If You Could Hear My Heart
Chapter 1217: Accusing Zhou Ran

Chapter 1217: Chapter 1217: Accusing Zhou Ran

"Who are you?" Xu Chaomu asked again.

The person at the door didn’t answer this time, instead silently waiting for Xu Chaomu.

Xu Chaomu opened the door and sure enough, standing at the door was someone she didn’t recognize. An older man with some grey in his hair.

When he looked at Xu Chaomu, she was stunned for a moment and then felt a sense of familiarity, especially with his voice; it was very familiar.

But having seen too many people, Xu Chaomu couldn’t remember at that moment.

"Hello, are you looking for me?" Xu Chaomu asked.

"Are you Miss Xu Chaomu?"

"Yes, that’s me." Xu Chaomu couldn’t guess his intentions, so she just stood at the door talking to him.

"I heard you were looking for me."

Xu Chaomu frowned. She didn’t recognize him, so how could she be looking for him? Who was this man?

"Sorry, may I ask, who are you...? I can’t quite remember," Xu Chaomu apologized.

"I am the witness to the big fire fourteen years ago, Miss. Someone recorded a segment of audio evidence, saying it was meant for overturning your case," the man said unhurriedly.

Xu Chaomu’s heart suddenly stopped beating!

A witness!

She remembered now; no wonder his voice had sounded so familiar. It was the man who had recorded that audio! The voice was exactly the same.

She hadn’t looked for him, so why had he come to her?!

"Miss Xu, if there’s anything you need, I agree to testify in court," the man said calmly.

Suddenly Xu Chaomu’s mind was flooded with memories of the audio. In it, the man had said, "Thirteen years ago in winter, on that day, it was very cold. I saw a woman in a black coat stealthily entering the Xu Family’s yard as it was getting dark..."

Xu Chaomu’s mind went blank, with only the man’s voice echoing in her ears!

She had played the audio but never had the courage to watch the video.

To this day, she still didn’t know who had sent her those two items...

Because she wanted to take a step back and not delve into the matter further, she hadn’t looked into the audio any further.

But she never expected the witness to seek her out on his own, still alive.

She shook her head and retreated backward in fear.

A year had passed since the audio evidence surfaced, an event that caused great unpleasantness between her and Shen Chi.

She had thought it would remain buried forever, but it had resurfaced.

She remembered the witness saying in the audio, "The person wore a mask, but I could barely remember what half of her face looked like. It was dark when she left..."

Her mother was the one killed by Zhou Ran. If this witness could recognize half a face, he would surely identify Zhou Ran, wouldn’t he...

Regardless of her current relationship with Shen Chi, she had decided not to bring up this old case anymore, but...why did there always seem to be someone reminding her when she was about to forget?

In the past, at the Shen Family, whenever she wanted to be with Shen Chi, there would always be a text to tell her that Zhou Ran had killed her mother, and yet she was with Shen Chi...

Her conscience couldn’t bear it, but what could she do...

She loved Shen Chi, loved him selfishly.

If she really accused Zhou Ran, she and Shen Chi could never even remain friends.

She was always choosing to forget, but there were always people who would remind her over and over again.

Like...the man right in front of her now!

Xu Chaomu grabbed the door; her hand was trembling. She needed to lean on something external to support herself.

Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding as she gazed at the man, trying to keep herself calm.

After a long time, she finally spoke, "Thank you, but I think I don’t need it."

"Miss Xu, I’m also doing this out of goodwill. I’ve had a guilty conscience all these years. The explosion was no accident but premeditated, and I know the truth but never spoke up," the man said.

"You don’t need to say anything more, forget about this matter, I won’t pursue it further."

"I came to find you because my conscience wouldn’t let me be."

"You don’t need to be troubled, just pretend it never happened," Xu Chaomu said calmly, "The fire thirteen years ago was just an accident."

"Miss Xu, I really can’t understand you," the man said, "Your own biological mother..."

"Enough, you should go back. Remember, the fire was just an accident, and you saw nothing," Xu Chaomu said indifferently.

Saying this took countless amounts of courage.

As the man had said, her own biological mother...

Though she wouldn’t be with Shen Chi anymore, she didn’t want to be driven into a corner.

Forcing the Shen Family into a corner was the same as forcing herself into one, she just wanted to live a peaceful life with her baby...

The man shook his head, muttering, "How can there be such a heartless daughter, others would seize every chance to lay blame. I finally come forward to testify for you, yet you don’t want to seek justice for your mother."

"Just assume I’ve taken a lot of money from that person," Xu Chaomu said lightly.

Her eyes had reddened, and her throat felt constricted.

Indeed... how could there be such a heartless daughter like her.

But regarding this matter, she would only step back this once; if the Shen Family pushed her again, she wouldn’t yield.

"Seems like you’ve received a hefty benefit, otherwise you wouldn’t have this attitude. Your own biological mother, tut tut," the man glanced at Xu Chaomu with contempt.

"If there’s nothing else, please go back. Thank you," Xu Chaomu’s face was expressionless.

With Xu Chaomu giving the man his leave, he had nothing more to say.

He had just taken a step back when Xu Chaomu slammed the door shut with a "bang!"

Who was this man? Was he really a witness? Why did he suddenly come forth? Was it really his conscience?

No matter what the answer was, she wouldn’t accuse Zhou Ran.

Let the past be the past, she admitted, she was a selfish daughter.

With that thought, Xu Chaomu lowered her head, leaning against the wall, drained of strength.

For a long time, she remained by the wall, her gaze scattered and dazed...

The many years of entanglements and past affairs with the Shen Family, like a net, had trapped her. Now, she wanted to escape, to escape completely...

The wall was cold, but she seemed not to feel the chill.

This matter had again stirred up turmoil in her heart, and though the turmoil would eventually settle, she feared she would be restless in the coming days.

Each time her heart was unsettled, she would have nightmares.

It had been many years since she had nightmares, she was afraid...

She didn’t know how long she had stood by the wall when suddenly, Xiaobao in the bedroom started crying.

Xiaobao’s cries brought Xu Chaomu back to reality, and she hurried inside.

"Xiaobao, Mommy’s here," Xu Chaomu picked him up.

"Mommy..." Xiaobao cried pitifully.

"Xiaobao, what’s wrong? Are you hungry?"

Xiaobao had a dream, and it was about the handsome uncle. But when he woke up, there was nothing.