From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 616: The Bait Is Set

After changing two or three times, Micah finally stopped in front of the mirror and let out a slow breath.

The ebony qipao clung to his frame without being restrictive. The fabric was dark, almost swallowing the light, with faint embroidery along the hem that only revealed itself when he moved. The high collar hugged his neck, raising just enough to hide his Adam’s apple. The dress traced his waist cleanly before falling straight, emphasising the height instead of the curve. The slit along one side was modest but intentional, allowing ease of movement and offering a brief glimpse of pale calf when he walked. The practicality was still there, subtle, restrained, yet elegant.

Micah reached out and touched his throat, tilting his head left and right, testing angles. The collar shadowed his jawline just enough. With his hair tied up, his features looked more refined.

Behind him, Goergina made a sound that was halfway between a gasp and a squeal.

"Oh my god," she said, hands flying up to her face. "I totally have to show it to my friends and tell them this is how you wear a qipao properly!"

Micah glanced at her through the mirror, smiling. "Go ahead. I don’t mind."

She pulled out her phone as if she were ready and took pictures unceremoniously. The camera clicked several times.

She gushed and hovered over Micah, making sounds of approval.

Clyde, worried about Micah being left alone with that eccentric Georgina for too long, opened the door when he heard the commotion.

He paused, staring at Micah in a daze.

Micah turned his head and his eyes lit up. Clyde was already dressed, standing tall in a formal black suit that fit him perfectly. His hair was combed back, revealing his forehead, giving him a colder more distant air than usual.

Clyde met Micah’s gaze. The magical moment between the lovers was broken when Georgina snapped another picture.

Clyde’s expression darkened. "If you’re done, leave."

"Hey! That’s how you treat a friend who helped you?" Georgina protested.

Clyde’s eyes flicked to her phone. "You want me to delete them for you?"

"Ah, look at the time! I forgot I have another arrangement." She gathered her belongings and rushed to the door, afraid Clyde really would snatch her phone.

Clyde watched her escape so quickly as if a ghost was chasing her.

Micah grabbed his phone and said. "Let’s go. What if we hit traffic?"

Clyde nodded. They left the apartment together shortly after.

The elevator ride down was quiet, no other residents rode it. Micah stood beside Clyde, posture relaxed. The hem of his qipao brushed softly against his legs with every subtle movement.

Clyde’s eyes kept drifting back to him, amused by Micah’s transformation.

"Am I that good-looking?" Micah asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah." Clyde bluntly agreed.

Micah smiled, pleased. "Good."

They arrived in the parking lot where a limousine waited for them.

Once the car started moving, Micah looked out the window. The city lights blurred through the mist and speed. Rain patterned steadily, not heavy enough to flood the streets but persisting, tapping against the roof and windows.

"So," Clyde said at last, breaking the silence. "What’s the plan?"

Micah leaned back slightly, gaze forward. "Nothing much. We show up in the lobby, make a proper appearance, then move to our seats."

Clyde glanced at him. "You are not doing anything dangerous, right?"

"No, I just want the fish to take the bait."

"And the fish is Aidan?"

"No," Micah replied calmly. "He and the others are not important anymore."

"Then who..." Clyde paused, frowning. "The Lobarts?"

Micah gave a slight nod.

"I can’t understand why they would be interested in you?" Clyde said slowly. "In disguise, no less."

"It’s not me. It’s you." Micah looked out the window, watching raindrops race each other down the glass.

Clyde recalled his past lives, the Lobarts had no interest in him, did they? They never cared about him.

"Why would they be?" he asked, puzzled.

"Aren’t you the big boss of the book?" Micah replied quietly. "But you weren’t there before. This time you will appear. I want to see if they knew about the book too. Don’t you find it strange that they always came up on top at the end? How did they swallow the Ramsy resources and grow massive? Even the Durants, Wilson and Francis families connected to them? Why would they help the Lobarts destroy the Ramsy family? Shouldn’t it be as simple as Silas and Aidan protecting the Ramsy because of Darcy? Why destroy it?"

"They are beasts, just wanting to isolate Darcy," Clyde replied coldly, jaw tightening. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Micah snorted. "I thought so too. But if that was all, if it was the right course of action according to the book, why the need for the reset? Why the world would start again as if the ending wasn’t good enough?"

Clyde rubbed the wooden prayer beads on his left wrist. "I thought it was because I interfered every time, going against them..."

"Your role was the antagonist. You had to go against those four. You just did it later in the timeline. So why reset anyway?" Micah raised the question.

Clyde fell silent. He never cared for the reason. His only drive and motivation had been Micah, finding him, loving him, avenging him. Everything else had been background noise.

Micah had understood that Clyde did not remember the first life completely. Especially the part that Micah was the protagonist and those four fell in love with him not Darcy. Maybe this way was better. Micah could maneuver more easily without Clyde’s interference.

"You never questioned it? Never curious about the whole story?" Micah asked.

Clyde shook his head. "Not really. I knew I was in the book as an antagonist. I knew I would fall in love with the protagonist but did not end up with him. That was my only knowledge. Was there more to it?"

"No. The book I saw was a reverse harem with no major plot twists. Just your ordinary pull and push between the protagonist and the four male leads. So... I think there is another variable we don’t know about." Micah explained. He couldn’t exactly say anything about the system and its host. But he could hint at it like this.

Clyde fell into thought for a second before speaking. "So you think that variable lies with Lobarts?"

Micah nodded. "Yeah. I’m going to see their reaction and what they will do when they encounter you."

"Then what about CCTV? Is there a need to involve Darcy?" Clyde asked.

"Oh, that’s because of Aidan. I need to know what he is scheming against me and you."

Clyde nodded in understanding. Even so, his expression remained tight. He reached out and grabbed Micah’s hand. "Just be careful... " he said quietly. "I’m scared of losing you again..."

The words were simple. But the weight behind them was heavy. Years of endings, of watching the same person disappear pressed down on his chest. His fingers trembled slightly.

Micah looked down at their joined hands, then tightened his grip in return. His fingers threaded between Clyde’s warmly. "Don’t worry. I’m even more concerned than you. There is no way in hell I’ll let it repeat like the previous lives."

Clyde squeezed their joined hands with more pressure and accepted his words.

Micah looked at him with complicated eyes. He had been forced to omit many facts and settle for just a small part of it.

Micah exhaled slowly through his nose. This night wasn’t just about appearance. It was a test.

He wanted to test Noas and the system. He needed to know whether the system could recognise Micah as the character in the book while he was disguised, standing beside Clyde. Or they could even recognise Clyde. What would be their reactions and all?

He needed to observe everything, hearing their conversation, realising what choices Noas and the system would make when faced with them. Knowledge was power. And Micah had learned, life after life, that ignorance was fatal.

If they tried to do something shady, Micah already had his countermeasure planned. Noas Lobart... the source of his downfall...

Kidnapping wasn’t ideal but if it came down to it, Micah wouldn’t hesitate. That was the real reason for the CCTV monitoring, the reason Darcy was involved.

On the other hand, if they didn’t recognise him and Clyde, the situation would be in Micah’s favour. He would have more space and options to maneuver. But if they realised who they were, Micah would trap them in jail or somewhere they could not interfere with him. Micah was sure the transmigrator could not commit suicide without a backlash. Otherwise, the first one would not have been this desperate to make him happy or something.

The first transmigrator had been locked in a mental institution for years until Micah made a deal with them.

Micah could not commit arson or kill someone. So the only option was to isolate the system until it uninstalled.

If the host were powerless, the system would be useless too. Micah just needed control and endless patience.