If You Could Hear My Heart

Chapter 184: You Have a Child Now

Translator: 549690339

“Brat.” Nie Chenglang smiled indulgently, his face a mix of helplessness and joy.

“Chenglang, are you cold? I’ll give you my clothes,” Xu Chaomu said, noticing that his shirt was soaked through.

“I’m carrying you on my back. Do you think I could be cold?” Nie Chenglang obviously didn’t want the clothes.

“You’re saying I’m heavy again.”

“Don’t you have school? Don’t tell me you plan to patrol the mountains every day?”

“I do have school, but I’ve been in a bad mood these past few days, so I’m not going.”

Nie Chenglang’s tone became serious, “That won’t do. I’ll take you to school tomorrow morning.”

“No, don’t chase me away. I don’t want to go back; I really don’t.”

“What’s wrong? Unhappy?”

“It’s nothing.” Xu Chaomu became stubborn and refused to say more.

Going back, they didn’t want to see her, and she didn’t want to see them either.

They were unhappy, and so was she.

“Then you promise me that I can take you in for two days, but when I leave C City, you must go back to school,” Nie Chenglang said to her earnestly.

“Oh.” Xu Chaomu’s head drooped.

“Good, obedient girl.”

Soon, after not walking much farther, they arrived at the entrance of a run-down orphanage.

A sign hung at the entrance with white background and black letters.

Nie Chenglang stopped walking, slightly tilting his head, “Chaomu, we’re here. This is where I’ve been staying lately.”

Xu Chaomu looked up. She had felt the road was somewhat familiar, but now, with her flashlight shining on it, her eyes welled up with tears, and she nearly cried.

It was the orphanage where she had stayed in the past.

She had planned to visit it tomorrow, but here she was, arriving ahead of schedule.

Time seemed to revert to eight years ago, when her mother had just passed away. She’d been so petulant back then and had been a real troublemaker at the orphanage.

She listened to no one!

Setting off small firecrackers, spilling ink, ripping up her workbooks…

She’d done everything she could possibly do.

On her very first day, she turned the whole orphanage upside down.

Back then, the orphanage was bustling with many kids, and soon, she reigned supreme.

So, Shen Chi disliked her the first time he saw her.

In fact, even after eight years, he still disliked her.

Following him for eight years, it was always she who was reaching above her station.

Seeing no reaction from Xu Chaomu, Nie Chenglang’s back stiffened, and he asked softly, “What are you thinking about?”

“I lived here once,” Xu Chaomu said flatly.

Nie Chenglang was clever, and he understood Xu Chaomu’s meaning immediately.

So, it was this place that had stirred Xu Chaomu’s memories.

To break the slightly sad mood, Nie Chenglang said, “Are you planning to lay on my shoulder forever?”

“Oh!” Xu Chaomu stuck out her tongue and let go of him, jumping down with a “thud.”

“Let’s go in; it’s cold outside. Be careful, or you really will catch a cold, and then I’d feel guilty,” Nie Chenglang said as he opened the door.

Xu Chaomu followed him into the orphanage, which still looked the same as she remembered, except more dilapidated and worn. Still, it was as clean as it had been eight years ago.

The moment the door lock clicked, a little boy came out rubbing his eyes.

Pitter-patter, he ran straight towards Nie Chenglang and clung to his legs.

“Teacher Nie, why did you come back so late? You haven’t told me a story yet.”

“Tiantian, be good and go to sleep. I’ll tell you a story first thing in the morning,” Nie Chenglang bent down, patient as ever.

The little boy shook his head, “I can’t sleep without a story!”

“What’s with all the fuss, little rascal? Go to sleep! If you don’t, I’ll spank you so hard you won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow!” Xu Chaomu glared fiercely.

That’s the way to deal with such brats – with a show of force!

A good spanking, and they get the message. Hmm.

Frightened, the little boy clung tighter to Nie Chenglang’s legs, looking at Xu Chaomu with wide, pathetic eyes.

“Teacher Nie, she’s scary. You hit her.”

Xu Chaomu snapped at him, hands on hips, “Quite brave, aren’t you? Go back to bed now. If you don’t sleep now, I’ll get the wolf to bite you. Awooo…”

Xu Chaomu imitated a wolf’s howl twice and made a scary face.

The little boy was so terrified he scrammed, tripping and stumbling as he ran.

As he ran, he cried out, “The wolf is coming, the wolf is coming; Teacher Nie brought back a wolf…”

Xu Chaomu’s mouth twitched. What did he mean Teacher Nie brought back a wolf…

Nie Chenglang laughed heartily, innocently saying to Xu Chaomu, “You made the kid cry. Tomorrow, you’ll have to comfort him.”

“Comfort him? It’s your fault for spoiling them. Scare them for three days, and they won’t be clingy anymore. I don’t believe he won’t sleep without a story! Hmph.”

“Kids need a bit of coddling. You’ll understand once you have your own. You’re sure to dote on your child and spoil them rotten,” he reasoned.

“What, do you already have a kid? You haven’t even graduated and you’re already ahead of the game?” Xu Chaomu smirked playfully.

“Stop talking nonsense. I don’t even have a girlfriend, let alone a child.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Teacher Nie is blushing,” Xu Chaomu teased him, making a face.

“Brat.” Nie Chenglang shook his head, smiling helplessly.

“Teacher Nie, tell me a story. I can’t sleep without one,” Xu Chaomu fluttered her eyes, imitating the voice of the little boy, gazing at Nie Chenglang expectantly.

“Stop messing around, go inside. Look at your hair, it’s all wet.”

Without allowing Xu Chaomu to refuse, Nie Chenglang pulled her inside the house.

There weren’t many clean empty rooms in the orphanage, so Nie Chenglang offered his own room to Xu Chaomu.

His room was neatly tidy, spotless, and although small, it was warmly arranged.

Particularly, the orange desk lamp on the table gave off a warm glow when turned on.

“You’ll sleep here tonight. There’s everything you need on the desk. If you need anything else, just tell me; I’ll sleep next door,” Nie Chenglang said.

“Teacher Nie, just tell me a story. I really won’t be able to sleep if you don’t,” she pleaded.

“No, go to bed. It’s late,” he replied.

“If you don’t tell one, then I can tell one to you,” Xu Chaomu blinked.

She was best at storytelling, particularly the tale of the little white rabbit.

“Go on, but we agreed: after’s story time, you sleep,” he bargained.

“Alright, let’s start with a riddle.”

“Okay.”

Nie Chenglang took a seat beside her, suddenly interested.

The room was cozy, and the lamp’s light bathed Xu Chaomu’s face, accentuating her innocence and charm.

A sudden impulse to touch her cheek arose, but he held back, simply curling his lips into a smile.

“Here it is: Xiao Bai, Xiao Hei, Xiao Hong, and Xiao Hui went on a plane trip. Who do you think will get sick?” Xu Chaomu said seriously.

Her grave appearance was so comical that Nie Chenglang almost burst out laughing.

It was such a childish, simple riddle.

But he deliberately pondered over it for quite some time before looking up distressed, “I can’t figure it out.”