Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 294: "Then why didn’t you tell me?”

Jian Ci showed a shy smile, the kind that tugged at the corners of his lips but never quite reached his eyes. He felt foolish, realizing now that he had been receiving special treatment all these years and had been too stupid to see it. He had thought that was simply how best friends got along.

He tapped his leg lightly against Yu Xi’s, their hands still entwined. "Then why didn’t you tell me?"

Yu Xi’s gaze softened, but his voice was steady. "I had my reasons."

"Tell me," Jian Ci pressed, his tone gentle but insistent.

Yu Xi exhaled slowly. "Well, first reason... I didn’t want to lose you as a friend. If I told you, you might stop being close to me, and I couldn’t live with that."

Jian Ci’s grip tightened around his hand. "You know I would never do that to you."

Yu Xi shook his head faintly. "I wouldn’t risk it. Knowing your preferences... I am not a guide or a woman, so I thought I already lost from the start."

Jian Ci’s chest constricted with regret. He had once painted a clear image of what kind of relationship he wanted in the future, so sure of himself back then. But that certainty had cost him dearly. He could have been with Yu Xi long ago, but because he had voiced his preference for female guides, Yu Xi had never confessed.

"I was blind back then," Jian Ci admitted, his voice low, heavy with remorse. "I had an idea of what I wanted, but I was wrong."

He lowered his head, dejected, shame pressing down on him.

Yu Xi reached out, his fingers brushing through Jian Ci’s hair, stroking it gently. "Don’t be so dejected."

Jian Ci looked up at him, his eyes shimmering with vulnerability. "I really wish I had realised my feelings sooner."

Yu Xi’s lips curved faintly, though his voice carried a quiet weight. "Well... even if you did, I still wouldn’t have been able to tell you then. Because I was under the mandated blood oath."

Jian Ci bit his lip, his anger resurging like a storm he couldn’t contain. The thought of the blood oath, of Yu Xi being bound against his will, made his chest burn. He still wanted to settle scores with his family for it, no matter their reasons.

Yu Xi’s voice was calm, steady, almost soothing. "Don’t blame your family. They were only protecting you. They were worried I would kidnap you and force you... especially when they found out who my grandfather is."

Jian Ci’s eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "But you would never do that."

Yu Xi’s lips curved into a faint smile as he said, "But I thought about it." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Jian Ci: "..."

The silence between them was heavy, Jian Ci’s mind spinning. Finally, he asked, "Why can you tell me now? Did they cancel it?"

Yu Xi nodded. "They did. I don’t know why, but they just did. I didn’t ask either."

Jian Ci leaned forward, his voice low. "When?" He already had an idea, but he wanted to be sure.

Yu Xi’s gaze softened. "After you guys argued."

The realization hit Jian Ci like a blade. When he had told them that he loved Yu Xi, they had immediately ended the blood oath, for his sake.

"They still shouldn’t have done that to you," Jian Ci muttered, his voice trembling with frustration.

Yu Xi shook his head gently. "They did the right thing. They were doing it to protect you."

Jian Ci’s jaw tightened, dissatisfaction written all over his face. "You defend them a lot."

Yu Xi’s smile was sweet, his eyes warm. "Because I understand why they did it. They love you and want to protect you. I would do the same."

He reached out and pinched Jian Ci’s cheek lightly, his smile softening into something tender.

Jian Ci’s anger faltered, replaced by a rush of warmth he couldn’t fight. Yu Xi’s touch and words, disarmed him completely.

His voice low and trembling with sincerity. "But not at your expense, though. Little Xi, you don’t know how much you mean to me."

He cupped Yu Xi’s face, leaning closer, his fingers threading gently through Yu Xi’s shoulder-length hair. Yu Xi met his gaze, and the spark between them was so intense it felt like the air itself was charged.

"Promise me," Jian Ci whispered, their foreheads pressed together, "that you would never put yourself in harm’s way for me ever again."

Yu Xi swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His breath caught under Jian Ci’s closeness, under the weight of his plea.

"Promise me," Jian Ci whispered again, his voice breaking.

Yu Xi closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and finally said, "I can’t promise you that."

Jian Ci leaned in closer, the tips of their noses brushing, his gaze dropping to those lips he had been yearning to kiss again. His voice was a hushed demand. "Why?"

Yu Xi leaned forward, his lips brushing against Jian Ci’s lightly, fleetingly. The touch sent an intense wave of pleasure through him, hazing his mind, making his chest ache with longing.

He opened his eyes, half-lidded, and whispered, "Because to me... you are the most important person. The only reason why I am alive today."

Jian Ci’s brows furrowed, his heart pounding. Just as their lips were about to press together again, he pulled back suddenly, his voice sharp with confusion. "What do you mean?"

Yu Xi opened his eyes fully, meeting Jian Ci’s confused gaze. The weight of his own words crashed down on him, and he realized his mistake instantly. He shouldn’t have said anything.

"What do you mean?" Jian Ci asked again, his voice tight, his confusion laced with fear.

Yu Xi shook his head quickly, rising to his feet. "It’s nothing." But Jian Ci’s body moved before his mind could catch up. He blocked Yu Xi’s path, his chest heaving, and in a rush of desperation he pushed Yu Xi back down onto the bed, straddling him. His hands trembled as he pinned Yu Xi’s wrists against the sheets.

He was upset, heartbroke and terrified. What did Yu Xi mean by those words?

Yu Xi startled, his breath catching, but he didn’t fight. He lay beneath him, his eyes wide, his chest rising and falling rapidly.