From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 136: Stray Cat Protocol: Engage

Chapter 136: Stray Cat Protocol: Engage

Clyde found the food street easily. The stalls were all lined up under bright yellow lights, some blinking, some streaming with the scent of frying oil and sugar. People were everywhere, eating, laughing, chatting with their mouths full. It was noisy, lively, and crowded. He didn’t even have to look hard.

There, just past the takoyaki cart, stood Micah.

The boy was hunched over a food stall, stuffing one fish ball into his mouth with one hand while the other carefully packed things into a luxurious container.

He looked a bit flushed, chewing quickly and avoiding eye contact with anyone around.

Clyde narrowed his eyes. That was Jacklin’s container.

Then Micah moved to several stalls, buying different snacks while popping one into his mouth like it was candy.

The audacity of this kid!

He had been in the hospital just yesterday! Pale, tired, hooked up with an IV. Now here he was, jumping from one stall to another like he hadn’t nearly collapsed not long ago. And why the hell was he filling Jacklin’s container?!

Clyde placed his hands into his pockets, standing at a distance, just watching. His eyes followed Micah as the boy made his way to another stall and pointed at something fried with dipping sauce. Micah didn’t even look around. He seemed lost in his own world, mood down, face tired, his shoulder slumped. His hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed, and his eyes, usually full of liveliness, were dull, almost hollow.

That wasn’t right.

Clyde knew Micah wouldn’t be able to change into his girl disguise back at the dorm. No privacy, too risky. He thought the boy had returned from somewhere out in his Asena disguise and probably would change in a nearby place before returning to the dorm.

But Micah had walked out like this, just himself, no tricks. So why was he being so obvious now?

Clyde quickly realised something was off.

Probably Jacklin had tricked them both. Micah was not that careless. Or maybe something had happened?

He didn’t move. Just kept his eyes on the boy, watching as Micah packed everything into the container. When Micah finally turned around, his gaze swept the street and then froze.

Their eyes met.

Micah stiffened like a kid caught stealing cookies. His mouth was still full, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. The container and food in his hands suddenly became a crime scene. Clyde raised an eyebrow as the boy, looking very guilty, tried to hide both behind his back like that would somehow erase the evidence.

Micah, slowly and reluctantly, walked toward him. He chewed fast like he wanted to swallow the problem. There was a sheepish look in his eyes as if he had already accepted his fate.

"Hi... what brings you here, mister?" Micah asked, his voice slightly muffled. He knew escaping now would be worse. That jerk would really think he was buying street food for himself.

Clyde’s lips twitched faintly. Mister, huh? That felt a little sharp in his ears. Like the boy was poking at his age.

"I was just passing by when I spotted a troublemaker," Clyde replied calmly, eyeing him.

Micah averted his gaze. "Someone asked me for a favour. I am not here to eat..."

"Well, wipe the sauce off your face before denying that," Clyde said casually.

Micah flinched. His hand shot up to his cheek and chin, fingers patting around. But there was nothing. He opened his mouth to ask where was it when he saw Clyde’s amused eyes.

Micah exploded. "You tricked me! You mean-spirited, bigoted old man!"

Micah tried hard not to swear. He didn’t want to give the man another angle to attack him.

Clyde’s expression darkened instantly. "Old man?" he repeated, incredulous. Him? That was the first time anyone had called him that to his face. He wasn’t that old! Just turned 28 this year!

"I couldn’t eat anything today... I just put one into my mouth before going to eat a proper dinner...something healthy..." Micah’s voice trailed off as he saw the man’s expression hardened.

"Save that breath for the doctor!" Clyde said, waiting for the boy to catch his meaning.

"Huh? What doctor..." Micah blinked. "No way! I’m not going to the hospital again!"

"Oh? You’d rather wake up your roommates in the middle of the night? What did you think would happen from not eating all day and then stuffing yourself with junk food?"

Micah clamped his mouth shut. He hated it, but the man was right. He had been too depressed earlier to care about the consequences of his eating. But now, standing here being watched like a disobedient kid, the guilt and logic were sinking in. What if it happened like the last time Emile sent him? However, he detested more to give in to this jerk and let him think he was right.

He looked at Clyde. "I will be marked for breaking the rules," Micah muttered. "QC uni is strict. You know how much they care about that kind of thing!"

"They are not unreasonable," Clyde said simply. "Just show them the medical certificate."

"No, I’m not going. I’m perfectly fine. Just pop a couple of antacids pills if it starts to hurt." Micah crossed his arms, stubborn to the core.

Clyde didn’t argue. He just pulled out his phone with a calm expression.

"Send the family doctor to my place near QC uni."

Micah stared. "What are you doing??" he asked, eyes wide.

Clyde didn’t answer. He ended the call and looked up.

"You really want to risk another collapse? I have a spare room and a doctor on call. your choice."

"Are you insane?" Micah stepped back like he had been electrified. "I’m not going to some stranger’s house!"

Clyde lifted a brow. "So? Would you prefer the hospital then?"

Micah turned around. "Goodbye. Who are you to boss me around? I only respected you ’cause you were older!"

Clyde chuckled. "Really? Wasn’t it because you thought I might call your family?"

Micah stopped walking. His shoulders tensed. "Damn..." he muttered. This man really was the worst. He had known all along who Micah was and still pretended like he didn’t. Manipulative jerk.

"What makes you think I would listen to you now?"

"If you were okay with your family knowing your stomach problem, you would have called them last time when you nearly collapsed in the uni," Clyde said lightly. "Isn’t your mother a professor here?"

Micah clenched his fists and turned around. "Why do you care so much?"

"Ah, I guess it’s like picking up a stray cat. If it gets sick again right after I spend time and money curing it, you don’t just walk away, do you?!" Clyde shrugged.

Micah rubbed his forehead. "This is blackmail!" he muttered in annoyance.

Clyde didn’t deny it. His lips stretched a bit upward. His list of ways to blackmail Micah was endless. Not even in his wildest dreams could the boy guess how much Clyde knew about his secrets.

(And That’s how a sly leopard lured a feral cat into his den....

Haha! Just kidding. Micah wouldn’t go to his place. My boy has his own principles!)