Against the Algorithm

Chapter 15: Undone by the Smallest Things

"Water and nutrients," the doctor shot back without hesitation.

Yue recoiled like he'd been insulted. "Disgusting."

The doctor turned to Rui.

"You need to cut back on caffeine, sleep more, and stop internalizing your stress. Your vitals are all high, and the fact that you drink coffee like it's oxygen is not helping."

Rui, who had been quietly sipping his travel mug like it contained liquid salvation, stared. "You don't understand. I live with them."

The doctor gestured to the team like a disappointed parent. "And yet you're still alive. Let's try to keep it that way."

Then—finally—he turned to Sicheng.

The man had been standing in the back, arms crossed, completely unbothered, like none of this applied to him. Until now.

"You."

Sicheng lifted a brow, nonchalant. "Me."

The doctor's tone went flat.

"Stop smoking."

Silence.

And then—

"WHAT?!"

It wasn't Pang.

It wasn't Yue.

It was Yao.

The team collectively flinched at the volume of her voice. She stared at Sicheng like he'd just confessed to war crimes, her hazel eyes wide, her mouth parting again like she needed confirmation this wasn't some joke. "Since when?! How—how have I never noticed—how—"

Sicheng remained mostly composed, though his eye twitched ever so slightly. "Since before I met you."

Yue leaned back, hands behind his head. "Oh this is good. Ge, you're so dead."

"He's been hiding it all this time?" Pang added, still recovering from his food mourning. "The betrayal."

Lao Mao, shaking his head, took another long sip from his shake. "She's actually mad. This is amazing."

The doctor, unfazed by the reaction, continued. "Also, you need to cut back on sugar, massage your wrists properly, and yes—less caffeine."

Sicheng sighed. "So basically... stop living."

"Basically, start acting like an adult who doesn't want to crash by thirty-five," the doctor replied bluntly.

Yao, arms crossed now, muttered, "You should listen to him."

Sicheng gave her a look. "Are you going to make me?"

She blinked, chin lifting just slightly. "...If I have to."

The room exploded again.

Pang nearly collapsed, sliding off the couch.

Yue couldn't breathe, pointing at his brother like this was the final nail in the coffin. "She's going to make you," he gasped between laughs.

"Finally. Someone who can control him." Rui muttered, still bitter from the caffeine call-out.

Sicheng pressed his fingers to his temple, muttering something about why he ever agreed to this in the first place.

And just when it felt like it couldn't get worse—

The doctor added calmly, "It'll be a few more minutes before the next check-up. My wife will be handling Miss Tong's exam."