From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 170: Side By Side, Not With Me

Chapter 170: Side By Side, Not With Me

Half an hour earlier:

Leo stood near the corner of the hallway, tucked in the shadows where no one would notice him. His back pressed against the cold wall, arms folded tightly across his chest. He had put on a cap and mask, covering his face. Only his eyes were visible, wide, sharp, locked on the restroom door ahead of him.

Time dragged. Minutes passed. The hallway stayed quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of footsteps or the distant chatter from the lobby. Then finally, the door creaked open.

Leo’s breath caught in his throat.

But the dark-haired boy stepped out, the one he had seen earlier in the hallway.

Leo’s eyes filled with disappointment. He had guessed wrong again.

Leo didn’t move. He just stood there, frozen, his heartbeat slow and heavy. His lips parted under the mask as if he wanted to sigh but he couldn’t even let that out.

Why was he so desperate?

He lowered his head a little, eyes full of frustration.

Then, something shifted.

That same dark-haired boy turned around and went back inside the restroom. Leo’s brows pinched together. Strange. Why come out, only to go back a minute later?!

He lifted his head again, alert now. He didn’t have to wait long. The door swung open a second time, and this time, two people came out.

Leo’s eyes narrowed. The first was the same dark-haired boy from earlier. The second...

His body stiffened.

The second figure wore a cap low on his face. The boy had even covered part of his face with a mask. It looked like he didn’t want anyone to see him.

Leo’s pupils trembled. He had guessed right. There was someone else inside. Was he really his savour?!

Leo’s lips parted, and his hands clenched at his sides. His legs wanted to move, to run toward him, but his brain held him back. What if he wasn’t?!

So he followed. He kept his distance, staying in the shadows. Watching.

They left the restaurant. They stopped in a quiet corner before they began to argue.

Leo ducked behind a pillar, eyes fixed on the two figures up ahead. He couldn’t hear much, but the tension in their posture said it all. The dark-haired boy gestured sharply, frustrated. The other boy looked back with something like defiance in his stance.

Leo’s jaw tightened.

Then the disguised boy uttered some words and broke into a run. A gust of wind swept past, catching his cap. It flew off, and his silver hair flashed under the light.

Leo’s breath hitched. Time stopped. It was real. His saviour.

Before he could even react, the boy had put some distance between them.

Leo’s heart jumped in his throat.

He didn’t think about anything. Not his image. Not reputation as a star. He just ran after him.

When he saw his saviour was close to getting hit by a car, his heart dropped. He dashed forward. "Stop!" he tried to shout, but nothing came out. His voice was dry. Choked. Panic wrapped around his throat like a hand.

Luckily, the boy stopped before getting into the road.

Leo clutched his heart in fear, chest heaving, hands trembling.

That had been too close.

He stepped back again, hiding behind the tree near the edge of the park. His eyes stayed locked on the boy. Watching. Breathing hard.

The silver-haired boy wandered toward an old swing set and sat down slowly. He didn’t move much, just gripped the chains and gently swayed back and forth. The swing creaked under his weight, a lonely sound in the quiet night.

Leo’s stomach twisted.

He looked...tired. Not just physically, but deep down. His head was lowered, eyes on the ground. His shoulders sagged like the whole world had landed on them.

Leo had no idea why the two boys had an argument. He was too far to hear what they were saying.

But he could see the boy was hurt.

Leo clenched his fists. That dark-haired boy... he deserved a punch. For making his savour look like that. For hurting the one person Leo couldn’t stop thinking about.

He stepped forward, one foot on the path.

But then the boy pulled out his phone and lifted it to his ear. "Hey," he said.

Leo stopped in his tracks. He moved aside, hiding behind the tree again.

The boy continued. "Sorry, I don’t know where I am..."

There was a pause. "Okay. I’ll send you the location." With that, he ended the call and tapped on his screen.

Tucking the phone into his pocket, the boy resumed his swinging.

Leo stood still, eyes fixed on him. He didn’t know whether to go forward or not. Should he speak up? Say something? Would the boy run again?

Before he could decide, he heard the sound of footsteps, fast ones.

Leo turned sharply.

The dark-haired boy was running toward the swing. His eyes wide with panic. "Micah!" he called.

Leo’s entire body tensed.

The boy ran up and grabbed Micah’s hands, leaning down slightly as he spoke. "Micha...I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have snapped. I didn’t mean it. I was just...I don’t know, being stupid..."

Leo’s jaw clenched. He thought another fight would break out. His savour surely would utter some snarky remark like he did when he saved him that night.

But to his surprise, his saviour, Micah, smiled at the dark-haired boy.

Not the bitter kind he wore earlier. Not the fake one.

A real, genuine smile.

Leo’s stomach twisted again, this time with something sharper.

Jealousy.

Jealous of that smile. Why did his savour smile at that dark-haired boy like that? He was the one who upset him, wasn’t he? He was the one who made Micah run off like that. So why? Why forgive him easily?

Leo’s fists tightened. That boy... he didn’t trust him. Something about him rubbed Leo the wrong way. He clearly lied before. He said no one with silver hair passed by. Wasn’t that to keep Leo away?

No... he wouldn’t let that despicable dark-haired boy manipulate his saviour! Yes! He would show Micah his true colours.

Leo’s chest burned. He couldn’t hear what they were saying now, but he could see it. The way they stood, a little closer now. The way Micah looked at him, no longer upset. Like he had already forgiven everything.

Leo stood in silence as the two boys began to walk away together. Their pace was slow. But they were walking side by side.

He didn’t follow. He watched.

Leo bit down on his bottom lip so hard it stung. He needed a drink. Or a smoke, anything to kill the aching, hot mess of emotion spinning in his chest.

He still couldn’t look away. He had found him. Finally. His saviour had a face now. A name.

Micah.

That was enough. Seth, his older brother, could find everything else. Background, family, records. It was only a matter of time.

Leo shoved his hands in his pockets and turned the other way. His jaw clenched as he walked off, forcing his feet to carry him in the opposite direction.

He should be happy. Relief should flood him. Instead, all he felt was bitter heat in his chest and the image of that other boy standing too close.