Against the Algorithm

Chapter 43: Off-Script

Sicheng's brow ticked.

"Oh god." Yue groaned, covering his face with both hands.

"And," Yao added cheerfully, "he did message me again this morning to remind me of that offer."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Lao Mao muttered under his breath, "We're so screwed."

Yue peeked over his fingers. "You have our father on speed dial?"

"I'm his daughter in law now," she said primly.

Sicheng looked like he aged five years in that moment. And then, very softly, very evenly, he muttered, "I'm going to delete his number out of your phone."

Yao didn't blink. "He already saved it under 'My Favorite Daughter-in-Law.'"

A pause.

Pang choked.

Coach Kwon turned to the whiteboard to hide his laughter.

Sicheng leaned back with a dark glare, muttering to no one in particular, "I blame Kun Hyeok for all of this."

Yao raised a single brow. "Off-script again," she warned, "and I will text Uncle Lu and let him know you're being uncooperative."

Sicheng narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't."

"I would," she said sweetly. "And you know he'd answer."

The whole team nodded. Of course he would. Because no one—not even the terrifying Lu Sheng—could resist the command of the Tiny Boss Bunny.

As they gathered their gear and adjusted their jackets, the tension in the lounge finally began to ease, the collective sigh of narrowly-avoided doom hanging in the air like a storm cloud that had passed just wide of its mark. Lao Mao was already moving toward the exit, muttering something about stretching before they got called again. Lao K double-checked his headset, and Pang cautiously retrieved another energy drink like it might shield him from future Shikigami projectiles.

Yao stood near the doorway now, arms still crossed but the fire in her gaze had cooled to a soft ember, something more amused than annoyed. She watched them quietly, platinum braid resting against the side of her uniform, expression unreadable—until she finally took a slow step forward and spoke. "Boys."

The room stilled again.

They turned toward her.

Yao uncrossed her arms, letting them fall to her sides as she tilted her head slightly, a small, rare smile curving the corners of her lips. "I want you to stay on script," she began, her voice calm, deliberate. "That's what I spent the last two days refining with Coach Kwon. That's what's going to make this a clean sweep."

They nodded in unison, even Pang not daring to look away this time.

"But," she added, pausing just long enough for them to catch the shift in her tone, "just because I want precision—just because I want discipline—does not mean I expect you to be nice." A beat of confused silence passed. Then her hazel eyes flicked directly, intentionally, to Lu Sicheng. The air between them thickened as she let the smallest smile touch her lips. "Especially not to Hang Suk."

Sicheng's entire posture shifted. The slow, satisfied, utterly dangerous smile that curved across his lips in response was nothing short of lethal.

Yue groaned dramatically. "She just gave him permission to murder the kid on stage."

Lao Mao muttered, "More like threw gasoline on a fire."

Yao, entirely unapologetic, folded her hands neatly behind her back, her tone sweet. "He ran his mouth. Disrespectfully. About the team. About me." She paused again, and the weight of her words landed exactly where she intended. "I see no reason why you shouldn't remind him what it means to play against ZGDX."

Sicheng's amber eyes locked on her with a look that was possessive and razor-sharp all at once, the corners of his mouth twitching just slightly. "Beautiful," he murmured, voice low enough that only she could hear, "you're dangerous."

Yao blinked innocently. "Only when necessary." Then she turned away, motioning for them to leave.

Sicheng followed behind the others, expression composed but his knuckles flexing with anticipation.

Hang Suk had no idea what was coming.

But ZGDX did.

And they were ready.

Notes:

Author's Note: The Muse would like to say that all comments, even small ones, are very much welcomed and they very much enjoy reading them!