Chapter 367: A Taste of Sweetness

“In the past?”

This question entered the depths of Chu Tian’s mind without warning. 

In an instant, a violent, gloomy scene filled with a desire for absolute control exploded in his head. 

There seemed to be a young girl in that image as well, but she wasn’t like she was now—standing under the moonlight on a date with him, filled with coquettishness and shyness. 

Instead… she was kneeling in humiliation.

Chu Tian pressed his hand against his temple, a sharp sting causing his brow to furrow instantly. 

The image was dark, yet he could feel an unspeakable sense of conquest. 

“Ugh…”

“What’s wrong?” Su Nian immediately noticed something was off. 

The slight trace of annoyance that had just risen in her voice was instantly replaced by worry, and she subconsciously took a step toward him.

The man’s face seemed a shade paler under the moonlight, “It’s nothing.”

Chu Tian blinked hard, forcibly shaking the absurd and unfamiliar vision from his mind, dismissing it as a lingering side effect of his amnesia.

His heart warmed. 

He looked up, meeting the girl’s sky-blue eyes that were filled with concern. 

To hide his momentary distraction, he immediately displayed a full survival instinct. 

He squeezed her hand, the warmth and strength in his palm seemingly making a solemn promise.

“The past… I don’t know.” His expression was incredibly serious, “But in the future, I will always be with you.”

The last trace of irritation in Su Nian’s heart vanished into thin air. 

Chu Tian’s clumsy yet hardworking attempt to please her gave her an unprecedented, sweet feeling of being cherished.

Su Nian’s voice softened unconsciously. 

She pursed her lips, her eyes shimmering as she looked toward the quiet depths of the garden.

“Just… take a walk in the garden, chat… and maybe look at the stars together.”

Su Nian raised a slender, fair index finger and made a small request: “If… if I could have another piece of dessert, that would be great.”

Chu Tian listened intently, carving every word she said into his heart. 

After she finished, a mysterious smile appeared on his face. 

His free hand, as if performing a magic trick, produced a small silver plate from behind his back.

On the plate lay a delicate piece of strawberry mousse cake. 

It was the very same piece Su Nian had eyed several times during the banquet but hadn’t felt comfortable eating more of due to her reserve.

Su Nian’s eyes widened suddenly, “You…”

“I saw that you liked it at dinner, so I secretly had the kitchen save an extra portion.” Chu Tian’s tone carried a hint of pride that he couldn’t hide, as if he were waiting for praise.

Su Nian felt a bit embarrassed. 

She had actually already eaten one serving of dessert, so… had she looked that eager to eat it at the time? 

It didn’t seem very ladylike.

Under the moonlight, the strawberry mousse cake looked exceptionally tempting. 

The bright red strawberry on top was plump and glossy, much like the girl’s currently flushed cheeks.

Su Nian looked at the cake, then at Chu Tian’s handsome face that practically shouted ‘praise me’, and the softest part of her heart was struck hard. 

Even if her behavior wasn’t very ladylike, this guy clearly wouldn’t mind.

True enough, this was what it felt like to be loved and pampered by someone who put her at the center of his heart.

She took the small silver fork Chu Tian handed her and carefully cut off a small piece, putting it in her mouth. 

The creaminess of the cream, the sweetness and tartness of the strawberry, and the fluffiness of the cake melted on her tongue instantly.

It was sweet. 

Sweeter than any dessert she could remember eating.

Chu Tian looked at her with eyes full of expectation, “Is it good?”

Su Nian nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into two beautiful crescents. 

She cut another piece, the silver fork drawing an elegant arc in the moonlight as she held it up to Chu Tian’s mouth and said, “You eat too.”

Chu Tian didn’t hesitate. 

He leaned his head down slightly and took the silver fork into his mouth. 

His lips inadvertently touched Su Nian’s fingertip.

It was a warm, soft touch.

Su Nian’s body felt as if it had been struck by a weak electric current. 

She trembled violently and retracted her hand like a bolt of lightning.

The two of them shared the cake. 

The atmosphere was cozy and sweet, and the air seemed to be filled with pink bubbles. 

Soon, the cake was finished.

Chu Tian suddenly leaned closer to her and reached out a finger. 

“Ah, right here.”

Su Nian subconsciously held her breath. 

The entire world seemed to go quiet; she could only hear the drum-like thumping of her own heart.

The man’s slightly calloused fingertip gently brushed across the corner of her lips.

A small bit of white cream had been stuck there.

Just as Su Nian thought he would wipe it away with a napkin, he naturally put the fingertip stained with cream into his own mouth and licked it, as if he hadn’t had enough. 

His gaze remained locked on her, a mischievous smile lingering in his eyes.

“Yes, very sweet.”

-Boom!

Su Nian’s brain completely short-circuited in a loud crash.

‘He… he…’

This action, this look, these words…

It was cheating!

She felt her cheeks go completely numb, leaving only a burning heat. 

Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, the vibration ringing in her ears.

For some reason, every time she touched the man in front of her, an unusual and indescribable emotion would arise. 

But she knew clearly that she liked it—liked it very much.

‘Is this… the “physiological” attraction Lise and the others talked about?’

Because of her amnesia, her brain was telling her that they hadn’t known each other for long. 

Yet every cell in her body was clamoring, cheering, and welcoming his approach.

Amidst her chaotic thoughts, Chu Tian’s handsome face slowly enlarged in her field of vision again. 

The clean, crisp scent on him arrogantly occupied all her senses, wrapping her tightly.

It was too close. 

The man’s warm breath brushed against her lips, bringing a searing itch. 

His eyes were as deep as the night sea, clearly reflecting her panicked yet secretly expectant face.

Su Nian’s eyelashes trembled violently like butterfly wings. 

Finally, she gave up her resistance and slowly closed her eyes as if accepting her fate.

Just before those thin lips were about to touch—

“Ah…!”

A small, suppressed cry of shock sounded from behind the flower bushes not far away.

It was the maid, Emma.

She had felt that something was off after Miss Su Nian’s “duel” notification was sent to Mr. Mo Yuan today, so she had decided to sneak over and take a look. 

Then, she saw a scene that made her wish she could gouge out her own eyes.

Under the moonlight, in the garden.

Her own powerful, holy, and inviolable Miss Su Nian was closing her eyes, tilting her head up slightly, and waiting for the gentleman’s kiss.

And Mr. Mo Yuan…

As expected, she had been mistaken! 

It wasn’t a duel at all, but… a date!

She had ruined Miss Su Nian’s formal date!

Upon hearing the sound of another person, Su Nian snapped her eyes open like a startled forest deer. 

She instantly woke up from the ambiguous atmosphere, pushed away the nearby Chu Tian, and turned her back to him.

It was over. 

Someone had seen them. 

She just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into right now. 

Her ears, which were red enough to bleed, and her slightly trembling back exposed her embarrassment completely.

The enchanting and scorching air that had just been ignited in the garden was completely shattered by Emma’s cry of surprise. 

After a brief moment of shyness, Su Nian finally saw the “culprit” who had made the sound.

The maid, Emma!

‘Ugh…’

‘It was this idiot who misdelivered her message as a duel. And now she is here to interrupt her. I’ll punish her by making her feed Little Green later. Let Little Green give her a good scare.’

“Miss Su Nian, I’m sorry, I made a mistake,” the maid Emma bowed and apologized.

Su Nian was a bit angry, but it was hard to show it in front of Chu Tian; that wouldn’t be very elegant…

She said with a look of helplessness, “Cough, compared to delivering the wrong message, you also interrupted us…”

Only then did Emma realize that she hadn’t just delivered the wrong message; she had interrupted the date of her master and mistress.

“Ah! I’m leaving right now! I didn’t see anything! Please continue…”

After Emma finished speaking, she was scared out of her wits. 

She turned and ran, even losing a shoe in the process, only returning to grab it after running a few more steps.

After the brief interlude, the garden returned to its quiet state. 

The evening breeze remained, as did the fragrance of the flowers.

As Chu Tian watched the girl’s adorable expression of being embarrassed to death, the curve of his lips grew softer. 

He leaned in again, his warm breath brushing past her ear.

Chu Tian’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of a teasing smile, “Um… should we continue?”

Su Nian’s body stiffened suddenly.

‘Continue? This idiot!’

How could he ask a girl something like that!

How was she supposed to answer? 

Say “no”? 

But she clearly… clearly wanted to in her heart! 

Her body and her heart were both looking forward to that unfinished kiss. 

This realization made her feel even more ashamed.

Su Nian’s chest rose and fell violently with anger. 

She spun around, raised her small fist, and gave Chu Tian’s chest a light thump.

“Hmph!”

She puffed out her cheeks and glared at him fiercely. 

Those sky-blue eyes were shimmering with water, a thin mist of embarrassment clouding them, but she couldn’t say a full sentence.

That bit of force landing on Chu Tian’s solid chest felt more like a kitten’s paw scratching an itch.

Looking at her shy and angry appearance, Chu Tian instantly understood that Su Nian was just embarrassed. 

He let out a low laugh.

The next second, Chu Tian gave her no more time to think or hesitate. 

He reached out his powerful arm, grabbed the girl’s slender waist, and pulled her whole body into his arms.

The world spun.

Su Nian only had time to let out a short cry of surprise before her nose bumped into the man’s hard chest. 

Then, he lowered his head.

With a domineering and deep kiss, he stole all of Su Nian’s breath.

“Mmph!”

Su Nian’s eyes widened suddenly, and her mind went blank in an instant. 

The man’s scent forcefully and irresistibly occupied all her senses.

This time, it was no longer a probe, and it was no longer gentle. 

His kiss wasn’t like Su Nian’s brief, testing touch from the previous night; it carried a strong sense of possessiveness, as if he were declaring his ownership.

He didn’t leave her a single moment to breathe. 

Her lips were pried open, and his warm tongue drove straight in, capturing territory.

A strange sense of vigilance originating from the depths of her soul was screaming frantically. 

But… the memory of her body was completely awakened at this moment.

She didn’t resist. 

Her legs felt weak, and she could hardly stand, forced to rely on the strength of his arm to support her body.

“Ding! The System has detected the Host is recreating a scene from the period of amnesia. Predicted memory recovery time has been moved forward by ten days.”