From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 622: The Perfect Blind Spot (part one)

Micah scanned the hall slowly, his gaze sweeping over clusters of guests like he was counting chess pieces on a board. His shoulders were relaxed, posture casual, but his eyes were sharp, constantly moving. Crystal lights reflected in his pupils as he leaned slightly closer to Clyde, lowering his voice.

"Can you see the Lobart younger brother?" he murmured.

Clyde followed his line of sight, sweeping the room with a calm, practised glance. His expression didn’t change much as he assessed the crowd, politicians laughing too loudly, businessmen clinking glasses with calculated smiles, and heirs standing stiffly beside elders. After a moment, he shook his head.

"No," he said. "But I see the Gu siblings standing beside Nabil Lobart." His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, the corner of his mouth flattening. "Why are you searching for him?"

Micah hummed, fingers idly brushing the stem of the champagne flute he wasn’t drinking from. "I told you already. I met him at the shooting club before. Thought he’d be easier to connect with than his older brother."

Clyde tilted his head, gaze sliding sideways to Micah. "But he doesn’t know you in this get-up."

Micah glanced down at himself, smoothing the front of his qipao with exaggerated care. The fabric caught the light perfectly, highlighting his fake chest. He lifted his chin slightly, lips curving into a confident smile.

"It doesn’t matter," he said breezily. "My charm will do its magic just fine."

For a split second, Clyde held his composure. Then his expression cracked. The corner of his lips twitched, and he looked away, coughing lightly into his fist like he was trying very hard not to laugh.

"A bit of humility," he said, voice dry, "would not kill you."

Micah whipped his head around to stare at him, eyes wide with mock offence. "What? Have you just met me? I’m always like this."

Clyde glanced back at him, one eyebrow lifting. The look clearly said: exactly my point.

Instead of commenting further on Micah’s unshakable arrogance, or narcissistic streak, he shifted the topic smoothly. "Fine," he said. "Where do you want to go?"

Micah leaned forward slightly, scanning the hall again. "Let’s go to the older brother first. Noas will show up eventually."

Clyde paused mid-step. "Why aren’t you asking Darcy to locate him? Wouldn’t that be easier?"

Micah didn’t respond. He took a step forward, then another, pretending to be very interested in the décor on the marble pillar nearby.

Clyde stopped walking, pulling him back by the linked arms. Slowly, he turned to Micah, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "You heard me."

Micah cleared his throat and adjusted the strand of his hair, still refusing to meet Clyde’s gaze.

"...Are you embarrassed?" Clyde asked.

Micah finally looked at him, lips pursed, brows knitting together. "What? Why would I be?"

Clyde waited, not buying that.

Micah sighed, shoulders dropping a fraction. "I’m scared he’ll drag me away while scolding me to death."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Clyde let out a short laugh, genuinely amused. "I didn’t know you were such a chicken."

"I’m not!" Micah protested instantly, bristling. He straightened up, pointing a finger at Clyde’s chest. "But he nags worse than my mum, okay? Worse. He has this look, this disappointed look, and then he starts listing every stupid thing I’ve done like he’s reciting from a medical report."

Clyde raised an eyebrow. "Sounds thorough. Maybe I should learn from him."

Micah shot him a glare. "Don’t even think about it. You are not much better, you know. The only reason I am with you is that you know too much."

Instead of responding verbally, Clyde reached out and pinched Micah’s fingers lightly, playful but deliberate. Micah yelped softly and tried to pull away, but Clyde held on for just a second longer before releasing him.

"Then why the involvement?" Clyde asked. "If you’re that afraid of him."

Micah flexed his fingers, rubbing the spot Clyde had pinched. His expression turned into a scowl, but it softened quickly into something closer to frustration.

"I thought he’d be cooped up somewhere far away," Micah muttered. "Staring at monitors, max he would do is bossing me around through an earpiece. That way he could only nag me through my ear and I just cut him off when it’s too much." He gestured vaguely beside his head. "But now? He’s here. In the same room. Face to face." He grimaced. "That’s way worse."

Micah sighed again, rolling his shoulders like he was bracing himself. "Anyway, after I meet Noas, I’ll go talk to him."

Clyde didn’t say anything for a moment. He just studied Micah’s face. Eventually, he exhaled softly.

Still, he didn’t understand why Micah was so determined to see that young man.

—

Across the hall, Nabil Lobart was exchanging pleasantries with Gu Donghai, his posture relaxed, expression polite but distant. His attention was focused entirely on Donghai, as if Gu Feifei didn’t exist at all.

Gu Feifei stood half a step behind her brother, fingers clenched tightly around her clutch. Her smile was stiff, eyes sharp with irritation.

Gu Donghai, on the other hand, maintained a stoic expression that concealed the agitation simmering beneath the surface. His jaw was tight, his grip on his glass just a little too firm. Seeing Willow standing close to an unfamiliar young man earlier had left a bitter taste in his mouth, souring his mood. His nerves were taut, stretched thin.

But he couldn’t leave. He was stuck here, unable to chase after his own fiancée, Willow, demanding to know who the dark-haired young man was. Gu Feifei was too emotionally unstable tonight. One wrong move, one careless word, and she might offend someone important. He couldn’t risk it.

And now Nabil Lobart had found him again.

It was as if the man had forgotten everything that had happened in the past. As if being the Wilson daughters’ fiancé wasn’t enough, Nabil had now successfully entered the candidate list for an underground organisation’s heir selection.

Gu Donghai swallowed his irritation. He had no choice but to tolerate him. Then, movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention.

One of the La Riviere directors stopped in front of a blond man. The director’s posture changed instantly, his back straightened, his head dipped respectfully, and he bowed slightly.

"President Du Pont," Director Jiang said warmly, voice carrying just enough to be heard. "What a great surprise running into you. I was meaning to talk to you about the Rona Project."

Clyde inclined his head politely. "Director Jiang. We’ll be holding a meeting this week. You can present your ideas there."

"Ah, yes. Of course, of course." Director Jiang laughed, nodding repeatedly. "I apologise. We haven’t been able to see you at the headquarters recently. I was a bit hasty."

Then his eyes flicked toward Micah disguised as a girl, lingering with unmistakable curiosity. His smile widened.

"But now," he said with a knowing chuckle, "seeing your lovely companion, I perfectly understand."

Micah blinked. Clyde remained composed, though the corner of his eyes softened slightly.

Director Jiang laughed again, clearly pleased with himself. He’d heard the rumours, everyone in the company had. And now, seeing the silver-haired girl standing beside Clyde Du Pont, he was certain they were true.

It looked like spring had finally arrived for their boss.

His enthusiastic voice drew attention from nearby guests. Conversations slowed. Curious glances followed the director’s gaze.

Gu Donghai turned his head fully now, eyes locking onto the blond man. His breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

Clyde Du Pont. The mysterious president of La Riviere.

Gu Donghai stepped forward, smoothing his jacket instinctively. He cast a quick glance at his sister, and some of his displeasure faded. He didn’t think her involvement with Aidan Wilson was wise, but there were advantages.

The Du Pont patriarch attending an auction arranged by their family? That alone elevated their status.

"Director Jiang," Gu Donghai said calmly.

Director Jiang turned, smiling. "Oh, Vice President Gu. Such a splendid event."

Then he gestured toward Clyde. "Allow me to introduce, this is our president, Mr Du Pont."

Gu Donghai inclined his head respectfully. "Mr. Du Pont."

Nabil Lobart had followed them over, his gaze fixed on Clyde with keen interest. He couldn’t help but feel that Noas’s insistence on attending tonight’s auction after a hasty discharge had been a stroke of luck. He’d already met several important figures, but Clyde Du Pont stood above them all.

Beside him, Gu Feifei let out a quiet sneer.

"Found a better family?" she whispered sharply, just loud enough for Nabil to hear. "Planning to set a honey trap for their daughters again?"

Her lips curved cruelly. The shame of being dumped by Nabil had once haunted her relentlessly. Tonight, though, after receiving praise and attention from powerful figures, that stain seemed to fade. She finally felt bold enough to confront it.

Nabil’s expression didn’t change. Not even a flicker. He didn’t spare her a glance. There was no need to justify himself.

Instead, he stepped past her smoothly, adjusting his cuff as he approached Clyde with a polite, measured smile.

"Mr Du Pont," he said, extending his hand. "It’s an honour to finally meet you."

The tension in the air shifted, subtle but unmistakable, as Clyde met his gaze. Old enemies faced each other once more.