Against the Algorithm

Chapter 5: The Fine Print of Belonging

There was no room for argument.

Dinner had settled into an easy rhythm, the usual teasing and conversation filling the space as Yao slowly started to relax, the overwhelming energy from earlier fading into something... comfortable. At least, until she hesitated, glancing up from her plate with a slightly shy expression before asking, "Would... would anyone mind if I brought Da Bing with me on my workdays?"

That immediately got everyone's attention.

"What kind of cat is he again?" Lao Mao, blinking, tilted his head.

Yao, ducking slightly, muttered, "Siberian."

Lao K, who had been mid-bite, froze. Then, after a second, he set his chopsticks down and gave her a look. "Wait. Don't those cats reach, like... twenty pounds?"

Yao, visibly flustered, fidgeted with her sleeve before whispering, "Da Bing is about thirty-five."

The table went silent.

Lao Mao let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's not a cat, that's a small bear."

Yue, grinning, leaned in. "Are you sure he's a cat? Not, like, a mutant?"

Yao, utterly embarrassed, quickly shook her head. "H-He's perfectly healthy!"

Lao K, still processing, muttered, "How the hell does a cat even get that big?"

Pang, clearly entertained, smirked. "So what you're saying is... you've been dealing with Ai Jia's harassment while wrangling a thirty-five-pound cat at home?"

Yao's face burned. "I-I don't wrangle him, he's just... big."

Ming gave a nod as he finally hummed. "You should bring him."

Yao blinked, startled. "Really?"

Ming nodded. "If he's that big, no one will mess with him. He can be our new team mascot."

Yue lit up. "Ohhh, I like this idea."

Rui, who had been listening with wide eyes, suddenly clapped his hands together in delight. "This is perfect! We'll get him a ZGDX vest! Make it official—"

Yao let out a tiny whimper, realizing she had completely lost control of the conversation.

And Sicheng?

Sicheng, who had been eating quietly, who hadn't said a word through the entire exchange, finally leaned back, his amber eyes flickering toward Yao with a slow, deliberate glance. "...As long as he doesn't touch my fish," he muttered, before taking another bite.

Yao, still flustered from the sudden attention on Da Bing, ducked her head slightly and muttered under her breath, "He only likes tuna... not goldfish."

The table went silent for a brief moment.

Then—

Lao K snorted, trying—and failing—to hold back a laugh and Lao Mao gaped at the female.

Pang grinned. "Wait, wait, wait—you're saying you've actually tested this?"

Yao's face burned. "I-I didn't test it," she stammered quickly. "I just... I've taken him to a pond before, and he didn't care about the fish."

Yue, looking far too entertained, leaned in. "You took him to a pond?" He raised a brow. "And what? He just sat there? Staring at the water like some enlightened old man?"

"H-He just sat next to me! I thought maybe he'd be interested, but he ignored them completely." Yao groaned, her fingers gripping the sleeves of her sweater.

Lao Mao hummed, smirking. "So what you're saying is... we don't have to worry about him raiding Sicheng's fish tank?"

Yao immediately froze. Because she had not thought about that. Very slowly, she peeked toward Sicheng, who had been silent this entire time, his amber gaze locked onto her with the same unreadable intensity as before. "...He wouldn't!" she quickly added, as if reassuring herself more than anyone else.

Sicheng exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping once against the table. "Good." he murmured, his tone deceptively calm.

Yue, grinning, nudged her lightly. "Yeah, 'cause if Da Bing so much as looks at those fish wrong, you'll be signing a very different contract."

Lao K chuckled. "Hope you're ready for cat supervision duty."

Yao, absolutely mortified, buried her face in her hands. "I-I swear he won't!" she muttered.

Sicheng, watching her closely, didn't say anything else. But the weight of his gaze made it very clear. If Da Bing even thought about those fish, Yao was going to owe him.

Notes:

Author's Note: The Muse would like to say that all comments, even small ones, are very much welcomed and they very much enjoy reading them!