139 Her schemes (1/2)

Nan Chang was engaged in more pointless gossip in the Ascending Dawn manor halls.

”Young Master Yuan came by earlier,” there was a look of distaste on the servant girl's face. ”I understand that he's friends with Lady Chen's fiance but…”

Nan Chang tilted her head, innocently, ”But what?”

”It seems a little inappropriate, you know?”

”Hmm…” She hummed thoughtfully, ”Do you truly think it's possible…they're like that?” She wiggled her brows suggestively.

The servant frowned, looking around to make sure that no one was in their vicinity and leaned in, ”Have you not seen the way they look at each other? Plus, Young Master Yuan is always finding an excuse to hang out with the Ivory Sword Saint's study during the day and night! You can't tell me that's not suspicious.”

Nan Chang knew that Xuelan was hanging out with Liu Sumeng a lot during the day but…at night as well? That rumor seemed rather far-fetched, and Nan Chang knew that it wasn't true. ”Really? Did you hear or see them yourself?” She leaned in with a hushed voice, eyes wide with interest.

The servant shook her head, ”No, but the new Sect Leader was heard talking about it so…”

So it had to be accurate, in their minds.

Nan Chang didn't really understand why everyone around the manor was always so willing to readily the Immortal of Luck's words and whispers. But perhaps that was simply another side effect of his absurd fortune. So she simply nodded and played along, ”Oh, how curious…”

The servant blinked, suddenly remembering a particular detail, ”I know that Lady Nan is close to Young Master Yuan…”

She giggled a little and shook her head, ”Young Master Yuan is a good friend of mine, but that doesn't mean I can't tell when he's in the wrong. Don't worry. I won't alarm him of the gossip going around. I know that he can be a little hotheaded at times.”

The servant sighed in relief, ”You know, even though people say a lot of weird things about you, I know that you have a sound head on your shoulders, Lady Nan.”

”Wow, you sure know how to make me blush.” She winked and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, making sure to reinforce the ditzy nature that she had painted for herself in the manor. It earned her an eye roll before the servant finally bid her farewell.

Nan Chang continued down the hallway. Liu Sumeng's office was just around the corner, but she wondered if it was safe to interrupt them now. To be safe, she leaned her ear against the door.

”...” but it was hard to hear anything.

Hm, Xuelan was typically quite talkative when he was bothering the Ivory Sword Saint. Nan Chang pulled away and decided to circle to Liu Sumeng's window to see if she can catch a glimpse of something going on.

It was a totally sound plan; she smiled happily at her schemes and bounced off.

...

They were leaning over the desk, a distance that felt especially annoying when Liu Sumeng wanted to lean in closer. Yuan Xuelan devoured his lips like a hungry dog, licking and biting at his lip; tentatively as if fearing to hurt him. Liu Sumeng's heart swelled with heat and impatience, remembering the passionate encounters in another life.

Did this younger Xuelan have less of a sex drive than when he was thirty years old?

Nonsense!

Liu Sumeng grabbed hold of the hem of his robes and yanked him forward.

A startled squeak left Yuan Xuelan's throat, as he stumbled over Liu Sumeng's desk, knocking over his rice bowl that he'd failed to put away earlier. He pulled away, looking down at the mess in embarrassment, ”Shit! Sorry, I didn't mean to--”

Liu Sumeng did not care and yanked him harder this time, distracting Yuan Xuelan from the mess and diverting his attention back to kissing. Yuan Xuelan was half on the desk, with his knee against it for balance as he leaned over Liu Sumeng. Their tongues were entwined in a sensual dance, teasing, sucking and biting. They parted, but only for a second to catch their breaths.

A whine left Yuan Xuelan's lips, needy. Everything that he'd worked so hard to hold back was bubbling to the surface, like a beast allowed freedom for the first time. His self-control wavered as he leaned in, winding a hand around the side of Liu Sumeng's jaw to angle him for easier access.