CHAPTER 126: TALL, PRETTY AND ANNOYING

Eros’ voice was steady, but the weight of his words carried a raw truth. "You must understand how much I value Yu Xi and Xiaobao. I am only living for them. If I have to let go of my hatred of this entire system, I will do it."

Jian Rui leaned back, his expression unreadable, though his mind raced. "What other terms do you have? This can’t be the only thing you want."

Eros took another long drag from his cigar, the embers glowing as he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. His lip curled into something between a sneer and a smile.

Jian Rui’s brow arched, suspicion tightening his features. He knew whatever came next couldn’t be good.

***

Jian Ci lay sprawled across the kitchen counter, his cheek pressed against the cool surface as he lazily spun a toy with his psychic power. The little object twirled endlessly in the air, glowing faintly as it rotated, a distraction from his boredom. Yet beneath the appearance of idleness, Jian Ci was alert, guarding the door with quiet vigilance.

The sudden chime of the elevator made him spring upright, his heart leaping with hope. He thought it was Yu Xi returning. But when the doors slid open and he peeked through, his shoulders slumped. "Oh... it’s you," he muttered flatly.

Jian Wei stepped inside the kitchen, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "I am excited to see you too," he said, pulling open the fridge.

"Why are you here sulking?" Jian Wei asked, grabbing a drink. "Shouldn’t you be with Yu Xi, getting into trouble?"

Jian Ci shook his head. "No. He is with his girlfriend."

Jian Wei took a sip, then immediately coughed violently as the liquid went down the wrong way. He sputtered, his face red, the drink burning through his nasal passage. Jian Ci sighed, sliding a paper towel across the counter. "How can you be so careless? Are you a kid?"

Jian Wei snatched the towel, his nose stinging, glaring at Jian Ci while trying to regain composure.

He coughed again, still recovering from the drink that had gone down the wrong way. "Whose fault is it? You should at least time your words—cough, cough—while I’m not drinking." His voice was half irritated, half amused.

Jian Ci tilted his head, unimpressed. "Why are you so shocked that he has a girlfriend?"

Jian Wei finished wiping his face and shirt, his brows furrowed. "And you are okay with it?"

"I am," Jian Ci replied, though his tone carried a hint of frustration. "It’s just... I thought he would tell me first. Damn, I thought I would be the first one to get a girlfriend, but he beat me to it."

Jian Wei narrowed his eyes, suspicion gnawing at him. Something about this "girlfriend" didn’t sit right. "Which girl is it?" he asked carefully.

Jian Ci shrugged. "Tall, pretty, and annoying."

Jian Wei stifled a laugh, muttering under his breath, "And you say you are okay with it."

"Huh?" Jian Ci asked, not catching the words.

"Nothing," Jian Wei said quickly.

"Here," Jian Ci insisted, swiping his communicator and pulling up the pictures. He showed them to him on a floating screen.

Jian Wei’s stomach twisted as he saw the familiar face. Annoyance surged, and he struggled to restrain his expression. Jian Ci caught the flicker of irritation and smirked. "Annoying, right? She jumped on her like a kid, it’s weird."

Jian Wei leaned back against the counter, smirking. "Yeah, annoying... but not in the same way you think." He knew more than he was letting on, but it amused him to watch Jian Ci sulk. Why ruin the fun?

"Go sulk somewhere else," Jian Wei added, waving him off. "You are dampening the holiday spirit."

Jian Ci shook his head stubbornly. "No. I am waiting for him."

Jian Wei chuckled, twisting the cap to close the bottle before wiping it. "What if he doesn’t come? Maybe he is making out with his girlfriend all night long."

Jian Ci narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like you are having too much fun with this?"

"Is it that obvious?" Jian Wei admitted shamelessly, before walking away.

Jian Ci sighed, slumping back into his chair. He resumed his silent vigil, waiting. Hours passed, the clock ticking louder with every minute. Finally, the elevator chimed, and Jian Rui stepped inside, pulling off his coat with weary movements.

"What are you doing?" Jian Rui asked, his tone clipped.

"Waiting for you. Where is Yu Xi?" Jian Ci demanded.

"I don’t know," Jian Rui replied curtly, heading upstairs. He wanted to speak to their mother and let her know what happened but not with Jian Ci around.

"Come on, tell me," Jian Ci pressed, following him.

"Call him. He will tell you," Jian Rui said as he entered his bedroom.

"I tried," Jian Ci muttered, frustration rising. "His communicator is off. I can’t get hold of him."

Jian Rui hung his coat neatly on the rack, his voice calm but edged with impatience. "Then just wait for him to come back. Why are you acting like he is gone forever?"

Jian Ci frowned, leaning against the doorframe. "Are you not telling me because you think I will ruin his romantic date?"

Jian Rui, halfway through unbuttoning his shirt, froze. His head snapped up. "Romantic date?"

"I saw pictures of him and his girlfriend," Jian Ci replied with certainty.

"Girlfriend?" Jian Rui echoed, his tone sharp with disbelief.

Before he could say more, Jian Wei burst into the room, his eyes wide, mouthing frantically: Don’t tell him.

In that instant, Jian Rui understood. Jian Ci had mistaken Xiaobao for a girlfriend, and Jian Wei had deliberately chosen not to correct him. It was one of their small joys—tormenting and teasing Jian Ci any chance they got to get back at him.

Jian Rui smirked faintly. "If I tell you, then what are you going to do?"

Jian Ci crossed his arms. "Well... nothing."

"Then why should I tell you?" Jian Rui shot back, his tone dismissive.

The truth was, Jian Rui didn’t even know where Yu Xi was. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t tell Jian Ci anything. The silence that followed was heavy, filled with Jian Ci’s frustration and Jian Wei’s barely contained amusement.