From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 181: Stay Close and Stay Hidden

Chapter 181: Stay Close and Stay Hidden

While they waited for the match to load, Archie’s voice was heard through a headset, loud and teasing.

"What’s with the cartoon cat?"

Micah blinked at his screen. His avatar icon, a smug devil cat, grinned back at him. He raised an eyebrow. "Got an opinion?"

"Yeah. It’s totally you," Archie said with a chuckle. "The smirk, the eyes, the vibe. That little devilish smile? Uncanny."

Micah leaned back in his chair, a dry laugh leaving his throat. "Good, remember it next time you talk nonsense. My devilish Pitchfork might find its way up to your ass."

"Whoa, whoa," Archie laughed, loud enough to make Micah pull the headset away for a second. "I’m patiently waiting for that now."

Micah made a face. "Masochist!" he muttered under his breath.

"Did you say something?"

"Nah," Micah replied, tapping his fingers on the desk.

There was a short pause as the loading screen came up. The five avatars of their team filled the screen one by one.

"Wasn’t any of your team members free?" Micah asked casually, eyes still on the screen.

Archie hesitated. "No. They’re all in training," he said smoothly. Of course, it was a lie. He just didn’t want those loudmouths ruining his time with Micah.

"Oh..." Micah said.

"Why? Did you want to play with someone specific?" Archie asked lightly, even though he was fishing.

"Huh? No, I don’t know anyone from your team," Micah replied. He stared at his friend list in the corner of the screen and caught DarkVyne’s black avatar.

Darcy!

He facepalmed. He had totally forgotten to tell him he would be playing today and with Archie no less.

"Really?" Archie said in surprise. "You’ve never heard of our team?"

"No. I knew the team and you. But that was it," Micah said absentmindedly.

He chewed the inside of his cheek. What if Darcy logged in, or later accidentally heard about the match and thought he had been left out on purpose?

He would definitely be upset.

Archie smirked on the other end. Just the idea that Micah had noticed him solely among all of his team members made his mood improve.

Micah picked up his phone and quickly sent a text message to Darcy. After that little episode in the restaurant, Micah felt Darcy had become a bit sensitive. He didn’t want to make it worse, making Darcy feel he was left out intentionally.

RogueOverlord: Hey. I am going to play LOJ with a senior. Also, when you are free, there is something I should tell you.

"Why aren’t you picking your Champion?" Archie’s voice broke through again.

Micah flinched and put away his phone. "I’m on it."

He quickly selected his champion, Nami, the oceanic support with waves and crowd control. Not his flashiest pick but he played her well.

The game countdown began. 5...4...3...

They loaded into the Rift. Five players in each team. All set.

Archie was Xin Zhao, in his custom red and black armour skin.

Micah as Nami, floated gently on her tide pool, her staff glowing faintly blue.

Their teammates:

HonorAlliance: mid lane/ Ahri

LeveltheBest: top lane/ Irelia

MrShield: AD carry/ Jhin

Micah/ FrostbiteAshe: support/ Nami

Archie/ ShadowSlayer: Jungler/ Xin Zhao

"Stick with me," Archie said, his voice calm now.

Micah nodded. "Got it."

Of course, he would stick close. He wanted to see Archie’s playstyle up close anyway. Archie was known for being flexible, top, mid, support, tank, but jungle was where he really shined.

The match began.

Micah followed Archie into the jungle area, hovering behind him as he attacked monsters to gain buffs and exp. Every now and then, Micah used Nami’s Tidecaller’s Blessing, to boost Archie’s attacks, the water splashing brightly with each strike.

"Let’s clear Blue Buff, then rotate," Archie muttered.

Micah mumbled, ’Okay,’ and cast a healing wave on Archie, though he still had 80% HP. He was totally useless. Micah sighed. Archie didn’t need him at all.

Then Archie said, "It’s time."

He disappeared into the top jungle bush. A few seconds later, First Blood!

Micah blinked. "Already?"

Archie’s deep laugh came through. "They weren’t watching the map."

Micah quickly moved to River Lane to place a ward. A red ping flashed.

"On your left," Archie said.

Micah cast a bubble, Aqua Prison, and caught an enemy assassin trying to gank. As luck would have it, Micah missed it. Obviously. Micah was ready to be killed. But then Archie swooped in from the jungle and blocked the attack. He easily finished the enemy off.

Double kill!

Micah watched, impressed by how efficient Archie was.

The match snowballed from there.

Ahri in the mid lane started pressing forward. Irelia on the top lane was holding her own.

And Archie? He tore through enemy jungle like a machine, picking off their carry, disturbing their vision, and leading attacks on Dragon and Herald.

Micah stuck close during team fights, casting heals, speed boosts, and crowd control.

It didn’t take long for their team to overpower the enemy.

Victory.

The game screen popped up with flashing letters: MVP: ShadowSlayer

No surprise.

The other three teammates spammed friend requests at Archie, their chat bubbled full of begging.

HonorAlliance: Bro plz duo again?

LeveltheBest: That was such. Teach me the jungle?

MrShield: Add me back, I’ll gift skins.

Archie ignored them. "Another round?" he asked Micah.

Micah leaned back and cracked his knuckles: "Be honest. What did you think of my level?"

"Not bad. But you were sharper the last time."

Micah paused. Last time...Was that with Darcy? He had felt more in sync back then. No it was Darcy who had adjusted to him. Without that, his weakness still showed.

As he exited the match screen, he noticed a green dot blink beside a name.

DarkVyne had come online.

He quickly sent a message.

FrostbiteAshe: Hey.

DarkVyne: Who are you playing with?

FrostbiteAshe: Archie, Russell’s brother. He is the SilverBlade captain.

DarkVyne: How come?

FrostbiteAshe: because of that stupid post. I don’t want anything to do with that man.

DarkVyne: and?

FrostbiteAshe: This Friday, there is an inter-university Esports tournament. I’m joining to shift attention. Get them to talk about me in another way.

DarkVyne: Can I come too?

Micah’s fingers froze on the keyboard. He didn’t want to put Darcy and Archie in the same room. What if Archie did the same thing to Darcy that he did in the novel? What if he saw his skills and tried to poach him? What if all went wrong?

He hesitated, then typed.

FrostbiteAshe: I didn’t tell him you are DarkVyne.

DarkVyne: I have another account.

FrostbiteAshe: Okay. But don’t be brilliant. I don’t want him to notice you. I don’t trust him.

DarkVyne: Sure.

Meanwhile, in Room 412, Darcy looked at the chat and smiled.

He had been puzzled when Micah suddenly said he was playing with a senior. He quickly returned to the dorm and logged in.

He already didn’t like Archie. And now, knowing he was on the same team as that DiabolicDestroyers, the guy from that showdown last time, he hated it even more.

He was still in the dark about what relationship Micah had with him. He remembered how Micah’s face changed when that name came up.

What if on Friday Micah encountered that mysterious guy? What if there was more going on?

Darcy narrowed his eyes.

He had to be there on Friday. He needed to see for himself what was really doing on between Micah and that player.

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