Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 266: Beloved wife

Yu Xi hesitated. It was reasonable, after all the effort Roan had put into gathering this intel, it would be cold to leave without so much as a gesture of camaraderie. He exhaled, his jaw tight. "One drink."

Xiaobao clapped her hands. "Oh, let’s play cards while drinking!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Yu Xi didn’t stop her. He sat back down, the tension easing slightly, and the three of them began to play.

An hour later, the atmosphere had shifted. Xiaobao leaned back against the couch, a drink in hand, her cheeks flushed from the wine. She had only been permitted one glass, but that was enough to make her tipsy, her words flowing faster, her laughter brighter. She traded playful remarks with Yu Xi, who sat beside her, his stern expression softened by her chatter.

Roan sat opposite them, shuffling the deck with practiced ease, his fingers moving with a rhythm that spoke of long familiarity. His expression hovered somewhere between amusement and concentration, the cards snapping softly as they fell into place. The three of them played casually, tossing down hands with little care for winning, more invested in the banter and the steady rhythm of drinking.

Yu Xi’s sharp wit clashed with Xiaobao’s teasing, their sibling dynamic sparking laughter that filled the room. Roan occasionally interjected with dry humor, his timing impeccable, sending both of them into fits of laughter despite Yu Xi’s attempts to remain stern.

Then the door to the private room opened. Yu Xi froze mid-motion, his eyes narrowing. "..."

Roan’s brow arched, his mind immediately questioning how someone had managed to slip past the attendants and security without raising an alarm. His gaze flicked to the newcomer. It was Jian Ci. What Roan didn’t know was that Xiaobao, wary of her future brother-in-law being hassled or robbed, had ensured he could enter without issue.

Jian Ci stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. He hadn’t expected to find anyone other than Yu Xi and Xiaobao here. The moment his gaze landed on Roan, irritation stirred deep in his stomach, sharp and instinctive. Something about this man screamed trouble. Whoever he was, Jian Ci had a feeling he didn’t have good intentions.

Roan, for his part, felt the hostility immediately. And instead of being put off, he found it interesting. Oh, he knew exactly who Jian Ci was. He had seen the endless images and clips on Star Net. Yu Xi never appeared without Jian Ci somewhere in the background, like a shadow that refused to leave. Eros had spoken of Jian Ci before, and from the looks of it, Eros disliked him.

Yu Xi broke the silence, his tone clipped but steady. "Come sit." He didn’t even ask Jian Ci what he was doing there.

Jian Ci calmed himself with a slow breath before walking over. He lowered himself onto the couch beside Yu Xi, the tension in his shoulders easing just enough to make the gesture seem natural.

Xiaobao pursed her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her ship was finally sailing, and she wasn’t about to let a passerby like Roan ruin it.

Yu Xi glanced at her, brow furrowed. "What’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Xiaobao replied, her voice pitched a little too high.

Yu Xi sighed, certain she was wasted. He reached over and took the almost empty glass she had been savoring.

"I haven’t finished that," Xiaobao complained, reaching for it.

Yu Xi ignored her protest and turned to Jian Ci. "Get her some juice. I really don’t want to babysit her all night."

"Okay," Jian Ci said. His hand brushed against Yu Xi’s thigh, a subtle but deliberate gesture of possession, before he stood up. His glare cut toward Roan, sharp and unwelcoming, as he moved to the bar.

He chose Xiaobao’s favorite juice as though already stepping into the role of a tentative future brother-in-law. Twisting the cap, he handed it to her.

Xiaobao looked unhappy but still accepted it. "Thanks."

Jian Ci sat back down, his posture protective, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "Who is this?"

Yu Xi leaned back, his tone clipped. "He works for my grandfather. His name is Roan."

Roan smiled, his voice smooth. "Well, I also work for you. And from now on, we will be working with each other more."

Jian Ci pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, annoyance simmering. He draped his arm along the backrest behind Yu Xi, his presence unmistakably territorial. "Really."

Roan’s smile faltered, the easy charm slipping from his face as the tension between them thickened, sharp enough to cut through the air.

Yu Xi had thorns sticking out whenever it came to him. Every word and every glance sharpened into something hostile. Yet when Jian Ci leaned against him, touched him, or spoke with that sly grin, Yu Xi didn’t even flinch. It was unfair, Roan thought. Granted, they had just met, but come on, Yu Xi could have been a little nicer.

Roan forced a smile, his tone smooth. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

Jian Ci’s reply was immediate, cold. "Not for me."

Roan: "..."

Yu Xi cut through the tension, his voice clipped. "Let’s play cards for a bit and then go home."

Jian Ci tilted his head, eyes gleaming. "My place or yours?"

Xiaobao squeaked suddenly, drawing their attention. She waved her floating screen in front of her face. "Sorry! I am watching a romance drama. The couple is so cute." In truth, she was masking her excitement, her ship sailing faster than ever.

Yu Xi shuffled the cards, his tone casual but firm. "You will still come over anyway."

Roan leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "You two share a room?"

Jian Ci’s grin widened. "No." Roan exhaled internally, relieved until Jian Ci’s grin sharpened. "We share a bed. All the time."

Yu Xi’s elbow shot into Jian Ci’s gut, making him groan. "Keep this up and I’ll lock the door."

Jian Ci pursed his lips, pretending to sulk, but inside his invisible tail was wagging. There was nothing sweeter than being scolded by your beloved wife. Yu Xi, of course, had no idea what Jian Ci was thinking.

Roan, watching the exchange, realized he had to up his game. If he wanted to pursue Yu Xi, he would have to contend with the giant piece of flesh sitting right beside him.

Roan smirked. "How good are you at cards?"

Jian Ci leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Better than you, I bet."

Yu Xi dealt the cards with a sharp flick, his voice steady and confident. "Both of you are going to lose."