Against the Algorithm

Chapter 64: Before the Game Began

Jian Yang scowled, biting down on a response.

Kazime didn't give him the chance to voice it. "You will not speak of her like that again," he said, flat and serious. "And you will not touch her name in this house."

It was only then that Jinyang reentered the hallway, a bottle of water in her hand and a curious expression on her face. She slowed, blinking in surprise at the sudden stillness in the study. "What's going on?"

Kaya didn't answer her. Not yet. Because she had already caught movement in the corner—small and hesitant. Tong Yao. Standing just out of view, her shoulders tight, face pale, eyes wide. She had clearly heard enough. "Yao." Kaya crossed to her gently, stepping into her line of sight.

The girl flinched, barely. "I didn't mean to listen," she whispered. "I just—Jinyang asked me to wait in the hallway. I didn't think anyone was—"

Kaya reached out and cupped her cheek, just briefly, guiding her chin up until their eyes met. "You don't have to explain," she said, her voice soft but absolute. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Behind them, Jinyang frowned, clearly catching that something had happened—but she stayed back, watching, confusion written across her face.

Yao blinked up at Kaya. "I just... didn't want to embarrass them."

Kaya gave a soft exhale through her nose. "You didn't." She turned her head just enough to look over her shoulder, directly at the boys still sitting in stunned silence. "They embarrassed themselves."

The air in the study had gone still—no movement, no shifting, not even the uncomfortable sound of shoes scuffing against the carpet. Just silence.

Yao stood in the threshold now, no longer hidden behind the hall. She looked small, shoulders slightly hunched, the sleeves of her oversized sweater tugged low over her hands. But she wasn't cowering. Her eyes—wide, shimmering, full of hurt she clearly wished she didn't have to show—were fixed squarely on Jian Yang. And her voice, though trembling, came clear. "Do you want to know why I turned you down?"

Jian Yang blinked, his jaw tightening as if the question itself offended him. "I think I got the message when you said no."

"No. You didn't." Yao shook her head, the movement quick, a little sharp. She swallowed, visibly trying to control the rush of emotion in her chest before speaking again, slower this time. "You weren't interested in me. Not really." Her voice cracked. "I overheard you. Two weeks ago. In a café."

Jian Yang froze.

Ai Jia's gaze darted sideways, his body going rigid beside him.

"You were on the phone," Yao continued, still so quiet, but now steady. "With one of your teammates. I was at the table behind the wall divider, revising notes. You said... if you could get close to me, you might be able to get access to my dissertation."She inhaled sharply. "You said I had valuable data. That I was probably running match-capture on unsanctioned OPL servers. You even joked that I might not realize how useful my scripts were."

Jian Yang's lips parted, but he said nothing.

Not denial.

Not defense.

Just silence.

Kaya and Kazime didn't move.

They didn't need to.