After calm returned to the stream, Yuyan leapt into Tian Yu's arms, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Tian Yu… I'm sorry," she sobbed, clutching at him as though he might vanish. "Please, don't hate me for the way I treated you. I forgot about you__I was wrong. I'm so, so sorry."
Her gaze lifted to his, trembling with desperation. "Did the healing hurt? Did you suffer? When did you wake up?" The questions tumbled out one after another, her voice breaking with every word.
Tian Yu cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away her tears. His voice was low but steady, filled with warmth that melted her guilt.
"I love you with all my heart, my dearest Mei Lian. There is no space left for hatred. You were my everything in the past, and you gave your life for me. In this life, even without your memories, you still accepted me as I am. What more could a man ever ask for?"
Her sobs quieted, her lips trembling as his words sank into her heart. Before she could speak, Tian Yu bent forward, and their lips met.
The kiss began soft, tender, and searching. But quickly, it deepened with the weight of years of longing and pain. It was as if their very souls were clinging to each other through that kiss, refusing to let go.
Without realizing, they found themselves beneath the shade of a great tree a little farther from the stream, hidden from wandering eyes. There, away from the world, their embrace grew fiercer. Yuyan's fingers tangled in his hair, while Tian Yu's arms tightened around her as if he would never release her again. Their hurried breaths filled the quiet air between kisses, each one a promise, each touch a confession.
Yuyan's eyes softened into a trembling smile as the weight of memories returned to her. Their stolen nights, the warmth of his arms, the way they would sneak out at night to sleep in each other's hands. It all came rushing back.
This wasn't new. Neither was the ache in her heart, nor the fire in her veins whenever she looked at him.
With a mischievous smirk tugging at her lips, she began tugging at his robes, kissing and biting his lips with growing hunger. Tian Yu groaned against her mouth, his hands already sliding over her curves, squeezing her breasts as if he had longed for them all his life.
Yuyan leapt onto him like a starved lover, pressing herself to him. Tian Yu fell back, his back against the tree, both of them already half-naked. She kissed him hungrily, her mouth tracing along his jaw, down his neckline, to his chest—licking, nipping, and sucking at his nipples until his body trembled under her touch.
She moved back a little, her hand trailing down, caressing every inch of his stomach until she found his hard length. A deep groan escaped his mouth as she squeezed the tip with her soft hand, his eyes flashing red with desire.
Slowly, she guided him into her already wet entrance. A shudder ran through both their bodies as Yuyan lowered herself onto him. "You are still as sweet as I remember, my dearest Mei," he said with a deep, husky voice Yuyan knew too well.
She placed her hands on his chest, while Tian Yu's hands gripped her tiny waist, pulling her closer, one hand sliding up her back as though he feared she might vanish again. Yuyan thrust harder, her moans growing louder, as if her very life depended on him.
In a flash, suddenly they were in their chamber, on their bed. The position had changed; Tian Yu was now on top, thrusting into her while Yuyan's legs wrapped tightly around his waist. Every movement drew desperate moans from her lips.
Her hand pressed gently against his chest as if to slow him, but Tian Yu only smiled knowingly. With teasing slowness, he pulled out, making her groan in protest. Before she could speak, she turned quickly, kneeling before him.
Tian Yu chuckled, his eyes burning with passion. "I taught you well, Yuyan." With renewed energy, he slid back into her, thrusting hard as his hands played with her nipples. Yuyan screamed out in pleasure, her voice echoing through the chamber.
They changed positions again and again, their passion unending. The next was in the bathroom—Yuyan bent against the wall, her breath ragged, while Tian Yu thrust into her from behind, his hands roaming over her trembling body. Each thrust sent her floating higher, carried from one orgasm to another until her cries filled the room.
Finally, with a hoarse cry, Tian Yu released himself deep inside her, his whole body shuddering.
With another shift, they were in the bath pool, leaning against each other, their breaths mingling heavily. Their bodies trembled from exhaustion, but their hands never stopped caressing—gentle touches, small kisses, as though reassuring themselves the other was real.
After resting, they bathed each other tenderly. Fingers traced skin with both love and mischief, until the evening light streamed through the windows.
Hunger struck them the moment they stepped out. They had not eaten all day. After dressing, they noticed plates already on the table, probably breakfast or lunch the maid had kept since morning.
"It must be very cold," Tian Yu said.
"I don't mind," Yuyan replied, walking toward the small dining table. She sat down, and Tian Yu sat with her, their hands brushing as if even food could not distract them from touching.
They were about to eat when a knock came at the door.
"Come in," Tian Yu's deep voice ordered.
The door creaked open, two maids entered carrying a tray of food. "We brought dinner," one said softly.
"Place it there and take these away," Yuyan said, motioning with her hands.
The girls set the food down and left. As soon as the door shut, the couple dug in, eating with the appetite of prisoners freed. They didn't stop until their stomachs were full and tight.
"Yuyan," Tian Yu called, his voice low.
"Hmm?" she answered lazily, leaning back against her chair.
"Do you remember the day mother cast an invisible spell, and caught us… making love?"
"What!?" Yuyan exclaimed, her cheeks turning red. "Of course I remember—it feels like it was just yesterday. I really miss her… I saw her in my dreams, the same way I saw you, but I couldn't recognize her then." Her voice grew soft, sadness filling her tone.
Tian Yu reached across the table, taking her hand into his. "Don't be sad. She's watching over us. Heaven did not abandon us—we still have loving parents here, and even a little brother."
"Little?" Yuyan chuckled at the thought of Leng Yue being called that.
"Did my parents know about our past?" she asked, gazing into his eyes.
"Yes. They all did. Leng Yue told them everything. When I first woke, I saw him staring at me with that smirk. I didn't remember him, I didn't even know how long I had slept. I was confused—I almost broke his neck, until he mentioned your name."
He chuckled softly at the memory before continuing. "The emperor found this place, and we agreed to take things slowly—so we wouldn't break you or confuse you."
Yuyan stood and bent down, placing a soft kiss on his lips. As she turned to sit again, Tian Yu caught her and pulled her back into a passionate kiss.
When he finally released her, Yuyan was breathing heavily. "How were you able to stay without seeing me? Does that mean you could have lived without me?" she asked, staring into his eyes as if to search for the truth.
"Who said I was staying alone?" Tian Yu smirked teasingly.
"Oh… you had the maids," Yuyan shot back quickly, her jealousy clear.
Tian Yu smiled warmly at her pout. "I never needed a maid until we married. My days were spent training with Leng Yue or reading… sometimes just watching from afar. But my nights—I always used them to watch you sleep. Since the moment I woke, I have never once spent the night without you."
Yuyan's heart softened, her eyes misting again as she leaned into him.
And so, their night continued—sharing stories of the past, laughing over childhood memories, their voices low and warm, like two souls finally at peace in each other's arms.