Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

Xu Kun pursed his lips and asked, “Boss, if I may say so… aren’t you afraid that the world will stand against you and vilify you even after you bring Mrs. Fu back because of your relationship with her?”

“So what if the world disapproves of us? I don’t need anybody’s approval to be with Tongrui. Besides, I have never gone against the world, so I might as well experience it once.”

Despite Lingye speaking in a nonchalant tone, Xu Kun could tell that Lingye was serious and resolute.

Xu Kun grinned and looked at the brilliance exploding in the sky before uttering, “You’re the man, Boss. You’re in a league of your own.”

“Buttering up to your boss gets you nowhere. I won’t give you a raise.”

Xu Kun smiled. “I don’t mind a slightly bigger year-end bonus though.”

Curling his lips, Lingye narrowed his eyes and took a few more puffs from the cigarette between his fingers.

Lingye put out the cigarette and threw it on the lawn when Siqi ran over. He bent over to pick Siqi up.

He said to Xu Kun, “You should head back and get some rest.”

Lingye carried Siqi into the house as Xu Kun watched his back and said, “Happy New Year, Boss.”

…

That night, Siqi shared a bed with Lingye.

It was one in the morning by the time they got ready for bed.

Siqi looked at the time on the phone and blinked. She drew close to Lingye and whispered, “Happy New Year, Daddy.”

With warmth filling Lingye’s empty and hollow heart, Lingye lowered his head to kiss her on the forehead. He said, “Wishing you a happy new year too, Sweetheart.”

Lingye’s mind flew back to the three years when Tongrui was not in the picture. This was how he and Siqi always spent their New Year and New Year’s Eve, so there was no loneliness or sadness. Now that he got used to having her around, and she suddenly faded out from his world and life, Lingye had a hard time shaking off the emptiness and loneliness.

The little girl snuggled up against him and asked, “Do you miss Mu, Daddy?”

“Yeah,” Lingye faintly replied. There was no telling whether he was paying attention.

Siqi added, “I miss Mu too.”

“Yeah.” The reply was barely audible.

Siqi then asked, “Will Mu come home, Daddy?”

Lingye paused at first before firmly looking into Siqi’s eyes. He answered, “She will, and soon.”

her eyes in relief. “I can relax now. Auntie Lan’s strawberry cake isn’t very tasty. I prefer

for a long time, and

end, Siqi drooled and drifted off while talking

“Daddy, I want KFC…”

“We’ll have KFC tomorrow.”

to see Mu

a pat and talked as if to answer the girl and to

…

was a sleepless night

the residence was in a villa compound instead of the city center, the law on setting off fireworks was lenient.

had a good rest against her daddy’s chest. No amount of noise could wake the child once she

wide awake and alert, thinking about

evoke such intense emotion, so intense that they eclipsed even the pain of

…

a little

but since it was New Year’s Eve, he wanted to see how the Italians

to leave the hotel on

her decision when

that the Italians would party hard on New Year’s

people and cars, and Tongrui was nearly swept away by the

she felt isolated in the midst

distanced herself from the bustle and people, only to

phone booth

tempted to give Lingye

to risk it all and tell him where she

of the matter

entered the phone booth and dialed the

was at her throat, not from her nerves, but

long before she could hear his

would be able to wish Lingye a happy new

automated voice came on the call once it was connected. In translation, there was restricted access to the number she had dialed, and the recipient was

as the clock

listened to the busy tone as she looked

to her

…

back in Qinghe for a few days now. For New Year’s Eve, she watched the gala with her parents in the

greeting since Hades Jiang was her mentor. She would