Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 171: It’s complicated

Others claimed he had crossed into a higher psychic plane—ascended, they said—and simply chose not to return.

Now, his name was spoken with reverence and fear. In their circle he was known as the Mindsmith, a ghost in the machine. A madman who whispered to the void and sometimes, it whispered back.

Rumors placed him in the ruins of the Mindvault Spire, or wandering the Ashen Belt, speaking to voices no one else could hear. Some claimed he could still be summoned—if you knew the right frequency, the right offering, the right madness.

And yet...

Yu Xi’s grandfather had him on speed dial. It was unthinkable. Unbelievable.

And yet, there it was—Morpheus Vantrel, listed in the contact log and an address behind a fucking sex toy shop.

"You don’t know who he is, do you?" Jian Wei asked, staring at Yu Xi like he had grown a second head. "And you called him a quack."

Yu Xi blinked. "That is what my grandpa called him."

Jian Wei let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "You called the most prestigious man in Esper neuroscience a freaking quack."

He paced once, hands on his hips. "Morpheus Vantrel. The Mindsmith. The guy who rewrote the entire framework of psychic resonance theory. You are lucky your grandpa’s the kind of man who can casually call him up like he is ordering takeout."

He turned to Jian Rui. "Rui-ge, can’t you know more awesome people like Eros does?"

Jian Rui, "..."

Jian Rui said, "After all I have done for you over the years?" He wasnt exaggerating. If Jian Wei needed anything he would find it no matter how rare the material was. Yet he dared act ungrateful.

Jian Wei said, "Yes, yes you do so much for me. I should act ungrateful."

Jian Rui tsked and looked away. Jian Wei opened his mouth to ask more information about Morpheus and ask if he could take him with when he went to see Morpheus but Jian Rui cut in, voice tight.

"You can discuss that later. What I need to know now is—do you want to tell Ah-Ci what happened?"

Jian Wei’s face fell. "Shit. I forgot. You have been negotiating with Lord Leung this whole time. If you go and tell him his daughter lied, and it was actually Yu Xi who helped Jian Ci..."

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. The two of them knew what Lord Leung was capable of. It would compromise their mission and alert their father.

"He will spread it," Jian Wei said grimly. "He will make sure everyone knows Jian Ci’s bound to an Esper. And not just any Esper, but Gander’s son."

Jian Rui’s jaw clenched. "And if Father finds out Jian Ci’s condition was worse than we reported, that we covered up his Esper ranking—"

He didn’t finish that sentence either. The silence was heavy.

Jian Rui pulled a stool over and sat in front of Yu Xi, his voice low. "Ah-Xi... listen. If you want to tell him, I am with you. One hundred percent. But he has to keep this relationship with Alarna for a while. Just until I figure out how to fix this."

Yu Xi looked down at his hands. He hadn’t expected anything even after what happened that night.

He had prepared himself not to tell Jian Ci. Not because he wanted to lie, but because he knew Jian Ci. Knew how much he hated Esper relationships. Knew how guilty he would feel if he knew what happened in that cave.

Yu Xi had been willing, more than willing to help him, but Jian Ci didn’t know that.

And if he ever found out what Yu Xi had fantasized about him, what he had wanted to do with him, would he still look at him the same way? Or would Jian Ci think he had taken advantage of him?

Yu Xi didn’t want to risk it.

But that was before Alarna came into the picture. That was what made his blood boil.

She had lied. She had slithered in like a weasel, wrapped herself in Jian Ci’s confusion, and claimed credit for something she hadn’t done.

Yu Xi was furious. Why lie to Jian Ci, all for what? He didn’t want Alarna to be anywhere near Jian Ci but what could he do? Yu Xi’s fists clenched in his lap.

"I won’t tell him," he said finally. "He will just feel horrible."

Jian Rui looked away, guilt etched into every line of his face. Yu Xi shouldn’t have to be involved in this. He should have just gone with his grandfather. You would be happier. But Jian Rui also knew that Yu Xi chose this... chose Jian Ci and no one could ever change his mind.

Jian Wei leaned against the console, arms crossed. "I still think we should tell him. But..."

He sighed. "It’s complicated."

And it was.

***

Yu Xi stepped out of the lab, the door sliding shut behind him with a soft hiss. He followed the faint scent of herbs and steam to the kitchen.

There, bathed in the soft glow of under-cabinet lights, stood Jian Ci.

He was completely absorbed in what could only be described as a tea-making ritual. Not a simple brew, no. It was like a full-scale operation. A dozen small vials lined the counter, each containing dried petals, powdered roots, or shimmering flakes of crystallized nectar. Jian Ci moved with precision, measuring out ingredients with the care of a chemist, his brow furrowed in concentration.

A kettle hissed softly. A temperature gauge blinked. A timer ticked down in the corner.

Yu Xi leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, a small smile tugging at his lips. Jian Ci didn’t notice him and that was how Yu Xi knew. The imprint had taken root.

He was now an extension of Jian Ci’s awareness—so familiar, so safe, that his presence didn’t trigger the usual hypervigilance. Jian Ci’s guard was completely down, his aura calm and unshielded, like a lake at dawn.

Yu Xi watched him in silence. There was something deeply soothing about the sight. The way Jian Ci’s hands moved, steady and sure. The way he tilted his head, murmuring to himself as he adjusted the steeping time. The way his hair fell into his eyes, and he didn’t bother to push it back.

For a moment, Yu Xi let himself forget everything. For a moment, there was only this.