CHAPTER 118: JIAN WEI VS XIAOBAO

Stannis had expected Xiaobao wouldn’t come alone, and his instincts proved correct.

A figure stood in the corner, half-hidden, a cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers. Smoke curled upward as the man turned his head, his eyes glinting. "Marshal Stannis," he said evenly.

The weight of danger pressed against Stannis like a blade at his throat. He didn’t make any sudden moves. "You know my name," he replied calmly, "but I don’t know yours."

The man exhaled smoke, his voice low and deliberate. "There is no need for you to know who I am. I only need you to tell His Highness this: stop digging into things he shouldn’t. As long as he doesn’t make a move on Xiaobao and Yu Xi, there will be no issues between us."

The words hung in the air, heavy with threat and promise alike.

Stannis sneered, his voice low and cutting. "If you are this powerful, mysterious figure, then how come you didn’t find Yu Xi sooner?"

The man didn’t flinch. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the ember glowing red before he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. Half of it drifted into the light, half remained swallowed by the shadows. His tone was calm, almost dismissive. "The only person I will explain myself to is Yu Xi."

Before Stannis could retort, a sleek hovercar glided silently into view, its surface gleaming under the dim balcony lights. The man flicked his cigarette away and stepped toward it. "Pass that message along," he said, and in the next moment, he was gone—swallowed by the hovercar’s tinted doors.

Stannis’s jaw tightened. He pulled out his communicator. "Vince, track that for me."

"I got it," Vince replied instantly.

When Stannis returned inside, the food had already been served. Jian Wei was locked in a heated verbal spar with Xiaobao. Jian Rui sat between them, his expression weary. They had only met twice, yet they already seemed to grate on each other’s nerves.

It wasn’t entirely Jian Wei’s fault. Xiaobao had a knack for antagonizing without saying much, her words sharp but deceptively polite. Jian Wei’s chest rose and fell with anger. "I will not tolerate anyone belittling my work!"

"That’s the problem," Xiaobao replied smoothly. "You think it’s belittling, but it’s constructive criticism."

"Constructive my ass!" Jian Wei snapped.

Jian Rui, exhausted by their bickering, grabbed a drumstick and shoved it into Jian Wei’s mouth. "Eat," he ordered flatly, hoping silence would do what reason could not.

Stannis returned to the table, settling into his chair with a casual air. "So," he said, glancing around, "what did I miss?"

Jian Rui shook his head, his tone clipped. "Nothing important."

Xiaobao leaned forward, her eyes bright. "When can I see my brother?"

"Whenever you want," Jian Rui replied evenly.

"Tonight," Xiaobao said happily, her smile radiant.

Jian Wei nearly choked on his food before swallowing. "He is at school, dummy."

Xiaobao tilted her head, unbothered. "Your Highness, dummies know each other."

Stannis burst into laughter, unable to contain himself. Jian Rui’s glare shot at him like a blade.

"What?" Stannis said, raising his hands. "I am sorry, that was funny."

The meal dragged on, tension simmering beneath the surface. When it finally ended, Jian Wei practically bolted from the room, walking so fast it was clear he wanted to escape. To him, it had been the most torturous meal of his life and Jian Rui didn’t stop him.

Instead, he turned to Xiaobao. "You can meet your brother tomorrow. You can pick him up from the academy."

Xiaobao’s smile softened. "Okay. Thank you for being able to do what I couldn’t do."

"There is no need to thank me," Jian Rui said, though questions burned in his mind. He knew it wasn’t his place to ask.

Outside, an expensive hovercar glided to a stop. Xiaobao stepped in gracefully. As the vehicle pulled away, she tucked back her hair and tapped the discreet earpiece in her ear, her expression shifting to something far more serious than the cheerful smile she had worn moments before.

Xiaobao leaned back in the seat, her voice calm but resolute. "I will see him tomorrow."

On the other end of the line, the man’s tone softened. "You did a good job."

She smiled faintly. "Grandpa, you worry too much."

"How can I not worry?" he replied, his voice heavy with years of regret.

"Let’s not do that," Xiaobao said quickly. She didn’t want to linger on sad things. She knew her grandfather had been tormenting himself for years, ever since his daughter vanished off the face of Orion Drift. That wound had never healed, and she hated reopening it.

"You need to bring Yu Xi back with you," he said firmly. "He can’t stay with those three brothers. It’s too risky."

"I will speak to him tomorrow," Xiaobao promised. "I am sure he wants to see where Mother grew up."

Silence stretched across the line, heavy and thoughtful. Finally, her grandfather spoke again, his tone sharper. "Why were you picking on the second one? That isn’t like you."

Xiaobao chuckled softly as she flipped open her small mirror, the polished surface catching the dim light of the hovercar. She carefully touched up her lipstick, her smile lingering. "I don’t know," she said lightly, "he looks so easy to bully."

It amused her to rile Jian Wei up. It was like winding a toy before releasing it, watching the inevitable reaction unfold.

The man’s voice came through her earpiece, calm but firm. "Stay away from him."

"Of course I will stay away from him," Xiaobao replied smoothly, her tone obedient but her eyes still glinting with mischief.

"Good. Let me know when you get home."

"Okay," she said, sighing as she leaned back against the seat. She swiped open the Imperial Academy forum, her only window into her brother’s daily life.

Scrolling through the posts, her eyes caught on a picture—Yu Xi being carried by Jian Ci. Her brow arched in surprise. The image unsettled her, stirring questions she hadn’t expected. Were they really that close? she wondered, her mind already spinning with possibilities, her smile fading into thoughtful silence as the hovercar sped through the city lights.