Mr Fu, I Really Love You

Tuan Tuan wanted to tell her that he knew how to use a phone, but when he saw that Little Candy was so enthusiastic, he nodded and placed his hands on his knees and huddled close to Little Candy.

Little Candy swiped on the screen and put the phone close to Tuan Tuan’s mouth. “Just say Mama!”

Tuan Tuan was in disbelief, but he still obediently called out, “Mama…”

The phone started dialing, and Tuan Tuan looked at the screen indicating “Mama” and was immensely amazed by Little Candy’s phone.

Tuan Tuan peered at the screen nervously. Someone answered the call after a few rings and snapped, “Wretch, what did you forget this time?”

“Huh?” Little Candy was stunned momentarily, and then she shouted, “Granny!”

There was a moment of silence at the other end of the line, and then the voice turned sweet and gentle. “Oh, my Little Candy! My sweet darling, what happened? Do you miss Granny? My sweetheart is so amazing. You know how to call Granny!”

Tuan Tuan didn’t know what to say…

Where was Mama?

Little Candy was praised to the skies and couldn’t help chit-chatting with her granny. She told her how she had stolen her mother’s phone and how she had hidden at the flower terrace with Tuan Tuan in order to call Tuan Tuan’s mother.

Tuan Tuan hugged his knees tightly and kept silent.

Little Candy finally ended her conversation with her granny and hung up happily. She passed the phone to Tuan Tuan. “My granny said that we have to first enter your mama’s contact number, then press the green key to be able to call your mama. I can help you key in your mama’s number since I can read numbers. Do you have her contact number?”

Tuan Tuan recalled how Auntie Li had called Mama’s phone last night, and he had clung onto her arm, peering and nodding at the row of numbers on the screen.

Tuan Tuan recounted the number. Little Candy dialed the number and handed the phone to Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan was very nervous. His little hands couldn’t hold onto the huge phone, and he carried it on his palms cautiously. When he heard the ringing tone, he swallowed his saliva.

It was only when he heard Lin Nuan’s voice and leaned in closer to call “Mama” that he felt like crying.

When Lin Nuan heard that Tuan Tuan was alright and that he had only called because he missed her, she breathed a sigh of relief, and feelings of guilt surged through her.

“I’m sorry, Tuan Tuan, I was supposed to video call you last night, but I broke my promise.”

Lin Nuan sat by the side of the bed, heartbroken. She hadn’t seen Tuan Tuan for the entire night, and she hadn’t expected herself to be missing him so much.

Tuan Tuan shook his head, then realized that his mama wasn’t able to see him. He cautiously inched towards the phone. “How… Tonight? Can… uh, video call?”

Tuan Tuan didn’t like to talk. At this age, he was still speaking haltingly in broken sentences, and he didn’t have a glib tongue like Little Candy.

“Papa and Mama will video call Tuan Tuan together tonight, okay?” Lin Nuan curled her lips and asked, “Tuan Tuan, are you calling from the kindergarten teacher’s phone?”

Upon hearing this, Little Candy clambered over Tuan Tuan’s arm and shouted into the phone, “I am the one who stole my mama’s phone and called Tuan Tuan’s mama!”

Lin Nuan found the voice familiar; it was easy to recognize.

“Little Candy?”

Little Candy was delighted to hear Tuan Tuan’s mother calling her name. “Yes, yes, Tuan Tuan’s mama! I am Little Candy! Tuan Tuan’s mama, you are so gentle! Unlike my mama, who only knows how to hit me. Tuan Tuan’s mama, why don’t you be my mama too? I am going to marry Tuan Tuan, and when we get married, you can be my mama too…”

Tuan Tuan didn’t know what to say…

Lin Nuan couldn’t help but chuckle on the other end of the line. “Well, two little boys can’t get married!”

Little Candy had already snatched the phone away from Tuan Tuan. He sat on the ground, clutching the phone, speaking intently to Lin Nuan. “I’m not a little boy. Mama said I’m a little girl. I don’t have a pee-pee! Mama said boys have a pee-pee… I even tried to show mine to Tuan Tuan and was beaten up by Mama. She said girls aren’t supposed to let others see if they have a pee-pee!”

Lin Nuan’s laughter resonated from the other end of the line. Tuan Tuan’s pudgy hands, which were on his knees, clenched tight.

Little Candy could speak so fluently. Tuan Tuan looked at her with envy—how he wished he could speak to Mama like that.

…

After she hung up the call, Lin Nuan’s head was no longer throbbing in pain. She could still taste the toothpaste in her mouth.

She had just placed the phone on the bedside table when she saw the rose and note. She took a look and flushed…

‘Mrs. Fu, remember to have your breakfast. Give me a call when you’re awake, and I’ll be back to fetch you. From your hubby, Mr. Fu.’

The sweet floral scent of the rose made its way into Lin Nuan’s heart.

She got up to wash up in the bathroom and couldn’t help recalling her embarrassment at how she had used the toilet in front of Fu Huai’an last night.

After she had changed and washed up, Lin Nuan called Fu Huai’an.

“You’ve woken up?” Fu Huai’an asked as he smiled. “Does your head still hurt?”

“Yup… just a little. It’s much better now…”

Lin Nuan held onto the rose. She found a glass vase and put the rose in before placing the vase on the side table.

The sun’s rays were blazing in through the huge windows. The scarlet rose, like a flaming red ball, re-ignited the passion inside the once-lonely Lin Nuan.

Because of Fu Huai’an, Lin Nuan’s cold and desolate heart was beginning to rouse with passion.

How lucky was she… to be able to meet Fu Huai’an in this life?

“I have many things to handle at the law firm, so I’ll pick you up in half an hour. Have you eaten breakfast?”

Fu Huai’an’s voice was deep and mature, and he sounded as powerful as ever. Yet, Lin Nuan could tell that there was a hint of gentleness in his voice, which was unlike before.

She tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled as she looked at the rose. “Not yet. The breakfast service provided at the restaurant should have ended by now, so I’ve called for room service…”

“Okay, wait for me to get back.”

“Okay!”

After she hung up, Lin Nuan felt an unprecedented steadfast sense of belonging.

“Ding-dong—”

The doorbell rang. Still clutching her phone, Lin Nuan opened the door. A server pushed the food cart into the room.

Lin Nuan thanked him and was just about to reach into the wardrobe to retrieve her purse to tip the server when she heard someone calling her name at the door.

She looked up and saw Su Manman, who was wearing sunglasses and a cheongsam with gold embroidery, buttons fastened all the way to her throat. She wore a jacket over it and high heels. Her long and fair legs were the type that would attract one’s attention.

“Why are you at Jincheng?” Su Manman walked in without waiting for Lin Nuan to invite her. She was exceedingly charming and flirtatious, and when she sashayed past the server, he couldn’t resist gazing at her as he closed the door behind him.

Lin Nuan hadn’t forgotten that Su Manman had helped her before and smiled at Su Manman. She was still feeling somewhat uncomfortable from having too much to drink last night, and her pale face looked slightly wan and sallow.