CHAPTER 129: DATING A CUTE GIRL

Xiaobao was laughing too, her voice light and teasing. "Is that why you were follow—"

Before she could finish, Jian Ci jumped in, his words tumbling out quickly. "Come, come, come inside, let me show you around!" He practically dragged her forward, desperate to cut off her sentence.

Yu Xi frowned, confused. "Is that why what?"

Jian Ci didn’t give Xiaobao the chance to reply. "Where would you like to see first? Little Xi’s bedroom?" he asked, forcing a smile.

Xiaobao shook her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "No, I want to see Jian Wei’s lab."

Relieved to steer her away from the earlier topic, Jian Ci eagerly led her down the hall. But Jian Wei, hearing this, immediately stopped laughing. His expression turned serious as he bolted after them. "No! Who gave you permission to show her my lab?"

While the chaos unfolded down the hall, Jian Rui turned to Yu Xi. "Are you good?" he asked quietly.

Yu Xi nodded. "I am. Thanks for this."

Jian Rui shook his head. "No need to thank me. It was she who found us."

Yu Xi tilted his head, still puzzled. "Why did Ci think Xiaobao was my girlfriend?" His tone carried genuine confusion.

Jian Rui chuckled, unable to resist. "Check your school forum." With that, he turned to leave.

Yu Xi pulled out his communicator, scrolling quickly. His eyes widened as he saw the headlines splashed across the forum: Yu Xi dating a cute girl! There were even pictures of them together, hand in hand and him carrying Xiaobao.

Yu Xi: "..."

The absurdity left him speechless, his mind caught between disbelief and exasperation.

***

Later that evening, Jian Ci was in his room, the faint aroma of the meal he had cooked still lingering in the air. He had just finished tidying up and was changing out of his clothes when the door opened. Yu Xi stepped inside just as Jian Ci was tugging his t-shirt over his head.

"Ci-ge," Yu Xi said softly.

Startled, Jian Ci stumbled, the shirt catching awkwardly around his arms and head until he was hopelessly stuck. He flailed for a moment, muffled curses escaping him. Yu Xi smiled faintly, walking over to help. With a gentle tug, he freed Jian Ci from the fabric trap.

Jian Ci exhaled dramatically. "Thanks. I thought I was going to die in there."

Yu Xi chuckled, shaking his head. "You are so dramatic," he teased, deliberately averting his gaze from Jian Ci’s bare chest.

"You could have told me you were meeting up with Xiaobao," Jian Ci said, his tone edged with frustration. "I was worried. I searched the entire school for you, but you were gone."

Yu Xi’s expression softened, guilt flickering in his eyes. He had intended to send a message, but he hadn’t expected the person he was meeting to be Xiaobao. And from the moment he entered the hovercar, his communicator had been blocked. His grandfather was extremely cautious given who he is.

"I am sorry," Yu Xi said quietly. "My communicator wasn’t working. It’s only working now."

Jian Ci looked at him, his face full of wounded indignation. Two days without a word, it had been unbearable. Fine it was a day and a couple of hours but still. Not seeing Yu Xi for so long felt like a punishment he hadn’t deserved.

He pulled the fresh t-shirt over his head, muttering, "Oh, I was just worried, that’s all." His voice was casual, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.

Yu Xi’s gaze lingered on Jian Ci’s broad back, his lips pressing together, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

He knew exactly what Jian Ci had been up to earlier. In fact, he had noticed him at the store earlier. Jian Ci had been clever enough to disguise his face, but he hadn’t thought to hide the bracelet, the bracelet Yu Xi himself had given him. That unique piece had betrayed him instantly.

Yu Xi hadn’t said anything at the time. He didn’t want to embarrass Jian Ci, and he had quietly told Xiaobao it was him so she wouldn’t be alarmed by a stranger tailing them.

He had expected Jian Ci to keep following, but instead, Jian Ci had slipped away. To be honest, when Jian Ci disappeared he was disappointed. If he was going to stalk him, he should at least commit to it all the way and not give up that quickly.

Later on, Xiaobao had bumped into Jian Ci when Yu Xi wasn’t paying attention. When he asked her what she had said to him, she only smiled mischievously and sucked on her straw, refusing to answer.

Yu Xi hesitated before finally asking, his tone curious. "Why did you think Xiaobao was my girlfriend?"

Jian Ci finished changing, tossing his worn t-shirt into the laundry chute with a careless flick. "You should see the forum," he said, half laughing at himself.

"They were already singing wedding songs and asking to be invited." He shook his head, smiling ruefully, feeling so stupid for having believed it.

Yu Xi leaned against the wall, his tone gentle but firm. "Why would you believe their nonsense? You know you would be the first one to know."

Jian Ci walked toward him, his expression earnest. "How could you blame me for believing them when I thought you only had one brother?"

Yu Xi’s chest tightened at the misunderstanding. He didn’t like being misread by Jian Ci, not even in something trivial as this. His voice softened, sincere. "I will always tell you everything I can, especially something this small. I promise you won’t have to hear it from outside first."

Warmth bloomed in Jian Ci’s chest, fuzzy and comforting. He grinned. "Then I promise I will tell you everything too. You’ll be the first to know when I want to propose, the first to know when I am having a kid. Even if I have a mole on my back, you will be the first to know."

Yu Xi smiled outwardly, but inside it felt like twin blades were tearing at his soul. He forced his voice steady. "Don’t you want to tell your mum first?"

"I will tell you first," Jian Ci said firmly, draping his arm around Yu Xi’s shoulder. "So you can back me up when I tell her."

"Let’s go," he added cheerfully. "I am so hungry."

Yu Xi chuckled faintly. "When are you ever not hungry?"

***