Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 248: Then call me Gege.

The tunnels narrowed, their light dimming. Jian Ci’s thoughts wandered, and for a moment he wasn’t paying attention. His foot caught on a jagged stone, and he stumbled.

Yu Xi’s hand shot out, steadying him. "Are you okay?"

Heat rushed to Jian Ci’s face. He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "I am okay... Just misstepped."

Yu Xi’s lips curved faintly. "How about we hold hands while we explore? We are both clumsy today."

Jian Ci’s heart lurched. He forced a smile, trying not to make it awkward. "Sure."

Their hands met, fingers curling together. Jian Ci’s palms were damp with nervous sweat, and he was terrified Yu Xi would notice, but Yu Xi said nothing. Instead, he held tighter, his grip steady and warm, guiding them deeper into the cave.

They walked until the tunnel opened into a vast chamber. At its center lay a luminous pool, glowing with ethereal light that danced across the cavern walls. The sight was dazzling, breathtaking in its beauty.

Yu Xi’s hand slipped free as he stepped forward, drawn to the pool’s radiance. Jian Ci exhaled quietly, relief flooding him even as his chest ached with longing.

He could still feel the warmth of Yu Xi’s hand lingering against his palms, a ghost of contact that refused to fade. He rubbed his fingers together absently, staring at his hand intently.

Meanwhile, Yu Xi had walked to the clear pool at the center of the chamber. He crouched down, his sunglasses sliding to the top of his head as he leaned closer. The luminous aura in the water stirred, glowing white at first, but as it neared him, it shifted into a deep emerald, mirroring the hue of his psychic power.

"Ci, come see this," Yu Xi called, turning to glance back at him.

Jian Ci blinked, pulled from his trance. "Did you get hurt?" Yu Xi asked, noticing his distracted expression.

"No," Jian Ci said quickly, shaking his head. "What’s wrong?"

"Come take a look," Yu Xi beckoned, his voice calm but insistent.

Jian Ci moved closer, crouching down beside him. He had been here before, so the phenomenon didn’t surprise him. But seeing Yu Xi’s amazement, the way his eyes lit up, the way his voice carried wonder, made Jian Ci’s chest swell with quiet happiness.

"It was white before," Yu Xi murmured, "now it’s emerald."

As the water stirred again, the aura shifted once more. Near Jian Ci, it flared into a bright violet, swirling like liquid fire.

"It mimics the color of your psychic power," Jian Ci explained, his smile soft. "Cool, right?"

Yu Xi nodded, his gaze fixed on the pool. "It is."

Jian Ci hesitated, then added, "Rumor has it that if a perfect match between an esper and a guide appears, the walls in this place light up... with the two colors entangled together."

Yu Xi turned his head, his eyes meeting Jian Ci’s. "Is it a rumor... or is it real?"

Jian Ci stood up, straightening his clothes, and shrugged his shoulders. "I don’t know," he said lightly. "My mum told me that."

Yu Xi rose too, his gaze still fixed on the luminous pool. "That would be interesting to see."

The two of them stood side by side, staring at the water where violet and emerald swirled together, half and half, like two powers caught in a dance.

Then Yu Xi’s voice broke the silence. "Were you avoiding me before?"

Jian Ci blinked, startled. "Huh?"

"You were gone most of the day," Yu Xi said, turning his head to look at him. "And you didn’t reply to my message. I thought you were upset with me."

Jian Ci stiffened, his heart thudding. "I wasn’t ignoring you... I was planning all of this." He gestured toward the pool, his voice softening. "Isn’t it beautiful?"

Yu Xi’s eyes returned to the water, his tone calm. "It is beautiful."

Jian Ci’s nonexistent tail wagged in delight. He leaned closer, his smile boyish. "Did I do a good job, Little Xi?"

Yu Xi glanced at him, lips curving faintly. "You did a good job."

That invisible tail wagged even harder, his chest swelling with warmth. Jian Ci raised a finger, his grin mischievous. "Then call me Gege." Yu Xi’s brow arched.

"Just this one time," Jian Ci pressed, his finger lifted like he was making a solemn bargain.

Yu Xi met his gaze, then pushed him away playfully. "You are weirdo, do you know that?"

"Come on, just this once!" Jian Ci laughed, trailing after him as Yu Xi turned to leave.

"Little Xi, come on!" Jian Ci called, his voice echoing through the cave, chasing after the man who had no idea how much weight those words carried in his heart.

Yu Xi smiled faintly as he walked away, the soft crunch of gravel beneath his steps blending with the whisper of the breeze. Behind them, the emerald light in the pool, bright and dazzling, suddenly fractured, separating to reveal a golden glow. It was Yu Xi’s guide power, pure and radiant.

When the golden aura brushed against the violet shimmer of Jian Ci’s psychic powers, the two lights swirled together, entwining like ribbons in a dance. The dim walls of the cave flared to life, glowing brilliantly with the entangled colors.

It was a phenomenon so rare that even the seasoned attendants gasped, their eyes wide with awe. Yet Yu Xi and Jian Ci, oblivious, had already left, unaware of the rare phenomenon they had sparked.

Outside, the garden path stretched before them, wildflowers nodding in the breeze. Yu Xi ran his fingers through his hair, the wind tugging at the strands. Jian Ci, ever prepared, pulled out a hair tie from his pocket. "Here," he said casually.

Yu Xi accepted it with a small smile. "Thanks."

"There’s no need to thank me," Jian Ci replied, his tone soft, almost tender.

Yu Xi’s lips curved further, his voice light but sincere. "You will make a great boyfriend someday."

The words struck Jian Ci like a blow. His breath caught in his throat, his lips parting as though he might ask something... something dangerous, something that had been burning in him all night. But before he could speak, an attendant approached, bowing slightly.

"Your highness," the attendant said.

Both Yu Xi and Jian Ci turned their heads. Jian Ci forced a smile, though his heart was still racing. "Wait for me," he told Yu Xi quietly. "I will be right back."

Yu Xi nodded, his gaze drifting toward the top of the garden hill, where the sunlight spilled across the stones like liquid gold. His gaze suddenly caught on two figures in the distance, half-hidden in the shadows of the garden. Even in the dark of night, he would be able to recognize them instantly. It was Stannis and Jian Rui.