CHAPTER 113: PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT US

Jian Ci ended the call with a soft click, tossing his communicator aside before biting into the fruit roll up. The sweetness lingered on his tongue as he leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting up to the ceiling. He let out a long sigh, the weight of his brother’s words still echoing faintly in his mind, though he brushed them off with casual ease.

Meanwhile, Jian Rui was locked in Stannis’s embrace. "You want us to get caught, don’t you?" he murmured, his voice low with reproach.

Stannis’s lips curved into a faint smile. "No. I just miss you already." He leaned closer, gently biting Jian Rui’s earlobe. Jian Rui shuddered, his body betraying him with a sweet smile.

"Let’s go to sleep," Jian Rui said firmly. "I have an early morning."

"Okay," Stannis replied, hugging him tightly. The bracelet on his wrist shimmered faintly beneath the light, its glow a quiet reminder of Jian Rui’s gift.

Elsewhere, Jian Ci wandered into Yu Xi’s room. Yu Xi was seated at his desk, head bent over an assignment, his focus unwavering. Jian Ci leaned against the desk, watching him. Without looking up, Yu Xi pulled out candy and set it on the desk. "You want some?"

"Thank you very much," Jian Ci said cheerfully, picking it up.

"Can I work with you? I am bored all alone."

"Sure, bring a chair."

"Can I sit on your bed instead?" Jian Ci asked hopefully.

Yu Xi glanced at him briefly. "Why are you even asking? You know I don’t mind."

Jian Ci’s smile bloomed, bright and unrestrained, as he happily sat down.

He leaned back on Yu Xi’s bed, unwrapping the candy with deliberate slowness, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Little Xi, if someone else asked to sit on your bed, would you allow it?"

Yu Xi didn’t even look up from his assignment. "Do they have a death wish?" he replied flatly.

Jian Ci grinned, pleased with the answer. "How about Wei-ge or Rui-ge?"

Finally, Yu Xi lifted his gaze, his expression unimpressed. "Are you so bored that you are asking me silly questions?"

"I am just asking," Jian Ci said innocently, though his smile betrayed his amusement.

Yu Xi tossed another piece of candy at him without ceremony. "Eat that."

Jian Ci caught it, but instead of eating, he slipped it into his pocket with a satisfied grin. "I heard people are talking about us."

Yu Xi’s lips curved faintly. "You are a prince of the empire. Of course they will talk about you."

"And you are the smartest and most formidable cadet," Jian Ci countered smoothly. "So of course they’ll talk about you."

Yu Xi chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Do you mind them talking about you?" Jian Ci pressed.

"No. Why would I care? You know I don’t," Yu Xi replied calmly.

Jian Ci’s smile widened. "Good."

Yu Xi tapped his assignment. "Now, do you want to do the assignment or not?"

Jian Ci laughed lightly. "Okay. Let’s do it together."

Yu Xi never thought he could focus with Jian Ci sitting so close, but to his surprise, he found himself more productive than ever. Working with Jian Ci felt good—so good that he couldn’t help but want to do it every day.

Jian Ci was goofy more than half the time, cracking jokes and teasing him, but when it came to taking his work seriously, he shifted gears instantly. His insights were sharp, and when he didn’t understand something, he asked without hesitation.

What Yu Xi liked most was when he posed a question and Jian Ci explained in detail, his words patient and thorough. It made Yu Xi feel like he wasn’t just studying but sharing something deeper.

By the time Yu Xi went to bed, he was so happy it felt like lying on a fluffy cloud. He opened his communicator, and beside him hovered a floating screen with a picture of Jian Ci sleeping. It felt almost as if they were sleeping next to each other.

***

The next morning, after training, showering, and changing into their uniforms, they sat together at breakfast. Yu Xi sat opposite Jian Ci, who looked dissatisfied, pushing his fork around the plate instead of eating. Yu Xi’s sharp eyes caught the gesture.

"You don’t like it?" he asked softly, watching Jian Ci’s expression.

Jian Ci poked at the rice pudding with his spoon, his lips curling in dissatisfaction. "It’s not sweet at all. Who makes rice pudding this bland?"

Yu Xi didn’t look up from his plate, his tone calm but firm. "Just eat for now. You won’t be able to focus if you are hungry."

Jian Ci pouted, his shoulders slumping, but he forced himself to eat anyway. Yu Xi had been in a rush earlier and forgot to bring him candy, though he planned to grab some from the dorm before class.

Suddenly, Elias slid his plate next to Yu Xi and sat down without asking. Yu Xi arched his brow, unimpressed, while Jian Ci’s eyes darkened immediately.

"Don’t you have other places to sit?" Jian Ci snapped.

Elias smirked. "Why so hostile? Didn’t you sleep well?"

The truth was Jian Ci hadn’t. He didn’t know why, but he was less energetic than usual, and Yu Xi had practically dragged him out of bed that morning.

"Yeah," Jian Ci muttered, his voice low. "So don’t provoke me today."

"Yes, yes, Your Highness," Elias said mockingly, clearly not taking him seriously.

Jian Ci clenched his jaw, wanting to tell Yu Xi to come sit beside him instead, when two more figures approached. Alarna and Rowland dropped into the seats next to him.

Jian Ci: "..."

Alarna smiled. "You guys are early."

Rowland leaned forward, greeting cheerfully, "Hey, team leader," directed at Yu Xi.

The table grew crowded, and Jian Ci’s mood soured further, though Yu Xi remained composed, his calm presence steadying the atmosphere.

He pressed the tip of his tongue against his cheek, his appetite gone. The rice pudding sat untouched, and he leaned back slightly, his mood sour. Yu Xi, unfazed, nodded politely at Rowland and continued eating.

Then, beneath the table, he felt a sudden tap against his foot. He looked up and met Jian Ci’s gaze—sharp, insistent, as though silently asking, are you done yet?

Before Yu Xi could respond, Alarna spoke up brightly. "Team leader, I bought you this." She placed a neatly wrapped store-bought cookie on the table. It was the same kind Jian Ci had eaten yesterday in class, the one that had earned him a reprimand from the professor.

At the time, Jian Ci had explained that he had low blood sugar and needed to eat constantly. Who would have thought Alarna had paid such close attention and gone out of her way to buy it for him?