Against the Algorithm

Chapter 16: Countermeasures

"What does it look like?" Sicheng, completely unaffected, just smirked down at her as he reached for her hair once more.

"I— I— You— You don't just do that!" Yao, still flustered beyond belief, swatted his hand away, her words coming out in high-pitched sputtering.

"Why not?"

"BECAUSE— YOU— THAT'S—"

Words failed her and in her desperate attempt to retaliate, her eyes darted to the closest thing within reach—

A pillow.

And with zero thought, she grabbed it and launched it directly at him. Which, of course, hit its mark. Square in his face.

The room went silent for a beat.

Then—

Yue burst out laughing, slamming his hand against the table. Pang was wheezing, clutching his stomach. Lao K and Ming just exchanged looks, shaking their heads as if to say 'Well, he deserved that.'

Lao Mao, still grinning, muttered, "We finally broke her."

Meanwhile, Sicheng stood there, pillow bouncing off him and landing onto the floor, his expression completely unreadable.

Yao, still fuming, still red-faced, crossed her arms aggressively over her chest. "DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!"

Sicheng's lips curled into a slow smirk. "I make no promises."

And just like that—

It was war.

Later that evening, after Yao had stormed off in a flustered huff, leaving the rest of the team still chuckling at her expense, Sicheng had simply shaken his head, smirking to himself before deciding he was going to push his luck even further. Because really, what was she going to do? Block him? Avoid him? It wasn't like she could keep him away. At least, that's what he thought.

Until he found himself physically blocked from entering her space. By none other than her giant, unimpressed, territorial Siberian cat—Da Bing.

Sicheng stood there, arms crossed, as he stared down at the massive fluff ball sitting directly in the doorway to Yao's apartment, body planted like a stone wall, blue eyes narrowed in something that looked far too much like disapproval. "...Seriously?"

Da Bing did not move.

Sicheng's brow twitched slightly as he took a slow step forward.

Da Bing?

Also took a step forward.

Sicheng stopped.

Da Bing stopped.

They stared at each other.

A silent battle of wills.

From inside the apartment, Yao's voice rang out. "Da Bing, is there a problem?"

The cat let out a slow, deep, judgmental meow—one that very clearly translated to 'Yes. Yes, there is.'

Sicheng exhaled sharply through his nose, running a hand through his hair before muttering. "Unbelievable." He tried again, shifting slightly to step around him, only for Da Bing to immediately stretch out his entire body, effectively barricading the doorway with pure fluff.

The message?

"You. Shall. Not. Pass." (Yes, yes indeed a LOR Moment!)

Sicheng dragged a slow, irritated hand down his face.