Chapter 179: No One Can Replace Her
“I can’t explain over the phone. What’s so important that you can’t step away?
Where are you exactly?”
“The hospital.”
“The hospital? Which hospital? I’ll come to you!” “Dongcheng Hospital, third floor.”
After finishing, Shen Chi hung up the phone.
Li Beiting really didn’t know why he worried about Shen Chi all the time. If it weren’t for their years of brotherhood, he truly would have cut ties with Shen Chi by now.
Shen Chi stood by the window outside the ward, waiting for Li Beiting. The sky grew darker, and the wind outside whipped in gusts.
Since it was the weekend, the hospital wasn’t very busy, and at this moment, it was quiet. There wasn’t a single sound to be heard in the corridors.
It wasn’t long before Li Beiting arrived, looking travel-weary and exhausted.
“Why are you in the hospital? Who’s sick?” Li Beiting asked upon seeing Shen Chi.
“It’s none of your business,” Shen Chi said indifferently.
But even if Shen Chi didn’t say it, Li Beiting knew. Probably the only person who could make Shen Chi so concerned was Xu Chaomu.
“Of course, I can’t meddle in your affairs, but I still want to say this to you, you’re about to get engaged. Don’t let down Bai Man!”
Li Beiting and Bai Man also grew up as childhood friends. Naturally, he couldn’t stand to see anyone mistreat Bai Man, not even Shen Chi. “What’s so important that you had to see me in person before saying it?” Shen Chi looked at him, his brow furrowed as he interrupted.
“Shen Chi, others might not see through your feelings for Xu Chaomu, but don’t think you can hide them from me,” Li Beiting said.
Shen Chi let out a cold, mocking laugh, “How well do you understand me?”
“After knowing you for so many years, if it weren’t for meeting Xu Chaomu, I really wouldn’t have known that Shen the Fourth Young Master could take care of someone, laugh, and do so much for her.”
“So what?”
“You say she’s just like a younger sister to you. But ask yourself, is that really true?”
“Did you come here just to talk to me about this?” Shen Chi’s expression became somewhat cold.
“Hear me out,” Li Beiting frowned as well.
A gust of wind blew in from the window, bringing a mist of rain, which landed on Shen Chi’s face, making his features appear even more stern and icy. His facial lines were tightly drawn, his eyes deeply set, as dark as the gloomy sky overhead.
Li Beiting continued, “Shen Chi, you’d better think it over clearly. The Bai Family is well matched with your Shen Family, and Bai Man is not only your childhood friend but also elegant and beautiful with talent. Her marrying you, standing by your side is the most suitable match!”
“You don’t need to tell me that!” Shen Chi grew annoyed.
“Don’t be angry with me. Just listen to me this once for all, and I will never advise you again!” Li Beiting raised his voice.
It was uncertain whether it was the volume of their conversation or that Xu Chaomu was a light sleeper, but she furrowed her brows and woke up.
By chance, she heard Li Beiting talking about Bai Man. She blinked and lay quietly in bed, listening.
This was a regular single ward, and the soundproofing wasn’t great, so she heard rather clearly.
“Shen Chi, I’m just going to ask you one question. Have you ever seen the wife of a CEO who is unreasonable, troublesome, disobedient, clueless, someone you can’t possibly take out in public?”
Li Beiting was clearly implying something, and Shen Chi couldn’t misunderstand.
“I’ve already said, you don’t need to meddle in my personal matters,” Shen Chi’s face turned even colder.
“If Xu Chaomu loves you, she should leave you! She’s eighteen, not eight. She should know that she isn’t a match for you. Not to mention her personality, just her family background, and social status. What good can she do you?”
“Shen Chi, you are the CEO of Shen Group. You’re not an ordinary person. Even I can see what’s clear. Why can’t you?” Xu Chaomu’s heart skipped a beat.
It was the same heavy topic again.
She was afraid to hear more, but she couldn’t help but listen.
Li Beiting said everything she knew. In fact, she no longer thought about marrying Shen Chi; she had come to terms with his engagement and upcoming marriage.
Li Beiting had told her not to make him worry.
She bit her lip. She was just being a little capricious sometimes, like just now when she refused to be pricked by the needle.
If that also counted as making Shen Chi worry, should she be more well-behaved in the future?
“Li Beiting, shut up—if you want to talk, come downstairs with me!”
Shen Chi also realized that their voices were a bit loud; he was afraid that Xu Chaomu might hear them.
Having said that, Shen Chi strode towards the staircase.
As soon as they left, Xu Chaomu couldn’t hear anything else and didn’t know what they would discuss next, but they were clearly avoiding her.
However, Li Beiting’s words kept circling in her mind.
“If Xu Chaomu loves you, she should leave you! She’s eighteen, not eight. She should know she’s not worthy of you. Not to mention her personality, just her family background, her status, do you think she can bring you any benefits?”
Once they reached the open space on the first floor, Shen Chi finally stopped.
Li Beiting quickly followed him. Shen Chi remained silent for a while, saying nothing.
Rain began to drift onto his face, his expression growing increasingly grim.
After a long time, he finally spoke, his voice authoritative and cold.
“Li Beiting, listen to me, Xu Chaomu is Xu Chaomu, nobody can replace her!” Li Beiting let out a cold laugh, crossing his arms.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Once the project in South Africa is over, when your backing is solid and your position is secure, you’ll call off your engagement with Bai Man, won’t you? After all, that project in South Africa is a matter of life and death for you.”
“Shen Chi, you’re playing a really good game here. I bet even Old Master Shen and Old Master Bai were blinded by you, right? That engagement trick was pretty clever. At the last press conference, you telling Bai Man ‘forever in love’—anyone who didn’t know better would think you, Shen Si Shao, were truly in love with Bai Man.”
Li Beiting was, after all, someone who had known Shen Chi for many years, a brother to him. That guy was always scheming when he was still in school.
Years had passed, and he had only grown more cunning!
Li Beiting had been fooled by Shen Chi more than once, but learning from past mistakes, he had come to understand Shen Chi’s methods somewhat over the years.
“What do you know! Li Beiting, I’m asking you one question—are you or are you not fond of that girl Yu Weiwei?”
“Don’t change the subject!” Li Beiting barked.
“Regardless of whether your answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ let me tell you that your family’s patriarch and matriarch will not agree to you marrying her.”
Strike the snake where it’s weakest—indeed, Shen Chi saw Li Beiting’s complexion change.
He just observed all this impassively, expressionless.
“So, Li Beiting, from now on, don’t meddle in matters between me and Xu
Chaomu! ”
Shen Chi’s tone was full of warning, his piercing gaze sweeping across Li Beiting’s face.
“So, are you planning to let down Bai Man? She loves you so much!” “Is there anything else? If not, then get lost.”
Li Beiting was so angry he was trembling. He should have known long ago—how could Shen Chi be a man who lets himself be manipulated by others?
“Fine, I won’t say anymore. Shen Chi, you should know that many groups are eyeing the diamond project in South Africa with covetous eyes; you better be careful.’
Shen Chi remained silent; how could he not know of the numerous risks and hazards waiting for him in South Africa.
But no matter how difficult, he would definitely try his best.
“Hmm, thank you,” Shen Chi said indifferently, his gaze deep.
Li Beiting gave him a look; the man in the rain had a deep and distant gaze.
With a turn, Li Beiting’s figure disappeared into the rain..