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.”

you’re good to Siqi, but she’s young. Don’t be so strict with

kid. Dad spoils her, and you indulge her. She will bring the house down if I

prompted Tongrui to

at her. “There’s something off

so?” Tongrui

He lifted his arm to shuffle her hair and said,

still working at

out a few emails. I’ll be in bed with you

ears red, she hung

her shower. By then, Lingye was walking out

“That was quick.”

behind two days ago. The man deftly put the blocks

I couldn’t possibly make you wait. The last thing I want to do is dampen

“…I don’t do that.”

was a woman of

“Come here.”

Lingye summoning her over, Tongrui went to him. “What do you

here and let me hold

in

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

her head and looked at him

“What’s with that look?”

be supportive of me working and

don’t have a problem so long as you don’t hang around the wrong crowd. Besides, you’re young. I

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

outside, the more you’ll learn to appreciate the feeling of staying at

and threw herself at Lingye. Caught off guard, Lingye collapsed

stared straight into his soul. “Even if I don’t have contact

person who would give her

trying to crush your husband with your

rosiness, Tongrui mumbled, “Am I that heavy? Fine, I’ll get

Lingye from her weight when the man suddenly grabbed