Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

At his mild and justified tone, Mu Tongrui almost burst into laughter. Her clear eyes stared into his as she said, “Fu Lingye, have
anyone told you that you can be very mean.”
“You're the first to call me mean. But many have told me that I'm crafty.”
Mu Tongrui laughed lightly and agreed, “Yes, old and cunning!”
The man's eyes were dark, “Cunning, yes. Not old.”
Mu Tongrui noted as she buttered him up, “You're not old, Mr. Fu is at your prime. How could you be old?”
Look at his looks, figure, disposition! Even if he were in the entertainment circle, he'd easily overwhelm those meek artists who
had tons of makeup on.
He even stood up for her. Mu Tongrui was overjoyed and wrapped her arms around his neck, snuggling her face into his chest.
Face red, she said softly, “But I like it.”
Who wouldn't like a man who pulled some tricks to stand up for you?
Moreover, the man is Fu Lingye.
Even if he didn't do anything, girls would still be happy. If he were to pamper the woman just a little, that woman was sure to fall
for him.
Mu Tongrui wasn't a saint. Just like any other girl, she was attracted to good looks. She wouldn't deny that she was first attracted
to Fu Lingye's good looks. After all, it was always easier to like a good looking man than an ugly one.
“What did you just say?”
Even though her voice was soft, he had heard them. He clearly heard them but pretended that he didn't. She pouted, “Nothing
much. Get to work, I'm tired. Heading back to sleep now!”
She braced herself to get up but Fu Lingye wasn't one to let her off just like that. His hands clamped onto her slender wrist and
pulled her back, “Sleep here.”
Mu Tongrui's face turned red and her heart raced but her body curled back into his arms, buried in his chest. She listened to his
heartbeat, “I'll sleep here then?”

The room was quiet. She rested on his chest for some time and listened to the ruffling of pages as he flipped through them. The
memory of him giving Yan Yi a bunch of roses came to her and made her feel envious.
“Why did you give Yan Yi roses?”
And red roses at that. Weren’t red roses only meant for lovers?
Fu Lingye continued to flip the pages and replied calmly, “You're allowed to save your ex from drowning but I can't give someone
red roses?”
“I saved Jian Zhe since I was the one who accidentally pushed him into the waters...”
Halfway through her explanation, she had another thought. She looked at Fu Lingye's handsome face, “Are you jealous?”
Because of that, he sent Xu Kun to the scene to give Yan Yi red roses?
The man's face remained calm and appeared normal. Mu Tongrui pushed further, “If you don't speak up, I'll take that as a yes. Fu
Lingye, you did that cause you were jealous. You purposely flirted with Yan Yi at the bar, got your picture captured, and gave Yan
Yi red roses. All that just to...”
Before she could complete her sentence, the man pressed her body between the table and his chest as he covered her lips.
Just as Mu Tongrui turned breathless at the kiss, he let her off. He stared at her, “Any more noise and it won't be just a kiss.”
His dark eyes scared Mu Tongrui into silence.
Last night, they had a go for several hours. If that happened tonight again, she'd likely collapse. Her arms were injured still!
She still could not tell if Fu Lingye lusted after her more or had already fallen for her. After all, when a man lusts after a woman, it
was normal for them to pamper them more.
But, this proved nothing; it was not love yet.
He was still calm and restrained but she was getting more and more attracted to Fu Lingye. Her arms wrapped around his waist
as she sniffed his top that carried the scent of a light fragrance and tobacco fused together, “Fu Lingye, are we considered dating
right now?”
“If not dating with you now, are we playing house?”

“...”
Her heart was filled with drips of honey, all sticky and smothering.
Fu Lingye carried her to the master bedroom.
“You're finished with your work?”
“There's something else more important than work right now.”
Mu Tongrui was stunned, “What?”
“Get you to sleep.”
When Fu Lingye sat her on the big bed, Mu Tongrui blushed, “I haven't showered yet!”
Her arms were injured. It wasn't an issue when she had the assistance of Aunt Lan to help her bathe Sweetheart together as
they squatted by the tub. But now that she had to shower herself...
Fu Lingye carried her into the bathroom but Mu Tongrui was not compliant, “Forget it. I'll skip bath today since I didn't sweat that
much either. Let me down...”
The man stared at her and said sternly, “I'm a clean freak.”
“But I'm not...”
“But we're sleeping on the same bed. You need to get cleaned.”
Mu Tongrui pouted as Fu Lingye carried her into the bathroom. With their clothes removed, Mu Tongrui felt a bit odd, as though
she got conned by Fu Lingye.
The entire process was long and arduous. The shower became Fu Lingye's opportunity to 'take advantage of her'. Mu Tongrui's
ears burned as she laid on the bathtub. Eyes covered, she swore not to shower with Fu Lingye tomorrow.
...
The next morning, Mu Tongrui's first concern was Sweetheart. She measured her temperature and noted that it was normal. The
sickly little one asked pitifully, “Daddy said I have to get jabbed today. Mu'mu, I'm scared. Can you ask daddy not to let me go?”

Mu Tongrui touched her little head, “But if you don't get jabbed today, what do we do if your fever comes back? Be good,
Sweetheart. Let's fix this once and for all, ok?”
“But I'm scared of pain.”
Mu Tongrui handed a candy to Sweetheart, “Mu'mu didn't like to get jab when I was younger too. But if I don't do that, I won't
recover. My father gave me a candy to take during the jab and it didn't hurt that much. Here, take it.”
The little one held the candy. With a frown, she asked curiously, “It won't hurt if I take the candy during the jab?”
“You can try.”
Fu Lingye saw the mother-daughter duo the moment he came out. Mu Tongrui placed the toast with strawberry jam next to
Sweetheart's mouth. The little one took a bite with her little teeth and lowered her head to get some porridge. Mu Tongrui would
gaze at the little one lovingly from time to time. It was a heartwarming scene.
Fu Lingye's heart started to melt.