Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 148: I will miss you

She opened the box, easily identifying which things belonged to Jian Ci. With steady hands, she injected the liquid inside, then tucked it neatly back. But a single dose didn’t satisfy her. She drew another five milliliters and injected it again, her lips curling faintly before she replaced the bottle.

Minutes later, Leane returned, carrying the last box. "Ready?" Alarna asked smoothly.

"Yeah, that’s everything. Let’s go," Leane replied.

An hour later, all cadets stood at the assembly point. The Dean’s voice droned on, delivering a long, monotonous speech. Alarna stood among them, her expression calm, though inside her heart pulsed with anticipation for what she had set in motion.

A few feet over, Jian Ci stood directly behind Yu Xi, his presence heavy, intense, almost suffocating in its closeness. He leaned forward, his breath brushing against Yu Xi’s ear as he whispered, "Little Xi."

Yu Xi ignored him, his eyes fixed ahead, but Jian Ci wasn’t deterred. He poked Yu Xi lightly in the back, careful to do it when no one else was looking. Or so he thought.

Someone caught the subtle exchange. It was Vigil. His sharp eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. Vigil had never stopped provoking Yu Xi, though lately he had been more subtle about it. Still, it irritated him to no end to see Yu Xi giving Jian Ci attention. Jian Ci was always there, clinging to Yu Xi like a flea, never leaving his side.

Vigil clenched his jaw harder. He had been looking forward to this exam, not just for the challenge but for the opportunity. He wanted to get even more close to Yu Xi, to become his friend. If fate allowed, he hoped to save Yu Xi during the trial, to earn his gratitude. That debt could be leveraged into a bond, a friendship Vigil craved.

Meanwhile, Jian Ci remained blissfully unaware that his place was under threat. He leaned closer, asking softly, "Will you miss me?"

Yu Xi replied flatly, "No."

Jian Ci pursed his lips, stifling a smile. "I will miss you."

Yu Xi’s lips curved subtly, his voice quiet. "I will miss you too."

Jian Ci’s smile was so bright it practically lit up his face. He couldn’t help it—his happiness was uncontainable, spilling out in a way that drew attention. Unfortunately, it also drew the Captain’s sharp eye.

"Cadet Jian Ci!" the Captain barked, striding over. "Wipe that grin off your face. Do you think this is a game?"

Jian Ci straightened, but the smile lingered stubbornly. The Captain’s voice rose, scolding him before assigning a brief punishment drill. Jian Ci endured it without complaint, his grin never fully fading. The punishment didn’t last long, though; the schedule was tight, and soon the cadets were ordered to board the spacecrafts.

As they lined up, Jian Ci caught Yu Xi’s gaze. He mouthed silently, Be careful. Yu Xi nodded, his expression calm, before stepping into the craft with his team.

Each team had a different drop-off zone on the small planet. The mission was clear: hunt as many psychic beasts as possible while traveling through the dense forest toward the finish line. The journey would take three days. Speed wasn’t the priority—survival and points were. The higher the rank of the beasts slain, the more points the team would earn.

Cadets were warned not to take unnecessary risks. If things went wrong, they could request extraction. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Jian Ci entered his assigned craft, sat down, and clasped his seat belt.

Elias, sitting beside him, shifted in his seat with a sudden movement, sliding away before Jian Ci even noticed. Lost in thought, Jian Ci was busy running through the strategies he had devised for the mission ahead.

His mind was sharp, focused on efficiency. He wanted the exam over and done with as quickly as possible so he could return home and take Yu Xi out for his birthday. The thought made him sigh, a quiet exhale of resignation.

That was when Alarna’s voice broke through. "Team leader, are you okay?" she asked, her tone soft but deliberate.

Jian Ci’s head turned, startled to find her sitting beside him. His eyes immediately darted to Elias, who was grinning like a fool, his expression practically saying, Did I do good? Elias believed he was helping his brother by placing him next to a beautiful guide, but Jian Ci didn’t appreciate it at all. His glare shot across the aisle, sharp and cold, and Elias felt chills crawl down his spine.

Alarna had been restrained lately. She hadn’t been buying him things or asking him out, and Jian Ci had thought she finally understood his disinterest. But moments like this proved otherwise. Being on the same team gave her a convenient excuse to stay close, and Jian Ci couldn’t even push her away without disrupting the group dynamic.

So he sat there, forced to tolerate her presence, his patience stretched thin.

He gave a short nod, his voice steady. "I am fine."

Alarna smiled faintly, her tone deliberately light. "If you need guidance, Leane will be available. I swapped with her."

Jian Ci’s eyes flicked toward her, but he didn’t linger. He knew he didn’t need guidance. No guide in Orion Drift could truly guide him. That was why, when he saw his assigned guide was Alarna, he hadn’t cared in the slightest. Why she had swapped with Leane was a mystery, but it wasn’t one worth solving. "Sure," he said simply, dismissing the matter.

Their instructor, Lal, strode over, his presence commanding. "We are about to approach the drop-off zone. Don’t take risks. If you are unwell and can’t carry on, ask for an extraction. I will be available if you need help. And team leader Jian..."

"Yes, instructor," Jian Ci replied crisply.

Lal’s gaze sharpened. "Your team is your responsibility. Don’t fuck this up. Make me proud."

Jian Ci’s jaw tightened, his voice firm. "I won’t."

Lal’s expression softened slightly, though his tone remained fierce. "Go out there and show them what Team Ares can do."

The cadets straightened, their voices rising together in unison. "Yes, instructor!"

The spacecraft hummed beneath their feet, anticipation thick in the air as they prepared to descend into the unknown.