CHAPTER 116: SUCKER!

Jian Ci walked over, his silence heavy. Yu Xi looked up, sensing the storm in his expression. "You ate angry," Yu Xi said quietly.

Jian Ci picked up the snacks and drink Alarna had left on his desk. "Anyone want these?" he asked flatly, his voice edged with frustration, though his eyes lingered on Yu Xi, betraying the true source of his annoyance.

The other cadets were more than happy to snatch the snacks out of Jian Ci’s hands, their laughter filling the classroom. Jian Ci, however, slumped forward, laying his head on his desk with a dejected sigh. His shoulders sagged, his mood heavy.

Yu Xi tapped his shoulder gently, but Jian Ci didn’t move. He tried again, calling his name softly, but Jian Ci remained stubbornly silent. Yu Xi knew exactly how to stir a reaction. He turned to the girl in front of him. "Hey, you like sweet things, right?"

She blinked, startled. "Ye—"

Before she could finish, Jian Ci suddenly sat up, snatching the nutrient supplement from Yu Xi’s hand. He tore it open with sharp movements. "I want it," he muttered, before sitting back down and drinking it. The taste was exactly how he liked it, but his expression remained stormy.

The girl, caught in the middle of something she didn’t understand, froze. "..."

Yu Xi smiled faintly, amused despite himself. Jian Ci caught it instantly. "Why are you smiling?"

"Why are you ignoring me?" Yu Xi countered.

"Nothing. I am just tired," Jian Ci said, his voice clipped.

Yu Xi’s eyes narrowed, his look saying plainly, Do you think I am stupid? He was about to press further when the professor entered, the historical warfare lecturer.

As she began her lesson, Jian Ci shifted restlessly. He couldn’t stand it anymore. His thoughts kept circling back, gnawing at him. He wished he had asked Yu Xi earlier what he had been doing in that corridor with Rowland. The silence between them now felt heavier than any battlefield.

He pulled up their chat interface, the translucent screen overlapping with his floating notes. His fingers moved quickly as he typed: Where did you go?

Yu Xi didn’t reply. His eyes were locked on the lecturer, his posture straight, his attention unwavering.

Annoyed, Jian Ci leaned over and poked Yu Xi’s arm when Prof. Frazer wasn’t looking. Yu Xi glanced at him, and Jian Ci pointed insistently at his communicator. With a sigh, Yu Xi swiped it open, and their floating message screen appeared in front of him.

"Mr. Jian!" Prof. Frazer’s sharp voice cut through the room. Jian Ci straightened his back immediately, caught red-handed.

"If you can’t focus, get out of my class," she snapped.

The entire class turned to look at him. Jian Ci forced a smile. "I am focused, I promise."

Prof. Frazer, an Esper with a particular dislike for royalty and nobles, narrowed her eyes but turned away, continuing her lecture. Jian Ci had no idea of her bias, only that she seemed to single him out.

Yu Xi, careful to make sure she wasn’t watching, finally typed back: I went back to the room to get you candy and the nutrient supplement—the sweet kind you like.

Jian Ci read the message, his jaw tightening. He glared at Yu Xi before replying: Did you meet up with anyone interesting?

Yu Xi’s response came instantly: No.

Jian Ci’s thoughts burned. You little liar.

"Mr. Jian, are you paying attention?" Prof. Frazer’s voice rang out again, slicing through his simmering frustration. Jian Ci snapped his head up, forcing another smile, though his mind was far from the lesson.

He straightened his back again, his voice steady. "Yes, Prof, I am paying attention."

Prof. Frazer narrowed her eyes. "Then explain the topic we were just discussing."

Jian Ci leaned forward, his grin mischievous but confident. Multitasking had always been his strength; it was how his goofy self managed to breeze through school while still being himself. "The Battle of Kiraelon was a stiff battle," he began. "General Lain commanded the eastern flank, but the turning point came when the cavalry broke through the western defenses..."

He spoke with such detail it was as if he lived and breathed history. He even added facts she hadn’t taught yet, weaving in strategies and outcomes with a smug smile. His gaze flicked to Yu Xi, his expression practically saying, Are you impressed?

Yu Xi: "..."

Prof. Frazer’s lips tightened. She still wanted to find fault. "Why are you smiling? And you—what are you looking at? Go stand outside and look at each other all you want."

She thought he would be embarrassed, maybe even fight back. After all, who would want their name spread around the forum for being kicked out of class, especially a prince?

But Jian Ci’s face lit up with joy. He grabbed Yu Xi’s arm. "Don’t delay the Professor and others."

Yu Xi sighed, but he rose and walked out with him.

Prof. Frazer suddenly felt she had made the wrong move.

Outside, Jian Ci leaned close, his voice low and sharp. "You are lying."

Yu Xi, suddenly accused, turned his calm gaze on Jian Ci. "Lied about what?" he asked evenly.

A group of students passed by, their chatter filling the corridor. Jian Ci clamped his mouth shut, glaring but refusing to speak until they were gone. When the hallway quieted, he leaned closer. "You told me you didn’t meet anyone."

Yu Xi’s eyes softened as realization dawned. He finally understood what this was about. "You asked if I met anyone interesting," he clarified. "And I didn’t."

Jian Ci clicked his tongue, his expression sharp. "You touched his hair, yet you are saying he isn’t interesting."

Yu Xi: "..."

"If you wanted to meet up with him in private, you could have just said that," Jian Ci pressed, his voice low and accusing.

Yu Xi: "..."

Without warning, Yu Xi pinched Jian Ci’s waist. Jian Ci yelped, quickly covering his mouth before anyone could hear. Yu Xi leaned in, whispering, "I ran into him. And as for his hair—he had a stick in it. I took it out. I was being nice."

Jian Ci scowled. "Sucker."

Yu Xi: "..."

Jian Ci rubbed his sore waist, muttering, "He was using it as an excuse so you’d touch his hair."

Yu Xi raised a brow, his voice calm but edged with curiosity. "How do you know that?"

Jian Ci’s silence was heavy, his expression burning brighter than any answer he could give.