Against the Algorithm

Chapter 43: Off-Script

Sicheng was in that state.

Unflinching.

Lethal.

His every play screamed mine without ever needing the word spoken.

And as the final Nexus exploded and the announcers declared ZGDX's first round victory with near disbelief, the camera cut briefly to the players' booths.

Sicheng leaned back in his chair slowly, headset sliding down as he glanced at the monitor, his jaw set, his expression cold. He didn't smirk. He didn't smile. He simply stood. Because that round? Was a message and Hang Suk had better damn well received it.

The moment the first round ended, the ZGDX boys left the stage to the thunderous applause of a hyped arena and the glow of a flawless scoreboard still burning behind them. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that ZGDX had steamrolled FNC, and no one watching could deny that every single member had played like they had something to prove.

But as they stepped back into the lounge—sweat still cooling on their skin, adrenaline still humming through their veins—the victorious high dulled just a little when they came face-to-face with the singularly unimpressed figure waiting near the corner of the room.

Tong Yao.

Their Tiny Boss Bunny.

And she was not amused.

Still in her uniform, her arms were folded neatly across her chest, one foot tapping softly against the floor, hazel eyes narrowed beneath furrowed brows as she stared down the returning players one by one. Da Bing might not have been present, but his spirit of judgment lived and breathed through her.

She didn't say a word at first.

Which was worse.

Because that silence?

That silence screamed you're in trouble.

Yue, still not fully seated, immediately muttered, "I'm not involved. I was in the bathroom. I have an alibi."

Pang slid behind Lao Mao like a shield.

And Ming, who had only just taken off his headset, winced as he stepped in beside them.

Yao finally exhaled a slow, tight breath and spoke in a deceptively calm voice. "You won." she said flatly.

They nodded. Lao K even started to smile.

She lifted a finger. " Yes, you won. But what I just watched out there? Was not the game plan Coach Kwon and I laid out."

The smile died instantly.

Her gaze flicked to Pang first. "What happened to holding that support lane pressure and staggering your rotates?"

"I—he was wide open for the combo, and I—"

"That's not what we drilled."

Pang shut his mouth.

Then to Lao Mao and Lao K. "Why were you overextending mid-lane pushes before fifteen? Where was the discipline on the rotation timer?"

Lao Mao opened his mouth. She lifted her hand. "Don't answer that. Because I already know it was adrenaline. Or ego."

"A little of both." Lao K coughed quietly.

"And you," she said, voice dropping lower as her eyes zeroed in on Sicheng.