Against the Algorithm

Chapter 56: Flawless Execution, Flustered Consequences

And then—

They went off script.

She blinked once.

Then twice.

Ming rotated early.

Pang pulled too wide on the flank.

And K?

He committed first.

By the time they got to minute eight, it was already slipping.

No one died.

No towers were lost.

But they abandoned her prep. She didn't shout. She didn't gasp. She just exhaled slowly and picked up the stylus next to her and started writing.

When the match was over, the hallway outside filled quickly—shouts from crew, movement from production, footsteps quickening with the shuffle of stage breakdown.

The door to the ZGDX lounge opened.

Sicheng walked in first, white and red jacket slung over one shoulder, expression unreadable. Behind him came Lao Mao, Pang, Ming, and Lao K in sequence, sweat still fresh at their temples, laughter low and mixed with leftover adrenaline. They were ahead. But not by much. Not by enough to justify what they had pulled. And waiting in the center of the lounge, hands firmly planted on her hips, one foot tapping the floor with the kind of pointed rhythm that only meant one thing—

Yao.

Not the quiet, blushing girl who sat in corners. Not the soft-spoken analyst who passed notes and avoided the center of the room.

No—

This was Tiny Boss Bunny.

Eyes sharp.

Cheeks pink with frustration.

And expression screaming "Explain yourselves."

The boys froze.

Sicheng came to a slow stop, blinking.

Lao K muttered under his breath, "...We're dead."

Yue, from his spot on the other couch, lifted a single hand in farewell. "It was nice knowing you."

Yao didn't raise her voice. She didn't have to. She fixed her gaze on Kwon, who had just walked in behind them, then turned her attention back to the team. Her voice came quiet, measured. "You were supposed to force the hover delay," she said, eyes locked on Ming. "I gave you the timing for the cut."

Ming opened his mouth, then shut it.

Yao turned to Pang. "You were supposed to be on standby, not diving wide into brush with no vision. Twice."

Pang scratched the back of his head.

Lao K coughed and looked away.

"Do you know how many hours I spent mapping the counter-flank pattern?" she asked, arms now crossing as her foot tapped faster. "Do you?"

Silence.

Then:

"We were adapting," Sicheng said finally, voice low as he was trying to cover his ass before he got banned from her apartment...again.

Her eyes snapped to him. "I gave you room to adapt. I wrote it in," she said. "You were supposed to adapt after the collapse."

Sicheng paused.