If You Could Hear My Heart

"Aren't you calling me Director Xiao too?" Xiao Mo leaned on the car window and smiled.

"Just kidding, let's go. See you at Oli Mall outside the school."

"Mm-hm."

Xu Chaomu rolled up the car window again and said to Xiaogao, "Head to the entrance of the mall."

"Yes, ma'am," Xiaogao responded.

Soon, in less than five minutes, the car drove over. Xiaogao didn't dare to drive too fast, so Xiao Mo arrived first.

Both of them got out of their cars. Seeing Xiao Mo dressed so formally, Xu Chaomu knew he must have just come from a meeting.

Xiao Mo was still pleasing to the eyes. Xu Chaomu squinted at him and walked over slowly with her belly out.

The sun was too harsh. Xiao Mo said, "Let's go inside and find a place to sit."

"Okay!"

They picked a rather elegant restaurant. Xiao Mo, fearing she might find it noisy, asked for a separate private room.

On the table in the private room was a pot of gracefully colored silk flowers. Xu Chaomu glanced at the menu and said, "Just in time for lunch. Why don't you treat me to a meal?"

"Sure, it's rare to treat Mrs. Shen to a meal. Such a great opportunity," Xiao Mo smiled.

"I've discovered a serious problem. You've picked up bad habits from Shen Chi," Xu Chaomu stared at him seriously.

"Maybe. After all, being together day after day, it's inevitable. Mr. Shen is pretty influential."

Xu Chaomu burst into laughter and casually ordered a few dishes. After all, it was good to get out and, though she didn't meet Xia Chuqing, seeing Xiao Mo wasn't bad either.

"What made you decide to go out today?" Xiao Mo asked.

"I haven't asked you yet, how did you happen to be at C University?"

"I..." Xiao Mo smirked, "just happened to be at a meeting at the nearby Melody Hotel. Walking through the campus was a shortcut."

"Really? But you spent more time stopped at the school than you did driving out," Xu Chaomu didn't believe him.

"You've become clever. Mr. Shen's influence is indeed strong."

"..." Xu Chaomu's mouth twitched, "You also became sarcastic. It's all Shen Chi's bad influence."

In the end, they both felt that Shen Chi was not a nice guy.

Meanwhile, Shen Chi, far away in his office, was working while feeling that someone was badmouthing him.

"You came here to see Chuqing, didn't you?" Xu Chaomu said frankly.

She looked at Xiao Mo, who, like Shen Chi, was good at hiding his emotions, showing no discernible expression.

"No," Xiao Mo denied, "just passing by."

"Chuqing likes you, you know that, right?"

"She doesn't like me now, I know that too," Xiao Mo said indifferently.

"Do you like her?" Xu Chaomu looked at him seriously and asked, "I'm asking you seriously, tell me the truth. That girl is pretty naive and sometimes can't distinguish right from wrong, especially with someone as tricky as you."

Xiao Mo laughed: "Me tricky? Is Shen deeper in tricks?"

"Don't compare with a pro. You should learn from the good," Xu Chaomu took on the air of a teacher instructing a student.

Xiao Mo fell silent, saying nothing.

"Tell me the truth, I promise I won't tell Chuqing, not even the old pro," Xu Chaomu swore solemnly.

"Chaomu, you don't need to bother about it," Xiao Mo said nonchalantly.

"I know it's between the two of you and has nothing to do with me, but after all, Chuqing calls me sister, right? Is it wrong to care about a sister?"

"There's nothing between us."

"What do you mean 'nothing'? You don't like her? No feelings?"

"I guess..."

Xu Chaomu frowned, obviously dissatisfied with Xiao Mo's ambiguous response.

Xu Chaomu also knew that when dealing with these seasoned business experts, they were no match for them.

"Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?" Xu Chaomu asked, propping his chin.

"I'm not hiding anything from you," Xiao Mo replied with a laugh. "I've been busy with work recently, and haven't had the heart to think about romantic affairs."

"Is it a lack of interest or are you avoiding it?" Xu Chaomu pressed.

Xiao Mo had to admit, Xu Chaomu was clever.

"Lack of interest," Xiao Mo responded indifferently.

"Chuqing seems to really like you, she has cried over you a few times," Xu Chaomu remarked.

"I know."

"She's going to France in half a month, do you know that?" Xu Chaomu was even more dissatisfied with Xiao Mo's attitude, even if he didn't like Xia Chuqing, they at least knew each other.

"I know."

"Will you go to the airport to see her off?"

"We'll see."

"You!" Xu Chaomu was so frustrated he was at a loss for words, "It seems you really don't like her. I'll let her know, to give up on you. She looks smart, but can be quite stubborn."

Xiao Mo remained silent, his eyes revealing an inscrutable expression.

"You can't force love, I know," Xu Chaomu sighed. "Just like Shen Chi with Bai Man, no matter how perfect they seem to others, he just doesn't like her."

Her implication was that no matter how much she favored a pairing of Xiao Mo and Xia Chuqing, if Xiao Mo himself was not interested, it was just distressing for them.

"You can't force love, if you really don't like her, just make it clear to Chuqing," Xu Chaomu said.

"Yeah, I'll make it clear to her, and she should focus on her studies once she's in France," Xiao Mo spoke indifferently.

Xu Chaomu nodded, "As long as you make it clear, that's good. Let's eat, I'm hungry!"

"How have you been lately?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Pretty good, eating, drinking, sleeping. Shen Chi treats me well," Xu Chaomu smiled. "Xiaobao is also quite worry-free, but he always talks about wanting to visit Shen's to see you."

"I'll visit him when I'm free."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Soon, the dishes Xu Chaomu ordered were served, and she started eating first. She was really hungry; if she didn't eat now, the little guy inside her stomach would protest.

Xiao Mo didn't eat much; he wasn't very hungry.

Remembering seeing Xia Chuqing leaving C University with Song Heng, and seeing them chat and laugh like a couple, his feelings were complicated.

"Eat, why aren't you eating? Is it because you don't like the dishes I ordered?" Xu Chaomu asked, watching Xiao Mo, who seemed distracted.

"No, I like it."

"By the way, who was that tall, handsome boy you were walking with Chuqing today? Are all the young guys at school this handsome now?" Xu Chaomu curiously asked.

"I don't know him," Xiao Mo replied nonchalantly.

"I thought you didn't, but they looked quite compatible together. If you don't like her, I'll let her know sooner to consider being with that guy," Xu Chaomu said.

"Don't matchmake recklessly," Xiao Mo replied in a low voice, slightly annoyed.

"Who knows? They might be well-suited for each other," Xu Chaomu said.

Xiao Mo stayed quiet, sipping his tea in silence.

Xu Chaomu couldn't get much out of Xiao Mo. It seemed that Xiao Mo really didn't like Xia Chuqing, and it was Xia Chuqing who was pushing too hard.

Although a bit regretful, love can't be forced; a forced melon isn't sweet.

Xu Chaomu didn't bring up their relationship again, and instead chatted with Xiao Mo about some trivial life matters.