CHAPTER 30: IN SOMEONE ELSE’S BED

Jian Rui lingered in the doorway, watching the scene unfold in disbelief. He could sense Yu Xi’s discomfort. The way his body had stiffened, the way his breath had caught in his throat, he was obviously uncomfortable. So he coughed deliberately and said, "Ah-Ci."

Jian Ci stirred, eyes fluttering open. "Ten more minutes," he mumbled, pulling Yu Xi closer like a sleepy cat refusing to leave a warm patch of sunlight.

Jian Rui gritted his teeth. "Jian Ci!"

Jian Ci groaned and finally sat up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "You are so noisy," he muttered.

"We are docking soon. Get ready," Jian Rui said, his tone clipped.

Jian Ci blinked. "Will I have time for breakfast?"

"No," Jian Rui replied, casting Yu Xi one last glance before turning and walking away.

"Damn it," Jian Ci sighed, climbing off the bed. "Guess I am having snacks for breakfast."

Yu Xi followed, legs slightly unsteady. Jian Ci stretched and said, "Get ready. I will see you in the common area."

"Okay," Yu Xi replied, voice low.

He cleared his throat, ears burning. His mind was a mess, his thoughts tangled and his emotions frayed. His chest felt too warm, too full. He needed to cool off immediately.

He stepped into the shower, letting the cold water rush over him. It hit his skin like ice, but did little to soothe the heat inside. The memory of Jian Ci’s arms around him lingered like a phantom touch, and no amount of water could wash it away.

Thirty minutes later, he stepped out of the cabin, the folded pajamas cradled neatly in his arms. The corridor was quiet, humming faintly with the ship’s systems. He noticed Jian Ci’s door was open and knocked gently on the frame.

Inside, Jian Ci was crouched beside his bed, packing his duffle bag with practiced ease. He looked up, eyes bright. "Oh, you are done."

Yu Xi nodded. "Yes."

Jian Ci spotted the pajamas and reached out. "Let me pack it away."

Yu Xi walked in and handed them over. Jian Ci tucked them into the bag without ceremony. Yu Xi rubbed the back of his head. "What about the clothes from last time? And the blanket... I put them in the laundry chute."

Jian Ci glanced up. "Don’t worry. They will be delivered at home."

He zipped up the duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Let’s go."

"Okay," Yu Xi said, falling into step beside him.

As they walked, Jian Ci asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Not really," Yu Xi replied, then added with a small smile, "But I know you are."

Jian Ci chuckled. "You know me well already."

They reached a viewing panel, and Yu Xi suddenly stopped. Beyond the glass, a massive planet loomed, its surface fractured and glowing. A hollow sun hovered nearby, surrounded by crumbling fragments like a dying crown.

Jian Ci turned, noticing Yu Xi wasn’t following. He walked back and stood beside him. "Beautiful, isn’t it?"

Yu Xi nodded. "It is."

Jian Ci reached out and gently grabbed his wrist. "Let’s go. Otherwise Rui-ge will have my head."

Yu Xi let him lead him away, the warmth of Jian Ci’s touch lingering like sunlight on skin.

Soon, the two of them reached the hangar of the warship. The air was thick with the scent of fuel and metal, and the low hum of engines reverberated through the floor. They walked toward the spacecraft bearing the royal family’s emblem, an intricate crest etched in gold across the hull. Mercenaries flanked either side of the vessel, their armor gleaming, weapons slung with casual menace.

Jian Ci let go of Yu Xi’s wrist, and the warmth vanished instantly. Yu Xi touched the spot where Jian Ci’s hand had been, as if trying to preserve the sensation a moment longer.

He followed Jian Ci inside the spacecraft, where Jian Rui and Jian Wei were already waiting. Jian Ci pointed to a seat. "Sit there," he said, before stowing his duffle bag in the overhead compartment.

Jian Wei raised an eyebrow. "You surely took your precious time."

"I was really tired," Jian Ci replied with a yawn. "I overslept."

Jian Rui glanced at him, lips pressed into a line. He didn’t speak, though he really wanted to say, "In someone else’s bed," but he restrained himself.

Yu Xi fumbled with his safety belt, fingers clumsy. Jian Ci leaned down without hesitation, clasping it for him. Their heads nearly touched.

Yu Xi’s breath caught. He looked away, trying to suppress the heat rising in his chest.

"There," Jian Ci said, oblivious to the storm he had stirred. He dropped into the seat beside Yu Xi, stretching his legs with a sigh.

Yu Xi stared straight ahead, heart thudding, wondering how someone could be so close and yet so unaware.

"He is an adult," Jian Wei said flatly, arms crossed. "He can do it himself."

"I never said he was a kid," Jian Ci replied, not missing a beat. "Of course, he can do it himself. I just wanted to help him. Dage, are you jealous?"

Jian Wei didn’t dignify that with words. He simply raised his middle finger.

Jian Ci gasped theatrically, turning to the eldest. "Dage, look, look! He’s scolding me!"

Jian Rui didn’t even glance up. He sat across from them, eyes fixed on the floating screen in front of him, its contents veiled in private mode. He sighed, long and tired.

The intel flickered before him. They were images, reports, and diplomatic chatter. Their father had taken a new concubine. That alone wasn’t news. What stirred the hornet’s nest was her origins. She was from the Republic of Elaris. She was not just a citizen, but the daughter of one of Elaris’ top generals. A move that reeked of strategy, not sentiment.

Jian Rui’s jaw tightened. Their father never acted without purpose. Every alliance, every marriage, every whisper of affection was a calculated step. What had the old man promised the general to secure such a union?

"Wei-er," Jian Rui said, voice low, "stop scolding him."

"Sure," Jian Wei replied, flipping Jian Ci off again with a smirk.

"Childish," Jian Ci muttered, rolling his eyes.

Yu Xi, seated quietly nearby, watched the exchange with a faint smile tugging at his lips. The bickering and banter was chaotic, but it was warm in a way he hadn’t known in a long time.

Jian Wei leaned back in his seat, arms crossed casually. "Did you sleep well?"

Yu Xi nodded. "I did, thanks for asking."

"Keep taking the pills until you feel you can sleep without them," Jian Wei said, his tone practical but not unkind.

"Okay," Yu Xi murmured, pushing his hair back from his forehead.

Jian Ci, who had been scrolling through his communicator, glanced up. His eyes flicked to Yu Xi’s hair. "Where’s the yellow scrunchie I gave you?"

Yu Xi froze for a moment. He hadn’t expected Jian Ci to notice, let alone ask. The scrunchie had long been discarded, tossed away in a moment of quiet resentment. The fact that it was given to him by that girl made it unbearable to wear.

"I lost it," Yu Xi said, voice neutral.