From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 45: Grumpy Cat x Black Retriever: The Game Begins

Chapter 45: Grumpy Cat x Black Retriever: The Game Begins

That evening, Micah finally got the bandages off. The stitches from the stab wound were removed by a family doctor, alongside family lectures and overprotective nagging filling Micah’s ears.

He looked at his scar, ugly and frightening, and his brows knitted together.

"Don’t worry, young master. After the wound heals completely, there are many options to remove the scar." the family doctor kindly added, noticing his gaze.

Micah nodded and thanked the doctor.

But the moment the ’you’re not allowed ever to do anything reckless again’ speeches started, Micah bolted. He had enough tearful eye contact and guilt-tripping to last him a lifetime.

And so, he fled the mansion and made his way to Aunt Mabel’s house.

He had planned to meet up with Cora, promising to invite Darcy to play together.

Cora didn’t even turn around.

"Oh, Micah, you are here," she said through her headset mic, eyes glued to the screen.

She sat with one leg tucked under her, twirling a cherry lollipop in her mouth, her purple headset lighting up with each word she spoke.

Micah stepped inside the room, dropping into the rolling chair next to hers with a groan.

"Where is everyone? Why are you alone on a Sunday afternoon?"

"They all have gone to my grandparent’s house," Cora said, leaning back in her chair to stretch.

"And you got out of it?" Micah arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I just took a look at the dress Vivian bought today, and she lost it, accusing me of wanting to snatch it from her. Long story short, my poor father begged me not to go and stay far away from her."

Cora said, popping a lollipop in her mouth.

"I bet you did it on purpose. You saw your mother was at the hospital, and you played Uncle Graham like a puppet in the palm of your hand."

Micah snickered.

Cora laughed out loud, "You know me too well. Do you think I would pass up this golden opportunity to hang out with those grumpy old people who criticise you for every move?! Hell no!"

"Okay, tone it down. After all, you are a girl, try acting like a lady!" Micah teased.

Cora shot him a flat look. " look who is talking?!"

"Hey, I have manners in front of ladies!"

Micah argued.

"Yeah, You just trash talk like a sailor once you log in!"

Cora snorted.

"Speaking of the game, when is DarkVyne online?"

Cora said excitedly.

Micah smiled, keeping his expression neutral. He wasn’t about to admit that he had direct contact with DarkVyne aka Darcy.

So he just told Cora that he had asked when he would be online again from that time they accidentally teamed up.

"Around Four o’clock."

"So, what are you waiting for? Log in already. What if we miss him?!"

Cora urged, practically bouncing in her seat.

Micah leaned forward, typing quickly. His account, FrostbiteAshe, loadedontothescreen. His profile picture was a cartoon cat with a devilish grin and a sparkly frame.

Cora glanced at his profile and snorted.

"Ugh, What is it with you and this cartoon cat? It’s literally Everywhere, your WeChat, your Discord... It’s engraving in my mind instead of your face!"

"What? I like it. Do you have a problem with it?"

Micah said defensively.

"No, whatever makes you happy," Cora said, shaking her head.

"Come on, check your friend list. Is he online?"

"Not yet," Micah said, glancing at the screen.

Cora moved her chair to Micah’s, craning her neck to look.

"Oh... are you still insisting on playing jungler? I told you, your patching is tragic, you never leash properly. You could never master it! You should change to tanks or AD carriers." Cora said.

"No way! Those are so lame!" Micah protested.

"Yeah, and you’re the first one to be killed every time, Is not lame?!"

Cora jabbed at him.

"Fine, I think about it. But not today. I have little time to familiarise myself with them. Let’s go with jungler."

Micah said.

Just then, a notification popped up.

DarkVyne, your friend,is now online.

Micah quickly opened the chat window.

DarkVyne: Is your cousin logged on?!

FrostbiteAshe: yeah. But she livestreams. If you are not cool with that, I’ll tell her to cut it off.

DarkVyne: yeah, better not. I have got just one hour before work.

Darcy was worried about Micah’s bruised ego after live streaming. He didn’t know Micah had lost his dignity teaming up with Cora many times before.

FrostbiteAshe: bummer... can I stop by and see your work?

Micah asked on a whim.

DarkVyne: I don’t mind, but you will be bored...

FrostbiteAshe: why?!

DarkVyne: it’s just sorting delivered goods and the receipts.

FrostbiteAshe: oh... so when does it end? I’ll pick you up. I need to tell you something.

DarkVyne: sure.

Cora suddenly yelled.

"Hey! Stop flirting! I am dying here from waiting! What happened? Is he not online?"

"What flirting? Don’t talk nonsense!" Micah said,

"Yeah, right, wipe off that goofy smile from your face before denying."

Micah cleared his throat, changing the subject.

"He is on. No livestreaming. Okay?"

"Ugh, fine," Cora grumbled, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Micah formed a team and invited her, DemonDuchess, and Darcy.

Cora squealed. "OMG, I can’t believe I’m finally playing with DarkVyne."

"Shush! I opened my mic!" Micah said.

Cora blushed, feeling embarrassed, and hit Micah’s arm.

"Ouch!" Micah yelped.

Darcy had unlocked the chat voice at that time.

"What happened??!" his voice was deep and soothing.

"Nothing, I accidentally hit my arm on the desk," Micah said, touching his itchy ear. He glared at Cora.

Meanwhile, Cora placed her hands over her mouth, stifling a scream upon hearing Darcy’s voice.

Micah rolled his eyes and spoke.

"Do you have someone to invite? We need two more players, one support and the other bot lane."

DarkVyne: no.

"Okay, I asked my friends," Cora said, her voice filled with excitement.

Two more players joined. MintBlade and PixieTank, both girls. Upon seeing DarkVyne’s ID, they lost their minds.

"Oh my god, is that him?"

"DarkVyne? Are you serious??"

Micah winced, yanking his headset off as their high-pitched squeals pierced his eardrums.

"Quiet, Please, or I’ll kick you out."

Micah spat, feeling uncomfortable.

The group quieted down instantly.

They all gathered in the pre-game lobby, waiting for matchmaking.

Cora nudged Micah with her elbow.

Micah looked at her, confused.

Cora, disappointed, grabbed Micah’s hand, writing in his palm.

"Ask him!" then she shoved a piece of paper into his hands.

Micah unfolded it. It was filled with personal questions about DarkVyne.

Micah’s lips twitched. He was blindsided. He has no idea Cora was a hardcore fan of DarkVyne.

"No," he spoke resolutely.

Cora clasped her hands in prayer, pleading silently.

Micah ignored her.

"We are starting. Get ready."

As the loading screen popped up, the team’s lineup formed.

FrostbiteAshe: Jungler, Nocturd

DemonDuchess: Top Lane, Irelian

DarkVyne: Mid Lane, Kas

MintBlade: Support, Namiri

PixieTank: ADC, Twitch

The familiar thrum of the LOJ theme played softly in Micah’s headset as the loading screen transitioned into the base. The map shimmered to life.

"Alright, alright. Let’s get this win. I’m going full chaos!" Cora’s voice crackled through the mic.

"You’re not streaming, Cora! Talk like a normal person." Micah said, heading his champion toward his red buff.

"Hey, where are you going?? You can’t take on that Red camp monster! Let’s skip the Crest of Cinders buff." Cora yelled at him.

"I got this!" Micah declared confidently.

"You died six times last time trying that!"

"I am on it," DarkVyne said suddenly.

Then they all saw DarkVyne’s champion, Kas, appear near the monster. A glowing orb of void energy shot from his hand, slamming into the monster and chunking its health.

The girls gasped.

"He’s got the skin, oh my god, the Count one. That’s so rare!"

Micah focused on the Darcy’s Champion.

"Arrived?" Darcy’s voice snapped Micah back to attention.

Micah jolted, manoeuvring his Nocturd to throw a shadow blade, activating Duskbringer.

With DarkVyne’s earlier damage, the monster’s HP dropped fast, Micah secured the kill effortlessly and gained the red Buff.

Micah stared at the screen in a daze.

Ah... this feeling!

"Fuck, yeah!" He shouted.

Darcy chuckled while Cora scolded him for swearing.

Micah didn’t care, basking in his glory.

Darcy returned quickly to his position, leaving Micah to secure the path.

But Micah’s eyes flickered to the mid-lane constantly. Darcy’s champion was dancing around the enemy mid-laner with perfect movements, dodging skill shots like he could predict the future.

Micah nearly missed a monster, too focused on watching Darcy’s champion.

Cora’s voice kept blaring in the background, constantly praising DarkVyne.

"Mid diff incoming! Ahh! Go DarkVyne go! We’re winning this game!" Cora announced gleefully.

Micah’s head throbbed, ready to scold Cora.

Suddenly Darcy’s voice came through.

"FrostbiteAshe, Ready for ganking?"

Micah put his complaints aside and answered Darcy. "Yeah, moving in."

He took the long route through the river brush. The enemy had just burned their flash.

"Now," Darcy ordered.

The timing was perfect. Darcy cast a force spell, slowing the enemy player in a cone, and Micah followed up with a combo from the jungle, and the enemy mid exploded in a burst of light.

"FirstBlood."

Cora screamed. "What? Since when has your skill gotten this good?!"

Micah just laughed. It wasn’t his skill. It was all Darcy reading the game and syncing with him perfectly.

Meanwhile, the other two girls were gushing in private chat.

MintBlade: did you see that? Wasn’t that Frosty awful at gaming? What happened?

PixieTank: are they a couple? They are so in sync?

MintBlade: Right? DarkVyne never teams up with the same person twice!

PixieTank: I heard DemonDuchess’s cousin is super hot!

MintBlade: Oh god! My fujoshi senses are tingling!

PixieTank: Even if Frosty is clueless, DarkVyne is totally courting him! Look at him securing a kill for Frosty?!

MintBlade: Yeah! It’s the ultimate spoiled grumpy cat x loyal black retriever pairing!! He hisses, he pouts, he pretends he doesn’t care—but the big dumb dog only wags his tail harder!! I’m DYING!! This dynamic feeds me!!

PixieTank: Ahh! I ship them!

MintBlade: +1!