Against the Algorithm

Chapter 12: Sanctuary

Summary: Still shaken from the night before, Yao is given more than just space—she's given a choice. Lu Sicheng, quiet and resolute, opens a door she didn't know existed, offering her a place that isn't temporary or conditional, but hers. As the team rallies without question and laughter slowly returns to the room, something begins to shift. Because sometimes, home isn't just where you're safe. It's where they won't let you go.

Notes:

Author's Note: Shenanigans towards the ending!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Twelve

Hours later, after the team had finally settled back down, conversations dropping into hushed murmurs, and exhaustion taking over, Sicheng had made a decision.

Yao had still been visibly shaken, her hands clutching at the fabric of the blanket that had been draped over her, her movements slower, more hesitant, as if she was still grounding herself in reality after the events of the night. Her hair had been slightly damp with sweat, her expression distant, her body tense as if she couldn't quite let herself relax fully.

And Sicheng, having enough of it, had simply stood, extended a hand, and stated in a voice that left no room for argument, "You're taking a shower."

Yao had hesitated, blinking up at him with wide, uncertain eyes, but when she had tried to mutter something about being fine, about not wanting to be a bother, Sicheng had simply exhaled deeply, already expecting the resistance.

"It's not a request, Tong Yao."

And that had been that.

She had ended up in his bathroom, standing under the steaming water, letting it wash away the exhaustion, the lingering weight of fear that still clung to her like a second skin. He had left clothes for her, not bothering to offer anything overly formal or complicated—just a pair of old sweats that were too small for him, a black shirt, and an oversized hoodie that had long since lost its usefulness to him but now completely swallowed her. By the time she finally shuffled out of the hallway, her damp silver hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, her frame now completely drowned in the fabric of his clothing, the room had already been waiting for her.

The moment she stepped into the main area, barefoot, quiet, hesitant, every single person in the room turned to face her— And every single person had the exact same thought at once.

Adorable.

The sweats, despite being too small for Sicheng, were still slightly too long on her, the waistband cinched at her waist to keep them from slipping, the fabric pooling just slightly at her ankles. The black shirt she had layered underneath the hoodie was practically invisible beneath the thick fabric, the sleeves hanging far past her hands as she fidgeted slightly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, looking even smaller than she already was.

Ming, who rarely showed outward expressions of amusement, actually exhaled through his nose, his lips twitching slightly.

Lao K exchanged a look with Pang, both of them clearly trying to keep their thoughts to themselves.

Rui, who had spent the entire day mother-henning her in silence, seemed seconds away from commenting on how she looked like a child who had just stolen clothes from her older brother.

And Yue?

Yue was struggling. Because the second his gaze flickered from Yao to his very tense older brother, he had to bite back the smirk threatening to pull at his lips.