If You Could Hear My Heart
Chapter 1184 - Chapter 1184: Chapter 1184: This Love Can Wait to be Remembered

Chapter 1184: Chapter 1184: This Love Can Wait to be Remembered

Xu Chaomu, whose figure had disappeared beyond the sidewalk, did not hear the call; she looked down at Xiaobao in her arms, softly soothing him all the while.

Nie Chenglang silently walked up behind her. Observing her slender back, his brows gradually furrowed.

She seemed thinner than before. From the side, her big eyes held a hint of confusion and sorrow, with a look of infinite loss in them.

Nie Chenglang’s heart ached as he came up behind her, and she remained unaware of his presence.

Yet, the moment he neared her, he detected her familiar fragrance, delicate like jasmine.

“Chaomu,” he called out again.

This voice was all too familiar, causing Xu Chaomu’s heart to flutter, her hands trembled unconsciously.

Nie Chenglang…

“It’s been a long time,” Nie Chenglang said as he walked up beside her.

Xu Chaomu turned her head; it was indeed Nie Chenglang.

“What a coincidence,” Xu Chaomu remarked, her gaze flickering with surprise.

Indeed, it had been a long time. The reunion with an old acquaintance filled her with a myriad of emotions. How long had it been since she last saw Nie Chenglang? She couldn’t remember herself.

Nie Chenglang had changed a lot. He used to be young, handsome, and full of vitality; now, he seemed more composed and serene.

Dressed in a black business suit, he appeared more mature. He must have just returned from some important event; his tie was still meticulously knotted.

Xu Chaomu remembered he didn’t like wearing suits, finding them too impersonal; he always preferred being approachable around her.

Ever since returning to the Shen Family, Shen Chi didn’t allow her to see Nie Chenglang, and she seldom saw him after that.

At this moment, meeting an old friend, the feeling was ineffable.

Suddenly, memories related to Nie Chenglang rushed into her mind.

Especially those five years with him, countless moments of warmth.

“Chaomu, where are you going? Are you in a hurry? If not, can we talk?” Nie Chenglang invited her for a chat.

Xu Chaomu nodded: “Yes.”

She had missed Nie Chenglang too, just a friendly concern. With this reunion, she wanted to sit with him a little longer.

Nie Chenglang took Xu Chaomu to a cafe. The cafe wasn’t crowded, so he chose a spot by the window.

He knew she liked sitting by the window, where she could watch the crowd come and go and enjoy the myriad of scenes. He still remembered her preferences.

“Chaomu, this baby is…?” Nie Chenglang inquired, glancing curiously at Xiaobao.

Xiaobao also looked at Nie Chenglang, their gazes met, and Xiaobao was curious too.

Who is this uncle? Quite handsome.

“I adopted a child, his name is Xiaobao, isn’t he cute?” Xu Chaomu said with a smile.

Mentioning Xiaobao, a joyous expression spread across her face.

As if sensing the praise, Xiaobao was delighted, continuously grasping at Xu Chaomu and even reaching out to Nie Chenglang.

“Does he want me to hold him? May I?” Nie Chenglang asked with a gentle smile.

“Of course.” Xu Chaomu handed Xiaobao over to him, “He’s like a little wallflower, friendly to anyone who laughs with him. If someone bribes him, he’ll stick to them like glue.”

“Really? I like that,” Nie Chenglang didn’t mind, and instead smiled happily.

He took Xiaobao into his arms from Xu Chaomu, and although he wasn’t skilled at holding babies, Xiaobao didn’t mind; instead, he firmly grasped Nie Chenglang’s arm.

Nie Chenglang examined the little toddler up close–truly cute, with big eyes, long lashes, and when smiling, a little dimple appeared.

Xiaobao looked at Nie Chenglang seriously, thinking this uncle was handsome, and he liked him.

Nie Chenglang placed Xiaobao on his legs and kept tickling him to make him happy.

“Can he talk yet?” Nie Chenglang asked.

“He can say simple things,” Xu Chaomu replied indifferently; in reality, he could only call out ‘Daddy.’

“Pretty smart, and very beautiful,” Nie Chenglang laughed, “I’m just worried he won’t learn good things following you.”

“Do I really seem like the type to corrupt the flowers of the motherland in your eyes?”

“What else? The first time I met you, you were intimidating kids at the orphanage, weren’t you? I bet those kids still have traumas.”

“…” Xu Chaomu broke into a sweat.

Xiaobao stretched out his hand and hooked Nie Chenglang’s white shirt with his little hand.

Nie Chenglang bent down to play with Xiaobao; Xu Chaomu looked at him and saw gentleness and patience in his eyes.

He played with Xiaobao untiringly, enjoying their time together, and Xiaobao also liked Nie Chenglang very much, continuously hooking his hand and refusing to let go.

Xu Chaomu’s lips curved into a smile as she lovingly watched Xiaobao.

Looking up by chance, she locked eyes with Nie Chenglang.

Their gazes met, and an indescribable melancholy filled the air.

Nie Chenglang felt a sudden tug at his heart as if something had grasped it; he fell silent.

In the short span of a year, the number of times they had met could be counted on one hand, nothing compared to the daily interaction they had had in Paris.

This situation was one that could eventually turn into a memory, yet at the time it was confusing.

Looking at Nie Chenglang, Xu Chaomu also felt an indescribable emotion.

“Chenglang, how have you been lately?” Xu Chaomu asked.

Lifting his head, Nie Chenglang smiled bitterly, “In the end, I’ve still ended up doing things I don’t love.”

His face didn’t show much emotion, but Xu Chaomu understood immediately.

Lu Feili very much hoped Nie Chenglang would return to take over her conglomerate, something he had always been reluctant to do, and now, it seemed he had compromised.

“Life is full of things you can’t predict, eight or nine times out of ten,” Xu Chaomu said with a light smile.

Nie Chenglang didn’t say anything, but upon seeing Xu Chaomu again, he realized that she wasn’t happy.

He had inquired about everything that had happened to her and vaguely knew a bit.

Shen Chi had once promised him that if he backed off, Shen Chi would take good care of Xu Chaomu for life, never letting her suffer.

But a man’s words couldn’t be trusted after all. Shen Chi hadn’t kept his promise, and Xu Chaomu wasn’t happy.

He deeply regretted why he had handed Xu Chaomu over to Shen Chi…

“Xiaobao, Uncle has bought a gift for you,” Nie Chenglang said, looking down at the child in his arms.

Xiaobao blinked his big eyes, cutely looking at Nie Chenglang, but he didn’t understand what Nie Chenglang was saying.

Nie Chenglang passed Xiaobao back to Xu Chaomu, then stood up and went to a nearby store to buy a gift.

He had spent days and nights with children and knew what they liked, so he chose a beautiful Kumamon backpack for Xiaobao.

It was an adorable backpack, not quite suitable for Xiaobao yet, but one day it would be.

“Sir, you have great taste; this is the most popular backpack here. Your little treasure will surely love it,” the sales assistant said.

Nie Chenglang’s lips curled into a smile, but he said nothing.

Xu Chaomu sat by the window, from where she could just see Nie Chenglang intently choosing items.