If You Could Hear My Heart
Chapter 1236: You Go Beg Xu Chaomu

Chapter 1236: Chapter 1236: You Go Beg Xu Chaomu

Xu Chaomu realized she had said the wrong thing and pursed her lips, remaining silent.

Shen Chi draped his arm over her shoulder, "It’s okay, I had the butler take Xiaobao to play with President Song’s daughter. Xiaobao seems to really like that young lady."

"..." Xu Chaomu was at a loss for words.

In the following days, whenever Xu Chaomu thought about returning to Jin City, Shen Chi would take Xiaobao to play with the girls at Jinxiu Tianxia.

Playing with the pretty sisters, Xiaobao would forget his homesickness and even his mother.

Conveniently, Shen Chi could use this opportunity to spend time alone with Xu Chaomu.

Although Xu Chaomu still wouldn’t let him touch her, being able to hold her as they slept was a happiness of its own. Of course, it was also a torment.

...

Zhou Ran learned of Xu Chaomu’s return to the Shen Family, and she also knew that Shen Chi wouldn’t let them meet.

Zhou Ran didn’t bother herself with futile efforts and didn’t go back to the Shen Family, but she did take a trip to the prison.

Compared to the bustling outside, the prison was much quieter.

Jiang Zhilan was still incarcerated, while Bai Xuan was under enforced surveillance at the Bai Family, both in C City but unable to meet at all.

Since Jiang Zhilan had been imprisoned, she had not been allowed to call Bai Xuan.

That noon, Zhou Ran brought some dishes for Jiang Zhilan.

As Jiang Zhilan ate, tears streamed down her face, her heartache uncontrollable, as if she was being repeatedly stabbed.

"Aran, I don’t want to stay here anymore, I don’t want to stay here, I want to see Bai Xuan and Manman," wept Jiang Zhilan.

"Your charges are confirmed, and it’s difficult to get out," sighed Zhou Ran, "Cexian and I have discussed this."

"Have you thought of any solutions..." Jiang Zhilan asked anxiously.

"After visiting you last time, Cexian and I have been trying to find a way, we won’t just ignore your situation."

"How is Bai Xuan doing? Is he okay? And Manman?"

Zhou Ran took her hand, "I’ve visited Bai Xuan, he’s fine, just not very talkative anymore, he hardly spoke when he saw me and Cexian. As for where Manman is, Bai Xuan wouldn’t say, just mentioned that she’s also fine."

"What about the Bai Family’s company?"

"I’m sorry, Achi took it over," Zhou Ran expressed regretfully.

Jiang Zhilan instantly felt powerless. Did that mean the Bai Family had nothing left?

"However, Achi hasn’t touched the Bai Family’s estate, but he has also made it clear that once the case concludes, if Bai Xuan still refuses to disclose Manman’s whereabouts, I’m afraid..."

Zhou Ran didn’t continue, believing Jiang Zhilan understood.

"And... that girl?" Jiang Zhilan asked.

"Xu Chaomu? She’s doing quite well, Achi dotes on her."

"Aran, isn’t there any other way? I don’t want to be in prison, I don’t want to be in prison. I really don’t want to stay here another day," Jiang Zhilan was going frantic.

She was used to living comfortably, having been here for half a year, she felt it was worse than death.

"It’s still the same thing I told you before, you should go plead with Xu Chaomu," Zhou Ran said calmly, "This is what Cexian and I think... the only effective method."

"Me, go plead with Xu Chaomu?" Jiang Zhilan sneered, "I won’t go, it’s impossible! If I do, wouldn’t it be humiliating myself?!"

"Of course, if you don’t want to go, Cexian and I will continue to look for other solutions, but we absolutely won’t beg Xu Chaomu," Zhou Ran said. "I’ve told you, Xu Chaomu has always been well protected by Achi and has a kind heart."

Zhou Ran didn’t elaborate further; she thought that Jiang Zhilan would understand her meaning.

Nevertheless, Jiang Zhilan still exclaimed, "Then I won’t beg her either!"

"Decide for yourself, have dinner first, don’t wrong yourself," Zhou Ran sighed.

Indeed, for Jiang Zhilan to beg Xu Chaomu was asking too much, but there was no better option.

"Aran, will you let Xu Chaomu marry Achi?"

"It’s not for me to decide."

"Hehe, Achi will definitely marry Xu Chaomu..." Jiang Zhilan said, "Everything seems like a dream. I thought Manman would marry Achi, and both families could love each other deeply."

"Seeing how things have turned out, I don’t want that either," Zhou Ran said indifferently.

"In the past, our families were so harmonious, being old family friends, but in the end... it led to outright conflict." Jiang Zhilan scoffed, "It’s all because of Xu Chaomu. If it weren’t for her, our families would have remained on good terms."

"I know," Zhou Ran’s face showed regret.

If it hadn’t been for Xu Chaomu, Shen Chi might have married Bai Man, and their lives wouldn’t have intersected at all.

The root of everything was still that wrong decision she made back then.

But what had happened had happened, there were no ifs in it.

"Zhilan, think it over carefully. Don’t place too much hope on Cexian and me. We’re old now, no longer involved in affairs, and carry no weight in C City," Zhou Ran pleaded earnestly. "If you come to a resolution, let me know. I can invite Xu Chaomu over - that much I can still manage."

"I won’t meet her, and I definitely won’t beg her," Jiang Zhilan said angrily. "Aran, you must ensure that someone takes good care of Bai Xuan and Manman."

"Think it over again. As long as Achi still holds onto this grudge, you’ll have no chance of getting a reduced sentence!"

"..." Jiang Zhilan remained silent; by the time she would be released, it would be her twilight years.

Perhaps, she wouldn’t even live to see her release.

"In three days, I’ll come to see you again. Take care," Zhou Ran said.

Jiang Zhilan stopped talking completely, silently eating the meal Zhou Ran had brought, her head bowed.

The sight filled Zhou Ran’s heart with sorrow, her eyes moistened involuntarily.

Unable to bear it any longer, she turned her head away.

The Bai Family used to boast such splendor, unchallenged in C City except by the Shen Family. It was tragic that they met their downfall through an old family friend like the Shen Family.

Jiang Zhilan truly couldn’t swallow this bitter pill, but she was now utterly helpless, unable even to see Bai Xuan’s face.

"Aran, can I call Bai Xuan?"

Zhou Ran shook her head. "No. I’ve spoken to the warden; him letting me in here without surveillance was already an enormous favor."

Jiang Zhilan could only persist in her silence...

Zhou Ran sighed, "I’ve always known Xu Chaomu is the child of Xu Mengxi and another man, but I never suspected it was Bai Xuan. Back then, I was naive; Cexian always held Xu Mengxi in his heart, and I thought that by taking home the child Xu Mengxi had with another man, it would kill him with anger and he’d forget her completely."

Zhou Ran gave a wry smile, "Young and truly naive... no, in love, no age is exempt. Later, Cexian told me, ’You are foolish beyond cure.’ He had actually moved on from Xu Mengxi long ago, he loved me, but I just wouldn’t humble myself..."

Jiang Zhilan was endlessly shaken by the revelation...

"I and he always used our own way of thinking to guess the other’s thoughts, never willing to simply ask. If only we could have opened our hearts, perhaps, life would have been different," Zhou Ran reflected.