Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)
Chapter 61

Chapter 61

“20,000 dollars! That is the maximum!”

The man's mother was haggling with the human trafficker who kidnapped Mu Tongrui. Obviously, theycould not reach an agreement over the price.

Shaking his head, the human trafficker said, “Auntie, is this woman only worth 20,000 dollars? At least30,000 dollars otherwise I will be suffering a loss!”

The man turned over to look at Mu Tongrui lustily. Worried that the human trafficker would change hismind against selling her to them, he tugged at his mother's hands and pleaded, “Mum, Mum! Look howpretty she is! So, what if she costs 30,000 dollars! If she marries me, your daughter-in-law would be theprettiest in the entire village!”

Seeing how much how smitten his son was by Mu Tongrui, she gritted her teeth and finally agreed tothe price of 30,000 dollars.

After the human trafficker left with the money in his hand, that burly man rushed into the house andgrabbed hold of Mu Tongrui's slender ankles to put them closely against his chest. Mu Tongrui wasscared out of her wits and screamed, “Let go of me! I will commit suicide if you dare to touch me!”

That burly man was flustered and said quickly, “No no no! My mum has spent 30,000 dollars topurchase you! Who will bear me kids if you die!”

Mu Tongrui noticed that he was slightly dim-witted. Glaring at him warily, she swallowed hard andattempted to coax him, “Since you have purchased me, why don't you untie me first?”

“No! You women who came from other places are always thinking of escaping! I cannot untie you!Unless you bear me a son!”

Mu Tongrui was shivering with cold and her teeth were chattering when she said, “I... I would notescape. I am really feeling uncomfortable now. Can you untie me?”

The burly man saw that there were some abrasions and even bruises on her ankles and wrists wherethe ropes were tying her. His heart ached at the sight and he started to waver when his mother enteredthe house, “Do not untie her! She will definitely run away!”

The burly man changed his stance immediately and grinned predatorily at Mu Tongrui, “I cannot untieyou, unless you sleep with me tonight!”

Mu Tongrui fainted out of shock.

For the next 3 days, she neither eat nor drink and coupled with her excessive fainting due to acombination of shock and fear, the old woman commanded the burly man, “Bring some buns and waterover. Don't let her starve to death. She has cost me 30,000 dollars. She better gives me a grandsonbefore she dies!”

In her dazed state, Mu Tongrui felt someone was stuffing food in her mouth and forced water down herthroat. As the person was brusque and as she was feeling groggy, she choked on the food and herface turned pale and red at the same time. That burly man got a fright, worried that his mother hadunknowingly bought a sickling.

That man tugged on his mother's sleeve, “Mum, will she die?”

“No, No! It must be because she did not eat for days! You take care of her. I will cook some congeenow! I cannot buy a sickling home!”

After the old woman had left, the burly man sat beside Mu Tongrui on her bed and took in her beautifulface and face skin. He stretched out his rough, calloused hands to caress her. Mu Tongrui pushed himaway with the little strength that she had. But she was no match for the burly man. He started to pull

her clothes in a frenzied manner, and his breathing quickened, “Let me kiss you! Just a kiss or somecaressing will do! If I cannot have you tonight, then let me touch you!”

Mu Tongrui was so disgusted that she felt nauseous, “You get lost... do not touch me!”

“You are already my wife! Why can't I touch you! You still need to bear me a son!”

Finishing his sentence, he threw himself onto Mu Tongrui, wanting to rape her. Mu Tongrui was simplytoo weak to resist, and at that very moment when she closed her eyes and resigned herself to fate, theburly man's mother rushed in, exclaiming, “The police have entered the village! Hide her in ourunderground cellar!”

The man was so frightened at his mother's words that he scrambled to his feet and immediatelydragged Mu Tongrui into an underground cellar!

Cold...

She was chilled to the bone.

She wanted to shout for help, but she realized that she could not get a proper word out. Her weak criesfor help were drowned in this isolated underground cellar.

....

Outside, Fu Lingye, along with a few policemen were investigating every household.

The police have learnt that this village often bought kidnapped women from the human traffickers.

Fu Lingye was decked in long, black trench coat and a sophisticated, handmade white shirtunderneath. With his long legs, he gave off a cold and murderous vibe.

He was going from door to door in large strides.

Fu Lingye reached the house of the burly man which was near the village entrance.

Fu Lingye took out Mu Tongrui's photo from his wallet and asked bluntly in his cold voice, “Have youseen this woman before?”

“No, no..”

Fu Lingye glared at the burly man. This man has a shifty look with a stiff expression and twitchyeyebrows. He is obviously lying.

“Mr. Fu, we can't replace Ms. Mu.”

Fu Lingye frowned and reminded those few policemen, “There should be underground cellars in thisplace, go and check again.”

The burly man broke into a sweat out and tried to stop the policemen with a forced smile, “Sir, there isno underground cellar here.”

Fu Lingye's eyes darkened and pushed aside the burly man to enter his house. On the bed was a ropethat the burly man did not hide in time. It must be used for tying someone up.

Fu Lingye circled the house and tapped his foot against the ground. Suddenly, a sparkle from adiamond ring on the ground caught his eyes.

This diamond ring was the one that Fu Lingye had given to Mu Tongrui on the very day he brought herback to Fu Mansion. He had even put it on her personally.

He narrowed his eyes and bent down to pick up the diamond ring. He tapped his fingers against theground, and indeed it was hollow underneath. Immediately, he pulled out that plank on the ground.

Fu Lingye leapt down in one swift move and discovered Mu Tongrui beside a big wine jar.

Her face was flushed with an abnormal scarlet shade and her breathing was weak. She had collapsedon the wet, cold ground in the underground cellar.

Fu Lingye's heart wrenched at the sight.

He took off his trench coat and put it on her. Cradling her in his arms, he patted her face in a bid towake her up.

“Mu Tong Rui! Wake up!”

Mu Tongrui coughed and tried to speak. She could not get a word out. She forced open her eyes andsaw a familiar face in the dim light before her.

Fu Lingye...

Am I dying? Otherwise, why am I hallucinating? Am I dreaming that Fu Lingye has come to save her?