32 What had changed (2/2)

And before Liu Sumeng could utter a single word, the poor girl had run off, face red, leaving a stunned Ivory Sword Saint in her wake. But he couldn't help but chuckle to himself because the silly girl didn't know that she didn't need to prove anything to him. She wasn't like this in his past life. Liu Sumeng couldn't help but wonder how and why in this life things had changed.

There were disciples in the court, sweeping away the red and golden leaves that littered the ground. They stopped to greet him and with a bow, affectionate and respectful, ”Second Young Master Liu.”

But he'd been feeling nostalgic and the halls of Wangyun Peak melted into one of a Golden Palace. And where Wangyun Peak was awash with warmth the palace halls echoed mockingly after his steps, empty, silent, cold. People bowed to him but were too fearful to say his name even when they knew he could be kind, or at least kinder than the emperor. And perhaps he should have cursed such a place, cursed at the memories of his miserable past incarnation. But the palace too was a place he once called his home.

Liu Sumeng's destination was first his room, a bath was due to wash away the grime and the memories of the mess that was his trip to Boling. Ah, he wanted nothing more to cleanse his mind of the oddities he encountered there. He thought gloomily that, he hadn't managed to improve his personality in the slightest. And then there was Chen Anyue who promised to change for his sake…

Weren't they the same? Driven by the desire to change for another. It was an odd thought that fluttered in his head. The screen door slid open and Liu Sumeng could tell his abode had been disturbed. He wasn't concerned, knowing Xu Hexian to often help himself to his private collection when Liu Sumeng wasn't around.

Something caught his eye, a small steaming bowl set on the table. Upon closer inspection there were two buns placed within, still warm.

Now that, was definitely something that neither Liu Suye or Xu Hexian or anyone else in the Heavenly Sword Sect would do.

Liu Sumeng squinted and scrutinized it, wondering if perhaps it'd been a conjuring of his imagination. He cautiously picked up one soft bun, still hot. A subtle sweet fragrance invaded his nose and he couldn't help but wonder, was this some strange attempt to poison him?

Wearily, he couldn't help but perform a basic spell to check the toxicity of the food in front of him.

It seemed safe.

So he took a bite. Baiyun Hall Auntie's masterful cooking was delightful upon his tongue with the twang of sweetness and full creamy flavor without being overpowering. While he was still wrought with suspicion, Liu Sumeng couldn't help but feel pleased.

Just outside of Liu Sumeng's window, Yuan Xuelan cursed his own stupidity. He stood there frozen in an awkward pose, body leaning in to pear but head tilted away out of sight. His muscles strained, angry and groaning as he endured the strange position. Yet Yuan Xuelan didn't dare move, he didn't dare even take a single huff of breath, lest he be discovered with a stupid flushed face and a racing heart.

Dammit! This wouldn't do. A cowardly apology like this was out of his character. He didn't even know what he was thinking when he quickly collected the custard buns from Baiyun Hall when he heard the news of Second Young Master Liu's return.

This wasn't what he planned to do at all! But Yuan Xuelan was feeling uncertain and didn't really know how to approach Liu Sumeng with the odd gift he ended up preparing. He couldn't help but think that the Old Man Liu was lying to him! Argh… and yet he had spent the past two days, scouring the village markets like a desperate fool, even enlisting Chen Anyue for a more sophisticated, female eye.

And after all his efforts he was still plagued with doubt and awkwardness. Because who in their right mind would believe that the Ivory Sword Saint liked cute, embroidered handkerchiefs!

His vigilance faltered, the grass crunched beneath a soft step and Yuan Xuelan didn't even realize his mistake until it was too late. ”What are you doing?”

Yuan Xuelan was going to vomit out his whole heart. How terrible! The Ivory Sword Saint poked his head out of the window, his countenance still and calm while Yuan Xuelan's was surely an embarrassing mess.

”...I was just passing by.”

”Is that so?”

”Yup.”

”...”