Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

While behind the wheel on the way back from Marine World, Lingye said, “If you’re up for a road trip

and love whales, we can take the trailer to the sea to watch the whales next time.”

Tongrui smiled and replied, “Sure.”

If she had a chance to return to North City, she wanted to catch the whales and the sunset off the coast

with him.

Only time would tell whether she still had the luck.

…

Tongrui’s mind seemed to be elsewhere by the time they were back at Repulse Bay. Lingye wrapped

his arms around her from behind and sank his head to kiss her temple. He asked in a raspy voice,

“What’s the matter? You’re looking blue.”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about when we can go whale-watching by the sea.”

Lingye chuckled and replied, “I’ll take you there when I have time off in a few days. We can stay by the

sea for three days if you want.”

“But… don’t we have to visit relatives for the new year?”

“Although we have a large extended family, my dad is high in the family hierarchy, so our family is older

than most relatives. Plus, some of our relatives don’t get around much. The festivities aren’t prominent

in the city anyway. Most families simply have dinner at a restaurant to celebrate.”

Tongrui nodded her head. “That’s nice. It saves me from mingling with your relatives. I doubt I will get

along with them.”

Lingye looked at her and laughed. “Why do I get the feeling that my dear wife is complaining that our

family has a short fuse?

“Am I wrong? Specifically, I’m talking about… you.”

Tongrui turned around in his arms to face him. She poked his chest and shifted her gaze down,

focusing on his shirt button before uttering, “You’re so unpredictable. I never know what sets you off.

You just flip the switch.”

Lingye listened to her muffled whining before taking her hand. With downcast eyes, he locked gazes

with her and teased, “So my unpredictability is not to your liking?”

With Tongrui giving him the side-eye and making a face, Lingye took the cue and tightened his grasp

around her. He caressed the back of her head and said, “I’ll change. I can be unpredictable to anybody

but my wife.”

“You can’t act that way to Siqi either. She’s just a little girl. It will be detrimental to her well-being,”

Tongrui added.

Lingye was amused. “You’re talking as if I hadn’t been nice to Siqi.”

Tongrui put on a serious look. “I know you’re good to Siqi, but she’s young. Don’t be so strict with her.”

“Someone has to put the fear in the kid. Dad spoils her, and you indulge her. She will bring the house

down if I don’t give her tough love.”

The response prompted Tongrui to carry on with her nagging.

Lingye glanced at her. “There’s something off with you today. What’s the matter?”

“How so?” Tongrui became wary.

Lingye stared into her eyes for a while before letting out a faint smile. He lifted his arm to shuffle her

hair and said, “Go on and get your shower. It’s time for bed.”

“Are you still working at this hour?”

“I need to sort out a few emails. I’ll be in bed with you in no time.”

Since his burning gaze flushed her ears red, she hung her head low and answered, “Sure. Off you go

then.”

Tongrui emerged from the bathroom after her shower. By then, Lingye was walking out of the study.

“That was quick.”

Lingye fiddled with the Lego blocks Siqi left behind two days ago. The man deftly put the blocks

together, ready for Siqi to pick when she returned.

“You were dying for me to sleep with you. I couldn’t possibly make you wait. The last thing I want to do

is dampen your enthusiasm. You might throw another fit if I do.”

“…I don’t do that.”

Tongrui pouted. Surely, she was a woman of reason.

“Come here.”

With Lingye summoning her over, Tongrui went to him. “What do you want?”

“What do I want? Come here and let me hold you.”

Tongrui nestled in his embrace.

Lingye uttered, “You seemed bored to be cooped up at home all day. You can look for a job after the

New Year if that’s what you want. You can interact with the people out there and find company in a

circle of friends.”

Tongrui lifted her head and looked at him in surprise.

“What’s with that look?”

“I didn’t think you would be supportive of me working and networking.”

Lingye replied, “I don’t have a problem so long as you don’t hang around the wrong crowd. Besides,

you’re young. I can’t keep you locked in the house. You should engage more with the outside world.”

Tongrui smiled sweetly at him. “You talk to me as if I’m a child, and you’re the adult. Oh, I should deny

that you’re an adult.”

“The more contact you have with the outside, the more you’ll learn to appreciate the feeling of staying

at home. You’ll also realize how good your husband is to you when you spend time with other people.”

Tongrui got up and threw herself at Lingye. Caught off guard, Lingye collapsed in bed with Tongrui on

top of him.

Her dewy eyes stared straight into his soul. “Even if I don’t have contact with the outside world or

people, I know you’re good to me.”

The only person who would give her the world was Lingye.

“Are you trying to crush your husband with your weight?”

As her cheeks were painted with rosiness, Tongrui mumbled, “Am I that heavy? Fine, I’ll get off.”

She was about to relieve Lingye from her weight when the man suddenly grabbed her. “Come back.”

Tongrui was dragged back and pinned under him… for the locking of tongues.

Her love confession at the Marine World tonight was etched in Lingye’s mind. He got all over her face

and said, “Repeat what you said at Marine World tonight.”

“What was it? I don’t remember.”

Lingye stared ardently at her as a look of cunning crossed his eyes. “So you don’t remember?”

His hands reached under her blouse to tickle her. Tongrui could not stop laughing as she tried to snake

her way out of his reach. “Ahhh – Stop tickling me!”

“Do you remember the words? Huh? Do you?”

“Stop tickling…. Ticklish! Hahaha…”

…

The next morning, the car sent by Zhengyuan arrived at Repulse Bay Villa not too long after Lingye left.

An assistant said, “Mrs. Fu, please get into the car if you have packed your bags. I’m on Mr. Fu’s

orders to drive you to the airport.”

Tongrui gave a nod before looking back at the villa.

The assistant moved her suitcases into the car. “Come on, Mrs. Fu.”

Tongrui appeared absent-minded ever since she got into the car.

Zhengyuan had been waiting at the airport.

“Dad.”

Zhengyuan handed her a paper bag and said, “There’s a new phone with a new sim card inside. I put a

debit card with the pin number written on the back inside the bag too. Don’t forget to remove the pin

number once you memorize it. Oh, your new ID is inside.”

“A new ID?”

“Lingye will trace your flight number and your whereabouts in less than 24 hours if you don’t fly to

Florence under an assumed identity.”

The hand Tongrui that extended to grab the paper bag froze.

It dawned on her that Zhengyuan did not want Lingye to find her.