Chapter 530: 530: He pampered her for eight years

She let him touch the baby, knowing there must be some resentment in his heart.

Seeing the change in his expression, she could only shake his arm slightly and, with a fawning lift of her face, said, “Shen Chi, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing,” he replied.

His eyes remained downcast, his tone holding a trace of distance as he continued to tap away on his laptop, working on an important report.

Feeling a bit dejected, she sat quietly on the sofa for a while.

For a time, the only sound in the living room was the rapid “clack clack clack” of Shen Chi’s keyboard.

Xu Chaomu rested her chin in her hand, staring down at the tips of her shoes.

About five minutes later, Shen Chi finished his report and with a “snap” closed his laptop.

At the sound of the closing laptop, Xu Chaomu suddenly looked up.

As she raised her head, Shen Chi turned his around as well, and for a moment, their eyes met.

Xu Chaomu quickly scooted closer to him, hooked her right hand around his neck, tilted her head back, and kissed him on the cheek.

Shen Chi froze, his deep gaze shifting to her face.

The kiss was as light as a dragonfly’s touch, initiated by her.

She blinked at him, her big eyes fluttering innocently, “Shen Chi, is this reward enough?”

“Not enough,” Shen Chi said, his gaze intense as he continued to look at her.

His stern demeanor left Xu Chaomu feeling uneasy. It was just a mere phrase; was he truly unhappy?

When he put on a stern face, she felt a bit scared.

Her heart fluttering nervously, she clasped her hands behind her back, twisting them to relieve her psychological tension.

Her gaze evasive, she wondered why it wasn’t enough, she had already been so proactive…

Seeing that Shen Chi still had no reaction, Xu Chaomu lifted her head again and called out, “Husband…”

The voice was softer than that of a mosquito—if the living room wasn’t silent enough, Shen Chi would surely not have heard it.

But he did hear it.

In fact, her initiative in kissing him had already taken him by surprise, and this “husband” even more so.

“Hmm,” he responded, setting aside the laptop on his legs and walking towards the kitchen.

What did “Hmm” mean? Xu Chaomu was puzzled!

Was he happy or unhappy now? Why did it seem that there was still no expression on his face…

As Shen Chi walked to the kitchen, a faint smile lingered on the corners of his lips, rare for Xu Chaomu to take the initiative.

The kitchen was already stocked with fresh ingredients, both vegetables and meats.

He had even specially had shrimp prepared, intending to cook them for her later.

In truth, he had ordered these prepared since morning, intending to cook lunch himself.

But… he had to keep up appearances. It wasn’t often he cooked; how could he not receive some reward?

No sooner had Shen Chi stepped into the kitchen than Xu Chaomu followed like a shadow.

She cocked her head to assess his mood and thought, Yikes, he still seems angry?

Could it be? Was he that petty?

“Shen Chi…” she called again sweetly.

“Hmm,” he responded once more.

Today, Xu Chaomu was dressed in youthful and bright clothes, resembling an eighteen-year-old girl. Sometimes when Shen Chi took an extra glance at her, he felt he couldn’t control himself.

Especially when she called him “Shen Chi,” the way she looked reminded him of five years ago.

Only, five years ago, she was still his “Mumu”…

Five years later, she had become another man’s woman…

More than once, he had regretted, if time could turn back, he would definitely have taken the chance when she threw herself at him and pinned her down without hesitation!

He would have devoured her completely, leaving not a crumb behind.

Unfortunately, time cannot be turned back.

Now, she had been with another man, carrying another man’s child. It’s as if… it was heaven’s punishment for not cherishing her properly.

Thinking this, a bitter sensation spread across his heart.

This bitterness was like ink seeping into wood, bit by bit, deep and indelible.

Xu Chaomu was still tilting her head, observing Shen Chi. She waved her hand in front of his eyes, curious what he was so engrossed in thinking.

Her wave brought Shen Chi back to reality, and he swatted her hand away, frowning, “Go play on your own.”

Relieved to finally hear something other than a “Hmm” from him, Xu Chaomu smiled.

“Do you need help?”

“No need.”

“Then how long will you be? I’m hungry…”

Shen Chi put down the vegetables in his hands, turned around with arms crossed, and looked at her, “Shall we go out to eat then?”

“No no no, the food outside isn’t tasty, it’s unhygienic, unhealthy, I want to eat what you make.”

“Then wait patiently.”

“Oh.”

Dejectedly, Xu Chaomu responded with a drooped head, but she didn’t leave the kitchen.

She decisively grabbed the vegetables from his hands and declared eagerly, “I’ll wash them, I’ll wash them.”

Shen Chi didn’t stop her; the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

This was nice.

Xu Chaomu remembered the last time she had eaten food Shen Chi cooked was at Waterside Pavilion. His cooking was so delicious she could never forget it.

She thought she’d never eat his cooking again in this lifetime.

Unexpectedly, five years later, there was still room for time to come back around.

She happily washed the vegetables, with great care. Shen Chi had an injury on his arm, and she didn’t want him to touch water.

Her movements were skillful. At first, Shen Chi was helping, but then he just stood quietly to the side, arms crossed, watching her.

He remembered how, back when they were at Shen Family’s house, even though she was only adopted, he never let her do anything.

In the Shen Family, her delicate hands never touched water; she couldn’t do anything.

He hadn’t expected that, five years later, she would be so adept at washing vegetables.

Xu Chaomu washed for a good while before she noticed his deep gaze.

She looked up, smiled at him, and then bent down to continue washing.

After finishing with the greens, she tossed them into a basket. Next, she began washing mushrooms…

Shen Chi watched her silently, his frown deepening.

“Did you suffer a lot in those five years outside?” he finally asked.

Xu Chaomu’s hands paused, her heart filled with a slow, warm current…

Without looking up, she slightly turned down the faucet and went on washing her mushrooms.

“Not at all, I had a pretty good time in Paris those five years,” she denied outright.

If she excluded the first six months she arrived in Paris, indeed… her life had been quite good.

“You used to be so lazy, even reluctant to serve rice.” Shen Chi’s voice was hoarse, a twinge of pain tugging at his heart.

He doted on and cherished her for eight years, wanting her to always remain carefree.

“Everybody has to grow up eventually,” Xu Chaomu said lightly.

Her nose tingled, and she felt a wave of sadness.

During those first six months in Paris, in order to survive, there was nothing she hadn’t done.

Washing dishes in a small restaurant, sweeping floors for others, handing out flyers… she took what little money she earned to barely fill her stomach.

With no place to live, she wandered about carrying that doll.

The summer was bearable, but when winter came, she couldn’t go on; the winters in Paris were so bitterly cold.