If You Could Hear My Heart
Chapter 1237: More Surprises Await Her

Chapter 1237: Chapter 1237: More Surprises Await Her

Zhou Ran had never shared these words with anyone before, and as she spoke to Jiang Zhilan today, she herself was filled with emotions.

"Back when we were young, Cexian really did have feelings for Xu Mengxi, and Bai Xuan was no different," Jiang Zhilan put down her chopsticks and said indifferently.

"That’s why I say, Xu Mengxi really has a way with men, ensnaring them completely," Zhou Ran smiled, her words devoid of much mockery.

"Beauty is indeed a capital," said Jiang Zhilan, "Her daughter has inherited some of her traits, like how she can also have men wrapped around her finger."

"How could she not," Zhou Ran laughed, "I’ve heard that the current CEO of Feili Group is also hopelessly smitten with her."

"I’ve heard that at a very young age, she would run to Achi’s room and climbed into his bed frequently," said Jiang Zhilan.

"I’ve long seen that Achi was taken with her. If Achi didn’t have feelings for her, why would he keep indulging Chaomu over and over again?"

"Whose child was the one she gave birth to prematurely?" Jiang Zhilan still wanted to ask.

Although she knew that the child’s death was inextricably linked to Bai Man, she was still curious.

If it wasn’t Shen Chi’s child, why could Shen Chi bear such a matter? Even going as far as to seek justice for Xu Chaomu?

"I don’t know," Zhou Ran said faintly.

"This point, she’s just like her mother Xu Mengxi. Only back then, Xu Mengxi gave birth to the child, who was unfortunately seen by others as a fatherless child."

"Does Bai Xuan know she has another daughter?" Zhou Ran asked.

"Bai Xuan has always been in the dark, never suspecting anything for all these years," Jiang Zhilan shook her head, "Chaomu doesn’t resemble Bai Xuan much, she looks more like Xu Mengxi."

"Yes, Chaomu’s big eyes are so much like Xu Mengxi’s," Zhou Ran sighed.

"The first time I saw Chaomu, I felt it too, she’s so similar," agreed Jiang Zhilan with a shake of her head.

"I’ve always said, Chaomu is quite kind-hearted. If she knew her biological father was being controlled, she wouldn’t stand by and let him die," Zhou Ran said.

"But I’m not her biological mother, surely she must hate me and Manman," Jiang Zhilan said anxiously.

"With Bai Xuan around, you have nothing to worry about."

Jiang Zhilan fell silent. Could it really be so? Could Chaomu truly speak on Shen Chi’s behalf?

Jiang Zhilan felt unsettled, the answers to all of this were unknown.

"What about now? Do you still hold on to your previous thoughts? Are you willing to meet with her...?" Zhou Ran asked.

"If it truly is the only way, I will meet her," Jiang Zhilan sighed.

"Prepare yourself mentally."

"It should be her who needs to prepare herself, right?" Jiang Zhilan said, "Such news appearing out of nowhere, I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle it."

"Don’t worry," Zhou Ran reassured her.

Jiang Zhilan nodded and did not speak again; instead, she silently lowered her head and continued eating.

It was very cold in winter, and even colder in prison.

The place was damp, and it had a certain odor that was hard to get used to.

Zhou Ran didn’t like staying there too long and didn’t wait for Jiang Zhilan to finish her meal. She gathered her coat around her and said lightly, "I brought you some clothes, take good care of yourself, don’t catch a cold. If you need anything, just tell the warden, I will come often."

Jiang Zhilan’s eyes warmed with unshed tears, glistening at the corners.

Zhou Ran couldn’t bear to look any longer. After a brief farewell, she left the prison.

The sun outside was much better, and the atmosphere was not as oppressive. A breeze blew by, seemingly clearing away the haze and gloom.

She drove away from the prison, her mind heavy with thoughts.

After pondering all day, it wasn’t until the next day that she finally made a call to Xu Chaomu, who she knew was at the Shen Family’s place.

Xu Chaomu didn’t have Zhou Ran’s number saved, so when she picked up, she said, "Hello?"

It was early morning, and she was grinding coffee in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.

Normally, these were kitchen duties, but since she had gotten up early that day, she decided to do it herself, while Shen Chi sat on the balcony, reading a magazine, waiting for her coffee.

"Chaomu, I want to talk to you alone," Zhou Ran said in a calm and composed manner.

Xu Chaomu was startled; she recognized Zhou Ran’s voice, a voice she could never forget.

And to her, that voice was incredibly grating.

"Just say it directly," Xu Chaomu maintained superficial courtesy.

"It’s not clear over the phone; let’s meet up."

"You should know that the fourth brother won’t let me go out alone."

"I’ll find a chance to distract him, then you can come out."

"Ha, what do you want to say this time? Slander or insult me? Or... give me another slap? I’m living in the Shen Family’s house now, you must think I’m a joke again," Xu Chaomu couldn’t quite control her emotions.

Just hearing Zhou Ran’s voice made it impossible for her to control her emotions.

"It’s about your father," Zhou Ran said, cutting straight to the point.

Another jolt hit her like a hammer to the head, and Xu Chaomu froze in place!

Father?

In her memory, there was no such thing as a father. She also disliked it when others brought up the term. Others’ fathers might be strict, loving, responsible, but the father in her eyes was summarized in two words: blank.

Last year, when she was pregnant with Xiaobao, Shen Cexian used Shen Chi’s business trip as an opportunity to conduct a fake paternity test on her, adding a layer of dread to her notion of the word ’father.’

She didn’t want to know who her father was; the term had no warmth for her.

Yet when she found out that Shen Cexian was not her father, she had felt a sense of relief.

Now, why was Zhou Ran bringing this up again?

Her hand holding the phone trembled. She tried hard to calm down and asked indifferently, "What?"

"I’ll tell you when you get here," Zhou Ran said.

"Where?"

"Take a car to the Beiyuan Coffee Shop on Nanxiang Road. I’ll wait for you at the entrance."

"When?"

"I’ll find a client to distract Achi later. Once Achi leaves, you come over," Zhou Ran said.

Xu Chaomu remained silent, and after a while, she nodded, "Okay."

She always had to face Zhou Ran; she knew Zhou Ran must be hiding many secrets about her. The calculations from six years ago were one thing; now... was this another? And in the future, would there be even more "surprises" waiting for her?

She didn’t know if there was a swamp or an abyss ahead, but if she was going to go, she had to bring a hundred percent courage and resilience.

She thought perhaps nothing could defeat her, because, after all, she had nothing in the past, and at least now, she still had Xiaobao...

Zhou Ran didn’t say anything more, simply hanging up the call.

Xu Chaomu held onto the phone for a long time, unable to snap back to reality.

Father... Had Zhou Ran found her father? And what was he like? Why had he abandoned her mother?

She had fantasized many times. Her father could have been a farmer, a worker, or even a scientist from the state secrecy agency; otherwise, why had he never come to find her mother...