Meanwhile, Jian Ci sat down next to Yu Xi. Without hesitation, he grabbed Yu Xi's chair and pulled him closer until their shoulders touched. Yu Xi wasn't even surprised anymore. He just sighed. Jian Ci had been clingier than ever these days. He couldn't even get out of bed without Jian Ci asking, "Where are you going?" Not that Yu Xi was complaining. Deep down, he loved this side of Jian Ci, the clingy warmth that wrapped around him like a shield.
Across the table, Stannis had watched the interaction with a kind of hungry fascination. His hand had lifted, almost unconsciously, reaching toward Jian Rui who sat beside him. But Jian Rui's gaze; a sharp, warning flicker—had frozen the motion mid-air. Stannis converted the reach into a light pat on Jian Rui's shoulder, a smile playing on his lips as if he had merely noticed a stray thread on Jian Rui.
And then Eros spoke. The old man's voice was deceptively calm, a veneer over steel. "You two seem to be getting along."
