Against the Algorithm

Chapter 54: Given, Not Owed

Yue let out a small, content sigh beneath Da Bing. "No promises."

Da Bing huffed and sprawled heavier across his ribs. And Yao, still squished in a very warm pile of chaos, let out a breath that sounded suspiciously like laughter.

Yao was just starting to recover her breath—wedged into the couch with Da Bing planted like a smug, furry mountain on Yue's chest and the younger Lu brother still clinging to her like an emotional support blanket—when her phone, somewhere on the coffee table, started vibrating.

The screen lit up.

Sicheng's eyes flicked toward it, and with far too much casual satisfaction, he reached over and picked it up before she could even try.

"Don't—" Yao tried, flailing weakly under the weight of Yue and her Maine Coon monarch.

Too late.

Sicheng glanced at the screen. "Mother."

Yao's eyes widened. "No—no, don't—"

He pressed the speaker icon.

"Tong Yao." came Lan's voice immediately, calm and poised as always, though laced with something suspiciously cool and edged.

Sheng's voice followed half a second later, far too smooth. "Good evening, little one. We just got your surprises."

Yao froze.

"We were going to notice," Sheng confirmed dryly, amusement barely concealed beneath his even tone. "The Maserati Vento '92 // Hunter Green, was quietly delivered into our garage like a guilt-laced bribe from a royal heiress."

Lan's voice was next. "And the Lotus Evora Shadowline // Custom GT, was placed under a covered awning with a handwritten delivery note that read, and I quote, 'I remember the way you looked at it. Please drive it sometimes.'"

Yao groaned softly and buried her face in her sleeve.

Sicheng watched her affectionately and didn't offer to end the call.

"It was just something small," she tried, muffled, "I didn't mean for it to be a thing..."

Lan, as always, was impossible to fluster. "You slipped four luxury vehicles into your new family's lives without asking. That qualifies as a thing."

"But I didn't want anyone to feel obligated, and I thought... maybe it would just... quietly make them happy." she murmured as she fiddled with her sleeves as her cheeks burned.

"Yao-er," Sheng said, and his tone softened then, less amused, more something else—warmer. "You don't need to sneak kindness into the quiet corners of people's lives anymore. You are family. You don't need to ask."

Lan added, "You should also know that your father and grandfather would have approved. They both liked beautiful things that were meant to move. You really are your mother's daughter, loving and kind to a fault with being extremely generous."

That made her go still. A soft breath escaped her, her fingers curling into the fabric of her sleeve just a little tighter.

Sicheng leaned over then, brushing his thumb lightly along her knuckles, grounding her.

"I—" she started, voice low and small, "I just wanted you ll to have something that made you smile when I wasn't around to give it, I saw the way you all had looked at the second vehicles after you had picked the ones you wanted. I don't drive and I know you all will take care good care of them."