5 Different but same (2/2)

”She deserves better than,” Yuan Xuelan twisted back gave Liu Sumeng the good old up and down sweep with a scowl on his face. He quickly clicked his tongue and turned back to the bookshelves. ”…”

”...than what?” Liu Sumeng couldn't help but ask. The book in front of his nose was purely decoration now, his full attention was on Yuan Xuelan who was reaching for the ladder to reach the taller shelves.

The insult he was expecting didn't come his way… The emperor from his past life had many insults for Liu Sumeng compared to this younger version, though most of the time he was simply called silly or stupid. He forgot that Yuan Xuelan, at age sixteen had so little to say to him, he could barely come up with insults.

Yuan Xuelan, who turned quiet was now gazing at the titles on the top shelves but soon his eyes lifted higher and brows knit together, ”Huh? What's that?”

Following the line of his sight, Liu Sumeng knew exactly what he was talking about. Though it was faint there was a distinct trance of spiritual energy hovering within a tiny crevice where the pillar met the ceiling. In his past life, he didn't meet Yuan Xuelan in the library and thus had no idea about the thing hidden within the pillar.

Liu Sumeng was going to kill Xu Hexian, ”Don't touch that.”

Yuan Xuelan narrowed his eyes and smirked as if he found some sort of amazing treasure. There was no way he wouldn't touch it. With a few simple hand seals, the weak barrier instantly became undone. A book that was carefully stuck within the crevice was revealed.

Liu Sumeng's face was dark, glaring at that wretched book with fire in his eyes. He wanted to yell that it wasn't his! Truly! But who would believe him at that point? ”Give it to me. I will destroy it.” He stood up from his seat and started walking over in brisk steps, hand held out.

Yuan Xuelan was grinning from ear to ear, and of course, refused to hand over the book he had in hand. However, when he peeled open the pages, what he wasn't at all what he expected and let out a girly scream, stumbling into on the ladder.

Before he knew it, Yuan Xuelan fell, the ladder following him with a crash and a few books tumbled out of their place on the shelf. However, he wasn't that hurt, because the ground he landed on wasn't that hard and in fact a bit warm-

A large hand was on Yuan Xuelan's waist, holding him there, and his head was nestled against a solid chest. The hand that held him there tightened its grip and Yuan Xuelan almost had a heart attack when the book in his hands was ripped out of his grip.

When he looked up, he saw the Ivory Sword Saint make the most expressive face yet, with brows furrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. A light dust of pink was his cheeks and his ears were bright red. It was Yuan Xuelan's turn to be speechless.

”I-It's…” the Ivory Sword Saint stuttered, ”not…” His fingers curled so tightly around the book that his nails were clawing into the paper, ”n-not mine!”

Yuan Xuelan bit his lip in an attempt to stop the torrent of laughter threatening to assault him, ”Who knew…that the Ivory Sword Saint was this kind of filthy person?” He said in a low voice.

If even possible, Liu Sumeng flush turned deeper, his lips parted and eyes turned wide, his body frozen.

In his memory an older Yuan Xuelan purred as he gripped his hips with enough force to bruise, ”Who knew…that my Ivory Sword Saint was this kind of filthy person…?”

”I said…!” His voice was trembling and found it difficult to continue.

”There's no need to lie about it, Second Young Master Liu. I've already discovered your secret after all! Plus who would even know, that the pure-looking Ivory Sword Saint would spend his time in the library looking at pornographic art!”

”...No!” He couldn't take it anymore and violently shoved Yuan Xuelan off his body. Being bullied by the twenty-eight-year-old emperor that had the world bowing at his feet was one thing. Being bullied by a sixteen-year-old Young Master Yuan was a whole different thing!

Liu Sumeng shot up to his feet and called his sword, Mingshui to his hand and was quick to use his Sacred Weapon to cut the already crumpled volume into unrecognizable paper shreds.

The library became an absolute mess and Yuan Xuelan was laughing while Liu Sumeng's heart was thumping like a jackrabbit. Even though the fog of embarrassment and disbelief he thought to himself, ”He's the same, Yuan Xuelan will always be the same…” A mysterious feeling a relief washed over his heart.

Eventually, when the trembling subsided enough, Liu Sumeng began to clean up the mess, ”Help too,” it had meant to be a question but sounded more like a pointed command.

Yuan Xuelan rolled his eyes, ”Now that I have some quality blackmail against you, don't think I'll let you off that easily.” He smirked, both playful and sinister. He picked out another book from the shelf and ignored the mess around them while he read.

This tyrant. Liu Sumeng could only frown and keep cleaning, still doing his best to calm the beating of his heart.

Ducked outside one of the windows that peered into the library, Xiao Hei had her hands mouth. Just- What! Was! This!? She couldn't accept this! Not when Second Young Master Liu was already taken by her mistress! Not when she already shipped Young Master Yuan with Young Master Peng of the Hidden Mist Sect! This was unacceptable!

And yet…!

It was so, so good!

Dammit! Once one had a taste of the forbidden fruit, there was no way they could stop lusting after it, after all!