Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 247: Sweet date

The expedition she was being nudged toward was no ordinary outing. It was a scientific mission focused on the study of psychic beasts and their link to neural science.

The island sanctuaries near the Sapphire Sea were home to rare creatures whose aura pulsed in rhythm with the planet’s twin moons, offering tantalizing clues to the ancient divergence between Espers and Guides.

Researchers would observe these beasts in their natural habitats, mapping how their aura interacted with the environment. Resonance scans would be conducted to compare their neural patterns with human psychic channels, a delicate process that might reveal how the two species had once shared a common origin before splintering into distinct paths. As Xiaobao stormed off, Jian Ci turned back to Yu Xi, his smile lingering, softer now.

Sure enough, after Xiaobao changed, she found him already heading out, his stride purposeful.

"Jian Wei!" she called, running after him.

His back stiffened at the sound of his name, but he ignored her, picking up his pace.

"I know you can fucking hear me!" Xiaobao shouted, her voice sharp with irritation.

Jian Wei broke into a run, determined to shake her off, but as he reached the hovercar, Xiaobao dove inside with a triumphant grin.

"Your highness," she said sweetly, fixing her hair where it had stuck to her face. "I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it. Thank you for waiting for me."

Jian Wei’s jaw tightened. Who the fuck sold me out? he thought bitterly.

Xiaobao’s smile widened, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Thanks to Ci-ge, I was able to catch up." She wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to stir things up.

Grinding his teeth, Jian Wei muttered, "Buckle up and let’s go."

Meanwhile, Jian Ci was waiting at the dock. When he spotted Yu Xi approaching, he waved him over, his excitement barely contained.

Yu Xi walked at his usual calm pace, wondering why Jian Ci seemed so animated today. Jian Ci, impatient, thought he was moving far too slowly. He rushed forward, grabbed Yu Xi’s wrist, and said urgently, "Come, otherwise we will miss the best part."

Yu Xi allowed himself to be pulled along, letting Jian Ci lead him toward the speed boat.

"Get on," Jian Ci said, his voice brimming with anticipation.

Yu Xi did just that, but as he stepped aboard, he mistepped. Jian Ci caught him instantly, his hand firm on Yu Xi’s waist, steadying him before he could fall.

Yu Xi stiffened the moment Jian Ci’s hand closed around his waist. Something about the touch was different today, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

Jian Ci bit his lower lip, his fingers staying a second longer than necessary before he finally let go. He knew anyone in his family would have told him this was a terrible idea if they knew the thoughts running through his head.

That was why he hadn’t told them. Like that stranger on the forum had said, why not confirm how he felt? So he had planned this whole outing, carefully, just to spend time alone with Yu Xi.

He climbed onto the speed boat, his smile easy, his voice warm. "This is your seat."

Yu Xi glanced at the spot beside him, then nodded. "Okay."

Jian Ci poured out a glass of prosecco, handing it over with a flourish. "Here."

Yu Xi accepted it, his tone polite. "Thanks."

"I brought a lot of fruit for you," Jian Ci added, his grin widening. "Just sit tight... we will be there soon."

Sliding his sunglasses into place, Jian Ci looked effortlessly charming, the kind of prince who knew how to dazzle when he wanted to. He started the speed boat, the engine roaring to life, and they set off across the water.

He could have put it on autopilot, but suddenly he had the urge to show off. His hands tightened on the wheel, guiding the boat with sharp precision, cutting through the waves with practiced ease.

The entire time, Yu Xi’s gaze lingered on him. Jian Ci felt it, the weight of those eyes, and his heart raced. He turned, feigning casual concern. "Are you alright? If you are sick, you can tell me."

Yu Xi shook his head, his lips curving into a small smile as he looked away.

That smile was enough to make Jian Ci’s chest ache. His gaze lingered on Yu Xi’s lips, his throat tightening as his Adam’s apple bobbed. The sudden rush of heat made him look away, pressing forward with a nervous energy that gnawed at him from the inside. He told himself to focus, to keep moving, but the awareness of Yu Xi’s nearness clung to him like a shadow.

The speed boat skimmed across the waves, the sea glittering beneath the twin suns until they reached a small island off the coast. The attendant stepped forward to secure the vessel, rope taut against the dock.

Yu Xi climbed off first, his movements calm and unhurried, while Jian Ci followed close behind, his smile already forming, his nerves hidden beneath practiced charm. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Where are we going?" Yu Xi asked, adjusting his sunglasses against the glare.

"It’s a mystery," Jian Ci replied lightly, draping his arm around Yu Xi’s shoulder with a grin that was warmer than he intended. His heart thudded harder than he wanted to admit, but he kept his tone playful.

He led them along a narrow path until the entrance of ancient caves loomed ahead, shadowed and magnificent, their mouths carved by time and tide. "This," Jian Ci said, gesturing with a flourish, "is a network of ancient caves said to mark the first recorded differentiation between Espers and Guides."

Yu Xi’s brows lifted slightly, his voice thoughtful. "That’s interesting."

Jian Ci bumped his shoulder playfully, his smile widening. "I thought you would like it."

The terrain around them was wild and untouched, nature preserved in its rawest form. Crystalline vines curled like frozen rivers along the cave entrances, their surfaces shimmering faintly in the light.

The air was thick with psychic echoes, subtle vibrations that brushed against their senses like whispers from the past. It was as though the island itself remembered, carrying the weight of history in its aura.

Jian Ci walked alongside Yu Xi, the dim glow of the cave walls casting shifting shadows across their faces. Yu Xi’s expression was serene, almost reverent, as though the very air was cleansing him.

He could feel it, his psychic powers humming in harmony with the pulsing aura that shimmered across the crystalline walls. It touched something deep within him, a quiet healing that made him feel lighter, freer.

Jian Ci, however, wasn’t looking at the walls. His gaze was fixed on Yu Xi, drinking in every detail. The way his eyes followed the aura, the way his fingers brushed against the stone as if he were listening to its whispers. Jian Ci didn’t dare disturb his peace.

Yet his own gaze kept drifting downward, lingering on Yu Xi’s fingers. He wanted to reach out, to entwine them like he had so many times before. But now, with the weight of his hidden feelings pressing on him, guilt held him back.