Taming Tyrants I

Arc 1: Beauty and the Beast (8)

Nian Xiaoyuan held the dim sum and took a bite. He smiled mysteriously. Eventually, he didn't answer and watched the lanterns flow with the lake. Hong Cha thought for a moment. She sat next to him and started eating the treats from the satchel. It tasted quite good but oddly familiar.

"Do you remember this?" Nian Xiaoyuan suddenly spoke and snatched a caramel candy from the satchel. Hong Cha frowned but no memory appeared. She shook her head in response. He consumed the candy and reminisced. His lovely blue eyes glimmered with the lanterns. "You used to love caramel. Before Lin Xingjin ever came. In the past, you always hate me so I keep bullying you. And then, your beloved Lin Xingjin rescued you. So, he forced me to give you a treat. My first sorry gift is a box of caramel candy from the foreign country where my mother came from. You..."

"I what?" Hong Cha listened attentively. Nian Xiaoyuan looked at her.

"You liked them too much. You never stopped pestering me." Nian Xiaoyuan can still remember how she almost drove him mad. Since her father was his master, he have to enter the mansion and learn. But, he keeps meeting Song Cha Hua inevitably. She would ask for another box but because his mother is busy to make another set, he refused. Song Cha Hua would cry and demand, a usual spoiled princess. Then, Lin Xingjin will come after him again to coax the little demon girl.

Those days, he cant tell if they were fun or not. Unfortunately, Lin Xingjin and Song Cha Hua can no longer remember him. Nian Xiaoyuan stared at Hong Cha. She could care less and continued to nibble on the caramel candies. In his view, she became that troublemaking spoiled brat enjoying the treats his mother made. He thought she won't like them. When his mother died, Song Cha Hua continued to plead for another box. He cant risk punching a prince again so he tried to follow the procedure his mother left. However, Song Cha Hua didn't like it. That was a great slap on the face.

"Head Minister, did you buy this?" she curiously asked. As far as she can remember, Nian Xiaoyuan didn't stop in front of some stores and tailed her like a dog.

"I made it." he smiled lightly. Hong Cha exclaimed in surprise.

"Really? This is great! Even better than the melons, ah. If you still want to court me, consider giving me a whole cart." Hong Cha likes the taste. Where did he learn this? "Who taught you? My father? Since, you know, he's your master."

"No." Nian Xiaoyuan snatched another candy from her hand. "My late mother taught me. She came from a different country so she knows a lot of things that is not yet known here."

"Why did she die?" she asked without controlling her curiosity. Hong Cha received an unhappy gaze from him.

"Well..." how should he say? Nian Xiaoyuan pondered for a moment. "After I refused to learn from Master, I inherited my father's position and conquered lands outside Zhou. Those years, I killed a lot of people. Some lived for vengeance. They looked for me, infiltrated Zhou and took my mother's life. I wasn't there to save her. Because I was at the border continuously entering a battlefield."

"Should I say its okay or condolence?" Hong Cha asked again. Nian Xiaoyuan scoffed. She laughed lightly and touched his hand. "Im just joking. You sound so lonely. Why are you wearing gloves anyway? Are your hands full of calluses? Or is it dirty?"

"Hmph." Nian Xiaoyuan pushed her hand. Why cant she remember? She doesn't know why he's covering his hands? "You and Lin Xingjin have poor memories. Figure it out yourselves."

"Come on! Why cant you tell me the past? Why cant I remember it too?" she pouted in dismay. Hong Cha never knew this. Nor did the plot mentioned her host have a past with the villain. When Song Cha Hua died, the novel mentioned a person with gloved hands offered her grave a satchel of candies. Was it Nian Xiaoyuan?

"You cant shut up?" his tone went cold all of a sudden. Hong Cha shook her head and continued to pester him. Nian Xiaoyuan unexpectedly held the back of her head and pressed their lips. Hong Cha's eyes widened. What's with this creep?! Before she can struggle, Nian Xiaoyuan lowered his other hand and cupped her butt.

"..." Hong Cha.

This perverted creep!

Nian Xiaoyuan lifted her and placed her on top of him. He is seemingly savoring her while teasingly caressing her back. Hong Cha quickly broke free. Her eyes were full of tears.

"Miss Hua, you taste sweet." he complimented innocently when his hands were holding her bottom. Nian Xiaoyuan chuckled to see her bullied appearance. He chose to hold her waist than tease her again. "Little girl, you've grown up. And you grew up so fast. I wonder if I can have fun with you? Since, Lin Xingjin is not here to save you again like in the past."

"Don't you dare!" Hong Cha slapped his shoulder. She struggled to get off him but he pressed her down. That is when she noticed the abnormality below her. "Nian Xiaoyuan! I hate you!"

"I know. You love to say that every time we meet back then." Nian Xiaoyuan breathed deeply. He cant tell what's wrong with him. Sure he likes teasing his women but not once had he thought of doing it with Song Cha Hua. She was still that spoiled brat who hates him to her bones.

"Im telling Father! You nasty old man!" she broke free when his hold loosened. Nian Xiaoyuan didn't follow her. He face-palmed once he was left alone.

"F*ck, Im after a kid now?" he cursed himself. In truth, he is two years older than Lin Xingjin. Nian Xiaoyuan is the first disciple of Song Yue. They were in good terms and Song Yue likes his enthusiasm. However, when his father went severely ill, Nian Xiaoyuan told Song Yue of his plan to continue his father's legacy. Thus, Song Yue looked for a replacement and found Lin Xingjin. Nian Xiaoyuan sighed. He knew Song Cha Hua is twelve years younger than him and she is not certainly his type. But why is his little perverted brother reacting to her? Curse this life!