Chapter 22: Experiencing the Sweetness of Love

"But Killian, you need to cooperate with me a little, okay?"

Killian looked down into the girl's expectant eyes, a tiny curve appearing at the corner of his lips. "How should I cooperate?"

That was a "yes."

Tara’s heart bloomed with joy, though she maintained a sliver of poise on the surface. Well, only a sliver.

"For example, like this."

As she spoke, she held out her fair, tender palm with a smile. "Give me a paw first~"

Killian: "..."

A gentle night breeze blew by, fluttering the girl's soft black hair. It felt slightly itchy as it brushed against the skin on the back of his hand.

Killian looked down, quietly watching her hold his hand. It was a strange sensation—incredibly delicate and soft, as if he could easily crush it with the slightest pressure.

"We're here."

Hearing her voice, his thoughts snapped back. He looked up at the scene before him.

The four large characters for "Quan’s BBQ" hung high above. A waiter saw them approaching and immediately greeted them warmly: "Hello, table for two?"

"Yes."

Killian didn't speak. Tara, still holding his hand, led him to an outdoor table and sat down.

The waiter quickly brought the menu, and Tara handed it to Killian.

"Their BBQ is really fantastic. Look, what do you like to eat?" Tara looked at him with a grin.

Killian didn't look at it, handing the menu back to her. "Anything is fine. You order."

"Alright." Tara took the pen and checked off the items she wanted.

Not long after they ordered, the waiter thoughtfully brought out sunflower seeds and fruit.

Tara used a toothpick to pick up a piece of watermelon and held it to his mouth, smiling. "Killian, want some fruit?"

Killian looked at the watermelon and said coolly, "Is this also part of simulated romance?"

"Of course," Tara analyzed it professionally. "Taking care of your partner is a duty during a relationship."

She finished and leaned in slightly to look at him, her round, bright eyes full of spirit. "Of course, it's more than just that."

Seeing that he didn't open his mouth for a long time, she simply ate the watermelon herself. She spoke with a full mouth, using the relationship advice her friend Josie had shared with her.

"There are many wonderful things about love. Killian, you can try experiencing them first."

As she spoke, she picked up a piece of cantaloupe and offered it to him, continuing: "For example, starting today, we can eat together, go shopping, watch movies, hold hands, go to and from school together, and even share interesting things with each other."

"Trust me," she patted her chest confidently. "Once you try it, you'll definitely fall in love with the feeling of being in a relationship."

"By then, if you like me even a little bit," Tara looked at him expectantly, "let me become your real girlfriend, okay?"

Killian locked eyes with her silently. After a moment, he reached out, took the toothpick with the cantaloupe from her hand, and ate the fruit.

"Then I’ll take that as a 'yes'." Tara smiled, looking at his sharp, handsome profile.

The ingredients were brought out one by one—oiling, grilling, dipping in sauce, and feeding. Tara was tireless and exceptionally patient.

Killian quietly enjoyed being fed by her.

Amidst the splattering oil and curling smoke, the girl, who looked like she didn't belong to the mortal world, seemed to understand life's simple pleasures best of all.

A piece of perfectly grilled and beautifully colored beef suddenly appeared on her plate. Tara looked up in surprise, meeting the young man's calm, deep gaze.

"Like this, right?"

Tara stared at him blankly for two seconds before realizing what he meant.

One of the rules of simulated romance: Take care of your partner thoughtfully.

She hadn't expected him to remember it so soon after she’d mentioned it. Truth be told, he was being very cooperative.

"Yes, exactly right!" Tara said happily, putting the beef he grilled into her mouth.

She ate very gracefully. Her fair cheeks, with a hint of baby fat, puffed out like a little hamster. She would chew a small piece many times before swallowing.

Watching her eat made the food seem exceptionally delicious, naturally improving one’s own appetite.

Aside from a brief period in his youth, this was probably the most peaceful and flavorful meal Killian had eaten in years.

"Boss, do you have alcohol?"

While eating, Tara suddenly asked. Hearing this, Killian raised an eyebrow. She was quite thoughtful, knowing he liked to drink.

The alcohol was brought out quickly—a can of lychee-flavored fruit wine. The alcohol content was negligible, almost non-existent. Of course, it would do as a substitute.

Killian glanced at it and picked up a bottle, ready to open it. But just as he did, a slender hand snatched it away.

Killian’s fingers paused as he looked up at the culprit.

"It's not for you~" Tara held the fruit wine in one hand and propped her chin with the other, smiling at him. "Your stomach isn't good. You should stick to juice~"

With that, she popped the seal and took a large gulp.

The next second.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

A delicate, broken coughing fit erupted, and a deep flush instantly rose to her pale cheeks. In an instant, those beautiful, sparkling eyes were filled with tears.

Killian truly didn't understand why someone who couldn't handle a drop of alcohol would even try. He remembered she was supposed to hate alcohol?

A long, large hand handed over a white tissue. Tara looked at it in surprise, then her eyes curved: "Thanks~"

She took it but didn't wipe herself; instead, she tilted her head back to drink again.

The spicy taste hit her throat, her cheeks grew warmer, and her thoughts became blurred. Along with it, all the unpleasant things seemed to drift away.

No wonder Killian always liked to drink. It turned out that alcohol wasn't always a bad thing.

Thinking this, she tilted her head back again. However, this time, a handsome hand unexpectedly snatched the can from her.

Tara froze for two seconds, then looked at him with a dazed, confused expression. "What’s wrong?"

Killian stated calmly: "You are unhappy."

"No I'm not~" Tara propped her chin with both hands, giggling sillily. "The BBQ is so good, how could I be unhappy?"

"Do you know?" She looked at him, her eyelids drooping slightly with a faint pink tint. "This hidden gem of a BBQ shop was actually told to me by Daisy."

She giggled. "That was the first time we ate together. She was in charge of treating, and I was in charge of paying. We had the grilled chicken legs here; they were super delicious~"

Killian didn't know who Daisy was. He just looked at her vacant gaze and said calmly, "You're drunk."

"I am not!" Tara protested. "Even when you used to drink a lot, I never got drunk!"

She finished and gave a small hiccup. She suddenly stood up and leaned in, her soft finger poking his high nose bridge as she muttered dissatisfiedly: "You nuisance... tell me... how can you... drink so much?"

Her jumbled words were hard to follow.

Killian was about to stand up to pay the bill, but she suddenly lunged forward and collapsed into his arms.

Killian froze. Before he could react, he felt her hot breath brush against the base of his ear.

"What are you doing, you bad thing~"

She buried herself drunkenly in the crook of his neck, mumbling: "Don't think I don't know... you... you want to sneak a drink."

With that, she clung to his waist like a koala, burying her face against his chest, and closed her eyes in exhaustion.

Killian looked down, his gaze quietly tracing her soft, innocent face.

After a moment, he couldn't help but raise his hand. His cool fingertip touched that beautiful, trailing corner of her eye, wiping away the tiny, wet droplet hanging there.