Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

Mu Tongrui pulled herself up, enduring the pain in her stomach caused by Shen Wanyue's kicked and stared warily at the man
standing before her.
This man could actually see through her superb acting just now, “Sure, this does not concern you. Please do not interfere.”
The man looked at her with interest. He replied in a teasing tone, “Rest assured, I am not your enemy. You need not be on your
guard. If I wanted to go against you, I would have exposed you on the spot when you forced out the tears using your chili-coated
fingers just now.
This man had seen through her tricks so easily. Mu Tongrui was a tad embarrassed and cleared her throat lightly, “What do you
want?”
“I do not want anything, except to be your friend.”
Mu Tongrui looked at him, bemused, “You are a guest of Shen Wanyue. Not only do you not help her, you still want to befriend
her enemy? Sir, this kind of flirting is outdated.”
That man maintained his composure and smilingly, he took out a gold-plated name card from his pocket and handed it over to
her, “This is my name card, hope that we have a chance to collaborate in the future.”
Mu Tongrui read the name card, “Qi YALI”. He was Qi Corporation's President.
Qi Family was a prestigious family in Bei City which popped up in recent years. Though it was no match to Fu Family, it was still
nevertheless a prominent and rich family.
She was suspicious of Qi Yanli's motive for approaching her.
“Mr. Qi, I am only a fallen former rich girl. I cannot help you. If there is nothing else, excuse me I need to leave first.”
Mu Tongrui crushed the name card in her hand and turned to leave when Qi Yanli drawled, “I am not afraid to let you know that
this Shen Qiu is about to re-marry my father. I am the same as you and hated this pair of mother-daughter. And you are the
person who knows them best.”
So, this Shen Qiu wants to marry her way up the social ladder again....
Mu Tongrui did not turn her head back and replied coolly, “I do not only dislike them, I hate them.”

The corners of Qi Yanli's mouth curved upwards as Mu Tongrui's back view faded from his sight gradually.
....
Mu Tongrui noted that the time was 7.05pm when she stepped out of the hotel. It was Sweetheart's birthday today; she must
rush to get a birthday cake for her now. Looking at the time now, she should be in time.
There was a cake shop in the city nearby with cakes that were slightly more expensive but were delicious. Wanting to save time,
she turned into an alley to take a short cut. Once she turned into the alley, she felt that someone was stalking her. Nervously, she
turned around and a black shadow flashed across. It was a tall, burly man with a cap and a face mask. She felt a hand using a
handkerchief to press against her nose and mouth tightly!
“Oh...Oh...!”
She struggled with all her might but to no avail. Gradually, she grew weaker and her vision got blurrier. The only memory she had
before she collapsed, was of a pair of thick brows set close to the eyes.
....
In the Fu Mansion around the dining table.
Fu Zhengyuan who was sitting at the head of the table was furious when he saw that it was already 7.50pm, “This Mu Tongrui!
She knows that it is Sweetheart's birthday today and yet she has not returned home at this hour! Are we going to wait for her
past 12am and not celebrate Sweetheart's birthday?”
Sweetheart rested her head against her hands on the table, and asked gloomily, “Daddy, when will Mu'mu return home?”
Fu Lingye patted her head and consoled, “Should be soon.”
Fu Zhengyuan sneered, “We have waited for her for over an hour. She would be back long ago if she wants to. Where is she
wandering around at night! What is more important than to celebrate her own daughter's birthday?”
Sweetheart pouted, “Grandpa, maybe Mu'mu is held up because she wants to buy a birthday cake for me? Grandpa, do not be
angry with Mu'mu.”
The more obedient Sweetheart was, the more displeased Grandpa was with Mu Tongrui. He said dotingly, “Sweetheart, do you
want to eat some cake? Let Grandpa cut for you.”

But Sweetheart shook her head stubbornly, “Grandpa, I want to wait for Mu'mu to sing me a birthday song before I eat.”
Fu Lingye pursed his lips tightly and said in a low voice, “I will call her now and ask her where she is.”
Fu Lingye tried calling her a few times to no avail. He suppressed his anger and called again. This time, the phone was switched
off.
His face darkened and his eyes were stone cold.
Fu Zhengyuan got even madder, “What, is she not picking up her phone? She is a mother now and even Sweetheart is more
sensible than her! Let's not wait for her. Auntie Lan, serve dinner!”
Sweetheart pulled a long face, and ran to Fu Lingye. With her little hand tugging at Fu Lingye's pants, she frowned and asked in
an aggrieved tone, “Daddy, why does Mu'mu not want to celebrate my birthday? Is it because she does not like me?”
Seeing that Sweetheart was on the verge of crying, his heart ached and bent down to pick her up, “Let's have dinner first.”
Fu Zhengyuan saw that his granddaughter was unhappy and passed her a piece of cake to placate her. However, Sweetheart
was disinterested and remained gloomy. Fu Zhengyuan set aside his chopsticks and was in no mood for dinner now, “If she has
no intention to celebrate Sweetheart's birthday then it is obvious that she does not want to return. Why are we waiting for her to
have dinner now? If she does not care about her own daughter, I will feel that she is unworthy of my granddaughter!”
Xiang Nanqian glanced at the time. It was 8pm now. It seemed like her plan went well. If all went smoothly, Mu Tongrui would not
be in Bei City now.
Gently, she said, “Dad, maybe Tong Rui was on the way home already. Shall we wait for her while having dinner?”
“She has perfectly ruined my mood! I am not eating anymore! Sweetheart, Grandpa will bring you out for your birthday
celebration tomorrow!”
He left the living room with his walking cane after his angry outburst.
Fu Lingye put down his chopsticks, and lowered his head to coax Sweetheart, “Sweetheart, you have dinner first while Daddy
goes out for a while.”
Tears swelled up in Sweetheart's eyes, and started to wail, “Daddy.... are you going to find Mu'mu?”
“I am going to bring Mu'mu home now to celebrate Sweetheart's birthday. Stop crying, okay?”

Sweetheart sniffed and with her teary eyes, nodded, “Yes, I will stop crying! Sweetheart will wait for Daddy to return home with
Mu'mu to celebrate my birthday together!”
Xiang Nanqian panicked and attempted to stop him, “Lingye, it is late already. What if Tong Rui happens to return home when
you are out looking for her...”
Fu Lingye ignored her. Mu Tongrui did not have the guts to ignore his calls and even switched off her phone. He had always
trusted his intuition. Something was amiss. Maybe Mu Tongrui has really run into some trouble after attending Shen Wanyue's
wedding.
He walked to his car in huge strides and left the Fu Mansion in his car.
In the car, Fu Lingye called Xu Kun as he was driving.
“Check where Mu Tongrui is now!”