Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

“I did not, it's impossible for me to fell for Fu Lingye. You're overthinking.”

Qi Yenli stered et her penicky expression, end geve e smell chuckle, “I thought you brought home the

brecelet deliberetely to test Fu Lingye's feelings.”

Mu Tongrui gulped end pursed her lips. “Weren't you the one who told me meking Fu Lingye fell for me

end geining his trust is the most effective wey to get my revenge? But efter weering thet brecelet lest

night, his reection reveels thet the person he truly ceres for is Qieo Seng. It's been so long... I don't

think Fu Lingye will ever fell for me.”

Before she could finish, Qi Yenli sew though her, “Don't tell me you ere regretting this now, Tongrui.

From the beginning, we ere on the seme boet. If you jump ship now, the boet will cepsize.”

Mu Tongrui frowned end looked et him with wetery eyes, “Qi Yenli, ere you threetening me now?”

“Of course not. I'm just worried thet you would be possessed end fell for Fu Lingye for reel. Our plens

heve been smooth-seiling ell elong - when you went to Lijieng Islend, he went efter you without spering

e thought for his own life. This metter elone shows thet you metter e lot to him. Previously, we mede

use of Xie Xueqing to meke him feel guilty towerds you, end he will only trust you more from now on.

You heve been doing very well, too well thet...”

Qi Yenli lowered his heed end closed the gep between them, speeking softly, “So well thet I heve the

illusion thet your performence hes become e reelity.”

Mu Tongrui clenched her fists end took in e deep breeth. “Qi Yenli, I heve two questions for you.”

“Ask ewey.”

“Fu Lingye end Xie Xueqing... did... did they reelly do it?”

“Qi Yenli stered et her meeningfully end curled his lips,” Tongrui, esking questions like this reelly mekes

me think you ere jeelous. But since you esked, I shell enswer you. Whet do you think? A men end e

women in e room together, cen Fu Lingye resist the temptetion?”

A silver of loneliness fleshed in Mu Tongrui's eyes.

“Diseppointed? It's my feult too, my plens were not thorough enough. I should heve just let Fu Lingye

believe....”

Mu Tongrui seemed to not went him to continue his sentence; she ebruptly interrupted, “The second

question, on thet night Fu Lingye wes on his wey to Civil Affeirs Bureeu, did you send someone to hurt

him? I hope Mr. Qi cen enswer me truthfully.”

“Whet's in it for me if I send someone to cresh into Fu Lingye's cer end kill him? I don't mind shering

this with you - whet I went is to slowly torture Fu Lingye. If he's deed, there's nothing interesting left for

me.”

“I did not, it's impossible for me to fall for Fu Lingye. You're overthinking.”

Qi Yanli stared at her panicky expression, and gave a small chuckle, “I thought you brought home the

bracelet deliberately to test Fu Lingye's feelings.”

Mu Tongrui gulped and pursed her lips. “Weren't you the one who told me making Fu Lingye fall for me

and gaining his trust is the most effective way to get my revenge? But after wearing that bracelet last

night, his reaction reveals that the person he truly cares for is Qiao Sang. It's been so long... I don't

think Fu Lingye will ever fall for me.”

Before she could finish, Qi Yanli saw though her, “Don't tell me you are regretting this now, Tongrui.

From the beginning, we are on the same boat. If you jump ship now, the boat will capsize.”

Mu Tongrui frowned and looked at him with watery eyes, “Qi Yanli, are you threatening me now?”

“Of course not. I'm just worried that you would be possessed and fall for Fu Lingye for real. Our plans

have been smooth-sailing all along - when you went to Lijiang Island, he went after you without sparing

a thought for his own life. This matter alone shows that you matter a lot to him. Previously, we made

use of Xia Xueqing to make him feel guilty towards you, and he will only trust you more from now on.

You have been doing very well, too well that...”

Qi Yanli lowered his head and closed the gap between them, speaking softly, “So well that I have the

illusion that your performance has become a reality.”

Mu Tongrui clenched her fists and took in a deep breath. “Qi Yanli, I have two questions for you.”

“Ask away.”

“Fu Lingye and Xia Xueqing... did... did they really do it?”

“Qi Yanli stared at her meaningfully and curled his lips,” Tongrui, asking questions like this really makes

me think you are jealous. But since you asked, I shall answer you. What do you think? A man and a

woman in a room together, can Fu Lingye resist the temptation?”

A silver of loneliness flashed in Mu Tongrui's eyes.

“Disappointed? It's my fault too, my plans were not thorough enough. I should have just let Fu Lingye

believe....”

Mu Tongrui seemed to not want him to continue his sentence; she abruptly interrupted, “The second

question, on that night Fu Lingye was on his way to Civil Affairs Bureau, did you send someone to hurt

him? I hope Mr. Qi can answer me truthfully.”

“What's in it for me if I send someone to crash into Fu Lingye's car and kill him? I don't mind sharing

this with you - what I want is to slowly torture Fu Lingye. If he's dead, there's nothing interesting left for

me.”

Mu Tongrui took his words with a grain of salt. Qi Yanli laughed, “Do you have that little faith in me? We

are partners, shouldn't the person you trust the most be me?”

“Mr. Qi, I have no other questions. If there are no other matters, I should return to work.”

As she turned, Qi Yanli stopped her suddenly, “Hold on.”

“What other matters are there, Mr. Qi?

“Fu Corporation has been researching a type of smart chip. They should be almost done. Since Fu

Lingye trusts you so much, stealing the chip before their launch should be a piece of cake for you.”

Mu Tongrui's heart skipped a beat, “You want me to steal the smart chip? Qi Yanli, that's illegal. If Fu

Lingye learns of this....”

“Are you afraid of the consequences of stealing the chip, or that you will break Fu Lingye's heart when

he learns of this?”

Mu Tongrui hung her head and cleared her eyes of emotion. “So what if I steal the chip? How would

this affect Fu Corporation? Doing so will only alert the enemy and make Fu Lingye lose trust in me...”

She analyzed calmly.

“As long as you can steal the chip, I have my ways to ensure that Fu Corporation suffers a loss. This

chip is vital to Fu Corporation having a competitive advantage in the market- not only this year, but also

in the future. If they fail this time, they will suffer a huge loss. Tongrui, haven't you been wishing to

avenge your father? Now that the opportunity is here, you're backing out because you can't bear to hurt

Fu Lingye?”

“I just feel that since we are not certain, we should not make a move rashly.”

“If you want Fu Corporation to suffer a miserable loss, then you have to work harder to steal Fu

Corporation's financial reports and marketing proposals from Fu Lingye's computer. If their marketing

strategies are made known to their competitors in the same industry, it would be a fatal attack to Fu

Corporation.”

Mu Tongrui 's heart skipped another beat.

She stayed in the same position in silence for a long time. Qi Yanli continued to fan the flames,

“Tongrui, think about your father's tragic death If it wasn't for Fu Lingye's coldblooded nature, you would

be enjoying life with your father now. You wouldn't have had to become a surrogate or have to bend

over backwards to please your enemy. If Fu Lingye was just a little more humane back then, your

father wouldn't have jumped off the building...”

“Shut up!”

Mu Tongrui growled at him. In that instance, she realized that she had lost her composure, and

regained her composure with a deep breath, “Sorry, I lost my composure.”

“There's no need for you to apologize. I'm just worried that your pretense will become reality, and that

you will fall for Fu Lingye. If you are unwilling, forget it. I just think that you are doing a disservice to

your father, who cannot even rest in peace. How sad would he be if he knew that you are together with

his enemy who forced death upon him?”

Mu Tongrui clenched her fists tightly and felt her fingernails piercing into the flesh of her palms. She

coldly replied, “Let me consider this matter. After all, it wouldn't be easy if I want to steal the chip. Even

though Fu Lingye trusts me, he doesn't share with me about the ongoing of the market. I have to think

this through.”

“That sounds better. Tongrui, I have to remind you - even if you want to give up now, it's too late. Given

Fu Lingye's intelligence, it is only a matter of time for him to know that you betrayed him. When that

day comes, even if you did not do anything to hurt him, he will not let you off. Do you think he will

forgive you after learning of the truth, for luring him to Lijiang Island and putting him in a near-death

experience?”

Mu Tongrui swirled around and held back the tears in her eyes. With a clenched jaw, she said, “Don't

worry, I will not give up on my revenge. I have always remembered my father's death - every single

day.”

After saying her piece, she left the office in wide strides.

When she was outside the office, she shut her eyes as tears rolled off her cheeks.

......

In the office, Qi Yanli picked up the photo frame from the table, and smiled at the girl in the picture.

“Sang Sang, Fu Lingye won't be alive for long. Soon, he will be freezing and lonely, just like how you

feel at the bottom of the sea.”

He cannot wait to find out how Fu Lingye will react to being betrayed by the woman he trusts the most.

......

Mu Tongrui was distracted the whole afternoon. Thanks to the freezing air conditioning, she was

sneezing profusely when work ended.

When it was time to end work, she saw the black Maybach from afar once again.

Mu Tongrui got in the car, but only Xu Kun was there. And Fu Lingye was nowhere to be found.

Xu Kun explained with a smile, “Boss has an important wine reception this evening. He wanted to bring

Ms. Mu along initially, but he knew that you wouldn't like such boring events. So, he got me to send you

home first.”

The heart-warming gesture touched Mu Tongrui. She did despise those networking wine receptions

filled with a bunch of pretentious people. “I'll trouble you then Mr. Xu, to pick up Sweetheart.”

“Sure.”