Against the Algorithm

Chapter 10: Boundaries and Bloodlines

every escape attempt amusing the team and infuriating her Captain. But when avoidance no longer works, one hallway standoff turns into a flustered, chaotic reckoning, complete with a new nickname: Xiǎo Tùzǐ.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for more notes)

Chapter Ten

For the next two workdays, Yao completely and utterly avoided Sicheng. It wasn't subtle. Not even a little bit. Anytime he so much as entered a room, she would stiffen, her hazel eyes widening before she would make a swift and immediate escape.

If he walked into the common area?

She would squeak, her face turning bright red, and then—gone.

If he approached her during lunch?

She would suddenly remember she needed to answer an email, grab her things, and vanish before he could even sit down.

If he so much as looked in her direction during practice?

She would turn completely red, duck behind Rui or whoever was nearest, and disappear like a ghost.

The first time it happened, Sicheng had simply raised an eyebrow, watching as she practically bolted from the kitchen after making direct eye contact with him. The second time, when she physically turned on her heel and walked the other way when he entered, he knew it wasn't a coincidence.

The third time?

He sighed.

Because she wasn't just avoiding him.

She was running.

And the team?

Oh, the team noticed immediately.

Yue, watching the way Yao physically jumped when Sicheng had passed her desk, grinned wide. "Oh my god. She's terrified of you."

Lao K, observing the way she had just fled the training room, shook his head. "More like mortified."

Pang, thoroughly entertained, stretched his arms behind his head. "You broke her, man."

"More like she doesn't know how to handle what happened." Ming muttered as he tilted his head slightly.

Sicheng, arms crossed, exhaled deeply, his expression unreadable as he leaned back against the table. "She's being ridiculous."

Yue laughed outright. "Well, yeah. But it's hilarious, so we're letting it happen."

Sicheng shot him a look.

But it wasn't just Yue.

The entire team was watching this unfold with obvious amusement.

Lao Mao smirked. "So, what's the plan, Captain? You just gonna let her keep running?"

Sicheng, done with this nonsense, rolled his shoulders. "No." Because avoiding him? That wasn't going to work. And if Yao thought she could keep escaping? She was about to find out how wrong she was.

Sicheng had already decided. Yao wasn't going to be able to keep running from him. But before he dealt with that, he had another problem to handle.

His damn brother.

Because this?

This whole situation?