Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

Mu Tongrui locked eyes with Fu Lingye. Her eyes twinkle with a light smile, “We both know about your

history. Why am I not allowed the same?”

Why is he so bossy?

Fu Lingye frowned even more. With a solemn look, he gripped her restless hands.

Mu Tongrui moved her face closer to his, “You aren't mad, are you?”

He chose to not answer.

His silence bothered Mu Tongrui. She nuzzled up against him and explained, “I was never flirty with him

like that, only to you...”

If she were, then Jian Zhe might not have betrayed her.

If she were spontaneous and sultry, he might not have played around with Shen Wanyue instead.

“When I was with him, there was a switch inside me that wasn't on. I wasn't open to many things... fun

things. That's why he chose Shen Wanyue over me - I bored him...”

Fu Lingye tugged Mu Tongrui in by her waist, pressing her soft chest against his.

“You and him never went all the way?

To answer the fiery question, Mu Tongrui rested her hands on his shoulders, “When we first did it...

didn't you feel something?”

Fu Lingye's knitted brows relaxed.

Mu Tongrui rubbed her cheeks on his chest, “I know you've slept around, but I've only gotten physical

with you. Would you be mine and mine only in the future?”

Mu Tongrui knew worrying about her partner's past wouldn't change anything. So, she had learned to

accept it.

Fu Lingye was amused, “Who told you I was easy?”

Where did she get that idea from?

Rosy-cheeked, Mu Tongrui asked, “I thought you were so good at it because you're experienced.”

“Was that a compliment or an insult?”

With his status, looks... and skills, he had to be experienced. There was no other way around it.

“No one was born knowing how to do this, right?” Mu Tongrui murmured puzzledly.

Fu Lingye had a weakness for her innocence. He cuddled her gently, “Sometimes it doesn't come with

experience but with intelligence in that department. In your man's case, it's the latter.”

That was a bold statement. Mu Tongrui was left with no choice but to be convinced.

Does that mean I've fallen for him so hard that I lost my own sense of judgement?

Wait. Did he say...

Your man?

Mu Tongrui's fairytale fantasy for romance had crashed and burned three years ago. However, Fu

Lingye's casual statement made her feel like a swooning teenage girl again.

This moment made her thankful for Xiang Nanqian's plot. Because of it, she came to Lijiang Island, and

Fu Lingye followed her all the way here. Thanks to all that, they were snuggling in a bed right now.

Mu Tongrui had known that she fancied Fu Lingye. It wasn't until tonight that she realized it was more

profound than that.

It was as if they skipped the infatuated honeymoon phase and fell deeply and hard in love straight

away. This was a first to Mu Tongrui.

She loved him, and it had started long before she knew it.

A boat floated on the sea, carrying two men and a woman.

The weather worsened as the clouds in the sky rapidly grew darker.

“Lingye, let's turn back. You can never tell with the weather on the sea. What if we get hit by a storm?”

“Wear your life jackets. We are closer to the island than to the jetty.” Fu Lingye pushed for it.

When the boat was two kilometers away from the island, it got attacked by a vicious thunderstorm. A

huge wave flipped the boat over.

“Help! Yan! Lingye!”

Fierce ocean waves devoured the woman. She drowned.

“Qiao Sang, where are you?”

“Sang! Sang--”

“Fu Lingye! Your arrogance and stubbornness killed Qiao Sang! You will pay for this!”

Fu Lingye kneeled on the mud. In the storm, rain and tears gushed down his face.

“Fu Lingye, you're not welcome at her grave. Scram!” One voice scolded.

“Remember this. You murdered her. You don't deserve to be happy ever again, as you owe us that.”

Another voice cursed.

“Qiao Sang... Sang...”

Mu Tongrui was fast asleep until Fu Lingye abruptly squeezed her so tightly that it hurt.

She opened her drowsy eyes, “Lingye... Fu Lingye?”

Sweat sat on Fu Lingye's wrinkled forehead between the knitted brows. Is he having a nightmare?

“Sang...”

Mu Tongrui leaned closer to hear a name.

Sang?

Mu Tongrui felt a chill she as recalled Qi Yanli's story.

“Fu Lingye wants to stay unmarried for his first love.”

Mu Tongrui's face turned pale.

She stared at Fu Lingye alertly.

Does he still think and dream about her all the time?

Instead of waking him up, Mu Tongrui allowed him to grab her hands and call her Sang. In the end, Mu

Tongrui gently enfolded Fu Lingye in her arms and responded with misty eyes, “I'm here. Shh. Sang's

here.”

Hearing that, Fu Lingye hugged back subconsciously and settled down.

This turn of event broke Mu Tongrui's heart.

Grief-stricken, she was unable to get much sleep later that night.

Mu Tongrui could handle Xiang Nanqian, but how could she deal with a dead woman who continued to

live in Fu Lingye's heart?

Does he only love me for our resemblance?

Was that why I was chosen as the surrogate?

The next morning, Fu Lingye woke up to find the other side of the bed vacant.

Brows lowered, he opened his eyes, but he still failed to see Mu Tongrui.

Fu Lingye looked around until he spotted her on the balcony.

He got up and hugged her from behind, “You woke up early today.”

Mu Tongrui took in the flying seagulls and blue sea, yet they didn't help cheer her up. She felt as blue

as the sea.

“Are we going back to Bei City today?”

“Why? Do you wanna stay longer?”

Mu Tongrui pursed her lips, “It'd be nice if we could, although I also understand you have work to get

back to.”

Fu Lingye noticed her low spirits. After pausing for a moment, he suggested, “Let's stay for two more

days then. Why not?”

“Really?”

Mu Tongrui's eyes lit up. She saw him nod his head.

Fu Lingye then moved his lips to her ear, “However, I need you to do something for me first.”

Mu Tongrui was curious, “What is it?”

“I don't have extra clothes. I need you to get me two briefs from the convenience store.”

Mu Tongrui's cheeks turned pink.

What an embarrassing task!