Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 327: Whats your type
Jian Ci’s tone was calm but deliberate as he said, "No, I am not trying to chase you away. I am just saying, as your sister-in-law, I noticed you are a tad bit lonely."
Xiaobao pouted, her expression contemplative.
"You helped me with your brother," Jian Ci continued, "so it only makes sense that I reciprocate."
"Oh," Xiaobao said, blinking.
"If you don’t like anyone, then forget we ever had this conversation." Jian Ci stood up, ready to leave.
"Wait," Xiaobao said quickly.
He sat back down, leaning forward. "Yeah?"
She bit her lower lip, hesitant to speak. Jian Ci didn’t rush her. He knew the only way to solve the issue of the ever-present third wheel was to find her someone else to focus on. If she had someone she liked, maybe she wouldn’t be here all the time, intruding on his precious moments with Yu Xi.
He had been planning to take Yu Xi away for a long vacation, but Jian Rui and his mother had told him not to go yet. Jian Ci could only grit his teeth and delay his plans. Now, with Xiaobao constantly around, even the little time he had with Yu Xi was being stolen. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Finally, Xiaobao whispered, "I do... but don’t tell anyone."
Jian Ci’s brows lifted in surprise. He hadn’t thought she actually had someone in mind, he was planning to set her up with someone just to keep her occupied.
"Who is it?" Jian Ci asked, leaning closer. "Maybe this big brother can help you get them."
Xiaobao’s eyes narrowed. "You promise you won’t tell Xi-ge?"
Jian Ci leaned back, his tone firm. "I don’t like lying to little Xi. If he asks, I will tell him."
Xiaobao crossed her arms. "It’s not lying unless he asks."
"Fine," Jian Ci conceded, "but if he does ask, I won’t hide it."
"Then I won’t tell you," Xiaobao shot back.
Jian Ci sighed. "What are the chances he will ask me?"
Xiaobao thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes... that’s true."
"So who is it?" Jian Ci pressed.
Xiaobao gestured for him to come closer. He leaned in, curious. When she whispered the name, Jian Ci froze. He thought he had misheard.
"Heh?!" he exclaimed loudly, eyes wide.
"Shhh!" Xiaobao hissed, waving her hands frantically, "Shut it!"
Jian Ci clamped his mouth shut, but his mind reeled. Did she really just say that?
"You two fight a lot," Jian Ci muttered, disbelief etched across his face.
"So?" Xiaobao retorted.
"You fight like dogs and cats every day. How could it be him?"
"The heart wants what it wants," Xiaobao said simply, her pout defiant.
Jian Ci swore under his breath, "Fuck."
As much as he wanted to help, he knew Jian Wei too well. Other than his family, Jian Wei loved his work more than anything. His research was his first wife, his obsession, his world. He rejected every pursuit decisively, colder and more ruthless than either Jian Rui or Jian Ci.
"Hopeless, right?" Xiaobao muttered, her voice tinged with resignation.
"You think," Jian Ci replied dryly, rising from the coffee table.
Xiaobao shrugged, forcing a smile. "I will get over it... eventually. Besides, I like watching shirtless men dance on StarNet."
Jian Ci, "???"
He shook his head. "We are close, but not that close," he said as he stood up to leave.
"Come on," Xiaobao said, rolling her eyes. "There is nothing shameful about this."
"I still don’t want to know. Goodnight." Jian Ci waved her off, retreating upstairs.
Xiaobao slumped back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. This was the first time she had admitted it, and she didn’t know how to feel. What did she like about Jian Wei? He was smart, so smart that she could listen to him passionately talk about his projects all day. His eyes lit up like stars in the night sky when he explained which methods were best for which tests, or the margins of error in his calculations.
She also found it fun to provoke him. Seeing Jian Wei flustered, defeated, gave her a great sense of joy. She loved being around him, loved messing with him, stealing his snacks, teasing him until he scowled. By the time she realized she liked him, it was already too late.
But Xiaobao didn’t take the feeling to heart. She thought it was just a fling. She had lost count of how many crushes she had had and never confessed. Usually, she fed her loneliness by following and liking videos of handsome men dancing on StarNet. She sent them gifts, called them "husband," but that was where it ended.
She thought she would soon get over her feelings for Jian Wei. After all, Jian Wei didn’t like her that much. He wouldn’t even speak to her if not for the fact they lived in the same house and she was Yu Xi’s sister. Xiaobao was self-aware. She could tell when someone didn’t like her, so she believed she’d eventually move on.
Unlocking her communicator, she opened an app. One of her new favorites was live streaming. Her lips curved into a smile as she lay down on the couch, watching. Like the golden goose she was, she tapped the gift icon again and again, flooding the screen with notifications of her generosity.
Jian Ci sat on the bed, his mind still circling Xiaobao’s confession. She had played a hand in bringing him and Yu Xi together, and he felt he owed her something, some kind of repayment. He swiped open his communicator, tapping into his chat interface with Jian Wei.
He ruffled his hair in frustration, thinking it through before finally typing: Wei-ge, you busy?
The reply came instantly: Busy. Are you dying?
Jian Ci rolled his eyes. Hahaha, so funny.
Jian Wei, in the middle of typing an article, stared at the words. Suspicion flickered. Are you high?
Jian Ci: "..."
He typed back: Maybe.
Jian Wei snorted coldly, fingers poised to dismiss him, when Jian Ci sent another message: What’s your type?
Jian Wei frowned and replied: None of your business.
Just indulge me, Jian Ci pressed.
Jian Wei sighed. I don’t have a type.
He wasn’t lying. He had never found anyone interesting enough to pursue.
Not helpful at all, Jian Ci shot back.
Why do you care? Jian Wei replied.
