From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 62: Smile So Dangerous, Even Straight Boys Falter

Chapter 62: Smile So Dangerous, Even Straight Boys Falter

Until Leo left the room, Micah sat frozen, his limbs locked in place like a statue. His mind lagged behind reality, unable to catch up with what he had just witnessed. That... couldn’t be real. Even he, who, by the way, was straight, was affected by that beautiful gentle smile. He suddenly understood what those women in ancient Egypt felt when they cut their hands upon seeing Joseph’s beauty up close! Who could be immune to this level of beauty? Ha?!

"Asena!" Jacklin’s voice sliced through the haze, slightly amused.

Micah startled as if jolted awake. "Hum?!"

"Let’s go." Jacklin tilted her head toward the hallway. "They are waiting for us."

Micah blinked, still dazed, then followed after her like a lost duckling. His legs moved automatically, but his thoughts were filled with how to counterattack Leo’s lethal smile and save Darcy from his clutches.

They turned a corner and entered a more private wing of the building. Jacklin pushed open a door, revealing a modest waiting room. Sitting on a cushioned chair near a small round table was a man in his thirties. His glasses had slid slightly down the bridges of his nose, and his wavy brown hair looked like it had lost a fight with gravity and comb.

"Manager Hurt," Jacklin greeted, giving a polite nod. "Sorry for the trouble."

The man looked up, surprised, then hastily stood and wiped his forehead with a folded tissue. "Not at all, not at all. I should be the one thanking you for always supporting Leo."

Jacklin smiled modestly.

"No, we are just doing what any fan should do."

Micah lingered by the doorway, eyes darting around nervously.

"Come in, come in" Manager Hurt ushered them further inside. "Leo is just resting. Can I ask a favour?" the man glanced at them nervously.

Jacklin gave an encouraging nod.

"Could you urge him to eat something? You know how it is... tonight’s going to be a full course of toast and forced drinking. But he doesn’t listen to me..." Manager Hurt dropped his head in dismay.

"Don’t worry. We will try."

As they moved through an inner door, Micah’s gaze flickered to a couch pushed against the far wall.

There, Leo was lying, one hand draped over his face, sleeved rolled up to his elbows. His blazer hung off the arm of the couch under his head.

Upon hearing the footsteps, Leo sat up and flashed a smile at Jacklin.

"Big sister! Thank you for today."

Jacklin chuckled, plopping down the chair beside him like they were old buddies. "Lay down. You don’t need to be formal with us."

Micah stopped cold in the middle of the room. His gaze moved between the two of them.

"If you say so..." then Leo returned to his previous posture.

"How have you been? You seem worn out."

"Same old..."

"Why didn’t touch your meal?! We don’t want your old stomach problem flaring up again."

"Stop nagging... I will..." Leo grumbled and sat up again, stabbing a fork into the chicken Caesar salad placed on the table.

Micah froze, looking at them. The way they interacted was like a brother and sister. Who was the big sister? Was she Leo’s family?

Leo chewed and swallowed, then turned toward Micah, "And who is this young lady?"

Jacklin straightened, suddenly brimming with pride.

"Ah, she has been your fan for over three years! Her family wouldn’t let her go wild while she was in high school, but now she is officially an adult and could stan you wholeheartedly. So her first wish was to see you up close."

Micah took a tentative step forward and said shyly. "Hello..."

Leo nodded graciously, flashing him another charming grin. "Thank you for supporting me, little sister."

Micah nearly bit his own tongue. What little sister? Please! You are little! Your whole family is little! But instead, he just smiled awkwardly and prayed no one saw his eye twitch.

Behind him, the manager chuckled approvingly.

"Oh, wow, she is so shy! Look at her blushing!" He actually liked this kind of fan. Not an overly crazy one, jumping to hug Leo the moment he smiled at them.

Micah wasn’t blushing. He was fuming. His emotions fluctuated like an air valve of a gas stove.

Anger, hate, disgust, fear, disbelief, attraction, confusion... none of them made sense.

He tried to remember something, anything from the novel mentioning this side of Leo’s. But nope. There wasn’t. He was cold and aloof. Sometimes motionless... the only time he showed warmth was when he was with Darcy, and even then it was subtle, more like he was acting...

Micah had prepared himself for a stiff, cold meet-up with Leo, one filled with tension and disgust..., but this Leo before him was relaxed, talking with big sister and him, a stranger. Micah even could detect his attitude toward them was not fabricated.

Was his way of charming up the fans?! Why did he have to go to such lengths?!

In these two years, what could possibly have happened to change this Leo into the one in the novel?!

Micah appeared tongue-tied, like a fangirl incapable of uttering a word to her idol. But his expression was bordering on the "help me, my understating of Leo had shattered!" territory.

Jacklin looked at the silly Asena and felt uncomfortable. She felt she caused her aunt to cheat on her uncle...

"Well. We should get going." Jacklin said, standing from the couch. "You need time to prepare for the celebration."

Manager Hurt immediately sprang to his feet. "Yes, yes. Of course. Let me walk you out."

As Jacklin and the manager began chatting amiably, Micah trailed behind.

Once outside, Jacklin placed a hand on Micah’s shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Micah swallowed and said, "Big sister... do you think the Leo we saw just now... was the real him?"

Jacklin raised an eyebrow. "Well, let me tell you something. I have seen enough two-faced people to know when I see one. But Loe?! He is real. We old fans still remember his sensational debut which resulted in casualties. Twilight Entertainment spent tons of money to cover that up."

Micah’s expression was sceptical. Jacklin became more sure that Asena’s fan streak was going down by this unexpected discovery. There was hope for her little uncle.

Micah blinked. "It’s just... I don’t know how to feel about it. Sister Candra said it’s a gap Moe, but for me... it’s like I was fed up with a big spoon of lies and deceit. I liked the aloof cold prince version... not this gentle warm side..."

From Jacklin’s behaviour toward Leo, Micah understood this big sister was not a crazy or hardcore fan. She behaved like a friend. Maybe her fetish was to have celebrities as a friend. Anyway, Micah realised he could be honest with her.

"I understand. No one likes it. But I believe he was forced to act that way to survive in the industry. Sometimes too much attention has its own downfall."

Micah nodded. He put aside all these messy thoughts and decided to follow his plan for tonight. Who cared what was his real side? cold or warm? His ugly behaviour toward Darcy would not change. He needed the evidence for the future. When Leo found Darcy and wanted to use him, Micah would show him who was the boss!

"So, what’s the surprise, big sister?" Micah asked.

"Oh, just a little thank-you gift for our beloved actor. We’ve ordered a ten-layer cake, booked a live band, and prepared over a hundred gifts from the fans." Jacklin said.

Micah nodded. "Do you need any help?!"

Jacklin patted Micah’s shoulder. "Just stick with me."

Micah laughed nervously and moved away from the big sister. He wasn’t a girl, and clearly not into older women! The touch made him uncomfortable.