CHAPTER 130: HOW HEARTLESS

The dinner table was incredibly lively that evening, the kind of chaos that only family could create. With Xiaobao and Jian Ci in the same room, the energy doubled. Jian Ci talked endlessly, his words spilling out like a river, while Xiaobao fired off twenty questions in rapid succession, her curiosity boundless.

Jian Wei finally snapped, groaning as he set down his chopsticks. "Don’t you two get tired?"

Jian Ci blinked innocently. "Tired of what?"

Jian Wei rolled his eyes. "Talk, talk, talk—it’s like you have got batteries in your back."

Jian Rui, ever the peacemaker, reached over and placed more food on Jian Ci’s plate. "Eat more," he said calmly.

Jian Ci grinned, his leg swinging under the table, brushing against Yu Xi’s. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Little Xi, do I really talk too much?"

Yu Xi didn’t answer directly. Instead, he placed more food on Jian Ci’s plate. "Here, eat more."

"..." Jian Ci stared at him, feeling both dismissed and oddly comforted.

Jian Wei smirked. "Even Yu Xi is tired of your bull shit."

Xiaobao piped up, her eyes sparkling. "Brother, what about me?"

Yu Xi sighed, but he placed food on her plate too. "Eat more."

Jian Ci’s smile faltered. He felt like a child who had just discovered he had a new sibling and now he had to share. It was childish, he knew, but the jealousy gnawed at him.

He was so used to spending nights with Yu Xi, talking before bed. So when he went upstairs, he headed straight for Yu Xi’s room only for Jian Rui to catch him by the back of his collar. "We need to talk," Jian Rui said firmly, pulling him aside.

Jian Ci said "oh" and obediently went with Jian Rui. He thought his brother had something important to talk to him about. What he didn’t realise was that Jian Rui was trying to give Yu Xi and Xiaobao space without his interference.

Meanwhile, in Yu Xi’s room, Xiaobao was perched comfortably on his bed, swinging her legs as she looked around. "This room is really nice," she said brightly. "It’s as nice as the one I am sleeping in today."

Yu Xi smiled faintly, leaning against the desk. "Did you have fun? I know Grandpa said I should bring you here, and it wasn’t really your choice."

Xiaobao laughed, shaking her head. "Are you kidding? Where you go, I go. And yes, I had a lot of fun."

Yu Xi’s smile softened. "Good."

Xiaobao tilted her head, her eyes gleaming. "Jian Ci can really cook. You would think he was a chef in his previous life."

Yu Xi chuckled, a sweet smile spreading across his face. "Yeah."

For a moment, Xiaobao simply stared at her brother, studying him. Then she asked, "Brother, can I sleep here?"

Yu Xi’s brows furrowed. "You have your own room to sleep in."

"Come on," Xiaobao insisted. "We shared last night, so why not today?"

Yu Xi grimaced at the memory. He regretted agreeing to share with her the night before. Xiaobao had not only kicked him repeatedly but also pulled the quilt entirely to her side. When he tried to escape to the couch, she had followed him there, leaving him no peace. Never again, he thought firmly.

Another thing was that Xiaobao insisted on sleeping with the light on. Yu Xi understood why; she was still afraid of the dark. But for him, it was unbearable.

It was better to sleep with Jian Ci—far better. At least Jian Ci didn’t steal blankets. Sure, when he slept beside Jian Ci he was tense, always on edge, his body hyper-aware of every shift and breath. But even so, it was still better than sharing a bed with Xiaobao.

"Not tonight, maybe next time."

Her eyes narrowed mischievously. "Is it that brother prefers to sleep with Jian Ci?"

Yu Xi’s eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

Xiaobao smiled knowingly. "Brother, I can see things others can’t... the way you look at him."

Yu Xi quickly covered her mouth. "Don’t say stuff like that."

She pulled back, whispering, "Why not? You obviously like him."

Yu Xi was stunned. Was he that obvious? "Am I obvious?" he asked, his voice low.

"Not really," Xiaobao admitted, "but I know you better than anyone. You like him, don’t you?"

Yu Xi hesitated, then whispered, "Yeah. But don’t tell anyone... not even Grandpa."

"I am not a snitch," Xiaobao said firmly. "I swear I won’t tell."

Yu Xi nodded. "Mm."

"Then aren’t you going to tell him?" she pressed.

Yu Xi sighed. "We are both espers. It’s not possible."

Xiaobao’s voice rose. "The fuck you mean not possible?"

"Shhh shhh," Yu Xi hushed her quickly.

She leaned closer, whispering, "Why can’t you? I saw an esper couple once."

Yu Xi’s eyes darkened. "I know. But Jian Ci doesn’t like it. He hates it."

Xiaobao’s expression softened. "Because of his mother."

Yu Xi wasn’t at all surprised that Xiaobao knew about Jian Ci’s mother. His grandfather had a way of knowing everything about everyone, and if Xiaobao had picked it up, it was no accident.

"Yeah," Yu Xi admitted quietly.

Xiaobao’s expression softened. "Oh, that’s sad."

"That’s why you can’t tell him," Yu Xi said firmly.

"I won’t, don’t worry, brother," she replied with a mischievous grin. "I can find you someone in the future. There are plenty of stars in the galaxy."

Yu Xi shook his head. "You don’t have to worry about that. Just focus on yourself."

"I already have guys I like," Xiaobao teased. "Let me show you."

Yu Xi ruffled her hair, smiling despite himself. "You should be focused on school, not relationships."

"Who can stop me? Grandpa? Hahaha," she challenged.

"No," Yu Xi said, his tone sharp. "Me."

Xiaobao smirked. "If I was still a boy, you wouldn’t stop me."

"I still would," Yu Xi countered. "Same rules apply no matter the gender."

She laughed, her voice ringing. "Just because your love life hit the wall before it even started doesn’t mean you should ruin mine."

Yu Xi groaned. "Get lost. Go to bed."

"No," Xiaobao said, flopping flat on the bed, refusing to move.

Yu Xi’s patience snapped. Mercilessly, he pulled her up, ignoring her protests, and carried her out of the room. Setting her down firmly in the hallway, he said, "Good night," before shutting the door with finality. Xiaobao pouted outside looking like an abandoned pup. "How heartless," she muttered under her breath.