Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 292: He knows

Yu Xi accepted the box politely, his tone measured. "Let His Majesty know that I am grateful for the gift."

The attendant smiled, then turned to Jian Ci. "Your Highness." He bowed deeply before leaving.

The two walked in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

Once inside the hovercar, the city lights flashing past, Jian Ci finally spoke. "Do you want it?"

Yu Xi shook his head. "No."

Jian Ci’s restraint shattered. "Good." His voice was sharp, his rage unmasked. He snatched the box and hurled it out the window. The powerful wind caught it, tearing it away before it was smashed by a passing hovercar.

Jian Ci tapped the panel, the window sliding shut. The cabin fell into silence, heavy and suffocating.

After a long pause, Jian Ci’s voice broke through, low and raw. "Is it true?"

Yu Xi turned his head, his eyes narrowing. "What is true?"

Their gazes met, and the tension in the air surged tenfold, thick enough to choke. Neither of them could continue holding the gaze. Both looked away at the same time, the silence between them louder than any words.

Jian Ci’s jaw tightened, the muscles working as though he were grinding down words too sharp to speak. "The oath," he asked, each syllable deliberate, "is that true?"

Yu Xi froze. He hadn’t expected Jian Ci to ask him about this. His eyes flickered away, searching for refuge in the passing scenery. He opened his mouth, but before he could form a reply, Jian Ci cut in, his tone edged with certainty. "The truth."

Their gazes locked, and Yu Xi felt the weight of it pressing against his chest. He swallowed hard. "Yeah."

Jian Ci’s next words came like a blade drawn too slowly. "With my family, isn’t it?"

Yu Xi’s lips parted, but no answer came. He couldn’t bring himself to say it, not when Jian Ci had just reconciled with his brothers. Jian Ci exhaled, the sound shaky, defeated. His breath carried the weight of betrayal, of debts too vast to measure. The things done behind his back were insurmountable, and Yu Xi, always loyal and enduring, had been the one to lose the most.

Jian Ci’s fists clenched. He didn’t know how he could ever repay what had been done to Yu Xi, or if repayment was even possible.

Yu Xi wanted to speak, to ease the storm inside him, but he could see the darkness clouding Jian Ci’s mood. Nothing he could say right now would ease the tension so he stayed silent.

The rest of the journey passed in wordless tension.

When they reached the condo, Yu Xi finally asked, "You didn’t want us to go home?"

Jian Ci shook his head, a simple, resolute no.

Inside, Yu Xi murmured, "I will go take a shower," before heading upstairs.

"Mm," Jian Ci replied, already moving toward the kitchen.

Yu Xi lingered in the shower, letting the hot water wash over him, trying to drown the heaviness in his chest. He stayed until the steam began to fade, then stepped out, pulling on soft, comfortable clothes.

As he tugged his t-shirt over his head, his communicator buzzed. He picked it up, expecting nothing more than routine messages.

But the sender’s name froze him in place. It was Jian Rui and the message was short, just two words.

He knows.

Yu Xi’s heart plummeted, sinking deep into the pit of his stomach. He heard the door slide open, the soft hiss of metal against metal. He didn’t dare turn around. His chest tightened, his breath shallow.

Now it made sense why Jian Ci had been acting different, why there was a distance between them. But how? How had Jian Ci found out that it was him guiding him all this time?

Yu Xi couldn’t understand it. His mind raced with anxiety. What will he do? Will he be angry and curse me out? Will he ice me out and tell me to get lost? Will he hit me?

He would rather Jian Ci hit him, curse him, scream at him... anything but silence. Anything but being iced out. At least that would mean Jian Ci still cared.

These thoughts swirled in his head when suddenly he heard a sound behind him like someone collapsing. Yu Xi turned sharply, startled.

Jian Ci had indeed fallen, but to his knees. His eyes were red and his body trembling.

Yu Xi froze, confusion and terror gripping him. He had known Jian Ci for so many years but he had never seen him like this.

"Ci..." Yu Xi whispered, stepping forward, his hand reaching out to help him up.

But Jian Ci raised his hand, a sharp gesture, telling him not to come closer.

Yu Xi’s steps faltered, his voice trembling. "Ci, get up." but there was no response.

Jian Ci’s silence was heavier than any words. His eyes grew redder, his body shaking as he tried to restrain the flood of emotions threatening to break free. He had been downstairs, preparing himself for this conversation, rehearsing what to say, how to say it. But now, face to face with Yu Xi, the anxiety was overwhelming. He couldn’t calm himself.

He had even downed two drinks just to steady himself, to build the fragile confidence he needed to walk up the stairs.

But when he reached the top and saw Yu Xi’s back, straight, quiet and waiting, he lost it. His knees buckled, his chest constricted, and all the resolve he had gathered shattered. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Yu Xi’s voice broke the silence, trembling and brittle. "Ci-ge, get up."

Jian Ci couldn’t even look at him. His throat tightened, his voice hoarse. "I am sorry."

Yu Xi’s chest rose and fell, his breathing uneven as he looked at him, his eyes filled with a storm of emotions.

Jian Ci’s words spilled out, heavy with guilt. "You have gone through so much... just for me, Little Xi. I... I don’t deserve it."

Yu Xi’s voice snapped, stern but trembling beneath the surface. "Jian Ci, just stop."

But Jian Ci shook his head, desperate. "No, no, let me say this. I have to say it."

Yu Xi swallowed hard, forcing his emotions down, and let him speak.

Jian Ci’s voice cracked as he continued. "I am sorry I put you in that position. In that cave... I just attacked you like... like a beast. And you... you still helped me." His eyes finally lifted, meeting Yu Xi’s gaze, red and raw. "You didn’t have to do it. But you did it anyway. How can I ever repay you?"