Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 222: Obedient pup

Then the photographer raised the camera for a second shot.

Just then Jian Ci appeared. He stepped between them like a blade sliding into a sheath, his aura sharp and unmistakably territorial. His smile was tight, his eyes unreadable.

Rowland blinked, "Jian Ci, I just wanted a picture with me and Yu Xi."

"You already took one," Jian Ci said, voice light but firm. "I also want to take a picture with Little Xi."

Rowland sighed, clearly annoyed. "You could have waited."

Jian Ci didn’t move as he said, "I didn’t feel like waiting."

Before Rowland could argue further, a group of cadets called out, asking for a full team photo. The moment passed, swept up in the chaos of shifting poses and shouted names.

They took several pictures some serious, some laughing, some with arms thrown around each other’s shoulders.

And in nearly every one, Jian Ci was looking at Yu Xi, not the camera.

Yu Xi wouldn’t notice it until later, when the pictures were sent around. But when he did, he would see it clearly. Jian Ci’s gaze, steady and unguarded, fixed on him like he was the only thing that mattered.

As soon as the last photo was taken and the crowd began to thin, Jian Ci and Yu Xi made their way across the grounds to the shaded corner where Jian Rui, Jian Wei, and Xiaobao were waiting. Xiaobao spotted them first.

With a squeal, she launched herself at Yu Xi, arms flung wide. "Big brother!"

Yu Xi caught her with practiced ease, steadying her as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. He patted her back gently, a rare softness in his eyes.

"You looked so handsome making that speech," she said, beaming up at him.

"Thank you," Yu Xi replied, his voice warm as she finally let go.

Jian Ci stepped forward, arms slightly open. "What about me?"

Xiaobao’s smile dimmed into a flat line. "Congratulations," she said, deadpan.

Jian Ci clutched his chest dramatically. "Little Xi, you see this? Your sister hates me."

Xiaobao rolled her eyes as she said, "You hadn’t figured that out yet? I thought you knew." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Yu Xi sighed and said, "Stop messing with him."

"If it makes you feel any better," Jian Wei added dryly, "she hates me more."

"So self-aware," Xiaobao said with a smirk.

Jian Wei blinked. "..."

Jian Rui, ever the composed one, stepped forward and nodded. "You did good. Proud of you both."

"Thank you," they said in unison.

"Let’s take pictures!" Xiaobao chirped, already pulling out her device.

They all agreed briefly forgetting what she was like. What followed was chaos.

Xiaobao was relentless. She directed them like a seasoned photographer, demanding angles, retakes, and "just one more" until everyone’s smiles were starting to twitch. Jian Wei’s eye was visibly twitching. Jian Rui’s patience was thinning. Jian Ci kept trying to sneak out of frame. And Yu Xi, stoic as ever, was the only one she didn’t scold. Eventually, all eyes turned to him in silent plea.

Yu Xi cleared his throat. "Xiaobao," he said gently, "how about you take more pictures later? Your brother is really hungry."

Xiaobao paused, then nodded. "Okay. But I want more later. I need to show Grandpa."

Yu Xi smiled. "Of course."

Just then, his communicator buzzed.

He glanced down and froze. It was a message from his grandfather.

Grandpa: You look really good. I am proud of you. Your grandmother would have been proud of you. So would your mother.

Yu Xi’s breath caught. A sourness rose in his throat, and his eyes stung before he could stop it.

There had been a time after he killed Gander, when he thought he wouldn’t live another day. He had been ready to die, ready to vanish into the dark with blood on his hands and no future to speak of.

But then he saw the light. Not the kind that came from the sky. The kind that laughed too loud, fought too hard, and stood beside him like it was the most natural thing in the world. That light was Jian Ci and somehow, against all odds, it had led him here.

Yu Xi turned his head slightly, sensing the weight of a gaze and sure enough, Jian Ci was staring at him. He blinked, a little startled. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

Jian Ci’s eyes lingered on his, catching the faint shimmer that hadn’t quite dried. "No," he said softly.

He wanted to ask who had sent him a message that stimulated him so much, but he couldn’t ask him here. Not with so many people around. He planned to ask him later when it was just the two of them.

A few paces away, Jian Wei watched the exchange with a furrowed brow. His gaze drifted to Jian Rui, who was standing beside Xiaobao, discussing dinner plans with the patience of a saint.

Jian Wei’s thoughts slipped back to that night, the night they had interrogated Lord Leung. He had gone looking for Jian Rui, but couldn’t find him. When he finally did, Jian Rui had looked untouched. His clothes were as before and he was calm. Stannis beside him, equally composed. They had looked like two friends returning from a walk, not men who had just been accused of sleeping together.

Jian Wei had felt a flicker of guilt then. Maybe Yu Xi had been wrong. Maybe they really were innocent.

Jian Rui caught him staring. "What?"

Jian Wei shook his head. "Nothing. We should get going."

But before they could move, a voice called out. "Yu Xi!" Jian Ci turned faster than Yu Xi did, his body tensing like a drawn bowstring.

Yu Xi followed the voice and saw Leane approaching. He gave a small nod. "I will be right back."

Jian Ci took a step forward, but Yu Xi gave him that look, the one that said stay. It wasn’t harsh or cold. It was just a firm look.

Jian Ci froze mid-step. Then nodded, obedient as a well-trained pup. But if Yu Xi wasn’t back in ten minutes, he was going after him. Unfortunately, his plan fell apart almost immediately.

"Ci-ge!" Alarna’s voice rang out, bright and sugary. Jian Ci’s shoulders stiffened.

Jian Rui and Jian Wei turned to see her skipping toward them, all smiles and excitement. Their expressions soured instantly, like someone had just handed them a plate of spoiled meat. Xiaobao’s reaction was quieter but far more lethal.