Chapter 774: Work Hard Now, Be a Lazy Fish Later

Micah was not someone who usually paid attention to subtle inconsistencies, but the way Ilyas had acted whether now or back in the hospital had been too conspicuous to be ignored. The moment he had asked about Darcy, he immediately sensed that something was amiss. It was not merely the absence of Darcy that struck him as unusual, but rather the way Ilyas carried himself, tense, distracted, and unmistakably unsettled.

That alone was enough to raise Micah’s suspicions.

Without voicing his thoughts aloud, he casually slipped his hand into his pocket and retrieved his phone. His movements were unhurried, almost absentminded, as though he were simply checking messages. However, the sharp focus in his eyes betrayed his true intention. He scrolled briefly before selecting Darcy’s contact and initiating a call.

As the line began to ring, Micah allowed his thoughts to drift momentarily.

After arriving in Isatis City, he had not wasted any time lingering elsewhere. His first instinct had been to come directly to this apartment, to check on both Darcy and Ilyas.

On the other hand, Clyde had been unable to accompany him. A sudden complication had arisen at the headquarters of La Riviere, requiring Clyde’s immediate attention. As a result, they had parted ways upon arrival, each heading toward their respective responsibilities.

Micah, however, had his own priorities.

He had intended to share his engagement news first with Darcy, partly out of habit and partly because he valued Darcy’s opinion more than he cared to admit. At the same time, he had also wanted to personally check on the condition of Darcy’s injured hands, as well as the overall situation involving Ilyas.

Yet now, standing within the apartment and observing the strange tension in the air, he could tell that something had shifted during his absence.

The call connected after the third ring. Darcy’s voice came through the speaker, calm and composed as always. "Back from the trip?"

Micah exhaled softly, his posture relaxing as he began walking toward the kitchen. "Yes," he replied, reaching for a glass and pouring water into it with deliberate movements. "Where are you right now?"

There was a brief pause before Darcy responded, his tone carrying a hint of dry humour. "Where do you think a university student would be on a weekday?"

Micah allowed himself a faint smile at the answer, though his mind remained focused. "Have your hands healed?" he asked, lifting the glass to his lips and taking a measured sip.

"More or less," Darcy replied casually. "No need to worry. I’m typing right now."

As if to emphasise his words, the faint but distinct sound of fingers striking a keyboard echoed through the call.

Micah’s gaze shifted instinctively toward Ilyas, who remained in the living room. The young man’s posture was stiff, his fingers fidgeting restlessly as though he were unable to find a comfortable position. His unease was almost palpable.

Lowering his voice slightly, Micah turned away just enough to create a bit of privacy. "Then why did you leave Ilyas here by himself?" he asked quietly. "Weren’t you the one who insisted on keeping him close? I thought you planned to keep watch over him after everything that happened."

The question was not as simple as it sounded.

Micah was deliberately referencing a previous conversation, one that had taken place before Ilyas was brought to this apartment. At that time, Darcy had reached out to him with an unusual level of seriousness, expressing a vague but persistent sense of unease. He had suggested that it would be safer to keep Ilyas nearby, at least temporarily, due to concerns that someone might still intend to harm him.

Micah, who had always trusted Darcy’s judgment without hesitation, had agreed almost immediately.

Now, however, the current situation did not align with that earlier determination.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Darcy responded.

"He seemed uncomfortable with me being there," Darcy said evenly. "He stayed in his room most of the time, avoiding interaction. So I returned to Mum’s apartment downstairs. I’m still keeping an eye on the hallway."

His explanation was calm, measured, and entirely reasonable.

Micah found himself nodding slightly, acknowledging the logic behind the decision. On the surface, it made perfect sense. If Ilyas had been distressed by Darcy’s presence, then creating some distance would naturally alleviate that discomfort while still maintaining a level of protection.

And yet...A faint trace of doubt lingered in the back of Micah’s mind.

Since the incident at the hospital, he had noticed a subtle but undeniable change in Ilyas’s behaviour whenever Darcy was involved. There was an awkwardness there, something unspoken that neither of them seemed willing to address directly.

However, Micah was not in a position to press Darcy for further details. Not without evidence, and certainly not without risking unnecessary tension.

"Very well," Micah said after a moment, his tone returning to its usual lightness. "Once you’re finished, let’s eat out. I’ve got something to tell you."

Darcy’s response was immediate. "Send me the location."

"Sure," Micah replied. "See you later."

With that, he ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

For a brief moment, he remained standing in the kitchen, staring at the half-empty glass in his hand. Then, as though nothing unusual had occurred, he turned and walked back into the living room.

Ilyas straightened slightly at his approach, his attention snapping toward Micah with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

Micah observed him for a moment before speaking. "Have you been keeping up with social media?" he asked casually.

The question seemed innocuous, yet it struck Ilyas like a sudden gust of wind.

Throughout the entire phone call, he had been sitting on edge, his mind racing with possibilities. What had Darcy said? Had he mentioned the incident? Had he revealed anything that might change Micah’s perception of him?

The uncertainty had been almost unbearable.

Now, confronted with such an ordinary question, Ilyas found himself momentarily disoriented. Nevertheless, he nodded quickly. "Yes... I’ve been following it."

He hesitated briefly before continuing, his voice soft but sincere. "I noticed the effort you put into protecting my reputation. Thank you for that. I am sorry that my involvement in the advertisement caused complications for the Ramsy Empire as well."

Micah waved his hand dismissively, as though brushing aside the apology. "There is no need to mention it," he said. "If anything, it might have been the opposite. I suspect they targeted you because of your connection to the Ramsy family."

Ilyas offered a small, helpless smile. "You don’t have to say that to make me feel better. I already consider myself fortunate to have met both you and young master Darcy."

At the mention of Darcy’s name, Micah’s expression shifted ever so slightly.

He leaned back, resting his chin lazily against his hand as he studied Ilyas with renewed interest. There was a subtle softness in Ilyas’s expression when he spoke of Darcy, a quiet warmth that did not go unnoticed.

To someone with Micah’s naturally inquisitive and somewhat mischievous personality, such details were as enticing as the most fragrant tea leaves.

"Oh, I can’t speak on Darcy’s behalf," Micah said slowly, a faint smile playing at his lips. "But as for myself, all I require is for you to work diligently and bring home a newcomer award."

Ilyas let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "You must be joking, young master Micah. With my current abilities, receiving even a nomination would be beyond my reach."

Micah’s smile deepened into a knowing smirk. "I possess a keen eye for talent," he replied confidently. "You will see in the future."

Ilyas could only respond with another helpless laugh, unsure of how to counter such unwavering confidence.

Yet Micah’s self-assurance was not without foundation.

During their recent trip, an unexpected encounter had reinforced his belief in his own judgment.

At one point, Yao Tianming had reached out to him, expressing a desire to meet. The invitation had seemed casual enough, but Clyde’s reaction to it had been anything but.

The moment Clyde saw the message, his expression had darkened noticeably, a trace of irritation flickering across his features.

Micah had been puzzled by this reaction. "What’s wrong with you?" he had asked, genuinely confused.

Clyde had responded with an offhand remark about Micah surrounding himself with "fine jade and radiant moonstones," a statement so cryptic that it only deepened Micah’s confusion.

"Huh?" Micah had replied, utterly bewildered.

Then Clyde dropped the real bomb.

"Didn’t you get close to him because you remembered him from the past?" Clyde had said. "He’s the one playing Pan Anren in Jin Destiny Saga, who toppled Leo’s film emperor title at the Lion award ceremony!"

Micah’s mandible had hit the floor, realising Yao Tianming had become famous as Yao An after acting in that historical drama.

The realisation had been nothing short of shocking.

He could still vividly remember how devastated Leo had been after losing the Best Actor award that year. In his first life, Micah had spent nearly an entire month attempting to comfort and console him.

Given that context, it was hardly surprising that he had failed to immediately recognise Yao Tianming in his more casual, unguarded state. The person he had encountered at the bar had seemed approachable, almost endearingly youthful, the cute little brother type, completely different from the elegant, refined jade-like beauty of the future film Emperor.

Even so, the experience had only strengthened Micah’s conviction.

He truly believed that he possessed an exceptional ability to identify potential, to recognise brilliance before it fully revealed itself to the world.

And now, with that belief firmly rooted, he had already begun formulating plans.

Extending an olive branch to Yao Tianming, offering him a contract under his entertainment company, was a strategic move, one that promised long-term benefits. With talents like that gathered under his banner, Micah could secure not only success but also the leisurely, untroubled future he so often envisioned.

A future where, perhaps, he could finally embrace the quiet simplicity of a "salted fish" young master, free from burdens, yet surrounded by the rewards of his foresight.