From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 666: Bitten by a Very Particular Dog (part one)

Micah sat comfortably in the passenger seat, his posture loose and relaxed, one knee angled toward the dashboard, the orthopaedic boot forcing his leg into that position. Sunlight filtered through the windshield, casting a soft glow over his face and catching faintly on the curve of his cheek. He looked... annoyingly refreshed. His eyes were bright, lips curved into a small, satisfied smile that he didn’t even bother hiding.

Darcy, seated in the back, noticed immediately.

His gaze flicked from Micah to Clyde, lingering a little longer on the man behind the wheel. Clyde’s shoulders were stiff, his jaw tight, dark circles faintly visible beneath his eyes. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, knuckles just a shade paler than usual. He looked exhausted, not the kind of tired that came from a long day of work, but the kind that seeped into the bones and refused to leave.

Darcy slowly raised an eyebrow, the expression sharp and knowing.

Well. That was interesting.

One of them looked fresh as the morning air. The other looked like a ghost.

Darcy leaned back slightly, crossing his arms, his gaze drifting lazily between the two as the pieces began arranging themselves in his mind. The contrast alone was enough to spark all sorts of unhelpful, vivid imagination. And the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became with himself.

Last night, he hadn’t gone up to check on Micah. He’d stood outside his apartment for a full minute before deciding against it, reasoning that whatever was happening in there didn’t involve him. He would only be a third wheel. A nuisance. He had told himself to be considerate, to give them space.

Now, watching Micah practically glowing while Clyde looked like he’d gone ten rounds with fate, Darcy regretted that decision immensely.

He should have barged in.

The car rolled forward smoothly as Clyde navigated the streets toward campus. Inside the car, however, the silence was broken almost immediately, not by Clyde, but by Micah.

Micah turned slightly in his seat, twisting enough to face Darcy, and launched into conversation with barely a pause for breath.

"So how’s your mother doing today?" Micah asked, eyes warm with concern. "Did she sleep better last night? And Nora, did she adapt to the new school? Did she make friends?"

Darcy blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden flood of questions. Micah spoke with animation, hands moving as he talked, fingers tapping lightly against his knee. His voice was lively, full of genuine interest.

"She’s much better," Darcy replied, easing into the familiar rhythm. "She won’t stop talking about how amazing the heated floors are, so I’d say that’s a good sign. Nora chewed my ear off, going on about how wonderful the new school is. And yes, apparently Cora had brought her into their circle and now she’s completely hooked on LOJ." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Micah laughed softly. "Oh... that’s it. Nora’s done for. Good luck to separate her from it."

By the time they reached the campus gates, traffic had slowed to a crawl. Cars lined up one after another for the drop-off zone, engines idling, drivers leaning out windows or checking their phones.

That was when Darcy noticed it. His eyes caught on the faint discolouration along Micah’s neck, a bruise, partially hidden but unmistakable now that the angle and light were just right. A soft, purplish mark just beneath the collar line.

Darcy’s gaze sharpened. Then, almost immediately, he noticed Clyde lift one hand from the steering wheel and rub at his ear, thumb brushing absently against skin that was just slightly reddish.

Darcy stared. Then stared harder.

"...These two animals," he muttered under his breath.

The words slipped out before he could stop them, low but audible in the enclosed space.

Then, louder, more pointed, his tone dripping with disbelief, Darcy added, "Is it mating season or something?"

The reaction was instantaneous.

Micah flinched so hard he nearly jumped out of his seat, his spine going rigid, breath catching in his throat. Clyde’s foot jerked on the brake just enough to make the car lurch slightly before he corrected it, eyes widening a fraction.

Both of them turned, simultaneously, toward Darcy.

Micah felt his soul attempt to leave his body. Heat rushed to his face, his ears burning as panic set in.

Micah sweated buckets, scared shitless, thinking Darcy would scold him. Please! Anything except hearing birds-and-bees sex talk from Darcy, the one he acknowledged as a little brother! The humiliation would scare him for life!

Micah swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe evenly, eyes darting away as if the dashboard had suddenly become fascinating.

Darcy, meanwhile, seemed perfectly unfazed. He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the back of the front seats, eyes flicking between Micah and Clyde with casual curiosity.

Then, as if nothing scandalous had been implied at all, Darcy asked calmly, "Micah, do you need help getting to class?"

Micah blinked. It took him a full second to process the question.

"No," he replied quickly, perhaps too quickly. "I’m fine. Emile will be there to help me. Really. Rest assured."

Darcy studied him for a moment longer, as if weighing something, then turned his head toward the window. The line of cars inched forward again.

"Then I’ll get off here," Darcy said, his tone neutral. "It’s closer to my department anyway."

Clyde glanced left, then right, checking mirrors before nodding. "You can get off now."

Darcy opened the door, the rush of outside noise spilling in briefly before he stepped out and shut it behind him.

"I’ll see you at lunch," Micah called after him from inside the car, forcing cheer into his voice.

Darcy lifted a hand in acknowledgment without turning around and disappeared into the stream of students.

The car fell into silence the moment he was gone.

Micah shifted in his seat, fingers twisting together in his lap. He stared out the windshield, then down at his knees, then finally glanced at Clyde from the corner of his eye.

"Do you think he assumed...?" Micah began, trailing off, too embarrassed to finish the thought aloud.

Clyde tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in a slow, measured rhythm. "You put it on display for the whole world, and now you’re worried?" he said evenly. "You could’ve covered it. A scarf. A bandage."

Micah shot him a sharp glare. "If I had, I’m sure a jealous boyfriend would’ve thrown another fit."

Clyde’s lips curved into a faint smile. "I thought you chose my ear because it’s the one place I can’t hide."

Micah crossed his arms with a huff. "Hmph. Serves you right."

Before he could react, Clyde reached over and ruffled Micah’s hair, fingers threading through the soft strands with familiar ease. "You’re getting bold," he murmured. "Playing with fire like this. Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to handle it?"

Micah sneered, chin lifting. "What’s there to be scared of? Five out of a hundred times, it doesn’t even show up for work anyway."

"Micah," Clyde warned sharply. "Don’t tempt me, or I’ll drag you straight home."

Micah shrugged, utterly unimpressed. "All talk, no action."

"For the love of god..." Clyde growled.

"Fine, fine, I’ll stop," Micah said lightly, already looking past him. "Oh, look, I can see Emile."

He changed the subject with deliberate speed, pulling out his phone and dialling. "Hey, we’re behind the grey Land Cruiser."

Moments later, Emile jogged toward the car. Micah lowered the window. "Help me out."

Emile opened the door, careful and practised, one hand supporting Micah’s arm while the other grabbed his backpack.

"Uncle, drive safe," Emile said before walking away with Micah.

Clyde remained in the car, alone now.

He leaned back against the seat and exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. He knew this was his fault. He had encouraged this boldness, nurtured it, let Micah poke at the hornet’s nest with that infuriating grin.

If it weren’t for the hanging threat of those four men seeking Micah over their heads, Clyde would have distanced himself from Micah. Or if Zhou Ruyan was not that ill, he might have let himself taste the meat, just a little.

But now....

What a mess. What a dilemma.