CHAPTER 71: DID SOMEONE HUG YOU

Jian Ci beamed, eyes sparkling as he held the sleek communicator in his hands. "Thank you, I love it," he said, voice full of genuine delight.

Jian Wei snorted and handed him an envelope. "Show off," he said to Jian Rui and Jian Rui sneered.

Jian Ci opened it and found a gift card to one of the most exclusive luxury brand stores in Virelia. He raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You have expensive tastes," Jian Wei said with a grin. "Go spoil yourself."

"You know me too well," Jian Ci replied, tucking the card away with a smirk.

Seraphyne’s projection shimmered beside them, radiant and proud. "As for me," she said, "I brought you this."

Jian Rui slid a polished box across the table. Jian Ci opened it and squealed.

Inside was a pendant, but not just any pendant. It was the activation key for a new-generation Mech, one of the rarest and most advanced models in the fleet. Jian Ci jumped up, nearly knocking over his chair, and hugged his mother’s projection tightly.

"Can I go and try it out? Can I, can I?"

Seraphyne laughed. "You are not a child. You don’t need permission. Go."

Jian Ci grabbed Yu Xi’s wrist. "Let’s go!"

Everyone: "..."

They watched the two disappear outside.

Jian Wei chuckled. "You were right. We should have just wrapped Yu Xi with a bow and gifted him to Ah-Ci."

Seraphyne shot Jian Rui a glare. Jian Rui raised his hands. "It was a joke!"

Jian Wei added, "I bet the only reason he wants to test it out now is to show Yu Xi."

He wasn’t wrong. Jian Ci summoned the towering Mech and led Yu Xi straight to the cockpit, grinning like a child with a new toy.

"Okay, so this model uses dual-core psychic amplification. It syncs with my aura signature and adjusts its shielding in real time. Look—this panel here regulates the feedback loop so I don’t fry my own circuits mid-flight."

Yu Xi leaned in, genuinely intrigued. "What’s the range on the psychic sync?"

"Twenty kilometers, maybe more if I’m focused," Jian Ci said, gesturing animatedly. "And the cockpit’s got a neural cradle—no gloves, no helmet. Just pure interface."

Yu Xi nodded, asking questions, absorbing every detail. Jian Ci’s enthusiasm was infectious, his voice rising with each explanation.

After a while, Jian Ci turned, eyes bright. "Do you want to go for a test flight?"

Before Yu Xi could answer, Jian Rui’s voice rang out from the balcony. "You two come down! You can play more tomorrow!"

Jian Ci groaned. "Come on..."

"You have been drinking," Jian Rui said firmly.

Yu Xi glanced at Jian Ci and smiled gently. "Let’s test it out tomorrow."

Jian Ci sighed. "Okay... but only if you give me my gift."

Yu Xi chuckled and handed him a small box. Their fingers brushed, warm and lingering.

Jian Ci opened it. Inside was a matte black ring, shaped for the thumb. It was elegant yet understated. But within the band, nearly invisible, was a thread of psychic energy. It was Yu Xi’s own.

He had read about it on Star Net. Lovers would embed a sliver of their aura into a ring, a gesture of trust and permanence. It wasn’t easy. The process of acquiring this thread was painful and difficult as it was like taking a piece of flesh from one’s body. Only certified forge masters capable of binding soul-thread to alloy could do this hence it was extremely expensive. Yu Xi had done it in secret today while they were gone hence no one knew.

The matte black ring gleamed under the soft cockpit lights. He lifted it out, turning it over in his fingers. "It looks so beautiful," he murmured.

Yu Xi smiled faintly, his voice low. "Do you like it?"

Jian Ci slid it onto his thumb. It fit perfectly, as if it had always belonged there. He looked up, eyes shining, and pulled Yu Xi into a hug. "I love it. Thank you."

Yu Xi hugged him back, arms firm around Jian Ci’s shoulders. But the tenderness in his expression shifted. "Did someone hug you?" he asked, trying to keep his tone even.

Jian Ci blinked, then let go. He sniffed his sleeve. "Is the smell that strong? Rui-ge asked me the same thing."

He sniffed again, puzzled, and Yu Xi suddenly grabbed his wrist. "What’s this?"

Jian Ci glanced down. "Oh, it’s from that girl from last time. Do you remember her?"

Yu Xi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Jian Ci slipped the bracelet off and shoved it into his pocket without ceremony.

Yu Xi’s voice was quieter now. "Is she the one who hugged you?"

"Yeah, but—"

Jian Rui’s voice cut through the moment. "You two!"

Jian Ci sighed. "Coming." He turned to Yu Xi, voice softer. "Let’s go."

Yu Xi nodded and said "Okay." But he was very upset, so upset that it was difficult to restrain his emotions.

They stepped out of the cockpit together, the ring still warm on Jian Ci’s thumb, the bracelet forgotten in his pocket.

***

Jian Ci was having the time of his life. The drinks flowed freely, and with no restrictions from his brothers inside the estate, he went all out. His laughter echoed through the lounge, cheeks flushed, eyes bright with mischief.

Yu Xi sat nearby, watching with growing concern. Jian Ci rarely drank this much, and the way he was downing glass after glass made Yu Xi’s stomach twist.

Jian Rui, lounging with a drink of his own, noticed Yu Xi’s expression and chuckled. "Don’t worry about him. The worst thing he will do is get naked and jump in the pool."

Jian Wei added with a grin, "Yeah, no need to worry. Besides, I’m not drinking much tonight. I will keep an eye on him."

Yu Xi nodded hesitantly. "Okay."

Just then, Jian Ci stumbled over, clutching a crystal glass filled with amber liquor. He plopped down beside Yu Xi, draping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close.

"Here," Jian Ci said, voice thick with warmth. "Have some."

Yu Xi reached for the glass, but Jian Ci pulled it back with a teasing smile. "No," he whispered.

Yu Xi blinked, confused until Jian Ci brought the glass to his own lips and gently tilted it toward Yu Xi’s. Yu Xi drank, the liquor burning his throat, warming his chest.

It was bitter, sharp.