From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 676: The First Snow

Micah stepped quietly into the VIP room, careful not to let the door click too loudly behind him. The corridor outside had been cold and silent, but the room inside felt warm and dim. He placed the cake box gently on the small table near the entrance, adjusting it so it wouldn’t tip over. His eyes instinctively drifted toward the inner room.

It was already ten o’clock.

He hadn’t meant to return this late. He had only planned to buy the cake and come straight to the hospital, but Clyde had appeared out of the blue and taken him to dinner. By the time he managed to return, hours had slipped by.

Micah removed his woollen hat and unwound his scarf slowly, shaking off the faint chill that still clung to him. He laid them neatly over the sofa before moving toward the half-open door of the inner room. His steps softened. He leaned slightly forward and peeked inside.

Mabel Ramsy was leaning against the bedside couch, her head tilted to one side, eyes closed. Even in sleep, her brows were faintly furrowed, as if the weight of responsibility refused to loosen its grip.

On the hospital bed, however, Zhou Ruyan was awake.

She was staring out of the window.

Albert had chosen this room carefully. It was on the twelfth floor, high enough to overlook most of the city. At night, the view was beautiful. Lights glittered below like scattered stars, and the faint outline of buildings shimmered in the winter haze.

The bulky monitoring device had been moved aside at her request earlier that week. She had complained that the cables across her chest made her uncomfortable and restless. Since her condition had stabilised, the doctors agreed to transfer her out of the CCU and into this VIP room.

It didn’t look like a hospital room anymore.

Albert had ordered it decorated to resemble her bedroom back at the Ramsy mansion. Familiar curtains. A small wooden cabinet. Even the bedding was similar to what she used at home. Fresh flowers were replaced daily. It felt less sterile, less frightening.

As if sensing someone watching her, Zhou Ruyan slowly turned her head.

Her eyes met Micah’s.

A gentle smile curved on her lips.

Micah immediately lifted his hand and gave her a small wave. "Hi, Grandma," he whispered, keeping his voice low so he wouldn’t wake Mabel.

Zhou Ruyan’s gaze shifted briefly toward her eldest daughter. Worry flickered across her face.

Micah noticed the expression at once. He stepped fully inside, closing the door quietly behind him. He tiptoed toward the bed and stopped beside her.

"What is it, Grandma?" he asked softly.

She sighed, her eyes drifting back to Mabel. "Your aunt came straight from the clinic to the hospital. With her husband like that, everything falls on her shoulders." Her voice carried faint frustration. "I heard Vivian threw another tantrum today. Fighting with Cora again. And Graham called her home just to meditate."

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Sometimes I wonder what she saw in that man to agree to marry him."

Micah gently patted her hand. "Don’t worry so much, Grandma. Aunt Mabel is strong. And honestly... maybe Uncle Graham suits her."

Zhou Ruyan raised a brow.

Micah continued, speaking more carefully. "If she had married some workaholic CEO, she might have been forced to quit her job and stay home full-time. At least Uncle Graham supports her career. Sometimes we only see the negatives. The important thing is that they’re happy with each other."

Zhou Ruyan shot him a sideways glance. "Since when did you become some wise old man handing out life advice?"

Micah grinned. "Your grandson has grown up. Being in a relationship opens your eyes."

She stared at him for a moment, speechless. Then she sighed dramatically. "Smug, aren’t you? Be careful. Not everyone will tolerate your so-called half-assed wisdom. Some people might beat you for it."

Micah gasped softly. "Grandma! Language!"

Zhou Ruyan snorted. "After lying in this bed for weeks, I’ve earned the right to speak however I want."

The joking tone faded slightly. Micah’s expression softened.

"Grandma... just bear with it a little longer," he said gently. "I’m sure you’ll be discharged before the New Year. And I’ll stay with you until then. I’m free now."

Zhou Ruyan turned her head away. They both knew that wasn’t entirely true. "Wake your aunt if you plan to stay," she murmured, brushing past his reassurance.

Micah blinked quickly. For a moment, his vision blurred. He swallowed and forced a small smile. "Sure."

He took out his phone and texted Clyde that he’d be staying the night, telling him to go home without him. Then he walked to the couch and crouched slightly, gently tapping Mabel’s shoulder. "Auntie," he whispered.

Mabel stirred and blinked awake. "Micah? Why are you here so late?"

"I’ve been busy with exams," he said quietly. "But I’m free now. I’ll stay with Grandma tonight. You should go home and rest."

Mabel pushed herself upright, smoothing her slightly messy hair. "Are you sure? Don’t you have plans with your boyfriend?"

Micah shrugged lightly. "Already met him."

She studied him for a second, then nodded. "Alright. I’ll go home then." She stood up and squeezed his shoulder. "Thank you, Micah."

He smiled.

Mabel walked to the bedside. She adjusted the blanket around Zhou Ruyan’s shoulders with gentle hands, her movements careful and practised. "I’ll come again early tomorrow," she said softly. "Rest well, Mum."

Zhou Ruyan gave a small nod, her eyes warm despite the fatigue beneath them. Mabel lingered for a second longer, as if reluctant to leave, then finally turned and walked out of the room.

The door clicked shut.

Micah waited a beat. Then he pressed a hand dramatically against his chest and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Oooff..."

Zhou Ruyan narrowed her eyes at him immediately. Even lying in bed, she looked sharp. Suspicious. "What is this rascal up to now?" her gaze seemed to say.

Micah pretended not to notice. He cleared his throat, walked back to the small table, and picked up the cake box he had placed there earlier. He carried it over with deliberate casualness.

"Merry Christmas, Grandma," he announced lightly. "I stood in line for an hour for this."

He set the box down on the bedside table and carefully opened the lid.

Inside sat the small Christmas cake, white frosting smooth as snow, tiny red berries shining under the warm light, delicate chocolate decorations perched neatly on top.

Zhou Ruyan stared at it for two full seconds. Then she let out a low chuckle. "You have some nerve," she said, shaking her head. "Bringing a cream cake to a patient with heart problems?"

Micah leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "I made sure Aunt didn’t see me carrying it," he whispered conspiratorially. "And your blood test results were perfectly fine. No high sugar. No high cholesterol. A small slice won’t hurt."

She tilted her head slightly, clearly tempted but pretending to resist. "Only you understand me," she muttered. "Do you know how strictly they monitor my meals? Everything is bland. No flavour. No colour. I feel like I’ve been sentenced to tasteless prison food."

Micah laughed quietly. He opened the small packet of forks and handed one to her. "Then this is your jailbreak. Here. Dig in, Grandma."

Zhou Ruyan reached out, her fingers thin but steady. She cut off a small piece, smaller than she probably wanted, and brought it to her lips.

The moment she tasted it, her eyes closed. A soft, genuine smile spread across her face.

Micah watched her carefully, his own expression slowly softening.

He poured hot water into a small thermos cup and prepared herbal tea for her, the faint earthy scent filling the room. The cake and tea sat between them like a secret.

They talked quietly while she ate, about the mansion, about distant relatives, about trivial gossip that didn’t matter. She complained about how the nurses tried to confiscate her favourite chocolate. He told her about exam stress, about how people recognised him now, even fans surrounding him, and pretended to exaggerate it. She rolled her eyes at him.

The conversation drifted naturally, comfortably and unforced.

When the cake was nearly finished, Micah stood up to clean the table. He wiped the surface carefully and threw away the packaging evidence before anyone could discover their small rebellion.

"Grandma," he said gently, "aren’t you tired? Shouldn’t you sleep?"

"In a little while," she replied, her voice softer now. Her gaze shifted toward the window. "I heard it might snow tonight. I want to see it."

Micah turned his head to look outside.

The sky was thick with clouds, heavy and grey. There was no moon, no stars, only the reflection of city lights against the glass.

"It’s cold enough," he murmured. "I think it will snow."

He pulled the chair closer to the window and turned it slightly so they could both see outside. Then he sat down beside her bed.

The two of them watched the city together.

Far below, cars moved like glowing lines along the roads. People gathered near a tall Christmas tree in the plaza, their silhouettes small and lively. The tree lights flickered in gold and red. Decorations wrapped around lampposts. The entire street shimmered softly.

"Micah..." Zhou Ruyan called quietly.

He hummed in response, still looking outside.

"Are you happy?"

The question lingered in the air.

Micah thought for a moment. He didn’t rush to answer.

"Mmm," he finally replied softly. "I’m content."

She gave a faint nod. "That’s good."

Silence settled between them... not heavy, not uncomfortable. Just still.

Micah found it calming. These quiet moments were rare. Precious. In another life, he had never sat like this with her, never simply watched the world pass by without conflict or regret hanging over him.

He didn’t want the moment to end. Then something caught his eye. A small white speck drifted past the window. He leaned forward slightly. Another one followed. A delicate snowflake landed on the metal railing outside and clung there.

Micah straightened in his chair, eyes widening. "Grandma," he said, his voice brightening with sudden excitement. "It’s snowing. Look! the first snow of the year!"

He turned quickly toward her, ready to see her reaction.

But Zhou Ruyan’s eyes were closed.

Her face was calm. Peaceful. The faintest smile still rested at the corner of her lips.

Micah’s breath caught. He didn’t move. He didn’t reach out.

Somehow, before touching her, before calling her name again... he already knew.

The room felt unbearably quiet. The snow continued to fall outside.

And she was gone.