Against the Algorithm

Chapter 42: When the Storm Brings Family

The boys watched it all unfold like a wildlife documentary.

"She's got her cats posted like armed guards," Yue murmured. "No one's getting near her."

"Between the cats and him?" Pang muttered, jerking his thumb at Sicheng. "She doesn't need security. She is security."

Sicheng, arms crossed once again, now stationed beside her desk as if it was part of a fortified bunker, spoke without looking at any of them. "Say one more word, and I'll start docking snack privileges."

There was a long beat of silence.

Yue opened his mouth.

Lao K kicked his shin.

Yao, oblivious to the commentary, booted up her computer and reached for her tea, mumbling a soft thank you to Sicheng when he silently slid it closer to her hand. Her voice was rough, her posture still tired, but her smile—small, fleeting, and warm—was all he needed to see to stay exactly where he was.

Watching.

Guarding.

Hovering.

Just the way he preferred.

Yao squinted at her screen, tea still warm in her hands, one foot tucked beneath her on the chair as Da Bing snored lightly atop the cat tree and Xiao Cong swatted lazily at the hanging mouse toy on his fleece bed. She had just wanted to check something on Weibo, nothing serious—just a glance at a data thread someone had posted about the last match and perhaps a few tagged clips from their fan page.

But her scrolling came to an abrupt stop.

She blinked once.

Then again.

Her brows furrowed.

Lifting her head, she tilted her face toward the man standing just off to her right, his body language still wound tight in that protective coil that had been constant since she returned to her apartment. Her hazel eyes sharpened. "Cheng-ge."

Sicheng didn't look up from the report in his hand. "Hm?"

"Why is Hang Suk—" she began, her voice edged with confusion, "Lee Kun Hyeok's younger brother and the Jungler-slash-Captain for FNC—saying he's going to win against ZGDX this Saturday and dedicate the win to me?"

That got his attention.

Sicheng's head came up slowly.

The entire room went still.

Yao, already flustered, held up her phone, waving the open Weibo post like it burned. "He tagged me. He wrote, 'Can't wait to take down ZGDX this weekend and dedicate the win to someone who deserves the spotlight. This one's for you, little Data Analysis.' " Her voice cracked slightly. "What does that even mean?! I've never even met him!"

Across the room, Lao K stopped mid-stretch.

Lao Mao dropped his dumbbell.

Yue blinked slowly from the beanbag, mouth already twitching with anticipation. "Oh no..."

Sicheng was silent. He didn't yell. He didn't even swear. He simply set the report down with slow, deliberate precision and reached into his pocket, withdrawing his phone like a man preparing to draw a sword.

Da Bing growled lowly.

Xiao Cong hissed.

"Wait," Pang said, backing up like someone witnessing the beginnings of a volcanic eruption. "Wait, wait, wait, Cheng—don't kill anyone."