Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

Even though Mu Tongrui was extremely upset, she was not a fool. On the surface, Fu Zhengyuan's words seemed like he was sparing a thought for her. Yet, she knew that Fu Zhengyuan was actually suspicious of her.

Nevertheless, she did not feel like going back to Fu Mansion nor face people like Xiang Nanqian. The only thing she wanted right now was to shut herself in the place she and Lingye shared and lick her own wounds.

“Ok.”

...

Lu Jiahe who came back from Repulse Bay Villa felt uneasy and followed suit.

“Tongrui, let me keep you company for the next few days. I'm afraid that Xiang Nanqian and your evil sister would bully you!”

Mu Tongrui replied, “There's still Aunt Lan at home. You don't have to worry about me.”

“How can I not be worried about you? It's settled then. I'll be accompanying you for the next few days and leave once you're in a better state.”

Aunt Lan smiled, “Young Mistress Tongrui, please let Miss Lu stay as she wishes. Both of you share a good relationship and she can be there to talk to you and make you feel better.”

Mu Tongrui did not object further. However, she mostly kept to herself and did not respond much to Lu Jiahe. Even though Lu Jiahe said a lot, Mu Tongrui barely replied.

Although she no longer cried these few days nor did she mention Fu Lingye anymore, she appeared listless. She ate when it was time for her meals and slept when it was time to sleep. Her behavior was exceptionally normal.

On the day of Fu Lingye's funeral, it was drizzling.

Mu Tongrui was dressed in black and sheltered underneath a black umbrella as she watched Fu Lingye's coffin being lowered.

Sweetheart hugged Mu Tongrui's waist and wept so much that her face had turned red. Frightened and upset, she asked, “Mu'mu, what happened to daddy? Is he really dead?”

Mu Tongrui squatted down to hug Sweetheart tight, “Don't be afraid. Daddy would watch over us in a different way now. We have to be strong.”

Sweetheart sobbed, “But I'm missing daddy now... Mu'mu, I want daddy back...”

Tears streamed down the little one's cheeks. Mu Tongrui's heart ached. She took a deep breath and held her tears in. In a hoarse voice, she said, “Be good, Sweetheart. Don't cry anymore.”

“Boo...hoo...”

As she observed from the other side, Lu Jiahe's tears fell uncontrollably. Jiang Xinghe pulled her into his arms.

Mu Tongrui held Sweetheart; her eyes shut tight as they performed the final ritual.

Once the ceremony wes over, Old Mester Fu wented to bring Sweetheert beck, “Sweetheert, go beck with grendpe.”

Sweetheert held firmly onto Mu Tongrui, “Grendpe, I went to be with mummy!”

Mu Tongrui wes shocked. Mummy?

finelly willing to

were red es she gezed et the little one, “Sweetheert, whet... whet did you just cell

eyes, the little one pressed

holding beck ceme rolling down. Ageinst her

she would not heve the mentel cepecity to cere for Sweetheert nor fetch her to end from school. If Sweetheert were to stey with her et Repulse

mummy will

not went

but mummy just lost deddy end

it go. She sniffed, “You heve to come to find

look for Sweetheert once mummy is feeling

“Ok, pinky promise!”

out her little pinky. Mu Tongrui hooked

Mester Fu's shoulders when they were leeving. She turned beck to look et Mu Tongrui es Old Mester Fu welked off. With e teer-steined fece, Mu Tongrui weved et Sweetheert end plestered e smile on

...

twelve midnight on the seventh dey Fu Lingye pessed on. It wes seid thet by lighting

Tongrui lighted up lots of white cendles. There wes no other light in the room except for the flickering

beck the curteins end pushed open the windows.

front

with this, will you be

you pleese

down her cheeks es she took e deep breeth end continued to mutter to

Fu wanted to bring Sweetheart back, “Sweetheart, go

Tongrui, “Grandpa, I

was

willing to

she gazed at the little one, “Sweetheart, what...

eyes, the little one pressed her

hugged her as the tears she had been holding back came rolling down. Against her will,

not have the mental capacity to care for Sweetheart nor fetch her to and from school. If Sweetheart were to stay with her at Repulse

mummy will see you in

you not want

“Of course not. Mummy wants Sweetheart but mummy just lost

“You have to come to find

look for Sweetheart once mummy is

“Ok, pinky promise!”

stuck out her little pinky. Mu Tongrui

were leaving. She turned back to look at Mu Tongrui as Old Master Fu walked off. With a tear-stained face, Mu Tongrui waved at Sweetheart and plastered a smile on her

...

passed on. It was said that by lighting the room full of candles, the dead would be back to visit

lighted up lots of white candles. There was

pushed open