Against the Algorithm

Chapter 3: Lines Crossed, Loyalties Claimed

Not hers.

A different phone, an unfamiliar one.

Sicheng's brows furrowed slightly, but he took it, his fingers brushing against hers for just a second before she quickly withdrew her hand, stepping back as if she had just handed over something dangerous.

"Press play." she murmured, her voice tight.

Sicheng hesitated only for a second. Then, without a word, he did exactly as she said.

The second the video started, the entire room changed.

A grainy but clear recording appeared on the screen, capturing the dim-lit atmosphere of an after-hours event space. The audio played—loud, undeniable.

And then—voices.

"ZGDX thinks they're untouchable."

"Let's see how far they go when they can't even hold a mouse anymore."

"Yeah? You gonna run your mouth now, Yue? How about we smash your damn hands and see how funny you are then?"

The threats were unmistakable. The aggression was unmistakable. And then, the recording showed it—clear as day—one of the opposing players lunging first, shoving Yue back. Another reaching toward Ming, aggressive, ready to strike.

And then—Yue retaliated.

Not first.

Not recklessly.

But because he had to.

Silence filled the room.

The video ended.

No one spoke.

Yao, still visibly nervous, finally dared to lift her gaze, hazel eyes flickering toward Sicheng, toward Yue, toward the entire room as she whispered, "He was protecting the team."

A long, heavy beat passed.

Then—

Lu Wang Lan exhaled sharply, her face unreadable. She looked at Yue, then at Sicheng, and finally at the board before muttering, "Well. I suppose that changes things."

Sicheng hadn't stopped staring at Yao. She felt it—the weight of his gaze, the quiet intensity of it burning into her. But she didn't shrink away. She had come here to protect Yue and she had done exactly that.

Yue exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair, his patience already wearing thin. "How did you even get this?" he asked again, his voice edged with disbelief.

Yao, already visibly regretting her choices, whitened. Her hazel eyes flickered toward him, then darted away just as quickly. Her hands curled into the hem of her sweater, her shoulders tightening like she wanted to disappear. "I..." she hesitated, shifting on her feet.

Sicheng, still sitting at the head of the table, didn't take his eyes off her. His grip on the phone had tightened slightly, his expression unnervingly unreadable. "Tong Yao." he said, voice smooth but firm.

She flinched. And then—quietly, miserably—she muttered the words that made the already-tense room go completely silent. "It's... Ai Jia's."

A pause.

A long, heavy pause.

"What?" Yue blinked, then stared at her.

Yao swallowed, visibly forcing herself to speak. "H-He was hiding in the bathroom," she admitted, her voice small, hesitant. "He saw the whole thing. He—he heard everything. But when I found out and asked if he was going to do anything about it... he said he had no intention of getting involved."