Against the Algorithm

Chapter 53: Keys to the Quiet

Sicheng leaned closer to Yao, his hand sliding down until his fingers threaded through hers beneath the table. "You say the word," he murmured quietly. "And we don't leave until you're ready."

And for the first time in what felt like a very long stretch of days .... Yao smiled.

The moment the conversation about the house settled and plans were quietly being formed in the background—Lan already making discreet calls, Sheng tapping a message into his phone—the atmosphere in the suite began to ease. The weight in the room didn't disappear entirely, but it shifted, softened by the promise of action and support, no longer pressing down on Yao's spine like a vice.

Yue, clearly feeling the tension had dropped enough to reclaim his usual position as chief instigator, sat back in his chair and arched a brow at her over his teacup. "I still can't believe you don't drive," he said, voice laced with mock judgment. "And yet—correct me if I'm wrong—wasn't it you,Tiny Boss Bunny, who hijacked my brother's prized baby and drove me to the hospital the day of the kickoff game?"

Sicheng didn't even look up from where he was peeling an orange. He just reached over and tossed an entire steamed roll squarely into Yue's smug face.

Yue yelped, catching it midair before it fell into his lap, glaring at his brother. "I wasn't wrong! She did!"

Yao, cheeks flushed as all eyes shifted back to her, muttered without looking up, "Yes, well... I was in a full adrenaline rush, okay?"

"Oh really?" Yue said, grinning now, clearly delighted.

"You were burning up," she continued, still poking at her congee like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Throwing up. Barely able to speak. And no one else was at the base. Everyone was at the arena."

"And you," Sicheng added helpfully, eyes flicking to her with the kind of deadpan affection only he could pull off, "were doubled over in period pain and still drove like a war general with a mission."

"I was in pain and all I could think about was getting your sick-ass brother to the hospital before he collapsed in my arms." Yao grumbled under her breath, flicking him a sharp side glance.

Yue winced dramatically. "Aw, you do care."

"I regret it every day."

"You lie like a child."

"Do you want another roll in the face?"

Yue held up his hands in surrender, lips twitching.

Lan, without even lifting her head from her phone, said dryly, "This is why I'm installing car service at the gate. Yao is not to drive anything ever again unless the world is ending or a man is actively dying in her passenger seat."

Sicheng muttered, "That car still smells like hospital."

"I Febreezed it!" Yao snapped, then paused. "Twice."

"You Febreezed my car?" Sicheng's voice turned flat as he eyed her like she had lost her damn mind.

Sheng cleared his throat into his tea to muffle his laugh.

Yue whispered, "You may as well have poured bleach on his soul."

"I saved a life." Yao crossed her arms, cheeks pink now.

"You endangered his engine."

"You had 104-degree fever!"

"You took a corner at eighty," Yue said, voice perfectly level.

There was a pause.

"...It was a straight road," she said finally, muttering.

"That's worse, Tiny Boss Bunny but yet Ge has not even scolded you for hijacking his precious car, in the first place. That shows just how badly you have him wrapped around your little finger." Yue added, snickering.