Despite all his shortcomings

The light was low, warm in its luminance that echoed within the walls.

Yuan Xuelan was very charming, sweet and young. There was a chasm between them etched by both time and age and Liu Sumeng smiled at him, grasping onto the flare of passion to wash away any glimmer of bitterness.

"I'm laughing at myself," Liu Sumeng said only half the truth because this Xuelan wouldn't be able to understand the other half. He bit back a sigh and kissed Xuelan on the nose.

The younger bristled, his lips still frowning.

"That doesn't make me feel any better! Sumeng…this is really embarrassing for me…" Yuan Xuelan whimpered with complaint. His eyes were full of pleading, timidly reaching out to grasp Liu Sumeng's wrists.

The Ivory Sword Saint silenced him with a kiss on the lips. "It's okay to be embarrassed. But you don't have to be worried around me. It's only me, Xuelan. Do you understand?"