Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, explosive sounds of firecrackers could be heard all around Repulse Bay Villa.
Lingye was holding his phone and standing by a sweeping window. He was staring at his Sweetheart who was still soundly
asleep in bed.
When Xu Kun answered his call, he had just awakened, “Hello boss, Happy Lunar New Year.”
Lingye mumbled a vague response. Then, he broached the topic at heart, “Ask Mr. Yan to prepare two copies of the divorce
agreement. Make sure the terms and conditions are all elaborated carefully.”
Xu Kun felt like he had just received a bombshell, “What? Boss, you need to think about this carefully. Although we haven’t found
Mrs. Fu yet, it’s not like Mr. Fu will just allow you to march toward your divorce as you wish. Who knows, maybe Mrs. Fu is
waiting for you in some place...”
“Just get them ready.”
Lingye was unfazed by anything, and his tone did not reveal any tinge of sadness at all.
Xu Kun stared at his phone as the line went dead, and he was in a paralyzed state for some time. He thought, You’re asking me
to get the lawyer to prepare a divorce agreement on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Nothing can be more inauspicious than
this...
However, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong.
Xu Kun slapped his head as if some realization just dawned on him. He finally knew what was Lingyet thinking.
Could it be that he was trying to stage a fake divorce so that Mrs. Fu would have no choice but to show herself?
...
It was eight in the morning at the Fu Manor. Lingye brought Siqi back to his home.
Siqi was sipping on some hot milk as she could not stop rubbing her eyes. She grumbled in her baby’s voice, “Grandpa, Daddy
got me to wake up so early in the morning. I am so tired, and I want to sleep more.”
Mr. Fu stroked Siqi’s tiny head and cooed, “Go upstairs if you want to sleep more. Lan, bring her upstairs to have a nap.”

“Yes, Mr. Fu.”
Lan immediately carried Siqi upstairs, and after they were gone, Mr. Fu’s face suddenly transformed into a mechanical,
emotionless one. He clasped his hands behind his back and barked, “Didn’t you declare that you would never step into this
house again? Why did you come back only after a few days? I don’t remember inviting you back here.”
Lingye tossed a paper bag onto a tea table in front of him. He replied, “I come to send Siqi here as well as give you this. Help me
pass this on to Tongrui. I’ve already signed them.”
A minor shock seemed to pulse through Mr. Fu’s eyes as his gaze fell on that paper bag. He frowned, “What is that?”
Lingye’s face was devoid of any emotion as he replied, “Divorce agreement. Just like you said.”
Mr. Fu frowned even deeper, “Are you trying to get a divorce with Tongrui?”
Lingye refuted him, “Didn’t you want me to do that? I’ve already signed my name. What else do you still want?”
Mr. Fu held his walking stick tight and he was glaring at Lingye while pursing his lips. It seemed that he was trying to read
Lingye, but all he could see was Lingye’s determination to get the divorce.
“So you’re seriously divorcing Tongrui? Weren’t you the one who was able to give up everything for her sake? Why the sudden
change of heart?”
If Mr. Fu did not understand Lingye enough, he would have thought that Lingye was a cold, heartless man who was about to
abandon his wife.
On the other hand, Lingye’s face was frosty and indecipherable. It was so harrowing that Mr. Fu felt an unknown anger rising in
him.
Lingye seated himself on a sofa and replied nonchalantly, “You know that everything was in the past. There’s no way that I would
only love one woman in my whole life. Despite my love for Tongrui, I won’t give in if it requires me to sacrifice my future and the
dignity of the family.”
“...”
Mr. Fu was momentarily speechless. Was Lingye a heartless bastard now?

Mr. Fu still felt that something was amiss, “Didn’t you just promise to never see me again two days ago all for her sake? Why are
you... You bastard, are you trying to make a bluff? So that you can lure her out?”
“It’s your freedom to think what you want. Anyway, I’ve already signed them.”
“You... You bastard...”
At that moment, Mr. Fu could not really tell whether Lingye was being serious or not.
After leaving the agreement there, Lingye did not plan to overstay his welcome, “I have a dinner gathering that I need to attend
tonight. It’s an invitation from our relatives. Ask Nanqian to come with Han and Siqi.”
Every year during this festive period, Lingye rarely appeared at any family gathering in the relative's house. Even if he was on
holiday, he would come up with excuses just to show himself.
However, as for Siqi, she was totally looking forward to huge festivities like this. Not only was the atmosphere happening, but she
could also receive huge red packets. As a child, she was completely absorbed in the celebration of such festivities.
Just as Lingye was about to step out of the manor, Nanqian rushed down the stairs and stopped him, “Lingye, you’re back?”
Lingye did not show much enthusiasm as he greeted her, “Hi, Nanqian.”
“Why are you leaving already? It’s the first day of the Lunar New Year. Shouldn’t you keep Siqi company here for a few more
days?”
“I have work to do,” Lingye’s rejection was short and concise.
“Wait a second there.”
Nanqian ran to the dining table and poured a cup of syrup for him, “Drink this. It’s an auspicious sign for you to have an amazing
year ahead. Drink some before you leave.”
Lingye glanced at the syrup and replied curtly, “I am going to divorce soon. There’s nothing that can improve my year ahead.”
After saying that, he turned around.
Both Mr. Fu and Nanqian froze on the spot.

Mr. Fu pointed at his back using his walking stick, “This bastard, who do you think you’re talking to with that kind of attitude?”
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“Who knows! He’s just doing what he pleases!”
Mr. Fu unpacked the paper bag and saw that on the divorce agreement, there was really Lingye’s signature.
He was befuddled, “Did he really set his mind on this?”
He read the terms and conditions carefully and saw that this was written meticulously. It included custody for Siqi and alimony for
Tongrui. Everything was written in black and white and its authenticity was hard to deny.
Nanqian was elated, “Dad, are you saying... Lingye is divorcing Tongrui?”
“That’s right. I really don’t know what’s going on in his mind. He just quarreled with me a few days ago because of her, but now
he wants to divorce her.”
Something still felt off.
Nanqian could not hide her excitement.
It seemed that... In the end, Lingye was tired of Tongrui.
...
It was nine in the morning in Qinghe.
Jiahe had already washed herself and she was ready. Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu were undoubtedly curious about the sudden change in
the behavior of their daughter. She did not find it hard to get out of bed today, it seemed.
“Honey, we are not going out for visitations today, you know. Your uncle and his family are going to come today to have lunch
with us.”
Jiahe made sure she was dressed well. She said, “Dad, Mum, I... might not eat at home today.”
“Are you going to eat with your friends?”

Jiahe mumbled a “yes” and said, “I have a gathering at noon.”
Her lies were so smooth.
Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu did not say anything about that. However, when she departed from her house, she thought, Xinghe must not
have had his breakfast at the hotel yet, after all, the Halves Hotel in Qinghe has nothing much to offer since it is just a three-star
hotel. Xinghe won’t fancy the food offered there, and he probably complains about the hygiene as well.
With that in mind, she secretly sneaked into the kitchen and packed a few dumplings into a lunch box. Then, she shoved it into a
bag before going out.
When she was at the door, she even said obediently, “Mum, Dad, I’m leaving now. I will come back a tad late today.”
“Hey, drink this first before you go.”
Mr. Lu served her some syrup and Jiahe happily drank a large mouthful before she departed in a merry mood.