From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 101: Where It Burns Most

Chapter 101: Where It Burns Most

Sergeant Seth McKay stood with his arms folded behind his back, his military boots planted firmly on the edge of the raised podium. His expression was hidden behind sunglasses and a cap.

The scorching sun covered the training field, casting harsh heat that waved over the assembled students. Dozens of young men and women stood in formation, staring right ahead, feet apart, and hands clasped behind them in the parade rest position. Not a single head moved. Sweat trickled down temples, uniforms soaked, and the breaths turned shallow.

Then, like a domino game, one by one, students fell to the ground.

"Out!" Seth barked.

The failed students left the formation in dismay.

Seth’s eyes were glued to one person. The young man with snow-white hair. Even from a distance, the colour stood out starkly against the backdrop of olive uniforms. His posture was straight, not rigid but composed, shoulder relaxed, arms steady, gaze fixed forward.

Could this really be the young man Leo kept looking for?

The possibility of him being his little brother’s saviour seemed unbelievable. Leo, 25 years old, had been saved by an eighteen-year-old boy. A teenager.

Seth narrowed His eyes. The description was so similar. That frame, smaller than most of the boys, matched. He wasn’t bulky, not visibly athletic. Just lean, almost fragile. Still, the boy hadn’t flinched once in the hour they had all been forced to stand under the blazing sun.

He hadn’t told Leo about this potential match. He first needed to supervise the boy and be sure. Seth remembered how hopeful Leo had been on Sunday when he had misunderstood and thought he had found his saviour. That false lead had shattered him.

The look of depression on Leo’s face was still on his mind. Seth couldn’t afford to put him through that again.

No, it was better for Seth to check him first. He had tried to subtly gather information from other students about the boy. But none knew anything useful. At least Seth knew he wasn’t famous for academic achievement.

On the other hand, the boy’s physical condition was a surprise. When he heard, he was hospitalised. Seth had thought he was a delicate, frail boy. But after one hour of standing, the boy didn’t give up when most of his classmates were eliminated.

"At ease," he barked, finishing the practice.

Groans and wails echoed across the field as students sagged, rolled their shoulders, and stretched their limbs that had been locked stiff for too long. Some even sat straight down on the ground, panting.

Micah also collapsed with a quiet huff, wiping the sweat from his face with the back of his hand.

"Oh, man! I thought I saw white for a second!" Eddie flopped down next to him. "They are seriously heartless. Who stands people in this kind of heat under such sunlight for an hour?" Eddie said. "But, Micah, you, my guy, you were really something else, tolerating it until the end, not even a twitch."

Micah managed a weak laugh, wiping his forehead again. "Ah, I used to do martial arts. So... it’s not that different."

"You two alive?!" Nick jogged up, waving a bottle in each hand. "Here, drink something before you dry out."

Before Micah could reach for the bottle, Emile snatched it from Nick. "He can’t drink cold water. Genius, his stomach is still recovering."

A shadow fell over them.

Micah looked up to see Darcy holding out a thermos. "Here. It is warm water. It’s better for your stomach."

Micah blinked, caught off guard. "Thanks," Micah mumbled, taking it carefully. Their fingers brushed.

Things between them had been stiff and awkward since this morning. Even though Darcy took care of him, Micah could sense something was different. The warmth in Darcy’s gestures was quieter now, more reserved.

"I think that was the last of the physical drills for today," Darcy said, glancing toward the shaded area. "We can move out of the sun now."

Micah nodded and stood, stretching his legs with a wince. His knees cracked. "Thank god."

As they walked, Emile groaned dramatically. "Ah, my skin! Even though I applied sunscreen, I still can feel it burning! I swear I’m going to peel like an onion tomorrow."

Then Emile looked at Micah with resentment. "Why is your skin looking this good?"

Micah smiled smugly. "I have my family doctor make handmade sunscreen especially for my skin. When I was a child, I burned badly on the beach and was hospitalised for it. After that, I never left home without sunscreen!"

Darcy looked at Micah’s pale skin. Strangely, there wasn’t a hint of redness. It seemed the sun hadn’t had any effect on it. He frowned slightly and shoved his own bottle of sunscreen deeper into his pocket. Yeah, Micah didn’t need this cheap one.

He had seen skin that burned badly, resulting in hospitalisation before. Years ago, when he was still a kid. His father, back before everything fell apart, had the same sensitive skin. It didn’t matter whether it was a minute or a split second, if he had applied sunscreen or not, his skin would have burned quickly. His mother used to grumble, half-teasing, that it wasn’t fair. "We come to visit your grandparents on their farm, then your dad has to care more about his skin than his wife and kids."

A wistful expression crossed Darcy’s face. That time felt so far away now.

His gaze landed on Micah again. This morning, when he had gone to check on Micah in his room and heard what had happened, that Micah was sent to the hospital from a stomachache, he had felt so many things. Mostly worry.

Then came anger, hurt, betrayal...

But he suppressed all of them. Who was he, really, to demand answers?

Yeah. He was just a friend. Micah’s behaviour had made him think he was special. But he realised he was replaceable. Someone like Emile with easy charm and money could slip right through into Micah’s life.

Darcy clenched the sunscreen in his pocket. He didn’t want to admit it, but for Micah, it was better to associate with someone like Emile, a rich kid, capable enough to send him to a VIP hospital, not someone like him, at the bottom of society and nothing but a burden.

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