Against the Algorithm

Chapter 35: Storm Signals

Their Tiny Boss Bunny was on a warpath.

And she was doing it for them.

"I don't care how you do it," she continued, tone clipped and pacing now, her index finger still flashing like a weapon. "Outplay, outfarm, camp his jungle—hell, invade his base and feed him his own build for all I care, but that child insulted you." She stopped then, hands on her hips, fire in her posture even as the sleeves of her oversized ZGDX team jacket nearly swallowed her hands. "And no one insults my team and gets away with it."

There was a beat of stunned silence—one heartbeat of awe-struck stillness—

Then Lao Mao, eyes wide, muttered quietly to Lao K, "She said my team."

And that was it.

The whole room snapped to life with energy.

Because the next round?

It wasn't just about revenge.

It wasn't just about shutting a kid up.

It was about answering their Tiny Boss Bunny.

And no one— no one —was going to let her down.

Kwon, still riding high on the momentum of that first-round victory and very aware of the fire their Tiny Boss Bunny had just lit beneath the team, turned toward her with a thoughtful hum as he reached up to adjust the cap tilted low over his brow.

"You want to come on stage for the ban and pick?" he asked, his voice casual but with the edge of seriousness that always laced his decisions during matches.

Yao, who had only just begun to settle—arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stood between Yue and Rui, her scowl still lingering from the footage of A'Guang's little outburst—froze.

Her head snapped toward him, wide hazel eyes blinking once. Twice.

"M-me?" she asked, the fire from before quickly smothered by the sudden onset of nervous confusion. "But... I'm not a coach. Or a player."

She looked around as if someone might suddenly appear and tell her he was joking. Her fingers curled into the edge of her jacket again, knuckles white against the red and black fabric.

"I'm just the part-time Data Analyst," she added more quietly, her voice unsure now. "Is that even... allowed?"

Kwon, without missing a beat, turned slightly and looked toward Rui—who nodded once, already pulling up a message on his phone to clear the path with the officiating team.

"If your title's an issue, we'll say you're representing our analytics team," Rui replied, tone even, brisk. "You're registered under ZGDX. You're not an outsider."

Kwon, his arms now crossed, regarded her with that patient steadiness of his before adding, "No one else's mind breaks down King like yours does. You earned this. So, if you want it—come with me. If not, no harm done."

Yao blinked again, processing. She could still hear A'Guang's taunts ringing in her head. She could still see her boys— her team —flashing her proud, stupid grins when she'd demanded they bury the brat in round two.

And now...

They were offering her a seat at their table. Even if it was just for one phase. Even if it was just this once.

Yao took a breath, straightened her spine, and lifted her chin—nervous, yes, but resolute. "I'll come," she said quietly.

And across the room, Sicheng didn't smile. But he did shift slightly, his gaze never leaving her, his eyes warm and steady. Because she was walking onto that stage not just as their analyst. But as theirs .