievance, Jian Sisi now began to sob softly. Her acting had Xu Chaomu in a trance. She wept quietly to the side while Shen Chi was still leaning against the counter, eyes closed, his face a mask of exhaustion. After a long silence, Jian Sisi finally choked out, ¡°Mr. Shen, let me help you to your room to rest¡­¡± This time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t refuse; he was truly exhausted. She raised her head, the tear-drenchedshes fixing on his eyes, and after receiving his consent, she carefully linked her arm with his and walked side by side toward the elevator. Even with tears streaking her face, Xu Chaomu saw a sly smile slip onto Jian Sisi¡¯s lips.
Just as they were nearing the elevator, Jian Sisi slipped and nearly fell. Shen Chi¡¯s reflexes were quick. He caught her, his brow furrowing, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Jian Sisi shook her head, a flush spreading over her face, ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ it¡¯s just that my body hurts a bit¡­ you were very intensest night¡­¡± Damn, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was practically barking mad!
This scene made her seethe with rage! Jian Sisi, truly, was shameless beyond precedent. Jian Sisi¡¯s shamelessness reached an unparalleled level. Xu Chaomu casually grabbed a cup of cool boiled water from the table and drank several gulps. But the mes of her ire were irrepressible, ring up uncontrobly. She wished she could dive into the video and give Jian Sisi a good beating! ¡°Forget about tonight.¡± Shen Chi said coldly. His words sounded reasonable, and Xu Chaomu clenched her fists, struggling to suppress the anger inside her. The man had been out in the cold air for a while and obviously sobered up quite a bit. ¡°Shen¡­¡± ¡°Go upstairs!¡± Just then, the elevator doors opened and Shen Chi stepped forward with a cold face, going in first. As the elevator doors closed, the video fell silent once more.
Xu Chaomu quickly checked other parts of the surveince, and after a few seconds, she saw Shen Chi and Jian Sisi exiting the elevator. Jian Sisi was leading him to her room, and Xu Chaomu saw that it was directly one floor above her own room. Xu Chaomu noticed Shen Chi hesitate for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the various room numbers. A look of panic crossed Jian Sisi¡¯s face, probably fearing Shen Chi would notice something amiss. She hurriedly dragged him into her room. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t hold much hope; after all, if Shen Chi had noticed anything amiss, he wouldn¡¯t have remained in the dark three monthster. ¡°You can rest here, Mr. Shen, the afternoon flight is still doable,¡± Jian Sisi said as she opened the door. Shen Chi stretched out his clean, slim finger, blocking her, ¡°No need, have someone open another room for me.¡± His brows were tightly knit, his facergely expressionless. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ that¡¯s probably better¡­ after all, the bedsheets haven¡¯t been taken care of yet¡­¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. Xu Chaomu watched until she became numb to it; she just wanted to see how far this woman would go without shame. Shen Chi remained silent as he turned away to leave. Jian Sisi then pulled out an extra room card from her purse, ¡°Here, Mr. Shen, use this one. Fortunately, I have a spare.¡± Her face showed tension, fearful that Shen Chi would discover something.
Shen Chi¡¯s face was weary, hisplexion pale and devoid of color. He took Jian Sisi¡¯s room card, and she helped him to the door. Shen Chi still hesitated, and just then, Jian Sisi¡¯s ankle twisted, and with a cry of ¡°Ah,¡± she grabbed onto Shen Chi¡¯s arm. Shen Chi steadied her, merely saying, ¡°Be careful.¡± Her scarf fell to the floor during her stumble. In the moment Shen Chi supported her, she threw herself into Shen Chi¡¯s embrace. Xu Chaomu simply grabbed a bag of sunflower seeds and began cracking them open, her demeanor as if she were curled up with herptop under a nket watching a Korean drama series. Jian Sisi clung to Shen Chi, her lips biting her lower lip, her face flushed to a bright red. ¡°You must find me amusing, Mr. Shen¡­¡± she cooed shyly. Shen Chi said nothing, maintaining his usual cold detachment. Unexpectedly, Jian Sisi refused to let go. In the dim corridor light, her slender fingers caressed Shen Chi¡¯s chest, slowly climbing up and beginning to unbutton his shirt. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ shall we go another round? This time¡­ be gentler with me¡­¡± she whispered. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes bulged as Jian Sisi¡¯s nimble fingers popped open two of Shen Chi¡¯s shirt buttons.
Xu Chaomu¡¯s pulse raced, her thoughts screaming, ¡°Come on, give us a round, make it passionate, go for the uncensored experience, not the nd one!¡± Her mood was akin to watching an erotic film, her excitement running high. But then she remembered, hang on, this man was her husband, what was she excited for? She cleared her throat softly, then quickly sat up straight to watch the video intently. As Jian Sisi looked up at Shen Chi, about to undo his third button, Shen Chi coldly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Forget tonight!¡± His deep voice echoed in the quiet, dim hallway, with an intimidating power. After speaking, he shook off Jian Sisi¡¯s wandering hands without any trace of tenderness. Xu Chaomu was quite moved. This man had remained chaste. It seemed that the drugs had worn off, and although he hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the alcohol, his restraint was apparent. Chapter 456: 456 He is a Beast Chapter 456: He is a Beast ¡°` ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Jian Sisi covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Go back!¡± Shen Chi shouted again. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Jian Sisi clenched her teeth, bent down, and picked up the silk scarf from the ground. As she bent down, Xu Chaomu caught sight of the hickey on her neck, and Shen Chi lowered his eyelids, seemingly noticing it too. Xu Chaomu was taken aback, he hadn¡¯t seen the hickey in the hallway earlier! At this moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was almost copsing, this woman¡¯s tactics were worth learning indeed. They were impable, without a single w. He guessed that if he pushed open Jian Sisi¡¯s room right now, he¡¯d probably find the bedsheets to be¡­ cough, cough, cough. Currently, the lights in the hallway were dim, and Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t see clearly how she had managed to create that hickey. Maybe¡­ it was done with lipstick?
Anyway, it looked very realistic. Xu Chaomu really admired her, unwillingly. Shen Chi stared at her neck for a while, not saying anything, but Xu Chaomu saw a hint of apology on his face. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ take care and rest, I¡¯ll be going back now,¡± Jian Sisi said, fastening her scarf, her face a picture of aggrievement. ¡°Wait.¡± There was suddenly a touch of indifference on Shen Chi¡¯s face. As soon as he spoke, Jian Sisi trembled, and Xu Chaomu could tell that she was very nervous. She was waiting for Shen Chi to continue, not daring to look him directly in the eyes. ¡°Remember to take your medicine,¡± Shen Chi said coldly, four words cutting through the air. Those words, like the morning bell, struck directly at Jian Sisi¡¯s heart, causing her whole body to tremble and her lips to quiver. Tsk tsk, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but sigh. This man was indeed as cold-hearted as the rumors suggested. Having lived with him for so many years, Xu Chaomu, upon reflection, realized he had been quite polite to her. It was just the usual punishments of not allowing her to eat and tearing up heric books when she was being naughty. Moreover, many times, he wanted to hit her, his hand raised but never quite able to bring it down. After dropping those icy words, Shen Chi turned and used his key card to open the door of his hotel room, without a trace of sentimentality, harshly closing it behind him. In the hallway, only Jian Sisi remained. She stood in ce, biting her lower lip hard, her face filled with resentment and anger. Xu Chaomu really wanted to rush over and beat her up a few times¡ªdid she feel wronged?! From the surveince camera, Jian Sisi lingered in front of Shen Chi¡¯s room for quite a while, not leaving for a long time.
Finally, after a long while, she opened the door to her own room and went inside. The hallway became quiet all at once, except for the asional sounds of drunken revelers causing amotion in the distance. Xu Chaomu quickly switched over to adjust the surveince camera outside Jian Sisi¡¯s room. Although that camera could only pick up sound, it was sure to provide clues.
Xu Chaomu was curious, whose child was Jian Sisi carrying in her womb? It was clear that Shen Chi hadn¡¯t been intimate with her again. Indeed, as soon as Jian Sisi entered her room, she threw a cup! With a ¡°ng,¡± Xu Chaomu herself was startled. Then, Jian Sisi dialed a number. ¡°Zhuo Fan, this man is simply no good.¡± Xu Chaomu cracked sunflower seeds¡ªsure, he was a beast. ¡°He didn¡¯t suspect anything, but he told me to take the morning-after pill.¡± ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Jian Sisi said angrily. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s no loss to me, Zhuo Fan. This man is too cold-blooded, probably beyond our means to threaten.¡± ¡°Okay, Zhuo Fan, as we agreed, once we get the money, we¡¯ll leave C City forever. I don¡¯t want to see Shen Chi again; he¡¯s not someone to mess with.¡± ¡°After plotting against him today, my heart is still racing¡ªI¡¯m scared I might end up dead at his hands.¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t hear the man¡¯s voice; she could only fill in the gaps with her imagination.
Was Shen Chi really that frightening? ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m counting on you, I trust you.¡± Xu Chaomu was curious¡ªwho was Zhuo Fan? What were they nning? Extortion? Quite likely. After a while, Jian Sisi and the man seemed to really hit it off. At first, they were cautious, but then they started to flirt and banter. ¡°I miss you, of course I do. I have an afternoon flight, I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± ¡°What are you saying, that¡¯s not serious. Don¡¯t go to a hotel, let¡¯s stay at your ce¡­¡± ¡°You hurt mest time; if you do that again, I won¡¯t talk to you anymore¡­¡± Xu Chaomu covered her face¡ªcould they be any more vulgar? However, Xu Chaomu listened patiently to the end, it¡¯s a pity that after all this time watching the video, she didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of any high-definition pornographic material. She switched to the surveince feed of her own room¡ªnothing happening, presumably in deep sleep. Fast-forwarding¡­ fast-forwarding¡­
By the time the dawn¡¯s light began to show faintly, Xu Chaomu still hadn¡¯t seen any movement; she must be sleeping heavily. Wondering what the room looked like, Xu Chaomu covered her face¡ªthe imagery must have been too beautiful¡­ Too bad Shen Chi had drawn the curtains; she couldn¡¯t see anything now. Xu Chaomu gave up and went back to reviewing the corridor¡¯s footage, switching between several feeds. In the morning, the hallway was bustling with activity, many people up early, washed up, and ready to leave the hotel with their suitcases. She didn¡¯t see Shen Chi leave his room, but she did see Jian Sisi going in and out several times. Jian Sisi also thoughtfully bought breakfast, probably for Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu thought, to y the part to such an extent was indeed hard work. She reviewed the footage again, fast-forwarding¡­ Then, in the crowd of people moving about, she spotted the figure of Nie Chenng! Nie Chenng was talking to her colleague, ¡°Which room is Chaomu in?¡± Her colleague pointed, ¡°That one over there.¡± ¡°Did she drink too muchst night?¡±
¡°Yeah, she was pretty wasted,¡± her female colleague said, shaking her head helplessly. ¡°I see.¡± Nie Chenng strode toward her room. Halfway there, as if remembering something, he turned back. ¡°Mr. Nie, is there something else?¡± the female colleague asked with a smile. ¡°Your advertising agency, whichpany were you discussing cooperation with yesterday?¡± Nie Chenng asked seriously. ¡°It was with Faye Jewelry Group. Their Paris branch was looking for an advertising partner.¡± ¡°Their CEO Lu Feili came personally?¡± Nie Chenng asked with a cold voice. The female colleague was startled, probably wondering how Nie Chenng even knew who the CEO of Feili Group was. ¡°We¡¯re not that influential, it was their Vice President who came.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s face paled a bit. He walked briskly towards her room and paused as he arrived at the door. This part, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t quite understand. Why was Nie Chenng asking this? However, it made sense because the Vice President of the group did look lecherous, seeming to be quite a womanizer. That night, he had continuously tried to make her sit next to him, fortunately, she found an excuse to decline. The consequence of refusing was that she got plied with a lot of drinks. Nie Chenng was probably worried about her. ¡°` Chapter 457: 457: The Red on the Bed Sheet Chapter 457: The Red on the Bed Sheet Nie Chenng stood for a while, originally intending to knock on the door, but then he turned around, went downstairs, and requested a room key from the front desk. His expression wasplex, with a faint worry between his brows. Watching the video, Xu Chaomu recalled what had happened, and although she couldn¡¯t remember anything from that night, she still remembered waking up that morning. She remembered waking up to find Nie Chenng already sitting on the sofa in the room. That day, Nie Chenng¡¯s face showed no emotion, and she felt sore all over when she opened her eyes. He sat on the sofa, a face full of guilt, and said to her, ¡°Chaomu, I drank too muchst night, I¡¯m sorry, I will take responsibility for you.¡± She didn¡¯t need to watch the video to remember the events that followed. When she woke up, her mind was in chaos and her head throbbed with pain. She held her head and couldn¡¯t even hear clearly what Nie Chenng was saying afterward. She just remembered that Nie Chenng¡¯s expression was alwaysplex; sometimes he seemed about to say something but would then move his lips and remain silent. ¡°Chaomu, go take a shower, I¡¯ll go get you some clean clothes.¡±
Nie Chenng stood up, drew the curtains closed for her, turned, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. She remembered her face being flush and burning hot at that time. For a long time, she just sat stunned on the bed, her mind utterly nk. Sitting there, she couldn¡¯t hear any sound, and it seemed as if she couldn¡¯t see anything before her. She clutched the quilt, only lifting her eyelids after Nie Chenng had left. All her crumpled clothes were thrown under the bed, inplete disarray. She lowered her head and nced at the bedsheets; the red on the sheets made her cheeks flush and her heart race. With just the slightest move, she felt a piercing pain. That night, it had been her first time. She waspletely stunnedst night, she had been with Nie Chenng? She pped her head, trying to recall something, but the more she tried, the more her head hurt, and she couldn¡¯t remember anything. All she remembered was that when she was drunk that night, it seemed like she kept calling someone¡¯s name¡­ Alcohol can muddle the senses; indeed, alcohol is not a good thing¡ªthis time she truly overdid it. That day, she waspletely dumbfounded¡­ Recalling these events, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart still felt somewhat uneasy. Nie Chenng didn¡¯t know that the person that night was Shen Chi; he simply wanted to protect her, not wanting her to be sad. Nie Chenng was truly very good to her. Not long after, he proposed to her, asking her to marry him¡­ Remembering the past, Xu Chaomu lowered her eyelids, her eyes brimming with moisture.
How should she repay his kindness when she has never been able to persuade herself to fall in love with him¡­ Shen Chi appeared in her life eight years earlier than Nie Chenng. Eight years, neither long nor short. A deep, unforgettable love had etched itself into her heart, one that no matter what, couldn¡¯t be washed away.
The capacity of a heart is so small, small enough to hold only one person. From then on, after thousands of ships have sailed, they are nothing but passing clouds. She reached out and took the Blue Card from the table. On the card were small English letters: ILOVEYOU. Looking at it, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help butugh foolishly, muttering to herself, ¡°Can¡¯t you write it a bit bigger?¡± Also, she finally mustered the courage to send him a cheesy message, ¡°I miss you,¡± and yet he still hasn¡¯t replied until now. Xu Chaomu touched her belly: ¡°Baby, your father is too bad. See, your mother is bullied by him every day. When you are born, you¡¯re only allowed to call him ¡®Uncle Four.¡¯ ¡°Come on, let mommy teach you how to say it, ¡®Uncle Four¡¯¡­¡± Xu Chaomu yed with her baby for a while, then continued to watch the surveince footage. She didn¡¯t need to look at her own room anymore. After Nie Chenng fetched her clean clothes, she changed into them. Thinking about it now, no wonder Nie Chenng hid himself when she was changing clothes. If the man from that night had really been Nie Chenng, after such an intimate encounter, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have hidden. At that time, however, she was too dazed to think through these details.
She only believed that Nie Chenng wouldn¡¯t lie to her. As it turned out, he had told her a kind-hearted lie. If she hadn¡¯t returned to C Cityter on, she probably never would have discovered that it was just a kind-hearted lie. Perhaps, she would have married Nie Chenng in Paris, given birth to this child, and never known the truth for her entire life. Sometimes, it feels as if everything was destined. Fate, neither too early nor toote. She opened the video of the floor where Shen Chi stayed. It was close to ten o¡¯clock when the door to Shen Chi¡¯s room finally opened. Xu Chaomu remembered that by around ten o¡¯clock, she had already left the Paris Hotel. Later, because the contract with the partner was signed sessfully, the manager agreed to promote her with a raise. During those two and a half months, she served as the designer for that project. But the project wasn¡¯t finished when Nie Chenng asked her to resign, saying it was to return home for their engagement and marriage¡­ It was only three months ago, but recalling it now, Xu Chaomu felt as if it was in the distant past. It seemed the past was indeed unbearable to look back on.
In the video, Shen Chi opened the door, and a waiter brought him clothes. It wasn¡¯t long before the door opened again, and Shen Chi came out. Dressed neatly in his sharp ck business suit, with a dark blue tie, ck trousers, and shiny ck dress shoes. He was just buttoning up his suit jacket as he stepped out of the room. Jian Sisi had been waiting outside not far from his door, and as soon as Shen Chi emerged, she hurriedly ran over to him. ¡°Mr. Shen, why not sleep a little longer? There¡¯s plenty of time before the flight. I can wake you up,¡± she said with a smile brimming with eagerness. Jian Sisi had also changed into clean clothes by now, a sharp business suit highlighting her feminine appeal. Shen Chi nced at his watch, then indifferently said, ¡°It¡¯s no longer early.¡± With that, he walked out of the room. He led the way, and Jian Sisi quickly followed in her high heels. ¡°Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen, have some breakfast, I¡¯ve prepared everything, let¡¯s go to the restaurant downstairs,¡± she said. Shen Chi frowned, his expression less than pleased. Xu Chaomu snorted coldly to herself at that ¡°we,¡± questioning what ¡°we.¡±
Shen Chi did not turn his head and only slightly paused his stride before continuing to walk swiftly forward. As they nearly reached the elevator, Jian Sisi suddenly cried out, ¡°Ouch,¡± and fell to the ground. Xu Chaomu had been so focused on watching Shen Chi¡¯s expression that she hadn¡¯t noticed how Jian Sisi fell. There was no denying that this man looked handsome in a suit. She thought that if she went to work at Shen¡¯s in the future, she might often see him in a suit at meetings. Uh, the thought was somewhat exciting. However, Jian Sisi¡¯s fall startled Xu Chaomu, who quickly hit the rewind button to see how Jian Sisi had fallen. Chapter 458: 458: Life is like a play, it all depends on acting skills Chapter 458: Life is like a y, it all depends on acting skills This woman¡¯s acting skills have reached an extraordinary level, the moment you¡¯re not paying attention, she¡¯ll give you a performance of Lady Meng Jiang weeping over the Great Wall, ¡°you are the wind and I am the sand.¡± This kind of woman requires constant vignce. Xu Chaomu took step after step back, retreating to where Jian Sisi was chasing after Shen Chi as he ran out. Chasing and chasing, suddenly, Jian Sisi bumped into a man. Of course, she couldn¡¯t knock the man over, and with an ¡°ouch,¡± her high heel twisted, and her entire body fell to the ground! This time, it wasn¡¯t an act! With a snort, Xu Chaomu actuallyughed out loud. The moment Jian Sisi fell to the ground, she truly looked as though she had fallen face-first into dog shit. Her handbag flew out of her hand, spilling its contents all over the floor. Her entire body copsed to the ground, and a patch of skin was scraped off her delicate hand! The man hurried over to help her, ¡°Miss, I¡¯m so sorry, I¡¯m so sorry.¡±
At that moment, Shen Chi heard the noise and nced back. Jian Sisi saw Shen Chi, bit her lip painfully, and struggled to stand up. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I don¡¯t me you, it was my own carelessness,¡± Jian Sisi said in a particrly gentle, generous, and understanding tone at that moment. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m really sorry,¡± the man kept apologizing. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, go on, I can manage on my own,¡± Jian Sisi said, refusing the man¡¯s help, her eyes fixed on Shen Chi. At this moment, Jian Sisi looked pitiful, her big eyes full of grievance. You could tell, she wanted Shen Chi to help her. Very much so. Shen Chi was quite a gentleman, like, for example, Lou Yanli once said, he was a true gentleman. But right now, Shen Chi pretended not to see, turned his head, and called over a waiter. ¡°There is a youngdy who¡¯s fallen over there, take her to see a doctor,¡± he said. After speaking, Shen Chi didn¡¯t look back and strode towards the elevator entrance. Just then, the elevator arrived at that floor, and Shen Chi stepped in. His figure was dashing and resolute. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes sparkled with infatuation, she thought, there were countless reasons why she liked this man, not just because of his looks. She was not that shallow. As soon as Shen Chi left, Jian Sisi angrily pounded the floor. The waiter approached to help her up, but she forcefully shook off his hand, her previously polite and gentle demeanor gone. ¡°Get lost! Who needs your help?¡±
The man who bumped into her was still apologizing, ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry, did you hurt yourself anywhere?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hurt all over? Are you supposed to take me to the hospital for a check-up? Are you going to paypensation?¡± Jian Sisi red at the man, her tone unfriendly. She pushed herself up from the ground and helplessly watched as Shen Chi just walked away. Getting up, she shook off the waiter¡¯s hand and then the man¡¯s hand!
¡°Miss¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I need to catch a ne, let me leave you my number, you¡­¡± ¡°Get lost, who wants your number? Stay away from me!¡± Jian Sisi said angrily. She was utterly frustrated, pushing away the man in front of her, bending down to gather her handbag, shoving things back into it haphazardly, and storming off in a huff. The fall was hard, and Jian Sisi limped as she walked, losing allposure. In her anger, she grabbed a bottle of BB cream from her bag and threw it at a mirror in the hotel! With a ¡°ng,¡± the mirror didn¡¯t break, but it did dent inward a bit. Immediately, a waiter came over and stopped Jian Sisi. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ve damaged hotel property, please pay for it,¡± he said. Watching this from herputer, Xu Chaomu was quite amused. If only Shen Chi had suddenly turned back, what a beautiful scene that would have been. Jian Sisi, that woman, really knew how to act. She should really change her name to Jian Act-Act. Life is indeed a y, all depends on the acting. ¡°Compensation? How much?¡± Jian Sisi didn¡¯t seem bothered, just crossed her arms and looked at the waiter in front of her.
¡°This¡­ when converted to RMB, at least five hundred,¡± the waiter said. ¡°Five hundred? So can I smash it one more time?¡± Jian Sisi looked down on the waiter, pulling out five red bills from her wallet. ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make it difficult for us.¡± ¡°What if I make it difficult for you? What then?¡± After speaking, Jian Sisi took out another bottle of makeup remover from her bag, ready to throw it at the mirror. ¡°Miss, Miss, please calm down,¡± the waiter said as he quickly grabbed the makeup remover from her hand, still very polite. Jian Sisi couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue any further, scoffing with a coldugh, ¡°Just my bad luck.¡± After saying that, she threw the five hundred RMB at the waiter and limped towards the elevator entrance in her high heels. Her attitude wasn¡¯t great; she dropped the entire five hundred on the floor. The red bills were especially eye-catching. The waiter shook his head, his face full of helplessness. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; the handsome waiter looked so aggrieved.
Xu Chaomu then pulled up the restaurant¡¯s video feed, searching until she saw Shen Chi drinking coffee. His face was still a bit pale, probably still recovering from the previous day¡¯s drunkenness. At the moment, he was stirring his coffee while on the phone. It was all business talk, and Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t understand. But she didn¡¯t fast-forward; instead, she stared at Shen Chi¡¯s handsome face. Cold and proud, noble yet ruthless. Huh, Xu Chaomu suddenly noticed a scratch mark below the cor of Shen Chi¡¯s shirt. Shen Chi covered it up with his shirt, and it wasn¡¯t easily noticeable unless you looked closely. Sheughed, scratch mark¡­ that was probably from herst night. Just as Shen Chi hung up the phone, Jian Sisi approached him. ¡°President Shen,¡± she called softly, standing in front of him. Shen Chi nced up briefly at her and then turned his attention back to stirring his coffee. ¡°I had an idental fall just now, I¡¯m sorry if it caused you any embarrassment,¡± she said with a flushed face, once again adopting a gentle, girl-like shyness.
¡°Did you take the medicine?¡± Shen Chi spoke indifferently. Jian Sisi was taken aback, then felt as if there was a fire burning in her belly. Xu Chaomu noticed her eyes turn red, her cheeks alternating between white, green, and red with anger. She probably didn¡¯t expect Shen Chi to bepletely without a word of concern. Jian Sisi was indeed a secretary with years of experience; it only took her a few seconds to regain herposure, her voice choked. ¡°Yes, I took it,¡± she lowered her head. ¡°Hmm, take this check; I don¡¯t want anyplications fromst night¡¯s incident,¡± Shen Chi said as he took a check from his pocket and pushed it to the edge of the table, his expression still impassive. Tsk tsk, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but sigh, this man was just as cold-hearted and ruthless as the outside world had made him out to be. Just the night before they had slept together, and by morning, he acted as though he didn¡¯t know her. No, no, no, he hadn¡¯t slept with Jian Sisist night! ¡°President Shen¡­ what kind of person do you think I am? You were drunkst night, and so was I. Do you think I¡¯m the kind of woman who would just casually sleep with a man?¡± Jian Sisi became highly emotional, covered her face, and cried out loud. Xu Chaomu watched, stunned by the performance. Brilliant acting. Also, that check on the table, Xu Chaomu zoomed in to see, was for five million. Chapter 459: 459 Normal Physiological Response Chapter 459: Normal Physiological Response This man is really generous with his money, five million just for one night? Jian Sisi has made a fortune. Isn¡¯t that too pricey? Does that mean in the future, if some beast dares to make any requests, she could also demand five million? Tsk tsk tsk, five million. ¡°Take the check and forget what happenedst night.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was still as cold as ice. ¡°President Shen, I don¡¯t want your money!¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s little face flushed red with seriousness as she pushed the check back at Shen Chi, ¡°President Shen, I don¡¯t want you to take responsibility, nor do I want yourpensation. I just want you to know that I, Jian Sisi, am not that kind of woman. So, I don¡¯t want your money!¡± She spoke with righteous indignation, her expression stern. Xu Chaomu was utterly impressed, it sounded so sincere. She remembered the conversation Jian Sisi had with that man named Zhuo Fan, she probably doesn¡¯t even care about the five million. ¡°You better take the check. In the future, if you dare to usest night¡¯s incident to threaten me, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless with a woman.¡±
Shen Chi¡¯s expression turned stern as he threw the spoon into the cup, producing a crisp ¡°ng.¡± Jian Sisi was startled, her hands twisting nervously, her face a picture of panic. Suddenly, she covered her face and began to cry, ¡°President Shen, how can you think of me like this? Am I that kind of woman? As a girl, I¡¯ve never done that sort of thing with a man before, do you think I¡¯m feeling okay about it?¡± Having said that, Jian Sisi ran out of the caf¨¦ in tears. Xu Chaomu stared, dumbfounded by such acting skills¡ªsimply incredible! But ording to the usual plot, shouldn¡¯t the man chase after her when he hears such words? Xu Chaomu stared at Shen Chi, curious about how he would react. However, this man never yed by the rules. Even though Jian Sisi looked so ¡°pathetic,¡± he seemed utterly unmoved. He picked up the spoon again and gently stirred his coffee. This man, his gaze was deep and inscrutable, always making it impossible to fathom what he was thinking. Xu Chaomu nced at the time on the video; it was already after ten. At that point, she had already left the Paris Hotel with Nie Chenng. When the video¡¯s timestamp reached eleven, Shen Chi left the hotel with people from the Shen Group. Of course, that included Jian Sisi. Pausing the footage, Xu Chaomu was still pondering the recent scene¡ªsleeping with Shen Chi for one night was worth so much money? She felt as though she had opened the doors to a whole new world. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand with the mouse slid back and forth ceaselessly, the cursor darting around theputer screen. In her head, those ¡®not suitable for children¡¯ sounds began ying involuntarily¡­ Her face flushed red, and her hand uncontrobly clicked on that video segment again.
Yes, somewhat out of control¡­ The video only had sound, no image, and Xu Chaomu quickly turned down the volume to very low. As soon as she yed it, she heard sounds that made her blush and her heart race. ¡°Mmm¡­ah¡­ah¡­¡±
¡°Lightly, lightly¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned as red as a liver, hardly daring to believe¡ªthe woman in the video¡­ was her. No no no, that¡¯s a normal physiological response, any woman would be the same. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± she resisted. ¡°What don¡¯t you want¡­¡± The man¡¯s suggestive voice came through. ¡°Hands off¡­ ah¡­¡± She resisted, yet couldn¡¯t help but moan softly. Xu Chaomu internally screamed ¡°How dirty, how dirty,¡± yet listened to the entire video again. Her first time, and she couldn¡¯t remember what it felt like at all. Truly frustrating. After listening once, Xu Chaomu stowed the video data away carefully; such valuable material needed to be hidden with care. She must, at all costs, keep it from being seen by Shen Chi¡­ Luckily, Fenfen had said there was only one copy of the video. As long as she hid it well, Shen Chi would not be able to see it again. Where to hide it, Xu Chaomu wondered. Her bedroom was frequently visited by Shen Chi, so it had to be in a ce he couldn¡¯t see.
She pped her hands and wandered around her bedroom. Under the bed, in the wardrobe, inside boxes¡­ she checked them all. Then she thought of a solution! She had a box for misceneous little items; she just needed to disguise the video a bit before cing it inside. She purposefully made the items in the box look messy, then hid the inconspicuous surveince footage in a ck cloth bag, mixing it with the other small items. Once she locked the box, her task wasplete! Shen Chi definitely wouldn¡¯t go so far as to break into her box. And for herself¡­ well, she had already copied a few significant segments of the video to herputer and named them ¡°Kitty¡¯s funny videos¡± and ¡°A new joke every day,¡± titles like that. From what she knew about Shen Chi, he would disdain touching herputer. And even if he identally used it, he would scorn clicking on videos with such names. Xu Chaomu apuded her own cleverness, deeply moved by her intelligence. Task aplished, Xu Chaomu dusted off her hands and continued to crack open sunflower seeds. While eating sunflower seeds, she asionally nced at her phone screen; this man, really.
Had he not seen her text, or was he simply choosing not to reply? With his attitude, let him sleep on the floor for a year. Xu Chaomu fixed her gaze on her phone for ages until night fell and still not a peep from the device. Annoyed, she tossed the phone on the table and went downstairs to find Dabai to y with. After five years, Dabai had be much more obedient. Where it used to snub her, now it wagged its tail excitedly and barked happily upon seeing her. ¡°Woof woof woof¡±¡­ Xu Chaomu ran over to y with it, but because pregnant women shouldn¡¯t have too much contact with animals, she only stroked Dabai a few times, spoke a few words to it, and reluctantly left the dog house. ¡°Dabai, you need to be good. I¡¯ll bring Wealth over to y with you another day.¡± Xu Chaomu had raised a little dog named Wealth in Paris, andter it was Nie Chenng who took it back to their country, and the little dog had been staying with Nie Chenng ever since. It had been many days since she had returned home, and she hadn¡¯t seen Wealth yet; she missed him. Dabai squinted its eyes, wagged its tail again as if in agreement, and seemed very well-behaved. Xu Chaomu loved how obedient it was, the more she looked, the more she adored it. In fact, during the five years abroad, she missed Dabai a lot. Aftering back, she yed hardball with Shen Chi, iming not to miss Dabai when in truth, she really did.
In the evening, Shen Chi still hadn¡¯t replied to her text or called her. Xu Chaomu was indeed upset¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t initiate, so neither would she. In the hotel, Shen Chi was in a closed-door meeting. Such meetings did not allow any kind ofmunication devices, and while he was in the meeting, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about that text message. But, business is business, and personal issues are another matter. In his eyes, work and private life were clearly separate. Though he pondered over Xu Chaomu, his demeanor during the meeting was meticulous. The meeting didn¡¯t end until seven in the evening, and everyone stayed at the hotel, waiting to continue the meeting at dawn. Once everyone left the meeting room, Shen Chi finally took out his phone, a hint of a smile spreading across his grim face. Chapter 460: 460: The Person Who Encountered Chaomu Chapter 460: The Person Who Encountered Chaomu The three characters on the screen seemed like the most beautiful words in the world. The corners of his lips slowly curled upward, deeper and deeper. When Xiao Mo entered the conference room, he saw Shen Chi grinning foolishly by himself again. He sighed with his hand to his forehead, wondering if Shen Chi had been bewitched. However, he was still quite curious about what Chaomu had sent. Shen Chi finally decided to respond to Xu Chaomu. He typed several texts but wasn¡¯t satisfied with any of them; eventually, he simply replied with one word, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°President Shen.¡± Xiao Mo had important matters to report and had no choice but to break the peace. Shen Chi was always on guard. Hearing Xiao Mo¡¯s voice, he quickly stowed away his phone, sat up straight, and resumed his cool demeanor. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I have organized the minutes from this afternoon¡¯s meeting,¡± Xiao Mo said. Xiao Mo handed the documents to Shen Chi, who epted them. He casually flipped through a few pages, affirming Xiao Mo¡¯s efficiency in handling tasks.
¡°Okay, leave them with me,¡± Shen Chi closed the folder. ¡°President Shen, right after the meeting ended, I got a call.¡± ¡°What about?¡± ¡°About the incident where your wife was hit by a car on the day she returned to the country, the one you asked me to investigate.¡± Shen Chi held his breath¡ªyes, he had instructed Xiao Mo to look into it. With so much going on and Xiao Mo not having given him any updates, he had almost forgotten about it. ¡°It¡¯s been many days now,¡± said Shen Chi nonchntly. ¡°Yes, President Shen, I have been negligent in my duties. Tracking down a car is easy, but delving deeper is not.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯ve had it tough. Tell me what you¡¯ve found,¡± Shen Chi leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes fixed on Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo closed the door of the conference room and lowered his voice to report to Shen Chi. ¡°President Shen, I checked the surveince, and I found out the car belongs to a woman.¡± ¡°Nonsense, I saw it was a woman too!¡± ¡°Er¡­ the woman¡¯s name is Qi Na,¡± Xiao Mo continued, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°This Qi Na, I looked into it, and she almost has no interaction with your wife in daily life.¡± ¡°Qi Na? I haven¡¯t heard of her either,¡± Shen Chi said. His long fingers tapped lightly on the desktop, his gaze deep and profound. ¡°So, at first, I thought it was just a normal traffic ident.¡± ¡°Go on.¡±
¡°Later in the investigation, I found out that this Qi Na has been infatuated with a man since she was young.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Not you, President Shen.¡± Shen Chi shot Xiao Mo a cold look. It seemed he had been a little too polite to Xiao Mo recently.
Xiao Mo felt a chill around him and coughed softly, quickly suppressing the smile on his face. ¡°The man is called Nie Chenng, who¡­ happens to be quite close to your wife.¡± Xiao Mo put it very tactfully; after all, it was said that Xu Chaomu almost married this man. Furthermore, during the five years Chaomu was abroad, it was rumored that he looked after her the entire time. A single man and a single woman, it led to endless conjecture. But anyone who dared topete with Shen Chi for a woman rarely met a good end. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, this Qi Na acted out of jealousy? Jealous of my wife¡¯s beauty, and that she was pursued by the man Qi Na liked?¡± asked Shen Chi lightly. The corner of Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched. President Shen, you could be even more shameless. What Xiao Mo admired most was that every time Shen Chi said such shameless words, he managed to maintain a dead-serious expression on his face. ¡°At first, I thought so too.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°Qi Naes from a good family background and was always the daughter-inw Lu Feili approved of, albeit a bit dumb and brainless,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°The news about Nie Chenng¡¯s engagement wasn¡¯t confirmed by Lu Feili yet, but Qi Na was already panicking.¡± Xiao Mo continued, ¡°A few days before your wife returned to the country, she was spreading the news about the engagement.¡±
Shen Chi tapped the desk, finding the behavior quite stupid. He leaned back in his chair to listen to Xiao Mo¡¯s report. ¡°I found out that she was at a beauty salon for a beauty treatment and happened to meet a few acquaintances,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Several women were lying in the beauty salon getting treatments, and they started chatting. Then Qi Na mentioned Nie Chenng¡¯s uing engagement to the others.¡± ¡°Mmm, go on,¡± Shen Chi urged. ¡°Women¡¯s chats are full of gossip. After mentioning Nie Chenng¡¯s engagement, they all expressed sympathy for Qi Na. Of course, there were also people encouraging her to fight for Nie Chenng back. But, while the speaker meant no harm, the listener took it to heart.¡± ¡°I found out that among those women that day, there was Jiang Zhn.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhn¡­¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes sharpened, emitting a dangerous signal. Jiang Zhn¡­ Shen Chi savored the woman¡¯s name, and many thoughts surfaced in his mind. Five years ago, Jiang Zhn had people abduct Xu Chaomu to protect her daughter; what about five yearster? After the incident on Sumatra Ind five years ago, the Bai Family took the initiative to call off the engagement. Afterward, Bai Man went abroad and never returned, leaving no news behind. Five years had passed, there was no reason for Jiang Zhn to harm Chaomu again.
Could it be¡­ harboring resentment? It didn¡¯t make sense. Shen Chi found Chaomu at the first opportunity after five years because he loved her, which meant that if Jiang Zhn could locate Chaomu immediately after five years, it indicated that she too had been closely monitoring Chaomu¡¯s whereabouts for the past five years. The thought terrified Shen Chi. This woman had virtually no interaction with Chaomu. She had no reason to cling to her relentlessly. This woman had no grudge against the Shen Family either. ¡°President Shen, ording to my investigation from various sources, it was Jiang Zhn who spent the most time chatting with Qi Na on that day. The beauty salon owner said that Jiang Zhn told Qi Na that if a woman wants to keep her husband, she has to be ruthless. Jiang Zhn also advised Qi Na, telling her that with her family background, even if she killed someone in broad daylight, she would only need to pay some money,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Although Jiang Zhn said this jokingly at the time, Qi Na, being not too bright, believed it,¡± Xiao Mo added. ¡°So, President Shen, what followed, you¡¯ve seen it yourself.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brows were deeply furrowed as he pondered. After a while, he spoke in a deep voice, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s very likely that Jiang Zhn instigated Qi Na?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a very high possibility,¡± Xiao Mo replied.
Shen Chi sank back into thought. The spacious conference room was quiet, not a sound could be heard. Xiao Mo also held his breath, waiting for Shen Chi to speak. He had said all he had to say, now it was up to Shen Chi to decide. ¡°Xiao Mo, what do you think Jiang Zhn¡¯s motive was for instigating Qi Na?¡± Xiao Mo had considered this question too. He said, ¡°President Shen, she must be holding a grudge against your wife. If not for your wife, the title of Young Madam Shen would belong to Miss Bai.¡± ¡°Do you think I would marry Bai Man?¡± Shen Chi asked dryly. ¡°Of course not, your unwavering loyalty to Miss Xu is well known,¡± Xiao Mo replied. ¡°Enough, haven¡¯t you heard the saying? ¡®To be young and not frivolous is a waste of youth.¡¯ How could I be single-minded toward her?¡± Shen Chi felt embarrassed. ¡°Should I pass on your words to your wife someday?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°I¡­ wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Xiao Mo quickly conceded. Chapter 461: 461: Only Allow to Call Him Fourth Uncle Chapter 461: Only Allow to Call Him Fourth Uncle ¡°` ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. Of course, Xiao Mo didn¡¯t dare; initially, because he failed to keep a close eye on Xu Chaomu, he was sent to Sumatra Ind for a full five years. Although he returned to the country during that period, once Shen Chi made up his mind, he was more ruthless than anyone. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a light cough and interjected, ¡°President Shen, they say a young man who isn¡¯t frivolous is a waste of youth, but this saying¡­ is meant for young men.¡± Shen Chi rapped on the table and said coldly, ¡°Xiao Mo, you can forget about your bonus for the second half of the year.¡± ¡°No, no, no, President Shen, you¡¯re in the prime of your youth, so this phrase suits you perfectly.¡± Shen Chi gave him a cold nce, truly a weather vane. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about serious matters. As for Jiang Zhn¡¯s motive for inciting Qi Na, do you think there¡¯s anything more besides this grudge?¡± ¡°Besides this, I can¡¯t think of anything else. Though Jiang Zhn is ruthless, she clearlycks courage. Both times she made a move against your wife, she did it by borrowing someone else¡¯s hand.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Chi actually agreed with Xiao Mo¡¯s statement.
And, Jiang Zhn was also very afraid of causing death. It was evident that what she wanted was simply revenge. ¡°President Shen, what do you think Jiang Zhn¡¯s motive is?¡± ¡°Chaomu has had no interactions with her.¡± ¡°Yes, so, I can only guess that she¡¯s trying to stand up for her daughter.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t fully exin it either, after all, Bai Man herself has been abroad for five years.¡± Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°Madam Bai knew about Miss Bai¡¯s issue back then; she has no reason to hate Chaomu.¡± ¡°Have someone keep an eye on Jiang Zhn,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s dark pupils tightened. ¡°Mm, absolutely,¡± Xiao Mo nodded. ¡°If something like what happened five years ago urs again, it¡¯s all on you!¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be,¡± Xiao Mo promised, sweating profusely. Five years ago, it was Shen Shihan and Zhou Peitian¡¯s n that lured the tiger away from the mountain, causing a factory of Shen¡¯s to catch fire. He had to focus all his resources there and failed to keep a close eye on Xu Chaomu. Five yearster, he had eaten five more years¡¯ worth of meals; he definitely wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. Moreover, Xu Chaomu, five yearster, was already Mrs. Shen Chi, and her status was different. Shen Chi grunted from his throat, still lost in thought. ¡°President Shen, you should rest early; I¡¯m going back to my room,¡± said Xiao Mo. ¡°Hold on, when will Shen Shihan¡¯s batch of goods arrive?¡± ¡°Roughly estimated, in five days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already had Li Beiting send people to watch it; you also need to prepare for defense here.¡±
¡°Mm, definitely.¡± ¡°Keep an eye on Jian Sisi as well.¡± ¡°Yes. President Shen, about the bonus for the second half of the year, can you add a bit more?¡± ¡°Get lost,¡± Shen Chi red at him coldly.
¡°Fine, I¡¯m gone.¡± Xiao Mo left the conference room carrying a stack of things. Once Xiao Mo left, the conference room instantly became quiet. Shen Chi¡¯s mind was still racing. He pondered upon Xiao Mo¡¯s words just now. Jiang Zhn, Jiang Zhn¡­ The image of Jiang Zhn surfaced in his mind, a middle-aged woman who appeared tock schemes, very simple and virtuous. Later, after the Bai Family initiated the annulment of the engagement, he never saw Jiang Zhn again. He had thought that from then on, the Bai Family would have nothing to do with the Shen Family; now, it seemed it wasn¡¯t that simple. The Bai Family and the Shen Family seemed to be connected by an invisible thread, but what it was, he couldn¡¯t guess at the moment. Probably, the more a woman appeared to be free of schemes, the deeper her intrigue. For example, he had never thought that Jiang Zhn would act against Chaomu. However, whoever dared to harm Chaomu, he would certainly make their life worse than death. The debt of gratitude the Shen Family owed the Bai Family had long been repaid; he could act without any hesitation. Time ticked by, and Shen Chi remained in the conference room, lost in thought.
At eight o¡¯clock, he finally stood up, buttoned up his suit, and left the conference room. He nced at his phone¡ªXu Chaomu, the little thing, had neither texted him nor called him. Didn¡¯t she miss him? Now, there was no sign of it. Actually, Shen Chi really wanted to hear her say the words ¡°I miss you¡± herself. He thought if she could call and tell him ¡°I miss you¡±, he would have immediately returned to the Shen Family. Even if the closed meeting didn¡¯t allow leaving the hotel. Shen Chi stared at the text message Xu Chaomu sent him for a long time, and Xu Chaomu did the same. When she got out of her bath that evening, she saw a new message on her phone. One look, it was from ¡°Hubby.¡± Xu Chaomu was quite excited, her heart thumping non-stop. She eagerly opened the text, curious about what Shen Chi would send her. Could it be ¡°I miss you too¡±?
She opened the message with a silly smile, not even bothering to blow-dry her hair first. But as soon as she opened it, the smile on her face froze! Damn you, Shen Chi! It took her so much courage to send him a mushy text ¡°I miss you¡±, and this man had just replied with a single word ¡°Mm.¡± Mm¡­ Mm your brother-inw! Xu Chaomu was so furious, she nearly smashed her phone to the ground. She paced around her room, fuming with rage. Just wait, Shen Chi! You just wait! Her cheeks flushed and then paled; a thinyer of sweat beaded on her forehead. Even the air conditioning couldn¡¯t cool down her temperature; that bath was a waste. Touching her slightly swelling belly, she gritted her teeth, ¡°Baby, you see that? That¡¯s your heartless dad! Remember, you can only call him ¡®Fourth Uncle.¡¯¡± Xu Chaomu thought, she might not be able to fight Shen Chi, but at least there was a bun in the oven. She¡¯s going to endure ten months of hard pregnancy; surely, the baby would side with her.
As for Shen Chi, he would be nothing more than a ¡®Fourth Uncle¡¯! Fourth Uncle! Xu Chaomu immediately felt a surge of confidence. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and she would certainly remember this for Shen Chi. Later on, let the baby call him ¡®Fourth Uncle¡¯ for a few years and see if he remains so smug. The message she worked up the courage to send only got her a ¡°Mm¡± in return. Xu Chaomu was fuming, seething with anger. She paced back and forth in her bedroom, wishing she could call him right then. But considering he had to work, she let it go. However, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Several times, she considered deleting the message. Then she thought better of it¡ªno, she needed to keep it as evidence to show her baby how Shen Chi bullied her back then. And not just this¡ªit¡¯s been a thirteen-year saga of exploitation since she was ten years old. Thirteen years of a blood-soaked history, too long to sing, too sad to finish. After her bath, she pinned her hair up casually with a pearl hairpin and sat on the swing in the Shen Family¡¯s garden for a while. The Shen Family¡¯s garden was still beautiful, especially in the summer, filled with a quiet beauty. Without too much mboyant decoration, the whole garden was filled with natural simplicity. Chapter 462: 462: The Modest Gentleman, Warm and Smooth as Jade Chapter 462: The Modest Gentleman, Warm and Smooth as Jade As soon as Xu Chaomu stepped outside, she caught the faint scent of flowers in the air of the garden. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air in the garden was very fresh; even at night, its beauty was in no way diminished. The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of lush grass, as well as the subtle scent of flowers. Especially the gardenia, which not only had a rich fragrance but was also as pure and white as jade, adding a strikingly beautiful feature to the garden. Beside the swing was a wisteria tree, which, though its blooming season had passed this time of year, still hung its branches with graceful poise. Wearing a blue nightgown, Xu Chaomu strolled through the garden, her mood finally easing somewhat. After taking a few more deep breaths, alright, she had managed to forget that jerk, Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu sat on the swing and gently rocked it back and forth. At this moment, Lou Yanli came to mind. Back then, by the school swing, bees and butterflies danced amidst the peaceful years.
She swung, and he would gently push for her. Memories of youth are so wonderful, even a sunny day, a breeze, a gesture, everything seemed perfect. She was missing her younger days. The evening breeze blew, caressing her cheeks and lifting her hair. The wisps of her hair softly fluttered in the wind as she looked up at the sky. The sky was ink-like, the moon bright and stars scarce. Nights like this were truly wonderful. Gradually, she forgot about Shen Chi¡­ The ecological environment of the Jinxiu residential district was incredibly good, and as Xu Chaomu half-closed her eyes swinging, she even saw fireflies flitting through the air! The tiny fireflies, like littlemps, gathered in increasing numbers, lighting up wherever they flew. These little guys seemed like tiny fairies, dancing and twirling around. Xu Chaomu watched them fly about with joy¡­ If only Shen Chi were here at this moment. No, no, why had she thought of him again? Such a mood-ruining person, he probably wouldn¡¯t even appreciate the beauty of this scene. Xu Chaomu tilted her head, quietly watching the dancing fireflies, the corner of her lips curving into a slight smile. The swing gently rocked, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart gradually calmed. She watched the moon in the sky and the fireflies, loving them to the utmost. Having known Shen Chi for so many years, he had never taken her to see fireflies.
She thought, if she suggested it, he would surely call it ¡°childish.¡± That man, devoid of romantic sentiment. Just as Xu Chaomu sighed, she suddenly heard voices at the entrance of the Shen Family¡¯s main gate. The garden wasn¡¯t far from the main gate, and she turned her head to look.
¡°Mr. Wen, the young master is not at home.¡± ¡°Is that so? Thank you, I¡¯lle to visit another day.¡± The clear and warm voice, like pearls, was gentle and moving. Xu Chaomu looked back to see it was Wen Zhiyuan, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for a long time. She hopped off the swing and walked toward the entrance. ¡°Dr. Wen!¡± Xu Chaomu called out! Wen Zhiyuan was about to leave when he heard Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice and turned back around. Heughed, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Someone has to keep watch,¡± Xu Chaomu also smiled. ¡°You, a pregnant woman, should go back and rest early,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said. ¡°I¡¯ve already rested all day, and no one has kept mepany. Did youe to see Shen Chi?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Howe you didn¡¯te to see me? Are you too embarrassed, or do you think we¡¯re not close enough?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked.
¡°You¡¯re just a wise guy,¡± Wen Zhiyuanughed. Under the moonlight, Xu Chaomu gazed at Wen Zhiyuan. The man was wearing a white shirt, his figure tall and slender. The pale moonlight sprinkled on his white shirt and on his clear, moist face. Xu Chaomu remembered a phrase: The modest gentleman, as gentle as jade. Wen Zhiyuan was that kind of man, unadorned and genuine like raw jade. He carried mature warmth, especially his smile, which could drown anyone who took a second nce. Xu Chaomu thought, all of Shen Chi¡¯s friends were outstanding, but why did she have to fall for Shen Chi, that scheming man with a venomous tongue. In fact, Shen Shihan, Li Beiting, and Ji Shengxuan, and now Wen Zhiyuan, were all quite exceptional. She must be blind¡­ Definitely. ¡°Dr. Wen,e in and sit. I¡¯ll make you some tea, and you can¡¯t refuse,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile at the door. ¡°Hmm, okay,¡± Wen Zhiyuanughed and responded. Xu Chaomu brought him into the house, made a cup of Pu¡¯er tea for Wen Zhiyuan, and then went upstairs to change her clothes beforeing back down.
¡°Dr. Wen, are you looking for Shen Chi for something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Wen Zhiyuan lowered his head to pick up the teacup in front of him. The aroma of the tea filled the air, and Xu Chaomu sat opposite him, scrutinizing his face closely. It was her first time observing the man from such a close distance, and she found that he was exceptional looking, both from afar and up close. He radiated an air of refined gentleness that was very admirable. Especially when he lowered his head to sip his tea, his long eyshes fluttering, his eyes clear, the light within them rippling and shifting. Xu Chaomu stared at him unwaveringly, and Wen Zhiyuan slowly ced the teacup down again. ¡°If you keep looking at me like that, I might misunderstand,¡± he said with a smile. Xu Chaomu rested her chin on her hand, ¡°Who told you to be so good-looking.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, tired of looking at Shen Chi every day?¡± ¡°Sick of it,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°I want to change husbands.¡± ¡°You could discuss that with him upfront.¡±
Xu Chaomu deted immediately, ¡°I still want to live.¡± Wen Zhiyuanughed and watched her for a while. Xu Chaomu propped her chin and said, ¡°Dr. Wen, you just said you had nothing to discuss with Shen Chi, but I think you¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Really, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. If you don¡¯t tell me the truth, it¡¯s like you¡¯re treating me as an outsider.¡± ¡°I just came to ask him for someone¡¯s phone number,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said, his eyes showing a hint of a misty look as he lowered his head. ¡°Who?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, gossip-hungry. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just an old friend,¡± Wen Zhiyuan replied in a rather indifferent tone. Seeing that Wen Zhiyuan had made up his mind not to tell, Xu Chaomu did not press further. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know much about Wen Zhiyuan; she only heard from Shen Chi that he was once Shen Di¡¯s family doctor before having a fallout with Shen Di and returning to the country. It was said that Shen Diter found a new family doctor and had a very good rtionship with him. But these hearsay stories Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t take seriously. Xu Chaomu had asked Shen Chi about the matter between Wen Zhiyuan and Shen Di, but Shen Chi always changed the subject. Xu Chaomu just thought, Wen Zhiyuan being so excellent, so modest, and importantly, having such a good temper, good temper! Even Shen Chi with a terrible temper could find a wife, so surely many people were chasing after Wen Zhiyuan. Besides, with such a good temper, how could he have had a fall out with Shen Di. Speaking of Shen Di, Xu Chaomu was also curious, as she had never seen Shen Di in her eight years at the Shen Family, only pictures. Sometimes, Shen Chi would call her or have a video chat, but Shen Di had never spoken to her. Every time Shen Chi went to Australia on business, he would bring little gifts back for Shen Di. And every time he returned, Shen Di would have Shen Chi bring things back as well. Chapter 463: 463: Loving Daughter a Bit More Chapter 463: Loving Daughter a Bit More The sibling bond between them was rather good, and Xu Chaomu felt that Shen Di was a rather understanding and reasonable woman. For instance, whenever Shen Chi was asked to send gifts home, Shen Di always made sure to leave a portion for the little girl they had adopted. Sometimes it was a dress, sometimes snacks, and sometimes it was an attractiveic book¡­ Xu Chaomu had asked Shen Chi why Shen Di never came home, and Shen Chi simply said that she wasn¡¯t in good health and couldn¡¯t travel long distances. Overseas was quiet with fewer people, which made it suitable for recuperation, so Shen Di would probably settle down abroad from now on. After Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian divorced, Zhou Ran did go live with Shen Di for a while. ¡°Dr. Wen, see those flowers in the vase? They were given to me by Shen Chi. Have you ever given flowers to a girl?¡± Xu Chaomu pointed to a bouquet of lilies in the living room. In fact, those were not from Shen Chi; Shen Chi, that kind of unromantic man, would never give her flowers. It was just the butler who had bought them this morning, and now she was teasing Wen Zhiyuan on purpose. ¡°What do you think?¡±
Wen Zhiyuan smiled and tossed the question back to Xu Chaomu. ¡°Definitely have, Shen Chi said you had a girlfriend in C City five years ago. I don¡¯t believe you¡¯ve never given flowers.¡± Wen Zhiyuan just smiled and did not speak. Five years ago, when he returned to the country, he had indeed told Shen Chi he met a girl. But it was all just an excuse, and over the following five years, he hadn¡¯t married. ¡°Dr. Wen, you¡¯re ignoring me. Do you only like talking to Shen Chi and not to me?¡± ¡°Not at all, I¡¯ve given flowers before,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said indifferently. Xu Chaomu always felt this man had many secrets in his heart, but she had no way of uncovering them. However, when Shen Chi came back, she could ask him. She refused to believe that a man in his thirties had never been in love. Xu Chaomu listened to him talk about his time studying in Australia for quite a while, but every time the conversation turned to Shen Di, he either remained silent or skillfully avoided the topic. Xu Chaomu talked about the fun she had in Paris while he talked about Australia. As the saying goes, ¡°Familiarity breedsfort,¡± and so she and Wen Zhiyuan gradually began to talk more freely. He wasn¡¯t very talkative, but he always listened quietly when Xu Chaomu spoke, or he would just smile slightly. Xu Chaomu was a chatterbox, and there were so many things these days that she had no one to share with, so she told it all to Wen Zhiyuan. Like job interviews, like arguing with Shen Chi. Of course, she was bound to say a bunch of bad things about Shen Chi. She wasn¡¯t worried that Wen Zhiyuan would tell Shen Chi. ¡°Dr. Wen, my baby is three months now, can I worry less?¡±
As she spoke, Xu Chaomu brought up the topic of the child again. ¡°It¡¯s just been three months, you should still be cautious, but you don¡¯t have to be too nervous.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital for a checkup in a few days.¡± ¡°You should, have Shen Chi apany you.¡±
¡°He¡¯s got his hands full, very busy,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. So busy that even his text messages to her contained only one character¡ª she wouldn¡¯t dare to bother him. ¡°No matter how busy he is, if you say the word, he will apany you,¡± Wen Zhiyuan said with a smile. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it. After chatting with Wen Zhiyuan for a while, seeing that it was gettingte, he stood up. ¡°Chaomu, remember to ensure you get enough sleep and rest well.¡± ¡°Dr. Wen, I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s hard to sleep in theter stages of pregnancy.¡± ¡°Yes, in theter stages, whether you lie t or on your side, you¡¯ll find it ufortable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s tough,¡± Xu Chaomumented for herself first. But thinking of the baby in her belly, she still felt very happy. In the future, she would have a little one to keep herpany. As she saw Wen Zhiyuan off from the Shen Family home, he waved at her: ¡°You go back inside, it¡¯s easy to catch a cold just after a bath.¡± ¡°Wait, Dr. Wen, do you think my baby is a boy or a girl?¡± Xu Chaomu asked with a smile.
Her eyes curved into crescents, radiating the tender love of a mother. Moonlight showered upon her face, making Xu Chaomu appear extraordinarily gentle at that moment. The pearl hairpin on her head sparkled under the streetlight¡¯s glow, showcasing a tranquil Xu Chaomu. ¡°Want to know? I can take you to the hospital and see my friend.¡± Xu Chaomu waved her hand again: ¡°Never mind, in a few months, I¡¯ll know.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Wen Zhiyuan smiled. Xu Chaomu was curious, but she thought it better to keep a bit of mystery. She had a slight preference for a daughter because daughters tend to be closer to their mothers. If she had a son and he inherited Shen Chi¡¯s bad temperament, she wouldn¡¯t have any peace in the future. A grown man and a little one, wouldn¡¯t they wear out all her patience? After Wen Zhiyuan left, Xu Chaomu returned to her room, not lingering outside the vi any longer. Being out in the wind for too long was ultimately not good. She walked around the house for a while and then continued knitting her sweater.
The pink sweater was already taking shape; when the baby was born, it would be able to wear the sweater she knitted by hand. The timing would be just right for the season. However, the scarf she began knitting for Shen Chi had only just started; perhaps it would be finished by the time winter arrived? Xu Chaomu thought that since she was knitting him a scarf, perhaps he should reciprocate by the time it was finished? She sat on the sofa, knitting the sweater while watching videos. After about half an hour, feeling extremely sleepy, she started packing up, preparing to go to bed. Before going to sleep, she made a phone call to Yu Weiwei. ¡°Miss Weiwei, are you busy?¡± asked Xu Chaomu. ¡°Just got off work,¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice sounded somewhat somber. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, not happy?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. ¡°No, just tired from work. The new girls at the research institute are all such a headache.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like it. There¡¯s nothing you need to hide from me. Tell me, who bullied you? I¡¯ll go there right now.¡± ¡°Big-bellieddy, you should just take good care of yourself. If anything happened to you, I couldn¡¯t bear the responsibility; Shen Chi woulde after me with a knife.¡±
¡°What big-bellieddy, I don¡¯t even look pregnant, alright. Don¡¯t try to change the subject, tell me, who bullied you?¡± Based on Xu Chaomu¡¯s understanding of Yu Weiwei, if Yu Weiwei was feeling down, it must be because she¡¯d been bullied. But with Yu Weiwei¡¯s temperament, probably the only person who could make her feel down was one particr man. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t want to worry Xu Chaomu. ¡°Are you going to tell me, or should we stop being friends?¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t do anything about you,¡± Yu Weiwei sighed. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing much, Li Beiting has been calling me every day recently.¡± ¡°Did he say something unpleasant?¡± ¡°Not really, he said he misses me.¡± ¡°Do you miss him?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Yu Weiwei said without hesitation. Xu Chaomu clicked her tongue in wonder. When Yu Weiwei said ¡°not at all¡± so decisively, it meant that deep down, she definitely did miss him. Chapter 464: 464: Small Quarrels Between Lovers Chapter 464: Small Quarrels Between Lovers ¡°Weiwei, if Li Beiting says he misses you, then let him show some sincerity. Anyone can talk a good game, right? I could say Shen Chi misses me too, but without sincerity, it all seems like insincere ttery to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested. He can do whatever he wants.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Do you like him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten about him a long time ago. We broke up three years ago.¡± ¡°Oh, forgotten? That¡¯s good,¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°From now on, the sky¡¯s the limit. You can choose any handsome and beautiful person you like. What¡¯s Li Beiting anyway? He¡¯s just a bit handsome and a little rich. You can find someone handsomer, richer, and even younger than him.¡± ¡°Weiwei, should I introduce you to some handsome guys? I went to an interview at Shen Group the other day, and I saw quite a few good-looking guys there.¡± ¡°They are really handsome, a bunch of them just graduated from college ¨C fresh meat, very good-looking.¡± ¡°Let me tell you, I haven¡¯t forgotten about you. I¡¯m always on the lookout for tall, rich, and handsome guys for you, determined to outshine Li Beiting.¡± ¡°Weiwei¡­¡± ¡°Weiwei¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said many times, suddenly realizing that Weiwei had stopped talking.
¡°Weiwei¡­¡± she called again. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡± Yu Weiwei dropped this line and hung up the phone in an instant. ¡°Ignoring me again,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. She didn¡¯t know what had happened, why Weiwei had hung up the phone in such a hurry. Looking up, she nced at the wall clock; it was exactly nine o¡¯clock at night. On the other end, Yu Weiwei was still in the research institute. While talking to Xu Chaomu, she was walking outside with her phone in hand. Xu Chaomu was talking on this end, and Weiwei was listening. As she walked to the parking lot below the research institute, Li Beiting suddenly appeared before her eyes. Last time at the entrance of the research institute, Li Beiting shamelessly harassed her. Although he hadn¡¯te again in these past days, he kept calling her. It had been three years since shest received a call from Li Beiting. Buttely, Li Beiting acted as if possessed, pestering her relentlessly. She was very familiar with his number, which had been blocked all along. These days, he changed tactics, using various numbers to call her. Each time, he wouldn¡¯t speak, just listening to her talk. After a few times, Yu Weiwei realized it was Li Beiting. Later, when he called again, she would curse him out directly. Now, Yu Weiwei stood in front of her little BMW, stunned for a moment. The next second, without lifting her head, she turned to open the car door. Li Beiting took a big step forward, blocking the car door.
¡°Weiwei¡­¡± he called her name, his eyes filled with a bewitched look. He approached her, and only then did she realize that he had been drinking that evening. She frowned in disgust and pushed him with her hand. ¡°Get out of the way.¡± She wanted to get in the car.
¡°Weiwei, I haven¡¯t seen you for many days, I miss you,¡± Li Beiting was blunt. His eyes were fixed on Yu Weiwei, not leaving her gaze for a moment. The lighting in the car park was dim, making the atmosphere around them somewhat ambiguous. These days, the words he said to her the most were ¡°I miss you.¡± He truly missed her ¨C day and night, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. Actually, during those three years, he missed her too, but every time he went to her school and saw herughing and talking with other guys, he would leave angrily. Until now, he was about to get engaged, he realized he couldn¡¯t live without her¡­ Five yearster, Xu Chaomu had alreadye back; why couldn¡¯t he be a bit more shameless? If she coulde back to him, he was sure that together they could ovee the difficulties with his parents. ¡°Mr. Li, please step aside,¡± Yu Weiwei was unforgiving. Her hand pushed Li Beiting, her face showing no emotion. ¡°What did you call me?¡± Li Beiting frowned after hearing her words, having been drinking. His dark, cold eyes stared intently at her, refusing to miss any expression on her face.
¡°Mr. Li, please, move, aside!¡± Yu Weiwei raised her voice, enunciating each word clearly. Eye to eye, sparks flew! At this time, there was no one in the car park, and because the space wasrge, echoes could be heard with every word spoken. Yu Weiwei raised her voice, and Li Beiting was truly taken aback. It wasn¡¯t that he was scared by her, but rather, their rtionship had be so estranged¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t move.¡± Li Beiting simply leaned against the car door, acting stubborn. Since he had drunk a little, he didn¡¯t care about his image anymore. Yu Weiwei wasn¡¯t as tall as him, so she looked up at him defiantly. She was a tomboy at heart, and now that there was no one around, and Li Beiting wasn¡¯t concerned about his image, she didn¡¯t need to worry about hers. She grabbed his arm and stomped her high heel onto his instep! The first stompnded precisely on his foot, causing Li Beiting to wince in pain. This stomp, Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t hold back at all, putting her full strength into it! The second time, Yu Weiwei just lifted her foot when Li Beiting was prepared.
He dodged to the side, and his big hand suddenly wrapped around her from behind, and caught her off guard by pulling her into his embrace! Yu Weiwei hadn¡¯t expected him to hold her; his hand clenched tight, pulling her closer into his arms. ¡°Li Beiting, let me go. Do you believe I¡¯ll call 110 right now?¡± Yu Weiwei said as she took out her phone from her pocket. As soon as she pulled it out, Li Beiting easily snatched it away. Flipping his hand, he tossed her phone into the distance. It described a graceful arc and with a ¡°thud,¡± the phone hit the ground! ¡°Don¡¯t. Couples have their quarrels; there¡¯s no need to trouble the police,¡± Li Beiting said, looking at her, his brows and eyes deep and dark. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t call. Whatever you want to do, just say it!¡± Yu Weiwei suppressed her anger, looking at him coldly. ¡°Weiwei, can we make up, please?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s expression was very serious. ¡°No,¡± Yu Weiwei rejected him without hesitation. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too full of yourself. Do you think I, Yu Weiwei, have no other men to pursue besides you, Li Beiting? Listen up, I have no feelings for you anymore. If you continue to harass me over and over, I will go to the police station and file a report.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s attitude was very firm. ¡°I¡­¡±
¡°What about you!¡± Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t give him a chance to speak, ¡°You better recognize your current status, you¡¯re Mi Fei, Miss Mi¡¯s fianc¨¦. And besides, I¡¯ve now opened a research institute for men¡¯s health. Didn¡¯t you hate that I studied this major? Didn¡¯t your parents say I wasn¡¯t decent?¡± ¡°Weiwei¡­¡± ¡°Let me tell you, I not only got the degree in this field, but I also opened a men¡¯s health research institute. Moreover, this will be my career for life! If you hate it so much, keep hating it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about these things for now¡­¡± ¡°Fine, we won¡¯t talk about these things? Then let¡¯s talk about you and the Mi Family.¡± Yu Weiwei saw through many things very clearly. Chapter 465: 465: Unbuckling The Belt of The Pants Chapter 465: Unbuckling The Belt of The Pants Her face serious and grave, ¡°The Mi Family and your Li Family are well-matched in social status, the Mi Family is wealthy and influential, and Miss Mi Fei is educated and reasonable. This is a very good match to begin with, why don¡¯t you cherish it? Or is it that, Li Beiting, the more unattainable something is, the more you want to attain it?¡± ¡°If I agree to reconcile with you, will you just go back to Miss Mi Fei after a while? Do you even know what you want?¡± Yu Weiwei spoke righteously, word by word, to him. At least, that¡¯s what she thought. ¡°Mr. Li, think about it clearly, you¡¯re someone who¡¯s about to get engaged, and soon after, you¡¯ll be getting married. Now, on the eve of the engagement, you have second thoughts, what do you expect Miss Mi Fei to think, what do you expect everyone else to think?¡± Yu Weiwei pressed him with question after question, rendering Li Beiting speechless. In fact, Li Beiting wasn¡¯t exactly speechless, he simply couldn¡¯t get a word in edgewise. He listened to her speaking, trying several times to interject but never winning over her. In this regard, men are indeed a bit weaker, and Yu Weiwei is particrly eloquent. Under the dim light of the car park, perhaps due to being overly emotional, plus the heat, ayer of fine sweat had formed on Weiwei¡¯s forehead. But she hadn¡¯t finished speaking yet, she continued, ¡°Li¡­¡±
Before she could finish her sentence, Li Beiting¡¯srge hand epassed her, pulling her in tightly. The next second, he lowered his head and precisely kissed her incessant lips. His lips covered and pressed down on hers with a hint of resentment; the kiss was not gentle from the start. He had made up his mind to find her, yet, she didn¡¯t even give him a chance to defend himself. She had said so much; how many words did he get to say? He had many heartfelt things he wanted to tell her, yet, she simply wouldn¡¯t listen. He didn¡¯t believe that she no longer liked him; it wasn¡¯t arrogance but intuition. With this thought, he intensified the kiss even more. At first, it was just an entanglement on the surface of her lips, but gradually, he pried her lips apart to taste her fragrance. Last time in the car, she had bitten him, so this time, he kissed with extra caution. Yu Weiwei resisted, fiercely dodging him and refusing to respond. While Li Beiting might not out-talk her, when it came to kissing, he was quite skilled. He didn¡¯t allow her to dodge, cradling her head, he kissed her deeply again and again. He remembered the old Yu Weiwei was very obedient; every time he kissed her, she would clumsily respond, albeit awkwardly, she wouldn¡¯t reject him. The kiss gradually deepened, and Li Beiting simply took her waist and pressed her against the car door. This position was more conducive for him to delve deeper into the kiss, more conducive to their exchange of emotions. Even if Yu Weiwei was tough, her strength was no match for Li Beiting. She struggled, trying to push Li Beiting away. Li Beiting didn¡¯t give her the chance, pinning her hands down, forbidding her to move. In the spacious car park, their heavy breathing intertwined.
Body pressed against body, and especially in the summer heat, Li Beiting was intoxicated by her allure. All of a sudden, he really wanted her, like four years ago, when they were passionately in love, inseparable day or night. Yu Weiwei felt Li Beiting¡¯s strong reaction, she couldn¡¯t let him continue recklessly. She bent her knee, raised her leg, and aimed a kick at a certain part of him!
The anatomy of a man¡¯s body, she knew all too well. With her kick, Li Beiting emitted a muffled ¡°hmm¡± and immediately let go of her. Soon, beads of sweat the size of soybeans formed on his forehead; his eyes were bloodshot as he red at Yu Weiwei, wishing he could kill her. Yu Weiwei knew, this was where men were most vulnerable. At this moment, Li Beiting probably wished he was dead. Li Beiting let go of her, and she nonchntly brushed her hands off, moving away. Li Beiting was in so much pain he felt murderous. He stared coldly at Yu Weiwei and said heavily, ¡°Yu Weiwei, you really hit hard!¡± The two times he¡¯d seen her in three years, one time he was bitten by her, and one time he was kicked by her. And, both times with no mercy! ¡°Sorry, when I¡¯m pushed to my limits, this is the oue,¡± Yu Weiwei said coolly. ¡°If something happens to me, if I go childless, you won¡¯t get away with it,¡± Li Beiting was truly furious. ¡°Problems? Good,e here and I¡¯ll give you a discount,¡± Yu Weiwei sneered, ¡°another transaction added.¡± ¡°You!¡± Li Beiting clenched his teeth, ring at her in exasperation.
¡°It¡¯ste, Mr. Li, you should go home. It seems like you¡¯ve been drinking, should I make a call to have someone pick you up?¡± At this moment, Yu Weiwei was quite pleased with herself, delighted to see Li Beiting looking like this. ¡°Yu Weiwei, I want you to take responsibility!¡± Li Beiting blocked her way, making a pose as if pinning her against the wall. He rested one hand on the car door, encircling her in his arms, his piercing gaze fixed on her. Who was Yu Weiwei? Was she afraid of him, Li Beiting? That would be a joke. ¡°Take responsibility? Fine,e on, undo the belt buckle, take off your pants, it¡¯s time for a routine check,¡± she said earnestly, looking at him. ¡°Do you often do this kind of thing?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s face was full of jealousy as he grabbed the cor of Yu Weiwei and pulled her closer to him. ¡°What do you think, Mr. Li, could you possibly use your brain? I¡¯m a doctor at the Andrology Research Institute, isn¡¯t this a very normal thing for me to do?¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei, I should never have let you study this major in the first ce!¡± ¡°Li Beiting, who are you to me? Why would I listen to you? Even people from my parents¡¯ generation can understand and support, who are you to interfere?¡± Yu Weiwei scoffed dismissively. ¡°Yu Weiwei, you are shameless!¡±
¡°Li Beiting, what you¡¯re disying is ack of respect for science!¡± Yu Weiwei was furious with him, even after three years, he was still the same! If he can¡¯t even respect her career, what else was there to talk about? ¡°Li Beiting, step aside and don¡¯t wait for me to kick you again, really kicking you into sterility!¡± Yu Weiwei was angry; her previous kick was actually quite restrained. ¡°Are you feeling strong now?¡± Li Beiting looked at her with a serious face. This time he wouldn¡¯t be so easily fooled; he was on his guard. However, that kick she just delivered, he could still feel the pain. ¡°Li Beiting, I¡¯ll tell you again, a good dog doesn¡¯t stand in the way. Move, and I¡¯ll pretend tonight¡¯s events never happened.¡± ¡°A kick and there¡¯s no need to take responsibility?¡± ¡°I said, take off your pants!¡± Yu Weiwei was enraged. Her roar was so powerful that echoes reverberated around the empty car park. Luckily, there was no one else around.
Otherwise, it would have been quite embarrassing. ¡°Weiwei, after three years, you¡¯ve be more direct. Fine, take off my pants?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s lips curled into a malicious smile. Having said that, shamelessly, Li Beiting took Weiwei¡¯s hand and ced it over his metal belt buckle. ¡°You pervert, Li Beiting, you¡¯re a pervert!¡± Of course, Yu Weiwei didn¡¯tply; she struggled fiercely to shake off his hand. Chapter 466: 466: Put on the Diamond Ring Chapter 466: Put on the Diamond Ring ¡°` She had opened a male research institute, and outsiders viewed her with colored sses, thinking of her in a certain way; but only she knew that she was not that kind of woman. After breaking up with Li Beiting, Li Beiting found a girlfriend while she didn¡¯t find another boyfriend. Not to mention engaging in any improper behavior with men. She hadn¡¯t expected Li Beiting would y the hooligan with her. A meaningful rogue-like smile yed on Li Beiting¡¯s lips as he clutched her hand and refused to let go. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, weren¡¯t you just saying you would take responsibility? Now, are you shy, or are you denying it?¡± ¡°If you dare,e with me to the institute and lie under the equipment, I¡¯ll examine you!¡± ¡°Trying to trick me? It won¡¯t be that easy.¡± Li Beiting was not about to be fooled. If he went back to the research institute with her, there would be no good oue. Besides, he didn¡¯t actually have any problems anymore, he wasn¡¯t that fragile.
¡°Li Beiting, I know you¡¯ve been drinking, I won¡¯t argue with you. Get out of the way, I want to go home.¡± ¡°Go home? Come with me.¡± Li Beiting pulled on her hand, not willing to rx his grip in the slightest. Even when Yu Weiwei hit him, kicked him, struck him, and scolded him, he would not let go. ¡°Li Beiting, if you continue like this, I¡¯ll go to Miss Mi Fei tomorrow and exin everything to her. Don¡¯t let the Mi Family think I¡¯m seducing you, that I¡¯m entangling with you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you, it¡¯s me. I am seducing Miss Weiwei, I¡¯m pursuing you.¡± ¡°You!¡± Yu Weiwei was finally defeated by Li Beiting¡¯s shameless audacity. ¡°Li Beiting, you were quite manly when we broke up. So what now, you¡¯ve grown a thick skin?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s face immediately darkened. Because of his pride and concern for his reputation when they broke up, they had missed out on three years. Luckily, after three years, he hadn¡¯t married, she hadn¡¯t married. Everything was still possible. ¡°How does this count as thick-skinned? I¡¯ll show you what ¡®thick-skinned¡¯ really means.¡± Having said that, before Yu Weiwei could react, he pulled out a red box from his pocket. He let go of her and opened the box with both hands. As soon as the box was opened, there was a dazzling diamond ring inside. Even in the dimly lit garage, the diamond ring appeared unusually bright and touching. The dim lighting could not hide its elegance, the beautiful diamond on the ring sparkled brightly. Yu Weiwei blinked continuously, clearly stunned. Just as she came to her senses, Li Beiting had already put the box back into his coat pocket.
He grabbed her left hand and slipped the diamond ring onto her ring finger without exnation! The gesture was domineering, and throughout the process, she was not allowed to resist for a second. Good, the ring fitted perfectly. Li Beiting looked satisfied at the diamond ring on her ring finger, a deep smile on his lips.
On Yu Weiwei¡¯s face was astonishment, surprise, and of course, anger. She looked down, her right hand attempting with force to remove the ring from her left hand! She wanted to take that ring off! ¡°Don¡¯t you dare remove it!¡± said Li Beiting sharply, threatening her, ¡°If you dare, I¡¯ll have 999 red roses sent to your institute¡¯s gate tomorrow in broad daylight!¡± ¡°Li Beiting, I think you¡¯ve drunk too much, you¡¯ve given this ring to the wrong person!¡± Yu Weiwei was still attempting to remove it, but Li Beiting grasped her left hand, preventing her from doing so. ¡°Yu Weiwei, listen well, this ring is a token ofmitment from Mr. Li Beiting to you. He promises, for a lifetime, to love only you.¡± For some reason, Yu Weiwei¡¯s nose felt sour. But it was only for a moment, and she quickly controlled all the emotions on her face. She looked down, silent. Her feet shuffled asionally, crossing back and forth. Her gaze fell on her toes as she remained silent. Suddenly, the garage became so quiet that they could hear each other¡¯s breathing.
And, her hand in Li Beiting¡¯s palm was growing warmer. When she hade out of the air-conditioned room earlier that night, her hand was ice-cold, but now, her hand was warm. Her body also felt warm, and her blood was flowing faster. Initially, Li Beiting was holding her left hand, butter, he simply took both her hands. Holding her hands in his palms, the feeling from three years ago returned. Back then, Yu Weiwei was very obedient. She often walked hand in hand with him on campus. She would tell him that the school was organizing an end-of-year party; she would tell him that the ss was nning a trip abroad; she would tell him many of her joys and sorrows¡­ Back then, they could talk about anything, although they also argued. Li Beiting freed one hand to caress her face. He especially liked the way she looked with her head lowered, her hair falling around her cheeks, her eyes sparkling. This version of Yu Weiwei, without her sharp ws, was simply his Weiwei. ¡°Weiwei, is this sincerity enough?¡± Li Beiting¡¯s voice was hoarse as he caressed her face over and over again.
His warm hand sliding over her cheek made ripples surge in her heart. For a long time, she didn¡¯t speak. Li Beiting¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. He was waiting for her to speak. It was very quiet all around, not a sound was heard. When he came closer, she smelled the slight scent of alcohol on him¡­ Gradually, she pushed his hand away, lifted her head, and met his eyes, ¡°Do you intend to never take back the ring?¡± She lifted her left hand, and the diamond on her ring finger shone brightly in the dim light. Li Beiting frowned, ¡°Weiwei, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re rich, if you don¡¯t want the ring, I¡¯ll keep it,¡± Yu Weiwei said, knowing he didn¡¯t agree with removing it, ¡°If you change your mind one day, take it back. As for what you just said, you can save that for Miss Mi.¡± Yu Weiwei was very decisive, without any hesitation. Li Beiting felt a chill from head to toe as if he had been doused with cold water. All his passion was extinguished in an instant¡­ He lowered his head, and his eyes reddened in a moment.
¡°Mr. Li.¡± Yu Weiweiposed herself, and at this moment, she was calm, ¡°You should know there¡¯s a saying, ¡®Spilt water cannot be retrieved.¡¯¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care, if you dare marry someone else, I have the courage to cripple the groom.¡± ¡°You! Li Beiting, you¡¯re getting more and more unreasonable!¡± Yu Weiwei said angrily. She had wanted to talk to him reasonably, but instead, he began to act shamelessly. ¡°I was too reasonable before,¡± Li Beiting said, looking into her eyes. Because he was too reasonable, they had broken up. Actually, a man can afford to be a bit shameless. Especially when facing the person he loves. What is face worth if not being used to win over one¡¯s wife? ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with you, you should leave. Like I said, if you harass me again, I¡¯m going to find your parents.¡± ¡°Fine, it¡¯s about time. I will exin everything that wasn¡¯t clear three years ago to them,¡± he said. There was something Li Beiting had never told Yu Weiwei. That was, his parents had once warned him, either to make Yu Weiwei change her major or to break up. Chapter 467: 467: Giving Birth is too Scary Chapter 467: Giving Birth is too Scary His parents had said they were not that open-minded yet. In C City, the Li Family had a reputation to uphold, one they could not afford to lose. Of course, if Yu Weiwei remained persistent in not changing her major and Li Beiting insisted on staying with Yu Weiwei, then they would make life impossible for Yu Weiwei¡¯s parents in C City. Li Beiting knew his parents were not ying around; they had the means to follow through. The Yu family was just an ordinary working-ss household, inferior to the Li Family in every aspect. But three yearster, Li Beiting had figured it out¡ªhe could stand by her side and face it all with her. Besides, the present Yu Weiwei was still very outstanding. ¡°You!¡± For the first time, Yu Weiwei realized she waspletely helpless against this man. ¡°Weiwei, tokens of affection should be exchanged,¡± Li Beiting said seriously as he looked at her. ¡°Who wants your diamond ring? Take it.¡± Yu Weiwei tried to take off the ring again, but Li Beiting stopped her hand, not allowing her to move.
The next second, he took her handbag. ¡°What are you rummaging through my bag for? You nning to be a thief or what?¡± ¡°Mm, to be a thief.¡± Having said that, Li Beiting turned her handbag upside down. Not finding any particrly special small items, he casually took a lipstick. ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one, I¡¯m not picky,¡± Li Beiting said before returning the handbag to her. ¡°Give me back my lipstick!¡± Yu Weiwei attempted to snatch it. Li Beiting put the lipstick away in his pocket and watched her impassively. ¡°Shameless,¡± Yu Weiwei scoffed coldly. ¡°Wait for me,¡± Li Beiting promised her. His face was serious and earnest, his clear eyes looking at her, filled with determination. Yu Weiwei stopped talking and lowered her head. She fiddled with the charm on her handbag, not looking at him, not speaking. She was just waiting for the man to leave. ¡°Weiwei, go home early and rest, don¡¯t work toote,¡± he said, his face full of concern as he brushed the stray hair from beside her ear. The gesture was extraordinarily gentle. The garage quieted down for a moment, and the sound of their breathing could be heard. This tranquilitysted a very long time, with neither of them breaking it. After a long while, Yu Weiwei finally spoke indifferently, her face emotionless, ¡°You can go now.¡±
¡°Mm,¡± Li Beiting didn¡¯t persist this time, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got some things to deal with these next few days; I probably won¡¯te to see you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯te back,¡± Yu Weiwei shot him a cold look. After speaking, she pushed him away, took a few steps, bent down to pick up her phone, and then opened the door to her little BMW. Li Beiting caught the door, wanting to say a few more words, but Yu Weiwei was very firm.
Whatever he said, it was just pointless talk to her. His hand rested on the car as before, but Yu Weiwei, learning fromst time, was not as polite. She pulled hard, ready to break his fingers if necessary. Li Beiting, seeing she was serious, quickly let go. With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the noise echoed ominously in the empty garage. Yu Weiwei cast him a cold nce, started the car, and without looking back, drove out of the garage. She wasn¡¯t worried about Li Beiting; although he had been drinking, he had plenty of drivers at home. The car traced a smooth arc as it left the garage. Li Beiting stood still, waiting until the car was far away before he pursed his lips and his profound eyes shifted. Shen Chi said that to chase a woman, you have to lower your pride¡­ Once you¡¯ve won her over, it¡¯s not toote to revert to being aloof. But was Shen Chi¡¯s advice worth heeding? If it were so useful, why would he still be sleeping in separate beds from Xu Chaomu?
He looked down and took Yu Weiwei¡¯s lipstick from his pocket, a rtively new stick of bright red lipstick. So they had decided on their rtionship just like that, and it was quite nice. Long after Yu Weiwei had gone, Li Beiting returned to his own car and drove the red Maserati out of the underground garage. ¡­ Xu Chaomu had been sulking for quite some time after Yu Weiwei hung up on her. The next morning, Yu Weiwei took the initiative to call and apologize. Summer mornings arrived early, and by the time the sun shone through the curtains into Xu Chaomu¡¯s bedroom, she couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. ¡°Chaomu, pretty girl, are you awake?¡± Yu Weiwei called at eight in the morning, having heard that pregnant women sleep a lot and not daring to call too early. ¡°Weiwei, gorgeous, I¡¯ve been awake for ages.¡± ¡°Did you sleep well? Is the baby causing trouble? I¡¯m really sorry for hanging up on you yesterday.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, we¡¯re all friends here. My baby¡¯s well-behaved, not stirring at all.¡± ¡°Pregnancy must be hard; you need to nourish yourself well, not overdo it, and especially not stay upte.¡±
¡°You speak as if you¡¯ve been pregnant.¡± ¡°Giving birth is too scary; I don¡¯t ever want to be pregnant,¡± Yu Weiwei twisted her lips. Although she was a doctor, even a urologist, she was actually very afraid of pain. She had heard that childbirth was excruciatingly painful, and if there wereplications, it could be agonizing beyond words. ¡°When my baby¡¯s born, if you find it adorable, you¡¯ll definitely want to have one.¡± ¡°No way,¡± Yu Weiwei resolutely said, ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t have a boyfriend, so it¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°Let me tell you, Weiwei, with your beauty and capability, you absolutely must find a handsome guy. Only then will the children be attractive.¡± ¡°Speaking of that, tell me, is the baby in your belly really from your so-called fianc¨¦, what¡¯s-his-name, Nie something?¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent; as for the baby¡¯s father, she was the only one who truly knew. She had no ns to tell anyone else, not even Yu Weiwei. After a long pause, she finally spoke vaguely, ¡°Hmm¡­ ¡± Yu Weiwei pressed her hand to her forehead, ¡°So your fianc¨¦ just lets you be with Shen Chi?¡± ¡°Shen Chi won¡¯t let me go. You know, anything Shen Chi wants, no one can take it away.¡±
¡°Then you and Shen Chi¡­¡± ¡°Weiwei, let¡¯s not talk about this. By the way, why did you suddenly hang up on me yesterday?¡± Xu Chaomu interjected, cutting off Yu Weiwei. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, then I won¡¯t either,¡± Yu Weiwei huffed. ¡°Not telling? If you¡¯re not telling, then I¡¯ll guess,¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, ¡°Was it because of¡­ a man?¡± ¡°There are mening and going in my institute every day; of course, I deal with men every day.¡± ¡°No no no, you know what I mean. Then let me just ask outright, was it because of Li Beiting?¡± Based on Yu Weiwei¡¯s tone and reaction yesterday, Xu Chaomu guessed it must have been because of Li Beiting. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss this. When do you n to return the magazines you borrowedst time?¡± ¡°What, feeling lonely and coldtely?¡± ¡°I just think that as a pregnant woman, you should read less of those magazines. Getting all hot and bothered and not being able to do anything about it isn¡¯t good for the baby.¡± ¡°Weiwei, you¡¯re not pure!¡± ¡°By the way, your brother Shen didn¡¯t find the magazines, did he?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched helplessly, ¡°He found them a long time ago¡­¡± ¡°You! What about my magazines then? Are they still intact, or have they been confiscated, or thrown away?¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t even keep a few magazines safe. Chapter 468: 468: The Baby Who Loves Her Very Much Chapter 468: The Baby Who Loves Her Very Much ¡°Uh¡­ Shen Chi said¡­¡± ¡°Said what? That I can¡¯t keep in touch with you from now on?¡± Yu Weiwei asked. That man Shen Chi really shouldn¡¯t be provoked, because if he were, there would never be a good oue. If he were unhappy, he could even seal off her research institute. ¡°He said¡­ to take a closer look.¡± Xu Chaomu covered her face shyly. Yu Weiwei almost spat out a mouthful of water onto herputer screen. Take a closer look? ¡°Weiwei, from now on I can watch openly and without hiding.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled stealthily. Afterughing, she became serious again: ¡°But, I¡¯m not afraid of him. I was just a little girl who knew nothing, deceived and suppressed by him. Now it¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Now¡­ you are the one suppressing him?¡± Yu Weiwei asked with a hint of malicious glee. Xu Chaomu initially didn¡¯t catch on, cheerfully saying, ¡°Yeah, now he doesn¡¯t dare to suppress me¡­ Wait¡­ Yu Weiwei, scram!¡± On the other end of the phone, Yu Weiwei burst intoughter, leaving Xu Chaomu mentally short-circuited again. Once short-circuited, she was always slow to catch on.
Yu Weiweiughed so hard she nearly ran out of breath and took a while topose herself. ¡°But speaking seriously, you are still pregnant, so you better not let Shen Chi touch you.¡± Yu Weiwei said ¡°kindly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention him.¡± Xu Chaomu huffed, ¡°Weiwei, let¡¯s talk about some private matters between us sisters¡­ like, how many boyfriends have you had?¡± ¡°Me, a sister?¡± Yu Weiwei started counting on her fingers, ¡°One, two, three, four, five¡­ nine, ten¡­¡± ¡°Scram! You¡¯re just spouting nonsense! Be honest, or I¡¯ll have someone grab your institute¡¯s business.¡± ¡°We should still¡­¡± ¡°No, you muste clean. If you don¡¯t spill today, I will go to your research institute and block it.¡± ¡°How many could there be, just that one person.¡± Yu Weiwei pouted, losing her confidence. ¡°My, my, you are quite devoted.¡± Xu Chaomu taunted. ¡°What devotion; I have no time for romance, and it just happened that I haven¡¯t found the right one.¡± Yu Weiwei denied. ¡°Oh oh oh, I understand¡­¡± Xu Chaomu purposefully elongated her voice. ¡°You don¡¯t understand crap.¡± Yu Weiwei retorted dissatisfied. ¡°Then let me ask another more private question¡­¡± Xu Chaomu grinned with ill intent. Early in the morning, she was in a good mood, and even took the opportunity to tease Yu Weiwei. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare ask.¡± Yu Weiwei refused her. ¡°No, I want to ask.¡± Xu Chaomu acted petntly, ¡°I¡¯m going to ask, and you have to answer truthfully.¡± Upon hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s mischievous tone, Yu Weiwei guessed what she was going to ask and decided to keep her mouth shut. Xu Chaomu figured that Yu Weiwei¡¯s silence was a form of tacit agreement, so she pressed on further. ¡°Weiwei, tell me honestly, have you and Li Beiting ever¡­ you know¡­ done that what?¡±
¡°Xu Chaomu, what on earth is on your mind! So impure!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been impure! Besides, as a pregnant woman, what¡¯s there to be pure about.¡± Already with a child, pretending to be pure would only invite scorn, right? ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Yu Weiwei was inwardly determined not to answer Xu Chaomu.
Xu Chaomu dug deeper: ¡°What do you mean by ¡®it¡¯s nothing¡¯? Is there something or not? If there isn¡¯t, why isn¡¯t there? If there is, when was it?¡± ¡°Four years ago.¡± Yu Weiwei stated ndly. Xu Chaomu was taken aback. Four years ago? That was quick progress. Coming back after five years, she really couldn¡¯t keep up with everyone¡¯s pace. Mo Shuifu had miscarried a child five years ago, and Yu Weiwei had¡­ with Li Beiting four years ago¡­ Cough, she really was out of touch with thetest trends. City folks nowadays really know how to live it up. ¡°I get it now,¡± Xu Chaomu eximed as if she had suddenly seen the light. ¡°Satisfied your curiosity?¡± Yu Weiwei said indifferently. ¡°Satisfied, satisfied,¡± Xu Chaomuughed, ¡°So Weiwei, did you just let that man off that easily?¡± ¡°What era is it; at most, I was just blinded.¡± Yu Weiwei said carelessly. ¡°So, what are your ns now?¡± ¡°My n is to manage my research institute well and pay off the bank loan as soon as possible.¡± ¡°No worries, some other day I¡¯ll have Shen Chi find you a rich and handsome guy, then you won¡¯t have to fret over the loan.¡±
¡°That depends on you then; I¡¯ll sit back and wait for a handsome guy.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Chaomu replied, but she didn¡¯t hear much joy in Yu Weiwei¡¯s tone. Based on what Xu Chaomu knew about her, this person might seem carefree and indifferent, but she was actually quite sentimental. A rtionship¡­ not to mention three years, even three more years might not be enough for her to let go. Moreover, Xu Chaomu could tell that Yu Weiwei truly loved Li Beiting. ¡°Chaomu, remember to return the magazine to me. You as a pregnant woman shouldn¡¯t be reading that sort of magazine¡­ it¡¯s like lighting a fire under yourself. It¡¯s better to read less.¡± ¡°Am I that kind of frustrated person?¡± Xu Chaomu grew angry. ¡°I think¡­ you look like one¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, her good mood starting to fray. They had agreed to be angels for each other, right? ¡°Chaomu, give me a kiss. I have to go to work. You just stay at home and take care of the pregnancy, okay? You have to give birth to a pretty, smart and healthy baby!¡± ¡°Go on, go on, I¡¯m still relying on you to earn money to support us,¡± Xu Chaomu saidughing. After speaking, Yu Weiwei hung up the phone.
ncing at the wall clock, time had already passed by quite a lot. Xu Chaomu picked a loose beige T-shirt to wear and got out of bed to look at herself in the mirror. Ever since she had returned to the Shen Family, she probably had eaten too well, as her belly was growing day by day. However, with the T-shirt covering it, it was basically unnoticeable. She was actually expecting the baby to grow quickly; she was very curious about whether the baby would look more like her or like his father. No matter who the baby resembled, his temper must take after her. God forbid, he inherited Shen Chi¡¯s temperament, or the child would definitely struggle to find a wife or a husband, and she could forget about having peaceful days ahead. After breakfast, she took a walk outside the Shen Family vi. She touched her belly as the rays of sunlight fell upon her face, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly. Prior to this, she thought getting pregnant was a very tough ordeal, not to mention giving birth was painful. But now, she didn¡¯t feel that way anymore. She was sure that she would love her baby very much¡­ The morning sun in the summer was already quite blinding. After her walk, she went to the piano room and sat at the piano stand.
The ckcquered piano lid reflected a bright luster under the light, and a shallow fragrance filled the room, delighting the senses. Xu Chaomu casually yed a simple piano piece. Since she was rusty, she had no choice but to read from the score while ying. With Shen Chi not at home, it was up to her to y the piano for their baby. Even though it was a bit¡­ off, the baby would probably¡­ not mind, right¡­ After ying Moonlight Sonata, she lost herself in the music¡­ Perhaps too engrossed, she didn¡¯t notice that someone had sent her a text message. The phone screen shed several times, and she paid it no mind. Chapter 469: 469: Distasteful Text Message Chapter 469: Distasteful Text Message After ying a piece of music, she stared out the window for a long time. Through therge floor-to-ceiling window, sunlight dappled the green trees, hills, and rivers, casting a glittering golden sheen everywhere. It hadn¡¯t rained for a long time, and everything was very dry. In such dry weather, the sky appeared even bluer. The Shen Family¡¯s vi was beautiful, from where she could see the vibrant flora in the garden and the lotus flowers in the pond, swaying gracefully in the summer breeze. This was the Shen Family, where she had lived for eight years, a ce that held all her emotions. All of a sudden, she remembered that she had once buried something under a magnolia tree. It was a ne given to her by Shen Chi. Although she hadn¡¯t had the ne for long, she still remembered what it looked like. The ne had a piece of warm and lustrous jade on it, with the words ¡°Chaomu¡± engraved. Even now, she remembered how it felt when Shen Chi put that ne on her, as if it were just yesterday.
Who would have thought, five years have passed, how fast time flies. She wondered if the wooden box under that tree was still there¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone screen had lit up numerous times, but Xu Chaomu, standing by the window, was oblivious to it. The phone was on silent, so of course, she couldn¡¯t hear it. She had been standing by the window for a long time, basking in the harmonious glow of sunshine on the beautiful view. After several years of design study in Paris, her appreciation for beauty had only deepened. She loved designing, especially the satisfaction she got from seeing her own designs turned into tangible objects. It¡¯s just a shame that herst project in Paris wasn¡¯tpleted. That was a bracelet design for the Faye Jewelrypany¡¯s branch office, her first major project that she devoted herself to with great care. Now the design draft is still on herputer, while she is no longer in Paris. She wondered if that bracelet design would be finished in three months¡­ If she could join Shen¡¯s, she would definitely discuss the design drafts with Lou Yanli. She, who was still a poor student five years ago, can now design with ease and confidence after five years. She stood at the window, her lips curving into a faint smile. After standing there for quite a while, just as she walked back to the piano, a text message came through. With a sh on the screen, Xu Chaomu, out of curiosity, picked up the phone. It was from an unknown number, with several unread messages. Xu Chaomu blinked, what was this about? She opened the messages, looking at the first one, and suddenly froze. The first message was a text, just a simple sentence: Do you know what your husband didst night?
Xu Chaomu frowned, wondering who this could be. She had seen Shen Chi leaving thepany with several executives the day before. Shen Chi had said they were going to a hotel for a closed-door meeting and wouldn¡¯t be able toe back for a few days. What could he have donest night besides meetings or resting? Xu Chaomu furrowed her brows and continued to the second message.
The second was a video message, a very short clip. Xu Chaomu opened it and was immediately dazzled by the lighting. A kaleidoscope of lights, deafening music¡ªwas it a nightclub? The lively kind? The video was short and without much content, just some scenes inside the nightclub. Xu Chaomu mumbled to herself, could this have been sent to the wrong person? She patiently clicked on the second video. This one was dark, showing arge private room filled with men¡¯s and women¡¯s voices. Xu Chaomu recognized none of the people she saw. But these people were pretty uninhibited, with several women sitting on the same man¡¯sp, the man¡¯s hands roaming freely, and the women appearing quite happy, emitting giggles. ¡°Give daddy a kiss,e on¡­¡± ¡°Stop it¡­¡± The video was filled with licentious sounds, which made Xu Chaomu ufortable. The second video contained some indecent material.
It wasn¡¯t long either, just over three minutes. Xu Chaomu watched it till the end with patience, and suddenly she heard a man¡¯s voice. ¡°President Shen has arrived.¡± Immediately, everyone straightened up. At that moment, the video abruptly ended. Xu Chaomu tapped the screen; the video was over! She hurriedly scrolled to the next video. It wasn¡¯t a continuation of the previous one, but she saw Shen Chi. Shen Chi was wearing a white shirt and had an expressionless face. Xu Chaomu remembered, he was indeed wearing a white shirt yesterday. The crowd greeted Shen Chi, urging him to sit down, and soon, several beautiful women were sent his way. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her hand holding the phone started to tremble. What did this mean? A look of perplexity swept through Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, and her long eyshes quivered slightly. Gradually, her heartbeat elerated. She feared she might identally drop the phone and so sat down by a coffee table, cing the phone on it.
Though the image wasn¡¯t particrly clear, she could still recognize Shen Chi. And his voice, she was familiar with it too. At first, when the women sat down next to him, he refused them. But after being coaxed by the men to drink a few sses, he didn¡¯t resist as much. Later, a voluptuous, seductive, and sexy woman leaned into his embrace, touching him all over. The woman in the skimpy camisole had ample curves and kept rubbing against Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu frowned, finding it difficult to continue watching. She would only asionally read a risqu¨¦ book; normally, she wouldn¡¯t watch videos like this. She realized these videos were akin to pornographic films. Especially since the male lead in the videos was her husband. There were quite a few videos sent from this unknown number, and Xu Chaomu clicked through them all, depicting chaotic and disheveled men and women. The music in the room and the blue lights created an addictive atmosphere¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was pounding severely; she watched all the videos, feeling at a loss afterward. Impossible, this couldn¡¯t be Shen Chi. Even if he had been drinking a lot, he wouldn¡¯t get close to these women.
There must be someone with ulterior motives. She believed in him. She looked through all the messages sent by the unknown number, and aside from the first being a text message, the rest were videos. As she sat there stunned, that number sent another message. Again, it was a video. Xu Chaomu clicked on it, and this time the noise in the private room was so loud she couldn¡¯t hear anything, only seeing the screen bing more chaotic¡­ Shen Chi was still the focus, and this time, he seemed to have had too much to drink, surrounded by several women. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to watch anymore, especially thest video, which had increasingly inappropriate, R-rated content that was both embarrassing and shocking. Her hands trembled violently; she wanted to shut off the phone and to be alone with her thoughts. Just then, as if on cue, the unknown number sent another message. Chapter 470: 470: She Believes Him Chapter 470: She Believes Him Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyelid twitched, and her head involuntarily drooped down. This time, it wasn¡¯t a video message but a text message. The message only contained a phrase: Does your husband really love you that much? Has your husband ever held a wedding ceremony with you? Has he ever publicly acknowledged you as his wife? Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands were trembling. She wanted to throw the phone away, really badly. No, Shen Chi truly loved her. She believed in him. Although she couldn¡¯t answer thest two questions. Indeed, Shen Chi had never mentioned anything about a wedding ceremony, but she didn¡¯t care about these formalities. He was so busy, of course, he didn¡¯t have time to prepare for a wedding. Aplex expression flickered across her eyes, and her long eyshes glimmered with a crystal gleam. She pursed her lips and ced her hands on the coffee table. Pressing down hard on the coffee table so her hands would stop shaking. Her heart was pounding non-stop, as if it was about to leap out of her throat. Who was sending these messages? Why were they sending these to her?
This person definitely had ulterior motives! She trusted Shen Chi, she had faith in him. He went to the bar, certainly for business, and the flirtations, certainly for show. She tried to calm her heart down, grabbing a corner of the coffee table, motionless. The coffee table was made of ss. After holding it for a while, her hand was ice-cold and a bit painful. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Her voice was husky as she called out his name. At this moment, she suddenly missed him so much. She wanted him to return to her side, to tell her himself that all those videos were just for show. She wanted him to stand in front of her, to take her hand, and to track down the person who sent those videos. Right now, she missed him so much¡­ Her chest ached, it had been a long time since she felt so miserable¡­ For an instant, her mind went nk, her eyes only seeing the empty walls. Her sparklingrge eyes were misted with a hazyyer of water, and with every blink, hershes gathered glistening droplets. She prided herself on her strong mental resilience, but at this moment, she felt utterly lost. After zoning out for a very long time, she remembered that she wanted to call this unknown number! She picked up her phone, only to find her hand was shaking fiercely. Dialing the number, she held the phone to her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off, please try againter.¡± Xu Chaomu, not giving up, dialed again and again, only to hear the same message, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off, please try againter.¡±
Three times, four times, it was still the same. Xu Chaomu sent a text message: Who are you? She just sat in the music room waiting, her whole heart hanging in her throat. She nced at a mirror and saw her entire face was deathly pale.
After roughly half an hour of waiting, there was no response. This person was definitely doing it on purpose, to disturb her peace of mind, and if she believed it, she would fall for their trick. She wouldn¡¯t believe these things; she only believed in Shen Chi. She sat in the music room for a while longer, trying hard to suppress her emotions. But soon after, she stood up and paced back and forth. Should she call Shen Chi? It might seem childish, but it would at least give her some peace of mind. Thinking this way, she looked up Shen Chi¡¯s mobile number. At this hour, Shen Chi was in a meeting and, of course, didn¡¯t answer Xu Chaomu¡¯s call. Xu Chaomu thought she shouldn¡¯t let a few messages disturb her peace of mind; she needed to stay calm. She walked out of the music room, wanting to go outside to clear her mind. A walk and some fresh air might do some good. It¡¯s inevitable for Shen Chi to attend many social functions and meet some unnecessary people. She smacked her head; she was willing to think about this now. Her mood was so good this morning, but now it was all ruined.
Perhaps the messages were sent by Jian Sisi? There was nothing that woman couldn¡¯t do¡­ But soon, Xu Chaomu negated this thought. It was unlikely to be Jian Sisi; she didn¡¯t know that Shen Chi and she were already married. Not many people knew they had gotten their marriage certificate. A few of Shen Chi¡¯s friends, a few of her friends, and some of the Shen family. Clearly, the person sending the messages knew quite a lot about their life together. Xu Chaomu wandered around the Shen family vi, absent-minded. When Butler Ling saw Xu Chaomu, he couldn¡¯t help but show concern: ¡°Chaomu, you don¡¯t look very well.¡± Xu Chaomu raised her head and forced a smile: ¡°Oh, perhaps it¡¯s just too hot right now.¡± ¡°It is quite hot. You should go inside, don¡¯t get sunburnt.¡± ¡°Butler, I don¡¯t really feel like having lunch right now, I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Xu Chaomu said listlessly. ¡°That won¡¯t do; you must ensure three meals a day. You are eating for two now, you must think about the baby.¡± Xu Chaomu had no choice, every time they mentioned the baby, she couldn¡¯t argue. She did love her baby, very much. So, she wouldn¡¯t let the baby suffer¡­
She nodded, lowering her eyelids: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll just eat a little less¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made you a nutritious soup, you need to nourish yourself more. This way, the baby will be born healthier and less prone to illness.¡± ¡°Butler, forgive my boldness in asking you a question. If your husband had to hug and cuddle with another woman due to business, what would you do?¡± ¡°I trust he would know his limits.¡± Butler Ling responded with a sentence. Seeing Xu Chaomu looking unwell, was she worrying about the Young Master? ¡°I trust him too,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly, kicking a stone on the ground with her foot. Her toe rubbed back and forth, she was speaking the truth; she trusted him. As for whether he trusted her, she didn¡¯t know¡­ After all, during their argument a few days ago, he had shown disdain for her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Chaomu? Are you worried because the Young Master didn¡¯te homest night? You should trust the Young Master. Although he socializes a lot, he knows what he¡¯s doing. He won¡¯t do anything to betray you,¡± Butler Ling reassured her. ¡°I know.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, smiling at the butler. Once he called back, she would exin everything to him, and all would be well. She had nothing to agonize over.
The person who sent the messages was definitely doing it on purpose, even though she couldn¡¯t guess who. ¡°Come inside, don¡¯t stand out here, the sun is quite ring. A girl shouldn¡¯t tan too much; otherwise, when the Young Masteres back, he will definitely scold me.¡± ¡°Butler, did he say when he would be back?¡± ¡°Probably not for several days.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu responded faintly, her face disying little emotion. ¡°Chaomu, if you miss him, just give him a call.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Xu Chaomu nodded. She turned and headed back from the outside into the living room. In the vast living room, only a few servants were cleaning, and Xu Chaomu passed straight through on her way upstairs. ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Butler Ling asked eagerly. He noticed that Xu Chaomu¡¯splexion and demeanor were off. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m going upstairs to get some yarn, to knit for a while,¡± she replied. Chapter 471: 471: They Make a Great Pair Chapter 471: They Make a Great Pair Ever since she became pregnant, she grew fond of doing things quietly, like knitting sweaters or ying the piano. If this had been five years ago, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to sit still. Butler Ling watched as Xu Chaomu slowly ascended the stairs, her silhouette carrying a touch of destion. What had happened? Xu Chaomu didn¡¯te downstairs; instead, she sat in her own bedroom knitting a sweater. The soft pink sweater looked particrly beautiful. She hoped that her child would be born safely, and then, she could dress him in the sweater she made by hand. Shui Fu had also mentioned knitting a hat for her baby. But her eyelids kept twitching, and her chest felt uneasy, unsure of what might happen. Her phone had gone silent, yet her heart couldn¡¯t settle down. Her hands trembling as she knitted, eventually, they trembled so severely she simply set the yarn aside.
She waited for Shen Chi¡¯s call, but no matter how long she waited, it never came. She knew he was in a meeting, but she felt uneasy and dialed that unfamiliar number once more. The response was still the mechanical voice: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off. Please try againter.¡± Discarding her phone, her face was etched with disappointment. By noon, Butler Ling had already prepared the meal. ¡°Chaomu,e down and eat,¡± Butler Ling personally went upstairs to knock on her room¡¯s door. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyescked sparkle as she responded faintly, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Butler Ling went downstairs first, serving a meal and soup for Xu Chaomu. When the young master was home, he would do these things. The young master, that man, had only ever served food and soup to Xu Chaomu. No one else, including his parents, ever enjoyed such treatment. Butler Ling thought, the young master truly did have a deep affection for Chaomu. Once everything was ready, Xu Chaomu also made her way downstairs. ¡°Chaomu, eat slowly, I¡¯ll go get busy.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Xu Chaomu nodded her head. She looked at the well-served meals, not particrly hungry. Even the dishes she normally loved didn¡¯t spur her appetite at that moment. She took a few bites of white rice and had a few dumplings. Midway through the meal, her appetite vanishedpletely, and the thought of those videos made her heart churn with anxiety. Her stomach was in turmoil, making her want to vomit.
Dropping her chopsticks, she ran to the bathroom. Everything she had just eaten was now for naught as she leaned over the sink, utterly listless. Her morning sickness had lessened recently, but unexpectedly, she vomited again today. She leaned on the edge of the sink, turned the faucet on, and water sshed everywhere.
The rushing sound of water disturbed a young maid, who didn¡¯t dare approach and instead went to inform Butler Ling. Butler Ling was startled to see Xu Chaomu vomiting so violently: ¡°Chaomu, what¡¯s wrong, are you feeling sick again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, butler, just a normal pregnancy reaction.¡± ¡°Let me help you to rest upstairs.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Chaomu spoke weakly, and seemed unable to muster any energy. Butler Ling, with a look of concern, helped her upstairs. ¡°Chaomu, why don¡¯t you sleep for a bit and see if you can fall asleep?¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Xu Chaomu nodded once more. She got into bed, and Butler Ling made sure she was covered up, set the air conditioning to afortable temperature, and felt at ease. Carrying this child had indeed been hard on Chaomu. Butler Ling tiptoed out of the room, closing the door gently behind her and walked downstairs alone. Xu Chaomuy in bed, her mind full of thoughts, her eyes closed, but sleep eluded her.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains and spilled onto the floor; she tossed and turned, unable to sumb to sleep. After Butler Ling went downstairs, she tidied up the table. Sighing, she could only hope that the young master would hurry back. In the past few days, because of business engagements, the young master often came backte at night, and by that time, Xu Chaomu would already be asleep. Thesest couple of days, the young master had mentioned attending a closed-door meeting at the hotel, which might prevent him from returning for a few days. Pregnant women are prone to worry a bit more. Today Xu Chaomu asked her that question; was she worried the young master might be carousing on the outside? Butler Ling trusted Shen Chi; if he didn¡¯t love Xu Chaomu enough, he would have married within those five years instead of waiting for her steadfastly. While others spected that Xu Chaomu might no longer be alive, it was Shen Chi who kept searching determinedly. Butler Ling believed that if Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t returned this year, Shen Chi would have continued to wait. She had seen all the little things over these five years ¨C in this world, no one loved Xu Chaomu more than Shen Chi. This love was deep and unforgettable. Fate is a strange thing; if Madam Zhou hadn¡¯t brought Xu Chaomu back thirteen years ago, perhaps their paths would never have crossed in this lifetime. One cool and detached, the other warm and passionate ¡ª they matched each other perfectly.
Only Xu Chaomu could melt the ice around Shen Chi. In the whole five years, she had never seen Shen Chi smile. But once Xu Chaomu returned, it was as if he was apletely different person. ¡°Butler, someone is outside looking for someone.¡± As Butler Ling was tidying up the dining room and lost in her thoughts, a young maid ran in. Butler Ling lifted her head: ¡°Looking for whom?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s for Miss Xu,¡± the young maid replied. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know them, he said he¡¯s Miss Xu¡¯s friend.¡± Butler Ling wiped the water off her hands: ¡°I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Xu Chaomu had just lied down to rest, and Butler Ling didn¡¯t want to disturb her. Stepping outside of the Shen Family vi, Butler Ling shielded her eyes from the ring sun. The weather today was exceptionally fine, the sun fiercely hot. It wasn¡¯t weather suitable for going outside. As she peeked over, she saw a ck SUV parked not far away. She didn¡¯t recognize the driver in the car.
The young maid pointed to that car: ¡°Butler, it¡¯s the person in that car who said he¡¯s looking for Miss Xu.¡± ¡°I got it, you can go now.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the young maid nodded her head. As the young maid left, Butler Ling approached the SUV. The driver saw someoneing and stepped out of the car as well. ¡°Hello.¡± The man was quite polite. ¡°Hello,¡± Butler Ling also greeted, ¡°May I know who you are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Chaomu¡¯s friend, I spoke with her this morning. There¡¯s a ss reunion and I came to take her with me.¡± ¡°Chaomu isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll give her a call,¡± said the man as he prepared to take out his phone. ¡°No need, she¡¯s taking a nap right now. Leave your contact information, and when she wakes up, I¡¯ll let her know.¡± ¡°No trouble at all, I will tell her myselfter.¡± Seeing that the man was quite polite, Butler Ling did not suspect much. The man walked to his car and prepared to drive away. After the car drove off, Butler Ling returned to the Shen Family vi. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t fallen asleep after all; she unexpectedly received a text message, shockingly, it was from that unfamiliar number again. Chapter 472: 472: Mr. Shen Invites You to Come Over Chapter 472: Mr. Shen Invites You to Come Over She quickly opened it, probably due to nervousness, as her hand was still trembling. The message only had a few words: I am outside the Shen Family vi. Xu Chaomu suddenly sat up, threw off the covers, and looked from the balcony toward the vi¡¯s main gate. Her room had a view of the vi¡¯s entrance, though anything further would be too obscure to see clearly. Gazing toward the gate, she indeed spotted a ck SUV parked not far from the vi. Xu Chaomu quickly got dressed and hurried downstairs. Who was this person? A man or a woman? Did they hold a grudge against her? She had barely reached the bottom of the stairs when Butler Ling saw her. ¡°Butler, is there someone outside looking for me?¡± ¡°Yes, they said they came to take you to a gathering, but seeing you were asleep, I advised them not to disturb you. Did they call you anyway?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll be right back.¡±
¡°Chaomu, you should stay at home and rest; it¡¯s not necessary to attend a ss reunion, especially in this sultry weather¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Xu Chaomu had too much on her mind to chat with Butler Ling, as she was intent on going outside to investigate. This was still the Splendid World viplex; she wasn¡¯t worried about the person daring to cause trouble. She walked towards the exterior of the vi, even forgetting to take a sun umbre. Just stepping outside, she saw the man in the car. He wore sunsses, and she did not recognize him. As soon as she appeared, the man got out of the car. ¡°Who are you?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. She stopped in her tracks, not daring to go any further. If it were the past, she would have been brave, but now, she was constantly reminded that there was a baby in her belly. ¡°I¡¯m just a driver,¡± the man said indifferently. ¡°Did you send me those messages?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Xu Chaomu demanded. Her heart pounded wildly, filled with unease. ¡°Mr. Shen requests your presence,¡± the man said without any expression or fluctuation in his tone. ¡°Mr. Shen? Which Mr. Shen?¡± Xu Chaomu hesitated. Her bright eyes stared at him, squinting slightly because of the ring sunlight. The thought of several men with the surname Shen crossed her mind¡ªShen Chi? Shen Shihan? Or perhaps¡­ Shen Cexian?
¡°Come with me.¡± The man turned and headed straight for the car after speaking. He showed no emotion on his face as he opened the door and sat in the driver¡¯s seat. He believed that Xu Chaomu would follow. Xu Chaomu hesitated for a moment, but it was only a moment before she opened the passenger door.
The possibility of this ¡°Mr. Shen¡± being Shen Chi was almost nonexistent, so whether it was Shen Shihan or Shen Cexian, she had nothing to fear. What she feared was that this man might be lying. As soon as Xu Chaomu sat in the car, the man turned the vehicle around and drove out of the Shen Family vi. ¡°Tell me, which Mr. Shen is it?¡± Xu Chaomu pressed. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you get there,¡± the man said curtly. Xu Chaomu sat nervously in the passenger seat, realizing that the man was unwilling to talk. Her hands fidgeted as she watched the car slowly exit Splendid World. Following a road outside the viplex, sunlight shone on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, causing her to squint. The car was silent; no sound could be heard. The trees along the road blurred in retreat as the man drove swiftly. There were few people and vehicles near the viplex, but as they left the area, more cars started to appear. Seeing the crowds and traffic flow, Xu Chaomu felt a bit more at ease; it wasn¡¯t some deste wilderness. Xu Chaomu ventured to ask the man, ¡°Where are we going?¡±
¡°The hospital.¡± Although surprised by the answer, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart settled. There would be many people at the hospital; she needn¡¯t worry. But¡­ if they were going to a hospital, could it be Shen Cexian? Five years after her return, when she asked Shen Chi, he said his father was in poor health, sometimes convalescing at a summer vi, sometimes in a hospital. His condition fluctuated, at times severe enough to cause vomiting of blood. Liu Rumei had already moved to the summer vi to take care of him. However, Shen Chi mentioned that what Liu Rumei was likely waiting for was this very day. Should his father pass away, Liu Rumei was sure to receive arge portion of the inheritance. Xu Chaomu had also asked Shen Chi, what about your mother? Shen Chi had simply said, ¡°When my mother divorced, she left without taking anything, and if something really happened to my father, she would want nothing as well.¡± Xu Chaomu knew Zhou Ran was a very stubborn woman with a tenacious personality. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have divorced so decisively back then. Moreover, after the divorce, she resolutely never returned to the Shen household. Xu Chaomu wanted to harbor resentment towards Zhou Ran, yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate her¡­
Every time she thought of her, bitterness welled up in Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart. That bitterness spread like spring grass, extending bit by bit until it became so bitter it numbed her¡­ On the cruise ship, when Bai Man told her that her mother, Xu Mengxi, had been harmed by Zhou Ran, she was nearly distraught. Later, during a long period abroad, she often dreamed of Zhou Ran tampering with her home¡¯s gas tank. She would dream of the great fire, of the house and trees all being burnt to ash¡­ During the eight years with the Shen family, she rarely had nightmares, but after that incident, her nightmares began again, one after another. Only after going to university and gradually blending into the crowd, as well as seeing a psychologist, did her heart begin to find peace¡­ The car continued towards its destination, and Xu Chaomu stopped dwelling on these thoughts. ¡°Which hospital?¡± Xu Chaomu asked the man. The man remained silent, just focusing on the road ahead. Xu Chaomu knew she was asking in vain and decided to refrain from questioning further. Each time they stopped at a red light, the atmosphere in the car grew particrly awkward. The man never turned to look at Xu Chaomu, his eyes fixed on the road, deeply concentrated. After driving for roughly forty minutes, from one district to another, the car finally slowed down.
Xu Chaomu remembered there was a private hospital in this area. She grew more certain that the man she was to meet was Shen Cexian. This private hospital had excellent greenery, including argewn at its center. Before Xu Chaomu had arrived, Shen Cexian was being wheeled by medical staff from thewn towards the upper floors. Shen Cexian was dressed in blue and white hospital clothes, with a paleplexion and no hint of color. As the medical personnel were pushing him into the hospital, Zhou Ran approached from the side. ¡°I¡¯ll take over,¡± Zhou Ran said, taking the wheelchair from the staff¡¯s hands. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s face was expressionless. She wore a deep blue cheongsam, elegant and dignified, appearing very youthful. On the contrary, Shen Cexian had aged considerably. His gaze lingered on Zhou Ran as he saw her. Zhou Ran had applied light makeup, her expression well concealed. Chapter 473: 473: Whoever Dies First, Loses Chapter 473: Whoever Dies First, Loses ¡°` Her hand rested on the back of the wheelchair, her voice nd and cool, ¡°I¡¯ll help you up.¡± She lowered her head, not looking into Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes; instead, it was Shen Cexian who kept staring at her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to push you, I can leave,¡± Zhou Ran said. She lifted her gaze slightly, not a trace of sparkle in her eyes, as if she were speaking to a manpletely irrelevant to her. Suddenly, Shen Cexian lifted his hand, cing his broad palm on the back of her hand. ¡°Zhou Ran¡­¡± He called her name, his eyes filled with unending regret. Years pass, clothes wear thin. Dusk dyes, morning chill bites. Time slips away, like a swift horse racing by¡­ Though it was summer, Shen Cexian¡¯s hand was icy cold, causing Zhou Ran to tremble slightly when he ced his hand on hers. She moved her eyelids, thinking of looking up, but in the end, she still didn¡¯t look at him.
¡°The elevator is here,¡± she said indifferently. Zhou Ran pushed him to the elevator, and as soon as it arrived, she wheeled him inside. There were few people in the private hospital, even fewer at this hour. Only Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian were in the elevator. As the doors closed, Zhou Ran went to press the floor button, just as Shen Cexian raised his hand as well. Their fingers crossed; Zhou Ran withdrew hers as if electrocuted. On the other hand, Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes deepened with sorrow. He pressed the floor button, and the elevator slowly ascended. The elevator was quiet; neither of them spoke. Shen Cexian¡¯s hospital room was on the sixth floor, and they soon arrived. He thought Zhou Ran would leave as soon as they reached the floor, but she didn¡¯t walk away and instead pushed him into his room. ¡°Aran.¡± Shen Cexian finally spoke, calling her by that name. He hadn¡¯t called her that in a long time¡­ His hoarse voice echoed in the empty corridor, sounding especially forlorn and somber. Zhou Ran followed him, her grip on the wheelchair tightening gradually. No expression crossed her face, nor did she speak. Aran¡­ It had been many years since he called her that. She remembered, back in college, Xu Mengxi loved calling her Aran. Gradually, after getting closer to Shen Cexian, he started calling her Aran too. But afterwards, there was no afterwards.
Memory, like the endless spring rain, pattering over the heart but hurting more than hail. Reminiscing about the past, every thought turned pale yellow, could it revive with a breath of spring air¡­? Aran, Aran. That year, the ginkgo leaves fell, the autumn air was crisp, and the sky with drifting clouds shone with a far-reaching, wistful mncholy.
The setting sun stained the ground with fallen leaves, and the wind blew, swirling the withered leaves into the air, merging with the dimming sunset into one color. That year, he sat on the bench under the ginkgo tree, gently calling her ¡°Aran¡± as she passed by after ss. His eyes were clear, his smile bright and pure. Zhou Ran¡¯s hands paused, and the wheelchair stopped. But time has intermingled with far too many things¡­ The years were not as kind as they once were. Shen Cexian wanted to turn around, but he simply closed his eyes and sighed softly instead. ¡°Aran, when we got divorced¡­ you said that whoever dies first, loses,¡± Shen Cexian said, a faint smile curving at the corner of his lips. Zhou Ran¡¯s hand tightened on the wheelchair, gripping it harder and harder, her knuckles growing whiter by the moment¡­ Her eyes lifted slightly, as deep and inscrutable as the ocean, concealing their profound depths. Her lips were tightly sealed, yet a mistyyer of moisture glistened on her eyshes. ¡°We¡¯ve despised each other all our lives¡­¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s voice was very low, and his pace of speech, very slow, ¡°In the end, I still have to go first¡­¡± His voice lingered in the corridor, hovering around Zhou Ran¡¯s ears.
Zhou Ran remained silent, silent¡­ Without a response from Zhou Ran, Shen Cexian smiled faintly, ¡°Aran, take me back to the room, please¡­¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s lips moved slightly as she spoke softly, as if talking about something that had nothing to do with her, ¡°Shen Cexian, your desire to win has always been so strong, you never wanted to lose to me.¡± She paused, ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re not allowed to lose.¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s face was initially calm, but at her words, a peculiar sparkle finally appeared in his dark eyes¡­ ¡°If you lose, I win for this lifetime, are you content with that?¡± Zhou Ran lowered her head, her voice low and husky. Something seemed stuck in her throat, an indistinct bitterness. At her heart, there was a knife-twisting pain spreading slowly, bit by bit¡­ Shen Cexian didn¡¯t speak again; he leaned back in the wheelchair, eyes gently closed. He and Zhou Ran, truly, had beenpeting their whole lives. For a long time, Zhou Ran didn¡¯t receive an answer from Shen Cexian. Gradually, she gripped the wheelchair once more, pushing it forward¡­ She moved slowly, and he wished she would go slower. In their life together, their time was not lengthy, often missing out on one another because of quarrels.
From the start, they married due to a business alliance. Formerly, the Zhou Family was far stronger than the Shen Family, to unite with them was somewhat a loss. Back then, he vowed to grow his enterpriserger and stronger to escape the oppression of her father. At that time, he also wanted to get rid of her¡­ Thirteen years ago, he finally got his wish, and they divorced. But why didn¡¯t he feel as relieved as he had imagined¡­ Even after thirteen years, still not¡­ Zhou Ran pushed the wheelchair towards the hospital room; no matter how slow, the end alwayses. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Zhou Ran said softly. Standing by the door, she nced at the room number. She pushed open the door, and sunshine streamed in through the half-open curtains, filling the room with light. The room was so full of light, it made one feel momentarily dazed. Zhou Ran wheeled Shen Cexian in and closed the door behind them.
Not one to talk much, Zhou Ran helped him rise after pushing him into the room. ¡°Walk around a bit, the sunlight by the window is nice,¡± she stated simply. As she drew near him, he smelled that once-familiar scent on her again. Like elusive orchids, lingering long in the depths of his soul¡­ All that was once familiar, like sand slipping through one¡¯s fingers, escaping little by little. The past, after all, became the past¡­ And the sand that leaked through the gaps in his fingers, scattered lightly with the wind¡­ When Zhou Ran lowered her head to help him up, he lifted his gaze, fixating on her in silence. She was still so beautiful, with just a few more fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She was still young, like she was over twenty years ago. As she neared him, he gazed at her luminous eyes and reflexively lifted his hand. Halfway raised, Zhou Ran turned to look at him. Shen Cexian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, that hand suspended mid-air, finally falling back down¡­ They were divorced now; he no longer had the right to touch her. Zhou Ran watched him, momentarily forgetting toe back to herself. This was the first time she¡¯d looked at him so closely since their divorce, so very close. Chapter 474: 474 She is not good enough for Achi Chapter 474: She is not good enough for Achi His deep eyes held steadiness and calm, and there was an unchanging depth between his brows when he frowned. The moment Zhou Ran drew near him, she was reminded of the first time they met. It was a foggy winter morning, with a white blur covering everything. She was hurrying with her books to the library to study and review, as the final exams were approaching. But unintentionally, she bumped into someone. Yes, that person was Shen Cexian. Their meeting was nothing more than a clich¨¦d beginning¡­ Only, what followed did not stick to the expected script. Books scattered all over the ground, and as he apologized he bent down to help her pick them up, one by one. That moment when she was close to him was just like now. His brows and eyes deep, his dark eyes profound, and his handsome lips slightly curved.
The mist clung to his long, ck eyshes, and with each blink, it seemed as if the tiny droplets would fall. After so many years, the images in her mind were almost blurred, but she still remembered his eyes. But, in a lifetime, you meet so many people; some arrive early and somete. All things in the unseen world are but fate¡¯s predestined arrangements. Just as Shen Cexian met Xu Mengxi first. The years are so long, and memories so fragile¡­ She helped him stand, worried he might fall, supporting his arm the whole time. Shen Cexian was a bit surprised by her action; she so rarely ever did such a thing. She escorted him to the window, gazing out at the view. The hospital¡¯s scenery was incredibly beautiful, especially in summer, with lush greenery and a riot of flowers. They had nted many Ziwei flowers in the hospital¡ªpink ones, purple ones, white ones¡­ That from afar looked like a vast sea of blooms. Shen Cexian¡¯s room was on the sixth floor, perfectly situated to take in the view. Gazing out, the sunshine looked like fine golden dust sprinkled over everything. She opened the window, and a gentle breeze from the summer afternoon wafted in. ¡°Live well,¡± Zhou Ran said softly, her face devoid of emotion. Shen Cexian turned to look at her profile. Calm, serene, unruffled. ¡°Aran, I thought after the divorce, you would remarry,¡± sighed Shen Cexian. After all, she so despised him. In order to get rid of her father and her, he had cohabited with Liu Rumei, even having two children, just to push her to initiate the divorce.
He did all this so she would hate him. But after the divorce, whose heart was truly lost¡­ ¡°I like living alone,¡± Zhou Ran said lightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Ran was stunned; he¡­ was apologizing to her.
After half a lifetime of pride, he was unexpectedly saying ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± to her. The sunshine flitted before her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel it all unreal. She didn¡¯t respond; she was never one to talk much, especially when she didn¡¯t know how to respond to his ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Shen Cexian changed the subject, looking out the window: ¡°I¡¯ve sent someone to pick up Chaomu.¡± At the mention of Xu Chaomu¡¯s name, Zhou Ran¡¯s eyes dimmed again. Xu Chaomu hade back after five years, and she had already seen her once. Xu Chaomu had changed, not quite the same as she was five years ago. Xu Chaomu was much quieter than Zhou Ran had expected; she thought that after five years, upon seeing her again, she would hysterically curse at her or lose allposure and beat her up. But nothing of the sort happened, nothing at all. In fact, during those thirteen years, she hadn¡¯t spent much time with Xu Chaomu. With indifference, Zhou Ran spoke, ¡°Do you still me me for what happened to Mengxi?¡± ¡°So many years have passed, let¡¯s forget about it,¡± Shen Cexian sighed. ¡°That¡¯s probably the thing I regret the most in my life,¡± Zhou Ran said expressionlessly.
Yes, regret. She hesitated, as if she wanted to say more, but in the end, she didn¡¯t say anything else, just quietly looking out the window. Some things, perhaps, are better left unsaid. ¡°Aran, I don¡¯t believe you would harm Mengxi,¡± Shen Cexian said, also looking out the window. ¡°You don¡¯t need to believe me,¡± Zhou Ran replied, her tone getting harder. Shen Cexian sighed; saying more would only lead to another argument. Just like that time five years ago at the seaside vi, when they had fought fiercely, thest time they had argued. He didn¡¯t want to spoil such a good moment. ¡°Aran¡­ could you tell me now what you wanted that photo for?¡± That photo only had him, Zhou Ran, and Xu Mengxi. The youthful faces from back then, now all aged. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Zhou Ran still refused to reveal. Shen Cexian did not dare to press her; today, his invitation to her was not meant to reignite old fights.
If there were words she refused to say, then so be it. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about Chaomu then, she should be arriving soon,¡± Shen Cexian said. ¡°Is everything ready for you?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Cexian responded. The two fell silent again as if they didn¡¯t have much inmon to talk about. After a long silence, Zhou Ran was the one to break it: ¡°I never thought that Achi had secretly gone and registered their marriage without anyone knowing.¡± ¡°I also didn¡¯t expect Achi to love her that much,¡± Shen Cexian said calmly. ¡°I won¡¯t let Achi marry her,¡± Zhou Ran statedposedly, ¡°She¡¯s not suitable for him.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Shen Cexian nodded, ¡°She¡¯s not worthy of Achi, she¡¯s not his best choice.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s pregnant with someone else¡¯s child. Actually, even if the child were not from another man, I still wouldn¡¯t want her marrying Achi.¡± ¡°Who do you think is the most suitable?¡± ¡°Manman, perhaps. Although she¡¯s somewhat calcting, being calcting is better than not. Besides, the Shen Family owes the Bai Family a favor, and this is not a debt Achi can settle just by saying so.¡± ¡°Manman¡¯s been abroad for five years now, she probably doesn¡¯t have Achi in her heart anymore.¡±
¡°C City isn¡¯t short of girls better than Xu Chaomu,¡± Zhou Ran stated ndly, ¡°You understand what I mean.¡± Shen Cexian gave a slight nod; he understood. ¡°I regret bringing her into the Shen family¡­¡± Shen Cexian curled his lips into a wry smile: ¡°I know, you did it back then just to provoke me, to make me watch as Mengxi¡¯s daughter with another man grew up.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you provoked?¡± ¡°Honestly, not really.¡± Shen Cexian spoke the truth; at first, he was quite surprised to see Xu Chaomu, but there wasn¡¯t that kind of provocation. After all, that was the tenth year after Mengxi left. ¡°Well, consider it as me having shot myself in the foot with a rock.¡± ¡°For someone as clever as you, to do such a foolish thing,¡± Shen Cexianughed a little. ¡°I hoped there would be a girl who could take care of Achi, tend to his daily needs, and share his burdens. Achi works too hard, and I don¡¯t want him to spend all his time trying to appease an immature girl.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± On this matter, their opinions coincidentally aligned. Many times, they had disagreed. After so many years of arguing, he never thought they would stand together and have a peaceful conversation. Chapter 475: 475: Some Secrets, Take them with You Chapter 475: Some Secrets, Take them with You The wind from outside the window blew into the room, this summer breeze mixed with the scent of fresh grass, was the most likely to calm emotions. ¡°Love is the most worthless thing; Achi will understand one day. He¡¯s just too deep in this rtionship,¡± Zhou Ran said. ¡°This matter can¡¯t be dragged on for too long.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Zhou Ran responded. Xu Chaomu has been back for many days already, and many things, if dragged on for too long, would only be detrimental. ¡°Aran, I¡¯ve had all the messages you sent forwarded to Xu Chaomu,¡± Shen Cexian said. ¡°If she¡¯s even a little bit smart, she should leave Achi.¡± ¡°Regardless of whether she¡¯s smart or not, I won¡¯t let her stay in the Shen Family, nor will I let that unclear child be born with the surname Shen,¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s stance was also very firm. Zhou Ran looked out the window and did not speak further, her eyes full of calm. It was a long time before she spoke faintly: ¡°She shouldn¡¯t havee back after five years.¡± Shen Cexian also quietly looked out the window, Zhou Ran¡¯s hand continuously supporting his arm, they¡­ hadn¡¯t stood together like this for many years.
The sky was bright blue, the summer breeze was clear and bright. They just stood there, for quite a while, standing together quietly, neither speaking. They had both been stubborn for half a lifetime; they had not expected such a day woulde¡­ But¡­ it was all toote. Just then, Shen Cexian¡¯s phone rang, and he took it out to answer. ¡°Hmm, bring them directly to my hospital room.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After ten or so seconds, the call was ended. Zhou Ran hesitantly looked at him: ¡°Is Xu Chaomu here?¡± ¡°Hmm, she¡¯s already downstairs in the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you to the sofa.¡± Zhou Ran closed the window, drew the curtains together, turned on the air conditioner, and then helped Shen Cexian to sit on the sofa. Shen Cexian sat down while she went to pour some tea. Shen Cexian¡¯s gaze never left Zhou Ran and stayed fixed on her face. Even though her eyes didn¡¯t show any particr emotion and her facecked anyplex expression, she was a scenery in herself. In fact, all these years, there was something he never said to her. He wanted to say, Aran, I like you. However, he might not have much time left, so better left unsaid. Some secrets are best taken to the grave, never to be known by anyone.
That way, is also quite good. ¡­ Xu Chaomu was brought to the hospital downstairs by that man, she looked around and followed the man¡¯s pace. The man had made just one phone call, and she heard him call the person on the phone ¡°Director Shen.¡±
As such, Xu Chaomu was even more certain that the person she was going to meet was Shen Cexian. Why did Shen Cexian send her those messages, what did he want to tell her? And why did he bring her here? All she knew was that Shen Cexian didn¡¯t like her, this was a fact. Not just Shen Cexian, but also Zhou Ran, neither of them liked her much. In fact, for so many years, she never really understood what exactly was the rtionship between Zhou Ran, Shen Cexian, and her mother Xu Mengxi. She remembered when Zhou Ran first brought her to the Shen Family, they once had an argument that mentioned Xu Mengxi. Clearly, they knew each other. So, what caused Zhou Ran to poison her mother? Thinking back on the past, her heart began to race, and she clenched her teeth. She didn¡¯t want to recall these things, many times she tried hard to forget. Just like when she went to see a psychologist in Paris, it was to bury all these unpleasant memories in her heart. Now, they were being dug up again, and to say her heart didn¡¯t ache would be a lie. ¡°This way,¡± the man led Xu Chaomu to the elevator entrance. Xu Chaomu followed him step by step, even though it was the hot summer season, her hands were cold at this moment.
The man pressed the elevator button, and the elevator quickly arrived at the sixth floor. The few times Xu Chaomu met Shen Cexian, she found him to be very serious. Unsmiling, cold as frost. Maybe he smiled in front of others, but at least when he was with her, he wore no expression. Deep down, she was afraid of Shen Cexian. The sixth-floor corridor was almost silent, so much so that one could hear the air conditioning fan and their footsteps. The man walked expressionlessly forward and stopped in front of a hospital room. ¡°Mr. Shen is inside, you go in alone,¡± the man said. After leading her to the door, he turned and left the hospital room, retracing his steps. Xu Chaomu watched his figure disappear down the corridor, then she stared at the door number for a long time. Slowly lifting her hand as if to knock, her heart felt as though a little rabbit was incessantly hopping. Shen Cexian had also talked to her in private before, and this time, it was likely not to be pleasant words. She was mentally prepared, but facing it for real, she still felt uneasy.
But what was meant toe would eventuallye. Her fist gently knocked on the door, the wooden door emitting a ¡°thud.¡± After the second knock, those inside had heard. The door was opened by Zhou Ran. Xu Chaomu was surprised to see Zhou Ran. She did not expect Zhou Ran to be here. In her memory, Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian were like fire and water. Zhou Ran was the same as ever, dressed in a blue cheongsam, elegant andposed, unaffected by honor or disgrace, as if she were the same as when Xu Chaomu first saw her thirteen years ago. At that time, when she was thrown to the ground by Shen Chi, Zhou Ran would gently brush the dirt off her and softly say, ¡°Chaomu, are you okay? Come on, get up, your clothes are dirty.¡± Is it that the prettier the rose, the sharper its thorns? Xu Chaomu raised her eyelids, quietly looking at Zhou Ran. Zhou Ran also stared at her for a moment, with no particr expression. After that, she said faintly, ¡°Come in.¡± Xu Chaomu felt that Zhou Ran was very good at concealing her emotions. One could never read them on her face, and it was even less worth attempting to guess her thoughts. Entering the hospital room, Xu Chaomu immediately saw Shen Cexian sitting on the sofa.
This was the first time after five years that she had seen Shen Cexian. Ravaged by illness, Shen Cexian had aged a lot, his face pale, but his deep eyes were still sharp as a de. When his gaze swept over her, she shivered slightly. Xu Chaomu dared not look directly into Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes, and lowered her gaze. Soon, Zhou Ran had closed the door of the hospital room and walked over to the sofa. Not knowing how to start, Xu Chaomu called out as she had done before, ¡°Uncle, Auntie.¡± ¡°Sit,¡± Zhou Ran pointed to a ce next to her. Xu Chaomu sat down, and Zhou Ran ced the already poured tea in front of her. ¡°Thank you,¡± Xu Chaomu nodded her acknowledgment. Between them, probably only pleasantries remained. ¡°I called you here for no other reason, just to say a few things that were on my mind,¡± Zhou Ran was the first to speak. Chapter 476: 476 He is Your Whole World Chapter 476: He is Your Whole World Xu Chaomu was somewhat constrained, the atmosphere at this time was especially tense, as if even the air was permeated with unease. To cover her own restlessness, she picked up the teacup and quietly listened to the remainder of Zhou Ran¡¯s words. ¡°Chaomu, what do you think of Achi as a person?¡± Zhou Ran said indifferently. She was sitting next to Shen Cexian, her gaze fixed on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. The girl had grown increasingly beautiful, but beauty was the least of what Shen Chicked. Every move Xu Chaomu made was under her scrutiny, she refused to overlook any detail. No sooner had the question been posed than Zhou Ran saw Xu Chaomu lower her eyelids, silently staring at the tea in her hand. In the transparent ss cup, the green tea leaves twisted and floated, gradually unfolding in the hot water. ¡°To me, he is one of a kind,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her tone spare yet solemn. In a lifetime, one meets many people, some receable, but some are truly irreceable. Since her mother¡¯s death, Shen Chi had be her only one.
¡°Then, what kind of wife do you think a person like Achi ought to marry?¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s tone was very calm. This was a question Xu Chaomu had contemted many times, and her answer presumably matched Zhou Ran¡¯s. ¡°Someone with a good family background, attractive, sensible, generous, and a woman of gentle elegance,¡± Xu Chaomu replied truthfully. She was an orphan, destined tock aplete family, doomed to be without a good familial background. Just on this point alone, she had already lost. She had her tempers too, ungentle, imperfect, and as for looks, women like her were a dime a dozen. She could not find a single advantage in herself, therefore, she also understood in her heart that she was not worthy of Shen Chi. ¡°Then which of these do you think you possess?¡± Zhou Ran asked bluntly. ¡°I have none of them,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from the servants of the Shen family that Achi is very fond of you, sometimes even carefully serving you soup.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu did not deny. She was aware of all the kindnesses Shen Chi showed her. ¡°But do you know how tiring his work is, how he has to worry about all the big and small affairs of thepany?¡± ¡°I know.¡± He was busy; she understood that. ¡°But what have you done to share his burden?¡± Xu Chaomu was left speechless by Zhou Ran¡¯s question; indeed, she had never shared his burdens. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you and Achi have obtained a marriage certificate. Whether it¡¯s in name or in substance, have you fulfilled any responsibilities of a wife?¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent, acknowledging the truth in Zhou Ran¡¯s words.
¡°Love is the cheapest thing, a consumable, the thing that¡¯s least resistant to the test of time. Do you think that love alone is enough for the decades that a couple spends together? Achi will get tired, and so will you.¡± Xu Chaomu lifted her clear eyes. She was no longer the impulsive child of yesteryear¡ªshe understood. ¡°Also, Chaomu, you should know about the incident thirteen years ago where I caused your mother¡¯s death. So, when you¡¯re with Achi, can you really be at peace?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart surged slowly, every sentence Zhou Ran uttered struck at her heart.
Zhou Ran was formidable. She knew what Xu Chaomu feared, and so that was what she spoke of. If the previous words were like slowly dragging a knife across her heart, this sentence was a harsh stab. These memories, she had buried them at the bottom of her heart, but she hadn¡¯t forgotten. Now, suddenly dredged up, that old pain returned. After a long silence, she finally spoke. ¡°Aunt Zhou, I cannot be at peace, and likewise, can you?¡± Xu Chaomu said calmly. ¡°You can go to the police, I won¡¯t deny it.¡± Xu Chaomu gave a bitter smile. Go to the police? Would she have Zhou Ran arrested, let her spend her final years in prison? Would Shen Chi then despise her for life? Would she and Shen Chi remain estranged till death? Seeing Xu Chaomu not speak, Zhou Ran continued. ¡°Chaomu, when I asked you to leave Achi five years ago, it was for your own good, as well as for Achi¡¯s. You and Achi are not suitable. Five yearster, my words are the same, leave Achi. Although, I don¡¯t know what you came back with after five years, what your purpose truly is.¡± ¡°I have no purpose. In love, there is no ¡®purpose.¡¯ She had never thought about why she loved him; she simply felt that if you love, you love ¨C what reason is there?
Outsiders mightbel her with many motives¡ªbecause of money, because of status. In short, when ites to love, they find itughable and do not bother to believe. ¡°It¡¯s good if there¡¯s no purpose,¡± Zhou Ran spoke in a low voice, ¡°The title of Fourth Young Madam attracts too many people.¡± ¡°So, in your eyes, I, an orphan without anyone, naturally want to cling to a life-saving straw, and then, escape poverty and lowliness, right?¡± Zhou Ran frowned, hesitating as she looked at Xu Chaomu: ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need the whole world to believe in me, as long as he understands, that¡¯s enough,¡± Xu Chaomu stated calmly. How can a person please everyone in this world? If the person you care about the most believes in you, that¡¯s all you need. What does the rest of the world matter then? He is your world. Shen Cexian had been sitting quietly on the side throughout the conversation, with Zhou Ran doing all the talking. ¡°You¡¯re still so na?ve,¡± Zhou Ran scoffed lightly, ¡°A lifetime isn¡¯t just a matter between two people. He trusts you, but for how long can he keep trusting you?¡± ¡°I think that term canst a lifetime.¡± Zhou Ran snorted derisively, ¡°Is it that you¡¯re overconfident in yourself, or in him? Aren¡¯t you afraid that his kindness and trust in you are only out of guilt?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t owe me anything; why should he feel guilty? Shouldn¡¯t it be you, Aunt Zhou, who should feel guilt?¡±
Once Xu Chaomu said this, a sh of difort crossed Zhou Ran¡¯s usually expressionless face. But, she quickly suppressed the expression on her face. ¡°If you wish to remain na?ve, then continue on. Just understand, falling from a high ce is not a pleasant feeling,¡± Zhou Ran said, her tone insipid but with an undertone of warning. Xu Chaomu knew that falling from a high ce, the worst oue is to be shattered to pieces. She was like dust, while Shen Chi was the brightest of stars. As she drew near him, could she ensure that she wouldn¡¯t fall from that height? ¡°Aunt Zhou, I understand what you mean,¡± Xu Chaomu said softly. She understood these words, even without them being spoken. ¡°Chaomu, there¡¯s one more thing, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re pregnant.¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s piercing gaze did not leave Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, not missing any change in her expression. ¡°Yes, three months now.¡± Xu Chaomu admitted openly. The news of her pregnancy was known to the entire Shen family; Zhou Ran surely knew it as well. ¡°Whose child is it?¡± Zhou Ran asked.
¡°You needn¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°Fine, I don¡¯t want to know either,¡± Zhou Ran said. Chapter 477: 477: Divorce Agreement Chapter 477: Divorce Agreement ¡°Auntie Zhou, it¡¯s time for me to ask a question. What do these text messages mean?¡± Xu Chaomu took out her cell phone, opened the string of messages from the unfamiliar number, and disyed all the text messages in front of Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian. Since the driver said that he sent these texts, he must have been acting under the orders of Shen Cexian or Zhou Ran. What did they mean by that? Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran, upon seeing the text messages, still showed no emotion. It was then that Shen Cexian finally spoke up, ¡°I think you don¡¯t quite understand Achi¡¯s life. I had someone from thepany send those just for you to see.¡± ¡°I believe him,¡± Xu Chaomu stated decisively. She had no other words to defend herself with, just those few ¡°I believe him.¡± ¡°You are obstinate. Can you really not see what your Auntie Zhou and I are trying to say?¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s voice was hoarse and deep. ¡°I see, you¡­ want me to leave Shen Chi?¡± ¡°d you understand,¡± replied Shen Cexian.
The atmosphere in the ward became even more oppressive,pounded by the pervasive medicinal scent. ¡°You return to the Shen Family after five years, carrying a child with an unknown father. How do you think that reflects on Achi? Do you understand the pressure he¡¯s under?¡± Zhou Ran continued. ¡°What if, I¡¯m just saying if, this child is Shen Chi¡¯s?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up as she inquired. ¡°Then you should just get rid of the child,¡± Shen Cexian said coldly. A sudden chill struck Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart; she understood that the Shen Family did not need a child born of her. The line of women who wanted to have Shen Chi¡¯s children could stretch down the street, but Xu Chaomu did not have such a privilege. ¡°Have you and Achi ever been intimate?¡± Zhou Ran asked bluntly, frowning. ¡°No,¡± Xu Chaomu denied, with a faint sadness in her brow. After all, that time in Paris, only she herself was aware of what had happened. The Shen Family didn¡¯t need a child born of her. If she told them that the child was Shen Chi¡¯s, they would probably take her to the operating room right now. ¡°So what you mean is, you intend to continue to stay in the Shen Family with another man¡¯s child?¡± Zhou Ran asked. ¡°The Shen¡¯s have nothing that I long for. The only one I care about is him and him alone.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes, looking calm as ever, but inside her heart, there were tumultuous undercurrents. ¡°What do you n to do, then?¡± Zhou Ran asked. ¡°It¡¯s not about what I n to do, but rather, what you would do, right? You brought me here today, and it was when Shen Chi was away at a meeting. You must have already thought everything through,¡± Xu Chaomu saidposedly. The mournful atmosphere in the ward pressed down on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. Her stomach felt ufortable, the odor of the medicine was particrly upsetting. It was then that Shen Cexian slowly picked up a folder that was next to him. Xu Chaomu had noticed this folder early on, guessing that it contained very important documents.
Shen Cexian opened the folder with both hands and took out a document from it. ¡°Take a look first.¡± He didn¡¯t say much, just ced the document in front of Xu Chaomu. As soon as Xu Chaomu looked down, she saw the biggest words at the top of the document: ¡°Divorce Agreement.¡±
She took the document into her hands, flipping through it page by page. She didn¡¯t understand these things, but she saw where a signature was required on thest page. It was the first time she had seen such a document, and a barely perceptible pain began to spread in her chest¡­ Suddenly, she remembered the day they had gone to register their marriage. Although she had beenpletely oblivious, Shen Chi held her hand and led her into the civil affairs office. Shen Cexian watched her, his voice low and indifferent: ¡°As long as you sign, you and Achi will no longer be husband and wife.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t this agreement be signed by both parties?¡± Xu Chaomu said lightly. It was just an offhand question, for she knew in her heart that signing was better for everyone. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult for me,¡± stated Shen Cexian. His tone was resolute and left no room for doubt. Xu Chaomu nodded; yes, for the Shen Family, such things weren¡¯t difficult. If Shen Chi could marry her before she was of age, even without her consent, then just as easily now, Shen Cexian could have them divorced without Shen Chi¡¯s knowledge. All she had to do was sign her name personally. She casually flipped through the divorce agreement and slowly raised her head: ¡°What if I don¡¯t sign?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not forcing you. It¡¯s entirely up to you. I¡¯m giving you the chance to choose,¡± Shen Cexian said. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was somewhat calmer now, and she just silently flipped through the agreement. ¡°There¡¯s another document here for you to look at.¡± When he finished speaking, Shen Cexian took out a thick stack of papers from the file bag. The documents were well-sealed, and only when Shen Cexian took them out did he carefully open the documents. Heid the materials t in front of Xu Chaomu, and as she looked up, she saw the words ¡°Top Secret¡± at the very top of the header. On seeing the first page, Xu Chaomu was taken aback: it was the Power of Attorney for Shen Group¡¯s legal representative. It was all professional jargon she couldn¡¯t understand, so she picked out a few words she could make sense of. Putting pieces together, she understood. This Power of Attorney was about who would own Shen Group. The current representative was undoubtedly Shen Cexian, but with his health already declining, he would surely be seeking a sessor. Being a family business, the sessor could only be either Shen Chi or Shen Shihan. A thick stack of documents, Shen Cexian showed her, then turned to thest page.
His gaunt fingers rested on the space where a name was to be filled in, and his face bore a grave expression. ¡°You watch carefully, I can fill in this space with either Achi¡¯s or Shihan¡¯s name,¡± said Shen Cexian, his gaze cold. Xu Chaomu lifted her head, looking at Shen Cexian, waiting for him to continue. ¡°Of course, I lean a little more toward Achi,¡± said Shen Cexian coldly, ¡°but if you stubbornly refuse to divorce, then I will have no choice but to sign Shihan¡¯s name in that space!¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s face darkened, and he tapped the table heavily with his knuckles! Xu Chaomu might not understand the document, but she understood Shen Cexian¡¯s intention. Who would eventually take over Shen Group depended entirely on whether she signed the divorce agreement or not. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two days to think about it,¡± Shen Cexian put away the document, ¡°hand me the divorce agreement in two days.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, holding the divorce agreement, was trembling slightly. Two days¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t try to call Achi. If you tell him about this matter by phone, then I will immediately transfer the group to Shihan without any room for negotiation!¡± Shen Cexian warned Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu knew that with Shen Cexian¡¯s temperament, he would definitely do as he said. She had already lost this conversation. They knew her weaknesses, aimed straight at her vulnerabilities.
She had no room to fight back. They had executed their n wlessly, and she was no match for them. Chapter 478: 478: She Will Sign Chapter 478: She Will Sign The initial persuasion, to put it nicely, was a heart-to-heart talk; to put it bluntly, it was coercion. This coercion she had no power to resist. ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± Shen Cexian leaned on the sofa and asked indifferently. Zhou Ran stopped speaking and picked up the teacup to drink. The cup of green tea in front of Xu Chaomu had already gone cold, and her heart had long turned to ice. Every word between Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian was etched into her mind. She heard them clearly and understood perfectly. Shecked a distinguished family background, gentleness, and sense; she was not worthy of Shen Chi, nor to bear his child. She was destined to not be a good wife, at least, not a good wife suitable for Shen Chi. She acknowledged all of that. ¡°Director Shen.¡± Xu Chaomu said slowly, ¡°If I sign the divorce agreement, when do you n to sign the authorization letter?¡± That was the onlypensation she could secure for herself.
¡°Immediately.¡± ¡°Then when will you hold the press conference?¡± Shen Group was the focus of all C City; a transfer of ownership would certainly call for a press conference. ¡°Within a week.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll cling to Shen Chi even after signing the divorce papers? You should know, we can reconcile even after divorce,¡± she said with augh, but there was a trace of bitterness in her smile. The pain at her heart grew deeper, racing through her body like electricity. Pain filled her every limb¡­ ¡°Will you?¡± Shen Cexian looked at her with a sharp gaze. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t speak; she knew, she wouldn¡¯t. They also knew, she wouldn¡¯t. Love is about making sacrifices for each other. Five years ago, she was willing to sacrifice; five yearster, she still was. After all, how many loves canst from dawn to dusk? ¡°I¡¯ll give you my answer in two days,¡± she said coolly, casually taking the divorce agreement with her. Truth be told, she didn¡¯t need two days, she could sign it now. She would definitely sign it, but¡­ another two days would be fine as well. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Shen Cexian saidnguidly, leaning back on the sofa, his gaze calm yet piercing. Zhou Ran had been sitting to the side, saying nothing; she had said everything she needed to. ¡°Aunt Zhou.¡± Xu Chaomu called out to her, ¡°Please don¡¯t send me those kinds of messages anymore. I trust Shen Chi.¡±
¡°You think¡­ he loves you very much?¡± Zhou Ran nced at her with a cold, sharp look. ¡°I just trust my own judgment.¡± Xu Chaomu left a final word, stood up, and prepared to leave with the divorce agreement. Although Shen Chi had once lied to her about her mother¡¯s matter, she still trusted him.
He was the person she trusted most in this world, without equal. It¡¯s just that from now on¡­ they would go their separate ways. As Xu Chaomu reached the door and was about to grasp the doorknob, Shen Cexian¡¯s voice sounded faintly behind her, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send you off.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Xu Chaomu declined. She opened the door, and just as she was about to step out, Shen Cexian added, ¡°I trust you¡¯ll handle this matter well, so Achi will note looking for you again.¡± Xu Chaomu paused, and a few secondster, she stepped out and closed the door of the hospital room. In the corridor, only her own footsteps could be heard as the world seemed to fall into silence. If only she hadn¡¯t returned to C City after five years¡­ She would have lived in the kind lie of Chenng and given birth to a child she thought was Nie Chenng¡¯s. She would have been engaged to him, married him, worked well at the advertisingpany, and would have had a bright future¡­ She would have settled in Paris for the rest of her life, never crossing paths with C City again. As for Shen Chi, gradually, he too would move on, marry a suitable girl, seed in his career, have a happy family, and take over Shen Group, leading a peaceful life ever after. They were meant to be two parallel lines.
But time is irreversible, and fate cannot be chosen. Clutching the divorce papers, she ran out of the hospital¡­ A few minutester, a taxi arrived, and she got in, returning to the Shen Family home. The divorce agreement, she would sign it. She remembered she had lied to the butler at noon, saying she was going to a ss reunion. Now returning home, the butler would certainly inquire. So, after arriving at the Splendid World viplex, she sat by the lotus pond for a long time. She bought a packet of fish food and sat in the pavilion feeding the fish. She checked her phone; Shen Chi had called her. At that time, she was in the hospital room. She didn¡¯t respond; in truth, she didn¡¯t know what to say. The pavilion was sweltering, and ayer of sweat soon formed on her forehead. It wasn¡¯t long before Shen Chi called again and she had to answer. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer my call earlier?¡± The concern was evident in Shen Chi¡¯s tone.
¡°I was taking a nap.¡± ¡°Oh, did I interrupt your sleep?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu said indifferently. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you tonight.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need, I don¡¯t want to answer calls.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who upset you?¡± Shen Chi joked lightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t say more and hung up the call. Puzzled, Shen Chi frowned. Probably, Xu Chaomu was slightly miffed for being disturbed during her nap. He smiled helplessly and set down the phone, choosing to rest in the suite instead. Just as he was about to take a nap before resuming the meeting, Xiao Mo knocked on his door. ¡°Director Shen.¡± Xiao Mo approached him. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°This is Zhuo Fan¡¯s whereabouts over the past few days; take a look,¡± Xiao Mo handed a stack of documents to Shen Chi.
Shen Chi took them and flipped through: ¡°It looks like this time, the cargo from Shen Shihan will still be picked up by him.¡± ¡°Yes, and recently, Jian Sisi has been in close contact with Zhuo Fan.¡± ¡°Detain Jian Sisi to lure Zhuo Fan into the trap,¡± Shen Chi contemted for a long time. ¡°Director Shen, that was my thought too, but I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t be able to do it.¡± ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t take action against a woman?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°In Shen Chi¡¯s world, deception from anyone is intolerable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯ll order someone to take care of it right away.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Director, Chief Li has already taken men to the docks,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°You also get ready,¡± said Shen Chi, ¡°This time, even if we can¡¯t find Shen Shihan¡¯s hideout, we must seize all his cargo and trace the origins of his goods.¡± ¡°Will you¡­ go there in person?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Xiao Mo nodded, understanding that with the ns being so meticulous, having Shen Chi there would ensure that nothing could go wrong. ¡°Then you rest, I¡¯ll leave now.¡± After Xiao Mo left, the room fell into silence. At that moment, Shen Chi deeply missed Xu Chaomu. But since she was napping, he sadly pressed that feeling deep into his heart. For those two days, Shen Chi didn¡¯t call Xu Chaomu, and she didn¡¯t contact him either. Eventually, unable to restrain himself, Shen Chi called her right after a meeting ended. Chapter 479: 479: Whatever I, Shen Chi, Wants Chapter 479: Whatever I, Shen Chi, Wants ¡°` He called when she was sitting on the sofa, knitting a sweater. She knitted with undivided attention, knitting earnestly. These past few days, she had knitted quite a lot; she indeed looked forward to the day she could personally dress her baby in it. Before, she found children particrly noisy and annoying. But recently, she had taken to watching parent-child shows. Whenever she saw those adorable children on TV, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if her own baby would be as smart and lively in the future. Um¡­ they certainly would be. At such times, she eagerly anticipated her baby growing up quickly so she could take them to partake in parent-child activities. What she wanted had always been simple. Because of the heat, Xu Chaomu was wearing only a loose white T-shirt as she sat on the sofa; her long hair was tied up carelessly, making her look exceptionally calm. Shen Chi called around midday, and Xu Chaomu smiled as she looked at the screen.
The words ¡°Husband¡± shed on the screen, set by him. She answered the call but didn¡¯t know how to start the conversation. The two-day deadline was up today, and she still hadn¡¯t signed her name on the agreement. Once she signed, he would no longer be her husband. Although, she never admitted aloud that he was her husband. ¡°Mumu, not seeing me for a few days, don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Shen Chi was the one to speak first. ¡°Miss you? For what?¡± Xu Chaomu also smiled, although her smile was somewhat bitter. ¡°Miss your husband¡¯s handsome and extraordinary charm, his dashing elegance, and also¡­ his ability to warm the bed.¡± ¡°In such hot weather, I don¡¯t need you to warm the bed.¡± ¡°Then what about the text message you sent a few days ago saying you missed me? What did you miss?¡± ¡°Sent to the wrong person,¡± Xu Chaomu replied coolly. ¡°Sent to the wrong person? So, who were you supposed to send it to?¡± Shen Chi pressed. ¡°Weiwei.¡± ¡°Mumu, you¡¯re so disobedient. Wait till Ie back and see how I¡¯ll deal with you.¡± ¡°You¡­ when are youing back?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, her voice tinged with nervousness and hesitation. ¡°In a few days, I still have some matters to handle,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Has the baby been well recently?¡± ¡°Quite well.¡± Shen Chi couldn¡¯t detect any ripples in Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone, as if she was just humoring him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, not happy?¡± asked Shen Chi.
When she was unhappy, his mood would also plummet. He hoped that she could be cheerful every day; that was his Chaomu. ¡°Shen Chi, you haven¡¯te back these past days, did you really go to a meeting?¡± There was no expression on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. At her words, Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. ¡°Chaomu, what do you mean by that?¡±
¡°Nothing, I just don¡¯t really believe you went to a meeting.¡± Her tone carried a trace of mockery. ¡°Xu Chaomu, speak clearly.¡± When Shen Chi was in a good mood, he would call her ¡°Mumu¡±; when upset, he would call her by her full name, ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± Xu Chaomu knew that him calling her by her full name meant he was really unhappy. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Speak!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice carried a sharpmand over the phone, causing Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart to tremble. This man, when tender, could offer you the world, but once he turned harsh, he became the most dangerous. ¡°Does attending a meeting take several days?¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s an important conference,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep and hoarse. ¡°Someone said they saw you mingling with quite a few women.¡± Xu Chaomu fabricated casually. ¡°So, are you jealous?¡± ¡°Why would I be jealous? I just feel like you¡¯re lying to me.¡±
¡°Xu Chaomu, stop being unreasonable. There are no women in the hotel.¡± This sort of thing, he would normally be toozy to exin. But he thought, she¡¯s pregnant, perhaps a bit more suspicious than usual, so he¡¯d better rify. ¡°Someone¡­¡± ¡°Stop with the ¡®someone said this and that¡¯. Unless you¡¯ve seen it with your own eyes, don¡¯t take it to heart so easily! Xu Chaomu, you¡¯ve been with me for no short amount of time, how have you not learned even half of my smarts?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched; he was shameless, always seeking to feel superior in front of her. She wasn¡¯t as smart as him, but her baby would certainly be smarter than him in the future. ¡°You just like to bully me,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. ¡°If I don¡¯t bully you, then who? Even Dabai is smarter than you.¡± Usually, if Shen Chi said this, Xu Chaomu would definitely argue. She would have argued forcibly, if he bullied her, she would retort. But today was different, she didn¡¯t want to argue about anything¡­ Besides, those words just now, they were being unreasonable. How could he go to the hotel to fool around with other women, she trusted him. At this moment, her mood was extraordinarily downcast, and for a long while, she didn¡¯t speak.
Silence, silence. Finally, she spoke up. ¡°Shen Chi, let¡¯s¡­ break up,¡± she said. Shen Chi¡¯s face turned ashen on the other end of the line, his deep brows tightly knotted, his face showing impatience. Plus, with the hot weather, he unbuttoned his shirt¡¯s cor. ¡°Xu Chaomu, say that again!¡± he demanded, his tone especially dangerous. Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart raced, like a little rabbit thumping nonstop, as she felt very nervous and even a slightyer of sweat formed on her forehead. She was never afraid of him, but at this moment, she felt guilty. ¡°We¡­ should break up,¡± Xu Chaomu repeated weakly. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you really dare to say that!¡± Shen Chi burst out. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times, I¡¯ll listen to anything you say, but this is the one thing you must never even consider!¡± Shen Chi raged. Xu Chaomu could hear his fury; this man was terrifying when angry.
¡°Shen Chi, after five years, I don¡¯t like you that much anymore. Why do you still keep me around? It¡¯s not good for anyone.¡± ¡°Anything Shen Chi wants, he will get, including you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was sharp, like the edge of a knife. ¡°But I don¡¯t like you anymore¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t like? That¡¯s fine, I have a thousand and one ways to make you like me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious too,¡± Shen Chi replied coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t think just because I¡¯m at a hotel, I can¡¯te home and deal with you.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°You what?¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t give Xu Chaomu a chance to speak, in a furious tone, ¡°Tell me, who have you taken a liking to? I can make sure he won¡¯t be seeing tonight¡¯s moon!¡± ¡°Unreasonable!¡± Xu Chaomu reproached. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be reasonable with an unreasonable woman, Xu Chaomu, am I right?¡± Shen Chi said, ¡°As for breaking up or not, the decision is in my hands.¡± ¡°I have that right!¡± ¡°Hmm? Generally, men are better suited to holding the initiative,¡± Shen Chi countered. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m serious, after five years, I don¡¯t have feelings for you anymore. Sometimes I try to find that old feeling, but all I find is disappointment. Besides, I should have a happy family, a husband, children¡­ why would you forcibly interfere?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a faint voice. Chapter 480: 480: Speak to Your Husband If You Have Needs Chapter 480: Speak to Your Husband If You Have Needs ¡°Aren¡¯t I just your husband?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t twist my words.¡± ¡°Hm? Twist? Oh, I get it.¡± Shen Chi pretended to understand deeply. Today, Xu Chaomu had said all these things to him, but he took it as her just being moody ¨C he didn¡¯t take it to heart. Pregnant women often have little tempers; it¡¯s normal. ¡°What do you understand,¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just that you think the sex isn¡¯t good enough? If you have needs, just tell your husband, I¡¯ll definitely satisfy them. You know, when ites to your requests, I¡¯ve always been ¡®ready to serve.¡¯ Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t react at first, and it took her several seconds toe back to her senses. Once she realized, her face flushed red. Damn it, what¡¯s this talk about ¡®if you have needs, tell your husband,¡¯ and being ¡®ready to serve¡­¡¯ This man, his head is filled with improper thoughts. She seriously wondered how he became the CEO. Angrily, she shouted into the phone, ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t tease me, I¡¯m being serious with you.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind if you tease me,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched; his skin was really thicker than the city wall. Despite this, she still had to say it. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you again, very seriously and clearly, we¡¯re breaking up, breaking up!¡± Xu Chaomu this time did not give him a chance to interject, ¡°My life in Paris for five years has been peaceful, and I¡¯ve grown ustomed to that peace, plus, I have my fianc¨¦¡¯s child in my womb, he doesn¡¯t need a stepfather!¡± ¡°Stepfather?¡± These two words really struck Shen Chi in the heart, yes, he was the stepfather of Xu Chaomu¡¯s child in her womb. But what does that matter? ¡°Xu Chaomu, I don¡¯t mind ying stepdad,¡± he said. ¡°You don¡¯t mind this, you don¡¯t mind that, are you still a man?¡± Xu Chaomu got angry, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯ve slept with quite a few men, do you mind that too?¡± A normal man, how could he tolerate such humiliation? Contrarily, Shen Chi was nonchnt, ¡°Xu Chaomu, I just like experienced women; they¡¯re skilled. When should we give it a try?¡± Before calling him, Xu Chaomu had thought through many things. For example, arguing with him just once, and the fiercer the better, so they could cut ties once and for all. Shen Chi had a bad temper, so if she was unreasonable, he¡¯d surely get mad. But unexpectedly, this man didn¡¯t seem to have much of a temper at all. ¡°Shen Chi, I am just respecting you by telling you. Whether you listen or not, starting today, we¡¯re breaking up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Shen Chi, have you forgotten? Thirteen years ago, your mother killed mine, just for that alone, I can never be with you! My conscience won¡¯t allow it, I can¡¯t be with you in good faith, besides, I have my own fianc¨¦ and child,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Speaking of that incident, Shen Chi finally became silent, not saying a word. Hisplexion remained ashen, as cold as frost.
The matter of Zhou Ran killing Xu Mengxi had shocked him too when he found out back then. To keep her from leaving him, he had chosen to hide it, hoping to hide it for a lifetime, but the truth can never be hidden forever. Five years had passed, he hadn¡¯t forgotten, and simrly, Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t either. Seizing Shen Chi¡¯s silence, Xu Chaomu continued, ¡°I¡¯m not hiding it from you, these past few days when you weren¡¯t home, I called Chenng, and if you still refuse to let me go, then we¡¯ll see each other in court.¡±
¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re still so naive,¡± Shen Chi evenughed, ¡°You should know, ten Nie Chenngs are no match for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me too far.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, let¡¯s talk when I get back!¡± ¡°If it could be resolved today¡­¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be resolved!¡± Shen Chi cut her off decisively. ¡°But we¡­¡± ¡°What about us? Huh? Breaking up? Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Shen Chi repeated resolutely, his stance clear all along. He could ept the child in her womb, he could be called a stepfather, he could shield her from all storms, but he would never allow her to break up or divorce. This was hisst line in the sand. ¡°What if I insist on breaking up?¡± ¡°You can try,¡± Shen Chi said. Shen Chi mmed his fist onto the desk, the loud bang even reached Xu Chaomu over the phone! She was startled, so shocked she couldn¡¯t even speak.
She was not oblivious to Shen Chi¡¯s temper; how many have provoked him ande out unscathed? Silence, silence. Finally, after a long while, Shen Chi spoke indifferently, ¡°Take good care of yourself, I wille home as soon as possible. Remember to cover yourself with a nket when you use the air conditioner at night, don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± After saying so, he hung up the phone. Once the call ended, Xu Chaomu felt far from calm. She picked up the divorce agreement on the table, staring fixedly at the signature field. If she signed, the corporation would belong to Shen Chi, but Shen Chi would no longer be hers. If she didn¡¯t sign, the corporation would belong to Shen Shihan, but she and Shen Chi might still stay together. Shen Cexian said, if she doesn¡¯t sign, he would put Shen Shihan¡¯s name on the power of attorney. They were convinced that she¡¯d definitely sign. But suddenly, she really didn¡¯t want to let go. She sat on the sofa feeling restless, her mind racing with one thought after another. To sign or not to sign, the decision was hers to make.
She had considered for two days, and during those days, she was determined to sign. But, after speaking to Shen Chi, she hesitated¡­ They had already gone through five years of parting by life and death, even almost separated permanently. Sometimes she stood up, sometimes she sat down, filled with anxiety, her brows furrowed in worry. Pacing back and forth in the room, her right hand caressed her belly. If she signed, it meant she was going to take Little Bun and leave the Shen family, leaving Shen Chi once again¡­ And Little Bun would never know who his father is, he would have to rely solely on her. Children without fathers are pitiable, like she once was; she didn¡¯t want Little Bun to follow in her footsteps. Her mind was spinning with the words of Zhou Ran, Shen Cexian, and Shen Chi; she remembered every word clearly. Suddenly, a thought shed through her mind; she wanted to take a gamble one more time. Shen Cexian said if she refused to sign, then the corporation would be given to Shen Shihan. He gave her a two-day deadline, and for her, not signing meant that tomorrow, Shen Cexian would put Shen Shihan¡¯s name down. But Zhou Ran was there at the time too, and she heard everything; would Zhou Ran agree to write Shen Shihan¡¯s name down? Obviously, judging from yesterday¡¯s situation, Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian were on the same side.
So, it¡¯s very likely, this trap was set for her to fall into. The legal representative of the corporation couldn¡¯t be anyone else; it could only be Shen Chi. What she needed to do was not to sign, but rather to put aside the agreement for two days and quietly wait for Shen Chi to return. If due to the two-day dy, Shen Cexian really transferred the corporation to Shen Shihan, she would bear the consequences alone. What she had to do was take a chance, not caring about the future. Chapter 481: 481: Isn’t It Just Being a Rogue? Chapter 481: Isn¡¯t It Just Being a Rogue? Xu Chaomu folded up the divorce agreement and pressed it into a book, never to look at it again. She admitted, doing this was selfish. Just let her be selfish for once, for she loved him dearly. She picked up the blue card on the table, which was permeated with a faint scent of perfume, with an apology written on it from Shen Chi. She didn¡¯t care for those apologies; she loved to read the English string at the end: ILOVEYOU. Next time, he must say it to her in person. She took a pen and wrote four words in Chinese after that English phrase: I love you too. The two lines, written side by side, were like the names she often loved to write on the fogged-up window: his and hers. Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu. She had loved him for thirteen years. Yet, Shen Chi, that savvy businessman, had obtained a marriage certificate with her without spending a penny, and that was it.
No proposal, no engagement, and now, with her child already three months old, there was still no wedding ceremony. She looked at her smooth fingers, not even a diamond ring. Stingy man. All evening, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t think about the divorce agreement again. Once a decision was made, of course, it wouldn¡¯t be changed. She had decided not to sign, and so she wouldn¡¯t sign. If she did, with Shen Chi¡¯s temperament, where would she find a way out? So she might as well be a little selfish and put him out, if thepany was lost, then so be it, she would apany him in begging¡­ She had said it, she loved him, simply because he was Shen Chi, with no strings attached. What she loved was his entire being, not his family background, his money, or his status. As long as it was him she loved, even if he had nothing, she still loved him. Truly, if they had to beg, she would willingly hold the bowl for him. But, begging? What a beautiful scene that would be¡­ After setting aside the divorce agreement, her mood improved a lot, and she ate a few more bites at dinner. Walking in the Shen family garden, she really missed Shen Chi. She longed for the times when he held her hand, strolling through the garden together, fingers interlocked, years gentle and warm. At such times, she couldn¡¯t help but want to call Shen Chi. But having nearly quarreled with him during the day, calling him directly felt a bit shameful. And besides, Shen Chi, so clever, would surely guess something. It wouldn¡¯t be good to disturb his work. So, she thought it over and came up with a good idea.
She borrowed a cell phone from a servant in the Shen household and sent Shen Chi a flirtatious text message: A lonely, bored, and cold young woman is waiting for your arrival, sir. Phone: ¡Á¡Á¡Á, I¡¯m waiting for you here. After sending it, she chuckled to herself, hehe, teasing him a bit was also good. She thought that such a message, Shen Chi surely wouldn¡¯t reply to. And as for her, she just enjoyed the feeling of sending him a text message.
After sending it, she sat on the swing watching the moon. The moonlight was hazy, the clouds thin, enveloping the Shen family¡¯s mansion. All around, the sounds of summer insects chirped steadily, tirelessly. On such a fine night, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help but hum a little tune. ¡°Dark sky hanging low, bright stars in tow, bugs fly, bugs fly, who are you longing for¡­¡± ¡°Bugs fly, flowers sleep, pairs together so sweet. Not afraid of the dark but of a broken heart, no matter the fatigue, nor direction apart¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s sweet voice resonated in the air, and she admitted she didn¡¯t sing very well, but the gloom in her heart was gradually dispersing. Not afraid of the dark but of a broken heart, no matter the fatigue, nor direction apart. She loved him, a lifetime with no regrets. When she finished singing her song, she unexpectedly discovered that Shen Chi had replied to her text message. How could such a busy man still have time to reply to messages? Xu Chaomu, curious, picked up the phone. Yikes, Shen Chi, what a dirty man, actually replying with: What position are you waiting in? Xu Chaomu was both angry and amused. Angry because he actually replied to such a message; what was he thinking? That there was really a pure young woman waiting for him?
Xu Chaomu snorted, irritated as she poked her little finger on the screen a few times, sending another text message his way. ¡°What position do you like, sir? I can do them all. Hubby¡¯s not at home, oh, it¡¯s so cold, oh, so empty, waiting for you toe and warm me up.¡± After sending it, Xu Chaomu red at the screen, daring him to actually make an appointment with a woman. A few dozen secondster, another text message came back: Doesn¡¯t your husband satisfy you? Xu Chaomu covered her face, Shen Chi was absolutely shameless, wearing a bold ¡°DIRTY¡± on his face, with extremely unhealthy thoughts. He called her a little hooligan, but he was the real big hooligan, she had been led astray by him. She poked at the screen angrily a few more times, sending another message back: Husband¡¯s too small. Ah, mm, ah, sir,e,e, let me feel you¡­ ying dirty? She knew how. Those Not Suitable For Children magazines weren¡¯t read in vain. But unexpectedly, after sending that message, there was no response. Several minutester, the phone screen stayed dark. Xu Chaomu chuckled to herself, but then she wondered, did he usually flirt like this with strange women? She pouted and plucked a gardenia flower from the gardenia tree beside the swing. She tore the petals carelessly, one by one, until the entire flower was gone, its white petals scattered all around.
No more messages came through on the phone, and Xu Chaomu started to feel bored. She had mustered up the courage to tease him, but it led nowhere. However, texting him was nice. After sitting on the swing a while longer, just as she was about to hop down, her own phone suddenly rang. Jeez, it startled Xu Chaomu greatly¡ªit was a call from Shen Chi! She almost tumbled off the swing in fright, why¡­ why was he calling her? Could it be that her little trick had been uncovered? The screen shed ¡°Hubby¡± so brightly that it was blinding Xu Chaomu. She cowered, not daring to answer. Shen Chi called twice more, and she still didn¡¯t dare to answer. Soon after, she received a text message from Shen Chi: Try not answering the phone again! Xu Chaomu¡¯s legs shook with fear, as if she¡¯d been caught cheating on an exam. She had to bite the bullet to answer the call. Maybe it wasn¡¯t about the flirting. He couldn¡¯t be that smart, right¡­
But as soon as she answered, Shen Chi¡¯s cold, incisive voice came through. ¡°Xu Chaomu, feeling empty?¡± Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu started to sweat profusely. ¡°Lonely?¡± Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu wiped the sweat from her forehead. ¡°Thinking hubby¡¯s too small?¡± Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s face burned bright red. It was indeed about that matter. She¡¯d used a servant¡¯s phone thinking she was undetected, but maybe, from the moment she sent the first message, he had guessed it was her. Xu Chaomu decided to y dumb: ¡°What¡­ what are you saying, I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Wait till Ie home to deal with you. Then, you can show me all those positions you know!¡± Chapter 482: 482: If I Don’t Pamper You, Then Who Will I Pamper? Chapter 482: If I Don¡¯t Pamper You, Then Who Will I Pamper? Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red and then pale as if she had been cursed by a dog. Still, she calmed her expression and blinked innocently, ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Why had he found out, shouldn¡¯t he have just nced at that kind of text message and then deleted it? If she had known he could guess so easily, she would never have sent it, even if it killed her. She was a reserved girl. ¡°Xu Chaomu, the Shen family servants¡¯ mobile numbers all start with the same few digits!¡± Shen Chi really couldn¡¯t handle Xu Chaomu, thinking that next time he might need to top up her IQ. Otherwise, with the saying ¡®pregnancy makes a woman foolish for three years,¡¯ by the time the child was born, who knows how foolish she would be. ¡°What if it was from a servant who took a fancy to you?¡± Xu Chaomu conceded, but she still felt somewhat unconvinced. ¡°Do you think they would have the guts?¡± Xu Chaomu thought that made sense, who would dare to do such a thing. Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t even need to check personally; if left to butler Ling, they would be kicked out of the Shen family.
The Shen family paid well, provided for all needs; how could the servants dare to mess up? ¡°Alright, alright, I admit it, it was me,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, grudgingly. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded in a deep voice, ¡°Feeling lonely?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, I¡¯m not some lovesick housewife.¡± ¡°No problem, if you¡¯re lonely, empty, just tell your husband, a phone call, and your husband wille back.¡± ¡°Get lost, I sent it to the wrong person, it was meant for another man.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± There was a hint of dangerous information in Shen Chi¡¯s tone, ¡°It only takes fifty minutes from this hotel to the Shen family. If I drive at 120 km/h, it only takes half an hour.¡± ¡°You, you¡­ don¡¯te back.¡± Xu Chaomu backed down, realizing if she didn¡¯t, Shen Chi might actually drive back from the hotel the next second. ¡°Dare to find another man?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Xu Chaomu hesitated. ¡°Say it!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare¡­¡± Xu Chaomu looked down, continuing to concede. ¡°Hmm.¡± Clearly, Shen Chi was satisfied with this answer. ¡°Sadist,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered under her breath, discontentedly. However, Shen Chi heard her and non-seriously responded, ¡°Hmm, more brutal in bed.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, mind your influence, please, my baby is getting corrupted by you!¡± ¡°Is that so? When you were texting, your baby was watching every single word.¡± ¡°You!¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t argue with him, she pursed her lips, ¡°You weren¡¯t this lewd before¡­¡±
In the past, not only was he not lewd, but he was also quite aloof and arrogant. When she, at ten, was reading adult magazines, he was into Marquez, Nabokov, Hawking and so on. How had this man upgraded himself in the five years they didn¡¯t meet? ¡°Xu Chaomu, who was it that hid ¡®Not suitable for children¡¯ magazines under the bed when they were ten? Hmm?¡± ¡°What does that have to do with you.¡± ¡°Corrupted by you.¡±
¡°Nonsense, it¡¯s clearly because you often hang out at ********, a case of bad influences rubbing off.¡± ¡°me me, me me.¡± When Shen Chi said this, he looked particrly innocent, and Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t help butugh, but she didn¡¯tugh out loud, she just covered her mouth and giggled secretly. Whenever she felt unhappy, and he cheered her up a bit, her mood would improve a lot. But suddenly she remembered what Zhou Ran had said, Zhou Ran mentioned that Shen Chi wanted an obedient and sensible wife who could share his worries, not someone who caused him more. Thinking of this, she couldn¡¯t help but ask out loud, ¡°Shen Chi, is it tiring to be with me? You have to coddle me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a man¡¯s duty to be a little tired.¡± ¡°Answer me seriously!¡± Xu Chaomu stomped her foot in frustration. Dammit, she was earnestly asking him a question, but this man was starting to be unserious again. ¡°If I don¡¯t coddle you, whom should I coddle?¡± Shen Chi counter-questioned, his voice deep and powerful. Xu Chaomu was stunned, blinked her eyes, and it felt like everything around her quieted down, she couldn¡¯t even hear the summer insects. The only sound echoing in her ears was his ¡°If I don¡¯t coddle you, whom should I coddle¡±¡­ His voice was extremely pleasant to hear, even through the phone, it was captivating, as if whispering sweet nothings by her ear, melting her heart¡­
Sheughed pitifully, theughter deepening. She was like a fool, giggling alone on a summer night. Under the moonlight, beneath the streetlights, everything she saw was beautiful, the gardenia flowers seemed whiter, the willows greener, even the night breeze was more intoxicating. Xu Chaomu stopped talking, his words still echoing in her ears. After a long while, she finally said with a smile, ¡°You really know how to charm someone.¡± ¡°Now, I only charm you,¡± he replied. ¡°And in the future?¡± ¡°In the future, charm our daughter.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯d give you a daughter.¡± Xu Chaomu chided. Her right hand involuntarily covered her stomach, gently stroking it. She too wanted a daughter¡­ Shen Chi stayed silent on the other end, the corners of his lips slowly curving upwards. If they had a daughter, she would definitely be very much like her, lively and lovely. He could still remember Xu Chaomu when she was ten, an undeniable little rascal. Back then, she would chase after him shouting ¡°Brother Shen Chi,¡± andter, it became ¡°Fourth Brother.¡±
In the future, if they had a daughter like her, would she also chase after him shouting ¡°Daddy, hold me¡±? Thinking of this, his smile grew deeper. ¡°Chaomu, the text message you sent me today, I kept it. Wait until I get home, and see how I¡¯ll deal with you.¡± Xu Chaomu quickly said, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare! If you mess around, I¡¯ll have the Shen family¡¯s gate locked and not let you in!¡± ¡°Then you just wait and see if I dare.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was exasperated, as she tried to steal a chicken and ended up losing the rice. After a moment of silence, Shen Chi spoke again. ¡°Chaomu, take back what you said at noon,¡± he said, his tone deep and solemn. The things she had said at noon had made him ufortable, and during the afternoon meeting, he had often been distracted. If she hadn¡¯t suddenly sent him a flirtatious text message tonight, he was almost ready to send Xiao Mo out from the hotel to check on her. ¡°What did I say at noon?¡± Xu Chaomu countered. It was only when Shen Chi heard her say this that he could rx. ¡°Alright. Go to sleep early; your husband will be home in a few days,¡± Shen Chi said with a chuckle.
¡°Then I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Chaomu waited for him to hang up, but after several seconds, there was no movement from him. Still on call, Xu Chaomu steeled her heart and hung up the phone. It was a waste of phone charges. She sat on the swing, his words of ¡°If I don¡¯t coddle you, whom should I coddle¡± still revolving in her mind. Xu Chaomu was also smiling foolishly, watching the fireflies fly around in the sky, thinking that everything was so beautiful. A couple of days ago,ing out of Shen Cexian¡¯s hospital room, she felt as if the world had crumbled, but now she didn¡¯t want to think about it anymore. She wouldn¡¯t sign that divorce agreement; she wanted to take a gamble. After sitting on the swing for a while, she stood up and chased after the fireflies in the sky, trying to catch one. After chasing for a long time and not catching any, she gave up, deciding to wait for Shen Chi toe back. She returned to her room and took the divorce agreement out of the book. A thick stack, she couldn¡¯t understand it, and there was no need to try anymore. Chapter 483: 483: Still Have the Baby to Accompany Chapter 483: Still Have the Baby to Apany She went to Shen Chi¡¯s room to find a lighter, and on the balcony, she ignited the divorce agreement¡­ As the mes flickered, her resolve strengthened while she watched the firelight. Soon, ayer of ck ash fell upon the balcony, the temperature of the entire space abruptly rose, and the smell of burnt paper wafted everywhere. She sniffed, her gaze filled with determination. Once a decision was made, there would be no going back. Before long, the thick divorce agreement hadpletely burned away, leaving only a pile of ashes on the ground. She wouldn¡¯t fall into this trap. When the clock¡¯s minute hand pointed to eight, Xu Chaomu finished blow-drying her hair and got into bed. She casually flipped through a design book on the bedside table and began to read quietly. The bracelet design draft from Paris remained unfinished, and she nned toplete the design before the baby was born, perhaps even making a finished product. As she was quietly reading, her phone suddenly rang. It was Zhou Ran.
The most impatient ones were still them. ¡°Aunt Zhou,¡± Xu Chaomu answered. ¡°Chaomu, did you sign the papers?¡± Zhou Ran got straight to the point. ¡°No,¡± Xu Chaomu replied calmly. This answer clearly surprised Zhou Ran, who paused momentarily before responding. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not nning on signing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Chaomu stated emphatically. ¡°Tomorrow, if you don¡¯t hand over the divorce agreement to Achi¡¯s father by daylight, Shen Group¡¯s power will fall into Shen Shihan¡¯s hands!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m selfish,¡± Xu Chaomu said, not bothering to exin. ¡°You are indeed very selfish and very scheming.¡± ¡°Say what you will, I¡¯m not nning to sign the agreement.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever considered Achi? As an orphan, what can you help him with in his career?¡± ¡°When his career is on the rise, he doesn¡¯t need gilding the lily, and should he face difficulties, I can stand by him through thick and thin.¡± ¡°That sounds so nice.¡± Zhou Ran scoffed, ¡°Stand by him through thick and thin? What will you do when he needs financial support? What about when he needs connections?¡± Xu Chaomu fell silent. ¡°Have you thought it through? If he married a girl of equal social standing, he would face a lot less pressure,¡± Zhou Ran continued. ¡°But he wouldn¡¯t be happy,¡± Xu Chaomu argued with reason. ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate yourself. Without you, he can still live well. He just needs a period of adjustment!¡± ¡°But he hasn¡¯t been doing well these past five years.¡±
¡°During those eight years, he always thought of you as a sister. With you gone, it¡¯s natural he would feel low. If you hadn¡¯te back this year, Achi would certainly have gotten married.¡± ¡°Married? He would never marry someone else.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where you get your confidence from.¡± Zhou Ran was too weary to speak, ¡°Think it over, consider what I just said!¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, brushing it off.
Just based on what Shen Chi said tonight, even if she were to bear the infamy of ¡°disastrous beauty¡±, she wouldn¡¯t want to leave him. ¡°Will you bring it over tomorrow morning yourself, or should I send someone to collect it?¡± Zhou Ran asked indifferently. ¡°No need, the divorce agreement has been burned by me,¡± Xu Chaomu said calmly. If it had been five years earlier, when she was powerless, she would not have defied Zhou Ran¡¯s wishes. Just like the several times she blocked her, insisting that she leave the Shen Family, leave Shen Chi. She would tell her, ¡°The Shen family raised you for eight years and treated you well, it¡¯s time for you to go.¡± Back then, Xu Chaomu took each of her words to heart. But five yearster, she was no longer the little girl adopted by Zhou Ran. Hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s response, Zhou Ran was genuinely taken aback, not expecting Xu Chaomu to resist. Five years had truly changed her a lot. The one thing that hadn¡¯t changed was her love for Shen Chi. Zhou Ran thought, it was her biggest mistake to bring Xu Chaomu to the Shen family thirteen years ago. If she hadn¡¯t, none of this would have happened today. It all seemed to be fate.
¡°Xu Chaomu, both Achi¡¯s father and I have given you a choice. If you refuse to sign, don¡¯te to regret it.¡± ¡°If I signed it, then I would regret it,¡± Xu Chaomu said lightly. She wasposed, very calm. This was her own choice; even if the future wasn¡¯t perfect, she would have no regrets. ¡°Stubborn and foolish,¡± Zhou Ran dropped these words and hung up. There was suddenly no sound from the phone anymore; Xu Chaomu put it down, her gaze lingering on the white wall across from her for a long time. Some say love is the least noteworthy thing, the most vulnerable to the test of time, yet she didn¡¯t believe it. She believed love could withstand any storm. Besides, she had the baby to keep herpany. Just at the thought, an extra sense of happiness filled her. This baby was the best gift from heaven. She never imagined that she would be pregnant with Shen Chi¡¯s child by a twist of fate. Even now, she still doubted how such a coincidence could ur. She didn¡¯t quite believe in such coincidences in the world, so if it wasn¡¯t a fluke, then who could be behind her and Shen Chi¡¯s union?
¡°Baby, do you miss daddy?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, caressing her belly. Of course, the baby wouldn¡¯t speak. Suddenly, Xu Chaomu wished time would pass faster; she couldn¡¯t wait to hear the baby calling her ¡°mommy.¡± ¡°Baby, although your dad can be a bit bad sometimes, most of the time he¡¯s good,¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, you call him ¡®Uncle¡¯ for a few months, and then switch to calling him ¡®daddy,¡¯ okay?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s a deal, then remember to side with mommy and not let your dad win you over, okay?¡± ¡°Time to sleep well.¡± Xu Chaomu cooed to the baby in her stomach for a while; in just over six months, he would be born, and she was so happy. A smile of happiness stayed on her face. After reading for a while, she also turned off the light and went to sleep. That night, she slept soundly. The next day, she received a notice for the third round of interviews at Shen Group, and it was the final hurdle. If she passed, she would be able tomute with Shen Chi, a prospect that filled her with anticipation. She was eager to see what he was like at work. Would he be¡­ rather fierce? Early in the morning, she went to the interview as per the time indicated in the text message. This time, she had to bring a design work with her.
She specifically chose the best design draft she had for the final round, where it was three candidatespeting for one spot. After breakfast, she took a taxi to Shen¡¯s. She felt good all the way there. The wind was strong today, the weather not so hot, and the summer breeze was quitefortable on her skin. The taxi kept driving towards Shen Group, and just as they were about to arrive, suddenly, a red Audi recklessly cut across, aggressively blocking the taxi¡¯s path! Chapter 484: 484: Xu Chaomu, You Are the Mistress Chapter 484: Xu Chaomu, You Are the Mistress The taxi driver mmed on the brakes, and Xu Chaomu lurched forward! ¡°Damn, what kind of driver are you, driving like that!¡± the driver cursed as he spoke. Xu Chaomu instinctively protected her belly. Thankfully, there was no harm. She took a deep breath and patted her chest, frightened. ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± the driver asked with concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine. What happened?¡± Xu Chaomu looked around. ¡°Another blind driver!¡± the driver swore. ¡°These days, if you¡¯re blind, don¡¯t get on the road!¡± The driver looked ahead. A red Audi was blocking their way, showing no sign of yielding! ¡°Beep beep beep,¡± the driver honked a few times as a reminder. The red Audi didn¡¯t budge, as if it was glued to the spot. ¡°Damn it! What¡¯s the big idea!¡± the driver cursed impatiently. ¡°Driving an Audi just to show off, with not a shred of decency!¡± The driver was a middle-aged uncle with crude words but sound reasoning.
Xu Chaomu also thought this was too much. Driving so recklessly could have killed someone. The driver honked again repeatedly, the beeping so piercing that even Xu Chaomu found it grating. Only then did the Audi in front start to move; its door opened, and a woman in a white dress got out. The woman wore sunsses that nearly covered half of her face. But Xu Chaomu recognized her at a nce. She remembered Nie Chenng¡¯s mother calling this woman ¡°Nana.¡± She had only met her once, but Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t forget. She remembered the woman¡¯s coquettish manner of speaking, her voice particrly soft and smooth, likely unforgettable to anyone who had heard her. It was clear that she had a very good rtionship with Nie Chenng¡¯s mother, as she would call Nie Chenng ¡°Brother Chenng.¡± Qi Na got out of her car and walked in her high heels towards the taxi. Xu Chaomu had no intention of getting out; she just narrowed her eyes and quietly watched her approach. ¡°So it¡¯s a woman, what¡¯s the big deal!¡± the driver honked at her a few more times, signaling her to hurry up and move her car. Qi Na had alreadye out; how could she possibly leave. As expected, she knocked heavily on the taxi¡¯s window, looking quite unhappy. Xu Chaomu slowly lowered the window, not nning to get out of the car. Qi Na was standing on Xu Chaomu¡¯s side. As soon as Xu Chaomu lowered the window halfway, Qi Na¡¯s hand, painted with red nail polish, reached in! She grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s hair! ¡°You bitch, get out! Stop pretending, get out here!¡± Xu Chaomu had not anticipated how unreasonable Qi Na could be. Her hair was yanked, causing her pain as she hurried to close the window! ¡°What are you doing? Let go!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted angrily.
Seeing Xu Chaomu being bullied, the driver exited the driver¡¯s seat and rushed out. He ran to the passenger side, pushed Qi Na away with one hand, his temper ring up, almost throwing Qi Na to the ground! ¡°What the hell are you doing? I can¡¯t stand women like you, blocking the road with your car and still having the nerve? Now you¡¯re even hitting someone; do you think you own the sky?¡± the driver gripped Qi Na¡¯s arm and flung her aside. Xu Chaomu was pulled by Qi Na, her scalp tingling with pain.
She winced, clenching her teeth. This Qi Na, what a thoughtless person, acting so impulsively. In such a lively ce, wasn¡¯t she embarrassed to create a spectacle? Luckily, her long nails hadn¡¯t scratched Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, or else it would have been a scene today. With her face ruined, how could she attend the job interview? ¡°Who are you calling? What does your problem with that bitch have to do with me?¡± Qi Na fumed, provoked by the driver¡¯s grip. ¡°I¡¯m talking about you, reared but never taught!¡± the driver didn¡¯t care. ¡°In broad daylight, mind your manners! Must be taking stupid pills every day, can¡¯t skip a dose!¡± Xu Chaomu was amused by the driver¡¯s words andughed out loud. She chickened out; she didn¡¯t dare to get out of the car. Not for any other reason than she was carrying a little bun in her belly. What she wanted to protect the most now was her little bun; she wouldn¡¯t let him get hurt in the slightest. Before she was an adult, she couldn¡¯t stand being scolded to her face; she¡¯d have thrown a punch immediately, especially with such offensive words. Now, she didn¡¯t have that impulse anymore.
And, in her current state, she definitely couldn¡¯t beat Qi Na. ¡°Xu Chaomu,e out if you dare, don¡¯t shrink back into your car like a turtle! Are you afraid?!¡± Qi Na yelled loudly. The driver pushed her again: ¡°What are you yelling for? You¡¯re blocking other people¡¯s way, and you still think you¡¯re in the right? Move your car away, and I won¡¯t argue with you!¡± ¡°Who are you? Do you know how shameless the woman in your car is? She has a husband and still tries to seduce my boyfriend, got pregnant, and doesn¡¯t even know whose seed it is!¡± Qi Na shouted loudly, stirring up as much chaos as possible. Her coquettish voice drew a crowd of onlookers. Moreover, people love this kind of gossip, sticking around as if glued to the spot, unwilling to leave. Xu Chaomu lowered the car window and shouted back at her, ¡°Qi Na, you¡¯d better leave! Chenng can¡¯t afford to lose this face.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, if you have the guts, get out and rify things!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t get out of the car. Move yours; I have other things to handle,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Pointing at Xu Chaomu, Qi Na said angrily to the onlookers, ¡°See, this woman, already married, still texting and calling my boyfriend, even saying she wants him to marry her. Now, she¡¯s pregnant, and probably even she doesn¡¯t know who the father is!¡± Qi Na became more agitated as she spoke: ¡°Her private life is so chaotic! My boyfriend¡¯s mother can¡¯t stand it and forbade her froming to see my boyfriend, yet she shamelessly keeps in contact with him!¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re a mistress, a shameless mistress!¡± Qi Na was only concerned with cursing to her heart¡¯s content, without any regard for her image. Xu Chaomu turned a deaf ear and remained quietly seated in the car. The crowd of onlookers, however, could not contain themselves, and they started to talk among themselves.
The windows were closed, but the words were particrly unpleasant, and Xu Chaomu frowned. ¡°She¡¯s a mistress¡­¡± ¡°Nowadays, any slightly attractive woman goes off to be a mistress.¡± ¡°How can they think like that? Are they that desperate for money?¡± ¡°Nowadays for women, youth is the capital, huh? Using a young, pretty face to make a few bucks, then find a husband to marry. Where¡¯s the loss in that?¡± ¡°Yeah, and in the end, the husband is kept in the dark, and it takes years after having a baby to do a paternity test to find out.¡± ¡°And when the test shows it¡¯s not his¡­ bam, shocked.¡± The crowdughed loudly; Qi Na stood by, patting her clothes with an air of arrogance. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and finally opened the car door and got out! As she appeared, the crowd reached a climax, and all eyes were focused on her face! Chapter 485: 485: Chenglang Simply Doesn’t Like You Chapter 485: Chenng Simply Doesn¡¯t Like You These gazes shot toward her like a flurry of arrows, but Xu Chaomu did not bow her head, walking towards Qi Na instead. It was quite windy today, and Xu Chaomu brushed the stray hairs from her ear, standing quietly in front of Qi Na. ¡°Who are you calling a mistress?¡± Xu Chaomu asked coldly, looking at her. Having spent a lot of time with Shen Chi, she had learned to sometimes maintain herposure and kill with her gaze. Indeed, hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s icy words and seeing those sharp eyes, Qi Na felt a tug at her heart and took a small step back. She looked at Xu Chaomu, and Xu Chaomu looked back at her, neither yielding, but Xu Chaomu¡¯s presence clearly overwhelmed Qi Na. Adding to today¡¯s impression, Xu Chaomu wore a professional outfit for interviews, a white shirt, a ck pencil skirt, and a high ponytail. She appeared capable and stylish. In contrast, Qi Na wore a fluttery little white dress, looking every bit the weak, innocent girl. Xu Chaomu initially did not want to argue with her, after all, she was pregnant, and anger was bad for the body. She also didn¡¯t want to get out of the car, since getting a tan wasn¡¯t worth it. But Qi Na was relentless, damaging her reputation in public, how could she sit still?
If this had been during her school days, she would have sshed cold water on her! No, in this weather, it should be hot water! Qi Na was now stammering, unable to continue her insults. Now it was Xu Chaomu who was relentless. She took a step closer and stood right in front of Qi Na, ¡°Say it, who are you calling a mistress?¡± After a while, Qi Na finally spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m talking about you, what about it? A mistress that dares to talk back?¡± Qi Na took another step back, her speech not as fluent as before. Xu Chaomu was not someone to be easily bullied. She said coldly, ¡°Apologize to me, make your usation clear, and I might let it go.¡± ¡°Apologize? What a joke!¡± Qi Na regained her spirit, ¡°I said you¡¯re a mistress, isn¡¯t that correct? I grew up with Brother Chenng, childhood sweethearts, two little fools in love. Why did you have to meddle? Especially when you¡¯re already married!¡± ¡°You and Chenng are childhood sweethearts? Are you that shameless? Can¡¯t you find a husband so you cling to your neighbor?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not promiscuous. Of course, I don¡¯t have that many men. Unlike you, seeing one man today, another tomorrow, and moreover, doing all this behind your husband¡¯s back, right? How many times have you made your husband a cuckold?¡± ¡°Qi Na, you really think I, Xu Chaomu, am easy to bully, don¡¯t you?¡± Xu Chaomu, with a cold face, stepped closer to her again. Qi Na could only step back, but then a thought struck her: Xu Chaomu was pregnant, what did she have to fear from a pregnant woman? With that thought, Qi Na became even more arrogant, ¡°So you think that you can bully me, Qi Na, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m telling you, leave Brother Chenng early, or else I¡¯ll find someone to deal with you!¡± ¡°Deal with me? How do you want to deal with me?¡± ¡°A mistress is a target for everyone. I¡¯m telling you, if you continue to involve yourself with Brother Chenng, I¡¯ll find someone to beat you up! If you have a miscarriage, don¡¯t me me. After all, who knows who fathered the bastard in your belly?¡± As soon as Qi Na uttered these words, there were actually voices of agreement from the crowd. ¡°Yeah, mistresses are the worst, breaking up families, they should go to Hell.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so hard about choosing a different path than being a mistress; is it really all about the money?¡± ¡°Young girls these days just want to eat without working and be kept women, don¡¯t they?¡±
¡­ Thements never ceased, and Xu Chaomu took a deep breath, staying calm, calm; she didn¡¯t need to deal with them. She looked up and saw the Shen Group building not far away. She was the president of this corporation, she didn¡¯t need to concern herself with them. ¡°Qi Na, I won¡¯t even ask for an apology from you anymore. Whether you apologize or not doesn¡¯t matter to me,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a calm face.
But the calmer she was, the more unsettled Qi Na felt. Her big eyes stared directly at Xu Chaomu, watching her warily. ¡°I¡¯ll punch you directly!¡± With lightning speed, Xu Chaomu raised her hand and smashed it down, hitting Qi Na right on the chin! Fighting? She knew how! ¡°Ah! You actually hit someone!¡± Qi Na had never expected Xu Chaomu to hit her. She stepped back several paces, retreating so quickly that she tilted backward! Thankfully, someone in the crowd sympathized with her situation, being reced by the other woman, and offered a helping hand, preventing her from falling. ¡°That was a bit light.¡± Xu Chaomu rubbed her wrist. Indeed, she had not hit hard, just giving Qi Na a lesson. Of course, more importantly, it had been a long time since she had fought, and this feeling¡­ was incredibly satisfying! This kind of woman just deserved a beating. How dare she curse her baby! ¡°Xu, Xu Chaomu, you actually dare to hit me! You won¡¯t get away with this!¡± Qi Na was even more unsettled.
Having said that, she suddenly started crying. Err¡­ This was unexpected for Xu Chaomu. Normally, getting hit would lead to hitting back, fighting and such, which Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t afraid of; if it came down to it, they could just fight it out until the police got involved. Plus, she had her driver with her. The driver looked big and tall, certain not to let her suffer any disadvantage. But, but Qi Na actually started crying! Now it was Xu Chaomu who was taken aback. In such a public ce, you¡¯re not that young, girl, why the tears! ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m telling you Xu Chaomu, I can¡¯t swallow this insult!¡± Qi Na sobbed. While crying, Qi Na¡¯s fists started pounding on Xu Chaomu! Xu Chaomu pushed her away: ¡°Why are you crying? You¡¯re embarrassing yourself.¡± No, this wasn¡¯t right. This whole situation made it seem like she had wronged Qi Na¡­ ¡°Xu Chaomu, can¡¯t you leave Brother Chenng alone? You already have a husband, stop clinging to him. If you keep this up, you¡¯ll ruin Brother Chenng¡­¡± Qi Na cried as she spoke. ¡°Stop making a fuss, Chenng doesn¡¯t even like you. The way you¡¯re acting now, if he saw you, it would only annoy him!¡± Xu Chaomu frowned.
¡°I don¡¯t care, just stay away from him, stay far away!¡± Qi Na extended her fist and continued to hit Xu Chaomu, but being the dainty beauty that she was, even when her fistsnded, they were gentle,cking any real force. As a result, Xu Chaomu felt like she was the rough man in contrast. That punch, though not very powerful, still hurt when it hit the chin. Unlike with Qi Na, whose punches on her felt like tickling. And frankly, it was something a young couple might do! What was Qi Na up to! ¡°If you really like Chenng, do something that he would appreciate instead of being so childish! I don¡¯t know who¡¯s been filling your head with nonsense, but fine, I won¡¯t ask for an apology. Just move your car already, it¡¯s blocking the road; don¡¯t you think others need to drive too?¡± Xu Chaomu felt she had been far too polite to Qi Na! But Qi Na wouldn¡¯t listen; she was determined to lock horns with Xu Chaomu! Although she was delicate and weak,cking the strength to hit hard or out-curse Xu Chaomu, she did have long fingernails! Chapter 486: 486: You Can Steal A Man Chapter 486: You Can Steal A Man Qi Na¡¯s fingernails were not only long but also appeared to be very sharp. Of course, she couldn¡¯t swallow the anger from Xu Chaomu hitting her just now; she nced at her own fingernails, then at Xu Chaomu¡¯s delicate neck, and through gritted teeth¡ª With a ¡°swoosh,¡± her right hand reached out and scratched before Xu Chaomu could react! It hit right in the middle of Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck, dead-on! She didn¡¯t hold back at all¡ªthe scratch left three red marks instantly on Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck. ¡°Damn it!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s pupils constricted and she quickly covered her neck, which was in pain. She took in a sharp breath¡ªthis woman¡¯s fingernails were really formidable! ¡°Xu Chaomu, you think you can just bully me, Qi Na, like that? I¡¯ll tell you, I can¡¯t tolerate this insult¡ªyou dare to hit me, so I dare to hit back!¡± Qi Na said, extra pleased upon seeing the scratches on Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck. She slightly tilted her head up, staring at Xu Chaomu¡¯s neck, admiring her handiwork. ¡°Xu Chaomu, keep this fingernail mark as a souvenir, lest you think of throwing yourself at any rich man you see in the future! How ipetent must your husband be to let his wife go running around as a mistress?¡± Qi Na said. Xu Chaomu was both angered and amused¡ªher husband¡­ ipetent?
¡°Qi Na, with someone like you, it seems pointless to reason! If I can solve things with action, I don¡¯t need to waste words with you!¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu grabbed Qi Na¡¯s cor and pushed her against the nearby wall! Xu Chaomu¡¯s posture was domineering; she thought that having spent enough time with Shen Chi, she really did learn something. If she could solve things with action, she indeed didn¡¯t need to waste words with her! Xu Chaomu tightened her grip on Qi Na¡¯s cor, making it hard for Qi Na to breathe. Qi Na rolled her eyes and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Under the sun, her face turned pale. ¡°Xu¡­ Xu Chaomu¡­ don¡¯t¡­ mess around¡­¡± Qi Na¡¯s speech was inarticte and her voice very low. Xu Chaomu watched her face slowly turn from pale to red with suffocation, feeling a sudden rush of satisfaction in her heart! ¡°Don¡¯t mess around? Is this what you call messing around? Do you want to experience what real messing around is, hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu raised an eyebrow. To deal with this sort of little temptress, she didn¡¯t need anyone else; she was more than capable. Qi Na¡¯s hands began to il about, seeking help from the crowd around her, and she made ¡°woo woo woo¡± sounds. Her face had turned the color of a liver, no exquisite makeup could hide her paleness. ¡°This mistress is so arrogant!¡± some people in the crowd startedmenting. ¡°Are mistresses so unreasonable nowadays? Going straight to violence!¡± ¡°What moral baseline can a mistress have, to expect them to be reasonable.¡± ¡°This girl looks so pitiful, who will go up and help her?¡± Some people started wanting to help Qi Na, but Xu Chaomu, with one hand around Qi Na¡¯s neck, turned around to scan the crowd. ¡°Who dares to help her?¡± Xu Chaomu thought, she couldn¡¯t lose in terms of aura.
A man who couldn¡¯t stand by any longer stood up: ¡°You, woman, would you be reasonable?!¡± It turned out Xu Chaomu¡¯s taxi driver was quite righteous; he didn¡¯t understand the rest, nor did he make wild guesses. He only recognized one fact¡ªQi Na had shamelessly blocked their car! He couldn¡¯t judge the rights and wrongs of other matters, but in this case, Qi Na was at fault! If you¡¯re wrong, you have to pay a price.
Not everyone in this world is your parent, allowing you to act out without consequence! So, the driver didn¡¯t intervene to stop the fight or persuade Xu Chaomu to let go. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ Xu¡­ Xu Chaomu, let go¡­¡± Qi Na was in difort. Xu Chaomu had a very precise grasp of her limits¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t choke Qi Na to death. She looked at Qi Na, veryposed and calm. ¡°Admit that you were wrong?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were dark and cold. Qi Na still refused to admit it, her eyes widening as she stared fixedly at Xu Chaomu, refusing to express an opinion. ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Chaomu applied a bit of force, squeezing Qi Na¡¯s neck tighter. Even though it wasn¡¯t very kind to bully a girl, her good mood had beenpletely spoiled by her. And just now, Qi Na¡¯s fingernail had scratched her, probably leaving a mark, what should she do about her interviewter. Qi Na, afraid of being choked to death, hurriedly nodded like a pecking chicken. ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Chaomu was satisfied. ¡°Am I a mistress?¡± Xu Chaomu asked again.
Qi Na had nowhere to vent her resentment; just now she had righteously called Xu Chaomu the mistress, if she were to say no now, wouldn¡¯t she lose face. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t speaking, Xu Chaomu increased her force, tightening her grip on Qi Na¡¯s throat. Qi Na had no choice but to shake her head, her face bearing an expression like she had gone through a disaster. Xu Chaomu, dissatisfied, said, ¡°State it again.¡± This time, Qi Na shook her head vigorously. ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Chaomu was satisfied, ¡°Now tell me, were you driving that car blindly?¡± Qi Na was so angry that her eyeballs were popping out, but, unfortunately, with her throat choked, she could only make ¡°wu wu¡± sounds. The sun beat down on Xu Chaomu¡¯s body; she was very hot. However, there was still quite a while before her interview, and she didn¡¯t mind dealing with Qi Na. ¡°Say it, were you blind?¡± Qi Na made continuous ¡°wu wu¡± noises out of anger, but as long as she didn¡¯t speak, Xu Chaomu tightened her hold. Qi Na¡¯s neck was pained, she reluctantly nodded. The corners of Xu Chaomu¡¯s lips curled upward, her mood instantly improving by a lot. ¡°Qi Na, remember this, Chenng will never like a woman like you. No matter how much his mother likes you, he won¡¯t like you. And I think, it¡¯s not certain that his mother really likes you.¡±
Five yearster, Xu Chaomu had a much clearer understanding of people¡¯s hearts. Just like a few days ago, Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian called her over and shared their ¡°true feelings¡±. For ordinary people, choosing whom to marry can often follow their own wishes, but the wealthier and higher-status families tend to have more considerations. She thought, with Nie Chenng¡¯s mother being so domineering, how could she like a brainless woman like Qi Na? Stopping her car in public was one stupid act, arguing with her in public was another, and constantly mentioning Chenng¡¯s name was yet another. Xu Chaomu suddenly felt an invasion of Shen Chi¡¯s intelligence, elevating her IQ. Even thinking about it got her a little excited. Xu Chaomu slightly loosened her grip, giving Qi Na a chance to speak. ¡°Cough cough cough, cough cough cough.¡± Qi Na coughed nonstop, looking pitiful. Xu Chaomu continued, ¡°If you truly like Chenng, consider things from his perspective. By making amotion like today, aren¡¯t you afraid that someone in the crowd recognizes Chenng, recognizes you?¡± Qi Na coughed several times while clutching her neck, finally feeling a bit better. She lifted her reddened eyes; she truly despised Xu Chaomu. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡¯re capable, you¡¯re smart, you can steal men, but I can¡¯t.¡± Qi Na was still defiant. Upon hearing this, Xu Chaomu¡¯s resentment rushed back up. Wasn¡¯t the lesson just now enough?
Chapter 487: 487: Undressing, Requires Skills Chapter 487: Undressing, Requires Skills ¡°Qi Na, you came here just to pick a fight today, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xu Chaomu cornered her against the wall. ¡°Furious out of shame? What, am I not allowed to speak of you stealing men? I want everyone to see what an ugly woman you are!¡± ¡°Sure thing, are you just jealous of my ability to steal men? Come on, I¡¯ll teach you. Learn attentively.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe that she couldn¡¯t handle Qi Na today. If talking nicely didn¡¯t work, then she wouldn¡¯t me herself. Opportunities were reserved for those who cherished them. With one hand on Qi Na¡¯s shoulder, Xu Chaomu knew this delicate woman could never match her, the tough girl in a fight. Thus, she held down her shoulder with one hand, immobilizing her! ¡°What are you doing? Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t mess around¡­ Ah!¡± Qi Na let out a piercing scream. To her surprise, Xu Chaomu¡¯s other hand had ripped a piece from the left shoulder of her little dress! A loud ¡°rip¡± was heard, exceptionally clear. Qi Na closed her eyes in fright, feeling a chill on her shoulder.
She didn¡¯t dare to look. Was this considered being publicly harassed? The fabric at her left shoulder was torn open, exposing her entire left shoulder to the air. Xu Chaomu looked at her with amusement, a brilliant smile on her face: ¡°Miss Qi¡¯s skin is so white, tsk tsk, let¡¯s give it a little suntan. Or perhaps, let everyone have a good look.¡± ¡°Xu Chaomu!¡± Qi Na was furious, ¡°Bullying me doesn¡¯t show any skill!¡± Xu Chaomu kept her other hand pressing on her shoulder, and at this moment, she was the spitting image of a female hooligan. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I¡¯m bullying you, got a problem with that? I might not have any skill, but I do like to bully women.¡± Xu Chaomu pressed down on her shoulder without giving her the chance to move. It was the first time she realized how strong her hands could be. Probably from being frequently harassed by Shen Chi, she had gradually grown stronger. ¡°You, if you have the guts, don¡¯ty a hand on me, let me go! Don¡¯t be unreasonable!¡± Qi Na¡¯s face turned from red to white, being half-dressed in public was too embarrassing. Who knew what this woman Xu Chaomu might do next. ¡°Yo, talking reason? Am I supposed to reason with Miss Qi? If it can be solved with violence, let¡¯s not waste time yakking. Everyone¡¯s busy, talk too much, and you¡¯ll miss out on billions in a minute,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Xu Chaomu was all ease; this Qi Na was too weak to be her opponent. Indeed, after shing with Shen Chi, the big Boss, too many times, all other people seemed like mere shrimps and crabs. But even a cornered rabbit will bite. For the sake of the baby, she still had to be cautious. ¡°Get your dirty hands off, who knows how many men they have touched!¡± Qi Na nced at Xu Chaomu with disdain. ¡°Oh right, I was just about to teach you how to seduce men, I almost forgot,¡± Xu Chaomu ignored her, smiling. Since her good mood in the morning was ruined, why not use Qi Na to make up for it? Especially thesest few days, due to the pressure from Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian, she hadn¡¯t been feeling great inside. Now, when a jesteres right to your doorstep, how could she not tease them?
Moreover, Qi Na had cursed at her. Since she had already stopped the car, it was time for her to take revenge. So, Xu Chaomu put her hand on Qi Na¡¯s exposed shoulder. ¡°The first move in seducing men is of course to undress. You¡¯ve got to do it with skill, with finesse, act like you¡¯re refusing even while you¡¯re weing. You mustn¡¯t let people see your eagerness.¡± Having said this, Xu Chaomu proceeded to strip off the clothes from Qi Na¡¯s other shoulder.
¡°Like how Miss Qi is now, that¡¯s quite okay. It¡¯s just that, you¡¯re still wearing a bit too much to attract a man¡¯s attention,¡± Xu Chaomu said, thoroughly appraising her. ¡°Get lost!¡± Qi Na was angry, how could she let Xu Chaomu push her around? She moved her hands to push Xu Chaomu away. Xu Chaomu was much stronger than she was, all that strength cultivated with Shen Chi, the wolf. She had resisted many times under Shen Chi¡¯s wolf ws, and although she was seldom sessful, she had now acquired quite some skill. For Xu Chaomu, Qi Na¡¯s resistance was nothing more than tickling, it had no effect at all. Qi Na pushed at her, but Xu Chaomu easily held her down with one hand. ¡°Miss Qi, learn a few more times, and you¡¯ll manage to steal a man sessfully.¡± After she spoke, Xu Chaomu tore the clothing from Qi Na¡¯s other shoulder. Another ¡°rip¡± sound was heard, and Qi Na, terrified, closed her eyes and let out a scream! The sound was jarring, almost prompting Xu Chaomu to cover her ears. She stared at Qi Na for a while, perfect, both shoulders now had their clothes torn open. If she pulled down her skirt a little more, this woman would be on tomorrow¡¯s front page. Spending too much time with Shen Chi, the wolf, she had learned to use any trick in the book.
Qi Na¡¯s skin was indeed very white, her entire upper body exposed without clothing. Xu Chaomu made a ¡°tsk tsk¡± sound. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you¡ªdon¡¯t mess around. If you continue, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t stay in C City, I¡¯ll get your husband fired, make your whole family homeless!¡± Qi Na threatened. ¡°Tsk tsk, if I was afraid of you, I wouldn¡¯t be called Xu Chaomu.¡± Xu Chaomu already hated being threatened by others. Besides, doing anything with Shen Chi¡¯s backing felt great¡­ it¡¯s truly nice to have the support of the big Boss. Right now, she could set fire and torch Qi Na¡¯s car, and someone would still spoil her anyway. But she wasn¡¯t violent to that extent yet. Such violent acts were more elegant when done by men. Seeing Xu Chaomu¡¯s gleaming eyes, Qi Na didn¡¯t know what she was thinking and felt an inexplicable fear. Thest time, following Lu Feili to Nie Chenng¡¯s house, she had met Xu Chaomu. At that time, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t say much, and afterward, she ran away after being chastised by Lu Feili. Qi Na had thought this woman was easy to bully, but never expected, she was so overbearing, simply¡­ not like a woman at all! ¡°Qi Na, I haven¡¯t finished teaching you. Cut the chatter!¡± Xu Chaomu said coldly. Finishing her statement, she slid her hand to Qi Na¡¯s scap. Her movements were lewd, the posture was provocative.
¡°Miss Qi¡¯s skin is quite white, just not smooth enough, but no worries. Just pull this dress down a little bit more, and you¡¯ll have men staring,¡± Xu Chaomu reasoned. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand had already moved to the skirt on Qi Na¡¯s upper body. With just a gentle tug, the skirt would slide down from Qi Na¡¯s body. ¡°What are you doing? Xu Chaomu, have you no shame? If you touch me again, I¡ªI¡­¡± ¡°What will you do? Make me unbearably ufortable in C City? Get my husband fired? Leave my family destitute?¡± Xu Chaomu mimicked her tone. ¡°You¡¯re shameless! Are you even a woman?! Take your hands off! You¡ªyou¡¯re a hooligan¡­¡± Qi Na was forcefully pressed down by Xu Chaomu, unable to move,pletely at her mercy. Xu Chaomu was delighted, her mood improving substantially. ¡°I just love these coquettish little girls like you.¡± Xu Chaomu smiled and nonchntly lifted Qi Na¡¯s chin. Chapter 488: 488: Little Sister, Don’t Be Shy Chapter 488: Little Sister, Don¡¯t Be Shy This move, she must have learned from that hooligan Shen Chi. It¡¯s a killer seduction technique, something Shen Chi practiced on her so much that she couldn¡¯t help but learn it by osmosis. No wonder people say, ¡°He who touches vermilion will be stained red; he who touches ink will be stained ck.¡± She must keep her baby far away from the likes of Shen Chi! Far away! As far away as one stays from high-voltage power lines! Otherwise, imagine if she had a son who started seducing girls at a young age¡ªthat would be a disaster. Xu Chaomu lifted Qi Na¡¯s chin, and she saw Qi Na¡¯s little face turn pale, the fear in her big eyes flickering like a lost rabbit. Qi Na, looking into Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes, wished she could devour Xu Chaomu. Her shoulders were exposed to the air; thankfully it was summer, and she wasn¡¯t cold, but she was shaking slightly. She was afraid of Xu Chaomu. ¡°I like cute little sisters, but I like them even more when they take off their clothes¡ªcute little sisters.¡± Thescivious gleam in Xu Chaomu¡¯s narrowed eyes shined brightly, and she suddenly found that seducing girls was quite an entertaining affair.
Having said that, Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand reached to pull down the clothes at Qi Na¡¯s chest. The crowd of onlookers grew, but these days, people love a good spectacle and watched with great interest. However, the mostmon phrase among them was, ¡°Mistresses these days are so brazen.¡± Mistress my ass, Xu Chaomu thought indignantly. ¡°Ah!¡± Qi Na screamed, truly believing that Xu Chaomu was about to strip her in public. ¡°That¡¯s not a pleasant enough scream. If you want to steal someone¡¯s man, you can¡¯t scream like that,¡± Xu Chaomu scoffed, and casually caressed Qi Na¡¯s face. ¡°Xu Chaomu, this isn¡¯t over between us!¡± Qi Na red at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m waiting,¡± she replied. Afterward, taking advantage of Xu Chaomu¡¯s inattention, Qi Na raised her right hand, grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s cor, and ripped off the buttons! The buttons went swoosh and scattered onto the ground! Xu Chaomu felt her neck chilling and looked down to discover that Qi Na had torn off all her buttons. A triumphant smile finally appeared on Qi Na¡¯s face, but Xu Chaomu quickly held her down again before she could go any further. ¡°You learn quickly,¡± Xu Chaomu sneered. ¡°Pity I¡¯m not a man. Next time you meet one, just undress like that, little sister, don¡¯t be shy, you got that?¡± ¡°You!¡± Qi Na had probably never met such a rowdy woman before, and her face flushed red again at thement. Xu Chaomu released her at once and hurriedly straightened her shirt. If Shen Chi saw her like this, she wouldn¡¯t hear the end of it. Now free, Qi Na clenched her teeth and stared at Xu Chaomu¡¯s stomach for a while. Suddenly, she remembered that Xu Chaomu was pregnant. If she didn¡¯t avenge today¡¯s insult, she wouldn¡¯t be Qi Na.
With that thought, she stretched out her hand and gave Xu Chaomu a shove! The push was forceful, and as soon as she did it, she quickly ran away! Xu Chaomu stumbled backward, but just as she was about to fall, a strong hand supported her from behind. ¡°Chaomu, are you okay?¡±
The hand holding Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist tightly was preventing her from falling. Xu Chaomu was taken aback, and so was Qi Na. Because the person who had arrived was none other than Nie Chenng! Nie Chenng¡¯s voice was clear and mellow, like a whisper of the spring breeze at Xu Chaomu¡¯s ear. Just by hearing the voice, she knew who had caught her. As Qi Na saw Nie Chennging through the crowd to help Xu Chaomu, she forgot about running and just stood there dumbfounded. ¡°` She even forgot to blink, staring at Nie Chenng without taking her eyes off him, oblivious to her skirt that Xu Chaomu had torn into a mess. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t expected Nie Chenng to show up either, and was a bit startled. Nie Chenng¡¯s hand was still around her waist, and in the next second, without waiting for Xu Chaomu to turn his head, Nie Chenng stood by her side and carefully pulled her shirt cor straight. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Seeing a button from her cor had been torn off, Nie Chenng turned and went to his car, returning with a thin jacket to drape over her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the mall to buy a new piece of clothing,¡± Nie Chenng said.
After all, wearing a coat in the summer wasn¡¯t ideal. ¡°No, it¡¯s not necessary¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s head dropped, abruptly at a loss for words. The assertiveness she had just shown in her argument with Qi Na vanished the moment she faced Nie Chenng. Qi Na was so angry her face turned green. Her own clothes had been torn by Xu Chaomu, yet Nie Chenng acted as if he didn¡¯t see her. Xu Chaomu¡¯s shirt had merely lost a few buttons, and he was so concerned for her. She had known him for many years, while Xu Chaomu had only known him for five! ¡°Still, we should get a new one. There¡¯s a mall nearby, let me take you,¡± Nie Chenng insisted, grabbing Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. Their hands had just touched when Xu Chaomu instinctively pulled hers back. In such a public ce, although no one recognized Nie Chenng, Shen Group¡¯s building wasn¡¯t far away, and she¡­ she didn¡¯t want to get too entangled with Nie Chenng here. Nie Chenng, seeing her withdraw her hand from his palm, silently sighed. They were no longer as close as during those five years in Paris. Having returned to C City, she ultimately chose that man. ¡°I will buy one myselfter,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking down with an evasive gaze.
All the courage she had just mustered had now dissipated. She probably didn¡¯t dare to face Nie Chenng; this was their first encounter since she ran out of his housest time. Qi Na looked extremely upset. Nie Chenng hadn¡¯t shown any concern for her, let alone given her a nce, as if his soul waspletely captivated by Xu Chaomu. Qi Na stepped forward, grabbed Nie Chenng¡¯s hand, and flung herself into his arms. ¡°Brother Chenng¡­ this woman bullied me¡­¡± With tears streaming down her face, Qi Na looked pitiful and deserving of sympathy. Nie Chenng looked helpless. ¡°Stand up,¡± he said. ¡°Brother Chenng¡­ will you stand up for me? This woman bullied me. Look at my clothes¡­¡± ¡°Nana, I saw what happened just now,¡± Nie Chenng said indifferently. Qi Na hadn¡¯t reacted yet, and Xu Chaomu was the first to startle, soon flushing red. Nie Chenng had seen everything that happened. He had seen her act like a hooligan too? She hoped it hadn¡¯t frightened him¡­ During her five years with Nie Chenng, she often forgot the hooliganism in her bones.
However, after returning to the Shen family five yearster and encountering Shen Chi, her hooligan nature was exposed once again. In Paris over those five years, she had been quite refined¡­ ¡°You saw everything?¡± Qi Na¡¯s eyes filled with a hint of excitement. ¡°Then since she bullied me, are you going to do something about it?¡± ¡°Nana, you clearly knew that Chaomu was pregnant, yet you still pushed her?¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s eyes grew sharp, and he asked sternly. Qi Na was taken aback again. She hadn¡¯t expected Nie Chenng to reprimand her right off the bat. ¡°Brother Chenng¡­ she bullied me first!¡± Qi Na said, discontented. Xu Chaomu stepped up to Qi Na and said calmly, ¡°Right, right, right; I bullied you first by parking my car in front of yours.¡± ¡°` Chapter 489: 489: She is Just a Second-Hand Woman Chapter 489: She is Just a Second-Hand Woman ¡°You!¡± Qi Na¡¯s face flushed and she was momentarily at a loss for words. The onlookers began to murmur among themselves when they saw a man approaching. ¡°Who is this man? Who do you think is his wife?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it, people nowadays have such individualized lives.¡± ¡°This man seems to care more about the mistress, but she doesn¡¯t seem to appreciate it much.¡± ¡­ As the crowd buzzed with conversation, Nie Chenng shot a look their way, and everyone fell silent. At this moment, Nie Chenng¡¯s driver got out of the car and dispersed all the onlookers. With the crowd gone, the surroundings suddenly felt much colder. Xu Chaomu¡¯s taxi driver approached Qi Na and said, ¡°Miss, could you please move your car? Are you trying to block everyone else from driving?¡± Qi Na became flustered and her face reddened, ¡°I¡­¡±
¡°Xiaosong, move Miss Qi¡¯s car to the side!¡± Nie Chenng cut her off sharply. ¡°Okay.¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s driver turned and got into Qi Na¡¯s car, swung it around, and parked the red Audi to the side. Xu Chaomu hurriedly went to the taxi, took out her wallet, and handed a red bill to the driver. ¡°Thank you for waiting so long, keep the change,¡± she said. The driver was reluctant to take the money at first, but Xu Chaomu insisted, so he epted it and drove off. The scene quieted down considerably, and for a moment, nobody spoke. Under the zing sun,bined with the tense atmosphere, a fineyer of sweat formed on Xu Chaomu¡¯s forehead. ¡°Brother Chenng¡­¡± Qi Na finally broke the silence, shaking Nie Chenng¡¯s arm, ¡°this woman tore my clothes to this state¡­¡± Her face was full of grievance, and her longshes glistened with ayer of mist. Nie Chenng was expressionless, ¡°Go home and change. And in the future, stop causing trouble for Chaomu.¡± ¡°Brother Chenng, are you charmed by her? We weren¡¯t like this before¡­ I feel so wronged.¡± Qi Na looked hurt. ¡°Nana, I have always treated you like a sister, and from now on, don¡¯t tell others I¡¯m your boyfriend!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s face darkened. ¡°How is it not so? Since we were young, auntie has always wanted us to be close,¡± Qi Na insisted, ¡°have you forgotten?¡± Qi Na¡¯s words trailed off into sobs. Xu Chaomu took off Nie Chenng¡¯s coat and handed it to him. ¡°Chenng, I have another engagement, I need to go,¡± she said. She gave a gentle, serene smile that made her lookpletely different from the ruffian who had just been teaching Qi Na a lesson. Being a ruffian depends on the situation, like with Qi Na or with Shen Chi; she can be a ruffian, but not with men like Nie Chenng or Lou Yanli.
Actually, she liked her most genuine self the best. ¡°Chaomu!¡± Nie Chenng grabbed her arm, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, can we talk?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up, and their eyes met, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.
Was she being too heartless? Ever sinceing back from Paris, she had been avoiding him. ¡°Chenng, I have an interview today,¡± Xu Chaomu stated honestly. Under the sunlight, Nie Chenng wore a dark shirt, tall and handsome, his clear eyes gazing at her, filled only with her reflection. ¡°He¡­ agreed to let you work?¡± Nie Chenng asked calmly. Xu Chaomu nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Na, seeing Nie Chenng holding on to Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm, stepped forward and pried their hands apart! ¡°Brother Chenng, you haven¡¯t spoken more than a few words to me since you returned home. Do you dislike me?¡± Qi Na interrupted them, clearly upset. ¡°Nana, don¡¯t make a fuss,¡± Nie Chenng frowned and nced at her. ¡°I am not making a fuss, I¡¯m just stating the facts, Brother Chenng,¡± Qi Na persisted. ¡°Chenng, you take care of her. I¡¯ve got to go.¡± ¡°Chaomu, Nana is not my girlfriend,¡± Chenng exined urgently. ¡°I know, you wouldn¡¯t fancy someone like her,¡± Xu Chaomu replied with augh. Qi Na was so angry at the insinuation that she might have started a fight with Xu Chaomu again if Nie Chenng wasn¡¯t there.
But when Xu Chaomu shot her a look, Qi Na shrank back into Nie Chenng¡¯s arms. ¡°Brother Chenng, didn¡¯t you see? She¡¯s been bullying me all along¡­¡± ¡°Miss Qi, be careful when driving next time,¡± Xu Chaomu warned her. ¡°You!¡± Qi Na was furious. Xu Chaomu smiled slightly at Nie Chenng, ¡°Let¡¯s talk another time when I¡¯m free; thank you for stepping in. I have to leave now.¡± ¡°Chaomu!¡± Nie Chenng called out to her. Xu Chaomu waved her hand and walked away without looking back. Nie Chenng wanted to follow her, as he really hadn¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu in a long while. He knew she was usually at the Shen Family home, a ce he couldn¡¯t enter. But to his surprise, he bumped into her today, yet she wouldn¡¯t even talk to him. ¡°Chaomu!¡± he called her name again. Qi Na clung tightly to his arm, ¡°Brother Chenng, don¡¯t go! Why are you so fond of her? She¡¯s just a second-hand woman. And, auntie is right, she is married and still flirting with you. She¡¯s despicable. Brother Chenng, don¡¯t be fooled.¡± ¡°Fooled? Qi Na, what do you know? Let go of me!¡± Nie Chenng snapped irritably.
He never had much of a liking for Qi Na, and now she was pulling at him like this, he felt even more ufortable. ¡°I won¡¯t let go, I just won¡¯t. Brother Chenng¡­ you¡¯re bullying me¡­¡± Qi Na then burst into tears, her cheeks quickly streaked with them. Her sudden crying became uncontroble, and even Xu Chaomu, who was moving further away, could hear her sobs. Xu Chaomu shook her head slightly, continuing forward without turning back. As for Nie Chenng, his distress grew, realizing he couldn¡¯t chase after Xu Chaomu any longer. He reluctantly handed a tissue to Qi Na and scowled, ¡°Stop crying, and don¡¯t stir up trouble in the future.¡± ¡°Brother Chenng¡­ I wasn¡¯t making trouble, I just can¡¯t stand¡­ she already has a husband, yet why does she keep bothering you¡­ What kind of woman is she, shameless¡­¡± Qi Na sobbed as she spoke. Her shoulders trembled with the intensity of her sobs. Nie Chenng¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°She isn¡¯t bothering me. Stay out of this matter, it doesn¡¯t concern you!¡± ¡°How doesn¡¯t it concern me? We¡¯re close, and I can¡¯t bear to see you seduced by such a woman. Brother Chenng, she¡¯ll ruin your reputation!¡± ¡°I told you not to worry about it, so don¡¯t!¡± Nie Chenng yelled suddenly, losing his temper. Qi Na was so scared that she even forgot to cry, her body trembling.
A few secondster, she recovered, crying even harder, ¡°Brother Chenng, why are you yelling at me? You never used to be angry with me, do you find me annoying now? I only meant well, thinking about you. If you think I¡¯m bothersome or irritating, then fine, I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, I won¡¯t bother you¡­¡± Chapter 490: 490: It Will Kill Someone Chapter 490: It Will Kill Someone Nie Chenng simply didn¡¯t want to listen to Qi Na speak; he frowned in annoyance. There wasn¡¯t much between him and her to begin with, and now Qi Na¡¯s fuss made it seem like he had wronged her. Xu Chaomu was right; he would never like a woman like Qi Na. ¡°Brother Chenng, she¡¯s already far away; can we find a ce to chat? I¡¯ll treat you to tea¡­ Brother Chenng¡­¡± Qi Na grabbed his arm, pleading. Nie Chenng pushed her away and headed straight for his car. ¡°Brother Chenng, Brother Chenng!¡± Qi Na chased after him. She had also forgotten that her clothes were torn to shreds by Xu Chaomu, as she ran after Nie Chenng. Just as Qi Na was about to catch up, Nie Chenng opened the passenger door and with a ¡°bang,¡± shut Qi Na out, locking the door. ¡°Bang bang bang,¡± Qi Na pounded on the car door frantically. Her anxious face reflected on the car window; because of her exaggerated movements, her bra was half exposed, quite indecent. ¡°Brother Chenng, Brother Chenng!¡±
¡°Mr. Nie,¡± the driver, Xiaosong, had an embarrassed look on his face as he turned to nce at Nie Chenng. Nie Chenng stared straight ahead, with a resolute and unyielding gaze, coldly said, ¡°Drive.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Xiaosong responded and started the vehicle. Xiaosong rarely saw Nie Chenng lose his temper, but a good temper didn¡¯t mean he was without anger. Especially recently, he observed that Nie Chenng¡¯s mood had not been very good, and this Miss Qi was still troubling him. ¡°Brother Chenng, Brother Chenng!¡± Qi Na called his name persistently and even ran after him for a while. But two legs can never outrun four wheels, and soon Qi Na¡¯s voice faded away, until it was no longer audible¡­ Qi Na, tired from the run, squatted on the ground and started to cry. ¡°You all bully me, you all bully me¡­¡± She cried heartbreakingly, her makeup smeared. She squatted by the roadside, throwing a tantrum and crying, not caring about her image at all. ¡°Brother Chenng, I like you¡­¡± While crying, she called out Nie Chenng¡¯s name. She really liked him, so much so that whenever she heard Xu Chaomu was pestering Nie Chenng, she would angrily seek out Xu Chaomu. She only regretted thatst time she hadn¡¯t driven fast enough to cripple Xu Chaomu. Being a married woman, what right did she have to cling to Nie Chenng? She was just a mistress, a second-hand woman, a shameless person! Qi Na was unable to contain her anger, sobbing while cursing Xu Chaomu. It wasn¡¯t until a crowd of onlookers gathered by the roadside that she felt a bit ashamed and finally stood up. ¡°What are you looking at! Be careful or I¡¯ll poke out your eyes!¡±
Qi Na¡¯s face was full of rage as she trotted back to her car. Once inside, she stepped on the elerator and charged recklessly towards the crowd! The onlookers, shocked and afraid, quickly jumped aside to avoid her. ¡°Has this woman gone crazy? Damn!¡±
Everyone cursed, but Qi Na turned a deaf ear and drove away from the scene. Clenching her teeth in fury, she didn¡¯t care that this was a downtown area; she sped up the vehicle, even daring to run red lights! She just couldn¡¯t swallow this humiliation! A promiscuous woman, why should shepete with her for Brother Chenng! Nie Chenng¡¯s car hadn¡¯t gone far, in fact, after turning a corner, he instructed Xiaosong to drive back to where they started. He witnessed Qi Na¡¯s reckless driving with disappointment on his face. ¡°Mr. Nie, Miss Qi driving like that, could kill someone,¡± Xiaosong said, full of concern. ¡°She¡¯s been spoiled since she was young; it¡¯s time she learned her lesson,¡± said Nie Chenng indifferently. ¡°Mr. Nie, Miss Qi seems to really like you.¡± Nie Chenng didn¡¯t respond, his gaze fixed straight ahead. Not far ahead was Shen Group building, and he had Xiaosong drive past the ce where Xu Chaomu had left. Seeing Nie Chenng was silent, Xiaosong didn¡¯t think it appropriate to say anything either. Xu Chaomu kept walking ahead; she originally nned to take a taxi directly to the foot of Shen¡¯s building, but then this happened before she even got there.
She forgot her parasol, so she could only use her folder to shield her head from the sun. One hand held the folder while the other cinched her neckline, fearing a wardrobe malfunction. Really, she hadn¡¯t checked the almanac before leaving home. She walked towards a nearby mall and, halfway there, Nie Chenng¡¯s car slowly caught up with her. Nie Chenng slowly lowered the car window, ¡°Chaomu, get in the car.¡± Xu Chaomu was startled; she hadn¡¯t expected Nie Chenng to still be around. She shook her head, ¡°No need, you should go back.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t get in, then I¡¯ll get out,¡± he said, looking at her with a resolute gaze. ¡°I¡­ Chenng, you should really go back. I¡¯m fine,¡± she replied. ¡°I apologize on behalf of Qi Na for today¡¯s incident. From now on, I¡¯ll make sure her parents keep a close eye on her,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not your fault. I didn¡¯t suffer any loss,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. She truly hadn¡¯t suffered any loss; it seemed Qi Na was the one who ended up more embarrassed. ¡°I have nothing to do with her; none of what she said is true,¡± Nie Chenng exined.
¡°I know,¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. She particrly trusted Nie Chenng¡¯s character. Having spent five years with him in Paris, did she not know what kind of person he was? If Qi Na had truly been Nie Chenng¡¯s childhood sweetheart, his girlfriend, he wouldn¡¯t have proposed to her in the first ce. Just that in this life, there are always some people who appear a bit earlier, and some a bitter; perhaps, that is fate. She and Nie Chenng were destined to be connected, but not fated to be together. Nie Chenng decisively got out of the car and walked straight to Xu Chaomu¡¯s side, ¡°I¡¯ll apany you to buy a piece of clothing.¡± He was tall, and when he stood beside Xu Chaomu, she had to slightly lift her head and blink her eyes. At this moment, if she were to decline again, it would just be pretentious. During those five years in Paris, she often dragged Nie Chenng out to shop for clothes. Nie Chenng had good taste and an excellent eye, well-known in Paris for his ability to choose clothing. Often, she would pull Nie Chenng along to go shopping with her. Nie Chenng had neverined and waited patiently while she tried on each garment.
When she first arrived in Paris, unfamiliar with everything, it was mostly Nie Chenng keeping herpany. Latter on, as she made more friends, she didn¡¯t go out with Nie Chenng as often to avoid misunderstandings. If it weren¡¯t for Nie Chenng, she thought, she wouldn¡¯t have survived those five years. Especially during that freezing cold winter when she almost died of cold on the streets. It was Nie Chenng who had picked her up and taken her back home. Just as Shen Chi had said, Nie Chenng offered her warmth, but unfortunately, that warmth couldn¡¯t turn into love¡­ Only then did Xu Chaomu nod her head; she was a bit nostalgic for the times when he had apanied her to buy clothes. ¡°Give me your files,¡± he said, taking the folder from her hand. Xu Chaomu smiled and handed over the folder. His tall figure stood beside her, perfectly shading her from a small portion of the sun. Together, they walked towards the nearby mall. There was a clothing store on the first floor, and Xu Chaomu casually picked one and went inside. Xu Chaomu browsed through the shirts on the racks, examining each one. As they were for an interview, anything formal would suffice. Chapter 491: 491: Child of Unknown Father (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Chapter 491: Child of Unknown Father (Seeking Monthly Ticket) She casually picked a white one and showed it to Nie Chenng out of habit. ¡°Chenng, what do you think of this one?¡± ¡°Not bad, suitable for an interview, but it might be a bit big on you,¡± Nie Chenng said. Xu Chaomu waved over a sales assistant: ¡°Hello, could you please get me one size smaller?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The sales assistant immediately went to get a smaller size white shirt for Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chenng, it¡¯s been a while since you apanied me shopping, you still remember my size,¡± Xu Chaomu said, smiling. ¡°For a while, I went shopping with you too many times, it¡¯s hard to forget,¡± Nie Chenng replied with a half-joking smile. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve gained weight now.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled and held up the clothes, ¡°I¡¯m going to try this on.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± As Xu Chaomu went in to try on the clothes, Nie Chenng stared at the documents in his hand for a while.
Turns out, the job application was for the design department at Shen Group. She and Shen Chi, after all, couldn¡¯t seem to cut ties or sort out their entangled feelings. Even after five whole years with her, he couldn¡¯t forget Shen Chi. Even though Shen Chi was the son of the man who killed her mother, she couldn¡¯t forget. This mark was too deep, and Nie Chenng chose to step back; he thought he couldn¡¯t remove this brand from her heart. Five years wasn¡¯t enough¡­ The Xu Chaomu on the resume smiled beautifully and confidently. As he looked at it, a smile also graced his lips. Soon, Xu Chaomu came out of the fitting room, changed into the new clothes. She stood in front of the mirror, checked herself out, and thought it looked quite good. The sales assistant, utilizing her selling skills, said, ¡°Miss, you look very pretty in this shirt, it reallyplements your temperament.¡± ¡°Then, what kind of temperament do you think I have?¡± Xu Chaomu held back augh. ¡°You¡¯re elegant and confident,posed and generous. It¡¯s apparent in your behavior and demeanor.¡± Xu Chaomuughed, knowing well enough not to take the sales assistant¡¯s words seriously. The person who understood her most in this world was still Shen Chi. Only Shen Chi would call her ¡°little hooligan,¡± ¡°little bastard.¡± Yes, she was undoubtedly a ¡°little hooligan,¡± a ¡°little bastard.¡± What ¡°elegant and confident,¡± posed and generous¡± ¨C those qualities were far from her, and even if she possessed them, they were just pretense. ¡°I think it¡¯s alright,¡± Xu Chaomu said, looking at herself in the mirror again.
Her belly was covered, showing no signs of protrusion. When she came out, Nie Chenng stared at her for quite a long time. At first, his gaze was fixed on her face. After not seeing her for many days and finding she hadn¡¯t lost weight, he felt relieved. Gradually, his eyes fell on her belly.
There were slight signs of a bump on her abdomen, but it wasn¡¯t obvious. Nie Chenng¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Did she really intend to give birth to this child of unknown paternity? Would Shen Chi ept this child? Shen Chi was a man of high principles, who couldn¡¯t bear even a speck of dust in his eyes. Could he, then, ept this child? Concern flickered across Nie Chenng¡¯s face; he feared Xu Chaomu would suffer at the Shen family. No matter how good the rtionship between a husband and wife, there would be arguments. What if, in the future, they fought, and Shen Chi brought up the child? What would Xu Chaomu do? Just like the five years he and Xu Chaomu had spent in Paris; although their rtionship was good, they had their quarrels. There was a time when Xu Chaomu became addicted to ying games, staying up all night, skipping sses. When he found out, he reprimanded her severely. Xu Chaomu was defiant, and they had a fight. Afterward, there was a cold war thatsted many days, and it was he who finally sought her out. That girl Xu Chaomu sometimes had a stubborn temper. No matter if friends or spouses, even the best of rtionships encounter rough patches, and he truly feared that Xu Chaomu would end up at a disadvantage in the future. As for Shen Chi, he was certainly not short of women; even if he were to divorce, he would still be a business elite, still have a bunch of young and pretty girls flocking to him. Choosing another to marry wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him.
But it was different for Xu Chaomu. If in the future Shen Chi felt uneasy about Xu Chaomu¡¯s child and fought with her, she would always be the one at a disadvantage. And if Xu Chaomu were to divorce, she would only be looked down upon. Nie Chenng felt a pang in his heart; he felt sorry for Xu Chaomu. With Shen Chi¡¯s temperament, he really couldn¡¯t fathom their future. But now, Xu Chaomu was still set on Shen Chi, likely not to listen to anyone else. ¡°Miss, the shirt really fits you well. Maybe, let your boyfriend take a look,¡± the sales assistant said with a smile. In their eyes, a man who apanied a woman shopping was probably either a boyfriend or a husband. Xu Chaomu felt slightly awkward, and she shook her head softly, saying, ¡°He¡¯s just a friend.¡± The sales assistant apologized with an ¡°Oh.¡± Nie Chenng had heard it all; he stepped forward, right beside Xu Chaomu. ¡°This one is fine, but we could also try other styles,¡± Nie Chenng said patiently. ¡°No need, changing clothes is quite bothersome,¡± Xu Chaomu smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s just take this one.¡± She looked at herself in the mirror for a good while, finding no fault.
The interview time was approaching anyway, and it was better to go there earlier. ¡°Alright then, do you want to look at other styles?¡± Nie Chenng asked. In reality, it was rare for him to apany her out, and he was somewhat reluctant to let go. In the future, he didn¡¯t know if they would have another chance like this, so he treasured it. In the past twenty-odd years, the one thing he regretted most was bringing her back to C City. During those five years, Xu Chaomu seldom spoke of Shen Chi; he thought she had long buried Shen Chi deep in her heart¡­ ¡°Not necessary, Chenng, maybe next time I go shopping, I¡¯ll ask you out,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. It was just a casual remark; if she dared to ask him out next time, Shen Chi would break her legs. Nie Chenng didn¡¯t take it too seriously. In the future¡­ there would probably be very few opportunities, if any, to even want to see her. But he still wanted to sit down with her and have a good talk, no matter the topic. Just sitting together and chatting would be nice. Just like in Paris, when they would often sit in caf¨¦s or on campus, talking. Sometimes, they could talk for an entire day. He missed that feeling; back then, there was hardly a topic they wouldn¡¯t discuss.
He thought five years would be enough for her to forget someone, but instead, she had hidden Shen Chi in the deepest recesses of her heart. ¡°Alright,¡± Nie Chenng replied with a smile. He knew Chaomu¡¯s words were just a polite formality. In the future, Shen Chi would be by her side. He, on the other hand, was merely an inconsequential passerby. ¡°Let¡¯s take this one,¡± Xu Chaomu told the sales assistant. ¡°All right then, pleasee here to pay,¡± she responded. After speaking, the sales assistant went to issue Xu Chaomu¡¯s invoice. Xu Chaomu intended to pay for the clothing herself, but Nie Chenng got ahead of her, snatching the invoice first. ¡°Chenng, let me do it!¡± Xu Chaomu still felt uneasy. It was her own clothes; she didn¡¯t feel right letting Nie Chenng pay. ¡°Consider it a gift, don¡¯t disdain it,¡± Nie Chenng said with a smile. After speaking, he promptly went to the cashier to settle the bill. Xu Chaomu stood in ce, staring at his retreating figure through the rows of clothes. Chapter 492: 492: Here Is Your Bracelet Back Chapter 492: Here Is Your Bracelet Back From behind, Nie Chenng had a tall and straight figure, with a spine that stood erect like a pen. She watched him without turning her gaze away, recalling many, many things¡­ From the first time she saw him to their daily interactions over the course of five years, it turned out she had known him for five years already. Fate really was mysterious. There was a short, not too long, line at the cash register, and Xu Chaomu stood in ce, simply watching Nie Chenng¡¯s retreating figure. After a while, Nie Chenng finished paying and walked towards her. ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Nie Chenng nodded his head, knowing that once they stepped out of the mall, it would be a parting once again. This time, they both walked very slowly, Xu Chaomu even more so as she kept her head down, watching her toes as she walked. The mall¡¯s floor tiles were shiny and clean, reflecting her image so distinctly that she could even see her own reflection.
Although it was morning, the mall was bustling with noise that never ceased. Neither of them uttered a word, each just walking in silence. ¡°Chaomu, will we still have the chance to meet in the future?¡± Nie Chenng asked faintly. ¡°As long as you are still in C City, then there will definitely be chances, won¡¯t there?¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. ¡°Hmm.¡± Nie Chenng didn¡¯t say too much; so many things lie ahead, who could predict them? ¡°Chaomu, I haven¡¯t personally apologized to you for that sudden visit from my motherst time,¡± Nie Chenng said apologetically. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ve forgotten about it,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile. Nie Chenng liked this trait of Xu Chaomu¡¯s, whether it was worries or troubles, a lot of the time, she would just sleep and forget about them. Just like in Paris before, a little spat would lead her to say ¡°Nie Chenng, I don¡¯t want to talk to you¡± one second, and in the next, she¡¯de running over saying, ¡°Chenng, look how nice the weather is today.¡± However, not everything was something she could forget. For example, matters regarding her mother. In those five years, he had watched her being tortured by that issue. He had even taken her to see a psychologist. This girl had endured too much suffering. Nie Chenng hoped that Shen Chi would treat her well. ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t you have anything you want to say to me?¡± Nie Chenng asked. ¡°Oh yes, yes,¡± Xu Chaomu said, trying to lift the oppressive atmosphere with augh, ¡°seeing you today, I found you¡¯ve be even more handsome.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Nie Chenng held his forehead. ¡°Oh, and handsome Mr. Nie, how¡¯s your job going? Still smooth?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going well. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯m relieved.¡± Gradually, they reached the mall entrance; pushing open the door, Xu Chaomu faced the sun and looked at the sky. Although it was the hot summer, she liked the sunlight. She always remembered the words Nie Chenng wrote for her: ¡°If your heart is toward the sun, there is no need for sorrow.¡±
It was he who led her out of the deepest shadows, helping her heart¡¯s wounds to gradually heal. She squinted her eyes, feeling the scorching rays. If your heart is toward the sun, there is no need for sorrow. ¡°Chenng, there¡¯s no need to see me off. I¡¯m going to an interview,¡± Xu Chaomu stopped and looked at him. Shen Group wasn¡¯t far from here, she could walk there quickly. ¡°Chaomu, I have something to give you,¡± Nie Chenng said, turning around with a calm expression on his face. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu asked, curious, staring at him with wide eyes. Slowly, Nie Chenng took out a small red box from the pocket of his trousers. The box wasn¡¯t big, quite delicate, fitting just right in the palm of his hand. In front of her, Nie Chenng opened the box. As soon as the box was opened, Xu Chaomu was surprised and covered her mouth. Inside wasn¡¯t anything else but the gift she had given him back then at the orphanage, the little cat bracelet. The bracelet was intact and even seemed more lustrous due to Nie Chenng¡¯s careful keeping.
The little cat on the bracelety quietly in the jewelry box, still as cute as ever. Nie Chenng smiled, took out the bracelet from the box, ¡°Chaomu, to be precise, I¡¯m returning this bracelet to you.¡± It was his most cherished item, and now, the object was returned to its original owner. Xu Chaomu felt a mix of emotions, her nose tingling, nearly on the verge of tears. She bit her lip to control her emotions, but her eyes still turned red. Memories rippled through her mind one by one¡­ Back then at the orphanage, they had gotten along well, and those days were among the happiest times for her. When he left, she gave him this cat bracelet because, frankly, she had nothing else better to give him. She had not expected that he would treasure it like a jewel for five years. The bracelet was initially bought for her by Shen Shihan. On that day, she and Shen Shihan went hiking, and that night, Shen Shihan took her to the mountain top to watch a performance. Those times were so tender, tender enough to drown in, tender enough to make one reluctant to face what came afterward.
If only time could have stayed still, how wonderful that would be. Her Third Brother would still be that brother who protected and doted on her. But reality was always brutal; in the end, Shen Shihan became the executioner who hurt her, albeit indirectly. This bracelet carried so much¡­ Today, when the bracelet reappeared before her eyes, her feelings were overwhelming. Yet, she feared stirring up old memories, beautiful times that, even upon recollection, would not return, only adding to her sorrow. The not-so-beautiful times, upon recollection, were still unpleasant. So, she decided to walk ahead with her head held high towards the future, leaving the past behind. The future was what was truly worth looking forward to. Nie Chenng held the bracelet in his palm: ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯m returning this bracelet to you.¡± Under the sunlight, the bracelet gleamed with a fresh luster, and it looked exceptionally beautiful. The little cat on the bracelet seemed to be half-closing its eyes as well, enjoying the sunlight. Having not seen the bracelet for five years, it struck a chord in her heart, but she did not reach out to take it. She shook her head: ¡°Chenng, once a gift is given, there¡¯s no taking it back.¡± ¡°I think, perhaps it¡¯s better to have it stay by your side,¡± Nie Chenng said. His face, with its clearly defined features, didn¡¯t betray much emotion, his eyes calm with a mild smile.
Xu Chaomu still shook her head, refusing to take it: ¡°Keep it for me. If you really don¡¯t want it anymore, just throw it away.¡± Seeing that she truly did not want to take it back, Nie Chenng didn¡¯t force her. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it for you then. If one day you want it back,e and get it,¡± he said and bent down to put the bracelet back into the box. His manner of carefully putting away the bracelet was especially charming. Against the sunlight, Xu Chaomu watched him intently. As she watched, a faint smile spread across her lips. Nie Chenng, such a good person, would surely be happy in the future. It was just a pity that she wouldn¡¯t be the one to apany him to the end. Soon, Nie Chenng ced the bracelet back into the box and raised his head, his lips curving into a slight smile for her. ¡°Chenng, I¡¯m going to head to the interview now. There¡¯s no need to see me off, goodbye,¡± Xu Chaomu said, waving at him. As she waved her hand, she stepped backward. After retreating five or six steps, she gave a crafty smile and turned to run away. Nie Chenng didn¡¯t follow this time but just watched as her figure gradually shrank to a dot¡­ Chapter 493: Call Him ‘Husband Chapter 493: Call Him ¡®Husband Xu Chaomu wore a clean white shirt, and her mood had now seemingly lifted. Her heart had been like riding a roller coaster these past few days, full of ups and downs. Thankfully, the person she cared about cared about her too. As for those irrelevant people, let them be. She wasn¡¯t a saint, capable of making every single person satisfied. The mall wasn¡¯t far from the Shen Group building, and she quickly arrived at the base of the building. Lifting her head, a gentle curve formed at the corners of her lips. The four bold and forceful characters of ¡°Shen Group¡± shimmered in the sunlight with a golden glow. Xu Chaomu stood underneath the building, staring at those four characters. She hoped that Shen¡¯s would always have a foothold in C City and that Shen Chi would always be the helmsman of the group. Shen Chi was capable, had boldness and presence; she didn¡¯t believe that Shen Cexian would hand over the group to Shen Shihan. Moreover, even if Shen Cexian impulsively decided to pass the group to Shen Shihan, would Zhou Ran agree to it? Clearly not. There was a constant flow of peopleing and going from the Shen Group building. Xu Chaomu stood for a while before heading into the lobby on the first floor. There were really a lot of people on the first floor, not quiet, quite lively. She liked crowds and buzz, and even more, she hoped that Shen¡¯s would always thrive. After several interviews, Xu Chaomu familiarly made her way to the HR department¡¯s floor. The elevator was packed with several people, and Xu Chaomu squeezed in as well. Two girls, who seemed familiar with each other, stood to one side whispering. ¡°I heard that for this final interview, you need connections to be ultimately epted. Are we just here to make up the numbers?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good toe and see, even if we are making up the numbers, I don¡¯t have any expectations of getting in.¡± ¡°Let me tell you, a senior told me, if you want to get into Shen Group, you need someone on top, or you need someone on top. Get it?¡± The other young girl, clearly too naive, took a good while before she suddenly understood! ¡°Ah, that¡¯s normal, you know, the unspoken rules!¡± Xu Chaomu reflected thoughtfully, either you need someone on top, or you need someone on top? Quite artistic. So what was she counted as? Soon, the elevator reached the interview floor, and Xu Chaomu, along with everyone else, went to the waiting room to wait. There were several test papers on the table in the waiting room. Xu Chaomu casually picked up a warm-up paper to look at. It featured all sorts of questions, like ¡°If your design work was giarized, how would you handle it¡±, ¡°How to maintain good interpersonal rtions in the department¡±¡­ Xu Chaomu flipped through a few pages; these were all very simple questions, nothing difficult. She guessed that if she got inter, the questions would probably not be so simple. A few young girls gathered together to chat: ¡°A senior sent me the internal interview questions from Shen Group.¡± ¡°Really? Show me, show me!¡± Several girls crowded around. Xu Chaomu blinked; internal questions? Despite her being a person with connections, she hadn¡¯t received them. ¡°I heard that President Shen himself will be conducting the interviews today.¡± ¡°Really? I saw him on TV, one word, handsome!¡± Xu Chaomu blinked again, Shen Chi was still out meeting. Besides, being a president, why would he do something so low-level? ¡°Well, even if I don¡¯t get eptedter, it¡¯s still worth it; this trip definitely wouldn¡¯t be a waste.¡± The few young girls were excited, and so was Xu Chaomu. If she was epted, in the future, she could work in the same building as Shen Chi. In the future, could she then see him every day? Wouldn¡¯t that make it difficult for him to flirt with girls? Soon, two other girls from the design department were called. The order was determined by a draw, and Xu Chaomu happened to draw the third slot; she was in no hurry. After everyone else hade out, only then did she enter. Upon entering, she saw a row of interviewers, all dressed in very formal ck suits. Of course, there was no Shen Chi. ¡°Good morning, examiners.¡± ¡°Good morning, please take a seat.¡± Xu Chaomu greeted them and then took her seat, awaiting the questions. After answering a few questions, Xu Chaomu submitted her design work, bowed politely, and exited the interview room. The design department¡¯s interview was over, and several managers from the design department left the main conference room and went to the small conference room to discuss. ¡°Of the three candidates interviewed for our design department, what do you think, who performed better?¡± asked the head of the design department first. ¡°Each has their own merits, the first girl has goodmunication skills, the second has a nice personality, gentle and graceful, the third has good work.¡± said the deputy head fairly. ¡°All are graduates from prestigious schools, noints in terms of education. However, based on the interviews, I¡¯m more inclined towards the first one; she has very good oratory skills.¡± a middle-aged womanmented. ¡°We are the design department, not the publicity department. Being eloquent doesn¡¯t seem to be an advantage,¡± the discussion became heated. ¡°Well, if you all think that the work is the most important factor, let¡¯s choose the third one.¡± ¡°No, no, no, that won¡¯t do. The third one is young, might be immature.¡± ¡°Since neither the first nor the third will do, let¡¯s go with the second one; she has a nice personality, and her work isn¡¯t bad either.¡± The middle-aged woman insisted on the first candidate: ¡°I still have to say, this first girl isn¡¯t just a top student from a prestigious school in London, but her father is the head of the Foreign Affairs Office in C City. A lot of Shen¡¯s goods go through her father.¡± The others fell a bit silent, but the deputy head still remarked, ¡°Shen Group has always been quite fair in recruitment.¡± The woman said indifferently, ¡°Her father called mest night, said his daughter¡¯s dream since her university days was to join Shen Group. He asked us to ensure¡­¡± The woman stopped midsentence, picked up the tea in front of her and drank without a sound. ¡°Is she a rtive of yours?¡± the deputy head inquired. ¡°No more than a friend. Her father said, if his daughter gets in, a lot of things will be easier to deal with in the future.¡± The group exchanged looks, somewhat silent. Though since Shen Cexian¡¯s time, the emphasis had always been on meritocracy, without too many entangled interests, everyone was still calcting in their hearts. Another man asked, ¡°What about the other two? Do they have any connections?¡± ¡°The second one¡¯s parents are ordinary employees of a state-owned enterprise; the third¡¯s parents are deceased. Both are unmarried.¡± ¡°I see.¡± This time, even the head was silent. As these few had gone to discuss in the small conference room, Xu Chaomu quietly left. The results wouldn¡¯t be out until tomorrow; she decided to head back to the Shen family house to wait. Unexpectedly, just as she had finished gathering her documents, her phone rang. It was nobody else but Shen Chi calling. Xu Chaomu was sitting outside the waiting room, answering the call. It was noisy inside the waiting room, but quite quiet outside. ¡°Why do you have time to call me this morning?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Call me ¡®husband¡¯, and I¡¯ll tell you why.¡± ¡°If you won¡¯t say it, forget it, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu pouted her lips and pretended to hang up the call. But after pretending for quite a few seconds, the call hadn¡¯t disconnected. Chapter 494: Want to Hold You Every Moment Chapter 494: Want to Hold You Every Moment Shen Chi was also silent, and Xu Chaomu was feeling quite angry inside. This scheming man, just betting that she didn¡¯t want to hang up the phone. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Xu Chaomu conceded, ¡°Hurry up and tell me, why did you call me this morning?¡± ¡°Call me ¡®husband¡¯.¡± Shen Chi was insistent, his voice firm in a way that brooked no resistance. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was so angry she was practically trembling. She steeled her heart, bowed her head, gritted her teeth, and reluctantly called out ¡°Husband¡±¡­ ¡°Mhm.¡± On the other end, Shen Chi felt veryfortable hearing it, and his lips unconsciously curled up slightly. Just by coincidence, a man walked out of the small meeting room to go to the restroom, and as he opened the door, he heard Xu Chaomu call out ¡°Husband¡± to someone on her phone. The man pushed his sses up, looking at Xu Chaomu in confusion. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes widened in shock; wasn¡¯t this one of the interviewers who had just interviewed her? She quickly grabbed her handbag and ran off! She had always imed to be single on her resume, and she had also made a deal with Shen Chi not to mention their marriage within thepany. Now, before she¡¯d even been hired, she was caught red-handed. Could this be considered deceiving? The man was stunned on the spot for a good few minutes, and it just so happened that he was precisely from the Design Department. He pushed his sses up again, his face wearing an expression that seemed like he had been dealt a bad hand. Xu Chaomu instinctively ran toward the elevator, finally calming down when she arrived there. But why was she running? ¡°I heard today is the third round of interviews?¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly. Xu Chaomu was panting from running as she caught her breath by the elevator: ¡°Yes¡­ Yes, it is.¡± On the other end, Shen Chi frowned: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing much, does a CEO like you even care about such matters?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about the interview, I¡¯m concerned about you.¡± As soon as Shen Chi said this, Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheeks turned red. Honestly, she hadn¡¯t realized before that this man was so skilled at saying sweet nothings. She couldn¡¯t withstand it. ¡°Then do you want me to work at Shen¡¯s?¡± Xu Chaomu asked with her eyes blinking. ¡°The truth?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Xu Chaomu was unhappy. ¡°If you were toe, would I still have any freedom?¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s your state when I¡¯m not there?¡± Xu Chaomu retorted. Shen Chi pondered for a few seconds, then deliberately said, ¡°Well¡­ when you¡¯re not here, I can flirt with beautiful women and exploit the female employees to my heart¡¯s content.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, you beast!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed, ¡°You don¡¯t even spare the female employees.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a loss not to take advantage of my position?¡± Shen Chi said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Then I won¡¯t go. You can go ahead and flirt with your female employees, set your rules. Don¡¯t let me spoil your mood.¡± ¡°If youe, I can exploit you,¡± Shen Chi said with augh. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was covered in ck lines. ¡°To exploit you openly and rightfully, I will let you into Shen¡¯s.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming to Shen¡¯s to learn! To work! To pursue my dreams!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed angrily. ¡°I have only one purpose, to exploit you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was very domineering, leaving no room for her resistance. Xu Chaomu thought about it for a moment. She couldn¡¯t just be spineless; Shen¡¯s was such a goodpany tform, and so many people were desperate to get in. It would be too capricious to just say no and not take it. Moreover, she refused to believe that she couldn¡¯t outsmart Shen Chi. Besides, in the future, she could keep an eye on him every day to see if he was truly staying out of trouble or just pretending. ¡°Then we have an agreement. Inside thepany, pretend we don¡¯t know each other,¡± Xu Chaomuid down her terms. ¡°Fine,¡± Shen Chi agreed with a curve of his lips. Only then did Xu Chaomu smile; yes, now she wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°Did you call me today just about this?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°You miss me?¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly blurted out shamelessly. When she was in a good mood, she liked to tease Shen Chi. Now she thought, if she had signed that divorce agreement, would she even have the chance to speak with Shen Chi right now? ¡°¡­¡± Shen Chi went icy, intending to hang up, ¡°I need to prepare for a meeting.¡± ¡°Oh, if you don¡¯t miss me, forget it,¡± Xu Chaomu said dismissively. Having said that, Xu Chaomu decisively hung up the phone, just as the elevator arrived. With such matters, one must take the initiative. Upon entering the crowded elevator where the signal was poor, Xu Chaomu temporarily put away her phone. Shen Chi thought Xu Chaomu was mad at him for hanging up on him. He redialed several times, but no one answered. Now Shen Chi was the one who was anxious, making several calls in a row. By the time the elevator reached its destination, a good while had passed. When Xu Chaomu checked her phone, she saw that Shen Chi had called her several times in that short span. Several minutester, when the phone rang once more, she leisurely answered it. Shen Chi didn¡¯t waste any words and just replied with one word to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Miss.¡± Xu Chaomu was delighted inside; this man was truly a prideful tsundere, so concerned with face! ¡°How much do you miss me?¡± Xu Chaomu asked indifferently. ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t push it too far!¡± Shen Chi snapped. ¡°Fine, forget it, then,¡± Xu Chaomu pretended to be unsatisfied. She had to repay him for earlier when he made her call him ¡°husband.¡± ¡°Missing you every moment, wanting to hold you, does that count?!¡± Shen Chi said. Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu was taken aback; his response was not what she expected. ¡°Husband will be back soon, don¡¯t feel empty, lonely, and cold,¡± Shen Chi began his counterattack. Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu was sweating profusely; this was something Shen Chi might hold over her for a lifetime. Some missteps really do turn into lifelong regrets. ¡°Then say it again, do you miss me?¡± Xu Chaomu hurriedly changed the subject. This man was particrly petty and vengeful; she had just hung up on him, and he immediately started to counterattack. ¡°More than missing you¡­ I want you,¡± Shen Chi deliberately lowered his voice. Xu Chaomu held her forehead, feeling utterly defeated; she admitted she was no match for him and bowed to the inevitable. ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re handsome, whatever you say is right,¡± Xu Chaomu said innocently. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t hesitate to agree. Xu Chaomu sweated profusely; couldn¡¯t he be a little more modest? ¡°Then do you miss my baby?¡± Xu Chaomu took the opportunity to divert the topic once more. This time, there was no immediate reply on the other end, and the phone went silent for a moment. Xu Chaomu had just asked casually, not expecting silence. Her heart skipped a beat, and her grip on the phone tightened without reason. ¡°Miss.¡± It took a while before Shen Chi finally spoke. Listening, Xu Chaomu realized he didn¡¯t seem as sincere as when he said he missed her, at least not as quickly. On the other end of the phone, Shen Chi indeed had been silent for a while, as he hadn¡¯t expected Xu Chaomu to ask him that question. Perhaps because the child was still too young, he often forgot that she was pregnant. Thus, many times, he truly hadn¡¯t thought about their child. ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu responded lightly, her head bowed, no longer as cheerful as before. She knew that Shen Chi still had reservations in his heart. For a man to unconditionally ept this child was already doing his best. Chapter 495: 495: She Wants to See Shen Chi Chapter 495: She Wants to See Shen Chi ¡°My baby must be very cute,¡± Xu Chaomu said, instinctively touching her stomach as she spoke to her phone. ¡°Yeah, your baby must be very cute, just like you,¡± Shen Chi said. His tone was very calm, like ake without ripples. Xu Chaomu frowned, what did he mean ¡®her¡¯ baby? It was his too. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say ¡®ours¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. In his heart, he hadn¡¯t prepared himself to truly ept the child, had he? No wonder, with his domineering nature, epting her and this ¡°father unknown¡± child was already the biggest concession. Shen Chi was silent for a moment, then spoke indifferently, ¡°I need to prepare for a meeting.¡± ¡°Shen Chi! Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu called his name twice, but he still hung up the phone. This man was human, not a deity, with emotions she understood. She¡¯d find another opportunity to tell him the child was his.
Then she¡¯d see if he still had any small temper. Shen Chi hung up the phone and immediately regretted it. In the business world, he was known for hisposure and never allowed his emotions to show on his face or in his voice. He was skilled in concealing his true thoughts, however, just now he hadn¡¯t been able to control himself. He had said he would ept the child, but his behavior just now had been far from good. Now, he felt a bit annoyed. If only Xu Chaomu¡¯s child were his, how wonderful that would be. When he held her, he would hold the child too; the three of them together, as a family. But that was just an ¡®if¡¯. Xu Chaomu¡¯s child could be another man¡¯s. His head started to throb again, he closed his eyes, furrowing his eyebrows, leaning on the sofa, silently massaging his temples. The room was quiet, not a sound to be heard, but his heart was anything but silent. Xu Chaomu walked aimlessly through the first-floor lobby, feeling dejected. There were many handsome men in the bustling lobby, but she had no mood to even look at them. She¡­ wanted to see Shen Chi. It had been several days since shest saw him, and she really missed him. She wanted to see him smile, wanted him to serve her food, wanted to tease him. But after the phone call just now, he must be feeling ufortable again. Actually¡­ it wasn¡¯t intentional on her part¡­ Holding her folder, she strolled through the lobby, unwilling to leave.
Right then, she bumped into a girl who had interviewed with her for the design department. The girl was the second to go in, and now she came out of the elevator looking sullen and unhappy. Before Xu Chaomu could react, the girl greeted her first. ¡°Hi.¡±
Xu Chaomu waved back: ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°I heard there are hidden rules at Shen Group,¡± the girl whispered to Xu Chaomu with an air of mystery. Xu Chaomu widened her eyes, speaking so directly about that? She pretended not to understand: ¡°What hidden rules?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t there three of us in the interview?¡± the girl leaned closer, ¡°Do you know the background of the first girl who went in?¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Of course, there was no need for her to know. ¡°Her father is the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department. Many high-ranking executives at Shen¡¯s know her father. There¡¯s no chance for the two of us,¡± the girl said with a scoff and a shrug. ¡°Isn¡¯t Shen¡¯s supposed to be fair?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they say to outsiders, for show. How could it possibly be fair?¡± ¡°Then why did youe for the interview?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked. ¡°I thought I wouldn¡¯t encounter someone with a powerful background, but as luck would have it, I did.¡± Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu suddenly felt guilty; did that make her one of the insiders?
¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not just Shen¡¯s hiring. I¡¯ve heard that Shen¡¯s has high demands for employees, very strict. It¡¯s good not to work there; you can¡¯t bezy,¡± Xu Chaomu tried tofort her. The girl sighed again, ¡°For people like us without background, who can¡¯t rely on connections, it seems no goodpany will want us.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t think like that. With ability, you will still be recognized,¡± Xu Chaomu was much moreposed. ¡°It¡¯s more reliable to get married,¡± the girl said nonchntly. Xu Chaomu decided not to speak. It seemed everything she said was unwee. ¡°Forget it, if it¡¯s not meant to be here, there¡¯s a ce where it is,¡± the girl muttered as she walked out of Shen Group¡¯s lobby. Xu Chaomu watched her leave, thinking that girl¡¯s attitude wasn¡¯t right. But that first girl who went in, she had such a powerful background? Oh, that was none of her business. While Xu Chaomu was aimlessly wandering on the first floor, upstairs in a small conference room, a heated discussion was underway. ¡°I think we should just decide now, anyway, all three candidates interviewed were excellent. It¡¯s up to us to decide who to recruit,¡± a middle-aged woman said. ¡°Let¡¯s just settle it then, we have to recruit one anyway. Besides, such a trivial matter, Mr. Shen won¡¯t ask personally.¡± Just then, a man with sses pushed up his sses, speaking slowly, ¡°That Xu Chaomu, let¡¯s forget about her, look, her resume says unmarried.¡±
The others stared at him, a mix of confusion and anticipation for what he¡¯d say next. The man said, ¡°Just now, when I stepped out, I heard her calling someone ¡®husband¡¯ on the phone.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s deceit. Thepany doesn¡¯t need dishonest people the most.¡± ¡°Maybe the youngdy was just joking,¡± the supervisor spoke up, ¡°But Xu Chaomu really does have impressive work; I want to recruit her.¡± ¡°Supervisor, please think about our department. Our performance has always beengging, always dragging us down. If it drags on, I think we should all just resign!¡± the middle-aged woman said unhappily. ¡°Look at our department, how many are really working hard? That¡¯s why I want to recruit someone capable,¡± the supervisor also sounded unhappy. A tense atmosphere filled the small conference room. ¡°Do as you please. I don¡¯t care anymore. When the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department asks, I¡¯ll just say I did my best.¡± The middle-aged woman stood up. ¡°Lynn, don¡¯t go, let¡¯s discuss this more,¡± someone tried to hold her back. ¡°What else is there to talk about? We¡¯ve already said, it doesn¡¯t matter who we hire. Is it worth it?¡± The woman crossed her arms, looking coldly at everyone. ¡°Yeah, Supervisor, let¡¯s just hire the first girl. Her work wasn¡¯t that bad,¡± someone else said. The supervisor went silent, brooding on his own. Given their design department¡¯s performance, it was no wonder their achievements weren¡¯t improving.
The room fell into a breathless silence, as each person harbored their own scheming thoughts. This silencested for quite a while. ¡°If we can¡¯t decide, forget it, it¡¯s a waste of time!¡± The woman was ready to walk out. Just then, the supervisor¡¯s phone rang. In an instant, all eyes converged on him! Chapter 496: 496: Don’t Guess What’s on Director Shen’s Mind Chapter 496: Don¡¯t Guess What¡¯s on Director Shen¡¯s Mind The supervisor¡¯s phone was ced on the table, and when it rang, everyone¡¯s gaze shifted to the screen. On the screen, two characters shed ¡°Shen¡¯s President¡±! How many Presidents did Shen Group have, if not Shen Chi? Everyone held their breath, and the woman who had been about to speak immediately received warning nces from the others. The supervisor had just had an argument, his mind was unsettled. He took a deep breath and cautiously answered the call. ¡°President Shen, hello,¡± he said with a smile. The rest of them kept silent; for a moment, the whole conference room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. ¡°Has the interview process finished?¡± The voice on the other end of the phone was calm and forceful, with a slight hoarseness. ¡°The Design Department¡¯s interviews have finished, but a few other departments are still ongoing.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, I just happen to be free and thought I¡¯d ask.¡±
¡°Yes, if there¡¯s anything you want to know, I¡¯ll keep nothing from you.¡± ¡°How many are you recruiting for the Design Department this time? Have you decided?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was indifferent. The attitude was as if he had a sudden whim to show interest. ¡°President Shen, the Design Department is only recruiting one neer this time, and we are discussing it now,¡± the supervisor said. ¡°Oh? Okay then, you go ahead with your discussion, I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and devoid of any emotion. ¡°How could that be, President Shen? Your concern is our greatest honor,¡± the supervisor profusely sweated. He couldn¡¯t even guess what Shen Chi meant; why did he suddenly call? Was he hinting at something? Among the three female candidates, the only one with a notable background was the daughter of the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department. Could it be that President Shen was hinting at her? He pondered for a moment and then decided to speak up, ¡°President Shen, we think a girl named Qian Qian is quite good¡­¡± The lower his voice trailed off as he spoke. Because he too didn¡¯t know whether that was the hint from Shen Chi. ¡°Is that so? What¡¯s good about her?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was nd. Still, the supervisor couldn¡¯t discern any of Shen Chi¡¯s thoughts; what did it mean? Appreciation or skepticism? ¡°She has a good way with words, and her design works are quite creative.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ayer of sweat broke out on the supervisor¡¯s back. What did this ¡°Oh¡± mean? The others dared not speak and listened as the supervisor made the call.
Curiously, Shen Chi didn¡¯t hang up, so the supervisor had to pluck up the courage to continue. ¡°President Shen, we all think she¡¯s quite suitable¡­¡± ¡°What about Xu Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi slowly spoke. The supervisor¡¯s eyes widened; Shen Chi actually knew Xu Chaomu!
Could it be that President Shen preferred Xu Chaomu? ¡°She¡­ she also performed well, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± the supervisor ran out of excuses as he himself rather favored Xu Chaomu. ¡°It¡¯ll be Xu Chaomu!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s four words were emphatic. ¡°Ah?¡± The supervisor wasn¡¯t able to respond immediately and blurted out, ¡°Why¡­¡± No sooner had he said that than he felt he was doomed; since when did they have the right to question Shen Chi¡¯s decisions? The others also gasped in shock; could it be their department was about to face trouble? ¡°I¡¯ve met her once before; she looks good,¡± Shen Chi said in his indifferent tone. The crowd exchanged nces; what did he mean by ¡°looks good¡±? Hadn¡¯t everyone said that their CEO was uninterested in women, that he hadn¡¯t married even at twenty-eight? ¡°President Shen, I understand, I understand,¡± the supervisor repeatedly wiped his sweat. ¡°Good if you understand,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. After that, Shen Chi hung up. Instantly, the small conference room was silent; the topic that had been so hotly debated was halted by a call from Shen Chi.
Looking around at everyone, the supervisor just shrugged and spread his hands. The middle-aged woman was very upset but helpless. In Shen¡¯s, of course, Shen Chi had the final say. The head of the Design Department was rather pleased; after all, he had always valued Xu Chaomu. He now leisurely held a cup of tea and said, ¡°I also think Xu Chaomu is not bad.¡± The middle-aged woman could not take it anymore and stormed out! With her departure, the room burst into chatter as everyone began discussing withplex expressions on their faces. ¡°What does he mean by looks good?¡± someone asked. ¡°Could it be that President Shen has taken a fancy to this girl?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense, Xu Chaomu is decent-looking, but she¡¯s not stunningly beautiful, right? What kind of women hasn¡¯t President Shen seen? His ex-girlfriend was Miss Bai Man.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe having seen too many beautiful women, he wants to change his tastes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t guess what¡¯s on President Shen¡¯s mind,¡± someone said coldly. ¡°If President Shen does fancy this girl, then our Design Department is in luck; maybe we¡¯ll get a lot of special benefits,¡± someone excitedly suggested.
¡°What is this youngdy thinking then?¡± ¡°Being favored by President Shen, she¡¯d be too happy to think otherwise, she must be secretly pleased.¡± ¡°How could President Shen be sincerely interested in her? At most, it¡¯s just for a few days of fun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still a good deal, though. Many people wish for the honor of being yed with for a few days. A few days of fun might earn more than we do in a lifetime,¡± a manmented. The crowd scoffed at him, casting scornful nces his way. The conference room heated up with enthusiasm as they loudly discussed the matter. After a long discussion, everyone eventually dispersed. In the lobby on the first floor, Xu Chaomu was sitting idly on a chair, lost in thought. It wasn¡¯t so much that Xu Chaomu was dazed; she just found herself thinking of Shen Chi at that moment, and observing hispany seemed a good idea. She watched the flow of people, observing Shen Group¡¯s employees radiating enthusiasm, confidence, and poise. Under Shen Chi¡¯s management, Shen Group was destined to flourish even more. As Xu Chaomu watched, a gentle smile curled at the edges of her lips. While she narrowed her eyes at the bustling lobby, suddenly, she saw a familiar figure!
A woman, wearing a mask and looking down, quickly headed towards the exit of thepany. Her hurried pace, her mask pulled up high, covering almost half her face. And when she bowed her head, her hair shielded her cheeks, keeping anyone from noticing her. But Xu Chaomu did notice, because that figure was all too familiar. It was Mo Shuifu! Mo Shuifu had a great figure, and today she wore a ck dress that blended into the crowd, attracting no attention. She kept her head down, walking briskly. Xu Chaomu was curious; who was she here to see? The weather was nice, and there was no smog; there was no need for a mask. Furthermore, Xu Chaomu was certain it was Mo Shuifu. She quickly stood up and followed behind Mo Shuifu. But the lobby was too crowded, and by the time Xu Chaomu reached the entrance, Mo Shuifu had disappeared after turning a corner! Xu Chaomu looked left and right, but the figure of Mo Shuifu was nowhere to be seen. Blinking herrge eyes, she stood in ce for quite a while, but still, she couldn¡¯t spot Mo Shuifu again. She began to doubt her own eyes. But perhaps, she was just being paranoid; it¡¯s not as if Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯te to Shen¡¯s. She was Shen Shihan¡¯s wife. Chapter 497: 497: The Flustered Mo Shuifu Chapter 497: The Flustered Mo Shuifu Xu Chaomu stood at the door, looking out for a while, but did not see Mo Shuifu again. Pouting her lips, she had no choice but to sheepishly return to the hall. Meanwhile, Mo Shuifu walked out from the Shen Group and hailed a taxi by the roadside. Once inside the taxi, she removed her mask. ¡°Miss, where are you going?¡± the taxi driver asked. ¡°To the factory in Shallow Bay,¡± Mo Shuifu replied indifferently. A few nights ago, while bathing, Shen Shihan was on the phone the entire time. She always felt that he was hiding something from her. Taking advantage of his distraction, she peeked at his cell phone. All the text messages had been deleted, leaving only one that read, ¡°Meet at the Shallow Bay factory.¡± This factory was Shen Group¡¯s turf, and some of Shen¡¯s goods were stockpiled there. Early this morning, Shen Shihan said he was going to the Group for work, but when she went to Shen¡¯s, she couldn¡¯t find him. She grew suspicious and wanted to go to the factory to find him.
Oftentimes, although women are sensitive, their intuition is very urate. She felt that Shen Shihan was keeping something from her, but he definitely wouldn¡¯t tell her. ¡°Okay,¡± the driver responded and drove towards the factory. The factory was located in a remote part of C City, and it was quite a long journey from here to there. Worried for Shen Shihan, she often saw him troubled and always wanted to ask him about it. But every time, he would say it was business matters, and that she wouldn¡¯t understand even if he exined. Mo Shuifu, with her gentle nature, didn¡¯t usually concern herself with these matters, buttely, her eyelids would incessantly twitch. She always felt that Shen Shihan was hiding something important from her. Though their rtionship started with his aggressive pursuit, deep down Mo Shuifu hoped he was all right. He was good to her, she knew that. The closer the car got to the factory, the more deste the surroundings became. In the bustling city center, skyscrapers dominated the skyline while the deste outskirts showed no such heights. Shen Group¡¯s factory in Shallow Bay was huge, a dark mass in the distance. There were warehouses, assembly lines, workshops¡­ In such a vast ce, Mo Shuifu came to try her luck, uncertain if she¡¯d encounter Shen Shihan. As the car traveled along a wide, deserted road toward the factory, it soon came to a stop. ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± the driver said. Mo Shuifu paid the driver and got out of the passenger side. As soon as she did, she put on her mask and looked around.
She had exited right by the warehouse section, which was primarily used for storing goods and where few workers were seen. She weaved between the buildings, her heart pounding incessantly. Many warehouses had been sealed off with tape, in a locked-down state, with no entry for unauthorized personnel. Mo Shuifu felt uneasy and walked close to the walls.
The scorching sun beat down on her, and despite not feeling the heat, a cold sweat broke out on her back. Mixed scents pervaded the warehouse area, which made her wrinkle her nose and feel ufortable. She followed the path, passing many sealed warehouses, without discerning anything significant. The warehouse area was very quiet, absent of workers. As she walked forward, she suddenly heard very faint voices. Normally, hearing voices would be no cause for rm, but she heard a familiar voice. It was Shen Shihan! Mo Shuifu quickly covered her mouth and held her breath. He was indeed in this ce; he said he went to the Group, but he was lying to her. Searching for the source of the sound, she went back and forth until she determined it came from one of the warehouses. The factory warehouses were like a maze, with paths everywhere. The voices seemed close by, but it took her a while to find the spot. The warehouse was sealed; she tiptoed to a taped-up window and stopped breathing. The burning sun shone on her face, and a thinyer of sweat formed on her forehead. She hoped she was overthinking and that Shen Shihan was only here to check on the inventory.
¡°ce that batch of goods here at that time,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice said. Mo Shuifu listened intermittently through the wall. ¡°Okay, Young Master Shen.¡± ¡°Be careful, Shen Chi must have someone watching.¡± ¡°Of course, Young Master Shen, you can rest easy, it¡¯s not our first time.¡± ¡°Once the goods arrive, sell them within three days.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°By the way, keep your distance from Jian Sisi, or sooner orter Shen Chi will suspect you,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°I understand, Young Master Shen.¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t understand, but her instincts told her they were discussing something unsavory. Otherwise, why fear Shen Chi finding out? At this point, the voices subsided, and she could hardly hear them anymore, though it was always intermittent. Mo Shuifu pressed against the wall, trying to catch more of the conversation to no avail.
Suddenly, she knocked a brick with her foot, and it ttered to the ground with a loud sound in the quiet area. The noise startled Mo Shuifu, and she quickly ran away. Shen Shihan and Zhuo Fan inside the warehouse heard the noise and chased out after it. Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t get far. As she kept running straight ahead, Shen Shihan had alreadye out after her. Under the sunlight, his deep eyes narrowed, radiating a chilling gaze. Two formidable res bore into Mo Shuifu¡¯s back. Zhuo Fan wanted to continue the chase, but Shen Shihan raised his hand, signaling him not to. ¡°Young Master Shen, what if that woman overheard something?¡± Zhuo Fan worriedly said. ¡°Leave it,¡± Shen Shihan said in a low and sharp tone. ¡°If it¡¯s discovered that we¡¯re hiding the goods in the Shen Group¡¯s warehouse, we¡¯ll be in deep trouble.¡± ¡°I said leave it!¡± Shen Shihan shouted coldly. Zhuo Fan, scared into silence, said no more. Mo Shuifu frantically ran off, not daring to linger for even a moment.
After running for a long time and finding that no one was following her, she finally rxed and went to the roadside to hail a taxi. She hadn¡¯t expected to actually find Shen Shihan here, and feared that he might have seen her too. Her heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding, filled with apprehension. He likely hadn¡¯t expected her toe here either. At this moment, her entire face was a portrait of panic. If Shen Shihan had seen her, how was she going to face him next? She nervously twisted her fingers, ncing around from time to time. There were no people around, no vehicles, and no footsteps to be heard. After waiting a few minutes without catching a taxi, knowing this ce was too remote to find one, she decided to walk. After a lengthy walk with no cars in sight and covered in sweat, she couldn¡¯t tell if it was from fear or the heat. Her heart was tormented with unease, her hands constantly trembling. She truly did not know how to face Shen Shihan¡ªlying was definitely not an option. She walked beneath the shade of trees, the feeling not at all pleasant, bringing back memories from five years ago. Back then, she had gone to the Shen Family to expose Shen Shihan in front of Shen Chi, when he suddenly appeared. Afterward, she ran along the road inside the Rich Splendor Vi Complex¡­ And it was that incident when she lost her first child. Chapter 498: 498: Turn Yourself In Chapter 498: Turn Yourself In Many times, it wasn¡¯t that she was heartless, but that she didn¡¯t want to see him fall into trouble. Perhaps there was some hatred five years ago, but after getting married, she had been trying to ept him. She wanted him to be well and perhaps, they could even live together happily. She kept walking along the road, and as she walked, her heart remained uneasy. Halfway down the road, a Ferrari pulled up beside her. She immediately stopped in her tracks, knowing without looking that this was Shen Shihan¡¯s car. Her twisting hands involuntarily paused; he had caught up to her after all. The ck car window slowly rolled down, revealing the man in the driver¡¯s seat with a stern expression, his face cold and forbidding. His sharp eyes fixed on the windshield, his dark pupils filled with a chill and wild pride. When the window was fully down, his tightly pursed lips coldly spat out two words, ¡°Get in.¡± The icy voice reached Mo Shuifu¡¯s ears, making her feel as if she were in the dead of winter.
She slowly turned around to face him. His profile under the sunlight was menacing. She couldn¡¯t refuse him. She opened the passenger door and slowly sat down. After she buckled her seatbelt, Shen Shihan stepped on the gas pedal and drove forward. Neither of them spoke, and Mo Shuifu¡¯s heart pounded erratically. Shen Shihan was silent too, but coldness radiated from him. A long time passed before Shen Shihan finally moved his lips. ¡°Did you hear everything?¡± Mo Shuifu turned her head, nced at him, her face somewhat nk. ¡°What?¡± she asked faintly. Shen Shihan snorted coldly, not speaking, but the chill in his eyes intensified. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything,¡± Mo Shuifu stated truthfully. Her intuition grew stronger, certain it wasn¡¯t something good. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid of her hearing it. ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Shihan asked coldly, scoffing, clearly disbelieving. ¡°Believe it or not, I really didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you tell me what you did hear?¡± Shen Shihan countered. ¡°It¡¯s something about you having a shipmenting in,¡± Mo Shuifu knew she couldn¡¯t hide it. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then, you don¡¯t seem to want Shen Chi to find out,¡± Mo Shuifu continued.
Shen Shihan snorted again, his tone unfriendly, and coldly said, ¡°Go and tell him then.¡± ¡°What exactly are you transporting that you can¡¯t let Shen Chi know? And why are you being so secretive?¡± ¡°Want to know?¡± Shen Shihan looked ahead, his eyes revealing a hellish glint.
His tone made Mo Shuifu¡¯s shoulders tremble, and she grasped the seat belt tightly without realizing it. ¡°Are you going to tell me?¡± she asked, turning to look at him nervously. ¡°Arms,¡± Shen Shihan said, his face expressionless. Mo Shuifu¡¯s eyes widened. Arms? That was illegal. ¡°Shen Shihan, why are you transporting such things? Don¡¯t you know that¡¯s illegal?¡± ¡°I know. So what? Are you going to report me to Shen Chi? Go ahead, I¡¯m not stopping you,¡± Shen Shihan said with a hostile tone. He deliberately added an ¡°again¡± to his words, simply to remind her of what happened five years ago. Mo Shuifu¡¯s heart trembled, her grip on the seatbelt tightening. Her mind went nk, and it took her a long time to snap out of it. She felt as if even the sun in front of her was shaking, a blinding white re, very harsh on the eyes. After a long while, she finally spoke. ¡°You should turn yourself in.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±
¡°You¡¯re harming yourself and others, do you know that?¡± Mo Shuifu said, her face pale and voice severe. ¡°Unless you go and snitch to Shen Chi, no one else will know,¡± Shen Shihan finally turned to nce at Mo Shuifu, his look full of warning. The blood-red hue spreading in his eyes gave Mo Shuifu chills. ¡°You know full well that I won¡¯t,¡± she said, her voice as cold as frost. ¡°You could totally do it. That way, maybe Shen Chi would see you in a different light.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t help but yell at him. She was usually calm; it took a lot to anger her. But this man always managed to infuriate her to the point of bursting. ¡°What else could I mean? This is a rare opportunity,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s tone was bitter. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t like to quarrel. As he said that, she immediately turned her head to look out the window, not wanting to deal with him any longer. It was him who had done wrong, yet somehow, she seemed to be the one at fault. Mo Shuifu was very angry. Silence fell in the car, as neither of them spoke. After a while, Mo Shuifu said faintly, ¡°If you don¡¯t turn yourself in, let¡¯s get a divorce. I don¡¯t want to live a life of constant fear with you.¡±
She knew that her threat had no effect. In his life, in his heart, she likely held an insignificant ce. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t havemitted illegal acts without considering her future. Hearing the word ¡°divorce,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened, and the coldness on his face grew more intense. He braked hard, bringing the car to a stop at the roadside! Turning his head, two icy gazes bore into her. ¡°Have you wanted a divorce for a long time?¡± Mo Shuifu grew even angrier, faced with his attitude. ¡°Can you not change the subject, please?¡± Mo Shuifu said, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to live in constant fear.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you, as long as you don¡¯t talk, no one will know!¡± ¡°Are you treating Shen Chi like a fool?¡± Mo Shuifu was unyielding. ¡°Yes, in your eyes, he¡¯s like a god, perfect in every way. We¡¯ve been married for two years, when have you ever forgotten about him? Huh?!¡± Shen Shihan roared, anger bubbling in his eyes. ¡°When will you stop being so unreasonable? I¡¯ve told you many times, Shen Chi belongs to Chaomu, and I¡¯m married to you.¡±
¡°Not content, are you? Then go snatch him back from Xu Chaomu!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore.¡± Mo Shuifu was furious. It was always like this, every argument would raise his doubts, and he would bring up Shen Chi. It didn¡¯t matter that Xu Chaomu had returned; even if he hadn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t think about Shen Chi. Some people are destined to be admired from afar. Five years had passed, and her feelings for Shen Chi had long since faded¡­ She was no schoolgirl with a crush, lingering on someone. She understood reality well. Silence once again fell in the car, but this quiet only stoked the fire in Shen Shihan¡¯s heart, burning fiercer than before. ¡°Mo Shuifu, listen. Forget everything you saw and heard today,¡± Shen Shihan warned her. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t respond, her eyes fixed on the world outside the window. This matter was serious, and she would certainly be cautious but it didn¡¯t mean she would listen to Shen Shihan. ¡°Did you hear me?¡± Shen Shihan demanded coldly. ¡°One must face the consequences of their mistakes,¡± Mo Shuifu replied simply. ¡°Then from today onwards, you¡¯re not allowed to leave the house!¡± Chapter 499: 499 – She’s relieved that she doesn’t have children Chapter 499: Chapter 499 ¨C She¡¯s relieved that she doesn¡¯t have children Mo Shuifu turned her head, and this time, she could not remain calm! ¡°Shen Shihan, can¡¯t you be reasonable? I¡¯m doing this for your own good. If you¡¯re not grateful, then don¡¯t drag me down with you!¡± Mo Shuifu was pressuring him; she wanted him to back off in time. She suddenly remembered a question he had asked her long ago: If one day, both Shen Chi and I were in trouble at the same time, which one would you feel sorry for? She did not wish for such a day toe, no, there must never be such a day. ¡°Drag you down?¡± Shen Shihan chewed on these three words and sneered coldly, ¡°Is that how you view our rtionship?¡± ¡°If you truly don¡¯t want to back off, then let¡¯s get divorced first.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Shen Shihan repeated the same sentence. He could never divorce her; he would always remember how he felt in the hospital. Back then, the nurse told him that her child was miscarried. At that time, ording to their agreement, he was supposed to let her go, but at that moment, he regretted it.
It took him three years to find her again, even if she had nothing left, even if the doctors said it was unlikely for her to get pregnant again, but he still resolutely took her to the civil affairs office to register their marriage. Although she had always been resistant, after two years of adaptation, their rtionship had improved a lot. He was looking forward to the day when they could grow old together. Five years ago, his father, Shen Cexian, had given all of his shares to him; he was well-positioned topete for the presidency of Shen Group. Butter, to marry Mo Shuifu, Shen Cexian gave him an ultimatum. If he married Mo Shuifu, he could forget about everpeting for the ownership of Shen Group. His mother, Liu Rumei, also cried and begged him not to marry Mo Shuifu, but he resolutely took her to the civil affairs office anyway. He might not have been able topete against Shen Chi, but it was his own choice to give up that power. He had never regretted it to this day. However, giving up Shen¡¯s did not mean giving up on himself. He wanted to umte funds while transferring assets, to rebuild his own group, and when the time was ripe, to annex Shen¡¯s. He had never shared his inner thoughts with her, thinking these were men¡¯s matters. It wouldn¡¯t take long, at most a year, and he¡¯d have raised enough funds. By then, he wouldn¡¯t need to engage in arms trafficking anymore! Though it was a risky move, the risk wouldn¡¯tst too long. ¡°Shen Shihan, have you ever considered me? If you get caught by the police or discovered by Shen Chi, will you still have a way out?¡± Mo Shuifu spoke calmly, these truths were something Shen Shihan would undoubtedly understand. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t tell anyone, no one else will know!¡± Shen Shihan stated coldly, reaffirming. ¡°Let¡¯s drop it; there¡¯s no need to discuss this issue further.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t do this for long, just give me one more year,¡± Shen Shihan said indifferently. ¡°One year? 365 days of nightmares? 365 days of constant fear?¡± Mo Shuifu gave a bitter smile. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about anything; I will handle this matter properly!¡± ¡°After a year, will you stop? Human greed is never satisfied,¡± she observed.
¡°I will,¡± Shen Shihan promised solemnly. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Mo Shuifu shook her head; she didn¡¯t believe it. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t believe Shen Shihan, but rather that she didn¡¯t trust human nature. Everyone is the same; after getting something, they always fantasize about more. She knew the arms trade was lucrative; as long as one was willing and bold enough, one could gain a lot. Would Shen Shihan be able to stop by then? Mo Shuifu lowered her head, her chest filled withplicated feelings at that moment. Shen Shihan¡¯s gaze, however, gradually softened, and he reached out,ying hisrge palm on her head. Her hair was ck and soft, he loved to stroke her long hair. The anger on his face also gradually subsided; as long as she didn¡¯t argue with him, as long as she didn¡¯t bring up Shen Chi, he loved her deeply. He most loved how she looked when gentle; he wished he could hold her in his embrace. Today, she discovered this matter ¨C if it were someone else, how could he possibly let them leave the factory alive. As he stroked her long hair, she also raised her head. Confusion, panic, and hope filled herrge eyes.
When their eyes met, countless sparks flew. ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± he called her name tenderly. Mo Shuifu pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. Suddenly, he crossed the boundary between them, his cool lips meeting her red ones. Mo Shuifu started in surprise, her eyes wide open with a misty gaze, looking bewilderedly at Shen Shihan. Shen Shihan held down her shoulders, pinning her to the driver¡¯s seat without letting her move. His actions were domineering, but his kisses were tender. Gently nibbling on her lips, he savored her sweetness bit by bit. Mo Shuifu tried to push him away with her hands, because at that moment, she really wasn¡¯t in the mood. Everything that had just happened had not yet settled. Her heart was still pounding like a frantic deer¡­ Shen Shihan was trading in arms; would there be something else besides arms? She didn¡¯t know, but the thought terrified her.
He said he¡¯d stop within a year, but what should she do¡­ What could happen within a year is unpredictable to everyone. If he were discovered by Shen Chi or caught by the police, then what? Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t dare to think further; if that day truly came, what could she do? At this moment, she was actually relieved that she didn¡¯t have children. Shen Shihan kept kissing her, biting her lips gently to stop her from overthinking. Mo Shuifu furrowed her brows and retracted all her thoughts. Closing her eyes, she let Shen Shihan kiss her lips gently. Shen Shihan loved watching her from such a close distance, her long eyshes fluttering like butterfly wings, very beautiful, so beautiful¡­ Everything about her intoxicated him, making himmitted without any second thoughts. He kissed her, nibbling and biting her lips, and slowly, he pried open her teeth to deepen their kiss, tangling together¡­ Time seemed to blur as the car filled with their intertwined breaths. Mo Shuifu was kissed breathless, trying feebly to push him away.
But Shen Shihan had no intention of stopping, kissing her while his hand reached towards the zipper of her dress. After fumbling for a while without sess, he grew frustrated. When did she buy a new dress that he found difficult to unzip? When he failed to open it after several attempts, he became even more irritated and slid his hand directly under her dress¡­ Mo Shuifu was startled, quickly grabbing Shen Shihan¡¯s hand and pushing hard. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s¡­ go back¡­¡± Even though this ce was secluded, Mo Shuifu did not want to be intimate with him here¡­ Moreover, the sunlight outside the window was ring, and her mind was still upied with all those thoughts. Shen Shihan finally stilled his wandering hands and, after one more deep kiss, he nted a light kiss on her forehead. Chapter 500: 450: A Grand Wedding Chapter 500: Chapter 450: A Grand Wedding After letting her go, he was still not satisfied, his eyes fixed on her. He saw her almost every day, but it never seemed enough. At this moment, he was very close to her, just a few centimeters away, he could even catch any expression on her face. Mo Shuifu felt embarrassed by his gaze and pouted, lowering her eyelids. ¡°Shui Fu¡­¡± He called out her name. It was as if he were a child, simply liking to say her name, childishly so. ¡°You drive, let¡¯s go back,¡± Mo Shuifu avoided his gaze. His gaze was too intense, her cheeks were burning. ¡°Shui Fu, promise me one thing, no matter when, never leave me, okay?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s tone was very gentle, even a bit pleading. He had never been so sincere in his life, to anyone but her¡­
Mo Shuifu widened her eyes as she looked at him, not understanding why he suddenly said this to her. In fact, since the day she married him, she had never thought of leaving him¡­ To be fair, he treated her quite well, except for the asional doubts and grudges. But what she saw today had disappointed her a bit. Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Shen Shihan¡¯s heart inexplicably panicked. ¡°Shui Fu, promise me¡­¡± ¡°Then¡­you have to promise me something first,¡± Mo Shuifu spoke softly. She looked at him, and she saw his eyebrows furrow slightly. This man, with his handsome face and distinct features, exuded maturity and presence. ¡°Hmm?¡± He hummed a response from his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t wait another year, stop now, okay?¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s face changed slightly. It was still that matter¡ªhe really didn¡¯t want to discuss it with her at the moment. Seeing that he was not speaking, Mo Shuifu continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t want anyone to know, don¡¯t do it at all¡­ this principle¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking,¡± Shen Shihan said sternly. He didn¡¯t want to hear her say these things, really didn¡¯t. Silenced by his rebuke, Mo Shuifu also chose not to speak, and the car returned to silence. Time ticked by second by second, and he watched her face like that. After a while, he spoke again, softly. ¡°Shui Fu, in a year¡¯s time, I¡¯ll give you avish wedding.¡±
Mo Shuifu was a bit surprised; she had thought he would be angry, but¡­ Surprise shone in her eyes, for they had been married for two years already, and she no longer thought about the wedding. Besides, when Shen Shihan took her to the banquet and publicly dered his love for her, she had already been amazed. In fact, she was very content, even pleasantly surprised by everything he did for her.
Like at that banquet, when rose petals fell from the sky, and he held her in his arms, forehead to forehead, she felt like the happiest person in the world¡­ It all seemed like a hazy dream, as if from another life. If only she hadn¡¯t discovered that thing today, how good it would have been, but s¡­ She shook her head gently, ¡°I just want you to be well.¡± She didn¡¯t want anything, not even the wedding that every woman longs for. All she wanted was for him to be well. Shen Shihan seemed not to have heard her, and kissed her forehead again. ¡°When I say something, I will do it,¡± his gaze was full of tenderness. ¡°I know,¡± Mo Shuifu said. He had never gone back on a promise he made to her. She kept all his kindness in her heart. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s lips curled up, and he touched her long hair again. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Shihan returned to his seat, fastened the seatbelt, and restarted the car.
The Ferrari cruised down the road, and Mo Shuifu felt anxious and restless in her heart, truly unsure of what to do now. She definitely would not call the police or tell Shen Chi, but she didn¡¯t want Shen Shihan to continue down this path¡­ Would he really stop in a year? Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t give herself an answer. ¡°Shihan, shall we go for seafood for lunch?¡± As the car reached halfway, Mo Shuifu asked Shen Shihan. She rarely went out to eat with him or attended various events with him, so when she initiated, Shen Shihan was somewhat ttered. ¡°Okay,¡± he agreed without hesitation. Mo Shuifu¡¯s lips curled up slightly, and she turned to look at his profile. They did not go home but to a seafood restaurant. As the car passed by Shen Group¡¯s building, Mo Shuifu looked through the window, just in time to see Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was covering her head with a folder to shade herself from the sun, squinting her eyes as she stood outside the building. Mo Shuifu asked Shen Shihan to stop the car, then got out and walked over to Xu Chaomu. ¡°Chaomu,¡± she called out to her.
Xu Chaomu turned her head and saw it was Mo Shuifu. Having not seen her for several hours, she wondered why she¡¯d suddenly appeared again. ¡°Shui Fu!¡± She ran up to Mo Shuifu. ¡°Slow down, slow down. What brings you to Shen¡¯s?¡± Mo Shuifu asked. ¡°I¡¯m nning to work at Shen Group.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s good. Would you like to join me for lunch?¡± Xu Chaomu saw Shen Shihan¡¯s Ferrari and also glimpsed the vague profile of Shen Shihan inside the car through the window. She shook her head, ¡°No need, the butler said he has prepared a table full of delicious food, waiting for me to return.¡± ¡°Really? Then I won¡¯t keep you. Take good care of yourself, don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡± Mo Shuifu nced at her stomach; there was no notable change in its appearance, but she knew Xu Chaomu was three months pregnant. ¡°I eat, drink, and y every day, not tired at all, I¡¯m about to be a little pig,¡± Xu Chaomu said with augh. ¡°Then isn¡¯t your baby a tiny piglet?¡± Mo Shuifuughed. ¡°He is a little piglet indeed, eating and drinking without a care,¡± Xu Chaomuughed as well. Mo Shuifu said, ¡°About knitting the hat for himst time, I¡¯ve been a bit busytely. By the time I finish, it will probably be close to winter.¡±
¡°No rush, this little guy still has several months before he¡¯s born,¡± Xu Chaomu said affectionately, touching her stomach. But, had it not been for Mo Shuifu bringing up the matter of the child, she would not have mentioned it. She knew Mo Shuifu had lost a child, and it was a little difficult for her to get pregnant again. She didn¡¯t want to upset her. Mo Shuifu likely had already epted the facts, as there wasn¡¯t much sadness on her face when talking about children; instead, she was quite cheerful. The two of them chatted outside for a while before Mo Shuifu finally said, ¡°If you¡¯re not joining us for lunch, you should go back early, your skin is delicate, and you might get sunburned.¡± ¡°I am thick-skinned, I won¡¯t burn,¡± Xu Chaomu giggled. Mo Shuifuughed as well, and after a while, she waved goodbye to Xu Chaomu. As she got into the car, Xu Chaomu caught sight of Shen Shihan in the driver¡¯s seat. Shen Shihan also turned his head at just the right moment, and when their eyes met, Xu Chaomu¡¯s grip on the folder tightened unconsciously. Chapter 501: 451: One shot and you’re done Chapter 501: Chapter 451: One shot and you¡¯re done Five yearster, she still couldn¡¯t face Shen Shihan. She had been back in C City for a while, and the times she had seen Shen Shihan were few, and the words exchanged even fewer. But each time she saw him, it felt as if someone was peeling open the scars on her heart. Five years had passed, and although the pain and sorrow had faded, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to treat Shen Shihan as the third brother she once knew. Shen Shihan just stared at her for a while before turning his head away, his face expressionless. Xu Chaomu thought that from now on, they were probably going to be strangers. Mo Shuifu got into the car, exchanged a few words with Shen Shihan, and then he drove the car away from the Shen Group building. Xu Chaomu watched the Ferrari disappear before her eyes, bit her lip, and also casually hailed a taxi. ¡­ By a little after seven in the evening, Shen Group was still brightly lit. Inside the building, the lights in the secretary¡¯s office had all been turned off.
These past few days, in Xiao Mo¡¯s absence, they didn¡¯t have much to do, so overtime wasn¡¯t necessary. The entire secretarial floor was pitch ck when suddenly, a sneaky figure opened the door to the office. With a ¡°beep,¡± the ess control opened, and the figure entered from the doorway. This person was none other than Jian Sisi. She was dressed in ck, blending with the night, and she swiftly booted up aputer. As usual, she entered the password, but unexpectedly, it was incorrect. She hade to look for some documents, always using this password, but this time, it didn¡¯t work. She was sweating profusely in her anxiety and tried entering the password several more times, the ttering of the keyboard exceptionally loud in the empty office. The light from theputer screen illuminated her face, now beaded with sweat. ¡°Damn it, how can it be wrong again,¡± she cursed. Ten times, twenty times, it was still incorrect! Jian Sisi was sweating and anxious but didn¡¯t want to give up. ¡°The password has been changed!¡± She bit her lip, her eyes filled with irritation. She tried all the passwords she could think of, and none worked. Just as she was attempting to flip through a colleague¡¯s notebook, suddenly, something hard pressed against her head! ¡°Ah!¡± Jian Sisi screamed, her entire face turning deathly pale. A gun, this was a gun! The person forcefully covered her mouth and dragged her out of the secretarial office. It took only a short ten or so minutes to drag her from the secretarial office to a concealed room.
Jian Sisi was blindfolded the entire time, unable to see anything; she could only guess by the height and movements of her captor that it was a man! She struggled all the way, and at first, the man was somewhat patient, warning her to ¡°behave.¡± But Jian Sisi didn¡¯t listen and continued to struggle violently, even kicking at the man! The man became annoyed and pressed the gun against her head, his cold voice warning in her ear.
¡°If you dare move again, I¡¯ll blow your brains out!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s, let¡¯s talk this out¡­¡± Jian Sisi was afraid of dying; she thought about how much it would hurt to get shot in the head and, more importantly, it would be an ugly death. It was then that she stopped struggling. The cold barrel of the gun was still against her temple, everything was pitch ck, and she was dragged along, not even knowing where she was taken. Only when they arrived at a room did the man throw her in! ¡°Behave yourself!¡± the man warned her. There was a dim deskmp in the room, the light not ring but bright enough to see the person¡¯s face clearly. Jian Sisi adjusted to the light and looked at the man for a few moments. Her face was pale, obviously frightened. She cowered in the corner and stuttered, ¡°Who, who are you?¡± She was sure she didn¡¯t know the man standing before her. Moreover, she was normally very well-behaved, so why would anyone kidnap her?
She had no money, and neither did her parents; what was the benefit in kidnapping her? ¡°Don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t!¡± the man said coldly. Jian Sisi¡¯s eyes, wide with fear, never left the man. Her shoulders trembled, but she tried to appear calm. ¡°I, I¡¯m telling you, I don¡¯t have any money¡­ you shouldn¡¯t think of kidnapping me to threaten my parents¡­¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke. She was certain that she didn¡¯t know this man. ¡°You don¡¯t have money? But Mr. Shen does!¡± the man sneered coldly. ¡°You, you want to use me to threaten Shen Chi?¡± Jian Sisi found itughable; Shen Chi was such a cold-hearted man, whom did he care about? Moreover, she had no rtionship with Shen Chi at all; the so-called one-time affair was a fabrication of her own. As for the child in her belly, it wasn¡¯t Shen Chi¡¯s at all. And now, this man in front of her wanted to use her to threaten Shen Chi? It wasughable, trulyughable.
¡°Why not?¡± The man scoffed mockingly. ¡°I advise you to give up on that idea, I¡¯m not even worth five million in that man Shen Chi¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°Shut up and stay put!¡± The man didn¡¯t want to talk anymore, warned her, and left the room with the gun in hand. ¡°Hey, hey, what are you going to do, what the hell do you want?!¡± Jian Sisi yelled after him. The man mmed the door shut with a ¡°bang,¡± leaving her locked inside. Jian Sisi was trembling, she was worth nothing in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes; it was clear if she was used to threaten Shen Chi, she wouldn¡¯t live! After leaving the room, the man called Xiao Mo. ¡°Secretary Xiao, it¡¯s settled.¡± ¡°Hmm, keep a close eye on her, she must note out in the next few days,¡± Xiao Mo instructed. ¡°Yes,¡± the man replied. ¡°Did you get her phone?¡± ¡°Got it.¡±
¡°Hmm, have someone bring it to me; Mr. Shen needs it,¡± Xiao Mo instructed. In two days, they were going to check the cargo at the docks. Before that, they wanted to use Jian Sisi to control Zhuo Fan. The man was efficient in his work; after the call with Xiao Mo, he had someone deliver Jian Sisi¡¯s phone to Xiao Mo. As soon as Xiao Mo got the phone, he handed it over to Shen Chi. A very ordinary phone, adorned with a pink protective cover. It was already past eight in the evening, and Shen Chi was still going over business with Xiao Mo. He took the phone, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. He scrolled through the call log and, indeed, there was Zhuo Fan¡¯s number with Jian Sisi havingbeled him as ¡°Husband.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened as he continued to scroll. Jian Sisi and Zhuo Fan had many call records, clearly showing they were in frequent contact. There were texts, too; some had been deleted, but Shen Chi still caught plenty of crucial information. For instance, every night before sleeping, Jian Sisi would send Zhuo Fan a ¡°good night¡± message, adding the phrase: Today the baby was well-behaved. Shen Chi opened Jian Sisi¡¯s photo gallery and found many indecent photos. Photos of Jian Sisi embracing Zhuo Fan, and others featuring the two of thempletely naked. The content was extremely explicit, causing Xiao Mo beside him to blush. As Shen Chi browsed through the photos, his expression grew colder and colder¡­ Suddenly, he came across a photo of a pregnancy test report. Chapter 502: 452: The Child Had a Miscarriage Chapter 502: Chapter 452: The Child Had a Miscarriage Shen Chi erged the photo, his pupils constricted, his gaze sharp as ice. The air around him suddenly grew colder, Shen Chi¡¯s face darkening. The pregnancy test report belonged to Jian Sisi, but it indicated a ¡°sixteen weeks¡± pregnancy period. Sixteen weeks¡ªthat was four months. Xiao Mo also saw the report and was equally shocked. Sixteen weeks? Last time, when Jian Sisi threatened him and President Shen at the hospital, she imed the child was just over two months! ¡°President Shen, this¡­¡± Xiao Mo was surprised. Shen Chi said coldly, ¡°Jian Sisi has quite the schemes.¡± When he first learned of Jian Sisi¡¯s pregnancy, he didn¡¯t think much of it and didn¡¯t consider verifying whether the child was really just over two months old. It was only after seeing Jian Sisi¡¯s recorder that he began to doubt.
The suspicions in his heart persisted until now, finally starting to unravel¡­ It appears, Jian Sisi¡¯s child is not his, Shen Chi¡¯s! As for that night at the Paris Grand Hotel, whether it was Jian Sisi or not, that was still uncertain. Even Shen Chi could miscalcte at times. ¡°Those who dare to deceive me will have no good end,¡± Shen Chi said. His tone was icy, a blood-red hue spreading through his fierce eyes. ¡°President Shen, what do you n to do with this Jian Sisi?¡± Xiao Mo asked cautiously. He knew Shen Chi must be furious now. ¡°Use her first, then, I will settle the score with her slowly!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Alright, I will make sure she is well-guarded,¡± Xiao Mo said with a determined look. Shen Chi continued to flip through Jian Sisi¡¯s phone, reviewing all the important content. The night grew deeper, and Shen Chi quietly discussed the specific arrangements with Xiao Mo. ¡­ Jian Sisi in the secret room could not guess anything,shing out against the walls of the room! At one moment she threw the teacup from the table, at another she cursed at the ceiling. Initially, she wanted to smash themp, but after some thought, she put it down. ¡°Let me out!¡± Jian Sisi yelled, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m of no use, Shen Chi won¡¯t pay a dime for my ransom!¡± She thought she had been kidnapped by someone trying to ckmail Shen Chi. There was no response, not even an echo.
Exhausted from cursing and struggling, she sat down on a chair. The night had deepened, and she began to cry softly. ¡°Wuu¡­¡± Her sobs filled the entire secret room. Crying herself out, she eventually fell asleep with her head on the table.
In the dead of night, the secret room was utterly silent, not a sound from outside to be heard. The night grew ever deeper. In the middle of the night, Jian Sisi was awakened by a pain in her abdomen. ¡°Ah¡­ It hurts¡­ Help¡­¡± She clutched her stomach, beads of sweat asrge as beans broke out on her forehead! Having been startled today and spending a lot of energy, she now regretted it, because her stomach hurt so badly! ¡°Pain¡­ Pain¡­ Help¡­ Someone¡­¡± Struggling, she ran to the door, shouting out. Herplexion instantly turned pale, sweat dripped down from her forehead, disregarding the cold floor, she copsed onto the ground. ¡°Help¡­ Help¡­ My stomach hurts so much¡­ It hurts¡­ Someone¡­ Someonee¡­¡± She banged on the door, nearly using herst bit of strength! She clenched her teeth, her whole body close to fainting. As she was pounding on the door, suddenly, she felt a warm flow surge down her thigh.
Scared witless, she turned pale and lifted her skirt. A scream, ¡°Ah¡­¡± In the dim light, she saw thick blood flowing down her thigh! The blood showed no signs of stopping, flowing continuously, staining her skirt red! She had miscarried! ¡°Help¡­ Help¡­¡± Jian Sisi was frantic; she hit the door even harder¡ªno, her child couldn¡¯t be in trouble. She couldn¡¯t miscarriage¡­ Feebly, she banged on the door, her voice hoarse from shouting, yet still no one responded to her. She copsed in despair on the ground, curling up in pain. The blood continued to flow, the skirt, her legs, the floor, a ring red everywhere! ¡°My child¡­ My child¡­¡± She sat on the ground crying. She cried bitterly, almost without making a sound.
Her abdomen was still in pain, waves of agony coursing through her, so much so that her face was covered in sweat, her clothes soaked. ¡°Someone¡­ Help¡­ Please¡­ Save my child¡­¡± She continued to struggle desperately¡ªno, her child could be saved. Nothing would go wrong, it couldn¡¯t. But after a long while, still no one came. Just as she closed her eyes in despair, almost fainting to the floor, suddenly, the door opened! A st of bright light shone in, Jian Sisi reflexively shielded her eyes from the brightness. But after just a moment, regardless of the harsh light outside, she crawled to the doorway. ¡°Help me¡­ Save my child¡­ Take me¡­ Take me to the hospital¡­¡± The person who came was the same man; Jian Sisi didn¡¯t care anymore, she clung to his leg, refusing to let go. ¡°My child can¡¯t be in trouble¡­ Save me¡­ Yes, the child is Shen Chi¡¯s; if you save him, you can definitely demand a higher ransom from Shen Chi!¡± Jian Sisi, out of desperation, came up with an idea; she looked up, begging the man. ¡°Dammit, let go,¡± the man cursed, trying to pull his leg free.
But Jian Sisi wouldn¡¯t let go; it was her only lifeline! ¡°Save my child, take me to the hospital¡­ I don¡¯t want to die¡­ My child doesn¡¯t want to die¡­¡± Jian Sisi was crying. ¡°Annoying,¡± he muttered. The man was undecided for a moment, but after thinking for a few minutes, he decided to take Jian Sisi to the hospital first! In case it was indeed Shen Chi¡¯s child¡­ He casually found a jacket from outside and threw it to Jian Sisi with a look of disgust. Jian Sisi quickly wrapped herself in the coat, dragging her body along behind the man. Fearing that the man might change his mind or renege, she followed him closely, step by step. The man wasn¡¯t afraid she¡¯d run away and let her get into the car. As pain hit her in waves, by the time they reached the hospital, Jian Sisi was in so much pain that she was barely conscious. She was helped out of the car by a few nurses, and the car was already covered in arge swath of blood! The man hurriedly called Xiao Mo: ¡°Secretary Xiao, there¡¯s trouble, something bad happened.¡± Xiao Mo, still in a slumber, furrowed his brow at the call. ¡°What happened? Exin slowly.¡± A call in the middle of the night surely meant something urgent. ¡°Secretary Xiao, Jian Sisi has miscarried.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiao Mo was also startled. Miscarried? ¡°Just found out, I¡¯ve already taken her to the hospital. Whether the child can be saved depends on fate.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± Xiao Mo hung up and immediately got dressed, running swiftly to the hotel¡¯s car park. This was a serious matter; he had to see it all with his own eyes! Leaving the hotel during a closed meeting required Shen Chi¡¯s approval. But right now, Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t care less about that; he started the car and headed to the hospital at full speed. Chapter 503: 453: Boy or Girl Chapter 503: Chapter 453: Boy or Girl The man hurried to crouch outside the operating room, fearing he would miss anything. Jian Sisi was wheeled into the operating room by the nurses, lying on the stretcher and clutching the sleeve of a young nurse. ¡°I beg you, I beg you, you must save my child, save the child,¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s voice was weak, her speech faltering. ¡°We will do our best.¡± The nurse couldn¡¯t make any promises and said only that. ¡°No, you have to save him, please save him, my baby, I want my baby, my baby must not be in trouble,¡± Jian Sisi said with a sob in her voice. Her entire face was colorless, her lips even paler. By the time she was pushed into the operating room, she was unable to speak; experiencing waves of agonizing pain in her abdomen, she passed out. The man waited anxiously outside the operating room, powerless to do anything but pace back and forth. He was waiting for Xiao Mo to arrive¡­ Xiao Mo rushed to the hospital as fast as he could! He parked his car directly at the entrance of the hospital and sprinted up to the operating room.
¡°Secretary Xiao!¡± The man¡¯s eyes lit up as he saw him arrive and hurriedly went to meet him. ¡°How is the situation?¡± Xiao Mo asked, frowning. ¡°She¡¯s been taken into surgery, it doesn¡¯t look very promising,¡± the man said. ¡°I understand,¡± Xiao Mo replied, brow furrowed. He knew that Jian Sisi¡¯s child was not Shen Chi¡¯s, but he still had toe and confirm for himself. ¡°Secretary Xiao, what should we do now?¡± the man asked. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°If she happens to miscarry, do we still detain her?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Xiao Mo shot a cold look at him. The man¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he nodded, ¡°I understand, I understand.¡± Xiao Mo and the man stood waiting outside the operating room. It was the middle of the night and nobody roamed outside the operating room. Xiao Mo watched his surroundings with utmost vignce, unwilling to overlook any detail. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone know about detaining Jian Sisi!¡± Xiao Mo instructed the man. ¡°Rest assured, I definitely won¡¯t,¡± insisted the man. Time ticked by. At one point, a doctor came to ask Xiao Mo for a signature; he signed it on behalf of someone else. Jian Sisi dared to betray President Shen; she would certainly not have a good end. After a long time, the operating room door opened, and as soon as it did, they heard Jian Sisi¡¯s crying. ¡°You killed my child, give me back my baby¡­¡± Though shecked strength, her cries were heartbreaking, leaving several young nurses looking at each other, unsure of what to do.
¡°Miss, please don¡¯t be too distressed; you can get pregnant again, but you must rest well after the surgery,¡± a doctor said. The implication was to persuade Jian Sisi not to speak and exhaust herself, harming her body in the process. But Jian Sisi wouldn¡¯t listen; even though she was pale and her words came out weakly, she still wanted to cry. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you save my child, he could have survived, you are murderers¡­¡±
The doctor shook her head: ¡°Miss, you came toote, the child couldn¡¯t be saved.¡± When Jian Sisi was wheeled out of the operating room, she didn¡¯t see Xiao Mo standing by, until he stood right in front of her, which finally silenced her incessant crying. She fell silent, frightened; she hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Mo to be there. It was supposed to be the middle of the night, why would Xiao Mo be there? But it took only a moment for her topose herself, and the tears began to flow down endlessly. ¡°Secretary Xiao, they killed my child¡­ It¡¯s President Shen¡¯s child; this is President Shen¡¯s child ah¡­ Secretary Xiao, please help me, ask President Shen to close this hospital down, can he close it down, please?¡± Jian Sisi cried. Xiao Mo remained impassive, his face indifferent. Jian Sisi attempted to grab the hem of his clothing, but he stepped aside, avoiding her touch. But his cold gaze did not avoid her. ¡°Jian Sisi, say it again, whose child is it?¡± Xiao Mo asked coldly. ¡°President Shen¡¯s, it¡¯s President Shen¡¯s, I already said sost time!¡± Jian Sisi yelled with all the strength she could muster. She didn¡¯t know why Xiao Mo would suddenly ask such a question; could it be that he had discovered something? Since she had yed the part, she had to see it through to the end.
Xiao Mo was getting impatient and said coldly, ¡°Some people only face reality at the sight of their own coffin!¡± The nurse by their side frowned, ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve just had surgery, don¡¯t exert yourself too much. We¡¯ll take you to your room; you should maintain a pleasant mood.¡± Soon, the nurses wheeled Jian Sisi into a ward, and this time, Xiao Mo did not stop them. However, he stopped Jian Sisi¡¯s doctor. His expression was cold, his arm blocking the female doctor¡¯s path. The female doctor didn¡¯t dare move, ncing at the retreating Jian Sisi and then back at Xiao Mo. ¡°Come with me,¡± Xiao Mo said crisply, leaving just a few words hanging in the air before turning and heading towards a resting room. It was deep into the night, all around was quiet, especially outside the operating room where the silencing stillness was interrupted only by the footsteps of Xiao Mo and the female doctor echoing along the corridor. Xiao Mo entered the rest room, and the female doctor followed him in. As soon as she came in, Xiao Mo closed the door of the rest room. ¡°Sir, is there anything you¡¯d like to ask?¡± The female doctor looked up and took the initiative to speak. ¡°How did the surgery go?¡± Xiao Mo inquired evenly. ¡°No issues, but the child couldn¡¯t be saved.¡±
The female doctor was perplexed about the rtionship between this man and that woman; rtionships among young people today wereplicated. She adjusted her sses, and her small eyes peered at Xiao Mo through the lenses. After a moment of silence, Xiao Mo asked, ¡°A boy or a girl?¡± ¡°The fetus was already formed, a boy,¡± the doctor reported truthfully, ¡°it¡¯s a pity.¡± ¡°How many months was the child?¡± Xiao Mo asked. The female doctor seemed a bit surprised; didn¡¯t this man know how far along the pregnancy was? ¡°Four months,¡± the female doctor said. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± ¡°Then sir, if you¡¯ll excuse me,¡± the female doctor said, nodding before walking out of the rest room. Xiao Mo took a moment to cool down, no mistake, Jian Sisi¡¯s child was four months along; it definitely couldn¡¯t be Shen Chi¡¯s. As for whose it was, he had no need to know. Probably, President Shen had no interest in knowing either. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Jian Sisi to be so bold, daring to deceive even President Shen, iming to carry President Shen¡¯s child.
Fortunately, at the hospital, Shen Chi hadn¡¯t immediately terminated the pregnancy; otherwise, Shen Chi might have never known the truth. This woman had quite the nerve. For someone like Jian Sisi, the oue wouldn¡¯t be good. Once Zhuo Fan was dealt with, the next one would definitely be Jian Sisi! After pondering for a long while, Xiao Mo left the rest room to collect all the documentation from the surgery. He needed to bring back this information for Shen Chi to see. While Xiao Mo was looking over the documents, a thought suddenly struck him: if Jian Sisi dared to even fabricate a pregnancy, could it be that on that night in Paris, she was also lying? This woman¡¯s acting skills were top-notch, but as long as there are lies, there will be a slip-up eventually! Chapter 504: 454: Fourth Uncle, I want to eat a lollipop Chapter 504: Chapter 454: Fourth Uncle, I want to eat a lollipop He knew that night, Shen Chi got drunk, and when one¡¯s drunk, anything could happen. Xiao Mo collected the materials and put them into a file bag; he intended to take them back for Shen Chi. At this moment, in the dead of night, as he passed by the entrance of the ward, he heard Jian Sisi¡¯s cries. She was sobbing and had smashed a few items as well. ¡°Crash¡±¡ªthe things shattered all over the floor. ¡°Secretary Xiao.¡± The man who had been waiting outside stopped him. Xiao Mo paused, turned to him, and said, ¡°Keep an eye on Jian Sisi and take her away from the hospitalter.¡± ¡°But¡­ she just had a miscarriage; what if something happens?¡± the man said cautiously. ¡°It¡¯s just a life, and not even a valuable one!¡± Xiao Mo said coldly. Leaving those words behind, he left the ward without hesitation and departed the hospital. The man stood there dumbfounded. What on earth had this woman done?
Xiao Mo tossed the materials onto the passenger seat and drove out of the hospital. It was the dead of night, silent all around, and the summer breeze that brushed against him carried a hint of coolness. When Xiao Mo arrived at the hotel, he stayed up all night organizing all the information about Jian Sisi¡¯s miscarriage. Early the next morning, he went to Shen Chi¡¯s room. Shen Chi had long been up. When Xiao Mo arrived, he was sitting by the window, drinking coffee. As Xiao Mo entered, he caught sight of the sunlight filtering through the curtains and falling on the man. Dust milled about in the air, fluctuating as the sun illuminated it. Shen Chi narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the wisps of steam slowly rising from his coffee cup. His sculpted profile, his high nose bridge, and his lightly pursed thin lips. Clothed in a white shirt, it only served to entuate his extraordinary handsomeness. Xiao Mo cleared his throat, thinking thankfully he was not a woman. If he were, he probably would have also been charmed by this man. He suddenly understood why, even though everyone knew Shen Chi was cold and heartless and not interested in women, there were still countless girls continuously throwing themselves at him. Shen Chi definitely had that charm. However, in the end, Shen Chi fell for Xu Chaomu. No matter how manye and go, amidst endless beauty, the one he loves is always the same person. And he loves her very, very much. ¡°What do you need?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s thin lips parted lightly. ¡°Mr. Shen,st night, something happened to Jian Sisi.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± There was no expression on Shen Chi¡¯s face.
¡°She had a miscarriage,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi still showed no expression and his tone was indifferent, as calm as if he¡¯d been told it was going to rain at noon. Of course, he didn¡¯t have to worry; Xiao Mo would take care of everything.
As expected, Xiao Mo took out the folder in his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve organized everything that happenedst night.¡± ¡°Too many words.¡± Shen Chi held his coffee and didn¡¯t want to look. Xiao Mo cleared his throat again, alright then, he would exin; after all, Shen Chi was the boss. ¡°She miscarried, a boy, but¡­ as the text you saw yesterday said, the child was four months old,¡± Xiao Mo said, focusing on the most crucial point. ¡°Hmm.¡± It was not beyond Shen Chi¡¯s expectations. Xiao Mo continued, ¡°Obviously, Jian Sisi¡¯s child was not yours.¡± Shen Chi gave him a cold nce, stating the obvious. Xiao Mo felt a chill run through him: ¡°I¡¯ll keep silent.¡± ¡°Then you can leave.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I haven¡¯t finished yet¡­¡± Xiao Mo said, a bit aggrieved. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°After Jian Sisi¡¯s miscarriage, I had someone keep watch on her, so rest assured, she won¡¯t get away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem.¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s my problem.¡± Xiao Mo was embarrassed. ¡°Hmm, anything else?¡± Shen Chi looked up at him. ¡°Mr. Shen, when I was organizing the materials yesterday, I thought, Jian Sisi really has the guts, daring to im she was carrying your child.¡± ¡°She must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard.¡± ¡°I was guessing that you offered her a check, and she refused to take it. She must have wanted to give birth to the child, then ckmail you for arge sum of money, or for the position of CEO¡¯s wife. Then, when the time was right, she would surely find a way to kill the child so that no one would notice.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi agreed with Xiao Mo¡¯s idea. Initially, he had offered Jian Sisi a check for five million, which she refused to ept. ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯ve been thinking since yesterday, if Jian Sisi dares to deceive you with a child, it could be that¡­ the night in Paris, the woman you slept with wasn¡¯t Jian Sisi?¡± Xiao Mo thought, the woman who slept with Shen Chi was truly fortunate. Shen Chi fell silent; Xiao Mo¡¯s thoughts coincided with his own. He had also suspected¡­ ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m just speaking hypothetically,¡± Xiao Mo said.
It didn¡¯t matter who Shen Chi slept with¡ªit was no big deal, just a woman, right? ¡°Just make sure Jian Sisi is under control,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. This matter, he could simply force Jian Sisi to answer. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Shen, she still has value to us.¡± ¡°When are Shen Shihan¡¯s goods arriving?¡± ¡°They should arrive around two in the morning the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, have you prepared everything?¡± Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°You can depend on it, there won¡¯t be any problems, I¡¯ll meet with Director Li¡¯s people.¡± ¡°Two o¡¯clock, I will personally go there.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were deep and inscrutable, like the waters of an unfathomable dark pool. Xiao Mo was also very serious; he knew that this time, there would definitely be a payoff. After Xiao Mo left the room, Shen Chi slowly finished the coffee in his hand. Once the watch on his wrist showed eight o¡¯clock, he made a call to Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu was still drowsy from sleep. Seeing the words ¡°Husband¡± flickering on her screen, she rubbed her eyes and picked up the call.
¡°Awake yet?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and maic, like the deep notes of a cello. ¡°You woke me up,¡± she replied. ¡°Time to get up.¡± ¡°No, baby says he¡¯s still sleepy.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, acting coy with Shen Chi. The corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips instantly curved into a deep smile¡­ Listening to her sweetly coquettish voice, his heart melted. He hadn¡¯t seen her for several days, and he missed her deeply. ¡°Lazy,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Should I have baby call you?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes curled into crescent moons. Shen Chiughed, ¡°He¡¯s not born yet, how can he call me?¡± ¡°Listen carefully.¡± Xu Chaomu cleared her throat, imitating a baby¡¯s tone, ¡°Uncle Four, I want a lollipop!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The corner of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched. Hearing no reply from Shen Chi, Xu Chaomu giggled secretly on the other end of the phone. Shen Chi yed along, lowering his voice, ¡°Naughty. Say ¡®Daddy¡¯ and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked and continued in a babyish tone, ¡°Mommy says, ¡®Daddy¡¯ is not a word to be thrown around lightly.¡± ¡°Then what am I to your mommy?¡± Shen Chi smiled. ¡°Husband¡­¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shen Chi was satisfied, ¡°Say it again¡­¡± No sooner had Shen Chi¡¯s voice trailed off than Xu Chaomu wore a ¡°I¡¯ve-just-been-hoodwinked¡± expression. So, had she fallen into a trap again? ¡°¡­¡± Feeling half-irritated, half-amused, that man was even craftier than a fox! Chapter 505: 455: The Pregnant Woman is Too Sensitive Chapter 505: Chapter 455: The Pregnant Woman is Too Sensitive ¡°Shen Chi, you shameless jerk!¡± Her drowsinesspletely vanished, and she huffed coldly. ¡°What did I do?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was filled with innocence. ¡°You, you, just you wait!¡± Xu Chaomu was so angry she couldn¡¯t even speak. With Shen Chi¡¯s attitude like this, did she expect her baby to not call him ¡°Fourth Uncle,¡± but to call him ¡°Dad¡± instead? ¡°Haven¡¯t I always been here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore.¡± Xu Chaomu was fuming. She had been tricked into calling him ¡°husband¡± for no reason at all, and she was very resistant to the idea. ¡°Then I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Shen Chi spoke with a teasing tone. ¡°If anyone¡¯s hanging up, it¡¯s me!¡± After saying that, Xu Chaomu pressed the ¡°end call¡± button with a ¡°snap!¡± After hanging up the phone, Xu Chaomu still felt like she had the short end of the stick.
She had called him ¡°husband,¡± but hadn¡¯t heard a single ¡°I love you¡± in return. When dealing with Shen Chi, she rarely ever came out on top. Truly, there¡¯s no business without deceit. On the other end of the phone, Shen Chi chuckled. He found deceiving Xu Chaomu to be quite enjoyable. Still so easy to fool, he wondered what she had been up to in those five years. But, he liked Xu Chaomu exactly because she was easy to fool. If she were smart and strong-willed, what use would he be to her? He was there to take on the weight of the world. All she needed to do was to be responsible for being happy, and that was enough. ¡­ Two days passed quickly. Just past midnight, Xiao Mo had already taken his men to the wharf. On a summer night, the waves at C City¡¯s seaport were turbulent, and the lights twinkled. Li Beiting¡¯s men had already infiltrated the wharf, surveilling the situation at any given moment. The waves pounded against the shore with a deafening ¡°whoosh¡±, stirring up excitement as well as trepidation in people¡¯s hearts. The wharf was bustling during the day with many ships passing by, but at night, it was quiet except for a few ships moored at the harbor. With no one walking along the shore, anyone emerging would be clearly visible. Xiao Mo and his men hid in a square tower not far from the wharf. The tower wasn¡¯t high, only five or six stories, but standing on top one could have amanding view of the wharf. Any sign of movement, and he would immediately contact Li Beiting¡¯s men. Inside the tower, he used Jian Sisi¡¯s phone to send a message to Zhuo Fan. ¡°Where are you?¡±
He quickly received a reply from Zhuo Fan: I¡¯ll be at the wharf soon, this time we¡¯ll make a killing. ¡°My stomach hurts a bit, been hurting all night.¡± Xiao Mo continued to send a message. ¡°Hurry to the hospital to have it checked, you and the child must not have any issues,¡± Zhuo Fan replied. Xiao Mo¡¯s lips curled into a smile. Zhuo Fan really cared about Jian Sisi.
The two were clearly lovers, their rtionship seemed quite strong. He wanted Zhuo Fan to be flustered, the more chaotic the better. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go to the hospital now.¡± Xiao Mo sent another message. ¡°Hurry, don¡¯t make me worry,¡± Zhuo Fan replied. Xiao Mo put away his phone and didn¡¯t reply to Zhuo Fan anymore. Zhuo Fan had no clue that Jian Sisi¡¯s child was already gone. Xiao Mo stood atop the tower, listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, while scanning the sea with his binocrs. In the distance, it was pitch ck, as if the dark waters hid endless mysteries. Wave after wave came crashing in, stirring up heaps of foam like snow! The sand on the beach shone with a faint glow, and as Xiao Mo listened to the roar of the waves, it was hard for him to remain calm. The noisy wharf by day was now eerily silent at night, without a single human voice. Xiao Mo strolled around the tower, feeling a bit nervous but not in a hurry. The ships hadn¡¯t arrived yet and neither had Zhuo Fan.
At this moment, it was half-past midnight. Back at the Shen family residence, Xu Chaomu had walked Dabai along the roads outside Tianxiu Tianxia after dinner. She led Dabai, feeling her eyelids twitching incessantly. She didn¡¯t know why they were twitching, but she had a very unsettling feeling in her heart. Usually, when she took Dabai for a walk, he would be very happy, but today he seemed listless. Walking slowly, Dabai caused no fuss either. Along the roadside in summer, all kinds of trees flourished with thick foliage. Leaves had fallen on the ground, yet to be swept away. Xu Chaomu stepped on them, creating a ¡°rustling¡± sound. She intentionally stepped on the fallen leaves as she walked, with Dabai following behind her. On the quiet road, some sounds finally broke the silence, and Xu Chaomu was having a st. The unease in her heart eased a bit, but her eyelids still twitched nonstop. She felt she was overthinking it, considering people always say pregnant women are overly sensitive. ¡°Dabai, bark once, will you? It¡¯s too quiet,¡± Xu Chaomu turned and said to Dabai.
Dabai drooped his ears, looking rather unhappy. Upon hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s words, he seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to. ¡°Dabai, woof-woof, bark!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to tease him. She squatted in front of him, purposely picking up a leaf from the ground to scratch Dabai¡¯s head. Tickled by the scratch, Dabai finally barked a few times in protest, ¡°Woof-woof-woof.¡± On the peaceful road, there was finally a different kind of sound. Xu Chaomu teased him a few more times, ¡°Dabai, bark a few more times.¡± Dabai, looking quite displeased, sniffed and gave Xu Chaomu a disdainful nce. ¡°Come on, bark. Otherwise, it¡¯s so boring,¡± Xu Chaomu said, using the leaf to tickle him. With no choice, Dabai reluctantlyplied with a displeased ¡°Woof.¡± Xu Chaomu squatted beside him, gently touching his fur with her small hand. ¡°Dabai,st time I said I would bring Wealth over to y with you, but I haven¡¯t yet,¡± Xu Chaomu pursed her lips, ¡°Actually, I miss Wealth too. He¡¯s a little dog that never grows up, no matter how much you feed him.¡± Dabai shook his ears and squinted his eyes.
Under the street lights, the scene was especially harmonious. Xu Chaomu, dressed in a pale pink dress, looked fresh and elegant, her ck hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes were prettier than the stars in the sky, seemingly speaking with each blink. She squatted on the ground, her dress spread around her like a blooming pink rose. The green leaves on the ground served as a perfect embellishment to her dress. The street light cast a gentle light, like a crystal clear spring, shining on Xu Chaomu and highlighting her pristine beauty. She pinned her trailing hair behind her ear, teasing Dabai with a green leaf. ¡°Dabai, why do you also look upset? Shall I find you a girlfriend someday?¡± Dabai nced at her, which Xu Chaomu took as a look of reproach. ¡°Look, even your master has a wife now, although she was forced into it, he¡¯s no longer single after all. You should also hurry up and find a girl,¡± Xu Chaomu said, smoothing his fur gently. Dabai couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond, maintaining a haughty demeanor. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re ignoring me again, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you like me anymore?¡± Xu Chaomu pped his head lightly. Dabai snorted, still toozy to move. Chapter 506: 456: The Best Age, The Best You Chapter 506: Chapter 456: The Best Age, The Best You Xu Chaomu wondered, was Dabai finding her childish? Or, perhaps Dabai, like its master, was asexual? Yikes, Xu Chaomu covered her face, realizing her thoughts were running wild again. She had been corrupted by Shen Chi. During her five years in Paris, she was so innocent, blushing and feeling embarrassed whenever she saw couples kissing on the yground. Those five years, she had forgotten that she was a little rascal at heart. Now, back in C City, having not spent much time with a certain big hooligan, the rascal inside her had been fully stirred up. No, no, no, she wanted to be pure, as pure as a sheet of white paper, as wless as white jade, like¡­ okay, she couldn¡¯t keep it up. ¡°Dabai, if you don¡¯t like me, I¡¯m leaving, okay? I¡¯ll leave you alone on the street. Then, you¡¯ll be picked up by a very vicious old man; he will hit you and not feed you,¡± Xu Chaomu threatened Dabai. Clearly, Dabai was not moved by this tactic and showed no reaction. Perhaps it was tired; Dabai slowlyy down and just stayed there motionlessly by the roadside, looking listless. Xu Chaomu squatted next to it and stroked its head.
¡°Dabai, are you sick?¡± Dabai squinted its eyes but still didn¡¯t move. ¡°Are you hungry because you didn¡¯t eat enough at night?¡± That shouldn¡¯t be right; in the evening when she visited the doghouse, she saw the feast the butler Ling had prepared for Dabai, and it had finished all of it. Still no reaction from Dabai; it justy there by the curb. ¡°Missing Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu asked again. At the sound of Shen Chi¡¯s name, a different expression finally surfaced in Dabai¡¯s eyes. Xu Chaomu patted its head and sighed, ¡°It¡¯s been many days since hest came back; he¡¯s forgotten us.¡± Dabai¡¯s obedience while lying on the ground was quite endearing, without creating any trouble or fuss. Xu Chaomu always felt that Dabai¡¯s temperament was very simr to someone¡¯s. Sometimes it acted haughty, sometimes it was adorably arrogant, and at times it was inexplicably delighted. Truly befitting of someone raised by that certain person. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go for a walk!¡± Xu Chaomu tugged on the leash, attempting to lift Dabai off the ground. She was supposed to take it for a walk, not out for a sleep¡ªit was such an uncooperative dog. Dabai struggled a bit and very reluctantly moved backward. Every time it stepped back, Xu Chaomu pulled it forward. Dabai¡¯s gaze was filled with disdain, but left with no choice, itpromised and followed Xu Chaomu. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s being a good dog!¡± Xu Chaomu was pleased. She continued walking with Dabai along the roadside, savoring the fragrance of the flowers and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet¡­
The evening breeze was cool and refreshing against the skin. The moon in the sky was beautiful, round like a mooncake. She missed Shen Chi considerably as well; it had been many days since shest saw him. Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t signed that divorce agreement; otherwise, now she might not even have the opportunity to stand at the Shen Family¡¯s ce. Moreover, several days had passed, and there was no activity from Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian.
Zhou Ran hadn¡¯t called her again, so Xu Chaomu wondered, had she won the bet? But she wasn¡¯tpletely certain¡­ In thest couple of days, she also received some good news: she had passed her interview with Shen Group, which meant she would be able to start working. What would it feel like to work with him? She was especially eager to see how this man looked when he was in a meeting or reprimanding subordinates. He must be¡­ cool, right? Actually, after returning five yearster, she didn¡¯t want anything to do with him. At first, she indeed ignored him, and there had been several times when she particrly wanted to leave the Shen Family. But then she found that, after five years, he had changed a lot. Besides still being domineering, he was incredibly good to her. Five years ago, he was also kind to her, but the kindness was different from now. What was the difference? Xu Chaomu pondered for a moment¡­ It seemed¡­ before, he wouldn¡¯t kiss her, let alone hug her to sleep. Now¡­ Yikes, her eyes brightened; wasn¡¯t it that before he was discretely flirtatious, but now he was openly flirtatious? In the end, it meant that in public, he was prim and proper, but in private, he was a beast in clothing!
¡°Dabai, who do you like more, me or Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu chatted while they walked. Asking this question was like teasing a child. Hmm, when her little bun is born, she must ask, ¡°Do you like mommy or your fourth uncle more?¡± Dabai paid no mind to Xu Chaomu¡¯s chatter and reluctantly followed behind her. Xu Chaomu touched her forehead; well then, it seemed she was the only one running her mouth off while Dabai showed no reaction at all. When she was in Paris, she wasn¡¯t this talkative; sometimes she was even quite silent. Back in C City, back at the Shen¡¯s, she seemed to have endless chatter and endless thoughts. Could it be that the local environment shapes its people? It was still early, so Xu Chaomu strolled leisurely along the roadside. She really liked the feeling of taking a walk like this; it felt as if time had slowed down a great deal¡­ The memory that lingered most in her mind was from five years ago, when Shen Chi took her hand, and she walked Dabai, strolling leisurely. Nerium oleander flowers were in bloom, petals scattered all over the ground, as the evening breeze gently blew. The best age, meeting the best of you. Everything merged into the most beautiful picture.
As she and Dabai ambled along the roadside, cars asionally zoomed past them. Xu Chaomu thought she saw Mi Fei, sitting in the passenger seat, while an adult man who seemed to be her father, was in the driver¡¯s seat. Their car headed toward the direction of the Luxurious Heavens, probably going to Li Beiting¡¯s house. Xu Chaomu was somewhat anxious for Yu Weiwei; that girl didn¡¯t seem like she¡¯d forgotten Li Beitingpletely. That girl was stubborn, sometimes even more so than her. But now, with Li Beiting about to marry Mi Fei, what should Yu Weiwei do? Watch Li Beiting get married and then offer her congrattions with a smile? With Yu Weiwei¡¯s temperament, since she had said they were breaking up, she definitely wouldn¡¯t take the initiative to find Li Beiting again. What about Li Beiting then? Did he really like Weiwei or Mi Fei? In terms of looks, Weiwei and Mi Fei were equally matched. As for personality, they were vastly different. Weiwei was headstrong, straightforward in speech, generous and passionate¡ªa wonderful girl. Of course, Xu Chaomu had met Mi Fei too; Mi Fei was the exact opposite of Yu Weiwei. She was the delicate and graceful type, even speaking in a gentle and soft tone. These two, their personalites couldn¡¯t be any more distinct.
Who Li Beiting liked and didn¡¯t like should have been easy to identify. Xu Chaomu genuinely worried for Weiwei; were she and Li Beiting really going to miss their chance? It was clear to see, the girl wasn¡¯t over Li Beiting at all; she was just being stubborn. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu let out a sigh. The car Mi Fei was in had driven off into the distance. Xu Chaomu turned her head, and indeed, it had turned into the Luxurious Heavens vi area. Was Mi Fei going over there to discuss their wedding? Xu Chaomu was really anxious. But being anxious was useless; this was being anxiously ineffectual. No, this was like the saying ¡®the emperor is not in a hurry, but his eunuchs are.¡¯ Chapter 507: 457: Held Hostage Chapter 507: Chapter 457: Held Hostage Xu Chaomu walked along the roadside, seeing that she was quite a distance from Splendid World, she nned to take a break with Dabai by the road before turning back. Just as she was turning around with Dabai¡¯s leash in hand, her phone vibrated. She looked down, it was a message from the social app. She opened it to find it was from Nie Chenng! She clicked on it to reveal a voice message: ¡°Chaomu, I¡¯ve got a fever, can you bring me some medicine? I¡¯m at home.¡± Xu Chaomu panicked as soon as she saw it¡ªwas Nie Chenng running a fever? The weather had been hot recently; Nie Chenng must have taken a cold shower. In a rush, she sent a voice message back: ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle over right away.¡± It was still early, and taking a cab from there to Nie Chenng¡¯s ce would be quick. In the five years she was in Paris, Nie Chenng took good care of her, worrying for half a day each time she so much as coughed. He had even prepared a medicine box for her, saying it was for emergencies.
Despite this, he still rushed over the moment she fell ill. Now that he was running a fever, of course, she was going to see him. He replied with two words: ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Chaomu knew that despite being together this long, Nie Chenng was still very polite to her. He had always been like this. Even in Paris, when she helped sweep the floor, he would say ¡°thank you.¡± Without any doubts, Xu Chaomu hurried back with Dabai. She sent three words: ¡°Wait for me.¡± On the way back, she walked fast, with Dabai following closely behind her. ¡°Dabai, I¡¯ll take you home first. Be good and go to sleep early, do you hear me?¡± Xu Chaomu said. Of course, Dabai didn¡¯t hear her and paid Xu Chaomu no attention. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t talk to you anymore. I¡¯ll bring you something tasty, so be good!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone was just like Shen Chi¡¯s; Shen Chi often told her to ¡°be good.¡± The more he told her to be good, the less she actually was¡ªshe didn¡¯t like following his orders. Before long, Xu Chaomu had walked Dabai back to the kennel. After putting him in the kennel, she went upstairs, grabbed her handbag, and left! The butler was busy in the kitchen and didn¡¯t notice Xu Chaomu leaving. Xu Chaomu only said goodbye to a janitor by the door: ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit, I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± Before the janitor could react, Xu Chaomu had left the Shen Family home. She went to hail a cab by the roadside, waiting futilely for a taxi toe by¡ªit was very frustrating.
Having a fever is awful; she knew it. She had to get there quickly, she didn¡¯t want Nie Chenng to suffer. One time in Paris, she had a fever that led to her passing out for a full three days and nights. During that time, she almost feared she would wake up confused. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t. Under Nie Chenng¡¯s careful care, upon waking up, her health swiftly recovered.
During those feverish days, whatever she wanted, Nie Chenng would provide. One night, she craved cherries. The night was deep, and she was so eager that she called Nie Chenng. Nie Chenng said nothing, and after more than an hour, he brought her a box of cherries. At the time, she was so happy she forgot to ask him where he got them. It only urred to herter that during that season, there were no cherries in Paris; he must have gone through a lot of trouble to find them. He washed the cherries for her, and she ate them joyfully, one by one¡­ Remembering the past made Xu Chaomu feel somewhat sad. She really wanted to be good to him now, but unfortunately, there weren¡¯t many opportunities. This time he had a fever, and she would definitely rush over as soon as possible. On the way, she sent him another voice message, telling him to lie down and rest, and that she would be there soon. She bought him medicine and, fearing he might not have an appetite, also some appetizing snacks. She was very anxious and kept urging the driver, ¡°Master, please drive a bit faster!¡± ¡°Miss, I can¡¯t go any faster, there are a lot of people out at night,¡± the driver responded.
Xu Chaomu was in a hurry, but there was nothing she could do; the Shen Family home was still quite a distance from Nie Chenng¡¯s ce. The car navigated through the busy streets, and after a long time, the taxi turned a corner, entering an upscale residential area. At the entrance, the car stopped, and Xu Chaomu paid the fare and got out. Xu Chaomu had been here once before and knew Nie Chenng¡¯s ce. She directly sent him a message: ¡°I¡¯m at yourmunity¡¯s entrance now, wait for me.¡± Carrying the medicine and snacks, she walked into the neighborhood. There was a particrly dark stretch of themunity, despite the street lights, no one walked there. Xu Chaomu felt a bit uneasy and quickened her pace toward the floor where Nie Chenng lived. But for some reason, she felt continuously anxious. She quickened her pace even more! Just as she was walking fast with her head down, suddenly, a dark figure stepped in front of her! Before Xu Chaomu could react, the dark figure covered her mouth and dragged her into the shadows! ¡°Mmmph¡­¡± Xu Chaomu struggled fiercely, hitting the person with her handbag. She was being kidnapped!
She tried to scream for help, but couldn¡¯t make a sound. The figure, unaffected by the blows, dragged her quickly into darkness! Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t make any noise, and the man stayed silent. ¡°Mmmph¡­¡± But Xu Chaomu struggled so violently that the man, panicked, raised his hand and struck the back of her head, knocking her unconscious to the ground! Xu Chaomu slumped down, her belongings scattered all around her. The man propped her up into the car, skillfully avoided all surveince, started the vehicle, and left the residential area. He tied up Xu Chaomu in an unfinished room, turned off the light, stepped out to make a call, and then left her alone. At the time of Xu Chaomu¡¯s ordeal, it was about seven or eight in the evening, and Shen Chi was in the midst of discussing the night¡¯s operation with Xiao Mo. He didn¡¯t call Xu Chaomu because, as soon as the night¡¯s operation was over, they could return during the day. Later on, it was Xiao Mo who led people to the docks first. Around midnight, Xiao Mo had been circling in the tower. He was waiting for the cargo ship to arrive!
The sound of the waves was deafening, beating against the rocks with ¡°smack smack¡± sounds, stirring one¡¯s soul. Xiao Mo had waited in the tower for about half an hour when finally, he saw a group of people approaching. He quickly took up his binocrs, looking toward the shore! The leader was a very tall man, his silhouette suggesting that it was Zhuo Fan. Xiao Mo hastily instructed Li Beiting¡¯s men to get ready and keep a close eye on this man. As the cargo ship drew near, more and more people gathered on the dock, many of them there to pick up goods. Soon, Li Beiting¡¯s people sent a photo to Xiao Mo, and upon seeing it, he confirmed it was indeed Zhuo Fan. He personally kept a close watch on Zhuo Fan, but as the crowd on the dock grew thicker, Zhuo Fan disappeared into the throng, and he lost sight of him! Fortunately, Li Beiting¡¯s men were watching, and they quickly sent him several location photos. The atmosphere was tense; Xiao Mo could hear his own breathing. Then, a cargo ship loaded with goods approached the dock! Chapter 508: 458: Your Life Isn’t Worth A Penny Chapter 508: Chapter 458: Your Life Isn¡¯t Worth A Penny The cargo ship was huge, obviously carrying a lot of goods. Many people came to unload the cargo, and Xiao Mo had no idea what method Shen Shihan had employed to sneak the arms and drugs past customs inspection. But where was all this stuff actually being taken? After tonight, they might find some clues. What they needed to do now was to keep a close watch on Zhuo Fan. Xiao Mo was a bit far from the vessel, and soon, he lost sight of Zhuo Fan. This time, even Li Beiting¡¯s men had lost track of Zhuo Fan! Zhuo Fan had already boarded the cargo ship unnoticed; he was all too familiar with such tasks. Fearing someone would follow him, he always switched things up, having someone impersonate him wandering around, while he and his men went on board to retrieve the goods! This time was no exception! After both Xiao Mo and Li Beiting¡¯s men lost Zhuo Fan, Xiao Mo sent a text message to Zhuo Fan using Jian Sisi¡¯s phone.
¡°Where are you? I¡¯m at the hospital, the doctor says I can¡¯t save our child anymore!¡± Such a message was bound to throw Zhuo Fan off bnce! Indeed, Xiao Mo soon received a reply. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Hurry over, I feel terrible, it hurts so much.¡± After sending the message, Xiao Mo also attached a picture of Jian Sisi¡¯s miscarriage diagnosis report. Once the message was sent, Zhuo Fan was utterly disordered. He became increasingly uneasy, but since the goods weren¡¯t back yet, he had to put away his phone. But his mind was already not on the goods; he sped up the process. When the cargo ship arrived, Shen Chi was also there. Shen Chi wore a dark-colored shirt, hisplexion somber and deep. He approached Xiao Mo and asked in a low voice, ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°Boss Shen, we lost him. But he¡¯s definitely going to show up!¡± Xiao Mo reported truthfully. ¡°Lost him?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice suddenly turned icy, ¡°In a dock this small, you lost him?!¡± ¡°Zhuo Fan is very cunning, but I believe he¡¯s definitely on the ship. We¡¯ll keep an eye out.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t respond, his face stony and his sharp gaze fixed on the sea. He felt unease in his heart, and that disquiet had been particrly intense since the evening. Batch after batch of goods were moved off the cargo ship, and soon, the hold was nearly empty, and the ship was about to set sail again. Yet they still hadn¡¯t spotted Zhuo Fan.
Gradually, fewer people were left on the dock, and the area started to quiet down again. By the time all the goods from the ship were gone, neither Shen Chi nor Xiao Mo had seen Zhuo Fane out to move the goods! ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. Xiao Mo was also puzzled: ¡°I don¡¯t know. Normally, if Zhuo Fan was moving goods, it would¡¯ve made a hugemotion, but now, not a sound, and he¡¯s nowhere to be seen.¡±
¡°Call him with Jian Sisi¡¯s phone,¡± Shen Chi instructed. ¡°Right.¡± Xiao Mo hurriedly dialed Zhuo Fan¡¯s number using Jian Sisi¡¯s phone, only to discover that Zhuo Fan had forgotten to silence his phone. Soon, the moderate volume of the ringtone came from inside the ship! Turns out, Zhuo Fan had already smuggled the goods out, mixed with other people¡¯s cargo, nning to casually leave the hold in a little while. But he did not expect Jian Sisi to call him. He scrambled to hang up in a fluster! But in just those few seconds, Li Beiting¡¯s men discovered Zhuo Fan¡¯s whereabouts. With the dock cleared of people, Li Beiting¡¯s men took action. Several men jumped out and pointed guns at Zhuo Fan¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t move,e with us,¡± one man threatened fiercely, pushing Zhuo Fan out of the hold. Zhuo Fan had no choice but to follow them out. Seeing them detain Zhuo Fan, both Shen Chi and Xiao Mo emerged from the watchtower.
Shen Chi approached Zhuo Fan, his piercing eyes fixed on him. ¡°Manager Zhuo, still busy moving cargo thiste?¡± Of all the people present, Zhuo Fan only recognized Shen Chi. Shen Chi bore some resemnce to Shen Shihan, and Zhuo Fan recognized him instantly. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhuo Fan asked deliberately. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb,¡± Shen Chi said coldly, ¡°Where¡¯s the cargo?¡± ¡°What cargo? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re at the dock for a midnight stroll.¡± ¡°I just happen to be looking for a friend, is there a problem?¡± Suddenly, Shen Chi took the gun from the man¡¯s hand and pressed it hard against Zhuo Fan¡¯s head! ¡°Not telling the truth, huh?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was indifferent, his finger already on the trigger. ¡°Ha ha, what do you want me to say? I can¡¯t understand you, how am I supposed to talk?¡± ¡°Where are Shen Shihan¡¯s goods?!¡± Shen Chi barked.
His fierce, domineering voice echoed on the deserted beach, particrly intimidating! ¡°What goods, President Shen, if you don¡¯t believe me, just search me.¡± Zhuo Fan refused to admit anything because the goods had just been transported right under their noses, and there was no way they could find them. ¡°Zhuo Fan, your life isn¡¯t worth a cent, do you believe I¡¯d shoot you right now?¡± ¡°President Shen, even if you shoot me, you still won¡¯t find the cargo. Maybe by tomorrow, the news of your murder will spread everywhere.¡± ¡°In C City, killing someone for me, Shen Chi, is as simple as killing an ant.¡± ¡°Then shoot,¡± Zhuo Fan said fearlessly. Shen Chi smirked; sure enough, this one had no fear of death. The sound of the waves roared all around, and tranquility had returned to the beach, with no sign of human voices anywhere. Shen Chi gave Xiao Mo a look, and understanding, Xiao Mo passed up Jian Sisi¡¯s phone. With one hand holding the gun to Zhuo Fan, Shen Chi scrolled through Jian Sisi¡¯s phone with the other. ¡°Why is Sisi¡¯s phone with you?!¡± Zhuo Fan lost hisposure; he was panicking. ¡°Not just the phone,¡± Shen Chi said with a coldugh.
¡°What have you done to Sisi? You vile scoundrel, what have you done to her?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just asked her toe and sit.¡± ¡°She¡¯s pregnant, what have you done to her?¡± Zhuo Fan yelled hysterically. ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chimanded sternly, ¡°Zhuo Fan, I¡¯m not wrong, that¡¯s your child, right? Four months along!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to settle the score! The one behind Jian Sisi, that would be you, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Zhuo Fan fell silent, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. ¡°Well yed, daring to scheme against me, Shen Chi. You¡¯re quite bold!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes brimmed with bloodlust; he resembled a powerful lion. ¡°Where is Sisi now?¡± Zhuo Fan was still concerned about Jian Sisi. ¡°Where did the cargo go?¡± Shen Chi raised his voice, the sound carrying a powerful weight. ¡°If I tell you, will you let Sisi go?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t n onying hands on a woman just yet,¡± Shen Chi replied. ¡°Do you keep your word?¡± Zhuo Fan hesitated. His face was etched with doubt; he simply didn¡¯t believe that Shen Chi would actually let Jian Sisi go, seeing Shen Chi as a cunning fox. ¡°I¡¯ll count to three and if you don¡¯t talk, I¡¯ll shoot you first, then Jian Sisi tomorrow. Oh, and the four-month-old child in her womb as well.¡± Chapter 509: 459 Bullet Through the Heart Chapter 509: Chapter 459 Bullet Through the Heart ¡°This deal, pretty worth it, eh?¡± Shen Chi sneered coldly and jabbed the gun against his head once more, causing Zhuo Fan¡¯s body to shiver and his heart to skip a beat. ¡°You really let Sisi go?¡± Zhuo Fan dared not be certain. He did not trust Shen Chi! ¡°Do you have a choice?¡± Shen Chi scoffed disdainfully. ¡°Sisi is really in your hands?¡± Zhuo Fan hesitated, but he wasn¡¯t stupid; a mobile phone alone proved nothing. ¡°Want to hear her voice?¡± Zhuo Fan stopped talking and stared straight at Shen Chi. Shen Chi signaled with his eyes to Xiao Mo, who dialed a number. Once connected, Xiao Mo said, ¡°Let Jian Sisi answer the phone.¡±
The man at the other end replied, ¡°Secretary Xiao, the woman has passed out.¡± ¡°Nonsense, make her answer!¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Zhuo Fan¡¯s heart lifted with tension, it seemed true that Jian Sisi was in their hands! Shen Chi¡¯s gun was firmly pressed against his temple, and he could not move. After more than a minute, a voice came from the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, what are you doing! Ah!¡± The scream was piercing, clearly Jian Sisi¡¯s voice! ¡°Be smart.¡± It was a man¡¯s voice, cold and fierce. No need to listen further, Xiao Mo promptly hung up. Zhuo Fan¡¯s pupils dted, wider and wider! At this moment, the sound of the sea roared incessantly, beating against the shore with thunderous noise. Beneath the ink-colored sky, lights twinkled faintly. These specks of light illuminated the faces of everyone present. ¡°Talk, where did the goods go?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. Darkness enveloped Shen Chi¡¯s face; he seemed like the King of Asura, a creature of the night, with blood spreading in his eyes and an intense aura surrounding him! He thought, his patience was wearing thin, and when it ran out, he would definitely pull the trigger, blowing Zhuo Fan¡¯s brains out! ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯ll talk¡­¡± Zhuo Fan finally made up his mind and hesitated no more. If he spoke, he might die at Shen Shihan¡¯s hands; if he kept silent, he would die right now at Shen Chi¡¯s hands. To die at Shen Shihan¡¯s hands meant at least Jian Sisi and his child wouldn¡¯t die. But to die at Shen Chi¡¯s hands meant both Jian Sisi and his child would die!
Either way, it was death! He knew how to do the math. ¡°Speak!¡± the word slipped from Shen Chi¡¯s cool lips. ¡°The goods headed¡­ Ah!¡±
¡°Bang!¡± A gunshot! ¡°Bang!¡± Then another! Zhuo Fan¡¯s scream apanied the gunshots, piercing the silent night sky! As Zhuo Fan was about to reveal the direction of the goods, a bullet, precise and unerring, passed right through his heart from behind. ¡°Who?!¡± Shen Chi, ever vignt, dodged the bullet and his icy gaze swept the surroundings! Xiao Mo also turned around just in time to see a dark figure darting away to the east from behind a rock! ¡°Go after him!¡± Xiao Mo ordered his men. ¡°Yes.¡± Upon receiving themand, Xiao Mo¡¯s men immediately chased after the fleeing figure! Shen Chi crouched down and checked Zhuo Fan¡¯s breathing. His dark eyes narrowed¡ªZhuo Fan was dead. Both shots hit vital points; death was inevitable, leaving nost words behind! Zhuo Fan¡¯s hands pointed to a small path to the west. His eyes, filled with terror, were wide open, ring in death.
Blood flowed from his back, staining the sandy beach with mottled traces. Moonlight shone on his face, adding a particrly eerie touch. ¡°President Shen, he was pointing towards the west!¡± Xiao Mo informed Shen Chi. Urgency was written on his face¡ªsuch matters did not allow for dy. Clearly, the person who shot Zhuo Fan was sent by Shen Shihan! The chill in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew colder; Shen Shihan¡¯s heart was far more ruthless than he had imagined. Zhuo Fan was his man, even a trusted subordinate, and now he had been killed just like that. ¡°Chase.¡± Shen Chi uttered themand, stowing his firearm away. Xiao Mo nodded gravely and, with a wave of his hand, led the rest of the men westward in pursuit! After Xiao Mo left, Shen Chi followed suit in the chase! He had arrived by car and when he reached the side of the path, he quickly jumped into his vehicle and floored the elerator. The car shot forward like an arrow released from its bow. Tall birch trees lined the side of the path, dense and imprable.
The night wind rustled the lush leaves with a ¡°swish swish¡± sound. There were no other cars or people in sight all along the road. The road was smooth; Shen Chi¡¯s car raced along, chasing the figure ahead. His cold gaze was locked onto the road before him, not missing any detail. ¡°President Shen, be careful,¡± Xiao Mo kept sending voice messages to Shen Chi. ¡°Hmm.¡± Soon, Xiao Mo caught up in his own car. Shen Chi¡¯s vehicle led the way, with his trailing behind. There were no streetlights on the country road, with only their headlights to guide them. It was now a quarter past two in the morning. Suddenly, using the headlights for visibility, Shen Chi saw a small truck ahead! The truck was speeding as if it knew someone was following, and the driver pushed it to the speed of an off-road vehicle. Shen Chi pressed down on the elerator, rapidly closing the gap. The truck did not dare to pause, terrified of being caught by Shen Chi. As he neared the truck, Shen Chi drew his gun.
With one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding the gun, he aimed precisely at the rear tire of the truck! As he extended his left hand out of the car window, suddenly, a gunshot rang out before he did, ¡°bang,¡± shattering the ss of his car! Broken ss flew everywhere, a shard embedding into Shen Chi¡¯s arm! Blood immediately started to flow, drop by drop, staining his shirt with blood, and the smell of blood filled the car¡­ Pain washed over him, and he clenched his teeth, not bothering to deal with the broken ss. The gunshot disrupted his focus. He pulled the trigger and missed! The bullet grazed the wheel of the truck, which veered on the spot, but it was otherwise fine and continued on. ¡°President Shen, be careful!¡± Xiao Mo sent another voice message. He saw that Shen Chi had been injured in the arm! As the words left him, another bullet flew out from the birch grove! This time, the bullet hit the front tire of Shen Chi¡¯s car! ¡°Bang,¡± the tire burst, and Shen Chi mmed the brakes urgently. Still, the car spun around on the spot, nearly crashing into a tree. The bullet hade from the birch grove. The enemy was hidden; he was exposed. His gaze scanned the surroundings but spotted no one. It was too dark and too concealed; nothing was visible! Xiao Mo fired a shot into the grove, but quickly several figures darted past. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for one vehicle. Shen Chi¡¯s car was stuck on the road, unable to start, so Xiao Mo had no choice but to stop as well. Both Shen Chi and Xiao Mo could hear the movement of the group in the grove, ¡°rustle rustle rustle,¡± astonishingly loud in the open night. ¡°President Shen, should we get out and chase?¡± Xiao Mo asked anxiously. Chapter 510: 460: Some Love, Accompanies through Life and Death Chapter 510: Chapter 460: Some Love, Apanies through Life and Death Shen Chi closed his eyes slightly, listening to the footsteps in the forest! The sound moved toward the south, and it grew faster and faster, faster and faster¡­ Shen Chi ced his finger on the trigger, with one hand sticking out of the window, and with a ¡°bang,¡± he fired a bullet in the direction where the sound had disappeared! ¡°Ah!¡± Someone in the woods let out a scream of pain. It was too dark outside, especially in the birch forest, where one couldn¡¯t see their hand before their face. Shen Chi didn¡¯t know where his shot had hit, but he saw the figures seemed to pause. ¡°Chase!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze turned fierce, and he said to Xiao Mo. ¡°Okay!¡± Upon hearing themand, Xiao Mo opened the car door and jumped out from the driver¡¯s seat! The other people in Xiao Mo¡¯s car also jumped out, following behind Xiao Mo. The truck had driven far away, and they couldn¡¯t catch up, but Shen Chi had memorized the license te number.
Everyone was ready, just waiting to chase after it. If they could catch up, they would surely find useful clues. However, just when Shen Chi was about to join Xiao Mo in chasing into the birch forest, suddenly, he received a message on his phone from Xu Chaomu. Tonight, no matter who texted him, he wouldn¡¯t look at it. Xu Chaomu sent a message, and he had no intention of looking at it either. But his heart gave a tug¡ªit was past two in the morning, why would Xu Chaomu text at this hour, unless something had happened? His blood raced through his veins. No, he preferred to believe that she just couldn¡¯t sleep. His finger tapped the message open, and he saw a line of words: Withdraw all your people immediately! Shen Chi¡¯s eyes, sharp as obsidian, suddenly grew colder, and his heart thumped violently. Chaomu was in trouble! This was Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone, but now, it was in a stranger¡¯s hands. It seemed likely that Shen Shihan¡¯s men had taken Xu Chaomu, judging from the message. Shen Chi cursed under his breath, clenching his teeth, and immediately dialed Xu Chaomu¡¯s cell phone number. No one answered! Soon, another message came: You have three seconds to withdraw with your men! This message also came with a photo. The photo wasn¡¯t very clear, but it was discernable. Xu Chaomu was wearing a pink dress tonight, and in the photo, she was tied to a table, with the rope cutting into her. ¡°Mumu!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted.
She was pregnant! Indeed, Shen Shihan was far more ruthless than he had imagined. Even after five years, Shen Shihan still didn¡¯t see Chaomu as family. And there was no sign of remorse! The countdown began in the text message, with the sender first sending the number ¡°three.¡±
¡°Two.¡± Shen Chi bit his lip, helpless. Xu Chaomu was in their grasp. ¡°Xiao Mo, take everyone and leave, don¡¯t chase any further!¡± Shen Chi barked an order. Xiao Mo¡¯s face was full of confusion: ¡°Boss Shen, what happened?¡± ¡°Just take everyone and leave!¡± Shen Chi was afraid of nothing, unphased even by the most dangerous snares, but his only concern was Xu Chaomu¡¯s safety. She was his everything, more important than his own life. He could give up anything, but he had to ensure her safety. One day, he would not let Shen Shihan off the hook! ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Mo had no choice but to follow Shen Chi¡¯s order. ¡°Everyone fall back, get in the cars!¡± Xiao Momanded his subordinates. Shen Chi dialed Xu Chaomu¡¯s number again, still with the same result: no one answered. But he knew that the person who had texted him must be nearby.
He was in the light; every move he made was being watched by someone lurking in the dark. Probably after seeing Shen Chi¡¯s men all get into the cars, the person texted him again: ¡°Leave this ce!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hawk-like eyes scanned the surroundings, but he discovered nothing, not the slightest rustle. He could risk his own life, but he would never gamble with Xu Chaomu¡¯s. He turned and got into Xiao Mo¡¯s car, sitting in the passenger seat. ¡°Drive,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Yes, Boss Shen,¡± Xiao Mo nodded, turning the car around. He still didn¡¯t know what had actually happened, but judging by his knowledge of Shen Chi, anything that made Shen Chi give up a pursuit had to be rted to Xu Chaomu! Soon, several cars left the birch woods. Shen Chi watched helplessly as the truck slipped away from under his nose. The contest with Shen Shihan was far from over! ¡°Boss Shen, what happened?¡± Xiao Mo saw that Shen Chi¡¯s face remained stern. ¡°Someone is using Xu Chaomu to threaten me,¡± Shen Chi said coldly.
¡°Where is thedy now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Vice-President Shen really is¡­¡± Even Xiao Mo was lost for words. He could guess that the person who had texted Shen Chi must be one of Shen Shihan¡¯s men. Five years ago, Shen Shihan had Zhou Peitian kidnap Xu Chaomu, and five yearster, it was the same story. Did that man really have no feelings at all? Was his heart made of iron? Xu Chaomu, his sister that he had grown up with for eight years. Xiao Mo silently sighed. Everyone said Shen Chi was heartless, but Shen Chi would never do something like kidnapping innocent women and children. Why has Shen Shihan never considered what he would do if one day, his beloved third wife was kidnapped? Xiao Mo felt helpless; Shen Shihan understood Shen Chi too well. Xu Chaomu was Shen Chi¡¯s greatest weakness. He was very clear on how much Shen Chi loved Xu Chaomu. Some loves are apanied by life and death.
Shen Chi fell into deep thought, frowning deeply and holding his cell phone. Before long, Xiao Mo¡¯s car had left the birch forest behind. The chilly wind of the early morning still carried a hint of coolness. The moon had hidden itself away at some point, and the sky was pitch ck, without a shred of light. This ce was too quiet,pletely devoid of human figures. The birch forest was left far behind, and only muchter did the sound of the wind rustling the dense foliage vanish. Shen Chi sent a message to the other party: Where is Chaomu? The other side did not reply for a long time. Xiao Mo¡¯s car gradually left the area, moving away from the birch forest, away from the beach. Shen Chi clenched his fists, Shen Shihan, you wait. The car began heading towards the noisy city center, making what had just happened seem worlds apart. The city was aze with lights, and even at three in the morning, there were still many people moving around in the squares and shopping malls. Xiao Mo¡¯s car weaved through the streets, where the busiest spots were still bustling with traffic like flowing water. ¡°Boss Shen, you¡¯re injured. You need to deal with that wound immediately, or, I can take you to the hospital,¡± Xiao Mo nced at Shen Chi¡¯s arm. The ss had embedded itself deeply into the flesh. Blood continued to seep out, staining Shen Chi¡¯s arm and shirt red. This¡­ it must be painful, Xiao Mo thought as he winced, a surge of concern washing over him. Yet Shen Chi acted as if nothing had happened, not once mentioning the wound. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± ¡°Your wound might get infected¡­¡± Xiao Mo remained concerned. ¡°I told you, don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Shen Chi said, a touch of impatience in his voice. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Xiao Mo shook his head; at this moment, this man¡¯s heart was solely focused on Xu Chaomu. A silence followed, and the car became very quiet. Chapter 511: 461: Taking Care of Mother and Child Chapter 511: Chapter 461: Taking Care of Mother and Child Shen Chi took a handkerchief from his pocket, clenched his teeth, furrowed his brows, and forcibly extracted the ss from his flesh. Large beads of sweat emerged on his forehead, but he kept silent. ¡°Mr. Shen, let me help you,¡± although Xiao Mo was a man, even he felt distressed watching this. The ss was forcibly pulled out from the arm, and the blood kept flowing. Xiao Mo¡¯s face was full of worry, and he was very anxious. How painful it must be! ¡°You drive!¡± Shen Chi ordered. He frowned, wrapped the handkerchief around the wound, and stopped the bleeding. Xiao Mo had a helpless expression on his face. He had been with Shen Chi for so long, and he knew his character well; it was unlikely to change. ¡°Mr. Shen, where are we headed now?¡± Xiao Mo asked cautiously. He saw that Shen Chi¡¯s facial expressions were always tense and did not dare to say too much.
Shen Chi¡¯s face grew increasingly pale, as there was still no reply to his message. The dim light shone on Shen Chi¡¯s face, the coldness in his eyes bone-chilling. After a long while, he finally calmed his expression and uttered a few words, ¡°Go find Shen Shihan.¡± Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± The message must have been sent by someone from the Shen Shihan camp. Shen Chi could no longer care to investigate anything else; he needed Xu Chaomu to be safe. Five years ago, he hadn¡¯t protected her well, and they had missed out on five whole years. In a lifetime, how many more sets of five years¡­ More so, Xu Chaomu was pregnant! He had said that he would treat her child as his own, would treat her well, and also be good to her child. Even if it meant paying any price, he would ensure her and the child were safe. Xiao Mo drove toward Shen Shihan¡¯s vi, the temperature inside the car grew cold. Even though it was summer, all of this induced an infinite chill. ¡°Mumu, you mustn¡¯t have anything happen to you.¡± The car passed the business district; neither Xiao Mo nor Shen Chi spoke, the surrounding scenery was rapidly moving backward. Xiao Mo stepped harder on the elerator, reaching a speed of a hundred and twenty. ¡°Mr. Shen, do you need me to bring a few people with us?¡± Xiao Mo inquired. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°But what if Vice President Shen isn¡¯t home¡­¡± ¡°What if I respond in kind?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s dark eyes grew stormy. Suddenly, Xiao Mo understood. What Shen Chi meant was that if Shen Shihan wasn¡¯t home, he could very well take the third young madam away.
¡°I understand,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Do you think I am despicable?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face showed a trace of weariness. ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± Xiao Mo said. To outsiders, Shen Chi indeed seemed ruthless and heartless, but having been with him for so long, Xiao Mo knew that Shen Chi was a man who valued rtionships and loyalty.
Although Shen Shihan was not his full brother, he had neverid a hand on anyone close to Shen Shihan. Just like five years ago when the Lou Family sabotaged contracts and designs, putting Shen Chi in a difficult position, he did not hold on to any grudges afterward. But Shen Chi¡¯s concessions did not amount to cowardice; if Shen Shihan did not stop, Shen Chi would be merciless. Shen Chi did not speak again, with the night outlining his deep contours. Suddenly, just as Xiao Mo was driving towards Shen Shihan¡¯s small vi, Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang! The light illuminated Shen Chi¡¯s face, making the coldness in his eyes even sharper. This time, the message actually included an address! The location where Xu Chaomu was! ¡°Wait, Xiao Mo, turn around, head to Su City Garden!¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, what happened?¡± ¡°He sent the address of where Chaomu is!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m turning around now.¡± Xiao Mo quickly drove onto another road, and at this point, it was obvious that saving Xu Chaomu came first.
¡°Mr. Shen, could this be a trap? Could it be a ruse to lure you there?¡± Xiao Mo asked, confusion on his face. Could it be that Shen Shihan only did half the job? ¡°Do you think I would leave Xu Chaomu in a deserted, deste ce?¡± ¡°I mean, should we call the police?¡± ¡°Not for now.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes twinkled as he raised his hand to stop Xiao Mo. ¡°Okay,¡± Xiao Mo nodded. Su City Garden wasn¡¯t far from the business district. Driving there would take only about twenty minutes. Xiao Mo¡¯s heart was in his throat, ready to aid Shen Chi if they encountered danger upon arrival. But since the other party chose to bring Xu Chaomu to a popted residentialplex like Su City Garden, they probably wouldn¡¯t make a move. Even if they did, it wouldn¡¯t be a very loud confrontation. The other side wouldn¡¯t use guns, and neither would they. ¡°Mr. Shen, how is your arm, any serious issues?¡± Shen Chi had injured his left arm, now bandaged with the handkerchief, which was not only dyeing his shirt but also the handkerchief red.
¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Xiao Mo had nothing else to say; with so much blood lost, how could it be fine. The car approached Su City Garden, and the closer they got, the more Xiao Mo¡¯s nerves were on edge. Now, there were only Shen Chi and he. If there was an ambush, they were sure to be in danger. But what lied ahead was a mystery to them, the only option was to move forward! ¡°Xiao Mo, when we get there, I will go upstairs alone to save Chaomu, and you will wait for me downstairs,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Mr. Shen, that¡¯s too dangerous. If they use your wife to threaten you when you¡¯re alone, what will you do?¡± Xiao Mo remembered what happened five years ago; they had used such tactics to force Shen Chi to relinquish the diamond mine. If they resorted to the same methods, given Shen Chi¡¯s love for Xu Chaomu, he would certainly agree to anything. Shen Chi, loved Xu Chaomu too much. ¡°That¡¯s why I need you to back me up downstairs,¡± Shen Chi said. After deliberating for a moment, Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°Okay, Mr. Shen, I¡¯ll cover you from downstairs.¡±
Xiao Mo felt that Shen Chi¡¯s n was also sensible; if both went upstairs and they fell into a trap, then even the chance to call the police would be lost. ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi replied solemnly. After rounding a corner, the car approached the entrance of Su City Garden. Su City Garden, while not a particrly upscale residentialplex, was quiet, with the entireplex seemingly asleep. It was past three in the morning, and one could hear the chirping of the summer insects, ¡°chee-chee, chee-chee,¡± intermittently carrying through the air. Most of the lights in the building were out, and the many buildings loomed like gigantic creatures. ¡°Stay here, I¡¯m going up,¡± Shen Chi whispered to Xiao Mo. ¡°Okay,¡± Xiao Mo nodded his head. Xiao Mo parked the car under a lush tree, a good spot for cover. Once Shen Chi got out, he turned off all the car lights. Unless someone came really close and looked carefully, no one would notice someone was inside the car! Shen Chi got out of the car, armed with only one gun. The best oue was not needing to use the gun at all! The streetlight cast a long shadow of Shen Chi, and soon, the figure in the dark shirt blended into the darkness of theplex. Xiao Mo watched as Shen Chi slowly disappeared from view, preparing himself thoroughly for what mighte. Shen Chi had already memorized the address from the message, and now, he made his way there, following the floor numbers. He advanced with his long legs, his gaze firm, his eagle-like eyes scanning his surroundings vigntly. Chapter 512: 462 She Still Couldnt Let Him Go Chapter 512: Chapter 462 She Still Couldn¡¯t Let Him Go Finally, he locked onto his target. Even as he walked, he kept a vignt watch over his surroundings, his ears sensitively tuned to any sound around him. It was too quiet in the vicinity; only his own footsteps could be heard, nothing else. And because it was so quiet, he could notice any sign of movement, even if it were just the wind rustling a tree branch! At this moment, he was alone, without a single soul in sight. The street light seemed to struggle weakly, casting a dim light¡­ The pistol rested in his pant pocket; he clenched his fist, fully prepared for what mighte. ¡°Rustle¡­¡± The sound of leaves scraping across the ground was faint but significant. Because the silence was so intense, even this soft noise seemed magnified a thousand times! Shen Chi was tensed like a taut string; his Chaomu must note to any harm!
¡°Mumu¡­¡± he silently mouthed her name, his expression heavy, his heart as if bleeding. He had always pampered and protected her, never letting even a finger hurt her, but now, she had been bound in a cold and dark ce. ¡°You must note to harm.¡± She was pregnant with their child; not only must she be safe, their child must be unharmed too! Once Shen Chi was sure no one was following, he made his way to the elevator and pressed the floor button. The elevator doors closed and began ascending smoothly. The space inside was oppressive, and as he neared the floor, Shen Chi¡¯s heart pounded more fiercely. His heart nearly leapt into his throat, his slender hand subconsciously gripping the pistol inside his pants. What would happen next, he did not know. If Xu Chaomu came to harm, he would shoot Shen Shihan dead tomorrow! Xu Chaomu was hisst line of defense. The floor was too quiet, and so was the elevator; Shen Chi could hear not only the slow ascent of the elevator but also his own uneven breaths. The elevator had a slight smell of durian, seemingly left from someone eating it at night. Shen Chi frowned, his heart erratic as he gripped the gun firmly. He could remain unaffected even if Mount Tai crumbled before him, yet everything rted to Xu Chaomu disturbed hisposure! ¡°Mumu.¡± Fifteenth floor, arrived. The elevator stopped with a ¡°ding,¡± and the doors slowly opened. The corridor was pitch ck, so dark one could not see the hand before them.
All the lights on this floor were out, clearly indicating it was a residential level. Shen Chi deduced that the other party probably didn¡¯t have the audacity to shoot in a residential building. Therefore, he stowed the gun away; unless absolutely necessary, he would not shoot. In the darkness, he turned on his phone, using the light to check the door numbers.
His profound eyes gleamed with a hellish light, and beneath the dust, his features were sharp and hisplexion somber. Step by step, his footsteps were firm yet unflustered. Soon, he saw the door number he¡¯d been looking for! A red door, locked tight. Shen Chi checked his phone; the other party hadn¡¯t sent any more messages. He raised his hand and knocked on the wood. A ¡°thump,¡± solid and weighty. No response, only dead silence all around. Moving his phone, the light shone on the door, and he noticed a key left in the lock! Just one key, hanging lonesomely in the lock. Shen Chi¡¯s gaze deepened as his hand reached for the key. The other party had actually left him a key¡ªwhat was Shen Shihan¡¯s intention? Shen Chi¡¯s hand gently turned the key, and while opening the door, he did not let down his guard for even a moment!
He watched his surroundings from the corner of his eye, ready for a surprise attack from behind! Thus, with even greater vignce, he turned the key. With a soft twist, the door opened! The sound of ¡°thump¡± echoed unnaturally in the silent corridor. Shen Chi¡¯s heart was racing; it had been a long time since he had felt this way. Mumu, his Mumu must note to any harm. He pushed the door open a crack, still no movement anywhere. On his way here, he imagined numerous scenarios like ambushes, hostage situations, threats¡­ But from the moment he walked in from outside theplex to here, nothing had happened. Apart from silence, only silence, not a sound to be heard. Shen Chi¡¯s hand tightly gripped the doorknob, slowly pushing the door open. As the door opened a crack, pitch ck darkness greeted him! Holding his breath, he pushed the wooden door open. Inside was the scent of sawdust, not unpleasant, but Shen Chi still frowned.
Finally, he pushed the door all the way open, turned on his phone light, and shone it into the room. As the door opened, his eyes immediately found Xu Chaomu sitting on the floor! ¡°Mumu!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes widened, all his guards dropping. He strode inside, heading straight for Xu Chaomu. Rushing to her side, he lifted her up with his hands. ¡°Mumu, Mumu, wake up!¡± he called her name urgently, over and over. Though it was summer and the ground wasn¡¯t too cold, the fact that she had been sitting there made him extra distressed. He turned on the light; it was an unfurnished room, bar of any decor. The room contained only the basic furnishings of a table, chairs, a sofa, and there was not much else on the table. A single light flickered continuously, casting an unnerving glow through the night. ¡°Mumu, wake up,¡± Shen Chi said with furrowed brows, holding her in his embrace. The light fell on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, which looked fine; herplexion wasn¡¯t haggard, and her clothes and hair were neat and clean. In the photo he¡¯d received earlier, Xu Chaomu was tied up, but now he saw no trace of rope on her.
Xu Chaomu wore a pink dress that day, fresh and elegant, very beautiful. Only then did Shen Chi breathe a sigh of relief; Shen Shihan was notpletely devoid of mercy. He hadn¡¯t seen Xu Chaomu for some days, and now, he missed her dearly. He used his fingers to tidy her hair, his expression full of tenderness. Shen Chi called her name softly, and after some time, Xu Chaomu pouted her lips and opened her eyes. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the light, squinting slightly. Shen Chi used his hand to shield her from the light, pulling her even more tightly into his embrace. Under the light, Xu Chaomu¡¯s dark eyes stared at him, unblinkingly fixed on him. She thought she was dreaming¡­ ¡°Shen Chi, is that you?¡± She cracked a smile, exposing pearly little teeth. Her fair hand reached out to touch his face, feeling as if she was dreaming, otherwise, why would she see him in the middle of the night. How many days has it been since shest saw him? A long, long time, perhaps¡­ In the five years away from him, how had she coped? It seemed, during those five years, she¡¯d dreamt of him nearly every day. After all, she couldn¡¯t bear to let him go. ¡°Don¡¯t recognize me anymore?¡± asked Shen Chi, his gaze prating as he watched her. His voice was pleasant, deep with a hint of huskiness. As she heard his voice, her heart instantly melted¡­ Chapter 513 - 513 Husband Can Eat Chapter 513: Chapter 513 Husband Can Eat Her smile deepened, her eyes curving into crescents, not uttering a word but just staring at him with her bright, glossy eyes. Never enough, never enough, just could never get enough of looking at him. ¡°Gone silly?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s lips also curled up, and he reached out to pinch her cheek. Hmm, it felt good, soft and smooth. Xu Chaomu swatted his hand away, scolding: ¡°Why are you pinching me? I¡¯m not made of y.¡± ¡°All dirty,¡± Shen Chi disdainfully nced at her. The room was too shabby, with wood piled up in the corner, as if no one had cleaned it up for a long time¡ªdust was everywhere. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face had also gathered quite a bit of dust; she had been sleeping on the floor for a long time. ¡°You still touch me even though I¡¯m all dirty?¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. On one hand, he was disdainful of her being all dirty, and on the other, he pulled her tightly into his embrace. This was called something, wasn¡¯t it? His mouth might not admit it, but his body was very honest. She hooked her arms around his neck, only a few centimeters away from him. So close, close enough for her to clearly see his face. Even when he blinked, she could see it all distinctly¡ªthis man¡¯s eyshes were so long, they cast a fan-like shadow over his eyes like shutters. The high bridge of his nose, lightly pursed thin lips, a profile sharp as cut by a knife. Having not seen him for many days, now she could never get enough of him no matter how much she looked. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to touch you?¡± Shen Chi teased her with a question. ¡°Mhm!¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, dering firmly and spiritedly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll let go.¡± After saying that, Shen Chi pretended to loosen one hand. ¡°No!¡± Xu Chaomu, scared, quickly clung to his neck, tucking herself tightly into his embrace. Shen Chiughed, holding her even tighter. He just liked this feeling of holding her in his arms¡ªwith her there, he truly could give up everything else. Xu Chaomu hid in his embrace, feeling a very tranquil andforting sensation from his chest. His body still carried that faint scent of grass and wood, something she had grown familiar with over the years. How she wished to hold on to him like this forever. At that moment, she was like a little cat, lying securely and steadily in his arms. Shen Chi held her, and he wasn¡¯t willing to let go either. But Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t noticed Shen Chi¡¯s wound¡ªwhen she rubbed against him, she identally brushed his arm. It agitated his wound, causing Shen Chi to frown from the pain. But the bliss of holding her in his arms was enough to offset all the pain. The room was small, with the scent of wood lingering in the air, and the incandescent light bulb above flickered from time to time¡ªeverything was silent. Everything that had happened earlier seemed like a dream. ¡°Mumu, did you miss me?¡± Shen Chi stroked her hair and whispered in her ear. His warm breath twined around her neck, causing a tingling sensation. Xu Chaomu lifted her head from his chest, shaking it like a rattle drum: ¡°Xiaoshen, I don¡¯t miss you.¡± ¡°What Xiaoshen, call me hubby,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes darkened as he insisted heavily in her ear. Xu Chaomu refused to call him that; she had been tricked by him several times before and hadn¡¯t gotten back at him yet. Xu Chaomu shook her head again: ¡°What¡¯s hubby? Can you eat it?¡± Her shaking head looked so adorable that Shen Chi¡¯s heart melted. He seriously lowered his voice into her ear: ¡°Hubby¡­ can be eaten.¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed red: ¡°Pervert!¡± ¡°Hmm? What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Chi deliberately teased. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re a big pervert! I don¡¯t want to stay with you anymore, I¡¯m taking the baby and running away from home!¡± Xu Chaomu huffed coldly. ¡°This is called hooliganism?¡± Shen Chi looked at him with ill intent. Seeing the dangerous message in his eyes, Xu Chaomu quickly moved a little farther away from him. ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me hold you for a while.¡± Shen Chi couldn¡¯t bear to let go of her; he just wanted to keep holding her like this. Actually, Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t bear it either. She pretended to be reluctant, struggled a few times, and then let him hold her in his arms. Whispering softly and nuzzling close to each other¡¯s ears. Xu Chaomu nestled in his embrace, contentedly closing her eyes. The room was quiet, no other sound was heard, and they could even hear each other¡¯s steady breathing. Even though it was summer, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel hot at all; she just wanted to hold onto him. She didn¡¯t want to break the tranquility, and after a long while, she finally spoke up. ¡°Fourth Brother,¡± she lifted her head. Her clear eyes looked into his, blinking as if they could speak. That ¡°Fourth Brother¡± made Shen Chi pause, five years aftering back, she hadn¡¯t called him Fourth Brother again¡­ Every time, she would call him by his name, ¡°Shen Chi,¡± ¡°Shen Chi,¡± and even ¡°President Shen.¡± It was as if time had frozen; her sweet and sticky ¡°Fourth Brother¡± echoed in his ears¡­ It was as if they had returned to the past, back then, she used to call out ¡°Fourth Brother¡± every day! Of course, when she was unhappy, she would directly call him by his name. He didn¡¯t mind it; whatever she called him was fine, of course, ¡°husband¡± was even better. He knew that when she was unhappy, she would call him ¡°President Shen,¡± just like him, when he was unhappy, he would call her by her full name ¡°Xu Chaomu.¡± He smiled, his lips curving up, his big hand touching her cheek. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him and giggled foolishly. Seeing her sillyughter, Shen Chi also smiled: ¡°What are youughing at?¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, how can you be so handsome, an evergreen in my eyes.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a nk look, ¡°Can¡¯t you be a bit more modest?¡± ¡°Then do you think I have any other merits?¡± The certain someone¡¯s voice turned indifferent, reverting to thick-skinned mode. ¡°You¡¯re rich.¡± ¡°What else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Xu Chaomu shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Then what about me caught your eye?¡± Shen Chi gazed at her. ¡°What about you caught my eye¡­¡± Xu Chaomu pondered. What about him had caught her eye? The man had such a bad temper, and he was fierce and heartless; what about him had caught her eye? Probably, there was some heartbeat; there weren¡¯t any reasons for such things. ¡°I am someone who values substance, not a member of the appearance association.¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m into your money!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s mouth twitched, he patted her cheek: ¡°Then from tomorrow on, you can sleep with money.¡± ¡°Stingy.¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. Shen Chiughed; he especially liked her like this. His hand, warm with his body heat, gently stroked her face. Her cheeks were soft and smooth, and he enjoyed touching her face as he held her in his arms. The room was still very quiet, and when neither of them spoke, they could hear each other¡¯s breathing. Xu Chaomu hugged his waist tightly, unwilling to let go. She hid in his embrace, quietly listening to his heartbeat. Her fuzzy little head rubbed back and forth in his embrace, and Shen Chi let her be, the corners of his lips were curled in a smile. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± she called him sweetly again. But she didn¡¯t lift her head, calling out to him while hiding in his embrace, like a little kitten. ¡°Hmm?¡± he lowered his head, his chin just touching her little head. Chapter 514: A Kiss (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 514: A Kiss (Seeking Monthly Tickets) ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just called you.¡± Xu Chaomu giggled as if she had done something bad, continuously hiding into Shen Chi¡¯s arms. ¡°You little rascal.¡± Heughed too, patting her head lightly. At this moment, time seemed to slow down a lot. Suddenly, they were back in time, five years earlier, or perhaps even before that. In those days, she always loved to tease him, cheer him up, and would chuckle to herself in triumph after each sessful prank. Back then, he would always call her ¡°little rascal¡± with a smile. He didn¡¯t know when it started, but he fell for this little rascal, this mischievous troublemaker who alwaysplicated his life. He truly didn¡¯t know what it was about her that he liked, not even now, he still didn¡¯t know. But once you fall in love, you¡¯re in love¡ªno reason needed. Xu Chaomu also enjoyed these moments, it had been five years since shest called out ¡°Fourth Brother¡±. In Paris, she resented him for deceiving her, but she couldn¡¯t let go of him no matter what. She had tried many ways to forget him, but even after five years of effort, she still couldn¡¯t do it. In the tangle of love and hate, she often struggled with sleepless nights. Those nights were exceptionally long, with the hazy moonlight casting shadows on the floral curtains, her tears dampening the pillowcase. She still remembered, in the dead of night, she would grip the edge of the nket tightly, crying out for ¡°Fourth Brother¡± in agony¡­ The room was filled with a faint scent of sawdust as Shen Chi lifted her horizontally and stood up. ¡°Mumu, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Chaomu hooked her arms around his neck and didn¡¯t let go. When leaving the room, Shen Chi checked the room without seeing any ropes, nor any other suspicious items. He recalled the photo the kidnapper sent her¡ªXu Chaomu was bound with ropes and motionless. He frowned deeply and pondered for a moment, recalling the details of the photo. Yes, the photo was staged. The ropes were tied around Xu Chaomu, but they weren¡¯t tight, and Xu Chaomu had just passed out. Shen Chi¡¯s hand holding Xu Chaomu paused; five yearster, Shen Shihan had not hurt Chaomu again. His goal was merely to force Shen Chi to back down; once achieved, he released Xu Chaomu. So, it wasn¡¯t hard to exin the keys on the door and Xu Chaomu¡¯s unharmed state. ¡°Xiaoshen, what are you thinking about?¡± Xu Chaomu asked curiously when she saw him lost in thought. ¡°I¡¯m thinking that if you don¡¯t agree to call me ¡®hubby¡¯, I might just leave you here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t call it, leave me here.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, bing a little naughty herself. Shen Chi was helpless, of course he wasn¡¯t seriously going to leave her here. On their way out of the room, Xu Chaomu saw her bag and the carry bag with medicine. She quickly pointed, ¡°My stuff is still here, can you get it for me?¡± Shen Chi deliberately refused; he looked at her, ¡°Say something nice, and I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Her things were essential to her, yet she couldn¡¯t jump down from his strong arms which continued to hold her. Left with no choice, Xu Chaomu blinked and reluctantly puckered her lips. ¡°Not talking? Hmm?¡± Seeing that she had no intention of speaking, Shen Chi started walking out with her, ignoring her belongings. ¡°Don¡¯t go, my bag! My things!¡± Xu Chaomu panicked, patting his chest. Shen Chi remained silent, his face stern as he kicked open the door and kept walking. ¡°Hubby, hubby, could you please get my things, you¡¯re the best man.¡± Xu Chaomu became desperate, pleading with him in a pitiful tone. That¡¯s just how it was, he loved to be haughty in front of her, doing it on purpose! ¡°Hmm? What did you say?¡± Shen Chi looked down at her innocently. Xu Chaomu was gritting her teeth, she had called him ¡°hubby¡± andplimented him, yet he pretended not to acknowledge it! It was very quiet in the hallway at that moment; her voice had been loud, how could he have not heard it. Shen Chi looked at her seriously, halting his steps, waiting for her to speak again. Xu Chaomu, feeling his gaze, became even more embarrassed, her face turning red. But she had no choice, if she didn¡¯t say it, he wouldn¡¯t carry her things. She believed he was absolutely capable of doing that. ¡°Hubby.¡± She called out pitifully, ¡°You are the best man I have ever met¡ªkind-hearted, down-to-earth, not snobby, not haughty, with no temper, and a good attitude. You are the male god in my heart, hubby¡­¡± As she looked into his bright eyes, she said words that went against her feelings. If lying made one¡¯s nose grow, by tomorrow, she¡¯d be Pinhio. ¡°You could be a bit more fake.¡± Even Shen Chi himself didn¡¯t believe the words she had said. However, when she sweetly called him ¡°hubby¡±, he really enjoyed it. ¡°Get my bag!¡± Xu Chaomu pointed. ¡°Kiss me first.¡± Shen Chi said earnestly. ¡°You¡¯re going too far!¡± Xu Chaomu, holding onto his neck, was unhappy. ¡°No kiss? Well, forget it, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Put me down, I don¡¯t need your help, I have hands, I can take it myself!¡± Xu Chaomu struggled. Shen Chi held her tight despite her struggles, refusing to let go. His wound on the arm was aching due to the movement, but he ignored it. Just as Xu Chaomu was fussing to be put down, Shen Chi lowered his head and kissed her cheek. Xu Chaomu was caught off guard and flustered, blinking repeatedly only to realize a momentter that she had been kissed stealthily. ¡°You bastard!¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. Her cheeks red with heat; it was just a regr kiss, but she felt incredibly shy. Shen Chi was fond of Xu Chaomu when she blushed, though it seemed like he liked her no matter the expression she wore. Shen Chi curved his lips in satisfaction, gazing at her flushed face. ¡°Go get my stuff.¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi was content, willingly going to get her bag. But when he touched the carry bag, his brow furrowed slightly, taking a nce inside. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he inquired. ¡°Nothing, give it to me!¡± Xu Chaomu stretched out a hand to grab the bag. Shen Chi, not wanting her to fall, didn¡¯t fight over it and let her take the carry bag. He vaguely saw that it seemed to be filled with medicine. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Chaomu wrapped her arms around his neck again. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Shen Chi, with sharp eyes, suddenly saw Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone in a corner. Apparently, the kidnapper had already been here before him. Shen Chi set Xu Chaomu down and picked up the phone from the ground. The room¡¯s light was too dim, flickering, causing a dizzying effect. ¡°How did my phone end up on the floor.¡± Xu Chaomu was curious. She recalled thatst night, around seven or eight o¡¯clock, she went to Nie Chenng¡¯s neighborhood to find him. Just as she entered theplex, she was knocked out by someone¡­ After that¡­ She couldn¡¯t remember what happened afterward; she had slept really well, a sound sleep without hearing any noise. Chapter 515: 515: Shen Chi, Youre Ungrateful and Ruthless Chapter 515: Shen Chi, You¡¯re Ungrateful and Ruthless And then¡­ Shen Chi woke her up, and when she awoke, she found herself sleeping on the ground. Shen Chi took Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone and flipped through the messages. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red, and she hurried to snatch it back. She didn¡¯t really want Shen Chi to see the messages between her and Nie Chenng, afraid he would misunderstand. ¡°Give me the phone!¡± Xu Chaomu wasn¡¯t as tall as someone, and she couldn¡¯t snatch it back from him. Shen Chi held the phone in his hand and continued to look at the messages. Indeed, the first few messages were sent to him, along with the picture of Xu Chaomu being tied up. He had been too anxious at the time to notice that the photo was just a setup. Had Shen Shihan changed after five years? But, no matter how much a wolf changes, it¡¯s still a wolf at heart. Shen Chi¡¯s brows furrowed; he didn¡¯t want Xu Chaomu to overthink, so he quickly deleted those messages.
¡°Shen Chi, give me back my phone. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll leave on my own!¡± Xu Chaomu tried to grab it again. She still couldn¡¯t snatch it from Shen Chi and grew impetuous. She didn¡¯t know what he was looking at so intently. After Shen Chi deleted those messages, he scrolled up and found the messages Xu Chaomu had sent a few days ago: ¡°I miss you.¡± Seeing this, Shen Chi¡¯s eyes and brows gradually softened. ¡°Mumu, who brought you to this ce?¡± Shen Chi put away the phone and asked her. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was walking on the road¡­ then I was knocked out, and when I woke up, I saw you. Where is this ce?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare say she went to find Nie Chenng¡­ ¡°Didn¡¯t see who it was?¡± Shen Chi asked with furrowed brows. ¡°No, it was too dark, I couldn¡¯t see anything,¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. ¡°Around what time?¡± ¡°Seven or eight o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°On which road?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Xu Chaomu stammered, her gaze flickering uncertainly. On the road of Nie Chenng¡¯s residential area, but¡­ could she say that? ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi lowered his voice, looking into her eyes. Xu Chaomu stuttered, ¡°Just¡­ just went out to buy stuff, walking down the alley.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that whatever you want, just ask Butler Ling to go out and buy it!¡± Shen Chi was slightly annoyed. Xu Chaomu jumped, pouting unhappily, ¡°Why are you yelling? Can¡¯t I even go out to buy things now?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that you can¡¯t go out to buy things. When you go out, take more servants with you, or ask Butler Ling to buy them for you. Why can¡¯t you remember this?!¡± ¡°My memory is bad. I can¡¯t remember it! It¡¯s just buying stuff; don¡¯t I even have that little bit of freedom aftering to the Shen family?¡± She yelled at him, and he yelled back. ¡°This is not about freedom. You can go out alone, but can you guarantee nothing will happen?!¡±
¡°Marrying you is the only reason there is so much trouble! When I was in Paris, I lived happily every day without any problems!¡± Xu Chaomu, now furious, reached out to snatch Shen Chi¡¯s phone from his hand! Shen Chi raised his hand, not letting her snatch it. With no other option, Xu Chaomu red at him and walked out on her own, carrying her handbag. Her little cheeks were red with anger. Why was this man like this! ¡°Stop!¡± Shen Chi called out to her. Xu Chaomu paused for a moment but didn¡¯t listen to him and continued walking forward. The corridor was very dark, without any lights, and she couldn¡¯t see her hands before her eyes. Xu Chaomu walked cautiously, afraid of falling. She braced herself against the wall, not daring to move rashly. Shen Chi quickly caught up to her; he walked in front of her and blocked her way. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk when we get back!¡± Without another word, Shen Chi swept her up into a princess carry, domineeringly holding her in his arms. ¡°Put me down, I can walk by myself, let me go!¡±
¡°If you¡¯re not afraid to wake up the whole floor, then go ahead and yell a bit louder!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. Xu Chaomu fell silent. She didn¡¯t know where this was, but it looked like an apartment building. ¡°Hold on tighter, if you fall, I won¡¯t take responsibility!¡± Shen Chi added. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t see his face, but from his tone, she felt he was especially fierce, which made her even more upset. But for the sake of the baby in her belly, she still wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. ¡°Really heavy,¡± someone said indifferently. Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth¡ªshe was pregnant, how could she not be heavy? ¡°If you think I¡¯m fat, just say it,¡± Xu Chaomu said irritably. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°You!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed. In the darkness, she couldn¡¯t see anything, but she knew she was very close to him. She pouted her body and bit down hard on his neck! ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Shen Chi drew in a breath of cold air. His brows furrowed, and through clenched teeth, he enunciated each word, ¡°Xu Chaomu, are you a dog?¡±
¡°Not happy about it?¡± Xu Chaomu gloated. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember this,¡± Shen Chi said in a deep voice. Carrying Xu Chaomu, he followed the path they came from and soon saw the elevator. The elevator hadn¡¯t been used for a while and was still on the fifteenth floor. He pressed the button, and the elevator doors slowly opened. The elevator was brightly lit, and with the light, Xu Chaomu could clearly see the expression on Shen Chi¡¯s face. He looked very serious, his head low, his deep eyes staring at her. Xu Chaomu quickly turned her head away, not daring to stare back at him. However, she still noticed the clear bite mark she left on his neck. Serves him right for yelling at her, shameless. The elevator slowly descended, and Shen Chi¡¯s gaze never left Xu Chaomu. The flickering light in the room just now hadn¡¯t given him a good look at her, but now, he saw her clearly. Although they hadn¡¯t seen each other for some days, she hadn¡¯t changed much. But today¡¯s pink dress was beautiful on her, making her look ethereal and elegant. Xu Chaomu was looking down, but she could still feel two hot stares fixed on her.
Frightened, she didn¡¯t move and turned her head towards his chest. She sniffed her nose and suddenly smelled blood. Following the scent, she saw blood oozing from Shen Chi¡¯s arm. ¡°Why is your arm bleeding?¡± Xu Chaomu looked up at him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. ¡°There¡¯s so much blood. Let me re-wrap it for you.¡± Xu Chaomu was serious. ¡°No need, you wrapping it is worse than not wrapping it at all.¡± ¡°You! Heartless and ungrateful, Shen Chi, you don¡¯t appreciate kindness! Fine, just let it bleed then, I was just being nosy. Besides, why should I care about you,¡± Xu Chaomu said, getting even angrier, her little face turning redder. Just then, the elevator reached the first floor with a ¡°ding,¡± and the doors opened. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Shen Chi looked at her. ¡°I¡¯d rather worry about Dabai. At least when I show concern for Dabai, it wags its tail at me,¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. Shen Chi carried her out of the elevator. Her face was flushed with anger, and he found himself smiling. But now, having carried her all the way, his arm was indeed straining. With the exertion, the blood started flowing again. ¡°Put me down, I can walk. I¡¯m so heavy, it can¡¯t befortable for you to hold me,¡± Xu Chaomu said, seeing the blood seeping from his arm. But his words had just annoyed her so much that she could only express herself this way. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said lightly. Chapter 516: Anxiety Burns Like Fire, Hunger Thirst Hard to Endure Chapter 516: Anxiety Burns Like Fire, Hunger Thirst Hard to Endure Actually, he hadn¡¯t seen her for many days and he really wanted to hold her a little longer. When she looked down, she saw that his arm was still bleeding; it really hurt her heart. She wanted him to let her down to rest for a while, but he refused. ¡°Shen Chi, I know why you had Butler Ling make me so many delicious dishes every day,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°If I eat well every day, I¡¯ll definitely get fat, and it¡¯s been proven that I have indeed gained weight. Once a woman gets fat, men start to disdain her. In a few more years, not only will I have gotten fat, but I will have aged whereas you, President Shen, will still be in your prime. By that time¡­¡± Xu Chaomu paused, looking at him under the streetlight. She intentionally stopped there, expecting some reaction, but the man showed none at all. The light from the streemp was soft, with tiny insects flying in circles around the bulb, constantly buzzing. The surroundings were still very quiet, with no people in sight or sound of cars passing by. The path they were on was lined with flowers and trees, and the faint scent carried by the wind was refreshing. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Xu Chaomu was unhappy. She had said so much, yet he didn¡¯t respond at all? ¡°I¡¯m listening to you, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue. Wait till I get fat, till I age, when my skin isn¡¯t so fair and my cheeks aren¡¯t as pretty. You¡¯ll dislike looking at me, and then you¡¯ll kick me out. By that time, I might not even be able to marry anymore.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Am I right? That¡¯s what you mean.¡± ¡°It sounds like you think your skin is very fair and your cheeks are pretty now.¡± ¡°Shen Chi! You damn well piss off!¡± Xu Chaomu raged. Furious, seething with anger! She wished she could p him! She was so angry she was shivering; this man¡¯s mouth was always so venomous. ¡°Hold on tight, don¡¯t fall off!¡± Shen Chi looked at her with disdain, much calmer now. ¡°I don¡¯t care, you definitely think so, and I¡¯m not even ¡®all washed up¡¯ yet but you¡¯re already annoyed I¡¯ve gained weight.¡± ¡°A little fatter, feels better to the touch,¡± Shen Chi said ndly. Xu Chaomu went silent immediately, touch¡­ feels better. Shameless! ¡°You better let me down.¡± Even though his words weren¡¯t pleasant to hear, his arm was still bleeding. She admitted she was quite heavy, but she couldn¡¯t be med for that. It was his darling¡¯s fault if anything! She was afraid he couldn¡¯t take it, after all, he really had been holding her for quite a while. ¡°Stop moving around!¡± Shen Chi looked down, his eyes cold as he warned her. Seeing the coldness in his eyes, she didn¡¯t dare to move. It was summer now, and there were only twoyers of cloth between them. When she rubbed against him, she had already felt the change in his body. If it weren¡¯t for the injury to his arm, she definitely wouldn¡¯t let him off right now. She would have rubbed against him until he was desperate, parched with longing, yetpletely helpless. Shen Chi carried her on the path inside the residential area, following the winding road ahead. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me how you got injured,¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Just a careless scratch,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. He knew there would inevitably be a fierce fight between him and Shen Shihan. Five yearster, Xu Chaomu had grown colder toward Shen Shihan, but after all, Shen Chi had watched her grow up. She was kind-hearted; she couldn¡¯t harbor hatred towards Shen Shihan. If something were to ever happen to Shen Shihan, the girl would surely be upset. Shen Shihan was cruel-hearted, but Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart had always been too soft. He wanted her to be happy forever, not to have to witness anything unpleasant. ¡°Careless?¡± Obviously, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°You, being so cautious, how could you be so careless?¡± ¡°Are youplimenting me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject. Tell me, how did you hurt your arm?¡± Xu Chaomu persisted. ¡°I was hurt by a broken wine bottle when I tried to pick it up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, let it be,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t particrly want to exin. ¡°Oh¡­ I get it now!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°You know what?¡± ¡°You were with some women drinking, tried to make a move on them, they didn¡¯tply, smashed a wine bottle, and cut you, right?¡± ¡°Or maybe they wanted to make a move on me?¡± ¡°You! We can¡¯tmunicate!¡± Xu Chaomu fumed. This man really didn¡¯t know modesty, his skin was thicker than a city wall. Shen Chi walked steadily towards Xiao Mo¡¯s car, carrying Xu Chaomu. They left the residentialplex and went to a more secluded area. Xiao Mo¡¯s car was parked there, and Xiao Mo sat quietly in the driver¡¯s seat, looking straight ahead. Shen Chi knocked on the car window, and Xiao Mo turned his head quickly. Upon recognizing Shen Chi, he rxed his guard. But¡­ Shen Chi was carrying a woman. He didn¡¯t even need to look; besides Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t carry anyone else. He hopped out of the car, walking up to wee Shen Chi. Xu Chaomu saw Xiao Mo and her face turned red with embarrassment. She punched Shen Chi¡¯s shoulder and whispered in his ear, ¡°Put me down, Xiao Mo is here.¡± ¡°Xiao Mo is not a stranger,¡± Shen Chi said seriously on purpose. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed even redder with shame. She tried to negotiate softly with him while he spoke so loudly. Xiao Mo held back hisughter and opened the rear door of the car. ¡°President Shen, please,¡± he said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi ced Xu Chaomu gently on the back seat of the car. Only after she was seated securely did he sit down as well. Xiao Mo got into the front passenger seat and asked, ¡°President Shen, where to now?¡± Seeing that Xu Chaomu was safe and sound, and apparently, nothing had happened just now, Xiao Mo rxed a bit. ¡°To Waterside Pavilion.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Mo immediately started the car, knowing that Waterside Pavilion was a small vi purchased by Shen Chi, or more specifically, it was a vi he bought especially for Xu Chaomu. Waterside Pavilion could not match the grandeur of the Shen Family¡¯s vi, but it was more exquisite. The design and decoration inside Waterside Pavilion had been personally supervised by Shen Chi, some of which he had handled himself, with much thought put into them. However, after it was bought five years ago, Xu Chaomu had only been there once. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed¡­ After Xu Chaomu left, Shen Chi also stopped going to Waterside Pavilion, leaving only a few servants to clean regrly, just as they had for five years, day in and day out. When Xu Chaomu heard the name ¡°Waterside Pavilion¡±, a myriad of thoughts surged in her mind. Now that she knew some truths, she understood: her first time at Waterside Pavilion was the day they got their marriage certificate. April 18th. That day, he said, ¡°Today is a good day.¡± Yes, it was a good day. From that day on, she married him, and he promised her a lifetime. Five yearster, on that same day, their wedding anniversary, she was pregnant with their little bun. The affairs of the world are always full of changes and unforeseeable events. Just like her future with him, it remained unpredictable. In this lifetime, could she and he stay hand in hand till old age? Chapter 517: 517: Things That Cannot be Seen by Others Chapter 517: Things That Cannot be Seen by Others She sat beside Shen Chi, looking up at him for a moment. His divine gaze rested upon the horizon, while Xu Chaomu stared at him intently. Xiao Mo considerately pulled down the partition. Now, one couldn¡¯t see the scene in the back seat, which was perfect. Shen Chi felt Xu Chaomu¡¯s gaze on him and he lowered his head, turning to look at her. As he lowered his head, she bashfully turned her own away. He smiled, bent down, and leaned in close, extending his long, clean fingers to lift her chin and meet her shining dark eyes. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°I¡¯m wondering who has a grudge against me, kidnapping me in the middle of the night,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered disdainfully. ¡°Who have you recently offended?¡± Shen Chi asked with a smile. He knew it was undoubtedly Shen Shihan, but he still didn¡¯t want to tell Xu Chaomu.
¡°Offended a very coquettish little woman, exactly the type you men love,¡± Xu Chaomu said, rolling her eyes as she thought of Qi Na. ¡°What do you mean ¡®you men¡¯¡­ I like you, but you haven¡¯t acted coy for me to see.¡± Act coy? Sure, she could do that. Imitating his gesture, she extended her delicate hand, resting it lightly on his shoulder, and cast him a flirtatious, peach blossom gaze: ¡°My lord, are youing to y today?¡± ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± Shen Chi was dead serious and formal. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°I¡¯m just being coy for you, how many points would I get?¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°Nine points.¡± ¡°Why not ten points?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to get cocky.¡± Xu Chaomu burst intoughter,ughing so hard she doubled over. Shen Chi speaking so earnestly was particrly funny. Shen Chi looked at her with a disdainful expression, silently watching herugh. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me, who did you offend?¡± After she had herugh, Shen Chi asked. ¡°You don¡¯t know him,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t feel like discussing it further. Because Qi Na had some connections with Nie Chenng, she feared involving him again. ¡°Not telling?¡± ¡°Even if I did, you wouldn¡¯t know them,¡± she retorted. Shen Chi watched her with cold eyes, giving off an aura that suggested he could devour her at any moment. Without saying a word, he just kept staring at her. Left with no choice, Xu Chaomu pursed her lips: ¡°Qi Na.¡±
Shen Chi frowned slightly at the mention of Qi Na. So it was her¡­ He knew Xu Chaomu¡¯s personality all too well; she wouldn¡¯t go around offending people intentionally. And if it was Qi Na, it must have been she who provoked Xu Chaomu first¡­ ¡°Stay away from her from now on,¡± Shen Chi said with a furrowed brow. ¡°You know her?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Xu Chaomu said with scorn, ¡°so how do you know she¡¯s not a good person?¡± ¡°The name doesn¡¯t sound very nice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was drenched in sweat. He wrapped his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist and pulled her into his embrace. This woman, Qi Na, had incurred Xu Chaomu¡¯s wrath before he¡¯d had a chance to deal with her, and now she dared to provoke Xu Chaomu again. As he drew closer to her, she smelled the blood again and quickly looked up. ¡°Does your hand still hurt?¡± Although he had just said something that upset her, she couldn¡¯t help but be concerned about him. She felt she deserved a smack for it. ¡°A kiss and it will be better,¡± Shen Chi replied seriously. His face was all about seriousness and sincerity, but his words¡­ were anything but. Xu Chaomu pushed him away, not wanting to talk to this man any longer. Had he be this way during the five years she was absent? When she had a toothache in the past, she would rub against his chest, his arms: ¡°Fourth Brother, give me a kiss, it will make it better.¡± Back then, he always said, ¡°Get lost!¡±
Seeing Xu Chaomu distance herself from him like avoiding a high-voltage wire, Shen Chi reached out and pulled her back into his arms. Hisrge hand gently stroked her hair: ¡°Promise me, from now on, don¡¯t run around recklessly, especially not alone.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t run around.¡± Justst night, she had been out buying medicine for Nie Chenng, and moreover, she had already entered Nie Chenng¡¯s residential area. She never expected to encounter danger there. ¡°No excuses,¡± Shen Chi said, not giving her a chance to speak. ¡°How is that making excuses? I really wasn¡¯t running around. I just went out to buy some things,¡± Xu Chaomu argued. Speaking of buying things reminded Shen Chi of her handbag. Just now, Xu Chaomu had refused to let him look, but now he grabbed it. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t snatch my things, Shen Chi, give it back!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Shen Chi frowned. Just as he was about to open it, Xu Chaomu snatched it back. ¡°Let go!¡± she red at him. ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want you to see it,¡± Xu Chaomu said straightforwardly. ¡°Is there something shameful? Huh?¡± Shen Chi looked at her, a chill shing in his eyes. ¡°Whether or not there¡¯s something shameful, when I don¡¯t want you to touch my things, you shouldn¡¯t force me!¡± Xu Chaomu dered emphatically. ¡°Getting brave?¡± Shen Chi grabbed her hand, yanked her hand away from the handbag. ¡°Shen Chi! You¡¯re always like this! If you dare to open my bag today, I won¡¯t go back to Waterside Pavillion with you!¡± Xu Chaomu was particrly furious this time. She didn¡¯t mind when he spoke unpleasantly, but his domineering attitude andck of respect for her wishes really angered her! ¡°I¡¯m concerned about you,¡± Shen Chi said as he touched the top of her head. After that, he opened the bag anyway. Inside were several boxes of medicine. Suddenly on high alert, he wondered why she was buying medicine. He casually flipped through the contents, findingmon medications: fever reducers, cold remedies, anti-inmmatory drugs, and the like. His brows knitted together as he looked at her, ¡°Feeling unwell?¡±
¡°Stop the car,¡± Xu Chaomu ordered coldly, devoid of any humor. He showed no respect for her, insisting on prying even after she asked him not to, supposedly out of ¡°concern for her.¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± ¡°Shen Chi, don¡¯t always be like this!¡± ¡°Tell me, where do you feel ufortable?¡± He touched her forehead with his hand, checking for a fever. He hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual about her during all the time they¡¯d spent together. So¡­ whom was the medicine for? ¡°I told you to stop the car!¡± Xu Chaomu roared at him. mes seemed to burst forth from her eyes as she shouted. Her voice was so loud that even Xiao Mo, driving in front, heard her. But he didn¡¯t dare to respond and kept driving steadily. It looked like Boss Shen and Xu Chaomu were arguing again. ¡°Stop it!¡± Shen Chi roared back, ¡°Who did you buy this medicine for?!¡± He threw the bag of medicine onto the floorboard, his face stern. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, Shen Chi, you¡¯re overbearing and it¡¯s incredibly annoying!¡± ¡°Tell me, who¡¯s it for?¡± dark shadows loomed in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Xiao Mo, stop the car! Let me out!¡± Xu Chaomu especially despised Shen Chi like this, irrational and illogical. She had already told him not to look, but he insisted on it! With a stony face, Shen Chi grabbed her and pulled her back to her seat! Chapter 518: 518: Where to Touch Chapter 518: Where to Touch His grip was incredibly domineering as he pulled her and forcefully held her down. ¡°Speak properly, who are you buying the medicine for?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was steady. Five years aftering back, she didn¡¯t know many people in C City. Yu Weiwei? Impossible. So, it had to be Nie Chenng or Lou Yanli. Whether it was Nie Chenng or Lou Yanli, he didn¡¯t feelfortable about it. Buying medicine for another man behind his back? ¡°Shen Chi, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to talk to you properly, but have you ever respected my opinion? I told you not to touch my things. Why did you still touch them?¡± ¡°Really making headway,¡± Shen Chi huffed disdainfully. Her things were off-limits to him now, she was really making headway. Xu Chaomu red at him, unwilling to engage with him. She just hated the way he acted, so domineering, so overbearing.
Angry, she pped Xiao Mo¡¯s seat repeatedly, shouting, ¡°Xiao Mo, stop the car, let me out!¡± Shen Chi leaned back in the rear seat, expressionless. No matter how much Xu Chaomu shouted, Xiao Mo would not respond to her. Xu Chaomu waspletely infuriated, pping Shen Chi¡¯s chest, her eyes rimmed red. ¡°Shen Chi, let me out, I¡¯m not going back to Waterside Pavillion with you!¡± Herplexion wasn¡¯t good; when had this man ever listened to her? Shen Chi didn¡¯t say a word either, leaning against the genuine leather seat, his calmness contrasting sharply with her enraged embarrassment. But his brows were constantly furrowed, he grabbed her arm, gazing at her as she was raging. ¡°It¡¯s just some medicine, are you that afraid of me seeing it?¡± Xu Chaomu flung away his hand, teeth clenched, ¡°Not afraid of you seeing it, nor knowing about it, it¡¯s just for another man. What can you do about it?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face immediately fell; it really was for another man. ¡°Makes no sense!¡± Xu Chaomu tossed out four words. ¡°Xiao Mo, stop the car, open the door!¡± Xu Chaomu continued to shout. Xiao Mo, who was driving, heard Xu Chaomu¡¯s screams, but unless Shen Zong spoke, he didn¡¯t dare stop the car. The car sped through the night, trees flying by in the rear¡­ The windows were closed so no sound from outside could be heard; it was quiet all around. Inside the car, Shen Chi spoke little, the mood filled with restraint and a bit cold. After a long time of shouting with no response from Xiao Mo, Xu Chaomu ground her teeth, looking at Shen Chi. Fine, wouldn¡¯t speak, would he? She could too! Nothing could be heard in the car anymore, just the air conditioner blowing cold air continuously.
Xiao Mo felt quite awkward, and to shorten the awkward time, he pressed the elerator and sped toward Waterside Pavillion. Xu Chaomu fell silent; Shen Chi wanted to hold her, but she sat far away from him, not even looking at him. Shen Chi had not slept all night and was a bit tired. He nced at her, then silently formed a fist with his hand and propped it against his forehead. He closed his eyes, letting the car carry them forward.
After a long, long time, Xu Chaomu thought Shen Chi had fallen asleep and tried to steal her phone back from him. She tentatively waved her hand in front of his eyes first, and he did not react. So, she grew bolder. She remembered he had put her phone in his trouser pocket, and so her hand began to search¡­ On the left, nothing. On the right¡­ She quietly circled around his body, her delicate, boneless little hand touching his trouser pocket. It was too dark in the car, and as she fumbled, she seemed to touch something. Just as she thought it was the phone, suddenly, Shen Chi opened his eyes and grabbed her hand angrily! ¡°Xu Chaomu, what the hell are you touching?¡± Xu Chaomu was startled. Touching where? She was just trying to find her phone, did it warrant such a reaction? Shen Chi was truly enraged; he grabbed her wrist and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°It hurts¡­ let go!¡± Xu Chaomu struggled, ¡°I just want my phone back!¡±
¡°What were you touching just now? Huh?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Just as she finished saying ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± her eyes suddenly lit up; she couldn¡¯t have¡­ touched something she shouldn¡¯t have. Uh¡­ no wonder he had such a big reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t know? Want to touch it again?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± Yanking, yanking, yanking! Xu Chaomu tried to pull her hand away! Little did she know, Shen Chi grabbed her hand and moved it toward his belt, causing Xu Chaomu¡¯s face to flush. ¡°Pervert, let go! Pervert!¡± She cried out so loudly that even Xiao Mo, who was driving, heard it. He chuckled as he drove. Shen Chi ying the lecher, that was indeed a spectacle Xiao Mo had never witnessed. But if he dared to remove the partition, there would be no work for him tomorrow. It was very dark in the car; Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t see the expression on Shen Chi¡¯s face, but she knew she must have been blushing fiercely. Shen Chi still held her hand, and in a short while, she touched something again.
Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned crimson with embarrassment, whereas Shen Chi was cool as ever. The first time, Xu Chaomu had indeed touched somewhere she shouldn¡¯t have. But this time, he ced her hand on his trouser pocket, inside of which was a gun! Xu Chaomu thought she had touched something inappropriate again, her face burning red, and yet Shen Chi still wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Pervert, freak, let go of me, if you want to satisfy your needs, go to Weiyang, I won¡¯t stop you. Let go, let go!¡± Xu Chaomu screamed. Xu Chaomu was almost lying across hisp due to Shen Chi¡¯s pulling, the posture suggestively intimate. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was innocent. He truly was innocent; he hadn¡¯t done anything this time, yet she herself was groping wildly, and he hadn¡¯t even called her out on it. ¡°Stop pretending, let go of my hand!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand was still on that object, and although she was brash, although she had read many brash books, although she was pregnant, she¡­ had never touched, okay! ¡°Why so agitated.¡± Shen Chi touched her burning cheek with his other hand, his lips curving into a smirk, amused to see this girl actually blushing. He held onto her hand tightly, pulling her a few inches closer to him.
¡°Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled his name in anger. This time, Xu Chaomu waspletely sprawled on hisp! Not teasing her further, Shen Chi let go of her wrist, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace. In the darkness, Xu Chaomu fell into a solid chest. His familiar woody scent enveloped her, and only in his embrace did her feelings start to settle again. He held her, with his chin resting on her forehead. If possible, he would choose to hold her like this for the rest of their lives. To know each other well, to guard each other, to apany each other. ¡°Stop fussing,¡± he frowned. He liked to hold her quietly, to feel this sense of tranquility. Xu Chaomu pursed her lips and stopped talking. In the darkness, she couldn¡¯t see his face, unaware of what little schemes he might be pondering. Chapter 519: 519: Going to See the Kids Father Chapter 519: Going to See the Kids¡¯ Father Shen Chi caressed Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, noting that this girl seemed to have really put on quite a bit of weighttely. But she used to be too skinny; it¡¯s better to be a bit plumper, feels nice to the touch. Shen Chi hugged her for a while, and when she felt hot, she pushed against his chest. ¡°Shen Chi, aren¡¯t you hot?¡± Xu Chaomuined. ¡°Not hot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hot, let go.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t let go.¡± What¡¯s there to be hot about? The air conditioning in the car is still on; it¡¯s obviously just an excuse. Helpless, Xu Chaomu could only lie in this man¡¯s arms, allowing his strong arms to envelop her. She remembered that his arm was injured and he had held her for a long time tonight; doesn¡¯t it hurt?
But as soon as she thought of him rummaging through her things without her permission, she found him detestable and didn¡¯t feel any sympathy. His hand glided over her waist, gently stroking her smooth, silky ck hair. Such a summer night was exceptionally peaceful. And she was exceptionally beautiful. Soon, Xiao Mo took a turn and drove onto a very quiet road. It was already past four in the morning at this time, and soon, the first light of dawn would appear in the sky. The surroundings were very quiet; this road was the one leading to Waterside Pavilion. The lights shaped like jade pendant flowers emitted a soft glow, the light pouring onto the road like milk. With the light from outside the car, Shen Chi gazed at Xu Chaomu. She was tightly embraced by him now, unable to move, yet he still saw the blush on her face. Just now, he teased her, probably making her face turn red. With such willpower, when she first returned to C City, she even dared to lie to him, saying she had been to bed with many men. Continuing down this road and moving forward, finally, Xiao Mo took a turn at an intersection. The car stopped. This is Waterside Pavilion, exquisitely beautiful. In front of the door were undting fountains, sshing out sparkling water that fell to the ground like pearls of white jade. In front of Waterside Pavilion stood vintage coppermps, each emitting soft light. ¡°Mr. Shen, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± Xiao Mo said softly as a reminder. ¡°Mm.¡± Having not slept all night, and coupled with the fatigue from recent meetings, Shen Chi felt a headacheing on. At the moment, he knitted his brows, yet his face still maintained calm andposure; he reached out and opened the car door.
The brightness flooded into the car, and Xu Chaomu also looked up; they had arrived at Waterside Pavilion. It had been five years since she had visited this ce. Although her memories of here weren¡¯t numerous, thinking back now, they were warm and sweet. Back then, under the moonlight, he had ced a jade pendant ne around her neck, whispering close to her ear, ¡°I promise you a lifetime, morning and evening.¡± At that time, she didn¡¯t understand; after all, he was about to get engaged to Bai Man.
She vividly remembered the most painful moment in her heart was the time she went with Bai Man to try on wedding dresses. Bai Man received a text message; it was from Shen Chi, saying ¡°I love you.¡± To this day, she still hadn¡¯t confirmed the authenticity of that message with him. It should be fake, right? After all,ter on, even Bai Man¡¯s pregnancy was a lie to her. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Chi had already gotten out of the car and stretched out his hand. Xu Chaomu dodged his hand and got out of the car by herself, leaning on the door. Shen Chi¡¯s outstretched hand remained midair, and he smiled helplessly as Xiao Mo snickered at the side. Only Xu Chaomu dared to refuse Shen Chi, not once but time and again. After Xu Chaomu got out, Xiao Mo immediately climbed back into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Xiao Mo!¡± Xu Chaomu came back to her senses; no, she was supposed to leave. She said she wouldn¡¯t go to Waterside Pavilion with Shen Chi! Xiao Mo felt that the wisest decision right now was to step on the gas and leave immediately.
¡°Hey, Xiao Mo!¡± Xu Chaomu was anxious. But, Xiao Mo drove the car away quickly, and in a short while, even the shadow was out of sight. Shen Chi grasped her wrist, preventing her from chasing after the car. ¡°Alright, Mumu, let¡¯s go home!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going home with you! This is not my home! Shen Chi, let go of me, stop pulling and tugging,¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. Under the streetlight, because of her agitation, her little face turned bright red. The moment she said that, Shen Chi actually let go of her hand. He crossed his arms and watched her with a leisurely demeanor. Xu Chaomu was startled for a moment, and she touched her slightly sore wrist from being grabbed. Waterside Pavilion was quite secluded and very quiet. Now that it was past four in the morning, the night breeze blew against her; she was out of options; surely she couldn¡¯t just stand outside for hours. If this were the past, she could easily stand for several hours; no, she could walk back. But now, she was constantly reminded that she was pregnant.
However, she had said she wouldn¡¯t go back with him, and tonight, he had indeed been a bit too much. Teasing her, making fun of her, even snatching her things. ¡°Not going back?¡± Shen Chi frowned and asked her again. The night breeze was blowing, and his head hurt. During those five years, every time he had a headache, he would get irritable. In the past, he would often break quite a few things when he had a headache. Since Xu Chaomu returned, he rarely had headaches. But now, his brows were deeply furrowed. ¡°Apologize to me,¡± Xu Chaomu said coolly. She stood under the streetlight, looking up at him with a defiant face. She had made a concession; it was his turn to show sincerity. ¡°Then, about buying medicine for another man, aren¡¯t you going to exin that to me?¡± Shen Chi countered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with buying medicine? A friend got sick, so I bought some medicine to send him; is there a problem?¡± If he wouldn¡¯t budge, she wouldn¡¯t be med for doing the same. Today, it was clearly his fault.
¡°Which friend? A boyfriend?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice chilled. His face darkened on the spot, an icy chill emanating from him, making the air around several degrees colder. ¡°Yes, Nie Chenng,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with a cold look. Neither would give in, and the tension between them escted. ¡°No wonder you dressed up so nicely today,¡± Shen Chi sneered. He eyed her up and down a few times. She did look exceptionally beautiful tonight in a floor-length pink dress. The dress wasn¡¯t excessively decorated, but it was natural and graceful. Xu Chaomu, in this dress, took on additional warmth and softness. Now, with the gentle light casting upon her, she appeared even more tranquil and endearing. Her beautiful eyes stubbornly met his gaze, her longshes fluttering, defiance filling her pupils. Just like when she was a little girl, every time she argued with him, she would raise her head to look at him. Upon hearing his words, she trembled slightly with anger. ¡°Meeting a boyfriend, shouldn¡¯t I dress nicely? You should know this very well, Mr. Shen. All those women who want to climb into your bed ¨C aren¡¯t each one of themvishly dressed and strikingly beautiful?¡± ¡°So, you dressed up so beautifully because you also want to climb into a man¡¯s bed?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to see the child¡¯s father, is that a problem?¡± The moment she said this, Shen Chi, who had been without much anger, now boiled with rage. Chapter 520: 520 No Need to Feel Bad for You and Your Son Chapter 520: Chapter 520 No Need to Feel Bad for You and Your Son His eyes, sharp as a hawk, stared intently at her belly. At a casual nce, the signs of her pregnancy wouldn¡¯t stand out. But with a slightly closer look, one could see her abdomen was faintly bulging. His fists slowly clenched, tighter and tighter¡­ No matter how good he was to her, no matter how much she verbally expressed missing him, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that the child in her belly was Nie Chenng¡¯s. She had gone behind his back to meet Nie Chenng yesterday, and there would be a next time, and a time after that. Moreover, once her child was born, the indestructible bond between father and child would only grow stronger. At that time, would she stay peacefully by his side? ¡°Xu Chaomu,¡± he called her name in a low voice, his face clouding over. Biting her lip, she lifted her clear eyes to stare at him.
He just wouldn¡¯t admit his mistake! Fine, if he wouldn¡¯t admit it, she wouldn¡¯t force him. A melon forced off its vine is not sweet. ¡°If you refuse to return to Waterside Pavilion, so be it. After all, the child in your belly isn¡¯t mine, Shen Chi, I have no need to worry about you and your child. If you like it outside, then stay! If you dare, let Nie Chennge for you!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s temper red too, and he threw the handbag with a ng in front of her! The movement was rough and direct, and immediately, the medicine within the bag scattered across the ground! His face turned ck as he scowled, hisplexion dreadful. His icy and piercing gaze stabbed at her, his fists clenched as he turned and walked towards Waterside Pavilion. The medicine boxesy scattered at her feet, lying quietly on the ground. She bit her lip, biting deeper and deeper, the pain growing. Lifting her head, her dark and glossy eyes followed his tall retreating figure. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and tears swirled within them as she wiped her eyes. She didn¡¯t know where she gathered the courage, but she used all her strength to shout at his retreating figure. ¡°Shen Chi, if you dare, never see me again!¡± Shen Chi stopped in his tracks, his tall and upright silhouette stretching in the light. Hearing her voice, his back went cold. Slowly, his fists clenched even tighter. ¡°I hate those who threaten me the most.¡± The frosty voice reached Xu Chaomu¡¯s ears, and she bit down on her lips subconsciously. The figure of the man vanished into the night. After uttering those words, he truly walked away from Waterside Pavilion without looking back. Xu Chaomu gritted her teeth, standing still on the spot.
Tears circled in her eyes. She pinched the back of her hand, sternly reminding herself: ¡°Have some dignity!¡± Returning to C City after five years and seeing him, they could almost quarrel every few days. Just a little too much talk would set them off. This time, they hadn¡¯t seen each other for several days. She thought perhaps the yearning would be a bit stronger, but in the end, it was the same. His words from just before still echoed in her ears: After all, the child in your belly isn¡¯t mine, Shen Chi. I have no need to worry about you and your child. If you like it outside, then stay.
Ha, the idea that he would regard her child as his own, for someone like him to say such things, she should never have believed it. Who is he? The golden boy Shen Chi. Why should he want a child that isn¡¯t his? As the resolute silhouette vanished from her view, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart ached vaguely. The evening wind blew, lifting her long hair. At this hour before dawn, it was very cold. And she, wearing only a short-sleeved long dress. She wrapped her arms around herself, but the chill on her body wasn¡¯t as cold as the one in her heart. The medicine boxes scattered at her feet, she bent down, picking them up one by one, cing them back in the handbag. Shen Chi after five years hadn¡¯t changed at all in his bones. Only when all the medicine boxes were back in the handbag did she stand up. She hadn¡¯t cried. There was nothing for her to cry about. Carrying the handbag and cradling her arms, she began walking away along the road in front of Waterside Pavilion. The wind blew over her body, chillingly cold.
Shen Chi had taken her phone, so she had no way to call anyone she knew. She was a bit worried about Nie Chenng¡­ How was he now? If the fever was severe, without being taken to the hospital, and without medication, the consequences could be dire. He must not have anything wrong. Xu Chaomu walked along the road for quite a while, growing colder and colder. She hadn¡¯t noticed before, but now, she really wished she had a coat to wrap around herself. She hugged her arms tightly, trying to walk under the trees to avoid some of the wind. The sky was overcast and dark, with no moon or stars visible. The oppressive ckness made her footsteps heavy as well. She dragged her long dress, looking down at the path beneath her feet. Slowly, she moved her hand to her abdomen. Touching her belly, she felt the presence of the small life within. With it apanying her along the way, she wasn¡¯t alone. The morning sickness had obviously lessened a lot these days, and she had nned to have Shen Chi apany her to the hospital in a few days. The night wind blew against her, and she tried her best to hug her arms tightly. She didn¡¯t want to catch a chill. No, she definitely couldn¡¯t catch a chill.
If she did, she would certainly catch a cold and cough, and then what would happen to her child¡­ The sound of the fountain outside Waterside Pavilion grew more and more distant, fading to an indistinct murmur. Xu Chaomu just kept walking along the road, not too quickly, as she didn¡¯t dare to hasten her steps. She didn¡¯t know what time it was now, but she thought it must be getting light soon. It would be better once it was light, not so cold. As she walked along the road, many memories came to her. She remembered that as a child, she and Shen Chi often quarreled too. Shen Chi had a bad attitude, no matter the issue, anything he didn¡¯t like the look of, he would show her a cold face, right or wrong. Like the time she spent half the day on worksheets and, absolutely exhausted, wanted to rx a bit, so she picked up a storybook to read. She was enjoying her book when a long hand snatched it away! ¡°How many times have I said, no extracurricr books!¡± he scolded her coldly, his face stern. He questioned her without any attempt at understanding. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing my homework, so many worksheets!¡± she argued, indignantly throwing a whole stack ofpleted papers in front of him. ¡°You probably just copied them,¡± Shen Chi snorted.
At the time, Shen Chi was only eighteen, but Xu Chaomu was even younger, just thirteen. In his eyes, she was nothing but a bad student who only knew how to copy homework. Useless, wasting time on worthless reads, copying homework, guessing her way through tests. That day, she truly had worked diligently and hard on the worksheets, but he negated her efforts entirely. Xu Chaomu, furious, confronted him: ¡°Shen Chi, by what right do you say such things about me? I did those papers myself. Although they aren¡¯t done well enough, every question was answered by me! Moreover, I only took the storybook to read for a break after working hard!¡± ¡°Stop making excuses!¡± Shen Chi said with an icy face. Xu Chaomu felt it was impossible tomunicate with him, and she reached out to snatch her book back! Chapter 521: Your Apology Lacks Sincerity Chapter 521: Your Apology Lacks Sincerity The result was, of course, that she could not outmatch Shen Chi. She was petite and ended up shoved onto a chair by him. And then the storybook was torn by him. She cried pitifully for a long time, no longer willing to exin anything to him. Once he made up his mind, he would not change. He used her of copying homework, he said she was reading extracurricr books¡ªso that was what she was doing, copying homework, reading extracurricr books. No matter how she exined, it was all just a cover-up. For several days, she did not speak to him again. Latter on¡­ how did they make up? She couldn¡¯t quite remember. It seemed that it was she who had the thicker skin, and after a few days, she forgot about the whole thing and went merrily looking for him to y. He seemed to forget about it too. When she came to him, he would spend time with her. So many years had passed, and Shen Chi¡¯s personality hadn¡¯t changed at all. No matter what it was, as long as he found it displeasing, whether she was right or wrong, he would invariably show her his cold shoulder. In the past, she had thicker skin and would forget after being scolded by him, but now, she also had her own freedom and dignity. Walking along the road, Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart was slowly cooling off¡­ The evening breeze gently lifted her long hair, the strands brushing against her ears, and she raised her hand to tuck them behind her ears. Without knowing how long she had walked, she wandered aimlessly¡­ Suddenly, a ck Rolls-Royce stopped next to her! Under the night sky, the ck Rolls-Royce appeared like an emperor arriving by her side, and she halted in her steps. At first nce, she saw the body of the Rolls-Royce; at the second, she saw the man in the driver¡¯s seat! Shen Chi! Tch. She turned her head away, no longer looking at him, and continued to walk along the side of the road. The trees were lush, and a pale streak of light had appeared in the sky. Soon, the sun would rise. She walked attentively with her head lowered, and Shen Chi slowly followed alongside her in his car. After Xu Chaomu walked a dozen steps, Shen Chi¡¯s car moved a dozen steps as well. Finally, she stopped and turned to look at him. Shen Chi looked handsome and graceful in the driver¡¯s seat, his bright, intent gaze fixed ahead. The interior light was on, and his long, fair hands rested lightly on the steering wheel; his profile was captivating. Xu Chaomu stood amid the night, watching him. The window of the Rolls-Royce gradually rolled down, and he slowly turned his head. ¡°Get in,¡± said Shen Chi, giving her a cool nce. A gust of wind came, perfectly catching Xu Chaomu¡¯s long dress and hair, the hem fluttering in the breeze against a backdrop of greenery, rendering her under the streetlight exceptionally gentle and serene. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved up slightly. She was just like an apparently natural and innocuous cute cat, but in reality, her little ws were especially sharp. One day, he must blunt those ws of hers. Xu Chaomu stood next to the car, silently watching him. She moved her lips slightly, said nothing, and gave no indication of response. She pouted; the man¡¯s inherent nature hadn¡¯t changed at all. Seeing no reaction from her, Shen Chi¡¯s icy gaze flicked over. ¡°Not getting in?¡± he asked. ¡°You owe me an apology,¡± Xu Chaomu dered defiantly. ¡°Fine, I apologize,¡± Shen Chi said reluctantly. His things, he couldn¡¯t even touch now¡ªshe really had grown up. ¡°No sincerity!¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice and eximed. With a ¡°ng,¡± Shen Chi kept a straight face and abruptly opened the car door, jumping out of the driver¡¯s seat. Dealing with Xu Chaomu always required force. It had been true before and was still true now. As soon as he got out of the car, he walked straight over to her. Xu Chaomu was so frightened that she immediately ran; she didn¡¯t want to be caught by Shen Chi. But she could not outrun him, and after only a few steps, he caught her. Shen Chi picked her up, opened the passenger door, ced her securely in the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and while she was distracted, nted a kiss on her forehead. The entire process was smooth and uninterrupted, and Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t had time to react. She sat dumbfounded in the passenger seat while Shen Chi had already turned back to the driver¡¯s seat. He started the car, turned it around, and drove back. ¡°Shen Chi, your apologycked sincerity,¡± Xu Chaomu reiterated, raising her voice again. ¡°How should I apologize then?¡± Shen Chi asked, looking ahead at the road, his tone indifferent. Xu Chaomu was really frustrated. Didn¡¯t this man even know how to apologize? No wonder¡ªhe had always been superior since childhood, always having others apologize to him; how would he know how to apologize to someone else? ¡°Say, ¡®I was wrong,''¡± Xu Chaomu turned to him, blinked her eyes, and seriously instructed him. ¡°You were wrong,¡± Shen Chi mimicked her tone. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu furiously fumed; he was doing it on purpose! ¡°No, no, it¡¯s ¡®I was wrong,''¡± she corrected him again. ¡°Oh, I forgive you,¡± Shen Chi said earnestly. Damn! Xu Chaomu was fuming with rage, a little me in her chest sputtering and surging up! This man was doing it deliberately, definitely deliberately! A hint of an upturn curved Shen Chi¡¯s lips, a sense of warmth akin to a spring breeze slowly diffusing in his chest¡­ Xu Chaomu still didn¡¯t want to deal with him; she turned her head and looked out the window at everything. The pale streak of light in the sky grew brighter and brighter, and soon, the sun would rise. By now, birds were chirping incessantly, asionally flying past their car and gathering in flocks on the treetops. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t walked far, and soon, the car returned to the Waterside Pavilion. Shen Chi maneuvered the steering wheel, driving the car into the garage. He had not apologized to her, and her heart was still stubborn because he had said, ¡°After all, the child in your belly isn¡¯t mine, Shen Chi¡¯s; I have no need to care about you and your child. Since you like it outside, just stay there.¡± Feeling uneasy, she picked up a small cat toy from the front of his car and threw it at him! Shen Chi had just parked the car when he caught the toy she threw at him, helplessly curving his lips upward. ¡°Still angry?¡± he asked her. ¡°No,¡± she replied tersely. ¡°Then get out and go back to sleep,¡± Shen Chi said as he prepared to open the car door. ¡°Wait,¡± Xu Chaomu stopped him with an indifferent expression. ¡°I remember what you said earlier.¡± After she spoke, she opened the car door without looking back. He didn¡¯t allow her to leave, so she walked toward the Waterside Pavilion, carrying her handbag. At this time, the Pavilion was deserted, the servants were all asleep. It wasn¡¯t as grand as the Shen Family¡¯s estate, nor were the paths as winding. Although she had only been here once five years ago, she still remembered it. Nothing much had changed here, except the trees had grown more luxuriant. Everything else remained as it had been before. But Shen Chi was taken aback. What did he say? He had said too much; which statement was she referring to? Xu Chaomu continued walking forward, saw the open door of the living room, and walked in. A pair of clean women¡¯s slippers were ced at the entrance. Xu Chaomu hesitated for a moment, leaning against the wall, unsure whether to change into them or not. Shen Chi caught up from behind. He bent down and ced the pair of slippers at her feet. Chapter 522: Held and Kissed Chapter 522: Held and Kissed Xu Chaomu¡¯s feet gently shifted two steps backward, and she lifted her puzzled eyes to stare at him. The man¡¯s profile was sharply defined and very handsome, exceptionally pleasant to look at. Especially when he slightly crooked the corners of his lips, he looked even more attractive. Such a Shen Chi was somewhat more than Xu Chaomu could handle. He had shed his coldness and aloofness at that moment, and there was a shallow tenderness in his gaze. The tenderness was like an ocean, deep enough to drown in. Shen Chi squatted down and ced the shoes beside her feet. ¡°Lift your foot,¡± he said. His voice was deep, maic and seductive, like the sound of a rich cello meandering through the air. Xu Chaomu blinked her eyes, full of hesitation¡­ Was he really going to change her shoes himself? She had never enjoyed such treatment before. At most, he had tied her shoces for her in the past. Five years had passed, and she still remembered the feeling when he tied her shoces for her. At that time, her chest felt like it contained a little rabbit, hopping and thumping wildly. Back then, she had liked him for so long without any expression from him. The only exception was that time, when he crouched down and tied her shoces. That day in ss, she smiled so much she couldn¡¯t close her mouth, asionally ncing at her shoes. The feeling of liking someone was quite wonderful; even a slight indication from them could be remembered for a lifetime. She remembered that when she went back to the Shen Family¡¯s house that evening, she nearly didn¡¯t want to take off her shoes, staring at theces and giggling stupidly by herself. ¡°Lift your foot,¡± he repeated, emphasizing his words. Xu Chaomu was pulled back by his resonant and powerful voice, her head lowered, still looking at him. She saw that his arm was injured, and the bloody handkerchief he had used was reced. Although he swapped it for a clean one, the blood had still stained the cloth red. He probably hadn¡¯t had the time to tend to the wound yet¡­ But when she thought about what he had said, she felt she couldn¡¯t sympathize with him. After a while, she pursed her lips and took a small step back, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Having said that, she squatted down, ready to change her shoes on her own. Shen Chi didn¡¯t stand up; when she squatted down, she found herself face to face with him. Looking into each other¡¯s eyes, she deliberately held the slippers a bit farther away. The man¡¯s gaze was quite intimidating, as if he wanted to devour her. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, it¡¯s not convenient for you,¡± he said inly. Without further discussion, he still took the slippers from her hand. Xu Chaomu hopped back warily, dodging him once more like a little rabbit. Her big eyes were full of vignce, suspecting that the man had some ulterior motive with his uncharacteristic kindness. She was only three months pregnant, hardly showing at all. How could that be inconvenient? She didn¡¯t stand up; still squatting on the ground, Shen Chi was half-squatting as well. Suddenly, Shen Chiughed. The two of them, in this position, looked amusing. ¡°I¡¯m quite capable,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with a tilt of her mouth. ¡°Alright then.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t bother arguing with her anymore. He stood up, his strong arms swept her up, and he carried her straight to the living room sofa. ¡°Put me down! I can walk by myself!¡± Shen Chi strode towards the sofa, cing her on it. Before she could utter another word, he had already slipped off the white sandals from her feet. His clean fingers glided over her shoes, serious and profound. From Xu Chaomu¡¯s angle, she could see the man¡¯s profile perfectly as he changed her shoes, and she no longer struggled, just gazing fixedly at him. After a long while, she began in a low voice, ¡°Keeping women¡¯s slippers at your house, does that mean you have women over often?¡± ¡°They are kept here for you,¡± this time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t immediately retort. Xu Chaomu was prepared for his biting words, but didn¡¯t expect him to casually say, ¡°They are kept here for you.¡± For some reason, her nose felt sore, and she lowered her head. ¡°Quite fitting.¡± Soon, Shen Chi had changed Xu Chaomu¡¯s slippers for her; they fitted perfectly, neither too big nor too small. He straightened his back and ced her white sandals and his ck leather men¡¯s shoes on the shoe cab, side by side. Watching his figure, for the first time, she felt a sense of home. She had never had a home since she was born. Before the age of ten, she had no father and had never felt paternal love. After she turned ten, she lost even her mother. She¡¯d never had aplete family until Zhou Ran took her back to the Shen Family; only then did she avoid living on the streets. Therefore, she could never truly hate Zhou Ran. Without that encounter when she was ten, how could she have him by her side today? Day by day, the days passed with a gentle flow; without him, how dull they would be, how much regret would be added? She sat on the sofa, just watching his figure. Could she ever have a home to call her own in the future? After Shen Chi had ced their shoes properly, he turned and came back to the sofa. As he turned his head, he saw Xu Chaomu staring at him. However, as soon as his eyes caught hers, she lowered her head, pretending not to look at him. She looked at the slippers on her feet, clean and fitting just right. Now she brought her toes together, now she spread them apart, tirelessly repeating the childish motion. ¡°Are you cold?¡± Shen Chi walked over to her side. When they were outside just now, he drove alongside her, watching as she hugged her arms. ¡°Not cold,¡± replied Xu Chaomu. It was a bit cold in the chilly wind, but now at Waterside Pavilion, she wasn¡¯t cold anymore. Her gaze still lowered to her toes, the feeling from five years ago, when he had tied her shoces, returned to her. Except that now, she was still a bit annoyed with him. ¡°Shen Chi, didn¡¯t you just say you hate those who threaten you the most?¡± Xu Chaomu remembered clearly. ¡°Did you threaten me?¡± Shen Chi feigned forgetfulness. ¡°Yes, I said, if you have the guts, don¡¯t see me again.¡± ¡°Oh, I have no guts.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu held her forehead. Shen Chi poured a cup of boiling water and brought it over, handing it to her: ¡°Drink some water, don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you,¡± Xu Chaomu took the cup. Holding the cup with both hands, the chill she had felt outside was dispelled; she watched as the steam slowly rose, creating a gentle mist. Shen Chi sat next to her, very close. ¡°You¡¯re giving me the cold shoulder now? Huh?¡± he said, wrapping his arm around her waist, a smile gleaming in his eyes. Her saying ¡°thank you¡± after he gave her a ss of water, was she treating him like a stranger? ¡°Mr. Shen, we¡¯re not close.¡± Xu Chaomu actually still brooded over his words, whether they were intentional or not. ¡°Not close?¡± The man¡¯s eyes narrowed, emitting a dangerous light. Hisrge hand simply slid up slowly, from her waist to her ****. And when she wasn¡¯t paying attention, he touched her briefly. ¡°Get off! You pervert!¡± Xu Chaomu was furious as she swatted his hand away, nearly sshing the hot water on him. ¡°Held, kissed, slept with¡­¡± Shen Chi narrowed his eyes, looking at her, and paused, ¡°still not close?¡± ¡°Do you believe I¡¯ll ssh this boiling water on you?¡± Xu Chaomu warned sternly. ¡°If you dare, go ahead and pour it,¡± he challenged. ¡°You!¡± Alright then, Xu Chaomu gripped the cup in her hand, she¡­ couldn¡¯t bear to do it. But sitting beside a wolf felt too dangerous, so she scooted over to the edge of the sofa. Chapter 523: 523: Give me another child Chapter 523: Give me another child ¡°We can¡¯t waste water,¡± Xu Chaomu withdrew the cup, replying indifferently. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a smile as he watched her move aside, avoiding him as if he were a tiger, afraid he would eat her up. ¡°Your room is ready, would you let me carry you up, or will you go up by yourself?¡± asked Shen Chi. He nced at his wrist, it was nearly five o¡¯clock, and the sky was about to lighten. Without any sleep through the night and the emotional strain of the past few days, he felt a bit tired. But no matter how tired, as long as he saw her, he was content. ¡°I can go by myself, no need to trouble President Shen,¡± Xu Chaomu curled her lips. ¡°Speak nicely,¡± Shen Chi reprimanded. ¡°Isn¡¯t it what you said yourself, there¡¯s no need to pity our mother and son. So, of course, I wouldn¡¯t trouble President Shen. Am I wrong?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. In fact, she did feel resentful in her heart.
Shen Chi paused, realizing that she remembered every unpleasant word he said, though she didn¡¯t usually seem to have such a good memory. Indeed, what he had said before was thoughtless. Such words must have caused her considerable hurt. He moved closer to her, caressing her smooth hair, and sincerely apologized, ¡°Mumu, I¡¯m sorry.¡± His warm breath lingered by her ear, causing her heart to flutter slightly. She moved her lips but said nothing more, letting him continue to stroke her hair. ¡°Considering you brought me my shoes, let it go,¡± Xu Chaomu said with her head lowered, her voice subdued. ¡°Indeed, you do have a conscience,¡± Shen Chiughed softly, leaning closer to her, inhaling her fresh scent. Gradually, his other hand moved to her abdomen, to that slightly raised area. Xu Chaomu thought Shen Chi was going to be roguish again and pushed him with her elbow, trying to keep some distance from this wolf. ¡°Don¡¯t move; let me feel your baby.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s hand stayed on her belly, not moving elsewhere. Hisrge hand gently caressed her stomach¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart warmed, her nose tingling with emotion, she almost blurted out that this child was actually his¡­ But after some thought, she swallowed those words, because¡­ the future between them was still uncertain. After all, she didn¡¯t have much confidence in herself. Although, she had the courage to burn the divorce agreement Zhou Ran had offered her. But courage is not always present; often, it is supported by other things. She feared that one day she might lose all her courage. Shen Chi caressed her belly, feeling a flood of emotions. Five years after his return, she was bearing Nie Chenng¡¯s child. Although he had forcefully kept her by his side, and although she still harbored feelings for him, he couldn¡¯t help but fear that one day she might suddenly leave him again¡­
He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of a life without her, and at that thought, his grip tightened, pulling her even closer into his embrace. Xu Chaomu felt the strength of his embrace and couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly, ¡°The baby won¡¯t move yet.¡± At her words, he also smiled, ¡°Soon, it won¡¯t be long before he begins kicking you.¡± When Shen Chi said this, his heart felt constricted, and his eyes reddened.
He was fond of children, and he had always hoped that Xu Chaomu would give him one. But five yearster, she was pregnant, and the child was not his. His hand stroked her belly as if he could feel the baby¡¯s heartbeat. ¡°I wonder if this child will look more like someone, being like me isn¡¯t too bad,¡± Xu Chaomuughed. She had prayed very early on that the baby must take after his father in looks and intelligence. However, the personality should not be like his father¡¯s. Hearing her, Shen Chi fell silent. No matter whether the child resembled her or not, he would inevitably carry some traces of Nie Chenng¡­ ¡°Mumu,¡± he called her name, his hand still resting on her stomach. ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head. ¡°After this child is born, will you have another one for me, is that okay?¡± He almost begged. He wanted a child with her, one that was just theirs. ¡°I heard that childbirth is very painful,¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head, speaking faintly. Shen Chi frowned, feeling a pain that seeped through his very bones, far more intense than if ss had lodged in his arm. Her implication couldn¡¯t be clearer: childbirth is painful, and she didn¡¯t want to have a second child.
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it,¡± he replied indifferently, his voice filled with disappointment. If she didn¡¯t want to have another child, then so be it. She feared pain, and he knew it. Even pulling a tooth frightened her, let alone the severe pain of childbirth. He would not force her to do anything she was unwilling to do. There was just one exception, she was not allowed to leave him again. His chin rested on her shoulder, his hand never leaving her abdomen. Xu Chaomu gave him another nce, and to her surprise, she saw disappointment in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. She bit her lip and remained silent. She knew that he liked children, especially daughters. Gently, he caressed her abdomen, feeling the presence of her child. Of course, his earlier words were spoken in anger; how could he not care for his mother and child? The person he loved most in this life was her. Xu Chaomu held the water cup, blew on it, and took a sip of the boiled water. The day was about to break, and in this cozy living room, she felt the warmth of a home. His familiar scent was at the tip of her nose, and she really wanted to lie in his arms and sleep. Although Shen Chi could be very annoying at times, she had grown used to it. Since she was ten, she¡¯d been enved by him, endured his venomous tongue and cold demeanor for many years, and she had be ustomed to it. For many people, what¡¯s customary bes indispensable¡­ During those five years, had she not thought about him? Of course, it was impossible not to.
During those years, she longed for him, both day and night, but after yearning, there was also resentment¡­ She knew that during those five years, he had suffered no less than she had. If she had died in that gunfight five years earlier, would his future have been smoother? Then, neither would have to worry or grieve over each other. He would have married a well-educated daughter from a prominent family, fathered a few lovely children, and owned the vast Shen Group. A lifetime of joy without sorrow, living a harmonious and beautiful life. Only¡­ she had survived. In everyone¡¯s eyes, she was actually a redundant presence. To Shen Chi, maybe she was not an indispensable one either. With that thought, she put down the cup and raised her hand, lightly touching his cheek. She had always liked him, but rarely touched Shen Chi like this. In the past, he wouldn¡¯t let her. He seemed to be taken aback as well, his gaze meeting hers. In her pupils, he saw a smaller version of himself, and in her eyes, he saw purity and depth. ¡°Shen Chi, sometimes I think about a question¡­¡± she began faintly. ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi watched her, waiting for her to continue.
Chapter 524: 524: If you leave, I wont live alone Chapter 524: If you leave, I won¡¯t live alone Her fingers gently caressed his cheek, a gesture so affectionate that Shen Chi felt unexpectedly cherished. In the past, when she touched him, he would resist. Five years after his return, her initiative had lessened considerably¡ªmost of the time, it was he who took the initiative. He thought that if he hadn¡¯t been more proactive after five years, she might have left him long ago¡­ He wasn¡¯t naturally proactive, but for her, he had be very proactive. Latter on, he reflected that if two people loved each other, there was no need to be overly precise about such things. He loved her and thus, no matter what she asked of him, he was willing. Her soft, boneless hands stroked his face, inexplicably quickening the beat of his heart. He swallowed, his deep gaze fixed on her. ¡°I often wonder, if¡­ five years ago, I hadn¡¯t survived, what would you be like now?¡± Her tone was serious as she stroked his face, tracing the contours of his features with her fingers.
The seriousness in her always made him ufortable. He held her hand, his gaze profound and quiet. ¡°If you were to leave, I wouldn¡¯t live alone,¡± he said, very carefully. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand froze, for a very long time. She had thought of it many times, imagined countless answers, but she had never considered this one. A warm current seemed to flow slowly through her heart, her nose tingled, and her eyes reddened. If you were to leave, I wouldn¡¯t live alone. She admitted that at this moment, her heart was brimming with countless emotions. This was the most beautiful deration of love she had ever heard. She tried hard to mask the emotions in her heart, but even the smallest ripple was noticed by him. This time, he was the one gently caressing her face. He tucked the stray lock of hair behind her ear, his warm palm grazing her fair cheeks. ¡°Sounds pretty convincing,¡± Xu Chaomu murmured after a long time, in an attempt to lighten the mood with a yful chastisement. ¡°Hmm, just teasing you, don¡¯t take it seriously,¡± Shen Chi said with a smile. He remembered how, five years ago, when he had learned she was missing, he had pointed a gun at his own head. At that moment, he truly hadn¡¯t thought of surviving. The atmosphere grew subtly tense, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart experienced slight shifts. She changed the subject, looked down, and noticed his arm. In fact, when she first saw that his arm was injured, she felt heartache, but if this man couldn¡¯t even spit out ivory from a dog¡¯s mouth, she certainly would have bandaged it for him. ¡°Does your wound hurt?¡± Xu Chaomu casually asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± he smiled, pleasantly surprised by her concern, ¡°Why don¡¯t you rebandage it for me?¡± He extended his hand, bringing the injured arm before her eyes.
Xu Chaomu nced at him, her reply lukewarm: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s better left unbandaged than having me do it?¡± ¡°Being so particr with your husband?¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re not a three-year-old child. You¡¯re supposed to take responsibility for your own words,¡± Xu Chaomu insisted earnestly. ¡°What about you, then? Will you take responsibility for the words you¡¯ve spoken?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Then I remember, more than once you¡¯ve said your husband is inept, even in a public ce like Weiyang.¡± Shen Chi looked at her with a yful smile, his eyes filled with mischief. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, and it was her turn to fall silent. Damn it, this man had such a good memory. Back then in Weiyang, to escape from a tight spot, she had spread rumors about his impotence, andter he said that his entire social circle knew he was impotent. ¡°How do you n to take responsibility?¡± Shen Chi asked leisurely, watching her. Take responsibility? How was she to take responsibility when she hadn¡¯t even made him do so yet! If he were inept, how many times could he have¡­ in one night at the Paris Grand Hotel? At that thought, her cheeks flushed a bright red, like a ripe apple. If he truly were inept, she wouldn¡¯t be carrying this little bun in her belly. She was still young, she still wanted to have fun, but¡­ in a few months, she would be a mother. She still felt aggrieved; she still wanted him to take responsibility! ¡°Shall I prove it to you?¡± Shen Chi asked with a devilish grin, reverting back to his shameless ways.
¡°I¡¯m going up to sleep now; you can entertain yourself,¡± she said. As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red. Without another word, she stood up from the sofa, took arge gulp of boiled water to calm her nerves, and headed upstairs without looking back. ¡°There are pajamas in the wardrobe!¡± Shen Chi called out with a hoarse voice, addressing her retreating figure. ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu responded without turning around. This time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t follow her; he watched as her silhouette slowly disappeared up the staircase. Turning a corner, Xu Chaomu entered her room. She was familiar with this room; Shen Chi had mentioned that it was prepared especially for her. The interior decoration was personally designed by him, all tailored to her preferences. When she opened the door to this beautiful room once again after five years, it was like a burst of spring breeze touched her heart. Her tastes from five years ago hadn¡¯t changed much. All of this still pleased her. She closed the door and first opened the wardrobe. Unexpectedly, the wardrobe was filled with clothes of various kinds. White, pink, blue, lemon yellow¡­
Sundresses, chiffon blouses, cocktail dresses, T-shirts¡­ Conservative, sexy, traditional, fashionable¡­ Xu Chaomu was astonished, her eyes dazzled by the beautiful array of clothes. Her closet wasrge, and it was packed with clothes. She was surprised and her eyes opened wide. All of these clothes were brand new. Having studied fashion design in Paris for five years, she was astounded to see these garments. She randomly flipped through a few pieces; the tags were still on, and a single nce left her speechless. Every piece was priced with five digits or more, and she knew all these international luxury brands by name. These were only the summer clothes. She squatted down and pulled open another cab, only to find more surprises! The cab was filled with shoes¡ªts, wedges, heels, a variety of shoes, predominantly leather. Many pairs of high heels, she guessed, must have been the preparations made by Shen Chi before. At that time, he probably didn¡¯t know she was pregnant. Manolo hnik heels, Christian Louboutin¡¯s red-soled shoes, Jimmy Choo¡¯s ssic four-inch heels¡­
Looking at the cab full of shoes, Xu Chaomu was genuinely delighted. She recognized the brands of these high heels, but she couldn¡¯t afford them while in Paris. The money she earned from half a year of part-time work wasn¡¯t enough to buy a single pair. Nie Chenng often wanted to take her to the luxury stores to buy shoes, but she had never epted. Nie Chenng had already been so good to her, and she had yet to repay his kindness. She especially loved the shoes before her; Shen Chi must have prepared them all for her. Running her fingers across pair after pair of shoes, she picked out a pair of white eight-inch high heels. With a light pick, the shoes came out of the cab. Chapter 525: Buying for your daughter Chapter 525: Buying for your daughter A pure white, without any decoration on the surface of the shoe, especially elegant and grandiose. She really liked white high heels, and she¡¯d liked them since her time abroad. Such white, untainted by even a speck of dust. She walked over to the full-length mirror, carrying the shoes, slipped off her slippers, and put on the high heels. Being pregnant, she hadn¡¯t worn high heels for quite a while. Not too big, not too small, they fit perfectly. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, the eight-inch heels made her exceptionally tall, outlining her beautiful figure. Unexpectedly, Shen Chi knew her shoe size. The corners of her lips curled up, her smile filled with sweetness and contentment. The high heels matched her pink long dress, and as she walked gently in front of the mirror, she resembled a little princess. They say a woman dresses for the one who pleases her; at this moment, she particrly wanted to call someone toe and see, to find out if she looked pretty. After walking for quite a while, she couldn¡¯t bear to take the shoes off. There was an itch in her heart; she really wanted to call someone over to see. Biting her lower lip, she made up her mind and eventually opened the bedroom door. Walking to the stairway, she saw Shen Chi still sitting on the sofa, a thinptop on his thighs. ¡°Still working sote,¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled. She leaned on the banister, tilting her head, quietly observing him on the couch. From her angle, she could perfectly see Shen Chi¡¯s back. His back was straight as a rod, the dark-colored shirt entuated his slender physique. His legs were crossed slightly and theptop was set on top of his thighs. His long, good-looking hands tapped on theptop keyboard, asionally flipping through a PPT. She stood upstairs for a good while, but Shen Chi didn¡¯t notice her. The atmosphere was so serene, even the dust seemed to be silently suspended in mid-air. When he was focused on work, he was especially serious. They say a man who is earnest is the most charming: Xu Chaomu watched him until the corners of her lips curled up in a beaming smile. Shen Chi, like this, presented a persona worth indulging in ¨C far more agreeable than when he spoke venomously. He was still the man she knew before, but now there was an added maturity and steadiness to him. There she stood, silent at the top of the staircase, watching him from above. She didn¡¯t know how long had passed before Shen Chi finished his work, closed hisptop, and upon lifting his head, saw Xu Chaomu smiling brightly at him. Her smile touched the softest part of his heart. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone to bed yet?¡± Shen Chi asked, looking up. Xu Chaomu said nothing, only smiled. Although this man could be quite annoying during their arguments, considering his willingness to admit his mistakes, she let it go. ¡°Waiting for me toe to bed?¡± someone said indifferently. ¡°Who needs you toe to bed!¡± Xu Chaomu snapped. Shen Chi packed up hisptop, preparing toe upstairs. As he slowly made his way up, Xu Chaomu asked him, ¡°Do you think I look pretty?¡± ¡°Pretty.¡± ¡°Which part is pretty?¡± ¡°Every part is pretty.¡± ¡°So do you think I¡¯m pretty right now?¡± ¡°Not pretty.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re wearing clothes,¡± he said without lifting his head. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, longing for a proper conversation. Just as he approached her, she blocked his path. Shen Chi paused, wearing a grin that was not quite a smile, and stopped in his tracks. ¡°Look again, am I pretty now?¡± Xu Chaomu shifted her feet, reminding him to look at her shoes! ¡°If you take off your clothes, then you¡¯ll be pretty,¡± Shen Chi said dead seriously. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m speaking seriously to you,¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. ¡°So am I.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Xu Chaomu conceded. ¡°Do my shoes look nice? Do they fit well?¡± She smiled beautifully, resting one hand on the banister and slightly lifting her skirt to raise one foot. Under the radiant light, the white high heels glistened a lustrous sheen. Xu Chaomu liked them more and more, couldn¡¯t help but look down at them a few more times. ¡°Take them off!¡± Shen Chi frowned and said coldly. Pregnant and daring to wear high heels! ¡°Don¡¯t they look nice?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered, damning his attitude. Shen Chi kept a stern face and didn¡¯t respond. He took a few steps up the stairs and, reaching her, scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the room. ¡°Put me down, hm? I haven¡¯t worn them enough yet, I still want to wear them.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t care about our baby anymore?¡± Shen Chi scolded her. ¡°I just want to wear them for a little while.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Shen Chi was resolute: being pregnant means not wearing high heels. And besides, the baby inside her was just three months along, the most precarious time. He pushed open the door and gentlyid her down on therge bed. He immediately removed the white high heels from her feet. ¡°You haven¡¯t said yet whether they look good or not!¡± Xu Chaomu argued. ¡°They look good,¡± Shen Chi said, not lifting his gaze as he put away the shoes in the shoe cab. ¡°You¡¯re not being sincere. Look into my eyes and tell me, do they look good?¡± Xu Chaomu was relentless. ¡°If you dare wear them again, I¡¯ll break your legs,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°How fierce,¡± Xu Chaomu pouted. After putting away the shoes, Shen Chi stood up, looking down at her from a height. ¡°Are you going to wear them again or not?¡± he asked, cold as ice. Xu Chaomu quickly shakes her head, vigorously like a bobble-head doll: ¡°No, I won¡¯t wear them.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± he said, his expression softening a bit. ¡°Who told you to buy so many high heels,¡± Xu Chaomu grumbled. All these high heels in the shoe cab, weren¡¯t they all bought for her to wear? ¡°They weren¡¯t bought for you.¡± ¡°Then who were they bought for?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°They were bought for your daughter.¡± ¡°By the time my daughter can wear high heels, I¡¯ll be old,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her head drooping sadly. When she got old, who would be by her side then? She didn¡¯t know, and she had never thought about something so distant¡­ ¡°Alright, take a bath and go to bed.¡± Shen Chi stopped teasing her and took out a clean set of pajamas from the wardrobe. Xu Chaomu took the pajamas from his hand, pouted, and went into the bathroom. In the bathroom, everything was well-prepared, nothing amiss. She turned on the shower, adjusted to a suitable temperature, and started bathing. Shen Chi did not leave; once he heard the sound of the water in the bathroom, he took Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone from his pocket. He first skimmed through the recent call history, finding nothing suspicious. He then checked the messages, also not finding much of interest. It wasn¡¯t until he opened the social media app, that he saw Nie Chenng¡¯s name at the top. Xu Chaomu had Nie Chenng saved in her contacts simply as ¡°Chenng,¡± which he immediately spotted. The most recent were a few voice messages, which he started to y. ¡°Chaomu, I have a fever, can you bring me some medicine? I¡¯m at home.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right over.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You wait for me.¡± So, the medicine she had bought was indeed meant for Nie Chenng, nning to personally deliver it evente at night. She really did seem to care about him. If he were ill and feverish, would she have the same concern? Shen Chi felt unexpectedly ufortable and continued scrolling through their conversation. Chapter 526: You Help Me Bathe Chapter 526: You Help Me Bathe The chat messages above weren¡¯t particrly numerous, so he casually scrolled through a few. Most were initiated by Nie Chenng to Xu Chaomu, asking if she was doing well at the Shen Family, and whether she was adapting. The replies from Xu Chaomu were also very simple, mostly just the three words ¡°Pretty good.¡± There were several messages that Xu Chaomu sent proactively to Nie Chenng, mostly just expressing care and concern. Even though there wasn¡¯t much of a flirtatious nature, Shen Chi felt ufortable inside. She and Nie Chenng still had countless ties, impossible to sever, and still a mess when attempted. Last night, Nie Chenng asked her to buy medicine, and without a word, she went to buy it and even nned to deliver it to Nie Chenng personally. Shen Chi remained silent,st night, she must have encountered danger while on her way to deliver the medicine to Nie Chenng. Andter, when the medicine was not delivered, Nie Chenng didn¡¯t even message to ask. This obviously, didn¡¯t make sense. After pondering for a moment, Shen Chi feared that the message might not have been sent by Nie Chenng. If it was sent by Nie Chenng, then the thought was unbearable. He had only met Nie Chenng once, and having seen so many people, he could basically judge what kind of person Nie Chenng was with just one encounter. Nie Chenng who had taken care of Xu Chaomu in Paris for a full five years, would certainly not let her suffer an ident. Which means, there was a very high possibility that the voice message was not sent by Nie Chenng. The sound of ¡°whish whish¡± water echoed from the bathroom, and Shen Chi tucked away Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone. His head still hurt a bit, he closed his eyes and half-reclined on her big bed. A long while passed before the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. A hot shower was veryforting. Xu Chaomu, after getting dressed in her pajamas, stood in front of the mirror drying her hair. While showering, she noticed her belly was getting more noticeable. It was her first pregnancy, and she inevitably felt very nervous. She didn¡¯t know if in a few months she would still be able to shower. Before, when she saw others with their big bellies, she didn¡¯t think much of it, but now that she was pregnant herself, she truly empathized. Despite the hardships of pregnancy, she was still looking forward to the arrival of her baby. They say a child is a mother¡¯s little angel, and surely her baby would also be very affectionate. Xu Chaomu quietly used the hair dryer, and after more than ten minutes when her hair was dry, she walked out of the bathroom. Unexpectedly, Shen Chi was still there. ¡°Haven¡¯t you gone back to sleep yet?¡± The curtains were drawn; she didn¡¯t know whether it was light outside yet. Shen Chi cracked his eyes slightly open and spoke faintly, ¡°My head hurts a bit.¡± Xu Chaomu felt a twinge of concern and involuntarily stepped toward him. She sat beside him, leaning close, and asked with concern, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he gazed at her. Just out of the shower, Xu Chaomu had the freshness of a lotus, her cheeks fair and lovely, her skin delicate, emanating a faint lotus fragrance. He reached out a hand and touched her cheek, a smile curling up at the edge of his lips. He had just been annoyed at her interactions with Nie Chenng, but now, with just a bit of care from her, he couldn¡¯t stay angry. ¡°You go take a shower, and after that, sleep. After a good sleep, your head won¡¯t hurt,¡± said Xu Chaomu. She saw his brows were still furrowed, not sure if there was a medicine box in the Waterside Pavillion. Shen Chi lifted his arm, indicating the injury, ¡°Got hurt, can¡¯t shower.¡± ¡°What do we do then, shall I call a servant for you?¡± Xu Chaomu spread her hands. ¡°You bathe me,¡± Shen Chi looked at her seriously. Xu Chaomu knew he would say that, she wasn¡¯t going to fall for it. ¡°I¡¯ll choose a pretty one for you, wait for me, okay!¡± Having said that, Xu Chaomu was about to prepare to go downstairs when Shen Chi, with a cold expression, forcefully pulled her arm. ¡°Sit down!¡± Shen Chi pulled her over with a grim face and tossed her onto the big bed. Then, he stood up, took a bathrobe, and went into the bathroom by himself. The bathroom still carried the fragrance of the lotus, the scent of her recently used shower gel. Xu Chaomu, worried on seeing the heavy injury on his arm, spoke up. ¡°Will you be okay by yourself?¡± she shouted into the bathroom. ¡°If not, will youe?¡± Shen Chi echoed the same phrase. Having said that, Shen Chi closed the bathroom door. Xu Chaomu felt uneasy; that injury on his arm, how could he bathe with that? If it got infected, it would be bad. Now that it was summer, wounds could easily get infected with water exposure. Xu Chaomu lingered at the bathroom door for quite a while; obviously, he was not willing to let others help. What about her? Should she go in or not? In an instant, the room was very quiet except for the sound of water, no other noise could be heard. Had he already started bathing? After much hesitation, Xu Chaomu finally made up her mind and knocked on the door. After all¡­ after all, the baby in her belly was his, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. However, the only time in Paris, neither of them had been sober. Now, she was very much sober. She had not yet seen him undressed. Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s face flushed bright red. Hearing the knocking, a faint voice came from within, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡­ open the door,¡± Xu Chaomu stuttered. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I, I¡¯ll help you wash.¡± Her hands fidgeted nervously, her face as red as an apple. With Shen Chi¡¯s prideful nature, perhaps, perhaps he might refuse? But, prideful as Shen Chi might be, at his core, he was a rogue! Such a good opportunity, of course, he would not let it pass. Soon, the door opened. Xu Chaomu held her hand to her eyes, she thought she saw Shen Chi was undressed. Shen Chi grabbed her hand with a swift move and looked down at her, ¡°Shy?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t respond, her gaze evasive, refusing to look at him. Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, remembering how the mischievous Xu Chaomu from five years ago seemed so different now. He vividly remembered, one time five years ago in the bathroom, she had been taking off his clothes, those little hands, those little looks, it was almost as if she wanted to pin him against the wall! Back then, Xu Chaomu would seize any chance to undress him. Five yearster, given the chance, she shied away from it. ¡°Shy about what, there¡¯s water on the floor, I might slip, watch out,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. ¡°Oh, thene in.¡± Shen Chi turned and walked directly into the bathroom, Xu Chaomu closed the door behind her, following in his footsteps. Secretly, she lifted her head, sneaking a peek. Yikes, he had just removed his shirt, wrapping a towel around his waist underneath. Xu Chaomu followed behind Shen Chi like a little cat, stealthily observing his firm and muscr back. This man had an attractive physique, extremely tempting. Not an ounce of extra flesh on his body, his skin tone healthy, his spine proudly aligned. She sneaked nces, ncing¡­ until Shen Chi suddenly stopped and looked back at her. Startled, Xu Chaomu quickly lowered her head, pretending to focus on where she was walking. Shen Chi lifted the corners of his lips, his eyes and eyebrows filled with amusement. The little rogue of the past, having left him for five years, had turned good? The bathroom was spacious, and Shen Chi had already filled the bathtub with water, not too cold or too hot. Chapter 527: I am your husband, not a ruffian Chapter 527: I am your husband, not a ruffian ¡°Take this!¡± Shen Chi tossed the towel into her hands with disdain. Weren¡¯t you supposed to help me bathe? All you do is just stand there like an idiot. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu blinked and took it. Then, Shen Chi started to undo the towel around his waist right in front of Xu Chaomu. ¡°Pervert!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red, and she quickly turned around, covering her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m your husband, not a pervert,¡± Shen Chi said helplessly. ¡°Turn around.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Xu Chaomu refused resolutely, ¡°I, I¡¯m a decent girl from a good family, you, you can¡¯t corrupt me.¡± She refused to turn around, her back still facing him. By now, Shen Chi had untied the towel and entered the bathtub, carefully avoiding his wound. He grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm and pulled her in front of him. Xu Chaomu, startled, threw the towel at him and covered her eyes. ¡°Let go, let go!¡± ¡°Open your eyes.¡± And you were going to help me bathe like this? ¡°You, you can¡¯t be a pervert, it¡¯s immoral.¡± ¡°Open your eyes.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low, still repeating the same sentence. Xu Chaomu had no choice, she had said she would help him bathe since he couldn¡¯t get his hand wet. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see nothing but a blur of white before her. Shen Chi, that guy, was decent enough; he was already in the bathtub, with certain key parts covered. Thus, when she opened her eyes, she saw nothing Not suitable for children. Only then did she rx and move her hands from her eyes, picking up the towel again to test the water temperature for him. ¡°Just to be clear, I¡¯m only doing this because your arm is injured and it¡¯s inconvenient for you. Don¡¯t expect this kind of treatment ever again.¡± ¡°Fine, thank you, Miss Xu, it¡¯s been tough on you,¡± he said. He touched her cheek with his hand, his gaze filled with reluctance and fondness. Gradually, Shen Chi closed his eyes and found afortable position in the bathtub, keeping his injured arm outside and away from the water. Xu Chaomu was also very careful. She first wet the towel. Thankfully, it was summer and not cold. When neither of them spoke, the bathroom was quiet, and the only sound was that of water. Xu Chaomu took the towel and gently wiped his upper body. Even so, her face was still beet red. She wondered how they had managed that night at the Paris hotel? She had drunk so much that night that she remembered nothing when she woke up, only that her body ached and any little movement was painful. Even though they had already been intimate, she still blushed. Shen Chi seemed to be enjoying it; he kept his eyes closed, allowing Xu Chaomu to bathe him. This kind of treatment was rare, and who knows when there would be a next time. The silencested for a long time, and the sound of water filled the bathroom. ¡°Is this your first time bathing a man?¡± Shen Chi asked faintly. Her hands were so gentle that each time they touched his body, he felt a slight stir, and his heart would beat erratically. Xu Chaomu¡¯s technique was obviously inexperienced, and several times, due to nervousness, her nails scratched his body. ¡°What do you think?¡± Xu Chaomu replied unhappily. Shen Chiughed, softly caressing her face with his hand that hadn¡¯t touched the water. In the misty vapors of water, her shy face was like a water lily blooming in a pond, tender and serene. Although they always ended up fighting when they were together, even a second of happiness was sweet to him. However, whenever he thought of the private messages she exchanged with Nie Chenng, his heart couldn¡¯t help but feel unpleasant. Xu Chaomu bathed him with great care, and this was not just her first time bathing a man, but also her first time bathing someone else at all. She would bathe their baby in the future, wouldn¡¯t she? Xu Chaomu was clumsy, and sometimes identally sshed water on herself, wetting the pajamas she had just put on. With a sense of resignation, she nced at her clothes and then continued bathing Shen Chi. Shen Chi, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself, with a slight upward curve on his lips. In fact, his inconvenience wasn¡¯t all that great; it was just an arm injury, nothing serious, but he was unwilling to let Xu Chaomu leave. His handsome face, through the mist of the water, looked even more striking, with defined edges and angles as if chiseled by a knife. When she leaned in close to him, she stared unblinkingly at his face. As she looked and looked, she couldn¡¯t help but pout in exasperation. Thirteen years ago, she had been mesmerized by this beast in human clothing, a so-called ¡®love at first sight¡¯ that put her behind invisible bars, unable to escape ever since. The rising steam dampened his long eyshes, and Xu Chaomu bent down; even after so many years, she was still captivated by this man. She bent down lower and lower, looking at him closely. Their faces were only a few centimeters apart. So close, she could count theshes on his eyelids. Her lips also began to curve upward, forgetting to continue bathing him. Shen Chi suddenly opened his eyes, meeting her clear, beautiful ones. Xu Chaomu was startled and quickly stood up. Unexpectedly, Shen Chi did not respond, but rather, with his dry arm, he wrapped it around her from behind. Xu Chaomu lost her bnce, and with a ¡°plop,¡± she was pulled by his hand and tumbled into the bathtub! Her face was covered in water, and her whole body was drenched. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m angry, what are you doing!¡± Xu Chaomu wiped the water droplets off her face. The man, however, wore a triumphant smile, his strong hand holding her back tightly, making her fall securely onto his body. ¡°Your husband wasn¡¯t just watching for nothing.¡± After he spoke, his domineering and powerful hand pressed her down, and as she lowered her head, he just happened to cup her small face and kissed her. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red, she struggled desperately, even pouring water from the bathtub onto his face. Shen Chi simply restrained her hands again, preventing her from moving. Whatever Shen Chi wanted, he never failed to obtain. Now, he wanted to kiss her, so he kissed her lips forcefully. In fact, with such a perfect situation at hand, he could barely contain the urges within his body, but since she was pregnant, he couldn¡¯t do much with her. Fine, he would hold back, and he wanted to see how long he couldst. His warm lips covered her slightly cool red ones; at first, he nibbled gently and slowly, but gradually, he pried open her teeth and delved deep, intertwining with her ceaselessly. He held her back and hands, preventing her from moving. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t dare to move around either, for fear of hurting his wounds, and thus, she could only admit defeat. At this moment, her whole body was sprawled on his, in a very suggestive position. Furthermore, the man was not wearing any clothes! Although separated by her thin pajamas, she could still feel the response of his body submerged in the water. His hand gripping hers grew hotter and hotter, and his body burned like fire. Of course, the strongest reaction was in a certain ce of his, turning Xu Chaomu¡¯s face red, yet leaving her unable to move. The kiss was lingering and profound¡­ Xu Chaomu thought, her bath was wasted once again. He kissed her breathless, and the heat of the bathroom added to her already flushed face. Sheid on his strong body, her small hands frantically scratching at him. Chapter 528: Pregnant Women are Very Sexy Chapter 528: Pregnant Women are Very Sexy She scratched for a while, finally reaching the palm of his hand. This time, Shen Chi let go of her and his deep gaze fell upon her face. She thought he was angry, but then she considered, what did he have to be angry about? If anyone should be angry, it was her. Her whole body was drenched, she had kindly offered to bathe him, and he had even forcefully kissed her. Just now¡­ she had simply scratched him a bit¡­ He looked at her without speaking, but his hand firmly pressed against her back. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyshes still had droplets on them, and as she blinked looking at him, she wondered, was he really angry? After a long while, he grabbed her hands, lifting them in front of his eyes. ¡°Scratching so fiercely, are you a cat or a dog?¡± Shen Chi examined her fingernails. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu tried to pull her hands away forcefully, just knowing he couldn¡¯t say anything nice. ¡°No matter what I am, you already kissed me anyway,¡± Xu Chaomu said indignantly. Her fingernails had been trimmed the day before yesterday, very clean. ¡°I haven¡¯t kissed you enough,¡± he said, his deep gaze still on her. At this moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s cheeks were flushed, her long ck hair hanging over her chest, exuding more charm and sensuality than before. His hand unconsciously moved to her neck, slowly sliding down¡­ Her pajamas were alreadypletely wet as he brushed aside the hair on her chest, his slender fingers moving to her neckline, prying open her pajamas. Xu Chaomu pped his hand away, preventing him from seeding, ¡°Are you going to bathe or not, if not, I¡¯m leaving.¡± With that said, she tried to climb out of the bathtub. Her current state even made herself look like a too mischievous cat that had identally fallen into water. Hisrge hand pressed down on her, stopping her from moving. ¡°How about we bathe together?¡± someone suggested with a meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth. Xu Chaomu threw a soaking wet towel onto his handsome face, angrily dering, ¡°Who wants to bathe with you, pervert!¡± Shen Chi calmly removed the towel, but by the time he did, she had already climbed out of the bathtub. ¡°Be careful not to catch a cold,¡± he said to her, his voice t. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu gave him a nce, he still knew how to show concern. If it weren¡¯t for him, how could she have ended up in such a sorry state. ¡°Go change, I can bathe myself,¡± Shen Chi said. His gaze was deep yet reluctant, having not seen her for so many days, he wanted to look at her every second. It seemed, no matter how much he looked, it was never enough. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have driven his car to find her after their argument. He was not someone who liked to concede, nor did he like to take the initiative to admit fault, but when it came to Xu Chaomu, he was helpless. Of course, one day, he would tame this little wild cat. Her hair, just dried, was now half-wet again, and her pajamas werepletely soaked through. The thin clothes clung tightly to her body, outlining her beautiful figure. Shen Chi watched her intently, this time, under the thinyer of fabric, he clearly saw the rounded protrusion of her abdomen. Pregnant women are very sensual, and so was she. He kept looking at her, and Xu Chaomu snorted, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go change, bathe yourself.¡± With that, she quickly ran away, because she had caught a dangerous message in the eyes of this wolf. With a ¡°bang,¡± the bathroom door was closed behind her. It wasn¡¯t until Xu Chaomu had left, that Shen Chi turned his head. Just now when she had thrown herself on him, all the fire within him was drawn out by her, with no choice left, he adjusted the water to cold to douse the burning me. Ever since she returned to C City five yearster, he had taken more than one cold shower. No helping it, since she was a pregnant woman. After rushing out of the bathroom, Xu Chaomu went to the closet to get another set of pajamas. All drenched, she dried her body and changed into clean pajamas. She didn¡¯t even know if his injured arm would allow him to bathe properly. She didn¡¯t care about him anymore, anyways she had already scrubbed him quite thoroughly just now. After changing into new pajamas and blow-drying her half-wet hair, shey down on the bed. The curtains outside were showing light; it wouldn¡¯t be long before it waspletely bright outside. The curtains in her room were very thick. She switched off the bedsidemp with a gesture, and now, she couldn¡¯t see much light, only the sound of running water from the bathroom. The moment she turned off the light, she burrowed into theforter, yawning. When Shen Chi came out, Xu Chaomu was already quiet, asleep. He wore a gray nightgown, quietly approaching her side. Her little paws gripped theforter tightly, sleeping soundly. Her longshesy over her eyelids, and the blush on her face had faded away. Now, with her ws retracted, she appeared especially docile. Shen Chi loved watching her sleep, so obedient. But then again, he loved her no matter what. He sat by the bed, touching her fingers. Xu Chaomu gave no response. Shen Chi found her even more adorable, and touched her cheek again. Xu Chaomu still did not react. The room was very quiet, and no light shone. He dried his hair and simply slipped under the covers next to her. He always said Xu Chaomu slept like a little pig. It turned out to be true, as even when hey beside her, she didn¡¯t react at all. She slept very soundly, and so his heart was at peace. During those five years, he didn¡¯t know how she had managed, if he could, he wanted to meet Nie Chenng¡­ His warm and dry hand hooked around her small one, embracing her as he drifted off to sleep. Due to a headache, he didn¡¯t fall asleep for a while, just lying quietly beside her with eyes closed. Hisrge hand swept over her abdomen, feeling the presence of the child inside her belly. When it finally becamepletely light outside, Shen Chi gradually fell asleep. Shen Chi¡¯s biological clock was very urate, and he woke up a little after six. Groggily opening his eyes, he saw Xu Chaomu still sleeping soundly. To his surprise, when he moved slightly, Xu Chaomu opened her eyes. ¡°Why are you sleeping in my bed?¡± Xu Chaomu mumbled, her eyes barely opening, so sleepy. ¡°Don¡¯t talk, go back to sleep,¡± Shen Chi held her tightly. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu closed her eyes again and fell back asleep. Shen Chi looked at her in his arms, his face full of satisfaction. Sleeping until nine in the morning, Shen Chi got up first. After covering her with theforter, he went to the living room to make a phone call to Xiao Mo. ¡°Mr. Shen.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Chi responded with a deep voice, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation from yesterday going?¡± ¡°I checked the dashcam footage and the license te number you provided.¡± ¡°Look again¡ªwhere was Nie Chenng after six o¡¯clockst night, and what was he doing?¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll report back to you once I have the information.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ Are youing to the corporation today?¡± Xiao Mo inquired. Shen Chi nced at his watch and replied tly, ¡°Not today.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, don¡¯t overwork yourself¡­¡± Xiao Mo said with implied meaning, ¡°After all, your arm is still injured.¡± Chapter 529: 529: Slept Together Chapter 529: Slept Together Xiao Mo knew that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Shen Chi had been away from Xu Chaomu for so many days, and after seeing herst night, he must have been¡­ very excited. Shen Chi roared, ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Err¡­¡± Xiao Mo was sweating profusely. Hearing Shen Chi¡¯s tone, it seemed he hadn¡¯t seeded. Thinking about it, Xu Chaomu was pregnant, so Shen Chi probably hadn¡¯t been beastly to that extent. ¡°Right, how is Jian Sisi doing?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°She¡¯s fine, there¡¯s a doctor watching over her. She won¡¯t die,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Continue to have someone watch her, I¡¯ll head overter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°As for Zhuo Fan¡¯s matter, she mustn¡¯t know about it for now.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Xiao Mo nodded.
¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi hung up the phone and went to his room to change clothes. He put on a dark blue shirt; since he did not n to go to thepany today, he didn¡¯t wear a tie. After fastening the buttons of his shirt, he slowly walked down the stairs. Xu Chaomu had not yet woken up, so he had a servant bring breakfast to the balcony. The sun at nine in the summer was already scorching, but there was a strong breeze on the balcony that kept the sun away. Shen Chi sat in the wicker chair with a cup of coffee, enjoying a leisurely moment. The summer breeze brought waves of floral scent, and the balcony was enveloped in the fragrance of various flowers. Outside the balcony, there was a string of green vines; with the wind¡¯s caress, the vines swayed gracefully, like dancing sprites. Shen Chi squinted his eyes and looked out from the balcony; from this angle, he could enjoy the view of the garden in the vi. The lush flowers were like a brocade, and the vegetation was verdant. Steam from the coffee rose gently, creating a misty haze in the air. After a long while, Shen Chi took out Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone again. The butler had made many calls, but fortunately, he had already sent a message to the butler. Otherwise, the butler would have been very anxious. He dismissed those insignificant calls and messages, and suddenly, he noticed a strange number. The strange number had sent many videos to Xu Chaomu; Shen Chi¡¯s heart stirred, his eyes slightly cold. Shen Chi casually opened one, and the video¡¯s background was a bar. The main character in the video was surprisingly him. Someone had actually sent such videos to Xu Chaomu! He watched all the videos without showing any emotion; they were nothing more than him holding women, living a dissolute life. Pity, the videos were not borated on finely enough; he spotted the ws at a nce.
Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were cold, and a trace of chill seeped from the corners of his mouth. During the days he was not there, someone deliberately sent such videos to Xu Chaomu. However, what surprised him was that Xu Chaomu did not mention anything to him, nor did she make a fuss. At most, she would just indulge in a bit of petnce with him, but he liked it when she was petnt, and he doted on her.
What would Xu Chaomu think after watching such videos? Her mind was not delicate; surely, she would not doubt the authenticity of the videos. Then what exactly happened during the days he was gone? He checked the other contents of her phone but didn¡¯t find anything particrly unusual. After finishing, he threw her phone aside! Who was so bold to dare to send her such messages while he was away¡­ A breeze blew onto the balcony, and the chill in his eyes grew deeper¡­ Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t wake up until past eleven in the noon, rubbing her eyes groggily. She reached out with her hand, and Shen Chi was nowhere to be found. Had he slept with herst night? She rubbed her eyes, unable to remember¡­ She remembered that when she was deep in sleep, there seemed to be a pair of warm hands tightly embracing her waist. Xu Chaomu patted her head, oh, that must have been it, the one who slept beside herst night was him. Initially, she didn¡¯t want to get up, but the moment she opened her eyes, she saw all those beautiful clothes in the wardrobe.
Women generally can¡¯t resist beautiful clothes, and with a ¡°gurgle,¡± she crawled out of bed. In the spacious wardrobe, the multitude of clothes was dazzling. She picked a blue floral dress, looked at it, too fresh and clean. Then she picked a white bodycon dress, looked at it, too mature. Next, she picked a Bohemian style beach dress, looked at it, but it seemed inappropriate to wear at home. ¡­ Xu Chaomu was dazzled by the choices, propping her chin as she stared at the plethora of clothes in the wardrobe. She suffered from choice overload, muttering to herself, ¡°Which one should I wear, what color should I choose¡­¡± After much deliberation, she decided to just grab whatever came to hand, whichever that would be. Unexpectedly, what she grabbed was quite a sexy light blue slip dress. Xu Chaomu had never worn anything particrly sexy in front of Shen Chi, not daring to five years ago, but now she felt bold enough, thinking, a slip dress then! The weather was quite hot, wearing a slip dress would be very cool. However, she hadn¡¯t anticipated that, after slipping out of her nightgown and into the slip dress, the bump on her lower belly became even more apparent, and she had to change again into a looser denim overall dress.
After getting dressed, she tied her hair into a high ponytail. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was clearly so young, yet she was about to be a mother. Truly, a single misstep could be an eternal regret. By the time she emerged from the bedroom, it was already twelve noon. She thought Shen Chi would have already gone to thepany, but just as she reached the top of the stairs, she saw him sitting on the living room sofa. He was working with hisptop again, Xu Chaomu pursed her lips, hmph, he didn¡¯t even call her to eat. Hearing her footsteps descending the stairs, Shen Chi didn¡¯t look up, his gaze stayed on hisptop as he said indifferently, ¡°Up now?¡± ¡°When did you get up?¡± ¡°Before you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, well, that was stating the obvious. She walked down the stairs, came to the sofa, and sat next to him. ncing at hisptop, all thoseplex financial things, bourse, share, delist¡­ tooplicated, she couldn¡¯t understand. Sitting next to him, she shook his arm, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve eaten already.¡± Shen Chi continued typing without lifting his head. When Xu Chaomu heard that, she got angry. He had already eaten? ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for me? I¡¯m still hungry, my baby is hungry too!¡± Only then did Shen Chi stop his busyness and turned to look at her, ¡°The chef who cooks has gone home.¡± ¡°Then what did you eat?¡± He looked at her with a serious expression and couldn¡¯t help butugh, patting her head, ¡°You believed my tease.¡± ¡°Annoying, then you go cook.¡± Xu Chaomu tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Sure, but is there a reward?¡± Shen Chi looked at her. Xu Chaomu was dressed beautifully today in a lively and cute denim overall dress, her hair tied up high in a ponytail, her whole appearance brimming with youth. However, in his eyes, she always looked good, even better without clothes. ¡°How about a touch of my baby as a reward?¡± Xu Chaomu smiled ingratiatingly. Shen Chi¡¯splexion changed, his gaze turning a bit hazy. He turned his head back towards hisptop screen, indifferently saying, ¡°Go sit for a while, I will go make something for you in a bit.¡± It was then that Xu Chaomu recalled, in his heart, this was Nie Chenng¡¯s child, she had forgotten¡­ Chapter 530: 530: He pampered her for eight years Chapter 530: He pampered her for eight years She let him touch the baby, knowing there must be some resentment in his heart. Seeing the change in his expression, she could only shake his arm slightly and, with a fawning lift of her face, said, ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he replied. His eyes remained downcast, his tone holding a trace of distance as he continued to tap away on hisptop, working on an important report. Feeling a bit dejected, she sat quietly on the sofa for a while. For a time, the only sound in the living room was the rapid ¡°ck ck ck¡± of Shen Chi¡¯s keyboard. Xu Chaomu rested her chin in her hand, staring down at the tips of her shoes. About five minutester, Shen Chi finished his report and with a ¡°snap¡± closed hisptop. At the sound of the closingptop, Xu Chaomu suddenly looked up. As she raised her head, Shen Chi turned his around as well, and for a moment, their eyes met.
Xu Chaomu quickly scooted closer to him, hooked her right hand around his neck, tilted her head back, and kissed him on the cheek. Shen Chi froze, his deep gaze shifting to her face. The kiss was as light as a dragonfly¡¯s touch, initiated by her. She blinked at him, her big eyes fluttering innocently, ¡°Shen Chi, is this reward enough?¡± ¡°Not enough,¡± Shen Chi said, his gaze intense as he continued to look at her. His stern demeanor left Xu Chaomu feeling uneasy. It was just a mere phrase; was he truly unhappy? When he put on a stern face, she felt a bit scared. Her heart fluttering nervously, she sped her hands behind her back, twisting them to relieve her psychological tension. Her gaze evasive, she wondered why it wasn¡¯t enough, she had already been so proactive¡­ Seeing that Shen Chi still had no reaction, Xu Chaomu lifted her head again and called out, ¡°Husband¡­¡± The voice was softer than that of a mosquito¡ªif the living room wasn¡¯t silent enough, Shen Chi would surely not have heard it. But he did hear it. In fact, her initiative in kissing him had already taken him by surprise, and this ¡°husband¡± even more so. ¡°Hmm,¡± he responded, setting aside theptop on his legs and walking towards the kitchen. What did ¡°Hmm¡± mean? Xu Chaomu was puzzled! Was he happy or unhappy now? Why did it seem that there was still no expression on his face¡­ As Shen Chi walked to the kitchen, a faint smile lingered on the corners of his lips, rare for Xu Chaomu to take the initiative. The kitchen was already stocked with fresh ingredients, both vegetables and meats. He had even specially had shrimp prepared, intending to cook them for herter.
In truth, he had ordered these prepared since morning, intending to cook lunch himself. But¡­ he had to keep up appearances. It wasn¡¯t often he cooked; how could he not receive some reward? No sooner had Shen Chi stepped into the kitchen than Xu Chaomu followed like a shadow. She cocked her head to assess his mood and thought, Yikes, he still seems angry?
Could it be? Was he that petty? ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± she called again sweetly. ¡°Hmm,¡± he responded once more. Today, Xu Chaomu was dressed in youthful and bright clothes, resembling an eighteen-year-old girl. Sometimes when Shen Chi took an extra nce at her, he felt he couldn¡¯t control himself. Especially when she called him ¡°Shen Chi,¡± the way she looked reminded him of five years ago. Only, five years ago, she was still his ¡°Mumu¡±¡­ Five yearster, she had be another man¡¯s woman¡­ More than once, he had regretted, if time could turn back, he would definitely have taken the chance when she threw herself at him and pinned her down without hesitation! He would have devoured herpletely, leaving not a crumb behind. Unfortunately, time cannot be turned back. Now, she had been with another man, carrying another man¡¯s child. It¡¯s as if¡­ it was heaven¡¯s punishment for not cherishing her properly. Thinking this, a bitter sensation spread across his heart. This bitterness was like ink seeping into wood, bit by bit, deep and indelible.
Xu Chaomu was still tilting her head, observing Shen Chi. She waved her hand in front of his eyes, curious what he was so engrossed in thinking. Her wave brought Shen Chi back to reality, and he swatted her hand away, frowning, ¡°Go y on your own.¡± Relieved to finally hear something other than a ¡°Hmm¡± from him, Xu Chaomu smiled. ¡°Do you need help?¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Then how long will you be? I¡¯m hungry¡­¡± Shen Chi put down the vegetables in his hands, turned around with arms crossed, and looked at her, ¡°Shall we go out to eat then?¡± ¡°No no no, the food outside isn¡¯t tasty, it¡¯s unhygienic, unhealthy, I want to eat what you make.¡± ¡°Then wait patiently.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Dejectedly, Xu Chaomu responded with a drooped head, but she didn¡¯t leave the kitchen. She decisively grabbed the vegetables from his hands and dered eagerly, ¡°I¡¯ll wash them, I¡¯ll wash them.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t stop her; the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
This was nice. Xu Chaomu remembered thest time she had eaten food Shen Chi cooked was at Waterside Pavilion. His cooking was so delicious she could never forget it. She thought she¡¯d never eat his cooking again in this lifetime. Unexpectedly, five yearster, there was still room for time toe back around. She happily washed the vegetables, with great care. Shen Chi had an injury on his arm, and she didn¡¯t want him to touch water. Her movements were skillful. At first, Shen Chi was helping, but then he just stood quietly to the side, arms crossed, watching her. He remembered how, back when they were at Shen Family¡¯s house, even though she was only adopted, he never let her do anything. In the Shen Family, her delicate hands never touched water; she couldn¡¯t do anything. He hadn¡¯t expected that, five yearster, she would be so adept at washing vegetables. Xu Chaomu washed for a good while before she noticed his deep gaze. She looked up, smiled at him, and then bent down to continue washing. After finishing with the greens, she tossed them into a basket. Next, she began washing mushrooms¡­ Shen Chi watched her silently, his frown deepening.
¡°Did you suffer a lot in those five years outside?¡± he finally asked. Xu Chaomu¡¯s hands paused, her heart filled with a slow, warm current¡­ Without looking up, she slightly turned down the faucet and went on washing her mushrooms. ¡°Not at all, I had a pretty good time in Paris those five years,¡± she denied outright. If she excluded the first six months she arrived in Paris, indeed¡­ her life had been quite good. ¡°You used to be sozy, even reluctant to serve rice.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was hoarse, a twinge of pain tugging at his heart. He doted on and cherished her for eight years, wanting her to always remain carefree. ¡°Everybody has to grow up eventually,¡± Xu Chaomu said lightly. Her nose tingled, and she felt a wave of sadness. During those first six months in Paris, in order to survive, there was nothing she hadn¡¯t done. Washing dishes in a small restaurant, sweeping floors for others, handing out flyers¡­ she took what little money she earned to barely fill her stomach. With no ce to live, she wandered about carrying that doll. The summer was bearable, but when winter came, she couldn¡¯t go on; the winters in Paris were so bitterly cold. Chapter 531: 531: I am doing well abroad Chapter 531: I am doing well abroad Especially when it snowed, the cold wind mixed with thick snowkes hit her face, and she had no warm clothes on her body. Back then, she couldn¡¯t even find a ce to shelter from the cold. Her nose tingled, and her eyes actually reddened. Those past events were better left unrecalled. Even to this day, she didn¡¯t know how she had survived. If she hadn¡¯t met Nie Chenng, she might have frozen to death on the streets of Paris by now. Now, not to mention washing vegetables, she could do all of those odd jobs that others could do. Shen Chi¡¯s sharp eyes stared intently at her face, detecting the slight changes on it. Although Xu Chaomu was bowing her head, washing vegetables seriously, he still felt it. He turned her shoulders to face him and looked into her eyes with a stern voice, ¡°Xu Chaomu, tell me, did you suffer a lot during those five years in Paris?!¡± A trace of sourness slid over her heart, and she suppressed all the bitterness inside. She continued washing mushrooms as if nothing was amiss, her tone casual, ¡°No, I had a pretty good time, so content that I didn¡¯t yearn for home.¡±
¡°Liar!¡± Shen Chi shouted coldly. She was clearly lying! He had raised her for eight years; every time she lied, her gaze was shifty, and she dared not meet his eyes. Like when she sometimes didn¡¯t do her homework and nned to copy someone else¡¯s the next day. Back then, he would ask her coldly, ¡°Have you finished your homework?¡± Every time she had finished it, her answer would be swift and decisive, her little face filled with pride. But if she hadn¡¯t done it, of course, she would also say ¡°I finished it,¡± though with an evasive look and hesitant tone. Her expressions and tone always betrayed her, without fail. Five yearster, it was still the same. As soon as she heard Shen Chi¡¯s cold voice say ¡°liar,¡± Xu Chaomu shuddered in fright, reflexively dropping the mushroom in her hand. Those eight years had scared her. Whenever he used her of lying, it pretty much meant she was lying. If her lie was exposed, the consequences were serious¡ªhe would punish her by not allowing her to eat. Of course, that was the milder punishment. More severely, he would lock her in the room for several days, not allowing her to attend ss. But now that she thought about it, she still felt fortunate; Shen Chi had neverid a hand on her. Perhaps it was because they had no blood rtion whatsoever. At that time, it probably wasn¡¯t worth it for him to hit her; it would take too much effort. Later, when she got a little older, he no longer managed her studies. If she wanted to study, fine; if not, that was fine too. He wouldn¡¯t inquire further. At that time, he probably had given up on her.
Now, hearing Shen Chi¡¯s cold snort, Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie, I was living well abroad and didn¡¯t even need to pay for my own expenses¡­¡± The next words she wanted to say were, ¡°with Nie Chenng¡¯s help,¡± but after thinking it over, she swallowed them down. During those five years abroad, she rarely used Nie Chenng¡¯s money. She understood a principle very well: taking someone else¡¯s money curtails your independence, even if they are the closest of friends. ¡°Look me in the eyes and say it!¡± Shen Chi demanded coldly again.
Xu Chaomu kept her head lowered, pretending to pick up the mushrooms from the sink, with her heart pounding like a frightened deer. This skill of lying, honed over many years, still couldn¡¯t escape Shen Chi¡¯s discerning eyes. Were her lies so tantly obvious? It seemed¡­ not, right? His strong hands forcefully turned her shoulders, his sharp gaze never leaving her! ¡°Alright, alright, I had a hard time during those five years, struggling to make ends meet, struggling with hunger and cold. Are you happy now?¡± Xu Chaomu replied perfunctorily. She didn¡¯t want to share those not so lovely things with Shen Chi. Let the past stay in the past; there was no need to bring it up again. Every time she remembered those moments, it felt like reopening old wounds. Thinking further back, she would recall those events on the Sumatra Ind ferry¡­ It felt like a distant memory, as if it had been sealed in the depths of her heart, but in truth, those memories were unforgettable¡­ The scars on her back still bore frightening marks even today. ¡°Xu Chaomu, don¡¯t beat around the bush with me!¡± Shen Chi said angrily. ¡°Let¡¯s cook; I¡¯m hungry.¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her head; she never dared to look into his eyes.
¡°We¡¯re settling this today.¡± Shen Chi felt a pang in his chest. She used to be clumsy; let alone washing vegetables, she couldn¡¯t even wash chopsticks properly. And now? She washed with remarkable proficiency. She must have suffered a lot abroad. The thought spread pain throughout his entire body¡­ ¡°I¡¯m hungry, Shen Chi, are you going to cook or not? If you¡¯re not cooking, I¡¯m really going to eat out!¡± Xu Chaomu dropped the mushrooms and angrily looked up at him. Her emotions had mostly settled, but there was still some resentment in her big eyes. Seeing that she was adamant about not speaking, Shen Chi did not push her any further. He seemed to sigh, but soon reverted to an indifferent tone, ¡°Since you¡¯re so capable, you¡¯ll wash the dishester.¡± ¡°No way! I only eat; I do not wash dishes!¡± Xu Chaomu said sternly, hands on her hips, very seriously negotiating with him. She hated washing dishes, absolutely hated it! Back in C City, when she had a fight with Shen Chi, she ran off to wash dishes in a small restaurant. Later in Paris, she washed many dishes as well. She admitted, she had developed a psychological shadow. The area of her psychological shadow was as big as a basketball court now!
¡°Then who will wash the dishes?¡± Shen Chi asked seriously. ¡°Can we just get the maid to wash them?¡± Xu Chaomu whispered. ¡°No good, I told them all to go back today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes and poked his arm, ¡°Fourth Brother¡­ why don¡¯t you wash¡­ with a reward¡­¡± ¡°A kiss won¡¯t bribe me,¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. Having said so, he went to tidy up the kitchen. ¡°Two?¡± ¡°Not enough.¡± ¡°Three?¡± ¡°Not enough!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t wash, then you won¡¯t get any!¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. Not washing the dishes didn¡¯t really cost her anything; worst case scenario, she¡¯d just wait for the maid toe back tomorrow. Besides, Shen Chi was so rich, even if he just bought new dishes, so what! So what!
¡°¡­¡± Shen Chi had a face full of ck lines; was this her way of threatening him? The result of the threat was¡­ his capittion. ¡°You¡¯re pretty, so whatever you say is right,¡± Shen Chi nced at her. ¡°Hehe.¡± Xu Chaomu liked to hear those words and smiled happily. Shen Chi knew how to coax someone after all; she had heard plenty of his sweet nothings. In the kitchen, Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu were busy together. Most of the time it was Shen Chi cooking, with the asional call out: ¡°Mumu, hand me the greens.¡± ¡°Mumu, wash the chopsticks.¡± ¡°Mumu, pass me the salt.¡± ¡­ Xu Chaomu became Shen Chi¡¯s assistant, bustling about in the kitchen, back and forth, back and forth. Chapter 532: 532: Solving Physiological Needs Chapter 532: Solving Physiological Needs However, she was very happy inside, asionally staring at Shen Chi¡¯s face. ¡°Am I that good-looking?¡± Just as she was sneaking nces at him, he caught her. ¡°Looking at you more makes me less hungry, do you know there is a saying called ¡®beauty is a feast to the eyes¡¯¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Oh, you¡¯replimenting me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was speechless, couldn¡¯t he be a little more modest? Although, she was indeedplimenting him. Soon, Shen Chi prepared several dishes. There weren¡¯t many, but all were Xu Chaomu¡¯s favorites. Xu Chaomu carried the tes to the dining table, and by the time she had set them all down, Shen Chi had also served her some rice. She sat down, and he sat across from her. Xu Chaomu picked up her bowl and smiled at Shen Chi.
The freshly cooked white rice emitted steam, and through the mist, Xu Chaomu seemed to see Shen Chi smiling too. The man¡¯s smile was dazzling, always mesmerizing her. She just held her bowl and watched him. Here, it was just the two of them. Xu Chaomu had never thought that one day she would have a home of her own, and that she would be with the man she once loved the most. ¡°Eat! Don¡¯t look around!¡± Shen Chi scolded with a cold nce. ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu then lowered her head and silently shoveled the rice in her bowl. The dishes on the table smelled delicious, appetizing just by the scent. Xu Chaomu had an especially good appetite today and tried every single dish. This was only the second meal she was eating made by him, and there might not be such an opportunity in the future. Beef stew with mushrooms, garlic steamed shrimp, three-sauce braised chicken wings, radish and pork slice soup¡­ they all made her mouth water. ¡°Eat slowly,¡± Shen Chi reminded indifferently. ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu replied. After tasting several dishes, Xu Chaomu looked at Shen Chi with a satisfied and silly smile. The man ate with elegance, not too quickly or slowly, veryposed. As she stared at him with a silly smile, he looked up at her, his gaze filled with disdain: ¡°What silliness are you thinking of now?¡± ¡°Sige, guess why I¡¯m so quiet today?¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. Usually, at the dining table, she would chatter nonstop, but today, she hardly spoke to Shen Chi during the meal. Why? Because Shen Chi¡¯s cooking was too delicious, she had no time to talk to him! ¡°My cooking is that good?¡± Shen Chi raised his eyes, looking at her nonchntly.
¡°Can¡¯t you y along a bit, and act surprised, saying you had no idea?¡± Xu Chaomu became unhappy. This man, not only did he not y along, but he also gave the answer away, leaving her no face. ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying you were hungry? Eat quickly,¡± Shen Chi said tly. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu continued to pick up her bowl and eat.
She wasn¡¯t concentrating on her meal, ncing at Shen Chi now and then as she picked up dishes. But Shen Chi, constantly watched by her, appeared as stable as Mount Tai, without any change in expression. Xu Chaomu thought, this man was probably used to it. No matter where he went, he was likely a striking presence on his own. Just as she was stealthily looking at him again, he put a piece of chicken wing on her te: ¡°Eat more.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Xu Chaomu agreed cheerfully. As she ate the lunch he cooked with satisfaction, sometimes he would also stop eating, lifting his eyes to watch her. Seeing her happy, the corners of his mouth would subconsciously lift into a slight smile. If she were no longer in his life, it would be dull and uninteresting. He was ultimately fortunate that five yearster, she returned¡­ This meal, Xu Chaomu ate very happily, her satisfied smile never leaving her lips. After the meal, Xu Chaomu propped up her chin and watched Shen Chi without looking away. Just as Shen Chi had also finished eating, he put down his utensils and nced at her. ¡°Is your arm better?¡± Xu Chaomu asked with concern.
¡°It¡¯s no big deal now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a smile, relieved she wouldn¡¯t have to bathe him. The two sat facing each other, Xu Chaomu tilting her head unwillingly: ¡°Should I¡­ go wash the dishes?¡± ¡°Leave them, we have a maid.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they weren¡¯t here today?¡± ¡°I was fooling you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu red at him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the corporation this afternoon?¡± ¡°Mhm, I¡¯m keeping youpany.¡± ¡°I¡¯m touched,¡± Xu Chaomu said, ¡°How do you n to keep mepany?¡± ¡°How do you want me to?¡± Shen Chi looked at her leisurely. ¡°Apanying me to eat, drink, sleep¡­¡± Xu Chaomu counted on her fingers, then shook her head, ¡°that¡¯s everything.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I don¡¯t mind doing it again, especially thest one,¡± Shen Chi said lightly. At this point, Xu Chaomuughed, herughter sly. She left her seat and sat next to Shen Chi.
¡°Hey, Sige, let me ask you a question,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a mischievous smile, nudging Shen Chi¡¯s arm with her elbow after speaking. Shen Chi frowned, sensing no gooding from her demeanor. ¡°Hm?¡± he lifted an eyebrow. Xu Chaomu moved next to him, very, very close. She leaned slightly forward, whispering into his ear. She lowered her voice as she breathed out gently, ¡°Sige, do you have other women out there?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Shen Chi nced at her. Continuing to lean in, she whispered softly, ¡°So, how do you usually take care of your physical needs?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t hesitate to peel off the small hand wrapped around his neck and gave her a cold re. ¡°We¡¯re both adults now¡­¡± Xu Chaomu persisted with a teasing smile, pressing him for an answer. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you just wait for me!¡± Shen Chi said angrily. Having taken such a long cold shower the previous night, on top of everything else from before, he would make sure to get payback bit by bit in the future! Now, was she relying on the fact that she was pregnant, thinking he wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything?
Xu Chaomu, just you wait. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. If you keep getting angry like this, I¡¯ll really think you can¡¯t do it,¡± Xu Chaomu said with augh, ¡°I¡¯m very open-minded; if you go out to find women, I absolutely won¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°Is this all you think about all day?¡± Xu Chaomu felt wronged, ¡°Being around cinnabar makes one red, being around ink makes one ck; in Paris, I wasn¡¯t like this.¡± ¡°My fault?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s your fault,¡± Xu Chaomu murmured dissatisfiedly. ¡°That¡¯s sophistry.¡± ¡°So, how do you n to keep mepany this afternoon?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°I need to talk to you;e with me,¡± Shen Chi said, his smile fading. After saying that, he strode up the wooden staircase toward a small loft. The afternoon sun was scorching, but the loft was designed well; one could see the outside scenery yet still enjoy the cool of winter and the warmth of summer. Walking up the wooden stairs, it was very quiet; one could hear Shen Chi¡¯s steady footsteps, neither light nor heavy. The curtains around the small loft fluttered gently; outside the window, wind chimes danced, ¡°ding ding ding ding,¡± sounding particrly clear. Chapter 533: 533: Having a Warm Home Chapter 533: Having a Warm Home ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu responded, dutifully following Shen Chi up to the attic. He seemed to be in a good mood today, and of course, her mood was quite good too. Tea that the servants had prepared earlier was on the table in the attic, and Shen Chi entered first, casually pouring two cups of tea. Xu Chaomu came up and looked around. This was her first time in Waterside Pavillion¡¯s small attic, and she hadn¡¯t expected it to be so cool; it was a perfect ce to escape the heat. The attic was filled with a faint fragrance, indistinct whether it was the scent of flowers or of nts. The table and stools were made of rosewood, and there were many decorations ced around. ¡°Sit here,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu uttered simply again, choosing a spot opposite him to sit down. Judging by Shen Chi¡¯s expression, it seemed he had something very important to ask her. Indeed, Shen Chi pulled out her cell phone from his trouser pocket.
¡°You haven¡¯t returned my phone!¡± Xu Chaomu eximed as she reached to grab it. Shen Chi withdrew his hand, not letting her take it. He straightened his expression, his keen gaze fixed on her. ¡°Who sent this to you?¡± he asked as he flipped to those video messages. Upon seeing them, Xu Chaomu realized they were the unsightly texts Zhou Ran had people send. In her haste, she tried to snatch the cell phone from Shen Chi¡¯s hand again! ¡°How would I know, probably someone trying to mess with me, maybe someone who admires you,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted with a pout. ¡°Do you believe what¡¯s in the videos?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Xu Chaomu shot back. Of course, she didn¡¯t believe them; she trusted him so much, how could she believe these videos? ¡°Who sent it to you?¡± Shen Chi asked again coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She tried once more to grab the phone from Shen Chi, and this time, he relented and handed it back to her. Today, Xu Chaomu had lied to him twice, very good. Once she had her phone back, Xu Chaomu quickly deleted all those messages. She had forgotten to delete them before, not expecting that Shen Chi would take her phone. He had seen these messages, but what about the others? Her voice messages with Nie Chenng from yesterday? At the thought of this, she hurried to check her social media. Everything was quiet, she hadn¡¯t been able to go yesterday, and Nie Chenng hadn¡¯t called or sent any messages?
This didn¡¯t make sense. The more she thought about it, the more something seemed off. She was agitated but couldn¡¯t very well call Nie Chenng in front of Shen Chi. Shen Chi saw through her thoughts, remaining silent without any expression. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest here for a while, you can go down first,¡± Shen Chi spoke indifferently.
Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t wait to get away from Shen Chi for a bit, but since he said so now, she couldn¡¯t appear too anxious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you¡¯d keep mepany?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need me to stay with you?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Shen Chi replied, frowning. ¡°Then I¡¯m going down.¡± After speaking, Xu Chaomu hastily took her phone and left the attic. She closed the door behind him, and soon Shen Chi heard her ¡°thump thump thump¡± footsteps disappearing. The attic was very cool, and Shen Chi walked to the window, his expression deep and his gaze profound. After pondering for a long time, he still sent Xiao Mo a message. Then, he made a call. ¡°President Shen.¡± ¡°Did you get the message I just sent?¡± ¡°I did, President Shen, what do you need?¡±
¡°Find out who owns that number.¡± ¡°Okay, no problem,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Chi had full confidence in Xiao Mo, he was sure he could handle it. Shen Chi was curious to see who had the guts to send such messages to Xu Chaomu. After hanging up with Xiao Mo, Shen Chi closed the windows to the attic. The attic remained pleasantly cool, and hey down on a bed, eyes closed in deep thought. A dull pain persisted in his arm, his mind reying one scene after another. As soon as Xu Chaomu descended the stairs, she immediately made a call to Nie Chenng, anxious and unsure of his situation. ¡°Chenng, where are you?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nie Chenng was taking a nap when he was surprised by Xu Chaomu¡¯s call. Ever since she had been brought back to the Shen Family by Shen Chi, she rarely initiated calls to him. Between them, it was as if they had be familiar strangers.
¡°Where are you now?¡± Xu Chaomu pressed urgently. ¡°I just got home from the office.¡± ¡°Home? Do you have a fever?¡± ¡°A fever? No, who told you that?¡± Nie Chenng was puzzled. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly realized, understanding everything. Last night, someone must have hacked Nie Chenng¡¯s ount to send her those voice messages. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Chaomu, be more specific,¡± Nie Chenng grew anxious as well. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really nothing,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t want to worry Nie Chenng. ¡°Chaomu, be clear with me, is there something we can¡¯t talk about? What exactly is going on?¡± ¡°There really is nothing, just being curious. I¡¯m hanging up now, going to take a nap, so sleepy!¡± Xu Chaomu feigned nonchnce, afraid that Nie Chenng would worry. Nie Chenng¡¯s concerns eased slightly hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone. After Xu Chaomu ended the call, she paced back and forth in the living room, back and forth¡­
She had been gone from C City for five years, with no enemies, so who wanted to take her away? Why take her away? To threaten Shen Chi? Thenst night, Shen Chi¡¯s arm injury wasn¡¯t merely from a broken bottle? She was utterly clueless about what had happened, and Shen Chi had said nothing to her. In the business world, Shen Chi¡¯s resolute and ruthless dealings had undoubtedly offended many. There was nothing that could be used to threaten him, probably¡­ except for her? Her head suddenly throbbing painfully, she didn¡¯t want to think any further, she didn¡¯t want to think at all! Her heart raced, and so she ran from the living room back to her bedroom, lying on the bed and covering her head with a nket. As if by doing so, she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with all theseplicated matters¡­ She didn¡¯t understand these things; she just wanted to live a stable life, to have a warm home. But she knew that Shen Chi must have paid a heavy price. While lying under the nket, it wasn¡¯t long before two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks¡­ She was not one to cry, she had never been since she was a child. But now, what were these things falling from her eyes? Soon, arge patch of the nket was dampened, moist. Her eyes were also red, unable to suppress the tears. She wiped her eyes and decided to hide under the nket. If she went out now, Shen Chi would surely ask. It would be embarrassing to admit that she had cried. As soon as she touched the bed, her mind became muddled with many thoughts, and gradually, she drifted off to sleep in a daze. Shen Chi remained in the attic and didn¡¯t fall asleep; weighed down with heavy thoughts, sleep was difficult toe by, even during this drowsy afternoon. With eyes closed, his mind whirred swiftly. It wasn¡¯t long before he received a call from Xiao Mo. Chapter 534: 534: Less Talk, More Action Chapter 534: Less Talk, More Action ¡°Xiao Mo.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and hoarse. ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ve found out about the number you gave me just now.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°It belongs to someone close to Director Shen.¡± Surprise flickered in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes ¨C his father? His father seldom returned to the Shen Family home and had little interaction with Xu Chaomu. Five years ago, his father had already warned Xu Chaomu to stay away from him. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Also, President Shen, Director Shen¡¯s health has been very bad recently, and it¡¯s been Mrs. Zhou who¡¯s been staying with him.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± This surprised Shen Chi even more. His father and mother, each proud for most of their lives, he had not expected that, over the age of fifty, they would reconcile.
¡°Yes, they have been in frequent contacttely,¡± Xiao Mo added. In frequent contact? Shen Chi furrowed his brows tightly ¨C it was probably not just a reconciliation. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi responded indifferently. ¡°President Shen, you asked me to check Nie Chenng¡¯s whereaboutsst night, and I¡¯ve found out.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Nie Chenng didn¡¯t do anything unusual yesterday. He went home after work and stayed there all night, didn¡¯t see anyone and didn¡¯te out again until he left for work in the morning.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Shen Chi pondered thoughtfully. It seemed that the message Nie Chenng had sent to Xu Chaomu might indeed have been sent without even his own knowledge. ¡°President Shen, is there anything else?¡± Xiao Mo asked. ¡°I want the details of Xu Chaomu¡¯s life in Paris over those five years,¡± Shen Chi said. Xiao Mo looked puzzled ¨C why did Shen Chi suddenly want this? ¡°President Shen, I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Xiao Mo said. After all, five years had passed, and it was quite unlikely to find many things; he could only promise to do his best. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi closed his eyes and continued to lean on the bed, reflecting on the issue. Xu Chaomu returned after five years, he hadn¡¯t asked her much about those years, and it seemed she hadn¡¯t told him the truth either. Today, seeing how skillfully she washed the dishes, his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle. Back at the Shen Family home, she was the kind who would not touch spring water with her ten fingers, and now, she could do many things.
What had she gone through in those five years? After hanging up Xiao Mo¡¯s call, he had been deep in thought. His heart was ufortable, with pain seeping through his limbs. Xu Chaomu was the person he cherished the most in his life, yet thinking about the hardships she endured in Paris over those five years, he just couldn¡¯t help but feel troubled. The afternoon sun was scorching the earth, and the wind outside wasn¡¯t strong,zily blowing the wind chimes on the windowsill from time to time.
The chimes rang out with crisp ¡°ding ding ding¡± sounds, which, in the stillness of the attic, echoed loudly. Long are the days in summer, and when the crystal curtain moves with the breeze, the garden is full of the fragrance of roses¡­ ¡­ Those days, Xu Chaomu was staying in the Waterside Pavilion, and Shen Chi took her to get familiar with every nt and tree there. During those days, Shen Chi didn¡¯t return to the Shen Family home either, quietly recuperating in the Waterside Pavilion. That evening, after dinner, as the night cooled considerably and the breeze was especiallyfortable on the skin, Shen Chi took Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand for a walk in the garden along the winding path. ¡°Mumu, do you like it here?¡± he asked. ¡°I do.¡± Xu Chaomu sincerely liked it here; it might not be as grand as the Shen Family home, but it felt more like a home. Most importantly, it was just her and Shen Chi here. Back at the Shen Family, she really disliked Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou. Here, she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with those troubles anymore. Come to think of it, she hadn¡¯t seen Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou since she returned to C City after five years. It was better not to see the people she disliked.
The style of the Waterside Pavilion was fresh and clean,plete with rockeries, fountains, and small waterfalls. In summer, it didn¡¯t feel too hot; instead, there was a cool breeze. Especially the small waterfall of the Waterside Pavilion, cascading down from a not-so-tall rockery with the ¡°hush hush¡± sound of water, where the droplets sshed as if they were beads, sending up misty sprays. Xu Chaomu loved this small waterfall the most. Standing beside it in summer, she could feel the refreshing chill and rxation. ¡°Would you like to live here with me in the future?¡± Shen Chi held her hand and asked again. ¡°Depends on your performance,¡± Xu Chaomu smiled. Shen Chi¡¯s lips slowly curved upward ¨C what did it mean to depend on his performance? He was her husband, if she didn¡¯t live with him, who would she live with? Shen Chi held her hand as they walked in the Waterside Pavilion. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t resist, letting him lead her. Hisrge, dry and warm palms enveloped her hand, filling her heart with warmth and tenderness. She had never imagined that she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him after five years; such days seemed like a very distant past¡­ ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± As they walked, Xu Chaomu spoke, stopped walking, and looked up at him. Her grape-like,rge eyes stared at him silently, and he stopped as well.
Under the lights, her white dress was demure and elegant, her hair cascading like a waterfall; she was like a quietly blooming lotus. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I miss my little dog,¡± said Xu Chaomu, looking up and speaking softly. ¡°Oh!¡± Shen Chi looked dissatisfied. She dared to think of other things while with him? Was he not captivating enough to hold her attention?! ¡°Why aren¡¯t you reacting?¡± Xu Chaomu pouted unhappily. ¡°What reaction do you want?¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to say happily, ¡®Sure, I¡¯ll help you bring your little dog back home¡¯,¡± Xu Chaomu yfully insisted. ¡°How dare you think of other things while with me?!¡± Shen Chi was angry. ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡± Xu Chaomu waved a hand in front of his eyes as if she had made a new discovery, a look of astonishment on her face, ¡°You¡¯re even jealous of a little dog?¡± ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°Come on, I really miss my little dog. Its name is ¡®Wealth,¡¯ and no matter what, it never seems to grow. I often feed it good things, but it just doesn¡¯t grow. It often yed with me when I was in Paris¡­¡± ¡°You still think of Wealth even with Dabai?¡± Shen Chi raised an eyebrow.
¡°I¡¯ll still spoil Dabai. Please help me bring Wealth home,¡± she said. ¡°Where is it?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°At, at Nie Chenng¡¯s house¡­¡± Xu Chaomu felt a bit uneasy. She seldom mentioned Nie Chenng¡¯s name in front of Shen Chi, fearing his jealousy¡­ ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll have someone pick it up another day.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t refute Xu Chaomu this time. It was okay; Dabai would stay at the Shen Family home, and Wealth would stay in the Waterside Pavilion. Still, Shen Chi couldn¡¯t understand why Xu Chaomu would name this dog such a tacky name! Xu Chaomu was delighted: ¡°Gege, you¡¯re the best!¡± ¡°Less talk, more action,¡± he remarked without a change in expression, looking at Xu Chaomu. He was taller than she was, and he looked down at her like that. Xu Chaomu had no answer; what he meant by ¡°less talk, more action¡± was just to take advantage of her. But considering Wealth¡¯s sake, she hesitated, pouted, made up her mind, and still went on tiptoes! ¡°Smack,¡± she nted a kiss on his cheek! After all, with such a handsome husband, she wasn¡¯t at a loss. So many women coveted Shen Chi, yet they couldn¡¯t even touch him, and she felt quite lucky. Chapter 535: 535 What Happened Chapter 535: Chapter 535 What Happened Shen Chi was very satisfied in his heart, but his face did not show much of it. He nced at her indifferently and said nonchntly, ¡°Be a bit more proactive next time.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu made a face at him. She learned a trick; next time he needed her help, she would also respond with ¡°Talk less and act more, practical actions.¡± Shen Chi continued to hold her hand and stroll through the Waterside Pavilion. Xu Chaomu walked slowly, and he slowed down as well, staying by her side. One tall, one short, their shadows stood side by side. It turns out that only with her could the days be serene. Xu Chaomu was in a good mood that day and talked a lot with Shen Chi as they walked. ¡°I miss Butler Ling and Dabai. I will go back to the Shen Family tomorrow,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Okay.¡±
Now at Shen Family, only Butler Ling and Dabai were the ones she missed. That ce was where she had lived for thest eight years; she couldn¡¯t forget it. There, too, she had many, many memories¡­ She could never be heartless or resolute, even towards her third brother, Shen Shihan. Early the next morning, after Shen Chi went to the corporation, she tidied up her bag a bit. She got upte and Shen Chi had already left Waterside Pavilion for quite a while by the time she had breakfast. He prepared a very rich breakfast for her, milk, fried eggs, sandwiches, strawberry cake¡­ and of course, some nutritional supplements like vitamins. While she was nibbling on a piece of cake, her phone rang on the table. Xu Chaomu reached out her arm and grabbed the phone at the corner of the table. It was Yu Weiwei who called. ¡°Hello, Weiwei, good morning,¡± Xu Chaomu cheerfully said. ¡°Is this, is this Miss Xu?¡± Huh, Xu Chaomu could tell something was off about the voice; it wasn¡¯t Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice, but that of a strange woman. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Xu Chaomu. Where is Weiwei? Where is she? Howe her phone is with you?¡± Xu Chaomu suddenly became nervous. What was going on? There was a great deal of noise on the other end of the phone, and the signal was intermittent. ¡°I¡¯m the receptionist at the institute. It¡¯s a bitplex to exin in just a few words. Miss Xu, there has been an incident at Director Yu¡¯s Sunshine Institute. It¡¯s chaotic here; the director is dealing with those people, and her phone was lost at the front desk. I couldn¡¯t find anyone to help, and I found your number in her phone. She saved you as ¡®Bestie Xu Chaomu¡¯ in her contacts.¡± ¡°Miss Xu, could youe to the Sunshine Institute?¡± The woman¡¯s voice broke several times as she spoke, and amidst the conversation, there was a loud ¡°ng,¡± causing Xu Chaomu to startle. At first, the woman was seriously talking to her, but soon, her voice became weak and panicked, urging to hang up the phone.
¡°Are you really from the institute¡¯s front desk?¡± Xu Chaomu was skeptical. Once bitten, twice shy; she hadn¡¯t forgotten the incident with Nie Chenng from a few days ago. But now it was daylight, and it seemed that Yu Weiwei had run into some trouble! ¡°Miss Xu, I¡¯m not lying to you. The institute really is in a bit of trouble!¡± The receptionist was in a hurry, eager to hang up the phone.
¡°Is it serious? Should we call the police?¡± Xu Chaomu heard another ¡°ng¡± from the phone, followed by a loud ¡°smash,¡± as if something had broken! ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s somewhat serious, I, I have to hang up,¡± said the receptionist in a rush, and then she hung up. ¡°Hello!¡± There was no sound from the phone anymore, no matter how much Xu Chaomu called out, no one responded. What was going on? Was Yu Weiwei in some kind of trouble? Xu Chaomu was very worried; she quickly ate a couple of bites of cake, took a few sips of warm milk, then stood up hastily. Fortunately, she was already dressed. She grabbed her purse and left the Waterside Pavilion. There was a driver at the Waterside Pavilion, and she asked the driver to take her straight to the Sunshine Institute. It was daytime now; she shouldn¡¯t encounter the situation she didst time. Anxiously, her heart thumped as if a little rabbit was hopping around inside. She called a few more times, but no one picked up! In line with Yu Weiwei¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t ask for help even if she faced huge difficulties, not because she didn¡¯t consider her a friend, but because she valued their friendship too much and didn¡¯t want to cause her worry.
Especially now that she was pregnant, Yu Weiwei would be even less likely to trouble her. She would definitely keep anything serious to herself. If it hadn¡¯t been for the receptionist¡¯s call, she wouldn¡¯t have known that Yu Weiwei was in trouble. This Yu Weiwei! ¡°Master, please drive faster,¡± Xu Chaomu urged the driver anxiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± How could Xu Chaomu not be anxious? Yu Weiwei was known to have a fiery temper; if something really happened¡­ All the way, her heart did not stop pounding, and she eagerly watched the road ahead. Why haven¡¯t we arrived yet, why haven¡¯t we arrived¡­ She called Yu Weiwei several more times, but still, no one answered. It surely won¡¯t be an ident, it surely won¡¯t be an ident¡­ Xu Chaomu silently prayed. Although Weiwei seemed carefree and never took things to heart, she had good character and personality. What happened to cause such trouble? Had she offended someone? Could she, a young girl, handle it all by herself?
Xu Chaomu was very anxious, but there was nothing she could do. It took over half an hour for the car to finally arrive at the Sunshine Institute. Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t been here for some time. As soon as the car stopped, she leaped out. ¡°Madam, please be careful!¡± the driver called out anxiously. ¡°No worries, you can go back,¡± replied Xu Chaomu without looking back, and she headed straight for the institute¡¯s entrance! Because she had already noticed that something was amiss¡ªthe institute¡¯s entrance was crowded with a lot of people! The morning sun was zing, making people sweat profusely, but this crowd seemed oblivious to the heat, eagerly peering into the institute. What could have happened? Security was holding back the crowd, but they could not quell their surging curiosity. Xu Chaomu hurried toward the institute¡¯s entrance with her bag on her back. The closer she got to the institute, the louder the noise of the crowd. Men and women were all abuzz with spection. Xu Chaomu was clueless about the situation. With such hot weather, how could so many people be jammed together and not mind the heat? ¡°Make way, make way¡­ let me in¡­¡± Xu Chaomu shouted as she tried to squeeze through. She tried to push through the crowd, but her strength was no match for the masses, leaving her stranded at the entrance.
The people had blocked the entrance so tightly that even standing on tiptoe, she couldn¡¯t see inside. It was very hot, and beads of sweat quickly formed on her forehead. Suddenly, there was a loud ¡°ng¡± from inside the institute, as if something got smashed! Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t get through and had to grab a middle-aged woman nearby to ask, ¡°Auntie, what exactly happened here?¡± The middle-aged woman was too preupied with themotion to pay much attention to Xu Chaomu, looking rather indifferent. ¡°Auntie, why are so many people gathered here?¡± Xu Chaomu persisted. Chapter 536: 536: The kept mistress, shameless Chapter 536: The kept mistress, shameless ¡°So noisy!¡± The middle-aged woman looked unhappy as she waved her hand dismissively at Xu Chaomu. Fearing that Xu Chaomu would ask her again, the woman simply walked away, not bothering to deal with him at all. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face was covered in lines of annoyance, and he reluctantly turned to another uncle nearby, ¡°Uncle, what happened here, why are there so many people?¡± The uncle was in a rtively good mood, but he didn¡¯t have much patience, ¡°The owner of this research institute didn¡¯t repay the borrowed money, and now creditors havee knocking at the door!¡± Not repaying borrowed money? How could that be! Yu Weiwei was definitely not the kind of person who wouldn¡¯t repay debts, and besides, the Sunshine Institute always borrowed money from banks. How did ite to this, with debt collectors showing up at the door? ¡°Is that what happened?¡± Xu Chaomu anxiously asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you see.¡± The uncle,cking patience, kept peering inside, ¡°The female boss of this institute is rumored to be a mistress!¡± ¡°Who said that?!¡± Xu Chaomu burst out angrily! ¡°Why are you getting so worked up!¡± The uncle looked at Xu Chaomu with disdain.
The middle-aged woman who was quiet before, now chimed in, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be true? The debt collectors said the man who was keeping her has run off, and this woman isn¡¯t paying the debts!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that, this woman got involved with another man.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The more they talked, the more absurd it became, and Xu Chaomu got angrier. ¡°Make way, let me through!¡± Xu Chaomu desperately tried to shove through the crowd. It was packed tight, and she used a lot of effort to squeeze in a bit. This time, she saw the scene inside the research institute! The ss doors of the institute had been smashed; there were shards of ss everywhere, glinting with a burning shine under the sunlight. At the entrance, several security guards were holding back the crowd. Of course, the onlookers didn¡¯t dare move forward, afraid of getting hurt. One of the guards kept shouting, ¡°Everyone disperse!¡± However, rather than decreasing, the crowd seemed to be gettingrger. ¡°Don¡¯t push, stay back! Stop looking!¡± The guard¡¯s face was stern as he tried to herd the crowd to one side. Xu Chaomu kept looking forward. The main door to the research institute had been smashed, the receptionist girls who usually manned the front desk had disappeared, seemingly in hiding. Looking from the entrance toward the inside, no one could be seen, just a horrible mess. Xu Chaomu was worried, where was Yu Weiwei? Her eyes were full of anxiousness, as she attempted to pry the crowd open, trying to make her way further inside. But the guards kept shooing people away, some people lost their bnce and fell. After seeing the events unfold, some in the crowd gradually began to leave. Xu Chaomu looked up and saw that the Sunshine Institute¡¯s sign had been torn down! These people were really bullying too much!
¡°Uncle, how long ago did these peoplee?¡± Xu Chaomu asked in a rush. The uncle was still annoyed, ¡°Not too long, they¡¯ve been here for about half an hour.¡± Half an hour¡­ Xu Chaomu knew that with Yu Weiwei¡¯s character, she would definitely try to resolve this matter herself and would not want to worry her friends and family. But she was worried. Yu Weiwei mustn¡¯t have any idents.
Xu Chaomu stood still, listening to the crowd¡¯s discussions. ¡°This woman is said to be in her twenties.¡± ¡°Of course, women are only valuable in their twenties, who¡¯d want an older one? Being a kept mistress, truly shameless.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said she owes a lot of money, several hundred million!¡± ¡°Really? Loan sharks?¡± ¡°No idea, this woman seems doomed, she¡¯s no match for those burly men!¡± As Xu Chaomu listened, she became more and more anxious. Several men had gone in search of Yu Weiwei? Yu Weiwei, that girl, was too honest. With such a big incident, why wouldn¡¯t she call Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t care about anything anymore. She pushed past the guards in front and headed inside. ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t go in, it¡¯s dangerous inside!¡± The guard immediately blocked her. ¡°My friend is inside!¡± ¡°Even if it were your dad inside, it would be of no use, we won¡¯t let you through!¡± the guard stated firmly. After saying this, the guard moved to push Xu Chaomu out.
Xu Chaomu protected her belly and warned them, ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯m pregnant now. If anything happens to me, don¡¯t me me for not warning you.¡± Sure enough, the guards looked at each other in dismay, not daring toy a hand on Xu Chaomu again. Taking advantage of the confusion, Xu Chaomu slipped through them and darted inside! ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± A man followed after her. Xu Chaomu kept running inside, searching for Yu Weiwei. There were broken ss fragments everywhere on the floor. Xu Chaomu carefully avoided them, afraid that the shards would cut her feet. ¡°Weiwei, Weiwei!¡± She looked around and kept calling Yu Weiwei¡¯s name. There was no response, just empty silence everywhere. The once lively research institute had turned into such a mess within half an hour! Just then, Xu Chaomu suddenly heard a loud bang! She got startled and looked up to find the source of the noise. Right, the sound came from upstairs, and she knew that was where Yu Weiwei¡¯s office was! Had these people gone to trouble Yu Weiwei?!
Xu Chaomu quickly climbed the stairs towards the upstairs, her pace fast! The guards didn¡¯t stop her again. Firstly, because the woman imed to be the boss¡¯s friend, and secondly, because she said she was pregnant. As she reached the top of the stairs, just approaching thending, she saw several men in ck clothing standing at the entrance to Yu Weiwei¡¯s office! Several men were blocking the door to Yu Weiwei¡¯s office, their eyes sharp and expressions cold. These men all looked tall and mighty; Yu Weiwei was no match for them. If it came to a fight, Yu Weiwei would definitely be at a disadvantage. ¡°Weiwei!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted, walking from the stairwell to the office entrance! ¡°Who are you?!¡± One man took severalrge strides over to block Xu Chaomu. The man wore sunsses, obscuring his face and expression, but his attitude was rude. ¡°I am Weiwei¡¯s friend. Where is she?¡± ¡°Yu Weiwei¡¯s friend? Have youe to help her?¡± The man extended an arm to block Xu Chaomu, holding a cigar between his fingers. ¡°What happened?¡± Xu Chaomu asked calmly.
These men all looked tough, and she definitely couldn¡¯t afford to provoke them. ¡°Yu Weiwei owes us sixty-five million. Little girl, are you going to help her repay it?¡± The man sneered maliciously. He took a puff of his cigar, exhaling smoke, eyeing Xu Chaomu. ¡°How could Weiwei owe you so much money? Let me see her.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it. Although Weiwei was carefree, she was cautious in her dealings. Sixty-five million? Impossible! Perhaps hearing Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice, Yu Weiwei¡¯s anxious calls came from the office! ¡°Chaomu, why did youe over, go back!¡± ¡°Weiwei!¡± Xu Chaomu, ignoring everything, pushed past the man intending to run into the office! Last time she was in the office, they wereughing and chatting; she hadn¡¯t expected such a situation this time! Chapter 537: 537: Sleeping with Different Men Chapter 537: Sleeping with Different Men The man blocked Xu Chaomu with one arm, hisplexion was very poor, and his attitude became increasingly arrogant. ¡°Stop right there! Who gave you permission to enter?!¡± The man¡¯s face was covered with a fierce expression, and he forcefully pushed Xu Chaomu out with one arm. Xu Chaomu quickly braced herself against the wall, not daring to move forward again. Her heart was filled with anxiety; Yu Weiwei was still inside, and she had no idea what was happening to her¡­ But she was also pregnant, she definitely couldn¡¯t afford to sh head-on with this group. ¡°Don¡¯t touch Chaomu. If you have something to say, talk to me!¡± Yu Weiwei shouted from inside the office. Although Yu Weiwei was a woman, her voice carried an intimidating power, and as soon as she spoke, the people outside seemed to restrain themselves somewhat. Xu Chaomu, frustrated and anxious, stamped her foot and called out, ¡°Weiwei, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Chaomu, you go back. This is between them and me, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Yu Weiwei was veryposed.
Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t even seen her face yet; how could she leave? Her face was filled with urgency as she cried out, ¡°Weiwei, I want to see you.¡± ¡°Chaomu, go back, there won¡¯t be any trouble.¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to enter, but the men outside blocked her way, not letting her through at all. Their eyes were sharp, like jackals, fierce and menacing. Whenever Xu Chaomu made a move, they were ready to fight tooth and nail. Xu Chaomu did not back down, and they pressed closer step by step. The atmosphere around them was very oppressive, like the heaviness before a downpour in June; Xu Chaomu could even hear her own heart ¡°thumping¡± nervously. The man cracked his wrist, which emitted a ¡°creak¡± from the joints. Seeing that Xu Chaomu still wouldn¡¯t budge, a ferocious green light appeared in the men¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let me see Weiwei.¡± Xu Chaomu lowered her voice, her expression unchanged, confronting the group of men head-on. ¡°Get the hell back!¡± one of the men cursed fiercely. ¡°What have you done to Weiwei?¡± There was a tall, colorfully painted vase in the corridor, filled with arge bunch of decorative flowers, vibrant and full of life. ¡°Mind your own business! If you fucking dare to take another step forward, Lao San, Lao Si, break her legs! Make her unable to walk!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud ¡°ng¡±, and one of the men kicked over the tall vase! The colorfully painted porcin vase shattered upon impact, scattering pieces all over the floor! Xu Chaomu was so frightened that her heart leapt to her throat, her chest pounding erratically, even her hands trembling. She quickly stepped back two paces, fearful that these men, whose eyes were already red, might do something excessive! Yet facing these people, she was even more worried about leaving Yu Weiwei alone in the office.
From the current situation, there was no way they would let her through; seeing Yu Weiwei would be very difficult. She could step back for now and go find someone to help. Yu Weiwei inside the office heard the noise outside, and she called out, ¡°Don¡¯t give my friend a hard time, let her go! I¡¯ll have a proper talk with you.¡± The man yelled at Xu Chaomu, ¡°If you have any sense, just fucking go away!¡±
Xu Chaomu bit her lip, nced at them for a moment, and then slowly, she started walking downstairs. As she was going down, one of the men yelled at her receding figure: ¡°If you dare to call the police, I¡¯ll start by breaking one of the woman¡¯s fingers inside!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s body trembled, she didn¡¯t speak, just kept walking down. She walked faster and faster, faster and faster. Who should she ask for help? She hadn¡¯t figured out a thing until now; how could Yu Weiwei owe these people money? And who were these people? What should she do about the state of the research institute? Xu Chaomu was very worried, and just as she reached the ground floor, several security guards came over! ¡°You better leave quickly; we¡¯re not responsible if you get hurt!¡± The security guards jostled Xu Chaomu. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, I can walk by myself,¡± Xu Chaomu detested being manhandled. She didn¡¯t understand why, these men had been here for half an hour, yet there wasn¡¯t a single police officer in sight. Was no one daring to call the police? It seemed that the group upstairs had some significant clout. Anxious, the security guards pulled Xu Chaomu forcefully, dragging her all the way to the front gate. The floor was littered with too much broken ss; Xu Chaomu almost stepped on shards as they dragged her!
She had to carefully avoid the ss and was driven out of the research institute by two security guards. ¡°Don¡¯te back in!¡± They were expressionless, pulling on Xu Chaomu. ¡°Let go, I can walk by myself.¡± ¡°You only know how to run around; we won¡¯t let you in again, so don¡¯t scheme anything.¡± ¡°Then tell me, who are those people?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± The two security guards answered bluntly. They dragged Xu Chaomu out, her arm hurting from their grip. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of calling the police when something like this happens?¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. ¡°You better mind your own business,¡± the security guard warned her. ¡°Let go!¡± At the gate, Xu Chaomu finally managed to shake off their hands with one hard pull. The security guards didn¡¯t bother with her anymore, nced at her once, and turned back toward the lobby, continuing to maintain the cordon. Xu Chaomu was at a loss; if this continued, all she could do was stare nkly and fret.
Yu Weiwei was still upstairs, and she hadn¡¯t even seen her face; she had no idea what was happening. There were fewer people around the front gate now, perhaps because the weather was too hot, many had lost interest in the spectacle after watching for a while. After Xu Chaomu came out, she hurriedly flipped through her contacts. Who should she contact? At this moment, the person she most wanted to find was Li Beiting, but she didn¡¯t have his mobile number. With such a big incident, did Li Beiting know about it? If he knew and still hadn¡¯te over, was he pretending to be ignorant? Or did he really not care about Yu Weiwei anymore? But she didn¡¯t have Li Beiting¡¯s phone number in her mobile! The zing sun was scorching the earth; Xu Chaomu stood under it, tapping her foot in agitation! ¡°Why don¡¯t I have Li Beiting¡¯s mobile number!¡± She was so angry she almost threw her phone away. Should she call Shen Chi? The dazzling sunlight hit her face, causing her to squint, filled with urgency. Surrounded by the tumult of voices, many people still hadn¡¯t dispersed, continuing to watch themotion, gossiping idly.
¡°The woman who runs this kind of research institute is definitely not decent; where would you find an upright girl peeking at those things for men every day.¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly, this kind of woman must have been fascinated by men from birth.¡± ¡°So she naturally became a mistress, that¡¯s how she gets to sleep with different men every night and see different men¡¯s stuff.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The crowd¡¯sments were particrly harsh, each statement more vulgar than thest. In a rush to find a contact, Xu Chaomu¡¯s anger red upon hearing these words! Chapter 538: 538: The appearance of Nie Chenglang Chapter 538: The appearance of Nie Chenng She turned her head and yelled at the crowd, ¡°Have all of you ate till you¡¯re bloated, gossiping here? Scram as far as you can, don¡¯t bber here! Mind your own business!¡± Xu Chaomu was truly furious, and now, her forehead was covered in sweat and herplexion looked terrible. These people really had nothing better to do after a full meal¡ªsuch ethos was ruined by these folks. Startled by Xu Chaomu¡¯s shout, the group of middle-aged uncles and aunties finally closed their mouths and sheepishly retreated. But as they backed away, they still whispered among themselves, ¡°That woman must also be no good.¡± ¡°Exactly, otherwise why would she be so furious?¡± ¡°Birds of a feather flock together; this woman looks like a vixen.¡± ¡°Yeah, these women, aren¡¯t they just relying on their youth and beauty? Wait until they get old and get dumped by men, then we¡¯ll see them crying in the streets.¡± Xu Chaomu was boiling with rage as they continued to talk nonsense. Just as she was about to speak up, suddenly, she heard a familiar voice!
¡°Chaomu!¡± Under the sunlight, Xu Chaomu shielded her eyes and turned around¡ª it was Nie Chenng! Nie Chenng was wearing a white shirt and opened the door of a ck Cayenne, jumping out from the driver¡¯s seat. His face wore a look of urgency, and as soon as he stepped out of the car, he hurriedly walked towards Xu Chaomu. Seeing that Xu Chaomu had a friende over, the middle-aged uncles and aunties finally moved further away. The people who had just been crowding around Xu Chaomu and whispering all dispersed in an instant. With her hand blocking the sun, Xu Chaomu watched as Nie Chenng walked towards her. Underneath the sunlight, Nie Chenng, though with a worried expression, was still spirited, handsome, andposed. He furrowed his brows and walked briskly to Xu Chaomu, his voice deep, ¡°What happened?¡± He had seen a crowd gathered here from a distance and was surprised to find Xu Chaomu upon getting closer. ¡°My friend got into a bit of trouble.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s brows furrowed even more deeply. Xu Chaomu knew she couldn¡¯t exin everything in a few words, so she simply and concisely narrated what she had just seen and heard. Nie Chenng didn¡¯t know Yu Weiwei, but back in Paris, he often heard Xu Chaomu mention her. At that time, Xu Chaomu would frequently tell him, ¡°Weiwei is my best friend, I miss her so much¡­¡± Over time, he hade to understand that Xu Chaomu and Yu Weiwei shared a deep friendship. He hadn¡¯t expected that this research institute was actually owned by this girl called ¡°Yu Weiwei.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the situation,¡± Xu Chaomu said, urgency still apparent in her eyes. She was anxious, pacing around helplessly.
She didn¡¯t anticipate running into Nie Chenng¡ªJust in time, she wouldn¡¯t need to look for Li Beiting. ¡°I understand,¡± Nie Chenng nodded. ¡°Chenng, why are you passing by here? Aren¡¯t you busy?¡± Xu Chaomu was worried about holding him up. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I had to meet a client, and I¡¯ve just finished with that.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re busy, you should get back to thepany.¡± ¡°No matter, let me take a look,¡± Nie Chenng said indifferently. After speaking, Nie Chenng walked through the crowd alone towards the institute¡¯s main entrance. ¡°Chenng!¡± Xu Chaomu quickly grabbed his sleeve, her expression tense. With more men up ahead, she feared that Nie Chenng would be at a disadvantage on his own. The group of men might noty a hand on her, a woman, but it was uncertain what would happen if Nie Chenng confronted them. Xu Chaomu stood anxiously at the entrance of the research institute alongside Nie Chenng. The security guards saw Xu Chaomu again, and this time, there was an additional man beside this young woman! Did you call for help so quickly? The security guard wanted to force them away and walked past the security line to approach them, ¡°What are you doing here again? I told you to leave early!¡± Nie Chenng stood before them, his expression cold and indifferent. ¡°What happened?¡± Nie Chenng asked. Xu Chaomu hid behind Nie Chenng, feeling a little frightened.
It wasn¡¯t that she was cowardly, but because she was pregnant with a baby, and she wanted her baby to be born safely and soundly. This was her and Shen Chi¡¯s first child. At that moment, her heart was thumping wildly. ¡°This is none of your business, leave now!¡± The security guard said without any facial expression, his attitude very unpleasant. ¡°Move aside!¡± Nie Chenng slightly lifted his eyes, a chilly nce enough to make everyone¡¯s heart tremble. The two words he spoke lightly carried a significant deterrence. ¡°From now on, no one is allowed to enter!¡± The security guard dered arrogantly. They stood in front of the main entrance, behind a security line. ¡°Chaomu, wait for me outside,¡± Nie Chenng said as he let go of Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, speaking to her softly. His voice was always so gentle when he spoke to her, like cherry blossoms gently falling with the March breeze. Xu Chaomu was still gripping his sleeve; she felt uneasy. After all, Nie Chenng didn¡¯t know Yu Weiwei, and it could be very dangerous for him to go up there rashly.
¡°Wait for me.¡± He patted her hand gently again. Before Xu Chaomu could react, the two security guards stretched the security line, ¡°Move back, move back.¡± Nie Chenng let go of Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand, pushed past the security guards, and swiftly started heading upstairs! ¡°Chenng!¡± Xu Chaomu called out anxiously from behind. The security guards almost fell down, unsteady on their feet. Seeing Xu Chaomu also trying toe in, they stopped her. Xu Chaomu stomped her feet anxiously; Nie Chenng was upstairs alone, and she knew he would be at a disadvantage, worry evident in her eyes. Nie Chenng directly made his way upstairs; the guards didn¡¯t dare to follow as they were also afraid of the group upstairs. Just as Nie Chenng reached the stairwell, a loud ¡°ng¡± noise came from above, as if something had been smashed to pieces again! Searching for the source of the noise, Nie Chenng¡¯s sharp gaze swept around. Finally, he climbed the stairs and saw several burly men standing at the entrance of an office. Outside the door, there were broken ceramic pieces, ss fragments, and wood chips! The scene was a mess, unbearable to look at. The air was also mixed with all kinds of smells, the scent of cigarettes, perfume, air freshener¡­
Nie Chenng furrowed his brows and walked to the entrance of the office. The group quickly noticed Nie Chenng. A man immediately approached and without saying a word, swung a punch at him, ¡°Damn it, you even dared to call for help!¡± Nie Chenng moved swiftly, caught the man¡¯s fist, and kicked out, hitting the man in the stomach! The man hadn¡¯t anticipated that this seemingly refined man would know how to fight! Completely unguarded, the man screamed out in pain from Nie Chenng¡¯s kick, as the other men immediately rushed forward to help. Nie Chenng knew he couldn¡¯t beat so many people alone, and he suddenly caught sight of a dagger in one man¡¯s pocket! His gaze sharpened, realizing that this group was all armed with weapons. He moved quickly forward, grabbed the man¡¯s arm, threw it back, and with lightning speed pulled the dagger out of his pocket! The next second, before anyone could react, he pinned the man down with one hand and held the dagger to his throat with the other! Chapter 539: 539: No One is Leaving Today Chapter 539: No One is Leaving Today ¡°Everybody back off!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s voice was cold as he addressed everyone. At thismand, those who were eager to act didn¡¯t dare to make a move. Several men exchanged nces and stepped back a few paces. ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, let our third brother go!¡± one of the men growled menacingly. So, it was the third brother? Nie Chenng sneered. The de was pressed against this third brother¡¯s neck, its sharp gleam bursting out, dazzling and blinding. Nie Chenng gripped the dagger¡¯s handle tightly, not daring to rx. His sharp gaze swept over the group of men as he dragged the man in his hand toward the office area. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Unexpectedly, there was another person in the office who ran out quickly, only to find Nie Chenng seizing their third brother. His fierce eyes sunk for a moment before he went back into the office. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, let me go,¡± a woman¡¯s voice said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said that we could talk this through?¡±
¡°Talk this through? Your people have a knife to my brother¡¯s neck, and I¡¯m supposed to talk nicely?¡± The man was fierce as a devil as he said this, dragging Yu Weiwei out of the office. Nie Chenng had heard Xu Chaomu mention Yu Weiwei numerous times but was seeing her for the first time. This girl was not what he had expected, tall and slender with stubborn,rge eyes, and slightly curled, long hair draped over her shoulders. Even faced with several men, her expression showed no panic; instead, she seemed even moreposed. Previously, Nie Chenng often listened to Xu Chaomu talk about Yu Weiwei; he had assumed she was like the girl next door, yful,ughable, and mischievous. But, that wasn¡¯t the case upon meeting her today. Yu Weiwei was somewhat surprised to see Nie Chenng; she didn¡¯t recognize the man before her. She looked at Nie Chenng, herrge twinkling eyes as if they could speak. ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend. If you have something to say, say it to me and let her go,¡± Nie Chenng spoke firmly, giving Yu Weiwei a knowing look. Yu Weiwei caught his signal and remained silent. She was not quite sure who this man was, probably a friend of Xu Chaomu? ¡°Boyfriend?¡± The man holding Yu Weiwei took a puff of his cigarette, his demeanor bing much more rxed, ¡°Are you going to take care of this woman¡¯s debt?¡± ¡°First, tell me how much she owes you and how she came to owe it,¡± Nie Chenng said indifferently. He still had not grasped the full story and needed to understand first. ¡°Sixty-five million, how are you going to repay it?¡± the man scoffed. ¡°How could she owe you so much money?¡± Nie Chenng frowned, raising his voice as he demanded again! ¡°They tampered with the contract!¡± Yu Weiwei bit her lip and spoke first. ¡°Doll, tampered with the contract? That¡¯s a serious usation, one we can¡¯t afford. Look at the ck and white here, and your own signature. Any issues?¡± the man scoffed harder. Nie Chenng¡¯s gaze deepened; he often heard Xu Chaomu mention Yu Weiwei and knew she was a good-natured, self-reliant girl. He believed she wouldn¡¯t owe such an amount.
¡°Not at all!¡± Yu Weiwei denied firmly, ¡°I signed a loan agreement with Jing¡¯s Bank for five million and promised to pay it off within five years. I don¡¯t know how and when this contract got into the hands of usurers, turning it into sixty-five million!¡± ¡°Still not admitting it? Didn¡¯t we just settle the ount? The principal of five million plus one year of interest totals sixty-five million. Any mistakes there? Want to calcte it again?¡± ¡°Interest doesn¡¯t work like that!¡± Yu Weiwei contended strongly! Nie Chenng¡¯s brow was tightly knit; he was beginning to understand.
It appeared that Yu Weiwei¡¯s loan contract with a private bank somehow ended up in the hands of loan sharks, turning a five million principal into sixty-five million! ¡°Not like that?¡± The man¡¯s face instantly darkened, a vicious look in his eyes as one hand clutched Yu Weiwei¡¯s throat! ¡°I¡¯ll call the person in charge at Jing¡¯s Bank!¡± Yu Weiwei struggled, her cheeks flushed red. ¡°Make a phone call? This contract is in our hands now, and Jing¡¯s has already written you off!¡± the man harshly warned her! ¡°Who sold the contract to you?¡± Yu Weiwei stared at them coldly. ¡°Here¡¯s the contract, ck on white. Say a few nice words to us, or kneel down and beg, and maybe we¡¯ll give you a few days¡¯ extension. Doll, don¡¯t be so stubborn.¡± ¡°Spit on that, don¡¯t even think about it! I¡¯m definitely going to find out what¡¯s going on here!¡± Yu Weiwei was defiant. ¡°Bro, why bother talking nonsense with her, isn¡¯t her boyfriend right here? I¡¯ve actually got a good idea¡­¡± A small man with thieving eyes winked at this ¡°bro¡±, his face leering. ¡°Hmm?¡± The bro gave a cold snort, lifting his eyes in an amused manner. ¡°This babe isn¡¯t half bad-looking, right? What if we take her right in front of her boyfriend? Wouldn¡¯t that be thrilling?¡± The man burst into loudughter. Yu Weiwei¡¯s face instantly changed as anger zed in her eyes, as if mes were burning, turning her eyes bright red.
Even though Nie Chenng had no real connection with Yu Weiwei, he too was enraged upon hearing such words. The hand gripping the dagger ¡°identally¡± cut the man¡¯s neck. Blood immediately began to stream down the rough neck, and although the cut was small, it quickly stained his cor red! ¡°All of you back off, if you dare touch a hair on Weiwei, I¡¯ll let him die right in front of you!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s voice was icy. Any man couldn¡¯t bear to tolerate such scum! The third brother felt a chill on his neck and immediately smelled the blood, his legs starting to tremble. Although they held Yu Weiwei captive, his life was now in Nie Chenng¡¯s hands! As Nie Chenng said this, the previously talkative small man shut his mouth. At that moment, the surroundings were so quiet that you could hear the chatter from the people downstairs. Only the man who was holding Yu Weiwei sneered contemptuously,ughing unrestrainedly. ¡°Threatening me? You¡¯ve got guts. If you dare touch my brother, I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯ll let this woman apany him in death!¡± ¡°Let Weiwei go, if you have anything to say, say it to me!¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s tone was harsh, his forehead furrowed. The air now carried a stronger scent of blood, growing more odious by the moment.
Nie Chenng¡¯s prating eyes fixed on the man, not rxing his vignce for an instant. The man still had his hand clutched around Yu Weiwei¡¯s throat, making her breathing difficult as she gritted her teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, get out of here,¡± Yu Weiwei said to Nie Chenng. She still didn¡¯t know the name of the man who came to her rescue, and she was not about to let a stranger risk himself for her. ¡°Oh, such a picture of marital affection,¡± the man said sarcastically, casting nces at Yu Weiwei and Nie Chenng, ¡°It¡¯s a pity I have to tell you, today nobody gets to leave!¡± Chapter 540: 540: Struck Yu Weiweis Arm Chapter 540: Struck Yu Weiwei¡¯s Arm ¡°What do you want?¡± Yu Weiwei turned her head and gave the man a cold re. ¡°Still the same few options, first, repay the money on the spot; second, beg for mercy from us, kowtow, and you get one more day for each kowtow; third, keep the brotherspany for a few nights, sleep once and you get a two-day extension. How about it, a good deal, right?¡± The man was smug, gleaming cunningly through his squinty eyes as he took another drag of his cigarette. ¡°My answer is still the same, I can¡¯t pay back this money right now, but if you want money I don¡¯t have any, if you want my life I have only one, make your choice!¡± Yu Weiwei sneered. ¡°You really have guts.¡± The man¡¯s smile disappeared, and his eyes showed his brutal nature, ¡°Someone, smash the ss of her office!¡± Upon hearing this, a man rubbed his hands in anticipation, ready toe over and start smashing. ¡°Everyone, freeze!¡± Nie Chenng shouted, ¡°Anyone who dares to smash anything here will have to deal with my knife, which doesn¡¯t have eyes!¡± After speaking, the de pressed even closer to Lao San¡¯s throat, blood still flowing, and Lao San winced in pain. ¡°Boss, boss, don¡¯t waste words with him, negotiate terms!¡± Lao San couldn¡¯t hold on any longer; the pain was killing him. ¡°Kid, it¡¯s written here in ck and white; you don¡¯t want to repay the money and still want to reach for the sky?¡± the man holding Yu Weiwei said disdainfully.
¡°I will repay these 65 million, let Weiwei go first!¡± Nie Chenng said in a stern voice. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Yu Weiwei shouted loudly. How could she allow a stranger to repay such a huge debt for her? Besides, there was something wrong with this contract. Agitated, Yu Weiwei¡¯s face turned even redder, and her eyes sparkled with hostility. Now that they had the contract in their hands, she wanted to snatch it back! ¡°I¡¯m telling you, kid, do you think 65 million is just 6,500? You say you can get it just like that?¡± The man roared at Nie Chenng brazenly. The voice was so loud, it made the window ss shake. ¡°When I say I can get it, I definitely can! Let Weiwei go!¡± Nie Chenng also shouted coldly, his presencepletely overpowering the other side. ¡°Boss, don¡¯t waste time talking, have him transfer the money!¡± Lao San couldn¡¯t bear the pain any longer; he spoke first. The boss took his time and smoked two more puffs: ¡°Fine, kid, transfer 65 million within five minutes, and I¡¯ll let the girl go. Or else¡­¡± He paused, then continued: ¡°Or else, I¡¯ll make things ugly for this woman!¡± ¡°Leave this ce.¡± Yu Weiwei looked at Nie Chenng, speaking with righteous indignation, ¡°I don¡¯t owe them money, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to give a bunch of thugs a huge sum of money for no reason!¡± ¡°The girl sure is tough.¡± The manughed loudly, ¡°Alright, then have your boyfriend leave, and I will ¡®negotiate¡¯ with just you two.¡± As he said thest two words, the man¡¯s lecherous eyes gleamed even more. ¡°Weiwei, you go first, I¡¯ll stay behind.¡± Nie Chenng would certainly notpromise. Yu Weiwei was very anxious; she still didn¡¯t know the name of this man. But he somehow knew her name, which meant he must have heard of her. ¡°Stop dawdling, now¡¯s not the time for lovey-dovey talk!¡± the man snapped coldly. Yu Weiwei¡¯s neck was being choked, and she felt her strength being sapped from her.
Suddenly, seizing the moment when the man was smoking with one hand, she lifted her foot, d in high heels, and kicked! The kicknded on the man¡¯s most vulnerable spot! ¡°Ow¡­¡± The man immediately screamed like a ughtered pig, his face color changing on the spot. The contract was in his hand, and Yu Weiwei quickly reached to grab it!
¡°Boss!¡± The otherckeys all widened their eyes and yelled out. Yu Weiwei swiftly snatched the contract from the man¡¯s hand and kicked again, this time hitting his stomach. Nie Chenng quickly let go of the hostage in his hand and came to help Yu Weiwei. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs, get out of here!¡± He grabbed Yu Weiwei¡¯s hand, his face urgent. ¡°Yes!¡± Yu Weiwei nodded forcefully, clutching Nie Chenng¡¯srge hand. Now that she had the contract, she had to speak with the bank! ¡°Catch her!¡± The several men were not easily shaken off; one of them pulled a dagger from his pocket and swung it wildly. They thought Yu Weiwei, being a girl, was powerless, and the knife struck her arm perfectly without deviation! ¡°Ah!¡± Yu Weiwei screamed in pain, her face turning pale. ¡°Are you okay? Let¡¯s get down there first!¡± Nie Chenng nced at her and immediately shielded Yu Weiwei with his body, guarding her as they ran down the stairs. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Yu Weiwei covered the wound with her other hand, following Nie Chenng as they ran downstairs.
Ever since these people hade to the institute, they had been watching her, and she hadn¡¯t had a chance to escape. If it weren¡¯t for Xu Chaomu and this maning over, she might have¡­ she didn¡¯t even want to think what could have happened. As they reached the stairwell, Yu Weiwei twisted her ankle. Biting her teeth, she simply discarded her shoes, and barefoot, continued at Nie Chenng¡¯s side. Her beige dress was stained withrge patches of blood, at that moment looking chilling to behold. Her arm throbbed with pain, but Yu Weiwei clenched her teeth hard, not making a sound. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s okay.¡± Nie Chenng reassured her softly. The two continued running, from upstairs to the first floor. The group of men were in hot pursuit, but as they saw them reaching the bottom floor, they didn¡¯t dare continue the chase. ¡°Boss, what do we do? They¡¯ve run downstairs, do we chase them?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to chase, let¡¯s withdraw!¡± The man waved his hand. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s daytime now, no use chasing. If the cops show upter, we¡¯ll be the ones in trouble!¡± ¡°Big brother, what about the contract?¡± ¡°Are you brain-dead? We¡¯re paid to do a job, and once it¡¯s done, we leave. What¡¯s with all the fuss!¡± The man barked.
¡°Yes, yes, got too into the role.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get moving!¡± With that, the men headed toward another emergency exit from the front of the office. The floor was covered in blood, each drop that had fallen from Yu Weiwei¡¯s slit wrist was like a blooming red rose, shocking to see, as if the air itself carried the scent of blood. Everywhere was a mess, the institute had been smashed to pieces. Soon, Nie Chenng took Yu Weiwei down the stairs, and the men also left through the passageway! Just a moment ago, the office entrance was noisy and tense, but now it suddenly fell silent, not a sound to be heard. Downstairs, there were still many onlookers, the crowd not dispersed in the slightest, still abuzz. Xu Chaomu had called Shen Chi, the moment Nie Chenng went upstairs. Shen Chi was in the office discussing matters with Xiao Mo when he saw the call from Xu Chaomu, and picked up. ¡°Mumu.¡± ¡°Are you free right now?¡± Xu Chaomu was frantic, nearly stamping her feet in anxiety on the spot.
Chapter 541: 541: Never Think of Coming Back Chapter 541: Never Think of Coming Back ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shen Chi heard the urgency in Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone and deepened his voice. ¡°I¡¯m at Weiwei¡¯s research institute.¡± ¡°Hmm, take your time.¡± ¡°Weiwei has run into a bit of trouble, I wanted to call Li Beiting, but I don¡¯t have his number, so I¡¯m calling you. Can youe over?¡± Xu Chaomu knew Shen Chi was very busy, and his work was pressing. This was Yu Weiwei¡¯s issue, and it seemed inappropriate to call him in any case. ¡°Where are you?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°I¡¯m outside her research institute.¡± ¡°Find a shady spot to stand and don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Having said that, without waiting for Xu Chaomu to say anything else, Shen Chi hung up the phone. ¡°Shen Chi, Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu anxiously called out his name.
But Shen Chi had already hung up. She paced back and forth outside the research institute, her anxiety doing her no good. To make matters worse, the crowd outside was noisy, their mors unending and filled with unpleasant words that only added to Xu Chaomu¡¯s frustration. Furthermore, the summer sun was scorching her skin, and she was already drenched in sweat without a moment to even wipe it off. Her eyelids kept twitching. ¡°Nothing can go wrong, neither Chenng nor Weiwei can run into trouble,¡± she silently prayed. For a long while, there was no activity from the institute, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart raced even more. She kept peering into the research institute, looking for any sign of motion. A few security guards paced back and forth at the entrance, and as noontime approached, the weather grew hotter, and many people slowly dispersed. As soon as Shen Chi hung up Xu Chaomu¡¯s call, he grabbed his car keys and headed outside of the CEO¡¯s office! ¡°President Shen, where are you going?¡± Xiao Mo hurriedly followed him. ¡°Something came up!¡± Without looking back, Shen Chi left the office and took the VIP elevator down. Xiao Mo had just heard Shen Chi mention ¡°Mumu,¡± and he knew that only Xu Chaomu¡¯s affairs could affect Shen Chi like this. He shrugged his shoulders, thinking, ¡®What is known as a woman¡¯s allure causing trouble.¡¯ Shen Chi didn¡¯t even call his driver; he went to the garage to get the car out himself! He started his Maybach and sped out of Shen Group. Yu Weiwei ran into some trouble? Xu Chaomu¡¯s first reaction was to call Li Beiting, well, that thought was understandable. It only took fifteen minutes to drive from Shen Group to Sunshine Institute at increased speed.
Shen Chi called Li Beiting on the way, but to his surprise, the call wasn¡¯t answered the first time. He frowned and called again, still no answer. What was the matter with Li Beiting? Shen Chi called a third time, trying to be patient, and finally, just as his patience was nearly spent, the call connected!
¡°Why did it take you so long to answer the phone?¡± Shen Chi said in a steady voice, slightly displeased. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Beiting replied indifferently. ¡°I heard from Xu Chaomu that something happened at Yu Weiwei¡¯s research institute.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it,¡± Beiting¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°You know?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°So, where are you now?¡± ¡°At home.¡± ¡°What exactly happened at the institute?¡± Shen Chi frowned. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Beiting¡¯s voice carried no emotion, like the calm surface of ake, undisturbed. Without waiting for Shen Chi to ask anything more, Beiting hung up first. This was the first time that Shen Chi had been hung up on by Li Beiting for no reason; Shen Chi was furious, almost throwing his phone onto the passenger seat!
A chill settled on his face. What on earth was going on? Since Beiting knew about it, why wasn¡¯t he at the institute?! He was clearly smitten with Yu Weiwei, unable to get her out of his mind, and now when she was in trouble and it was his chance to show up, he was instead behaving like a turtle retracting its head?! The more Shen Chi thought about it, the angrier he got, and with a sneer, he stepped on the gas pedal. If it weren¡¯t for Xu Chaomu¡¯s call, he would not want to get involved in this! After hanging up, Beiting threw his phone on the sofa as well. He was indeed at home. But it wasn¡¯t just him in the living room; his parents were also there. ¡°Whose call was that?¡± His father asked with a stern face. ¡°Achi,¡± Beiting leaned back on the couch with a tired look. His father, hearing it was Shen Chi, didn¡¯t grow too suspicious. ¡°Beiting, you seem tired. Why don¡¯t you go back and get some more sleep?¡± Beiting¡¯s mother suggested. Beiting said nothing, and the atmosphere in the living room grew cold. The air conditioning blew cold air around, as if frosting the air.
¡°Leave me alone, I want to be alone,¡± Beiting spoke irritably. His tone was rtively polite, after all, they were his parents. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll leave, but don¡¯t even think about going to the institute to see that woman,¡± Beiting¡¯s father said coldly. ¡°Do you think I can see her?¡± Beiting scoffed. That morning, just as the trouble at the institute started, he was informed. At that time, he was still at home, hurriedly getting dressed to leave when his parents blocked him. As the saying goes, bad news travels fast, and Yu Weiwei also happened to be Beiting¡¯s ex-girlfriend. Soon, Beiting¡¯s parents were aware of the situation. They sent people to block the door, not allowing Beiting to go out. Beiting argued with reason, and his parents casually warned him, ¡°If you want to keep things from escting, stay at home; otherwise, we will make that woman regret it.¡± Just like that, Beiting was unable to leave, standing off against his parents all the time. ¡°Beiting, do you still have feelings for that woman?¡± Beiting¡¯s parents hadn¡¯t left and were asking him. ¡°That¡¯s between me and her. Can you please not interfere!¡± Beiting exploded in anger, grabbing the couch with hands so tense the veins stood out. The sound of a smashing ashtray could be heard on the floor, indenting a chunk into it!
Beiting¡¯s parents were immediately stunned; they had never expected Beiting to lose his temper over Yu Weiwei. The living room fell into silence. After a while, Beiting¡¯s father, his voice deep, stared intently at Beiting. ¡°Beiting, when you broke up with that woman, I told you, if you got back with her, I¡¯d make her parents leave C City. Sitting up straight, with a solemn expression, he warned Beiting, ¡°Now, I¡¯ll add one more thing: if you get back with her, I¡¯ll make her pack her bags and leave C City, never to return!¡± ¡°Why do you have to interfere between me and Weiwei?¡± Beiting was furious, hands gripping the sofa, his knuckles bulging. ¡°We¡¯ve said what we had to; you bear the consequences!¡± Beiting¡¯s father was resolute. Beiting¡¯s mother added softly, ¡°Some consequences, you might bear, but she might not.¡± ¡°Think about it yourself!¡± With that, Beiting¡¯s father stood up, ready to leave the living room. Chapter 542: 542: Love, Getting Further and Further Away Chapter 542: Love, Getting Further and Further Away Li¡¯s father left the living room immediately, leaving only Li Beiting and his mother in the now deste space. Li¡¯s mother walked over to Li Beiting, her gaze filled with tenderness, yet alsoced with decisiveness. ¡°Beiting, remember, you are set to be engaged to Feifei.¡± After dropping this remark, Li Beiting¡¯s mother also left the living room. Now, only Li Beiting was left, sitting on the sofa by himself¡­ Time ticked away, second by second, and with each passing moment, Li Beiting¡¯s agony intensified. He was fully aware that there was trouble at the institute, fully aware that she was in danger, yet he couldn¡¯t even step out of the living room¡­ He knew his father¡¯s tactics all too well, the man who was once the cold-faced god of the underworld, whoter retired and established his ownpany. Although he had retired from that life, his father¡¯s intrinsic ruthless streak remained, and he was a man of his word. Over the past few years, Yu Weiwei¡¯s family had managed to stay out of harm¡¯s way, and Yu Weiwei¡¯s Sunshine Institute had continued on, precisely because he had clearly stated his position. By breaking off contact with Yu Weiwei, his father refrained from causing her any trouble.
He dared not gamble with Yu Weiwei¡¯s life, her safety, and her future¡­ Even if their love grew more distant by the day, so far that one day it might vanish entirely, he wouldn¡¯t risk Yu Weiwei taking any chances. Almost like a smog of gunpowder, the tension lingered between him and his father¡­ His heart ached profoundly at that moment, as if millions of ants were gnawing at his chest. Tearing, gnawing¡­ his heart was slowly bing fragmented. Quarter of an hourter, Shen Chi arrived at the Sunshine Institute! The fiery sun hung midair, its dazzling rays particrly blinding. Shen Chi hit the brakes and parked the car in the institute¡¯s lot. He got out, removed his sunsses, and walked towards the institute¡¯s main gate by himself! Outside the gate, a crowd had gathered, a mess of colors at first nce. Shen Chi frowned slightly and strode forward with his long legs. His eyes, sharp as obsidian, scanned the crowd, searching for Xu Chaomu¡¯s figure! And indeed, he spotted Xu Chaomu! She just wouldn¡¯t listen to him and stay in the shade! Annoyed, Shen Chi quickened his pace and headed towards Xu Chaomu. Once he reached her, he grabbed her arm and dragged her beneath the shade of a billboard outside the institute. He even stretched out his broad palm to shield her head from the sun. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you¡¯vee¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s anxious heart finally settled as she moved closer to him. It seemed as though with him by her side, nothing was insurmountable. So often, he was the hero in her mind, the person she admired most since childhood.
¡°Xu Chaomu, can¡¯t you be obedient for once? I told you to stay in the shade!¡± Shen Chi raised his voice, and his sharp eyes fixed firmly on her. Her fear mounted when he raised his voice even slightly. She hung her head low, not daring to meet his eyes. ¡°I forgot¡­¡±
¡°Have you ever remembered anything I¡¯ve told you?!¡± Shen Chi continued to scold. ¡°I do remember¡­¡± Xu Chaomu muttered softly, ¡°you¡¯ve said not to pity our mother and son¡­¡± ¡°What are you mumbling about?! You remember that of all things!¡± Shen Chi was half mad with her. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry with me, it makes me upset,¡± Xu Chaomu retorted, slightly displeased. ¡°I really can¡¯t with you.¡± Shen Chi sighed in resignation. As he spoke, he pulled her closer to his side, mindful to keep her out of even a sliver of sunlight. Her delicate skin couldn¡¯t bear the harsh sun; she might not care, but he did. After ensuring she was safely under cover, some within the crowd began to look over at them, their expressionsplex. To them, Xu Chaomu had just brought one man over, and now she had brought another. She didn¡¯t seem to be a woman of propriety. In their gazes was disdain, curiosity, contempt, scorn¡­ Yet, all those looks were repelled by Shen Chi¡¯s icy, knife-sharp re! This cold sweep made everyone nearby bow their heads, no longer daring to stare in their direction. Only then did Shen Chi wrap his arm around Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist, his expression fiercely protective.
¡°What happened, tell me slowly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head repeatedly, ¡°I went upstairs, but there were several burly guys up there, very aggressive. They wouldn¡¯t let me go further, so I had toe back down.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Then¡­ when I came down, I ran into a friend, and¡­ he went up to help¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice grew softer. Towards the end, her voice was so low that she could barely hear herself. ¡°A friend?¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows, ¡°Who?¡± Xu Chaomu knew he would ask, she avoided his gaze, stammering, ¡°Chenng¡­¡± Shen Chi hadn¡¯t expected Nie Chenng to still be around, he said calmly, ¡°It seems then, that mying here was unnecessary.¡± Xu Chaomu clutched the hem of his clothes, fearing he would leave: ¡°He just happened to be passing by, I didn¡¯t call him.¡± ¡°Just happened? What a coincidence.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face showed disdain. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, forget it.¡± Xu Chaomu let go and turned away. She had called him for help, not to provoke his jealousy. This man, Lou Yanli had praised him for his generous heart. But what generosity? He was clearly petty!
So petty, pettier than the eye of a needle! Even pettier! ¡°Alright, so what happened next?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°What next? After Chenng went up, I just waited here,¡± Xu Chaomu replied irritably. ¡°Nie Chenng and Yu Weiwei?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, they haven¡¯te down yet.¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. Shen Chi had a good idea of the situation. He grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s arm and pulled her back under the shade of the billboard. ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll go and check.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming with you!¡± Xu Chaomu clung to his arm, refusing to let go. With Shen Chi by her side, it felt like there was nothing to fear¡­ ¡°What can you do if youe along? Fight, or hurl insults? Stay put and don¡¯t wander off!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes shed with warning as he spoke sternly to her. ¡°You! You¡¯re bullying me!¡± Xu Chaomu protested. ¡°Enough. Stand here, and don¡¯t move. If Ie out and can¡¯t see you, beware of me breaking your legs when we get home!¡± With that, Shen Chi didn¡¯t look back and strode into the institute!
The security guards were still there and, seeing Shen Chi approach, they reached out to block him. ¡°Move aside!¡± Shen Chi barked coldly, paying no mind to the guards. With a forceful push, he continued on his way into the hall. Inside, the hall was in disarray, as if it had been raided. ¡°You can¡¯t go in¡­¡± A security guard rushed over, trying to pull Shen Chi back. With a punch, Shen Chi struck the guard on the shoulder. The man howled in pain and dared not bar his path any longer. Once inside, Xu Chaomu found it impossible to just stand by. She hurried towards the main entrance of the institute. Outside, under the scorching sun, she stood on tiptoes, anxiety written across her forehead as she didn¡¯t even bother to wipe away the sweat. Chapter 543: 543: Xu Chaomu, The Former Fiancé Chapter 543: Xu Chaomu, The Former Fianc¨¦ She kept peering inside and saw Shen Chi go in, but in just the blink of an eye, Shen Chi had gone upstairs. Xu Chaomu was biting her teeth, anxiously waiting outside, waiting¡­ In the institute, after Nie Chenng and Yu Weiwei came downstairs, Nie Chenng quickly took Yu Weiwei to a restroom. The cut was very deep, and Yu Weiwei¡¯s right arm wound had been bleeding continuously! Yet Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t utter a sound, biting her lower lip tightly, not saying a word. Sweat the size of soybeans had appeared on her forehead, the wound really hurt. Her sweat dampened the stray hairs on her forehead, her back was all in cold sweat, and her dress was soaked through. Blood dripped onto the floor, leaving a trail of vivid red marks that were startling to see. Yu Weiwei¡¯s beige dress was stained with blood, as if blossoms had bloomed one after another on this solid-colored garment. ¡°Weiwei, does it hurt a lot?¡± Nie Chenng¡¯s tone was full of concern as he pulled her, leading her to the restroom, wanting to stop her bleeding first!
¡°Sir, you haven¡¯t told me your name.¡± Yu Weiwei asked, blinking. ¡°Nie Chenng.¡± Nie Chenng said lightly, his face void of expression. He thought that Xu Chaomu should have mentioned him to Yu Weiwei. He needed only hint a little, and Yu Weiwei would definitely know. Indeed, a hint of surprise emerged in Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes, which then turned to nonchnce. Nie Chenng? Xu Chaomu¡¯s former fianc¨¦? The father of the child currently in Xu Chaomu¡¯s stomach? Yu Weiwei¡¯s mind quickly connected each piece of information, her thoughts racing. She looked up again at this man, who was not very different from what she had imagined, young and handsome, tall and dashing. Just that, this man was very gentle, so tender that he seemed like apletely different person from just moments ago. Just now, when Nie Chenng confronted those men, even she had been intimidated. ¡°You¡¯ve lost so much blood.¡± Nie Chenng frowned deeply, his face full of worry. He turned on the tap, and cold water gushed out. He then brought her over to the sink, bowed his head, and patiently soaked a square cloth under the running water. As soon as the cloth was wet, he quickly wiped off the bloodstains on her arm. ¡°I can do it myself¡­ Mr. Nie.¡± Yu Weiwei lowered her eyelids, somewhat embarrassed, trying to withdraw her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Nie Chenng said indifferently. He was extremely serious when treating the wound, leaning close to Yu Weiwei, bending his waist, and pressing the cloth to her wound. The bleeding was profuse, pressing like this could stop the blood for now. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nie,¡± Yu Weiwei said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be polite with me.¡± Nie Chenng didn¡¯t look up, still cleaning the bloodstains on her arm. He was diligent, and soon, the bloodstains on her arm were almostpletely wiped away.
When he grabbed her arm, Yu Weiwei tried to pull her hand back several times. But every time, Nie Chenng would hold on to her even more firmly. Helpless, Yu Weiwei had to give up. ¡°Going out like this, won¡¯t I scare others?¡± Yu Weiwei smiled.
¡°Just now you would have, but not now,¡± Nie Chenng also smiled. At this moment, he was pressing one hand against her wound and had cleaned the blood off her hand with the other. Just now, her wound was indeed shocking; if Xu Chaomu had seen it, who knows how heartbroken she would have been. However, when Nie Chenng was bandaging Yu Weiwei, he was a bit impatient and identally made a small cut on his right thumb. ¡°Mr. Nie, your finger is bleeding,¡± Yu Weiwei said worriedly. Nie Chenng nced at it, indeed it was bleeding, but he didn¡¯t take the minor injury seriously. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± Nie Chenng said lightly, ¡°just call me Chenng.¡± Yu Weiwei fell silent, observing Nie Chenng, sizing up the man before her. Different from just a moment ago, now, this man exuded a gentle air, like a spring breeze or willow branches swaying subtly. He was close to her, and she could smell a faint scent of green tea from him, unobtrusive, yet fresh and pleasant. The tap water wiped onto her arm brought waves of coolness that slowly eased the pain. ¡°Mr. Nie¡­¡± ¡°Call me Chenng.¡±
¡°Oh¡­¡± Yu Weiwei felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Chenng, it¡¯s fine if I press on it, you should take care of the cut on your finger as well.¡± After speaking, Yu Weiwei freed one hand to press on the wound beneath the cloth. ¡°We need to get to the hospital quickly,¡± Nie Chenng said, frowning, not at all concerned about his own wound. His small wound was nothing; just a bandage would suffice. Yu Weiwei, on the other hand, had a deep wound that needed immediate medical attention. ¡°Nie¡­ Chenng, you go ahead with your things, I can manage on my own,¡± Yu Weiwei said to Nie Chenng. Although she was an andrologist, at the end of the day, she was still a doctor; this issue was not a big deal. It just¡­ hurt a bit. Nie Chenng saw that she was still holding that contract under her arm, which made it very inconvenient for her to move; how could he possibly let her stay here alone? ¡°Let¡¯s head to the hospital right now.¡± Nie Chenng said decisively, closing the tap and helping Yu Weiwei walk out of the restroom. ¡°I¡­ really am fine¡­¡± Yu Weiwei felt a bit awkward. There was aplicated emotion in her eyes. Although Nie Chenng had been thoroughly good, helping her all this while, she still felt that something was amiss; after all, Nie Chenng was Xu Chaomu¡¯s former fianc¨¦. It wasn¡¯t quite right for her to be so close to Nie Chenng¡­
¡°Such a deep wound,¡± Nie Chenng said, furrowing his brows. ¡°Chenng¡­¡± Yu Weiwei called his name, still not used to it, ¡°Is Chaomu still around?¡± ¡°She¡¯s outside.¡± Nie Chenng supported her as they walked out of the restroom. When they came out, he looked around cautiously, fearing those men might suddenly appear again with knives! Fortunately, they were gone. Nie Chenng¡¯s heart, which had been in suspense, finally rxed, and he carefully guided Yu Weiwei towards the lobby¡¯s exit. Unexpectedly, no sooner had they walked far from the restroom than they saw a familiar figureing in! Nie Chenng took a closer look; the person wasn¡¯t anyone else, it was Shen Chi! Coincidentally, Shen Chi also saw them. His eyes narrowed, deep and icy, he nced at Nie Chenng and Yu Weiwei. ¡°President Shen,¡± Yu Weiwei called out. The casual sparkle in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew a bit more intense, though he didn¡¯t say a word. Yu Weiwei waspletely different from five years ago, having changed a lot. Five years ago, upon seeing him, she would have done something silly like asking for an autograph. Now, she had learned to stand respectfully before him and courteously call out ¡°President Shen.¡±
¡°Is it serious?¡± Shen Chi asked indifferently. Yu Weiwei gently shook her head: ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Nie Chenng nced at Shen Chi, and their eyes collided for a split second. After the collision, Nie Chenng continued leading Yu Weiwei outside, his tone betraying no emotion: ¡°President Shen, I will take Weiwei to the hospital first.¡± Chapter 544: 544: Dont Mess With Your Fourth Brother Chapter 544: Don¡¯t Mess With Your Fourth Brother These two men were both impassive, one with a countenance as cold as ice, the other as gentle as water. As these two men brushed past each other, Yu Weiwei felt a powerful chill, as though even the summer air could freeze into ice in an instant! Shen Chi¡¯s presence was too imposing, merely standing there was enough to make Yu Weiwei shudder. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Shen Chi, although, she hadn¡¯t done anything to wrong him. At most, at most she had given Xu Chaomu a few magazines Not suitable for children. Nie Chenng led Yu Weiwei out, and Shen Chi did not speak again. At the entrance, Xu Chaomu was the first to see Nie Chenng and Yu Weiwei, her eyes bursting with surprise and delight! ¡°Weiwei, Chenng!¡± At this moment, Xu Chaomu recklessly broke through the cordon and walked in! She was excited because they both hade out, but soon, she saw the wound on Yu Weiwei¡¯s arm. Yu Weiwei was seriously injured, her dress smeared with mottled bloodstains.
¡°Weiwei, are you okay? Is it serious? Does it hurt?¡± Xu Chaomu grabbed Yu Weiwei, hurriedly examining her wound. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine after we go to the hospital and treat it,¡± Yu Weiwei said with a smile to Xu Chaomu. Now calm andposed, having shed recklessness and impulsiveness, Yu Weiwei looked quite serene but a bit pale. Nie Chenng nced at Yu Weiwei, a trace of helplessness in his eyes. Clearly so badly hurt, yet insisting it¡¯s nothing. Her character was quite simr to Xu Chaomu¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll apany you,¡± Xu Chaomu said. Yu Weiwei nodded, not declining. After all, it wasn¡¯t quite proper for her to be alone with Nie Chenng. Xu Chaomu and Nie Chenng supported Yu Weiwei together, heading towards the entrance. As Yu Weiwei emerged, a wave of excitement surged through the crowd! ¡°Look, look, that woman hase out! She seems to be injured!¡± someone in the crowd whispered. ¡°What about those men? Weren¡¯t they in there to collect a debt? Why haven¡¯t theye out?¡± ¡°Could there have been a homicide?¡± ¡°Impossible, those men are not easy to deal with.¡± ¡°This woman looks seriously injured.¡± ¡°It appears so¡­¡± The people started chattering, with various gazes, sharp as arrows, shooting towards the trio. Curiosity, astonishment, contempt¡­ Nie Chenng cast a cold nce ahead, and the people lowered their heads, no longer daring to be so overt.
They consciously made way, retreating to the sides. ¡°Weiwei, take it slow,¡± Xu Chaomu supported Yu Weiwei, fearing she might get hurt again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Yu Weiweiughed. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury on the arm.¡± Xu Chaomu frowned, displeased, ¡°¡±Your dress is soaked red, that¡¯s not a minor injury.¡±
She spoke the truth; looking down, she could see the bloodstains on Yu Weiwei¡¯s dress. Once out in the hall, sunlight shone on Yu Weiwei¡¯s light yellow dress, making the bloodstains even more ring and striking. Without a parasol, Xu Chaomu used her arm to shield Yu Weiwei from the sunlight. ¡°Xu Chaomu, stop there!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s cold voice sounded from behind them, striding forward with an unfriendly tone. Was calling him here just to leave him hanging? Or maybe, to witness her unting affection with her ex-boyfriend?! At Shen Chi¡¯smand, Xu Chaomu shivered reflexively, halting in her tracks. She was very sensitive to his voice, especially when he was unhappy, it was as cold as an iceberg. She had only cared about Yu Weiwei just now and actually¡­ actually forgot about Shen Chi. It seemed¡­ not quite right¡­ It seemed¡­ she was the one who had asked him for help¡­ Uh¡­ Xu Chaomu¡¯s face suddenly turned as colorful as a dye shop, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple, disying countless shades. She couldn¡¯t leave, but staying didn¡¯t feel right either.
However, Yu Weiweiughed, releasing Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t irritate your Fourth Brother.¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s voice was very low because Nie Chenng was still there, and the situation was somewhat awkward. At this moment, Xu Chaomu¡¯s most pressing thought was to leave quickly¡­ But her feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move. Nie Chenng also stopped in his tracks. He didn¡¯t turn around, but his eyes were filled with depth. Shen Chi strode forward,ing to stand beside Xu Chaomu. He was naturally much taller than her, and now, as he lowered his head, his bright and piercing eyes fell sharply upon Xu Chaomu¡¯s face. Xu Chaomu clenched her teeth, uneasily twisting her hands. ¡°Come back with me,¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°I¡­¡± Xu Chaomu wanted to say she needed to apany Yu Weiwei to the hospital. ¡°Chaomu,¡± Nie Chenng intervened calmly, ¡°I will take Weiwei to the hospital.¡± Xu Chaomu looked up, her eyes filled with gratitude as she gazed at Nie Chenng. She knew he always considered her feelings. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t dy with the wound. We¡¯ll go ahead.¡± After speaking, Nie Chenng didn¡¯t wait for Xu Chaomu to agree; he took Yu Weiwei and walked towards the parking lot outside the institute.
¡°Chenng!¡± Xu Chaomu called out anxiously. She wanted to follow, but with such an imposing Buddha beside her, could she even leave? Nie Chenng¡¯s Cayenne was parked not far from the institute¡¯s entrance. He helped Yu Weiwei over, quickly opened the car door, and assisted her into the passenger seat. Xu Chaomu wanted to chase after them, but Shen Chi extended his arm, blocking her path, so she had to give up. In the sunlight, Xu Chaomu¡¯s long eyshes sparkled as she stood at the doorway, watching Nie Chenng¡¯s car drive away¡­ Shen Chi was different, his deep and sharp eyes fixed on Xu Chaomu the entire time, looking down from above as if he was observing his prey. She couldn¡¯t hide the slightest expression or an unnatural nce on her face from his watchful eyes! ¡°Can¡¯t bear to let go?¡± Shen Chi blocked her, his voice slightly hoarse and cold, his face showing displeasure. By then, Nie Chenng¡¯s Cayenne had long disappeared from view, nowhere to be seen! Xu Chaomu turned her head and lifted her eyelids to look at Shen Chi, ¡°What can¡¯t I bear to let go of? Weiwei is seriously hurt, I want to take care of her.¡± Shen Chi sneered, ncing at his own arm. The wound on his arm had already healed, but it still left a scar of a moderate length. ¡°When I was injured, where was your concern?¡±
Xu Chaomu was indignant, ¡°Aren¡¯t you an ingrate? Did you forget how I bathed you when you were injured?!¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice was a bit too loud, and as the surrounding crowd had notpletely dispersed, they overheard her words and cast curious nces her way. Everyone¡¯s face held a look of sudden understanding, as if they all bore the words ¡°Got it.¡± When their gazes fell upon her, Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into; it really was quite embarrassing. Stamping her feet in frustration, she pushed past Shen Chi and walked away on her own! ¡°Really¡­ so embarrassing,¡± she muttered under her breath, not looking up, with her bag on her back, she kept walking. Chapter 545: 545: You are Shen Chis Woman Chapter 545: You are Shen Chi¡¯s Woman The weather was particrly good today, the sun hung immobile in the sky, scorchingly baking the earth. Not a cloud in sight, the sky was a deep, deep blue. There was not a hint of wind around, the leaves were motionless, hanging their heads and drooping on the branches. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Shen Chi caught up to her and grabbed Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand. ¡°Just out for a walk,¡± Xu Chaomu replied irritably. They say women are the jealous ones, but clearly, men are just as prone to jealousy, and once they start, they can be even more frightening. Like Shen Chi, for instance. Once he starts getting jealous, his intelligence plummets into the negatives,pletely beyond reason. ¡°Get in my car.¡± Shen Chi dragged her towards his own Maybach. He opened the car door, and without caring whether Xu Chaomu agreed, he quite domineeringly stuffed her into the passenger seat. The car¡¯s interior was nice and cool, the air conditioner still running, veryfortable.
¡°Can you stop minding my business?¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. ¡°No.¡± The man shamelessly declined. ¡°Weiwei is hurt, I want to see her, and besides, I don¡¯t even know what happened yet!¡± ¡°Do you want to see Yu Weiwei or your fianc¨¦?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face remained emotionless and devilishly charming as he ced his hands at her sides, trapping her in the passenger seat. He advanced step by step, leaving Xu Chaomu nowhere to retreat, and pressed her onto the passenger seat. There were only a few centimeters between them! Avoiding his gaze, Xu Chaomu felt overwhelmed; in terms of presence, ten of her couldn¡¯tpare to one Shen Chi. ¡°If I wanted to see Chenng and spend time alone with him, I wouldn¡¯t have asked you toe,¡± she said. The man¡¯s intelligence was at a deficit and devoid of any logic. ¡°Having mee along so I could watch you two show affection is satisfying for you, isn¡¯t it?¡± he asked. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re being unreasonable! You¡¯re petty!¡± Xu Chaomu retorted angrily. Hadn¡¯t he shown off his affection with Bai Man right in front of her in the past? ¡°Of course, I¡¯m unreasonable. How could I be as empathetic and magnanimous as your fianc¨¦?¡± Shen Chi said, looking straight into her eyes and letting out a cold snort. ¡°Shen Chi, get off me!¡± Xu Chaomu struggled and pushed against his chest with her small hands. But Shen Chi stood firm like a mountain,pletely immovable. He leaned in even closer; their faces were nearly touching, and he could even see her long eyshes trembling in anger. Xu Chaomu was somewhat scared by his piercing gaze, but what was there for her to be afraid of¡ªshe hadn¡¯t done anything wrong! Yet, looking at Shen Chi, her heart rate increased. She decided to close her eyes, not daring to look directly at him.
¡°Have you had any secret contact with Nie Chenng, huh?¡± Shen Chi demanded. If there was no contact, why would Nie Chenng havee today? Surely Xu Chaomu must have called Nie Chenng first, and then, fearing he would be at a disadvantage, she called him. At the thought, the blood in his body boiled, and he became even more irritable. ¡°No matter what happened before, Chenng and I are still friends. What right do you have to forbid me from contacting him?¡±
Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes were still tightly shut; she admitted, she was cowed. ¡°Have the guts to open your eyes and say that again!¡± Shen Chi snapped. Yes, he was precisely forbidding her from having any further contact with Nie Chenng! Not a single word or even a nce was permissible! Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyshes kept trembling; she¡­ didn¡¯t dare. ¡°Shen, Shen Chi, don¡¯t be unreasonable,¡± Xu Chaomu stuttered. ¡°Xu Chaomu, remember this, you are my woman, thedy of the CEO of Shen Group, Shen Chi, and the fourth young madam of the Shen Family!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice rose, resounding with conviction! Xu Chaomu¡¯s heart hammered, thump-thump, nonstop. This was the first time this man had so dominantly dered his ownership over her. Before, it was all just actions, but now it was actions plus a statement. But ever since her return to the country, she hardly had much contact with Nie Chenng, let alone an intimate rtionship. She didn¡¯t understand where Shen Chi¡¯s strong reaction came from. Really. No matter what, she was not a heartless person; how could she simply ignore a friend who had taken care of her for five years abroad? ¡°I¡¯m not your woman,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. To be his woman would mean not even having the right to rebuke, let alone resist.
¡°Say that again.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze suddenly became fierce as he pressed her for a response. Xu Chaomu remained still, not daring to open her eyes. ¡°I¡­¡± Xu Chaomu faltered, afraid to repeat herself¡­ Shen Chi, on the other hand, clenched his fists tighter. His gaze was as cold as ice, chilling and piercing as if it could bore through someone! Yes, she was never really his woman. His gaze fell on her belly. In the summer clothing, which was thin, he could see that the raised area on her stomach was bing more apparent. Shen Chi stopped talking, the fire burning within his belly growing fiercer. After a long silence, his emotions slowly subsided¡­ Xu Chaomu, not daring to open her eyes, caught a momentary silence; it was as if all sounds had suddenly ceased! She wanted to open her eyes but didn¡¯t dare. Straining her ears, she could only hear the noisy voices outside the car and, of course, Shen Chi¡¯s rapid breathing. His hands were balled into fists as he looked at her, and then suddenly, he punched the seat behind her! Immediately after, he left with a cold breeze, mming the passenger door shut with a ¡°bang!¡±
Xu Chaomu was startled and quickly opened her eyes, leaning toward the passenger window. ¡°Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu called out to him in a panic. Shen Chi kept walking on without pausing for a second. His back was ramrod straight, the lines tense and frosty. ¡°Where are you going?!¡± Xu Chaomu, desperate, pounded on the car door, but Shen Chi had locked the car; she couldn¡¯t get out at all! She couldn¡¯t understand what had upset him this time. Jealousy had limits, too. And now he had locked her in the car, treating her like a cat? Shen Chi walked towards Weiwei¡¯s research institute, leaving Xu Chaomu watching his departure but powerless to do anything. She called out several times, but he never looked back. Sitting defeated in the passenger side, she felt very deted. The car was filled with a faint scent ofvender, a fragrance she loved. She pouted; Shen Chi was indeed small-minded, smaller even than the tip of a needle. At the research institute, Shen Chi went straight upstairs after entering. Inside was a mess, looking nothing like it once did. Scientific instruments, wall paintings, tea sets¡­ everywhere were fragments. Most of the onlookers at the entrance had dispersed, leaving only a few security guardsining while they worked.
Shen Chi ascended to the second floor, which was just as chaotic, with no one in sight. There was even blood on the floor. He carefully examined the scene, finding nothing particrly suspicious. His keen gaze swept around the area, and suddenly, he spotted a surveince camera outside the director¡¯s office of Weiwei. A sneer curled on the corner of his lips; he took out his phone and dialed Li Beiting¡¯s number. Once again, it rang several times before Li Beiting slowly picked up. Chapter 546 - 546 That Arrogant Man Chapter 546: Chapter 546 That Arrogant Man ¡°Where are you?¡± Shen Chi asked again. ¡°Home.¡± Li Beiting¡¯s tone was very indifferent. ¡°I¡¯m at Yu Weiwei¡¯s research institute.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°This ce has been severely vandalized, and Yu Weiwei was injured and has gone to the hospital. I¡¯m not sure what exactly happened, and I can¡¯t be bothered to find out. However, I saw a surveince camera outside Yu Weiwei¡¯s office door. As for the rest, you¡¯ll have to handle it yourself.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Beiting still didn¡¯t show much emotion, his tonex and casual. Shen Chi hung up the phone, snorted coldly, one hand in his trouser pocket, and walked slowly down the stairs. Yu Weiwei¡¯s affair was not something he needed to worry about. Shen Chi walked slowly down the stairs, and halfway through, he suddenly remembered Xu Chaomu¡¯s reluctant gaze towards Nie Chenng, as well as the words she had said. He stopped in his tracks, his hands clenched into fists. Had Xu Chaomu truly lost all her feelings for Nie Chenng? He didn¡¯t believe it. Even if he, Shen Chi, was as domineering as ever, keeping her by his side at all costs, he still couldn¡¯t win her over, couldn¡¯t gain her heart. The smile on his lips carried a hint of helplessness, interspersed with destion. If he couldn¡¯t have her, even with the world at his fingertips, what use was the world to him? He didn¡¯t continue down, but instead stopped by a window, took out his lighter from his trouser pocket, and lit a cigarette. Smoke curled around him, and his eyebrows were furrowed from beginning to end, his deep gaze reaching into the distance, seeing no end. Light streamed through the window, illuminating him, with dust floating in the air. His body was ice-cold, and a dull pain throbbed in his chest. Xu Chaomu sat in the car waiting for Shen Chi for a long time. At first, she was patient, resting her chin in her hand. After waiting for quite a while and seeing no sign of Shen Chi, she made a call to Nie Chenng. ¡°Chaomu,¡± ¡°Chenng, have you and Weiwei arrived at the hospital?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here; the doctor is dressing Weiwei¡¯s wounds. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°What did the doctor say? Is the injury serious?¡± ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s nothing serious. As long as it doesn¡¯t get wet, it should heal in a few days.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t look good if it leaves a scar¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said regretfully. ¡°It won¡¯t leave a scar,¡±ughed Nie Chenng. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Which hospital are you at? Give me a call when you leaveter. I want toe and see Weiwei.¡± ¡°Sure, okay.¡± Nie Chenng agreed, not saying much else. ¡°Chenng, why are those people causing trouble for Weiwei? Do you know?¡± Xu Chaomu asked curiously. ¡°I have a rough idea, but you don¡¯t need to worry, Chaomu. Since I encountered this situation today, I¡¯ll make sure to help to the end,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Will there be any danger?¡± Xu Chaomu was quite worried. ¡°There won¡¯t be. I have a clear mind about it,¡± replied Nie Chenng. Xu Chaomu believed that Nie Chenng would handle things well. She felt quite relieved leaving Yu Weiwei in his care. But in her heart, she was more eager to get in touch with Li Beiting. If Li Beiting knew about the situation today, would he worry? Would he rush over without a second thought? She didn¡¯t know. Five years had passed, and many things were no longer as she had imagined. The people she once thought would be together had drifted apart¡­ In the face of time, nothing is indestructible; all are but passersby. Li Beiting was about to be engaged to Mi Fei, and he and Yu Weiwei had long broken up. Did they still have love between them? ¡°Chenng, that¡­ thank you for your trouble,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°You¡¯re still so formal with me,¡±ughed Nie Chenng. Xu Chaomu too curved her lips in a smile. Indeed, Nie Chenng¡¯s kindness to her couldn¡¯t just be repaid with a simple ¡°thank you¡±; that would be far too insincere. Feelings are different from other things; they cannot be clearly partitioned, nor can they be weighed on scales. Xu Chaomu remained silent, and Nie Chenng asked, ¡°You¡­ are you with Shen Chi?¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know how to respond. That proud man was nowhere to be found. He¡¯d locked her in the car for a long time over baseless jealousy. Not wanting Nie Chenng to worry, she nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± The other end went silent, not responding further. Both ends of the phone were quiet, creating an awkward atmosphere. Xu Chaomu finally said, ¡°Then¡­ should I hang up?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Although Nie Chenng said alright, he didn¡¯t hang up the call. Left with no choice, Xu Chaomu steeled herself and cut the line. From some point on, there were no longer any topics they could bothfortably talk about. She didn¡¯t know if there woulde a day when they drifted further and further apart until they could no longer see each other¡¯s figures, each disappearing into their respective worlds¡­ After hanging up, Xu Chaomu sat in the car, continuing to wait for Shen Chi. She waited to the left, waited to the right, nced at the time; nearly an hour was about to pass. Where was that proud man? The sun had moved from the east to straight above, and it was almost lunchtime. She was hungry too. Her stomach growled, and she touched it, sighing. He wouldn¡¯t leave her locked in the car all day, would he? In the past, that man had done plenty of cruel things to her. For instance, the first time she went to the Shen Family, he locked her up with Dabai. Or when she disobeyed him, he¡¯d have her door locked until she admitted her fault! But now things were different; she was carrying a baby. If he treated her like that, he would be going too far. Initially, she was patient while waiting for him, but as time went on, her patience wore thin. She started pounding on the windows, stomping her feet in frustration. Still, Shen Chi didn¡¯te! Her calm heart slowly rippled, starting with impatience and then turning into anger. She grabbed some of the car¡¯s decorations and hurled them out! There was a string of small-sized red sandalwood beads in the car that Shen Chi usually cherished; without a word, Xu Chaomu also threw them out of the window! She was so angry that she had nearly emptied and thrown out everything in his car! But her heart still couldn¡¯t calm down. Irritated, she dialed Shen Chi¡¯s number. It rang many times before Shen Chi picked up. ¡°Where are you?!¡± Xu Chaomu asked angrily right off the bat. Shen Chi took a drag on his cigarette, said nothing, and just held the phone to his ear. ¡°Shen Chi, where are you?!¡± Xu Chaomu raised her voice, displeased. Shen Chi¡¯s frown deepened, and for some reason, he didn¡¯t want to talk. At the sound of Xu Chaomu¡¯s demanding tone, he put down the phone and pressed the end call button. ¡°Hello, Shen Chi!¡± Xu Chaomu shouted once more, but heard no response. He had hung up the phone! He had actually hung up! Xu Chaomu was so angry she hurled her mobile phone at the car windshield! The more she thought, the angrier she got! There was nothing between her and Nie Chenng; it was all his own suspicious nature. Clenching her teeth, she felt wronged. Back then, when Shen Cexian had people send those unspeakable pictures to her, she had trusted him. And now, this was his attitude. Chapter 547: Separation of Flesh and Blood Chapter 547: Separation of Flesh and Blood Xu Chaomu felt a drop of bitterness spreading atop her heart, slowly enveloping it entirely. Time ticked by, second after second, and the sun¡¯s rays refracted through the ss window onto her face. For a long, long time. Instead, she grew less anxious, finding a lot more calm within herself. If he didn¡¯t believe her, so be it. Once not believing, twice not believing, time would make even the most abundant love between them sour. With such thoughts, the sorrow in her heart lessened quite a bit. Yet inexplicably, the rims of her eyes still reddened. The reflection in the mirror didn¡¯t look very pretty anymore. She rested her head on her hand, sniffled, and closed her eyes. The air conditioning was quitefortable on her body, and soon, she dozed off in the vehicle. She was very hungry, having hardly eaten anything in the morning, and now, the hunger faded into the background. One hand propped up her head, the othery on her stomach, and she remained in this position as she slept. In the institute, Shen Chi had smoked a pile of cigarette butts, and after a long while, he turned around and walked downstairs. Beneath the building, the crowd had all dispersed, and even the security guards seemed to have gone out for lunch and were nowhere to be seen. The institute was very quiet at this time, and outside, it was equally silent. When he arrived at the Maybach, he saw Xu Chaomu asleep with her head propped up. ncing at his watch, he realized he had indeed been away from her for quite some time. But now, underneath his feet were all the things from inside the car. Even the ornaments he favored the most on normal days, she had thrown them out! He didn¡¯t bother with them, opened the driver¡¯s side door, and got in. Whether his voice was too soft or she was sleeping too soundly, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t wake up. Her hand had slid down from her abdomen, and at this moment, Shen Chi stared at her stomach for a long while. He ced hisrge palm gently on her stomach, feeling the slight bulge. Still submerged in deep sleep, Xu Chaomu instinctively opened her eyes and reflexively swatted Shen Chi¡¯s hand away. Seeing it was him, she only let down her guard a little. Suddenly, her brow furrowed; the smell of smoke on Shen Chi was very intense. She shifted to the side in distaste, but there was no more space to move away. Seeing her protective expression, Shen Chi¡¯s eyelids dropped, and the displeasure that welled within his eyes was concealed. Turning his head back, he started the car and pressed the elerator. Neither spoke; Xu Chaomu and Shen Chi silently measured each other¡¯s resolve. Shen Chi drove in the direction of Splendid World, but Xu Chaomu had no idea where they were going. Right then, Nie Chenng called back. Xu Chaomu answered, calling out, ¡°Chenng.¡± Shen Chi, who was driving, heard Nie Chenng¡¯s name and once again felt turmoil within the calm seas of his emotions. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and a surge of impulse flooded through him. ¡°Chaomu, Weiwei¡¯s wound has been properly tended to, and I am just about to take her for a meal. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± ¡°Where are you guys? I¡¯lle by,¡± Xu Chaomu said anxiously. ¡°The First Hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Yeah, be careful on the road.¡± After hanging up, Xu Chaomu began to unfasten her seatbelt. She turned to Shen Chi and said, ¡°I want to get out of the car.¡± Shen Chi did not lift an eyelid or say a word, continuing to drive. Xu Chaomu paused in her actions, turned to look at Shen Chi, and raised her voice, ¡°Shen Chi, I said I want to get out of the car.¡± ¡°If you have the guts, jump out yourself,¡± Shen Chi finally spoke ndly. The speed of the car didn¡¯t decrease; it continued to glide steadily on the main road. ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t expect him to say such a thing. But then again, when this man was displeased, he could say anything, couldn¡¯t he? What she needed to do was to endure, to stay silent, to get used to it? But she too was stubborn; why should hesh out at her for no reason? This wasn¡¯t the first time. She pressed the button, lowering the passenger side window all the way down! Throwing off her seatbelt, her hands gripped the edge of the window. The car¡¯s speed was quite quick, the wind blowing through and tousling her hair. Shen Chi braked hard and quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road! ¡°Xu Chaomu, are you seriously thinking about jumping!¡± Shen Chi burst out, grabbing her shoulders, his eyes, as sharp as a cheetah¡¯s, filled with bloodshot fury. Xu Chaomu¡¯s shoulders ached from his grip; she pursed her lips, knowing full well she wouldn¡¯t jump. She was just bluffing, having thought that Shen Chi really wouldn¡¯t care about anything. However, the smell of smoke on Shen Chi was too strong; she frowned, feeling quite ufortable. Especially when he got close to her, she would frown even more deeply. Had he gone off to smoke just a while ago? Five years ago, he didn¡¯t smoke. ¡°Stay away from me,¡± she said instinctively, repelled by the smoke on him, speaking indifferently. ¡°Xu Chaomu, do you think I care too much about you, so you take liberties?¡± Shen Chi furrowed his brows, his voice raspy. Xu Chaomu had thought he would reflect on where he went wrong, but it turned out he had no intent to repent. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m just asking you to stop the car so I can go to the hospital to see Weiwei. Why are you being so unreasonable?¡± ¡°To rekindle old mes with Nie Chenng?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about!¡± Xu Chaomu became agitated; she hadn¡¯t expected his jealousy to still be so intense. She hadn¡¯t said much to Nie Chenng that day, nor anything explicit, and questioned the reason for his jealousy. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you probably don¡¯t even realize it, but when you call Nie Chenng¡¯s name, you do it so tenderly. When you look at him, your eyes are filled with reluctant longing and adoration¡­¡± Shen Chi extended a hand and tenderly caressed her lips, cheeks, tracing and stroking gently. The movements were gentle, but his eyes held a ferocity as if he wanted to devour her. ¡°I truly had no idea!¡± It was clear he was being unreasonable, and an unreasonable man was also frightening. ¡°Heh,¡± Shen Chi scoffed coldly, seemingly in self-mockery, ¡°Xu Chaomu, I know, I¡¯ve been imposing on you. Five yearster, I kept you by my side, yet your heart never lingered on me. It was I who tore you from Nie Chenng, causing your family to be torn apart. You resent me deeply, right?¡± Xu Chaomu froze, taken aback that Shen Chi would say such a thing. Her dark eyes stared at him, this unfamiliar Shen Chi making her feel estranged. His fingers continued to caress her lips, outlining the contours of her face. ¡°And what if I say yes?¡± Xu Chaomu asked him. ¡°Then I truly¡­ cannot hold onto you.¡± The tone of Shen Chi was so faint, like a breeze gently passing by, carrying endless mncholy. For the first time, Xu Chaomu saw such an expression in this man¡¯s eyes. He was such a confident person, the most dazzling man in C City. Seeing him like this, she wasn¡¯t sure if his heart was in pain, but at the moment, Xu Chaomu had no sympathy for him. Chapter 548: Who Would Dare to Marry Him? (Votes for Monthly Ticket Appreciated) Chapter 548: Who Would Dare to Marry Him? (Votes for Monthly Ticket Appreciated) She really didn¡¯t want to sympathize with him, because he was so unreasonable, especially today. Unreasonable, very unreasonable, totally unreasonable. Being tsundere is a sickness, it needs to be cured. Otherwise, if they were to live together in the future, wouldn¡¯t she always be bullied by him? ¡°If you can¡¯t keep me, just open the car door,¡± Xu Chaomu said irritably. At her words, the hand caressing her face paused. Slowly, his hand fell away. In the end, hepromised and opened the car door. As soon as Xu Chaomu opened the car door, she jumped out. Shen Chi needed more introspection, a thorough one, a serious one. With that attitude, that temper, who would dare marry him? Xu Chaomu jumped out of the car and casually closed the passenger door behind her. Shen Chi being jealous was his own problem, she suffered no loss. A man as haughty and cold as him could afford to take a loss now and then, it wouldn¡¯t hurt him. Xu Chaomu happily hopped away with her bag in hand, extra cheerful. Shen Chi watched her, the happier she seemed, the more ufortable he felt. Letting her go just like that made her satisfied? A cold smile tugged at the corner of Shen Chi¡¯s lips. Whose heart was she really leaning towards after all? No matter how good he was to her, he had ultimately missed out on five years, five years where another man had taken his ce. This was a busy downtown area. Once Xu Chaomu had run a bit far from Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach, she stopped at the corner to wait for a taxi. Within a minute, one arrived. ¡°Driver, to the First Hospital,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Okay.¡± The taxi drove forward, and Xu Chaomu nced out the window one more time. Shen Chi¡¯s car was still stationary, showing no sign of leaving. Staying with him was absolutely dangerous, given how long he could hold onto his jealousy. First Hospital. Yu Weiwei¡¯s arm had been wrapped in gauze, and Nie Chenng supported her as she sat on the bench outside the clinic. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the medicine, just wait for me,¡± Nie Chenng said. ¡°Sorry for the trouble, I didn¡¯t even bring my wallet¡­¡± Yu Weiwei felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°No problem, it¡¯s not much, just sit tight, I¡¯ll be back soon to find you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Yu Weiwei obediently nodded. Nie Chenng smiled, taking the prescription downstairs to pay and get the medicine. Yu Weiwei sat on the bench, the smell of antiseptic filling her nose. She sniffed, unable to describe the mix of emotions she was feeling, a whirlwind of sentiments. What happened this morning felt like a dream, and after waking up, she found herself in the hospital. She looked at her feet. Just after Nie Chenng had brought her to the hospital, he bought her a pair of flip-flops. He didn¡¯t leave her side until the doctor had finished bandaging her, only then did he go downstairs to get the medicine. Suddenly, she recalled the swift escape at the research institute, not knowing where the courage came from, silently enduring a sh wound. Discarding her high heels, she ran following Nie Chenng. She smiled; sometimes she could be quite brave. Just like back then, she had unhesitatingly chosen the major she loved, despite opposition from everyone. Including Li Beiting. At the thought of Li Beiting, the smile froze on her lips. She quickly filtered him out of her mind, bent down to touch her ankle, and started thinking about other things. The hospital was very busy. There were people everywhere, and even at noon, the queue didn¡¯t seem to diminish. Nie Chenng, anxious, stood at the payment area with the prescription in hand. Yu Weiwei waited upstairs, calmly expecting him. Though the noise around was chaotic, her heart was exceptionally at peace. She touched her ankle; she might have sprained it from running too hastily. When Li Beiting arrived at the First Hospital, his figure d in a dark shirt quickly vanished in the sea of people. People were everywhere. He stood in the spacious ground floor hall and nced around. He didn¡¯t see that familiar figure. He immediately took the elevator to the surgical department; he had heard that Yu Weiwei was injured. When he stepped out of the elevator, his gaze caught sight of Yu Weiwei sitting on a long bench ahead, quite by chance. Indeed, it was quite the coincidence. At that moment, it was as if suddenly everything around him fell silent, he couldn¡¯t hear any noise at all. Yu Weiwei, in a beige long dress, bent down, gently massaging her ankle. She resembled a bright, beige rose blooming in the summertime, quietly blossoming, not contending or fussing, transcendently detached. She was so conspicuous and beautiful amidst the crowd. Li Beiting stood by the elevator, not moving any closer. The distance between him and her was neither close nor far. Close enough for him to see her, yet far enough¡­ that she wouldn¡¯t see him. He stood quietly behind a column, his gaze never left her. People passed by from time to time, obstructing his view, but his lips continued to curl up slowly. He saw the bloodstains all over her dress, and he also saw the gauze wrapped around her arm. How much pain that girl must be in. She had actually bled so much¡­ Li Beiting stood silently in ce, quietly watching her. The smell of the hospital¡¯s antiseptics was not particrly pleasant, but he was persistent. As long as she was there, he would stay with her. During this time, she seemed to have lost a lot more weight¡­ Yu Weiwei pinched her ankle, rubbed it for quite a while, before straightening up and resting her chin on her hand, looking around. Not finding anything interesting, she took out the contract and diligently went through it. She had no idea that Li Beiting was just a short distance from her; she just felt a heaviness in her chest. Perhaps it was just too hot. She carefully examined the contract,paring each word. ¡°Weiwei, all done, have you been waiting anxiously?¡± After a long while, just when Yu Weiwei had almost finished going through the contract, Nie Chenng came over carrying several boxes of medicine. Yu Weiwei, upon hearing Nie Chenng¡¯s voice, raised her head and smiled, ¡°No, Chenng, thank you.¡± ¡°You are being polite with me again.¡± Nie Chenng sat down next to her and took out all the medicine from the handbag. ¡°Look at this medicine, take it three times a day, two pills each time. This one¡­¡± While Nie Chenng was patiently speaking to Yu Weiwei, Li Beiting¡¯s eyes narrowed. Who is this man¡­? Coldness seeped through Li Beiting¡¯s eyes; they seemed quite intimate. Had Yu Weiwei really started dating a new boyfriend? Li Beiting clenched his fists tightly, his gaze never left Yu Weiwei and that man. ¡°Got all that?¡± Nie Chenng asked. ¡°Got it, Chenng, you forgot I study medicine myself.¡± ¡°Oh, right, I forgot.¡± Nie Chenngughed. Yu Weiwei was not only studying medicine but had even started her own research institute; the girl was quite ambitious. ¡°I study andrology,¡± Yu Weiwei added. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Would you discriminate against me for that?¡± Yu Weiwei asked, tilting her head. ¡°I don¡¯t go for upational discrimination. All science is worthy of respect,¡± Nie Chenng replied with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s good that you think this way¡­¡± Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes showed a hint of disappointment, ¡°Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like you.¡± Chapter 549: Ends of the Earth, Home for Each Chapter 549: Ends of the Earth, Home for Each ¡°` It¡¯s a pity¡­ Perhaps after being washed away by time, the regrets of the past had also faded away. Yu Weiwei took the medicine from Nie Chenng¡¯s hand and tucked the contract away as well. ¡°Those who care about you will tolerate all your thoughts, even if they¡¯re naive or impulsive, they will apany you through them instead of ming and abandoning you,¡± Nie Chenng said lightly. Even if naive and impulsive, he would apany her through it all. Just like Chaomu when he first saw her at the orphanage; she was just a naive little girl. After slowly getting to know her, he realized her world was as pure as snow. He initially thought that after boarding the ne to Paris that year, he would never see her again in his life. But fate is so strange. He not only met her again but also lived with her for five years¡­ Five years, enough to hold too many, too many beautiful memories. He apanied her, thinking it couldst a lifetime, only to realize that what is ordained cannot always be influenced by one¡¯s own desires. He thought she had long forgotten Shen Chi since she seldom mentioned him during those five years. However¡­ recalling the past, Nie Chenng¡¯s heart was filled with helplessness. Yu Weiwei reflected on Nie Chenng¡¯s words, perhaps, it was never enough concern¡­ ¡°Chenng, let¡¯s go,¡± Yu Weiwei said as she tried to stand up. ¡°Wait a second, Chaomu, she said she woulde over.¡± ¡°Huh? Is sheing over by herself?¡± Yu Weiwei was a bit surprised. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± A fleeting look of loss crossed Nie Chenng¡¯s face. The time he spent with Chaomu was merely five years, which ultimately couldn¡¯tpete with her eight years with Shen Chi. ¡°Chenng, you¡­ won¡¯t be together with Chaomu anymore?¡± Yu Weiwei asked. In Yu Weiwei¡¯s eyes, Nie Chenng was a very good man. Handsome and schrly, distinguished, courteous, and always ready to help others. Such a man, maybe many people are pursuing him¡­ Hearing Yu Weiwei¡¯s words, Nie Chenng remained silent. Seeing Nie Chenng not speaking, Yu Weiwei also did not pursue the matter, and changed the subject. ¡°Chenng, what do you like to eat? I know there¡¯s a good Italian restaurant nearby, let¡¯s take Chaomu with us and go eat there after a while.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yu Weiwei and Nie Chenng were chatting and waiting slowly for Chaomu to arrive. She waspletely unaware that not far away, a pair of eager eyes was watching her. Li Beiting saw Yu Weiwei and Nie Chenng chatting andughing together, and even, Nie Chenng had gone to pour a cup of hot water for Yu Weiwei. They sat side by side, very well-matched. For some reason, Yu Weiwei was always stubborn and proud in front of him, no matter what the view, she insisted on arguing with him. Sometimes they would argue until both were flushed, as long as she thought she was right, she wouldn¡¯t back down. But now, perhaps this man was too charming, or maybe this man was her true love. In front of this man, her face was all gentleness and softness. Such a Yu Weiwei was so beautiful that he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. A hint of jealousy started growing in his heart¡­ He and she would never be together in this lifetime, just like now, although she was within his reach, she was as distant as the ends of the earth. Yu Weiwei and Nie Chenng wereughing and talking, and several times when he saw Yu Weiwei rubbing her ankle bone, Nie Chenng asked her worriedly a few times and even bent down to gently massage it for her. Li Beiting didn¡¯t want to watch anymore. If she could be happy, that would be good too. However, when leaving, he found it hard to be ruthless. After onest look, he finally turned his head resolutely and entered the elevator. The elevator doors closed, leaving everything outside¡­ ¡°Does your foot still hurt?¡± Nie Chenng asked. ¡°Much better, it¡¯s fine,¡± Yu Weiwei smiled. ¡°If you feel ufortable anywhere, just tell me, we¡¯re still at the hospital, I can take you there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite fine.¡± As they were talking, Chaomu arrived just in time, having followed the location sent by Nie Chenng. She seemed to have walked a bit quickly, arriving a little out of breath. ¡°Weiwei, Chenng!¡± She hurried over to them. ¡°Chaomu! Slow down, slow down¡­¡± Yu Weiwei stood up and grabbed her hand. Nie Chenng didn¡¯t see Shen Chi, knowing he probably hadn¡¯te. ¡°Weiwei, how¡¯s your injury? Does it still hurt?¡± Chaomu saw that Yu Weiwei¡¯s upper arm was covered in gauze, and concern showed in her expression. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, this injury is nothing. Have you had lunch, Chaomu?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s perfect, let¡¯s go together,¡± Nie Chenng invited her. ¡°Great, let¡¯s go,¡± Chaomu was happy. Yu Weiwei and Nie Chenng both stood up, Yu Weiwei and Chaomu walked together, Nie Chenng followed behind. ¡°Weiwei, did you call Li Beiting?¡± Chaomu whispered. ¡°I haven¡¯t contacted him for three years,¡± Yu Weiwei lied lightly. ¡°Really?¡± Chaomu looked incredulous, ¡°But, I think I just saw Li Beiting in the hospital.¡± ¡°Hm? You must¡¯ve seen wrong, he¡¯s in good health, he wouldn¡¯te to the hospital.¡± ¡°Perhaps my eyes deceived me¡­¡± Since Yu Weiwei said she hadn¡¯t called Li Beiting, then he probably wouldn¡¯te over. However, the person she just saw downstairs looked a lot like Li Beiting. With so many people, maybe it was just her imagination. ¡°I was just telling Chenng that there¡¯s a nice Italian restaurant nearby, let¡¯s go together,¡± Yu Weiwei said. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Chaomu replied, ¡°Weiwei, you haven¡¯t told me what exactly happened at your research institute?¡± Yu Weiwei sighed and recounted the situation simply to Chaomu. It was just about the contract being tampered with, the debt of five million bing sixty-five million. She couldn¡¯t afford to pay it, so those loan sharks came to her institute out of the blue and smashed the ce up. ¡°What are you going to do about your research institute? It was pretty badly damaged,¡± Chaomu inquired. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m trying to figure out a solution. It might take some time to reopen,¡± Yu Weiwei replied. Worry creased Yu Weiwei¡¯s face; what shecked most now was actually¡­ money. She was reluctant to tell Chaomu, knowing that if she did, Chaomu would definitely go and plead with Shen Chi. In her eyes, the astronomical sum was merely a drop in the ocean for Shen Chi. She didn¡¯t want to trouble Chaomu. If she could solve the problem herself, she would do her utmost. As for Li Beiting, if she could bring herself to ask, the money wouldn¡¯t be a problem either. But to go and borrow money from Li Beiting was absolutely out of the question. There was no chance of reconciliation for her and Li Beiting; they had reached a dead end. This way, it was rather good. From now on, they would be worlds apart, each to their own homes. ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help you with, just tell me,¡± Chaomu told Yu Weiwei. ¡°` Chapter 550: 550: Where Is the Fourth Young Masters Grandma? Chapter 550: Where Is the Fourth Young Master¡¯s Grandma? ¡°` ¡°No problem, you take good care of yourself too,¡± Yu Weiwei nced at Xu Chaomu. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled. The two of them walked ahead, and it had been a while since Xu Chaomu had seen Yu Weiwei. Understandably, they had a lot to talk about. ¡°Chaomu,¡± Yu Weiwei took a few steps forward, lowering her voice, ¡°How¡¯s your baby?¡± ¡°Quite well, the doctor said that as long as we keep up the regr exercise and diet, it¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°That¡­ being with Shen Chi, has he been giving you a hard time?¡± Yu Weiwei hesitated. She figured Xu Chaomu should know what she meant. Xu Chaomu cocked her head. Had Shen Chi been giving her trouble? Did his arrogance count? What about his jealousy?! ¡°He¡¯s great, gentle and considerate, looks after people, attentive, thorough¡­¡± Xu Chaomu rambled on.
Yu Weiwei rolled her eyes. She would have believed anyone else, but Shen Chi, not a chance. Ah, the imperious man being gentle and considerate? Well, okay, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t believe it herself. She couldn¡¯t continue the charade. Yu Weiwei got closer and asked in a soft voice, ¡°What about Chenng? What¡¯s he going to do? And what about your baby? Who will he recognize as his father in the future?¡± At this moment, Xu Chaomu thought of Shen Chi, and it made her angry. Not only did he ignore her out of jealousy, but he also locked her in the car for a long time. So, Xu Chaomu said irritably, ¡°I¡¯ll tell him that his dad went to explores in outer space.¡± ¡°Would Shen Chi agree?¡± Yu Weiwei chuckled lightly. Knowing the domineering man, he would definitely want Xu Chaomu¡¯s child to call him ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to disagree about? It¡¯s courtesy for my baby to even call him ¡®Uncle Four,''¡± Xu Chaomu replied irritably. ¡°Uncle Four?¡± Yu Weiwei burst intoughter, then after a moment¡¯s thought, nodded her head, ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± ¡°Hehe, you think it¡¯s good too, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go with that.¡± The two women continued on their way, chatting andughing happily. Yu Weiwei temporarily forgot about the trouble from the morning, and together with Xu Chaomu, they left the hospital by elevator. ¡­ After Shen Chi left Xu Chaomu halfway, he returned to the Shen Family home alone. When the butler came to open the car door for Shen Chi, he didn¡¯t see Xu Chaomu and curiously asked, ¡°Fourth Young Master, where¡¯s the Fourth Young Madam?¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t answer, walking into the Shen Family living room with a dark face. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The butler didn¡¯t dare to ask further, quickly following behind Shen Chi. Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu hadn¡¯t been back to the Shen Family for some days, apparently living at the Waterside Pavilion.
Could that young couple possibly get along well? He guessed that they were probably having temper tantrums every other day¡­ As Shen Chi walked from the garage to the living room, halfway there he looked up and just happened to see Shen Shihaning out from the western wing. One hand in his trouser pocket, Shen Shihan stopped walking as Shen Chi approached. Eyes meeting, a chilling airflow brushed through the hot atmosphere!
The stare between them upromising, the air was extremely tense. Luckily, the path was wide enough to pass without the need for either to sidestep. Shen Chi gave Shen Shihan a cold nce, then resumed walking toward the living room, brushing past him. Throughout, Shen Chi didn¡¯t exchange a single word with Shen Shihan. The butler, following behind Shen Chi, bowed and murmured a greeting, ¡°Third Young Master.¡± Shen Shihan, too, remained silent. As Shen Chi passed by, he felt a strong presence and pressure. A cold smirk curled upon his lips, and he continued toward the garage. ¡°Shihan!¡± Shen Shihan had only taken a few steps when Mo Shuifu caught up with him. She was dressed in a light green floral long dress, carrying a handbag. Probably because she wore high heels, she fell behind. She called out and was about to catch up when she unexpectedly ran into Shen Chi. With a slight smile, she greeted him, ¡°Fourth Young Master.¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t turn around, but he heard her, a hint of displeasure in his brow. He stood waiting for her to approach.
Mo Shuifu walked up to him, ¡°Shihan, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Shihan responded curtly. Together, they headed for the garage. Under the sunlight, they looked like the perfect couple¡ªa tall, handsome man by the side of a demure and beautiful woman, side by side, seeming even more suited to each other than the paired swallows on a roof beam. Shen Chi continued walking forward, but the butler whispered, ¡°The Third Young Master and his wife came back to get things. It seems they won¡¯t be staying at the Shen Family home much longer.¡± Shen Chi remained silent. The butler sighed regretfully, ¡°The Third Young Madam has such a pleasant temperament. I really like her. The Third Young Master has lived here for so many years, and now they¡¯re moving out. It¡¯s a bit hard to get used to.¡± The Shen Family of the past, brimming with life, prosperous and thriving. Over the years, one by one, they all moved away. A tear glistened in the butler¡¯s eye. Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran separated, Liu Rumei left, and now, the Third Young Master and his wife are unlikely to return. Later, Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu would also move to the Waterside Pavilion, leaving the vast Shen Family residence to just the flowers and nts, lonely and deste. ¡°We won¡¯t be leaving,¡± Shen Chi finally said matter-of-factly. Here, he had one precious memory after another with Xu Chaomu. Her youthfulness, bubbly and adorable, often following him around, repeatedly calling ¡°Brother Four,¡± ¡°Brother Four¡±¡­ Hearing Shen Chi¡¯s words, the butler¡¯s spirits lifted somewhat, his dearest was Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu after all.
In the garage, Shen Shihan took the driver¡¯s seat, and Mo Shuifu settled into the passenger¡¯s side. She ced everything on the back seat, nced at Shen Shihan and said with a smile, ¡°All set.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Shihan started the car emotionlessly and drove out of the Shen Family estate. Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t have many memories of the Shen Family home because after marrying Shen Shihan, she seldom visited. Shen Shihan didn¡¯t want her to, so she didn¡¯t. However, now that five years had passed and Xu Chaomu had returned, she felt a touch of reluctance to part with Xu Chaomu. As Shen Shihan drove, Mo Shuifu browsed through a photo album. This album, which she discovered while tidying the western wing, was quite old. The photos at the very front had yellowed over time. Most were portraits of Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou together, with Shen Yanrou¡¯s arms around Liu Rumei, mother and daughter looking happy. Shen Shihan¡¯s photos were few, and always with a stern face, he never smiled. She discovered that Shen Shihan didn¡¯t like smiling even as a child. However, Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t help butugh when she saw photos of Shen Shihan as a child. So this is what he looked like as a child.
If, five years ago, her child hadn¡¯t been miscarried, he or she would have been five years old now, probably looking a lot like the Shen Shihan in the photos¡­ ¡°` Chapter 551: 551: Eyes Identical to Xu Mengxis Chapter 551: Eyes Identical to Xu Mengxi¡¯s Her heart felt somewhat uneasy, and a bitterness lingered in her throat. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Shen Shihan finally spoke up. Mo Shuifu shook her head, ¡°Nothing much, just that you were quite cute when you were little.¡± Cute? Shen Shihan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, as no one had ever used that word to describe him before. Even as a child, people would more likely say he was distant, not lively enough, too staid¡ªnever had ¡°cute¡± been used to describe him. Seeing that Shen Shihan didn¡¯t say anything, Mo Shuifu simply smiled. The little boy in the photo had big eyes and fair skin. Even though there was no smile, Mo Shuifu still found him quite cute as she looked on. She pursed her lips and continued to flip through the other photos. Shen Shihan rarely saw Mo Shuifu showing a smiling face, and now, she was smiling at a photo album, which he found quite surprising. Unconsciously, his gaze lingered on her a few more times.
He liked her smile very much, but it was like a luxury good¡ªtoo expensive, and he seldom saw it. After two years of marriage, he didn¡¯t know whether she was happy or not. Often, he didn¡¯t dare to ask¡ªfearing the answer might be ¡°no¡±¡­ When she smiled, he couldn¡¯t look away, and he turned to look at her many times. Mo Shuifu was flipping through the photos. This album contained a lot of Liu Rumei¡¯s photos, followed by Shen Yanrou¡¯s. She didn¡¯t see Shen Chi or Zhou Ran. It was said that Shen Chi had an older sister named Shen Di, but she didn¡¯t see her in this album either. The Shen family didn¡¯t have a group photo. Liu Rumei was very beautiful when she was young, with willow-leaf eyebrows, cherry lips, fashionable dress, and pretty clothes. However, as Mo Shuifu looked at the photos one by one, she increasingly felt that Liu Rumei¡¯s eyes looked like someone¡¯s. Her eyes were like autumn water, tender and touching, captivating. Like who? Mo Shuifu couldn¡¯t recall at the moment, so she just silently continued to browse. The more she looked, the more familiar the eyes felt. Seeing Mo Shuifu not speaking, Shen Shihan took the initiative, ¡°You seem quite engrossed in this album. Is it because of me?¡± Mo Shuifu chuckled lightly, ¡°Narcissistic.¡± Shen Shihan also smiled, focused on driving, and asionally turned his head to look at her. ¡°Your mother¡¯s eyes look like someone I know, but I can¡¯t remember who,¡± Mo Shuifu said, puzzled. Shen Shihan pondered for a few seconds, then said calmly, ¡°Probably Xu Mengxi.¡± With that reminder from Shen Shihan, Mo Shuifu took a closer look. Right, it was Xu Mengxi.
They were indeed very simr, both with double eyelids, big eyes. Especially when Liu Rumei was young, her eyes were pure and clear, untainted, exactly like Xu Mengxi¡¯s. ¡°They really look alike¡­¡± Mo Shuifu sighed softly. Shen Shihan had noticed it long ago. Five years ago, when he saw Xu Mengxi¡¯s photo in Mo Shuifu¡¯s home, he felt that her eyes greatly resembled his mother¡¯s. Perhaps, that was also one of the reasons why Shen Cexian married his mother back then?
Xu Mengxi was dearly loved by his father. Moreover, this love was very deep. Perhaps, it was precisely because of this that Zhou Ran, asposed as she was,mitted an act like murder. Love can drive people mad. Zhou Ran must have been deeply in love with his father too. Mo Shuifu continued to look through the photos, the more she saw, the more alike they seemed. In the past, Xu Mengxi and Xu Chaomu lived next door to their house, and she often saw Xu Mengxi as a child. Xu Mengxi was a beautiful girl¡ªquiet, gentle, and particrly pretty. However, when Xu Mengxi first arrived in their area, she was already pregnant with Xu Chaomu. With Xu Mengxi¡¯s limited mobility, it was their family who always helped take care of her and her daughter, and the two families developed a deep bond. It wasn¡¯t until ten yearster when a sudden ident separated Xu Mengxi and Xu Chaomu forever. Thinking of this, Mo Shuifu turned her head to look at Shen Shihan, ¡°Shihan, everyone says that Shen Chi¡¯s mother killed Chaomu¡¯s mother, is that true?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Shihan grunted from his throat. Mo Shuifu felt somewhat upset, unsure whether Xu Chaomu had let go of it in his heart.
If it were her, could she calmly ept the son of her mother¡¯s killer? Although Mo Shuifu had been married to Shen Shihan for two years, she had never met Zhou Ran and didn¡¯t know what sort of woman couldmit such a ruthless act. She remembered that Aunt Xu was especially gentle and had a good temperament, never quarreling with anyone. After that fire, she also cried for a long time, unable to believe that Aunt Xu had left Xu Chaomu behind, departing alone¡­ But the reality was that Xu Mengxi would never return. ¡°Shihan, if Shen Chi¡¯s mother killed Chaomu¡¯s mother, why then did she bring Chaomu back to the Shen Family to adopt him?¡± ¡°This question, perhaps only Zhou Ran herself knows the clearest, all other answers are spection,¡± he replied. Mo Shuifu thought what Shen Shihan said was quite reasonable, the real answer was known only by Zhou Ran herself. Others said it was because Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian acted out of spite. Maybe there was that reason, but was the truth really so? Mo Shuifu had no way of knowing. She flipped through the photo album, silently gazing at the pictures. The photos brought a hint of tender feelings to Mo Shuifu¡¯s heart, a family together, how wonderful. After her parents passed away, she rarely felt the warmth of family again.
As she gazed, upon reaching thest page, she closed the album. ¡°Shihan, will you promise me something?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do illegal things anymore, stop it.¡± Mo Shuifu didn¡¯t know when it had started, but her heart had grown somewhat dependent on him; she didn¡¯t want their family to fall apart just like that¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve said before, just give me one year.¡± ¡°But what if Shen Chi finds out within that year?¡± Mo Shuifu challenged. ¡°I¡¯ve said, as long as you don¡¯t snitch to Shen Chi!¡± Shen Shihan¡¯s tone was a bit impatient. Hearing Shen Chi¡¯s name made him feel ufortable. ¡°But you should have heard the saying, ¡®If you don¡¯t want anyone to know, don¡¯t do it yourself!''¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Shen Shihan didn¡¯t want to argue with her. His mood wasn¡¯t bad that day, and he didn¡¯t want to start a quarrel with her over these tired old issues. Mo Shuifu was feeling anxious inside; he was ignoring her, and she could only fret by herself, stewing in her own feelings.
She rested her head in her hands, silently looking out at the scenery from the window. After Shen Shihan¡¯s car left the Shen Family residence, Shen Chi entered the living room for lunch. The butler Ling had received a call from Xu Chaomu in the morning abouting back to the Shen Family and had readied a whole table of dishes, but now, there was only Shen Chi alone. When Shen Chi picked up his chopsticks to eat, Butler Ling caught sight of his injured arm. With a surge of concern, he asked, ¡°Fourth Young Master, how did you injure your arm?¡± ¡°Someone was too rough,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently. He bowed his head and continued to eat gracefully, without a hint of disturbance. Butler Ling pondered, someone was too rough? That must refer to Xu Chaomu. So does that mean Xu Chaomu argued with Shen Chi, then they fought, and Xu Chaomu injured Shen Chi? Butler Ling dared not imagine, had the two reallye to blows? And what about Xu Chaomu? Was she hurt? Chapter 552: 552: More Than a Thousand Could Afford a Miss Chapter 552: More Than a Thousand Could Afford a Miss ¡°Fourth Young Master, is your injury better?¡± Butler Ling asked with concern. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Butler Ling sighed, ¡°Chaomu was also impulsive, There are ways to talk things through, why resort to violence¡­¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Shen Chi said indifferently, stillposed. Butler Ling felt indignant for Shen Chi: ¡°Fourth Young Master, this time Chaomu was wrong. Has she apologized to you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not right, right is right and wrong is wrong. This time she was at fault, she should apologize to you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t me her.¡± Butler Ling looked at Shen Chi, unsure of what to say. The Fourth Young Master really doted on Chaomu. Normally, he couldn¡¯t even bear to touch her, let alone¡­ Xu Chaomu truly was¡­ ¡°Fourth Young Master, where did Chaomu go?¡±
Shen Chi was eating with an expressionless face: ¡°She¡¯s with friends.¡± Butler Ling didn¡¯t feel it was his ce to ask more and silently moved to the side. Shen Chi, such a domineering person, even the old master dared not scold or hit him. Yet now, he had been injured by Xu Chaomu. After finishing his meal, Shen Chi sat on the couch reading the newspaper for a while. Hezily leaned against the couch, loosening his tie. After returning to the Shen Family home, his mood settled down a lot. Apart from Xu Chaomu, what else could possibly disturb his peace of mind? He flipped through the newspaper casually, then lit a cigarette. A cigarette mped in one hand, financial pages in the other, suddenly, his mobile phone vibrated. Reaching for the phone by the couch, it turned out to be a spending notification text from an Italian restaurant. The corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips curled up immediately, revealing a meaningful arc. Still knows how to spend his money? What, her ex-fiance didn¡¯t foot the bill for her? Shen Chi looked at the text with a profound gaze, unfazed, and then put the phone away. He continued reading the newspaper and was almost done when he heard someone crisply calling out ¡°Butler Ling¡± outside! That voice, who else could it be but Xu Chaomu? After a while, the door to the living room was pushed open by Butler Ling. As the door opened, a warm breeze entered. ¡°Chaomu, the Fourth Young Master is here,¡± Butler Ling said. ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t look up, changed her shoes, and seemed to be in a pretty good mood. Butler Ling nced at Shen Chi, who also did not look up, and continued reading his newspaper, expressionless, as if he did not see Xu Chaomu at all. After Xu Chaomu changed her shoes, Butler Ling poured tea for them.
¡°Chaomu, have you had lunch?¡± Butler Ling asked with concern. ¡°I ate already, Butler Ling, I¡¯m going upstairs for a nap.¡± ¡°Stay for a while, I¡¯ll make you a cup of tea.¡± ¡°No need, no need, I¡¯m so sleepy, I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± Xu Chaomu waved her hands repeatedly.
Someone is sitting on the sofa with a stern face right now. If she went to sit by his side, wouldn¡¯t that be asking for trouble? ¡°Didn¡¯t see you getting sleepy when ying outside,¡± Shen Chi suddenly spoke up indifferently, with a tone that invited a beating. He still did not look up, maintaining a straight face while reading the newspaper. Xu Chaomu gave him a nk look, responding with two words: ¡°Childish!¡± This man bes as jealous as a little kid, forgetting all his image and status! A mature appearance, but a childish heart! ¡°Chaomu, Chaomu, have some tea, sit down, it¡¯s not good for your body to sleep right after eating,¡± Butler Ling quickly tried to persuade. She was unaware of the situation and thought the two of them were about to argue again. After all, the injury on Shen Chi¡¯s arm¡­ it was caused by Xu Chaomu. Xu Chaomu wouldn¡¯t lower herself to Shen Chi¡¯s level. She took a seat next to a coffee table and picked up the tea Butler Ling had prepared for her. The aroma of the tea was soothing, and she gently sipped it twice. ¡°Chaomu, did you eat alone outside?¡± Butler Ling asked prior to Shen Chi. ¡°With two friends.¡± ¡°Using my card to treat your ex?¡± Shen Chi said indifferently.
Without raising his head, still reading the newspaper, Butler Ling ced a tea cup in front of him, but he did not move. For a moment, all that could be heard was the sound of him flipping the newspaper pages. Only then did Xu Chaomu remember, at lunchtime, Yu Weiwei didn¡¯t bring her wallet, and Nie Chenng¡¯s wallet was stolen at the hospital. The lunch was paid for by her. In her rush that morning, she had just grabbed a random card, and casually swiped it for the meal. Hearing Shen Chi mentioning it now, she felt somewhat displeased: ¡°His wallet was stolen by a thief.¡± Upon hearing this, Butler Ling realized that Xu Chaomu¡¯s friend was that man called Nie Chenng. She had seen him, that young, slender, and handsome man who spoke politely and gentlemanly with a friendly demeanor. If it were about looks, that man was not inferior to the Fourth Young Master; only, in her eyes, the Fourth Young Master was better, iparable to anyone else. Could it be that the quarrel between the Fourth Young Master and Chaomu was because of Nie Chenng? Butler Ling was most concerned about the child in Xu Chaomu¡¯s stomach. With Shen Chi¡¯s explosive temper, if one day they argued and he dragged Xu Chaomu to the hospital, there would be no escaping it. ¡°Oh, what a coincidence,¡± said Shen Chi, in a nd tone. ¡°Is it such a big deal to have a meal? Over a thousand yuan? Are you serious?¡± Xu Chaomu, annoyed by his sour tone, rummaged through her bag for that card and mmed it down in front of Shen Chi.
¡°Here, take it!¡± She mmed it down, got up angrily, no longer wanting to drink her tea, and headed straight for the stairs. After all this time, he was still not over his jealousy? Butler Ling hurriedly pulled her back: ¡°Chaomu, don¡¯t get angry, the Fourth Young Master is only joking with you. It¡¯s just over a thousand yuan, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Only then did Shen Chi put down the newspaper in his hand, picked up the card on the couch. His demeanor was cold, lips tightly pursed, his slender fingers ying with the card lightly. ¡°Butler Ling, how can you say it¡¯s nothing, someone is feeling the pinch, it was more than a thousand yuan, he¡¯s upset that I used his money. With more than a thousand yuan, you could get a Miss for a whole night, or even two for a cheaper deal,¡± Xu Chaomu mimicked Shen Chi¡¯s tone, with a hint of sarcasm. Uh¡­ Butler Ling broke into a sweat. Miss¡­ Is the Fourth Young Master the kind of man who would go out and pay for Misses? ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, more than a thousand yuan could get you a Miss, shouldn¡¯t you show some gratitude?¡± Shen Chi said in a low voice, standing up, snuffing out the cigarette in his hand, and approaching Xu Chaomu. A glint of cunning flickered in the eyes of someone, and Xu Chaomu quickly stepped back. ¡°In a while, when I get my sry, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± Butler Ling interjected: ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine, we¡¯re all family. Fourth Young Master, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±
¡°Family? Ask her if she considers me family!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°How could that be? Chaomu always tells me how good you are to her, and she even¡­¡± Butler Ling wanted to say that she had knitted a scarf for him. However, her words were cut off by Xu Chaomu. ¡°I don¡¯t consider you family, stingy ghost, childish ghost!¡± Xu Chaomu yelled at Shen Chi. Chapter 553: 553: Solve it Yourself by Hand Chapter 553: Solve it Yourself by Hand ¡°So being with your ex-boyfriend, that¡¯s what you call being generous?¡± Shen Chi snorted coldly. Butler Ling finally understood; the fourth young master was jealous, and quite intensely at that. It was no surprise though, Nie Chenng seemed perfect in every way, and Shen Chi was feeling threatened. The most critical issue was that the child in Xu Chaomu¡¯s belly was that man¡¯s! ¡°Unreasonable.¡± Xu Chaomu was toozy to argue with him and prepared to go upstairs to sleep. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay.¡± Butler Ling held onto Xu Chaomu, trying to persuade her, ¡°Fourth Young Master, Chaomu was just joking with you, don¡¯t take her words to heart.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t stoop to her level.¡± Shen Chi said as if it was nothing. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Butler Ling then lowered her voice to Xu Chaomu, ¡°Chaomu, you go upstairs to sleep. Argue if you must in the future, but please never get physical.¡± Get physical? Xu Chaomu was stunned. She get physical? Even if she did, could she be a match for Shen Chi? ¡°I didn¡¯t get physical with him!¡± Xu Chaomu immediately denied.
¡°This¡­ Chaomu, the wound on the Fourth Young Master¡¯s arm is quite noticeable. Men care a lot about their pride, and that injury on his arm will inevitably raise questions. Don¡¯t get physical again in the future.¡± Dammit! Xu Chaomu red at Shen Chi in anger, only to see him looking nonchnt. What did the wound on his arm have to do with her? ¡°Fourth Young Master, don¡¯t be angry with Chaomu anymore, she just lost her temper,¡± Butler Ling tried to soothe Shen Chi again. Shen Chi nced at his arm indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t me her.¡± Damn! Xu Chaomu realized that this scheming wolf was taking revenge on her! First, for dining out with Nie Chenng, and second, for her previous ¡°false usation¡± to Butler Ling about him pping her! It had to be the case! This man, he held such grudges! So petty, so petty! How could there be such a petty man in this world? She must have been blind to fall for him! Definitely blind! But who was Xu Chaomu? If she didn¡¯t take her revenge, she wouldn¡¯t be called Xu Chaomu. Butler Ling gave Shen Chi a look of admiration, she thought he was pretty magnanimous after all. Xu Chaomu gave Shen Chi a slight smile and hooked his injured arm. ¡°Butler Ling, why didn¡¯t you ask him why we were arguing?¡± Shen Chi remainedposed, continuing to listen to Xu Chaomu. Curious, Butler Ling shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Then, Butler Ling, please be the judge,¡± Xu Chaomu said, and with a spin of her nimble mind, a few 18+ magazine plot points popped up, ¡°The other night, he drank some alcohol and was staggering drunk, climbing onto my bed. I was no match for his strength, struggled in vain, and hit his hand with a cup!¡±
Having said that, Xu Chaomu was proud. It was a seamless story, absolutely seamless. He wanted her to take the rap, so she threw the pot right back at him. Sure enough, Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, and he gave Xu Chaomu a cold re. The way he looked at her, it was as if he wanted to devour her.
This girl, she¡¯s got some skills. Upon hearing this, Butler Ling started to counsel Shen Chi, ¡°Fourth Young Master, Chaomu¡¯s child is just three months along, it¡¯s not okay to¡­¡± Xu Chaomu pulled on Butler Ling¡¯s sleeve with a choked voice, ¡°Butler Ling, I haven¡¯t even said anything, and he¡¯s using me first.¡± ¡°I understand, I understand,¡± Butler Ling patted Xu Chaomu¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°But you should also be more considerate of the Fourth Young Master.¡± ¡°Humph.¡± Xu Chaomu snorted, ¡°He can deal with it himself with his hand, or go find an escort outside.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face fell again, and he stepped forward, grabbing Xu Chaomu. Butler Ling covered her face, ¡°You two talk.¡± These were the topics of young people; she was no longer fit to participate. Saying this, she left the living room¡­ Xu Chaomu knew, Butler Ling had always been rather weak inbat. Xu Chaomu smiled at Shen Chi with her eyes curving into crescents. She enjoyed seeing him looking so defeated; it was wonderful! ¡°Are you happy now?¡± Shen Chi asked, looking down at her with a deep voice. Her small face was full of joyous smiles, as delightful as flowers. ¡°Don¡¯t scheme against me behind my back in the future,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed.
¡°Childish,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Oh, and also, stop smoking. If you smoke again, don¡¯t touch me,¡± Xu Chaomu added. Xu Chaomu pushed him away, now whenever he got close to her, she could smell the stench of smoke. She frowned, smoking was bad for his health, and also bad for her baby. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Shen Chi said apologetically to her. He had forgotten that she was pregnant. He always failed to remember she was pregnant; in his heart, she remained the little girl who liked to follow him around. Five years had passed, and he still wasn¡¯t ready for the fact that she was now a mother. ¡°Um,¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t bother with him anymore, preparing to go upstairs for a nap. This time, Shen Chi didn¡¯t stop her, but let her walk upstairs. Xu Chaomu touched her slightly protruding belly as she ascended the spiral staircase. Opening the door to her room, she satisfactorily tucked herself into her own little bed. Lying in bed, she called Yu Weiwei.
¡°Weiwei, I¡¯m home now, where are you at?¡± ¡°Chenng is still driving; he¡¯s going to drop me off at home in a while.¡± ¡°Okay, take care on your way,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°You should take a nap!¡± Yu Weiwei said. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll hang up now, mwah!¡± Xu Chaomu happily ended the call, covered herself with the air conditioning nket, and prepared to sleep. Yu Weiwei also smiled as she put away her phone and nced at Nie Chenng, who was driving. ¡°You should probably stay away from the research institute these days,¡± Nie Chenng said, ¡°I worry that those people might show up again.¡± Yu Weiwei nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°Save my number. If you feel anything is off, call me,¡± Nie Chenng said, giving her a string of numbers. ¡°I really can¡¯t thank you enough.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being too formal with me,¡± Nie Chenngughed. Nie Chenng didn¡¯t leave until he watched Yu Weiwei enter her apartment building. Only then did he drive away, relieved.
As they went their separate ways, neither noticed Li Beiting standing under a ginkgo tree. In this season, the ginkgo tree still bore green leaves, its branchesden with ripe ginkgo fruits. With every breeze, both the ginkgo leaves and fruits swayed, rustling. Two or three ginkgo leaves had already fallen on Li Beiting¡¯s shoulder, dotting his dark shirt with green, creating a somewhat abrupt contrast. Who knows how long he stood under the tree. Since Yu Weiwei got out of the car, his gaze never left her. Gradually, as she went upstairs to her tiny apartment, he remained, never leaving. It was noon, and sunlight streamed through the gaps between leaves, casting a mottled pattern on his shirt. The man beneath the tree held a trace of destion in his features. Alone and solitary, in solitary destion. Chapter 554: 554: Freeze All His Funds Chapter 554: Freeze All His Funds A few dayster, Li Beiting quietly went to Yu Weiwei¡¯s research institute and retrieved the surveince footage. Through these videos, he had someone trace the thugs who had vandalized the research institute. Following the trail, ultimately, he discovered that whether it was these hooligans or the Jing Bank that betrayed the contract, they were allckeys of Mi Fei¡¯s father. Which is to say, all of this, Mi Fei¡¯s father could not escape involvement. That evening, while he was finishing his dinner and working in the study, a young servant knocked on his door. ¡°Young master, the master and madam have asked for you toe downstairs,¡± the servant said. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The young servant reported honestly, and Li Beiting, with an expression of displeasure, pushed his chair back and stood up. He opened the door with a ¡°ng¡±, startling the young servant waiting outside who respectfully bowed his head.
Li Beiting¡¯s father and mother were sitting on the sofa, each with a cup of aged Pu¡¯er tea in front of them, the aroma of tea filling the living room. There was a fruit te on the table, filled with a variety of fruits: watermelon, grapes, green plums, pomelos¡­ Li Beiting buttoned the cuffs of his shirt and walked down with a solemn face. ¡°Beiting, I¡¯ve heard that Yu Weiwei owes a usurious debt of sixty-five million,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother initiated the conversation. Li Beiting sat down across from them without a word. He had already investigated the matter, and it was indeed sixty-five million. People from Jing Bank had altered the contract, which was then transferred to loan sharks, leading to such arge debt. ¡°Yu Weiwei probably won¡¯t be able to repay this money,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother added faintly. Li Beiting let out a coldugh, ¡°Should I be grateful to Uncle Mi?¡± As he spoke these words, the expressions on his parents¡¯ faces shifted. It turned out that Li Beiting knew everything. Li Beiting¡¯s father said, ¡°Whether you know or not, the sixty-five million must be repaid by Yu Weiwei. If you think that¡¯s unfair, let me tell you, there¡¯s no such thing as fairness!¡± ¡°I never felt it was unfair; I just think Uncle Mi is quite despicable, isn¡¯t he?¡± Li Beiting spoke frankly, causing his father¡¯s expression to darken immediately. The Mi Family too had a reputable standing in C City and was not inferior to the Li Family. Li Beiting¡¯s outspokenness greatly displeased his father. Fortunately, Mi Fei¡¯s father and Mi Fei were not present today. ¡°In business, all is fair in war. If anyone is to me, me that woman for overestimating her capabilities, and besides, she¡¯s too green!¡± his father lectured. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you so much concern,¡± Li Beiting said, his lips still forming a cold smile. It had been three years since he and Yu Weiwei broke up, yet they were still vignt against her.
¡°You and Feifei will be getting engaged soon, at this critical time we are all looking out for you!¡± ¡°Is there anything else? If not, I¡¯m going upstairs,¡± Li Beiting said, running out of patience. ¡°Wait!¡± his father called out to him. Despite his age, Li Beiting¡¯s father still carried the vigor from his younger days in his brow.
His words were resounding and imposing. ¡°Do you really want to repay that sixty-five million for Yu Weiwei?¡± Li Beiting fell silent, yes, he did n to repay her debt without anyone noticing. His intentions could not be concealed from his father. ¡°Beiting, your funds have been frozen by me. Until your engagement, it¡¯s impossible for you to do as you please,¡± his father said sternly. Li Beiting¡¯s eyes grew colder; his father had actually frozen all of his funds! ¡°However, I can have Uncle Mi waive Yu Weiwei¡¯s debt, but the decision is yours,¡± his father said casually, sipping his Pu¡¯er tea. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Until your engagement with Feifei, you are not to see Yu Weiwei again,¡± his father dered coldly. ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± Li Beiting scoffed. ¡°As long as you understand. Just stay with Feifei peacefully, and I will ensure Yu Weiwei¡¯s research institute can reopen. Your father is not an unreasonable man; my word is my bond,¡± he continued. Li Beiting was silent, ¡°my word is my bond¡± was most fitting to describe his father. Back in the day when his father was involved in the underworld, the most valued principles were loyalty and trustworthiness.
Once his father gave his word, not only would he see it through, but it was also impossible to retract. Before Li Beiting could say anything more, his father added, ¡°Of course, you could also choose to borrow the money from Achi. I don¡¯t care about the process; I¡¯ll only tell you that if you stay with Yu Weiwei, her parents will disappear from C City the next day!¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time he had said these words to Li Beiting. Repeating them several times was to ensure he remembered. ¡°Feifei is a good girl,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s mother said softly, ¡°You¡¯ve been with her for some time, you should know that.¡± Ultimately, Li Beiting¡¯s mother showed a bit of affection for her son, passing him a slice of watermelon. She had hoped to ease Li Beiting¡¯s heart, but unknowingly, Li Beiting was seething with anger. He shoved the slice away, identally elbowing his mother. With a ¡°smack¡±, the watermelon in Li Beiting¡¯s mother¡¯s hand fell to the ground! Li Beiting immediately stood up, his whole body exuding a chill, his eyes even more so, blood red! He strode towards the upstairs study! Li Beiting¡¯s mother shook her head as she looked at the fallen watermelon on the ground and gestured to a young servant, ¡°Clean this up.¡± ¡°Quite the temper he has,¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father scoffed.
¡°Let¡¯s not worry about him for now; we¡¯ll call the Mi Family elders over tomorrow to discuss the engagement,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s about time.¡± ¡°Sigh, I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into Beiting. It¡¯s already been three years since he broke up with that woman, yet he still can¡¯t forget her.¡± ¡°That woman must have her ways with certain ck arts!¡± Li Beiting¡¯s father said. After pondering, Li Beiting¡¯s mother agreed. A woman skilled in andrology must be especially adept at catering to men¡¯s preferences. Like in bed, for instance¡­ When Li Beiting returned to the study, he made a call to Shen Chi. ¡°Shen Chi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± At this time, Shen Chi was working at the Shen Family, Xu Chaomu had taken yarn to learn knitting with Butler Ling, and Mi Fei had gone to crochet. Shen Chi turned on the speakerphone and continued to work on hisptop. ¡°Are you free? Come to Weiyang, I need to talk to you,¡± Li Beiting said, his mood very low. ¡°I¡¯m not free.¡±
¡°You!¡± Li Beiting, out of options, said, ¡°Fine, lend me sixty-five million.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Chi agreed without hesitation; he didn¡¯t need to think to know it must be about Yu Weiwei. Li Beiting wasn¡¯t short on money; if he was suddenly borrowing money, there could only be one possibility: Li Beiting¡¯s father had frozen all his assets! ¡°Thanks.¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t say much. Li Beiting had been in charge of the Li Familypany for many years, yet it seemed he still hadn¡¯t gained control over thepany¡¯s financial lifeline. This power, no matter what, had to be kept in his own hands. Just as the call was about to end, Li Beiting added dispassionately, ¡°Really noting to Weiyang?¡± ¡°Not going.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Li Beiting said, with a hint of helplessness and disappointment in his tone. ¡°Go find Ji Shengxuan.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Chapter 555: 555: Since the Miscarriage Chapter 555: Since the Miscarriage Shen Chi hung up the phone with Li Beiting and tossed his cell phone onto the sofa, continuing to browse through the pages on hisputer. A white businessptopy on his legs as hezily leaned against the sofa, his eyes fixed on theputer screen. Before long, his phone rang again, this time it was Xiao Mo calling. ¡°President Shen.¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s tone was a bit anxious. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Jian Sisi has been diagnosed with depression. I¡¯m wondering whether to send her to the hospital. Her condition is not good.¡± ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°Still at the same ce where she was detained before.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle over.¡± ¡°Okay, President Shen, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t expected Shen Chi to be free toe over today.
Shen Chi was usually too busy, and since thest time, he hadn¡¯t paid any attention to Jian Sisi¡¯s situation. Of course, no matter how busy he was, as long as it involved Xu Chaomu, he would always make sure to be there as soon as possible. This man¡¯s heart always leaned towards Xu Chaomu. Shen Chi closed hisptop, stood up, and took a suit jacket from the rack, draping it over his arm. He nced at the time; it was exactly eight o¡¯clock in the evening. As he left the house, he happened to see Xu Chaomu learning to knit a sweater with the butler. Xu Chaomu lifted her eyelids briefly before dropping them again. She ignored Shen Chi and continued to knit. Since hisst bout of jealousy, the man hadn¡¯t let it go for several days. These days, he had been cold and indifferent to her. Xu Chaomu, being stubborn herself, ignored him in return. Xu Chaomu even thought, since she had swiped over a thousand yuan from himst time and he was unhappy, perhaps she should find a chance to pay him back. ¡°Fourth Young Master, are you going out thiste?¡± It was the butler who asked out of concern. She was asking on behalf of Xu Chaomu, knowing that Xu Chaomu was toozy to ask. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Chi responded and headed straight to the garage. Xu Chaomu nudged the butler with her elbow and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t bother with him.¡± The butler smiled helplessly. This Fourth Young Master and hisdy were quite the quarrelsome pair. Shen Chi got in his car, and under the cover of night, he quickly arrived at the ce where Jian Sisi was being held. Xiao Mo had already been waiting outside, and he hurried forward to open the car door for Shen Chi. ¡°President Shen.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡±
¡°Her depressiones and goes. A doctor is treating her. It¡¯s just that she refuses to take her medication herself and we have to force her every time.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°President Shen, be careful if you n to see her. We¡¯ve already stopped cing breakable items near her, but she still bites.¡± ¡°Does she know that Zhuo Fan is dead?¡±
¡°She doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Shen Chi, walking through the dark night, entered the low, unassuming house. Bathed in moonlight, the house appeared like a small mound, utterly inconspicuous. Bamboo was nted all around the house, and the wind caused the sea of bamboo to sway, the leaves making a swooshing sound. People were guarding outside the house. Xiao Mo apanied Shen Chi inside. Just as Shen Chi reached the entrance, he heard a loud pounding on the wall! ¡°President Shen, please be careful,¡± Xiao Mo cautioned in a low voice, knowing that it was Jian Sisi making the noise. ¡°Let me out.¡± The voice of a woman, deste and grieving. The sound echoed in the emptiness, strikingly loud and sending shivers down the spine. Shen Chi took a few steps and stopped in front of a room. The room¡¯s window was open, but there were iron bars on it, making it look very much like a cage. Shen Chi stood by the window, his piercing gaze directed into the room. Indeed, Jian Sisi inside was pounding the wall, but the wall was unmoved. After attempting for a while and failing, she began to cry.
Shey over the table, crying brokenheartedly. ¡°Let me out¡­ my baby¡­ Zhuo Fan, where are you?!¡± Jian Sisi was somewhat incoherent. Through the light in the room, Shen Chi saw Jian Sisi with disheveled hair, looking as though she hadn¡¯t changed her clothes in many days. The Jian Sisi from before at least took care of her image as his secretary, always meticulously made up and dressed extravagantly. This woman now was hardly recognizable as the same person. Of course,pared to the desperate Jian Sisi from four years ago, there wasn¡¯t much difference. ¡°Ever since the miscarriage, she has been like this. She¡¯s smashed everything smashable in the room, and now there¡¯s nothing left to break; she just cries every day,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°What if she knew Zhuo Fan was dead?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°She would¡­ probably go mad.¡± ¡°If she goes mad, throw her in a mental hospital,¡± Shen Chi said in a low and heartless tone, as if discarding somethingpletely inconsequential. ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Mo responded. After all this time, Jian Sisi¡¯s plight was of her own making. Initially, Shen Chi had done everything he possibly could for her, yet she had the audacity to threaten him, even daring to lie. Such a bold and greedy woman, Xiao Mo had never seen before.
Other women at most sought to seduce Shen Chi and climb into his bed, but this one dared to deceive. She wanted not just money but also the position of the Fourth Young Mistress. It was a pity that their cleverness led to their folly. Shen Chi stood by the window for a while, Jian Sisi weeping throughout, her cries loud and particrly chilling in the night. She waspletely unaware of Shen Chi by the window, sometimes even talking to herself. After standing for quite some time, Shen Chi walked to the door. ¡°Open the door.¡± ¡°President Shen, if you have something to say, just ask her from the window,¡± Xiao Mo was a bit worried. ¡°She¡¯s in a very unstable state right now; I¡¯m afraid she might harm you.¡± ¡°Am I supposed to be afraid of her?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened as he gave Xiao Mo a cold re. ¡°Still¡­ please be careful.¡± Xiao Mo, unable to go against Shen Chi¡¯s wishes, reluctantly found the keys. He cautiously unlocked the door and gently pushed it open. As soon as the door opened, Jian Sisi reacted with extreme sensitivity! She darted towards the doorway with agile steps!
Xiao Mo quickly intercepted her, giving her a forceful shove and sending her crashing to the ground! Shen Chi entered and closed the door behind him. ¡°President Shen, President Shen¡­ I¡¯m Sisi, don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m Sisi¡­¡± Upon seeing Shen Chi, Jian Sisi clung to him like a lifeline, her eyes shining eagerly as she rushed toward him! Xiao Mo, of course, wouldn¡¯t let her touch Shen Chi. He blocked Jian Sisi. ¡°Xiao Mo, why are you stopping me?¡± Jian Sisi red at Xiao Mo with resentment. Supporting herself with her hands, she slowly rose from the floor. Her eyes, bloodshot and filled with hatred towards Xiao Mo, were pleading as she looked to Shen Chi. Shen Chi stood several steps away, his arms crossed, observing her without a word. ¡°Jian Sisi, behave yourself!¡± Xiao Mo warned her. With Xiao Mo standing in the way, Jian Sisi could not get close to Shen Chi. Desperately, she could only gaze at Shen Chi, her heart pounding with urgency. Chapter 556 - 556 Not Protecting Our Children Well Chapter 556: Chapter 556 Not Protecting Our Children Well ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ I haven¡¯t seen you for so many days¡­ I miss you so much¡­¡± Jian Sisi began crying as she spoke, ¡°Do you know that they have locked me up in here? Are you here to rescue me?¡± Shen Chi remained silent, his eyes as sharp as obsidian, looking straight at her, an air of coldness emanating from his whole being. He wanted to see just when this woman would speak the truth. Xiao Mo remained impassive, standing his ground as long as Jian Sisi didn¡¯t approach Shen Chi. The room was eerily silent, except for Jian Sisi¡¯s sobs. Perhaps it was Shen Chi¡¯s intimidating gaze that eventually scared Jian Sisi into crying silently. She crawled up from the floor, her doleful eyes looking at Shen Chi. Her shirt was in disarray, her hair messy. Seeing that Shen Chi did not respond, she bit her lip, tears rolling down her cheeks. Shen Chi and Xiao Mo were veterans of the social scene, and their faces remained mercilessly cold. They were watching to see how convincing this woman¡¯s performance could be. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­¡± After a lengthy silence, Jian Sisi spoke again, ¡°Can you take me out of here, please? It¡¯s so unbearable in here¡­ You don¡¯t know, they often scold me, and they make me take pills! I¡¯m not sick, why do I need to take pills! I¡¯ve been waiting for you, always waiting for you¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting for me?¡± Shen Chi finally spoke in a deep voice. He looked at Jian Sisi as intensely as a panther, his gaze cold and cutting. Jian Sisi nodded repeatedly: ¡°Yes, yes, Mr. Shen, I love you. They tormented me, but I never cried, because I knew you would surelye to rescue me, you definitely would. My waiting wasn¡¯t in vain; you finally came¡­ I¡¯m so relieved, my efforts weren¡¯t wasted¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Shen¡­¡± Fearful of Shen Chi ignoring her, Jian Sisi hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Shen, we lost our child¡­ because of them, we lost our child¡­¡± She burst into tears again, her grief overwhelming, her shoulders shaking uncontrobly. ¡°They beat me, scolded me, and didn¡¯t care that I was pregnant. One night, my stomach pain was so severe, and they had some conscience, sending me to the hospital¡­ But, I just couldn¡¯t, I failed in my duty as a mother, I couldn¡¯t protect our child¡­ The child is gone¡­ gone¡­¡± Jian Sisi was particrly emotional, especially when mentioning the child. Overwhelmed, she tried to approach Shen Chi. She wanted to cry in his arms, toy her woes on his shoulder¡­ But, with each step she took forward, Xiao Mo blocked her with an outstretched hand! ¡°Xiao Mo, why are you stopping me? I just want to talk to Mr. Shen¡­¡± Jian Sisi cried. Xiao Mo did not speak, only giving her a sharp look that was as cutting as a de. Jian Sisi was scared and dared not make any rash moves. Shen Chi spoke coolly, ¡°Jian Sisi, do you know why they are holding you captive?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t quite understand¡­ I heard¡­ I heard they wanted to threaten you¡­¡± Jian Sisi said timidly. Shen Chi¡¯s tone was very cold, so cold that it sent shivers down her spine. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re worth to me?¡± Shen Chi sneered. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ what do you mean by that? Even if you don¡¯t like me much, you should think of that lost child¡­ That child was innocent, your own flesh and blood!¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, should I say you¡¯re foolish?¡± Shen Chi said in a low voice. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shen Chi snapped coldly, ¡°Jian Sisi, don¡¯t you know by now that it was my people who locked you up here?¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s legs went weak, and she clung to the wall¡­ Yes, she had sensed something was amiss for a while, but she didn¡¯t want to believe it, she didn¡¯t want to ept it! How could Shen Chi be so ruthless? But now Shen Chi had told her himself! ¡°No, it can¡¯t be, Mr. Shen, it definitely wasn¡¯t you¡­¡± Jian Sisi flung herself at him, trying to grab hold of Shen Chi. With a firm push, Xiao Mo kept her away from Shen Chi! Jian Sisi lost her bnce, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Her hand was scraped, and blood oozed from her palm¡­ Her cries intensified, one hand supporting herself on the cold ground, the other covering her face, tears streaming through her fingers unceasingly. The sobs echoed loudly through the empty room, sounding piercing and forlorn, with even an echo. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ You can¡¯t treat me like this¡­¡± Jian Sisi said between sobs, ¡°That time in Paris, it wasn¡¯t my fault, you were the one who got drunk and wouldn¡¯t let go of me. I rejected you many times, but my strength was no match for yours¡­ You should know, for a girl, losing her innocence for no reason is devastating¡­¡± ¡°Jian Sisi.¡± Shen Chi called out her name in a deep voice, pacing towards her and squatting down. Seeing Shen Chi¡¯s bloodshot eyes, Jian Sisi¡¯s heart jumped into her throat. Shen Chi exuded a powerful aura, and as he approached her, her hands began to tremble, and she was breaking into a cold sweat. ¡°You¡¯re such a good actress, why didn¡¯t you join the entertainment industry?¡± His eyes bore into her, leaving no room for her to evade. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­ What are you talking about? I¡­ I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Jian Sisi was shaking noticeably now, her tone of voice altered. She couldn¡¯t look Shen Chi in the eye and tried to back away. ¡°Zhuo Fan, what¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. At the mention of Zhuo Fan¡¯s name, Jian Sisi¡¯s face changed! Her eyes filled with evasiveness¡­ How could Shen Chi know Zhuo Fan? She had always kept it well hidden. ¡°Mr. Shen, what are you talking about, I don¡¯t understand¡­ What Zhuo Fan¡­¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, you¡¯re still ying it cool,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice grew stern as a hand closed around Jian Sisi¡¯s neck! His eyes filled with bloodshot veils, the hand clutching Jian Sisi¡¯s neck tightened. ¡°Mr. Shen¡­¡± Jian Sisi gasped weakly, her face turning as pale as paper, ¡°I really don¡¯t know Zhuo Fan¡­¡± Xiao Mo shook his head; regarding acting skills, this woman was truly top tier. Even in this situation, she still refused to admit anything. ¡°You won¡¯t admit it, huh?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s grip intensified, ¡°Well then, let me tell you, Zhuo Fan is dead!¡± ¡°What are you saying? What?!¡± This time, Jian Sisi waspletely awake! Panic-stricken! Zhuo Fan was dead? Impossible! They were just on the phone a few days ago; how did he die? Did Shen Chi kill him?! Shen Chi¡¯s eyes were fiery red as he flung his hand away from her neck and threw her to the ground! Jian Sisi¡¯s head struck the floor with a ¡°thud,¡± spinning her world around, seeing stars. ¡°Ah!¡± Jian Sisi clutched her head in agony, sitting painfully on the cold floor. Shen Chi squatted in front of her, staring at her agonized expression, utterly unmoved in his heart. Chapter 557: This Man is the Devil Chapter 557: Chapter 557: This Man is the Devil ¡°Why are you doing this to me, why¡­¡± Jian Sisi wept bitterly. Tears streamed down her face, and there were also handprints left by Shen Chi on her neck. Standing to the side, Xiao Mo passed Shen Chi a handkerchief. Shen Chi stood up to take it and wiped his hands. He looked down at Jian Sisi with indifference, hands in his pockets, as frosty as icicles in the dead of winter. Without a word from Shen Chi, Jian Sisi crawled to Xiao Mo¡¯s feet, grabbing his legs, ¡°Xiao Mo, we were colleagues, tell me, what¡¯s going on?¡± Xiao Mo looked displeased and impatiently said, ¡°Zhuo Fan had an ident on the way delivering goods.¡± ¡°He¡¯s always been so cautious, and he¡¯s been delivering goods for many years, how could this happen? Xiao Mo, be more specific!¡± Jian Sisi hysterically shouted at Xiao Mo. ¡°No matter what I say, Zhuo Fan is already dead!¡± Xiao Mo said with impatience. Jian Sisi let go of his leg and fell to the ground, slumped. Her eyes were a blur of confusion and oblivion. Her child was gone, Zhuo Fan was dead, so what about her¡­ ¡°Jian Sisi, have you decided how you want to die?¡± Shen Chi spoke coldly. A ruthless and chilling light shed in his eyes, like the King of Hell himself from the underworld. ¡°President Shen, I don¡¯t want to die¡­ I don¡¯t want to die¡­ Please don¡¯t be so heartless, think about our child, give me a way to live¡­¡± ¡°You still have the nerve to talk to me about the child?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was icy sharp. Xiao Mo was really helpless. This Jian Sisi, on the verge of death, still hadn¡¯t forgotten to perform. She was trying to grasp at a sliver of hope, unaware that this would only hasten her demise! ¡°President Shen, think of that little life, he was just so tiny, so adorable, he¡¯s your child¡­¡± Jian Sisi hugged Shen Chi¡¯s legs again, this time gripping them firmly, refusing to let go. She didn¡¯t want to die, she didn¡¯t want to die! In the past, she often heard people say that Shen Chi was heartless and cruel, but she always turned a deaf ear. She thought she was smart enough, that as long as the details were taken care of, Shen Chi would never find out. At first, she was very timid, not daring to make any big moves, just asionally sneaking around with Zhuo Fan, arranging secret meetings. Later, encouraged by Zhuo Fan, she became bolder. Just then, she discovered she was pregnant. Zhuo Fan pointed out a way for her, to pretend to sleep with Shen Chi, to feign carrying Shen Chi¡¯s child. Knowing his personality, Shen Chi would surely give her a sum of money. Indeed, on that very day, Shen Chi gave her five million inpensation. She originally thought to stop after getting the five million; after all, it wasn¡¯t a small amount. But Zhuo Fan¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t the money. He told her privately that with Shen Chi being so wealthy, if she could bear Shen Chi¡¯s child and marry him, she would be set for life in wealth and splendor. At that time, find a perfect opportunity¡ªafter the child is born, get rid of the child. That way, Shen Chi would never find out. She disagreed, feeling certain Shen Chi would never marry her. Moreover, if Shen Chi ever found out, it would be a catastrophe. Zhuo Fan pushed her to take the gamble, saying it was just one gamble, and she wouldn¡¯t have to worry for the rest of her life. Plus, Zhuo Fan said he would handle everything. Lured by profits and unable to resist Zhuo Fan¡¯s persuasion, she took the risk. But she didn¡¯t realize one wrong step meant consecutive wrong steps, until now when it was all toote¡­ No, she couldn¡¯t die; she still wanted to live. As long as she could live, life would go on. She was still young, she could still have a wonderful future! Everything could start anew! She clung to Shen Chi¡¯s legs, daring not let go. ¡°President Shen, there¡¯s nothing between Zhuo Fan and me; he¡¯s my fellow townsman. In C City we just look out for each other, that¡¯s all.¡± Shen Chi scoffed, looking down on her from above. ¡°Jian Sisi, then you tell me, where did that four-month-old child of yourse from? Huh?¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s mind exploded, and she stood there stupefied! Her mind went nk, and the lights in front of her kept flickering! Her child, four months old, she had always been hiding it from Shen Chi. She never anticipated that Shen Chi had been suspicious all along. She had already discussed with Zhuo Fan whether to let the child be born and then strangled, or to just prevent the child from being born at all. This issue, she and Zhuo Fan had discussed for a long time but had never agreed upon. After going pale, Jian Sisi steadied her expression. She feigned a look of confusion, lifting her innocent big eyes to Shen Chi, ¡°President Shen, I don¡¯t understand what you mean. I only have one child, with you, a little over three months. A few days ago, it passed away¡­¡± As she spoke, her tears fell like broken pearls, continuously tumbling down. Her tears wet her hair, her eyes swollen like peaches, bright red. She cried with great sorrow, even Xiao Mo standing by couldn¡¯t help but be moved. Unfortunately, both Xiao Mo and Shen Chi knew exactly what kind of person Jian Sisi was. The corners of Shen Chi¡¯s lips curved into an indifferent smile, ¡°Jian Sisi, you truly refuse to shed a tear until you see the coffin.¡± Having said that, Shen Chi withdrew his leg from Jian Sisi¡¯s grasp. Jian Sisi wouldn¡¯t let go, insisting on holding on; she feared that once Shen Chi left, she¡¯d be trapped here forever! Shen Chi let out a coldugh and raised his foot! This kick carried substantial force. Jian Sisi let out a cry as she was kicked away, wincing and holding her chest as she looked at Shen Chi. This man, he was a devil. ¡°President Shen¡­¡± she tried to crawl towards Shen Chi again. Xiao Mo stopped her, coldly saying, ¡°Jian Sisi, stop struggling. The day you had the miscarriage, did you forget I was there too?¡± With those words from Xiao Mo, Jian Sisipletely copsed on the floor. Yes, the night she had the miscarriage, Xiao Mo was on the scene! It turned out, Shen Chi and Xiao Mo had indeed been suspicious of her long before. ¡°Jian Sisi, what else do you have to say? Your miscarried child was a boy, four months old. I think I¡¯m not wronging you, am I?¡± Xiao Mo said. Jian Sisi shook her head repeatedly, ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that, Secretary Xiao, it must be a mistake from the hospital, that one time with President Shen in Paris, in April, it was a little over three months. Secretary Xiao, it must be a mistake from the hospital.¡± ¡°Hopeless!¡± Xiao Mo scoffed. Even with irrefutable evidence, this woman still tried to struggle. ¡°Stop talking nonsense with her!¡± Shen Chi gave Xiao Mo a cold nce. ¡°Yeah,¡± Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°President Shen, do you have anything else to ask?¡± Shen Chi stood still, bending down like an emperor from above, his sharp gazending on Jian Sisi. ¡°Jian Sisi, do you want to live?¡± ¡°President Shen¡­ I beg you, I want to live, I don¡¯t want to die. President Shen, let me leave this ce, please?¡± Jian Sisi began crying and begging Shen Chi. ¡°I can save your life,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°President Shen, I¡¯m of no use to you, please let me go, I¡¯ll leave C City far behind and nevere back, truly¡­¡± Chapter 558: 558: No Relationship Has Occurred Chapter 558: Chapter 558: No Rtionship Has urred Jian Sisi looked at Shen Chi with a pair of eyes brimming with the desire to live, she desperately wanted to survive. ¡°Mr. Shen, if you let me go, I will vanish from your life forever.¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, do you know who is the kind of person that will vanish forever?¡± Shen Chi spoke, his tone light and breezy. Jian Sisi shuddered, her hands quivering fiercely. ¡°No, Mr. Shen, let me go this once, I¡¯m willing to do whatever you want¡­¡± ¡°Tell me, what is the rtionship between Zhuo Fan and you?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°I¡¯ll say it, he was my first love. We had always been very close, but after I came to C City four years ago, we broke up. Last year, he came from our hometown to C City too. He found me and¡­ and our old love reignited.¡± Jian Sisi¡¯s voice grew softer and lower, she lowered her eyelids, not daring to meet Shen Chi¡¯s eyes. She was not far from Shen Chi; she could even sense that cold breath emanating from him. This breath made the surrounding air plummet!
¡°Who was he delivering goods for?¡± ¡°I¡­ Mr. Shen, will you keep your word? If I tell you, will you let me live?¡± Jian Sisi finally looked up at Shen Chi, her eyes timid. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re in a position to bargain with me?¡± Shen Chi lowered his head, his gaze meeting her eyes straight on. Jian Sisi¡¯s lips trembled, yes, she had no right to do so. Her life was in Shen Chi¡¯s hands; if he wanted her dead, she couldn¡¯t live. ¡°He delivered goods for a lot of people.¡± Jian Sisi confessed truthfully. This woman lied too much, Shen Chi remained skeptical about every word she said. ¡°Has he ever delivered goods for Shen Shihan?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not really sure.¡± Jian Sisi was telling the truth this time, for she had little interest in Zhuo Fan¡¯s business dealings. No matter for whom Zhuo Fan was delivering goods or who he was doing business with, she never inquired. But she knew that Zhuo Fan loved money, hence he would take on almost any business, even if it meant transporting contraband. Seeing that Jian Sisi didn¡¯t seem to be lying, Shen Chi¡¯s gaze deepened as he asked, ¡°Do you know where he usually goes to deliver goods?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I don¡¯t know, I really don¡¯t know anything about Zhuo Fan¡¯s affairs,¡± Jian Sisi said with painful shakes of her head. It wasn¡¯t that she was unwilling to tell; she truly did not know¡­ Xiao Mo whispered in Shen Chi¡¯s ear, ¡°Mr. Shen, she seems to really not know.¡± ¡°Then tell me again, how many months is your child?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was low and hoarse, resounding with gravity! Jian Sisi knew she couldn¡¯t avoid this cmity, she lowered her head and stammered, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ four months¡­ Mr. Shen¡­ when did you start suspecting¡­ ¡±
Shen Chi did not speak, indeed, Jian Sisi¡¯s child was four months old. Xiao Mo said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want people to know, don¡¯t do it. Back then in the hospital, the matter with that recorder.¡± Jian Sisi remembered, indeed, Shen Chi had a huge reaction at that time, almost raging. That was the only time she had slipped up.
In Paris that night, she had managed to deceive Shen Chi, only that one time she was a bit too hasty. ¡°Confess the rest of it!¡± Shen Chimanded coldly. The dim light of the room shone on his figure, tall and straight like the King of Asuras from the gloom of night, exuding an aura of indifference all over. His and Xiao Mo¡¯s shadows were like two mountains, suffocating Jian Sisi to the point where she struggled to breathe. Jian Sisi copsed onto the cold ground, her hands still propping her up, but at Shen Chi¡¯s words, she went limp. Her hands hurt from the broken skin, and her heart seemed to pound uncontrobly. ¡°Mr. Shen, there¡¯s¡­ there¡¯s nothing else¡­¡± Jian Sisi stumbled over her words, ¡°Just that, I took some¡­ some documents out from thepany.¡± She had gone to the secretary¡¯s office that very evening to take some important documents. However, she had not expected to be caught by Shen Chi¡¯s people. This incident, Shen Chi and Xiao Mo had already anticipated, hence, the materials Jian Sisi took were useless! ¡°Continue,¡± Shen Chi looked at her. Shen Chi¡¯s gaze was razor-sharp, Jian Sisi did not dare to lie, nor even to let her eyes stray. She didn¡¯t want to die in this dark, deste room, she¡¯d had enough.
¡°Also, also, Mr. Shen, you and I¡­ have never been intimate¡­¡± Jian Sisi lowered her head. ¡°Be more specific!¡± Shen Chi frowned. Jian Sisi sat on the ground uneasily, in a low voice, she said, ¡°That night in Paris, you drank too much, and I slipped that drug into your drink. After the cooperation talk, I was supposed to help you to my room¡­¡± Shen Chi watched her, not a single slight expression on her face escaped his notice! Jian Sisi swallowed, and continued: ¡°But after I went to the bathroom, you had disappeared¡­¡± ¡°Later on, I looked for you for quite a while but couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes grew sharp ¨Cter on? That day, because it was his wedding anniversary with Xu Chaomu, he drank more than usual, and after taking the drugged drink, he felt unbearably hot, and his mind was a nk. He remembered being supported by someone and led to a room. Then, he pushed open that door and stepped in, darkness enveloped everything¡­ After that, he couldn¡¯t remember anything. No matter how hard he tried to recall, it just escaped him. ¡°Go on,¡± Shen Chi demanded. ¡°After a long time, I found out that you had entered a room and never came out. So I thought¡­ I thought¡­ there must have been a woman in that room¡­¡±
Jian Sisi¡¯s voice trailed off, she was telling the truth; after all, the drug she had given him that night was pretty strong. A woman? Shen Chi felt unsettled at the thought. He had slept with a woman and yet didn¡¯t know who she was! ¡°Who is that woman?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know¡­ I didn¡¯t hear anything the next day so¡­ so¡­¡± ¡°So what?!¡± Shen Chi was impatient. ¡°So¡­ it could have been a¡­ a prostitute or something¡­¡± Jian Sisi whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s face turned stern as he warned Jian Sisi first. He knew Shen Chi was a man of fastidiousness, untouched by the many women who threw themselves at him. Hearing Jian Sisi say this, would Shen Chi be able to sleep soundly ever again? Jian Sisi fell silent after being reprimanded by Xiao Mo. ¡°What happenedter?¡± Shen Chi inquired. ¡°Then you went downstairs, and I happened to be going down too, have you also forgotten this?¡± Jian Sisi said. Shen Chi¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, this he had not forgotten.
After going downstairs and catching some fresh air, washing his face, he had sobered up a bit. Later Jian Sisi caught up with him, and he thought the woman in the room had been Jian Sisi! Turns out, he had been deceived for over three months! However, if the woman in the room wasn¡¯t Jian Sisi, then who was she? In any case, it wasn¡¯t necessary for him to find out, no need to upset himself further. ¡°Mr. Shen, all I¡¯ve told you is the truth.¡± Jian Sisi lowered her head, ¡°At that time, I was already pregnant with Zhuo Fan¡¯s child, one month along.¡± Chapter 559: 559: Send Her to the Mental Hospital Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Send Her to the Mental Hospital Shen Chi remained silent, and Jian Sisi continued, ¡°We just thought of this move¡­¡± As soon as she finished speaking, her heart was inexplicably uneasy. Doing these things was like plucking hairs from a tiger¡¯s head¡ªa sheer act of recklessness. But once a person is tempted, they can¡¯t extricate themselves. With interests and money hanging before her eyes, she kept chasing after them, using every means at her disposal. Shen Chi¡¯s face remained grim, and Xiao Mo asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Jian Sisi shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m telling the truth, I didn¡¯t lie. President Shen, Secretary Xiao, although I did tell a lot of lies before, this time, I¡¯m not lying!¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s face was cold, ¡°Jian Sisi, just for the fact that you drugged President Shen, I could throw you out to feed the dogs!¡± ¡°No, please, don¡¯t. I¡¯m telling the truth. President Shen, I didn¡¯t intend to deceive you, and I¡¯m only telling you the truth now because you just said that as long as I tell the truth, you will spare me once.¡± Jian Sisi tried to crawl closer to Shen Chi, but Xiao Mo resolutely blocked her way, not allowing her to get anywhere near Shen Chi. ¡°President Shen, I won¡¯t cause you any trouble, I will leave C City, and I won¡¯t tell anyone I know you. Really, you can believe me.¡±
¡°You won¡¯t tell anyone?¡± Shen Chi sneered coldly. ¡°Yes, I swear, I will forget everything that happened in C City.¡± ¡°Jian Sisi, do you know what kind of person never speaks out of turn?¡± Shen Chi looked at her with cold eyes. Jian Sisi shivered, terrified and trembling. ¡°No, President Shen, please spare me this once, give me a way to live, please¡­¡± Jian Sisi cried, her wails piercing in the silence of the night, chilling to the bone. ¡°President Shen, please pity me, Zhuo Fan is dead, and I¡¯ve lost my child. It was just a moment of madness, I swear, I will rectify my ways, be a good person, and never deceive anyone again.¡± ¡°President Shen, please let me off¡­ for the four years I¡¯ve been by your side, spare me this time.¡± Shen Chi still didn¡¯t speak, and Jian Sisi then grabbed onto Xiao Mo¡¯s leg. ¡°Secretary Xiao, we¡¯ve been colleagues for four years, could you please plead for me, just this once? I know President Shen isn¡¯t that heartless, Secretary Xiao, you can understand my predicament, can¡¯t you¡­¡± Xiao Mo was impassive, he pushed Jian Sisi away, expressionless, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t sympathize with you.¡± It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured on her, Jian Sisi felt chilled from head to toe. She slumped onto the frigid ground, as if she had fallen into an ice cer. This cold, this despair, seeped into her bones from her body, slowly turning into pain¡­ No one was willing to help her; indeed, as the saying goes, you reap what you sow. When she stopped talking, the room once again fell into silence. A wind had picked up outside, blowing the bamboo leaves by the house and making a ¡°swoosh¡± sound that startled a few birds and crows resting on the bamboos. The crows cawed a few times and, with the wind, flew away. Shen Chi walked up to Jian Sisi, looming over her.
His icy gaze fell upon Jian Sisi, who was so scared that she kept scooting back, as if she were being slowly executed. ¡°Shen¡­ President Shen¡­¡± She retreated, and he closed in step by step. Until he cornered Jian Sisi with no way out! ¡°Shen¡­ President Shen¡­¡± Jian Sisi was shivering. She had never before seen such a terrifying look in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes.
¡°If you make a mistake, you have to pay the price,¡± Shen Chi said. Jian Sisi curled up in the corner, ¡°President Shen¡­ please let me off¡­ I was really just blinded by error¡­ I didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­ and I was instructed by Zhuo Fan¡­ I never thought of plotting against you¡­ really¡­¡± She held her trembling shoulders as tears fell once more. But Shen Chi had no pity for tears, especially Jian Sisi¡¯s. Xiao Mo sneered coldly; this woman really was heartless. Zhuo Fan was dead, and now she started using him as a shield. Wasn¡¯t she afraid that Zhuo Fan might climb out from underground at midnight? ¡°Since I¡¯ve promised you, I will leave you your life,¡± Shen Chi said. In Jian Sisi¡¯s eyes, hope flickered. She looked up, her eyes filled with anticipation. The dim light elongated Shen Chi¡¯s shadow. The man, even his shadow, was cold and chilling. She couldn¡¯t help trembling, shaking violently, not knowing what Shen Chi would say next. ¡°President Shen¡­¡± she looked at him. ¡°Xiao Mo.¡± ¡°President Shen, I¡¯m here,¡± Xiao Mo stepped forward,ing to Shen Chi¡¯s side.
¡°Cut off her tongue and throw her in the mental hospital!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s handsome face was full of chilling indifference. In the light, his features were sharp and shadowy, with a cold curve at the corner of his mouth, exuding an air of somber and untamed coldness. After speaking, he casually nced at Jian Sisi, who was slumped in the corner, his gaze sharp as a de. Turning, he left the room without looking back, his steps steady and firm! Jian Sisi was evidently stunned, only after Shen Chi left did she scream hysterically! ¡°President Shen, don¡¯t leave, you can¡¯t do this to me! I¡¯ve worked under you for four years, I was sincere, please forgive me¡­ President Shen, President Shen¡­¡± Jian Sisi stumbled to her feet, trying to chase after him! Xiao Mo, tall and formidable, blocked her path, extending his arm to stop her, and once again, he cornered her. ¡°Jian Sisi, do you also remember that you worked under President Shen for four years?¡± ¡°Secretary Xiao, I¡­ I was just bewitched for a moment. Could you please plead for me, just this once¡­ please¡­ I¡¯m begging you¡­¡± Jian Sisi clutched at Xiao Mo¡¯s clothes. Xiao Mo¡¯s clothes quickly wrinkled under her grasp, and her tears fell upon them too. ¡°Jian Sisi, this is already President Shen¡¯s leniency,¡± Xiao Mo said. ¡°No, you might as well kill me, I¡¯d rather die than go to a mental hospital!¡±
¡°Then die!¡± Xiao Mo uttered these four cold words, red at her once, and also walked out of the room. ¡°President Shen! Secretary Xiao!¡± Jian Sisi attempted to lunge forward. But Xiao Mo, quick and agile, swiftly closed the door to the room, locking Jian Sisi inside. Shen Chi was already outside, someone watching over the door. Xiao Mo said to them, ¡°Keep a close watch, report back to me immediately if anything happens.¡± ¡°Yes, we understand.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Xiao Mo also quickly left, pursuing the departing Shen Chi. Outside it was very dark, with barely a light hanging outside. This ce was already quite remote, devoid of people, lifeless. Surrounded on three sides by bamboo, one could hear only the ¡°swoosh¡± of the wind. Now, the wind blew, bringing with it a slight chill. Shen Chi was already standing outside, his tall silhouette in the moonlight, his back ramrod straight, emanating an aura of coldness.
Chapter 560: 560: The Fourth Young Master also likes Daughter Chapter 560: Chapter 560: The Fourth Young Master also likes Daughter His Maybach was parked not far away, with Xiao Mo walking up to stand by his side. Shen Chi had one hand in his trouser pocket and with the other, he took out a lighter to light up a cigarette. Xiao Mo found Shen Chi¡¯s thoughts quite elusive; what was this man thinking about now? Feeling that he had been too lenient with Jian Sisi? Xiao Mo stayed silent, just standing there with Shen Chi. Smoke curled around Shen Chi¡¯s side; his deep gaze turned skyward, fixing on the moon hanging aloft. ¡°President Shen, are you still thinking about Jian Sisi¡¯s matter?¡± After a long while, Xiao Mo finally spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about Shen Shihan¡¯s issue.¡± ¡°Zhuo Fan¡¯s lead has gone cold, but I¡¯ve also been tracking down that truck fromst time.¡± ¡°Any results?¡±
¡°Vice President Shen is very shrewd. When I went to check on the truck, I found out it had already been destroyed.¡± ¡°With that batch of goods in his hands, it¡¯s as if he has umted another huge sum of money.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my mistake; I will speed up the process,¡± Xiao Mo apologized. The more funds Shen Shihan gathered, the greater the threat to Shen Group and Shen Chi. ¡°I asked you to check on Xu Chaomu¡¯s information; how is iting along?¡± Shen Chi took a drag from his cigarette and turned to look at Xiao Mo. ¡°I didn¡¯t find much, just scattered bits and pieces, only some basic stuff. I¡¯ll sort through it and send it to you.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± The cigarette in Shen Chi¡¯s hand was nearly reduced to ashes. He took a drag, then threw the butt to the ground. ck leather shoes stepped on it, grinding the cigarette stub out. He strode towards his Maybach, opened the door, and settled into the driver¡¯s seat. Xiao Mo followed over: ¡°President Shen, let me drive you¡­¡± ¡°No need,¡± Shen Chi closed the car window. ¡°Then take care,¡± Xiao Mo bent over. Shen Chi stepped on the gas and turned the steering wheel, driving the car out of this deste area. He nced at his watch; it was already half-past nine in the evening. The Maybach quickly disappeared from sight, and Xiao Mo watched until Shen Chi was gone before getting into his own car. In the Shen Family vi, Xu Chaomu had been learning to knit a sweater with Butler Ling. Butler Ling taught with patience, and Xu Chaomu learned with earnestness. ¡°No, no, thisce should be hooked like this,¡± Butler Ling showed Xu Chaomu how to do it by hand.
¡°Oh!¡± Xu Chaomu had an epiphany. As Butler Ling watched on, Xu Chaomu knitted beside her, the pink sweater already a small halfway done. ¡°Chaomu, thece pattern you¡¯re knitting is suitable for a young girl,¡± Butler Ling said. ¡°I have a little girl in my belly,¡± Xu Chaomuughed.
¡°Really? Have you checked?¡± Butler Ling looked at Xu Chaomu affectionately. After returning five yearster, there had been no one else in the Shen Family; she always treated Shen Chi and Xu Chaomu like her own children. Especially Xu Chaomu, an orphan girl, she was even more willing to act as her mother, listening to her share thoughts from her heart. So, most of the time, she was on Xu Chaomu¡¯s side. If Shen Chi bullied Xu Chaomu, she was more likely to side with her. ¡°No¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said, shaking her head with a smile. ¡°Then how can you be sure it¡¯s a girl? Maybe it¡¯s a boy, or even twins!¡± Butler Lingughed. However, the chances of twins were not very high; after all, it had been over three months, and Xu Chaomu¡¯s belly wasn¡¯t very big. One could barely tell she was pregnant in summer clothes; in winter, it wouldn¡¯t be noticeable at all. ¡°Butler Ling, you¡¯re just trying to make me feel happy.¡± A sweet smile appeared on Xu Chaomu¡¯s face, wishing for twins would be nice, but unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t the case. She unfolded the sweater in her hands and said with augh, ¡°No matter if it¡¯s a boy or a girl, they have to wear what their mom knits. If they dare toin, spank them.¡± Butler Ling alsoughed: ¡°If it¡¯s a boy, he¡¯s going to cry wearing your sweater.¡±
The sweater Xu Chaomu was knitting was not only pink but it also had many prettyces, clearly meant for a girl. ¡°Dare to cry, I¡¯ll spank him,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. ¡°Chaomu, do you hope for a boy or a girl?¡± Butler Ling asked. ¡°A girl,¡± Xu Chaomu replied without hesitation, effortlessly. ¡°The Fourth Master also likes daughters.¡± Butler Ling sighed internally; if the child in Xu Chaomu¡¯s belly was Shen Chi¡¯s, it would have been wonderful. It¡¯s a pity, many things are not so perfect. The only relief was that Xu Chaomu stayed by Shen Chi¡¯s side. Although, even she didn¡¯t know if Xu Chaomu truly wished to stay or was forced to. What about the future? When the child is born, what would the biological father do? At that time, what will the Fourth Master do? Xu Chaomu, however, was carefree, continuing to knit her sweater, oblivious to Butler Ling¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Chaomu, are you hungry? Let me make you some snacks,¡± Butler Ling offered. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet, I ate a lot for dinner.¡±
Butler Ling nodded, sitting beside Xu Chaomu, continuing to watch her knit the sweater. ¡°Butler Ling, what do you think Shen Chi is out doing sote?¡± Xu Chaomu asked casually, as if the thought just urred to her. ¡°It could be a social engagement, or possibly work-rted matters.¡± ¡°Before¡­ was he always this busy at night?¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s tone was casual again, seemingly just an offhand question. Butler Ling knew exactly what this ¡°before¡± meant¡ªXu Chaomu was probably referring to those five years¡­ ¡°Back then, the Fourth Master would usuallye back around dawn, sometimes he wouldn¡¯t return the whole night.¡± ¡°Quite an active nightlife,¡± Xu Chaomu stated tly. Though she said so, her heart ached a bit. Who called him smart? He¡¯s just an idiot, aplete fool! Butler Ling had told her before that when Shen Chi didn¡¯te home, he was usually out socializing or drinking. Drinking until he had a bleeding stomach, drinking until migraines set in. During those five years without her, that¡¯s how he tormented himself, pushing himself to the brink of death. ¡°Since you came back, the Fourth Master has a more regr life, which puts me at ease,¡± Butler Ling said.
During those five years, Butler Ling worried every day, fearing that if she wasn¡¯t careful, Shen Chi would end up in hospital again. She remembered the six months right after Xu Chaomu left; Shen Chi was almost in the hospital monthly. The doctor repeatedly warned him not to drink, but it was as if he was deaf. At that time, Shen Chi was exactly someone no one dared to counsel. Xu Chaomu and Butler Ling talked for a while longer; most of the time, Butler Ling spoke while she listened. Around nine o¡¯clock, Xu Chaomu put away her things: ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m going to go upstairs to sleep.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make you a cup of milk. Drink it before sleep; it¡¯s good for your sleep.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, packed away the yarn, and headed upstairs. She guessed Shen Chi wouldn¡¯te back tonight. These few days, they hadn¡¯t spoken much; she didn¡¯t know whether this man¡¯s jealousy had subsided yet. Chapter 561: 561: Dont Come to My Room at Night Chapter 561: Chapter 561: Don¡¯t Come to My Room at Night Xu Chaomu and Butler Ling chatted for a while, mostly with Butler Ling talking and her listening. Around nine o¡¯clock, Xu Chaomu packed up her things, ¡°Butler Ling, I¡¯m going upstairs to sleep.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make you a cup of milk. Drinking one before sleep is good for your sleep.¡± Xu Chaomu nodded, gathered her knitting yarn, and walked upstairs. She guessed that Shen Chi wouldn¡¯te back tonight. These past few days, she hadn¡¯t spoken much to him and didn¡¯t know if his jealousy had subsided. After taking a bath, Xu Chaomu drank the milk and then leaned on the bed to read a book about design for a while. She had received a call from Shen Group during the day, asking her to start work in the design department next Monday. She was quite happy about it¡ªgoing to work was better than staying at home. Moreover, she loved doing design work, which was one of her hobbies. After reading for a while and her eyelids began to fight each other, she turned off the light and drowsily fell asleep in her pajamas. She didn¡¯t know how long she had slept when a kiss, cold and tinged with the smell of smoke, woke her from her sleep.
¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xu Chaomu made a sound and weakly tried to push him away. In the darkness, the man was persistent, one hand firmly holding her shoulders still. His cool hand met her warm skin, which instantly woke her up, and she began to resist, pushing against him. ¡°Don¡¯t move¡­¡± His voice was deep and husky. His hot breath enveloped her ear. He must have juste back from outside, as his shirt was cool to the touch. She didn¡¯t smell alcohol on him, only a faint tobo scent. Without turning on the light and guided by the slivers of moonlight on the curtain, he kissed her lips¡­ She resisted, pushing against him. Besides that one time at the Paris hotel, she hadn¡¯t been touched by anyone. In the end, she wasn¡¯tfortable. But Shen Chi didn¡¯t allow it. His domineering hand pressed down on her shoulder, giving her no chance to resist. Moreover, whenever Xu Chaomu tried to speak, Shen Chi would kiss her deeply, preventing her from talking. In the dark, besides the scent of tobo on his body, there was the faint smell of herbs and woods, unchanged throughout all these years. Xu Chaomu grabbed his clothes, and in a daze, she somewhat remembered that night in Paris. That night, this man was just as domineering, never giving her the chance to take the initiative. That night, she remembered he took her many times¡­ Remembering this, her cheeks burned even more fiercely, scalding hot. It wasn¡¯t until she was gasping for breath that he let her go¡­ ¡°Shen¡­ Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu called his name in a daze. She had intended to ask him to get up, but instead, she blushed and the words vanished the moment they reached her lips.
Hearing her voice and feeling her allure, he became even more unrestrained. Xu Chaomu grabbed his wrist¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m still carrying the baby¡­¡± she said with a pleading tone. Sure enough, Shen Chi¡¯s movements ceased, and all further actions abruptly stopped.
He didn¡¯t say a word, removed his hands from her body, and got out of the bed. Suddenly, the intertwining breaths in the room were gone, leaving only silence. Xu Chaomu straightened out her pajamas and reached out to turn on the bedside wallmp. With the light on, she squinted her eyes to look. The orange glow of themp drew a straight line down the man¡¯s back, his figure appearing slightly forlorn. He didn¡¯t look back, preparing to walk toward the door. ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± she bit her lip, her voice tinged with embarrassment. ¡°Sleep well,¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t say much, leaving just four words in a hoarse and gentle voice. Xu Chaomu twisted and interlocked her hands. She wasn¡¯t a little girl ignorant of everything; she knew how tough it must be for a man to stop at a time like that. But she¡­ had no other choice. Just as Shen Chi¡¯s hand touched the doorknob, Xu Chaomu flung off the duvet, got out of bed barefoot, and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. Her cheek pressed against his back, his body stiffened instantly. ¡°Let go.¡± Shen Chi gritted his teeth.
¡°Then¡­ then¡­ maybe I¡­ I could help you¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned beet red, and she quickly lowered her head. She had mustered all her courage; she was worried about his difort. Shen Chi was also taken aback, not expecting Xu Chaomu to say such a thing. He kept a stern face and pried her fingers loose, ¡°You go to sleep.¡± After that, Shen Chi pushed her away, opened the door, and left Xu Chaomu¡¯s room. Standing next to a mirror, Xu Chaomu nced unintentionally after Shen Chi left and realized her face was already flushed red. It seemed¡­ a little embarrassing. She touched her burning cheek, quickly turned off the light, and dove back under the covers. Back in bed, her heart was still pounding rapidly, ¡°thump thump,¡± an unfamiliar sensation. Disturbed by Shen Chi, how could Xu Chaomu sleep now? She clutched the corner of the quilt, tossing and turning restlessly. A heart that had long been dormant was now fully ignited, like grass sprouting rapidly under the caress of spring wind. That night, Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t sleep peacefully, waking up in the morning with dark circles under her eyes. When she went downstairs, the instigator was eating breakfast elegantly and leisurely.
He had rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt to his elbows and was skillfully cutting a piece of bread with a knife and fork. As Xu Chaomu came downstairs, she awkwardly nced at him. He, on the other hand, seemed carefree, keeping his head down as he ate. ¡°Good morning,¡± Xu Chaomu greeted, sitting opposite him. ¡°Morning.¡± Xu Chaomu picked a few of her favorite items and also lowered her head to eat. Shen Chi slid the sliced bread towards her, ¡°Try this.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu epted. When she looked up, she met Shen Chi¡¯s gaze. For a moment, she quickly looked down again. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep wellst night?¡± Shen Chimented indifferently, noticing the heavy dark circles under Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes. Xu Chaomu inwardly grumbled, ¡®You have the nerve to ask.¡¯ Ignoring him, she pouted and continued her meal. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked again.
¡°Let¡¯s talk about something,¡± Xu Chaomu put down her fork, looking at him discontentedly. ¡°Hmm?¡± he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯te to my room at night anymore.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Chi understood, but then added, ¡°You don¡¯t like it on the bed.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m a light sleeper. If youe at night, it will disturb me,¡± Xu Chaomu replied irritably, taken aback by his ¡°don¡¯t like it on the bed¡± remark. ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi replied with disdain, ¡°I seem to recall some people sleep just like a pet pig once they¡¯re down.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the pet pig, your whole family are pet pigs,¡± Xu Chaomu huffed. Disturbed by himst night and not sleeping well, and now he¡¯s acting like nothing happened. Calling her a pet pig¡­ ¡°That includes you in my family,¡± hemented coolly. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was at a loss for words, her mouth twitching¡ªright, that seemed¡­ true. Seeing her crestfallen expression, the corners of Shen Chi¡¯s mouth curled up with a meaningful smile. ¡°After breakfast, take a walk outside, it¡¯s good for the baby,¡± Shen Chi said. Chapter 562: Arbitrary and Unreasonable Chapter 562: Chapter 562: Arbitrary and Unreasonable ¡°You¡¯re the pet pig, your whole family are pet pigs,¡± Xu Chaomu snorted coldly. What the heck, she didn¡¯t sleep wellst night because of him, and now he¡¯s acting as if nothing happened. And he called her a pet pig¡­ ¡°My whole family includes you,¡± someone said indifferently. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was at a loss for words, her lips twitching involuntarily, it seemed¡­ true. Shen Chi saw her deted expression and the corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly, forming a meaningful arc. ¡°Take a walk after breakfast, it¡¯s good for the child,¡± Shen Chi said. Xu Chaomu spread some jam on her bread, noticing that Shen Chi was oddly considerate of her today; it seemed he was no longer jealous. ¡°Are you going to thepany today?¡± Xu Chaomu asked. ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Chaomu knew he usually left early in the morning, by the time she got up, he had usually been gone for quite a while. Today, she got up early due to her poor sleep, which was the reason she was having breakfast with him. Seeing her head bowed, he lifted his eyes to her: ¡°Do you want me to apany you?¡± ¡°No need, Dabai¡¯spany is enough.¡± ¡°Hmm, when I am free, I will help you bring Wealth back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get it myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to,¡± said Shen Chi coldly, his sharp gaze stabbing at her. Xu Chaomu, startled, quickly retracted her forting words. This man was just being unreasonably domineering. She was just going to pick up a dog, and she imagined that in his head, he had probably concocted numerous terrible scenarios, such that she would be flirtatiously involved with Nie Chenng. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will bring it back for you and check out just how ugly that dog is.¡± ¡°My Wealth is very cute, you can¡¯t talk about it like that,¡± Xu Chaomu said, displeased. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have chosen a nicer name? It¡¯s so tacky,¡± Shen Chi disdained. ¡°I¡¯m poor, so I want to be wealthy, is that so wrong?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°That settles it then. And by the way, if you find my tastes too low-ss, you don¡¯t have to stick around me and let me drag you down,¡± Xu Chaomu quipped unremittingly, ¡°Right, your little mistress has quite the refined tastes: she can climb balconies, jump off buildings, get pregnant, and start fights.¡± She, of course, was referring to Jian Sisi. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know how the woman was doing now. She couldn¡¯t understand how Jian Sisi ended up pregnant with Shen Chi¡¯s child. Either Jian Sisi was lying, or Shen Chi was lying. ¡°She miscarried the child,¡± Shen Chi said tly, devoid of emotion. Xu Chaomu paused with her cutlery, looking up at Shen Chi. Miscarried? ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, you¡¯re still young, you¡¯ll have plenty of children,¡± Xu Chaomu hurriedly consoled him. ¡°Jian Sisi¡¯s child wasn¡¯t mine!¡± Shen Chi nearly shouted. ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu replied, her tone light. She knew it, Jian Sisi¡¯s child was never Shen Chi¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re hoping that I father a child with another woman?¡± Shen Chi asked coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not that jealous.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Chi became even more furious. He mmed down his fork and stood up, approaching her quickly. With one swift move, he caught her and pushed her against the wall! ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m eating breakfast!¡± Xu Chaomu said angrily. ¡°Xu Chaomu, you seem rather keen on your husband cheating, huh?¡± Shen Chi pressed one hand against the wall, pinning her in ce. ¡°You¡­ you men always seem to think¡­ the women outside are better¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s voice got softer and softer, and softer. ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going¡­¡± Xu Chaomu crouched down, and as she did, she slipped out from his grasp. Slipping back to the dining table, she continued with her breakfast. Shen Chi really overreacted, it was just a joke. She had forgotten that he was a man with a smaller heart than a needle. Xu Chaomu pierced a piece of fruit cake with her fork and held it up to his mouth to appease him. ¡°Nah, don¡¯t be angry.¡± ¡°Childish,¡± Shen Chi refused. ¡°Don¡¯t eat it then,¡± she said, and to vex him further, Xu Chaomu deliberately bit into the piece of cake on the fork right in front of him. Shen Chi gave her a look and grabbed her wrist, bowing his head and savagely eating the remaining half of the cake from the fork. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry at this proud man. After eating, Shen Chi calmed down and returned to his seat. Xu Chaomu asked nonchntly, ¡°How did her childe to be lost?¡± ¡°She was careless,¡± Shen Chi said lightly, his words concise. He didn¡¯t want to share theplicated twists and turns with her, fearful that if he did, she would worry. For instance, he hadn¡¯t told her about the injury on his arm that resulted from his confrontation with Shen Shihan. ¡°Whose child was it then?¡± Xu Chaomu was curious. ¡°Her first love¡¯s,¡± he replied. ¡°Oh, she still has a first love. Then why did she im it was yours?¡± ¡°She wanted to marry me.¡± Xu Chaomu burst intoughter: ¡°You really don¡¯t do modesty. Now that she¡¯s deceived you, what do you n to do?¡± Xu Chaomu thought, anyone who dared to deceive Shen Chi probably wouldn¡¯t have a good fate. ¡°Xiao Mo is handling it, it¡¯s none of your business, eat your breakfast!¡± Shen Chi cast a frosty nce her way. Xu Chaomu prodded the bread in front of her, repeating the action, then said faintly, ¡°Shen Chi, if I ever lie to you, what will you do? Will my end be very miserable?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t get out of bed!¡± Shen Chi replied coldly. ¡°¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s mouth twitched, damn it. After a while, Shen Chi finished his breakfast, and Xu Chaomu slowly finished hers as well. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m starting work at thepany next Monday, are you happy?¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Happy,¡± the person said indifferently, his face void of expression. ¡°So fake,¡± Xu Chaomu rolled her eyes, really, so fake. Shen Chi casually wiped his hands and walked upstairs. How could he be fake? She would never have gotten through thest round of the interviews if he hadn¡¯t personally called the head of the design department for her. ¡°Come up here,¡± Shen Chi nced at her. ¡°What is it?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked, not daring to go up easily. ¡°When I tell you toe up, youe up, what¡¯s with all the nonsense!¡± Shen Chi also had a temper. But with Xu Chaomu, he was a lot more restrained than usual. If it were anyone else, would they dare not listen to him after being told once? Xu Chaomu pouted, gave Shen Chi a white look, and slowly followed behind him upstairs. Shen Chi walked ahead at a slow pace; he was waiting for her. Xu Chaomu, however, walked even slower, on purpose. Impatient, Shen Chi turned back a few steps, grabbed her small hand with hisrge one, and together they went upstairs. ¡°Slow down, slow down, can¡¯t you be a little gentler?¡± Xu Chaomu muttered. ¡°You¡¯ve known me long enough not to expect that.¡± Xu Chaomu ¡°tsked,¡± alright, alright, he had never been gentle since the day they met. She even remembered being thrown to the ground by him, with her bottom aching for days. Such a man,pletely devoid of the gentleness towards women! Shen Chi led her upstairs to his bedroom. He opened the wardrobe for ties, which was filled with ties of many colors, all neatly arranged and nearly all brand new. Chapter 563: Unexpected Misunderstandings (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Chapter 563: Chapter 563: Unexpected Misunderstandings (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Shen Chi nced at the ties, his slender fingers dancing between them. ¡°Which one looks good?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at the ties, then at Shen Chi¡¯s white shirt, and pointed at a dark gray tie. ¡°This one.¡± Shen Chi took it out and asked Xu Chaomu, ¡°Do you know how to tie a tie?¡± Xu Chaomu shook her head. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Try it.¡± Shen Chi handed the tie to her. Xu Chaomu was taken aback. She had said she was not adept, yet he was still letting her tie it? Wasn¡¯t he afraid she would do it terribly? Holding the high-quality tie, Xu Chaomu had no choice but to bite the bullet and do it for him. She was much shorter than Shen Chi, so he bowed his head as she raised her hands. Having seen various ways to tie a tie in design books, she chose the mostmon one. They were so close that Shen Chi¡¯s hot breath tangled at her nose. Xu Chaomu¡¯s face turned red, and she couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous. With the anxiety came a tremble in her hands, and she failed to get it right several times. Her heart pounded furiously, but Shen Chi was quiteposed, eyes lowered as he watched her. Every time she blinked, her long, thick eyshes would flutter, her cheeks blushing with nervousness. He just looked at her, feeling a desire surge through his body. Xu Chaomu tried several times without sess; she really had never tied a tie for a man before. Helpless, she spread her hands. ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I don¡¯t know how!¡± Shen Chi grabbed her hand, teaching her hand over hand. ¡°Learn a little, you¡¯re so clumsy.¡± Xu Chaomu tried to pull her hand away with force, but Shen Chi held on. He took her hand, wrapped it around the tie, and in a few moments, the tie was done. ¡°Got it now?¡± ¡°No,¡± Xu Chaomu shrugged. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re in charge of the tie in the mornings before work. Tie it a few more times, and for sure you¡¯ll learn,¡± Shen Chi said, patting her cheek. After speaking, Shen Chi walked to the mirror to check himself out. It looked good. Seeing how awkward she was with the task, it seemed she hadn¡¯t tied a tie for anyone during her five years abroad. As Xu Chaomu looked down, she suddenly spotted an old, dark blue tie in the tie cab. She took it out absentmindedly. This¡­ wasn¡¯t this the one she bought back then? The one she gave him¡­ he had kept it. Shen Chi turned around just as Xu Chaomu picked up that tie. ¡°Do you know what it means to give a man a tie?¡± he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his warm breath swirling in her ear. Her ear tickled, and she turned her head slightly to avoid him. She remembered, five years ago, he had told her. Giving a man a tie meant ¡°I want to have you.¡± Back then, although only eighteen years old, she loved him, regardless of anything else. Ever since he told her that, she never gave a tie to any other man again. In this lifetime, no other man ever entered her heart again. Xu Chaomu smiled, grabbed his tie with a backhanded grip, and gave it a fierce tug, a mischievousugh following, ¡°I want to strangle you.¡± ¡°Naughty,¡± Shen Chi alsoughed. He pushed her against the closet, bent down, and a punishing kissnded on her. Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t dodge and simply let him kiss her until he was satisfied, only then did he let her go. The kiss was neither long nor short. During the kiss, she clearly felt the heating from his body. He had ignited the fire himself; she couldn¡¯t be med. Once he had his fill, he caressed her cheek and slightly curved his lips, ¡°Be more proactive next time.¡± ¡°Do you still need to go to thepany?¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him towards the door. ¡°The dark circles are too prominent. I should get some good sleep at home,¡± Shen Chi said, patting her face before finally leaving the room. Xu Chaomu watched him all the way to the door, where the butler was already waiting outside. Shen Chi got into the car, and Xu Chaomu waved at him. Butler Cheng, seeing the two of them getting along so amicably, was quite pleased. Especially Xu Chaomu, who waited until Shen Chi¡¯s car had driven away before turning back. As soon as Shen Chi arrived at thepany, Xiao Mo came into his office with a stack of documents. Xiao Mo nced at his watch; Shen Chi had arrived quite a bitter than usual today. Seeing the smile on Shen Chi¡¯s lips was truly rare. At thepany, Shen Chi was always cold and serious. Seeing him smile was harder than reaching the heavens. Taking advantage of Shen Chi¡¯s good mood, Xiao Mo quickly brought in a stack of documents. ¡°President Shen, here¡¯s the Lin Group¡¯s g invitation for your review.¡± ¡°President Shen, here¡¯s the contract from Jianlin Bank for your signature.¡± ¡°President Shen, here¡¯s the financial report fromst month for your review.¡± ¡­ ¡°That¡¯s enough, just leave them there.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Mo put the whole pile of documents on Shen Chi¡¯s desk, still holding onto a stack that wasn¡¯t too thick. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°This is¡­ the information about your wife from the five years she spent abroad,¡± Xiao Mo said respectfully as he handed over the documents. A strange emotion appeared in Shen Chi¡¯s eyes as he reached out to take them. ¡°Since it¡¯s been five years, the data isn¡¯t veryplete,¡± Xiao Mo admitted truthfully. Shen Chi flipped through the pages. Xiao Mo had sorted them very clearly, from when Xu Chaomu first went to Paris up until her return to C City, allid out in order. ¡°That will be all, you can go now.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xiao Mo nodded. ¡°Wait, she¡¯ll start working at thepany next week. Make the arrangements,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°I understand, President Shen,¡± Xiao Mo knew who ¡°she¡± was in Shen Chi¡¯s words. But once Xu Chaomu started working at thepany, President Shen would probably wear a smile every day. Xiao Mo closed the door for Shen Chi and left the CEO office. Shen Chi leaned back in the leather chair, flipping through the file. His brows furrowed from the first page. When Xu Chaomu first arrived in Paris, she was nearly destitute, leaving her mark in many restaurants, construction sites, bakeries¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s chest ached, at first dull, but the more he read, the more it felt as though his heart was being twisted by a knife. The location of his heart seemed to have been viciously stabbed, bleeding profusely. He knew she must have suffered greatly, but the raw data before him made it difficult to breathe from the pain. The girl he had cherished for eight years had handed out flyers on the streets, washed dishes in restaurants, and cleaned shops¡­ Back then, he wouldn¡¯t even let her serve dinner! He had no idea how she had survived that period. The documents showed that five years ago, she had been hospitalized. The one who paid for her hospital bills was Nie Chenng. He guessed that it must have been during that time that Xu Chaomu met Nie Chenng. Looking at the date of her discharge from the hospital, a sudden realization struck him ¨C he was in the same hospital that day! Shen Chi¡¯s heartache intensified at the thought¡­ it seemed that fate had mistakenly kept them apart for five whole years. His memory revived, and he remembered why he seemed to have seen Xu Chaomu at the hospital that day! Chapter 564: 564: Spring Breeze for Ten Miles, No Match for You Chapter 564: Chapter 564: Spring Breeze for Ten Miles, No Match for You Back then, he had searched for her for a long time, firmly believing his eyes hadn¡¯t deceived him. But the fact was, he hadn¡¯t found her. It turned out, he had once brushed past her. Those five years, ultimately, were the greatest punishment she had imposed on him¡­ Fortunately, he waited for her for five years and finally weed her back; otherwise, how lonely and deste his life would be. A gentle spring breeze couldn¡¯tpare to you. He flipped through the information in his hands, and saw that since she met Nie Chenng, her life had improved a lot. Nie Chenng even found her a good university and got her into a design program. Most of the information that followed was about her time at school, likely obtained by Xiao Mo through someone at her school. Her life at school was simple¡ªsometimes working part-time at the library, sometimes participating in projects with her tutor, asionally traveling with Nie Chenng. Her days abroad were indeedfortable, filled with beautiful moments and leisure. No wonder she didn¡¯t want to return to the country.
The information contained only cold statistics¡ªhe really wanted to know, during those five years, did she ever think of him? If he hadn¡¯t forced her after returning to C City, would she have married Nie Chenng? However, he never dared to ask her for he feared the answer wouldn¡¯t be what he wanted. As he gazed at the first few pages, it was as if des were shing through his heart, once, twice¡­ cutting until he was bloodied and covered in wounds. There was also the time she ended up on the streets, caught by people shooting pornographic films. Eventually, she set a fire and managed to escape¡­ He could hardly bear to imagine, if she hadn¡¯t escaped¡­ But he had said that no matter what she became, he would cherish her because she was the love of his life. After looking for a long time, he closed the dossier and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes in contemtion. His forehead was tightly furrowed, and he lightly massaged his temples with one hand. His head ached. The hardships she had endured over those five years were no less than his own. He even saw that the records indicated she had visited a psychologist during her school days. The incident on the Sumatra Ind ferry had inflicted endless trauma on her. He didn¡¯t know whether those wounds had healed after five years. Some people appear carefree and untroubled, not because they have no worries, but because they bury all their concerns deep within their hearts. Xu Chaomu was such a person. If he hadn¡¯t looked up this information, would she ever have told him¡­ Just like thest time they were washing vegetables, when he asked her if life had been good for her, she told him that she had had a good life during those five years. This was her so-called ¡°good life.¡± Shen Chi pondered with his eyes closed for a long time, with the image of Xu Chaomu lingering before him. Her every frown and smile, every look, every gesture, all resurfaced in his mind.
This girl, having endured so much, still refrained from speaking a word of it to him. Did she still see him as her brother? Did she still consider him her husband? Were there still some knots in her heart from the events of five years ago? For instance, the fact that his mother, Zhou Ran, had caused the death of her mother¡­
Shen Chi dared not think further; he feared that if these grievances were to resurface one day, could she still stay with him in good conscience? No one could get over such an obstacle, and Xu Chaomu had only buried it deep inside her heart, not forgotten it. Could she ever get past a grudge stained with blood? The image of Xu Chaomu¡¯s pure face emerged once again before him, and his heart clenched. Gradually, he took out his cell phone and dialed the Shen Family¡¯s number. The butler, Ling, answered. ¡°Fourth Young Master.¡± ¡°Is Chaomu there?¡± Shen Chi spoke faintly. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s here. I¡¯ll go get her for the phone.¡± ¡°Wait, what is she doing?¡± ¡°Taking a walk in the garden.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disturb her, then.¡± ¡°All right, Fourth Young Master.¡±
¡°Mhm.¡± Shen Chi asked a few brief questions and then hung up the call. The butler was somewhat puzzled; she didn¡¯t understand Shen Chi¡¯s intent. He had just left the Shen residence not long ago; was he missing Xu Chaomu so soon? Or was it¡­ a check-up? Hearing the downcast tone in Shen Chi¡¯s voice, it didn¡¯t seem like a check-up; it sounded more like missing her. After hanging up the call, Shen Chi started to go through the files in front of him. After locking Xu Chaomu¡¯s records of the past five years in the cab, he appeared distracted and out of sorts. Even during work, the image of Xu Chaomu constantly surfaced in his mind. This state of mind persisted until the afternoon. Luckily, there were no meetings today nor did he need to go anywhere else. In the afternoon, he remembered the text messages from a stranger he had seen on Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone. He stood up and walked out of the CEO¡¯s office. He went to the parking garage and drove his Maybach towards a summer resort. The closer he got to the summer resort, the more beautiful the scenery became. Both sides of the road were nked by lush trees, with sunlight refracting through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The green banyan trees covered most of the sun, making the ce particrly cool. Wildflowers grew beneath the trees, exuding a faint scent, blooming vibrantly.
Butterflies perched on the wildflowers and, when disturbed by passing cars, would p their wings and fly elsewhere. The ecosystem here was excellent, and everything was in its natural and wild state. For instance, it was very easy to see a plump squirrel scurrying and leaping from one tree to another. It was nearing evening, but the sun had no intention of setting,zily hanging in the sky, its fading heat still intense. Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach sped along the road, the car¡¯s speed at its maximum on the nearly deserted road! The rows of trees rapidly receded into the background as Shen Chi¡¯s Maybach screamed through the air! Finally, the outline of the summer resort came into view! The scenery was exceptionally pleasant, especially suitable for convalescence and retirement. Outside the summer resort were severalrge fountain pools, with water jetting high into the air and beads of water sshing into the pool, akin to pearls dropping onto a jade te. The closer the car drove inward, the louder became the ¡°whooshing¡± sound of the fountains. There were very few people outside the summer resort, just a few security guards patrolling back and forth. Having visited several times, Shen Chi parked his car effortlessly in the garage. His father, Shen Cexian, owned a separate vi here; although not frequently upied, it was extravagantly and exquisitely decorated.
Shen Chi entered the summer resort, and indeed, it was much cooler than outside, with temperatures five to six degrees lower. The resort was vast; upon enteringy a several hundred square meterwn. It was fully equipped with facilities like a golf course, a swimming pool, a billiard room¡­ and various architectural styles. At this hour, his father should be in the vi within the resort. Indeed, as he approached the vi¡¯s entrance, a servant bowed, ¡°Fourth Young Master.¡± ¡°Where is my father?¡± ¡°The Master is on the second-floor balcony.¡± Without saying a word, Shen Chi walked straight inside. ¡°Fourth Young Master, let me announce your arrival¡­¡± The servant attempted to stop Shen Chi. Chapter 565: 565: United Hearts, United Crisis Chapter 565: Chapter 565: United Hearts, United Crisis ¡°Move aside!¡± Shen Chi gave a cold nce and pushed past him, heading straight into the vi along the steps. The servant dared not stop him any longer. Although he didn¡¯t see Shen Chi often, he had heard that Shen Chi had a bad temper. The vi was Western-style, with a strong Western vor throughout. Expensive oil paintings adorned the walls, the interior railings were gilded with ayer of dazzling gold, and there was even a vintage gramophone on the table¡­ Shen Chi didn¡¯t have time to look at these things as he headed straight to the second-floor balcony, where he caught sight of his father¡¯s back. Shen Cexian sat in a wheelchair, a cane beside him. In just a few years, his hair had turned mostly white, and his figure appeared old and forlorn. But what surprised Shen Chi was that his mother¡ªZhou Ran¡ªwas also there. Time seemed to have left no trace on Zhou Ran¡¯s appearance; she was still beautiful, with a slender figure and ck hair. She stood by Shen Cexian¡¯s side, standing the entire time.
No one spoke; the afterglow of the sunset cast an orange halo over them. ¡°Aran, thank you for keeping mepany for half the day,¡± Shen Cexian said. ¡°I just had a whim, missing the scenery here,¡± Zhou Ran replied with the same pride in her tone. Shen Cexian smiled helplessly and slowly said, ¡°The scenery here doesn¡¯t change often. Will you note again in the future?¡± ¡°Depends on my mood. If I¡¯m happy, I mighte over.¡± Shen Cexian stopped talking, resting his hands on the wheelchair and quietly observing the scenery before him. Zhou Ran stood by his side, also silently taking in everything before her. From the balcony, one could see a majestic mountain in the distance. Above the mountain, the contours of thendscape blended with the sky, wreathed in cold, green smoke and mist, the vegetation lush and verdant. The magnificent mountain seemed to connect with the sky, and asionally flocks of wild geese flew over, their cries echoing loudly. The height of the mountain blocked the view; closer was an endless stretch of grasnd. The grass was lush and green, emitting a faint fragrance, refreshing to the soul. There was no human activity on the grasnd, just a few dogs or a couple of cats passing by. There were also some white rabbits that hopped by from time to time. The scene before them created a picturesque and idyllic atmosphere, like a vision of ¡°picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge, leisurely beholding the southern hills.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes sharpened, his dark pupils suddenly constricting. He quietly positioned himself not far behind them. Neither Zhou Ran nor Shen Cexian was aware of Shen Chi¡¯s presence; the two stood in silence. A pair of red ¡®double happiness¡¯ knots hung on the wall to the left of Zhou Ran, swaying with the breeze that flowed in through the window. Double happiness knots, double happiness ordeals. Shen Chi couldn¡¯t remember thest time his parents had stood together. Since he had any memory, his parents rarely spoke to each other; both were hot-tempered and neither would concede to the other. Each had been proud for most of their lives, and yet, in their twilight years, they could still stand side by side.
The scene before him was exceedingly harmonious. It¡¯s just a pity that he wasn¡¯t here to view the scenery. ¡°Stay tonight, I will make some dishes,¡± Shen Cexian said, his tone carrying a plea. ¡°With your health, can you still cook?¡± Zhou Ran retorted, none too kindly.
Shen Cexian grimaced with a wry smile¡ªindeed. After a long silence, Shen Cexian spoke again: ¡°Aran, that photo I gave you five years ago, do you still have it?¡± That photo of them with Xu Mengxi¡ªShen Cexian still didn¡¯t know why Zhou Ran wanted to take it back home. ¡°I lost it,¡± Zhou Ran said tly. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Shen Cexian sounded somewhat disappointed. It was their only photo together, but if it was lost, then it was lost¡ªthirty years old, keeping it would only serve to deepen sorrow. ¡°Aran, could you help me go down for a walk?¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s tone was equally begging. No matter if she agreed or not, he was already standing up from the wheelchair. His health was not good, and he stood unsteadily. Zhou Ran hurriedly lowered her crossed arms to support him! ¡°If you can¡¯t walk, don¡¯t force yourself,¡± Zhou Ran chided. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Shen Cexian admitted his mistake like a child. Zhou Ran supported him until he steadied, then gingerly helped him turn around. But the moment they turned, they both froze¡ªShen Chi was there!
¡°Achi¡­¡± Zhou Ran called his name. Both were taken aback, and Shen Cexian was even more surprised. Shen Chi, who would nevere here on his own initiative, had actually shown up today! ¡°Achi, why are you here?¡± Shen Cexian stepped forward. ¡°Nothing much, just have a few questions to ask,¡± Shen Chi said calmly, all the sharpness hidden in his eyes. Zhou Ran and Shen Cexian looked at each other. Both were smart people, and each had their own understanding. This time, Shen Chi¡¯s arrival boded ill. Zhou Ran once again helped Shen Cexian to sit down and slowly wheeled him to where Shen Chi was. ¡°I discovered some videos on Chaomu¡¯s phone,¡± Shen Chi said slowly. As he spoke, he observed their expressions and, indeed, he saw a flicker of change in their eyes. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Shen Cexian asked. ¡°ording to my investigation, these videos came from you, Father.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m not aware of it,¡± Shen Cexian denied.
¡°Don¡¯t be hasty in denying it,¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Later, I questioned the Shen Family¡¯s servants. On that day, someone took Chaomu away. Moreover, since that day, Chaomu has been very low-spirited. Of course, I haven¡¯t seen it myself, but I trust what I¡¯ve heard.¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s true, what does it have to do with your father?¡± Zhou Ran queried. ¡°Digging deeper, the person who sent that message was indeed one of your subordinates, Father. So, during those days I was away, you took Chaomu away. I came today wanting to know what you told Chaomu.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was stern, his gaze icy. Shen Cexian wasposed, not flustered by Shen Chi¡¯s direct usation. After all, he was a man who had been through decades in the business world, unafraid in the face of danger. Shen Chi knew his father wasn¡¯t Jian Sisi, who would still lie in the face of conclusive evidence. As expected, Shen Cexian, leaning on the wheelchair, said casually, ¡°What if it is true?¡± ¡°What did you tell Chaomu?!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face changed. ¡°You should be able to guess, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± Shen Cexian looked at Shen Chi. His son, whom he had raised with one hand, was now, for the sake of a woman, using him face to face! Shen Cexian¡¯s expression remained grim, while Zhou Ran standing beside him also had an unpleasant face. She hadn¡¯t expected Shen Chi to personallye over for Xu Chaomu!
¡°Yes, to tell her to leave me, Shen Chi, correct?¡± Shen Chi stated. ¡°More or less,¡± Shen Cexian no longer denied. His son was clever; even without his words, Shen Chi could guess. ¡°With your methods, there must be more than that!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s voice was deep and forceful! He didn¡¯t believe that Shen Cexian, in his absence from the Shen Family, just brought Xu Chaomu over for a talk. ¡°Achi, don¡¯t forget one thing¡ªShen Group is the Shen Family¡¯s enterprise. Now, Xu Chaomu has returned to C City carrying another man¡¯s child. You might be able to tolerate this disgrace, but I, Shen Cexian, cannot!¡± Chapter 566: 566: Father and Son Turn into Enemies Chapter 566: Chapter 566: Father and Son Turn into Enemies ¡°Xu Chaomu¡¯s child is also Shen Chi¡¯s child,¡± Shen Chi stated somberly. Upon hearing this, Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran both fell silent. They only knew that Shen Chi loved Xu Chaomu deeply, but they had no idea to what extent. It turned out that even someone as proud as Shen Chi could ept a child who had no blood rtion to him whatsoever. Zhou Ran spoke indifferently, ¡°Thirteen years ago, I should never have brought Xu Chaomu back to the Shen family. I should never have¡­¡± Zhou Ran swallowed the rest of her sentence, shook her head, and refused to continue. ¡°Tell me, what did you say to Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi demanded. ¡°Achi, I¡¯ve always thought of you as a rational person, someone who considers the bigger picture. But now, is there anything left in your heart besides Xu Chaomu?¡± Shen Cexian said with disappointment. ¡°Having her is enough for me.¡± ¡°Absurd!¡± Shen Cexian scolded coldly, ¡°What¡¯s so good about Xu Chaomu? No family background, no connections, no talent¡ªshe basically has nothing!¡±
¡°Even if she has nothing, she remains the love of my life,¡± Shen Chi countered icily. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian choked on Shen Chi¡¯s words, coughing repeatedly. His already pale face became even whiter, almost choking on his breath. ¡°Achi, you should leave. Your father and I don¡¯t want to hear any of this right now,¡± Zhou Ran said, herplexion not looking so good. ¡°I will not leave until I learn the truth today,¡± Shen Chi insisted stubbornly. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian continued to cough, struggling to catch his breath. Zhou Ran quickly brought him a cup of boiled water: ¡°Drink some water.¡± Shen Cexian pushed it away, too furious to speak. He had never imagined that Shen Chi could be so obstinate. Zhou Ran¡¯s face also showed regret; she had probably never imagined that the little girl she brought back thirteen years ago would be the only one in her son¡¯s heart. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs,¡± Shen Cexian said to Zhou Ran, pushing his wheelchair. Zhou Ran nodded, pushing the wheelchair from behind, ready to help Shen Cexian downstairs. As they passed by Shen Chi, he stretched out his arm. ¡°Tell me the truth.¡± Seeing Shen Chi blocking their way, Shen Cexian¡¯s frustration escted. He raised his voice fiercely: ¡°Shen Chi, get out of the way!¡± The son he had raised was now turning against him over a woman! Shen Chi didn¡¯t move an inch, his outstretched arm blocking their path. A cold aura emanated from him, and his dark eyes were fixed intently on Shen Cexian. ¡°I will not move unless you tell me what you said to Chaomu.¡± Shen Cexian was trembling with anger, gripping the wheelchair as he tried hard to keep control, his lips quivering.
The temperature around them suddenly dropped to freezing. The vast space filled with a thick tension, as if a single spark could ignite an explosion! Father and son stood unyielding, their gazes shing, throwing off dangerous sparks! Silence, a deathly silence filled the room. After a long while, Shen Cexian spoke harshly, ¡°You want to know?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell you. I made that woman leave you, I told her to divorce you!¡± At the word ¡°divorce,¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes sharpened, and a fiery rage instantly filled his chest. He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to mention ¡°divorce,¡± not even Xu Chaomu! ¡°You¡¯re wasting your effort,¡± Shen Chi finally said. ¡°I will never divorce Chaomu.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too confident. Marriages based only on love won¡¯tst,¡± Shen Cexian said coldly. Zhou Ran also spoke up lightly, ¡°Achi, don¡¯t forget, thirteen years ago, I killed Xu Mengxi. Do you think Chaomu can forget that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s between her and me. From today forwards, none of you should interfere!¡± ¡°Achi, don¡¯t be delusional!¡± Shen Cexian warned. ¡°Then let me make it clear today, if anyone meddles in the matters between Chaomu and me, don¡¯t me me for not recognizing you anymore!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Shen Chi took a gun out of his dress pants pocket. He aimed at the window not far away, and with a ¡°bang,¡± fired a shot! Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran were both stunned, and the servants downstairs screamed in terror, ¡°Murder! Murder!¡±
Sure enough, soon servants scrambled upstairs, stuttering, ¡°Master, Madam¡­¡± ¡°All of you, leave!¡± Shen Cexianmanded sharply. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± The servants dared not say more and quickly ran back down. Stumbling, they nearly fell on the stairs. They had all seen the gun in Shen Chi¡¯s hand, but none of them knew what had happened. Shen Chi put the gun away, and his deep and profound eyes sparkled with an insightful brightness, sharp as a de¡¯s edge. Shen Cexian trembled with fury. Although he was trying to control himself, his lips were still shaking. Even Zhou Ran, always so calm andposed, was shocked. She had never imagined that things between father and son woulde down to gunfire! If only she hadn¡¯t brought Xu Chaomu back to the Shen family thirteen years ago! That girl was trouble, bewitching Shen Chi¡¯s heart. And Shen Chi, he was actually willing to fire a gun for Xu Chaomu. Could theree a day when he would turn on them for her? The room fell silent once more, while outside, birds startled by the gunshot pped their wings and soared into the sky in quick session! Shen Chi was also silent, remembering the few days he had been away for a meeting. Once, Xu Chaomu had behaved very out of character.
She had said many unpleasant things to him, and he thought she was just being moody because of her pregnancy hormones. Now he thought about it, wasn¡¯t that right after the day Shen Cexian took Xu Chaomu away? His father must have threatened Xu Chaomu in some way. ¡°Achi, have you caused enough trouble? If you have, go back to the Shen family!¡± Zhou Ran spoke coldly. She had always seen Shen Chi as a measured person, but today, it was as if he had lost all control of his emotions. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me, what exactly did you say to Chaomu?¡± Shen Chi then half-crouched down, crouching in front of Shen Cexian, his expression dark. At this moment, Shen Chi was nearly at eye level with Shen Cexian. When their gazes met, Shen Cexian was momentarily stunned. Shen Chi moved closer, his hawk-like eyes fixated on Shen Cexian. ¡°Achi, don¡¯t do anything rash!¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s eyes showed a mix ofplicated emotions. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t be rash. You¡¯re my father,¡± Shen Chi said with a coldugh, the corners of his mouth curving into an icy sneer. ¡°Aran, go back!¡± Zhou Ranmanded. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go back,¡± Shen Chi said nonchntly. ¡°However, if today, Father, you¡¯re not willing to tell me the truth, I fear, you might never get out of here¡­¡±
¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯re really an ingrate! Cough cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian was furious. ¡°You forced my hand.¡± ¡°Aran, that¡¯s the kind of good son you¡¯ve raised! I regret giving thepany to him. Now, this is how he repays me!¡± said Shen Cexian, getting more worked up as he spoke. Chapter 567: 567: Shen Chi, You are Really Brave Chapter 567: Chapter 567: Shen Chi, You are Really Brave Zhou Ran was at her wit¡¯s end, Shen Chi had spread his wings, and no one could control him now. In fact, they lost control over Shen Chi many years ago. Shen Chi had such a temper that in this lifetime, only Xu Chaomu upied all of his heart. ¡°By the way, Father, speaking of handing over the Group to me, isn¡¯t there onest procedure between us that hasn¡¯t beenpleted yet?¡± Shen Chi said coldly. He crouched in front of Shen Cexian¡¯s wheelchair, not backing down in the slightest¡ªhe hade prepared today. Both Shen Cexian and Zhou Ran were clever people; as soon as Shen Chi said this, they understood what he meant! Thest procedure was none other than signing the authorization documents, handing over Shen Group to Shen Chipletely and thoroughly. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Shen Cexian swung hisrge hand furiously! Previously, Xu Chaomu¡¯s refusal to divorce Shen Chi had already umted resentment within him, even Xu Chaomu dared to defy him. Had Zhou Ran not been present, he would probably have signed Shen Shihan¡¯s name on the authorization document long ago!
Unfortunately, Shen Shihan was also disappointing. Liu Rumei had set him up with the daughter of C City¡¯s mayor, and yet he refused to marry her. If Shen Shihan had been willing to marry the mayor¡¯s daughter back then, Shen Cexian would never have handed over Shen Group to Shen Chi. Shen Chi had too strong a temper and was decisively ruthless. Shen Cexian knew he could never control Shen Chi once he became old. But he had never imagined that before he even signed the documents, Shen Chi woulde to threaten him. ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi was surprisingly calm, ¡°Father, who then do you intend to give the Group to?¡± ¡°Achi, leave here now!¡± Zhou Ran looked at Shen Chi, also bing angry. In her heart, Shen Chi had always been rational, but over the years, he had changed. Because of a Xu Chaomu, he had changedpletely, especially after Xu Chaomu returned five yearster. ¡°I don¡¯t like the feeling of leaving empty-handed.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s face darkened, his attitude resolute. ¡°I will never give you the authorization document, and if you don¡¯t go back now, I¡¯ll call someone.¡± Shen Cexian angrily tapped his cane on the ground, making a ¡°thud thud¡± sound! Shen Cexian was also determined, but he was not yet ready topletely fall out with Shen Chi. ¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m not old yet, I won¡¯t sign the authorization document! Besides, with four children in the Shen Family, why should I hand over the Group to you!¡± Shen Cexian shouted angrily. ¡°This summer resort is located in a very secluded area. If I had it sealed off, Father, what do you think of that?¡± Shen Chi looked at Shen Cexian, his voice deep and slow. ¡°Shen Chi, you¡¯ve got guts!¡± ¡°I gave you a choice,¡± Shen Chi coldlyughed, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, all of Shen¡¯s financial lifelines are in my hands now. Even if you don¡¯t sign, I believe it won¡¯t be a loss to me.¡± ¡°As long as I don¡¯t sign, I can reim the Group at any time!¡± said Shen Cexian. ¡°Do you think the board of directors is stillprised of the same people from your era, who will obey you unconditionally?¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was hostile. Five years ago, due to insufficient funds, his position wasn¡¯t stable.
In these five years, he had realized this fact. Not only did he firmly grasp the financial power of Shen¡¯s in his own hands, but he had also dispersed all the veterans of the Group¡¯s board of directors. Now, Shen Group was Shen Chi¡¯s world. The threats from Shen Cexian were utterly ineffective against him! ¡°You!¡± Shen Cexian coughed repeatedly in anger.
He had stopped intervening in the Group¡¯s affairs long ago. He had not anticipated that Shen Chi would secretly rece all the Group veterans. ¡°Shen Chi, you unfilial son!¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s face turned as pale as paper with wrath. ¡°So, Father, aside from me, Shen Chi, no one should even think about taking over Shen Group.¡± The cold, warning tone made the atmosphere around them increasingly tense. He slowly stood up, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his trousers. Compared to Shen Cexian¡¯s fury, his face showed calm andposure. From this angle, Shen Chi appeared like a high and mighty emperor. Faced with Shen Chi, Shen Cexian was helpless; he even struggled to stand up from his wheelchair. Between father and son, the tension was palpable; a fuse ready to ignite! ¡°What¡¯s wrong, still don¡¯t want to bring out the authorization document?¡± Shen Chi sneered. Shen Chi pressed forward relentlessly, leaving Shen Cexian no room to retreat. Even Zhou Ran had nothing to say; five yearster, Shen Chi had be incredibly assertive. She grasped Shen Cexian¡¯s wheelchair; at this moment, one was her husband, the other her son. She didn¡¯t want to see them turn against each other. ¡°Shen Chi, are you not afraid of being despised by others?¡± Shen Cexian weakly retaliated.
¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t sign it, now leave!¡± ¡°Fine, from today on, don¡¯t even think about setting foot outside this vi!¡± ¡°You! Shen Chi! Cough, cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian coughed uncontrobly. Shen Chi approached him, and at that moment, Shen Chi¡¯s phone rang. Looking down, it was Xu Chaomu. ¡°Mumu.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ing back tonight?¡± Shen Chi nced at his watch, it was past five. He softened his tone, reining in the coldness from before: ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t think I miss you or anything, I don¡¯t. I¡¯m just asking on behalf of Butler Ling, she said if you¡¯reing back, she¡¯ll cook several dishes that you love.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it, you don¡¯t miss me.¡± Xu Chaomu covered her mouth and giggled on the other end: ¡°How long until you return?¡±
¡°Soon,¡± said Shen Chi. ¡°Butler Ling says not to hurry, we¡¯ll wait for you.¡± ¡°Really? Why didn¡¯t Butler Ling call me personally?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not talking to you anymore, I¡¯m going to hang up,¡± Xu Chaomu said, her face beaming with a sweet smile. Every time Shen Chi was not being jealous, not temperamental, not acting up, and not behaving like a beast, he was quite lovely indeed. ¡°Alright, you hang up first,¡± Shen Chi waited for her. Shen Chi waited until Xu Chaomu hung up the phone before finally putting away his phone. When he turned back, the tenderness on his face hadpletely vanished, reced by endless indifference and iciness. ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, Father, and I¡¯ll give you onest choice. One¡­¡± Zhou Ran quickly stepped in front of Shen Chi. Even asposed as she was, her face now revealed panic. She stopped him: ¡°Achi, must you push things to such an extreme with your father?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t forced anyone. I¡¯m simply treating others in the way they¡¯ve treated me,¡± Shen Chi said, his words light as a feather yet sharp as a de. Xu Chaomu was his bottom line, which both his father and mother understood better than anyone!
¡°Shen Chi, I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t just refrain from signing, I will also make sure you are removed from the CEO position!¡± Shen Cexian¡¯s attitude was extremely firm. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait,¡± Shen Chi replied coldly. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± Shen Cexian coughed continuously, his eyes bloodshot. His sharp and profound eyes looked at Shen Chi, showing no signs of yielding. After all, he had been a formidable figure in the business world for decades; there was no way he would be intimidated by Shen Chi. Chapter 568: 568: Theres a Son in Her Belly Chapter 568: Chapter 568: There¡¯s a Son in Her Belly ¡°` ¡°Aran, from today on, you should stop interfering with matters between your son and me!¡± Shen Cexian was also furious, his voice cold as he spoke to Zhou Ran. ¡°I have no intention of meddling in you men¡¯s affairs either!¡± Zhou Ran¡¯s chest heaved with emotion. She had never imagined that her son and husband woulde to such a pass. Shen Chi¡¯s sudden appearance today waspletely unexpected and took her by surprise. ¡°Yes, from today on, you don¡¯t need toe to the vi anymore,¡± Shen Chi said, ncing at Zhou Ran. The standoff between Shen Cexian and Shen Chisted a long time, and Shen Chi was no longer willing to keep it up. He had said all he wanted to say, and since Shen Cexian showed no sincerity, he couldn¡¯t me him for what happened next. Shen Chi strode down the stairs, his demeanor frosty. Several servants stood fearfully below, and upon seeing Shen Chi approach, they all bowed their heads, not daring to look at him.
As Shen Chi walked out, he made a call to Xiao Mo. ¡°Have someone seal off the summer vi by Weiyang Lake.¡± ¡°But Mr. Shen, that¡¯s Mr. Ji¡¯s property.¡± ¡°Is it a problem?¡± ¡°No, no problem at all.¡± Xiao Mo was quick-witted and immediately understood. Shen Chi was on good terms with Ji Shengxuan and would surely not seek trouble with Ji. The only exnation was that the person staying in the vi¡­ Shen Chi¡¯s father, seemed to be having a rift with his son. After hanging up the phone, Shen Chi passed through the vi and headed for the garage. A long while after he left, Shen Cexian was still shaking with anger. It took him a long time to regain someposure. Once he was calm, he picked up his phone to call an old subordinate from the group. ¡°Old Yu, bring me the group¡¯s recent ount statements tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m no longer at the headquarters.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I made a mistake in the ountsst time I checked them and was demoted to the branch in A City by Mr. Shen.¡± Shen Cexian was suddenly short of breath and nearly threw his phone! ¡°Old Zhao, has the group signed any big projects recently?¡± ¡°Mr. Shen, I resigned several months ago.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m old and it¡¯s time to retire. I was also not feeling well, so I submitted my resignation to Mr. Shen ahead of time.¡±
¡°But weren¡¯t you well?¡± There was no reply from the other end of the phone, and Shen Cexian suddenly understood! Indeed, during his absence from the group, Shen Chi had made changes to all of the top executives. Now, were there any of Shen Cexian¡¯s people left in the group? Even if there were, they probably sided with Shen Chi!
After several calls with simr responses, Shen Cexian genuinely flung the phone onto the floor in frustration! With a ¡°thud,¡± the phone screen shattered instantly. Zhou Ran sighed, ¡°Achi has the ability and the courage. There won¡¯t be any issues with him managing the group.¡± ¡°Does he even see me as his father anymore?!¡± Shen Cexian thought back to what Shen Chi had just said and felt a surge of anger. He was his biological father, but in his son¡¯s heart, he seemed to rank lower than a woman! ¡°What he did today was indeed a bit too much,¡± Zhou Ran said calmly. Between Shen Chi and Shen Cexian, she always sided with Shen Chi, but today, she too felt Shen Chi had gone too far. As they were talking, suddenly, a servant rushed in frantically. ¡°Master, madam, there¡¯s trouble¡ªthe road out from the vi has suddenly been sealed off.¡± Shen Cexian¡¯splexion changed in an instant, and he smacked his wheelchair, shouting, ¡°Ungrateful son, that ungrateful son!¡± Zhou Ran stepped forward, ¡°So quickly?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know ¨C we just can¡¯t leave.¡±
¡°Go down and check again, and report back if there¡¯s any situation,¡± Zhou Ran said. ¡°Yes, madam.¡± The servant rushed downstairs again, and Zhou Ran looked helplessly on. Clearly, Shen Chi was truly angry this time, bold enough to even put his own father under house arrest. Shen Chi drove from the summer vi to the Shen Family¡¯s estate. His mood was not good, as if there was a heavy stone pressing on his chest, dark clouds covering his face like the sky before a storm in June. His lips pressed together, he didn¡¯t utter a word, his profile cold and icy. The sun had set, and only its afterglow spread warmth across thend. At the horizon, where sky met earth, a lingering tinge of orange refused to fade. A breeze blew, causing the nts to sway. The Shen Family. Xu Chaomu was in the kitchen learning to cook with Butler Ling. Her cooking skills weren¡¯t great, but she was eager to learn. After much effort, she finally managed to make a pot of spare rib soup, which made her incredibly happy. She also made plum juice for herself, fortely she had developed a particr craving for sour vors. Even the normally too sour lemon juice felt just right to her during this time. She knew, though, that Shen Chi wasn¡¯t fond of sour things.
By the time Shen Chi got home, Xu Chaomu had finished cooking and was idly ying with her chopsticks. At some point, she had fallen in love with the feeling of home, with someone to look forward to seeing every day. She just wondered if a certain stingy man¡¯s jealousy had subsided yet, she missed him a bit after not seeing him for a day. As night fell, Shen Chi returned. Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyes shone, but she coughed lightly and pretended to be indifferent, picking up her chopsticks. Shen Chi walked over, bringing a gust of wind with him. He still carried that clean and pleasant scent, making Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyshes flutter slightly. ¡°Just in time for dinner¡ªI was just about to start eating,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Really? You weren¡¯t waiting for me?¡± Shen Chi sat down beside her. ¡°Of course not, why would I wait for you?¡± Xu Chaomu denied, though her heart disagreed. Shen Chi restrained all his anger, his lips curved slightly, and he wrapped arge hand around her waist. ¡°Stop fooling around and eat!¡± Xu Chaomu handed him a bowl of rice and grabbed a pair of chopsticks for him.
Shen Chi didn¡¯t let go, his hand caressing her waistline, feeling that she had gained some weight recently, which improved the touch. ¡°Plum juice?¡± Shen Chi nced at the cup in front of him. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like sour things, so I made it on purpose,¡± Xu Chaomu chuckled. Shen Chi also smiled, although he thought Xu Chaomu was really asking for it. ¡°You like sour so much; seems like there¡¯s a son in your belly,¡± Shen Chi said casually. His expression, now devoid of coldness and harshness, was very gentle, especially the smile at the corners of his eyes, which resembled a warm breeze in March, affectionate and tender. Xu Chaomu pondered; it seemed that such belief existed. Immediately her face fell, and she said unhappily, ¡°I don¡¯t want a son¡­¡± ¡°No problem, no problem; if you want a daughter, we¡¯ll have another one,¡± Shen Chi consoled her opportunistically. He was more than willing to amodate her in having children. ¡°Eat!¡± Xu Chaomu shoved a spare rib into his bowl. It seemed the man¡¯s jealousy had mostly dissipated. As they sat down to eat together, Shen Chi¡¯s hand would asionally touch Xu Chaomu¡¯s waist. She felt awkward but just had to bear with it. ¡°` Chapter 569: 569: Pampering Ones Own Woman Chapter 569: Chapter 569: Pampering One¡¯s Own Woman Back when they ate, Shen Chi wouldn¡¯t allow Chaomu to talk, but now, he found himself wishing she¡¯d say more. Listening to her voice was good too. Shen Chi chose a piece of fish for her, painstakingly removed the bones, and ced it in her bowl. ¡°Chaomu, what did my dad want with you recently?¡± Shen Chi asked indifferently. Chaomu was taken aback. Shen Chi knew about that? That shouldn¡¯t be possible. Cexian and Zhou Ran were always careful in their dealings. How could Shen Chi havee to know of it? Then she remembered. Last time Shen Chi had asked about those videos on her phone; she refused to tell him, and he probably took it to heart. In C City, there wasn¡¯t anything he couldn¡¯t find out. Chaomu, looking down, said nonchntly, ¡°Nothing much, just asking about my recent situation.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Chi retorted with a tone of great disbelief.
¡°Yes, that¡¯s it,¡± Chaomu replied in her calm and collected manner. ¡°Tell me the truth!¡± Shen Chi¡¯s expression darkened as his tone shifted from tender to tough. Chaomu startled, admitted truthfully, ¡°Nothing much, just that you live a hedonistic life, surrounded by countless women, and asked if it hurts me, if it¡¯s hard to bear.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s a good thing that you have many women, it shows you¡¯re charming,¡± Chaomu remarked. ¡°Silly,¡± Shen Chi chided, poking her on the head. ¡°How am I being silly? Isn¡¯t what I said correct?¡± Her clear,rge eyes brimmed with innocence. ¡°You¡¯re right, you¡¯re always right.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Chaomu said, a bit smug. ¡°What else?¡± Shen Chi continued to inquire. ¡°Nothing else¡­¡± Chaomu poked at the rice in front of her. Could she even tell him about Cexian and Zhou Ran pressuring her to sign the divorce agreement? What would Shen Chi think if she did? She hadn¡¯t signed it in the end, and she didn¡¯t know if it had affected Shen Chi in any way. As far as she could see, it seemed to have no effect. ¡°Be honest,¡± Shen Chi said sternly, pinching her waist, ¡°Tell me.¡± Chaomu pouted, wondering since when had she ceased to be honest¡­ ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, just that your father said I¡¯m not good enough for you, and quite frankly, I think so too. I always feel like you¡¯re as dazzling as the stars, while I¡¯m like a flower amidst the dust.¡± ¡°Out of reach?¡± ¡°Yes, even if I stretch out my arms, standing on the ground, I still can¡¯t reach the stars,¡± Chaomu¡¯s eyes misted over with a thinyer of moisture. ¡°Silly,¡± Shen Chi said, caressing her face, ¡°I can bend down.¡±
Chaomu blinked, surprised by the response she had never considered¡­ ¡°When I bend down, I can pick you up,¡± Shen Chi continued, calm andposed. A warmth suddenly filled Chaomu¡¯s heart, sweet as honey, like summer ice cream melting and cream dripping onto her heart. ¡°You really know how to sweet-talk,¡± Chaomu said, looking down and poking at her rice, her lips curling upward slightly.
No wonder the young girls who fancied this man came flocking to him, an endless stream. ¡°Tell me, what else did my parents say to you?¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Your mother was there too, and they had a point, especially Aunt Zhou.¡± When Chaomu mentioned Zhou Ran, there was a hint of evasion in her eyes. Thinking of Zhou Ran always reminded her of her own mother. That hurdle, she had been trying to get over it for five years, but¡­ she actually never did. ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Chi looked at her. ¡°Aunt Zhou said that you¡¯re very busy with work, that there are big and small matters in thepany that you need to worry about, and I¡­ I can¡¯t help you with any of them. It¡¯s worse, I¡¯m always causing you concern, even when ites to eating, you¡¯re the one who serves me soup,¡± Chaomu said, her voice soft, her heart wistful as she recalled these things. ¡°She really worries too much,¡± Shen Chi replied dismissively. ¡°I think she¡¯s quite right¡­¡± ¡°Right about what? Not pampering my own woman and letting someone else pamper her? If anyone disapproves, let theme to me!¡± Shen Chi said domineeringly. He wrapped his arms around Chaomu¡¯s waist and wouldn¡¯t let her move. He was happy to pamper Chaomu; not just serving her soup, but even helping her dress or tie her shoces, if someone dared to object!
¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Chaomu lowered her eyelids, ¡°What if one day, you meet someone better, someone you love more?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Who else could I love besides you¡­¡± Shen Chi pressed her head to his chest tightly. It was as if he feared that letting go, she¡¯d leave again¡­ In this lifetime, who else could he love but her? His heart was tied to her; there was no space left for anyone else. For her, even if it meant bing enemies with his own parents, he would spare no expense. Simply because, he loved her. Chaomu buried her head in his chest and for some reason, tears began to flow. She rubbed against his white shirt a couple of times; she didn¡¯t want to cry in front of him. ¡°What are you rubbing against?¡± Shen Chi caught her small action; he lowered his head and cradled her cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, let¡¯s eat,¡± Chaomu turned her head away. Shen Chi¡¯s lips quirked up; he had clearly seen her eyes redden. ¡°Besides these, what else did they tell you?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°They gave me a divorce agreement,¡± Chaomu finally said.
That matter, something she intended to keep hidden forever, was ultimately uncovered by Shen Chi. The moment Shen Chi heard the words ¡°divorce agreement,¡± his brows knitted together instantaneously. ¡°Did you sign it?¡± ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Chaomu replied casually, ¡°signed it many days ago.¡± ¡°So you can¡¯t wait to divorce me?¡± Shen Chi suddenly grabbed her shoulders, his eyes filled with a cold glint! ¡°¡­¡± Chaomu broke into a cold sweat. What happened to his elegance? His calm? He was actually this agitated. She wondered what he would have said if she had truly signed it back then. ¡°I had already said it long ago, about the divorce,¡± Chaomu said nonchntly. Shen Chi, however, blew up immediately, like an enraged lion! He immediately put his chopsticks down and grabbed her shoulders tightly, ¡°Who told you to sign it? Chaomu, do you even care about me?!¡± ¡°If I signed it, we¡¯d be free. Especially me, I could go and find the baby¡¯s father then.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always thought this way, you couldn¡¯t wait to get a divorce.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes turned red, and his hands seemed as if they wanted to bury themselves into her shoulders.
His chest was surging with emotions, and his heart pounded incessantly! When he was not at home, she had actually signed the divorce agreement? Chaomu shook her head and mimicked his tone, sighing lightly, ¡°Silly.¡± At her words, Shen Chi realized he had been yed by her. Shen Chi then realized how overly emotional he had been just now. He let go of her, coughed lightly, and said nonchntly, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Chaomu wouldn¡¯t let it go, tugging at his arm, ¡°You were fierce to me again just now.¡± ¡°Really? I can¡¯t remember,¡± Shen Chi looked down, feigning nonchnce, shamelessly evasive. ¡°Shen Chi, someone as grudge-holding as you, suddenly forgetful? Wrong, it¡¯s instant forgetfulness!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 570: 570: Your Husband is Worth Ten Men Chapter 570: Chapter 570: Your Husband is Worth Ten Men ¡°Shen Chi¡­¡± Xu Chaomu continued pulling at his sleeve, ¡°Do you admit you have many ws? A heart smaller than a needle, always holding grudges, and such a temper. Tell me, with you being like this, you might lead my baby astray in the future.¡± She really didn¡¯t know if the little one in her belly would inherit his traits. If they did, wouldn¡¯t that be miserable for her? If both the big one and the little one ganged up against her, would she even have a way out? ¡°Are you despising me?¡± Shen Chi turned his head and looked at her seriously. He actually got despised by this girl¡­ Only she dared to despise him¡­ ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was at a loss for words. She did despise him quite a bit, but she, dare, not, say. ¡°Remember, only I have the right to bring up divorce, don¡¯t you even think about leaving me!¡± Shen Chi said coldly. ¡°Oh, so you mean, it¡¯s okay for you to dump me, but not for me to dump you?¡± Xu Chaomu tranted. ¡°Pretty much.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s tone was domineering, leaving no room for her slightest doubt!
Xu Chaomu was indignant ¨C it was like this that she had been enved by Shen Chi for thirteen years! ¡°Eat!¡± Shen Chi didn¡¯t give her a chance to speak, stuffing a small meatball into her mouth. Xu Chaomu obediently swallowed, mainly because someone didn¡¯t give her a chance to spit it out. The meal went peacefully for both of them. After they finished eating, Shen Chi asked indifferently, ¡°Where is the divorce agreement?¡± ¡°Burned it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Chaomu turned her head and saw, as expected, a look of contentment on someone¡¯s face that was utterly unppable. After a pause, she decided to continue being honest with him. ¡°Shen Chi, when they asked me to sign the agreement, actually, it wasn¡¯t for nothing. They promised to give me a benefit,¡± Xu Chaomu said nonchntly. ¡°A benefit? How much? Ten million or a vi?¡± ¡°You guess.¡± ¡°The position of the fourth young mistress of the Shen family is priceless,¡± Shen Chi said as he sat on the sofa, wrapping his arms around her waist, his smile as warm as the spring breeze. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. If I didn¡¯t sign, maybe you would give me even more money, right?¡± ¡°No money, but lots of love.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of love? Can it be eaten like food? Can it buy clothes? Can it charm handsome guys?¡± ¡°It can make you sleep more soundly at night¡­ if you are willing, I can ¡®love¡¯ you ¡®deeply¡¯ every night¡­¡± Damn it! Xu Chaomu suddenly realized what ¡°love¡± Shen Chi was referring to!
Damn, does he feel ufortable if he doesn¡¯t act like a hooligan for a day? ¡°Hmm? You haven¡¯t told me yet, what benefit did they offer you?¡± Shen Chi asked. ¡°The benefit they offered was quite tempting to me,¡± Xu Chaomu said, lowering her head. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±
Shen Chi was curious. What kind of terms could make Xu Chaomu tempted? ¡°They promised me ten young hunks, the kind that look thin in clothes but are all muscle underneath¡­¡± Xu Chaomu said deliberately, a blush creeping across her face. It was as if, right at that moment, there were indeed ten young hunks lined up in front of her to choose from. ¡°One husband like me is worth ten, especially¡­ at night,¡± Shen Chi said shamelessly. Damn it! Xu Chaomu was furious. When it came to shamelessness, that guy still outdid everyone! ¡°Tonight, do you want to try?¡± Shen Chi teased in a low whisper in her ear, his hot breath causing her face to turn beet red. ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Shy? Hmm? Weren¡¯t you the one who saidst night that you wanted to ¡®take care of my needs¡¯?¡± Xu Chaomu mimicked his tone, ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Keep talking, what were the terms they offered?¡± Shen Chi said. ¡°Not much,¡± Xu Chaomu paused, ¡°just that if I signed the divorce agreement, your father would sign your name on thepany authorization and hand over the Shen Group to you.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed ¨C thepany authorization¡­ that was it indeed. How coincidental that he had just ¡°discussed¡± this matter with his father at the summer resort that afternoon.
¡°I don¡¯t want you to lose the Group, I know you work diligently day in and day out, it¡¯s all for the Shen Group to do better, right?¡± ¡°So, you were nning to sign it from the beginning?¡± Shen Chi pondered her tone. ¡°Yeah, at first I almost signed it without thinking. Do you wish I had signed it?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked as she asked. ¡°Xu Chaomu, are you stupid?¡± Shen Chi was angry. All those years of training her, and her IQ is still not one-tenth of his! ¡°Why am I stupid? Your father was really nning to sign the authorization.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you sign the divorce agreement in the end? Hmm?¡± Shen Chi asked lightly. ¡°Because I¡¯mzy, and writing my name is hard.¡± Xu Chaomu grinned at Shen Chi, her pearly white teeth sparkling, looking just like she did when she was a child. Shen Chiughed too. That reason ¨C if he believed that, wouldn¡¯t he have the same IQ as Xu Chaomu? In any case, he didn¡¯t n on pressing Xu Chaomu for answers. He thought, maybe¡­ it was because Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t bear to part with him? He was always so confident, better to be confident than pessimistic. ¡°Chaomu, my father will no longer sign my name on the authorization in the future,¡± Shen Chi said with a serious face.
Xu Chaomu believed him and immediately turned around, climbing onto him with a serious expression as well. She looked into his eyes ¨C deep and endless like a dark pool, it really seemed like he was serious. ¡°Is it because of me? I didn¡¯t mean to. If you lose the Shen Group because of me, I¡¯ll feel guilty¡­¡± Xu Chaomu was genuinely remorseful. She had taken a gamble at the time. If he really lost the Group because of her, she would rather have signed the divorce agreement. ¡°Mumu, why are you so easy to fool?¡± Shen Chiughed, the seriousness fading from his face. Xu Chaomu immediately realized, and angrily pushed him away, ¡°If I weren¡¯t so easy to fool, I wouldn¡¯t have gone to register our marriage with you.¡± ¡°Mumu, let me tell you, listen carefully. The entire Shen Group is mine now; that authorization is nothing but an empty gesture. From now on, don¡¯t be fooled by others.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s guilt disappeared. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve also said it just now, only I have the right to mention divorce, you must not think of leaving me. So, no matter what others say, you mustn¡¯t take it seriously!¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so good-looking, everything you say must be right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shen Chi was at a loss for words. He was speaking to her seriously, and there she was, brushing him off. He hugged her tight, not letting her budge an inch. Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t struggle either. She just quietly hid in his embrace, drawing circles on his chest with her finger.
Five years ago, she had never imagined that one day she could be held in his arms like this. Back then, she had to avoid him like the gue, dodging her every attempt to get close. ¡°Fourth brother, so tell me, was it right or wrong that I didn¡¯t sign the divorce agreement?¡± She just wanted to hear him praise her a bit. This man was so stingy with his praise; back when she got first ce in a geography test, she hadn¡¯t seen him praise her at all. Chapter 571: 571: Men, its all about tactics Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Men, it¡¯s all about tactics Shen Chi supported her waist, lowered his head, and his handsome face slowly approached hers. ¡°In the eyes of a husband, his wife is always right.¡± Shen Chi¡¯s eyes hid a smile, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly. Every time he smiled, Xu Chaomu found herself unable to look away. Especially now, as he was very close to her, she could clearly see theughter in his eyes. His clear eyes were like the peach blossom waters of spring, gently rippling and creating ripples at the slightest movement. She couldn¡¯t help but reach out, her warm little palm caressing his face. She too smiled, this man really knew how to coax a woman¨Csweet words and honeyed phrases, who knows where he learned them from. ¡°Fourth Brother, when did you learn how to flirt with people?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this kind of skill innate?¡± ¡°So full of yourself.¡± Xu Chaomu pouted, ¡°Then how many women have you said this to?¡±
¡°It¡¯s you now, and it will still be you in the future.¡± Shen Chi lowered his head, only two centimeters away from her face, able to see every expression on her face very clearly. Xu Chaomu blushed¨CShen Chi really was full of sweet nothings. Before, how had she never noticed it? ¡°They say that men who are sweet talkers are not good men,¡± Xu Chaomu said with a feignedint. ¡°Of course, a man also needs to have good skills¡­¡± Before she finished, someone¡¯s hand started acting on its own ord. Damn it! Xu Chaomu angrily tossed aside! Skills¡­ good. Xu Chaomu had no idea how long he had been starving, and she seriously doubted, once her little bun was born, would she still have a way to survive? Would it really be as he had said before, keeping her in bed and unable to leave? The image was too beautiful¨Csimply unimaginable. ¡°Shen Chi¡­ you¡­ don¡¯t start a fire¡­¡± Xu Chaomu couldn¡¯t withstand the sliding of his fingers. Her voice always ignited him and he became even more uncontroble, turning in an instant and pinning her down on the sofa! The kiss uratelynded¡­ ¡°You beast¡­ get up, I want to go for a walk¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Shen Chi held her down, knowing full well that they could only sample lightly and couldn¡¯t go any deeper, but he still couldn¡¯t control himself because she was truly lovely. Even just kissing her was enough to leave him satisfied. Xu Chaomu saw a dazed look in his eyes and pushed at him with both hands. Shen Chi restrained her, preventing her from moving.
Just when their poses were bing suggestive, suddenly, Xu Chaomu¡¯s phone rang. Initially, Shen Chi held Xu Chaomu down and didn¡¯t let her move, but inevitably, the persistent ringing of the phone greatly disrupted the mood. Just as Shen Chi was about to disconnect her call, Xu Chaomu snatched the phone from his hand with a cold huff and answered it. It turned out to be Yu Weiwei¡¯s call.
¡°Mumu, where are you now? Have you had dinner yet?¡± Xu Chaomu looked at the time, which happened to be seven in the evening. Her breath was still uneven, and she calmed her racing heart before she replied to Yu Weiwei, ¡°I¡¯m at home, just had dinner.¡± ¡°Really had dinner? I was thinking of inviting you out to eat.¡± For some reason, Yu Weiwei¡¯s tone sounded a bit down, and she seemed to be in a not-so-good mood. ¡°Weiwei, why don¡¯t youe to Shen Family¡¯s home? The butler has prepared a big table of delicious food. It¡¯s perfect, you cane over and eat, and it will even save you money!¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°You¡­ are you home alone?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s also¡­¡± Xu Chaomu didn¡¯t know how to refer to Shen Chi, but luckily, Yu Weiwei understood in an instant. It was Shen Chi who was unwilling. What else? Couldn¡¯t she call him ¡°husband¡±? ¡°Is President Shen also there? Please tell him ¡®thank you¡¯ for me,¡± Yu Weiwei said. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xu Chaomu was utterly confused. Why did Yu Weiwei want to thank Shen Chi? ¡°It¡¯s President Shen who paid off my debts for me, and, what¡¯s more, my research institute has started up again.¡±
Xu Chaomu looked at Shen Chi with a mix of disbelief and skepticism. Shen Chi had paid off Yu Weiwei¡¯s debts? ¡°Weiwei, but that contract was tampered with, weren¡¯t you nning on taking legal action?¡± ¡°No use, and I don¡¯t have enough influence to sue Jing¡¯s Bank. I was nning on borrowing money, but to my surprise, President Shen paid it off for me.¡± ¡°In that case¡­ now that it¡¯s paid off, don¡¯t be sad anymore. Manage your research institute well, and I¡¯lle visit when I have time,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Please tell President Shen thank you for me. I will find a way to pay him back in the future.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay him back, he doesn¡¯t care about that 65 million,¡± Xu Chaomu said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve decided for you, no need to repay it.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do, once the research institute is doing well, I will pay it back.¡± ¡°Weiwei, you really don¡¯t need to repay it. If you¡¯re short on money, just tell me, and I¡¯ll convey it to President Shen, the big boss.¡± ¡°Chaomu, thank you. Are you at the Shen family¡¯s ce now?¡± ¡°Yeah,e over. I haven¡¯t seen you in several days. The butler made deep-fried cream banana today, hurry over, I know you love it.¡± Yu Weiwei agreed; she wanted to thank Shen Chi in person as well. After hanging up the phone, Shen Chi was still on top of Xu Chaomu. He looked at her, with a mischievous smirk in his eyes.
¡°Weiwei ising, get up,¡± Xu Chaomu pushed him. It would be so embarrassing if Yu Weiwei saw them like this. ¡°Who said that 65 million doesn¡¯t have to be repaid?¡± Shen Chi teased, looking at Xu Chaomu. ¡°You want Weiwei to repay it?¡± ¡°She¡¯s your friend, not mine.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Chaomu¡¯s eyelids drooped, and her eyes fell in displeasure. ¡°Just kidding, are you upset?¡± Shen Chi bent down to caress her cheek, ¡°You don¡¯t have to repay me, just be more proactive with your husband in the future.¡± ¡°Get up, I¡¯ll go wait for Weiwei at the door.¡± Shen Chi was not willing to let her go, his hands pinned her shoulders down, and with a dip of his head, he kissed her lips. He hadn¡¯t had enough just now, now he continued where he left off. Xu Chaomu pounded on his shoulders with her hands. When she was having trouble breathing, Shen Chi finally released her, his hands propped by her sides. He said seriously, ¡°Learn to breathe and respond during kissing, understand?¡± Xu Chaomu blinked her clear, big eyes at him, her face growing even redder.
¡°I¡¯ve taught you so many times and you still don¡¯t get it, you¡¯re so dense,¡± Shen Chi patted her cheek and sighed. But then again, it was good that she didn¡¯t understand, he could teach her more in the future. He really wondered how she read those 18+ magazines all those years¡­ As soon as Shen Chi let her go, Xu Chaomu ran away like a rabbit¡­ Yu Weiwei wasing soon, so she hurriedly went upstairs to tidy up her clothes and hair. When she looked in the mirror, she noticed her face was flushed like a ripe red apple. And her lips, kissed by that brute, were even more swollen like cherries. She quickly applied some lipstick; otherwise, going downstairs like this would be too embarrassing. She took a long time fussing over everything, but finally satisfied with her reflection in the mirror, she then made her way downstairs. Shen Chi was already sitting on the sofa, working with aptop on hisp, his expression serious and focused. ¡°Workaholic,¡± Xu Chaomu muttered discontentedly and poured herself a ss of sour plum juice. She waved the ss in front of him, ¡°Want some?¡± Shen Chi nced at her, childish. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!