Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

That evening, Lingye and Tongrui were having dinner in the hospital room when Zhenghui

unexpectedly showed up for a visit. Tongrui had just picked up a piece of succulent braised pork with

her chopsticks and was feeding it to Lingye; she was so embarrassed her cheeks flushed a deep red.

Lingye remained stoic and indifferent, not showing any signs of emotion. All he did was set down his

chopsticks and ask, "Uncle Zhengrui, why are you here?"

Zhengrui looked at the two of them. With a bland smile, he replied, "I'm here to see you, of course,

Lingye. I have something to discuss with you."

"What is it, Uncle?"

"I…" Zhengrui hesitated, glancing at Tongrui. "Why don't you come for a stroll with me?"

Evidently, Uncle Zhengrui wanted to speak to him privately. Lingye got down from the bed and draped

a coat over his shoulders. "Tongrui, go ahead and finish dinner."

Tongrui nodded. "Come back soon, alright? The food won't be as good once it gets cold."

Lingye gently stroked her hair. "Okay." He followed Zhengrui out of the room to the hospital's back

garden. His uncle's brow was deeply furrowed, and he had not said a word the entire time.

Lingye reiterated, "Uncle Zhengrui, what is it? Just tell me straight up."

Zhengrui stopped in his tracks, his eyes betraying his anguish and internal struggle. "Lingye, I've

thought about this for a long, long time. I've even considered asking someone else to tell you, but I

figured I may as well do it myself."

"Tell me? Tell me what?"

Instead of answering, Zhengrui merely nodded somberly, leading Lingye to a more secluded spot in the

garden. Once he was sure there was no one around, Zhengrui drew a deep breath and said resolutely,

"Lingye, Tongrui…Tongrui is my daughter."

Lingye was stunned into immobility for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Uncle Zhengrui, don't be

ridiculous." He shook his head and turned to leave, but Zhengrui continued, "I know you don't believe

me, but her mother, Lan Jing, was definitely pregnant with my child back then."

Lingye's hands slowly clenched at his sides. His voice was very cold as he asked, "I see. Why are you

so sure that Rui is your daughter, though?"

"I've had an investigation done. Mu Guangqing had Type A blood; so did Lan Jing. But Tongrui's blood

type is AB. I'm sure you understand the implications of this."

"So?" Lingye's fists balled up even tighter, the knuckles showing white against his skin.

Zhengrui merely looked at him steadily. "My blood type is also AB."

Lingye stood rooted to the spot, unable to speak.

"There's no such thing as coincidence in this world. The first time I saw Tongrui, I felt she looked oddly

familiar. All of this is my fault, Lingye…it's the result of my sins in the past. I…" Zhengrui's shame and

guilt overcame him, and his words trailed off. He looked down, unable to meet his nephew's eyes.

Lingye closed his eyes tightly. He recalled that Tongrui had mentioned his uncle seemed very familiar

the first time she met Zhengrui.

Could Rui…really be Uncle Zhengrui's daughter?

If that was the case, then what did that mean for himself and Rui in terms of familial relationship? That

would make them cousins, right? They were already officially married, though, and even had a

daughter together.

The image of adorable, clever little Siqi floated into Lingye's head. No matter what, he found it

impossible to believe that Tongrui was his cousin. His tone of voice was several degrees chillier when

he next addressed Zhengrui. "So why are you telling me this?"

"Lingye, I…" Zhengrui's voice faltered, then trailed off completely.

Lingyet spoke, each word clear and distinct. "Rui and I are already officially husband and wife. I don't

care whose daughter she is; it doesn't change the fact that she is my wife. If you're here today to tell

me you want to acknowledge your daughter or ask the two of us to divorce, I will tell you right now that

won't happen."

"No, no…Lingye, you've misunderstood. I don't want the two of you to divorce. I don't have the power

to do that anyway. I'll carry this secret to the grave, that's not an issue. It's just that…I'm afraid of what

might happen if anyone else were to find out, and how it might affect you and Tongrui's relationship…"

"Uncle Zhengrui, all you need to do is preserve this secret. Whatever else comes along is none of your

business. Rui is my wife, and I'll keep her safe." Lingye turned and left, his expression frosty.

Zhengrui watched his nephew's forbidding figure walk away. In the end, he was unable to refrain from

asking, "If…if one day her identity comes to light and your relationship is thrust into the spotlight, what

about public opinion and the inevitable talk? Will you still protect her then?"

"I'm not you, Uncle Zhengrui. Don't forget that. I wouldn't devote my life to people I don't care about.

The ones whom I love, I'll protect with every fiber of my being." Lingye's voice was aloof and quiet, yet

resolute.

Zhengrui's faint smile betrayed a hint of sadness mixed with some consolation. "You're much braver

and better than I ever will be. I'm the coward here."

He had been a coward from the very beginning. Fear of family and taking responsibility had caused him

to abandon the love of his life back in the day. Now, twenty years later, he was still a coward, afraid to

acknowledge even his own daughter.

Zhengrui stood there as dusk fell, gripping his cane as the tears finally came.

…

Tongrui had already finished her dinner. She looked at Lingye's food and frowned; it was already stone-

cold. "Why isn't he back yet?"

Lingye had left without taking his phone. Tongrui was about to put on her coat and go in search of him

when he came back into the room.

Tongrui sat down on the bed. "What took you so long? What did Uncle Zhengrui need to speak to you

about?"

"Just guy stuff."

This immediately killed Tongrui's interest in the matter. Guy stuff…that was probably company-related

business.

"Your dinner's cold now. I'll heat it up for you." She was about to stand up when Lingye caught hold of

her wrist. "It's alright. I'm not hungry."

"But you only ate a few bites."

"I'm not hungry."

Lingye pulled her into an embrace, his arms slowly tightening around her. Tongrui sensed this and

looked up at him, puzzled. "You're acting very strange."

Lingye scrutinized her. Rui, are you truly Uncle Zhengrui's daughter?

Tongrui sniffed at him like a puppy, then wrinkled her nose, frowning. "You've been smoking." He

reeked of cigarette smoke.

Lingye's nerves eased slightly, and he gave her a faint, mechanical smile. "You've found me out."

"No wonder you were gone for so long. You sneaked out to smoke."

It was still light out when Lingye left; night had fallen now. Tongrui had not looked at the time, but she

had waited for quite a while, so…

"How many cigarettes did you smoke?"

"One pack."

Tongrui pursed her lips. "When did you become such a smoker? One whole packet of cigarettes? You

finished the entire lot just now?"

Lingye did not reply. Tongrui's curiosity got the better of her, nonetheless. "But…where did you get

them from? You didn't bring your wallet with you earlier. How did you manage to buy cigarettes?"

"I got a pack of Nanjing Reds from the hospital doorman."

"How on earth did you persuade the doorman to give you a pack of Nanjing Red cigarettes? They're

expensive!"

"I promised to give him a limited edition Yellow Crane Tower cigar in return."

Just a single one of these limited edition cigars retailed for at least 8500 yuan. Tongrui was left

speechless.