Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 290: "Why didn’t you tell me?”

Meanwhile, Jian Ci finally turned his communicator back on. The first thing that flashed across the screen was the imperial palace invite. He ignored it. His eyes were red, his face haggard, exhaustion etched into every line. He was about to call Yu Xi and let him know they need to talk when Jian Rui’s name appeared instead.

Jian Ci answered, his voice hoarse, frayed at the edges.

"Are you alright?" Jian Rui asked immediately but only slence came from the other side.

Jian Ci didn’t reply. Jian Rui called his name again, and then a third time, his tone sharper and more urgent.

Finally, Jian Ci spoke, his voice low and defeated. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Jian Rui froze. "Tell you... what?"

Jian Ci’s words came out like a broken confession. "Why didn’t you tell me it was Yu Xi guiding me all these years?"

The line went quiet. Jian Rui’s throat tightened. He didn’t know how to respond or where to start. "I—"

But Jian Ci hung up before he could finish. Jian Rui stared at the darkened screen, his face pale. His chest felt heavy, the weight of guilt pressing down.

Jian Wei, who had been watching him closely, stepped forward, worry etched across his features. "What’s wrong?"

Jian Rui’s voice was grim. "He found out."

Jian Wei’s eyes widened as he asked, "Found out what?"

"That it was Yu Xi who guided him."

Jian Wei was shaken, his breath catching. They all knew Yu Xi would never say anything to Jian Ci. It had been Yu Xi’s decision from the start so how had Jian Ci discovered the truth?

The brothers exchanged a look, both unsettled. Jian Wei, his face pale and voice tight said, "There can only be one other way he found out... he’s getting his memories back."

Jian Rui’s eyes widened. "He’s getting better?"

"This is good news," Jian Wei said quickly, the scientist in him already racing ahead, eager to examine Jian Ci, to confirm it. He pulled out his communicator and dialed Jian Ci but the line went dead instantly. He frowned. "He... blacklisted me."

Jian Rui’s jaw tightened. "Let me try." He dialed, waited, and was met with the same rejection. His expression darkened. "Sure enough. He blacklisted me too."

The weight of it settled between them. Jian Rui exhaled sharply. "We have to tell Mum. This time he is really angry."

While Jian Wei and Jian Rui rushed to call Seraphyne and explain what was happening,

Jian Ci was spiraling. He called Yu Xi once but there was no answer. He called again and still... nothing. Panic clawed at his chest. He called a third time, his voice trembling when he whispered, "Please answer..." But Yu Xi didn’t.

Desperation overtook him. Jian Ci tracked the pendant. The moment the location appeared, his heart sank. Yu Xi was at the imperial palace.

"Fuck," Jian Ci swore, recalling the invite he had ignored. His stomach twisted.

He had to get there immediately. But guilt weighed him down like chains. He blamed himself. From the day they met, he had done nothing but burden Yu Xi. And now Yu Xi was in the presence of that vile bastard. Jian Ci’s chest burned with shame and rage.

He clenched his fists. He couldn’t just storm in. That would only make things worse and it would raise his father’s suspicions. He needed to get his uniform and attend as per invitation.

***

The imperial lord’s voice carried across the grand hall, commanding yet bored. "Introduce yourselves."

One by one, the top graduates stepped forward, bowing, stating their names and their achievements. Thaurion listened with a detached expression, his golden robes gleaming under the chandeliers. His eyes, however, betrayed his disinterest. He barely acknowledged them, his mind elsewhere. His focus was fixed on one person and that was Yu Xi.

When Yu Xi’s turn came, Thaurion’s gaze sharpened, though his face remained composed. His imperial concubine, seated beside him in silks and jewels, might as well have been invisible. He didn’t see her. His attention was entirely on the young esper walking to the front.

Yu Xi bowed slightly, his movements precise, his expression indifferent. Inside, a wave of disgust churned in his chest as he looked at the imperial lord, but he kept his composure. His voice was calm. "Your Majesty, I am—"

Thaurion cut him off, his tone smooth yet deliberate. "Yu Xi. I know."

Yu Xi blinked, caught off guard. He hadn’t expected him to speak to him directly. With the other graduates, Thaurion’s attendant had asked questions on his behalf.

Yu Xi inclined his head politely. "It is an honour to be recognised by His Majesty."

Thaurion’s lips curved into a smile, cold and calculating. "I heard you know my sons. You are quite close to them, from what I have heard. Especially Little Ci."

Yu Xi’s stomach tightened. He didn’t like the direction this conversation was going. His composure wavered for a fraction of a second, but before he could reply, the massive doors of the hall creaked open.

Every head turned to look. Jian Ci walked in, his presence commanding, his uniform sharp despite the exhaustion etched into his face. The grand hall fell into murmurs, eyes widening at the audacity.

Thaurion’s gaze snapped to the door, his anger rising like a storm. Who in this world would dare be this impudent?

Yu Xi turned as well, his breath catching. When he saw Jian Ci, he bit his lower lip in frustration. ’Why did he come?’

Yu Xi’s heart sank. He didn’t want Jian Ci to be here. With Jian Ci’s temper, things could escalate, and in the imperial palace, escalation meant disaster. He held his breath, praying Jian Ci would hold it together.

Jian Ci met Yu Xi’s gaze across the hall, but almost instantly he looked away. The avoidance was sharp, deliberate, and Yu Xi felt his heart clench. ’What the hell is going on with him?’ he thought.

Jian Ci’s movements were normal, his posture disciplined, but there was a distance, an invisible wall, that seemed to grow longer and longer with each passing second.

He walked forward, his steps heavy, and then knelt down. From where Thaurion sat, the angle obscured his son’s face, but Yu Xi could see the tightness in Jian Ci’s jaw, the way his fists trembled against the marble floor. He was struggling to restrain himself.