Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 293: I love you

Yu Xi’s heart clenched. He had listened enough. Of all the reactions he had anticipated when Jian Ci learned the truth he had never anticipated this. This brokenness. This unbearable sincerity.

It was too heartbreaking.

Yu Xi stepped forward, his hand reaching out, grabbing Jian Ci’s arm firmly. Jian Ci flinched, thinking he didn’t deserve even that touch, but Yu Xi wouldn’t let go.

Jian Ci let him pull him up, his body trembling, his mind still drowning in guilt.

And then Yu Xi suddenly embraced him fiercely as though he was afraid Jian Ci would vanish if he loosened his grip even for a second.

Yu Xi’s voice was a whisper against his ear, trembling but resolute. "You know everything I did... I did it because I wanted to, right?"

Jian Ci couldn’t hold his tears back anymore. They spilled freely, soaking into Yu Xi’s shoulder, warm and heavy. Yu Xi felt it, felt the weight of Jian Ci’s grief pressing into him, and his own eyes grew teary in response.

"But why," Jian Ci whispered, his voice breaking, "I don’t deserve such a sacrifice, Little Xi. I just want you to be happy... to live your life."

Yu Xi could feel the vibrations from Jian Ci’s chest as he spoke, each word trembling through him, making his own heart quake.

He knew he wasn’t bound by the blood oath anymore. He could admit his feelings. But the nerves clawed at him, the fear of rejection, the fear of breaking what they had.

Yet after years of repressing everything, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

"Why?" Yu Xi said suddenly, his voice trembling.

Jian Ci pulled back, his red eyes locking onto Yu Xi’s. "Yes why?"

Yu Xi met his gaze, his chest tight, and finally said it. "Because I love you."

Jian Ci’s breath caught, his muscles stiffening as he stared into those eyes. A strange sensation rippled through him like he had heard those words before, like he should have a memory of it, but it was lost somewhere deep inside him.

Still, hearing Yu Xi say it now was overwhelming. His chest burst open like spring had arrived; flowers blooming bright, birds chirping, the sun warm against his skin.

He cupped Yu Xi’s face with trembling hands, his voice soft and incredulous. "You love me."

Yu Xi’s eyes glistened. "I love you."

A chuckle escaped Jian Ci, broken but tender. He pressed his forehead against Yu Xi’s, whispering, "I love you too. I love you so much, Little Xi."

Yu Xi’s heart jolted. Shock rippled through him. He grabbed Jian Ci’s hand against his face, pulling it tighter, his voice breaking. "Are you seri—"

But Jian Ci silenced him. He pulled Yu Xi closer, closing the distance, and kissed his lips.

It was desperate, trembling, but full of truth.

Yu Xi was taken aback at first, but soon his eyes fluttered shut, surrendering to the moment. The kiss was gentle, trembling with emotion, and Jian Ci’s hands slid to Yu Xi’s waist, pulling him closer. Their tears mingled, the kiss heavy with years of silence and unspoken feelings.

Yu Xi felt like his entire world was blooming like spring had broken through the cold, filling him with warmth he hadn’t dared to hope for. This was one result he hadn’t expected, not truly.

When their lips parted, Jian Ci said nothing. He only wrapped his arms around Yu Xi, holding him tightly, as though words would only cheapen the depth of what he felt.

Yu Xi’s voice was soft, uncertain. "Ci... do you really mean it?"

Jian Ci pulled back, his eyes red but steady. He guided Yu Xi to sit down on the bed, then crouched in front of him, lowering himself as if Yu Xi were something sacred. He took Yu Xi’s hand, cradling it gently.

"Little Xi," Jian Ci said, his voice raw, "I mean it. I love you so much that it pains me knowing what you went through for me."

His thumb brushed over Yu Xi’s knuckles, caressing them reverently, as though he were holding the most precious treasure in the world.

Yu Xi’s voice trembled. "Since when?"

Jian Ci’s lips curved faintly, bittersweet. "I realised it on graduation. But... looking back, I loved you way before then. I was just too stupid to see it."

Yu Xi looked away, a half-smile tugging at his lips, though his eyes shimmered with emotion.

Jian Ci bit his lower lip, studying him. Then he reached out, pinching Yu Xi’s chin gently, coaxing him to meet his gaze. "What about you?"

Yu Xi’s eyes flickered, his voice low. "Are you sure you want to know that?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Jian Ci’s gaze said everything. He wanted to know, needed to know.

Yu Xi hesitated, his chest tight. "Don’t freak out."

Jian Ci’s brows furrowed slightly. "Why would I freak out?"

Yu Xi’s lips curved faintly, his voice quiet but weighted. "I am just saying... don’t freak out when I tell you."

"When?" Jian Ci asked, his voice low, almost disbelieving.

Yu Xi bit his lower lip, hesitating, before whispering, "Since I met you."

Jian Ci blinked, his brows furrowing. "What did you say?" He hadn’t been sure he heard it right. Yu Xi’s whisper had been so soft, so fragile.

Jian Ci gave a nervous smile. "It sounds like you said... ever since we met."

But when he saw the seriousness in Yu Xi’s eyes, his smile faltered. "Really?"

Yu Xi nodded faintly. "That’s why I said don’t freak out."

Jian Ci sat down beside him, his heart pounding. "Like... when you first laid eyes on me? Or like a week later?"

Yu Xi half-smiled, his gaze steady. "Like I said."

Jian Ci’s breath caught. He was stunned. He had never thought Yu Xi was in love with him. He had always believed they were best friends, close in ways others couldn’t understand but nothing more.

Yu Xi’s voice was quiet, but firm. "Haven’t you ever thought about how I let you get away with so many things that I wouldn’t let anyone else get away with?"

Jian Ci frowned and said, "No. Like what?"

Yu Xi’s lips curved faintly. "Like crawling into my bed."

Jian Ci: "..."

Yu Xi didn’t stop. "Drinking from the same bottle as me. Touching my hair. Actually touching me overall. Calling me Little Xi."

Jian Ci’s eyes widened. "You let Rui-ge and Wei-ge call you that."

Yu Xi shook his head. "No, I don’t. Your brother tried it once, and I scolded him."

Jian Ci: "..."

Yu Xi had indeed scolded Jian Wei once, asking him who he thought he was calling Little Xi. At the time, Jian Ci had made fun of Jian Wei and even bragged that only he could call him that.

Yu Xi had always reserved that name, that intimacy, for him and Jian Ci’s heart trembled with the weight of it.