Against the Algorithm

Chapter 54: Given, Not Owed

Sicheng blinked. "That's not a car. That's a statement piece."

Yue's jaw dropped. "That's the concept of a hypercar from hell. You sent that to Ai Jia?!"

"I thought he'd like it!" she said, voice climbing an octave in sheer panic. "It has high control precision and looks like it should be in a movie and he's quiet but he really appreciates engineering lines and—"

"Yao, that car costs more than the combined tech setups of three mid-tier teams." Sicheng said slowly, though his tone was caught somewhere between impressed and stunned along with being amused as hell because once more, she was showing she was pure as hell not in body but in her heart and soul.

Yue was still blinking. "That's—like—that's the car."

Yao covered her face. "That's not even the one I'm worried about."

Both Lu brothers stiffened again.

"...There's more?" Yue asked, voice hushed as he eyed the woman as he was really thinking that she was too damn pure and good for this world considering how kind and soft she was.

"I also had a candy apple red Corvette delivered to Jinyang." whimpered Yao as she peeked between her fingers.

Pause.

"What kind of Corvette, exactly Xiǎo Tùzǐ?" asked Sicheng as he leaned in just slightly with a smirk curling over his lips as he knew it was going to be a damn expensive one as there had been a lot of expensive and high end ones in that damn warehouse-like garage.

"A 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64..." Yao winced as she mumbled out her answer.

Yue let out an actual wheeze. "That's a collector's dream! Cheng—Ge! Sshe sent a priceless Corvette to the most dramatic woman in all of China!"

"I know! And now I just remembered it's probably already arrived, and she's going to explode and possibly cry and definitely post a picture and...." Yao whispered in distress, sinking further into the cushions.

"She's going to tag everyone," Yue said with absolute conviction. "That woman has a six-swipe photo carousel ready and she's probably naming it right now."

"I was just trying to say thank you!" Yao said desperately. "I didn't want anyone to feel like they were left out! And she's always wanted that car. She told me a month after we met when I was eighteen, so about two years go! I didn't mean to make it a thing—"

Sicheng pinched the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh, but there was no anger in it. Just disbelief and, maybe, a reluctant kind of pride. "You sent four luxury vehicles and two near-priceless ones, without telling a single person." he said slowly as the woman was never going to stop surprising him.

"They're not just vehicles. They were things I remembered people dreaming about. And I had them. So I gave them." Yao whispered, her voice barely audible.

And just like that—quiet again.

"She's unstoppable." Yue dropped his face into his hands and let out a muffled groan.

Sicheng looked at her—really looked—and exhaled. "You're going to break the internet, aren't you? Especially when you take an active role in your family's business."

She whimpered behind her hands. "I hope not..."

Sicheng damn near groaned as he could just picture it now....she was going to have the entirety of China, never mind Shenhzhen eating of her hand and falling over themselves to lease her and know her especially once it was known? That she owned Tencent...Riot Games. He was already making plans to ensure her safety and to make sure everyone got the message...that his Xiǎo tùzǐ...was just that, his. And he would not hesitate to put someone in their grave if they dared to try and take her from him.