Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

A hotel lobby in S city.

A tour guide announced, “We'll meet here at eight tomorrow morning. After breakfast, we will depart to Lijiang Island and stay the night there. Remember to bring all your belongings with you.”

After that, Mu Tongrui took a stroll in the area for some food before she returned to the hotel.

She checked her phone to find neither a text nor a phone call from Fu Lingye.

Mu Tongrui collapsed on a bed then opened WeChat. She searched Fu Lingye's name but she failed to find his profile.

That prompted her to sit up straight and focus on every way to search for it.

Unfortunately, after several trials, Fu Lingye's profile still didn't pop up.

I got testy after a few drinks... I didn't block him, did I?

Mu Tongrui sat in stillness, trying to recall that part of the night. Moments later, she finally did.

Mu Tongrui and Ye Guo had dared each other to block their crushes' contacts. The alcohol took control of her and...

Mu Tongrui buried her face under her blanket. Right now, she just wanted to hide and melt away.

Then, she remembered “breaking up” with Fu Lingye one-sidedly. So what am I doing, expecting him to reach out?

Mu Tongrui turned on the television to shut down her uncontrollable inner thoughts. She flipped through the channels and stopped at a show which had a four-year-old performing. That child, who was almost Sweetheart's age, reminded Mu Tongrui of Sweetheart and further messed with her head. Mu Tongrui ended up switching the TV off.

After Sweetheart’s call last time, Mu Tongrui tried calling back, but they were never connected. She speculated that Sweetheart’s phone must have been taken away. In the process of organizing her thoughts, Mu Tongrui eventually passed out on her bed.

The next morning, Mu Tongrui met up with the tour guide after breakfast. They left at eight o'clock sharp for the island.

Lijiang Island was a popular tourist attraction in S city. It was known as the Little Maldives and was the perfect spot for many honeymooners. It explained all the newlyweds in the group. Mu Tongrui was glad that she wouldn't be following their agenda after reaching the island, or it'd be too much to bear for a lovesick woman like her.

her tour group and found herself a

a bright smile,

“No.” Mu Tongrui answered.

tour group? It's good to find another

paused. They made an isolated

“I'm alone, but I only signed up for the good deals. I'm not interested

excited hearing that, “What a coincidence, me too! Would

hesitated for a moment, but she didn't mind some

“I'm Qiu Zekai.”

meet you.

They shook hands.

to appreciate the glistening seawater and a trail

was a decent photographer and offered to take photos. Mu Tongrui was so impressed by the photos

“Ooo, if you went alone, then who took those pictures? Tell me, did you meet a lover boy

eye-roll emoji and

S city, Mu

tracked Ms. Mu's phone, and it is

Lingye immediately took a cab and

hour later. Huge black clouds hovered on the horizon as gushes

narrowed his eyes upon this

to a random

television on the wall presented a piece of breaking

a sudden storm which caused a few

weather was fine when we surfed. It's not even raining on

looked out to see a peaceful coastline. It was hard to imagine a

sea. Luckily, we got here early. I think we should stay

finished, Mu Tongrui's