Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

“20,000 dollars! That is the maximum!”
The man's mother was haggling with the human trafficker who kidnapped Mu Tongrui. Obviously, they could not reach an
agreement over the price.
Shaking his head, the human trafficker said, “Auntie, is this woman only worth 20,000 dollars? At least 30,000 dollars otherwise I
will be suffering a loss!”
The man turned over to look at Mu Tongrui lustily. Worried that the human trafficker would change his mind against selling her to
them, he tugged at his mother's hands and pleaded, “Mum, Mum! Look how pretty she is! So, what if she costs 30,000 dollars! If
she marries me, your daughter-in-law would be the prettiest in the entire village!”
Seeing how much how smitten his son was by Mu Tongrui, she gritted her teeth and finally agreed to the price of 30,000 dollars.
After the human trafficker left with the money in his hand, that burly man rushed into the house and grabbed hold of Mu Tongrui's
slender ankles to put them closely against his chest. Mu Tongrui was scared out of her wits and screamed, “Let go of me! I will
commit suicide if you dare to touch me!”
That burly man was flustered and said quickly, “No no no! My mum has spent 30,000 dollars to purchase you! Who will bear me
kids if you die!”
Mu Tongrui noticed that he was slightly dim-witted. Glaring at him warily, she swallowed hard and attempted to coax him, “Since
you have purchased me, why don't you untie me first?”
“No! You women who came from other places are always thinking of escaping! I cannot untie you! Unless you bear me a son!”
Mu Tongrui was shivering with cold and her teeth were chattering when she said, “I... I would not escape. I am really feeling
uncomfortable now. Can you untie me?”
The burly man saw that there were some abrasions and even bruises on her ankles and wrists where the ropes were tying her.
His heart ached at the sight and he started to waver when his mother entered the house, “Do not untie her! She will definitely run
away!”
The burly man changed his stance immediately and grinned predatorily at Mu Tongrui, “I cannot untie you, unless you sleep with
me tonight!”

Mu Tongrui fainted out of shock.
For the next 3 days, she neither eat nor drink and coupled with her excessive fainting due to a combination of shock and fear, the
old woman commanded the burly man, “Bring some buns and water over. Don't let her starve to death. She has cost me 30,000
dollars. She better gives me a grandson before she dies!”
In her dazed state, Mu Tongrui felt someone was stuffing food in her mouth and forced water down her throat. As the person was
brusque and as she was feeling groggy, she choked on the food and her face turned pale and red at the same time. That burly
man got a fright, worried that his mother had unknowingly bought a sickling.
That man tugged on his mother's sleeve, “Mum, will she die?”
“No, No! It must be because she did not eat for days! You take care of her. I will cook some congee now! I cannot buy a sickling
home!”
After the old woman had left, the burly man sat beside Mu Tongrui on her bed and took in her beautiful face and face skin. He
stretched out his rough, calloused hands to caress her. Mu Tongrui pushed him away with the little strength that she had. But she
was no match for the burly man. He started to pull her clothes in a frenzied manner, and his breathing quickened, “Let me kiss
you! Just a kiss or some caressing will do! If I cannot have you tonight, then let me touch you!”
Mu Tongrui was so disgusted that she felt nauseous, “You get lost... do not touch me!”
“You are already my wife! Why can't I touch you! You still need to bear me a son!”
Finishing his sentence, he threw himself onto Mu Tongrui, wanting to rape her. Mu Tongrui was simply too weak to resist, and at
that very moment when she closed her eyes and resigned herself to fate, the burly man's mother rushed in, exclaiming, “The
police have entered the village! Hide her in our underground cellar!”
The man was so frightened at his mother's words that he scrambled to his feet and immediately dragged Mu Tongrui into an
underground cellar!
Cold...
She was chilled to the bone.
She wanted to shout for help, but she realized that she could not get a proper word out. Her weak cries for help were drowned in
this isolated underground cellar.

....
Outside, Fu Lingye, along with a few policemen were investigating every household.
The police have learnt that this village often bought kidnapped women from the human traffickers.
Fu Lingye was decked in long, black trench coat and a sophisticated, handmade white shirt underneath. With his long legs, he
gave off a cold and murderous vibe.
He was going from door to door in large strides.
Fu Lingye reached the house of the burly man which was near the village entrance.
Fu Lingye took out Mu Tongrui's photo from his wallet and asked bluntly in his cold voice, “Have you seen this woman before?”
“No, no..”
Fu Lingye glared at the burly man. This man has a shifty look with a stiff expression and twitchy eyebrows. He is obviously lying.
“Mr. Fu, we can't find Ms. Mu.”
Fu Lingye frowned and reminded those few policemen, “There should be underground cellars in this place, go and check again.”
The burly man broke into a sweat out and tried to stop the policemen with a forced smile, “Sir, there is no underground cellar
here.”
Fu Lingye's eyes darkened and pushed aside the burly man to enter his house. On the bed was a rope that the burly man did not
hide in time. It must be used for tying someone up.
Fu Lingye circled the house and tapped his foot against the ground. Suddenly, a sparkle from a diamond ring on the ground
caught his eyes.
This diamond ring was the one that Fu Lingye had given to Mu Tongrui on the very day he brought her back to Fu Mansion. He
had even put it on her personally.
He narrowed his eyes and bent down to pick up the diamond ring. He tapped his fingers against the ground, and indeed it was
hollow underneath. Immediately, he pulled out that plank on the ground.

Fu Lingye leapt down in one swift move and discovered Mu Tongrui beside a big wine jar.
Her face was flushed with an abnormal scarlet shade and her breathing was weak. She had collapsed on the wet, cold ground in
the underground cellar.
Fu Lingye's heart wrenched at the sight.
He took off his trench coat and put it on her. Cradling her in his arms, he patted her face in a bid to wake her up.
“Mu Tong Rui! Wake up!”
Mu Tongrui coughed and tried to speak. She could not get a word out. She forced open her eyes and saw a familiar face in the
dim light before her.
Fu Lingye...
Am I dying? Otherwise, why am I hallucinating? Am I dreaming that Fu Lingye has come to save her?