Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 305: Show off

Jian Rui’s steps paused at the doorway. He glanced back, his voice low, "Coming?"

Stannis cleared his throat, but his voice was still husky, hoarse with anticipation. "I am coming."

He caught up quickly, wrapping his arms around Jian Rui from behind. His lips brushed against Jian Rui’s neck, lingering and possessive.

"I will definitely put you to sleep, "Stannis whispered against his skin.

Jian Rui’s breath hitched, his voice soft but resolute. "I am looking forward to it."

***

Jian Wei had been buried in his lab, earbuds in, fingers flying across the keypad with practiced speed. The hum of machinery and the faint glow of monitors filled the room, his mind locked in calculations until the sharp ping of an intrusion alarm jolted him.

His brows furrowed. It was an allert from the east side of the mansion. Everyone was out tonight except him.

He pulled up the surveillance feed, eyes narrowing as the screens flickered. There was nothing not even movement. There were no heat signatures, just silence.

Jian Wei cursed under his breath, grabbed his plasma gun, and strode out. His senses sharpened, every step deliberate. He was ready for anything, though deep down he knew no one had the guts to break into their family home.

He stepped outside. The night air was heavy, the atmosphere eerie. He scanned the grounds, the hairs on his neck rising. It felt like something was watching him from the bushes, but his eyes caught nothing.

He was about to turn back, ready to run a diagnostic on the security system, when...

"Boo!"

Xiaobao popped out of nowhere. Jian Wei nearly fired, his heart leaping into his throat. "Xiaobao, what the fuck is wrong with you? I almost shot you!"

Xiaobao shrugged, utterly unfazed. "Then my grandpa will shoot you back." She walked forward casually, heading for the door.

Jian Wei moved quickly, blocking her path. "Wait, wait. Where are you going?"

Xiaobao gave him a look like he was the dumbest person alive. "Inside. Duh."

Jian Wei scowled. "Your brother isn’t here, so go stay with him."

Xiaobao folded her arms, her tone sharp but smug. "My brother is with your brother. So I’ll stay here with his brother."

Jian Wei blinked, his plasma gun lowering slightly. "...What?"

Xiaobao smirked as she said, "You heard me."

Jian Wei stood frozen for a moment, his mind catching up to her words.

Xiaobao forced her way in, slipping past Jian Wei with the ease of someone who knew he couldn’t really stop her. He stood there, shoulders tense, watching her march into the mansion like she owned it.

He sighed, dragging his feet as he followed. "Don’t bother me. Stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of—"

"Are you avoiding me?" Xiaobao cut in, her voice sharp, her eyes narrowing.

Jian Wei froze. "..."

Xiaobao tilted her head, her tone softer but insistent. "We do work together well. I thought we were getting along."

Jian Wei was stumped, his mouth opening and closing before he finally managed, "I’m not avoiding you. Why would you even say that?"

Xiaobao crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. "Really? Because you didn’t tell me you came back. I had to find out from Jian Ci."

Jian Wei gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling. Of course she heard it from Jian Ci. He knew this was his brother’s way of taking revenge, and he couldn’t even be mad. He had wronged Jian Ci first.

"I was just busy," Jian Wei muttered. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Xiaobao arched a brow. "Really?"

"Yes," Jian Wei snapped, then exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Don’t you have other friends you can hang out with?"

Xiaobao’s reply was immediate, unwavering. "But I like hanging out with you."

Jian Wei groaned inwardly, his patience thinning. "Well, I don’t have time to keep you company. So you should go hang out with other people, okay?"

Xiaobao’s eyes narrowed, her voice rising with indignation. "You are avoiding me. I always assist you with your research so how am I a bother? I am helpful."

Jian Wei knew he couldn’t escape, so he finally admitted it. "Fine. I am avoiding you. But haven’t you noticed we bicker too much? We fight all the time. So maybe... we should work separately from now on."

Xiaobao stared at him, her eyes unreadable. Jian Wei braced himself, half-expecting her to explode, to unleash the fiery temper he had grown used to. But instead, she was surprisingly calm.

"Oh. Okay," she said simply, her voice even. "Then I won’t bother you anymore."

She turned toward the door, her steps light, almost too light. But before leaving, she paused, her hand on the frame. "By the way, I brought your favorite snacks." She placed the bag on the table with deliberate care.

Jian Wei frowned, unease prickling at the back of his neck. This wasn’t the Xiaobao he knew. What the hell was she up to?

She was already halfway out when he called after her. "It’s already late. You should stay home."

Xiaobao glanced back, her smile faint but sharp. "No need. I will meet up with my friends. Bye." And just like that, she was gone.

Jian Wei stood there, staring at the door long after it closed. For some reason, guilt gnawed at him, or perhaps it was discomfort, a heavy boulder pressing down on his chest. He rubbed at it absently, unsettled by the hollow feeling her absence left behind.

Meanwhile, Xiaobao walked away, her smile widening with each step. She had heard his words, accepted them outwardly, but inside she was already plotting. There would be payback, oh yes. She would make sure Jian Wei came crawling back.

***

Jian Ci walked into the private dining room of the secret base, his arm wrapped firmly around Yu Xi’s waist. The room was already filled with Jian Wei, Jian Rui, Stannis, Xiaobao, and Eros seated around the long table. It was the first dinner they were having together, and everyone knew it was also the last before their entire lives changed.

The brothers hadn’t seen each other in weeks, and the tension between them hadn’t abated in the slightest.

Jian Ci pulled out a chair for Yu Xi, guiding him down with a gentle touch. Yu Xi sat, and Jian Ci leaned over, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, his hands resting protectively on Yu Xi’s shoulders.

Jian Wei sneered. "Show off."

Jian Ci’s smile only grew brighter, almost dazzling. "What, jealous?"

Jian Wei rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. Jian Ci opened his mouth to retort, but Yu Xi reached up, grabbing his head and urging him to sit down.

"You promised you would be civil," Yu Xi said firmly.

Jian Ci smirked, his gaze flicking to Jian Wei. "You got lucky."

Jian Wei’s jaw tightened. He turned to Xiaobao, his voice sharp. "He’s really testing my patience."

Xiaobao didn’t even look at him. She uttered a soft, noncommittal "mm" as she continued applying her lipstick, her expression cool and detached.

Jian Wei felt worse than before. For weeks now, Xiaobao hadn’t shown up in front of him. No calls, no messages, not even the usual gossip she used to flood him with. It was as if he had been blacklisted from her life.

When he tried to get her to assist him with a research project, she had brushed him off, saying she was busy. Even when he offered her pay, quite generous pay, she refused.

Jian Wei scratched the back of his head in frustration, the weight of her silence pressing harder than any insult.