Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 287: S** shop

Yu Xi ignored his grandfather’s restless energy and called Randy. The line connected, and Randy’s voice came through, shaky, hurried.

"Yu Xi?"

"Yes," Yu Xi said, his tone calm but firm. "What happened?"

Randy’s voice trembled, but beneath it was a flicker of joy. He was so happy to hear Yu Xi’s voice again, though he tried to restrain himself. "He... um, he approached me when I was walking my dog. His face looked so terrifying, I thought he was going to beat the shit out of me so...."

Randy fell silent, his breath uneven. Running had probably made it worse, but who wouldn’t run when a high-ranking esper looked at you like you had stolen his prey?

Yu Xi’s tone was clipped. "So what?"

Randy swallowed. "So I ran... and he chased me."

Yu Xi’s silence was heavy. ...

Randy rushed on, his words tumbling. "I thought he was going to kill me, I swear. And when he caught me, he... um..."

Yu Xi’s patience thinned, his anxiety rising. The pauses were unbearable. His mind twisted in confusion. ’Did Jian Ci take a fancy to Randy? Was he literally chasing him? Since when did Jian Ci start liking male guides? That doesn’t make sense.’

"What did he say?" Yu Xi pressed, his voice sharp.

Randy hesitated, embarrassed. "It was... a weird question."

"Spill it."

Randy scratched the back of his head, his cheeks burning. "Don’t be mad, but... he asked me if we slept together."

Yu Xi’s eyes widened. "???"

Randy winced, fumbling for words. "I don’t know why he asked me that either. And when I said it was none of his business, he told me he would beat the answer out of me."

Yu Xi’s confusion deepened, his thoughts spiraling. ’Why would Jian Ci care about that? Why now?’

Randy’s voice cracked as he hurried to finish. "So I told him no. And then he said, ’Was it that hard?’ and just left. I was so scared shitless."

Silence stretched between them. Yu Xi hadn’t said a word, his mind caught between disbelief and unease.

Randy’s voice softened, tentative. "Yu Xi... are you mad at me?"

Yu Xi came back to himself, his voice steady though tinged with sourness. "I am not mad. I was just wondering why he came to bother you instead of coming to me."

Randy didn’t notice the undertone. He leaned forward, hesitant but hopeful. "By the way... are you dating someone recently?"

Yu Xi, still tangled in thoughts of Jian Ci’s strange behavior, replied almost subconsciously. "No. Not dating."

Randy ignored Jian Ci’s warning, his eagerness outweighing caution. "Would you like to grab a bite with me soon? I found this new place I would love to take you."

Yu Xi shook his head, his tone firm but not unkind. "No. I am not dating anyone for a while. Sorry."

Disappointment flickered across Randy’s face, but he nodded, understanding. Yu Xi had always been clear. He wasn’t looking for anything serious.

"Okay," Randy said softly. "But when you are open to dating again, please consider me. I promise you won’t regret it."

Yu Xi gave a faint smile. "Sure. And if he comes back again, you should tell me."

"Okay."

The call ended. Yu Xi bit his cheek, lost in thought. Jian Ci’s actions were becoming more erratic, more invasive. He needed to know exactly what Jian Ci was up to. With a sigh, Yu Xi decided to call him.

***

Meanwhile, Jian Ci sat in a hovercar, his gaze fixed on a discreet storefront glowing in neon. It was a sex shop. One he had discovered Yu Xi frequented.

Jian Ci’s mind was a storm. He wanted to know everything about Yu Xi. Every habit, every secret and every place he went when no one was watching. Now that he had uncovered the truth that Yu Xi had used those guides as scapegoats, shields to keep him from asking about the hickeys, he felt a twisted sense of relief.

But this new discovery gnawed at him. Yu Xi came here at least once a month. Why? What was he buying? What was he hiding?

Jian Ci’s jaw tightened, his violet aura simmering beneath the surface. He couldn’t help himself. He wanted to find out.

He stepped out of the hovercar, his boots clicking against the pavement as he pushed open the door to the sex shop. The moment he entered, his body tensed. Shelves lined with toys he couldn’t comprehend stared back at him. There were chains, whips, glossy masks, all kinds of dildos, vibrators and roleplay outfits that made his mind reel. He had no idea what half of these things were used for, and the thought of Yu Xi walking among them every month made his chest tighten with a strange mix of curiosity and dread.

He was about to walk to the counter when his communicator rang. The floating screen flickered to life, and his heart nearly stopped when he saw the name Little Xi.

Jian Ci’s eyes darted around the shop, panic rising. ’Did he catch me? Is he here?’ But the aisles were empty. Yu Xi wasn’t there.

He tried to calm himself, cleared his throat, and answered. "Little Xi, miss me already?"

There was silence. Yu Xi didn’t respond immediately, and Jian Ci felt sweat bead at his temples. He swallowed hard. "Little Xi?"

Yu Xi’s voice came through, clipped. "When did you come back?"

"Um... today," Jian Ci said, forcing his tone to sound casual.

Yu Xi was trying not to sound irritable, but the edge in his voice was unmistakable. "Didn’t come home."

"I had something to do," Jian Ci replied quickly. "I will be back soon. What’s up?" His voice was steady, but inside he felt like he was caught cheating, his nerves fraying with every word.

Yu Xi’s response was a single, flat syllable. "Oh."

That oh made Jian Ci want to cry. It was too sharp, too knowing. Yu Xi had sensed something.

And then, as expected, Yu Xi asked, "Did you talk to Randy today?"

Jian Ci cursed inwardly. That fucking snitch. He forced a laugh, nervous and brittle. "I bumped into him and chatted for a bit."

Yu Xi wanted to ask about the humiliating question Jian Ci had thrown at Randy, but he held back. Instead, he asked, "Do you like him?"

Jian Ci blinked. "Like who?"

"Randy."

"Fuck no," Jian Ci snapped, his temper flaring. "Is that what that weasel said? I am going to kill him." His voice was sharp, his aura prickling with fury. ’Why did that rat splash dirty water on me?’ he thought.

Yu Xi sighed, the sound heavy, tired. "He didn’t say that." The silence that followed was suffocating.