Against the Algorithm

Chapter 43: Off-Script

Yue threw his hands up. "Hey, I'm not even trying to attract anyone right now. Blame genetics."

Pang snorted into his drink. "I told you Hierophant liked chaos. Now he's just doing this because he knows it'll make Cheng sulk."

Lao Mao muttered, "He's doing a damn good job."

Sicheng rubbed the bridge of his nose, his expression murderous as he leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling like it had betrayed him too. "I'm going to kill him. Slowly. I'll start by unplugging his mouse during finals." Yao slowly covered her face with her hands, but not before he caught the way her lips twitched. "You're laughing." he accused darkly.

"I am not," she said behind her fingers, voice muffled.

"You are," he growled, sitting up straighter and pointing a finger at her. "You think this is funny? The man said he's into you and my brother. That's not funny."

"It's a little funny," Pang muttered.

Yue leaned in toward Yao with a grin. "Should I be worried your Intended is jealous of me again?"

"He's not jealous. He's sulking." Yao dropped her hands just enough to reveal her deadpan glare.

"I'm territorial," Sicheng snapped.

Yue raised both eyebrows. "You pouted when she replied to Kun Hyeok's text."

"I did not—"

"Yes, you did. You pouted. Your mouth did that thing." Lao Mao chimed in, not even looking up from his phone.

Sicheng slumped again, muttering under his breath.

Yao reached out slowly and tugged on the edge of his sleeve until he looked at her. "I'm yours, Cheng-ge," she said softly, her tone amused but fond. "You don't have to go full murder mode on your best friend. Though if he texts me that again, I will block him for your sake."

Sicheng narrowed his eyes. "You promise?"

She leaned closer, brushing her shoulder against his. "Cross my heart."

His eyes softened—just barely—but it was enough. He grunted something noncommittal, his fingers finding hers where they rested on the cushion between them and giving them a firm squeeze.

"So, am I flattered or worried that I'm part of the tension?" Yue flopped dramatically into the chair across from them.

"You're flattered," Pang replied dryly. "But if you keep talking, you'll be flattened."

Sicheng, fingers laced with Yao's, finally allowed the edge in his jaw to ease, muttering low under his breath, "Should've let him go to America when they tried to poach him, instead of telling him about the ADC position on YQCB. Maybe then he wouldn't have time to be texting my Bunny.."

Yao gave him a sidelong look, expression amused even as she squeezed his hand back. "You'd miss him."

His gaze didn't shift from her as he replied, smirking now with that slow, deliberate confidence that always carried a deeper weight when aimed at her. "Not if he keeps flirting with what's mine." And just like that, the sulking didn't disappear. It simply turned into something quieter, darker, and very, very Lu Sicheng.

The lounge had emptied in quiet, staggered steps, the hum of stage lights just beginning to bleed through the hall beyond as Rui stepped out to make a call and Yue muttered something about the bathroom before disappearing with a dramatic flip of his jacket. Lao Mao, Lao K, Ming and Pang with Kwon had already filed out toward the stage, leaving only her and him in the suddenly still room.