Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

The black car drove into Fu Mansion. Before Fu Lingye could alight, he saw Sweetheart seated on the porch through his
windscreen.
The little one looked despondent as she sat upright on the bench, pouting. It was as though she was waiting for someone.
When Fu Lingye got down, he strode across the porch, he queried, “Sweetheart, why are you seated here? Didn't the mosquito
bite you?”
“Daddy.” The little one called out to Fu Lingye but did not show any signs of going into the house.
Fu Lingye lifted the little one from the bench and settled on the porch together. His voice was gentle as he asked, “Had a fight
with your brother?”
The little shook her head as she pouted. Her long lashes fluttered, casting shadows on her tiny face as she replied, “I didn't fight
with brother. I'm waiting for daddy and Mu'mu to come home.”
Waiting for him and Mu Tongrui?
The man frowned, “Mu'mu left?”
“Yup, shortly after you left, Mu'mu left too. She took her luggage along, saying that she had to go back to Mu family for a few
days. But I have the feeling that she doesn't want us anymore. Daddy, can you go fetch Mu'mu home?”
Sweetheart thought gloomily. She had no idea where Mu family’s villa is. Had she known; she would have looked for Mu'mu long
ago.
Fu Lingye's eye sank, his eyes were filled with indescribable emotions.
That woman actually dared to leave Fu Family.
She actually disregarded my words.
“Daddy? Did you hear what Sweetheart say?”
The little one's soft hands clutched Fu Lingye's as she gave him a nudge.

Only then did Fu Lingye come back to reality. He looked at his daughter adoringly, “Ok, tomorrow evening daddy will fetch Mu'mu
back.”
Sweetheart brightened up instantly. She snuggled into Fu Lingye's chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing, “I can
see Mu'mu tomorrow!”
Seeing Sweetheart's chubby arms and legs covered by mosquito bites, Fu Lingye's heart ached. He carried her into the house,
“Isn't there anyone else to look after you when Grandpa's not home? How can they let you sit out and be bitten by mosquitoes?”
His tone held an underlying anger, unsure of who it was being directed at.
Xiang Nanqian who was about to get some water for Xiaohan descended from the second floor, in time to overhear Fu Lingye's
speech. With the cup in her hands, she looked towards the father-daughter duo and spoke gently, “I advised Sweetheart to come
back but she...”
Fu Lingye's reply was cold, “Even if you couldn't convince her, you could have gotten her some mosquito repellent.”
This was the first time Fu Lingye had thrown shade at Xiang Nanqian over Sweetheart. Feeling aggrieved she said, “Lingye,
Sweetheart only got a few stings by the mosquito. Do you really have to get mad at me?”
Besides, Sweetheart's mum doesn't even want to care. She was just Sweetheart's auntie. Instead of blaming Mu Tongrui he's
chiding her?
When Fu Lingye is mad, he's unreadable, stone faced, emotions composed. Naturally, one couldn't tell how angry he was or
when he would cool off. Xiang Nanqian knew she had gone a little overboard. Pursing her lips, she said, “Lingye, it really didn't
occur for me to do so.”
Xiang Nanqian knew Fu Lingye doted on Sweetheart. But she did not expect Fu Lingye to be pissed at her over Sweetheart's
mosquito bites. Does he really love the child bore by Mu Tongrui so much?
Fu Lingye ignored Xiang Nanqian and carried the little one into the kid's room on the second floor.
In the room, Fu Lingye applied the ointment for the little one. The little one sat in his arms and pondered, “Daddy are you angry?”
“No, there's lots of mosquitoes outside lately. Don't sit outside at night.”
“Yes daddy, auntie didn't ask me to come into the house. If auntie had told me so, I would have gone back.”

Fu Lingye froze. He pinched her little nose and said humorlessly, “You little imp, I thought you were determined. Who knew you'd
be swayed so easily?”
The little one puckered her lips, “But the mosquitoes are really annoying! Its bite is so itchy!”
Looking at the cute little bun's adorable face, Fu Lingye kissed her on the forehead, “Did Auntie Lan bathed you yet?”
The little one nodded and added, “But I prefer Mu'mu to bathe me.”
“Got it, little imp. I'll fetch your Mu'mu home tomorrow.”
The little one snuggled underneath her bed covers. Fu Lingye caressed her face, “Get some sleep, daddy will leave after you've
slept.”
When Sweetheart fell asleep, Fu Lingye stepped out of the kid's room only to find Xiang Nanqian waiting for him at the doorstep.
“Lingye...”
Fu Lingye did not respond but headed towards his room. Trailing behind, Xiang Nanqian tried to explain, “Lingye, are you
blaming me for not looking after Sweetheart? I know you dote on Sweetheart but are not being too harsh on me? Did it ever
occur to you that I'd feel horrible knowing that Sweetheart is the child you had with another woman? Sometimes I really admire
Mu Tongrui, based on what...”
The man turned suddenly, gave her a sharp look and interrogated, “Do you mean to say that Sweetheart has been an eye sore
for a long time?”
“Why would I? That was not what I meant. Lingye, Sweetheart is not an eye sore.”
Fu Lingye frowned; his sharps eyes were like a cold pool as he carelessly tidied up his cufflinks. The words that came out of his
lips were daunting, “I didn't investigate the incident where Sweetheart fell and hurt her head previously. But that was because I
did not want to cause my brother's wife to be upset. Sweetheart is my daughter and calls you by Auntie. I won't blame you if you
don't want to take care of her. However, I will never allow you to hurt her.”
Xiang Nanqian turned pale, “Lingye... you think I was responsible for Sweetheart's fall? Even if she wasn't my daughter, she
would still be my niece. Why would you think that I'd be so cruel?”
Fu Lingye acted as though nothing had happened, “Sister-in-law, if there's nothing else, I need to rest.”

The man was about to enter the bathroom when Xiang Nanqian hugged him from behind, resting her face against his back. Eyes
shut, tears streamed down her face, “Lingye, it wasn't like this between us. How did it become like this?”
“Sister-in-law, please have some self-respect.”
The arms tightened around his waist, “No, I don't want to be your Sister-in-law, Fu Lingye. I never wanted that! You chased after
me during University. I'm the one you love back then and self-respect I'm the one you love now, right?”
Fu Lingye pried away her arms. Just as he was about to enter the bathroom, Xiang Nanqian unzipped her dress. The dress fell
to the ground, laying by her feet. She hugged him once more, her voluptuous bosom pressed against his back, “Lingye, let's start
over, ok?”