From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 80: Don’t End Up Like Him

Chapter 80: Don’t End Up Like Him

Micah leaned back in his chair with a loud sigh, his arms stretching above his head until his spine gave a satisfying crack. His headset nearly slid off as he arched his back, groaning dramatically.

"Oh, God! What was that game!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and exhaustion.

"Umm..." Darcy hummed, rolling his shoulder with a small wince, the tension from their match still lingered in his muscles. That clash with the top laner had been intense and brutal. He glanced sideways at Micah, whose limbs now hung like overcooked noodles over the edge of the gaming chair.

He opened his mouth, wanting to know exactly who that vice-captain was, but Micah, as if sensing his upcoming question, straightened his back.

"Let’s go." Micah urged. "I don’t want to look at the screen for another second."

He was afraid SilverBlade Legion would bombard Darcy with friend requests, inviting him for a rematch or something. And the way Darcy had behaved in the game toward the vice-captain, like someone whose competitive streak had been struck, made Micah doubt that Darcy would reject it.

After tomorrow, they would move to the dorms, away from an internet cafe. Darcy, with his financial situation, probably didn’t own a laptop. The chance of his logging into the game would be low. And maybe the heat of the moment would wear off by then. Micah crossed his fingers inwardly.

Darcy paused. Then he gave a nod.

They logged off of the game. Darcy stood up and turned to Micah, however, the silver-haired boy had bolted for the exit as if the cafe might swallow him if he didn’t leave fast enough. Darcy’s lips twitched. He followed him out of the internet cafe slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets as the door jingled shut behind them.

The evening breeze, warm and humid, brushed against their faces as they walked side by side down the sidewalk.

"Right! Wait, don’t you usually have work today?!" Micah asked.

Darcy nodded, then shrugged. "I quit."

Micah stopped mid-step, blinking. "Huh?"

"They were all near my neighbourhood or super late at night. The dorm curfew’s at 11 o’clock. So it wouldn’t work. I figured I would wait to see my full schedule first, then find a better part-time job." Darcy said nonchalantly.

Micah gave a slow nod, processing. He hadn’t thought about curfews, late shifts, or the difficulty of juggling work and university. Life for Darcy, the real young master, was clearly very different from his own.

They kept walking, Darcy’s mind lingering on the match they had just played.

The earlier fight had left a bad taste in his mouth even though they had won.

Well, their victory was mostly because of the other three pros on their team and...

Darcy looked at Micah. He had to admit, Micah’s good timing in spotting the enemy ambush had saved him...

How did he know it?

Was it because he was close to SilverBlade members? Did he know their tactics?!

Darcy pursed his lips. He didn’t like it. If it hadn’t been for Micah and others, he would have been K.O. while that top laner was in full health.

He couldn’t land a single hit on him.

Darcy stared ahead. Maybe he should join an esports team.... Learn one or two things so that when he faces DiabolicDestroyer again, he won’t feel this helpless.

"Hey!" Micah waved in front of Darcy’s face. "What are you thinking? I asked you what we should do for dinner?!"

Darcy pushed those thoughts aside. "I’ll cook. Let’s go grocery shopping."

Micah stopped. "What? No! That’s too much hassle for you!"

While he thought to himself how could he let the real young master cook for him personally?!

"Nah, I want to simmer a bone marrow soup for my mother. Tomorrow I’m gonna visit her." Darcy said, his tone light.

Micah swallowed down his words. He wanted to say they should just eat out. But...

"Okay. I can help you wash vegetables or something..." he mumbled.

Darcy finally smiled. "I’ll count on it."

They walked into a local grocery shop a few blocks away. Darcy reached out for a basket and asked, "What do you want to eat?"

"Something you are best at making," Micah blurted out. It was a rare privilege to see the real young master cook. Maybe it would be the last time. Moving to the dorm meant massive study and workload...

Then eventually, the truth about the switch would come out. By that time, Micah surely would not be able to ask for this kind of indulgence. Maybe by then, Darcy would hate him so much....

He halted his thoughts.

"What I am good at? Probably chicken schnitzel..." Darcy said.

"Great!" Micah replied and wandered around the shop. Grabbing some snacks and drinks, he tossed them into the basket.

Darcy shot him a look. "Are you a kid?"

"Eating snacks has nothing to do with age!"

"No, but it surely makes your skin full of pimples!" Darcy replied flatly.

Micah scoffed. "Am I a girl? Why should I care about that?" his voice died down, and his fingers hesitated on a bag of chips.

He probably would need to disguise himself as a girl again.... Ah...

"That has nothing to do with gender..." Darcy paused, glancing at the smooth skin on Micah’s face. "It’s about your health. Besides, I’m making dinner. You would be too full for snacks anyway."

Micah didn’t reply. He silently returned most of the snacks to the shelf, leaving just two behind with visible reluctance.

"Poor Nora... having such a controlling brother..," Micah mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for Darcy to hear.

Darcy chuckled at that. The deflated boy was too cute. He itched to ruffle those snowy strands.

Micah turned his head away and followed Darcy while shopping.

"Ah, Darcy! Back for more bone soup?" called an elderly woman from behind the deli counter.

"Hello, Mrs Crane. Yes please." Darcy replied.

"Is your mum feeling any better?" Mrs Crane asked, then her gaze darted toward Micah. "And who is this young fellow?"

"Hello, Aunty, I am his friend." Micah flashed a cocky smile, casually leaning against the glass counter.

Mrs Crane chuckled. "That’s good to hear. He is always wandering around by himself like a little hermit! We old folks were starting to worry about him."

"Really? I thought someone like him would be swarmed with friends! He is so smart and friendly!" Micah said.

Another old woman came close, waving her hand. "Nah, most of the kids around here aren’t too keen on studying. Darcy is the one always getting held up as the golden example, you know, the other family’s kid."

Micah laughed. "Oh! Then we have something in common. Except the other way around. I was the child other’s parents used as an example for the definition of troublemaker and failure! ’Don’t end up like him!’ They would say."

The cashier leaned sideways. "No way! With how polite and charming you are, how could you be a troublemaker?"

"Right?!" Micah said with a grin.

Darcy stood to the side, quietly watching as Micah charmed the entire shop without even trying.