Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

Mu Tongrui's fingertips delicately touched his wound and trembled slightly, “Is it painful?”
“Yes, a little.”
Mu Tongrui's tears rolled down and sniffed, “Since you know it is painful, why did you still stab yourself?”
If I hadn't done that she would likely have left me after being discharged.
Fu Lingye grabbed her hands and placed them against his heart.
Mu Tongrui could almost feel his heartbeat.
“The wound hurts a little; it hurts more over here.”
Mu Tongrui whose eyes were already red said, “Sorry, I...”
“Back then, your dad's death was indeed related to Fu Corporation. I can't be excluded from this equation. I should be the one
apologizing.”
Mu Tongrui bit her lips and plucked up the courage to ask, “Fu Lingye, why didn't you give my dad more time? He might...”
“Other than your dad, there were other enterprises. As the leader, Fu Corporation could not possibly entertain all the enterprise's
request.”
Mu Tongrui understood what he meant. However, her dad was the one who suffered. Her heart could not completely accept him.
“You knew I was on the same team with Qi Yanli long ago, didn't you?”
“I don't like that you said you're in the same team as him.”
At his possessiveness, Mu Tongrui blushed, “When did you find out?”
“I have been suspecting for a while. But when you brought Qiao Sang's bracelet home and revealed it to me on purpose, I was
sure of it.”
Mu Tongrui could not comprehend, “Why?”

“Qi Yanli would never speak to just anyone about Qiao Sang. Even if Qi Yanli wanted to instigate you, you should have asked me
instead of bringing the bracelet home and showed them to me. You wanted to provoke me.”
At the mention of Qiao Sang, Mu Tongrui felt uneasy. She recalled what Han Ling had said to her and she glanced at Fu Lingye.
Did Fu Lingye really treat me as Qiao Sang's substitute?
Yet, she dare not ask.
Furthermore, she would leave Bei City soon. She wanted to leave with the sweet memories and fantasy that Fu Lingye had loved
her, not because she looked like Qiao Sang.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Mu Tongrui took a deep breath and asked, “So what happened with Xia Xueqing?”
“I wanted to make use of Xia Xueqing to see if you would mind that I slept with another woman.”
Mu Tongrui was a bit surprised, “You knew Xia Xueqing was arranged by me and Qi Yanli?”
“Rui, you can hate me. But please stop contacting Qi Yanli, ok?”
Mu Tongrui nodded docilely, her hands wrapped around his neck, and leaned towards him, “Lingye, I've thought it through.
Daddy wouldn't want me to be harping over his revenge either.”
Fu Lingye's heart ache.
His decision had made her suffer for the past three years, “Rui, tell me about your life while studying abroad.”
“There's nothing much, really. I couldn't bear to stay in Bei City and went to Paris. I didn't even complete my studies here and
went there to complete them. The expenses in Paris were expensive and school fees were costly. Since I studied art, the fees
were overwhelming. The money daddy left me was completely spent within a year. After which, I could only take up part-time
jobs. Once, I was almost molested by a foreigner while working at a bar. Thankfully, I was saved by Ye Zibo...”
Mu Tongrui carefully studied Fu Lingye when she mentioned about Ye Zibo. But Fu Lingye only asked, “Why did you choose to
work at a bar?”

Mu Tongrui pouted and answered honestly, “Due to the excessive homework, I had lesser time. Working at a bar at night made a
better income.”
Fu Lingye sighed, “Rui, I'm sorry to have put you through this.”
If Mu Guangqing had not gone bankrupt, he would not have committed suicide. Her once cozy home would not have been
destroyed.
Mu Tongrui was deeply moved. This ever prideful man was apologizing to her so sincerely.
“Then you shall be sentenced to love me, care for me and look after me for the rest of your life.”
“Ok.”
Mu Tongrui smiled lightly and kissed Fu Lingye. As she closed her eyes, the teardrops fell and gave off a cooling sensation.
I'm sorry, Lingye. I lied again.
They were living parallel lives. If Mu Group had not undergone bankruptcy three years ago, she would not have taken on
surrogacy. Her dad would not have committed suicide and she would not have met Fu Lingye and tried to avenge her father
three years later by attempting to get him killed. Now, she could no longer carry out her revenge.
In fact, she had no way or no reason to stay by his side any longer.
She had initially stayed for Mu Villa. Then, she had stayed on to avenge her dad. Now, there was no more reason for her to stay.
Let everything go back to how it was three ago when we were both living our own lives with nothing to do with each other.
Fu Lingye should stay in his glorious circle and get on with his life. There was no place for Mu Tongrui in that circle.
...
The next day morning, Mu Tongrui rushed Fu Lingye to work. Fu Lingye arranged for Aunt Lan and Sweetheart to keep Mu
Tongrui company.
When Sweetheart came with her backpack, Mu Tongrui was surprised, “Sweetheart, isn't it Wednesday today? Why are you not
in school?”

The little one ran toward her happily, “Daddy says Mu'mu isn't in a good mood so he let Sweetheart take leave to keep Mu'mu
company! Mu'mu are you sick? I'm worried sick!”
Mu Tongrui smiled faintly and touched her head, “I'm fine. Don't you worry! Come here. Do you want an orange? I'll peel one for
you.”
Sweetheart reached for the orange Mu Tongrui held and said caringly, “Mu'mu, let Sweetheart peel for you.”
“Why are you being so obedient?”
“Daddy says Sweetheart should be filial to Mu'mu.”
Mu Tongrui was pleased. When Sweetheart was done peeling the orange, she placed two pieces next to Mu Tongrui's lips. Mu
Tongrui smiled and ate them.
“Don't just feed me. You eat it too.”
“Ok!”
Sweetheart popped a piece into her mouth and her face crumpled, “This orange is so sour!”
“Sweetheart can't take sour food?”
Sweetheart replied in frustration, “Daddy and Sweetheart both can't take sour food. We tear up every time we take something
sour!”
Mu Tongrui took a mental note: Fu Lingye does not like sour food.
But when she realized that she would be leaving soon, she asked herself, what was the point of remembering it.
Looking at the adorable little girl, Mu Tongrui felt a little sad. She hugged the little one who leaned into her while looking through
her coloring book. Mu Tongrui kissed her little head.
Not long after, Han Ling came by with a bouquet of flowers.
Han Ling knocked on the door. At a glance, Mu Tongrui frowned.
“Ms. Han?”

“Miss Mu, I heard that you were unwell so I came by.”
With the flowers in hand, Han Ling entered the ward. Sweetheart who recognized Han Ling called out, “Aunt Han, how did you
know Mu'mu got sick?”
Han Ling ruffled Sweetheart's head, “You've grown taller since I last met you, Sweetheart.”
“Yeah. How did Ms. Han know that I was sick?”
I was just admitted last night. How did Han Ling get to know so soon?
Han Ling did not appear surprised that she got questioned about this and replied readily, “You forgot? I'm a doctor here. I have
lots of friends here who are aware that Lingye is my good friend. They mentioned it while we were conversing.”
Han Ling's explanation was comprehensive and left no room for doubt.
“Thank you for visiting me.”
“I'm Lingye's good friend. Now that you are with Lingye's child, it is only right that I pay you a visit, isn't it?”
Although there was nothing wrong with what Han Ling said, Mu Tongrui felt uneasy.
Han Ling looked around to see Aunt Lan and Sweetheart, “Sweetheart, can you and Aunt Lan go play in the garden? I would like
to speak with Mu'mu.”
Sweetheart held onto Mu Tongrui and pouted, “But daddy told me to stay beside Mu'mu and look after Mu'mu.”
Han Ling was stunned. Does Lingye dote on Mu Tongrui that much? Was he afraid that Mu Tongrui would run away?
“Sweetheart, Aunt Han will not bully your Mu'mu.”
Mu Tongrui was aware that whatever Han Ling had to say, it was not for Sweetheart's ears. She coaxed, “Sweetheart, I'm a little
hungry. Can you and Aunt Lan get something for me?”
“Mu'mu, what would you like?”
“Anything will do. Mu'mu likes anything Sweetheart gets.”

“Alright then. Mu'mu wait for me!”
Aunt Lan held Sweetheart's hand and exited the ward. Mu Tongrui asked, “Ms. Han, what would you like to say to me?”
“Actually, Qiao Sang is still alive.”
Mu Tongrui's eyes quivered and replied, “Ms. Han, are you joking? Qiao Sang drowned in the deep sea and was swept away by
the waves ten years ago. How can she still be alive?”
Han Ling peered into her eyes, “Yes. Qiao Sang was swept away by the waves of the deep sea. But she was saved.”
“What did you say? If she was still alive, why didn't she look for Lingye or Qi Yanli?”
Mu Tongrui tightened her grasp on the blanket.
Han Ling saw her panic and continued, “While Qiao Sang managed to survive, her head was dealt a fatal blow when it hit
against a rock. Because of that, she had lost her memories and forgotten about Lingye and Qi Yanli. For the past ten years, she
had been receiving treatment and has finally recovered some of her memories.”
Albeit in disbelief, what Han Ling shared sounded logical and convincing.
“How did you find out that she was still alive?”
“As I shared, I am a doctor. I know a lot of people in this industry. Coincidentally, Qiao Sang had received treatment from a friend
of mine. Since I'm a psychologist, a friend had referred Qiao Sang to me last night. I just found out about this and did not get to
tell Lingye yet.”