Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 142: Truth too bitter

His mind was sharp, memorizing patterns and weaknesses, preparing for every possible scenario.

The door slid open, and Jian Ci strolled in with a bag of snacks. Without hesitation, he sat right on Yu Xi’s desk, blocking the floating screen. "Little Xi, what are you doing?" he asked, his tone playful.

Yu Xi leaned back, unimpressed. "For a team leader, you are pretty lax."

He wasn’t exaggerating. Jian Ci acted as though leadership was a game, lounging around while his team worked hard, tossing out orders between bites of food. Their styles couldn’t have been more different, Yu Xi’s discipline versus Jian Ci’s carefree confidence.

"You know I am depending on you for the answers," Jian Ci said with a grin. "I even brought you snacks as a bribe."

Yu Xi picked up a packet of crisps, shaking his head. "Take a seat."

Jian Ci hopped off the desk, smiling. Yu Xi expected him to grab a chair and sit opposite him, but instead Jian Ci leaned closer, smirking. "Move a little," he said, as if sharing the chair was the most natural thing in the world.

Yu Xi took a bite from the packet, his emerald eyes flicking toward Jian Ci with a look that clearly asked, are you serious right now? Jian Ci grinned, unbothered, and said, "Hurry up, I need to act like I know what I am doing when we have the meeting."

Yu Xi sighed, shifting slightly to make room. Two grown espers now sat squeezed together in the same seat, their shoulders pressed close, their legs brushing. The rest of the class barely reacted; they were used to this. Everyone knew this was simply how Yu Xi and Jian Ci got along.

"What beasts will we be hunting down?" Jian Ci asked casually, his shoulder nudging Yu Xi’s, his leg pressing against his. Yu Xi didn’t flinch. He was so accustomed to Jian Ci’s constant contact that it felt natural. In truth, he liked it when Jian Ci was close.

"What have you studied?" Yu Xi asked, pulling another crisp from the packet.

"I studied half the slides... Ahh." Jian Ci leaned closer, opening his mouth expectantly.

Yu Xi didn’t hesitate. He fed him, the motion so natural it was almost instinct. This was their rhythm, their normal.

Jian Ci placed a hand on Yu Xi’s waist, scooting even closer to claim more space. Yu Xi arched a brow, his voice calm but edged with amusement. "You can get another chair if you like."

Jian Ci only smirked, clearly having no intention of moving away. He leaned back with a grin and said, "No, this is fine, I am comfortable."

Yu Xi gave a small nod. "Okay," he replied, before turning back to the floating screen. His voice was steady, patient, as he began to explain each beast in detail—their strengths, weaknesses, habitats, and the most efficient ways to kill them. His words painted vivid pictures, strategies unfolding like a map in Jian Ci’s mind.

Jian Ci listened attentively, more focused than usual. He had never liked studying; it always felt like a chore, something he had to force himself through. But with Yu Xi, it was different.

Yu Xi explained things so clearly, so thoroughly, that Jian Ci barely needed to study at all. He found himself caught up in the rhythm of Yu Xi’s voice, leaning closer without realizing it. Subconsciously, his leg draped over Yu Xi’s as he leaned in to ask a question.

Yu Xi glanced at the leg resting against his own and smiled imperceptibly, choosing not to comment. He simply continued explaining, his tone calm and precise.

"The Glasswing mantis," Jian Ci asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes, "how big is it?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Yu Xi opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, a voice cut through the air.

"Ci-ge."

Both of them looked up, startled, and saw Alarna standing in the doorway, her gaze flicking between the two with a knowing expression.

Alarna had long received the picture of Jian Ci and Yu Xi cuddled together, and it burned in her mind like a thorn she couldn’t pull out. After Jian Ci’s rejection, she had tried to restrain herself, forcing her pursuit into the shadows.

She acted as though they were normal friends, smiling, laughing, pretending she didn’t care anymore. But her actions betrayed her. She would buy him snacks, disguising it as generosity for the team.

Jian Ci couldn’t refuse, he would accept them politely, only to hand them off to others later. No matter what she tried, he never truly accepted her offerings.

Still, Alarna didn’t mind. She told herself she had to slow cook him like a frog, patient and steady, until he finally softened. But when she saw that picture, her patience shattered. Rage boiled in her chest, and she stomped over to confront them.

As expected, the reality was worse than the image. Jian Ci sat pressed against Yu Xi, his leg draped casually over Yu Xi’s, their bodies entwined in a closeness that spoke volumes. Yu Xi didn’t care, didn’t even stop him.

Alarna’s jaw tightened. She glanced away from their legs, forcing her voice to remain steady. "Team leader, we have an early meeting," she said, her words clipped, her heart pounding with fury she could barely contain.

Jian Ci was in the middle of learning from Yu Xi, his eyes fixed on the floating screen as Yu Xi explained the beasts’ strengths and weaknesses. When Alarna spoke, Jian Ci didn’t even look up at her. "Tell them to proceed with the meeting without me," he said firmly.

He lowered his gaze again, nodding at Yu Xi. "Continue."

Yu Xi opened his mouth to resume when Alarna pressed, her voice sharp. "But it’s urgent."

Jian Ci’s head snapped up, his tone cutting. "I said what I said. Just pass on the message."

Alarna’s glare shifted to Yu Xi, her eyes burning with resentment, before she forced out, "Okay, I will go tell the others." She turned on her heel, walking away stiffly, but inside she was seething.

She had pursued Jian Ci relentlessly, even after his rejection. She tried to act normal, pretending to be just another teammate, but her actions betrayed her.

She bought him snacks, eliminated rivals among the guides, even declared her sovereignty over him. Yet Jian Ci never looked at her, never accepted her gifts beyond polite gestures, and even then, he gave them away.

She had thought that if Rowland succeeded in winning Yu Xi, Jian Ci would be left lonely enough to turn to her. But Rowland had failed, and Yu Xi wasn’t interested in anyone else.

Frustrated, Alarna went home at the end of the day, her steps heavy with defeat. Her father noticed immediately, his voice gentle as he asked, "What’s wrong, my little princess?"

Alarna’s lips trembled, but she couldn’t bring herself to answer. The truth was too bitter to speak aloud.