CHAPTER 70: WHAT, ARE YOU JEALOUS?

Alarna stepped forward and hugged Jian Ci, her arms light around his waist. "Bye," she said sweetly, her voice tinged with something unspoken.

Jian Ci was startled by the sudden interruption, but he didn’t say anything. He watched Alarna leave, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor, her perfume lingering in the air.

He turned back to his communicator. "Come on, just tell me... Hello? Little Xi?" But there was silence.

Jian Ci frowned. The call had been cut. He stared at the screen, puzzled. The connection was strong and there was no reason for it to drop.

He called again but there was no answer.

His lips pressed into a thin line, thumb hovering over the screen, ready to try again when Jian Rui entered the room.

"Ready to go?" Jian Rui said. "Thank your guests, then we head home."

Jian Ci looked up, distracted. "Huh?"

Jian Rui narrowed his eyes. "Are you even listening to me?"

Jian Ci walked into the room, still typing. "Yu Xi’s call just cut," he muttered. "I’m checking if he’s okay. He’s not picking up."

Jian Rui scoffed. "You were speaking to him? You couldn’t wait a few hours?"

Jian Ci glanced up, smirking. "What, are you jealous?"

Jian Rui sneered. "Let’s go."

As Jian Ci passed him, Jian Rui caught a whiff of a soft, sweet and lingering scent.

"What’s that smell?" Jian Rui asked.

Jian Ci blinked. "What?"

Jian Rui sniffed the air around his younger brother, brow furrowing. "Did someone hug you?"

Jian Ci lifted his arm, sniffed his sleeve, and muttered, "Yeah."

"Oh," Jian Rui said simply, before turning and walking out, his tone unreadable.

Meanwhile, in a quiet lounge bathed in soft light, Yu Xi stood motionless, staring at the cake he had just finished decorating. It was elegant and understated exactly what Jian Ci would like. He had spent hours preparing the surprise, wanting it to be perfect.

He hadn’t picked up the call earlier because he was busy setting up. When he spoke to Jian Ci he couldn’t tell him the truth so he lied saying he had been taking a shower.

When Yu Xi heard the voice in the background. A voice he recognized, his chest tightened. That was Alarna.

Startled, he had hung up.

From the moment he met her, Yu Xi had felt a strange sense of crisis. Something about her presence made him uneasy. But what could he do? He didn’t even have the right to be jealous.

When Jian Ci called again, Yu Xi hesitated. He was afraid something might slip in his voice so he didn’t answer.

Just then, Seraphyne’s projection shimmered into view behind him, radiant as ever. "You did an excellent job," she said. "Better than those two."

Yu Xi smiled faintly. "I hope he likes it."

But inside, his chest was a whirlwind of emotion.

"I am going to change," he said quietly.

"Go ahead," Seraphyne replied.

Yu Xi walked upstairs, and she watched him go, her expression unreadable

***

An hour later, the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and the three brothers stepped into the dim hallway. Jian Ci blinked, surprised by the darkness. The corridor, usually bright and sterile, was cloaked in shadow.

Jian Wei and Jian Rui exchanged knowing smiles. "He really went all out," Jian Wei murmured.

Jian Ci walked ahead, drawn by flickering yellow light spilling from the lounge. As he entered, he stopped short.

Yu Xi stood in the center, holding a cake aglow with flickering candles. The soft light danced across his face, casting golden reflections in his eyes. The lounge was dark, save for their flames swaying gently. The cake shimmered with gold dust, elegant and understated.

Jian Ci hadn’t smiled all evening. But now, his lips curved, slow and genuine.

Yu Xi stepped forward, joined by Seraphyne’s radiant projection, and then Jian Wei and Jian Rui. They formed a half-circle around him, their expressionsnwarm.

Then they began to sing—a song unique to Virelia, ancient and melodic. Their voices rose in harmony, soft and reverent, weaving through the candlelight like a blessing.

Jian Ci stood still, the warmth of the moment wrapping around him like a shield. His breath caught in his throat. He didn’t look at them not directly. But his eyes shimmered, reflecting the candlelight and something else beneath the surface. Something softer. Something fragile.

When the song ended, the silence that followed was tender. Jian Ci’s face was flushed, his cheeks tinged with pink. He looked so bashful, so unlike the storm-wrapped boy who had endured the ceremonial hall.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze. The flickering candles danced in his eyes, casting golden halos across his features. His lips parted, as if to speak, but no words came.

Seraphyne’s voice broke the silence. "Happy birthday to my precious baby. I can’t believe you’re already an adult."

"Mum," Jian Ci groaned, "don’t embarrass me."

Jian Rui grinned. "It wasn’t long ago I was changing your diapers and you were wetting the bed." He reached over and ruffled Jian Ci’s hair.

"Seriously," Jian Ci muttered, swatting his hand away.

Jian Wei chuckled. "He used to run around with a snorty nose. Now look at him."

Jian Ci glared. Jian Wei laughed harder. "I still have a picture of you eating your snort."

"Mum!" Jian Ci turned to Seraphyne, pleading.

She raised her hands. "Okay, okay, stop teasing him. Make a wish."

Jian Wei scoffed. "Who still believes in that nonsense?"

"Me," Jian Ci said softly, closing his eyes and blowing out the candles.

The flames vanished in a breath, and the lounge lights flickered back on. Jian Rui leaned forward, grinning. "What did you wish for?"

Jian Ci smirked. "I can’t tell you. Otherwise it won’t come true."

Yu Xi placed the cake on the table. "Happy birthday," he said, voice warm.

Jian Ci’s smile deepened. "Thank you, Little Xi."

He picked up the knife and cut the cake with careful precision. Then, without hesitation, he placed the first slice on a plate and handed it to Yu Xi.

Jian Wei whistled. "Yu Xi gets the first piece of cake? Wow."

Jian Rui rolled his eyes and smacked Jian Wei lightly on the head. "Don’t start."

Yu Xi blinked, confused but grateful. He took the plate with a smile.

It was a running joke in their household. When Jian Ci turned three, he had given the first slice to Seraphyne and declared, "It’s for the one I love the most."

Ever since, the family watched each year to see who earned that honor. It was usually the person who hadn’t pissed him off the most that year. This year, it was given to Yu Xi.

They all sat down, laughter rising as cake was passed around and drinks poured. Jian Rui reached into his coat and handed Jian Ci a small box.

Inside was a sleek, brand-new communicator—the latest model, still hard to find.

"I thought you would like this," Jian Rui said.

Jian Ci’s eyes lit up. "I love it."